AN: Hey. Look who's back. There is an explanation for why this took so long.
I… I don't know how to say this but I'll say it anyway. On September 28th, I noticed one of my cats, a calico named Gwen, was lying on an ottoman oddly, but I didn't think anything about it. A few hours later when I was getting ready to feed the dogs, I noticed that she hadn't moved at all. So I went to check on her and… she was stiff. She… passed away. I… I had her since 2008, and now… I can take some solace in that she didn't disappear like the others did, but it still hurts… And what's worse, the next day her brother, Ben, suddenly was unable to get up. He couldn't stand on his own anymore. And… we had to put him down.
…
…
I just can't…
I… took time off from writing to recover from the shock. Only just got back into it, but then one of our dogs, Bocelli, he's always had a problem with seizures, and on December 3 they really got bad. By the afternoon, he began having a seizer every hour, sometimes less. He even had them when he was asleep. We realized that now he… was probably too far gone. We had to put him down the next day.
…
…
I managed to finish this but I'm not sure when I'll fully get back into writing, but I will eventually. Sorry, everyone. I hope your holiday season will be better than mine is currently.
Chapter 05: Training and Terror in the Woods
Screams filled the night upon a mountaintop, a lone hiker running for his life. "This can't be happening. It can't be happening!" He cried. It was supposed to have been a relaxing trip with his friends. How did it become a horror movie?!
After they got lost, one of his friends figured they climb the mountain to find out where they were. Instead of a way back to the trail, though, they came upon blood-thirsty monsters! Honest to god monsters! After that, they got separated, and now one of those monsters was close behind him. "God, Buddha, anyone! Please help me!" He cried out to the heavens, turning his head briefly to look behind. But this proved to be a mistake as he tripped on a tree root.
Crashing on the ground, the hiker tried to get up, the loud thuds of the monster's heavy footsteps closing in. "Please, stay back!" The hiker begged, but the monster ignored him, reaching out and grabbing him by one of his legs. "No! Please! NO!"
*Crunch! Munch.*
May 9, 2012
Mountains outside of Kuoh, Japan
"Ah, how refreshing! As expected, the air here in the mountains is so much better compared to the one in the city." Iroh said with a wide grin as he surveyed his surroundings, a box covered in a red sheet on his back. He, his nephew Koh, Himari, and the Occult Research Club were in one of Japan's mountain regions several hours away from Kuoh Town, hiking towards the mansion near the top that was owned by Rias's family. While they could have teleported directly to the mansion, Rias insisted on hiking as a means to warm up before the serious training began.
"Come on, Issei. Hurry up!" Rias called out to him, waving for him to catch up. Issei towed a rather hefty-sized bag on his back, his breath a bit haggard as he climbed the mountainside. Despite his Devil strength, which he could only use in moderation and short boosts, he could now feel exhaustion creeping up as sweat dripped down his brow.
"Yes ma'am…" Issei breathlessly answered, trying to keep at a decent pace.
"Sh-should I help him with his bag?" Asia asked sympathetically, seeing his difficulty with each step.
"No, this is all part of his training. Allow him to keep trying," Rias shook her head, watching her pawn with high hopes.
"I'll be going on ahead," Kiba said apologetically, carrying a bag similar in size to the one Issei carried with little effort.
"Damn you for making it look so easy!" Issei cursed in annoyance. He was soon followed by Koneko who seemed fairly at ease as well, but much to his shock was carrying a bag four times the size of his.
"Excuse me," she politely said as she passed him by, ignoring the gawking face he made as he stopped. He suddenly felt the weight pull him back again, causing him to stumble and fall flat on his bag.
"Son of a-damn it!" Issei groaned before flipping to his knees and leaning close to the ground.
"You have it… easy, Hyoudou… phew…" Issei looked behind, seeing Koh nearly out of breath, struggling to catch up while carrying a slightly larger bag and dragging a second bag on the ground while needing to take very deep breaths, a worried Himari standing next to him. Apparently, this was an early start to the training Iroh had planned for him.
"…Your uncle is a slave driver," Issei muttered.
"Don't give up yet, pervo," Coronamon said, sitting casually on Issei's bag. "There's a water fountain up ahead where you and Boss can rest."
"Why aren't you carrying anything?" Issei complained, glaring at Coronamon in contempt.
"I could ask the same for some of the girls," Coronamon countered as Issei finally reached the natural water fountain. "I say they're all slave drivers."
"No… kidding…" Koh muttered as he finally caught up.
"You gonna be alright, man?" Issei asked.
"I… should be… fine… Blarg…"
"Take it easy, Koh-kun. You need to stay hydrated," Himari filled her canteen with water and handed it to Koh.
"This water is quite delicious~!" Akeno noted, drinking water from her cupped hands.
"Here you go, Issei," Asia handed him her canteen.
Issei quickly drank nearly the entire canteen. "Oh, man~! I needed that. Thanks, Asia."
"Now then, let's pick up the pace, everyone!" Rias called out.
"Oh, come on!" Koh groaned. "Are all High-class Devils like this?"
"Only a few of them are like Buchou and Kaichou," Akeno said. "Most High-class Devils rely on their inborn talent and the combat experience they amass from battles and Rating Games. That's why their rate of growth is slow compared to what it could have been if they trained seriously."
"…Let's hope Riser isn't like that, then," Koh muttered as they continued on their way. Before long they reached their destination: a large, isolated mansion on the mountaintop. It had a small lake in the front and a large grass field in front of it, leaving plenty of room for their proposed training.
"It's so beautiful!" Asia praised its beauty, holding her hands together.
Iroh nodded in agreement. "Indeed, although…" Iroh turned to look at the nearby mountain just east of them. "I'm not so sure about the location."
"Is something… wrong, uncle?" Koh asked between breaths.
"Nothing at the moment…" Iroh said with a small smile. 'With any luck, none of us will have to venture there.'
"Alright, everyone. Let's get our supplies inside and get started on our training," Rias declared, immediately causing Issei to slump his shoulders tiredly.
"B-but we just got here, president! You really are evil…" Issei whined, almost giving up on towing his bag around.
"Why, thank you. I am a Devil after all," Rias giggled with an amused smirk as she looked back at him.
"No, it would be best to rest for a bit after settling in," Iroh spoke up. "Training can wait until after I'm done evaluating all of you."
"Evaluating us?" Rias questioned. While she had no trouble with Iroh and Himari coming along, she wasn't very pleased that the older man would be the one who would monitor their training. The training schedule she and Akeno made last night was good enough.
"Don't give me that look, Young Gremory," Iroh began. "While I can see you value your servants and want what's best for them, I feel you yourself may not be taking the training seriously enough."
"What do you mean?" Rias questioned with narrow eyes.
"Coronamon brought up a point earlier in that only a few of you actually carried the supplies," Iroh pointed out as he put down the box he was carrying. "If you wanted to have all of them begin their training a little earlier, then you should've divided the supplies amongst all of you, not hand off most of them to your Rook."
