Date A Re:Live
S2 Chapter 43: Choronzon Havoc, Part 8
By : Tohka_Yatogami
...
Summary
Even a similar story can take it's own path. Shido and Mana are amnesiac siblings living with their friend Kotori, however the past catches up to Shido when he nearly runs into a space quake, and his world changes as one girl asks... "Are you here to kill me?" (Stronger Ratatoskr, weaker DEM, games & movie are canon to story) [Shido/Tohka/Harem]
You've all been waiting, and after dealing with all the Rinne copies up until now, there's only one left for Miku to take out, and then finally... FINALLY! We get to see the Inverse Form fights! Also, to truly show how serious the Inversions are about fighting their respective counterparts, this is the first time (and maybe last, I don't know yet) in the fanfic you'll be seeing Kaguya and Yuzuru fight solo, because their Inversions have no intention of wasting the chance to use instability the two have when separated to their advantage.
And it seems like Choronzon starting to de-root, it's only a matter of time before he might start getting mobile and when that happens... well the Chaotic Divergence attack will only get all the more dangerous and threatening if that's the case, and while Mayuri's gotten a power up, the others still can't use their full Astral Dresses and worse, Marina's still got her own agenda despite she's aiding the group... perhaps Choronzon's defeat will leave something that can benefit Westcott somehow? Oh boy... we better hope that doesn't happen, or at the very least the Spirits destroy it before she can grab it.
Oh, here's something you might like, we'll be getting a bit more of seeing the past moments with the Spirits, including moments we didn't see before, and in the case of the Yamai twins and Yoshino we'll actually get to see the day they became Spirits since so far, they're the only Spirits among the sealed Spirits who I've never shown a flashback for (Yoshino at best for a brief glance in the Rinne Utopia movie), we won't see Nia's yet though, that's not until her arc finally comes around :3
Now before we begin the chapter, I think some of you remember how I once had a one-shot planned for showing how Tohka and Shido first met in the story listed on my profile, but later mentioned it would be fused into this season? Well if you didn't or never saw it, then that's alright because that's the lesser part of what I'm about to say , if you did... then know it's not that far away. The moment Tohka springs into action is when you'll finally see it, and it just happens to connect to why the arc's emotion is Hope.
Now with that done, Round 1 of Normal vs Inverse Spirit fights... *hits gong* BEGIN!
The final Rinne copy rushes through the sky as it flies after Miku, the Sound Spirit twirling around it as she danced across the sky. The copy's unseen face was seen throwing a tantrum as it couldn't hit her. The bad news for Choronzon was that while Shido had seen Miku's abilities, he didn't seem them in an offensive sense aside from the sonic scream, it had mostly just been her supportive powers and her voice controlling people.
"Aw, don't make such an angry posture, it ruins your cuteness." Miku said, forming behind the copy. Said Rinne copy looked before swinging, missing as Miku just teleported away and then back, a blush on her face. "Would you like me to sing for you?"
The copy thrust her sword forward, Miku flipping overhead as it stumbled into a building wall, wobbling out a bit dazed. The copy angrily rushes at her once it regained its bearings, holding its sword out.
"You could have just said no, but I think I'll still sing for my friends. So listen well." Miku giggled, soon a mana barrier formed around her and the copy suddenly screeched to a halt at the unfamiliar technique. It began to run off, only for Miku to move and follow it. "Aw, you don't wanna stay for the show? Alright, then here's the express exit."
Miku spun as Gabriel formed, slamming her fingers down on the keys as she unleashed her voice, it spread out from the barrier like an explosion of sound and hit the Rinne copy hard, flinging it towards Choronzon who's eyes widened as it did.
"Wait! No, don't you dare-" Choronzon shouted, only to shriek in pain as the Rinne copy hit the indigo eye gem on his body, causing it to break. The resulting smoke from the impact made Choronzon's eyes water a big. Soon he moved once of his branches to rub them. "I am so going to raise Hell when I can start moving!"
The roots underneath Choronzon slowly begin to uproot to the surface, meanwhile as that was happening, the sight of the Arbitel flying while using to hide from Choronzon's sight was seen. The most loyal of Westcott's forces having been able to get on in time, the rest... well, Westcott didn't care.
Speaking of Westcott himself, he was watching from a seat with the sight of bandages across his abdomen to seal up and heal the wound he received from Choronzon's awakening due to lacking any medical realizers at the moment, Ellen was standing by his side as they both witnessed the massive battle.
"As much as I hate to admit it, they're doing well against an opponent that's leagues beyond themselves. They better win too... I refuse to let anyone take down Tohka Yatogami before I do." Ellen stated, watching the battle closely.
