I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
Location: Ddraig's Intensive Care Room. Time: 1:00 AM
It was really late for anyone to be around or visiting, but this was a special meeting between a father and a young reincarnated devil.
Both males focused their eyes on a small wood game that sat between each other as they carefully planned to counter each other's moves and strategies.
Shogi is known as a game with such a high ceiling in terms of skill that not every person can pick up the game and play it, even as casuals, but these two individuals had grown to learn the ins and outs by practicing with each other.
"Do you feel like giving up, Welsh Dragon?" Isaiah asks as he moves his piece.
"Not really, young Isaiah. It's still too early for me to admit defeat." Ddraig says as he plans his next move.
"It's 1 AM."
"Do you have school in the morning? Or maybe you desire to admit defeat? You don't see me checking the clock."
Isaiah sighs as he sees no easy way out of the situation. "You dragons never know how to accept defeat. If Tosca is going to be like you, I see myself in trouble in the future."
Ddraig scuffs after hearing such words. "If that's the limit of your determination, I don't see a future for you two. She's a dragon; you need to have the stamina to keep up with her antics. Whether playing a game, going out to eat, a date, or even sparring, you must match her energy levels. She's not human anymore, don't forget that."
"I know…. I can't forget about it, nor will I. It is a moment that will remain with me and her forever."
Ddraig nods as he understands the trauma that Isaiah has to carry. "... Still having nightmares about that day?"
"... Sometimes. I'm not afraid of any body of water, but in my dreams, everything is different. I feel so weak as I lose my grasp of her hand and sink into the depths below. I can't swing or fight the currents of cold water, and she disappears from sight as I sink deeper into the depths below."
Ddraig didn't laugh or smirk as he listened to the boy. He knew that the event had been crucial to the present status quo. If things had been different, maybe neither would have lost their humanity. "... If it makes you feel any better, you're not the only one with such nightmares. Tosca has come into our bedroom several times while holding her pillow. She tries to act like a grown-up, but she's still a child deep inside."
"Right, but Tosca has been a bit more childish since we left the institute. It's almost as if she's not the same Tosca from before."
Ddraig looks at him with a questioning look.
Isaiah shakes his hands. "Don't take it the wrong way. I'm glad to see her enjoying her time with all of you. She's… far happier than ever before. We were raised within a spider web of lies about making us heroes who would protect humanity. We never dreamed about having parental figures, pets, or even going to school. I… want her to continue enjoying this life to its fullest for many years." Isaiah says before he summons one of his swords. "For that goal, I'll become a sword master who can protect and fight alongside her."
Ddraig takes a look at the sword and notices the imperfections it possesses. "Your sacred gear is pretty amazing, but you lack understanding of what a sword should look and be. I respect your determination and goal; there's no other boy I would easily entrust Tosca to besides you, so hear me well: take a few classes with Hephaestus to improve your mastery of the sacred gear. I can't bless your future together until your swords can cut my scales. The day you can achieve such a feat is when I'll find you worthy of her hand."
Isaiah blushes as he understands what the dragon is saying.
The dragon smiles before he moves his piece.
Isaiah looks at the board game and finds a fatal mistake in his previous strategy. "How?"
"You need to be more aware of your surroundings, or you lose everything. Remember, I might not always be around to protect Tosca, so you have to make up for it. Don't let go of her hand. Put everything you have to protect her." Ddraig says as his body lays back, and he closes his eyes before falling asleep with a smile.
"... I know, Sir Welsh. I know….." The boy began to put the game away before leaving the room behind, knowing he had a long way before he was fully capable of protecting Tosca on his own.
Back to the present. General POV.
"Keep up the pressure, and don't let go!" Asia told the team as she kept firing her rifle. Her body was under a lot of strain, yet she continued moving at inhuman speed as her suit forced her body to go past its limitations.
But it wasn't just her body; her mind was also pushed to new heights as she had to calculate each step she took, each evasive maneuver, the time that it took for the rifle to reload after a series of 10 shots, the trajectory of the bullet and above all else, the status of the team.
The Fruit of Knowledge that every human possesses did help with the task at hand, but too much information at once could be dangerous as the human brain wasn't a supercomputer.
