Thank you for all teh reviews. Very cool
As promised, here's the next chapter c:
Enjoy
〖 Chapter4 〗
⦕ I Am… The Danger or in Danger? ⦖
Tonight would be the night where Hyoudou Issei would partake in the ORC Stray Devil-Slaying excursion. Part of her duty as co-Overseer of Kuoh Town along with Sona. This was meant to be a short lesson for him. Before the excursion, Rias had studied Vizer's capacity and as a B-Class Stray, she possessed no threat to her predominantly A-Class Servants safe for her recent addition.
The power difference from B-Rank to A-Rank was significant. In essence, the transition from B-Class to A-Class represented a significant leap in power, knowledge, and mastery of Devil abilities. A-Class Devils were typically considered elite within the Devil hierarchy and had proven themselves as capable and skilled fighters.
Though specific abilities and power levels of individual characters could vary widely within each rank, so while the overall difference between B-Class and A-Class was significant, there had been cases where a particularly talented B-Class Devil could pose a challenge to a less experienced A-Class Devil, hence earning their promotion.
If she had to put it, the difference was like a cliff, but the B-Class could build bridges and cross it with their wit.
A-Class to SS-Class was like an endless abyss.
Her worst case scenario did not expect to encounter a highly dangerous Stray Devil in the very town she operated.
Kuroka, a name notorious among Devils, revealed herself with an air of cold confidence. Her feline ears twitched with predatory focus as she assessed Rias' peerage. Whispers of her reputation as a highly dangerous criminal had spread throughout the Underworld and even among nobles, and her presence sent shivers down the spines of those who knew her name. As much to be expected from an SS-Class Stray.
This… was bad.
Rias had to get her Servants out of here. One way or another.
"Why… Why are you here? Have you been following us?!"
"Why? Do I need to have a reason to see my sister?" Kuroka whirred as she extended her hand toward the group. "Shirone-nyan~ let's go."
"If she wishes so, then I'll allow it," Rias declared. "We're not keeping her against her will, Kuroka. Your sister is safe with us."
"Safer with me than you," Kuroka chirped. "Come, Shironyan. You don't have to stay with these people anymore. Be free like me, no?"
"Life as a criminal is hardly a life of freedom."
"Oh but I'm free to do anything I want."
"As long as you don't get caught," Rias quipped.
But Kuroka wasn't affected. "I happen to be slippery~ cat-like and whatnot… But what I am not is patient. So… Hand her over. I won't ask twice."
Rias saw the shock in her eyes as Koneko, in a rare show of fear, hid behind her instead.
'...Don't worry, Koneko. We won't ever leave you.' So swore the Gremory as she faced Kuroka with steeled resolve. Her Servants would fight to the death for her. As she would for them. A characteristic inherited from family. A trait that had gotten a Gremory killed due to their defiant last stand during the Slaves uprising, long before the Evil Pieces was invented — but it nonetheless remained as a trait Rias and her family held firmly and proudly.
"There you have it," Rias stated. "She's staying with us. Her family."
That particular choice of word flared the anger in the Nekoshou. Kuroka clenched her fists. Her gaze flicked to each member of the peerage, her amber eyes holding a concealed mix of anger and desperation.
"I've finally found her," Kuroka warned, her voice edged with a hint of sadness, but as well as rising ire. "I'm not leaving without her nyan~"
Rias took a measured step back, keeping Koneko behind her. She couldn't have her fighting her own sister. Not when she was paralyzed by fear.
That said, she knew her Peerage wouldn't fare well against Kuroka. 'We can't fight her, so I'll stall her,' she passed the message over to her Queen. 'Prepare the teleportation spell.
'...Our school won't provide much help,' Akeno responded. 'We'll have to flee straight to the Underworld, Rias. We'll be safe there and plan our next move.'
'We don't have that much time. Our club room first, then we'll return to Hell to reorganize.'
'Understood.'
Kuroka tilted her head and smiled thinly. "Ah? Done chatting with your friend mnya~?" That caught the two off guard. Kuroka reveled in their astonished looks before continuing with a giggle as the purple flames around her burned brighter. "How cute… Stall me all you want, she's coming with me."
