Chapter 5: Don't Mess With Me
Review Replies
Knightmare Lord: That poor baby Symbiote…also, is Cure basically Anti-Venom?
One more thing, which is kind of a weird flex; Maiko gets a Symbiote.
ThermalsniperN7: Yeah… That poor baby… Also, I dunno if I'd call Cure Anti-Venom, but that's one way of putting it. I dunno about Maiko getting a Symbiote, though.
Dragon Emperor0: Yeah.
Alex sighed as he hugged Satsuki close after the two of them had just made love together in the shower, the water from said shower still dripping from their bodies as they relaxed in the open room shower, which was barely lit.
As the two of them relaxed, Satsuki shifted a bit so she could feel a bit more comfortable in his arms.
"I gotta ask, your mom. Is she the kind of mom who would badger her daughters about giving her grandchildren?" Alex questioned.
"No, although she certainly won't say no to getting some as early as possible." The student body president replied.
"Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to regret this…?" The blonde sighed as the two dried off and put on robes while Saroi prepared them some tea.
"Don't worry too much about it. I'll do what I can to mitigate my mother's habits." The ravenette told her lover.
"It's not so much me I'm worried about…" The boy muttered as Venom took the form of a robe while Saroi poured their tea.
"Try not to exert yourselves too much." He told them.
"Thank you for your concern, Saroi." Satsuki nodded as she sipped her tea.
"Yeah, thanks." Alex nodded as well.
"Thank you." The butler smiled.
"Did you think you could sneak up behind me, Sanageyama?" The student council president questioned as she sipped her tea, causing Alex to nearly choke as he saw the Sports Chairman after having not seen him come in.
"Where did he come from?!" Venom yelped.
'I don't know either!' Alex replied with wide eyes.
"I wasn't sneaking. What? Did you think I was going to attack? I know you'd kill me with your tea cup before I could draw my sword." Sanageyama chuckled.
"Quite right." Satsuki nodded in agreement. "What do you want, then?" She questioned.
"Let me fight Matoi." The teen said.
"Why?" The girl questioned, noticing that Alex was giving the green haired teen a pensive look.
"Because I haven't had a good fight in a while, and I think she might give me that." The Sports Chair replied. "Plus, you know me, I live for this stuff." He added.
"You're just like you were three years ago…" Satsuki sighed, leaning back as if remembering something.
"Look, I'm grateful you brought me here to let me bust some heads, but the new girl—all I'm asking is that you let me test her skills with my sword." Sanageyama told her.
"Dude, do you have any other brain cells than the ones dedicated to fighting?" Alex questioned.
"I'm running a club, aren't I?" Sanageyama shot back. "What's that tell you?" He added.
"That you're still dumb as a sack of bricks, but okay." The blonde shrugged, sipping his tea.
"You know the consequences of failing, what if you lose to her?" Satsuki questioned coolly, sipping her tea.
"I won't lose." The bokken user scoffed a little too arrogantly for Alex's liking. "I got special eyes, remember? I'll see her before she even moves." He added.
"He's gonna lose." Venom deadpanned.
'Yep.' Alex agreed, both of them seeing the writing on the wall.
Satsuki only responded by shattering her cup and trying to attack Sanageyama with the handle, but was expertly blocked by the boy with his sword.
"Nice try." The sword using teen chuckled.
"That was expertly blocked." The girl noted.
"Thanks, guess this means I can beat your middle school self." The swordsman noted. "That was the same way you moved three years ago. Bet you were holding back, huh?" He questioned as Satsuki sat back down.
"Go ahead, see what happens." She told him.
"Thanks. And maybe after I win, we can have tea or something." Sanageyama chuckled as he walked away, Alex glaring at his back as he sipped his tea.
The MacGrath teen wasn't above admitting that he could get pretty possessive.
"Sorry about the cup, Saroi." The student council president sighed apologetically as her butler cleaned it up.
"That's quite alright, miss." Saroi told her. "It is a shame though, it was your favorite." He admitted.
"Better fix a fresh pot, looks like she still needs to decompress." Alex whispered, getting a nod in agreement as the phone rang.
