I'm surrounded by loud noises of destruction, Ciel's barrier is being hit by object after object. Thankfully my Senpai is incredibly skilled, the barrier seems to hold perfectly.
I sigh. "Well, this fucking sucks." In the end Vlov decided to kill us all like this, but he failed. Even if the only reason I survived was Ciel, I'm really happy she made it in time now.
I can only hope that Rika managed to protect Noel, she probably had to do a lot more than Ciel is doing to guarantee the nun didn't. That said I have complete trust in Rika, so I won't worry about them right now.
Instead I look at my Senpai. "So what do we do now? Are we gonna let that guy escape again?" That would be the worst case scenario.
Right now Vlov is dangerous, he really meant if when he said that from now on he was going to be a ruthless vampire. I have no doubt in my mind that just with this move he has killed hundreds.
He basically made a giant earthquake after all, I don't know exactly where, since the catacombs stretch all over the city, but he has done so.
Ciel grits her teeth. "We have to wait for the rubble to stabilize a little, then we can dig our way out. If I just end the barrier my immortality won't save me from getting stuck and you will die."
I think I could maybe survive... I could theoretically use my grain aura burst to melt everything that's falling on top of me, but that is admittedly risky. I also cannot protect Senpai with that, so I won't do it.
So right now our biggest hope is... "There's no way Arcueid and Sensei won't notice this, they're probably rushing here right now." This is even bigger than the fire, mostly because it has no doubt made a lot of sound.
That said, I might be hoping for a miracle here. The only reason we noticed Vlov when he made the fire that consumed my neighborhood was because Ciel warned me after all.
Speaking of Ciel, she shakes her head. "We can still confront him. You need to remember that Vlov is in the same situation as us, digging his way out." I see, though I imagine he is more like Rika.
But that brings one more problem. "What if he just doesn't dig out? He could just hide beneath the rubble for a few days and slip away." Vlov definitely has the mental fortitude to stay unmoving beneath rubble for quite some time.
Ciel nods. "That's true, but I will be able to find him using Structural Analysis, after that we can just make a perimeter and kill him... or dig him out ourselves."
She continues. "That's why I believe he won't, he will definitely confront us. The reason he did this move wasn't to run away, it was to tin out numbers since I joined the battlefield."
I nod. "Got it, by the way Senpai before we confront Vlov I have to tell you what information I learned." Those are the fruits of my battle with Vlov. "First of all, that spear of his is incredibly powerful, Vlov can even hurt Rika with it." I have no idea how he obtained something like that.
I continue. "Second of all, his true power is ice, fire is just a more complex application of it. I know because Rika copied his ability somehow, I'm using it now. However this probably means he held back for a long time."
It's just a theory of mine, but the ice attacks are far easier to use and far more versatile, and they are just as deadly. Vlov will most likely shift to using ice from now on.
Ciel's eyes widen. "So you can copy even the abilities of a Dead Apostle Ancestor? Do you need Rika? How does the process work? Can you copy my immortality right now?"
I gasp. "You're immortal!?" She quickly nods. "That's some amazing regen then... But to answer your questions, I need Rika. I don't know how, but I have a new theory. And I don't know if I can."
Ciel sighs. "Understood, and how damaged are you? Can you still fight?" I'm definitely still fighting no matter what, I won't allow someone to steal this kill.
I nod. "I can still fight, but one of my arms is useless, and I will have a limp in one of my legs." And that's ignoring the fact that I'm slowly bleeding out.
Ciel grits her teeth. "That's bad." She puts her hand on my hurt shoulder, her mana starts glowing. "I can heal everything right now except for your arm."
I smirk. "That's enough, I only need one arm to beat him." Losing half of my strength is annoying, but the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception ignore that anyways.
Blinding light shines from all my wounds as they close, but my right arm is not fully healed. I'm still bleeding from there and I still can't feel my arm.
Ciel ends the healing and looks up. "The rubble stabilized... Once I end the barrier please start firing your grain upwards, then I'll take us out of this hole."
She continues. "Be sure to remain as support as well, let me handle the Dead Apostle Ancestor in close quarters combat."
I draw a black key, I will use it as a medium to destroy the rubble. "Got it, but don't be surprised if I join you eventually, I have the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception after all." And they are super convenient when someone is dealing with a vampire.
I point my black key up, and shot an upwards blast, the moment I do Ciel ends her barrier. Rubble immediately falls down upon us.
Ciel grabs me and jumps, in a blink we are out of the hole Vlov makes. Ciel moves like upwards lightning. My reinforced ears almost burst just from the noise alone, and I feel a sense of dizziness from her speed.
Once we land it takes me some time to recover and analyze my surroundings. Once I do I can't help, but gasp. "Holy shit...!" There is only word to describe what I'm seeing, hell.
This place has become rubble, buildings are toppled over, immensely big ones too, smoke is rising, and yet the destruction is so huge that a fire cannot start. A thousand, the death count has to be over a thousand, though it's probably much bigger.
