Draconis: Kenshin, are you alright?
Kenshin: (wrapped up like a mummy, speaking muffled) Whent oherboarhd trahining.
Xenovia: Do you need me to rewrap those for you? I remember how you did it.
Undine: No, he's actually wrapped like that necessarily. The wraps are lined with my slime, massaging and soothing him.
Kenshin: (still muffled) Fanks Uhndine...
Undine: (nods, smiles) Of course.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 31
The Thousand Blade of Truth.
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Free Trade City, Granicus.
One of Kazumi's camera drones scanned around the city. "Have you found him yet?" Yukari asked.
"Not yet." Kazumi said.
"Try one of the bars." Hikari said. "Jack was always a boozehound."
"Alright." Kazumi said. "...Aaaaannnnd found him. He's currently face down in a puddle of what I hope is just rum about...Chachamaru how far would you say this bar is?"
"It's close to the center of Granicus. We are currently at the northern edge." Chachamaru said. "We should proceed south and he should be to the west of us."
"Right, let's go then." Sirzechs said.
The group proceeded. Rias glanced over at Yukari. "What do you think we can expect?" She asked.
"You want a straight up answer?" Yukari asked. Rias nodded. "Unless your brother can cram a destruction orb in Rakan's ass like he said...we might be screwed."
"Is this Jack Rakan really as tough as you claim?" Rias asked.
"He is." Yukari said. "Miyuki fought him alongside Negi, and I fought him alongside Kenshin, right now we don't have either of those two with us, and in the case of both of those fights...it wasn't an outright victory for us. In fact Kenshin's only ever been able to fight him to a draw by himself."
"That's before he got his power upgraded however." Hikari said. "I think now Ken-Chan would be able to win, but it would be difficult."
"He's as strong as I am, let's put it like that." Evangeline said.
"But aren't you Kenshi-" Rias was cut off.
"Mutation Piece." Yukari said. "Evangeline's bishop piece is a mutation. Makes sense, Evangeline's capable of a lot."
"By the way." Evangeline glanced over at Gasper. "Why does your vampire act so meek?"
"It's a long story." Rias said.
"Hmph, later then." Evangeline said.
The group soon came upon the bar Rakan was passed out in front of, Yukari walked over to him, grabbed the half full bottle of rum in his hands and poured it all over his face. "Wake up you perverted gorilla."
"Huh?" Rakan said before vanishing. He reappeared a short distance away holding a red pair of panties. "Oh, heya Yukari. Nice choice in color today." He said.
Yukari furrowed her brow as she snapped her fingers, putting on a new pair. "Not even two seconds in and you've already swiped my underwear."
"Not just yours." Rakan said holding up his left arm, showing multiple pairs of underwear of varying degrees of coverage.
"Eeeehhh? !" Issei gaped.
"What? !" Rias said holding her skirt down.
"Ara ara, he's so quick." Akeno said.
"Ugh..." Evangeline facepalmed.
"Unbelievable..." Grayfia muttered.
"Not again...!" Serafall whined.
"No way...!" Sona said.
"...I must still be drunk because I could swear I saw sausage and eggs under one of these." Rakan muttered.
"Noooo! My underwear's gone!" Gasper whined.
"Perverted gorilla..." Koneko muttered.
"So fast..." Xenovia said.
"Yeah, well one of the girls here is actually a boy in drag." Miyuki said.
"Agh..." Rakan groaned. "Are you serious?" He sighed. "Well...it wouldn't be the first C.D I've done that to."
"Yeah, like that one you continually hit on in that bar in Ostia?" Hikari said with a small smirk.
"Hey! It was very convincing!" Rakan snapped.
"He had a five o'clock shadow!" Hikari laughed. "That's what you get for drinking one hundred and ninety proof booze all night that night! I'm surprised you didn't puke your guts out! Not even Ryuushin, Nagi or Kenshin fucked with that stuff!"
"Aggghh..." Rakan groaned again. "...So, I notice the guy whose looking for me isn't among you. So, the fuck are you all doing here?"
"Hello Jack Rakan, I am Ria-" Rias was cut off of doing her introduction.
"Hold on, I've seemed to have stopped caring." Rakan said pulling out another bottle of rum and taking a long chug off of it.
Rias furrowed her brow and destroyed the bottle. "We've come to defeat you in Kenshin's place."
"So basically you're trying to wipe his ass for him." Rakan asked throwing the rum bottle's top to the side.
"Wha? No we're not." Rias said with a glare.
"Oh, but you are." Rakan countered. "You see. Kenshin's the one looking for me, Kenshin's the one who wants to fight me and kill me so he can get to Hottan. You all, except for maybe Yukari, Miyuki, Hikari and Eva-Chan have nothing to do with that. Besides, aside from the redheaded pretty boy back there and the older looking guy with the blonde bangs. The lotta ya don't stand a chance against me."
"We'll just see about that." Rias said. "Issei, the plan we talked about."
"Right, Chief!" Issei said walking up to Rias while Akeno walked up to her as well. Issei put his hands on their shoulders. "Boosted Gear: Gift!"
"Aaaahhnnn!" Rias and Akeno both gasped.
"Chachamaru, have you taken aim?" Yukari whispered to the gynoid.
"I was calculating it since we located him." Chachamaru said.
"Promoted?" Yukari asked.
"To Queen." Chachamaru nodded.
"Alright. When I say, fire." Yukari nodded back.
"Yes, Yukari-San." Chachamaru said.
"Haaaaahhhh!" Rias and Akeno both combine their magics and send them as one toward Rakan.
"Get that weak shit out of my face!" Rakan shouts batting into the sky.
"Now!" Yukari orders.
"Do forgive me for this Rakan-San." Chachamaru said moving her hand forward a button trigger, shaped like a cat's head held within it. "Attack, commence." She said pressing the button down.
"Huh?" Rakan said looking up as a white column of pure energy screamed down from the heavens. "Shiiiiiittttt! !" He said putting up his barriers to block it and Rias and Akeno's own attack which was sent back down with it.
"Alright, Onee-Chan, Eva-Chan, Xenovia. Let's go!" Miyuki shouts.
"Nivis Casus!" Evangeline shouts as she and to her surprise, Serafall froze Rakan to the ground.
"What the hell is that? !" Azazel said as everyone else shielded their eyes.
"Chachamaru's Sacred Gear Al-Iskandariya. She can command a laser guided satellite from space to launch a large scale orbital strike from the cannon attached to it!" Hikari said. "Rias, Akeno. Your attack got pushed back down, don't stop pushing power into it! Issei, how much longer until your Balance Breaker? !"
"Right!" Rias and Akeno shouts.
"Fifteen Seconds!" Issei said.
Meanwhile Yukari, Miyuki and Xenovia all dove into the fray. "Attack then get the hell out of there!" Yukari said taking the front position.
"Right!" Miyuki and Xenovia replied.
"Serene Demon Sword!" Yukari shouts slashing at Rakan's waist as she went by.
"Lightning Spear Flash!" Miyuki yells, stabbing at him as she went by.
"Lend me your strength, Durandal!" Xenovia shouts, slashing at him as she went by.
"Grh!" Rakan grunted.
"Welsh Dragon Balance Breaker! !"
"Haaaahhhhh! !" Issei yells out, punching Rakan directly in the face.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
"Gah!" Rakan lost his balance as Issei jumped back. His barrier gave way and Chachamaru's Rias' and Akeno's attacks overtook him.
(booommm! !)
Sirzechs and Grayfia appeared in front of Rias and Akeno and put up a barrier, shielding them from the recoil from such a large scale attack. When the dust settled there was a large crater where Rakan was laying facedown.
"I...Is it over?" Issei said.
"...Honestly Issei..." Yukari said with a baneful expression. Rakan shot up, levitating out of the crater with a smirk on his face. "No...it isn't. Far from it actually."
"That was an interesting choice of strategy there Miyuki-Chan." Rakan complimented. "Now...my turn." He shot toward a building, leaping off of it, taking high to the sky.
"!" Yukari's eyes widened. "Everyone, defensive barriers NOW! !"
"Oh shit..." Issei said seeing Rakan welling up a massive amount of magic.
"Rakan For the Hell of it Right Hand Punch! !" Rakan shouts punching downward.
"!" Yukari appeared in front Xenovia and put a barrier in front of her as Rakan's oddly named attack struck.
"Fuuuuccccckkkk! !" Azazel cursed as a great force expelled from the attack. When the dust settled this time, everyone looked around as the Free Trade City Granicus was reduced completely to nothing.
"..." Everyone except Sirzechs, Grayfia, Azazel, Chachamaru and Evangeline looked around wide eyed.
"Hey...Chachamaru-San...just how big was this city?" Issei asked.
"It was a metropolis of free trade, it was quite big." Chachamaru said.
"Hey! Hey! Yukari-San are you alright? !" Xenovia shouts as Yukari slumped forward.
"I'm fine...dammit, you really need to learn some defensive spells, being a power type is no excuse for not having them." Yukari said.
"Wahahahahahahahaha!" Jack threw his head back and laughed as he landed. "Sorry 'bout that. If we're really gonna do this, the city would just get in the way."
"I agree!" Xenovia said rushing him with Durandal in hand.
"Whoa ho ho! Feisty one ain't ya!" Jack said side stepping all her slashing as he pulled out a card.
"Damn...it! Hold...Still!" Xenovia cursed.