Yet this young girl was doing it, proving to everyone she had what it took to reach the expectations placed on her and go beyond them.
Everything seemed to be going well as the team held up to the task at hand as they bought time for the other team to find the core, but Asia couldn't help but remain worried as she counted the seconds since the activation of stage 3.
She knew the risk that it involved; it was bound to leave her in bed for days, if not weeks, as her body was far too young to endure the strain without paying the price.
"Five, no, six more minutes, and I'll be in trouble," Asia told herself as she detected an enemy approaching her from her six. The young exorcist twisted her whole body in the air before throwing a grenade toward the enemy; then she fired a shot towards said grenade, which exploded, taking the entire upper body of the enemy. "Come on, Kuroka, I know you can do it."
Asia's eyes continued to look around as she kept an eye on everyone.
"Are you holding up?" A voice called out to her.
As she turned toward the direction of the voice, she saw Yukime approaching her location with a large group of golems chasing her down. "What-"
"Grenades, now." Yukime interrupted her as she signaled the golems.
Asia understood the plan as she pulled all the remaining grenades before throwing them against the incoming golems. Then she aimed before firing against one of the grenades, creating a chain of blinding explosions that blinded her for a few seconds.
As she recovered her vision, she witnessed many of the golems lying heavily injured and confused as the grenades had disoriented their senses.
"Thanks," Yukime said as she turned around before firing an ice beam that froze every single golem in place. After she was done, none seemed able to move as their bodies were frozen flesh, incapable of moving for at least some time. "That should be most of them, leaving Athena and her few stragglers. How's your body?"
"Rough, but I'll endure it," Asia said as she tried to ignore Yukime's concern.
"That's bad. After five or six minutes, turn it off. I won't allow you to overuse the suit's power. It is far too risky, and you have done enough." Yukime said as she faced Asia.
"I have to keep going. The team needs me." Asia argues before she takes aim and shoots another projectile, which grasses Yukime's cheek.
The shot impacts a monster that was approaching Vali from her blind spot. The hybrid gives her a thumbs-up as she turns around.
"Yes, but also, I can't have you passing out before the mission is done. You're the team's main healer, and we'll be in trouble if something happens." Yukime explains.
"I understand your concern, but-"
"We're a team, so don't try to carry it all on your shoulders. You have done amazingly for such a young age, but don't try to bite more than you can chew. Ddraig won't be happy if you end up with scars, and he'll blame himself for not being here." Yukime continues before her instincts alert her about incoming danger.
Asia looks around as her suit detects an increasing amount of energy before her eyes look toward the head of the Unholy Womb. "Shit, get away from there!"
Asia screams at Tosca and the rest as she sees the creature opening its mouth, only to reveal a dark purple light.
In a matter of seconds, a large destructive beam was fired as the creature twisted its head at a 360-degree angle while trying to hit everyone with the destructive beam.
Yukime and Asia evaded the beam by a mere meter.
But someone on the team wasn't as lucky.
Tosca's POV.
It happened so fast that her body couldn't react in time. She felt the sharp fangs of Tressa in her tail, which brought her back to the land of the living. Tosca cleared her eyes as she tried to look around, only for pure horror to consume her as she saw blood.
The blood of Isaiah as he held the place where his left arm used to be. His katana was nowhere to be found, as it likely had fallen deeper into the void below them.
"Isaiah!" The girl screamed as she dashed to grab her injured friend.
"It got me good." Isaiah joked as Tosca held him.
"Move him away. I'm right behind you." Vali said as she blocked the incoming apparitions that continued to surround the Unholy Womb.
"Why did you do that?" Tosca asked Isaiah as she realized what had occurred.
She was in the path of the beam, her shield was down, and she had dropped her guard at the worst moment.
She was about to be hit, and Isaiah had pushed away at the last moment.
"I couldn't let you be hurt." Isaiah joked as he tried to ignore the pain of losing an entire arm in a matter of seconds. He wanted to scream so bad, but he had to endure it.
"Idiot." The young dragoness continued to fly to meet Asia.
The in-training exorcist and Yukime flew towards them as well.
"Damn it," Asia screamed as she reached them. Asia didn't waste a moment before she started to work on stopping the bleeding. "Damn it."
