Freddy: What is with goth fictional characters being so popular?
Raven: Duh, it's our nature to be the fan favorites of the shows.
Gwen: Goth Rules. [Gwen and Raven hi-fived.]
Shiho: I don't see what the big deal is with goths characters.
Yang: Well my sister was goth once. It mainly involved an evil chicken to turn her goth and evil but, it still counts.
Gwen: Just because we love horror movies, ghost, darkness, making people miserable, doesn't make us evil.
Peace: O-Okay?
Raven: Seriously though, they should make a holiday for us goths. They're not being appreciated in this world.
Yang: That's because they don't have goth-like mages in this world.
Varvula: Well once Mirajane was goth-like when she was young.
Gwen: Don't mix punks with goths.
Raven: Yeah, they are completely different!
Shiho: Looks like you struck a nerve.
Varvula: Oh shut up!
Peace: W-Why don't we start the chapter.
Chapter 48: Double Team.
In her Clear Heart clothing, Erza tumbled back after absorbing one of Simon's jabs. The two had engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, leaving them both injured and exhausted from the fast-paced battle. "It appears that you weren't slacking off in your second life."
"Same goes for you Erza," Simon replied back, as he got into a boxing stance. "After this whole battle royal blows over, I'll tell you how I got here."
"I'm looking forward to it," Erza said, smiling. 'For the time being, I'll concentrate on beating you!"
With a powerful start, Erza raced towards Simon and backflipped to deliver a drop kick to the chest. He pushed her off with his silver gauntlet forearm blocking her foot. Erza flipped onto feet and evaded a haymaker aiming for her head and responded with a right punch to Simon's chest. The man winced briefly before kicking Erza in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her.
The two continued to exchange punches and kicks at each other at a rapid pace. But was interfered when the massive snake's head plowed through the ruins with its jaws wide open.
"...!" Erza and Simon leapt out of the way fast to escape being devoured by the monsters.
"This serpent is a bit of a stumbling block," Erza scolded. She ran at the beast, equipped with two swords, and slashed her blades at its body. The snake's skin was so thick that it hardly phased or left a scratch on its body. Simon rushed towards the snake on the opposite side of Erza and swung his gauntlet fist into the it's side.
Neither attacks didn't phased the creature as it turned its head towards Simon and lunged at him. Simon ducked to the left, allowing the snake to sink into the stone ruins, leaving a seaming poison eating away at the ruins.
"...!" When the serpent pursued Simon, Erza watched the ruins collapsing under the poison of the snake.. "The snake's venom is so potent that it even destroys stone?"
A large shadow of Holly appeared behind Erza, getting her attention. The scarlet wizard quickly jumped back avoiding the dog's paws."I never seen a dog move like that," Erza gasped in shock.
"Not many people have," Ohm informed her while on top of Holly. "You'll find that Holly can understand a lot more commands besides Sit and Stay. I'm a Sky Breeder, renowned for my special animal training. I taught him to stand on his hind legs, and even box like a champion boxer. Show him Holly."
Holly replied to Ohm's command and got into a boxing stance, swiping his paws like a boxer. Erza requip a new set of swords, and changes into her regular armor, readied himself to face off against Ohms and Holly.
"PIIE~!"
Ohm spun around and raised his sword over his head, deflecting a spear attack from the Sky Knight who flew past him on Pierre.
"Gan Fall," Erza muttered in relief.
"Gan Fall," Ohm growled, eying the former god flying over them in a wide circle. "You were already beaten by Shura! Don't you know when to quit? What are you hoping to do when you don't have any strength to wield a spear?!"
"I don't know what Eneru is planning!" Gan Fall admitted. "But I'll stop him with my dying breath if I need to!"
"There's no way a washed up God like you can understand Eneru's noble thoughts!" Ohm scoffed. "Gan Fall, you are a foolish man, a man that doesn't have long to live!"
Erza would've been able to strike down Holly while Ohm was busy with Gan Fall. But two motionless bodies in the distance made her blood run cold.
"CHOPPER~! SANGO~!" Erza cried out, ran past Ohm and Holly, desperately trying to get to them.
