"... Wow? Really? All that just from visiting your hometown?"
Shin chuckled as he leaned against the wall of his room. He looked out the corner of his eye and saw Vivi taking a nap in the bed while Ran curled up on his lap. Clean-up was being taken care of by the Exorcists from each of the three ruling families and headed by his aunt. His parents were taking part in it due to their rather extensive expertise in hunting people down.
"Yeah, it was a wild vacation," Shin said.
"Hmm… I'm so jealous. Nothing much happened on my end. I just ended up training with Dad and Lady Mot. Did Akeno tell you that I got my third pair of wings?" Sophia said.
Shin smiled. Her smug tone could not be any clearer than it was now. It was that signature Lucifer pride of hers coming through.
"No, I haven't been able to call her. The place where she is has a very bad signal," Shin said.
"Well, she is in Sheol. The place is infested with a lot of energy spots that can interfere with any signal, electrical or magical. By the way, did you really use… her Authority?" she asked.
Shin paused for a few seconds. He knew what she meant by her Authority. Truth to be told, Shin had tried contacting Yaldabaoth a few times after the battle ended but he got no response. He couldn't even feel her presence within the Stigma nor his mind. It was as if she was blocking him out completely.
"I did, yeah. I got some control of it enough to use it with a medium but…" Shin held his hand out and flexed his fingers. Small pixels populated his hand, distorting the air slightly before flickering out of existence. "I can't control it completely yet. I was thinking of asking Yeshua for some advice like last time but then I realized that man has a bad way of explaining things."
He closed his hand, balling it into a fist. Blue and red aura swirled around his fist briefly.
"Hmmm, why not ask Dad? Or someone else? I heard Lady Uriel was going to be Heaven's Representative in Kuoh. Yeshua is going to be there from time to time but it's mostly to help Akeno gain control of the Law of Conquest," Sophia replied.
"Lady Uriel? The fujoshi?" Shin asked.
He heard a pregnant pause on the other end before he heard a heavy sigh. "Right, that. Auntie Fujoshiriel," she said.
"I guess it couldn't hurt to try to ask her. I just hope she actually dumbs it down for me instead of just giving me a whole spiel of physics stuff," Shin said.
"Aren't you going to be an engineer? Shouldn't you understand this physics stuff?" Sophia asked.
"That's way outside the scope of engineering," he retorted.
A short pause passed between them.
"How… How is Issei?" Shin asked.
"Issei? Issei is training with Tannin on how to control the Boosted Gear. Rias and Azazel crafted his entire training plan based on the fact that he's greener than grass. But from what I heard, the amount of torture we put him through actually did something," she replied. "But that's not what you're asking about, right?"
Shin nodded and Sophia seemed to sense this.
"Last I tried, I tried to get Rias to ask him about you but… he sort of shut her out and just stopped talking to her for a few hours," Sophia said.
Shin flinched. "I… I really messed up there, didn't I? He and Irina were just trying to help…"
"Look, I'm not a therapist but you were a jerk to them. Especially since Irina is his girlfriend now, I would imagine Issei would be very offended and mad that you called her that," she said.
Shin cringed as she reminded him of the very words he used.
"Just try to talk to him at least when you get back. He should be a little fine after. It's been almost 20 days. And since he's going to a party with Rias after, he should be really fine. She should butter him up enough for you to at least get some words out," Sophia said.
"I don't even know what to say," Shin said.
"Then figure something out. It's not my job to come up with an apology speech for you. You're his childhood friend so it should be easy for you to come up with something," she replied.
"You're very helpful," he said dryly.
"Well, anyway, have fun at the festival. Make sure you beat your cousin, 'kay?" Sophia asked.
"That doesn't sound very enthusiastic. Do you even have any faith in me?" Shin said.
"Aww, of course, I do. How could you think so lowly of me, Shin-kun," Sophia said.
After a few seconds, the two burst out laughing.
"Ahaha, alright. Don't get your ass kicked through a mountain by your Dad," Shin said.
"Yeah, and don't lose to your cousin. Again," she replied.
"That's a low blow and you know it," he said.
"Life's not fair, you know. Anyway, see ya in a few days!"
He heard the line cut off and he ended the call. Shin leaned his head against the wall and stroked Ran's fur.
It had only been 20 days. To Shin, the entire stay had felt like a lifetime. Confronting his inner selves. Being faced with the weakness he had and charged it head-on. Confronting his older sister. And he had finally begun to walk on his own.