"To think such an excellent inversion exists, but with a threat like this. Such a foolish being, this Choronzon, to want to destroy the world? How barbaric." Westcott claimed, sighing at the fact Choronzon only wanted to destroy indiscriminately. "Ruling the world with it is much more fun and rewarding."
Soon the two see a video screen showing Marina as found a secret spot to contact them.
"Ah, I take it you've gotten some of what we needed?" Westcott asked.
"Not yet, but I managed to hit each of the copy Inversions with those special darts Chinami whipped up. The others just need to clean the trash and soon I'll be holding more than just the power of [Siren] in my wires." Marina answered, soon smirking a bit. "Now I just hope that's soon because of that damn Maria annoying me!"
The two cover their ears as Marina gets loud, making Ellen lower the communication channel's volume a bit.
"Although I'll admit, I am concerned how this may work in regards to [Sovereign]'s powers. It seems due to how we inverted that boy, Choronzon can keep resurrecting her endlessly. Either that may be the one failure to acquire or Choronzon needs to be destroyed."
"No matter, I'm used to waiting. Losing one won't be a big deal if our efforts allow us to gather her power later. Just make you can succeed on getting the power of this Inversion, this is our only chance." Westcott replied, making Marina nod before she notices Maria about to see her. "Focus on the fight for now, we'll take later."
Marina sighs as she prepares to close the channel.
"Right, just try to avoid dying again father, otherwise I'll find a way to make mother kick your ass." Marina answered, disconnecting as Ellen grit her teeth at the familiar comment.
'I hate it when she calls me that!' Ellen mentally screamed.
Marina quickly hid her communication panel as Maria poked her head in, making the black haired AI stare at her good counterpart annoyed before giving her a glare to the Ratatoskr AI's confusion.
"What!? What do you want from me!?" Marina screams.
"Uh... I was just wondering why you came in here, you said we should go meet up with the others?" Maria asked, making the DEM AI grumble as she sweated a bit. "Whoa, just chill alright?"
Marina's head steamed red at that.
"I was checking something, we have a volatile Demon King present who can do knows what, managed to rip seven different elemental powers that have devastated an entire country, and can blast us with some world smashing attack in..." Marina answered, soon realizing she didn't know what time. "...One moment."
Marina opens a panel to confirm how much time they had left before the Chaotic Divergence attack could be fired off again.
~ETA until the second Chaotic Divergence charge is ready: 42 minutes
"Oh no, that's not good! We've already lost 20 minutes and the Inversions are all still running amok, how many Rinne copies are destroyed!?" Marina seethed, biting her lip as she closed her panel. "Alright, we better find the others, and we better find them now!"
Marina rushes outside in moments, surprising Maria by her speed as she rushed after her. As she did, Rinne and Rio run by and get Maria's attention.
"Hey guys, you're here! So that means you won your fights?" Maria asked.
"That's right! I guess you did too, so just us three or we have anymore? I haven't seen Mayuri just yet." Rinne asked.
"Me and Marina, so adding that unknown Spirit Nia knows, that's fives copies so far." Maria replied, soon noticing Mayuri laying on the ground and stopping. "Wait, there's Mayuri! She's on the ground!"
The group runs over, and Marina notices them turning and backtracks to her annoyance. Soon Rio shakes Mayuri a bit, making Mayuri groan and shake a bit as she woke up, blinking a bit as she saw everyone.
"Oh no, did I fall asleep? I was only trying to wait till I could move my limbs again, guess I got too relaxed." Mayuri replied, but the moment she tried to get up she felt the bruises sear through her muscles. "Ow! OK, movement's back, but the pain hasn't left either!"
Rinne and Maria help her up, and Rinne notices the oddity of her Sephira Crystal was missing... and her eyes motioned somewhere that made her glad Mana was absent for the moment.
"Mayuri, your Sephira Crystal... it feels normal like mine and Rio's. What happened?" Rinne asked, making Mayuri chuckle as she scratched her head.
"Well, let's just say I remembered something my creator left me. Boy am I gonna have an awkward talk with Mildred when we get back home because I never mentioned the thing about me being Material B to her." Mayuri answered, making Rinne blink. "I'll explain later, but my Sephira Crystal is stable now."
"Yay, Mayuri's more like Rio and the rest now!" Rio cheered, soon blinking after registering the rest. "Wait, Mildred created Mayuri? So, Mildred is Mayuri's... Mama? Sister? Family? Something... else?"
Mildred was waiting for news in the Ratatoskr base when she suddenly sneezed out of nowhere.
"Huh?" Mildred blinked, wondering where that came from.
Mildred blinked before shrugging and resuming what she had been doing before the sneeze had distracted her, though now having an odd nagging feeling.