"So those two were part of your crew I detect," Ohm casually said, not even trying to stop her. "You better watch your step over there."
The second her foot pressed onto a loose rock, barbed wire shot from the ground, and slashed into Erza's right arm.
"Ung~!" Erza grunted in pain as she stumbled onto her knees. She glanced at the jagged cut she received and noticed barbed wire. "Barbed wire?"
"Erza, are you okay?!" Simon jumped down from the ruin. He was able to escape from the snake's path. He gasped when he noticed the condition of Sango and Chopper.
"I'm fine…" Erza replied, attempting to ignore the pain and held onto the little reindeer. "Chopper…" She then glanced at the girl. "Sango…"
Simon carefully rolled Sango onto her back and examined the cut on her tummy. "She'll be fine," Simon informed Erza calmly. "The gash isn't too deep, but it is severe unless she gets medical treatment…"
He cast a peek at Erza, who was looking down at the bleeding tiny reindeer on her lap. Her teeth clenched. "..."
"A shame isn't it?" Ohm's voice made Simon glared at him, while Erza remained on her knees. "Those barbs are Iron clouds. Light as a cloud but hard as steel. I've rigged several of them with hidden triggers. You and your little friend learned the hard way when you stepped on the buttons. The girl, on the other hand, was frantically struggling to save the tiny animal that had led her to fall victim to my sword."
"You're despicable to attack those two!" Simon roared angrily.
"The entire field is a weapon," Ohm informed."I don't have to attack you. I just sit and watch your own blundering do you in. I'm merely responsible for taking down the girl, while the dumb animal took his own life."
"Simon!" Erza exclaimed as she rose up. The woman walked over to him. "I'm afraid that our duel will have to wait…" She set Chopper onto his hands. "Please, take him and Sango to safety."
Understanding how Erza was, Simon nodded and carefully picked up Sango as though this action would ruin his alliance with the Shandians, he wouldn't forgive himself for letting two lives be lost. "Alright, but please be safe and give him hell."
Simon ran with Sango and Chopper in his arms away from the scene, leaving Erza to finally face Ohm and Holly with dual swords glowing in her hands.
"I guess you want to get revenge, huh?" Ohm questioned.
"Normally, I'm not one for revenge," Erza declared. "But you have drawn blood on two of the innocent children." The scarlet mage gave Ohm a vicious glare. "For that I'll cut you down here."
"That snake is a big pain in the ass," Zoro grumbled. During his scuffle with Wyper the large python suddenly lunged towards the two separating them. He rose up and pointed his sword towards the enormous monster.. "I mean how the hell did it climb up here anyway?"
The swordsman was just about to charge towards it, but suddenly caught a glimpse of a silver cage placed beside a ruin wall. His eyes widened when he recognized who was inside it.
"Sango?! Chopper~!?" Zoro yelled as he dashed towards them. Just as he came closer, Zoro swung his blade behind him, colliding with Simon's silver ax. He managed to pry off of the ax, causing Simon to jump back at a safe yet close distance.
"I can't let you go further," Simon declared with a solemn look.
"So you want to fight me, old man?" Zoro questioned, glaring at Simon, suspiciously. "Were you the one who did this to Chopper and Sango?"
"...What if I did?" Simon fibbed. Zoro witnessed Simon creating another fresh ax from his stomach. "Those two were foolish to think they could challenge the leader of Luminous Tail on their own. So I left them alive with minor cuts and bruises."
'Of course he has devil fruit powers,' Zoro thought seriously. Placed his third sword in his mouth while wielding the other two in each hand. "I don't give a damn if you're Erza's friend or whatever. I'll cut you down here."
'Oh? He uses three swords?' Simon thought a bit impressed, as he readied his ax's. He did lie to him about injuring the two children, but only so he could have a battle with the swordsman. "So you desire revenge for what I did, is that correct?"
"Normally, I don't fight for revenge," Zoro glared viciously at the Luminous Tail's leader. "But I'm feeling one coming."
Honey's yellow ribbon collided with Dimanu's prism stone claw. While still in her Popcorn Cheer uniform, Cure Honey was on the defensive. Repelling each of the boy's forceful attacks with her ribbon. "Come on~! Is that the best you can do?!"