"This is Honnouji academy." Saroi nodded as he answered the telephone. "Oh! Yes ma'am!" He uttered as he handed the phone to Satsuki. "It is mistress Ragyo." He whispered.
"Hello?" Satsuki responded as she picked up the phone.
"What's this I'm hearing about you putting on your wedding dress?" A woman's voice questioned.
"Who's calling?" Alex whispered.
"My mother." The girl replied, covering the mouth piece. "I took my wedding dress in response to a development in the academy." She continued, addressing her mother.
"Oh? Well then. Why don't you come and explain it to me in person? First thing tomorrow." The woman questioned.
"Very well. I'll be bringing someone I'd like for you to meet as well, if that's fine." Satsuki nodded.
"Goodness, it's been some time since you've brought visitors." Ragyo mused. "It wouldn't happen to be the same American boy Kuroido mentioned you brought with you to get Junketsu, would it?" She questioned.
"Yes, actually. I believe it would be a good time for you to meet him in person." The student body president confirmed in reply.
"I heard from the maids that he's quite handsome. Makes me excited to see him for myself." The woman mused. "Take care of yourself, Satsuki." She nodded before the two hung up.
"Okay, what was that about?" Alex questioned flatly.
"My mother wishes to meet you since she's already heard of you." Satsuki told him in reply. "As well as for me to explain why we took Junketsu." She added.
"I really hope this doesn't go badly…" Alex groaned.
Satsuki smiled as she stood and strode over to him, and sat herself down in his lap.
"It won't, so long as you're with me." She purred as she kissed him.
(Timeskip)
The next day, both Satsuki and Alex arrived at Revocs HQ by helicopter.
"This place looks like it should be an art museum in France." The conduit mused, looking at the building. "Or a place in Epcot." He added.
"You'd be surprised at how common those comments are." Satsuki chuckled, having heard her fair share of such comments.
The two then made their way into the building and were soon met by a woman with dark skin and braided white hair who was dressed in a tailored suit.
"Hoomaru." Satsuki nodded as she and Alex approached the woman.
"Mistress Ragyo is waiting for you in her office, she's just finished up a meeting with the grand couture." Hoomaru replied.
"Good. We'll head there now." Satsuki nodded as she led her conduit lover along.
"What the hell is a grand couture?" The Empire City resident questioned.
"A grand couturier is a fashion designer who holds significant influence in the fashion industry. His or her designs and collections influence the fashion industry at all levels through the trickle-down effect." His fiancé explained. "They usually are household names who have high profile clients." She continued.
"Okay, and what's this one's name?" Alex asked as they entered an elevator.
"Nui Harime. She's the one who killed Ryuko Matoi's father." Satsuki replied.
"And the reason why you're not just telling Ryuko this is why, exactly?" The conduit questioned.
"Because I fear she will lose control of herself and go berserk, and given how she is, I can see that being a very real risk to the Academy." The ravenette explained in reply.
"Okay, I gotta agree with that one." Alex nodded since he could see that risk himself. "Especially with what Kamuis can do." He added.
"Precisely. I need this secret kept hidden for as long as possible. At the very least until Matoi has a stronger grip on Senketsu." Satsuki nodded.
"It's gonna come back to bite you in the ass regardless, Satsuki. Mark my words." The boy sighed as they finally reached the correct floor, where they soon found Ragyo Kiryuin's office.
Upon entering, Alex had to shield his eyes since it was so fucking bright inside.
"Ah, Satsuki. I see you brought your guest." The voice of Ragyo hummed as the American's eyes adjusted enough for him to see properly.
The woman in front of the conduit was quite possibly the physical embodiment of the term "Cougar MILF". From her basically unblemished porcelain skin, perfect bone structure, succulent lips, runway worthy body, hourglass voluptuous figure, G-Cup breasts, peach shaped ass and most striking—rainbow colored white hair, the boy was honestly surprised he hadn't popped a boner yet.
'Wow. Any man would be lucky to have her.' Alex thought, more than a little impressed by Ragyo's appearance.
"Well? Aren't you going to introduce me to him?" The woman questioned.