As if on cue, Kuroka lunged forward, her speed incredible. Kiba surged in a burst of speed to meet her, and as steel collided with a translucent purple barrier, confident azure eyes meeting the wrathful ambers, their dance began.
Kuroka effortlessly evaded all of Kiba's precise slashes, giving him a taunting smirk as she'd gone past him just as Akeno's lightning crackled to life, arcing towards her. With a flick of her tail and annoyed glare, Kuroka redirected the flying thunder with her fingers and sent it straight to Kiba's direction.
Feeling the heat growing on his back, Kiba barely had enough time to duck and swiveled around, rushing below the sparking currents.
"Focus on the pentagram, Akeno!" led Rias as she stepped forward to put herself between Kuroka and her Servants. "Hyoudou, keep Koneko safe with her. This is a command!"
"B-but—"
"Take her to Akeno! NOW!" Rias yelled as she unleashed her Power of Destruction to block Kuroka's violet orbs raining down on her Knight, two saucers of pure destructive energy that absorbed the midnight purple bullets. "We have to hold her off, Yuuto. I'll be your back up."
Kiba ducked under Kuroka's claws that were covered in white flames as he rejoined Rias. "Yes, Prez!"
"Flank her," Rias said. "I'll try to keep her distracted."
As the Devils fought the cat-girl in the moonlit darkness of the dilapidated warehouse, an observer watched over them. A figure (barely) enshrouded in the shadows as he was lying prone without cover from the moonlight, had been watching the development from the beginning, patiently waiting for his moment to strike like a hunter of the night.
At least that's how I envisioned myself to be. Right now I'm just waiting who's gonna come on top from this. Obviously it has to be me, but depending on the victor of this scuffle, I need to make sure my entry fits the mood. So they know I have been watching them without them knowing… Kheheh…
But it should've been me who killed that titty monster, goddammit! How dare she kill who I'm supposed to kill?! Stand where I'm supposed to stand?!
But setting that aside for now… I see now that there is a greater concern I need to address at this very moment. The battle's picking up, and I can see blood. Mostly from the redhead and the blondie.
Are they strong or are they weak? Damn it, I can't tell. Any power scouter or some of that similar shit around here? What rankings are they in the power rankings? If she's an SS-Class, are they like B-Tiers? C-Tiers?
Alas, there is no god or a convenient pop up window to answer my questions.
For now, I shall coolly watch and observe... but it's getting cold over here. Please, someone, just win already.
"Rrrghh— you pissants think you can fight me?" Kuroka fired dozens of mystical flames, each homing straight at these two nuisances, chasing away the Knight while the King stood defiantly.
Rias raised a black barrier from her powers to shield herself, pulverizing Kuroka's spells. As she dispersed her barrier, Kuroka was already in front of her, her hand curled into a fist. The next moment, Rias realized she was flying.
The force of the blow sent her crashing into a concrete pillar, shattering it in half as it crumbled. Pain radiated through Rias' body as she struggled to her feet, using the same barrier to keep the falling chunks from burying her.
"Prez!"
"I'm fine," Rias grimaced. She wiped the blood off her mouth, failing to remember the last time she ever tasted her own blood. "Focus, Yuuto!"
"You should've stayed down," Kuroka seethed as the ground beneath her glowed bright—
"SWORD BIRTH!"
—and sprouted dozens of swords, blooming like a deadly bouquet of iron and steel, forcing Kuroka to take flight.
Oof— that's gotta hurt… I'll be straight and admit I thought she's the 'lead from the back' kind of gal but looks like I'm wrong.
Shadowbros, this might be bad.
I'm starting to think I'm gonna bite more than I can chew if I jump down there because holy moly these guys are crazy. That redhead's magic just obliterated that pillar of solid concrete. It was like WHOOSH and then there was nothing, it's like a giant dog took a huge bite of that pillar. The other busty girl is just as scary with her previous thunder spell. Where the fuck did these people come from? Did they just fire shit without having to chant or something? Is this Final Fantasy? Am I in Final Fantasy right now? If I am, then where's my bigass sword?