Honey recoils a bit when she feels the impact of Dimanu's last blow. She honestly didn't want to fight him. However, knowing the nature of a few dragon slayers, the boy wasn't going to let her leave without a fight. "Before we continue, can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Dimanu replied. "What is it?"
"Do you have a crush on me?"
"Yup,"
'H-He didn't even hesitate!' Honey flushed, astonished. "Why, if I may ask?"
"If you want to know," Dimanu trailed off with a grin. "Then you have to beat me!"
Dimanu lunged towards Honey, swinging his fist for a punch, which was blocked by her ribbon forming into a circular shield. Honey was so preoccupied with guarding that she didn't notice the youngster prepared to unleash his signature roar at point blank range. "Roar of the Prism Stone Dragon!"
Honey screamed in agony as she felt the stone shards from his roar scratching her skin. She was launched into the air and smashed onto the rubble behind her. The yellow Pretty Cure rose from the wreckage and sprang into the air to prevent Dimanu's pillar arm smashing into her.
"Pretty Cure!" While midair, Honey formed her ribbon into a heart-shape, emitting a pink heart forming within it. "Ribbon Heart Explosion!" Honey launched the pink heart downward towards Dimanu, like a meteor. The Dragon Slayer didn't have no time to react, as the heart exploded upon contact with a big dust cloud emitted in the section of the ruins.
Cure Honey landed on top of the worn down building, while changing back into her normal Pretty Cure form. She was quite worried that she had just used her finisher move on a person. 'I hope I didn't kill him.'
Panting can be heard amongst the dust cloud. The Prism Stone Dragon Slayer is seen hunched over, yet still standing. His entire shirt was burnt out by attack, leaving him shirtless. Honey let out a quiet gasp, shocked that he was still standing and noticed a nasty scar on his mid chest section.
"That was…great," Dimanu breathed with a grin. "I'm really getting excited about this fight!" Clouded by the dust cloud, he looked around giddy. "Come on~! Where are you hiding?!"
Honey teleported right behind him in a position of a drop kick aimed at the back of his neck. Dimanu anticipated it and used his forearm to block her sudden kick.
"Saw that coming a mile away!" Dimanu smirked. After overpowering Honey, Dimanu a magic circle appeared underneath him. His right arm was converted into a chain with a large spike ball at the end. "Sea Prism Stone Dragon: Flail!"
Honey noticed the spike ball hurtling at her while she was midair. She waved her baton in front of her, creating a huge yellow clover that stopped the spike ball's momentum. Honey dropped her shield and kicked the spike ball at Dimanu.
The youngster leapt out of the path of the spike ball as it crashed onto the stone ruins floor. But while midair, Dimanu had no time to react when Honey dived down with her clover shield in front of her. "Honey Stamp~!"
Honey rammed her shield into Dimanu's abdomen, slamming him hard into the ground. After her attack, the Pretty Cure landed on her feet and warily observed the dust cloud. Dimanu was seen on his back once the dust cloud dispersed, gently emerging out of the print dent from the ruin ground.
"Not bad," Dimanu declared, wincing a bit. "It was just like yesterday…NowI'm certain you're my destined soulmate!"
"Soulmate?" Unlike a specific boy, Honey was not ignorant to love or relationships. Yet she was still confused. "But what about your friend Sinolia? Doesn't she love you?"
"I think you're mixing up partner love and sibling love," Dimanu replied blankly. "Sinolia's been confessing her to me ever since I saved her." He began frantically rubbing his hair with both of his hands."I keep telling her that I only think of her as a little sister, but will she listen? Nooo! Now she's turned into a yandere, masochist, little sister type girl."
'That explains why she was trying to kill me,' Honey thought with a sweetdrop.
"Okay, enough babbling~!" Dimanu yelled as he pounded his fist together, with a challenging grin. "If you want to learn more about me, then you have to beat me!"
"How…?"
Sinolia remained on the ground. She was still surprised that Touma managed to land a punch when she turned herself into mist. "How did he…hit me?"
