Part 1
I feel my cheeks burn hotter than any flame, Tachan's words still echoing in my head
Ayumu, do you like me?
Uwaaahhhh! That idiot! Dummy! Stupid! How am I supposed to focus on the mission now that he just dropped that bomb on me?!
O-of course I'm happy, but what am I supposed to do now?!
"...Ayumu? You okay kid?"
Azazel's voice brings me back from my anguished thoughts
"A-ah, yes! Just thinking some things over..."
"Alexander's troops and Tatseyo's dad will be here soon, are you ready?"
I nod, pushing my anxieties to the back of my mind
"U-understood... Leave Kageyama-san to me"
We still don't know what abilities Alexander has, but I'm still confident I can fight them if they are on the same level as the other Hero Faction executives, but having to fight them and their soldiers while still trying to convince Kageyama-san might be too hard...
"Can Serafall-dono really hold Lady Tatsumaki back while we are here?"
He laughed
"Don't worry, Tatseyo's mother might be a tough nut, but don't underestimate the Maou Leviathan, she also has some of the underworld's finest fighters with her, though I still ask of you to do it as quick as possible. Forcing them to fight while holding back as the woman who almost killed Arjuna is going all out wiht Napoleon's backup will be hard even for a Maou and their peerage"
"I know..."
With what I understand of Kageyama-san he's going to listen to me, even if he doesn't exactly agree with it. Tatsumaki-san is a different matter...
A magic circle appeared near Azazel's ears and he tapped into it
"It seems we got company, Alexander and his soldiers are coming through the land with Kageyama and a group of magic casters scouting the skies, my men can't even get close without risk getting killed"
I gulp down loudly
So it's now...
"I'll go to the front."
Azazel nods at my request and signed to his troops
"Everyone follow my lead! We'll hold Alexander's advance, no one is allowed to back down!"
The fallen angels shout their battlecry as they open their wings and the dark feathers engulf the sky
They fly in the opposite direction of Kageyama-san, while I go alone towards him.
There was a small dot in my field of vision that gradually becomes larger untill Kageyama-san's figure becomes clear
He had a group of soldiers following him and, of course, Alexander was with him as well, riding on a flying golden chariot that gives off the glow of magic being pulled by a monstrous black horse that looked more like a beast than an animal
"Ah, there goes nothing"
I mutter, trying to calm myself down while our encounter becomes inevitable
Kageyama-san and Alexander seem to have stopped mid-air as I got closer, he likely noticed me
"Ayumu-kun? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the temple?"
"Ayumu? Did something happened?" - Alexander asks
"Ah... uh..."
What the hell?! This is no time to get tongue tied! I have to talk to him now!
"K-Kageyama-san, I'm not at the temple because... I'm actually not on the Hero Faction's side... a-and... neither is Tachan"
His expression twists in confusion, Alexander frowns but says nothing
"What?"
Kageyama-san asks in a somewhat neutral tone
"Me and... Tachan have been in contact with the alliance of supernatural beings, actually, some of them are our school friends... and in order to make peace with the Esper Community we..."
I take a deep breath, my hands shaking as I try to maintain eye contact with Kageyama-san
"We are going to stop the Hero Faction from doing more harm to Kyoto! And we want you to join us!"
Kageyama-san's expression is like a mask of steel, not giving any hint of what he's currently feeling.
"W-what?!"
"She can't be serious!"
"What's the meaning of this? Betrayal?!"
"Don't listen to her, Kageyama-dono, it's clear she's being brainwashed by the fallen angels at her side!"
The soldiers of the Hero Faction scream, outraged
For a moment, Kageyama-san seems to be thinking, unbothered by the protests of the soldiers
Untill Alexander raises his hand and the soldiers immediately quiet down
"Ahh... I see what's going on now"
He sighs
"Ayumu, have I ever told you the story of the Divine Tree?"
I frown for a moment, untill I finally remember it
"Uhm? The event where a bunch of people ended up brainwashed because of that brocoli that got giant?"
He nods
"That's the one... you see, they had this cult thing around the tree, at the start people thought it was a joke, I mean, praying to a tree?"
