Draconis: Alright, let's get this show on the road.
Kenshin: Come on Hottan, you've kept me waiting long enough!
Hottan: Heheheh, you're going to come to regret your eagerness Kenshin.
Sirzechs: Somebody get this bastard out of me ASAP!
Hottan: Awh...you're not having a good time Sirzechs-kun?
Sirzechs: (glowers) Not in the slightest.
Grayfia: Working on it!
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 33
The Perfect World
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Kenshin was sitting on the couch, the letter he had found on Arika's headstone laid open on the table. He had a somber look on his face holding a smoke between his lips.
It read.
Kenshin,
If you're reading this, then that means I am dead, and that nothing can bring me back to a physical form.
Either I was killed by Hottan, or the worst scenario has taken place and I was forced to have you do it instead.
Kenshin...I am so sorry to have to had put you through that if that is the case. I never wanted that to happen.
You talked a lot about heading back to that place, Kuoh I believe it was, and I could see it in your eyes, you wanted to take me with you, but...that just couldn't happen...the seal on Hottan wouldn't have lasted forever, as I based the first layer on my own lifeforce, we'd have had months together at best and as painful as it would have been to have you kill me, I am positive it would have been ten times worse to watch me fade away.
Please forgive me...now as to why I wrote this letter. When Hottan is freed, he'll no doubt be preparing something big, but don't worry wiping away the world to take in his full power from when he was human is off the table. I'm sure you know that one of our students, Asuna Kagurazaka is actually Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia, my mother's younger adopted sister and the Twilight Imperial Princess. It was decided after Dad died that we seal her away until Project Blue Mars was completed. She's somewhere that not even Hottan can reach. As for what he is planning, I do not know.
However if you need a ride to go meet him, we stashed a ship, one that Haruna Saotome, another of our students commandeered. Yukari suggested we stash it in one of your organization's safehouses, but felt it was better if she didn't know which one. It is Safehouse No. 6
This...is where I say goodbye Kenshin...I will always love you.
Sincerely,
Negi Springfield.
"..." Kenshin clenched a fist, extinguishing his smoke and dropped it on the floor.
"Kenshin." He looked over as he got to his feet, holding the letter and found Yukari and Grayfia.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"When do we move out?" Yukari asked. "We can't afford to give Hottan too much time."
"In a bit." Kenshin said. "Yukari, remind me...which safehouse is No. 6?"
"Uhm...I believe it's this one actually." Yukari said.
"I see." Kenshin said. "Go and tell everyone to get ready to move. Grayfia come with me."
"Right." Yukari said walking away.
"...You know she still seems upset." Grayfia said.
"I know, I'll address it later, come on." Kenshin said walking toward the basement steps.
Grayfia followed after him. "You never intended on letting that slave trader live did you?"
"No, I didn't. To be honest his head eluded me during my stint with the Rikudou Organization." Kenshin said.
"What is your plan?" Grayfia said.
"Don't really have one, never been much of a strategist, but I'm sure Miyuki called a meeting of the minds when you got here." Kenshin said.
"...I see." Grayfia said.
As they walked down the second flight of steps a silence reigned over them. When they finally came to the second basement floor and entered the room. Grayfia locked the door behind her. "?" Kenshin turned toward her.
"Before we continue on, I want to know one thing." Grayfia said.
"What?" Kenshin said.
"Did you at any point during our time here, want to kill Sirzechs?" Grayfia asked.
"..." Kenshin stared at her. "At the beginning, after I finished beating him down. I thought about it...I really did."
"Why?" Grayfia asked with a glare.
"I don't know, maybe I was just that pissed at him." Kenshin said. "Does the fact that I decided against it not mean anything?"
"Not when you've held him with vitrol ever since." Grayfia said crossing her arms.
"And yet you're probably also wondering why I didn't do the same with you? Maybe I decided to speak to you in a disrespectful tone at one point, but that's it. For the first couple of days I couldn't stand the sight of Sirzechs." Kenshin said with a glare of his own. "Why does any of this matter anyway?"
"Because I want to be sure you won't just try to kill both Sirzechs and Hottan!" Grayfia shouts.
"..." Kenshin turned his back to her. "You don't need to worry about that. I've calmed since the fight against Rakan. Took some time to think, and decided I'm not as pissed at him as I was when I saw him the first time."
"..." Grayfia stared at him.
"You don't have to see it from my perspective, but...I had just lost Negi a week ago, to the man responsible for just about every single thing that's went wrong in my life. I knew Sirzechs was keeping things from me, probably not his intent, before I came here. That's why I was in Luciferd to begin with, I wanted to ask him about those things. Instead I get jumped by my father, who couldn't remember who he was and brought me back here. I stewed and stewed, the aforementioned death happened and I had been in an unbelievably foul mood since."
"..." Grayfia sighed. "So you can promise me that you won't try to kill Sirzechs just to kill this Hottan?"
"I can do better, I can get Hottan out of Sirzechs." Kenshin said.
"You can?" Grayfia said with wide eyes. "How? !"
"The same technique I used to pull Issei's soul out of his crumbling body and how I gave Yukari those memories to show you all." Kenshin said. "The Seishin Boido."
"You knew she showed everyone?" Grayfia asked.
"I guess there was no way of not reliving them one last time." Kenshin said. "I saw them when you did, as I was sleeping, before it faded to the same reoccurring nightmare I've been having about Hottan killing everyone."
"...I see. How are you holding up?" Grayfia asked.
"Considering I broke down in front of Rias last night. I'm alright, I suppose it all had to come out sometime." Kenshin said.
"I see, so...how does this technique work?" Grayfia asked.
"It's tricky." Kenshin said. "You either have to be beaten so badly you can't move anymore, or the victim of the possession has to find the willpower to overpower the possessor and hold them there to be extracted."
"Have you used this technique in this fashion before?" Grayfia asked.
"Yes, on my mother. When I was ten I fought Hottan before who had possessed my mother. Unfortunately the method used was the former. She couldn't really fight back against him. I remember her telling my Dad that Hottan never let her body fully recover from giving birth to three kids and basically used her as a damned meatsuit. Much like he's doing with Sirzechs now."
"Are you sure he's using Sirzechs like that, couldn't he do what he supposedly did with Issei or your father or that Rakan fellow?" Grayfia asked.
"Positive. Dad was a corpse before Hottan shoved a core into him to resuscitate him. Issei, while he has the ability to potentially equal Sirzechs' power with the Boosted Gear, at his base is too weak to resist Hottan and Rakan was one of the denizens of Hellas, the people who were here before the mages came to Mundus Magicus. They could never really raise a hand in opposition to Hottan, no matter how much they wanted to." Kenshin said. "Sirzechs is too powerful to control remotely and I hear Hottan can't make use of all of his Fantasy Magic, that's what he needs me for." Kenshin said. "So...it is for that reason that I'm going to tell you to prepare yourself."
"For?" Grayfia asked.
"Life without Sirzechs." Kenshin answered.
"!" Grayfia's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing. "You...You just said that you wouldn't kill him."
"And I meant it, but that doesn't mean Hottan won't try to pull a fast one on me and eject himself while I try to attack him, leaving Sirzechs vulnerable to a potentially deadly attack."
Grayfia grabbed him and pinned him into a wall. "You listen to me...I will not prepare for life without him, because you are not going to let him die..."
"...You're scared." Kenshin stated.
"..." Grayfia went silent.