"Do not forget who we are."
Shin smiled as he remembered the words of his inner self just before waking up. Still, becoming a member of the Seven Stars is kind of a tall order. One step at a time I guess, Shin thought as he stood, gently carrying Ran in his arms.
He walked toward the door and reached out to open it when the door swung open.
"Eh? Akemi-neesan?"
Akemi stood in front of him, reading a novel. She spared him no glance and just beckoned for him to follow after her.
Shin left the room and followed after her. It was rather easy to keep up with the woman. She walked in a slow pace and despite her attention being solely focused on her book, she expertly maneuvered around the furniture in the house.
"Er… Akemi-neesan? Where are we going?" he asked.
"Old Lady Sakurai is calling for a family meeting. She asked me to get you. Aunt Ayaka went to go find Kureha and Akane is with Asia," Akemi said, glancing over her shoulder.
"Grandma?" Shin gulped subconsciously.
His mother and grandmother had an oftentimes tense relationship and that created a sort of space between her children and their grandmother. Despite that, Akane and Shin both knew that Sakurai cared deeply for them yet her cold and frigid persona often interfered in how she showed it.
"I don't think it's anything major. Yasuo's actions have the entirety of the Amawaka family under a microscope and since the lady was the former heiress, she feels like it's her responsibility or something," she replied.
Shin stayed silent.
The aftermath of the attack had yet to set into the village properly. Outsiders and tourists had their minds wiped of the incident altogether while all the surviving members of Shuen were arrested and placed in a holding cell beneath Mitejima's main house. And as a result of Yasuo's involvement, all the other members of the Amawaka Clan were under a microscope for their allegiances.
"Is… Are they going to get exiled from Serikawa?" Shin asked.
"No… at least I don't think so. I know for sure that they're distancing themselves from Yasuo as much as they can but… it's not looking so good since there were members of the House in Shuen. Not like Mitejima can speak either, they have a few and we had a few distant relatives there as well," Akemi said.
"I… see," Shin said.
"It's not going to be long. Grandma is just going to update us on what's going to happen. After that, the Dragon Festival will proceed as planned," Akemi said as she pressed her hand against the door.
She pushed it open, alerting those already inside.
Asia and Akane were seated next to each other. Their gazes turned toward the two as soon as the door opened. Shin caught sight of his parents and aunt talking together, not even noticing that he had entered. At the head of the table, his grandfather sat, hands folded with his grandmother seated to his right. Her eyes were closed and her arms were crossed. Shin, in addition, saw a few distant relatives that he did not know the name of and he sat down next to Asia.
"Ah, Shin is here. We can start," Ayaka said, standing from her spot.
"Very well." Sakurai opened her eyes, revealing her golden irises. "Ayaka."
Ayaka ignored her mother's tone and continued. "All the members of Shuen have been apprehended and dealt with. They've been neutralized for a lack of better terms. Rest assured, they won't be a threat anymore."
"Are they…?" Asia asked.
"No," Sakurai replied. "We've completely wiped their identities with powerful mind magic. Who they were. What life they led. And everything they knew. They're completely gone thanks to Akari's Law of Sentience completely rewriting their entire person."
"That's…"
Everyone in the room had a lack of words. Essentially, they executed all the members without actually killing the physical body. Rather, the members experienced a literal death of personality.
"Right, furthermore, there is more to Shuen than we initially thought. Mom found something when she was off in Kyoto," Ayaka said.
"Mmm, Yasuo had a benefactor in Kyoto. I can't be sure if my guess is true but all evidence points to it being him," Sakurai said, taking a sip of her tea.
Tenma furrowed his brow and rubbed his forehead. "Really? Him? Did World War II not teach him anything? Do I need to go back there again?"
"Idiot." Sakurai pinched his arm. Tenma yanked his arm away, giving his wife a look similar to a puppy that had its bone taken away. "We cannot afford to start a war with that family of all families. Especially since they still have their iron grip on the Five Principal Clans after almost a thousand years."
"That… family? You mean Tsuchimikado?" Asia said.
Shin and Akane looked to their parents for confirmation and their look gave them all the answers they needed. The Tsuchimikado Family was commonly known as the world's strongest exorcist family, whose powers and influence surpassed that of the Five Principal Clans. It was only natural. They were the descendants of Abe-no-Seimei.
Sakurai blinked and looked at her daughter's new daughter with some surprise in her eyes. A brief smirk flashed across her face. Too brief for even Akane's trained senses to catch. "Mmm. Minami Tsuchimikado has recently ascended to headship but she is young. And despite being powerful, her support base among the clan's elders are small and few therefore, she has barely anyone to rely on."