"Uh, well…" Rias tried to counter but wasn't able to. "That… was an oversight."
"An oversight that could cost you later on," Iroh added. "I have two tests that will help me determine how you each need to improve."
"What are these tests?" Rias asked.
"You will see," Iroh smirked. "Meet me in the living room in two hours. That should be enough time for you all to settle in and rest up a little."
Once inside, Koh and Issei set down all of the luggage he was carrying and dropped to the floor, letting out a huge exhale as everyone else went to different rooms to change into looser clothes (for most of them it was their sports jerseys).
"Are you going to be okay, Hinode?" Kiba asked.
"I feel like… my lungs are gonna pop," Koh muttered a reply. "Why did uncle tell me… to take constant deep breaths while… walking up here?"
"I guess we'll find out," Issei said as he lay on the ground.
Once they had recovered a bit and had all settled into the rooms they'd be staying in for the duration of the training and unpacked their stuff, they changed into their jerseys and headed to the living room, where Iroh and the box he carried were waiting.
"I see everyone's ready," Iroh noted. "Himari, since you won't be taking part in the Rating Game, I want you to wait outside for now."
"Uh… O-okay," Himari nodded before leaving.
"So what is this first test?" Akeno asked.
"And what's in the box?" Asia asked.
"Cage," Iroh corrected. "As for what's in it, let me tell you a story. Hundreds of years ago, a species of highly aggressive predators from the Underworld were released in Japan. The emperor of the time sent a small army of his best samurai to stop them. They failed."
A growl escaped from the cage, startling the teens. Asia hung close to Issei while Akeno unknowingly scooted near Koh.
"Many lives were lost," Iroh continued. "The survivors sought aid from a fledgling clan of demon hunters, led by a former samurai named Akatsuki and his wife, a Shrine Maiden and follower of Amaterasu, named Hinata. They lent their strength and managed to defeat the vile beasts and the master they served. Ever since, Akatsuki and Hinata's descendants have kept the beasts contained, even using them as a test for their clan to prove their courage and resolve. One each and every Hinode has faced!"
"Huh?" Koh blinked.
"Yes, Koh. Akatsuki and Hinata are our ancestors and the original founders of the Hinode Clan. This is a test you would have faced one day. And that is today, along with all of you," Iroh pointed to each member of the Gremory Peerage. "If you all manage to survive 5 minutes with this beast, then we will know you are ready to face Riser Phenex," Iroh dramatically pulled back the sheet, revealing that the creature contained within the cage was…
"Bwa-bwak!"
"…A chicken?" Kiba muttered, staring at the light brown hen pecking at the cage, most of the tension in the air dissipating.
"Haha! Your uncle had me going for a second, Hinode," Issei laughed.
"It's cute," Asia gushed.
"Oh, no… Not the chicken!" Koh cried.
"Not that thing!" Coronamon cried.
The Gremory Peerage all looked at Koh and Coronamon in amusement. "Ara ara, this is unexpected," Akeno giggled.
"Hinode-senpai is afraid of chickens?" Koneko asked.
"That's not an ordinary chicken!" Koh protested. "It's some kind of ninja chicken!"
"Pfft! A ninja chicken?" Issei laughed.
"It gave me a flying dragon kick once!"
"And it nearly clawed out my eyes!" Coronamon added.
Kiba let out a small laugh while Asia tried to keep her giggles contained.
"Aww, how cute~," Rias teased. "You two can face scary Digimon, but are scared of chickens?"
"It almost reminds me of your fear of camels, Rias," Akeno smiled knowingly.
"That's different! Camels are vicious!" Rias quickly protested.
Iroh let out a small laugh. "As amusing as this is, we have a test to do," Iroh opened the cage's door, to Koh and Coronamon's terror. "As I said, if you all manage to survive 5 minutes with her without casualties, we know you will be able to defeat Riser and his peerage," Iroh quickly made his way to the door. "Best of luck to you, especially since the chicken will be going all out now," he closed the door, and several locks were heard.
"Okay, this joke was funny, but now it's starting to get annoying," Rias grumbled as the chicken walked out of the cage.
Koh and Coronamon staggered back away from the chicken.
"Dude, relax, it's just a chicken," Issei said. "What's it gonna do? Peck us to death?"
"I suppose we'll be having chicken for dinner tonight," Akeno hummed in thought.
"…Yakitori," Koneko almost drooled at the thought.
"Oh, I hate to hurt it," Asia whined.
"And I don't think Iroh would appreciate us turning his chicken into dinner," Kiba said.
"Wait…" Koh spoke up, getting everyone's attention. "What did my uncle mean about the chicken 'going all out'?" He asked.
"KRAAAW!" The chicken suddenly roared as it glowed a creepy blue glow, lightning sparking off its body, to the shock of everyone, before it attacked.
Outside, Iroh calmly stood next to the door, while Himari stood by in horror as the sounds of the struggle echoed throughout the building.
"Look out! GAH!"
"Akeno-WHA!"
"YEOW!"
"Issei-san!"
"Don't look into its eyes!"
"Oh, man!"
"AHHH!"
"I looked it in the eye!"
"KRAAW!"
Iroh calmly ignored the mayhem as he pulled out a pocket watch to help keep track of the time. When the five minutes were about to run out, the room suddenly grew quiet. "Are they okay?" Himari asked in worry.
Iroh undid the locks and was about to open the door when Rias, Kiba, Koh, and Coronamon suddenly collapsed through it, the chicken's cage wrapped in its sheet as angry clucks came from it.
"Hey…" Kiba muttered with scorched marks on his face. "We caught the chicken."
"Yeah, it's back in the cage, uncle," Koh nodded.
"No more chickens, please!" Coronamon begged.
"We… we passed your test!" Rias said triumphantly, even though her hair was frizzled and smoking.
"Yes, you four did survive the chicken," Iroh conceded. "But I said you need to survive five minutes with her without casualties. And I see three."
Turning their heads, Rias, Koh, Coronamon, and Kiba all saw that Koneko, Asia, and Issei were all on the floor, twitching and smoking a little. Akeno stood near them, a smile on her face despite her hair having poofed up into an afro…
*Thud!*
Before she collapsed to the floor, also.
"Correction: Four casualties," Iroh sighed. "Once you're all healed up, meet outside in an hour for the second test," the elder Hinode instructed before picking up the chicken's cage and leaving, Himari already healing the four downed devils.
"What's he planning?" Koh muttered.
An hour later, after Himari and Asia healed everyone, they went out to the front of the home as instructed, where Iroh was waiting patiently. "I see you've recovered from your poultry-related injuries," Iroh noted.
Rias gave an annoyed huff. "So what's this second test?" She asked.
'Oh, I can already tell it's gonna be painful, whatever it is. It might be even worse than the chicken!' Issei internally groaned, dreading Iroh's test the most.
