Chapter 32
The four of us walk down the staircase under the church, with Kiba in front of us. After the stairs, there is a single passage. Sometimes there are doors in both side of the wall.
(So this is a basement huh.)
"Possibly at the end of this passage... I can smell that person..." Koneko-chan points to the far end.
So Asia is there, my spirit pumped up.
(Wait for me, Asia, I'll be there soon.)
When we went further in, a big door appears.
"Is that it?" I ask.
"Yes it's here, no doubt about it." Rin acquiesced.
"I'm sure there are groups of Exorcists and Fallen Angels inside. Are you ready?" Koneko, Rin and I nod at Kiba.
"Okay. Then we'll open the door" When Kiba and I were about to open the door, it opens by itself. While making a large noise, the inside of the ritual place becomes visible.
"Welcome devils and mage of this city." The Fallen Angel, Raynare, spoke from the end of the room.
The room is full of priests. They all have a sword handle that makes the blade of light in their hands. I looked at the girl who is attached to the cross.
"Asiaaa!"
"...Senji-san?" Asia noticed my voice and looks at me.
"Yeah! I've come to save you!" She smile at me and a tear drops from her eye.
"It's a touching reunion, but it's too late. The ritual is about to finish now." Say Raynare.
(The ritual is finished? What does she mean)
"...Aaah, iyaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Suddenly, Asia's body starts to glow. She screams, looking very painfully.
"Asia!" I run towards her, but the priests surround me.
"I won't let you interfere!"
"Damn Devils! I will destroy you!"
"Move! Shitty priests! I don't have time to bother with you all!"
I strike a priest full force with my gauntlet, sending him tumbling further away, then I create a dozen clones, which suck in energy and create orbs of raw energy, which explode on contact with the priests, killing them instantly.
"...Please don't touch me." Near me, I hear a loud noise. When I look up, Koneko is hitting a priest as if it was nothing.
"Go for it! I'll give you all the support I can!" Rin stays back, throwing a silver gem at our feet, which when it bursts creates powder, making us lighter and faster. Then she throws red gems into the air, which turn into projectiles that crash down on the priests.
"Looks like I will have to go full throttle from the beginning. I hate Priests. If there are this many, then I won't hold back to devour your light." Kiba also draw his darkness-sword. His eyes become sharp and I can feel chills from him. The darkness is showing a very dense killing intent. This will be an all-out war.
"Iyaaaaaa..." At the same time, a large light comes out of Asia's body.
"This is it! This is the power that I craved for a long time! Sacred Gear! With this, I will be loved!" Raynare takes it to her hand.
With an expression of ecstasy, Raynare hugs on to the light. Then the bright light envelops the ritual room. When the light stops, there is a Fallen Angel emitting green coloured light from her body.
"Ufufu. Ahahahahahaha! I finally have it! The supreme power! With this, I can become a supreme Fallen Angel! With this I can payback all those who were looking down on me!" The Fallen Angel makes a big laugh.
I continue to make my way through the priests, raining swords down on them. Seeing an opportunity, I slash through one priest and kick another away, making my way towards Asia. My clones come to my aid, preventing the priests from stopping me. I didn't pay attention to Raynare and went straight to Asia.
Further on, I can see Kiba's sword devours the light of the priest's sword, and Koneko hit the priests who has lost their weapon with one mighty hit. The combination of these two is remarkable, and it's obvious that it isn't the type of combination possible with a few days of practice. Closely followed by Rin who assists them with ease, using her magic gems to cover their backs.
I turn my attention back to Asia, ho is attached to the cross looking lifeless. I untied the rope on her hands and legs, and hold her in my arms.
"...S-Senji-san..."
"Asia, I came to take you back."
"...Yes." Her voice is very small when she replied, and it didn't sound lively.
(Hey, hey! She should still be fine, right? She won't...)
"It's futile." Raynare makes a smirk as if she is rejecting my thoughts once again. "Possessors whose Sacred Gear is taken away from their body will die. That girl is going to die."
"Then give the Sacred Gear back!" I shout at her, but she just laughs.
"There's no way that I will give it back. You know I even deceived my superiors to get my hands on this? I will kill all of you and erase all evidence."
"...You piece of shit. You are nowhere close to the girl that I remember." Hearing that, she starts to laugh out loudly.
"Fufufu, it was pretty fun. The time I dated you."
"...You were the first to approach me like that."
"Yes, watching it was very cute. It's fun to play around with guys who have no experience with a woman."