"Bahahahaha, why would I do that girlie? !" Rakan laughed as he held up his card. "Adeat!" Upon invoking the keyword, the card flashed and became a red sphere, which Rakan then morphed into a longsword. He then started trading blows with Xenovia. "Whoa ho ho! That sword you've got is pretty damn powerful! I bet you can hardly control it!" He said slamming his longsword onto the ground, fracturing the earth causing Xenovia to lose her footing. He swung his arm upward and batted her away.
"Hm, you didn't go right for the knockout, interesting." Evangeline said.
"I don't exactly like getting violent with women, but hey in this world, when you enter the battlefield, the gender lines disappear. No longer men, no longer women." Rakan said. He turned his head. "I'll give you all one last chance to pack it in and leave. I'll still be here a'waiting for Kenshin to arrive."
"Yeah, fat chance that's happenin'" Azazel said applying his Balance Breaker and taking to the sky, throwing his light spear at Rakan.
"!" Rakan pumped his fist up and punched the spear, sending it right back at Azazel, barely missing his head. "Don't telegraph your attacks you idiot. Come at me close and try to catch me off guard or just don't do anything."
"...Alright then." Azazel said rushing down with another spear in hand, forcing Rakan on the defensive as Azazel kept stabbing the spear at him. "Yo, Yukari I could use a hand!" Azazel said.
"Right!" Yukari said joining the fray. Finally a hit connected as Azazel rammed his spear through Rakan's torso.
"Grh!" Rakan grunted.
Azazel jumped back. "That spear is part of the heavenly light, albeit tainted. Normal mortals can't withstand this light...you should begin disassembling shortly."
"..." Rakan looked down at the spear. "Am I now?" He said grabbing the spear and ripping it out of his stomach.
"? !" Azazel's eyes widened as Rakan disappeared after stabbing the spear into the ground.
"Azazel behind you!" Hikari shouts.
"Huh? !" Azazel shouts as he turned, only to get a large spear through his own stomach, pinning him to a stalagmite.
"This is a special spear, it has a paralysis spell imbued into it. You stay right there." Rakan said slapping his cheek a couple of times.
"Overconfident idiot!" Evangeline fumed as she appeared over Rakan, kicking him in the head, sending him flying away.
Rakan caught himself. "You wanna fight me now Eva-Chan? Well, how about it, you wanna rip the gloves off right from the start?"
"Sounds good." Evangeline said with a scowl.
"Actis Noctis Erebeae!" Rakan and Evangeline intoned.
"Dextra Stagnet Incendium Gehennae/ Anthos Pagetou Khilion Eton! Complexio! Supplementum Pro Armationem!" Evangeline and Rakan intone as they were wreathed in ice and dark flames respectively.
"Hell's Refining Flames! Queen of Ice!" Rakan and Evangeline shout out.
"Hah!" Evangeline shouts firing off spears of ice at Rakan who extended his hands outward, firing off bursts of dark flame, melting them down. He shot toward her, surrounding himself in those flames as a large torrent of snow. He emerged from the snow, a longsword in hand that he slashed at her neck. Evangeline blocked it with Ensis Exsequens.
Rakan flew back, firing off multitudes of fire spells as Evangeline pursued him. "What is that spell they're using?" Rossweisse asked.
"Magia Erebea. It literally translates to dark magic." Miyuki said. "Rakan can use it, but Evangeline invented the spell."
"What does it do?" Sona asked.
"It allows the user to absorb offensive magics designed to harm the enemy into their own body. To the point that it fuses with their very soul. The technique feeds off the user's body and soul, but in exchange the user gains power many times that of an ordinary person." Chachamaru informed.
"...Man, Kenshin-Chan's peerage is starting to seem scary." Serafall said with an uneasy smile.
Meanwhile as this fight was going on Kenshin was still training, his shirt torn to shreds. "Haaahh...haaahh..haaahh.." Kenshin said.
"Take a break." Kenshin glanced over seeing Salamander staring impassively at him.
"Haaah..fine." Kenshin said. "I'm so close I can feel it."
"Maybe so, but there's only so much abuse your body can take." Salamander said.
"I think I'll be fine." Kenshin said. "Besides, I got you four watching out for me."
"..." Salamander went silent.
"Salamander?" Kenshin said.
"Aaah well, it's good that you think highly of us." Salamander said with a nearly unnoticeable stammer.
"Are you embarrassed?" Ophis wondered to herself.
"Quick question though. I felt a disturbance in your power a little bit ago. Would you happen to know how Yukari and Miyuki's training is going?" Kenshin asked.
"They're not training." Ophis said.
"Huh?" Kenshin thought.
"Ophis-Chan, don-!" Sylph was silenced when a black snake was crammed in her mouth.
"I have no reason to do as you ask." Ophis said. "Kenshin will be fine."
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"They are in Free Trade City Granicus fighting Jack Rakan with everyone else." Ophis said.
"WHAT? ! !" Kenshin shouted. "Everyone's fighting Rakan and I wasn't informed? !"
"Well, they wanted to take care of one of your problems for you." Salamander said.
"And they couldn't have told me about this?" Kenshin asked. "Fuck! I have to get over there ASAP!" He started to open a teleportation circle when he found it didn't respond. "What in the fuck? !"
"Sorry Kenshin, no can do." Kenshin rounded, finding Hottan's phantom image.
"Grrhh!" Kenshin growled.
"I told you...that you would lose everything eventually...heh, well it seems that's come sooner than I had expected." Kenshin bristled at this.
"We'll just see about that!" Kenshin said spreading charms all over his body before taking off due west.
"Kenshin, you've not recovered. Rakan's not the kind of opponent that you'll be able to fight like this." Ophis advised.
"Healing charms." Kenshin said. "They're already active."
"Yes Kenshin-Chan, but at the speed you're going they won't be finished by the time you arrive." Sylph said.
"That's fine with me." Kenshin said. "I'll be able to handle myself."
Back with Evangeline and Rakan, the former panted heavily while Rakan looked no worse for wear. "Hahahaha, looks like someone hasn't been keeping up on her trainin' lately." Rakan said with a grin.
"Fuck..." Evangeline cursed. "Damn his boundless fucking stamina, it's like I'm fighting an overgrown, muscled version of Kenshin for fucks sake."
"Hey, she doesn't look so good guys." Issei said with a worried look.
"Ah damn it...she's exhausted. Using so many mid level ice spells takes their toll eventually. Incantations or not." Yukari said. Rakan started moving toward Evangeline. "Damn! Alright I'm, wait Issei hold up!" She said as Issei charged toward them.
"?" Rakan looked on in confusion as Issei cut in between him and Evangeline. "Ah, that red armored guy from before."
"Hey Red Dragon, what the hell are you doing? !" Evangeline shouts. "This is my fight!"
"You're exhausted Eva-Chan! Look, that ice spell of yours isn't even active anymore!" Issei said.
"Huh?" Evangeline said looking at her hands. "Wait...when did it...did I really not notice it cut out?" Evangeline thought.
"Get back, go rest up, get your magic back if you can and come back in if you want to." Issei said. "We'll handle it from here."
"We?" Evangeline said.
"I'm going to be joining the fight in a moment." A communication circle, connected to Sirzechs said to Evangeline.
"Bah...whatever, good luck then." Evangeline said flying away.
Sirzechs warped in next to Issei. "So...how should we do this?" Issei asked.
"Just give me an opportunity, I'll be able to end this after that." Sirzechs said.
"Ya sure about that pretty boy?" Rakan said with a smirk.
"Positive." Sirzechs said with a glare.
"Alright then, go ahead and accumulate your power there kid, I'll wait." Rakan said.
"Eh?" Issei said.
"If he's going to give you a chance, go for it." Sirzechs said.
"Right!" Issei said.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
"Alright Ddraig, transfer half to the boosters, half to my physical attacking strength." Issei thought.
"Done, but I don't think it's going to mean much. That Shinso's stronger than you are with eight physical strength boosts and she wasn't able to leave a scratch on him." Ddraig said.
"We still have to try though!" Issei thought as he took off toward Rakan.
Rakan met Issei's fist with his own. "So, you boost your power up every time that thing hollers, and you can transfer it to whatever you want? Hah! You must have an interesting sex life kid!" Rakan laughed.
"I...I'm actually a virgin." Issei said. "Wait, why am I telling you this? !" He said driving his knee toward Rakan's head. Rakan caught the knee, threw it down and headbutted Issei. "Gah!"
"Shame. A lot of people would kill for a power like yours." Rakan said with another laugh.
"What do you mean by that? !" Issei said trading blows with Rakan, thanking his lucky stars that none of Rakan's were connecting.
"You can transfer your boosted power to anything you want right?" Rakan asked, his eyes becoming black dots. "Think about that for a second."
"...Eeeehhhh? !" Issei blanched, backing away. "You mean I could actually use my boost during...eeehhh? !"
"Haaaahhh..." Rias facepalmed.
"Goddammit, I was afraid this was going to happen..." Yukari sighed.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!"
"Huh?" Rakan said.
"He...gets more power from having his perversion inspired." Sirzechs said.
"Really? ! Hahahahaha! That's amazing!" Rakan laughed. "Well come on then kid!"
"Fine!" Issei said appearing over him, batting Rakan toward the ground.
"Hm? !" Rakan said as Issei took his back.
"Ascalon!"
"Blade!"
Rakan lifted another sword only to have it sliced in half. "..." Rakan jumped back, dodging Issei's fist before he crashed his whole body into Rakan's "Hn!"
"Eat this! !" Issei shouts, slamming his fist into Rakan's face.
"Grh!"
"Dragon SHOT!" Issei shouts firing off a massive red bullet of energy at Rakan.