"Uh... let's go with creator Rio, I think artificial life forms are only related to the people who make them when they share genetics... I think." Rinne answered, a bit unsure herself. Rio tilted her head and blinked before shrugging. "So, you beat your copy too?"
"I did, though had I not evolved my powers when I did... I don't wanna think about it." Mayuri answered, soon noticing Nia flying overhead with Miku. She whistled to get their attention. "Hey guys, over here!"
Nia and Miku soon drop down.
"Looks like you all won, that means all the copies are gone." Nia smirks, but soon makes a serious face as everyone looked towards Choronzon. "Though that also means the only battles still left are..."
"Do you think they'll be alright? I still recall what my Inversion could do." Miku asked.
"Hmm... well the others know what their Inversions can do to a degree, and Yoshino used to have the power to freely Inverse when she had Yoshinon. The only one I'm worried about though is Kurumi, she hasn't inverted since the Cassiopeia detached from her so she knows nothing about hers right now." Rinne said, sweating a bit.
"Not to mention Tohka's will just keep coming back, so I don't know how the Sandalphon eye gem's gonna break, the fact it's still intact has to mean the first defeat didn't do anything, and most likely neither will any defeats after it." Nia grimaced, soon looking at the others. "We need to find them, if we can we try to help. Especially Tohka."
Everyone nods, and everyone takes flight with Mayuri riding on Maria's back while Marina finally caught up and groaned as she followed.
"Why am I the one in the back, is it cause I'm evil!?" marina complained.
Kaguya and Yuzuru stood back to back as their inversions flew around like sonic jets, a strong pair of hurricanes shrouding them from their sight. While trying to spot the two, Inverse Kaguya suddenly rushed by and crashed into Kaguya, knocking her away to Yuzuru's shock.
"Kaguya-" Yuzuru shouted, only for Inverse Yuzuru to strike her back the same way.
"Yuzuru!" Kaguya shouted, and soon Inverse Kaguya spun and created a fiery wind that knocked her back and into the ground. She soon got up, breathing heavily as she did, slightly panicked. "Oh no... no, no, no! I gotta get back to Yuzuru!"
Kaguya tried to fly off and reach her sister, but Inverse Kaguya walked towards her as she held out her Andramelech in one hand.
"How weak you are, simple separation is enough to drive you fully unstable. Something that I have no qualms in exploiting." Inverse Kaguya stated, soon swiping her hand with Andramelech out. "Sathariel."
The Demon King changed into its drill lance form, and pointed it at Kaguya to her horror. Inverse Kaguya had been right... because of all that time the two had spent knowing one would need to die for the other to live yet wanting to die with the other, the two couldn't bear being separated at all.
Inverse Kaguya rushed forward, and the real Kaguya gasped as she managed to dodge, starting to fly off as Inverse Kaguya followed close behind, her enhanced speed letting her catch up to Kaguya in nearly no time.
"RAPHAEL!" Kaguya shouted, firing off a few arrows that Inverse Kaguya simply used Sathariel to cut through.
Kaguya shook in horror and spin, creating a wind wall to disorient her Inverse counterpart as she tried to get away. Once she did, she panted heavily as she slumped onto the ground, sweating as her panic welled up into her chest.
"Yuzuru... Yuzuru! I need you, where are you? Please, help me!" Kaguya begged, unable to calm herself down. She suddenly began seeing the area she slumped against melt from heated winds, making her shriek quietly, she covered her mouth as she looked around and soon began running to try and escape.
"I can't do this, not on my own... We've always had each other, I can't do this without her!"
Kaguya soon rushed into the sight of a broken home. Once she did, she gasped as the sight of a child was present, a child staring at rubble with the light in his eyes gone. Kaguya soon gasped as she saw a hand sticking out of the rubble... someone from the young boy's family.
Right after, the sight of a man ran up to sim, the side of his arm bleeding slightly. Based on this sight, Kaguya realized that the arm from the rubble... must have belonged to the boy's mother. Her eyes shook as she realized just how awful Choronzon's manifestation was.
"Come on son, we've gotta get out of here!" The boy's father panicked, trying to get his son to react. Right at that moment, a spear stabbed through the house, sending some rubble at the father. Kaguya realizing who it was and that the son was OK was forced to make a drastic choice.
"...I'm so sorry!" Kaguya sobbed, grabbing the boy's arms, looking at the father who gave her a look asking her to make sure he stayed safe. Right at that moment, Inverse Kaguya broke through and saw the man, Sathariel burning from the hot air she was making.