How can someone do this? Wasn't he human once in his life? Doesn't he realize how many people he has killed? Does he simply not care?
Not caring, that's a sentiment I thought I understood. I don't care if someone was murdered recently, I didn't know them. I don't care if someone died in an accident recently, everyone dies eventually.
It's none of my business, not everyone lives until they are old, they were old, of course they died, I didn't known them. I thought that was true apathy, but I was wrong.
This is true apathy, something I cannot ever reach or emulate. Something which I do not wish to ever reach or emulate. Vlov has caused endless tragedy without blinking.
Ciel glares at the monster that stands before us, Vlov has escaped the rublle too. "A cold and ruthless vampire indeed." Then she looks at me. "Yuta, sightings like this are common, please swallow it to the depts of your mind and fight."
I nod. "Yes Ma'am!" I cannot accept this. I was wrong before, this not apathy. Vlov... The Dead Apostle Ancestors are made of pure malice, he is no human.
What stands before me is my true enemy. Something fills my vision, something supports me, there's a force I cannot understand here. Even though I should feel tired, suddenly I don't. It's time to end this malice before it's too late, so that I can return to my apathy filled life.
Kill this vampire.
Vlov sighs. "So everyone survived? How annoying." Everyone huh? Now that he mentions it...
I finally take my eyes away from disaster, I'm happy to see a protective Rika standing over an alive Noel. My girlfriend pulled through as expected, Rika is the definition of the word amazing.
Vlov suddenly glares at me. "The Princess will kill me... I'll use you as substitute fuel for now boy, after that I'll kill her too. You should be more than enough for me to do that."
Ciel suddenly gets a knowing look in her eyes. "You... aren't truly a Dead Apostle Ancestor, are you Vlov Arkhangel? That's why you're after Arcueid." What? What do you mean he is not a true Dead Apostle Ancestor!?
Vlov frowns. "Indeed, my Idea Blood... Isn't truly mine yet, I hold the rank, but I need more time until I hold the power... my body is breaking down."
He hugs himself. "Just a little bit more time, and then I can kill that snake. Then I can go back to being me." He sighs. "Once I kill Arcueid this carnage can end, so just move out of my way executor."
I immediately snap. "Don't pull some bullshit about this not being your fault! And don't you dare to blame Arcueid for it either! You out of touch monster!"
Arcueid is innocent and cute, she likes pizza and movies. She just found out about pizza and movies, and yet she's there everyday hunting for bastards like these. She's a good person, the apathy I have is nowhere to be found in her, and that's why...!
I shout. "Don't you dare to burden Arcueid with your bullshit! I kill you before she even meets you!" I cannot let Arcueid face this monster, her sight should not be sullied by him.
Vlov snorts. "Indeed, I cannot blame the White Princess for this carnage. Still, must you bark so loud dog? Though I guess calling you dog would be strange now..."
He continues. "Are you her lover? Just like with that executor and the Queen of Curses? You are, aren't you? I can sort of remember that from our first encounter."
He nods to himself. "Wonderful, to think even she could be truly loved... Yes, when I kill the snake I'll tell him how the Princess found real love, and then died. That will surely bring him to despair."
He extends his arm at me. "But before I break the snake, I must break the princess, I'll bring her your charred corpse." From his hands a fireball is fired.
It's moving much faster than before, and it's also much hotter than ever before. It quickly expands, becoming something that can engulf a human being.
One store, two stores, three stores. Quickly Vlov's casual fireball becomes big enough to consume a three storey building. He is truly aiming to kill me.
I see the lines of death before me clearer tham they have ever been, I'll kill oxygen before his flame ever reaches me, but there is one problem.
Vlov has decided to not stand still, the moment he fired his blast he started moving in my direction, using his makeshift thrusters from before. In his hand he holds the spear that can penetrate Rika, it goes without saying that it can kill me as well.
This attacks will reach me in two waves, first I must get rid of his fireball, and then I must face Vlov in direct combat. The second one is completely impossible, so I'll die.
Or I would, if I was by myself, thankfully by my side stands a member of the Burial Agency. She swings a weapon in the direction of the fire, it's a sword, or at least it looks like one until it splits apart, becoming a sort of bladed whip.
She cuts the fireball in half, and at the same time strikes at Vlov. The vampire has to end his dash to block it, Ciel can damage him, so he cannot ignore her.
Her blade clashes against Vlov's spear, and it does not break. It's clear that it's of lower quality, but it can at least compete with Vlov's powerful weapon.
The vampire sighs. "What sort of sword are you holding executor? It's a mockery of a real one." He's not completely in the wrong, it's true that Senpai's weapon is not conventional.
The executor grins. "I carry many weapons, this is simply one of them, and this one is another!" The sword in her hands disappears, what replaces it is a... gun!?
It's like a two handed rifle, and yet Senpai carries it two, each with one hand. She aims both of them at Vlov and fires it, in seconds the area is filled with bullets.