"It's simple, really, but first…" Iroh looked at his nephew. "Koh, as I already know how well you fight, you and Coronamon will not take part in this test."
"Okay…" Koh nodded, he and Coronamon ran to the side, followed by Himari.
"As for the rest of you, your next test…" Iroh began. Koh's uncle then took a very deep breath before kicking up a wooden bō staff, twirling it with ease before aiming it at them. "Is to defeat me in combat!"
"What?" Rias asked.
"We can't fight you," Kiba spoke up.
"Yes, you're human. And we're devils. It wouldn't be a fair fight," Akeno added.
"Yeah. And, no offense, you're kinda… old," Issei added.
"Is that why? Are you sure you aren't… afraid?" Iroh questioned mockingly.
"What? No. Of course, we're not afraid," Rias replied.
"You will be," Iroh boasted. "And you're right about one thing, Akeno. This won't be a fair fight… for you!" Iroh then charged, moving far faster than someone his age should before leaping into the air. The Gremory devils could only stare at Iroh in surprise before he brought his staff down to the ground, a shockwave of yellow energy launching them off their feet.
"What the…?!" Koh gasped while Coronamon and Himari looked on in wide-eyed shock as Iroh headed for Rias first.
The red-haired devil staggered back, managing to avoid a couple of swings from the staff, only for Iroh to jam it into her gut, sending her flying.
"Failed." Iroh declared.
Kiba and Issei looked to where Rias landed in shock before they charged at Iroh, but…
*Smack!*
Issei screamed as Iroh sent him flying with the staff. "Failed."
Kida swung at Iroh with one of his demonic swords, but Iroh ducked beneath the blade before jamming the staff into Kiba, sending him flying, too.
"Failed."
Koneko then leaped at Iroh, aiming to kick him, but Iroh grabbed her foot, swung her around a couple of times, and threw her into the lake.
"Failed."
Akeno, having seen Iroh take out the others so easily, stood protectively in front of Asia. "Asia, you should- Gah! Waaah!" Akeno gaged as Iroh jammed his bō staff into the raven-haired devil's stomach before tossing her over his shoulder.
"Failed."
Iroh leaped forward, delivering a kick to Asia's side, sending her flying back.
"Failed."
Rias growled as she stood back up, glaring at Iroh. "How dare he make a mockery of my precious servants…"
"Asia…" Issei muttered, having witnessed Iroh attack Asia unprovoked. "That's it! No more Mr. Nice Devil!"
Koneko, soaking wet from being thrown into the shoreline of the lake, glared at Iroh. "For once, I agree with the pervert," she growled in a monotone voice before she charged toward Iroh.
Koneko tried to deal a powerful punch to Iroh, but he easily caught it, to the surprise of the ORC.
"Strong as you are, you will never be able to truly defeat anyone without using your real claws," Iroh said, getting a surprised look from Koneko, but before she could say something, she saw Iroh's leg being coated in fire, delivering a devastating kick to Koneko.
[Transfer!]
Iroh turned just in time to see Issei transfer some power to Kiba, wielding two demonic swords as he charged at Iroh. The transferred power enhancing his speed, Kiba slashed Iroh multiple times, though Koh's uncle expertly dodged each slash. On the final slash, Kiba turned around towards Iroh, placing his hand on the ground, causing a blue magic seal to appear underneath the Rider. Kiba had birthed half a dozen of his swords at Iroh, not wanting to actually impale the man but restrain him. He then proceeded to launch it at him, but before he could Iroh struck his staff into the ground, a white mist surrounding it. The mist spread out and caused the many swords to shatter.
"What?" Kiba gasped.
"A simple disruption technique," Iroh smiled.
Kiba then noticed Issei sneaking up on Iroh from behind with lightning building up around Akeno. "I'll have to ask how you did that later," Kiba birthed another sword. "For now, you might be in for a shock." Kiba then leaped high into the air with his sword aiming towards Iroh.
Iroh quickly used his staff to block Kiba's blow, only for Issei to jump onto Iroh, the two now holding him in place. "Akeno, get him!"
Smirking, Akeno fired a blast of lightning at Iroh, though he saw her attack coming and broke free from Kiba and Issei's hold, letting them take the blow.
"Oops. Sorry," Akeno apologized to the boys.
"Akeno, we'll take him on in the air!" Rias ordered, her Queen nodded as the two spread their wings and flew up.
From the sidelines, Koh, Himari, and Coronamon could only watch in awe as Iroh fought the Gremory peerage, and it was clear he was winning.
"Boss… your uncle is a badass." Coronamon nodded.
"Yeah…" Koh nodded. "I knew he was cool already, but this, along with the fact that we're apparently from a long line of demon slayers, proves it."
About a minute later, Issei landed on his back with a thud. "Ouch…"
"Issei-san!" Asia exclaimed as she ran to his side, only for Rias to suddenly fall on top of her, the two crashing on Issei. Followed by Koneko crashing on Rias. Followed by Akeno crashing on Koneko. Followed by Kiba crashing on Akeno.
"Give up, yet?" Iroh asked, standing on the mansion's roof, looking down on the devils (literally).
The devils all groaned in defeat.
"I'll take that as a yes," Iroh jumped back down. "Rest up, and we'll begin training later."
Later, after Iroh gave the devils tips for their training, the older man took his nephew, Coronamon, and Himari to the end of the small lake to begin Koh's training. "Koh, the time has finally come for you to learn our family's martial art that has been passed down for generations: The Asahiko-ryū."
"Asahiko-ryū?" Koh repeated.
"As in morning sunlight?" Himari asked. "Wait, doesn't your family name mean sunrise?"
"Yes, our family has always been closely associated with the sun," Iroh smiled as the chicken walked up to him, its presence startling the two teens and the Digimon. Iroh took a moment to pet the chicken before continuing. "First thing you must know, Koh, is that the strength of the Asahiko-ryū comes from the breath, not the muscle."
"Huh?" Coronamon tilted his head in confusion
"Oh yeah," Koh nodded. "You did take a deep breath before you beat the crap out of Hyoudou and the others. …Wait, is that also why you had me take deep breaths during the hike up here?"
"Precisely," Iroh winked. "By controlling your breathing, you can control the circulation of your inner ki, thus being able to use your body's maximum potential."
"Wait, so it's like Hamon?" Koh asked.
"…What do ripples have to do with anything I just said?" A confused Iroh asked.
"No, Hamon is a power from a manga that- Never mind," Koh shook his head. "So, what else can the Asahiko-ryū do? Give you literal firepower?" Koh guessed.
"Not exactly," Iroh casually replied, to Koh's surprise. "Since our family is associated with the sun, that would logically mean we're also associated with fire, but that is not all. Due to being blessed by Amaterasu herself, we can use magic from all five elements: earth, water, fire, wind, and void."
"…How is void an element?" Coronamon asked.
