Thanks for the memories that we shared in those calm days…
DISCLAIMER: DxD does not belong to me~.
"Yasaka-sama, mother of us all, is dead."
Those were the last words spoken before complete silence befell our group and the opposing one in this Buddhist temple here in Gion. The Sun seats on the horizon, lights flicker around us to illuminate the abode, yet nothing is said at all between the Evil Pieces of Berolina Gremory and the monks in front of us, between the two the urn containing the ashes of the fox spirit Yasaka-sama.
After that little show at the entrance of the sanctuary, the head monk and high priest, Ookami Muten, led us to the interiors of the temple. The rocky pathway, the exposed rock lanterns, the carp lake and the nature surrounding us, so calm and morose, reminds me of jii-chan's house, only the pressure here is slightly less suffocating. Once we reached the main temple, the Oshou guided us to the main room, and after getting comfortable, presenting ourselves and sitting on the wooden floor, I passed him the urn and said those words.
Yasaka-sama was dead, and those were her ashes. Nothing but silence after that.
The high priest, Ookami-oshou, widely opened his eyes and, like a statue, didn't move or said a thing, he simply stared at the urn with an intensity that was silent, yet suffocating. Moments felt like hours, and the wish to do or say something was barred by the nothingness surrounding us. Sweat, so much sweat runs down my face, and a lump of air goes down my system, unfortunately echoing a rather rude sound from my throat which snapped the oshou back to his senses, as he blinks in realization, then closes them serenely, as in a prayer.
"I see." He murmurs, also making us realize how long and deep the silence was. I gasp for the air that I was yearning without noticing, and open my mouth to say something, but words die inside my mouth. Ookami-oshou turns his gaze from the urn to us and lowers his head to bow to us. "I deeply appreciate bringing Yasaka dearest's ashes to me. I will make sure that she receives a proper burial and prayers. A person like her deserves that much, as she rests on Buddha's hands now."
"Namu." I awkwardly recite to end his little memoire for the fox spirit, mother of us all. The others of my peerage turn to me, but then clap their hands together to finish it for me, the high priest himself doing it so. Another moment for silence to reign among us, and taking a deep breath, I shift my attention to the man before us. "Hm, Oshou-sama, if I may, what is your relationship with Yasaka-sama?"
"…" The monk slowly turned his gaze towards me, his golden orbs in a serene yet firm stare so much so it feel overwhelming, my peerage peers also feeling the power behind him despite not saying or doing anything. I was going to apologize for the inconvenient question and move on to another subject, but he was faster to politely comply after a quick cough. "… Yasaka dearest was… A close acquaintance. As the current head priest and owner of this temple in Gion, we shared the desire for our two beliefs to peacefully coexist, as difficult as it would be. She whom had no business wanting peace between the wicked youkai and our search for enlightenment, reached out for us in a quest for harmony, and as such, we responded in kind, creating the ceasefire that otherwise would scar both sides. It surprises me that she would want for her ashes to be buried here, though, if only to contain her naturally strong miasma."
"Hm, I see." I nod. I see, so not only to contain the supernatural bomb that has become her remains, but for some closure between the two sides, the youkai faction that is wicked and cruel, and those whom want to search enlightenment. It's a good answer, puts my mind at ease, and as such, I can say that I can trust this one, would a priest lie? But I do feel I might be losing some context about this whole thing. I bow. "Then I'll be leaving the ashes of Yasaka-sama, mother of us all, in your care. Mutsumi-sama entrusted me with her remains, and I shall lend them as well as my trust with you. Please, make her rest peacefully."
"Mutsumi, eh…?" He comments, taking a quick look at me, and I flinch a bit, but soon returning to my usual composure. One, two seconds later, and he sighs, lightly tapping the tap of the urn. "I can see from here you're a good boy, red dragon. For once, I feel like she chose a good match for the task in hand rather than to pick the first boy she can reach within the sheets."
"Ah… How…?"
"Mutsumi of the Kanto faction is known for her salacious exploits, so much so we use her as a kind of boogieman that will undoubtedly try to persuade and seduce our apprentices into earthly desires." He reaches a hand for his brows and give it a tired rub, sighing. "She is an outstanding leader and a powerful youkai, but her personality and vices are something we always have to consider when she's present. We trust her as a leader, but not as a person, to carry on with her duties."
"Eheh… Eheheheheh… I… Understand…" My face forces a nervous smile and laugh, and after this one, I lower my head in shame and embarrassment as my peerage consoles me but letting a few giggles escape. Mutsumi-sama surely is an incredible person, for both good and bad reasons. I bow once again, and standing up, I dust myself a bit. "W-Well, I suppose that is all that I have to say in matters. Mutsumi-sama asked to deliver the ashes, and so I did. Please, take good of it, Ookami-oshou, I know she'll be in good hands."