"Which means, Asia, that Hourai is probably still running around under her nose… or perhaps she knows and she doesn't have the power to stop it right now," Ayaka said.
"Either way, the connection is there but we lack solid evidence for it. We can only afford to guess for now," Sakurai said.
"If Hourai decides to come for round 2, I'd be happy to pulverize him completely this time. I didn't last time because it would have leveled the country in the process," Tenma said.
"Mmm. That is all. I apologize for interrupting your day for such a brief meeting. Please head back and prepare for the festival," Sakurai said.
With those words, most of the visitors left the room, whispering in hushed tones until the only ones left were Shin, his sisters, his parents, Akemi, his aunt, Kureha, and his parents and grandparents.
"Akari, you never told me that you had another child," Sakurai said, placing her cup down.
"You were gone," she replied.
"Still, even if I was gone, you should have informed me of the situation," Sakurai said, rapping her fingers against the table.
Shin glanced back and forth between his mother and grandmother. He could tell his father was prepared to throw something up in the event that his wife and her mother came to blows. Rowan caught a glimpse of Shin's stare and smiled reassuringly.
"Er… it's not Mom's fault, Grandma," Shin spoke up.
Sakurai's eyes flitted over and Shin felt a sudden overwhelming need to shrink in his chair. Yet, he continued to speak. "Mom and Dad were away on business regarding the recent ongoings of the Christian Church and… we sort of never told them until Onee got home."
"If I had known ahead of time…" Sakurai pinched the bridge of her nose.
If… she had known? Was the thought that passed through everyone's head.
"I would have prepared something to welcome her," she said.
Akari nearly crushed her glass in surprise. Rowan's eyes bugged out of his glasses and even Tenma was shocked by his wife's words.
"What?" Sakurai asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Sorry… you were going to welcome her?" Akari asked.
"Of course. It is an auspicious occasion that we are blessed with another heir-"
"W- Wait! But when Akari brought me, you made me go through a gauntlet just to date her!" Rowan protested.
"You are an unknown man with possibly perverse intentions toward my daughter," she replied.
"M- MOM!" Akari said.
"Wait, what about all those words about keeping the bloodline pure?" Ayaka asked.
"Y- Yeah, I'm not a Furude by blood. Shin told me that… adopting someone is tantamount to a blood crime," Asia said.
Shin immediately shrank in his seat, trying to ignore the pointed looks his grandparents gave him.
"In the past, back when my parents were alive, it would be. However, over time, Sakurai and I realized something after Akari left Serikawa. The old ways cannot sustain us for much longer. Clinging to old traditions is causing a breakdown to the unity our houses were supposed to have. Therefore, this year, Sakurai and I decided to try something different," Tenma said. "Of course, being ignored by our daughter every time she came home for the Dragon Festival… was a major contributing factor."
"So… you'll accept Asia… just like that?" Shin asked.
"No. She is a Furude. A Furude must go through all the qualifications before we can even deem to think of her as someone for the line of succession. As for her taking your father's last name, we cannot stop Akari and Rowan from doing what they want," Sakurai replied.
Rowan and Akari let out a sigh of relief. Asia's eyes welled up with tears. "T- Thank you," she said, flashing Sakurai and Tenma a smile.
Tenma smiled while Sakurai looked away with a hint of embarrassment on her face. "Y- You can all leave n- now. Asia, stay here."
Asia blinked and glanced at her older siblings before nodding.
The others left the room while Asia remained behind. Shin walked with his hands in his pockets next to his older sister, Akemi, and Kureha. The four separated from Akari, Rowan, and Ayaka and walked out into the village proper.
"It was… a hectic 20 days," Kureha said, looking at the blue sky.
"Hectic for you. I was busy running festival preparations," Akemi said dryly.
"Mmm," Akane replied, placing her hands in the pockets of her shorts.
"So… Kureha, about our match?" Shin said.
"Hmph, we just finished a fight and you want to fight already? You really are Aka-nee's little brother," Kureha said.
"O- Oi, I'm not a battle freak," Akane said, blushing in embarrassment.
Shin gave her a dry look before refocusing his attention on Kureha. "Hmph, I just want to get it out of the way this year. So I can finally stop calling you-"
"We can do it after the Ryuugami Kagura. I still need to prepare for that with Akemi, Akane, and Asia. After that, I can beat you into the ground again," Kureha said, smiling cheekily at him.