Iroh ignored him. "While all members of our clan can use all five elements, most choose their own personal preferences. For example, one of your ancestors, Teru Hinode, was a master of water magic. Your father was skilled in wind and void magic, while I am versed in fire magic, and while I do not like to brag, my proficiency earned me the title 'The Dragon of the Hinode'!" To demonstrate, Iroh waved his hand, sparks of multicolored flames spewing out and forming the image of an eastern dragon.
"Whoa!" Koh, Coronamon, and Himari all looked on in amazement at the fire dragon before it vanished. "This is so much cooler than Hamon! So, how do we start?"
Iroh sat down and got into a Siddhasana pose. "First, we must meditate. This way, we can focus on improving our breathing."
Koh nodded and sat down, mimicking Iroh's pose. Coronamon did the same, to the best of his ability. Himari followed suit, more curious than anything.
Koh sat still and meditated, trying to keep his focus only on his breathing. 'Say… did I close the window in my room?'
'I need to scratch my arm.'
Coronamon fell asleep.
*Bam! Bam! Bam!*
"Try again!" Iroh said, large bumps on the three's heads.
"Ow…"
This went on for several more hours, with Iroh delivering several more bumps to the head whenever Koh and Coronamon weren't able to properly focus while meditating. Himari was excused after the first time as she was simply curious about Koh's training, having gone to Asia to learn more about the limits of her Sacred Gear, which she had learned was called Healing Waves. The devils training wasn't much easier, being a mix of sword practice, demonic power training, close combat sparring, and physical exercise, all of which Iroh added suggestions to.
Eventually, everyone went back to the mansion for dinner. The dishes were made with the ingredients hunted and gathered from the mountains and prepared by Issei and Asia with Iroh supervising.
Koh sat next to Himari at the dining table as they enjoyed their dinner, Coronamon sitting to Koh's right. "This is really good," Koh commented.
"Yes, it is," Akeno nodded, sitting across from Koh. "You're quite the cook, Iroh-san."
"All I did was offer Issei and Asia some advice. They did most of the work," Iroh replied.
"So how did training go, Hinode-kun?" Kiba suddenly asked with a smile.
"Good, I guess," Koh shrugged. "My uncle just made me meditate and do breathing exercises all day."
"That's it?" Issei asked.
"It wasn't as easy as it sounds," Koh rubbed the sore spot on his head, where his uncle had hit him whenever he didn't properly meditate. "What about you, Hyoudou? How did your training go?"
"Today we just went over the basics of what he'll be learning for the rest of his time until the match," Akeno was the one who answered.
"He's a pervert, but he seems pretty determined to get stronger…" Koneko hummed as she sipped her tea.
"I'm sitting right here, you know?" Issei muttered. "But yeah, it was rough. I first had to fight both Kiba and Koneko at the same time, something your uncle suggested."
"It was to help teach you to stay focused during battle," Iroh said. "You have a tendency to underestimate your enemies, not to mention you have a habit of letting your mind wander."
"…Yeah," Issei sighed dejectedly.
"Wouldn't Kiba have been enough? Like what I originally wanted?" Rias asked.
"Perhaps, but two opponents are better. After all, you will be outnumbered during the rating game," Iroh pointed out. "Which reminds me, I'll be teaching Asia some basic self-defense tomorrow."
"R-Right," Asia nodded.
"Is ten days going to be enough, though?" Himari asked. "I mean, based on what Iroh-san said, all of you need to improve."
"As much as I hate to admit it, Iroh has a point," Rias spoke up, but she was smiling at the group. "But even so, I think together we can help not just Issei, but all of us to become much stronger in such a short time."
Issei smiled, but in the back of his mind, he still had the smallest of doubts. He was well aware that he was the weakest one in the group. Issei paused to look at his hand that housed the Boosted Gear. It was a Longinus, like Koh's Regulus Name, yet he could tell that Koh had a better handle on his Sacred Gear than Issei. He was practically useless during the fights against Kuwagamon, Mummymon, and Mercerumon, unlike Koh.
'I need to get stronger. I WON'T be dead weight anymore!'
May 11, 2012
Kuoh Academy student council room, Japan
Back in Kuoh Academy, it had been about two days since Rias and the others left to train. And luckily everything had been quiet since they left.
Though, the Student Council had a couple of unexpected guests at the moment. "What's the matter, Kaho-chan?" Anne asked.
"I wanted to ask Koh-senpai more about my Digivice," Kaho muttered. "I wanted to learn how he was able to get Coronamon to transform like that," Kaho pouted.
"I've been curious myself," Lalamon spoke up. "How was Coronamon able to Digivolve like that and turn back?"
"Is that not normal?" Tsubaki asked.
"Digimon normally Digivole naturally over time," Lalamon replied. "But I've never heard of one suddenly Digivolving and then turning back."
"Wasn't Hinode's Digivice glowing when Coronamon Digivolved?" Reya questioned.
"Yeah," Kaho nodded. "I was going to ask him about that, but then the whole thing with that Riser guy happened."
"Not much we can do about it now," Genshirou said.
"Well, why don't we go ask them?" Anne proposed. Everyone in the student council room turned to look at her. "We can visit them tonight or tomorrow. And I doubt anything could happen if we're gone for a few hours."
Sona contemplated the suggestion for a moment before smiling. It would be interesting to see how a member of a clan that rivaled the Five Principal Families (the fact that Koh and his uncle are part of such a clan still surprised her) was training Rias and her servants. "I suppose checking on them wouldn't hurt. A quick visit tomorrow should be sufficient."
May 12, 2012
Phenex Castel, Underworld
In the underworld, inside the Phenex castle, Riser was seated on a luxurious couch and looking through a large number of magazines, his Queen Yubelluna nearby doing the same. "Oh, do you think this tuxedo would match best with Rias's wedding gown?" He asked.
Yubelluna looked over the image with an appeasing eye. "Why yes, I believe it would."
"Excuse me, Riser," Ravel walked into the room.
"Ah, Ravel!" Riser greeted his younger sister. "I trust that the wedding preparations are going as planned."
"They are, but that's not why I'm here," Ravel quickly said. "It's Xuelan. She's been acting… off ever since we visited Rias."
"Off how?" Riser questioned.
"She hasn't left her room, and when I tried to ask what was bothering her, she brushed me aside."
"That is unlike her," Yubelluna nodded. "Do you think it has something to do with her siblings?"
"Maybe…" Riser hummed in thought. Before joining Riser's peerage, Xuelan was looking after and protecting her younger siblings from an alcoholic and abusive father. She summoned Riser by chance and, in exchange for becoming Riser's Rook, he would help her and her siblings get away from their father. "Eh, it's probably nothing," Riser waved off.
"Riser, I don't think-"
"You worry too much, Ravel," he interrupted his younger sister as he went back to his magazine. "As long as Xuelan performs during the Rating Game, it'll be fine."
"Ugh! You're too carefree, Riser," Ravel grumbled as she left. "Guess I'll be the one looking into this, then."