"Hm? !" Rakan's eyes widened. "That's huge, I doubt I'll be able to block that with my bare hands." He muttered. "Well then..." He lifted up his hand and threw it forward. "ZanKanKen!" Rakan shouts, throwing a massive blade constructed from his magic, piercing through Issei's Dragon Shot.
"Whoa? !" Issei said dodging out of the way as Rakan's attack whizzed by him. He looked back at it as it stabbed into the ground. "What the hell is that? !"
"One of my blades, the Battleship Cleaver." Rakan said appearing behind him.
"!" Issei looked to see Rakan clad in armor, on his right hand a massive fist with a large cylindrical hammer piston on the back. Rakan grabbed Issei's arm and slammed him on the ground before punching the massive fist at him, when it connected, the hammer fell, expelling a massive force destroying the earth under Issei.
"Guuuuaaaahhhh! !" Issei yelled out.
"Issei! !" Rias, Asia, Irina, Kazumi all shout in worry.
Rakan casted away the massive fist and armor. "Sorry kid, but you're still too green to be thinking about facing me."
"Guh...damn..." Issei said. "I can't move...hurts...to breathe..."
Rakan turned around only to receive an uppercut, getting knocked into the air. He looked down to see Grayfia flying right at him. She glanced over at Sirzechs for a second who nodded back. Rakan cocked his fist back, punching at her head. Grayfia ducked under this and took Rakan's back, restraining his arms with her strength enhanced by her magical power. "What the? !"
Sirzechs appeared in front of Rakan, four orbs of destruction spiraling around him. He sent all four of them into Rakan's torso.
"Shit! Kiai Bogyou!" Rakan thought.
Grayfia backed away as she felt Rakan's body hunch forward. "There...it's over." Sirzechs said.
"..." Rakan stood back up, staring impassively into Sirzechs' eyes.
"Any last words?" Sirzechs asked.
Rakan said nothing, reaching into his torso four times and pulling out the orbs, much to Sirzechs' shock. Rakan started juggling them around before taking a bite out of one of them. "I'm nearly indestructible like this you idiot. You have to pierce my defense to destroy me and this attack, just won't cut it!" He said slamming the orbs into Sirzechs' face.
"What? !" Sirzechs said as he caught himself.
Rakan was about to charge after him when he was kicked in the face, getting sent into a stalagmite. "..." Sirzechs saw someone standing in front of him.
"...Kenshin?" Grayfia said.
"Next time you idiots decide to do something profoundly stupid, give me some warning first." Kenshin said turning to Sirzechs. "You're not a physical fighter, Rakan would probably destroy you."
"How was he able to resist my Ruin the Extinct?" Sirzechs asked.
"You aren't able to destroy everything, At least not with everyone so close by." Kenshin said.
"...?" Sirzechs stared at Kenshin's back. "Does he know about the Human-Shaped Aura of Destruction?" He thought.
"To answer your question, No I didn't. I just assumed seeing as you can apply your destruction magic to your limbs." Kenshin said. "Now get out of here before I decide to kick your ass as well."
"..." Sirzechs stared at his back.
"He's not as weak as he was when he got here Kenshin." Grayfia said with narrowed eyes.
"Like I said when we first met Grayfia, Do you think I care?" Kenshin asked. "I need you two to protect everyone down there, with the exception of maybe Yukari, Rakan would destroy everyone down there."
"Let's just go Grayfia. Kenshin's the more experienced when it comes to this world." Sirzechs said.
Kenshin watched as the two flew away. Grayfia turned her head to her husband. "Don't you think you should at least demand some respect from him?"
"Kenshin respects those he can trust." Sirzechs said. "If I gain his trust back, the rest will follow."
"...OK. If you say so, I'll respect your decision." Grayfia said. She flew over and grabbed Issei while Sirzechs went and found Xenovia who was holding her leg.
"What's wrong?" Sirzechs asked.
"When I lost my footing earlier. I think I broke my ankle." Xenovia said letting out a hiss of pain as she tried to stand up. "Yup...definitely broken."
"Oh dear. Here climb on my back, I'll take you to Asia-Chan." Sirzechs said.
"Will Kenshin be alright?" Xenovia asked.
"I have to believe so." Sirzechs said as he flew back to everyone else.
Meanwhile Kenshin landed on the ground as Rakan flew out of the stalagmite. "Whoa ho ho, you've gotten pretty damn strong since we last fought Kenshin." Rakan smirked.
"How are you still able to use your artifact?" Kenshin asked. "Nagi's dead."
"Hottan took out that little rule." Rakan said.
"Hn...I see." Kenshin said unsheathing Kuroi Jigoku.
"Ho Heros Chilion Meta Prosopon!" Rakan shouts sending in tens of regular sized blades at Kenshin. Kenshin responded by slashing Kuroi Jigoku downward, destroying the blades with a Katensho and charging after Rakan who defended against the blade with one of his own. To Rakan's surprise his blade was sliced easily in two. "Hm? !" He jumped back as Kenshin slashed at his chest. Heh, cuttin' through my artifact like it's nothin' huh? I can feel a lot of heat radiating from your blade.
"Your artifact mimics the properties of any weapon in this world you choose, but you also get the weapon's disadvantages." Kenshin said. "So cast it off..." He said sheathing his blade and tossing it toward Yukari who caught it. "And let's settle this like men." Kenshin said cracking his knuckles.
"Heh!" Rakan smirked. "So that's your game eh? Not to say I don't like it, but are you sure that's what you want? I'd say I'm better at unarmed combat than armed you know."
"I haven't begun to really fight yet. Rakan." Kenshin said with a smirk of his own as the elements flared to life around him. "So let's go!" He said appearing in front of Rakan in an instant, punching him dead in the face.
"What in the...? !" Rakan thought. He saw Kenshin bearing down on him and swung his large fist upward, Kenshin dodged, taking his back, Rakan rounded on Kenshin, swinging his arm at Kenshin's head. To Rakan's surprise though, Kenshin ducked under it. "So fast...!"
"Flash Bullet Fist!" Kenshin shouts slamming his fist into Rakan's stomach. He dodged a punch from Rakan, he leaped up, driving his knee into Rakan's chin before taking Rakan's back again, driving his elbow into Rakan's spine.
"Motherfucker! Kenshin's not even using a Shundou, no..he's actually moving this fast!" Rakan thought
"...Whoa..." Yukari said with wide eyes. "Is...this the true power of Elemental Overdrive? Kenshin's moving so fast, expecting every attack and his attacks have to be hitting home with the strength of Earth and ferocity of fire." She said as Kenshin kept attack Rakan over and over and over, refusing to let up.
"Alright! Back away!" Undine said. "Your body is overheating!"
Kenshin leaped back. "Haahh...haaah...haaahh..." Kenshin panted softly.
"Heh." Rakan stepped out of the dust smirking. "So, this is that Balance Breaker thing of yours that Dragon told me about! I like it!"
"Shut up!" Kenshin shouts driving his fist into Rakan's stomach, sending him up high. Kenshin moved above him and kicked him into the ground, following him downward with his fist wreathed in flames.
"Oh shit...Kiai Bogyou!" Rakan thought.
"Honoo Taryou, Overdrive!" Kenshin shouts swinging his fist down, a great concentrated burst of flames shooting out and striking Rakan dead on. He reappeared at his former point. When the dust settled, everyone saw Rakan laying face down on the ground.
"It was that easy?" Rias said. "Maybe we should have just gotten Kenshin before we left after all." She started to approached when Kenshin glanced back at her, holding his arm out. "What's wrong? He's beaten isn't he?" She asked.
"No, not even close." Kenshin said turning back to Rakan, who sprung up to his feet the next second.
"Heh...heheheheh...hahahahahaha...Bwahahahahahahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! ! !" Rakan threw his head back, laughing madly.
"...He's insane." Rias said with wide eyes.
"You know Kenshin, you came here, already looking like hell." Rakan said with a smirk. "You sure you're up for this?"
"It doesn't matter, I have to, if I don't defeat you and Dragon, then Hottan, then who will? Who can?" Kenshin asked.
"Haaaahhh..." Rakan let out a sigh before a oppressive aura washed over the area.
"Aaah!" Rias and the others, except for Yukari, Miyuki, Sirzechs and Grayfia fell to their knees. "Such an oppressive aura!" Rias said.
"So strong...!" Akeno said.
"It's unbelievable!" Rossweisse strained out.
"..." Kenshin watched Rakan take a stance and readied himself, but before Kenshin could move, Rakan was in front of him, one of his large fists slammed into his chest and stomach. "Guah!" Kenshin gasped out, blood flying from his mouth. He jumped back and saw Yukari approaching him. "Don't try to- shit!" He jumped back again as Rakan took his back. "What the hell is going on here? !" Kenshin thought as he had to evade Rakan at every turn. "He's faster than me? No, that can't be!"
Kenshin turned, finding Rakan behind him, his open palm striking his chest, twisting around as it did. "Rakan Harikenshou!"
"Guuuaahhh!" Kenshin was blown away, sliding painfully into the ground. "Grh..." He got back to his feet, scowling at Rakan.
"Hahahaha, still standing eh? I gotta hand it to ya, you got me to get serious there." Rakan said with a smirk. "None of these guys except the red armored brat and Eva-Chan can say that."
"How the hell? ! I know Rakan's fast, but I know I'm faster in this form!" Kenshin thought.
"But, this Balance Breaker thing, it's got some kinks you needed to work out." Rakan said. "One, the speed, you only have access to it for the time you make use of it, the easiest way to neutralize it is to make sure you can't use it."
"Tch..." Kenshin spit out blood. "Alright then, I've got no problems moving at that speed continuously!"
