Chapter 29: Moonlit Reunion

She ran, breathing steady. Her training had served her very well, this being just the latest string of events pointing to her Nii-san's paranoia being completely justified. She hugged the panicking fox tighter to her chest, wings snapping out as she completely inverted her momentum, flipping through the air as she dashed off into a different direction, barely dodging the explosion that engulfed what would have been her position.

"You run well, filth! You're just making it harder on yourself though! Come out now, and maybe we won't make your heathen brother have to find you in pieces!" The blonde man who had been chasing them for what felt like the better part of an hour called out to her.

She didn't rise to the taunts, besides idly noting them down for later. She looked down, her ruby necklace warm with magic against her chest. She had sent the distress signal immediately, the fact that no one had responded yet meant that is was blocked somehow. Her faith in her Nii-san was total, there was no way he would not have come immediately.

She had not just been running all this time, of course. She had been observing her hunters, making note of how each acted. The guy with the spear was a creep, but apparently their leader. Most of her caution was due to him, she knew how deadly holy weapons were to her. The scruffy one with the Staff was a physical fighter, so not likely the one to be holding up whatever Barrier this forest was inside. Same with the big, stupid looking one.

The sword user with glasses had not cast magic, unlike the blonde wearing the stereotypical witch outfit. She had been using magic liberally, but none of it was lethal, she noticed. The other girl, who seemed to love daggers, was also unlikely to be the barrier master. She used some form of magic to summon her blades, but she had shown no other indications of any arcane knowledge.

That meant her target was the mousey guy in glasses. He had used some barrier magic when she sent probing attacks back towards them, but other then that he had stayed largely uninvolved, aside from using detection magic to track her down. She could be wrong, of course, but her plan was the one that had the highest chance of getting out of this alive.

Still in the smoke from the attack she dodged, she jostled the fox in her arms, whispering, "Kunou. Illusion."

The fox shivered, but she felt the warm feeling of the magic rippling over her. It wasn't a strong illusion, but with one of her own layered on top of it, it should buy her enough to time to set up what she needed.

The smoke cleared, and the pursuers watched as empty forest was revealed around the smoking crater.

Heracles crossed his arms, "That wasn't strong enough to kill her, even if it caught her off guard. She slipped away again."

Cao Cao merely slung his golden spear over his shoulders, "She's a slippery one. I'll give her that. Not that I would expect anything less, her Brother is a Prince, ya know?."

"We should stop playing with our food." The armoured woman was unimpressed, "Torturing Devils is fun and all, but she hasn't even screamed once yet."

"As uncouth as she is, Jeanne is right. Their absence would be noticed by now. If we want to avoid the Prince from reinforcing Yasaka, we should hurry this up."

"Aw… That's adorable. You scared of a Devil, Arthur? Big bad King scared of a wittle Prince?" Bikou smirked at the blond man.

"Yes." Was the unashamed response, "You might not understand what it means, but someone who could steal Avalon is not someone to take lightly."

"Oho, I thought the Knights were still looking for the culprit, officially. What do you kn…"

Bikou was interrupted by Georg, "The lake. I can feel a large amount of her magic from there. That's where she ran off to."

Cao Cao sighed, "Looks like she's decided to stop running. Let's go."

When they reached the lake, they found the white haired girl floating in the air, standing in the centre of it. They could see their actual target, the Kitsune, hiding behind the other girl, watching them fearfully. The Devil, in contrast, was staring at them with an impassive look on her face, her hand raised palm up towards the heavens.

Etched above her in the night sky, was a truly massive spell circle. The crimson light it gave off bathed the whole area in an eerie, red glow.

"Georg. What is that spell?" Cao Cao whispered to the experienced mage.

"I don't know." Was the surprising answer, "I can see some structures relating to light? But not much else is recognizable."

"I can't decode it either." Le Fey added, "There were rumours going around that she was some kind of magical genius, but…"

"If it's a spell relating to light, it should be visible just before it activates. If you stay near me, I should be able to shield us." Georg told their leader, who bit his lip considering.