If I remember that right, the catgirl down there is an SS-Class outlaw, whatever that means— but I know that's gotta be a pretty high rank. That explains why she's completely busted and why these Devils look like a joke to her.
Kuroka weaved through the Knight's persistence, his slashes either an inch away from her eyes or parts of her body. All while leaping off from Rias' ranged attacks. One hit of that destructive energy and she knew she'd be wiped out. That rich bitch might not know how to conjure them quickly but her inherited power was nonetheless far from being a joke. And then there's this brat… All his movements were exact copies of Okita Souji — the other nuisance with her stupid swords. Persistent as well.
As Kiba lost grip on his standard sword, the blade flinging in the air and landing somewhere else, he quickly summoned a new pair as he backstepped, adding distance between them as energy gathered by his palms. Covering his retreat, Rias let loose a flurry of Power of Destruction, each the size of a basketball, only more prone to obliterate anything in its path.
Fire and ice gathered by his hands in the form of two swords, one blazing, the other emitting a cold frost as Kiba, once again, charged straight into the vanguard. Normally Koneko would be beside her with Akeno providing support, but he was perfectly capable of adapting.
Kuroka frowned. As if reflecting her peaking anger, the Ki she focused in her hands flared intensely.
A cacophony of clashes erupted as Kuroka deflected the Knight's swords, grunting as she caught the ice sword and shattered it instantly by tightening her grip and causing a tiny yet measured magical eruption by overloading the blade with her immense Mana. Caught by surprise but not for long enough, Kiba threw a vertical slash directly at her head, no longer holding back as he was now fighting not to stall, but for his life and his comrades.
But Kuroka deflected the blade mid air with just the back of her palm, and her sharp pupils contracted to a slit as a blast of energy tore the front part of his uniform, and fired the Knight away from his footings. The force struck Kiba squarely, sending him hurtling through the air into a stack of crates.
Kiba didn't get up.
Rias gritted her teeth. She glanced at Akeno and saw the pentagram, and saw it flickered. Not yet complete, she realized, and readied herself as Kuroka advanced towards her. Rias' eyes were unwavering as she faced Kuroka. Her crimson hair flowed in the breeze, her stance poised and ready. There was a quiet determination in her gaze that betrayed none of the fear that might have stirred within her.
This was time to prove her worth as their Master.
I thought those Devils were plenty strong enough, and while they're giving her a hard time, they just can't touch her. They can't even come close to her for god's sake. And how the heck does her kimono stay on her?! I'm not complaining, I don't give a damn if her tits spill out, I'm just wondering.
…Hey wait a minute.
Refocusing on myself, and entering my Shadow Dimension, gathering the Mana around me to boost my eyesight, wearing them like a binocular — I now see that her entire kimono is in fact wrapped in Mana. Fascinating… I should be able to make my own set of clothes then. If that's all it took.
Believe me. I tried.
Or maybe her kimono isn't made of magic, but protected by it instead?
Huh.
While I'm here, I note that the Mana around those people doesn't change. Like, it's still there. Which means, they're not using the Mana readily available to them, but uses their own. I did notice their bodies are glowing in this Dimension. There's no feature like a face on their head, so to me they're like mannequins with purple wigs and purple clothes. Most of them are glowing, except that one guy in the corner who I'm guessing is my classmate Issei.
I feel for him. This must be like a Mob facing the boss while just being level one.
But to sum up my observation; it's like a classic RPG for them then… Mana-wise. Good, good… This amount of information is beneficial for my research of unveiling how this world operates. As long as I have Mana around me, I'll never run out.
Now it's time to peace out and go back to the real world—
Oh and look, now she made copies of herself like she was some kind of ninja — I'm also gonna copy that move, thank you very much for reminding me of this move… I mean you kidding me? I don't care if I'm plagiarizing her technique, but do you know how rad it is to let someone fight you, only for them to realize they've only been fighting against your clone the entire time?