Kenshin removed her hands from him and pulled her into his arms. "Look...I know...It's not easy to think about, in fact thinking about it is probably tearing you up inside, but...I know this man better than anyone. I will try my best to not let it happen, but...I'm not perfect...if the worst does happen...I swear to you on my life I will do whatever is necessary to make up for it, even if it can never be made up for."
"You do realize what you're saying, right?" Grayfia asked with a quiver in her voice. "That if Sirzechs falls, you will basically become my..." She trailed off, glancing away.
"Yeah. I am prepared for that life if it comes down to it." Kenshin said. "But now's not the time to focus on that." He let her go and walked past her. "Checking in, Rikudou Leader No. 6. Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi."
"Identity and Voice Recognition confirmed, now commencing bioscan." A mechanical female voice said. "There is an unknown person in the room with you. Is this person trustworthy?"
"Yes." Kenshin said.
"Please state your name." The voice requested.
"Uhm...Grayfia Lucifuge." Grayfia said.
"Name Grayfia Lucifuge has been saved into the 'Trustworthy' database, now lowering tram into the hangar."
The floor began sinking down. "...You know you should probably have been told this when you got your king piece, but you never had a master before you got your king piece, as a reincarnated devil that is strange." Grayfia said.
"I know that." Kenshin said. "What of it?"
"It means anyone strong enough could likely add you to their peerage if they wanted to. Although they'd have to act soon before you got stronger than you are now." Grayfia said.
"Oh? I see." Kenshin said. "Well that will be a bargaining chip with your council when they decide to try and fry me for kicking the crap out of Sirzechs." Kenshin said. "Azazel told me about Sirzechs' report to the council. Tell me something, the council...are they just advisors or something more?"
"Well it is more or less the remnants of the seventy two pillars, it's basically the devil clans representing themselves. The Satans are in charge of them." Grayfia said.
"Does it ever seem like they overstep their boundaries?" Kenshin asked.
"From time to time." Grayfia nodded.
"I see...I hope Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka and Falbium don't go the route that old man Daiken did." Kenshin said.
"Daiken?" Grayfia asked.
"The Emperor of Hellas." Kenshin answered. "Dude was like a second father to me, but after the Schismatic War, he kinda let his council walk all over him and strip him of most of his power."
"I see...that is unfortunate. The Satans do kind of let the council do as they want, but I believe if they have to they'll put their foot down." Grayfia said.
"I hope so." Kenshin said. They arrived at the hangar where a large airship was suspended in midair. "Ah." He said with a small smile. "This must be it."
"Why is it shaped like a fish?" Grayfia asked with a curious look.
"You know, I've asked that same question before about the airships in this world and never got an answer." Kenshin said.
(break)
Later that night.
The airship was taken out of the hangar and was currently heading due north. Kenshin was standing on the deck of the ship when Yukari and Miyuki came out onto the deck. "Kenshin, Onii-Chan." Yukari and Miyuki both said.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"We're deciding on who should fight whom. It's already decided that you'll fight Hottan, but then there's the others to consider." Miyuki said.
"Hm..." Kenshin said.
"There's also Issei. I don't think we can fight him either, at the very least we don't want to risk it." Yukari said.
"Send Vali to him then." Kenshin said. "I've asked the spirits not to let him use their power until he's trained with it a bit."
"Vali?" Yukari said.
"Did I stutter?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, it's just the Sekiryuutei and the Hakuryuukou...aren't they always destined to kill each other?" Miyuki asked.
"I'll nip that in the bud when we get there." Kenshin said. "Meanwhile I need a few people on the hordes of demons Hottan's bound to summon."
"Actually, Chachamaru said she's wired into the weapons systems of this ship. She just needs some people on board to defend it." Yukari said.
"What do you think Miyuki?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, how about Azazel and Mom?" Miyuki asked. "They should be able to handle themselves."
"Alright then. There's also the mage types to consider who can help keep this ship from getting overwhelmed on the ground, who will defend them from getting overwhelmed?" Kenshin asked.
"Actually I was looking for Arthur, Xenovia, Irina and Kiba to fill that role." Miyuki said.
"Fine then." Kenshin nodded. "Also, I want Grayfia with me to take on Hottan."
"?" Yukari and Miyuki stared at his back. "Why?" Yukari asked.
"There's probably no one here who knows the ins and outs of Sirzechs' magic better than Grayfia. I'll need her help." Kenshin said.
"I see." Miyuki said. "Anything else?"
"No, decide what else to do on your own. I'll trust your judgment." Kenshin said. "...Yukari, a moment."
Miyuki nodded and went back below deck while Yukari remained. "What is it?"
"About what I said earlier...I just want to apologize for it." Kenshin said.
"Why?" Yukari asked with narrowed eyes.
"I know you chose to stand at my side, but...you know Yukari I'm never gonna not feel any regret over it." Kenshin said. "It was a lot of pain I could have spared you from had I just told you to go home on the day of my first job in Rikudou."
"..." Yukari went silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Kenshin...I guess I can understand what you're getting at, but...I know if I left you alone through all that, knowing I could have done something...then I'd be the one feeling the regret." Yukari said.
"..." Kenshin sighed. "So...I guess we'd be screwed no matter what then huh?"
Yukari laughed softly. "Yeah..." She walked up to Kenshin. "You can't just get rid of me now, after all we've been through."
"That was never my intent." Kenshin said with a small smile.
Yukari mirrored this expression. "Good." She slipped her fingers under his chin and brought her lips to his in a short kiss. When she broke it she licked her lips in a subtle fashion. "Just paying you back for earlier."
"I...I see." Kenshin said.
"If this were a different time, I'd probably be more upset." The two turned to find Rias and everyone else on the deck.
"..." Kenshin looked out at the horizon.
"Kenshin-San, can I ask you something?" Rossweisse said.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"If...well if you hated this world, why did you try to protect it?" Rossweisse asked.
Everyone except Yukari glanced over at her. Kenshin turned to her. "It's not the world I hated." Kenshin answered. "It was the people in charge I couldn't stand, well most of them anyway. The people were always caught in the middle of their powers struggles, just like my family was...and just like I was." He said. "Granted I'm not really going to miss this world, but..the people who lived here, the denizens of Hellas, the human mages, the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans...this pissing match between Hottan and The Ala Rubra , Ala Alba and I was never theirs to lose." He turned back around. "Hottan and the Cosmo Entelecheia Organization, The Rikudou Organization, the Ala Alba and Ala Rubra...even I meant next to nothing to them."
Kenshin lit up a smoke and exhaled. "Like I said, I probably won't miss this world when I'm gone, but what Hottan has done, not just to me...but to everyone here, is something I cannot let stand."
"..." Everyone stared at his back.
"I'm... sorry I brought it up." Rossweisse said.
"No, it's OK. I needed to get that off my chest anyway." Kenshin said. "Now, does everyone have their assignments?"
Chachamaru spoke through the intercom. "I will be suppressing the demon legions should they appear."
"Right. Azazel and Mom will be on the bridge with you making sure you don't get overwhelmed and Kazumi will be in the bridge with you calling out patterns and strays." Kenshin said. "If the demons get more than ten kilometers out you turn them back or turn them to ash."
"Right." Hikari said with Azazel nodding with a shrug.
"Rias, Akeno, Rossweisse, Kuroka, Sona, Serafall, Gasper and Evangeline. If I'm missing anyone I'm sorry. To rehash, you will be the main ones fight the demon hordes. Kiba,, Koneko, Bikou, Arthur, Irina, Xenovia. You will be charged with protecting with them. Evangeline, Bikou if you feel the need to, break formation and get in there yourselves if you like."