"We dropped our guard at the worst moment. Athena, we need to regroup and change plans. We have an injured member." Yukime said as she touched her ear.
"How is the boy?" Athena asked as she continued to fight her opponents.
"Left arm lost. I'll stop the bleeding, but I doubt he can keep fighting in this state." Asia replied as she continued to heal Isaiah.
"I-" Isaiah was interrupted.
"No, you can't. This is beyond what you can do!" Asia exclaims as she continues to work.
"I see… retreat towards the surface with young Isaiah. Yukime and I shall continue the mission without the children." Athena orders the kids.
"But-" Vali was stopped.
"This is no longer a safe operation. A team needs to adapt and prioritize what's important. Thy ally is injured; his safety shall come first." Athena tells the kids.
Asia, Vali, and Isaiah grew silent as they understood the words of their leader, but Tosca's mind was in a far different place.
As she saw him in such a state, she couldn't help but blame herself. "I did this. I allow him to get hurt. I let him get hurt." From blame, her thoughts move towards anger as her eyes slowly turn toward the Unholy Womb. "You almost took him away from me. You almost took him from ME!"
*Shiro Sagisu-Carnage*
Her eyes began to glow green with restless bloodlust as the beast that dwelled inside was awakened.
Tressa held onto her tail as she felt the distress in her owner's aura.
"Tosca?" Isaiah called out to her as he saw the expression on her face.
"B ... .o…osT!" The jewels around her armor shined as a mysterious voice emanated from within. Her eyes shone with wrath that was matched by few. Tosca then lets go of Isaiah as her emotions drive her next action.
"Oh no. Vali, stop her now." Albion exclaimed as his partner as he recognized the voice all too well.
But it was already too late as Tosca flew away from them and towards her target.
"I'm going to kill you!" Tosca transformed into her dragon form as she sought to face the Unholy Womb all alone.
"Child of Welsh, go back right now!" Athena ordered, but Tosca ignored her as she went after the creature.
The creature opened its mouth again, ready to fire another attack, but this time would be different as Tosca opened her mouth and prepared her own attack.
"Boost"
"Boost"
"Boost"
"Boost"
Her power was increased several times as her father's previous ability was activated within her. Maybe it was due to the emotional distress, but it seemed like the Aegis dragon was hiding more secrets than her parents had expected.
It barely took a mere seconds before both opponents fired their own attacks against each other. The beams clashed as they seemed to be matched in terms of power, although this lasted only a few seconds before it happened once more.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
The ability did its job again as Tosca's power was elevated again, leading to her attack winning the struggle as her beam kept pushing until it finally met its target.
A massive explosion blinded everyone as Tosca seemed to eliminate the Unholy Womb with her newly awakened power.
All eyes remained focused on Tosca as they witnessed the destructive power that she held.
Ddraig's POV.
The Welsh Dragon was left speechless as he tried to make sense of this. He had been listening to the whole thing and couldn't understand how this was happening.
"What seems to be the surprise? She is your child. She was bound to inherit at least a few of your traits." Ophis said. "I told you that you were going to be surprised."
"You knew this was going to happen?" Ddraig asks Ophis.
"I was expecting something of the sort. She's, after all, an unnatural-born dragon. 70%, or was it 80% of your genetic material that she inherited? How much did she inherit from the Booster gear as well? Even her scent is similar to yours. She was bound to be like you. She's a lesser Welsh Dragon." Ophis continues.
"This… shouldn't-" Ddriag is stopped.
"It wasn't a mistake; call it a blessing in disguise, as she now has most of the tools you had back then. Now, you just need to teach her how to use them after this mess is over." Ophis said.
Ddraig didn't know what to say as he tried to make sense of everything that was happening. First, Rias, with her new power and now his daughter, was awakening his unevolved ability. It was surprise after surprise, and his heart wasn't strong enough to take it, but he understood one thing.
He needed to bring Tosca back into reason. Running wild on such an important mission was bad, and he, as a parent, had a job to do.
Back to Tosca.
"Die!" The dragon roared while the small demonic badger climbed into her head and smacked her as she tried to bring her back to reason.
"Tosca! I know that you can hear me. Stop this madness right now." Ddraig said as he communicated with her.
The Aegis dragon continued to roar before she started to charge another attack.
