The end of a family's curse
"Calibur...and Captain Nozel!?" Blades exclaimed in his head as he and everyone else stared at the newly appeared swords-woman of darkness and captain of the Silver Eagles who is riding on a mercury-made eagle.
With Calibur, she held her ground against Joyeues for a few seconds before managing to push her away.
"Are you okay, Captain Rill?" Calibur asked whilst glancing over her shoulder.
"Y-yes. I'm good. Thank you." Rill said as he regained his composure.
"So, the wielder of Kurayami has appeared and…." Megicula mused in an interesting tone of voice before turning her attention towards Nozel.
"He's the third person who was present back then." Megicula thought, sensing traces of her curse of Nozel.
With the captain of the Silver Eagles, he glanced at Joyeues's Devil-themed form before turning his attention onto Megicula and Vanica.
"I was expecting to face Vanica Zogratis when I arrive, but since you've decided to make your presence known, I can completely erase your existance right here and now." Nozel commented as he glared at Megicula, him having a very good idea on the idenity of the Devil that is in front of him.
Megicula laughed slightly just as mercury-mde spears started to surround Nozel.
"Such raw anger you're radiating, but unfortunatly, I don't think you would be able to face me." Megicula commented, causing Nozel to raise an eye-brow before quickly moving his body to the side to avoid an attack.
When the captain of the Silver Eagles turned towards the direction of the attack, he saw Joyeues glaring at him.
"Noelle..." Nozel thought, a conflicted expression appearing on his face as he knew what is about to happen.
"So. Are you capable of fighting your own sister?" Megicula questioned just as Joyeues swing Argent-Couronne again.
In response, Nozel changed the mercury-made spears into a shield, blocking the incoming attack.
Joyeues didn't stop as she started to throw a barrage of sword swings and Nozel's eyes widened as he felt the impact of each Demonic-Mana enhanced attacks against his mercury-made shield.
"Should I aid Captain Nozel?" Calibur thought, knowing that Kurayami would be effective against the Demonic-Mana.
"Curse-Warding Magic: Uncontrolled Slave." Megicula announced and blood-like branches started to sprout out of Vanica's body, quickly spreading across the room, restarting the battle.
Back with Nozel, the captain of the Silver Eagles is flying around the room whilst narrowingly avoiding getting struck by Argent-Couronne.
"I can't just fly about the place. I need to do something!" Nozel thought, becoming frustrated at his lack of productivity.
A small idea then appeared within Nozel's head as Joyeues prepared to attack again.
Mercury-made spears formed around Nozel before firing them towards Joyeues's belt buckle.
Somehow knowing what the captain of the Silver Eagles is planning, the swords-woman of steel quickly manoeuvred, preventing the mercury-made spears from striking "Cursed Valkyrie".
"Knew that it won't be so simple…..I'm not even sure if destroying the Wonder-Ride book would even fully remove the Demonic-Mana that Megicula has placed on her." Nozel thought, a small frown appearing on his face.
Joyeues's Grimoire started to glow.
"Demon Water Creation Magic: Sea Dragon's Roar." Joyeues announced, creating the water-made serpent-like dragon where the water is pitch-black rather the usual clear blue.
"I need to move...!" Nozel muttered, but become shock as he realize that his path is blocked by the blood-like branches.
Quckly making a decision, Nozel created numerous mercuy-made shields just as Joyeues launched her attack at the captain of the Silver Eagles.
When the water-made dragon crashed into the mercury-made shields, Nozel was knocked off the mercury-made eagle and before he could crash onto the ground, the captain of the Silver Eagles created a platform, halting his descent.
"Now th-" Nozel began to say, but was interuppted as blood-red, water-made spikes appeared in front of him.
Acting quickly, Nozel managed to avoid getting struck by the water-made spikes before Joyeues appeared who was successful in kicking him the stomach, knocking him back.
"Such strength!" Nozel thought before coughing up blood.
"..." Joyeues stared at Nozel, rage still emanating from her body before dashing forwards, Argent-Couronne at the ready.
Luckily, Nozel just had time to avoid getting struck by the sword of steel, jumping to the side and let Joyeues pass him.
"I wonder..." The captain of the Silver Eagles thought just as the swords-woman of steel spun around and prepared to attack again.