And to put the cherry on top; you (me) can say some badass one-liner like… 'That was my afterimage' or 'You did well against my Shadow.' Ohhhh—! I can see it… I can feel it. I feel the need. The need to drop down. I have to appear right before they're about to finish one another and halt the battle, completely stealing the spotlight that is rightfully mine in the first place.
After that? Well, I'll just improv.
I don't know if they're just strong or I'm just weak, but what the hell. You think I want to live forever? No pain, no gain! Here I co— wait is it just me, or is that a block of concrete flying at me?
As the cold wind rushes against my ears, it occurs to me that I me, Cid Kagenou, is indeed falling, and that object earlier that pulverized my peeking spot was indeed a block of concrete that was flying towards me, hence my unfortunate plunge due to the Earth's gravitational pull that forces me to stay down instead of hovering.
This is not ideal.
I can't just fall flat on my face. That'll be super lame.
Oh well.
Time for improvisation!
Rias summoned her magic, forming a barrier to protect herself. But Kuroka's strikes were unrelenting, each blow testing the limits of her defenses. The battle had escalated beyond the Gremory's expectations, and she ruefully recognized the overwhelming gap in power between them.
Rias' crimson aura flared as she retaliated, her magic forming into bolts of energy that streaked towards the Nekoshou outlaw. The Stray Devil evaded with an almost surreal agility, her form slipping through the gaps in Rias' attacks. The warehouse echoed with the sound of their battle, a symphony of power and motion.
Kuroka's eyes glinted as her form flickered, splitting into multiple shadowy duplicates. Rias' tactical mind analyzed the situation, and with a surge of energy, she unleashed a blinding flash that dispelled the illusions. But Kuroka was not where Rias expected.
In a split second, Kuroka materialized behind Rias, her claws finding their mark. Pain seared through Rias' side as she staggered forward, clutching her bleeding wound. But the Gremory was far from finished. A wave of dark energy sliced the air as Rias turned around, expecting to find Kuroka but only found her own shadow cast against the wall. She'd been pushed this far back without realizing it.
As Kuroka continued her advance, a flash of brilliant blue light sparked before her eyes as her pupils dilated, causing Kuroka to shut her eyes — and earning her the first hit as she found the soles of her wooden sandals skidding against the ground.
As thin smoke sizzled from her chest, Kuroka rebuilt the layer of protection around her entire frame as she glared at the Fallen Angel-Devil-Human hybrid.
The Priestess of Thunder had joined the fight.
"I'm sorry, Rias," she hummed as tiny blue thunders sparked by her right arm, illuminating her face and granting her smile quite the sinister effect. "But I can't just let you hog in all the fun."
That only added more fuel to Kuroka's ire.
Initially, she was only planning to hurt these dogged brats, showcasing the rift between her strength and theirs, thinking they'd give up and leave.
Not this.
She was self-aware enough to not blind herself to think Koneko didn't have any attachments towards these morons. Her tears were the only reason keeping these Devils alive.
But it seemed that holding back wasn't going to bring her any result.
"I've had enough of you fools getting in my way." Watching the redhead rejoin her busty little Queen, Kuroka straightened her posture, and decided that enough was enough. "I'm not asking for much: do me a favor and die, nya~?"
Kuroka's form blurred into a mix of black and purple as she surged forward, her speed an embodiment of her wrath. Rias' blazed torrents of demonic energy, each beam aimed at Kuroka. Akeno's thunder danced with a fury of its own, converging with Rias' attacks in a dazzling display of power.
Kuroka evaded with an agility that defied reason, her form weaving through the onslaught like a shadow on the wind, rapidly reducing between the spellcasters — but to think Kuroka was a mere spellcaster would spell doom, because this Hellcat was a fierce close combatant, tampered by her previous entanglements with bounty hunters and pursuers who didn't know any better.
With an exchange of glances, Rias and Akeno summoned their magic in tandem, creating a tempest of energy that engulfed Kuroka in blinding light of black, crimson and blue, engulfing Kuroka entirely as she raised her own barrier. And in a fierce magical explosion of colors, Kuroka had vanished.