"I probably will." Evangeline nodded.
"Alright!" Bikou said with a wide grin.
"Alright, I'll trust your judgment." Kenshin nodded back. "Asia, your role is no different than it has been. If you see someone get taken down, point them out and Kiba, Bikou, Arthur, Irina, Evangeline or Xenovia will break formation and go and get them and you heal them and get them back out on the battlefield."
"R-Right." Asia nodded hesitantly.
"Now...as for the main fighting force. I am the leader of that squad. The leaders of the first squad will be Azazel and Evangeline." Kenshin said. He turned to Tertium. "I know Miyuki's already brought it up to you Tertium, but do you think you can take on your old man, Primum?" Kenshin asked.
"I'll handle it." Tertium said.
"I'll handle our mother, Alterum as well." Sextum nodded. "...I need to make up for basically handing Issei Hyoudou over to Hottan..."
"Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Kenshin said. "Yukari, Miyuki. I need you on Quintum and Quartum. They may be fakes, but I have to assume Hottan's beefed them up since last time."
"Right." Yukari nodded.
"Leave it to us." Miyuki said.
Kenshin shot his hand to this left and Sheena appeared. "You ready?" He asked.
"As I'll ever be." Sheena shrugged.
"There's an Averruncus I need you on named Secundum. Think you can handle it?" Kenshin asked.
"Please, it's like you're doubting me." Sheena said.
"What about me then?" Vali asked.
"I have to assume Hottan knows about the Juggernaut Drive, and if he does we have to assume he'll make Issei use it at some point. Since I can't fight him myself. I'm leaving Issei to you." Kenshin said.
"What about using Issei's perversion to wake him up?" Azazel said.
"Hmm..." Kenshin said. "First we'll need to tire Issei out. After that do what you want."
"What about me?" Grayfia asked.
"You're with me." Kenshin said. "We're going to go at Hottan together."
"...I see." Grayfia said with a short nod.
"I'm hoping that seeing Hottan using his body to try and hurt you will strike a nerve. It will make freeing Sirzechs easier." Kenshin said.
"Hey guys something's coming, something big" Kazumi said through the intercom.
"..." Kenshin looked out at the horizon. "It looks like Hottan's made use of the Okuni Yakou, his demons summoning spell. This is going to be a long fight. Those demons will probably number in the tens of thousands...well then let's carve down their numbers a bit shall we?"
"How?" Rias asked.
"Akeno, come here will you?" Kenshin asked as he called for his naginata and started to spin it out to his left.
"What is it?" Akeno said walking up to him.
"Wrap your arms around me and wrap us both in your magic." Kenshin said assuming his Balance Breaker. Akeno did as she was asked and was surprised to see the magic focusing on Kenshin's spinning blade. "Add in some holy lightning."
"OK." Akeno said.
Holy lightning began sparking furiously on the blade. "OK. Now come to my right and take my hand." Akeno nodded and did so. When she did Kenshin reeled his left hand back and threw his spinning naginata high into the cloudy night sky. He turned to Akeno as he kept his left hand raised toward the sky. "Start pouring in magic."
"Right!" Akeno said seeing a massive horde of demons flying in.
The sky began to rumble and light up. "Now release it!" Kenshin shouts.
"OK!" Akeno said.
"!" Everyone watched as the lighting shot down from the sky, striking the demons, vaporizing them.
"A...Amazing." Rias said.
"Whoa..." Bikou said.
"What a sight to behold-nyaa..." Kuroka purred.
Akeno hunched over panting heavily. Kenshin tipped her head up and poured a phoenix tear on her forehead. "Aaah, thank you." She said.
"Don't mention it. Chachamaru, charge forward! We've kept him waiting long enough!" Kenshin said.
"On it." Chachamaru said.
The ship picked up speed. Kenshin turned to them. "I want to say that was a couple thousand that was just taken out. Be ready, this job isn't anywhere near complete!" Kenshin said. Once we see a black cross shaped palace that's when everyone except Mom and Azazel jump off the ship and fly toward Hottan's minions!"
"Got it!" Everyone said.
The Gravekeeper's Palace came into view and everyone except Kenshin, Grayfia, Azazel, Hikari and Vali jumped off. "You look like you want to say something to me before we go." Vali said.
"I'll only say this once because I'm not too sure I can fully trust you yet and because of the eternal beef between Albion and Ddraig. If you use this chaos to kill Issei. I will steal your Divine Dividing and then I will kill you." Kenshin said with a neutral gaze. "Am I clear?"
"Hmph." Vali smirked. "Very well, just need to cover all your bases I assume?"
"That, and I've actually come to enjoy fighting you, don't make me lose a good opponent because you couldn't help giving into a stupid prophecy." Kenshin said. "I also have something I'd like to ask you after this is over."
"?" Vali glanced over at him curiously, removing the helmet of his Scale Mail.
"It can wait." Kenshin said. "Let's go!" He shouts as he, Grayfia and Vali took off. A communication circle opening up next to his head as he spotted Sirzechs-Hottan. "Alright everyone, stick to the plan our strategists came up with and we should be out of here without a casualty." He landed on the ground and dashed over to Yukari, he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Element Transfer: Earth, Water."
"Embrace!"
"!" Yukari's eyes widened as the samurai armor for the Balance Breaker appeared on her. "What the?"
Kenshin then dashed toward Miyuki and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Element Transfer: Wind, Fire."
"Embrace!"
"!" Miyuki's eyes widened as a similar armor clad over her. "Onii-Chan? !"
Kenshin appeared back next to Grayfia. Two communication circles appeared next to his head. "Kenshin, what the hell? ! Aren't you going to need these against Hottan? !" Yukari said.
"Yeah Onii-Chan. Why did you transfer Elemental Overdrives to us? !" Miyuki said.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. You know I was able to fight this bastard before I met the spirits." Kenshin said. "Besides, I've got possibly the best partner to team up with in this situation. Just finish Quintum and Quartum off and send them back to me by intoning the phrase 'Return'."
"Alright." Yukari said. "Count on us."
"Yeah, we'll have this finished quickly." Miyuki said.
"Of course." Kenshin said.
"So that was part of the plan?" Grayfia asked.
"Not exactly. Just a little addition I made." Kenshin said. "Now, because he's in Sirzechs' body he might use Destruction magic over Fantasy magic which would be the more offensive of the two. I'm counting on you to keep both our asses out of the fire."
"Leave it to me." Grayfia said.
"When it seems like he's going to use Fantasy magic it will turn from crimson to white. When that happens get close to me. If what I've been told is true, I'll be able to cancel it out."
"Right." Grayfia nodded. "Do you mind if I try something really quick?"
"Fine." Kenshin said.
Grayfia nodded and turned to Sirzechs-Hottan. "Sirzechs, if you can hear me in there, you have to fight him from the inside!"
"Sorry dear, Daddy isn't home right now." Hottan said with a smirk. "Care to leave a mes-!" He was cut off as Sirzechs' phantom image appeared above and behind him.
"I am fighting him, I put a limiter on how much of my power he has access too, but I couldn't get all of it." Sirzechs said. "I'm trying to keep that limiter applied."
"Aha, I knew you were hiding something from me." Hottan said. "Back in you go!"