"I shall. After all she went through and experienced, this is the least I can do for her to rest in peace." He lightly taps the urn once again, and taking a moment to stare at it, I can see that regardless of the animosity between the two sides, the monk regarded the ruler of Kyoto in high regard. Once again, I can't feel like I was supposed to, but it puts my heart at ease to know that he cares.
"By the way, high priest, have you seen or heard about the Bài Long that was spotted around?" Cutting the conversation, Ryuubi-sensei asks, which picked the interest of said monk as he opens a single eye to look at her, yet remains unmovable. Oh right, maybe he knows a thing or two about the white one around these lands.
"Unfortunately, I did not. Some of the monks did say they spotted an unidentified flying light coming and going around Kyoto, specially around the temples here in Gion, but no confirmation as of now." He bows apologetically, which we dismiss with a wave of hands. so the white one is still around and doing her stuff, whatever the hell it is, but as for now, I'm glad that she didn't do anything stupid. Still, knowing her presence and to think she's still flying around makes me a bit anxious. "I'll let it be known if more information arises. I assume the Red dragon would be wary of its presence."
"Is that really all that you have to say, high priest?" Comes the inconvenient Kan'u, her eyes sharpened while looking at the man in front of us. I exclaim at her boldness, but she continues anyway. "The leader of Kyoto Kunou said her forces spotted the Bài Long around these sites, specially around her own. Adding this whole ash exchange between your leaders and your history with the one whom passed away, I do wonder if a high monk like yourself can be deceiving."
"…" I slap my [KNIGHT] for saying something like that, but the monk instead remains stoic and calm, lowering his stare a bit and then turning back to us full force, not a single expression changed. "I sorry if I appear untrustworthy, but this is all I can offer from within my knowledge, with the promise of more if the situation arises."
"No need to apologize, Ookami-oshou! This one is always a pain in the ass to control her urges! We should be the one apologizing!" I reassure him with a nervous smile, pushing the inconvenient tiger general down until she appeared to be in a supplication pose. "Now, you listen here, you tiger bitch…"
"Hewwo, I bring snacks and tea for the guests, as you asked, master Ookami!" The wooden gate leading to this room slides open, and from here we turn to see Sally-chan with a plate with riceballs and some cups of tea, her presence fortunately disarming the situation at hand. Her already smiley face lightens up even more seeing us, and it was quick to offer us the snacks and tea and then sit on Ryuubi-sensei's lap, enjoying the seat. Oh right, she's the granddaughter of a priest too, and is around to help him or something, wonder if I'll be able to meet him. "And Ichijou-shi and his lovely comrades are here too! Hello!"
"Yo, Sally-chan." I greet her back with a small ruffle on her golden locks, as the priest serenely smiles.
"Salvatina, our guests were already leaving. If you were to be so kind, would you lead them to the exit? You can conversate with them all the while, if the red dragon and his companions were not to be too busy." The monk in front of us instructs, and with a bigger grin, the petite shrine maiden stands up and nods, picking my [ROOK] and [KNIGHT] by the hands to guide them away to the exit, me and Whiswain following suit with our snacks at hand. Before we could leave, however, the monk shines us one final blessing, and from the corner of my eyes, I look at him one more time. "Red dragon; may your find your own peace. I apologize for any inconvenience this quest might've brought, and I hope we can meet again. May Kannon guide your path."
"Likewise." I respond, waving one last goodbye as my [BISHOP] bows and take her leave. He's tall, strong and imposing, but much more like a mountain, his presence is serene and grandiose, yet not at all overwhelming or intimidating, if a bit too large. Truly, either youkai, devil or any wicked existence would be wary about attacking this place with this wall of a man around. I yawn, taking my way out of the temple, although just like jii-chan's home, the aura around this place is calming instead of dreary for a devil like me.
"Master Ookami sure is strong, isn't he, Ichijou-shi?" The little blond asks me as we walk the rocky path leading to the main temple, first her, then Ryuubi-sensei, Kan'u, me and then finally Whiswain. I mean, we didn't fight or anything, but one look at him and don't feel intimidated. I let out a small hum, and nod, and she turns back, satisfied. "Right, right? Grandpa always says he's the Buddhist equivalent of the Evil Killer himself, Vasco Strada, and Gion is always safe with him around! In fact, he and his clan singlehandedly held the line of this temple and even pushed a few factions off during darker times before they decided a ceasefire! Some people even said if he wanted to, he could erase a single group of high-class youkai alone!"
"Unreal. Truly, the priest must be someone so close to enlightenment, I feel jealous." The older piece observes, and we all nod to that out of instinct. I should be calling bullshit on that one, but seeing the girth and size of that man, a part of me just must agree that, if wanted to, he could've snap us like a twig. Is this intimidation? Feels like it. "But as well, there is no reason to fear, for he means no harm, and even is lovely enough to offer lady Yasaka a resting place. A lesser man wouldn't do as much."