And then, with a surge of power that shattered the very air, Kuroka revealed her true body, standing behind them. They'd taken the bait of her diversion, attacking her illusion while she cloaked her advance.
"BUCHOU, BEHIND YOU!"
Issei's shout came in a split second too late. Kuroka's amber eyes blazed with fury as she unleashed her own torrent of dark energy. The blast struck Rias and Akeno with devastating force, tearing a scream and blood from their lungs as they crashed against the debris-strewn ground. Pain seared through their bodies and their uniforms were practically in tatters, Rias' worse than Akeno due to her earlier scuffle.
But they refused to stay down.
Rias and Akeno struggled to rise, their bodies battered and broken, but their spirits unbroken.
Kuroka scowled, and her voice was a chilling whisper, laden with anger and. "You guys have no idea when to stay down, huh? Do you really wanna die that badly? I could've killed you, you know."
She was so pissed that her tic disappeared.
"You're not taking her away from us…" Rias rasped, barely maintaining herself up, only for her to sink to her knees and arms as her wounds were starting to take its toll on her. "...N…nggh…"
"I'll handle this, Rias," Akeno declared. She was hurt but she'd only taken one direct hit. Conjuring her thunder, Akeno walked in front of her fallen King, ready to unleash a maelstrom, and prepared to walk into hell.
I know this is one of the great moments where I can introduce myself, but I can't. Not yet. There's a saying in chess that is 'when you see a good move, look for better'. I'm doing just that. Yeah. Totally.
So I sorta fell earlier, but I did pull off this amazing landing move — no, not the superhero landing, but landing with my legs straight with my head staring down. Really bad for the joints but it's dope as hell, and my joints are strong anyway.
The thing is, I landed on the second floor of this warehouse, which sucks, but explains why the landing didn't sting my foot that bad. Still embarrassing though.
So now here I am again! Taking the role of the patient observer… Waiting for my moment… I know it's coming soon. I can practically smell it. Or maybe it's just that girl's charred flesh. Who knows.
Akeno unleashed a barrage of thunderbolts that streaked through the air like vengeful lightning. Kuroka evaded with a grace that seemed to dance on the edge of shadows, her movements fluid and calculated, seemingly tireless despite everything that had been thrown at her. The warehouse trembled with each impact, the very structure echoing the violence of their clash.
The warehouse's interior was bathed in hues of midnight purple and electric blue as their magic collided. Kuroka's mystical attacks swirled through the air, a whirlwind of violet that met Akeno's thunder head-on. The impact sent tremors through the space, the very essence of their power vibrating with each clash none seemed intent on yielding.
"HAAAH!" Akeno's voice roared like thunder as she retaliated, each bolt of lightning an embodiment of her resolve. But Kuroka's presence was a storm of its own, her midnight purple Sage Magic surging forth like a tide. Her attacks weaved through the air with a grace that bordered on elegance, each one a testament to her mastery as they not only held against Akeno's thunderous barrage, but swallowed it whole.
Unholy or holy — thunder is thunder, and Kuroka was a master of the elements. Of life and death if she must.
With a roar of her own, albeit more out of frustration rather than a battle cry, Kuroka blitzed underneath the barrage of hers and her opponent's magic, and took on the Queen in close combat where her annoying powers couldn't annoy her as much.
"GH—! GAH! AGHAH—!"
Kuroka's strikes easily found their mark, their impact sending shocks of energy through Akeno's body. Her strength wavered, her thunder faltering as she fought to withstand the relentless assault. But her spirit remained unbroken, her every movement and defense a testament to her determination.
But determination meant shit without the power to back it up. Kuroka's fists became an unyielding force, her attacks growing more precise and devastating, and each punch or slice easily tore through Akeno's uniform and skin and flesh, and the Priestess of Thunder began to falter as her lightning died out.
Kuroka's fist landed straight on Akeno's chest, just above her breasts. The force from the impact managed to rip through the back of the Devil's uniform.