"Please, sweetheart. I know what you're feeling, but you can't let this anger get the best of you. You're my daughter, not just a mindless dragon driven by her emotions. Snap out of it!" Ddraig pleaded to her as he hoped his voice could reach her.
"...It hurt him! It hurt my Isaiah!" Tosca replied.
"I know, but he's not dead. You need to take him outside before it gets worse. You need to protect him." Ddraig told his daughter.
Tosca turned her face to face Isaiah and the rest. There was no fear in his eyes as he met her gaze.
His mouth moved as he said one single sentence: "Come back to me."
The pain she felt as she saw his missing arm was almost too much to bear, but she had to face it.
Yet before she could retreat, she felt an increasing malignant presence behind her.
As the Aegis dragon turned around, she saw several black arms arising from the dust cloud that her attack had created.
"Dodge!" Athena ordered everyone present as the hands shot out towards them, trying to catch each one.
Tosca flies away with ease as her speed is now far beyond that of many of her team members. Vali grabs Isaiah and starts evading the attacks alongside the rest of the team.
As the dust settled and the team tried to evade all the hands, three elongated necks with three necks arose from within as each face giggled. Its human mouths were replaced by jagged monstrous mouths that could swallow Tosca with just a bite.
Its body had grown in size, and the massive pregnant belly had burst open to show a large purple demonic fetus with red veins. The malignant presence that kept everyone on edge seemed to come from within said monstrosity. Its cries send chills to all of those present.
"Is still-" Tosca was cut short as she was forced to make even more evasive maneuvers as each head started firing beams at her. "Why is that thing still alive?"
"Good job, child of Welsh, thou has just enraged the unholy creature. After this mission is over, prepare thyself for a proper reprimand. At least the location of the core is now known. Evacuation seems impossible now. Maintain a safe distance and protect the kid." Athena said as she held her shield to block one of the beams approaching her.
"Tosca, it is time to use Boost to your advantage. Use it to increase the durability and strength of your barriers." Ddraig tells his daughter.
"How?" Tosca questions her father.
"You're feeling a surge of newfound energy and how that energy is boosting your whole body. Redirect all that energy to your barriers; your body shall obey your demands. You must grab hold of "Boost" now that you have awakened it." Ddraig says.
Tosca gritted her sharpened teeth as she forced said power to obey her will before she stretched her claws and started to summon as many barriers as her powers allowed. Each one was much bigger and sturdier than all of her previous attempts.
The restless attacks of the Unholy Womb were successfully blocked, but it wasn't easy for Tosca. The young dragoness was the main target of the beast.
Although the entire team was in danger, she was the one that the Unholy Womb wanted to eliminate.
She was its prey, and not even Athena could draw its attention away from her as more newborn apparitions arose from the beast's flesh.
All eyes were on Tosca.
Isaiah's POV.
The pain was all he could feel. The pain of losing a limb was unbelievable, and the constant movement wasn't making it easier for him.
"Keep your eyes open, Isaiah. We'll get out of here." He could hear Asia's voice, but his mind wasn't paying too much attention to her.
"I'll carry you until the end. Just don't die on us." Vali added.
The pain was too strong to ignore it. Although the bleeding had stopped for now, he couldn't shake the pain.
Nor could his eyes stop from chasing after her.
For the dragon that he cherished, for his friend, his ally, his reason for so many hours of hard training, and yet he was unable to fight beside her.
As he watched her take center stage, he couldn't help but curse his weakness and lack of power. He wanted to protect her; he wanted to stand by her side.
His deepest desire was to be with her until the very end, but now he lacked an arm and a sword to fight.
"I need to protect her."
"You lack was necessary to do so." A voice in the back of his mind spoke to him.
"I can't stand on the sidelines. I need to fight."
"A mere boy can't do it."
"I will try even if it kills me."
"Your best is not enough."
"Even then… I still want to try. Even if this means losing every part of my body, I want to try. I need to move; I won't let Tosca go alone. I will sacrifice everything for that chance to secure her future."
"Even if you become a monster?"
"I'll never stop."
"Even if you lose the last remains of your humanity."
"Take it all. I don't care for it if she's not safe."
"Show me what you can do."