"Like hell, you will," Shin retorted.
"Alright you two, save it for after the Ryuugami Kagura. For now, Shin and I need to finish our training before we head back," Akane said, grabbing her younger brother by the back of the collar.
"That's fine. Akemi and I are going to go train too in the yard. At least by then, I'll be somewhat prepared to take whatever Shin can throw at me." Kureha's mind flashed back to Shin's finishing technique.
Soumetsu Rasen. The effect of it was devastating. The ability to split the world open and cause massive devastation to the target and their surroundings. Kureha clenched her fists. "Just watch, Shin."
Shin grinned and nodded.
"Come on, you big baby," Akane said, dragging him off.
"You know," Akemi said, watching Akane and Shin get further and further away. "You might lose this year."
"I know. And he knows that too. But he knows he might lose again and as long as he thinks that, then I'll have the upper hand if he doesn't know what I'm going to pull," Kureha replied.
Akemi sighed. "You and your attempts at psychological warfare," she said in exasperation.
As planned, the Dragon Festival proceeded without any problem. Those that passed during Shuen's repeated attacks on the village were given a small funeral prior to the village and a moment of silence was held over the intercom. However, the troubles of the past 20 days had been quelled and the celebrations began. The mood of the entire village was higher than it had been in a while.
Shin walked past the stalls with a camera around his neck. Riser walked next to him. He had a pair of sunglasses over his eyes and he kept looking to the center stage, located near the main Shrine.
"We still have time before the Ryuugami Kagura," Shin said.
"Yeah, I'm kind of nervous," Riser replied. He placed his hand in his left pocket, fiddling with a small box inside.
"Don't be nervous. Some things in life you just gotta go in and grab. Like that one time I proposed to your Mom out of the blue when we first met back in Oxford. Just don't embarrass my daughter up there, Phenex," a voice said from behind.
Riser jumped when he heard the sudden voice behind him. Shin and Riser turned around to see Rowan standing behind them with a cotton candy in his hand. He took a bite out of the cotton candy and gave Riser a stern look.
"Er…"
"Dad, did you… really propose to Mom when you first met?" Shin asked.
"Yup. Prettiest woman I've ever met in my entire life. We just clicked-"
"We did not just click," Akari said, coming up from behind. She reached over and pulled his ear, causing him to yelp in pain. "You were an annoying pain in my ass during Uni."
"Oh yeah, I was definitely a pain in more places than your as-"
Akari stomped on his foot, her face red in embarrassment.
Riser felt a bead of sweat trickling down his head. He could clearly see where Akane and Shin's penchant for lecherous, inappropriate jokes came from and it was not their extremely flustered mother.
"Dad, I think you'll be the one embarrassing Onee up there and not Riser," Shin said dryly, almost wanting to slap his forehead.
"Anyway, Riser, what my husband is saying is right. You need to just do it. I have no doubt in my mind that Kane will say yes," Akari said, giving him a reassuring smile.
Riser nodded and clenched the box in his pocket like a lifeline. He took a deep breath and exhaled. Slapping both of his cheeks, Riser put on a determined expression and turned his gaze toward the stage near the Shrine's deck. "Right! Right! I got this!"
"That's the spirit," Shin said.
The sudden sound of taiko drums going off caught their attention.
"Ah, it looks like the Ryuugami Kagura is about to start," Rowan said. "Come on."
The four made their way to a crowd of people gathering around the stage. Riser looked around and spotted numerous people with their hands clasped and praying fervently. "What are they praying for?" he asked.
"The Dragon Festival isn't just a celebration. It was a way to honor the dearly departed. It was started after Akatsuki died to honor her and all the people who defended Serikawa when Himejima and his forces decided to slaughter us off," Akari said.
"This year with Shuen and everything that's going on, I guess people are using the Dragon Festival to pray for the souls of their loved ones," Rowan said.
"And the dance?" he asked.
"The Dance is supposed to symbolize Akatsuki Furude and her pact with the Divine Dragon. Even when the Dragon of Fragments supposedly betrayed her," Shin said, making air quotes when he said the word "betrayed". "Some people though think that the dance is how the Great Ancestor made a pact to the heavens and that making a prayer for those lost during the dance will guarantee them much deserved rest in the afterlife."
"I see…" Riser looked back toward the empty stage.
The taiko drummer began to beat the drum even faster and the flute player began to blow into the flute.