I squint, not following his logic
"W-what?"
"But they actually believed it and soon more and more people started to join and it officially became a cult and people just... started joining in seriously. You see, it happens when one is pressured by those around them into a believe that it's not actually theirs. Cults often use it to manipulate people, even though it's not hypnosis or supernatural brainwashing it's still reprograming someone's personality into something that it's not their real beliefs in order to fit in"
My eyes go wide, I finally realize where he's going with this
"N-no, that's not what's happening, we actually are-"
"I know, my son probably thinks that as well."
Kageyama-san looks down with a bitter expression
"Being placed in a school full of demons... they are smart, they even managed to convince you."
"W-wait, no, we really are-"
He nods, seemingly not listening to what I'm saying
"I'm sure you are, at least you think you are."
I'm completely speechless at his answer, I was ready for anything, anything but that
"So... it's not hypnosis?"
Alexander asks
Kageyama-san shakes his head
"No, it's far worse, hypnosis can easily be broken if I use my powers, but in cases like this, there's only way I know to break it"
Kageyama-san extends his hand
"W-wait, Kageyama-san!"
I try to pull back, but he's really keeping a grip on me with his telekinesis
"Sorry kid, this will hurt me more than you"
He signs to the soldiers of the Hero Faction
"Restrain her" - He says and the group surrounds me, placing the magical restraining chains on me
"Don't, Kageyama-san, we are not-"
I try to fight back, but Kageyama-san is much stronger than myself and I can't force them away
"Now... where's their leader?"
He asks while looking around
"Damn, it's a good thing that I came after you"
A spear of light hits the chains holding me, setting me free
"Azazel!"
I shout as the fallen angel governor flies closer to us
"Heard you were looking for me."
Kageyama-san looks back at him, surprised
"Ah, so you are their leader, Azrael, aren't you?"
He shakes his head
"No, that's... another fella, I'm Azazel, first of the fallen"
Kageyama-san rubs his head
"Ah, sorry, I'm not very knowledgable in religious literature... or any literature honestly"
He laughs a little, however that doesn't seem to ease Azazel's mood in the slightest
"So talking didn't work?"
I nod
"He thinks Tachan and I are being manipulated"
Azazel raises an eyebrow
"By who? Me?"
He laughs
"I'm flattered Mr. Kageyama, but unlike what you may think, I'm not such a master manipulator, in fact, I wasn't even the one that called your son to our cause."
"So there is someone..." - Kageyama-san speaks in a serious tone
"I'd like to meet that person... I take it they are not human either?"
Azazel shakes his head
"No, she'snot. But unfortunately, she's not available at the moment"
A slight smile appears on Kageyama-san's face
"She? Ahh, I didn't know Tatseyo was into that..."
I frown for a moment trying to make sense of what he was implying, before the look in Azazel's face suddenly makes me realize the meaning of it and I feel my face go red
"That's not what happened!"
Azazel tilts his head
"Ehh, it kinda was a little bit, wasn't it?"
"Don't agree with him!" - I spout
"Haha, now it's painting a clearer picture"
"It's not! Also, how does that explain me siding with them?"
He shrugs
"You have been my son's friend ever since you were little kids, it's not hard picturing him convincing you. That's usually how it works."
I open my mouth to protest again, but I shut it before I say anything
...Wasn't that what actually happened?
In a way Kageyama-san is right...
Azazel thankfuly answers in my place
"Doesn't look like anything we say is going to convince you. Now if I may beg your pardon, what are you going to do after this? I mean, if what happened to poor Yu-Long is any indication, I know what you'll do to me, but I don't think you're going to put Ayumu in a cage"
Kageyama-san shakes his head
"No, you are going into containment, Ayumu and my son... I'm afraid they'll have to go to the rehab center"
My eyes go wide and I gulp down hearing this
Azazel narrows his eyes
"I don't know what that is but by Ayumu's reaction I take it's not a good place?"
Kageyama-san shakes his head
"It's not terrible, but after seeing what's happened I don't think we'll have a choice. Do you believe this is the first time this happened? An esper meets a demon that says they have good intentions, thinks they can fix the relationship between our worlds and starts going behind our back? It's a story as old as time, it never ends well."