"Ah, but therein lies kink two. How will you attack me if you do that?" Rakan said as Kenshin ran around him at blinding speeds. Not only that, when you do come in to attack me, the flow of the wind is disturbed. An old hand like me can feel that as long as I pay close attention." He said as he blocked all of Kenshin's attempt to attack him. Kenshin took Rakan's back and charged in, fist cocked back. "Not only that, the Serene Mind as you called it, you can feel attacks coming with it, but if you're in too close, there's nothing you can do about it!" He said turning and allowing Kenshin to run into his arm, sending Kenshin flying over him.
"Alright...now for the big one." Rakan said cocking his fist back. "Full Throttle Rakan Impact!" A massive burst of magical energy was fired out of Rakan's fist. Kenshin barely avoided it as it blew away a large rock formation behind him. He created a spear of flames in his hand only to feel Rakan's hand grasp his shoulder. "Fraid not kid." He said turning Kenshin around, punching him in the sternum. Rakan jumped back as Kenshin laid on the ground. "...Sorry kid, but this is just what's become of things here, as a denizen of Hellas, the natural born people of this world...I can't resist him. I'm lucky to still have my free will in tact."
Kenshin struggled to his feet only to lose his footing and fall on his face. "Kenshin! !" Everyone except Issei who was unconscious shouted. Some tried to approach him.
"Stay back!" Kenshin shouts trying to force himself to his feet. "Nngh...ghh..." He felt something surging up his throat and blood came pouring out of his mouth.
"It's over Kenshin, you weren't at one hundred percent before you got here, and now you're paying the price for it, your insides feel like they're about to turn to pulp don't they?" Rakan asked. He raised his head to look at Yukari and Rias. "You know, you share some of the blame for what's happened to him right now."
"!" Yukari and Rias both took a step forward, but Rakan raised his hand. "You don't stand a chance against me, both of you will just get beaten by a me that can't hold back anymore."
Rakan looked back down at Kenshin. "I'll leave everyone here alone if you give yourself up Kenshin. I'm already gonna die soon anyway, so before he does me in, I'll smash that seal he put on the interdimensional teleportations, and they can all go home."
"Gh..." Kenshin grunted. "...You...really think...you have this won, don't you?" He said.
"Hm?" Rakan said.
Kenshin punched his right fist into the ground. "I will not let..." He punched his left fist into the ground as well. "...you...or Hottan...WIN!" He snarled as he looked up at Rakan with a furious scowl. "I...am not! FINISHED YET! !"He said forcing himself to his feet, the elements spiraling strongly around him.
"..." Rakan stared into Kenshin's eyes. "Those eyes...he truly believes he's got something left...are you serious Kenshin? Do you still have a trump card hidden somewhere in your mind that you have yet to play?"
"..." Kenshin turned his head, locking eyes with Yukari. She opened up a communication circle. "What is it?"
"I need you to go to Gasper and cut your finger and give him some of your blood, once you do tell him to freeze Rakan for as long as possible. I'll need a minute...literally."
"What are you planning on doing?" Yukari asked.
"I can't say, he's reading my lips now that he realizes I'm communicating with you." Kenshin said.
"Alright." Yukari said running over to Gasper.
"Y-Yukari-San?" Gasper said.
"No time." He said slicing open her finger. "I may not be the true Dragon of the Elements, but my blood should be just as good, Kenshin needs your help, once you drink this, I need you to freeze that big guy for as long as you can."
"B-But!" Gasper said.
"Relax, once he unfreezes, we'll take care of him." Yukari said.
"Are you really going to try this now Kenshin?" Undine asked.
"I don't have a choice anymore. If I don't pull this off I'm dead anyway." Kenshin thought. "It's either now...or NEVER!"
"Hm?" Rakan said. "What are you trying to pull? Regardless kid I can't let you do tha-!" He was cut off as his body froze.
Yukari appeared next to Rias. "What's going on?" Rias said.
"Get ready, it's already starting to break. Tch, five seconds was Gasper's limit huh?" Yukari said.
"What?" Rias said.
"We need to protect Kenshin for fifty five seconds, we're going to need everyone on this. Sirzechs Grayfia, stay back here and make sure Asia and any mages like Rossweisse and Serafall don't go down!" Yukari said as Rakan broke free. "Huh? !"
"Ey." Koneko said as she and Miyuki appear and punched Rakan dead in the face. He was staggered, but undeterred as he swung his arms, smacking them both away. "Nnh!"
"Aaah!" Miyuki gasped.
"Haaaaahhhh! !" Kiba shouts rushing forward, sword in hand.
"Kid, I can tell you've got no strength behind those slashes. A tech type like yourself...stands no chance against me!" Rakan shouts batting Kiba into the air.
"Kaah? !" Kiba gasped. "No...way...and Kenshin-kun took how many of these fists? !" He thought as he drifted into unconsciousness.
Grayfia flew over and caught him as Rakan was struck by lighting. "Ghh? ! What the hell? !"
"Roar!" Akeno shouts striking him again.
"Tch!" Rakan said batting it back toward her. Sirzechs moved in front of her and blocked it with his destruction magic.
"Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens!" Rossweisse intoned as she launched a large tunnel of wind and lightning magic at Rakan who jumped to evade it.
"Who is she? Never seen her before, that was one of this world's spells though...heh, a bookworm eh?" Rakan thought as he extended his hand toward her. "Incendium Gehennae!"
"Nivis Casus!" Evangeline shouts, blocking the large ball of hellfire from striking Rossweisse with a large gust of snow.
"Aah, thank you Eva-San!" Rossweisse said.
"Yeah Yeah." Evangeline said. "Chachamaru, lay down some suppressing fire!"
"Hai Master." Chachamaru said as her arms morphed into automatic rifles. She took aim at Rakan and fired.
"Whoa? !" Rakan said dodging out of the way. "Those are spellbreaker bullets. Don't wanna eat too many of those."
"Yukari-San." Yukari turned to find Xenovia being held up by Gasper.
"What is it?" Yukari said.
"How good would you say your holy magic resistance is?" Xenovia asked.
Yukari looked down to see her holding Durandal loosely. "I know what you want to do, give it here."
"I'm sorry I can't help more than this." Xenovia said with gritted teeth.
"Don't worry about it." Yukari said.
"I'm sorry...I could only manage five seconds." Gasper sobbed.
"Hey, you did your best that's all I can ask for, right Rias?" Yukari asked.
"Of course. Don't let this get you down." Rias said petting her bishop's head with a smile.
Chachamaru lowered her arms. "Reloading."
"Don't bother." Evangeline said.
"Alright, we're about all that's left Rias, just wait for your opportunity." Yukari said as she chased down Rakan.
"What the? !" Rakan said as Yukari swung Durandal down at Rakan who blocked it with his hands. She drew it back and stabbed it at Rakan's head. "It's faster than when that blunette was wielding it!" He thought. "Is it a sentient blade? !"
Kenshin watched all of this go down. "...Please stay safe...all of you.." He thought. "Just ten more seconds!"
Rakan grabbed Durandal as Yukari slashed it down at him and threw it back down toward Xenovia. Hikari appeared between them, shield at the ready and took a punch from Rakan, sending both her and Yukari barreling backward. Yukari stopped them. "Are you OK Mom?"
"Yeah. I'm fine, not the first punch I've taken from that gorilla." Hikari said.
"Finally." Rakan said shooting toward Kenshin.
"Three seconds!" Kenshin thought.
"Haaah! !" Rias shouts blasting Rakan in the face.
"..." Rakan narrowed his eyes and took off after her, fist cocked back.
"!" Rias anticipated the blow and didn't move, instead charging up another blast of her magic.
"HEY MOVE YOU BA-!" Evangeline was cut off as Rakan was halted in his advance.
"...You try and hurt my fiancee and I'ma kill ya." Kenshin said before throwing Rakan back, his body slamming into the ground. "But...I was gonna kill ya anyway so it's no matter."
"Kenshin?" Rias said looking at him.
Kenshin's samurai armor was gone. All that was left of his clothes were his pants, which had been turned into shorts. The red orbs that had been on this armguards had sunk into his shoulders. The brown orbs were in his chest, the green orbs were fused into his knees and the blue orbs were fused into his forehead. "You actually pulled it off, it's nowhere near perfect, but still!" Salamander said.
"I just needed the pull off, let's finish this." Kenshin thought.
Kenshin walked toward Rakan who stood back up. "Your power feels stronger than before, many times stronger in fact. Would you call this the last trump card in your deck?"
"Who knows." Kenshin said with a smirk. "As for this form, Xenovia, the blue haired swordswoman actually gave me a interesting name for this, it's called Vessel of the Elements."
"Well come on." Rakan smirked.
Kenshin reacted immediately, driving both hands, in a faux kamehameha form into Rakan's stomach, sending him flying away in an explosion of fire. He appeared in front of Rakan in an instant, slamming his fist into Rakan's chest, followed quickly by his right foot sending up high, Kenshin was there in a second, kicking him back down toward the ground before taking his front again, driving his head into Rakan's. He then moved behind Rakan in an instant, fist cocked back
"I get it now...this Vessel of the Elements, it's amped up Kenshin's power exponentially, by taking in the pure, raw power of the Four Spirits forcibly into his body, it's not perfected, but..." He raised his fist as he saw Kenshin coming in. Kenshin grabbed the fist and swung Rakan around, throwing him to the ground before catching him with one hand, driving his foot into Rakan's face. "...He's erased the weaknesses I pointed out before!"
"...Whoa..." Yukari said with wide eyes.
"Can you see what's happening?" Rias said.