On cue, Akane, Kureha, Asia, and Ravel all came out dressed in miko outfits. Each one carried a different ceremonial weapon. Akane carried a katana, Kureha carried a bow, Asia carried a staff, and Ravel carried a spear.
"What are those?" Riser asked.
"Each of them are weapons Akatsuki Furude supposedly wielded. Of course, the only one we actually know for sure she had was Ryuuou. The others were just based on accounts during her life-"
"Akatsuki actually used a spear at one point."
Shin and Riser jumped. They turned to see Moryo hovering in the air next to them, watching the dance intently.
The four girls began rhythmically moving their weapons up and down as if repeatedly offering them.
"The bow, however, was used by one of her students, Tenjin, who would become the ancestor of the Mitejima, while the staff was used by Rinne, who would become the Amawaka ancestor," Moryo explained.
"Do you actually know why the dance was created?" Shin asked, seeing Moryo's eyes fixated on Asia's footwork as she moved in a circle with the other girls.
"Mmm. The Ryuugami Kagura goes by another name. I heard you can perform it well," she said, turning her gaze to him.
"Another name?" Shin asked.
"Mmm. This is, of course, performed ceremonially, but the movements and footwork are that of the Watanagashi no Mai," she said.
"E- Eh!?" Shin and Riser's eyes widened.
"Watch." Moryo pointed her thumb toward the stage.
Shin and Riser focused their gaze on them and Shin could now see the individual movements. The fast-paced but fluid footwork, the precise hand movements, and the overall flowing circular motion. They were characteristic to that of the Watanagashi-no-Mai.
"No way," Shin said.
"Just because they can do it though. It doesn't mean they can perform it in actual battle," Moryo said. "Doing it in combat requires more skill than dancing it out step by step."
And with those words, the girls performed the final step of the dance, characterized by a sweeping edge with their intended ceremonial weapon, though it looked extremely comical with the bow. Nevertheless, the crowd erupted in joyous applause.
The girls bowed to the crowd.
"It's now or never," Riser said.
Shin watched as Riser made his way to the front of the crowd, pushing past people.
"Wow, I didn't know he was this determined." Vivi manifested next to him with her arms crossed. She had several takoyaki with her.
"Yeah," Shin said. He glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw his father recording the entire event.
"Are today's courtship methods different than before?" Moryo asked.
"Oh yeah, totally different." Vivi floated next to her and offered her a takoyaki, which she gratefully accepted.
"Akane!"
Shin watched as Riser finally burst through the crowd, panting. His older sister looked up with a surprised expression on her face.
"Riser? What are you-"
"I'm not going to wait anymore! I told you last night that I had something important to tell you!" Riser said.
"E- Eh? Riser, what are you-" Akane's words died in her mouth when she saw Riser get on one knee and pull a box out of his pocket.
"Akane! Marry me!" Riser declared in a loud voice that stunned everyone into silence.
Akane stood there, holding the ceremonial katana. She was at a loss for words. Shin watched his sister's eyes go through several different emotions: surprise, denial, rationalization, and finally, he witnessed an emotion he had never seen his older sister express.
Akane slowly stumbled forward, shakily moving toward the front of the stage before taking off in a full-blown sprint. She hopped over the railing and ran toward Riser, tackling him in a hug.
"W- Wha…?" Riser looked up at her before she cut him off by planting her lips on his.
Several cheers erupted through the crowd and on stage with Kureha being the loudest.
Akane pulled away from the kiss, panting slightly. With a blush on her face, she simply replied, "Yes."
Riser suddenly shot up, holding his sister and spinning her around while she laughed with tears in her eyes.
"Mmm. Akane is engaged… and she's still in high school too. Wait no, after this summer ends, Akane is about to enter her first year in university, no?" Vivi asked.
"Mmm. Onee's been doing a lot of extra classes so she can graduate early. It doesn't help that she's the second in her class. I think only Sona Sitri has her outmatched there and she turned 18 already," Shin said.
"How do you feel? Your sister is engaged," Vivi asked.
"Nothing. I feel happy for Onee. I guess I am a bit sad. It feels like she's being taken away," Shin said.
"Yeah, but no matter what, Akane will always be your older sister. That girl will never stop caring for you," Vivi said.
"Hmph, I know. I just dread the day I have to introduce a girlfriend to Onee," Shin said.
"Pfft, that's true," Vivi replied.