"Don't you think there's a reason for it?" - I retort
"Can you of all people say you have never seen a non-human that was good to you?"
I ask, knowing full well Kageyama-san can't say no
He chuckled
"You can't possibly be comparing Dimple to him"
"Why not? Dimple is also a supernatural being and you let him live with you!"
He shakes his head
"That doesn't mean he wasn't a threat..."
I pull back, surprised at his answer
Kageyama-san rubs his forehead, trying to calm himself down
"Do you realize how much surveilance Dimple is under? How little trust the community has on him? How many times he screwed up before setting the record straight? How many times he even tried to kill me? Or bend me to his will?"
He points to Azazel
"You think I'll give this one the chance to do that to my son or to you?"
I go silent, unable to answer him
"Also... Dimple has at least one thing about him that's redeemable, he has a human soul. Can you even say that, Azazel-san?"
Azazel laughs, stroking his chin
"No, I can't say that. I assume this Dimple fella you are talking is an evil human spirit? Well, I was never human, so that is out of question for me"
"Heh, that answers it. Face it Ayumu, there are some differences that can't be negotiated, now if you refuse to see that"
Kageyama-san clutches his fists
"It's unfortunate, but I'll have to knock some sense into you"
I feel a shiver down my spine
"Alexander, step back!"
"W-wait! - I plead
"I'm sorry, Ayumu"
He swiftly raised his hand, but Azazel shot a flurry of light spears at him, forcing Kageyama-san to destroy them
"I just defeated Sun Wukong, are you stronger than the monkey king?"
"Seems like I'll have to be, huh?"
Azazel replied with a forced smile and pulling a golden gem from his pocket
[Down Fall Dragon: Balance Breaker!]
A golden light enveloped Azazel and the next moment he was wearing a golden armour with all his twelve dark wings out
"What the hell is this!?" - I ask him
"My one chance to put up a fight with this guy!" - He exclaims
An explosion roared and as I turned my head to look I realized it had come from the other side of the city
That's probably where Lady Tatsumaki should be figthing with Serafall-dono by now
Kageyama-san's eyes popped
"T-Tatsumaki!"
Azazel took advantage of the distraction to strike
"Your battle is here!"
Azazel summoned a magic circle and sent a bombardment of attacks towards Kageyama-san
Distracted, Kageyama-san would not have the time to react
"Watch out, Kageyama-dono!"
Alexander shouted and from the tip of his sword a powerful flare was shot, blocking Azazel's attacks
"Tsk, this is going to be even more bothersome than I thought"
Azazel complains
Alexander turns to his soldiers
"Pull back! Warn Cao Cao-sama and Napoleon we have been betrayed! Go, now!"
Without questioning, the soldiers turn around and retreat immediately
"S-stop!" - I shoot bursts of fire in order to stop them, but both Kageyama-san and Alexander block them
"I don't think this will be enough, guess I'll have to do it"
Azazel manifests a magic circle in his hands
"Here goes nothing!"
He shouts and the circle spreads around us, the soldiers finally stop on their tracks as if they hit an invisible wall
"There, I used a sealing spell, now we're all stuck in here..."
He turns his head in my direction
"Ayumu, if there was a time for you to have an idea, that time is now"
"Err... I'll think of something!" - I say, panicking as my brain rushes to try and think of something
"No hurry" - He says sarcastically, preparing two spears on his hands
"Hahh!"
"The torture!" - I shout
Azazel looks at me with a confused expression
"The what?!"
I grab his shoulder and shake him
"The experiments Cao Cao has been doing on his followers! Kageyama-san probably doesn't know about them!"
He groams
"Yeah, but what are you going to do? Tell him? He's not exactly in a believing mood right now"
"I told you he can use his empathy to read what's on people's hearts, didn't I?"
"And you think it's going to work?"
I smile with confidence
"Just watch it"
I float towards them with my hands up
"Kageyama-san, I surrender!"
He immediately raises a hand for Alexander to halt
"Watch out, Kageyama-dono! This could be a trap!"