'So my right hand can nullify devil fruit users,' The boy didn't expect Imagine Breaker to work against a devil fruit, since he didn't test it on Luffy, Robin or Chopper. Touma glanced down at the stunned girl. "So do you give up?"
"No…" Sinolia mumbled in rage as she rapidly vanished from where she lay. Touma took a cautious glance around to determine precisely where she was.
Touma, instinctively sidesteps to the left, avoiding Sinolia's thrusting her sword at his back. After dodging, Touma shifted his upper body, to grab hold of her wrist with his right hand, emitting a glass shattering sound.
Panicking, Sinolia tried to turn her body into mist, but felt weaker and couldn't move. 'What's going on?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Touma's left hook jabbed underneath her chin, raising her body off the ground. Sinolia regained her devil fruit powers once Touma let go and she used it to turn her lower body into mist, making her float in the air. She kept a safe distance away from Touma.
"I'll need to attack from a safe distance," Sinolia whispered. She raised her arms, allowing the mist surrounding her to mimic both her limbs and her weapon. "Mist Mist: Illusion!"
Sinolia rushed towards Touma, slashing her swords at him without warning. Touma had no choice but to avoid and duck all of her swings since he had no idea which of her arms were real.
"Hold on! Can't we just talk about this?" Touma begged, just avoiding the horizontal slice aiming at his neck. "ACK~! I'm not a swordsman! So you don't have to be tha-Whoa~!" Touma tumble back as his left sleeve was cut. "Aggressive!"
Sinolia stayed honed in on the guy, not allowing him to close the gap between them. After avoiding a vertical slash, Touma quickly brought his right hand in front to counter the second slash which made her arm and the sword vanished into mist. Just after dispeling one of her fake arms, Sinolia used her real arm to leave a slight gash on his right arm.
"Gh!" Touma gritted his teeth in pain, and curled his right palm into a fist, preparing to punch Sinolia in the skull. She intercepted the punch with the blunt tip of her second blade, then kicked Touma in the stomach, knocking the wind out of his lungs as he staggered back.
"You may have caught me off guard before, but I'm not going to let it happen again," Sinolia murmured. She took a step back, disappearing into the mist cloud.
Touma coughed a little before realizing Sinolia was gone. "Great," He groaned as he slowly stood up. "Where did she go now?"
Sinolia smashed her fist into the boy's left cheeks, startling him. He stumbled for a moment before regaining his feet. Sinolia emerged in Touma's blind spot and shanked her blade into his chest before he could react.
Touma's eyes widened, yet he felt no pain or discomfort. The blade and the arm plunged into his chest were both fake. Sinolia used the opportunity to punch him in the face with her free hand. The boy staggered on the ground,and quickly checked his chest only to realize there wasn't any blood. 'It looked like…I was going to die…I have to be really careful with her."
Sinolia resumed her six-arm onslaught, not allowing Touma any room to breathe as he ducked or dodged. The boy swatted one of her illusioned arms, turning it into mist. after hearing his Imagine Breaker going off. However, it only lasted a second before reappearing again.
'She's able to replace her arms instantly?' Touma quickly shifted his head to the right, as one of her arms aimed at his face, only knick his cheeks. Touma reached out to grab it but Sinolia was one step ahead and kicked him again in the stomach, knocking him back into a stone wall.
"Knowing what your right hand is capable of, all I have to do is to not let you touch me.," Sinolia confirmed as she aimed her arms swords at his neck. "Now tell me, where did that hussy go off too?! I still have unfinished business with her!"
"I-I have no idea where they went to," Touma fibbed poorly. "Honestly, all Honey mentioned was that she had to talk to Dima-."
"What?" Sinolia radiated a dark anger that made Touma shudder. "Are you in on this? Do you think that your girlfriend is trying to cheat on you for my Dimmy?"
"H-Hold on there! First, Cure Honey is not my girlfriend! I-I don't have a girlfriend!" Touma denied waving his hands in front of him. "And even if she was, why would I be the one to set the-?"
BOOM~!
Before Sinolia could respond, a person slammed into the ground behind the mist girl, scaring her. When the dust settled, she turned around and exclaimed. "D-DImmy?!"