"...Ah…"
Akeno coughed blood. As Kuroka withdrew her hands clad in Ki and spatters of red, she eyed the girl, waiting for a response. But instead of resistance, the girl crumbled to her knees, her head lolling downward while her arms hung almost lifelessly. Akeno's vision blurred, her consciousness fading as the pain and exhaustion overwhelmed her.
Not even Akeno Himejima could stand against her. Completely and utterly beaten whereas Kuroka stood unscathed. Ticked off, exhausted, but very much unscathed as she turned over to find her sister.
She found her standing behind the boy. The fledgling Devil. And it seemed they've taken the Knight over as well, back on his feet already. That Gremory bitch was there too.
Ah. The complete whole package minus one.
"Come with me, Shirone," she demanded again, aiming her hand at Akeno's head as purple energy convened by the tip of her finger. "I've killed Devils before. Another won't hurt."
If Rias was pale earlier because of her injuries, she was shades paler now from dread.
Issei completely froze. He'd no idea what to do. He had grabbed Kiba earlier but he wasn't in any condition to fight again. There was blood coming out of his head for fuck's sake— he had to get patched up. Rather, everyone here had to get patched up including Koneko, except her patching up was more for her mental health. She hadn't looked so good since her sister showed her face.
Issei might be dumb, but he knew there was nothing else he could do. Not then, not now. He couldn't even fight a lowly Fallen Angel and nearly got himself killed… and he had promised his Master, Rias, to never do anything stupid because he was her 'treasured Pawn'. Like a pet, he supposed, but anything's better than nothing. He'd take anything he can get.
Not to mention, if he made the wrong move, that cat-bitch might kill Akeno. That'd devastate Rias. It'd devastate all of them, but it would devastate Rias the most. He didn't want that. If his foolish bravery got someone else killed, then… well, frankly, he might stop being brave in the future.
Fear clung to the air like a heavy shroud, weighing heavily on Koneko's heart. Before her were her friends, her new family that had been beaten, all because of her.
Koneko's breaths came in shallow gasps as she watched Kuroka's every move. The Stray Devil's aura exuded a menacing power, her amber eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity. Koneko's instincts screamed at her to flee, but she knew she couldn't. She couldn't hide. Even now, even when she thought she was safe, her sister found her nonetheless.
Even if they escaped, she'd only track her down… And this scene would only repeat.
"I-I'll go—"
"Where she wishes to stay."
Shadow said.
"...? ….?!" Kuroka's eyes widened as she realized Akeno was no longer lying next to her on the ground, but instead had been whisked away, carried by a mask-wearing stranger in a black trenchcoat.
Standing before the Devils, appearing in their moment of despair and distraught, Shadow had revealed himself. His figure blending into the surrounding darkness. He exuded an aura of undeniable power, a shadowy violet haze (which are just Mana that he gave color), his crimson (eye contacts) eyes sharp and resolute. And in his hand, he cradled the injured Akeno, a symbol of his intervention and a hint of his intention.
The first to break the stunned silence between the two parties was Rias.
"Wh-who are you?"
"I am Shadow."
Shadow turned around, showing his back to Kuroka and therefore showing his impenetrable confidence (no, he was just careless) to lay down the injured Priestess, unbothered by the fact that her bra was visible and torn, unlike the other guy bending over there with the very untimely boner.
Koneko's breath caught as her gaze shifted from Shadow to Akeno, her friend now held safely in his grasp. Rias' eyes widened in both disbelief and gratefulness, and Issei's brows furrowed in surprise. Kuroka's presence seemed to waver, her confidence now shaken by the newcomer's arrival, fully aware that he was someone with a terrifying speed.
She couldn't even detect him. She didn't even realize when or how he had swiped her hostage. All she knew was that he suddenly appeared out of thin air — not even a ripple in the magical essences before her.
"...Tch…"
Rias' voice held a mixture of surprise and hope. "Shadow? Are you… are you here to help…?"
"My only purpose is to fight the shadows that lurk," he said, not making a sliver of sense as he stood back up, and faced Kuroka. "And finding those who have Lost their way."