However, before Joyeues can move, Nozel created a sphere of mercury which he then threw towards the swords-woman of steel, managing to hit Joyeues's sword arm, causing Argent-Couronne to be sent flying out of her hand.
Nozel raised his arm and manage to catch Argent-Couronne.
"Megicula has certainly tainted this sword..." Nozel thought as he felt the Demonic Mana running through the sword of steel.
It was at that moment that the captain of the Silver Eagles felt a presense in front of him, causing him to look up and saw the swords-woman of steel with a fist drawn back.
Nozel's eyes widened just as Joyeues throw her fist forward.
With the others, they are currently facing against giant, water-created serpents created from Lolopechika's magic the through the spell "Demon Water Magic: Hydra of the Dark Abyss".
"With the presence of these blood-like branches, it's making this fight against these serpents difficult!" Calibur thought as she just bearly avoid getting bitten by one of the water-made serpents.
The swords-woman of darkness spotted another water-made serpent heading straight towards her and with some movements, Calibur managed to get on top of it, the "skin" showing resistance of preventing her to fall into the water-made serpent.
"Let's hope I can cut it!" Calibur muttered as she raised Kurayami and swing it, the golden blade being covered in darkness.
Calibur's eyes widened as she saw how Kurayami is met with resistance as it cut into the water-made serpent's "skin".
"I suppose it will take some time..." Calibur thought as she sense that the Mana from Kurayami is spreading across the "skin" of the water-made serpent.
However, the water-made serpent started to thrash about, causing the swords-woman of darkness to almost fall off, yet prevented this as she held Kurayami tightly.
"Strange. Calibur hasn't been using her magic..." Megicula thought as a small frown appeared on her face, noticing how the sword-woman of darkness has been using the attribute of the sword of darkness more rather than using her own magic.
"Maybe her Grimoire doesn't possess any offensive spells." Megicula thought, considering the possibility.
With Gahja, the lightening spirit guardian of the Heart Kingdom has been avoiding the serpent-like creatures.
"True Lighting Magic: Nadalas Astrauza!" Gahja announced, firing multiple shots of lighting, hoping to destroy the incoming snake-like creatures, but with little success.
"I…...decided to become the strongest attack Mage in all of the Heart Kingdom, so I can wipe out each and every one if our enemies. To battle in your stead." Gahja thought, knowing that due to Lolopechika's kind nature, she hasn't been able to learn any offensive spells.
Unfortunately, Lolopechika appeared in front of Gahja and the lighting spirit guardian faltered slightly, giving Lolopechika the chance to stab Gahja in the stomach with one of her claw-like hands.
"Gahja!" Undine shouted within Blades's head, the water spirit having been observing the battle from the corner of her eyes.
However, a faint smile is present of Gahja's face.
"I swear you won't feel a thing. Please forgive me, Lolopechika." Gahja said as he placed his hands around Lolopechika's head.
"Lighting Magic: Parcelanta." Gahja announced, firing an electric current through Lolopechika's head which then ran through her entire body.
"This should immobilize her for a few seconds….." Gahja thought as he managed to free himself from Lolopechika's arm.
"That day, I decided to wipe out all our enemies in my queen's stead, dedicating myself to protecting our country. And even so, just a half a year ago, I permitted an attack from Megicula and Vanica. Because of my blunder, you were cursed." Gahja thought as he began to move forwards, remembering memories surrounding the events of Vanica's attack on the Heart Kingdom six months ago.
"It's precisely because all you did was to protect your people, your country, everything…..that now this form has taken over you. This is the last thing you ever wanted. I really am unfit to be a spirit guardian. Even more than our country...I wished to protect you. I could never let you did….and I can't allow you to kill me. I won't die from the wound you inflicted on me. I will turn every remaining ounce of my life force into magic…..in order to obliterate the Devil who caused this!" Gahja thought as he head straight towards Megicula.
"Swordsman of water! Stand to the side!" Gahja shouted just the pages of his Grimoire began to turn before stopping.
"R-right!" Blades said in a slight startled tone of voice as he dived to the side.
"Right here, right now. This time around, I will success in saving you!" Gahja thought as he prepared to cast his spell.
"Ultimate Lighting Magic: Apocalipra Astrauza!" Gahja shouted as he fired a powerful blast of lighting straight towards Megicula.
"Even "Decaying World" is unable to erase this." Megicula thought as she watched as the attack head straight towards her.