"Alright. We don't know how big the area affected is, so everyone stick near Georg. Let's go bag us a fox." Walking on the water, he held his spear loosely as he advanced.

"Finally tired of running, Princess? I'm feeling rather angry at all the time you've forced us to waste."

"And I'm feeling rather angry at having to deal with you filth instead of cuddling with my Nii-san." Came the cold response.

"Ho, you really have no fear, huh? I would call you brave, but really I think you might just be an idiot." Cao Cao laughed, but his brow was slightly creased with anger.

"I'm not stupid enough to make my Nii-san angry by attacking me." Was the uncaring response, "If you leave now, I'll tell him to go easy on you?"

"You won't be telling him anything, brat. Corpses don't talk." Jeanne called back.

"You're right." The certainty of her words caused unease to gather amongst the group, guards raised towards her massive spell, "They don't."

"CAO CAO!" "LE FAY!"

There was a shout from Georg as the spell circle bloomed, a blinding flash of light obscuring their visions briefly, a shield materializing between the group and the threat. Arthur grabbed his sister and backed off, sword held protectively between them. At the same time, the illusion hiding the actual spell she was focusing on beneath their feet faded away, not that the blinded group could see it.

The massive plume of red lightning, however, was a lot easier to notice. There were surprised shouts, but all the tendrils ignored the group, focusing on one specific body. Georg screamed as the entire magical reserve of the Sagan Bishop was converted to lighting and poured into his body. He turned translucent, the voltage completely frying him, as he spasmed and fell with a splash into the lake.

Blinking the spots out of his eyes, Cao Cao looked around and took stock of the single casualty, before whirling back towards the exhausted Shiro, "You'll pay for that, bitch!"

A purple flash lit up the area, as a deep, wrathful voice answered, "Funny."

Appearing from his teleportation spell, long white hair flowing behind him, the angry blue eyes of Damocles Sagan swept the assembled group, "I was just about to say something similar."

These idiots. I was aware of the Hero Party or whatever the fuck they called themselves, of course, but in my time on this world the details of an anime I watched years ago even before my transport to this world became hazy. I knew there was something they did to Yasaka, but to my recollection their attempt was foiled by Issei and the ORC.

They acted a lot earlier in this world, almost two years earlier. Was this something I caused? Did my alliance with the Yokai cause them to move up their timetable? Either way, they were here now. Attacking Kunou. Attacking my Shiro. They would not be leaving here in one piece. I flexed my will, activating my families power non-verbally. I noticed through we had Information Defence that we had an audience, but at this point I didn't care.

"Nii-san." Shiro spoke softly behind me.

"Good job Shiro." my eyes didn't leave the walking corpses below us, "I am proud of you."

"Ah." The black-haired guy with the holy poke stick recovered first, "The fabled 'Lone Prince.' I've heard a lot about you, my name is…"

"I really, honestly, truly, don't care." His mouth stayed open at that, obviously not used to being disregarded like this.

"Also, stop that. There is only one way you are leaving here and it will be nowhere near that easy." My gaze went past him, towards the panicking witch who was desperately trying to activate a teleportation spell.

"You're wide open!"

"Heracles don't!" Jeanne's warning went unheeded, as the large man moved with incredible quickness to strike at me, orange flickering from his clenched fist.

I swiped my hand up with my middle and index finger extended, creating a sharpened blade of wind with the gesture, courtesy of a rather deadly bear I had eaten. The Gale Claw passed cleanly through the reincarnation's body, causing him to separate into two perfect vertical halves that splashed into the lake below me, one to either side.

The remaining group stiffened at the anti climatic dispatching of their comrade, even more when I brought my hand back to level in front of me, clenching my fist. The two floating bodies in the lake below us were pulled under the water, a muffled 'crunch' sounding out from the suddenly tranquil pool.