"I suppose you're right, milady. That body of his is still a bit egregious in my honest opinion." That comes from the [KNIGHT] piece, flexing her muscles a bit to show her point. "That monk… I feel a scent coming that is wicked on him, and to think he'd train his body to defend this place, must be another reason to do it so, one that is not pure as it should."
"I… I can understand. Surrounded by all that wicked aura, a body that can scare that much is nice…" Pouts the grim reaper, hiding right behind as Kan'u stares back from the corner of her eyes, as usual a less-than-friendly display. For that, I put myself between the two to shield her from the usual aggressiveness.
"Ookami-oshou built his body to protect his place, and still treated us kindly even though we're devils and offered to put Yasaka-sama's ashes to rest. Think what you want, but I won't allow you to disrespect him." I counter the tiger general's unnecessary hostility, and after a quick silent argument, she dismisses her claims and turns back to facing our way to the exit. Yes, if Mutsumi-sama trusts him, then I'll so too, my wife's mother would not have a reason to betray my trust, nor to task something that wasn't to respect her dear good friend's last wish. Mutsumi-sama wouldn't do that, she's Yoko's…
…
"…"
"…?"
"Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh…"
"I-I-Ichijou-san? Is something wrong? Does your tummy hurt?" The sudden realization hits me, and all the accumulated weight comes down in a second, forcing me to crouch down and stay planted here, head down and arms resting on legs with my hands holding each other. Damn it, damn it. I just… the once bright rock pathway now darkens as shadows lurk around, and I feel myself surrounded by my peerage, either worried about me or just curious as to why I would be doing this. "You're not sick, are you? Was it the riceballs?"
"I'm fine, Whiswain. I really am. It's just… I miss them… So much." I admit with another defeated sigh, probably looking very pathetic right now.
I'm not joking, I miss everybody, a lot, a really really lot. Rina, Yoko, Annie, Tasha, Serena-kaichou, Shiori-san, Aria-nee, mom, Gou-nee, Shii-nee, Mi-nee and Fu-nee. It has been just a few days since I am here in Kyoto, but I just… Miss them so much. The adrenaline only impulsiveness can provide wore off eventually, and all that is left is guilt and a horrible feeling of self-loathing and disappointment. They probably think I'm a bigger loser than ever, and no number of excuses will ever make it up for that fucked-up.
I don't want to go home and face him, but on the other hand, I want to go home back to them. I want to waste my summer holydays with them and have fun under the sun. Rina's birthday is also coming up, I want to eat cake with her and everybody and do stupid birthday stuff.
I want to go home to my family and friends.
"Hong Long..." I hear sensei call for my nick, and followed by that, a soft pat on the head. So gentle and warm despite her being our peerage's [ROOK], it forces me to look up and face her serene, calm smile, as everyone around me comes closer to comfort me a bit, another ruff on the hair and a few pats on my back. I feel a small tear run down my eye, and with a quick sniff, I dry it away and recompose myself.
"Y-yeah, you're right, sensei." I say, standing up, taking a deep breath and slapping my cheeks a few times to wake up back to reality and my current situation. She's right, no reason for regret, no reason to whine or feel bad for myself, man up, me. once my face was as red as the dragon inside me, I turn back to my group and force myself to apologize, bowing lightly. "No reason to cry over the spilled milk or whine about my past failures. I need to focus on the now and what I can do to help. So… Once we go back home, I'll apologize to them, and make it up as I can, for all of them. It might take a while, but I'll do my best, as I always do."
"That's our Hong Long." Smiles the wise Ryuubi-sensei.
"At least he's making up to his failures. That's the least once should do in the face of disappointment." Sighs the harsh but fair Kan'u.
"I-Ichijou-san is not a bad person. I know… I am sure they'll understand." Murmurs the shy Whiswain.
"We should be going now, night comes marching, and even if we fly to dear grandfather's abode, they might get worried on our absence." The Master of the three Kingdoms observes, and truly, night falls as we talk, and it starts to get a bit chilly, typical of the summer season around here.
The place cleans of people besides the monks and the rock posts lighten up to indicate the coming darkness. Yeah, it is getting dark, and cold, and if we don't worry, grandpa and grandma will get worried. I don't want to catch a cold either, so better get home and think about those complicated things later, maybe catch a film or visit another temple around any other day while at it, flying there should be a no-brainer.
Our thoughts and plans for the days, however, were cut short as the loud sound of bells echoed through the night, followed by screams and warnings of the surrounding monks, some of them locking the buildings around, others doing hand signs to lift a translucid barrier around the temples. We were caught completely off-guard, and as we try to tell left from right, one particular screaming bald guy came with it.
"Protect the temple! Youkai attack incoming! YOUKAI ATTACK INCOMING!"
"What the…?" The deafening sound of a march coming closer and closer makes the entire place tremble, and together with another army of monks plus my own peerage, I run to the entrance of the temple while saying for Sally-chan to stay behind and seek shelter.