"A human? Oh, and it seems you're whimpering on the ground in pain, well then... let's fix that issue." Inverse Kaguya stated, soon aiming her hand at him. Kaguya turned as she saw the house explode as an explosion of hot air explode from the former house. Inverse Kaguya soon walked out. "Now, where are you?"
Kaguya kept running, the young boy being dragged by her hand yet not resisting her either, she pants as she tries to find someplace safe for him before she fled and drew Inverse Kaguya away from him. She looks back at him.
"Don't worry, it's gonna be OK! I swear! While I wasn't able to save your father, I can at least save you!" Kaguya said in a panicked manner, soon feeling the boy's arm grip a bit tighter and making her look at him.
"...Why are you helping?" The boy asked, his eyes still as lifeless looking. Kaguya looked at him oddly as he said this. "Everyone already left... they knew my parents were weak... no one helped... just ran."
Kaguya gasped at that, the fact there weren't any other people at that area now suddenly made more sense. Everyone had left and abandoned them, either they weren't able to help or didn't, or worse... the boy didn't see what had really made them disappear. Soon a heated shot of air narrowly missed the two, and Kaguya's braid came undone as she turned to see Inverse Kaguya had spotted them.
"So, you have a human child with you? Then I'll just take out both of you." Inverse Kaguya declared, rushing at them. As her dark half rushed at her, Kaguya soon stared... and then a memory came to her mind.
Kaguya yawned a bit as she came outside, looking at the area before them to see what today brought, she soon turned to see how the small shack they were in was holding up and stretched a bit. She whistled a bit afterwards.
"Yuzuru, wake up! Gotta get today's work done!" Kaguya shouted, making her twin sister rub her eyes as she walked outside. Soon handing her a plow before she sighed at the work they'd have to do. Couldn't be helped considering they were on their own trying to survive in an area turned barren by a past Spacequake.
"I don't see the point of this, we're just cutting through thick dry soil that's worth nothing."
Yuzuru walked by Kaguya, making her blink before she felt Yuzuru flick her forehead.
"OW! Yuzuru, that hurt!" Kaguya complained, rubbing her forehead.
"We have to keep working, maybe it looks like it's futile now, but we might get something if we don't give up." Yuzuru replied, but Kaguya didn't look any better after hearing it. "Kaguya-"
"Excuse me if I actually feel it is futile! Look at this, it's basically a rocky desert here, we're barely getting any food and its gonna run out any day now!" Kaguya screamed, making Yuzuru look at her sadly.
"Face the facts Yuzuru, first our parents leave us before we ever know them and when the Spacequake ravaged this area anyone could have come to help but they didn't! They left us here to die, just like the people they left behind who actually did!"
Kaguya began trying to plow the ground and make something fertile enough to grow food from. Yuzuru looked at her sister and sighed. As much as she wanted to think otherwise, Kaguya was right, they were on a road leading to them starving to death.
The following day, Kaguya sighed as she came outside, for once it was Yuzuru who got up first. Right as she prepared to go and find some water... she noticed Yuzuru talking with someone invisible. Rubbing her eyes to confirm she wasn't seeing things, her eyes noticed an orange crystal being offered to her sister.
"What the... wait, what's that person doing!?" Kaguya panicked, and then gasped as Yuzuru tried to grab it. She soon rushed forward in an attempt to stop her sister from taking the crystal being held out to her. "Yuzuru, don't touch it!"
Without Phantom even noticing, Kaguya crashed right into Yuzuru as she tried to push her away, causing the Invisible Spirit to be knocked over. The Raphael Crystal soon flew up before falling back right on top of both twins' hands, it soon somehow divided into two and bonded with each of them.
Once Phantom could get back up, she shook her head and then... noticed not one Spirit, but two of them as the Yamai twins saw themselves in their Astral Dresses, with Kaguya showing a more erratic reaction due to not having heard Phantom's words.
"(Two!?)" Phantom exclaimed in surprise, having expected only one. "(This is... I've never seen the Raphael create this result.)"
As Kaguya kept running with the boy, she makes a determined face.
'No, I can... I can do this! Yuzuru kept telling me to believe. I might be on my own, but she's standing beside me in Spirit right now!' Yuzuru thought, nudging the boy to get his attention as he looked at her. "Listen up. You'll be fine, keep following this path!"
The boy didn't react, but Kaguya kept smiling at him.
"Run, move forward as far as you can! I promise someone's there to help you on that path! You won't find necessarily find them right away, but..." Kaguya continued, recalling how she met everyone on that fateful moment, and Shido when he sealed her and Yuzuru, saving them both.
"...you will find them! So, don't stop moving forward until you do! Now go!"