"The Ryuugami Kagura is over. I'll leave Riser and Onee alone together. Akemi agreed to ref the match between me and Kureha," Shin said, watching as Akane and Riser left the front of the stage holding hands. He caught sight of the gleaming ruby ring on his sister's ring finger and smiled. "Besides, Onee deserves this rest."
Shin waited patiently underneath a tree by the creek. Ever since Shuen was defeated and Moryo's power had been dispersed and reabsorbed back into her body, the forests of Mount Benizakura had undergone a drastic change. The suffocating feeling of the woods no longer existed and the youkai that lived there were no longer feral. However, there were still some that remained tainted by Moryo's aura, having been exposed to her power for centuries. Ran sat patiently in the branches, checking her nails for dirt while Vivi napped in midair.
"Look at you, waiting patiently for me while I got changed."
Shin looked up and saw Kureha and Akemi approaching the creek. Asia followed closely behind them with Moryo sitting on her head in her miniature dragon form.
He got off the tree and straightened himself. His cousin was dressed in her usual attire consisting of an oversized shirt and black shorts. Only this time, rather than sandals, Kureha wore a pair of black sneakers with long black socks. She did a few stretches and threw a few punches before pulling out a black talisman from her pocket.
"Not wasting time, are we?" Shin taunted, pulling out Hirume's talisman. He looked up at Ran, who cracked open an eye. "Ran, make sure no one comes here."
"As you wish, Master." Ran vanished from her spot, leaving a few flaming black flickers.
"Tenka, you do the same," Kureha ordered.
A small pink fox peeked out from under her shirt and disappeared in a puff of pink smoke.
"Alright, Asia is going to be here to heal the loser after the match is over. That being said, the rules are going to be mostly the same with some additions. In lieu of the battle you two had yesterday, the win conditions this year will be slightly different. Rather than the usual, whoever can't fight any longer is the loser, the first person to get knocked on their back loses. Balance Breaker and Mystic Gear Armament is not allowed. Likewise, lethal attacks are also not allowed which means… Shin, a majority of your weapons and the Exterminate Ray cannot be used and Kureha, Blaze Black Flare, and all high-level Exorcist spells are not allowed.
"However, standard talismans for enhancing strength, speed, and durability are allowed. Regular elemental magic is allowed. The base form of the Mystic Gear is allowed. Starting distance is 50 feet apart," Akemi said.
"Good luck," Shin said.
"You too. Of course, I don't need the luck, Shin-chan," Kureha said.
The two shook hands and walked fifty feet apart from each other. Shin narrowed his eyes as Kureha summoned Homusubi from her Black Talisman and widened her stance slightly.
"Hirume," Shin called out. A familiar katana manifested in a swirl of dark blue flames into his hands. He held the blade in front of him and shifted his feet slightly apart and turned his left heel outward by a small amount.
Akemi raised her hand into the air, eyes flitting between the two combatants.
"BEGIN!" she announced.
Without any form of hesitation, Shin and Kureha shot off from their respective spots and met in the middle. The clash of their weapons created a momentary gust of wind that disturbed the waters and dust around them.
The two began to furiously attack one another. A swing was met with a block and an attempted shot was met with a deflect.
Sparks flew everywhere as their weapons clashed together over and over again. From the perspective of their two audience members, Shin and Kureha were evenly matched.
Kureha deflected Hirume with the barrel of her guns before kicking Shin in the gut, sending him sliding back.
Shin stabbed Hirume into the ground, stopping him from going any further. He looked up and saw Kureha's shadowy figure above him. She brought her heel down atop his head in an axe kick.
Shin raised his arms and blocked the kick. The force of the blow cracked the ground beneath them. Shin clenched his jaw and pushed her off, causing her to flip in midair and land gracefully on the ground.
"Seiso…"
Shin narrowed his eyes when he saw Kureha dispel one of the pistols and rear her hand back. Red flames began gathering at the tips of her fingers.
"Entei!"
In a flash of orange-red light, Kureha appeared directly in front of him, thrusting her knife hand at his head at great speeds.
Almost immediately, Shin leaned out of the way, narrowly avoiding the blow. The force tore into his clothing. Shin shifted on his feet and drove his knee into Kureha's midsection.
The air was knocked out of Kureha's lungs and she coughed up spittle. Her eyes narrowed and she stumbled back but caught herself before she could fall.
In one swift motion, she delivered a devastating left hook toward Shin's face with the weight of her pistol along with its butt giving it added force.
Shin's head snapped to the side and he slid, using all of his effort to remain upright.
"Haaah!"