"My apologies." The young Kiriyuin blinked before composing herself. "This is Alex MacGrath. I'm sure you know his last name well." She told her mother.
"The nephew of the Saint of Empire City." Ragyo nodded. "Yes, I know it." She hummed, walking up to Alex and cupping his cheek, examining him. "And from what I can see, a very handsome boy too." She mused.
"I'm spoken for." Alex deadpanned since that choice of words sent mixed signals.
Venom, meanwhile, was shivering like a leaf.
"And loyal as well." The woman noted. "You chose the right man by the looks of it, Satsuki." She hummed.
"I feel the same way." Satsuki nodded, her past experience validating her choice.
"Now." Ragyo hummed as she sat down on her desk. "Why is it you decided to put on your wedding dress?" She questioned. "It's bad luck for the groom to see his bride in the dress before their wedding." She added.
"Funny. Our actual wedding is still a long way off." Alex chuckled lightly.
"I do hope you intend to care for my daughter, Alex." The MILF stated, arms folded.
"Obviously." The conduit nodded as he embraced his precious lover.
"Now… Let's get to the reason you took Junketsu." Ragyo said as she looked at her daughter. "You mentioned a development. Care to elaborate?" She questioned as the three took a seat.
"Ryuko Matoi, Ishin Matoi's daughter, has acquired a Kamui, nearly on par with Junketsu." The girl replied. "Additionally, Alex has brought the existence of not just reappearing conduits, but also the arrival of the Life Fiber's natural predators." She continued.
"Natural predators?" Ragyo parroted with a raised eyebrow.
"The Klyntar, also known as Symbiotes." Satsuki replied.
"There's a life cycle that's been constant, from what I've gathered. If a planet has life fibers on it, then the klyntar comes and devours them all." Alex picked up.
This seemed to cause Ragyo's face to twitch with worry, but she quashed it.
"And I assume you happen to be in possession of one of these, Symbiotes?" She questioned.
"I do." Alex nodded. "Venom, come out and say hi." He prompted, causing the young alien to manifest a tendril with his face on it.
The symbiote looked at Ragyo for a moment, shuddering as if suppressing the urge to do something, before he ducked back into his clothing form in a very shy display.
"... He seems shy." Ragyo commented after a beat passed.
"Well, by his kind's standards, he's still a child. That's to be expected." The American told her. "But something's been spooking him ever since we got here, and I don't know what." He muttered.
Ragyo seemed to take this in stride as she gave an understanding nod.
"Well, I think I've heard all I need to know." She nodded. "So I think I'll let you two get back to enjoying your time as an engaged couple. After all, it won't last forever." She told them.
"We are well aware of that." Alex nodded with a chuckle.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile, back at Honnouji Academy, Ryuko and Delsin arrived at the school to see that a wooden poster board was posted outside the main entrance with Japanese script scrawled on it.
Delsin couldn't read it, but Ryuko could.
Challenge to a duel. Attention Ryuuko Matoi of Class 2-A: I will be waiting in the kendo club dojo after school.
Uzu Sanageyama
"Okay, game on." The punk girl smirked.
"What's it say?" Delsin questioned.
"Sanageyama's challenging me to a fight after school. I'm going for it." Ryuko replied.
"One of the Elite Four?" The boy questioned. "After they managed to take down the Beast in its lesser form? Are you sure?" He questioned.
"Yeah I am, especially after that incident." The girl nodded in reply.
"That attitude is gonna land you in a high category mess one day…" The conduit sighed in exasperation.
(Later)
"I can't believe it, the monkey gets the first crack?" Nonon questioned as she, Gamagori and Inumuta watched from an observation platform above the Kendo Dojo.
"Where's lady Satsuki?" Inumuta questioned.
"Away on business, and she took MacGrath with her." Gamagori replied. "Said she didn't need to see the fight to know the outcome." He added.
"What for? A "meet the parent" scenario?" The music chair questioned.
Gamagori only shrugged as Ryuko arrived in the Gym.
"So, you finally showed up?" Sanageyama grinned as he faced Ryuko.
"Well you did set a high bar after the Beast incident, and now I wanna top it." The punk girl chuckled in reply.