"...I was serious about taking care of you."
"Ufufu, yes, you did take care of me. When I was in trouble you managed to take care of it right away and made sure I didn't get hurt. But did you know that I did all of that on purpose? Because it was funny to see your face when you were in panic."
"...I was ready... to open myself to you, I believed... that I could touch this happiness..."
"It's really tragic isn't it? What a pity, you really are a handsome boy, but then, monsters like you have no hope of a good life!"
"...Yuuma-chan."
"Ufufu, I chose that name so I can kill you at Dawn. Wonderful, isn't it? Right, Senji-kun?"
"Raynareeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" My rage past its limit.
"Ahahahahaha! I don't want a rotten brat like you calling my name!" Raynare makes a sneer.
I have so much hatred inside me that I can feel His influence taking hold of me. Columns of orange energy surround me. I stare at her, seeing that she's surprised, and I begin to project a dozen swords, having only in mind the idea of killing her.
"Emiya-kun! Our formation is at a disadvantage while we are protecting that girl! So go upstairs at once! We'll make the path for you! Now, hurry!" Kiba says it while taking down the priests.
His words bring me back to my senses, There are still a great number of priests left, so there will be a limit to fighting this Fallen Angel here while protecting Asia. I glared at Raynare, then created two clones to keep her busy and left the place carrying Asia.
"Koneko-chan, Tohsaka-san we will make an escape path for Senji-kun!"
"...Affirmative."
"All right!"
The two of them, along with the rest of my clones, start to take down the priests who try to get in my way. Thanks to their support, I'm able to get to the entrance of the ritual room right away.
"Hey! What are you waiting for?!" I turn around to see them still fighting.
"Go ahead! We will handle here!" Kiba said, parrying an attack.
"...Please go quickly." Koneko's voice is more urgent.
"But!"
"Just go!" Rin throws a green gem at my feet, which transforms into a giant green shield.
"Shit! I'll be back as soon as I can, so hang in there!" I create a few more clones to help them out. I feel a sharp pain but ignore it, and climb the stairs.
I went up the stairs holding Asia, and came out to the sanctuary. There's something wrong with her, her face is pale. I laid her down on one of the pews.
"Just wait a bit! You will be free soon, Asia! You will be able to play with me from now on!" Asia makes a small smile at my words.
She then takes my hand, I can't feel any strength or warmth from her hand.
"...I was happy that... I had a friend... even for a short while..." Asia is smiling even though she is in pain. "...If I were to be born again, will you become my friend once more..?"
"W-What are you saying!? Don't say that! Let's go somewhere for you to have fun! I will drag you even though you don't want to! We will go to karaoke! Game centre! Let's also go bowling! Also other places! Also to that place! And there!" I can't stop my tears from coming out.
I'm supposed to reassure her, but I can't stop crying. I know it. I already know it, this girl is dying. She is going to die, once again, I was unable to protect her...
"We are friends! Always! Yeah, that's right! I'll introduce you to the Maken-ki! Haruko, Inaho and everyone else, you'll get along perfectly with them, and then there's Usui, Motohama and Matsuda! They are a bit perverted, but all three are good guys! They will definitely become your friends! definitely! We will have fun together! We'll have fun until we can!"
"...If I was born in this country... and went to the same school as you..."
"Let's go! Come to our school!" Asia's hand pats my cheek.
"...You even cry for someone like me... now I can..." Her hand that is patting my cheeks drops slowly. "...Thank you..."
Those were her last words, she passed away smiling. I lost my strength, I just stood there looking at her face. My tears won't stop.
(Why? Why did this girl have to die? She was a kind girl who would heal anyone injured. How come I was never by her side?)
"Why?! Why is it still not enough? After all we've been through, huh? Kiritsugu! How can I say to your face that I couldn't even save a girl my own age, after taking over your torch... At the end of the day... everyone's right, my parents, my family, the people of this town, I'm a monster incapable of doing anything except causing harm to those around me... This world would be better off without me... So why... why did you save me that night?"
I don't have the answer, and I probably never will. But what I have to do hasn't changed, and Asia's death is only confirmation of this night, for all those people who died in my place, I have to fight, I have to prevent this kind of catastrophe in the future, otherwise what's the point of being alive today...
"Isn't that right, Asia?" I bite my teeth with regret but even if I regret it now, she will never smile again.
"So this is it? You finally understand how insignificant you are?" The voice I heard from behind me is that of Raynare.