*Bios - Hiroyuki Sawano feat Mika Kobayashi*
A single blood tear escaped Isaiah's left eye. The demonic power he once held under control erupted from within him as it was boosted to new heights by the "piece" within his chest.
"Isaiah?" Vali turned to him, but the boy seemed to be in a trance as a series of demonic circles appeared all around his body.
"Release him now!" Albion told Vali as he sensed a mysterious power within the boy.
Vali didn't even get to do so as Isaiah's wings forcefully pushed her away.
The team was surprised as the boy seemed to not be in control of his body. His limbs twisted and shrieked as something gained control over his body.
"First comes ignition."
The demonic power surrounded Isaiah as it continued to grow in size.
"Then we go to the first stage."
Suddenly, several blades began making their way outside Isaiah's body, each one piercing his flesh and spraying blood in all directions. In a matter of seconds, his completed body had transformed into a bloody ball of blades.
"What is happening to him?" Vali asked.
Tosca turned to see what was happening, only to be horrified by the image of Isaiah's body being mutilated from within.
But her horror was replaced with amazement as the blades shattered into pieces to reveal what lay within.
A pair of new metallic wings resembling interconnected blades replaced his previous wings. A new demonic metallic arm with several jewels had replaced his missing one, and a single curved silver horn now adorned the left side of his face.
The boy said nothing as his new wings slowly flapped. He slowly raises his left hand, only for a sword handle to grow from his palm. Isaiah grasps the handle with his right hand before unsheathing a newly formed katana covered with an array of jewels.
"Stage 1: Restless Devil Knight unlocked. Fight for what you believe in, boy."
Isaiah says nothing as his mind is set on a clear goal. He takes his first sword stance and disappears in a red flash before one of the heads of the Unholy Womb is severed from the rest of the body alongside the bodies of hundreds of apparitions.
A blade too fast for a human eye to track. A blade sharper than anything that he had ever created before.
A blade only for himself to wield.
Once his body reappears, he's floating next to Tosca.
"Isaiah?" Tosca calls out to him.
The boy slowly turns his head. A peaceful expression rests on his face as he faces her. "... I promise that I won't let go this time. I will protect you."
Tosca felt her heartbeat double as she heard those words.
But before she could express her joy, her body reacted to a new destructive beam coming her way.
Tosca blocked the attack as she saw how the severed head was slowly being replaced by another three. "This thing won't stop."
"Easy doesn't exist on the battlefield," Athena said as she stopped a few meters away. The goddess looks at Isaiah with interest and surprise. "Is thou able to fight with thy newly found power?"
"Yes," Isaiah says, although he seems to be still in a trance.
"Very well. Change of plans once more. We shall keep the pressure on until the others find the accursed second core. Don't fall behind, team." Athena says as she rallies the team for what could be the last stretch of the mission.
Asia, Vali, and Yukime look at each other before they advance.
Each had many questions, but none had the time to ask Isaiah what had just happened.
It was now or never.
Meanwhile, Akeno's POV.
"This has to be a joke," Akeno told herself as she saw the transformation that had taken place with Rias.
A blackened, crystalline, broken masquerade mask covered her eyes, and what seemed to be a black/red war dress now adorned her face as she held the chains of several "familiars" in her left hand. Her wings have doubled in size while taking a reddish tone and almost looking like clawed hands instead of wings.
In her right hand, a mysterious fan rested.
"Muahahahaha! Cry in pain, for I will show no mercy to any of you. Your sacrifices will be worthy of my lord!" Rias screamed as she took joy in the enemies that she continued to obliterate with her power.
"Stage 1: Masquerade Devil Knight unlocked. Show him that you can be his equal."
Akeno was surprised, to say the least, as she never expected such a transformation, but she also felt excited.
"Alright, if that's what you can do, I won't fall behind Rias Gremory. I shall beat you at your game!" Akeno said as she pushed her own power even further.
Holy lighting and destructive demonic explosions continued to rain in all directions as the duo ran rampant with their newly found rivalry.
Not too far below, Kuroka and the rest.
"They seemed to be having fun over there," Liv said as she continued to hear the explosion caused by their allies on top.
"They are doing their best, but we might have to discuss that ever-growing demonic power I'm detecting. It seems as if the mission has opened new mysteries to discuss with the others once we're back." Michael said as he continued to follow them as they continued to fall. "How close, Kuroka?"