He nods
"I know... are you trying to get me off guard?"
I shake my head
"No, not really, at this stage I don't think there's anything we can do to stop or defeat you and in fact... that's not what I want."
"You want me to come to your side..."
"Yes and I think that will only happen if you use your empathic powers"
Kageyama sighs
"That won't do Ayumu, I already know you are not brainwashed and you really do think that you're doing what's best-"
I interrupt him
"Oh, I don't want you to use it on me."
I point to Alexander, standing on his back
"I want you to use it on him."
Both narrow their eyes at my request
"Why...?"
I look behind him and see Alexander with the angriest expression on his face
"He knows" - I smirk
"You..." - He says, almost barking at me
"What does she mean by that?" - Kageyama-san says with suspicion in his voice
I point my finger at him
"Tell him! Tell him how Cao Cao managed to get so many soldiers! Tell him what happens to the ones who get captured or fail to obtain Balance Breaker!"
Kageyama-san furrows his eyebrows
"Balance Breaker, you mean the thing you do with those Sacred Gears? What happens to you if you can't do it?"
Alexander gulps down and points his sword towards me
"Don't listen to her, Kageyama-dono! Like you said, she's under some kind of mind control!"
He prepares an attack and I raise my guard to defend
However, this time Kageyama-san comes to my defense!
"Now... I might not be the best at reading the room... but even I can tell when a person is acting suspicious"
He turns to me
"Ayumu, what did he do, exactly?"
I gulp down, nervous, but Azazel nods
"Good thinking kid, now go on, tell him" - He encourages me
I tell Kageyama-san all about the 'suicide devices' implanted on the Hero Faction's soldiers and the brainwashing camps where some unwilling sacred gear users are sent in order to become soldiers for them
When he te turns back to Alexander, the nervous look that he had on his face turned into a resolute expression.
"Is it true?" - Kageyama-san asks and Alexander gives a sigh
"If I say no will you try and read my feelings?"
He nods
"If I have to"
Alexander laughs a little, not a nervous laughter, not even a desperate laughter of someone who was caught, just a casual laugh
"Napoleon and I told Cao Cao this was not a good idea... lying to you that is."
He brushes his golden hair out of his face and looks at the moon
"Three things cannot be hidden for long: The moon, the sun and the truth."
"So it's true..." - Kageyama-san says
Alexander shrugs
"You know, I always thought that girl was suspicious, but Cao Cao trusts her too much... Was the pink haired bitch responsible for this? Yes, she definitely knew..."
I furrow my brow, is he talking about Kuriko?
I hear Kageyama-san sigh
"Ayumu"
He calls my name and I stand stiff
"Y-yes!"
He points to Azazel
"Can you and my son really vow for this inhuman?"
I look nervous towards the fallen angel teacher and he nods
"Yes! W-we can!"
He looks at me one last time and I gulp, is he using his skill on me?
Kageyama-san closes his eyes for a moment
"Then it's enough for now"
He raises one of his hands towards Alexander
"I'm sorry, but I have to speak with my wife and then we're going to have a talk with my son... you should get out of my way"
Kageyama-san says this not in a threatning or intimidating manner, but like he's actually requesting something from Alexander, who in turn laughs
"I see, so I think this is the end..." - He sheathes his sword and raises his arms
"U-huh? So easy!" - I exclaim in surprise
Alexander chuckles
"I'm not stupid, there's no way I'd be able to beat you three, besides, I'm not going to risk my life for a liar."
Azazel narrows his eyes for a moment
"Are you trying to play tricks on us? Mr. Alexander?"
He shakes his head
"Not at all, on my name I promise I'm being genuine, I'll surrender but under one condition"
Azazel clicks his tongue
"Of course there would be one, spill it out"
Alexander grins and says
"If you're going after Kuriko let me fight her with you"
!
I turn to look at Azazel, who is now smiling back at Alexander
"Hahaha! I see we're not the only ones with a grudge against that girl. Very well, that we can do!"
Kageyama-san on the other hand has a complicated expression on his face
"So Kuriko is involved in this too, somehow?"