When I turned around, there is a Fallen Angel smirking at me.
"Look at this. This is the wound I got from the [Knight] boy while I was coming here." Raynare places her hand on her wound, a shallow green light starts to heal her wound. "Look. Wonderful, isn't it? I can heal any kind of wound. To us Fallen Angels, who lost the protection of God, that child's Sacred Gear was a wonderful present."
(Hey. That light belongs to Asia. Why are you using it? Are Kiba, Koneko-chan and Tohsaka safe?)
"My status will rise since I will be a Fallen Angel that can heal Fallen Angels. I could be of help to the great Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama! There is nothing more wonderful than this! Aaah, Azazel-sama... My power is all for you..."
"Like I care." I glared at Raynare. "I don't care about that. Fallen Angels, God, and Devils... Those things had nothing to do with this girl."
"No, it did. She was a chosen human that possessed a Sacred Gear."
"...Even so, she could have lived quietly. She could have lived normally!"
"You're the one telling me that, you know better than anyone don't you? She couldn't. Those with irregular power would be left out of the world and groups. Because they possess a powerful ability. Because they have a different power than others. You know humans hate those things, right? Even though it's a wonderful power like this."
"Yes, it's true... That's why I would have protected Asia..."
"Ahahahaha! It's impossible! Because she died! That girl is dead, you know? It's not the matter of whether you protect her or not. You couldn't protect her! You couldn't protect her back at evening and even now! You really are a weird boy! It's so amusing!"
"...I know. That's why I can't forgive you. And myself." I can't forgive that.
Myself who couldn't protect Asia. Raynare who killed Asia. Then my left arm emits a strange sensation, like the call of a powerful force.
"You've been ready to use it for a while now, it's up to you, partner."
"Yeah, it's time to step it up a notch Ddraig." I feel the power pouring into me, flowing through my magical circuits, making them glow brightly.
"What's the point of fighting?! The result will be the same!" Raynare scoffs, gathering light in her right hand.
"I'm going to beat the shit out of you !"
[Dragon booster!]
The Sacred Gear on my left arm activates as if it responded to my shout. The jewel in the gauntlet makes a bright shine. Some mysterious mark appears on the gauntlet. At the same time, power flows into my body. From my left arm equipped with the Sacred Gear to my whole body.
I project a dozen swords above my head and fire them. Raynare dodges them, as if she were dancing. Then she throws her spear, aiming for my heart. I project a blade into my hand in a flash and throw the spear back.
"I wouldn't recommend creating them so quickly, it's too much effort all at once."
"Then we'll switch to a more direct tactic."
[Blood Pointer] I suck in the energy around me, then land in front of her, my raised fists charged with energy, giving my forearm a neon white and red color. I strike but she stops my blow with her hand, a big smile on her face.
"I will explain it so even a dummy like you can understand. It's a simple power difference. I have a power of 1000. You have a power of 70. You can't shorten the gap between us no matter what. Even with the ability of that Sacred Gear, the power doubled is only 2. It's futile! How can you win against me!? And look at you! You're killing yourself! Ahahahaha!"
Indeed, using the blood pointer, my skin shows cracks running all over my body.
[BOOST!]
Another sound from the jewel. The mark on the jewel of the gauntlet changes from [I] to [II]. Feeling the power flowing through me, I grab her wrist and squeeze so hard that she releases me.
"You'd better worry about yourself!"
Using my [ROOK] promotion, I throw her at full speed against a pillar. She immediately gets up, somewhat disorientated.
"Heh! Did your power increase a bit? Still, it's not enough!"
I see her getting ready to attack, but I don't give her the time she needs and throw a multitude of swords at her again. She flaps her wings, creating a gust that sends the blades flying, and throws her spear at me. I step aside, letting the spear pass very close to me, feeling the light lick my cheek, then rush towards her, sword in hand.
Coming face to face with her, I sweep my sword diagonally from my left shoulder to my right leg. She creates a new spear and protects herself, but when the two weapons collide, my sword breaks. I use the momentum to create a sword in my right hand and strike horizontally, forcing her to step back in a hurry. Seeing an opening, I turn the blade in her direction and lunge to cut her.
But too late, she hits me with a kick so violent that I take off, landing further away accompanied by violent pain all over my body.
(Damn, I was almost there!)
I struggle to my feet, a grimace crossing my face. Next moment, lights gather to Raynare's hand and it forms into something.