Truly, an entire army of youkai was walking towards the temple as another was eagerly waiting by the other side of the barrier, but what caught my attention wasn't the sheer number of apparitions, in all forms and shapes, marching in tandem with each other, but the one leading them, one that made my blood boil and freeze at the same time…
"Lisa-san…?"
"Yo! We meet again, Ichi." Laughs the Hakuryuukou of this generation, a carefree smile plastered on her stupid face in total contrast with the savagery behind her back. Once she stops on her tracks, the army behind her stops as well. Taking a step forward, I too am in front of another set of monks and my entire peerage, then posing myself in a battle position as she remains nonchalant. "And what a moment to, honestly. Like always, fate likes to play with people! But, once again, I will have to postpone our destined clash, for you see, we have more important matters to attend to… Business-wise, of course!"
"More important matters, you say…" I groan her own words like retching, simply disgusted by her choice of words, and without losing her cheery disposition, she simply nods. "… And what business do you want around these sites? I doubt a bunch of monks would like to talk with the white dragon, let alone accompanied by a bunch of not-so-friendly looking Youkai."
"Ah, that is true, that is true! I guess you can say instead that we're pulling a little prank here, a little bit of tomfoolery, if you may! Regarding that temple over there!" She lifts a finger to the Gion temple right behind us, and with a quick glance at it, I swiftly return to her. "You see, we have this client that has a pretty important deal for us, and all things considered, and with our budget tight, we had to accept it and gain a pretty penny for our efforts, you see, for that's a hell of a deal for us in the Weiss team!"
"And that being…"
"We gotta destroy the entire place and kill the high priest. Sweet deal, no?"
*SHWING!*
*SHWING!*
*DON!*
"As if!" I roar as I hurl myself towards her and we clash! Me with Ix while she uses a curved blade that more looks like bones that is coming from the arm armour she just materialized!
I try to force myself forward, but she swats me away and I land a few meters away! I turn around, and see my [ROOK] and [KNIGHT] facing another pair that seems to have come from inside the youkai crowd, who also took place besides the white dragon emperor: one was a muscular, tanned, spiky blond young man who wasn't taller than me, wearing a red shaolin monk attire and hands covered in black, scary-looking gauntlets that seem to ooze a malevolent aura; and the other was a lean, bespectacled, royal-looking taller man with long black hair wearing a Chinese black hanfu dress with golden details and with razor fans on each hand.
I remember, they did say the white one was being accompanied by two guys on her own travels, so they're the ones they were talking about!
"You…!"
"Zhang Fei…" But before we could charge again, I hear a name coming from beside me, and with a quick glance, I see sense murmuring that name with a distressed expression on her normally calm face. This feels like the first time I see her like that.
"Hold your tongue." Scoffs the blond one, his voice hoarse and heavy as if he was retching. "You have no permission to say my name so casually… Servant girl."
"Zhuge Liang…" It was now time for Kan'u to say something, calling another not-unheard name as she grips her crescent dragon blade tighter.
"Hello, sister. How have you been?" Sighs the taller man, unfolding one of his fans in front of his face as if trying to hide his current expression. From here, he seems bored, not at all bothered about it. "Pretty good, it seems. I mock you, of course."
Wait… Chou Hi (Zhang Fei)… Shukatsu Ryou (Zhuge Liang)… Those names… Don't tell me…!
"Whoa, whoa? You know each other? That's a surprise!" Lisa-san comments as she comes closer and pulls both of her companions by the shoulders in a friendly matter. Despite the closeness, neither men seem to mind, as if they were friends or something. "What do you know, fate does like to play with people! Care to present them to me, you guys go first!"
"Well, the one with the spear is one of our oath sisters, Guan Yu of the crescent moon blade, descendant of the one and only." The one whom I assume is Koumei (Kongming) sighs, pointing his eyes towards the tiger general, whom only groans and adopts a fiercer battle pose. He pays no mind, and then turns to sensei, who had a serious, yet neutral expression towards them. "And the other besides the Chì Long is… You can say she's Liu Bei…"
"The hell she is!" The blond snaps and slaps the inviting hand away, instead coming forward and pointing a rude finger at sense, whom remains unaltered. Wait, what? "I won't ever recognize that… That wench as inheriting his name! not now, not ever! In fact, I'm gonna seize the moment, and pulverize her little face for her to finally know her place, once and for all!"
*ZOOOOOOM!*
*BAM!*
"Whoa, whoa. Take it easy, dragon."
"Grrrr…!" I groan, steam coming out of Ix as I cut a razor slash against that one known as Chou Hi. I realize only later what I tried to do: I tried to cut down from here his pretty little head, and the only thing that saved him was the white one's arm-blade. I don't care if he knows her or not, no one belittles or insults sensei like that!