It didn't take long for Ravel to reach Xuelan's room. "Xuelan, are you there?" Ravel called out as she knocked on the door, but she didn't get a reply. "Xuelan, I just want to talk. Xuelan!" Ravel forced the door open, only to find Xuelan's room empty, with the only indication that she was present recently being the half-made bed and her closet being opened.
"Where…?" It didn't take long for Ravel to realize where Xuelan might have gone. "She didn't…!"
Xuelan, having bribed one of the servants working in the Gremory castle to learn about Rias's plans, trekked through the mountaintop woods, heading in the general direction of where Rias and her peerage were training, a duffle bag full of supplies hanging from her shoulder. "I know Riser-sama won't be happy with this, but I have to know," Xuelan's eyes narrowed.
"Know what?"
The Chinese devil jumped, turning around to find Ravel Phenex standing several feet behind her. And she did not look happy.
"Ravel-sama! I was just-"
"Going to spy on Rias and her Peerage before a Rating Game?" Ravel questioned. "You know such a thing is illegal."
"No, I wasn't…"
"You're off, too. Rias and her peerage are training on the mountaintop west of here," Ravel's expression then softened. "Xuelan, what is going on with you? Ever since we visited Rias and her peerage the other day, you've been acting off."
Xuelan looked down. "It's… complicated. But, the human who will be taking part, Hinode… I need to know if he's part of the Hinode Clan."
Ravel stared at Xuelan in confusion. "Huh? Who's the Hinode Clan? And what do they have to do with any of this?"
Xuelan was about to answer when something caught her eye. Movement, heading right for Ravel.
"Ravel-sama, look out!" Dropping her bag, Xuelan quickly tackled Ravel to the side, right as something landed where she stood.
Ravel and Xuelan looked on in horror as their attacker revealed himself. Or rather, itself. It was a spider, at least as big as a car, its front body resembling a tiger and its head was a hideous mix of a spider and an oni's. Its six eyes, the two largest resembling cat eyes, looked at them hungrily.
It was a Tsuchigumo.
Screeching, the giant spider leaped at them again, but Xuelan sent a flaming, left-side roundhouse kick into the demon's head, knocking it back several feet.
"Ravel-sama, get out of here!" The Chinese girl yelled as she tossed her duffle bag, readying herself to fist the spider as it got up, more pissed than hurt.
"Not without you!" Ravel protested as she readied a teleportation circle… only for it to suddenly shatter. "What?" Ravel tried to do a teleportation circle again, only for it to shatter again.
"Ravel-sama, hurry up and go!" Xuelan grunted, using her Rook strength to hold the Tsuchigumo back.
"Like I said, I'm not leaving you!" Ravel countered as she tried again to make a teleportation circle, only for it to shatter like before. "Come ON! What is going on here?!" Ravel screamed, unaware of something slithering behind her. "I'll figure that out later, right now I need to help Xu- GHA!"
Ravel's scream caught Xuelan's attention, managing to push the giant spider back before tossing it several feet. Turing, Xuelan's eyes widened in shock at what she was seeing. An enormous snake, a Uwabami at least 15 meters long, was coiling around Ravel, the girl was unable to scream as the snake slowly crushed her as it readied to devour her.
"LET HER GO!" Xuelan delivered a flaming kick to the giant snake's head. The attack caused the snake to loosen its hold on Ravel, who Xuelan quickly pulled out of the snake's coils.
Hissing at the two for interrupting its meal, the Uwabami began to slither toward them only for the Tsuchigumo to attack it. "Damn serpent, this is my turf!" The spider growled.
"Ssso what? I sssensed them firssst! They're my prey!" The snake countered.
Ravel and Xuelan stared at the two arguing Youkai for a moment before they began to run away from them.
The spider was the first to notice. "Now look what you've done. They're getting away!"
"Not for long," the snake began slithering. "I haven't had a decent meal in forever, and I'll sssavor every sssecond they're in my ssstomach!"
"Not if I get them first!" The spider began chasing the two girls also.
Ravel briefly glanced behind her to see the snake and spider gaining ground on them. "We need to get out of here, but my teleportation circle isn't working!"
"What?" Xuelan looked at Ravel in shock. Xuelan then conjured a communication magic circle next to her ear. "Riser-sama, are you there? We need some help!" No response came from the magic circle, prompting Xuelan and Ravel's eyes to widen. "Riser-sama!?"
"What is going on?!" Ravel exclaimed.
"We'll figure it out later! For now," the Chinese girl glanced behind them. "We need to get away from those Youkai and- is it getting foggy?"
"Huh?" As Ravel and Xuelan ran, a thick fog began to envelop them. Ravel quickly grabbed onto Xuelan's hand to make sure they wouldn't get separated as the fog completely enveloped them. "This isn't normal fog," Ravel quickly realized.
As quickly as the fog appeared it vanished. "What was with that fog?" Xuelan asked, but they soon stopped in their tracks as they stumbled upon something.
It was Xuelan's duffle bag, which she dropped when she fought the Tsuchigumo. The two devils stared at the bag in shock as they realized what happened. "We just ran in a circle!" Ravel exclaimed, having somehow found themselves in the same clearing that the Tsuchigumo and Uwabami attacked them in.
"How…" Xuelan muttered, only for a hiss-like laugh to catch their attention.
"So you're not humans, eh?" The Tsuchigumo asked as it and the Uwabami closed in on them.
"They will ssstill tassste the sssame to me," the Uwabami said.
Realizing that they couldn't leave, Ravel and Xuelan got ready to fight.
Koh blocked a sword strike from Kiba before pushing the swordsman back with the golden axe. Iroh watched closely as the two clashed, Kiba avoiding Koh's strikes with ease. They continued to block and dodge each other's attacks and counterattacks for a few more minutes.
That ended when one of Kiba's blows managed to knock Regulus Nemea out of Koh's hand. Seizing his chance, Kiba quickly placed the edge of his blade against Koh's neck. "I win this round."
"You sure?" Koh asked, pointing behind Kiba. Glancing behind him, Kiba saw that the Regulus Nemea axe was directly behind him, now realizing that Koh could recall the axe right now and it would head straight for him.
"I say this match is a draw," Iroh declared. Kiba pulled back his demonic sword before Koh recalled the axe.
"You seem to be getting a better handle on the Regulus Nemea, Hinode-jun," Kiba smiled.
"Yeah," Koh nodded as he stared at his axe. "I said this before, but this axe feels more like a sword. Still, it's just a little too clunky for my tastes," the axe turned back into a bracelet. "I'm more used to a shinai, so this is taking some getting used to."
"Worry not, Koh," Iroh reassured. "I'm sure you will be ready by the Rating Game in both using the Regulus Nemea and the Asahiko-ryū."
"Speaking of, when am I going to learn the Asahiko-ryū?" Koh asked. "All we've done is practicing my breathing and training with either Kiba or Hyoudou. When are you going to teach me, uncle?"