A flash lit up the area, the rest of my peerage arriving behind me, causing the Hero wannabe's to be even further backed into a corner.

"C.C. The guy in glasses has a holy sword. You can deal with him and the witch girl." I spoke to greet them, all business.

"With pleasure." My queen responded.

"Kasane, the girl in armour and the monkey is yours."

"Understood."

"Naomi, take Shiro and Kunou back to Yasaka, she must be getting worried."

"Sure, come on Kunou."

The little Kitsune had been staring at me with wide, awestruck eyes, before being shaken out of it by Naomi's words, "Ah, yes. Thank you for saving us, Damocles!"

"Always." Was my response.

"Well you are certainly arrogant, acting like you've already won." Cao Cao blustered, sliding into a spear stance as he spoke, "What makes you think we'll oblige your plans?"

"You don't get a choice." I flicked my fingers, a purple gravitational wave flowing over them, causing them to block and throw up shields, before being confused as nothing happened.

I waved my hand, and Jeanne and Bikou flew off in one direction as their gravitational direction was redirected and amplified, just as Arthur and Le Fay were also blown into the foliage by the same phenomenon.

"Hmm. I see it didn't work on me." Cao Cao was seemingly unconcerned at his sudden isolation, making no move to stop C.C. and Kasane chasing after their targets, "What's wrong Prince? Can't beat my Longinus?"

I noticed his breathing had been getting heavier as he spoke, "I didn't even try. You're mine to put down."

"You'll regret that." He shot forward, his form honed after hours of practice. The spear led the charge, tip unerringly aimed towards my heart.

I dodged, arms at my side, stance relaxed.

He reacted well, pivoting to a slash, a thrust, a jab, attempting to bat me with the haft. Mix ups, feints and combos flew at me in a display of martial prowess. All of it calmly avoided by my movements. I will admit, he was skilled, and decently quick, but compared to those fucking rabbits in the Orcus Labyrinth he might as well be standing still. The very proximity of his spear was unpleasant, it's glow uncomfortable, so my dodges were wider than they strictly had to be but better safe than sorry.

He paused, panting, "You… Are… certainly better… what…?"

He seemed confused, the lack of oxygen finally starting to affect him, "You.. binding?"

Realising that I had done something to him, he flexed his Magic, attempting to fight against my binding. Of course, he had no idea what exactly it was doing, so it was fairly simple to keep the Lock of his alveoli in place. His ability to process oxygen completely shut off, he sucked in increasingly large mouthfuls of useless air, slowly suffocating to death as I watched impassively.

His face went red, then blue, slowly turning purple as he died slowly. It was a fitting death. He panicked, weakly attempting to grasp his spear again, before choking and gagging, body starting to rebel. Honestly, it was rather pitiful.

Of course, that's when his fancy glow stick decided to flash into a brilliant holy light. Frowning, I conjured an area of condensed gravity in front of me, preventing the light from penetrating through to me.

"Filthy Devil." I heard him speak, dropping my shield and beholding his new form, "You should have killed me quickly. Now you'll regret your impudence."

He was covered in a thin, golden armour, shimmering as if it were a mirage. From his back sprouted ten golden streams of light, five to each side, waving in the air in a facsimile of wings. Was this a Balance Breaker? Wasn't his one some form of bullshit anti-women power? I'm sure it could do more, but honestly that was the only thing that stuck.

It seems that the circumstances in which you achieve it can influence your Balance Breaker. Interesting. Testing my theory, I attempted to Bind him again. I could do it, but whatever that light was it seemed to eat through my Demonic Power at an insane rate. I see. It must be some sort of anti-devil power in response to the trauma that triggered it.

He shot forwards, the glowing holy lance snapping out at me, causing me to jump away from him, using air platforms to increase my speed along with my wings. Of course, he could apparently fly now, so that was annoying.

His speed was still far below what he needed to hit me if I focused, though. Eating my way through everything in the Orcus labyrinth was a slow process, but one that provided ample benefits.