However, it was that moment that someone appeared in front of the curse-warding Devil, where the attack engulf the both of them, along with destroying the wall behind them.
"N-!" Nozel began to shout, but stop as a burst of pain flared throughout his body, Argent-Couronne no longer in his hands.
"Huh?" Blades said as he glance towards the captain of the Silver Eagles…..but couldn't see Joyeues.
"….." A horrified feeling started to appear within the swordsman of water as he, plus Rill, Charlotte and Calibur, slowly realized what just happened.
As the huge amount of smoke slowly started to disappear, the five Magic Knights and water spirit first saw Gahja's basically burnt out of body.
"But what about Joyeues…" The six thought, starting to become worried.
"So this is magic formed by burning one's life. It was stronger than I expected. You were splendid, human." Megicula's voice spoke just as more of the smoke began to disappear where everyone saw Megicula's and Joyeues's body are covered in Devil writing.
"But unfortunately, my and Joyeues's bodies are coated with super high-speed unregeneration curses." Megicula explained just as her's and Joyeues's bodies began to heal at a fast pace.
Megicula then turned her attention towards the others and chuckled slightly.
"Such a faithful servant, she is. Even though she is eager to slay her own brother, she came to my side without any hestiation." Megicula said, causing angry expressions to appear on everyone's faces.
"But now. This battle is truly over. Once the final requirements are met, I can fully step into the human world." Megicula said with a small smile on her face just as Lolopechika's body began to regain movement.
"I won't allow it!" Blades shouted as he charged forwards.
However, it was at that moment that Saint Stage began to disintegrate.
"W-what?!" The swordsman of water exclaimed as he stumbled slightly.
"No matter how you look at it, it's impossible for you to win. So why resist? It's fascinating, yet it perplexes me. Is that why humans are occasionally capable of creating magic beyond my expectations?" Megicula questioned, tilting her head to the side.
"However, within the boundary of my "Decaying World", there is no human being capable of using magic that can defeat me. A Devil would never go against someone of a higher rank than themselves….it's meaningless. But humans are incapable of that! And so you put your lives of the line for something utterly meaningless. There was someone in the past that fought because of the lover of her children. That man fought back because he was faithful to the queen he swore allegiance to. But what are you fighting for? Are you fighting back because you have hope? To cling on such things for the same of it….why don't humans give up?" Megicula questioned again, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"That's right….you don't need to understand as for one who wants to cause misery around you…." Blades began to say as he stumbled back onto his feet.
"But…..as a Magic Knight and a Holy Sword wielder…...it's my duty to cut you down!" Blades said in a determined tone of voice.
"Me? Causing misery? I think that applies to you and Joyeues as well. Didn't you two and the rest of Holy Sword of the Clover Kingdom rejected the current Saber, leading him to because consumed by a powerful, yet berserk, dragon?" Megicula asked, causing Blades to become tense.
"Yes…..There are actions in the past that I regret. But the only option is to move forwards and hope for atonement. That's why…...I refuse to give up!" Blades shouted before charging forwards.
"Undine! Please! Lend me your power this one last time!" The swordsman of water exclaimed in his head.
"Of course! For Lolopechika's and Noelle's sake!" Undine responded in a determined tone of voice.
Joyeues moved to intercept Blades, but the swordsman of water jumped over the swords-woman of steel before transforming into his lion form and immediately attacking Megicula.
"He's certainly seemed eager for me not to activate "Evil Goddess Curse"." Megicula thought, noticing how ferocious each of Blades's attacks are towards her.
Joyeues spun around and attempted to strike Blades from behind, yet her path was blocked by Calibur.
"I'm sorry, but you're not interfering." Calibur said before swinging Kurayami.
Joyeues raised Argent-Couronne and blocked the sword of darkness before moving backwards.
However, Calibur quickly moved and grabbed Joyeues's Devil tail, holding the swords-woman of steel in place.
"I take it from here!" Nozel called as he ride on his mercury-made eagle who went on to tackle Joyeues along with being surrounded with mercury-made swords.
With Calibur, she was forced to move back just as Lolopechika activated "Demon Water Magic: Hydra of the Dark Abyss" once again.
"Even though I don't know this Calibur's true magic, she wielding the sword of darkness is a problem alone. I should just end this right here and now." Megicula thought as she suddenly knocked Blades to the side before beginning to activate the curses that she has placed on her victims.