Iroh smiled. "You already know the Asahiko-ryū, in a sense."
Both Koh and Kiba stared at Iroh bewildered. "Huh? What do you mean?"
Before Iroh could elaborate, a series of excited barks caught their attention. Running up to them Mako practically jumped onto Koh, nearly knocking the teen down. "Mako?! What are you doing here?"
"We brought him along. He was lonely without you guys."
Looking up, Koh was surprised to see Anne, Kaho, and Lalamon walking up to him, Sona and the Student Council behind them.
"Sona!" Rias ran up with the others. "I'm surprised you came to visit."
"Why'd you bring a dog?" Koneko had asked from the safety of right behind Asia, glaring at the orange and white Akita dog.
"I thought there wouldn't be any issues if we were away from Kuoh for a little while," Sona replied, readjusting her glasses.
"That, and Kaho was complaining about Koh leaving before he could really explain some things," Anne added.
"I wasn't complaining!" Kaho denied. "I just wanted to know how Koh made Coronamon transform."
"You want to know how I Digivolved?" Coronamon asked.
*Whoosh!*
Before anything else was said, a giant stream of fire on the nearby mountain caught their attention.
"Now what?!" Issei exclaimed.
Rias and Sona's eyes widened, instantly recognizing the flames. "That's Phenex fire!"
"What?" Tsubaki turned to her King. "Are you sure, Sona?"
"There's no mistaking it," Rias narrowed her eyes as the fire dissipated. "That fire is from a member of the Phenex family."
"Did they come here to spy on us?" Kiba asked.
"No," Sona shook her head. "Riser Phenex is many things, but he would never stoop so low as to spy on his opponents."
"As much as I hate to admit it, Sona's right," Rias added.
Iroh, though, stared at the mountain the fire came from. The mountain east of them. "Oh no…"
"Uncle, what's wrong?" Koh asked.
"Whoever is upon that mountain is in grave danger," Iroh said ominously. "Rias, you said this mansion is owned by your family. Did they tell you anything about the surrounding area?"
"Only that most of it to the east was owned by the Shinto faction and that I should never set foot upon their mountains," Rias answered.
"There is a reason for that," Iroh pointed at the mountain. "That mountaintop serves as a prison for Feral Youkai."
"I'm sorry, but Feral Youkai?" Rias repeated. "I'm not familiar with that term. Is that supposed to be a term for the Youkai unaffiliated with the two main Youkai Factions?"
"In a sense," Iroh nodded. "Feral Youkai are Youkai who stubbornly cling to the old ways and keep either devouring humans or harassing them to feed on their fear. The Hinode Clan and the Fire Principal Clans trap some of them on that mountain, which has a barrier to prevent any creature of darkness from leaving. Originally it was used as a testing site for the clans but it gradually saw less use, especially since a hiking trail and a road were built nearby."
"Any creature of darkness can't leave?" Koneko asked.
"That would include us devils," Tsubaki noted.
"They are also unable to contact anyone on the outside for help, either," Iroh added. "The only way for them to leave is for someone from the clans to allow it."
"We gotta help them!" Said Asia.
"It would not be wise for all of us to go in at once," Iroh continued. "The more that are held prisoner, the stronger the barrier becomes. Some of us would have to stay here to ensure it doesn't become too strong. Not to mention help me with retrieving the rescue team."
Rias, while tempted to let whoever was in the prison to their fate due to her dislike of Riser, nodded. "So who will be going?"
"I'm afraid that Rias and Sona cannot go," Iroh said. "Being the only pure-blooded devils among your groups, the barrier will react strongly to your presence."
"What? That's outrageous!" Rias exclaimed. "I'm not letting my servants go into that barbaric prison alone!"
"Rias, calm down," Sona grabbed hold of Rias' shoulder. "I understand how you feel, but we should listen to Iroh."
Rias took a deep breath. "Fine. Who should go?"
Koh, Coronamon, Issei, Asia, Himari, Akeno, Tsubaki, Tsubasa, and Reya trekked through the mountaintop along a cliff toward where the Phenex fire came from. Koh was an obvious choice given how he and Coronamon were the only ones who could freely enter and leave the barrier. Asia and Himari volunteered to go to heal any injuries, with Issei going with Asia. Akeno and Tsubaki then volunteered to act in their King's stead, with Tsubasa and Reya following.
"Man, this place is creepy," Issei muttered. They had entered the barrier not too long ago, and already their surroundings became more dismal the further they went in.
Asia whimpered slightly as she clung onto Issei, with Himari sticking close to Koh.
"How close are we to the fire's source?" Tsubasa asked.
"We should be almost there," Tsubaki answered.
"Smell anything yet, Coronamon?" Koh asked his partner.
"Nothing yet," Coronamon shook his head. "The smells here are all jumbled, so it's hard to pick anything out."
"KYAAAH!"
"I heard that, though!" Coronamon and the others snapped to where the scream came from. Out from the bushes, a young woman stumbled out and tripped, landing in front of them. She wore hiking clothes but was covered in scratches and bruises with her clothes torn in various areas.
Looking up, the woman's wide, fear-filled eyes stared at the teens for a moment before screaming. "You… You have to help me!" She scrambled up and grabbed hold of Issei. "My friends… my fiancé… we were hiking and these monsters…!"
"Hey, calm down!" Issei pleaded.
Tsubasa looked back at where the woman ran from and gasped. "Look out!" She pushed Issei and the woman out of the way right as something big and heavy slammed down where they were.
"What the hell?!" Koh exclaimed, he and the others were forced back by the resulting dust cloud.
Once it cleared, a tall, lanky figure emerged. They had sickly gray skin, a single horn on its head, and wore a torn tiger loincloth. They were also carrying a crude cudgel. The Oni growled hungrily at the woman and Issei.
"I haven't tasted human flesh in forever! If you devils get in my way, I won't hesitate to eat you too!" He roared as he readied his cudgel. But a lightning bolt from Akeno cut the Oni off.
"Ara ara," Akeno smirked, seeing that the Oni was still standing, if only barely. "It looks like you're far more stubborn than I gave you credit for," she said as lightning began to flow around her. "I guess that means you can withstand a bit more punishment!"
The Oni cried out in pain as a bolt of lightning struck again.
"I'm not sure this is the best place for Akeno's sadist side to show," Issei sweatdropped, still holding onto the terrified woman whose eyes were now glued to Akeno.
"Wha-wha-WHAT?!" The woman tried to move away from Issei. "Who are you people? What's going on? How is she doing that? Are you even-?"
"Sleep," Tsubaki quickly casted a spell on the woman.
The woman yawned as she fell down, snoozing softly.
"Are you done yet, Akeno?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yes. A shame he didn't last as long as I hoped," Akeno said, referring to the charge coupes of the Oni. "Still, the fact that normal humans are here complicates things a little."
"So what do we do with her?" Reya asked.
"We can't just leave her here," Issei argued as he gently laid the woman on the ground.