"Well, we may have a chance." Grayfia said. "If Sirzechs is limiting his power, that means he can't use the Human Shaped Aura of Destruction, he may not even be able use Ruin the Extinct. In short he's probably slightly above Ojou-Sama's level. He can generate it, but he just can't shape it well enough."
"Be prepared for Ruin the Extinct anyway." Kenshin said. "Just because Sirzechs is limiting him, doesn't mean Hottan won't be able to shape what he's got. Fantasy Magic is also without form as it's name implies."
"Awwh...Kenshin you know me too well." Hottan said. "It's actually quite flattering." He finished as he gathered destruction magic in his palms.
"Feh..." Kenshin scoffed. "Anyway Grayfia, it looks like it has to be option one." He took Kuroi Jigoku and stored it into a seal and took out some charms. "Still though, why doesn't Sirzechs just try the more direct approach?"
"The Human Shaped Aura of Destruction. It's a technique that Sirzechs hasn't fully perfected yet. If it gets used while he's trying to wrest control of himself. There's no guarantee that he could stop it." Grayfia said.
"Lovely." Kenshin said. "Well, let's get this show on the road!" He shouts throwing a charm at Hottan.
"Right!" Grayfia said moving in to attack.
(break)
Meanwhile.
"Hey Hikari behind you!" Azazel shouts throwing a spear through a demon's skull, killing it.
"Right back at you!" Hikari said moving behind Azazel, blocking a stream of flames with her shield. When they were collected, she took the shield and threw it into the horde, letting them spiral around it as the flames released spraying a vortex of flames out, incinerating them.
"Nice!" Azazel said with a grin.
"I gotta ask, why aren't you using Downfall Dragon Spear?" Hikari said as she stabbed a demon in the chest and threw it into another three so Chachamaru could use the ships weapons to kill them.
"Ah come on Hikari, I don't wanna blow my whole load in one fight!" Azazel said swinging his arms out creating several spears which flew into the hordes and exploded in a brilliant light, taking out a few hundred.
"We're changing direction, some of them are trying tomake a break for it!" Kazumi said.
"Make it so!" Azazel replied as Hikari called for her shield to return before letting out a breath. "You OK?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. This isn't my first dance against these odds." Hikari said.
"OK, just making sure." Azazel said.
"You know, I never got the chance to thank you." Hikari said.
"Huh?" Azazel said. "For?"
"Helping put Ryuushin back to rest again." Hikari smiled. "He was right, the way we were, we couldn't have done it."
"Well I wasn't the one who did it, that was Kenshin." Azazel said.
"I know, but my point still stands." Hikari said.
Azazel shrugged. "Save your thanks till after we're good and outta here. Be sure to wear somethin' nice too."
"..." Hikari rolled her eyes at him. "I'll wear what I want to wear and you'll shut up and like it."
"Hahahahaha!" Azazel laughed. "Very well." A communication circle appeared next to his head. "Talk to me."
"How are things holding up on your end?" Evangeline said.
"Fine, none of these things will break the perimeter if I, er we..have anything to say about it." Azazel said, hastily correcting himself as Hikari glared at him. "What about you?"
"Fine for the most part." Evangeline said.
"For the most part?" Azazel asked.
"That monkey, Bikou I think his name was, bailed on his assignment the moment we landed." Evangeline said.
"Ugh...I know Kenshin said he could, but what the hell?" Azazel said. "Speaking of, how are Kenshin and Grayfia doing?"
"Looks like a stalemate so far. No one getting much of an edge on the other." Evangeline said. "Oh! Damn I know that had to hurt."
"What? What happened?" Azazel asked.
"Apparently Hottan took the meaning of playing fair out of Issei's head, because he just hit Vali right in the jewels with a Dragon Shot." Evangeline said.
"..." Azazel winced and impulsively closed his legs a bit. "Hey Evangeline, you've dealt with these things before right?"
"Yeah, these things are basically just dolls." Evangeline said. "I have a spell that could take out the whole lot, but it takes awhile to set up."
"Hmm...I see. Well get out there and make sure Bikou doesn't get himself killed. He maybe on his shit list, but the first Sun Wukong will have my head if Bikou gets killed. Worry about the spell in a bit, after we've thinned their numbers a little more." Azazel said.
"Got it." Evangeline nodded.
"Any new orders from Azazel?" Akeno asked, blasting a few demons with lightning.
"Nothin' yet." Evangeline said. "Although I gotta go make sure that monkey man doesn't get himself killed, hey Red you're in charge till I get back!"
Meanwhile Tertium dodged his father's spells and fired back. "Senjin Kokuyouken!"
"Earth Eruption." Primum intoned.
"!" Tertium leaped out of the way as spires of earth ripped upward from where he was standing. He pointed his hand at Primum. "Doru Petaras!"
"Hmph." Primum created a blade of magic and sliced the spear in half. "You know, you used to be such an obeying son before you met that Nagi Springfield, then later, meeting Kenshin Kuroshi."
"It was thanks to them that I got a taste of the freedom we were robbed of so long ago, father." Tertium said with a neutral gaze. "Or should I say, my father's fake."
"Say whatever you want. We both know the result of this fight." Primum said raising his hand.
"..." Tertium raised his hand and threw it forward at the same time as Primum, the both of them shouting. "Banshou Tsuranuku Kokkui no Enkan!" A barrage of blunted spears shot toward and collided, the father and son dueled for dominance.
"Grrhh!" Primum grunted.
"Hrrnn!" Tertium growled, both of them cut off their spears, a cloud of dust obscured Primum's vision, but he heard chanting and recognized the spell.
"That's-!" He cleared the dust and fired off a Doru Petaras at Tertium, stabbing him through the stomach. Tertium slumped forward and Primum walked up to him. "Despite my weakened power, did you really think I wouldn't notice you going for the Tearing Earth spell?"
"Actually yes." Tertium said as his form turned to water.
"!" Primum turned to see Tertium with the spell nearly complete.
"Tearing Earth!" Tertium said firing off a stream of lava, striking his father in the back.
When the smoke from the spell faded, Tertium flew over to his father to find him laying face up, looking at the sky. "...Hahahaha..." He laughed. "You did well son, very well."
"!" Tertium stared at his father, eyes slightly widened in shock.
"You...attained the freedom that none of us could...and you even got your sister out of Hottan's control as well." Primum said. "Live long and well...my son." He said before his body caught fire and began burning away.
"...Of course." Tertium said with a sigh.
At the same time with Sextum, she kept dodging out of the way of explosions of frost. "Where are you going my daughter. I'm not trying to hurt you, only restrain you!" Alterum said with a smirk.
"I will never serve that monster again!" Sextum shouts, stopping on her heels and crossing her arms in front of her. "Freeze Lancer!"
"Hm? !" Alterum found herself having to weave in and out of the way of ice lances. One of them however sliced her shoulder. "Aah!"
"..." Sextum blinked the tears in her eyes away. "Ignore it, that's not really Mother." She thought.
"Ensis Exsequens!" Alterum and Sextum both intone, charging one another, trading sword blows.
"Ghh!" Sextum grunts as the magic blade slices into her shoulder. "Haaah..." She gasped as the cut began getting colder and colder. "Aaah! Good thing I'm an ice mage or this would hurt a lot more!" She thought.
"Something the matter my daughter? !" Alterum asked.
"Now why would you say that? !" Sextum said encasing her fist in ice and punching at her mother's face forcing her to dodge. Sextum smirked as she landed. "I have you now. "Gelidus Capulus!"