However, it was at that moment the curse-warding Devil realize something before glancing to where Charlotte is standing.
"I'm still standing right here!" Charlotte said in a determined tone of voice….whilst in her "Queen of Briar" form.
"How is that woman….? It should have been impossible for her to recover. Moreover, her Mana is rising?!" Megicula thought, becoming shock.
"Fu….fu….activating this spell took a while to activate this magic is different than I used to, especially with Joyeues attacking me earlier. With "Painting Magic: Twilight of Valhalla" is active, the Mana of all of my allies in it's range increases. And no matter how much damage we take we won't die! Even if it's only for a few minutes, we're invincible!" Rill exclaimed as a building stood behind him along with it being surrounded by Valkyrie-like warriors.
"When it's over, the damage I received will return, but….I'm okay with that right now." Rill thought with a confident smile on his face.
"Impressive." Calibur commented as she felt herself becoming lighter.
"Individually, they are insignificant. However….by joining forces, they were able to come this far. How utterly fascinating you humans." Megicula thought with a small smile on her face.
"As a result of mine and Vanica's hobby, there are multitude of dead disciples lying underneath this tower. With the power of the Devils and the souls that I have claimed for the "Evil Goddess Curse", which I can control, I have created an army of living corpses. One hundred of them." Megicula explained just as blood-like branches sprouted out of her and dug into the ground and a few seconds, multiple corpses of blood and steel burst out of the ground.
"Great. And just after we thought we have the upper hand…...but where did the steel aspect came from?" Charlotte thought, becoming confused just as the blood/steel copses charged forwards.
Before long, the entire room is filled with battle.
"Megicula is hiding amongst the corpses!" Blades thought as he and Undine saw how the curse-warding Devil is moving back.
"Well?! Don't just stand there! Move!" Undine shouted in response, making the swordsman of water charge forwards.
"Just remember that "Decaying World" has weaken our connection to perform Saint Stage, so it will be best to avoid confronting any of these corpses." Undine explained just as blood/steel corpses lunged towards them.
"Picture Magic: Lord of Valhalla." Rill announced, creating a Nordic-warrior which destroyed multiple of the blood/steel corpses.
"Blades's Saint Stage and Charlotte's anti-curse attacks are the crucial pieces here, so I'm going to support them with everything I have!" Rill thought with a determined expression on his face.
"I can still fight!" Charlotte shouted as her briars started to take on a new form.
"True Briar Magic: Scarlet-Braided Beautiful Battle Spear!" Charlotte announced before firing her creation forwards.
"So during battle, human evolve even further. As I thought, you are the greatest creature to toy with." Megicula commented just as giant blood/steel corpse appeared in front of Blades.
"This is bad!" Blades thought as the swordsman of water attempted to moved to the side just as one of the giant blood/steel corpse's headed straight towards him.
However, it was at that moment that a person clad in lighting zoom past past Blades and destroyed the blood/steel corpse.
"Luck!" Blades shouted in his head, becoming relieved.
"I'll clear a path for you, so follow me, Blades!" Luck shouted over his shoulder.
"Great job, everyone! You're inspiring me more and more!" Rill said as he created a path that Luck himself can use.
"But one more lighting guide would be even better." Calibur thought, she having summoned Jakku Dragon to aid her.
As in response to her thoughts, Gahja slowly stood up.
"I'm…..already good as dead. However, even it's mean that Queen Lolopechika is alive at the end of this nightmare, then that's all right with me." Gahja thought just as lighting cracked to life around him.
"Gahja!" Luck exclaimed in an excited tone of voice as he appeared next to the lighting spirit guardian.
"Let's do this!" Luck said, a thin smile appearing on his face.
"Yeah." Gahja responded before the two of them dashed forwards, destroying all of the blood/steel corpses in front of them with Blades somehow managing to keep up with them before transforming back into his human form and thrust Nagare forwards as he got closer to Megicula.
However, the sword of currents struck a shield created from Devil markings.
"Although my body is imperfect….I am impressed by how well you you fought so far." Megicula commented as her body, which got destroyed by Luck's and Gahja's combined lighting path, regenerated around her heart.
"However, as was I expected, this is the farthest that can go." Megicula said before the Devil markings starting to pulse.