"And we still need to find whoever shot off the Phenex fire earlier," Asia added.
"Hold on," Coronamon sniffed the air. "I'm picking up a couple of familiar scents."
"Is it who we're looking for?" Tsubaki asked.
"Yep. They're nearby and… GAH!" Coronamon covered his nose. "What's that awful stench?"
"Kyaaah!"
The teens peered weeping into the forest, seeing two figures running near them before one tripped. As the shorter one quickly ran to check on the one who fell, Akeno recognized them. "It's Ravel and Xuelan, Riser's sister and one of his Rook."
"I recognize them, too," Koh nodded. "But what are they-?" Koh and the others gasped, seeing what kind of monster the two were running from.
The monster was large, and could best be described as a mass of arms rolled into a disgusting, sickly green blob with a small head at the top. Being carried by the neck in one of its many arms was a man. Given how pale his skin was, the dullness of his eyes, and the amount of blood dripping from his neck, the man was already dead.
"What… is that thing?!" Koh gasped.
"I… I think it's a stray devil," Akeno realized.
"It's a stray?!" Issei gasped. "It's even worse looking than Viser!"
"I've never seen such a mutated stray devil before," Tsubaki muttered in shock.
The stray then raised the dead man's body above its head, a gaping maw full of needle-like teeth opening below its head before he dropped the body.
*Crunch! Munch.*
Everyone present stared in shock and horror as the stray easily swallowed the body and ate it with ease. "Ravel-sama, you need to run!" Xuelan tried to stand between her master's sister and the stray but struggled to do so due to an injury on her leg.
"Are you crazy?!" Ravel exclaimed. "I'm not leaving you with that thing!"
Koh gritted his teeth before looking at the sleeping woman who ran into them. "You think she'll be okay on her own for a bit?"
"I'll stay here and look over her," Tsubasa offered.
"Be careful," Tsubaki told her. "Let's go!" The vice president of the student council commanded as the rest of the group charged forward.
Ravel readied her flames as the stray extended a few of its arms at her and Xuelan, but Tsubaki, using her agita, cut off the stray's arms, causing it to stagger back. "You?" Ravel questioned, recognizing Sona's Queen before Koh, Akeno, Coronamon, Reya, and Issei formed a protective circle around Ravel and Xuelan.
Asia and Himari quickly ran to Xuelan's side. "We got you. Just hold still," Himari said as they began healing the Phenex Rook.
"Thank you," Xuelan simply replied.
"Is it just you two?" Akeno asked.
"Yes," Ravel nodded. "I only came because this one," she pointed at Xuelan, "was being stupid."
"I deserve that," Xuelan sighed. "But how did you find us?"
"That blast of fire earlier was kinda hard to miss," Issei answered.
"We'll deal with why you're here later," Tsubaki said as she glared at the stray.
As its arms healed, the monstrous stray devil sniffed the air. "I know those scents…" he began giggling as he pointed three of his many arms at them. "You there. You're a member of the Hinode clan, right? And you two, while devils now, are members of the Himejima and Shinra clans, aren't you?" He asked, specifically pointing at Koh, Akeno, and Tsubaki.
The three in question were taken aback by the stray's question, Akeno and Tsubaki in particular having complicated expressions on their faces. Some of the others looked between them and the stray in surprise.
Xuelan, though, simply turned to glare at Koh. 'I knew it. He's…'
"Tell me, the year. Are we still in Taishō?" The stray asked.
"Taishō?" Koh repeated.
"What is he talking about, Issei?" Asia asked.
"He's asking which emperor Japan currently has, and what era we're in because of that," Issei answered as best he could.
"To answer your question, it's the Heisei period," Reya spoke up. "The Taishō era ended over 80 years ago, and it was followed by the Shōwa and Heisei eras."
"What…?" The stray devil's eyes widened in shock, and then… "GGGGRRRRAAAAHHHH! Are you kidding me?! We have passed into a new period?! TWICE even!?" The stray screamed at the top of his lungs, bashing his multiple arms into the ground in a tantrum, to the others' shock. The stray was so angry that his many arms began scratching his body, drawing blood. "And I'm still stuck in this mountaintop prison! Unforgivable! Simply unforgivable! Damn you, Teru Hinode and Ouryuu Nakiri! Damn you! Damn you! DAMN YOU~!"
"Teru Hinode?" Ravel questioned.
"Isn't that someone your uncle mentioned?" Himari asked Koh.
Koh nodded. "Yeah. But who's Ouryuu Nakiri?"
"It's the name given to the Nakiri Clan member who inherits the Sacred Beast, the Yellow Dragon," Tsubaki answered. "But how do you know them?" She asked the stray.
Tsubaki's question seemed to have calmed the stray down some. "Because Teru Hinode and Ouryuu Nakiri were the ones who captured and brought me here. But that was a long time ago, back in the Edo period, during the Keiō era!"
"During the… That was nearly 150 years ago!" Issei exclaimed.
"That's impossible!" Ravel yelled out. "There's no way a stray devil like you could have survived for so long. At least one devil peerage would've been sent after you!"
"And yet here I stand," the stray countered. "Trapped within this mystical cage with the other beasts, I've managed to devour at least 60 devil hunters, half of whom were pure-blooded devils like you, including my former master."
"Sixty people?" Asia gasped.
The stray then raised some of his hands and began counting. "Nineteen… Twenty… Twenty-one! That means you three are numbers twenty-two, twenty-three, and twenty-four!" He pointed at Koh, Akeno, and Tsubaki again.
"What are you talking about?" Tsubaki demanded.
The stray gave a sadistic giggle. "That's how many members of the Five Principal Clans and the Hinode Clan I've eaten. Hehehe! I promised myself I'd kill every single one I came across as revenge for putting me here! Hahaha!"
Koh, Akeno, and Tsubaki all stared at the stray in shock.
"Coincidentally, the last one I came upon was also from the Shinra clan," the stray continued. "They in particular stood out. Ah, yes, they were a girl around your age, wearing a floral white and brown kimono. Awfully agile, she used a naginata and had great mastery over metal and wind spells."
Tsubaki's own brown and violet eyes widened in shock. 'A brown and white floral kimono? Used a naginata? Metal and wind spells? That sounds like… but there's no way this stray could have…'
"Come to think of it, she looked a bit like you," the stray pointed at Tsubaki. "A sibling, perhaps? Wanna know how she died?" The stray asked. "When I told that Shinra girl what I'd done, she started crying and fell into a rage. But it wasn't long before she lost all control of her movements! Hahaha! She kept screaming about some promise she made as I ripped her limb from limb and feasted!"
As the stray laughed, Tsubaki's eyes widened in shock and horror, a memory from long ago coming to the forefront of her mind.
"Akimi-nee, you will be back, right?" A much younger Tsubaki asked the older girl.
"Don't worry, Tsubaki," the older girl gave little Tsubaki a head pat. "I'll only be gone for a couple of days at most. So be a good girl while I'm gone, okay?"