The two roared and resumed their furious clash, rapidly trading blows. Their bodies flickered and it appeared as if they had multiple arms. Their speed increased and they disappeared and flickered across the field, disappearing and reappearing across the field.
"They're even," Asia commented, watching Kureha's Seiken clash with Shin's Shinto Hana.
"No. Shin is… slightly ahead of her," Akemi said, crossing her arms.
"Eh?" Asia looked over to her.
"See, Kureha is putting in slightly more effort than she usually does when she and Shin spar. She's… being slowly pushed back."
As if on cue, Shin parried her blow and swung Hirume. A ripping flaming wave tore through the air, slamming into Kureha. An explosion rocked the area, sending violent waves of water crashing into the shore and uprooting several small plants.
"Kh!" Kureha panted. Shin's blows were getting stronger. She eyed him carefully. A few of her attacks had hit home judging from the bruises on his arms and face, as well as the numerous cuts on his person.
One hit. All we need is one hit and the other goes down. Shin's training with Aka-nee is really paying off. At this rate, he might get that one hit, Kureha thought
However, the mere notion made her blood boil. She was, after all, a Furude. Like her ancestors before her, combat was in her genetic code much like it was for her cousins.
One hit, Shin thought. Akemi said no lethal moves and that means I can't use Failnacht at full… I have to lower the power to fire a concussive force…
Shin held his hand out and summoned Failnacht to his right hand. He flipped Hirume in a reverse grip and held it behind him while holding Failnacht outward slightly. The shift in his foot caused Kureha to narrow her eyes in anticipation.
We'll end it…
…right now…
A blue aura engulfed Shin's body while a violet aura covered Kureha's.
IN ONE HIT!
Kureha's aura increased as she held her middle and index finger up. Shin shifted on his foot and took off toward her with the sound of her rapid chanting filling his ears.
"Let those who turn away and infringe on the divine… be shot down by my divine arrow. Light Warping Bullet." Shin jumped into the air as the ground split apart. He landed a good distance away, watching her movements carefully.
Massive chunks of Earth were lifted into the air. A circle was engraved upon them and they were covered in dark violet flame.
"Aioi." Kureha made a different hand sign. The rocks tripled in size and the aura around them increased in magnitude. She shifted her foot slightly and crouched.
Without warning, she shot forward, bringing the massive flaming stone projectiles with her at breakneck speeds.
"Tch!" Shin shot forward to meet her in the middle.
"It's over!" Kureha yelled as she flipped over her cousin, aiming her Mystic Gear at the back of his neck. She fired a blazing black bullet at him, triggering all the other projectiles to converge on his person.
Shin twisted on his heel and gripped Hirume tightly. "Setsudan, followed by… Sojo - Fire vaporizes Metal!" Hirume's flames surged forth as Shin swung the blade, destroying all the projectiles in a single sweeping slash.
Kureha threw her hand forward. "Sobu - Metal disperses Fire!" The flames collided with a sturdy blue barrier that instantly dispersed itself alongside the flames. When the fire cleared, Kureha's eyes widened to see Shin was gone from his spot.
Her eyes flitted around her surroundings, attempting to track his location.
"There-!" She quickly turned to see Shin appear a short distance from her.
Shin dug his heel into the ground. Increase your speed with Sennko! Shin shot off the ground, avoiding Kureha's shots.
Kureha coated her hand in flames and swung it, unleashing a swathe of red fire.
Shin's body flickered and reappeared above the flaming wave. He landed on the ground and continued his way toward her, increasing his speed with each step. In an instant, Shin shot past her, breaking the air around him from a final increase in speed.
Kureha suddenly felt herself being pulled and spun as the air rapidly filled the vacuum.
W- What! He created a vacuum by shattering the air with Senko! Crap, I need to-
"Sousei Onigari-Ryu - Bullet Raid!"
Shin came to a stop and spun around, aiming Failnacht at her. He performed one backstep, using Senko to increase his speed, and pulled the trigger.
Kureha suddenly found herself being peppered with an endless barrage of stinging light bullets. She found herself being forced back from the relentless onslaught of the bullets.
After several dozen shots, Kureha stood on shaky legs, glaring at Shin. Numerous bruises littered her body. Kureha took a shaky step forward, before falling to one knee. "Fuck… I don't think I can… Akemi! I give!" Kureha said, before falling forward.
Shin rushed toward her and caught her in his arms. Asia and Akemi moved from their spots, making their way toward the two. Asia knelt next to them and began healing Kureha.