"You wanna fight?! LET'S FIGHT, THEN!" The other general of the three Kingdom now roars, his time to leap towards us in a blind rage, his wild mane appearing to grow and dark snaps of light coming from his gauntleted fists! Instead of me, he aims at sensei, speed too fast for us to catch up, and he was about to hit her… But then, the pink haired artist was faster, gripping him by the wrist and stopping him midair! He blinks in surprise, but then frowns once more. "You…!"
"Evil fist, huh? Zhang Fei, master Wukong forbid you to use it… Because he cares." Sensei sighs, her eyes becoming more serene and sadder, but no less sharp. I look down, and I notice that blood was dripping off her clutched fists. "You shouldn't be using it, you're hurting yourself, please."
"You… You have… You have no right… To lecture me… USURPER!" He clench his teeth and prepare another punch against sensei, and yet again she grabs him by the assaulting fist, and how, totally immobilized, she hurls him elsewhere with the speed of a bullet, far away from the pathway leading to the temple!
"Hong Long, I'll take care of him. Protect the temple and look out for yourself. Please." She turns around where she just launched the general, and then asked me ever so gently without even looking back. Her tone is low and serene, but I feel that's not a request but an order. I nod and I think she understood my own response as she leaped into the darkness and left us alone.
"Yes, sensei." I respond to no one, shifting my attention to the white dragon and summoning Ddraig and the [BOOSTED GEAR]. I look at the current situation, back to the monks behind me, and then back to Lisa-san. Take car of the white one, then the temple and the monks. The youkai seem mildly powerful, but if I'm not careful it might end badly. I turn to Kan'u. "Kan'u, I'll try to distract the Hakuryuu and take him away from here since I'm the only one who can deal with his [DIVIDE] powers. I know you can deal with Shukatsu and the youkai, so protect the temple and everyone. Whiswain, help the monks with the barrier and don't let the youkai in for anything, okay?"
"Giving me orders? What…?"
"Just listen for now!" I demand her, and after a small gasp of surprise, I see the tiger general resigning herself from my orders, clearly not having a better plan, as if she can think that much. the grim reaper girl simply nods, taking a step back and line up with the rest of the priests to reinforce the translucid barrier, both outside and inside the Gion temple. With that done, I turn to Lisa-san, branding Ix as I can, and she flexes the blades on her arm. "Let's do this, Lisa-san…"
"Like I said, you're not my target as for now, Ichi. Id love to stay and fight to our hearts content, but budget is tight, you see…" She smiles, and then, without warning, she unfolds her light wings, the [DIVINE DIVIDING], and blowing her own army away out of the sheer recoil, jets herself against the temple like a missile! A suicide attack?! "… So let's end this boring mission as soon as possible… AND EAT LOBSTER FOR DINNER WITH THE PAYMENT!"
"I won't let you!" as fast as I can, I call for the red dragon's power and soon don my own [SCALE MAIL], using the turbines on my back to jet myself against the incoming white missile and clashing with her in midair before she could destroy anything! The impact between the heavenly dragons was too much for both parties, blowing the weaker units away as we fly away from the main battlefield and instead struggle with each other in midair, her trying her best to clash against the temple above but with me diverting her route and not letting it go! "YOU…!"
"Persistent fellow, no? I like it!" She claims, our struggle in speed and power tracing a drunk line of mixing red and white light in the darkening skies, she trying to break free yet I not letting her so easily! One moment, and I failed to hold one of her arms, and taking advantage of it, she reaches a hand for my helmet, gripping it so tighly it lightly cracked! Such force, is she even human?! "Arubin, do your thing!"
{DIVIDE!} Announced the light wings sprouting from her back, and in a moment, I feel my entire body tensing as if I've been compressed like a metal can, the pressure being so sudden and violent I felt like vomiting! Shit, stay in the game, me! Take her far, far away from here!
[BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!]
[EXPLOSION!]
In an equally desperate move, I concentrated all of my strengths into my Boosted Gear, making it boost my power as many time as I could, and once I felt it was enough, I combusted all of the accumulated energy into a single, massive explosion, pushing the jets on my back to their limits as they overpower the hakuryuu's own wings, missing the temple by meters and instead diverting our bodies to another distant location. In the end, we burst off the backside of the barrier area and landed right on an abandoned side of the forest surrounding the mountains and the temple, our path resembling a shooting star and our landing being as loud as a storm, the quake being enough to blow some trees away and bend others down, as well as breaking my armour apart and melting its scales away. In the end, at the heart of the impact, we lose contact and skip away from one another, landing a few meters away.
So, this is the feeling of being victim of the white dragon emperor's signature {DIVIDE} power, it's sickening and horrible, no wonder he was so feared! I need a moment or two to catch my breath rhythm, both from the impact and pain, and then shock.
[PARTNER, ARE YOU OKAY? CAN YOU STAND?] The welsh dragon inside my gauntlet asks with a worried and wary tone.