"I put a lot of power in it! Eat this!"
I don't have time to dodge as the spear of light pierces my left flank, crossing my body. Even with the defence of a [Rook], it wasn't able to defend against it.
"Guaaaaaaaaaah!" I screamed.
My body goes through intense pain, but I can't get on my knees for something like this. I grab onto the spear immediately.
"Guaaaaaaaaaah!" The sound of my flesh burning.
(Hot! It's burning hoooooooot! Is it because it's made up of light!?)
The palm of my hand that is holding onto the spear gets burned. There are smokes coming from my hand. Also from the wounds on my flank. It's burning my hand and body violently.
"Ahahahaha! A Devil trying to pull that spear out is foolish! To Devils, lights are intense poison. Just touching it will make you burn. That is the ultimate pain that Devils can taste! For a Low-class Devil like you, it's" Raynare starts to laugh at me after she sees me trying to pull out the spear.
"Nugaaaaaaaah!" I made a scream which you can't describe in words, but I tried to pull out the spear of light slowly by gripping strongly onto it.
The intense pain caused by the spear that is piercing my flank. The intense pain that is inflicted on me by the power of light. Those things are causing me so much pain. I'm about to lose consciousness because of it. It feels like I will die if I don't bite my teeth hard.
(So what about it? What about it!?)
"This! That girl! This is nothing compared to what Asia went through!" I pull out the spear slowly while my tears and drool comes out of my face.
(It hurts. It huuuuuurts dammit! But this! What about this!)
The spear is being drawn out from my body while making horrible noise. When I got the spear out from both my legs, I dropped it from my hand and it disappears before hitting the ground. After losing the thing that was blocking the holes on my flank, blood starts to flow out from the wound. Even though I took out the spear, the pain still remains.
[BOOST!]
Even if I was pierced by the spear and stopped my attack, the gauntlet on my left arm continues to make a sound.
(It hurts. It really hurts.)
I'm crying a lot and I have so much drool coming out from my mouth. I slipped onto my butt after I lost some strength in me. I don't have the strength to stand up. Shit, I don't have any strength in my legs. No, I don't have any strength left in my whole body.
(It can't end like this...)
"...Quite remarkable. A Low-class Devil pulling out the spear of light made by a Fallen Angel. But it's futile. My light isn't flashy, but has a high killing ability against Devils. The density of the light is strong. So strong that it is used as the blade of light priests uses. Getting hurt even once will be hard to heal, even for a Middle-class Devil. For a Low-class Devil like you, this is the limit. Fufufu, you can't look down on the damage caused by the power of light, you know? Especially my light." She explains, with a satisfied smile. "The light circulates around your body, and cause damages to your whole body. If you are late at healing it, you will die. No, normally it won't be weird to die with that damage. You really have a strong build, don't you?"
Ah, is that right? So for a trash like me who just became a Devil not too long ago, this wound is lethal, huh. Just like I thought. I can feel pain even from inside my body. It's not the pain of getting hit but something worse.
It feels as if my muscles and bones are melting because of the heat. The pain is transmitted directly by my nerves, so letting my guard down even once will feel like it's going to screw my head. I will probably die if I don't get healed soon. But I can't just sit here.
(I don't have any strength in my legs. Damn. Is this the end for me?)
Then I look at Asia. A girl who is sleeping quietly.
(I'm sorry for being noisy. Yeah, I'm all right. I'm seriously fine. This is not a first time for me. So it's not a problem. See, look? I'm going to ease some of the regrets you have left, Asia.)
"I never go back on anything I say." Suddenly that slipped out of my mouth without realising it.
Raynare seems puzzled. But I continue to talk.
"That's why I'm going to kill you, I'm going to make you pay for the affront of having taken so much from an innocent girl. I may be a monster in everyone's eyes, but I'll be your monster, I'll make you regret killing Asia!" My legs can move. I have already lost the sensation in my legs. Just moving it by a millimetre gives me intense pain.
But it can still move. My butt leaves the floor. My body hasn't stopped shaking. Even so, my body gets up slowly. It hurts. My whole body hurts. But I can move. I can still move. I just have to endure it until I beat her.
"I-Impossible! Your body isn't in a condition to move! Because of the damage of light" I approach Raynare slowly who has a shocked look on her face.
"Hey, Ex-girlfriend, Don't expect it to be enough to bring me down." And I stood up. Right in front of her eyes. With my feet shaking and lots of blood flowing out of me.