"!" Alterum's eyes widened as she was frozen up to her neck. "..." She bowed her head forward with a smile. "Good work Sextum..."
"!" Sextum let out a light gasp. "Wh-What?"
"I know it's over so I've decided to drop the act." Alterum said. "Primum's the same...we just wanted to see how far you've come."
"M...Mother..." Sextum said wiping her eyes.
"I know...goodbye Sextum. Your father and I love you and your brother." Alterum said as the freezing overtook her head. With tears in her eyes Sextum snapped her fingers and the ice shattered to dust, taking Alterum with it.
"Hn!" Sextum wiped her eyes again and then grabbed her shoulder in pain, falling to her knees.
"Hey! S-Sextum-San's hurt!" Asia pointed out seeing demons charging in after her.
"!" Kiba was about to rush in and save her when the demons charging her turned to dust. "What the?"
Tertium appeared next to her. "Sextum, we can both mourn them properly later. Go and get healed."
"R-Right." Sextum said. "What are you going to do?"
"I am as what Kenshin described as being pissed off, and I see some demons that I could take my frustrations out on." Tertium said kicking off the ground and flying toward them.
"Whoa that guy is mad!" Irina said as she saw Tertium punch a hole right through a demon's chest before blocking one with her holy sword while Arthur sliced it's head off.
"Funny there's no blood coming from these things." Arthur noted.
"Evangeline-San mentioned that they were like dolls." Koneko said.
"How boring-nyaa..." Kuroka said.
"How about you quit whining about them being boring and take a few more of them out? !" Rossweisse berated, blasting a few of them with Norse lightning.
"I have been-nyaa." Kuroka said as she caught her spinning wheel of blue flames and threw it back out.
"Gasper you've got some coming in on your right!" Rias warned.
"E-Eeehh? !" Gasper exclaimed and froze them on a reflex. Arthur and Xenovia charged in and cut them down. "T-Thank you!" Gasper said.
Xenovia came over and bopped him lightly on the head. "You need to pay better attention."
"Incoming!" Akeno said seeing a massive ball of magic barreling right at them.
Sona and Serafall shot forward, the former sending water out which the latter then froze and sent into the ball making it go off prematurely before it could get to them. "Hah...keep a sharp eye out everyone!" Serafall said before she saw a demon charging Sona from behind. "So-tan watch out!" She said grabbing hold of her sister and turning around receiving a deep cut along her back.
"O-Onee-Sama!" Sona shouts in worry as she created limbs of water which reached over and grabbed the demon by the head, tearing it off.
"Hahaha, I'm fine." Serafall said. "Just a scratch."
"I don't care, I'm taking you to Asia!" Sona shouts.
Rias panted as she destroyed another twenty demons. "This is insane, how many are there? !"
"No telling!" Akeno said.
"Come on, is that the best you can do? !" Bikou shouts, taking down demons left and right. He blocked one from biting him with his Nyoi Bo. "Whoa ho ho, you are just precious!" He said forcing it off and punching it through the chest. He saw another trying to attack him from behind and turned to take it out, but was surprised to see shots of darkness and ice hit it. He turned to find Evangeline. "That was mine!" He pouted.
"Oh shut up monkey boy." Evangeline scoffed. "You're in the middle of what might as well be called a warzone. None of these demons belong to anyone."
"Still I was about to attack that one!" Bikou complained as he turned and kicked another demon's head clean off.
"Ugh, you are such a child!" Evangeline said as she froze a few with Nivis Casus, letting them drop casually to the ground.
"See you aren't even taking them out properly!" Bikou said as he bisected a few of them through the sheer power of the swing of his Nyoi-bo.
Evangeline called up a magic circle as she blasted demons left and right with ice magic arrows. "Azazel, I fuckin' hate you for making me baby sit this idiot."
"Sorry, but I can't leave the ship." Azazel said.
"Yeah yeah, whatever, you stay there and enjoy making passes at a widow, while trying to cop a feel on those oversized meat bags she calls breasts." Evangeline said.
"I HEARD THAT YOU TIME FROZEN BIT-!" Evangeline cut the call off.
Meanwhile Yukari and Miyuki were standing back to back as Quartum and Quintum stood across from them. "Any ideas?" Yukari asked. "We gotta get the Overdrives back to Kenshin before Hottan nails him."
"Well, I don't think my last idea will work here." Miyuki said. "Wait, you can create water and freeze it with Water Overdrive, right?"
"Create yes, freeze no. I need Wind Overdrive for that to create the necessary wind chill." Yukari said.
"Damn." Miyuki cursed. "...Alright, I got something!"
"Yeah?" Yukari said.
"..." Quintum narrowed his eyes as Miyuki came rushing at him. "That won't wor-!" His eyes widened as Miyuki suddenly became Yukari who slammed her fist into his face. "Gah!"
"Hrn!" Quartum grunted as Miyuki drove her staff into his stomach and used it to swing him into the ground.
Yukari and Miyuki shot back toward each other and kept their eyes on the two as they got back up. "You do realize that we can't do that too often or they're gonna get wise, right?" Yukari whispered.
"I realize this, Incoming!" Miyuki said as Quartum used Apes Igniferae sending crimson explosive bees at them.
"Damn!" Yukari pointed Ryuuga upward. "Water Breath!"
Ryuuga began spraying water which Yukari used to make a thick shell around them, but Quartum smirked and made them explode around the shell. "Let's see how much heat you can take ladies."
"Ghh!" Yukari grunted.
"Aaahh...it's so hot..." Miyuki said. "We can't keep this up, he'll just keep making them until we've sweated to death.
"I realize this. Get ready to change to a wind shell." Yukari said.
"Right." Miyuki said, spinning her staff overhead.
"Now!" Yukari said as she lowered the water shell.
"Haaah!" Miyuki said making her staff generate a great burst of wind, which flung all the crimson bees away. Quartum and Quintum shielded themselves as some of them went off right next to them. When they lowered their arms Yukari and Miyuki respectively were right there, ready to kick their teeth in. They caught themselves and Quintum assumed his lightning form and Quartum welled his magic up.
"Entei Shoukan!" He shouts as a giant constructed from flames appeared behind him.
Quintum appeared in front of Yukari, kicking her in the side of the head, sending her flying. He flew over and took her back, but was shocked when Yukari suddenly turned and slashed at his neck. "Serene Demon Sword!"
"!" Quintum flew back, only to find Yukari behind him, who stabbed him through the chest. "Ugh! How...?"
"You're predictable. This technique is no different than Negi's Raiten Taisou Level One. In that it makes you as fast as lightning, but it doesn't boost your synapses to that level, when I swung my sword at your neck earlier, it was a diversion so I could place my hand on your chest, and inject your body with earth magic, grounding the electric current you were generating."
"Tch..." Quintum said as he closed his eyes with a calm look. "Well, I can't say I didn't want this to happen."
"You guys want Hottan to fall as badly as we do don't you?" Yukari asked.
"You were enslaved by him once, what do you think?" Quintum asked.
"I see your point." Yukari said as Quintum's body faded to mere sparks of electricity that faded out.
With Miyuki she dodged swipes from the massive blade the Entei Shoukan was wielding. "How many times are we going to dance this dance hm? !" She shouts.
"Stay still so I can hit you!" Quartum shouts as he charged her, sending more crimson bees at her.
"You idiot." Miyuki said firing shots of fire at them, making them detonate prematurely.