"I'll live." I comment with a dry remark, little by little standing up and turning to where the hakuryuu landed, whom was also putting herself together, using her own wings to ease and assist her ascension. Tough one, that one. I dry a bit of blood coming from a cut on my lips. "Stay down, Lisa-san. We might be rivals, but if your target is not me, then I can't let you go on rampant destroying people left and right. Either you stop… Or I'll stop you myself!"
"Hahahahah! That's the spirit! What to expect from the inheritor of Underworld's greatest hero?" She laughs while clapping her hands, and while I feel no malice or sarcasm coming from her mouth, the tone she speaks pisses me off for some reason. I let out a dissatisfied groan, and she crosses her arms. From here, I can see she doesn't mind wearing armour either, a black sleeveless shirt, a long battle skirt and sneakers, she's none worse for wear for a good beatdown. "But like I said, no hard feelings, but leisure time is for leisure, and working time is for work. I just need to be a responsible, cool adult and go on with the chore that have been given to me! so, be a good boy and make space for me to burn that temple down and open a pretty hole on that monk's head!"
"The hell you will!" I scream, and that caught her off guard, so much she took a few steps back. "What the hell is your problem?! Do you really think I will listen to you, or even let that happen?! Who the hell would mark Ookami-oshou to die like that, without a single fucking care in the world?! You will explain everything to me, or else…!"
"There is nothing else to explain." She shrugs, as if that will make things better! Stop being so nonchalant about all of this, this is just… Wrong! "A certain someone asked for Ookami Muten's head, and as the Weiss team always promises, he will comply as long as they offer the right price. And no work, and I mean no work, is too much for this generation's white dragon emperor! … Or empress."
"And who… Who would want to kill him? And why?"
"Hm…" She pouts, a finger on her lips, and after a second or two, she winks at me with a mischieveous smile. "Heheh… It's a se-cre-t~."
"…"
…
"You… You…"
"Oh, what a scary face you're making there, Ichi." She comments, and I can feel it: my face, my eyes, my frow, all contorted in a horrible, deformed grimace that wants to say and do so many horrible things to this one. To kill a holy man for cash, is there nothing lesser than this? Is this girl really my eternal rival because of our sacred gears? Just my luck, like always… "Well, time is nearly up, and so is my patience. If you don't mind me, stand aside and let me kill that priest, I promise it'll be quick and painless."
"I won't let you…" I repeat, summoning Ix and my Boosted Gear once again and pointing them both at her. I grit my teeth, the feeling of the white dragon's {DIVIDE} still fresh in my body, but I muster the power and will to stand tall and still in the face of the likes of her. Her eyes perk in front of me, and she seems mildly amused, but for my own dismay. "You want to kill Ookami-oshou and his temple? You're going to go through me first."
"A hero indeed, your senpai must be so proud." She chuckles, and I can feel another wound ending on my lips, this time self-inflicted. In a moment, though, her gaze turns elsewhere, and once again she unfolds her wings to take flight! Is she running away?! "Sorry, but duty calls! Smell ya later!"
"Like hell!" I jump and end up clashing again with her, her wide eyes showing that she got caught by surprise! No time for me to react, another swing of Ix, and once again she summons a arm armour to defend herself with the blade attached to it! However, this time I put even more force behind the hit, the chimeric blade being enough to cut through her defences and not only break her armour but also open a wound on her arm! This is my chance! "{DIVINE WYVERN FAIRY}!"
I gather all my strength and energy onto the edge, and from it, the head of a crimson dragon appeared, ready to take a bite off the Hakuryuu and end this madness once and for all! Since I penetrated her defences, the dark-haired dragon girl was in shock, and I took advantage of that to finally end this! But another moment, and her worried look became a grin!
"Whoa?! Not bad! So how about… {REFLECT SCALE}!" She screams back, and from her own broken armour around us it merged back into a triangular shield, which then took the shape of a white dragon head and pushed me away from her! We clashed, we pushed each other away, and from the impact of both attacks, we again were hurled at opposite directions and landed with a loud quake! No time to think about it, I need to attack and stop her!
"I'm not done yet! {DIVINE WYVERN FAIRY}!" I swing my blade once again putting all the energy on the edge and materialized another dragon head against her!
"Neither am I! {REFLECT SCALE}!" Now, she extends her open palm against me adourned with a silver gauntlet, and like before, a dragon-shaped silver shield appeared in front of her, which hurled itself against my own offense! The two attacks collided, causing a curtain of dust to lift, and then lock themselves into a standstill, pushing and trying to overcome the other, to no avail with lots of struggle. I'm not going to stay here and watch! I leaped towards her as she did the same! "Come at me, red!"
"En garde, Lisa-san!" The distance between us grew closer and closer, and once we reached the midpoint, we swing our weapons at the struggling energy attacks, cutting and breaking through them like glass as we lock blades again, this time her using two arms coated with white aura to hold me! Am I doing it, am I overwhelming her?!
[BOOST!]