"...There's no way you can stand! A Low-class Devil shouldn't be able to stand up with those wounds! The lights are burning your insides from within your body!? A Low-class Devil who doesn't have the power to ease the effect of light shouldn't be able endure it!"
"Yeah, it hurts. It really hurts. I'm even close to losing my consciousness. But you know, my hatred towards you is so great that I can endure this." I glared straight at my opponent without even blinking.
My next hit will be my last blow. If I use it, I will fall down. That's why I have to finish it with my next hit. I can't look away from my target.
"Okay, here we go Ddraig, we're giving it all away!" I shout, feeling the power surge through me again.
"All right, go ahead and show that damn crow what it's like to pick on a dragon!"
[Explosion!]
The jewel shines even brighter. Such a bright light. It's dazzling. The gauntlet, which covered only my hand, grew larger, covering my fingers with claws and stretching to cover my whole forearm, taking the shape of a dragon's arm, with green inscriptions below the green gem and at the end of my forearm.
But unlike the light of a Fallen Angel, this light didn't give damage to me but instead it gives me peace. Just getting touched by this light feels like I am over flowing with power. It's similar to the light of heal that belongs to Asia.
I take a step forward. The blood splashes onto the ground from my wounds. I coughed some blood, there is no stopping to the pain I'm feeling right now. It even reaches up to my brain. But it's okay, I can still move.
Even now, my gauntlet is flowing power into me. When I faced Raynare that evening, I wasn't afraid, even though the difference in strength was clear, I knew I had every chance. With her over-inflated ego and her underestimation of me, I'd managed to surprise her, and although she's on her guard now, the power I'm receiving from the gauntlet is insane. I somehow know, This power won't last forever, it's a one time only. If I use it against my enemy even once, then it will end there. Even though the Sacred Gear isn't telling me verbally, it's telling me physically.
I pour all the energy I've got into my left arm, which is covered in white energy, letting off steam as it's so concentrated. My forearm remains red, with green in the center of the back of my hand. My target is the shitty Fallen Angel that is in front of me. I'm definitely going to hit her. I'm absolutely not going to
miss it.
"...Impossible. What is this? Why is something like this happening...? Isn't that Sacred Gear supposed to be the [Twice Critical] which doubles the power of the possessor? ...It can't be. It's not possible. Why has your power surpassed mine...? This wave of power I'm feeling... is that of a Middle-class... no, that of a High-class Devil..."
"You really are amazing Ddraig, aren't you?"
"No need to thank me, now get it over with, your body won't last long."
"Lies! This is all lies! I am the Fallen Angel that has attained the ultimate healing power! I turned into a superior being by obtaining this [Twilight Healing]! I received the right to be loved by Azazel-sama and Shemhaza-sama! I wouldn't lose to some low-life like you!" Raynare once again has a spear of light in her hands.
She brings it down on me but I hit it to the side with my fist. The spears of light disappear easily. Seeing me hit away her spears with ease, Raynare's face gets even paler.
"N-No!" Raynare is flapping her black wings, and is about to fly away.
(Is she trying to run away? Hey hey, you were looking down and laughing at me till a few seconds ago and now you run away as soon as you find out that you can't win? Who do you think you are? But I won't let you escape. Like hell I would!)
I went up to her at the same time she's about to fly, and I grabbed her arm. I have unbelievable speed. A speed that even the Fallen Angel can't react to. The arm I'm holding onto feels unreliable, and it's so small that she looks weak.
"I won't let you get away, fool." I pulled her arm towards me. I definitely won't let her go.
"I'm superior!"
"Blow away, you shitty Angel!"
"Damn yoooooooou! Low-class Deeeeeevil!"
The gauntlet released all of its energy. All the strength gathered in my left arm, and I concentrated them on my fistand I punch straight and accurately at the face of the enemy I detest. The hard sound echoes. My fist is dug into her face, and I pushed my fist even further.
Then I pour out all the energy, causing an explosion that lights up the whole church. Raynare went flying backwards with this. The Fallen Angel crashes into the wall while making a very loud noise. The wall broke and there is a big hole in the wall. Dust starts to spread everywhere. When the dust disappears, there is nothing left in the direction I blast Raynare towards. She isn't moving. I can't tell if she is dead but she won't be able to move for a while.
(I'd finally paid her back.)
"Serves you right." I let out a long sigh of relief, feeling my power leave me.
"...Asia" Tears are falling from my eyes. She won't smile ever again.