Kaguya turns and releases him, causing a slightly surprised reaction from the boy as she soon turns and fires an arrow from Raphael after leaping forward a bit, surprising Inverse Kaguya as it strikes her in the left leg.
"Run, and don't stop!" Kaguya shouted, preparing another arrow shot.
The boy's light returns to his eyes as he begins running away, with Kaguya shouting as she fired off her arrow. While limping now, Inverse Kaguya knocked the arrow away with Sathariel, making Kaguya sweat.
'My arrows aren't working, if I stay like this she's going to get me without ever trying! Yet if I move, or try to divert her attention... that boy could be killed!' Kaguya thought, her eyes briefly looking behind her. Soon she shakes, but then...
"I t looks like it's futile now, but we might get something if we don't give up. " Yuzuru's voice echoed.
Kaguya gasped as she felt like Yuzuru put her hand on her shoulder, and soon Kaguya realized what she had to do. She gripped Raphael tightly.
"Raphael... as long as you trust your skills, there's no bad strategy, right?" Kaguya asked.
[Master, do what you believe in. Just like I believe in you.]
Kaguya smiled at that, soon she screamed as she rushed directly at Inverse Kaguya, the Inverse counterpart frowning as if she had been mocked.
"So, you've just decided to die? That's no fun, but that's what I have to do... so be it." Inverse Kaguya stated, soon readying Sathariel to thrust a heated air shot. As she did, Kaguya prepared an arrow and fired it at her. "You sure like to use futile strategies... fine then."
Inverse Kaguya swipes her Demon King to knock it aside again, but this time...
"EL RE'EM!" Kaguya screamed.
Kaguya thrust Raphael forward as it turned into its red lance form, Inverse Kaguya's eyes widen as Kaguya was up close and rammed it right through her, the dark spirit barrier formed to try and negate it... but Kaguya kept screaming before pushing through. Inverse Kaguya was flung back, and looked as the glowing orange mark on her chest that marked her demise.
"That's... not possible, you used your reckless as a weapon? Damn it... I was the one who walked into their death." Inverse Kaguya coughed, soon falling over as her body shattered apart into orange spirit power that vanished into the air. Kaguya panted and stared, smiling as she won.
"I... I did it Yuzuru, I won! I destroyed Inverse me by myself!" Kaguya smiled, she turned around and soon saw a few people who noticed the boy and took them with him. He looked at her, waving goodbye as Kaguya waved back. "Take care kid, take care..."
Kaguya soon flew off to the boy's surprise, the Storm Spirit intending to find his sister.
Yuzuru slide across the ground, panting as she saw Inverse Yuzuru crack her neck as she walked towards holding her Andramelech out. Yuzuru began to sweat, showing the same instability and paranoia as her sister was from their separation.
"Weakling. Pathetic. Vulnerable." Inverse Yuzuru stated, whirling Andramelech in the air. "Ghagiel."
Yuzuru stares as her Inverse Form forms the spiked chain and soon whips it, Yuzuru spins to form a whirlwind and starts flying away, Inverse Yuzuru blows out a cold gust of wind before jumping up to follow her.
"Kaguya... Kaguya... Kaguya!" Yuzuru called out, hoping for her sister to hear her. She sees Ghagiel swing past her and cut her cheek, undoing her braid as it did. Yuzuru turns and fires three arrows at her Inverse counterpart, but Ghagiel whips without Inverse Yuzuru moving it and makes the original gasp in fear.
'Oh no, I forgot... Ghagiel can be moved by manipulating it mentally. She just needs to use her mind to guide it.' Yuzuru thought, soon looking down and dropping before she spun. Inverse Yuzuru coughed as a dust storm blinded her and Yuzuru flew away before her dark half could spot her.
"This won't work, I need to find Kaguya, or... at least think of a plan. I hate to say it but the former seems like the more likely result." Yuzuru panted, soon stopping by a section of the city. As she breathed, she walked out and saw a bunch of scared people. "There's still people trapped here?"
Soon a few children notice her.
"Papa, look! Someone else got away!" One of the children mentioned, making Yuzuru sweat at the situation.
"Hey, get over here. We'll be finding a way out soon!" A man said, Yuzuru shook her head and tried to backtrack. "Hey wait, what are you-"
Suddenly an icy gale blew by, and Yuzuru gasps in horror as Inverse Yuzuru appears and swings her chain at the area. Yuzuru was knocked to the ground as everyone began to panic at the sight of the girl before them.
"Group. Nuisance... slaughter." Inverse Yuzuru replied, soon readying Ghagiel to cut them all apart. Everyone began to shake in fear. Yuzuru looks at them and then her Inversion, and realizing what could happen... she grabs Raphael and fires an arrow at her before she could whip the group. "Pain! Agony! Hurt!"