"No...even with Undine's power, it's all a blur." Yukari said.
"You know this risk your taking is immense Kenshin, the power has to be causing you immense pain, but you keep pressing onward! Like the man you are!" Rakan thought.
Kenshin backed away, panting heavily while Rakan stood upright. "Your control over that technique isn't perfect, it still needs some work." Rakan said with a smirk. "It's still over Kenshin.
"..." Kenshin smirked. "Is it now? You think I'm out of cards here old man? ! Think again!" He said raising his right hand up high. "Huuuuuuaaaahhhhh! !" He roared as flames expelled from the limb, forming a giant replica of his naginata made out of flames.
"? !" Everyone's eyes widened. "So...big..." Yukari said.
"Alright, enough show and tell." Kenshin said absorbing it back into his body, his entire right arm glowing a bright red. "!" Rakan's eyes widened as Kenshin appeared in front of him in an instant, kicking him directly in the chin.
Everyone saw Rakan getting bounced in the air from seemingly every direction. "He's so fast, I can't keep up with him." Grayfia said.
"Grrhh...!" Rakan grunted as he saw Kenshin disappearing and reappearing to attack him. "It's changed, the power of fire disappeared from his attacks, just so he can hold it in his right arm, that's why he's only attacking with his left hand!" He thought.
Kenshin struck Rakan with an open palm to the waist, sending him flying downward, only to stop suddenly. "? !" Rakan looked up seeing a black strand of magic connecting him and Kenshin's left arm.
Everyone looked up as Kenshin cocked his right fist back. Hikari peeled her eyes noticing something. "...His muscles...they're ripping themselves apart!" She said.
"Haaaaaaahhhhh! !" Kenshin roared punching downward. "Release! !"The giant naginata replica exploded out of Kenshin's fist and stabbed into Rakan's stomach.
"Guhaaah? !" Rakan gasped, spitting out blood.
Kenshin jumped away and turned to Yukari. "You all might want to put up a barrier!"
"R-Right!" Yukari said. "You heard him!"
"Unleash the unyielding fury of the Flame Spirit! ! Burning Meteor Blade!" Kenshin said as the naginata glew brightly before exploding.
Kenshin hunched over, panting as the dust began to settle. "Is...that...it...?" He asked himself as he saw Rakan pinned on his now vacant naginata, still glowing red hot.
"Kenshin, are you OK? !" Hikari called out.
"I'm fine, just...barely standing." Kenshin turning his head.
"...! Kenshin look out!" Yukari shouts.
"? !" Kenshin turned only to receive Rakan's fist to his face. He caught himself and looked over wide eyed at the bleeding Rakan, who pulled Kenshin's naginata out of his stomach. "...You've...got to be fucking...kidding me..." Kenshin said.
"You've got enough juice for one more attack Kenshin, make it count!" Salamander said.
"Right!" Kenshin said tossing out a substitution stencil and making a clone. "Still, I can barely move..." He said letting out an exhausted sigh. He nodded toward his clone and cocked his left fist back as the clone moved to his right and grabbed the limp right arm.
"The Elements are gathering around his fist in that form...what is he planning on doing?" Yukari said.
"Rakan!" Kenshin said.
"Yeah? !" Rakan said.
"...I'm sorry it had to end up this way." Kenshin said. "Let's finish this now, with our strongest attacks!"
"Heh, no apologies necessary kid, just try and give me a proper send off!" Rakan said gathering all of his magic into his right fist.
"...!" Kenshin's clone swung Kenshin around and sent him rushing toward Rakan, ripping Kenshin's right arm off in the process. "Four Elements Fist!
"Come on Kenshin, I would never go down without a good fight, so you gotta prove your stronger than me!" Rakan thought.
Kenshin punched his fist forward, meeting Rakan's own. "Rakan Point Black Full Throttle Impact!/Elemental Spica!" Rakan and Kenshin both shout as the ground tore beneath them.
"Grrhh!" Rakan grunted.
"Hrrrhhh!" Kenshin growled.
Finally Kenshin took a step forward, the force of Kenshin's Elemental Spica blowing Rakan's arm clean off and Kenshin's fist tore through Rakan's chest destroying his heart.
"Hrrnn? !" Rakan grunted in surprise. He slumped against Kenshin and fell backward.
"..." Kenshin stared down at him before closing his eyes. "...I'm sorry."
"Heheheheh...hahahahaha...that was one hell of a battle." Rakan said with a weak smirk. He reached for Kenshin. "You know...only one of you is going to stand in the end...Kenshin...everyone...is gone...the only one left who can stand against him...is you..finish...this...fight." He said, his hand falling to the side, sighing his last breath. Rakan's body began to crack and break apart, turning to dust, scattering in the wind.
"..." Kenshin stared at the ground for a moment before regrowing his arm and climbing out of the crater. He noticed the orbs were gone and his cards were in his hand.
"He..won...He won!" Rias said.
"Kenshin!" Yukari said running up to him.
"..." Kenshin showed an exhausted smile.
However...it would not remain there. "First rule of battle, never let your guard down until you are certain it's safe. Isn't that right, Kenshin Kuroshi?"
"!" Kenshin rounded, only get diagonally up the left of his torso by none other than Dragon
"? !" Yukari's eyes widened in dread and shock as she saw this happen. "KENSHIN! !" She screamed taking off toward him at a dead sprint.
"Guh...haah...haah..." Kenshin panted heavily as he staggered toward Yukari. Yukari reached for him only for Kenshin to place his cards into Yukari's hand as he fell forward.
"What...just happened?" Rias said with wide eyes, trying to process the past few seconds.
"ROAR LIGHTNING! !" Akeno yelled striking at Dragon with her holy lightning.
"YOU BASTARD! !" Miyuki screamed chasing down Dragon as he evaded the lightning.
Kenshin looked up at Yukari. "Damn...I really messed up..." He said.
"No...nonono, you're gonna be fine, alright." Yukari said before turning her head. "I need help over here!" She shouts.
Azazel came down and looked him over. "...Oh man, this cut is pretty damn deep." He said.
"Can he be saved? !" Yukari said.
"Well, if he wasn't so inju-!"
"CAN HE BE SAVED? ! !" Yukari yelled.
Azazel closed his eyes. "We'll do what we can." He said slipping his arms gingerly underneath Kenshin's body.
"!" Yukari's eyes widened as Kenshin's left hand moved behind her neck and pulled her down, her lips moving on top of his. "Mm...?"
The kiss ended as soon as it began as Kenshin fell unconscious. Azazel took Kenshin over to Asia. "Alright, I need anyone who knows healing magic over here now! He's not hanging on by much!" He said. Irina, Akeno, Rias, Grayfia, Serafall and Sona all nod and come over to Asia.
"..." Yukari looked down at the cards in her hand, the ones Kenshin placed in her hand. "Kenshin, you had just won a battle against possibly the world strongest man, and you didn't even have time to enjoy it." She said as tears dropped onto the cards. "That bastard...he got the drop on you before you had much time to think, you were so exhausted." She said. "...No...if I lose you, I might as well be losing myself...I will make him pay...He'll pay! !" She seethed and shouted.
The four cards glew brightly as a familiar armor formed over Yukari's body, fitted to a woman's figure. She heard the four spirits, speaking as one.
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdrive! !"
"!" Miyuki stopped and turned to her sister. "O-Onee-Chan?"
"Go and help Kenshin, Miyuki. I will handle this bastard myself." Yukari said.
"Bu-!"
"NOW!" Yukari shouts.
"R-Right!" Miyuki said.
"..." Dragon let Miyuki escape as Yukari locked eyes with him. "I'll be taking those." Dragon said snapping his fingers. Kazeken and Ryuuga vanished and reappeared at his sides.
"..." Yukari narrowed her eyes. "Why did Kazeken and Ryuuga respond to him?" She thought. "Better yet, how did I invoke Kenshin's Balance Breaker?"
"Whomever has an established connection with us and possesses the cards we made for Kenshin shall have access to the Elemental Overdrive." Salamander said. "Kenshin knew this and that's why he fought to stay on his feet long enough to hand them to you."
"..." Dragon stared at her. "I'm just a reanimated corpse with a homunculus core, my very soul tied to it. Yet I do not know who I am...will you be the one to release me from this prison?"
"I'll break you in half doing it!" Yukari said taking Kuroi Jigoku in hand. "COME ON!"
Kazeken clashed against Kuroi Jigoku, in an explosion of flames. "You know, I have countermeasures against the spirits, but...to call them that, would be folly as well." Dragon said.
"I could tell that much from the moment we fought, before Sirzechs brought me to the Underworld!" Yukari said. "They aren't countermeasures, you know how to use elemental powers, same as Kenshin, same as I do."
"That's right." Dragon said planting his foot in Yukari's sternum, knocking her back. He swung Kazeken horizontally out in front of him. "Shippuzan!" A great burst of wind fired out from the nodachi's blade. He pointed Ryuuga dead ahead. "Hellfire Flash!"
"Oh damn!" Yukari cursed, crossing her arms out in front of her. "Earth Guard!"
"..." Dragon watched as Yukari emerged from the burning gale relatively unharmed.
"..." Yukari narrowed her eyes at him. "That combination attack..." She spoke up. "Where did you learn those attacks, and why do my swords answer to you? !"
"I have always known those attacks." Dragon said. "As to why I was able to claim your blades as mine, well your guess is as good as mine. I did it out of reflex."
"..." Yukari scowled. "Take off...that mask." She said pointing at him.
"I cannot." Dragon said.