"Ugh…!" I tighten the grip of my sword as she is kneeling on the ground, and I push further with the sudden surge of power, enough to swat one of her hands away, leaving her wide open! I didn't recover yet from the clash enough to use my [SCALE MAIL], but if I can only hold more 10 seconds and wing it one last time, I can… "Oh, thanks for the energy!"
{DIVIDE}
"Shit…!" Another horrible feeling of being sucked out of my own strengths as she was faster and touches me with a hand, I falter for a second, enough for the white dragon to come forward and put me off balance, pushing my sword aside and kicking me away! I land, struggle and stagger a little, but I'm still standing! I take a moment for a quick breath, and point my blade at her again. She stands up, and does a pose with hands open in the air and a funny face with her tongue sticking out!
"Nice, nice. So, this is how fighting the legendary sekiryuutei feels like! I thought that, logically speaking, would be a piece of cake to take you down since you can only [BOOST] with me leeching off your energy out of you, but that caught me off guard!" She laughs, skipping left to right and brimming with excitement, another sight that pisses me off. "Mayhap proving myself wouldn't be all that hard, if you were to get even stronger, y'know!"
"Cut the shit, I'm not here to play rivals with you!" I roar, and she stops on her tracks with an embarrsed expression. Did she forget why we are fighting for in the first place?! This one…! I gather my forces and move forward against her!
One swing, one dodge, I miss another decisive offense against her, and instead she crouches yet again to leap and try to reach me! out of instinct, I kick it away from her grasp and escape it for a bit, taking another skip sideways as she uses her [DIVINE DIVIDING] to boost her speed and cut the distance between us! One jump, two jumps, I dodge and escape her deadly, leech touch, and once with enough solid ground I swing at her once more, and again she shields herself with blades coated in white aura! Is this another ability of hers?! I cut her armour so easily before!
*SWING! SWING! SWING!*
*TING! TING! TING!*
The reverb of metal clashing is enough to blow dust and grass away, and once again we clash, we cut, we lock blades with no side giving up. My gauntlet announces another [BOOST], and she tries to catch me for another {DIVIDE], putting this battle in a standstill.
So, this is how the two heavenly dragons fight, this is how our senpais fought, this is how we will fight as long as one stands!
This is… So… So…
*DON!*
*BAM!*
"Ugh…!"
"Kyah!" One wrong swing, and we clash blades a bit too strongly, enough for another explosion to occur on contact which blew us away from each other, leaving track marks where we stood and now stop. This tingling sensation, this power and struggle… is this pain? Or just excitement? I don't know, I just don't know… I hear something on the other side. "Hahah… Hahahahahah! Fun, isn't it?! I am having fun right now, Ichi! They do say doing a job you enjoy means you won't have to work at all!"
"You…" I groan. "This is not fun, at all. I'm not doing this for fun!"
"No?" She blinks, showing me a genuinely confused, if amused, expression. I tilt my head to a side for her question. "Then do explain me… Why are you smiling so much?"
…
"Eh…?" I blink, and after a second, rapidly cover my mouth to feel that, yes, I was smiling, I was smiling so broadly, as if I was having the time of my life. What… What the hell? Am I… Enjoying this? No, this is wrong! I have a duty to do, I shouldn't be enjoying myself, I shouldn't be enjoying this at all! Lives are at stake here, there is no way for me to… My expression sours hearing another chuckle coming from the white one. "You…!"
"I guess that's only natural. As dragons, free from the rules of those lesser than us, the best way to enjoy life is to clash powers to one another to see who's the strongest!" she exclaims with a proud smile, and I clench my teeth, blood boiling hotter than lava for that. No, I'm not like that. Now Lisa-san points a finger at me. "As expected from my rival, as expected from the red dragon of domination, the one who cut through the worlds with scorching truth! Maybe with you, I shall be able to break free from my fate!"
"Shut up! [BALANCE BREAKER]!" I scream, pointing my sword at her and, in a burst of energy and flames, I summon my [SCALE MAIL] armour. I won't hear it anymore, I'm done with her and her fate and shit! I will shut her up and ignore her from now on, she wants nothing but to cause chaos, why should I listen to her nonsense! Let's end this, once and for all! I adopt a fighting stance, Ix ready to cause my own havoc. "I'm done with your shit! I'm gonna stop you and stop this madness once and for all! So ready or not, here I come, Hakuryuu!"
"Hmm~. Nice, nice. Y'know, maybe I can spare a moment to have fun." She wonders to herself, and I roar again to her careless words. In the end, she dismisses her gauntlets, turns fully at my direction, and does a pose. "You say you're serious now, right? Well, might as well get serious too! I've been training this one for a while now, so time for a test-drive, no? Arubin, nii-chan!"