"Let's go then." Sanageyama nodded as he transformed. "Three Star Goku Uniform: Blade Regalia!" He exclaimed as his uniform's battle form came into being.
"Alright, let's go!" Ryuko grinned as she activated her trigger. "Life Fibers Synchronize! Kamui Senketsu!" She exclaimed as Senketsu entered his active state.
The girl charged at Sanageyama and attempted to slash at him and disable his uniform—but instead the Sports chairman actually faded away into an after image!
"What the–?!" Ryuko started to say before she was whacked on the back by the other teen's spring shot bokken. "Come here!" She yelled as she attempted to get the teen with a barrage of slashes that Sanageyama just effortlessly dodged.
Then he retaliated with his own barrage of rapid fire bokken strikes, bashing Ryuko around like a pinball.
"Oof! Damn it, I'm not getting any breathing room here!" Ryuko hissed in a rare moment of reprieve. "We'll go full speed on him, Senketsu!" She whispered.
"Understood." The Kamui nodded as the two started circling Sanageyama.
… Only for the bokken user to pull a roadrunner and catch up to them, repeatedly whacking her on the head.
No matter how fast Ryuko went, Sanageyama outran her every time. It was seriously starting to piss the girl off.
Then he swapped to a bokken version of a fucking car wash spinning brush and proceeded to beat the crap out of Ryuko like she was a piñata.
"AH! DAMN IT, THIS IS PISSING ME OFF!" Ryuko yelled angrily as she caught a breathing window.
"Now I know all your blocking moves! This is the power of my eyes, Tengantsu!" Sanageyama exclaimed as he knocked Ryuko flat on her ass.
"Eyes, huh?" The girl muttered… And then an idea hit her. "Senketsu, what I'm gonna ask you to do will hurt. I need you to…" She whispered to her partner, telling him her plan.
"Understood, it's our only chance." The living uniform acknowledged.
Sanageyama decided to go in for a decisive strike, managing to disarm Ryuko—and slice off a section of Senketsu!
"What the-?!" Mako gasped.
Then, without warning, the section seemed to multiply and they all managed to cover up the sports chairman's eyes. This had the effect of making him panic in response.
"What?! Get it off!" Sanageyama gasped, trying to get his eyes clear. "My eyes!" He cried as he struggled to get his vision fixed.
"YOU'RE MINE!" Ryuko yelled as she went in for the finishing blow. "Senishositsu!" She intoned as her opponent's uniform fell apart into nothing.
"Well, looks like I stand corrected." Delsin nodded.
"This seems like it's going to lead to an even worse situation in the future." Riot muttered.
(Timeskip)
It was later that night, and Satsuki arrived back at Honnouji academy with Alex in tow, having already known that Sanageyama lost.
Speaking of which, the teen had actually been at the landing pad to see them, his head lowered.
"I have no time for losers, Sanageyama." Satsuki hissed coldly.
"I want another shot at Matoi." He requested, and Alex noticed something was different with him now.
"How pathetic. I have nothing to say to subordinates who lack resolve." The girl sneered.
"You learned something from your loss, didn't you?" He noted. "I can see it in your body language, and I can hear it in your tone." He added.
"Oh, I learned something alright, and my resolve is right here!" The sports chairman exclaimed as he raised his head, revealing the change he had undergone as lightning flashed overhead.
"So you have." Satsuki nodded with a slight smile, causing Alex to look at her in pure disbelief.
"Satsuki." The teen conduit said firmly as he put a hand on her shoulder. "A word?" He hissed.
(Later)
"What. The fuck. Is wrong with you, woman?" The boy questioned as he paced around the room once they reached their quarters. "Condoning a man sewing his eyes shut as a show of 'resolve'? Are you fucked in the head or something?!" He blurted, hands in the air.
"I've known him longer than you, and believe me, I know him well. It may not seem like it now, but he will be stronger because of this." Satsuki told her.
"Heh, I sincerely find that hard to believe." The boy scoffed. "This—this isn't loyalty the others are showing—it's fanaticism. The other students, they're practically carbon copies, sheep! You do realize this place looks like from the outside, right? An authoritarian state. Communist and fascist regimes fused into one!" He ranted.