"Tch...I'm going to lose to her again, aren't I?" Quartum muttered. "Goddammit, I at least wanted to beat her one time before someone iced me."
Entei Shoukan reeled it's sword back and stabbed at Miyuki who dodged and held her spear out in front, poised to stab. "Lightning Spear Thrust!" Miyuki shouts, running Entei Shoukan through, creating a vacuum effect in it's chest.
"Dammit!" Quartum shouts throwing his arms into the air. "Ourania Phologosis!" He shouts firing the destructive fire spell at Miyuki.
"Uh oh." Miyuki said throwing her staff down to where Quartum was and crossing her arms in defense as the spell struck her.
"? !" Quartum's eyes widened as he saw the staff stab into the ground. "That's!" He was cut off as the staff glew brightly and exploded.
Miyuki landed on the ground panting her clothes were mostly burnt off leaving her shirt looking like a high cut top and her pants had turned into shorts. "Nice try, but I'm still number one."
"Kah...Kah...Kah..." She heard Quartum coughing and when the smoke cleared she saw he was breaking apart.
"Damn it...I wanted to hold one victory over you before I bit it..." Quartum said with a weary smirk. "Oh well, guess we can't always have it our way." Quartum said.
"You don't really like serving Hottan, do you?" Miyuki asked.
"Hell no. I do however like to fight." Quartum said. "I never hold back, if you can't keep up, that's your problem not mine."
"I see." Miyuki said as Quartum disappeared. "!" She felt faint and started to fall when she was caught, she noticed white armor and blue jewels. "Huuuh?" She said seeing Vali was still fighting Issei.
"I can divide part of my own power to make a clone, which is what I'm doing now." Vali said. "This clone holding you is made up of one percent of my power."
"Oh...thanks...I guess." Miyuki said.
"Well, you did stick your neck out in a way for my team and I, so I figured I should repay the favor." Vali's clone said as he flew her to Asia.
Meanwhile Sheena was getting lambasted with lightning magic by Secundum, a man who looked to be an older looking cross between Quintum and Quartum, the formers magic and the latter's attitude. "Damn it. There's no opening right now and he's so fast." Sheena said as she finally dodged out of the way and took off away from the line of lightning spears or Icaulatio Fulgoris spells Secundum was throwing at her.
"You can't run forever tigress!" Secundum shouts with a smirk before being forced to duck from a stray shot of dark magic. "What the? !" He glanced over to see Kenshin using Gekietsu Kumori no Mai to attack Hottan while Grayfia tried to attack him up close and personally. "That won't work you fools!"
"Hn!" Sheena grunted firing off a bolt of white lightning at Secundum.
"Gah!" Secundum gasped as it hit him square in the chest.
"Pay attention you damn idiot." Sheena said as a white aura covered her.
"What the hell? !" Secundum said.
"You know, you off the line labrat reject...you really shouldn't act so cocky." Sheena said as she raised her hand. "Now I'm going to show you exactly why they call me Sheena of the White Lightning!"
"? !" Secundum's eyes widened as Sheena appeared in front of him, slamming both hands together onto the top of his head, sending him crashing into the ground. "Oh no you don't! !" He shouts, leaping off the ground, flying backwards and away from the charging white tigress.
"Aw, what's the matter? ! You scared of me or something? !" Sheena mocked.
"Grrhh!" Secundum growled and charged direction, flying right at her, driving his knee into her cheek.
"Grh...come on, you hit like a newborn cub!" Sheena shouts grabbing Secundum's arm and driving him into the ground.
"Ghhh!" Secundum grunted, blood filling his lungs as he was driven onto a sharpened spire of earth. "Get off!" Secundum shouts driving his forehead into hers and flinging her off.
Secundum flew out of the hole and scowled heatedly at Sheena. "I will not...be beaten by some woman!"
"Hey, look out!" Sheena shouts as she notices a large ball of red energy coming right at Secundum.
"Wha? ! Arrrrgghhhh! !" Secundum roared as he was vaporized.
Sheena looked out and was astonished to see an armored red dragon dueling for supremacy against a similarly armored white dragon. She opened communications with Kenshin. "Kenshin, what the hell is that? !"
Kenshin, who was behind a barrier with Grayfia while Hottan pelted them with destruction and fantasy magics. "What is what? ! I can't see anything without dropping this barrier."
"Two armored dragons are fighting in the sky!" Sheena said.
"What? !" Grayfia shouts.
"Damn." Kenshin cursed. "Issei must have invoked his Juggernaut Drive and Vali followed suit to keep up. Hold tight Sheena OK?"
"Right." Sheena said. "This is the power that young man contains?" She wondered. "It's amazing...it's beyond a Taiyoukai's level of power."
"Azazel! Azazel!" Kenshin shouts through a communication circle.
"What's up? None of these demons are getting through if that's what you're wondering." Azazel said.
"Our worst fear has been realized. Hottan made Issei invoke the Juggernaut Drive." Kenshin said.
"Really? Shit...how long do you think he's been in it?" Azazel asked.
I don't know, but do you have that?" Kenshin asked
"That? Of course I do, never leave home without them. I was actually hoping to use one on Hikari when this is over." Azazel joked.
"Not rubbers you idiot!" Kenshin shouts. "Why would you even need them anyway? ! Birthrates of Fallen Angels and Devils are low as it is!"
"So you don't mind?" Azazel asked.
"If you try to add her to one of your harems I'll tear your nuts off!" Kenshin shouts. "Now answer the question before my concentration slips on this barrier and Hottan blows Grayfia and I into next week!"
"Yeah yeah, I got it. I never leave home with out that either, in a situation similar to this." Azazel said. "I was just screwin' with you, y'know."
"Yeah well pick a better time!" Kenshin said. "Get it ready and get in contact with someone who wouldn't care to show a little skin!"
"Gotcha." Azazel said.
"Also..." Evangeline said opening a communication circle. "I was destroying them individually to create a situation where I wouldn't be interrupted, but I have a spell I can use that can take care of all these demons. Want me to use it?"
"Son of a- Yes!" Kenshin shouts. "Go back to Serafall, Rias and the other and tell them that they are to protect you until the spell gets casted!"
"Gotcha." Evangeline said flying back toward the mages.
With Vali and Issei the two flew across the sky in a clash. "Hyoudou Issei...are you so weak willed that you'd let yourself be controlled like this?"
"Ah to hell with you, you have no idea what it's like!" Issei shouts, his dragon sinking it's teeth into Vali's neck as they both crashed into the ground.
The wounds healed as the two flew back out of the hole. "You still let yourself become enslaved by the man just about everyone came here to take down. You can't even control your body, the only reason you're communicating with me is through the Heavenly Dragons telepathic link." Vali said.
"I didn't know that bastard was working with Hottan!" Issei said "Gggh!" He grunted as the dragon started accumulating boosts. "Get ready Vali! Here comes another one!"
"I'm prepared." Vali said bracing the white dragon for potential impact.
"Dragon Shot! !" Issei roared firing off a massive red orb at Vali.
"I don't think so." Vali said.
"Divide!"
"Divide!"
"Divide!"
"Divide! !"
The Dragon shot disappeared and Vali flew right at Issei, tackling him to the ground. "!" Vali's eyes widened at bit within his armor as the chest plate on Issei's armor opened up. "No!"
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! !"
"Sekiryuu TAIHOU!"
"Gaaah!" Vali gasped as he was blasted off of Issei who sprung to his feet and leaped back.
"Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost!..." It kept going on and on.
"Vali, he's planning to use the Longinus Smasher." Albion warned. "You'll never make it over there in time to touch him
"Then I guess I'll just have to try this instead." Vali said as his body glue a bluish white glow
"Longinus Smasher! !"
"Half Dimension! !"
"Ghh!" Vali grunted.
"Raaauuughhhh!" The Red Dragon roared.
The Longinus Smasher eventually fizzled out, losing both it's power and launch speed. However, Vali reverted to his base form. "? !" Vali looked around. "Albion, what's going on? !"
"Too much power has been used, you cannot hold up the Juggernaut Drive without giving over your own life energy at this point." Albion said. "That was our agreement."
"I know that, but he's still in his Juggernaut Drive! He might be exhausted right now, but that can change very quickly with some boosting!" Vali shouts.
"Look out!" Albion shouts back.
"!" Vali looked up to see Issei was right on top of him, and would have swiped his claws down at him had a couple of spears of light and flames not pegged him in the face. "? !" He looked over to see Azazel holding what looked to be a music box and back, peeling his eyes to see Miyuki still in a throwing motion.
"You know, I think she might have a thing for you, but who knows." Azazel said. "Get back Vali."
"Azazel...I figured you wouldn't want to have anything to do with me after I betrayed you." Vali said with a questioning gaze.
"Oh bull. You have your reasons, and I won't question them, now get out of here." Azazel said.
"Right." Vali said taking off toward the others.
Issei turned to Azazel who in turn held up the music box. It began to play a song.
"There is a breast-loving in the edge of a certain country. The Dragon goes on a walk when the weather is good."
"Dragon! Dragon! Oppai Dragon! Grope-Grope! Suck-Suck! Pafu-Pafu!"
"..." Hottan stopped bombarding Kenshin and Grayfia and looked over. "What in the hell?"
Issei stopped, moving his head to the song. "There are so many types of breasts, but he likes the big ones the best, and the Oppai Dragon also flies today!"
"Hey! Get moving and destroy him!" Hottan ordered.
Kenshin dropped the barrier and saw the plan working to perfection, also noticing Rias, Sheena, and Kuroka moving toward Issei and Azazel. "Pfft..." He bowed his head stifling his laughter.
"In the edge of a certain town the Oppai Dragon was laughing, even on a stormy day the Oppai Dragon becomes happy simply by pressing breasts!"
"Dragon! Dragon! Oppai Dragon! Click-Click Zoom-Zoom Iyaan!"
"He has seen a lot of breasts, yet he likes the big ones the best. The Oppai Dragon pushes on today!" The song played on a loop, confounding Hottan.
"What in the hell is going on? !" Hottan shouts.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! !" Kenshin threw his head back and laughed. "How does it feel to be on the other side of being fucked with? !"
"You had something to do with this asinine song? !" Hottan snapped.
"Other than the fact that it's playing? Nothing." Kenshin said with a smirk. "You see...the Sekiryuutei, Issei Hyoudou has a fascination with breasts that borders on...no it IS fanatical! Not even your fantasy magic can control him as soon as he's felt that which he loves most!" He started laughing again. "Oh man, that look on your face is great! The murderection I have for you right now might just explode! Hahahahahaha! !"
"Murderection? You're seriously horny right now?" Grayfia asked with narrowed eyes.. "You really are the Lust Dragon."
"It's called hyperbole Grayfia." Kenshin said. "But if it were to be taken seriously, then yes, I am positively throbbing at the thought of finally ending Hottan once and for all."
"Well Kenshin when I take you over, I'll be sure to put it to good use on your maid friend there." Hottan said firing off a blast of white magic at Grayfia. Kenshin moved in front of her and knocked it away.
"Your Fantasy Magic doesn't work on me remember! You ain't killing anyone!" Kenshin shouts.
Meanwhile Rias, Sheena and Kuroka moved in front of Issei. "Alright ladies. This should work like last time. Just show your breasts to him."
"This seems really dumb, but if it'll work." Sheena said sliding her kimono down.
"It does...the first time was on me." Rias said with a blush.
"Should be interesting-nyaa..." Kuroka purred.
Issei looked down. "Oppai..." He said reaching over and pressing all their nipples in with his fingers.
"Hyau..." Rias gasped.
"Hyann..." Sheena let out a soft moan.
"Nyaaannn..." Kuroka let out a pleased purr.
Issei's body hummed with a red glow and the Red Dragon disappeared and Issei fell into someone's arms, his face rubbing into their chest.
"Hm?" Rias said.
"Awww..." Kuroka pouted.
"H-Hey, I'd like to, but now's really not the time." Sheena said trying to push him away.
"No...these are so soft..." Issei said with a dazed expression.
"Huh? !" Rias said as ice began spiraling around him.
"Lightning Ice?" Kuroka said with a curious look.
While Issei was being saved everyone fought off demons as Evangeline chanted. "Heed the contract and serve me, darkness, ice and snow, the queen of eternity! The coursing white rose of ice, the sleeping eternal garden! Come, everlasting darkness, the eternal glacier! Imprison the soulless puppets with frozen lightning! The enchanting tranquility, the eternal prison of white roses blooming in profusion!" Evangeline raised her hand to the heavens, sparking with frozen lightning. "Endless White Nine Heavens!"
White lightning spiraled around the area in a tornado like fashion, freezing all of the demons solid. "Whoa..." Serafall said looking around. "This spell is amazing."
"Both beautiful and deadly." Sona said with wide eyes.
"Is that all of them?" Kiba asked.
"Yes, with any luck I froze that monkey too." Evangeline said.
"Awww! I was having fun!" Bikou complained, appearing next to Arthur.
"Dammit." Evangeline sighed.
Arthur laughed uneasily. "I know he's a handful, but please don't maim him."
"Yeah Yeah."
"Alright Miyuki." Yukari said nodding toward her little sister.
"Yeah." Miyuki said.
"Return!" They both intoned.
"..." Hottan looked around. "All frozen huh?" He said tapping his keystaff against the ground.
"That's right, you're all alone now." Kenshin said.
"Alright then Kenshin, let's do what we came here to do." Grayfia said as they walked forward.
The jewels on Kenshin's armor lit back up, signifying the return of the Elemental Overdrives. Kenshin grinned and set his hand on Grayfia's shoulder. "Transfer Level One Elements: All."
"!" Grayfia felt power surging through her. "What?" He looked over at him.
"Just so you don't lag behind." Kenshin said.
"My oh my, I don't think I really need it, but I'll make use of it nonetheless." Grayfia said with a smile as they turned to their opponent.
"Alright then." Kenshin said cracking his knuckles with a smirk.
"Tch..." Hottan glowered and took off at blinding speeds toward them who replied in turn. Hottan caught their fists, but was driven back through the frozen demons by Kenshin and Grayfia. He smirked, destruction magic coating his limbs, but was kicked in the face by Grayfia.
Kenshin and Grayfia took off after him. Kenshin was impressed that Grayfia kept up with him the whole way. "She's fast on her own, maybe I shouldn't have worried." He thought.
Kenshin went ahead, swinging his arm at Hottan's head, missing, but using his momentum to go into a spin kick. Hottan blocked it and knocked Kenshin back. Grayfia sprung herself over Kenshin and dove for Hottan grabbing his arm. When Hottan threw her off. Kenshin was under him in an instant, kicking Hottan in the chin. He dove down, his hand covered in white magic, only to get thrown off by Hottan. "Grrhh!" Hottan growled as he saw Grayfia coming in hot, mana spiraling around her fist. She punched down at him only for the ground underneath Hottan to fling them both forward. Grayfia caught herself awkwardly as Hottan fired off several spheres of Fantasy Magic at her.