{TAKE CARE, ELIZABETH!}
{Not that I care, but don't overdo it, brat. I won't wait another decade or two if you die.}
"Alright, let's do this!" She exclaims, and unfolding and spreading her wings as she could, she let herself wide open with a pose, as several, inumerous silvery white runes start to emerge and form all around her, a bigger one right under her feet, and from them, I hear the roar of dragons and feel strong gusts of wind, strong enough to freeze the place and form ice. In the end, she crosses her arms in a X in front of her body and spreads them once more. "{VANISHING DRAGON, LUCIFER OVERDRIVE}!"
After that announcement, the winds around grew stronger and faster, freezing everything in an instant and forming and growing ice as the vegetation wither and brittle with the sheer cold! In the epicentre of it all, Lisa-san little by little is surrounded and covered in ice, smooth and shiny as diamonds, until there was nothing left but a massive pillar of silvery cold, the winds shaping it and cutting it in the shape of a massive, long dragon with demonic wings!
{DESTROY! DECIMATE! DECAY! DAMN! DREAD! DEFY! DOOM! DEFEAT! DEVOUR! DOMINATE!}
{DEVIL AND DRAGON DECREE THE DARK DESTROYER}
{DOOR TO DARK…!}
"… Open!" I hear Lisa-san's voice coming from the ice silver dragon, and with it, a crack, a massive crack that spread all over it, all around it until it exploded and fell, lifting a curtain of cold and dust.
I shielded myself from the upcoming storm, and once the area was clear, I saw at the centre the only thing remaining: a tall, imposing, royal-looking silvery armour covered in a thin layer of ice that seemed to shine like a diamond, covered head to toes in runes written in metal black, a crowd made out of silver thorns levitating above its head and its own {DIVINE DIVIDING} wings extending over its shoulders and back, much more like a royal cape, smaller devilish wings going even further forming another layer. Its golden eyes shift to me, and I can only feel the tension growing and growing.
"{VANISHING DRAGON: MAO}!" Lisa-san voices echoes from inside the armour, her strut showing that she pays no mind to me. once she was close enough, she lifts a finger as if calling for my attention. "Alpha(Α), and Omega(Ω), the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet that, once together, symbolize the all-compassing God of the Bible, Who is the beginning and end of all. Then, if the Lord is the Beginning and End of all, who is Lucifer, but also the evil (Malus) beginning and end of everything that is evil, wicked, and unholy? Therefore, I am… The…"
{VANISHING DRAGON: M(alus)A(lpha)O(mega)}
"… So, Red dragon… have you ever danced with the dragon under the pale moonlight?"
"…"
"…"
…
"Katsu.(喝)"
I write a new chapter after a yearly hiatus and end in a cliffhanger?! What the hell~!
Hello, dxd fandom. Here is Houki Minami, now with her face all red and with no shame after a fucking year hiatus from this story. I know, I know, it is a bit uncaring for me to say something like after one measly chapter and then 2 years total gap, but I really, really feeling it with GxG and having so much fun with it, I totally lost steam for this arc until now, ironically also because of GxG because another arc is starting also fighting a cute girl! Man, I really feel at home with girls getting her asses rearranged, no? hahah.
But here it is, a longer chapter, maybe a bit all over the place with a bit more mystery, power ups and I had lots of fun with it, specially since I got RL things sorted out (well, mostly) and are having fun while at it. So, I apologize for all the readers waiting so long for an update, hope you enjoyed this chapter and hope for the next one as I also hope that I can put things in action once again.
With this year of the dragon, let us focus on the dragon boy! Right?
Greetings from Houki Minami~.
The ANE2: Nemesis Gremory
- The eldest daughter of the newest generation of the Gremory clan, Berolina's older sister. She's 23-years old and her birthday is June 9th.
- She was born after an accidental pregnancy incident when Cohen and Alice were still preteens enjoying being alive after the Apocalypse. Because of Alice's young age and Millicas ascending as a Grandmaster, she was raised by her nanny Noin, who she holds very dearly.
- Has that resting bitch, stoic, bitter expression stuck in her face ever since she was a baby. She has a hard time making friends because of that.
- Met Aria when both were still kids, and because she was quite a tomboy, Nemesis used to have a crush on the former. To this day, the blond likes to tease her about it despite both being in a relationship.
- She's actually very bad at many things; gets stressed easily, doesn't understand much of manners or arts, and tend to get lost and mangle her own thoughts and plans. Her only saving grace is her strength and status, lol.
- Despite her personality, she is actually very shy and submissive in bed. She likes to feel embraced and tends to cry her frustrations away with Nero and Aria (and whoever else joins) during it.
- After Rina became more mature, Nemesis now dreams of becoming a Demon Lord so her sister can become the next head and not be on her shadow anymore. She loves her that much, and would die again and again and again for her.
- She has a pretty clean board, no? she is stronger than most devils her age and maybe further.
- Oblivious to Lucrezia's love, doesn't get her hints and treats her like an old friend since they were raised together too.
- The other nee-san type: strict, cool, her presence looms over the protagonists and she is the one always in control. Is she nice? Or not nice enough? Or too nice?