"That is not wha–" Satsuki tried to deflect before being cut off.
"It is what it looks like from the outside, Satsuki. If the North American government saw how this school functioned, then they'd raise hell on it if it was on American soil—and in international court as a human rights violation." Alex told her. "But go on. Tell me what it is from an inside perspective." He prompted, sounding like he'd have a hard time believing it.
Satsuki took a breath before she decided to respond.
"In short, this is a military school that puts its levels of tea far beyond even the best possible basic training in other countries." The girl responded. "This is also to prove one thing: that the masses are a herd of greedy, gluttonous pigs who must realize that and overcome it in order to survive what is to come." She continued. "It is a necessary evil, my Alexander, one that we must have the resolve to endure to become the best." She added.
"Why even bother making it a military school? Are seriously trying to take over Japan?" The blonde deadpanned.
"Not even remotely." Satsuki responded instantly. "My goals are vastly different in comparison to what most would expect." She added.
"And you won't explain it to me? Not very trusting." Alex stated, arms folded. "Especially given that you literally just introduced me as your fiancé mere hours ago." He added.
"Because my mother holds a dark secret, Alex. It's also a damning one, as well." The ravenette told him. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's that I don't believe you quite understand what I'm trying to do. If I told you everything without first making sure that you understood what I first told you, I fear the risk of driving you away." She added.
Alex's features softened at this. He could see things a bit more clearly now. It wasn't that Satsuki distrusted him, she was fearful that the full story would make him leave her. In a way, he couldn't fault her.
"Come here." He sighed, pulling her into a hug. "I still think that this whole thing is insane." He muttered.
"That is your right to think so. I only ask that you try to understand my perspective as best you can." The student council president told him.
"I'll do my best." The conduit nodded. "Come on. Let's go to bed; I've had enough drama for today." He added with a sigh.
"Very well." Satsuki nodded as they went into their shared chambers.
(Timeskip)
It was the next morning and as Ryuko was brushing her teeth, she soon realized that another challenge notice was placed nearby—but this time it was far simpler and more direct.
Ryuko Matoi: You, me. After school, like last time. Don't chicken out. – Uzu Sanageyama
"Aw shit, here we go again." Delsin cursed as he saw the sign.
"Guess he didn't learn from last time." Ryuko chuckled, popping her neck.
"This is going to go badly…" Riot sighed.
(Later)
It was later on and Ryuko was now facing Sanageyama again, with Satsuki and Alex watching from above.
"Didn't think people got second chances around here." The girl noted. "Guess you're just a big softie aren't you, Satsuki Kiryuin?" She called the older girl.
"Oh believe me, this is anything but. If you don't believe me, find out for yourself, Ryuko Matoi." The ravenette told her.
"Let's go!" Ryuko exclaimed as they both transformed.
However, before the girl could employ her previous move against Sanageyama, Senketsu noticed something.
"Ryuko, look!" He exclaimed, causing the girl to notice that the boy's eyes were missing.
"What the fuck happened to your eyes?!" The girl gasped in shock.
"He sewed them shut!" Delsin gasped as he watched the fight from a distance.
"En garde." The kendo teen said as he stomped towards the girl, deploying a Bokken from his gauntlet.
The two then clashed, and while Ryuko honestly made an effort, Sanageyama was fighting on a whole different level from her. He was fighting in ways no blind person should be able to, in most cases.
"Son of a bitch! He is way too accurate for a blind guy!" Ryuko grunted as she struggled to block against Sanageyama's attacks.
"The cause of my new accuracy is thanks to a new technique I've discovered: Shngantsu!" The sports chair exclaimed as he nailed Ryuko in the gut. "With it, I see everything with my other senses in so much detail that I can even see everything in the universe! Nothing is hidden from me!" He added as he pressed his attack.
"Does that include cosmic horrors?!" Delsin called jokingly from the sidelines. His witty question actually made the fight pause for a moment as Sanageyama's head turned in his direction.