Eventually, we came to a stop, him seeming to realise he can't quite reach me. Not that impacted his ego any, "Filthy Devil, God Himself has given me this power to take Humanity's world back from creatures such as you. Do you have any last words?"

I was not out of options. I could overwhelm his passive defence, overpower a Gale Claw, many different ways of ending this fight occurred to me. His bluster wasn't all hot air, he had been noticeably improving in our fight, that also didn't account for any ranged options he might have gained from his Balance Breaker. This might get dangerous for me if I dragged it out.

But you see, I was annoyed. This entire thing had been watched by our unseen voyeurs, who have not deigned to intervene. Despite claiming to protect this land, despite a beacon of one of their rivals suddenly blazing, they still had not lifted a finger. I was used to their complacency, of course, but I would have hoped that a direct attack on one of their Miko would have at least elicited some response.

It seemed the Shinto were content to remain passive until directly involved. Very well, I will oblige them.

"Just that it seems unfair that you are armed and I am not. Lets fix that, shall we?" Cao Cao quirked na eyebrow at that, amused.

His amusement made way to shock as I clapped my hands twice and clasped them in prayer, "A devil praying? Now I've seen everything."

Ignoring him, I spoke clearly, "Gods of Japan." The passive observation sharpened, and suddenly our audience grew exponentially.

"I ask for a weapon with which to protect your lands from this heathe…"

INFORMATION DEFENCE SCREAMED

Both of us stiffened at the heavy, all encompassing presence stifled reality around us. White mist, tinkling blue under the suddenly brighter Moonlight, drifted in from everywhere and nowhere. My breath misted, the temperature plummeting.

I had been in the presence of Gods before. This was not like that. Reality itself shuddered at the being whose gaze was drawn to this location. Their very existence was on such a higher level, it felt like comparing an ant to a dragon. Struggling against every instinct I had, I turned my head up to the sky, only to be met with an impossible sight.

That was not Earth's Moon. It was many times larger, hanging above my head and dominating the view of the night sky.

The symbol etched into it's surface triggered memories, long buried in the recesses of my mind. A comforting, cool presence suddenly draped itself over me, the mist around me thinning as the Moon's glow caressed me gently.

"At long last." A soft, feminine voice sounded out, not audibly, but within the very souls of those present, "Thou prayers hath called to me, My Dear Consort Eternal."

She spoke again, "You prayed for a weapon, no? Thy weapon was long lamenting the loss of it's wielder. I bequeath it unto you again, with all that it entails."

A solid Moonbeam materialised next to me, the silhouette of a sword barely visible inside it. Unconsciously, my body reached for it, pulling an achingly familiar blade out from the light of the Dark Moon. The handle emanated a familiar chill, and suddenly my body was wracked by foreign sensations.

Time long spent training, the fleeting pain of long healed battle wounds, the half remembered illnesses begot by poison. More than that, however, was the aching searing, Maddening, all encompassing Flame that coursed through my soul, a wound so grievous that it's mere memory still struck out with a vicious bite.

"Trespasser." She turned her attention to Cao Cao, whose light was swallowed up by this incomprehensible entity, "My thanks for thy part in our reuniting. They hath the honour of being felled by a Lord, unquestioned. Rejoice."

It clicked. The voice, the Rune upon the Moon, the mist, the sword. Suddenly, I knew the entity that was speaking.

I rasped out, still reeling from the psychic assault, a single name, that echoed into the chill night air. It's impossible. Why? I had her name on my list, but why was she here, now? The power needed to challenge the beings lurking there was still far out of reach. What trickery was this? Still. There was only one conclusion that made sense, as insane as it was.

"Ranni...?"

AN: So the scene that i had in mind since the very start of this story has finally arrived, the image of Damocles pulling the Dark Moon Great-sword out of a beam of Moonlight was such a cool one, it stuck in my head ever since I thought of it.

Hope it was worth the Hype.