"Lost…?" Rias repeated. "Are you… are you perhaps, a Lost Person?"
"Not all those who wander are truly lost," he said, making zero sense yet again, but somehow making Rias ponder the deeper meaning in his randomly laced words.
Sure enough, Rias had come to the conclusion that this unexpected savior of them was a Lost Person, but what made him different was that he chose to be in this world instead of seeking his way home.
"Ehhh… How come there's always someone that keeps getting in my way…" Kuroka, now completely displeased, muttered a sentence wreathed in bridling fury as the purple flames gathered around her, now in the sum of dozens instead of a few flames. "You guys are really pissing me off, y'know."
"Your love towards your sister is splendid yet suffocating," he suddenly said towards Kuroka like some sort of know-it-all. "Have you stayed for too long in the shadows that it had blinded you?"
Shadow's voice was unwavering, his attention on Kuroka as he addressed her with a cool authority.
"Tch… What are you even spouting about…?"
'…Eh, am I wrong? Is she here just to kidnap her sister? Damn, this girl is messed up.'
No. Cid was correct on all counts. Kuroka simply didn't want to admit it outright. Not in front of these people.
But Cid didn't know that.
From his words, Kuroka's eyes narrowed, her composure bristling with unease. The tension in the air was palpable, as the two formidable forces faced each other in an unspoken challenge.
And in that moment, Rias realized that they were no longer alone in this battle, and that her escape was long overdue.
Issei's voice was a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Who... who is this guy?"
But underneath the mask of ultimate badassery and calculated coldness, was a giddy young Cid that firmly believed he had pulled off his greatest entrance yet. Granted, it didn't have many competitors and the bar was set ridiculously low that a midget might trip from it, but it was a good start. A decent start to kickoff his career as—Oop, can't forget the 'smoldering smoke coming from the eye' effect.
"I am Shadow," so the dark figure said as violet flames burst from his eyes, hinting his readiness to fight. "He who stays in the shadows, to hunt the shadows."
With that cryptic message, Rias and her Peerage watched as he 'magically' raised a sword from out of nowhere — Kiba's standard European sword that he had took earlier when he was in the Shadow Dimension, and hid it closeby so he could pull of this sick move — except its iron blade was now lathered in violet flame.
"So tell me,"
He aimed the tip of the sword at Kuroka, who was growing more and more defensive like a cornered beast.
And just as he was finishing his sentence, a sudden shift overtook Shadow's voice, distorting it as if it barely contained the immense power he held within. A voice that shook them to their core.
A̵̧̓r̸͚͠e̷͉͠ ̵̥̍y̸̼͆o̸͚̓u̸̪͛ ̴̘̆m̵̮̊y̴̼͒ ̶̹̓ḙ̴̅n̵̟͒é̸̗m̶͓̌y̸̞͂?̸̜̉
To be continued…
it's hard to describe how much I loved the distortion effect in the anime. Yes it's cringe. But you can't deny it's so over the top that it trancends cringeness that it becomes badass instead.
I hate hate hatewriting combat scenes. It's hard. I spent hours just writing those.
And therefore, I demand you to tell me what you think about it. Because if it ain't worth it then imma start cutting it.
But here it is! The moment you've been waiting for! Shadow's entrance!
WOOOOOOO LESZGOOOO! SHADOW! SHADOW! SHADOW! GET THE FUCK UP YOUR SEAT AND CLAP GODDAMMIT
But let's not ignore the fact that Cid has been letting these people get trashed around just so he could pull off his perfect entrance. He might be fucking cool, but he kinda is an asshole LMAO
Well, these guys are just extras in his head after all
It's a cacophony of misunderstanding when Shadow appears, and better yet, the misunderstandings made sense. it's all so unforced. I didn't need to dumb down Rias or Kuroka. I use their intellect instead and let them come to their own wrong conclusion and have Cid ride the wave.
I am so great. I'm great, aren't I? praise me pls.
And don't you worry, Issei fans. This is the last time you see him this pathetic. This has been a good lesson for him, y'see.
if you don't review or at least follow this story, i will remind you of something you don't like