Alexander nods
"That snake knew about this all along, didn't she? Yes, I always thought she knew more than she let on, this means that Cao Cao-sama and the others are probably falling into her trap as well. I'll not let that happen, I'd rather work with inhumans than dance to her tune"
Azazel sighs
"Could have really gone without that last part... anyway... are they with you as well?"
He points with his chin towards the line of soldiers that follows Alexander
"Hahaha! Of course! I am Alexander the Great! Wherever I go my army follows!"
He turns back to the soldiers who are all wearing confused expressions on their faces
"Men! We have been betrayed today!"
They all turn to look at us, but Alexander shakes his head
"Not by them, but by a corrupting influence who has been in our den for far too long! We've been tricked and duped by this Kuriko and now the one who I swore allegiance to is in peril because of this!"
"Cao Cao-sama?"
"Cao Cao-sama is in danger?"
The soldiers talk between themselves
"This is a blemish on our oath, a blemish on our honor! Are going to let this slide and allow them to win? Are we going to let this traitor do as she desires?"
"""""""""NO!"""""""
The soldiers scream in unison
"Then follow me! Let's show to this traitor that one cannot stab the brave men of the Hero Faction in the back and go unpunished!"
The soldiers scream, pointing their weapons to the air, Alexander turns to Azazel and says
"Well, Fallen Governor-san, lead the way"
Part 2
Followed by Alexander's troops, we fly in the direction where Serafall and Tatsumaki-san are supposed to be facing each other
We hear a huge explosion in the distance
"And that must be my wife" - Kageyama-san says
"Serafall, where are you? How are things holding up?" - Azazel speaks at a magic circle
"Not good Azazel-chan, this crazy girl almost got me dead on sight, if it wasn't for Behemoth-chan and Sirzechs-tan's peerage she'd have killed me already."
The usual cheerfulness in her voice is gone, replaced by a ragged and concerned tone
It's honestly surprising how her group managed to hold Lady Tatsumaki back this long
"We'll be there in a moment, just hold on"
The three of us make a beeline in the direction where we can hear the battle brewing
But from far away I can already see... what the hell?
An enourmous... beast? Is standing in the middle of the battlefield, so huge we can see it before we can even spot Tatsumaki or Serafall-san
"What the hell is that?!" - Kageyama-san asks and Azazel motions for him to stop
"Calm down, that's Behemoth, he's with us"
"Behemoth?!" - I exclaim
Kageyama-san just shakes his head
"Why am I even surprised?"
Alexander laughs excitedly
"Hahaha! So that's the Beast King of the Earth I've heard about! What an amazing sight! Napoleon is truly blessed for being able to trade blows with it!"
I look at him, do these people have nothing but fighting and power in their heads? I hope Tachan doesn't become like this...
We arrive at the site of the battle, Tatsumaki-san and Napoleon's group are standing in front of a group of devils along with Serafall, the imense beast seems to be shielding her, it's covered in blood and bruises, likely caused by Tatsumaki-san.
"Hey Serafall!" - Azazel signals over to the Maou Leviathan, this causes Lady Tatsumaki to look in our direction
"What the... Shigeo! What's the meaning of this?!" - She asks, irritated, Kageyama-san immediately puts his hands up
"A-ah, there's an explanation!" - He then looks over at me, almost pleading with his eyes for me to say something
But before I can talk Napoleon speaks up
"Alexander? What has happened?" - As he says this, the troops on Napoleon's side point their weapons at us.
"We have been betrayed my friend, and not by Ayumu or Kageyama-dono, it seems that our worries about that girl were well-founded"
He replies, not looking particularly worried
Napoleon just shakes his head, apparently understanding what Alexander meant just by that brief exchange
"That pink-haired whore" - He curses and raises a hand, his soldiers immediately lower their weapons, all of them wearing confused expressions
So Kuriko really didn't warn them about anything
"You better explain to me what's going on, right now!" - Tatsumaki-san says impatiently
"What the hell is going on here?!" - She asks but before I can try to start explaining, Kageyama-san interrupts
"Dear, I don't think we have much time, but according to what Ayumu explained to me the gist is that Cao Cao lied to us and he's killing innocent people, including humans, and is going to use the monsters we captured to kill many more. Tatseyo joined them to try and stop this and he's going to fight Cao Cao soon."