"Close, but this damn curse is pushing back. I'm almost there." Kuroka said as she kept fighting for control.
She was sweating profusely as her powers clashed against the defenses of the curse. Her powers vs. the curse itself, two sides that continued fighting for control over the space that had the team trapped within a loop.
After finding herself within a cursed area in two separate circumstances, Kuroka understood how hard it was to deal with said places.
Laws of physics were twisted around to fit the needs of each curse.
Enemies were endless and restless.
Defeat meant being trapped within said curse after dying horribly.
It was likely impossible for any human team to easily exorcize such places after the curse had grown in strength, but Kuroka was not about to be added to the list of those who failed to achieve victory against a curse.
"I won't fail, so open the damn gates because it is time for this place to go down."
The walls started to shift once more as Kuroka pushed them away to try to reveal the core that hid from them.
The team heard the screams of thousands of souls in anguish as they approached the core.
"Free me from this hell."
"Momma, save me."
"I didn't deserve this."
Some pleaded for mercy, for rest, for the freedom not to be trapped within an artificial prison made from human regrets and anguish.
Other voices weren't as hopeful.
"Everyone shall fall. Fall with us. Sink into this hell with us. Don't let us suffer alone."
"Disturbing. Is this the darkness of the human heart?" Liv asked herself as she listened to the voices.
Kuroka continued to push deeper until the team saw a promising sight.
A white void appeared in the distance, and within it lay a black sphere from which thousands of souls seemed to scream and reach out for salvation or more victims.
The second core was now within sight.
"Shit!" Kuroka screamed as she felt the curse fighting back for control. The passage seemed to get farther from their reach as the curse did its best to prevent its demise.
Dual POV. *God's Gift-Shiro Sagisu*
"I have a visual, Athena," Michael said as he aimed his weapon at the core. "Kuroka, keep it open for a bit longer."
Kuroka gritted her teeth as she forced the void to remain as close as possible to them.
At that same time, Athena grinned as she aimed with her spear. "Open a path for me!"
The team nodded as they pushed to create a path for their leader.
Isaiah used his impressive speed to cut as many arms and apparitions as his blade could reach.
Tosca continued to draw attention to herself as she blocked beam after beam while also keeping Athena safe by preventing anything from reaching her.
Yukime flew right to the danger zone as she used her ice to immobilize the Unholy Womb.
Asia and Vali noticed how the womb tried to protect its unholy fetus as the flesh started to regrow to protect it. "Oh no, you won't." Both girls open fire against the flesh that surrounds the fetus.
The fetus cries in agony. Its screams bleed the entire team's ears, but neither backs away nor stops attacking as they feel the pressure at its highest.
Yet everything seemed to stop for the main duo as they shared one last conversation.
"Michael?"
"Yes?"
"Can thou listen to my heartbeat?"
"... I can."
"Then pull thy trigger and let this abomination rest in peace. Shoot now!"
With those words, both fire their attacks toward their respective targets: a holy projectile and a destructive spear powered by the divinity from Olympus's strongest child.
Each one pierced the sound barrier as they sought their targets, each one unmatched as they cut the distance with each second until they finally reached the cores.
A cracking sound was heard by everyone present, as if an overwhelming outside force had damaged a glass container.
Gabriel's POV.
The seraph turned toward the crimson clouds above as she prayed for a miracle. Some apparitions had escaped into the real world, yet her efforts and those of her allies had effectively prevented the worst.
But their time was running short as the curse spread farther away from the initial outbreak area.
They needed a sign that gave humanity hope of salvation against such a restless menace, and luckily, for them, it was coming.
The Alliance and the human world awaited said sign, which came in the form of the painful screams of thousands of infants who cried in agony as Athena's team took down a crucial element of the curse.
"They did it!" Gabriel screamed with a joyful expression. The seraph calls Tiamat as she touches her ear. "Tiamat, they-"
"I know. We're escaping this damn death trap. The curse land is collapsing on itself." Tiamat replies.
"Collapsing? But why?" Gabriel asks.
"No idea. We're pulling out before we get caught in the collapse." Tiamat explains.