"What? No. If I did, I'd be as insane as the cultists in the Lovecraftian world." He told him. "Why would you even ask that?" He questioned incredulously. "Better question, what is goi– THE FUCK IS THAT?!" He started to ask again before letting out a frightened yell as his head snapped to the sky.
"Whoa, what's got your boxers in a tizzy?" Ryuko questioned, surprised at his outburst.
"I-I see a planet, made up of dozens of formless creatures I can't describe! There's something that looks like them hidden in the core, and it looks even worse than them!" He replied, his body shaking. "I think it's a… Oh fuck, IT'S LOOKING RIGHT AT ME!" He screamed in terror.
"Shit!" Riot cursed as he appeared on Delsin's chest as a tendril. "Not only is that my kind's homeworld you saw, you saw our creator, Knul! This is the consequence of having vision like yours: You're seeing things you shouldn't see at all!" He yelled.
"He's right! Divert your attention to something else and focus on it!" Venom yelled in agreement, appearing as a tendril on Alex's shoulder.
Sanageyama shook his head and refocused on the task at hand—Ryuko. That made him calm down.
"That's better." He sighed, right before he rushed forward before anyone else could react and started mercilessly attacking his opponent.
Ryuko literally couldn't find any open windows to retaliate, and due to how fast her opponent was moving, she found herself with a ton of bruises.
The finishing move was her being sent flying and crashing face first into the ground and then bashed deeper into the concrete—nearly destroying the entire arena.
"Damn, he's going ham on her." Alex winced, having an unfounded vision of himself in Ryuko's place.
Venom, meanwhile, was becoming increasingly more irritated with what Sanageyama was doing to Ryuko—his viscous body starting to morph and change from his uniform appearance.
"Whoa, Venom, what's wrong?" Alex asked in concern for his surrogate son.
The symbiote didn't respond as his uniform state slowly developed a third star, and then he started forcefully transforming and moving Alex on his own, leaping down to the arena below.
"Alex, what are you doing?!" Satsuki shouted, noticing too late what Venom was doing.
"I'm not doing this by choice! Venom's riled up!" The blonde called back in reply.
The transformation halted and the duo landed between Sanageyama and Ryuko, landing in a superhero pose and revealing the symbiote's now altered appearance after entering his new three star battle mode.
It looked like a military spec ops getup, given that he had an ammo belt with grenades that were (probably not) fake, a knife holster holding a knife probably made from hardened bone, a bulletproof vest with a trio of white stars on it, gauntlets and military boots. He was also wearing a full face mask with two white eyes that were black in the middle.
The new figure looked up at Sanageyama as the swordsman towered over him—before he suddenly delivered a quick and hard punch to the gut that the man's Shingantsu wasn't able to detect!
"GACK!" The teen gasped as he was forced back. "What the hell?! Why didn't I see that?!" He coughed out.
That was when something clicked.
Letting his senses adjust, he realized that it wasn't that he couldn't sense Alex anymore, it was that he was completely unable to sense Venom at all due to the fact that he had nothing his other senses could pick up on—essentially making him invisible—and since Venom now covered Alex completely in this new form of his—that meant that he couldn't predict the Symbiote's actions!
With a growl, Venom attacked again, sending Uzu flying into another wall. As the angry klyntar pursued, Satsuki had a concerned look on her face.
'What happened to get Venom so riled up?!' She wondered, trying to figure out what had happened.
Delsin, meanwhile, quickly got into battle mode with Riot and grabbed Ryuko before getting the hell outta dodge—while Venom suddenly created a weapon out of material around him—one that looked like the gun used by Tsumugu Kinigase.
He then made a second one, and started firing on Sanageyama.
"Shit!" The boy cursed, able to perceive the needles that were being fired and deflect them.
However, these were notably near identical copies of the same ones Tsumugu used, meaning that the more hit Uzu, the more his Goku uniform continued to weaken as a result.
And when he was weakened, Venom then morphed his left arm into its giant blade form, poised to slice Sanageyama in half as the teen dropped to one knee.
"No you don't!" Riot barked as he intervened, saving the boy's life. "Get out of here, NOW! I can't hold him back forever!" He told the sports chairman.