"Blades! Get away!" Undine shouted in alarm.
Unfortunately, the swordsman of water couldn't moved as Nagare is stuck.
Black Mana suddenly shot of the Devil markings, heading straight for Blades…...but the attack was blocked as metal shields suddenly formed around the swordsman of water, protecting him.
"This is….." Blades thought as slowly recognized the type of metal used.
"As much I would like to have the final blow against Megicula, the power of a spirit-infused Holy Sword will deal the most damage." Nozel commented as he stood on a second mercury-made eagle
The swordsman of water glanced over his shoulder and saw Joyeues is facing the first mercury-made eagle.
"Deal the final blow, swordsman of water!" Nozel exclaimed, causing Blades to nod his head.
King Lion Finishing Read!
Unsheathe the Currents!
King Lion Finishing Slash!
Voices announced just as Blades prepared a finishing move, pouring all of Saint Stage's remaining Mana into Nagare.
"Captain Nozel! I think it's more appropriate for you to perform the final attack." Blade shouted as he throw Nagare at the captain of the Silver Eagles, knowing who should perform the final strike on the curse-warding Devil.
Nodding his head in appreciation as he caught the sword of currents, Nozel returned his attention towards Megicula and raised Nagare.
Cursed Valkyrie's Charging!
A new voice suddenly announced, causing Blades to snap his head towards the source of the voice and saw Joyeues's heading straight towards them, preparing a finisher of her own.
"No,no,no,no,no!" Blades shouted in his head, starting to panic as the swords-woman of steel reopen "Cursed Valkyrie's Legacy".
Cursed Valkyrie's Victory Finish!
The voice announced again and Demonic-Mana started to gather around the blade of Argent-Coronne which Joyeues then swing, releasing the Demonic-Mana which seemed to have a watery-effect to it.
"Do I have enough Mana to block it?!" Blades questioned in his head as he prepared to cast "Water Creation Magic: Water Lion's Barrier" to protect Nozel.
However, something crimson-red appeared appeared in front of Blades and Nozel, blocking the attack instead.
"Begone, Megicula!" Nozel exclaimed as he swing Nagare downwards, cutting into Megicula's heart.
And there we have it, Calibur and Nozel joining the battle, causing Joyeues to become angry at her older brother, before he managed to slay Megicula. Not only that, but it seems that something else decided to appear at the last second.
In Gavv:
1) As Shoma went back to check up on Hanto, Neylv vist Laga Nine and gave him the PuruJelly Gochizo. As Sachika is helping to locate the missing people, Shoma managed to locate Laga Nine and dragged him to watch the search before finally deciding to help Shoma, bringing him to one of doorways that lead to Stomach Inc.
2) Whilst searching Stomach Inc, with Shoma commenting how he was never told the layout of the building, he had a memory which involves Hanto's mother. The two finally reached the factory area and located the missing people before found by Glotta, leading to a fight, which brings them back to the human world and Vram using his new Jelly Custom form, granting him invisibility.
3) Shoma/Gavv and Vram attempted to defeat Glotta, but she managed to defend herself before commenting about how strong Shoma/Gavv is, despite being the runt of the Stomach family, something that is overheard by Hanto.
So Shoma's idenity as a member of the Stomach family is finally revealed, which is unfortunately overheard by Hanto, causing him to become angry. Kenzo seems to be doing something as his computer screen shows DNA strands.
Please review and until next time.
howard576:
1) I suppose that many readers was expecting for Blades to recieve the powers of Undine in the same manner as Saber and Kenzan, who absorbed Mana from Salamander and Slyph, instead of directing reciving Undine's powers.
2) I think it was a better choice for Nozel to fight Joyeues instead of Solid. He would get absolutely get slammed by Joyeues, probably even getting tortured.
3) Yes, This trio Rider team is extremely fractured, especially now that Hanto and Laga Nine knows that Shoma is apart of the Stomach family.
shelong2000: Yep, the Magic Knights, plus Ghaja, certainly had a hard time fighting Megicula, Joyeues and Lolopechika.
BrainWork27:
1) You're right about Nozel joining the battle. With Joyeues's reaction of seeing her brother, it's probably best if Solid and Nebra didn't showed up.
2) Thanks for the idea of Argent-Couronne falling into Nozel's hands, even if it means causing Joyeues to become enraged even more.