"But what about Athena and her team?" Gabriel continues.
"They will escape on their own. We have to trust them. We must trust my daughter and the others, for they have achieved the almost impossible." Tiamat said.
Gabriel watched as the clouds started to be reabsorbed towards the start of this situation.
The sky above Mount Fuji remained in chaos as the curse continued to implode on itself as it tried to take everyone inside with it.
Tosca POV.
The Aegis Dragon continued to fly towards the surface as fast as her body allowed while Athena and Yukime flew beside her. She held the rest of the team within her claws while also containing them inside a barrier sphere for extra protection.
Isaiah's eyes remained focused on her as she continued pushing on for her allies' sake.
"Come on, Tosca, don't fall behind. We need to get out of here!" Yukime said as she pushed her wings to their limit.
"Come back here!" A malevolent voice screamed as dark hands reached out to capture them and drag the entire team back into the void.
"Don't look back. Push forward, kiddo. This won't be thy resting place." Athena said as she summoned more soldiers to use as bait for the hands.
The goddess felt her powers getting drained with each new summoned as the hands easily consumed them.
The exit remained in the distance as they sought to escape the void.
A way out of the darkness just beyond reach.
A gate to safety beyond grasp.
The end of the nightmare that was just at the end of a dark tunnel.
"You… can do it. Don't stop, my child. You have to come back home." Ddraig said as he forced his body to stay awake.
Tosca gritted her teeth as she suddenly grabbed Athena and Yukime with her claws.
"What-" Athena was interrupted.
"Just trust me," Tosca said as she closed her eyes. "Come on. Just one more boost. Just one more push. We can't die in here."
"... Boost!"
Her wings were set ablaze as her speed increased again, and like a rocket en route to space, she escaped the darkness.
As she exited the void, her eyes met the gaze of Michael and the rest of the team, who had patiently waited on the bridge for them.
No words needed to be exchanged as the whole team jumped into her claws before Tosca sought to escape the collapsing land.
The Aegis dragon didn't change trajectory as she sought her only way out.
The sky above showed a vision. Tosca's eyes saw the real world; the real Mount Fuji lay behind the glass with a single blue flame shining on the top as a sign of what to do.
"Mom!" Tosca screamed as she pushed towards that guiding light.
Everything was collapsing around them, but she couldn't stop. She had no time to look back or doubt; she could only push toward the safety within reach.
She then closed her eyes and put the last of her strength into the final push, hoping her best was enough.
…..
…..
….
"Tosca? Sweetheart?" A voice called out to her.
The Aegis Dragon began to open her eyes. As she did, the faces of the Alliance came into view. Everyone was looking at her as she crashed into the snow covering Mount Fuji's top.
"We're alive?" Tosca asks.
"We are. Get up. You're crushing us." Akeno said as the team was trapped under her.
"Sorry." Tosca changed forms. As she did, Tiamat rushed to hug her.
"My sweet girl. I'm so proud of you." Tiamat said as she embraced her daughter with love only a mother could share.
Cheers started as the Alliance claimed victory over the curse.
Many questions arose as the appearances of some of the kids took everyone by surprise, but said questions were going to wait as someone had one last job to do.
Everyone turned towards Ereshkigal and the young soul reaper who stood by her side.
"Come to us, trapped souls. Is time to rest and for judgment." Ereshkigal said as she raised her hands to the sky.
The cursed land had collapsed, but the souls remained. After so long, it was time for each one to return to where they belonged.
Tosca and the rest of the alliance watched as, under the night sky, thousands of souls arose from the land in which they had died.
Small bluish flames arose from beneath the land all around Mount Fuji and the areas that enclosed it.
Soul reapers started to appear and claim all souls before offering some to Ereshkigal, while others were taken away for other gods to judge.
Some souls screamed in panic; others went along as they sought a peaceful afterlife away from the curse.
*Yumi Kawamura- Memories of You*
As this happened, a hand grasped Tosca's. As she turned around, she saw Isaiah's smile.
"I told you. I won't let go." The boy said as he grasped her hand with his metallic arm.
It felt warm for a metallic arm but also showed the boy's determination. Someone willing to put everything on the line for the sake of the person he cherished.
Tosca blushed as she tried to face him. "You… better not betray those words. I expect your best."