Dlmanu lay unmoving in the heart of the crater, flat on his back. His entire shirt was gone, exposing his toned abs, yet it was wrapped in a yellow golden ribbon.
"Dimmy's chest," Sinolia wailed. Her anxious expression changed to joy as she drooled with hearts for eyes.
Realizing that Sinolia was distractive, Touma lunged forward and, by coincidence, caught her left arm with his right arm, forcing her illusory arms to disappear.
"AH~!" The girl screamed, startled by the sudden action. Touma grabbed her arms behind her back and yanked them behind her back, dropping her swords. Sinolia gritted her teeth, but felt her body weakening a bit due to his right hand. "No,"
"Sorry, but you've lost," Touma stated, glancing at the boy on the ground. "You and your friend."
"Nice job Touma," Cure Honey landed in front of the motionless Dimanu. She had minor injuries from her fight against Dimanu. "I knew you were able to beat her."
"You know you could've mentioned the part of her using a weapon or something," Touma lamented.
"Sorry, I forgot to mention that," Honey sheepishly said.
"Damn…" Dimanu hissed as he was still barely conscious. His injuries were visible a bit, as he stared at the sky. "Who would have expected that a cool girl like you could wound me so badly?…I'm guessing that you don't feel the same way?"
"Sorry, but I can't accept your feelings for me,"Honey responded. "But that doesn't stop us from being friends. You are a really interesting person, who doesn't hold back on your feelings. Someday you'll find your soulmate, if you keep trying."
"...You are so corny," Dimanu bluntly stated. He sounded a bit off, which Honey noticed. "Which is really making it hard not to like you about it…You're wrong about one thing though…
…SINOLIA~!"
Hearing Dimanu's calling her, Sinolia understood the situation and stomped on Touma's foot, forcing him to let go of her. Once she regained her devil fruit powers, Sinolia sprayed a massive cloud of mist towards Dimanu and Honey. The Pretty Cure was startled by this and quickly stepped back.
SLURP~!
All the mist in the area was suddenly swarming around the dragon slayer. Honey and Touma regained their vision and were taken aback when they realized what was going on.
"I-Is he serious?" Touma questioned in shock.
"H-He's consuming all the mist around him," Honey realized in surprise.
While remained spread out on his back, Dimanu opened his mouth and was inhaling all the mist around him. His body emitted a faint mist effect, with his blue hair casting a shadow over his eyes and a wide smirk on his face.
"Now this feels soooo GREAT~!" Dimanu rose to his feet after finishing the mist. His body was coated in dark gray dragon scales, and a white mist encircled green eyes glowing with a devilish grin on his face as he stared at Honey. His right arm morph into a spear. "Ready for round two?"
Dimanu shot his spear arm at lightning speed, piercing into Honey's chest before she could even respond.
"Ah…" Honey eyes widened in shock staring down.
"HONEY~!" Touma yelled out witnessing this fatal spear was visible for nearly a second before it vanished. Leaving the precure was uninjured and perplexed.
'I was all an illusion?' Honey wondered still. When she gathered her mind straight, Dimanu's fist was already an inch close to her face.
She was blasted back by his powerful right hook. She screamed in pain when she crashed into the stone ruin behind her.
"Honey~!" Touma cried out, shocked by how fast the boy was suddenly.
"Dimmy looks so cool," Sinolia gazed while drooling.
"W-What did you do to him?" Touma asked, glancing at her.
"This is Dimanu's dual mode we created together," Sinolia answered feeling a bit light headed "May…I present…Dimanu's Mist Prism Stone Dual Mode~!"
Honey struggled up from the rubble where she had landed, groaning slightly. She spotted an incoming Dimanu in the air, changing his legs into a club, and teleported out of the path just as he swung it downward.
Dimanu skied on the ground after his attack. When he stood up, he was immediately restrained by Honey's ribbon. Honey appeared behind him. "Touma, please take Sinolia and get far away from here. I'll try to calm Dimanu down."
"...Alright," Touma didn't want to leave Honey to battle the boy alone. But before he could reply he noticed Sinolia collapsing onto her knees, looking weak. The boy nodded his head towards Honey and quickly picked up Sinolia in a piggyback ride. "Just be careful."