Tatsumaki-san's eyes widen in surprise as he says this
"Wait, we're working with them?!"
Kageyama-san sighs and shrugs
"I guess... our son trusts them it seems"
Tatsumaki-san seems to be lost in thought for a moment
"And I guess... we are as well?" - Napoleon asks, looking at Alexander who nods in return
"Between working with the Alliance or playing into her hands I know what I prefer, what about you?"
Napoleon chuckles
"As if you had to ask" - He sheathes his sword and turns towards his soldiers while Tatsumaki-san turns to us
"I still don't understand what's happening, but you said that Tatseyo might be in danger?" - Tatsumaki-san asks
I nod
"Y-yes, me and Tachan are trying to stop Cao Cao from doing his experiment so he's going to have to fight the Hero Faction's leaders"
"I see, I see" - She says before strolling towards me and Kageyama-san
"What are we waiting for then?!"
"U-huh?" - Me and Kageyama-san ask, dumbfounded
"What do you mean, 'huh'? Let's help our son!"
Kageyama-san looks caught off-guard
"You took this way better than I thought..."
His wife folds her arms and her glare pierces him
"What do you mean? If our son needs our help then we gotta go! Also you must be crazy if you think I'm not getting back at that pompous spear bastard for tricking us! And don't think you'll get off without explaning all of this to me when this is over!"
She then points at me, Azazel and Serafall
"You three as well! This isn't over! When I get back we're gonna have some serious talk and you better pray I like what I hear"
Kageyama-san smiles for a moment before chuckling
"Now that's more like you. So... how are we getting to where Tatseyo is, I assume you have a plan?"
Azazel nods with a smirk
"You bet, you might be familiar with the guy"
As he says this as a portal appears close to us
"Hah, just in time"
From the portal steps out a monkey-looking old man with a staff in one hand and a pipe in the other
"Sun Wukong?!" - Kageyama-san yells in surprise
The monkey man laughs, so that's the legendary Sun Wukong?
I look him over...
He really doesn't look as impressive as the legends
"Happy to see me again?" - The old monkey puffs out a cloud of smoke from his pipe
Azazel steps in and motions to us
"Well, I'd love to make proper introductions but I think we're on a bit of a time restraint here, how about you take us over to ground one so we can Cao Cao's plan already?"
Sun Wukong nods his head
"Indeed, indeed, it's about time we put an end to that-"
Suddenly he stops and the playful look on his face turns serious
"There is a distortion in space"
Azazel raises his guard when the monkey says this and before anyone can ask what it means a space close to us begins to distort and a humanoid figure appears
Everyone looks confused when a tiny girl shows up, battered and with a visible wound on her belly
I immediately recognize her
"Kunou!" - I run and grab the frail looking foxgirl before she tumbles down
"What happened?!" - I yell holding her in my arms
"I-Issei-san... saved me, please save him... as well..." - She says before passing out, I put a finger to her pulse
Alive! Thanfully!
Azazel and Serafall come running to my side as well
"What in the world?! You weren't supposed to be here! What the hell happened?"
Kageyama-san and Lady Tatsumaki approach us after a moment
"She's alive but it's bad! I don't think this wound is normal!" - I tell them
"Who is she? An youkai? What's going on?" - She asks
"S-she's a friend of ours. Daughter of the Kyuubi... what happened? Who did this?"
Azazel looks over her wounds, it doesn't seem to be fatal, but she's not looking good, a vile aura surrounds her wound, is this...
No, it couldn't be.
"Goddamnit! This is one of the worst time for this to happen, I didn't want to use this but..."
He pulls out a vial that seems to have liquid inside
"A phoenix tear?" - Serafall asks
"Unless you have a better idea" - Azazel says as he opens it and pours over the little fox girl
...