Everyone looks at her in shock, and Yuzuru turns to them.
Yuzuru was seen sleeping inside the shack she and Kaguya lived in, her breathing sounding a bit noticeable as she curled a bit. As she rested... a sudden loud whistle rang out, making her whimper a bit as it rung through her ears.
"Yuzuru, wake up! Gotta get today's work done!" Kaguya shouted, Yuzuru soon got up and rubbed her eyes before meeting her twin sister outside. Kaguya handing her a plow before she sighed at the work they'd have to do. "I don't see the point of this, we're just cutting through thick dry soil that's worth nothing."
Yuzuru walked by Kaguya, making her sister blink before Yuzuru moved her arm to flick her on the middle of her forehead.
"OW! Yuzuru, that hurt!" Kaguya complained, rubbing her forehead.
"We have to keep working, maybe it looks like it's futile now, but we might get something if we don't give up." Yuzuru replied, but Kaguya didn't look any better after hearing it. "Kaguya-"
"Excuse me if I actually feel it is futile! Look at this, it's basically a rocky desert here, we're barely getting any food and its gonna run out any day now!" Kaguya screamed, making Yuzuru look at her sadly.
"Face the facts Yuzuru, first our parents leave us before we ever know them and when the Spacequake ravaged this area anyone could have come to help but they didn't! They left us here to die, just like the people they left behind who actually did!"
Kaguya began trying to plow the ground and make something fertile enough to grow food from. Yuzuru looked at her sister and sighed. As much as she wanted to think otherwise, Kaguya was right, they were on a road leading to them starving to death.
'I wish there was a way for me and Kaguya to get a chance, get a better life. For the both of us... to get to live.' Yuzuru thought, soon plowing the ground alongside her.
The following day, Yuzuru found herself to be the one who woke up first and soon went outside, right as she did... she saw something that defied normal logic before her. To her shock, right before her eyes she was looking at an invisible person.
"What the... are you?" Yuzuru asked, soon getting the attention of Phantom as she looked towards her.
"(Oh, I'm sorry. I was just passing thought. Didn't realize someone lived here.)" Phantom replied, soon noticing the entire landscape again before looking at Yuzuru. "(So... why do you live here exactly? No offense but this place looks awful.)"
Yuzuru sighed at that, and Phantom's hidden face blinked a bit in confusion.
"We don't have a choice, no parents and when a Spacequake ravaged the area... everyone abandoned us. We're barely surviving and we'll likely die of starvation soon. There's nothing we can do according to my sister." Yuzuru answered, making Phantom gasp.
"(...Maybe there is, but it's up to you to decide that.)" Phantom replied, making Yuzuru look at her in surprise. Phantom soon took out the Sephira Crystals she had and soon noticed the orange one glowing. "(Ah, good luck. The Raphael Crystal chose you.)"
"Raphael... Crystal?" Yuzuru asked.
"(This gem is called a Sephira Crystal, with its power you can make your dream become a reality.)" Phantom answered, making Yuzuru's eyes widened. Phantom soon sighed a bit before she resumed.
"(There is one issue though, if you do accept it... you'll be hunted by the DEM who wants this power. You'll probably be without your sister eventually because she'll age while you won't. Knowing that will you accept it or not? Either choice I'll accept.)"
Yuzuru stared at the crystal, and after a bit... she soon raised out her hand. The crystal slowly entering her reach as she prepared to touch it.
'Kaguya, I... I want to give us a future. So please forgive me for this. I can't bear seeing you suffer anymore, to see you lose hope.' Yuzuru thought, and right as she was about to grab the crystal in her hands...
"Yuzuru, don't touch it!" Kaguya screamed, making Yuzuru's eyes widen a bit.
Without Phantom even noticing, Kaguya crashed right into Yuzuru as she tried to push her away, causing the Invisible Spirit to be knocked over. The Raphael Crystal soon flew up before falling back right on top of both twins' hands, it soon somehow divided into two and bonded with each of them.
Once Phantom could get back up, she shook her head and then... noticed not one Spirit, but two of them as the Yamai twins saw themselves in their Astral Dresses, with Kaguya showing a more erratic reaction due to not having heard Phantom's words.
"(Two!?)" Phantom exclaimed in surprise, having expected only one. "(This is... I've never seen the Raphael create this result.)"
Yuzuru looked at Kaguya in surprise, Phantom had said only she could take the crystal, but somehow Kaguya's act made it work on the both of them. Could it be possible because they were twins and the Sephira Crystal failed to recognize the different?
"(Well, this is different but... it might be what keeps you safe from the DEM. Well goodbye, until we hopefully meet again. Watch over your sister.)" Phantom said as she waved goodbye, disappearing before Yuzuru could say Kaguya was her sister.