"Fine! Then I'll fucking break it off your head! !" Yukari said taking Dragon's back, slashing at his spine. Dragon moved Ryuuga behind his back to block it and back flipped over Yukari, grabbing her by the head and slamming her to the ground. Yukari sprung back to her feet and blocked Dragon's downward slash, batting both Kazeken and Ryuuga away and grabbed Dragon by the head, spinning around and throwing him through a stalagmite. She quickly took his back, but had to dodge familiar stab to her head, she uppercutted him up high and gave chase. "That stab, that was Lightning Sword Flash!" She thought.
"Huuaaahhhh!" Dragon said lofting Kazeken and Ryuuga overhead as he shot down toward Yukari.
"That's Earth Rumbling Decapitation!" Yukari thought as she defended with Kuroi Jigoku, being sent into the ground in the process. Yukari looked up, firing off a Katensho at Dragon who sliced it in half with Kazeken. Yukari however was right behind it and drove her forehead into the front of Dragon's mask.
"You know, it's strange...you're supposed to be a illusions expert." Dragon said.
"Not today! I want you to see me coming while I beat the fuck out of you!" Yukari said as she grabbed Dragon's wrist and flipped, kicking him toward the ground. She created a platform using wind magic and shot down toward him, Kuroi Jigoku held in an iai position. Dragon landed on the ground, and leaped upward, coming right at her, Kazeken held in a similar fashion.
"Serene Demon Sword!" They both shout, slashing at one another. They landed on the ground a short distance away from each other.
"Ghh.." Yukari grunted as a small amount of blood trickled down her arm.
"Hrn..." Dragon grunted as a slightly heavier amount went down his arm.
A communication circle appeared next to Yukari's head. "Kenshin! You OK over there?"
"Issei?" Yukari said. "I'm fine, but Kenshin was taken down."
"Huh? !" Issei said. "Fuck, he is...how are you using Kenshin's Balance Breaker?"
"I'll explain later." Yukari said as she turned to Dragon who charged in after. She weaved in and out of stab attempts from him and kicked him in the chin before driving her elbow into his chest, sending him backward, crashing into the ground.
"I actually have an idea, if you're willing to hear me out." Issei said.
"Go ahead and do whatever it is you're planning, but it's probably for the best if I don't know it." Yukari said.
"Eh? Why?" Issei said.
"Because this man has power like mine, if I anticipate it, he probably will as well." Yukari said.
"Ho-...no..never mind I don't want to know." Issei said. "Alright."
"No matter the result, I want you to go to Asia, start getting boosts together to transfer to Asia's healing abilities. Got it?" Yukari asked.
"Yeah, don't worry about that." Issei said.
"..." Yukari turned her attention back to Dragon who strode up to her. "I'm going to give you one chance to give up." Yukari said.
"You know I can't take your offer. Even after you break this mask off me, and I remember who I am...this body is hardlined to obey the LifeMaker's orders to the letter." Dragon said. "You'll just have to stick to your earlier threat and kill me."
"Fine then!" Yukari said appearing behind him, slashing her sword chaotically, cutting in the shape of a stare. "Death Sword Chaos Star!"
"Hmph!" Dragon turned and intercepted each slash, off setting them.
"Dragon Shot!" Issei said blasting Dragon in the back.
"Argh!" Dragon staggered backward. "Grh!" He shot toward Issei, driving the hilt of Kazeken into Issei's stomach, knocking him away.
"I-Issei-San! Issei!" Asia and Irina both said.
Issei dropped out of his Balance Breaker. "Don't worry, all part of the plan!" He said as he placed his hand on Asia's shoulder. "Boosted Gear: Gift!"
"A-Aaahhhnn? !" Asia said. "Wh-Wha?"
"Hey! Kenshin's wound is closing faster than before!" Rias said.
"Yukari's idea." Issei said.
Meanwhile, after Dragon knocked Issei away, Yukari took his back, her fist cocked back and spun Dragon around to face her, holding him there. "Earthly Armament: Arms!"
"!" Dragon's eyes widened.
"Now to see..." Yukari said as her fist slammed into Dragon's face, cracking his mask. "WHO YOU REALLY ARE! !"
"Hrrraahh! !" Dragon roared as he was send sliding painfully into the ground.
"..." Yukari's eyes narrowed as she saw Dragon getting to his feet.
"...!" Hikari's eyes widened as she felt a signature she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Mom?" Miyuki said as Hikari got to her feet and walked toward the area Yukari and Dragon were fighting at.
"..." Azazel walked up to her. "Hikari, what is it?" He asked, seeing a dreading look in her eyes.
"No...No...it...it can't be..." Hikari said, as she continued to walk.
"Two twins eh? Aaah man I was ready for one, but two?" A male voice rang in her head.
"Oh I'm sure we'll do just fine." Her own voice replied.
"I wasn't there for him...and he suffered because of it..." The same voice said.
"Don't do that to yourself...what happened to Ken-Chan wasn't your fault...in fact..it's more mine that yours." Her voice replied.
"No...it's not yours either, you had Hottan inside you, controlling you." His voice said.
"Dragon of Truth...but...if you take out of, and change Truth to True...!" Hikari thought.
"Dragon...Ryuu...True...Shin..." Hikari thought. "...No..." She thought falling to her knees. (1 )
"?" Yukari turned her head toward Hikari. "Mom? What is it? You look positively spooked."
"Ry...Ryuu...shin..." Hikari said.
"..." Yukari turned her head slowly back to where Dragon was to find him on his feet, looking down at the ground. His mask was broken to pieces, falling to the ground around him, exposing short red hair. "...!" Her eyes widened as he looked up at her, a pair of blue eyes staring back into her own. A face that she instantly recognized. She slowly shook her head, not wanting to believe it. "No...it...it can't be..." She slashed her palm open. "Agh!" She gasped as her palm started to bleed before healing. She unconsciously dropped out of the Balance Breaker.
Dragon used this opportunity to appear in front of her, swinging his heel into her temple, sending her flying toward the crowd. Sirzechs rushed over and caught her. Miyuki took his back and stabbed her staff into his back, he dodged, grabbed the staff.
"...You're too slow to try and catch me off guard, my youngest daughter." He said.
"? !" Miyuki's eyes widened. "Da-? !" She was swung around by her staff and slammed into the ground. "Ghh...No..way..you're supposed to be...dead..."
"..." He stared at her impassively.
"Ryuushin!" Hikari shouts.
"..." He turned to her.
"How...how did he?" Hikari asked.
"He exhumed my corpse and rammed a core into my chest, composed of four different powerful elemental mages among his ranks. Once my body was resuscitated, my soul came flying back to it and Hottan bound it to the core in such a way that I could not oppose him. He even sealed my memories with that mask so I could not even voice my opposition...and even now..." Ryuushin appeared in front of Hikari Kazeken lifted over head. "I cannot oppose him."
"!...!" Hikari stared up at him, unable to move. "This is it...I'm..." She felt herself being yanked back and golden armor filling her sight.
"Hah!" Azazel shouts knocking Kazeken back.
"..." Ryuushin stared, eyes narrowed at him. "Who are you?"
"I'm just a friend of Hikari's, as such, I can't just have you trying to split her in two, well..the wrong way anyway." Azazel said, removing his helmet.
"The wrong way?" Ryuushin asked with narrowed eyes. "There's a right way to split someone in half?"
"Of course!" Azazel grinned. "To do such, you'd need to take her somewhere private though."
"..." Hikari facepalmed. "Goddammit Azazel."
"..." Ryuushin allowed an exasperated look to cross his features. "Gee, I'd love to have sex with my wife and sister, but circumstances make it impossible."
"Eh? ! She's your sister too? !" Azazel shouts, surprised.
"Dark magic affects an organism down to the genes." Ryuushin said. "You can literally pick and choose which genes are dominant and which are recessive for the unborn child given enough mastery and control, it basically allows you to choose whatever genes you want out of your families' gene pool, I was confused as to why that ninetailed fox taught Hikari how to do this at first, but when Kenshin and Yukari were ten and Miyuki was nine, I found out."
"Yeah, but I'd imagine that would only work for the first few generations." Azazel said.
"That's what Tamamo told us." Ryuushin said. "Hrn!" He grunted as a voice resounded over the clearing.
"You fool, this isn't the time for you to go into the finer points of demon child making!" Hottan's voice shouted.
"Fuck you, you may be able to order me around, but now that the mask is off my memories are back and you can't gag me anymore." Ryuushin said flipping the bird to the sky.
"...Heheheh, man, now I see where Kenshin got his prickish attitude from." Azazel said with a grin.
"Heh." Ryuushin smirked. "Indeed. Anyway...my son is out of commission and my daughters and wife won't raise much of a hand against me. Can I count on you to take me out?"
Azazel responded by creating two light swords. "Sure." Azazel said. "We originally came here to do Kenshin a favor anyway."
"Did you now, fine, then let's go!" Ryuushin said appearing above Azazel, slashing Kazeken downward. Azazel raised his light sword to block it and Ryuushin landed in front of him. Ryuushin moved in closer to Azazel. "When I'm gone, can I trust you to take care of Hikari?" He asked.
"..You're really torn up about this on the inside aren't you?" Azazel asked.
"Like you wouldn't believe..." Ryuushin said. "That's why I want someone to hurry up and put me out of my misery."
"Hrn!" Azazel shoved him off and slashed at Ryuushin, causing him to jump back. "Hikari. Back away."
"Huh?" Hikari said.
"You are out of sorts right now. Not surprising now that I know what this guy is to you." Azazel said. "Get back and let me handle this."
"R-Right...be careful." Hikari said before running back to everyone else.