Normally a vampire would have no troubles dealing with a gun, he will either tank the bullets or outspeed them. Vlov is a Dead Apostle Ancestor, this should be a joke to him and yet...
He stomps the ground, an wave of ice is instantly created, but it's not made as a form of attack. It's instead a massive shield to block these holy bullets.
Ciel's weapon is not a normal firearm, it's clear to all who see it. No one would fire a gun at a Dead Apostle Ancestor with such confidence otherwise.
Behind the shield Vlov frowns. "Really...? I am a warrior you know?" Cold anger, the knight of frost despises the fact that he must face a crude sword and a modern weapon.
Ciel frowns right back. "Don't go complaining now! You're the one who discarded your knightly pride!" In her hands she now holds a new weapon.
It's big and clunky, some sort of... battery? With a spike in the middle, it's not a weapon I'm familiar with, that's for sure. That does not matter however, because it will match her other two weapons without a doubt.
She dashes at him, but Vlov recognizes the danger and melts his ice shield, she will break it without any difficulties anyways. Instead he sends another fireball at her, this one already comes out as big as the one from before.
Senpai simply runs through it, she's like a immortal without fear, and so she doesn't stop moving even though she suffered third degree burns all over her body. It's healed soon after it anyways, that's because Ciel is immortal.
She hits Vlov in the gut with her weapon, the Vampire groans in pain. "Annoying." But he does not lose hold of his spear. Instead he will simply impale the executor, surely that will kill her.
Senpai is glaring at him. "Don't call me annoying, I'm the woman who will kill you. I'm more than a simple inconvenience." The spike of the weapon she hit Vlov suddenly extends.
It's like he has been hit by a second attack, but he is not impaled. Instead he is sent flying before he can ever impale her. Vlov flies through the air even faster than his fireball.
Speaking of that, the blaze he sent towards Ciel is currently reaching me. If I'm hit I will obviously die, thankfully I can just cut the oxygen around me.
I won't do that though, instead I ignore it completely, what I will do is run towards Rika and reunite with her. After that we can join Ciel in fighting Vlov, once they pin him down I'll cut his lines of death.
Rika is still stuck protecting Noel, she would have probably moved to save me if Ciel wasn't around. Now Vlov is engaged in combat however, so she dashes at me.
Once we reach each other I immediately hug her with my only useful arm. "I'm glad you're okay." I knew she would be fine, but I was still worried.
She hugs me back. "I'm glad you're okay too Yuta~!" She nods to herself. "I have to thank Rabbit later... She really saved your bacon." I'll thank her with my penis later! So there's no need to worry!
Speaking of executors... I end my hug with Rika and look at Noel. "Hey! Scram! You will only be in danger if you stay here!" Vlov could aim at her at any minute.
Noel nods, her eyes are open wide. "G-got it! Remember to stay behind Ciel!" And then she starts running, thankfully to the opposite direction of Senpai.
Rika glares at Vlov, he is currently getting up from Ciel's attack. "Okay, imma kill him, please remember to stay as a support Yuta."
I grin. "Sure, I can be the archer." I have his ice abilities after all. I will simply fire at him when I have the chance, eventually he will slip up and die.
With Ciel here our victory is guaranteed. Rika nods and begins her dash towards Vlov, because today he will face two beasts in close quarters.
Before Vlov can even get up, Senpai is firing at him again. He howls and keeps getting up. At first he tries another explosion of fire, trying to melt the bullets before they even reach him.
It's not enough, he's still filled with holes, Vlov has his body mangle again and again, the smell of burning flesh hits my nose soon after. That's because Ciel's holy bullets are burning.
Still, he manages to get up, and that's when Rika reaches him. "Block this Okizame!" Rika punches Vlov in the face, his widened eyes can't even look at her as Rika tears half of his face off.
I'm dashing at them too, that's because I have to be closer to fill my role as a long range fighter. Once I reach them, Ciel can go back to using her swords.
Vlov flies for a second, one second later I arrive. The distance between us is abour thirty meters, though Vlov might as well be so fast it doesn't matter.
Still, he cannot approach me, that's because Rika and Ciel are even closer to him. This is the end for Vlov Arkhangel.
I glare at his downed body. "So, pick your poison vampire. Today you either die at my hand, at Rika's hand, or at Senpai's hand. There is no future for you."
He moves to get up again, the moment he does death is rained at him. Ciel fires holy bullets at him, Rika fires Gallick Gun bullets at him, and I fire his own ice at him.
Rika's bullet will reach him first, that will tear his body appart, then my ice shards, that will mangle his body, and then Ciel's bullets will finish the job. The vampire loses.
The world flashes white, I'm dead. I'm so dead I might have never been human in the first place, not even a corpse will remain. Those are the images flashing in my mind before I even fire my ice at him. My instincts are at work.
I run behind Rika. "Get ready! He's about to...!" I don't have time to finish my warning, but thankfully Rika shields my body. Still I also cover it with a burst of grain.
This time the world truly flashes white.
AN: I wanted to finish the fight this chapter, but I couldn't... It should finish in the next one though.