"You had that trick up your damn sleeve," Kureha said with a pained chuckle.
"I won, you know what that means," Shin said.
"Kh… fine, Onii-chan," Kureha said. Her face was flushed in embarrassment.
After Kureha was healed, she stood up and crossed her arms. She glared half-heartedly at her cousin. "Just wait til next year, Onii-chan. I'll win next time," she said.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Shin said.
"Onii, stay still," Asia said as she finished healing the final wound.
After a few more seconds, Asia lifted her hand off Shin's body. Shin opened and closed his fist. He did a few stretches before letting out a satisfied sigh. "Ahh! I won this year. What's the win streak now?" he asked.
"I'm still ahead," Kureha said.
"I think you're remembering wrong. I'm ahead of you by two, maybe three matches now," Shin replied.
"Keep dreaming, idiot," Kureha said.
Akemi and Asia looked on with deadpan expressions on their faces as they followed after them. As the four walked back, Shin began to feel something was amiss. He looked up and noticed that the others had vanished without him noticing and that he was no longer in the same place he was before.
His surroundings had drastically changed.
He was no longer in Serikawa. Rather, he found himself standing under a broken violet sky. Numerous stars twinkled in the cracked heavens above, painting an endless, apocalyptic stained glass painting in the sky. The land around him was barren and devoid of life. Even the soil was grey and lacked any ability to support or even sustain the hardiest of plant life. In short, it was a cold and dead world. A harsh, inhospitable hellscape that could not be thought of or imagined by even the most warped minds.
In the distance, Shin spotted the only source of light in this dead world. A massive tree towered into the heavens above. Its branches and canopy stretched across the shattered sky, threatening to sweep the very stars from their places as they swayed in the wind. Shin spotted a glowing golden ring revolving around the canopy. A massive blue light shined at the center of the canopy, giving off an aura that resembled a galaxy or a nebula.
"Where-" Shin instantly fell to his knee. The harsh air burned at his throat and invaded his lungs. He could feel his body beginning to break down. Blood began to trickle down his nose and eyes. The crimson essence leaked out of his ears as well as the toxic air slowly ripped and melted every cell, tissue, and organ inside his body. He crawled forward, attempting to find a way to stop this nightmarish pain.
However, he was offered no respite. As his vision began to swim, Shin noticed a shadow standing over him.
And all of a sudden, that hellish pain vanished.
"What…? What happened? Where…?"
"I've always wondered what the person she chose as her Contractor was like… but now that I see you, I can't help but realize why she chose you. You remind me so much of Ariel when she was younger," a voice said from behind him.
The voice was soothing yet it triggered every survival instinct in his body.
Shin slowly turned around and backpedaled slightly when he saw her.
She was inhumanly beautiful. He could even go so far that her beauty was unholy and tainted. On her head rested a pair of red horns that extended outward. She had long violet hair that extended down to her calves. Her piercing eyes were a swirling mix of blues and violets with a pink ring rotating around a red pupil. Her seductive, curvilinear body was hugged by a black and red body suit.
Her stare froze Shin to his spot. He lost the ability to speak, much less tremble. Her boundless, dark gaze resonated with a fear hidden deep within the genetic code of every being that existed. It was simply the gaze of a predator that had found its prey cornered.
"Welcome to the Tohu-wa-Bohu, Shinku Faulkner. I am Lotan. And I have much to talk to you about," Lotan said.
Tohu-wa-Bohu
A concealed world beyond that of our own, existing far beyond the influence of the Laws of the World.
A world that knows naught of life nor death. A place where space and time followed no set rules.
Truly a world of upheaval and truly that which can be referred to as the World of Finality.
A world where the Dragon of Nihility forever stands watch over the World to prevent Entropy from ever awakening from its eternal slumber.
So we are on the last two chapters of the arc. Shin finally meets Lotan after a while and Riser proposed to Akane like he planned to since... Volume freakin 2. Damn. It took two volumes for him to propose to her. Anyway, now that we're nearing the end of the arc, the end of this arc will be used to set up the next several arcs. As you know, the Red Horseman made his appearance known through Yuuma, one of his Praetors in the previous arc. This last chapter will help segue into the next arc. And the final announcement is that Azure will be going on a short break after this arc so I don't burn out! Anyway, thanks for reading this chapter... if such a reader even exists and remember to go read, Worthless Exorcist, DxD: Alternate, Cat Got Your Tongue, and The Doomsday Option... please?