Chachamaru appeared next to Azazel and handed him a screen. "Yukari-San asked me to give this to you, and she apologizes that she can't help you."
"Tell her not to worry about it, I can't ask a child to kill their parent." Azazel said.
He looked at the screen, it was a stat sheet on Ryuushin. It read.
Ryuushin Tsuki Kuroshi
Title- Crimson Dragon
Strength- S
Dexterity- S
Constitution- S
Intelligence- B
Wisdom- A
Luck- F
Note- Ryuushin-San was a Master Elementalist before he passed. Kenshin-San even commented that his mentor Ragnarok said that Ryuushin-San was the closest person to his level. He somehow still retains these abilities even now.
Note 2- Ryuushin-San also invented the Katensho and the Serene Conqueror. Keep a strong will or you will fall.
"Heh." Azazel said. "Seems the prickish attitude isn't the only thing Kenshin got from you."
"Indeed...now enough talking!" Ryuushin shouts slashing Ryuuga out in front of him."Katensho!"
"!" Azazel's eyes widened as an arcing blast of flame covering a wide swath shot toward him.
"Shippuzan!" Ryuushin shouts firing a blast of wind about as wide as Kazeken at his own Katensho. "Again!" He shouts firing it off the other direction, creating a spiraling effect as it shot toward Azazel.
"That spiral effect probably also gives it a vacuum over the top." Azazel thought as he morphed one of his blades to a spear."Hrrn!" Azazel grunted, throwing it through the wall of flames, causing it to collapse in on itself. "Thought so." He noticed Ryuushin was unhurt by his spear, holding it in his hand.
"I have something that belongs to you, take it back." Ryuushin said throwing it at Azazel's head.
"So fast!" Azazel thought moving his head out of the way. "!" A beat was missed and Ryuushin was in front of Azazel in an instant.
"Zero Kyori Katensho." Ryuushin said. (A/N: Point Blank Heavenly Flame Strike.)
"Shhiiittt!" Azazel cursed as he and Ryuushin were engulfed in flames.
"Azazel!" Sirzechs shouts.
"Maa Maa."
"Hm?" Ryuushin said as Azazel reached out and grabbed him by the trenchcoat. "Heh, I see that armor is for more than a tacky fashion statement." Ryuushin said with a smirk.
"Hahaha! Sure is, this is the Scale Mail of the Dragon King Fafnir. Now to put you out of your misery." Azazel said stabbing his light sword through Ryuushin's stomach.
"Hrrrnnn! !" Ryuushin grunted.
"! !" Hikari covered her mouth, eyes wide with dread.
Rias looked over at Yukari who appeared next to her. "What's going on? Who is that man...is he who he said he is?" She asked.
"..." Yukari glanced over at Rias. "..Yes..." She closed her eyes, her body quivering. She reached up and wiped her eyes. "That man...is mine, Miyuki's and Kenshin's father."
"!" Rias, Akeno, Asia, Irina and everyone else around them and Kenshin, except for Miyuki gasped.
"Y-Your father?" Issei said. "Kenshin was cut down by his own Dad? !"
"You don't understand Issei..." Miyuki said. "Dad was resurrected by Hottan, who tweaked his body to obey him to the letter..." Miyuki squeezed her eyes shut. "Dad's will isn't even his own right now!"
"This Hottan is truly a coward!" Xenovia seethed.
"...How is Kenshin coming along?" Yukari asked.
"Well, you see it, the wound is shut, now we're working on repairing the multiple muscle tears throughout his body." Sona said.
"Muscle tears?" Yukari asked with wide eyes.
"That technique he used, Vessel of the Elements...it's an incredibly risky gambit." Evangeline said. "If Kenshin can't win with it he'll be a sitting duck unless he forces himself to move, which results in more damage, hence why his arm was torn off when he had his clone throw him. I imagine he could barely move after it was finished, after he climbed out of the crater."
"Nngh!" Kenshin grunted.
"What was...?" Yukari was cut off.
"He's been doing that since the wound closed." Irina said.
"There are a lot of tears." Rossweisse said with a concerned look. "I'm not even a healer and I can tell that much."
Meanwhile Ryuushin looked back down at Azazel. "You know I'd love to say you got me, but.." He grabbed Azazel's arm and shoved the sword further in. "I'd be lying."
"!" Azazel's eyes widened as Ryuushin's chest glew. "What the? !"
"I helped Kenshin develop those charms he loves to use." Ryuushin said. "It stands to reason that I figured out ways to emulate a few of them."
"Oh dear." Azazel said with an unseen wince.
Ryuushin's body exploded, and he reappeared a short distance away. "A few of them, but really it's only that ability." He said.
"Guh..." Azazel said emerging from the smoke. "Fuck that was powerful. You could level a building to the ground with that damn technique."
"Hm? !" Ryuushin turned and swatted a dark red orb away from him.
"Huh? Sirzechs what are you doing?" Azazel asked.
"I've been having Grayfia read this man's mind since your battle began. He's been ordered to kill everyone here except for Kenshin." Sirzechs said. "Isn't that right, Kuroshi-Sa-? !" Sirzechs leaped out of the way as Ryuushin slashed Kazeken at his throat.
"I will not answer to you." Ryuushin said with a light snarl.
"..." Sirzechs created walls with his destruction magic to block numerous attacks from Ryuushin who seemed to get more and more livid by the minute.
"Had you not taken Kenshin from here, none of this would be happening!" Ryuushin shouts. He took the sky over him and slashed Kazeken and Ryuuga downward. "Katensho! !"
Sirzechs surrounded himself in a shell of his magic to defend himself, however when he uncovered himself Ryuushin was rushing right at him and buried his fist into his sternum. "Guhah? !" He gasped, spitting out blood. "I..was trying to..help him..."
"It was not for you to make an arbitrary decision on whether or not Kenshin needed your assistance!" Ryuushin shouts. "Such a decision has inflicted untold amounts of damage on not only him, but my family as well!" He said, punching at Sirzechs, trying to take his head off with each attempted. "BECAUSE HOTTAN BROUGHT ME BACK TO TRY AND KILL THEM! !"
Azazel appeared in between them and stabbed his light sword at Ryuushin's head, causing him to jump back. "Sirzechs already know's he fucked up, Kenshin himself has been shoveling crap on him since we found him." Azazel said.
"If he had just appeared before Kenshin before just taking him, and asked for his help. I'm certain Kenshin would have agreed." Ryuushin said with a scowl. "He's always wanted to help those in need, those who were caught in a bad situation, but what's more is that he kept Kenshin there...telling him nothing!"
"..." Sirzechs looked down at the ground. "..I do look at Kenshin as a little brother, but...wouldn't family keep each other informed of things like what's been going on here?" He thought.
"Grh!" Ryuushin grabbed his head before throwing his swords to the side. "Grrrhh! ! Get out of my head you bastard! I'm doing as you want!"
"Sorry Ryuushin, but you're simply taking too long. I've grown impatient. I'll take control from here." Hottan said with a cruel laugh.
"Grrrhhh...!" Ryuushin hunched over as a great concentration of power welled up inside his body.
"Ryuushin! ! What's going on? !" Hikari shouts.
"GET OUT OF HERE! ! ALL OF YOU!" Ryuushin shouts.
"? !" Azazel got a closer look at Ryuushin. "Oh...fuck!" He turned to Sirzechs. "He's right, I think that Hottan guy is taking control of him and feeding him more power!"
"No!" Grayfia said.
Sirzechs turned to her. "What is it?"
"I can't use teleportation magic! We're all stuck here unless we fly away!" Grayfia said.
"? !" Yukari heard this and tried to use her own teleportation magic. "Shit! She's right!"
"..." Ryuushin scowled weakly. He looked over at Hikari, then to Yukari and Miyuki, then finally to Kenshin. "...I am sorry...that our reunion had to be...under such painful circumstances." He thought. "But...I will not let Hottan have me kill you! !"
Ryuushin brought his hands to his chest, focusing all of his energy there. "Huuuuuurrrrrrraaaahhhh! ! YAAAARRRGHHHH! ! !" He roared.
"What's going on? !" Yukari said looking out at her father.
"...Ryuushin-San, he's turning his body into a bomb." Chachamaru said.
"That much energy, no...even if we ran for it we wouldn't get away in time." Evangeline said with a baneful look. "Hottan must be feeding him more energy that he can control seeing as he's finally found the power to resist him to some extent.
Azazel and Sirzechs tried to attack Ryuushin, to no avail as both of their attacks dissipated before they got to him. "No good!" Azazel cursed.
"No...he can't be attacked as he is now, the magical density is just too great! Only someone with the same elemental power as him could hope to pierce through." Sirzechs said with a grave look
"So we just ask Yukari or Miyuki to kill their Dad? !" Azazel said.
"I don't like it either, but we have no choice!" Sirzechs said.
"...Nngh..." Kenshin's eyes cracked open and he rose up. He got up and looked at the concentration of energy. "..."
"Kenshin?" Rias said. "What are you...?"
Yukari looked at Kenshin, then to Ryuushin. They seemed to have their eyes locked on one another. Suddenly Kuroi Jigoku and his Sacred Gear appeared in his hands and he shot toward Ryuushin. She felt the first level of the cards being activated. "Kenshin, wait! !"
"!" Ryuushin grunted as he felt Kuroi Jigoku slice deep into his body. He felt the core inside of his body fracturing and the magic around him dissipated as he fell to the ground.
Kenshin unequipped his cards and stared down at his father. "..."
"...Hahahaha...you did good Kenshin...now I can finally go back to my rest." Ryuushin said with a weak laugh.