"What the hell's going on?!" Sanageyama questioned as his uniform suddenly disappeared from overheating while Riot put Venom in a headlock.
"You got the kid riled up! He sees that girl you were fighting as someone to protect, and you fighting her like you did pissed him off!" The gray symbiote replied, throwing the pissed off Venom back a fair distance. "And what's worse is that he's finally starting to show his special ability." He added.
"Special ability?" Satsuki questioned as she descended down to help Uzu. "Explain." She ordered.
"We symbiotes have similar abilities as a species, but individuals can develop different abilities and traits specific to them as they mature." The Symbiote replied as Venom started adapting rapidly right in front of them, copying other gear he'd seen Tsumugu use and even started reshaping All-Black to take on traits similar to Bakuzan. "I, for example, can use my shapeshifting abilities to create an arsenal of weapons that not many of my kind can copy." He explained as an example.
"And what about Venom?" Satsuki questioned, getting ready to use Junketsu if it came to that.
"He can adapt to nearly anything he comes into contact with after enough time, and regenerate to the point where he could develop an immunity to anything that could cause him harm. In fact, some of our kind harbor hope that he'll one day be strong enough to fight and kill Knul." Riot explained in reply.
"You make him sound like Mahoraga." Uzu pointed out as Saroi helped him up the stairs while Venom lunged forward.
"Who?" The creature questioned.
"Eight Grip Sword Sacred Seal Divine General Mahoraga. A powerful Deva from our mythology, said to have been able to not be subjected or defeated because he could adapt to anything his opponents used on him." Satsuki explained as Riot blocked and parried All Black before kicking Venom into a pillar that collapsed on top of him.
"Well that's certainly odd. Didn't expect unintended mythology references from Venom." The gray symbiote remarked. "Then again, perhaps that's exactly what we need." He hummed, waiting for Venom to get back up…
Only for Alex to blow apart the pillar in a burst of lightning, completely unscathed.
"He's asleep." The boy stated as he walked towards them.
"Okay, I was hoping he got that out of his system by now." Riot nodded, glad that the mess had been concluded as he receded back into Delsin.
"Best we… Retire for now, I believe." Satsuki admitted.
"Yeah…" Alex hummed, nodding at Delsin, who took his leave. "Thanks for the help." He told his fellow conduit with a nod.
"Be seeing you." Delsin nodded.
Alex then turned to Satsuki, who looked at him in return.
"Sorry for making you worry like that." He told her apologetically.
"You are not to blame, Venom is just acting out of impulse and protectiveness, like any child would." The girl told him, taking his hand. "Come, let's go home." She said.
With that, the two headed for their shared bedchamber and fell asleep. It had been a mentally taxing day, so they earned some rest.
Dragon Emperor0: Hey everyone. For anyone who thought this story was dead in the water for being inactive for over six months, don't worry—it's not. We just had other stories to do and my co author wasn't in the mood for this story until now.
ThermalsniperN7: When you have a literal myriad of stories in front of you, your mood is bound to bounce between stories you enjoy the most. So… Yeah. That's a thing. But that aside… Uzu saw Knul. That's gonna leave him wary of what he focuses on.
Dragon Emperor0: And as you can see, we've decided to take Venom's ability to take on the traits of those he's attached to its logical conclusion and essentially made him the Symbiote equivalent of Mahoraga from JJK.
ThermalsniperN7: He may adopt Mahoraga's appearance eventually as a monster form, so expect that to probably happen. We don't know yet. Alex has also met Ragyo, and decided to showcase loyalty when she got a bit too touchy.
Dragon Emperor0: I pity Ragyo for what's gonna happen to her later. Not that she's gonna get mercilessly hurt or anything—but that she's going to end up with a guy who will likely make her unable to walk for several weeks after she's rid of the life fiber's influence, if you catch my drift.
ThermalsniperN7: Yeah, we plan on sparing her in this story since… Let's be real: She's got NOTHING on Knul. Might as well show mercy on her and let her live freely again.
Dragon Emperor0: So if you guys have any idea what kind of man she should have, let us know. Anyway, see you guys next time.