"Yuzuru, what just happened!?" Kaguya panicked, and in her sudden turning... she blew a strong gust of wind out. "Was... was that me?"
"Kaguya, what we have right now... she said it could grant my wish. No... grant our wish." Yuzuru replied, hugging Kaguya close. "We have a chance now, we can't waste it. A chance to finally change this life of ours. So come on, let's re-invent ourselves."
Kaguya stared in shock.
"Yuzuru..." Kaguya gasped, tearing up a bit. "...OK!"
'I can't believe I'd think of that now of all times, but I guess it makes sense. I encouraged Kaguya... now it's time I do that for these people.' Yuzuru thought, breathing before smiling and looking a bit and firing an arrow through the chaotic elements and form a bit.
"Listen up everyone, it's not my role to run! Just go through that path and get to safety. I know you might not understand now, and maybe it seems kind of hopeless right now, but if you just stay positive you'll make it! It's my role to fight, to save us all! So..."
Yuzuru panted from replying in a tone she rarely used compared to Kaguya, holding Inverse Yuzuru back before kicking her away and charging another arrow.
"DON'T GIVE UP HOPE!"
The people soon used that moment and began running, the children looking behind her as Yuzuru fired the arrow, managing to hit Ghagiel's tip and knock it at her dark half, causing it to slash back at her, cutting her cheek. They look forward and keep running.
"Futile. Annihilation. Defeat." Inverse Yuzuru stated, her strange speech implying something about how their running wouldn't matter and she'd kill them after beating Yuzuru. Her original breathed as she readied Raphael again.
'Kaguya... I don't know where you are, but... lend me strength! Please!' Yuzuru mentally begged, and soon she felt something on her shoulder.
"Yuzuru!" Kaguya's voice echoed.
[Master... hold nothing back, are you ready?]
Yuzuru did, and soon Inverse Yuzuru spun Ghagiel around rapidly.
"Ammut." Inverse Yuzuru stated, changing the chain into a chakram. She begins spinning it before tossing it forward and creating a cold whirlwind. Remember how sharp it was, Yuzuru soon hold out her Raphael.
"EL NA'ASH!"
Soon Raphael turns into a chain, and the chain manages to wrap around Ammut while Yuzuru ducks over the chakram blades. She spun around, bringing the chains as she lassoed it over, Inverse Yuzuru smirked at the foolishness until...
"RAPHAEL!" Yuzuru shouted, soon reforming the bow... only now Ammut was locked onto the frame and its cold air unable to freeze anything while in contact with the Angel as it created a small gale around it. Inverse Yuzuru gasped in shock.
"Useless. Stupidity. Checkmate." Inverse Yuzuru soon smirked, holding a hand out to draw Ammut back to her. Yuzuru however didn't resist, going faster than the Inverse counterpart could react, and realizing all too late what was going on. "Mistake. Fear... Disbelief!"
Yuzuru shouts as she charges an arrow, soon shifting forward as the arrow fires off, point blank before her dark half's chest. Inverse Yuzuru's eyes go blank in shock as she saw the orange glowing spot where her dark spirit power began to destabilize. She soon fell over as her body shattered apart into orange spirit power that vanished into the air, Yuzuru smiled before her feet slid to the ground.
"I... I did it, I won." Yuzuru smiled, panting as she finally caught her breath.
Back with the group who fought the Rinne copies, they began searching for the others... and stopped as Choronzon began to scream in pain again. Everyone looked as that could only mean someone won their fight. After watching, they say the orange eye gem explode not just once, but twice.
"What!? They destroyed two of the Inverse Incarnations? No, impossible!" Choronzon shouted angrily.
"Two orange explosions... that was the Yamai sisters, they've managed to beat their Inverse Forms!" Rinne smiled, making her Ratatoskr allies smile while Nia and Miku gave a similar happy reaction. While no one noticed, Marina looked and smirked as dark orange spirit power attached to one of the wires.
'Now I have Pandemonium's powers, only a few more left to go.' Marina smirked darkly, soon hiding the power back in the wires. 'Now the question is will Sovereign and Choronzon's powers be obtainable today?'
Marina soon turned back as they others stopped their cheering.
"Hey Nia, think you can figure out where the others were? I forgot you can ask Raziel nearly anything." Rinne asked, but Nia shook her head.
"I think Choronzon's jamming Raziel's information network, I can still read it but the words are in a jumbled order. That's why I tried finding you all on foot. If it was the Yamai twins though, just look for signs of wind." Nia replied, and everyone nodded. "Come on, let's hurry and find them!"