Touma left with Sinolia, leaving the two alone. Dimanu stood there motionless for a while until he spoke. "...Are they gone?"
"Yes," Honey replied, a bit surprised by his question.
"Good," He then freed himself from the ribbon by briefly turning his body into mist. "Now that she's safe, I can finally do what I need to do.…"
"...Dimanu?" Honey called out, having an uneasy feeling about the boy.
"Sorry, but I let you hit me with that last attack so that I could get closer to Sinolia," Dimanu confessed, calmly. "I can only enter this dual function when she's around. Which takes a toll on her body, but she'll be OK since that boy's with her."
He stared at his misty hands a bit and flexed his fingers. "Now that I'm in this form, I can definitely slay Eneru! Sinolia and the others will finally be free from his reign of terror~!"
Cure Honey frowned at Dimanu. Ever since he transformed into his dual-mode, she felt the boy's nature sounding off. "...What about you?"
"Me? What about me?"
Honey's blood went cold from his odd response.
"If I kill him…then I'll be useful to others," Dimanu's voice had lost his hyperactive manner. He gave her a small yet empty smile. "Your friends, the Shandians, and the civilians in won't have to worry about him and his Priest anym-."
"But what about you!?" Honey asked again a bit louder. "Why are you sounding like you're not going to survive the fight?"
"Because I won't," His cold answer made her flinch. "I know that even if I managed to hurt Eneru, that doesn't mean he can't kill me. Many Devil Fruit users have managed to get a few hits on I'm not invincible against them. Hell, I was ranked the weakest Octadict Slayer."
"I-If that's the case, then why do you want to face Eneru alone?!" She questioned, still confused about his goal.
"Because…a monster like me," Dimanu paused briefly before turning to face her. Honey jolted when he noticed tears were forming down his cheeks, with a weak smile. "Doesn't deserve to live."
'H-He's crying,' Honey was at a loss for words as she looked at him, startled yet sad.
"Damn it, why the hell am I crying?" Dimanu quickly wiped his tears with his right arm.
"A-Are you okay?" Honey asked in concern.
"Look I don't need your pity," Dimanu denied a bit harshly. "This is what I was created for, to slay Logia type, which are the most hazardous kind of devil fruit users. I'm not saying I'm going to kill myself, I won't rest till Eneru's dead. I'll be glad if my actions can protect... Sinolia."
"..." Honey's eyes were obscured by her yellow hair, and she tightened her hands slightly. "...Can you really defeat God and come back alive?"
"I..." For the first time, Dimanu trailed off, seeming conflicted. Her question startled him, but he swiftly shook his head in fury. "I already made up my mind. You should just forget someone like m-."
POW~!
Honey's fist landed into Dimanu's left cheek, forcing him to stumble back a bit. He glanced at her with a odd look. "...What are you doing?"
"Stopping you," Honey said, a determined expression on her face. "I'm not sure what you were going through to think that way, But I will not let you sacrifice yourself!"
"Well…I guess it's on you then," Dimanu declared as he faced the yellow Pretty Cure. His grin grew wider and devilish as he flexed his magic. "Because, I will kill you to get to Eneru!"
Gwen: Happy World Goth Day~!
Freddy/Raven/Peace: Happy World Goth Day~! [They pop their poppers, releasing cockroaches.]
Sanya: Ah~!
Peace: W-What? Cockroaches?!
Yang: Well that explains why the poppers were moving.
Gwen: You can't expect us not to use cockroaches in the poppers.
Shiho: Could you at least use gummy cockroaches?
Raven: It's not the same! And that Leone the entire bag full of them.
Varvula: We really need security around the Bulk Barn section.
Raven: Next Chapter: C. Honey vs Mist Stone Dimanu.
Freddy: So should we be concerned about the cockroaches?
Gwen: Just let nature take its course. I release some spiders into the store, so they'll handle it.
Yang: And that explains the weird lump on my back. [He pulls his shirt back, and shows the others who gagged and looked away while Gwen stared at it.]
Gwen: Awesome.