"Okay?" Tsubaki nodded. "But what if father-?"
"Don't worry. I promised you that I'll protect you, right? Even if it means going against our clan."
A few days passed, and Akimi never came back.
The elders of the clan imminently began to suspect that Tsubaki's 'curse' was somehow responsible, ignoring Tsubaki's cries. "Akimi-nee… You promised you'd protect me. So why…?"
Gritting her teeth and glaring at the stray with intense hatred, Tsubaki summoned her naginata and charged at the stay screaming.
"Tsubaki/Senpai!?" Akeno and Reya both gasped, they and the others were shocked at seeing the Sitri Queen suddenly losing her cool and charging in like this.
The stray was unfazed and responded by extending several of his arms at Tsubaki, who used her naginata to cut the arms off.
"Tsubaki, you need to calm down!" Akeno called out.
However, Tsubaki didn't seem to care and continued her charge. With a scream, Tsubaki jumped into the air, enveloping her naginata in demonic power and thrusting it forward. But one of the stray's arms struck her in the side, sending her flying with a sickening crunch as she hit a tree.
"Tsubaki!" Akeno shouted before turning to the stray with a furious expression on her face. "Damn you!"
Akeno quickly got into the air with Reya while Koh summoned his axe. "Himari, get to Shinra, quick!"
"Right!" Himari nervously nodded as she ran to Tsubaki's side.
"Corona-knuckle!" Coronamon smashed a flaming fist into one of the stray's arms, knocking it aside as Koh chopped it off with Regulus Nemea. But two new arms quickly replaced it, forcing Koh and Coronamon back.
Akeno unleashed several thunderbolts in succession at the stray, but to her shock, the stray wasn't in as much pain as he should have been. "What…?" Akeno then noticed that two of the stray's many arms had buried themselves into the ground. "He grounded himself?!"
"You're not the first one to use lightning against me, little Himejima!" The stray laughed.
At this, Akeno narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?"
The stray could only laugh. "If you want answers, then you'll have to pry them from me yourself!" The stray merged some of his arms together and fired a giant fist at Akeno. But before it could reach Akeno, Tsubaki (healed by Himari) stopped between them.
"Send that attack back, Mirror Alice!" The stray's late fist smashed the mirror to pieces. The next moment, the multi-armed stray devil was engulfed by a wave of energy that came out of the broken mirror and howled in pain.
"Nice to see you back on your feet, Tsubaki," Akeno smiled.
"Yeah," Tsubaki nodded, glaring hatefully at the stray as he recovered.
"Okay, I'll admit that hurt," the stray groaned. "But it'll take more than that to beat me, little Shinra!"
"We'll see about that!" Tsubaki snarled.
Issei stood back, protecting Asia, who was still healing Xuelan, and Ravel as he waited for his Boosted Gear to build up enough power. As they fought the stray, Ravel gave it a critical eye. 'Every time they manage to cut off one of that thing's arms, new ones grow to replace them right away. They need to get to the main body to take it out. So how…?'
She was interrupted from her thoughts when one of the arms suddenly sped towards her. Bracing herself, Ravel was ready to burn the arm to ash when Issei suddenly stepped between them.
"Promotion: Rook!" He declared, stopping the arm with his new Rook strength. "I'm not gonna let you harm Asia or the others!" Issei growled as his Sacred Gear lit up.
[Boost!]
With gritted teeth, Issei deflected the arm before he managed to tear it in half. Tossing the arms side, Issei turned his head to check on Ravel. "You okay?"
Ravel blushed slightly. "Yes, I am fine," he replied. 'He's kinda cool.'
'Damn, she's cute,' Issei thought.
"Hey!" Issei and Ravel blinked; they, along with Asia and Xuelan, turned their heads to see Tsubasa running toward them, carrying the hiker from earlier. "We have another problem!"
From the trees behind her, the Tsuchigumo jumped out.
"W-What is that?!" Asia screamed in fright.
"Not that thing again!" Ravel growled.
"A Tsuchigumo?!" Issei exclaimed. "Oh, of course, there's a Tsuchigumo! Why wouldn't there be one here? Can things get any worse?" Issei asked.
Let it be known that then and there, the universe, in its own special way, would tell Issei 'Ask and ye shall receive'.
"Xuelan, help them deal with the stray!" Ravel order. "We'll deal with the spider."
"Right," Xuelan grunted as she stood up, her injuries healed thanks to Asia before she delivered a kick to one of the stray's arms, deflecting it.
Koh was busy hoping off some of the stray's arms as they neared him. 'Damn it! I can't keep chopping his arms off. They just keep regrowing.' Koh grunted in frustration as he slammed his axe into another arm, the axe striking the ground also, which began to split in two. "Uh oh, I think I overdid it."
Koh's attack caused the ground to grow unstable, with large cracks appearing as a part of the cliff they were on began to collapse.
"I hate my stupid mouth," Issei muttered.
"I hate it moreeEEEEE!" Ravel screamed as she, Issei, Asia, Coronamon, Tsubasa, the hiker, and the Tsuchigumo fell down to the bottom while Koh, Akeno, Tsubaki, Reya, Xuelan, and Himari managed to avoid that.
"Guys!" Koh called out.
"Ravel-sama!" Xuelan cried out.
"Well, how convenient. The three I want are still here along with a couple of appetizers!" The stray laughed before launching a barrage of arms at them.
Now then, the preview…
Koh: Great, we got separated in the death forest. Just great.
Issei: Hey, at least you got the two Queens with you!
Koh: Well, at least you only have to deal with the big spider. *shudders*
Issei: Wait, you're glad you got to deal with the giant arm-blob thing instead of a spider?
Koh: Not a big fan of spiders.
Issei: Fair enough.
Koh & Issei: Next time on High School Digimon: Dawn x Dusk, "Dance of the Golden Lion"!
AN: Again, why am I making these chapters so long? It's a little late, but Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Kwanzaa! Festivus! Whatever you celebrate this time of year!
The Hinode Clan's martial art, Asahiko-ryū (朝日光流Lit. Morning Sunlight Style), is mostly based on the breathing techniques of Demon Slayer, with a bit of Hamon of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and the Amagiri-ryuu from the fanfic DxD - The Last Amagiri thrown in.
The names of the Hinode family all reference either the sun, light, or colors. For example, Teru's name (照る) means "shining" or "bright" in Japanese, Iroh comes from the Japanese word for "color" (色 "Iro"), Saito (彩音) means "colored sound", Akatsuki (暁) means "Dawn" or "Daybreak", Hinata means "toward the sun", and Koh (コウ) is another way of saying the Japanese word for light (光, "Kō").
As for Tsubaki's sister, Akimi Shinra's given name means "autumn beauty" (秋美) since the White Tiger is associated with autumn.
And with all that out of the way, stay safe, stay healthy, and don't be racist! And have a Happy New Year! See you all in 2024.