But nothing happens
"W-what is going on?" - Azazel asks in shock
"The Phoenix Tear didn't work?!" - Serafall is also surprised
The old monkey walks between them and touches Kunou's cheek and shakes his head
"The tear didn't work, this isn't a normal wound, this thing is-"
"A curse, isn't it?" - Kageyama-san interrupts, Sun Wukong turns to him and nods
"Indeed, these wounds somehow seem to have a powerful curse imbued in them, I have never seem anything like it."
I feel my throat dry out
Curse? Who would have cursed her?
I look back at Kageyama-san, lady Tatsumaki gets closer as well and inspects it
"This is filthy powerful! Can we even exorcise it?" - I feel my eyes bulge, lady Tatsumaki acknowledging the power of someone else so easily?
Kageyama-san whipes his brown, he's starting to look seriously nervous over this as he places his hand over Kunou's wounds
He looks exasperated as time passes and the curse doesn't seem to vanish
"I've once met an incredibly powerful curse-user, he was so talented he was considered the best esper of his century, so vile he turned himself into an evil spirit to carry his grudge after death and so powerful he almost killed me..."
He pauses for a moment before sighing
"And yet his curses weren't even close to being as powerful as this one."
Did Cao Cao had another ace in the hole we didn't knew off? Maybe Kuriko stepped in? Would she really go as far as using curses now? Could she even use a curse so strong?
Sun Wukong nods his head
"Whoever did this must be a monster of immense power, honestly, Cao Cao... just what the hell that kid got himself into?"
Azazel looks concerned at Sun Wukong
"Can't you do anything about this?"
The old man tilts his head
"I can stabilize her with senjutsu, I don't think it'll remove this curse, but it should get her back to conscious at least"
Azazel nods
"Then please do it"
A few minutes that feel like an eternity pass before Sun Wukong finishes healing Kunou, everyone worried at what might have happened. Azazel takes a moment to try and explain the situation to Tatsumaki and Kageyama-san a bit more, I can hardly contribute due to the bundle of nerves I've turned into.
Tachan, everyone, please be safe
"Cough! Cough!"
We suddenly hear a small voice gasping for air as Kunou finally wakes up
"Kunou!" - I'm the first one to stand up and run towards her
"Are you okay? Who did this to you?!"
The palid foxgirl looks around, taking in her surroundings with wide eyes before they fall upon me and she speaks
"Tatseyo..."
The words that come out of her send a shock to my very core
"Tatseyo is attacking everyone!"
I freeze in place
What?
I can barely process the words that Azazel, Lady Tatsumaki and Kageyama-san say in reply
"Tatseyo? What do you mean?!"
"My son? Our Tatseyo? What?"
"That goddamn Cao Cao, this has to be his fault! I will end him!"
She turns her eyes to Azazel and says in a ragged voice
"He was attacking everyone and Issei-san protected me, but he got hurt! Mayumi sent me away, ah!"
Her ears perk up, as if she just remembered something
"She said to tell you all this: Tatseyo was the target, we were wrong about Kuriko."
These are the last words I hear before Azazel curses and grabs me while Sun Wukong takes the foxgirl into his back, opening a portal and taking us to whatever hell is awaiting for us.
Kuriko...
What is going on? What is her plan?
Tachan...
I remember the promise I made
No... this can't be happening.
Please be alright.
Please...
I can't do this without you.
Afterword: Happy almost-new-year everyone! I want to apologize for the one year hiatus, college, internship and my other hobbies got me busy and I also was in a serious trouble writting down this chapter. Being very honest the idea of writting a fight for Alexander and Napoleon was something that made me struggle a lot considering the power level I have already stablished for the story, so I gave up on the idea and brought them to their side. I really didn't want to let this year go by without posting at least one chapter. If you were expecting some grand confrontation I promise I'll try to make up in next chapter. Kuriko's goal will be revealed and everyone will work together to stop whatever happened with Tatseyo! I promise it'll come out much earlier than this one took! Thanks for your patience and to everyone who still follows this story after a year without any updates!
Also because of the change, wasn't keeping me update of when I get new reviews, they were still sending me an email everytime I get a new follower or fan but I just saw now that I was still getting reviews even in my hiatus which they were not notifying me of because of their new settings, thanks a lot for that and I apologize for not answering them because I actually thought I had stopped getting new reviews.