Nia flew ahead and the others followed her, and as they did a surprise came.
"Look, it's that pink haired woman and her child!"
"Huh?" Rinne blinked, looking to see the people she helped protect as they were riding some horses they had managed to get their hands. They waved to her and she flew down, causing the others to follow her. As soon as they landed, the sight of the boy Kaguya helped was seen with them. "Oh thank goodness, you're all still OK."
One man in particular chuckled at that.
"Says the girl with super powers, think you can explain what's going on here?" The man asked.
"Well... yeah, we kinda can. A lot, it's all my fault indirectly, but a fault born of those people in DEM." Rinne answered, Nia slapping her mouth over Marina's hand before she could interject. "We're looking for friends of ours, two orange haired twins. Help us find them and I'll tell you on the way."
"...I saw her." The one boy answered, getting Rinne's attention. "...We're going to help, follow us."
Rinne nods at that.
"Come on guys, best we stick with these civilians so they can get out OK, more eyes will help too!" Rinne replied, and everyone soon followed as they got on the horses as they galloped towards where Kaguya and Yuzuru would be.
As Yuzuru slowly managed to regain the strength to get on her feet, the sound of something running entered her ears. Her eyes widened as she turned to look for it. After having no luck seeing her for a few moments...
"Yuzuru!"
Yuzuru turned and saw Kaguya rush at her, Yuzuru gasped before rushing at her. Kaguya soon hugged her tightly as if she would never let go again.
"Oh thank god Yuzuru, I was so worried! Let's never get separated again! I barely kept calm without you!" Kaguya cried.
"I concur, I couldn't stay calm. I was so scared." Yuzuru replied, hugging back.
As they hugged, a galloping sound soon reached their ears, and soon they heard a whistle as they saw Rio and Mayuri waving at them. The horses all stopped as the Yamai twins noticed the people they saved with the others. Rinne got off and walked to them.
"Glad to see you two are OK, we saw Choronzon's orange gem break. Great job winning you two." Rinne smiled, fixing both of their hair and healing the cut on Yuzuru's cheek. "Be proud of yourselves, the kind of enemy you fought was hard to beat."
"Yeah, have you found the others yet?" Kaguya asked.
"Not yet, but we're gonna look. We figured while we do we try finding anymore survivors and protect those who survived. Not to mention... with this situation, I don't think the Spirits and Westcott's acts can be hidden from the world anymore." Rinne replied, soon getting back on the horse she was riding. "Get on you two."
The Yamai twins soon both got on one of the horses as they rode off.
'This is far from over, and no matter what happens... the fight between the DEM and Ratatoskr will never be the same.' Rinne thought, staring at the direction of Choronzon as the ultimate Demon King stood there.
~ETA until the second Chaotic Divergence charge is ready: 38 minutes
'Everyone... please hurry!' Rinne thought.
And the Inverse Yamai twins had their storms blown over! Nice job Kaguya, Yuzuru, that was a tough fight considering you both not only had Limited Astral Dresses and your Spirit Bond levels haven't breached the 80s mark, but being separated had you both panicked and unable to stay completely focused and calm during your battles. Fighting when frightened or jumpy is a difficult challenge.
Oh, and just to bring it up now, if anyone's curious about how much being in the Limited Astral Dress weakens the Spirits, in this story it halves their power, though Rinne's is cut to 10% due to the nature of her nerf. Combining that with how the Spirit Bonds show how much of the Spirits' full power can be used, the Yamai twins were by all means fighting at 37% of the full power against beings stronger than them at 100%. Whoa... that's impressive 0_0
It looks like the survivors are starting to notice this whole event isn't some natural occurrence either, at best this really shreds the DEM's reputation and at worst... Ratatoskr's getting new members to support them, so I guess it's a win-win for the heroes regardless? *shrugs* Well now there's two Inversions down, and ignoring Inverse Tohka who can keep reviving that leaves five more left to defeat.
Now the big question is this... can they do it before the timer to Choronzon's next use of the Chaotic Divergence expires and he fires it off again? Guess we'll get our answers soon enough, so until next time everyone... stay awesome! ^^
-Spirit Bond Levels & Passive Abilities-
Tohka - 99% (Form a mana barrier automatically)
Origami - 95% (Teleport Dodging)
Yoshino - 90% (Dampen enemy territories)
Kotori - 92% (Healing from fatal wounds minus losing his head, doesn't work on wounds caused by blunt force)
Kurumi - 87% (Hide in his shadow, and only his)
Rinne - (Summon a weakened copy of Uriel)
Natsumi - 84% (Transform into Shiori)
Kaguya - 78% (Flight)
Yuzuru - 78% (Weight Manipulation)