"Always," Isaiah adds as he continues to hold her hand.
Tiamat began to laugh as she saw such an interaction. "Darling, we are doing a good job with her, aren't we?"
Mission Complete.
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Joy can last a mere moment. Sadness can take over in mere seconds. Scars don't always heal.
Some grudges last centuries and even longer, yet those of gods are endless.
Next Arc: Sinners Seeking a Path Forward
Authors notes (Continue at your own discretion):
The following explains what happened with Rias and Isaiah. Consider it a spoiler due to several facts.
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The following report is for the eyes of the Alliance and rating game officials.
The True Royal Majin Set is an artificial set that goes beyond any normal Evil piece set. It is more of an outside infection that takes over any set that comes into contact with Bloody Ascalon.
The infection starts with Bloody Ascalon ingesting an evil piece, which is then followed by a slow and unusual takeover, which leads to all evil pieces (unused pieces will become Majin cocoons) connected to the original target being mutated and turned into True Majim pieces while the "Kings" of said affected sets and start to develop True Majim pieces within their chest without noticing it. Other victims already possessing evil pieces can also be attacked by Bloody Ascalon as the sword seeks to devour said pieces, but instead of killing the targets, it will invade their body when less expected before replacing the evil piece with a Majim Cocoon, which will hatch into a full Majim piece after a while.
Victims of said infection don't notice any changes or effects until stage zero takes place. A subject will hear voices while involved in combat; said voices will be ignored as simply subconscious suggestions instead of actual signs of the infection. After the voices, the "infected" will gain a surge of new power as Ascalon sucks the power of the Welsh Dragon before indirectly sending it toward the infected.
Stage zero: Ignition lasts a few minutes or seconds depending on the subject affected, but it will always lead to Stage 1. Subjects might be in a trance or be mentally affected while on stage zero, but the effects won't be permanent.
Stage 1: Knight will always take place, and this is where the effects of the takeover are most visible. Each target will gain a transformation that is deeply affected by the subject's powers, mental state, and natural abilities of said subject. All Sacred Gears found within reincarnated devils shall be considered as lost after Stage 1 as there is no way to recover such gears since they are absorbed and corrupted beyond repair. The transformations are brutal, and each subject will likely gain one or multiple permanent alterations after each stage 1 transformation. Transformations can be disabled and unable by users after some training. They shall be considered beneficial as subjects gain strength and abilities instead of losing previous ones. Subjects will remain in Stage 1 for months or years, depending on their original strength. Stronger subjects will move on to stage 2 more slowly than weaker subjects as requirements for stage 2 and other stages are harder to achieve by stronger subjects, yet the results are far more effective in said subjects.
Example: Currently, Rias Stage 1 is far stronger than Isaiah Stage 1. Isaiah is bound to move onto Stage 2 earlier, but Rias Stage 2 is bound to be stronger once she achieves said stage.
Other possible stages are as follows:
Stage 2: Earl.
Stage 3: Marquis.
Stage 4: President.
Stage 5: Duke.
Stage 6: Prince.
Stage 7: King.
Stage 8: Emperor.
The possibility of a 9-stage is unknown, but as the requirements for each stage become more demanding and time-driven, nobody will likely reach the 8th stage easily. Each stage will strengthen the subjects as each stage pushes their powers to new heights, making them far too dangerous for regular Rating Games.
It is a rather disturbing infection as the Welsh Dragon has no direct control over the actions of the sword as it seeks to spread its influence, but he remains a crucial element of the whole infection. As the source of power that empowers devils, his designation is akin to that of a supreme king or even god; due to said information, his designation as the real king and only owner of the set shall be kept hidden.
Rias Gremory will remain as the "king" of all of those currently accepted until further notice. Other possible infected "kings" and sets affected shall be under investigation.
Possible affected individuals: Kuroka Welsh, Shirone Welsh, Serafall Leviathan, Aurora, and every devil with a devil piece who has been in contact with the Welsh Dragon while he has been unconscious.
Does Ascalon do this to satiate its hunger? Or is it a way of helping protect the owner/food source? The answer remains a mystery.
Further observations shall be necessary as it could prove helpful for the Alliance and the future.
-Ajuka Beelzebub