"We're all meant to be figures from your past...Hottan's way of torturing you." He remembered Ryuushin saying to him, when he was still known as Dragon.
Ryuushin started coughing out blood. "Kenshin, you have to do what we talked about...after I've gone under again."
"...Yeah." Kenshin said.
"Remember..I left everything to you already. Take...good care...of the family..." Ryuushin as he sighed his last breath.
"...Dad..." Kenshin said as the wind blew. He took out the Salamander card and equipped it. "Rest..." He dropped fire on his father's legs, igniting them. "in..." He moved his hand to his father's chest and dropped more flames. "...Peace." He said, dropping the last bit of flames onto Ryuushin's head.
His father's corpse ignited in a blaze and began burning away. "..." He turned and started walking away. He heard his mother and sisters crying, but knew there was nothing that could be done that would ease the pain. He started walking toward the east.
"Kenshin, where are you going?" Azazel asked, dropping out of his Balance Breaker.
"New Ostia. The one that's still floating." Kenshin said.
"Right now? Shouldn't you rest first?" Rossweisse said.
"I'm not teleporting." Kenshin said. He stuck his hand and a magic circle appeared on the ground. Sheena appeared.
"We're back in Mundus Magicus?" Sheena said looking around.
"Yes. I need a ride to New Ostia." Kenshin said.
"Alright." Sheena nodded.
As Sheena prepared to transform to her tiger form a voice called out. "That's it? You're just going to burn his body and leave?"
Everyone turned to the source of the voice, which happened to be Issei who had a slightly confused, slightly angry look on his face. "It's what he wanted, so Hottan couldn't call him back again." Kenshin answered with a neutral expression.
"Maybe so, but that was your father wasn't it?" Issei asked. "You're just acting like he's some random person you killed by mistake, or you're just lumping him in with the others that have tried to take your life in the past!" "Yukari-San and Miyuki-San are grieving like anyone else would in their position...but you...you aren't doing anything, you're acting like he meant nothing to you." Issei said. "Does being in this world mean you can't feel anything anymore?"
"I already watched him die once." Kenshin said. "Despite popular belief it is easier the second time."
"Rrgh!" Issei hauled off and punched Kenshin in the face, who just took the blow.
"Issei!" Rias shouts.
Everyone stared, wide eyed as Kenshin stood there, Issei's fist laid into his cheek. Finally Kenshin pulled Issei's fist off of him. "Are you done?" He asked. "This has nothing to do with you Issei, so drop it."
Kenshin turned to walk away when Issei called out to him. "So you just want to pretend it all just didn't happen? Just store it away until it eats you away inside?" "What happens when Yukari-San, Miyuki-San, Hikari-San...or any one of us get taken out? Are you just bottle that up too?" Issei asked. "Like you did when that Negi woman died?"
"Issei, you should probably ease up." Evangeline advised, Sheena nodding in agreement.
"No, I'm sorry, but this needs to be said before he destroys himself. Azazel-Sensei agrees with me on this." Issei said.
"Yeah, but there's other ways of going about this Issei." Azazel said.
"That won't happen. I won't let it." Kenshin said turning back to Issei.
"Yeah, because you've had a great track record with that so far." Issei replied.
(crack!)
Everyone gasped as Kenshin punched Issei to the ground. "Get up..." Kenshin said with no emotion in his voice.
Issei got to his feet. "Finally, a reaction."
"You're wrong." Kenshin said. "When you say I don't feel anything, you're dead wrong."
"Am I? Because it looks like I'm right." Issei said.
"Well, good for you, but you are wrong." Kenshin said scowling at him. "...I'm furious Issei...so furious. I've been this way ever since Negi died. Hell, I would go as far to say I've never been this pissed off in my life and you can ask Yukari, I've had some pretty explosive bouts of rage before."
"Then go and vent it off somewhere." Issei said.
"You know, you tell me that, then wonder why I told you all to stay as far away from me as possible. I mean yes, you all being here helped me out of a couple of jams, but as long as I'm here, you might as well get used to my horrid attitude as of late." Kenshin said.
"You're going to challenge him alone, like you've always planned to aren't you?" Azazel asked crossing his arms. "It wasn't that hard to figure out when you first told me, that you wanted to face Hottan alone."
"!" Yukari, Miyuki and Hikari stared at him in shock.
"That's right, and there will be no arguing that point." Kenshin said turning and walking away.
"Oh, but I am arguing that point." Sirzechs said, right there to cut him off.
"..." Kenshin scowled. "Move it."
"You'll die if you try and face him alone Kenshin. You may not be able to trust me, but that does not mean I'm just going to allow you to do something reckless." Sirzechs said.
"If I die, it can't be said that I didn't have it comin'." Kenshin said. "I'm starting to think both this world and yours, would be better off without me in them anyway."
"!" Everyone shared a gasp.
"Why do you think that?" Sirzechs asked.
"Why the hell wouldn't I?" Kenshin asked. "What is it I do or used to do, eh Sirzechs? You should know...having watched my life in it's entirety. I track down evil? No, it's actually quite the opposite, evil tracks me, and nukes everything in my vicinity. I'm not saying I want to die, but the evidence is freakin' there. The Emperor of Hellas, the Rikudou Organization, some of my closest friends, the students I used to teach. Hell, even my own family can all draw their fates back to me. It's high time I put a proper name to what I really am."
"Kenshin...you...you are not evil." Yukari said stepping toward him. "You're not perfect by any means, but..."
"Yukari, you know as well as I do, the first time Dad was died, before I found out he was possessed by one of Yama's former lackeys, that I earnestly wanted to kill him then." Kenshin said.
"You didn't know at first!" Miyuki shouts.
"I didn't even give any thought to it at first." Kenshin said. "You know that...as well as I do. Or better yet, how about a master who would continually lie to his disciples about what happened to their family, just save his own hide?" Kenshin said.
"I was there as well Kenshin!" Yukari said. "If you're evil for that then so am I!"
"Which brings me to point three." Kenshin said turning to her. "How is it not evil, for a brother to continually drag his twin sister into his affairs, to constantly put her life in danger for no good reason?"
"!" Yukari stepped back with wide eyes. "Kenshin...I..I told you that didn't have any regre-!"
"Just because you didn't, doesn't mean I never did." Kenshin said. "You didn't deserve to go down those roads with me and experience the pain I did. I always felt like I robbed you of a normal life, just because I didn't want to be alone."
"..." Yukari bowed her head, her eyes closed.
"Now then, if there's nothing else to bring up I'll be going." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin wait!" Rias called out. "You...You..."
"You can't do this Kenshin-kun!" Akeno finished for her. "Too many people will..."
"Too many people will be sad if you leave...Senpai...Please..." Koneko trailed off, wiping her eyes.
"No one wants to see you destroy yourself." Xenovia said.
"Please Kenshin-Chan, let us help you with the last opponent." Serafall said with a pleading look.
"Or better yet..." A voice called out, making everyone look around.
"That voice..." Issei said.
"Onee-Sama?" Koneko whispered.
Kenshin turned around. "Kuroka, which means you've finally decided to show yourself Vali."
The space distorted and suddenly Kuroka, Bikou, Arthur, Tertium and Vali appeared. "How long did you know we were there?" Vali asked.
"Since this little conversation began." Kenshin said. "The fuck do you want?"
"..." A smirk tugged at Vali's lips.
"Vanishing Dragon, Balance Breaker!"
"..." Kenshin let out a sigh. "Should of known."
"Oi! Vali, now's not the time to be challenging people to a fight!" Issei shouts. "With the shape he's in it wouldn't be a fair fight!"
"Nonsense." Vali said shaking his head. "With his Sacred Gear, Kuroshi Kenshin should be able to restore his energy."
"There's limits to what Salamander's power can do you idiot." Kenshin said. "Fine. I'll fight you."
"Balance Breaker, Elemental Overdrive!"
"Heh." Vali said. "Just what I've been waiting for since after the duel against the Sekiryuutei. A one on one duel against the Dragon of the Elements."
"I'll make this quick." Kenshin said.
"Just so you know, Kenshin-kun we are not working for Hottan here. I've been leading him around the world trying to find you." Tertium said.
"That right?" Kenshin asked. "Well your sister's been worried, get over there to her."
Vali watched as Tertium walked over to Kenshin's group before turning his attention to his allies. "Stand aside. I wish to fight Kenshin Kuroshi by myself."
"Awww!" Bikou moaned.
"Alright-nyaa..." Kuroka purred.
"Very well." Arthur nodded.
"So what brought this on then?" Kenshin asked. "I know you love to fight, but honestly if you beat me to the Gravekeeper's Palace you could fight a god."
"Oh I realize this, but the barrier around the place prevents me from getting to him." Vali said. "However...I wish to know why the people of this world cower upon mention of your name. Why they curse your very existence...and most importantly...I wish to fight a man who has fought a god and was victorious."
"Hm?" Kenshin said.
"We happened along a memory of yours. Of yours and Yukari-kun's battle against the God of Dragons, or as Vali-kun here tells me, a piece of the Ouroboros Dragon, Ophis." Tertium said.
"Yes...such a thing is more than even I have managed." Vali said.
"Fine then...let's go!" Kenshin shouts.
(to be continued)
Draconis: Alright Vali, you've finally been introduced into this arc.
Vali: Huhuhu, and against Kenshin at that.
Kenshin: Whatever. Let's get this over with so I can go turn Hottan into an afterthought.
Anyway, next time. Vali vs. Kenshin among other things
Footnote
(1 ) I realize this is a stretch in hindsight I probably should have called him True Dragon while he was masked.
Draconis678 out.