"Katensho!" Kenshin shouts firing off his father's signature attack to destroy the spheres. "Go! Go!" He shouts.
"Right!" Grayfia said moving quickly to kick Hottan skyward. Kenshin took to the skies after him and punched him in the face, sending Hottan through more frozen demons. Grayfia took his back and spun him around kicking him toward the ground as she did. Kenshin joined her and they pursued Hottan to the ground, their fists cocked back ready to strike.
"!" Hottan flicked his hand forward, the earth lurching forward and knocking Grayfia away before blasting Kenshin in the face with Sirzechs' destruction magic.
"Grayfia, Kenshin be careful!" Sirzechs thought.
Hottan flew out of the crater and turned toward it. "Just because my Fantasy Magic can't affect you, doesn't mean it can't affect the things around you!" He said crossing his arms, the crater closing, trapping Kenshin inside.
Grayfia charged forward as Hottan turned to her. "What's the matter, mad because I buried your partner? !" He mocked.
"No, I'm angry because you're in my husband's body!" Grayfia shouts as she bats down waves of destruction magic before her feet sunk into the earth. "!" Her eyes widened as Hottan charged forward, laying his fist into her chest, knocking her skyward.
"Alright...now let's try out one of those attacks of yours Lucifer Sirzechs." Hottan said as orbs of destruction appeared at his side which he sent flying toward Grayfia.
"Grayfiaaaa! !" Sirzechs shouts, ripping control away from Hottan for a moment.
"Get back in there!" Hottan shouts as he detonated the orbs around Grayfia.
"Nnngghh! !" Grayfia grunted, almost cried out in pain as it struck her.
Hottan turned hearing a crash and saw Kenshin flying up toward Grayfia. "Earth Guard!"
Kenshin shielded Grayfia from the rest of the barrage and looked her over. "She's got the most of that...damn him!" Kenshin thought letting out a roar.
"Take this!" Hottan shouts firing off another wave of destruction magic at Kenshin.
"Go to Hell! !" Kenshin shouts "Sensatsu Katensou!"
Hottan scowled as he found he was stalemated by Kenshin's attack. "I shouldn't fool myself into thinking this was going to be an easy battle." Hottan muttered.
"!" Kenshin looked over and saw Grayfia holding his wrist. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, it wouldn't be the first time I've been hit by Sirzechs' magic before." Grayfia said.
"Alright...let's get this...over with! !" Kenshin said throwing a charm down at Hottan.
"Hm? !" Hottan said seeing it in front of his face. "Oh shi-!"
"Brilliant Flash!" Kenshin intoned.
"Aggghhh! !" Hottan roared in pain as he was blinded.
"Now!" Kenshin said as he and Grayfia took off toward Hottan and blinding speeds. "Concentrate the flames around your fist!"
"Right!" Grayfia said doing as Kenshin instructed.
The two cocked their fists back and punched Hottan as hard as they could. "Crushing Flame Profusion!"
Hottan tumbled across the ground painfully with burn marks on his face as Kenshin charged after him with Grayfia not far behind. "Seishin Boido!" Kenshin intoned thrusting his hand into Hottan/Sirzechs' chest.
"..." Grayfia sighed. "Finally...but...this is strange, the attacks were weaker than I'd expect." She thought. "I know Sirzechs is limiting him, but the magic in general is weaker."
"That's strange...!" Kenshin's eyes widened. "Wait...something's wrong!"
"What is it? !" Grayfia said, alarmed.
"There's nothing in here, I'd be able to feel Hottan's core by now!" Kenshin said. "...Unless...Oh MotherFUCKER! !" He cursed taking off toward the Gravekeeper's Palace. "Keep that clone down!" He shouts.
"What's going on? !" Grayfia shouts opening communications with Kenshin.
"I don't know why I didn't see it from the start!" Kenshin shouts feeling the power he lent Grayfia returning to him. "Hottan's been fooling us from the beginning. He's not been participating in the battle to begin with! Dammit how could I be so stupid! !"
He was proven right when he saw the top of the Gravekeeper's Palace light up with a bright light. "Dammit, if this is what I think it is, we are all screwed! !" Kenshin cursed.
Hottan turned to Kenshin flying in with a smirk. "You caught on too late Kenshin!" He shouts as he fired off destruction spheres at Kenshin.
"Dammit! !" Kenshin said flying to avoid them.
Hottan took hold of the Great Grand Master Key. "Now for my ultimate spell..." He said as he thrust the key upward. "Replace this wretched, imperfect world! Cosmo Entelecheia!"
Kenshin flew at Hottan as the keystaff glew brightly shining across the battlefield, no...the entire world.
By the time Kenshin got to Hottan the light had died down. Hottan turned and slugged Kenshin in the face, sending him rocketing toward the ground.
"Gghh..." Kenshin got to his feet and turned to find he was close to Akeno, Yukari, Evangeline and the others. Everyone had a dull look in their eyes. "Hey! What's up over there, HEY!" Kenshin shouts.
"You're wasting your time." Kenshin turned to find Hottan landing on the ground.
"Grrhhh! !" Kenshin growled. "What did you do to them? !"
"Huhuhuhuhu..." Hottan chuckled darkly.
"ANSWER ME! !" Kenshin roared.
"The entire time you were down here fighting, I was up there preparing a spell. You see..I knew that there was no way my forces could beat yours. Yes, I had quantity, but you had quality in spades." Hottan said. "So I threw them at you as a distraction, and made a clone with fifty percent of my power and had it fight you and that maid..."
"Damn you..." Kenshin snarled.
"Hmhmhm...now now Kenshin...it's not like I'm hurting them." Hottan said with a smirk. "In fact...I'm doing them a favor. You do remember what Cosmo Entelecheia means, right?"
"..." Kenshin scowled.
"Yes...I've put them each into The Perfect World for them. Everyone in the world actually." Hottan said with a smirk. "Observe." Hottan said tapping his keystaff against the ground.
"? !" Kenshin looked around as multiple portals opened up around them. "What in the? !"
"Observe for yourself Kenshin." Hottan said. "These portals, while you cannot enter them, give you a vision of each world that is deemed perfect for them."
"!" Kenshin turned toward Hottan wide eyed. "Tch..!"
"Would you really taken them all away from this?" Hottan asked. "The only way for my spell to be undone would be to destroy the Great Grand Master Key."
Kenshin looked around. He saw numerous things before focusing on one in partiular. Akeno was in the kitchen, cooking with her mother, Shuri, when Barakiel and someone else came in. Upon further inspection Kenshin saw that it was actually him. Akeno turned to him, eyes filled with adoration and kissed him, to which he returned as Shuri and Barakiel looked on, smiling.
He looked into another portal and saw Kiba was training with others that had been in the Holy Sword Project. He looked into another and saw Koneko with her sister. Koneko seemed to be in a slightly mature form. He kept looking, keeping an wary eye on Hottan. Irina was in a kitchen when Issei jumped her from behind trying to grab her chest when she bopped him on the head with a rubber mallet, he noticed Issei had a cross hanging from his neck.
He checked them all. Rossweisse was a teacher at a prestigious university, that also catered to the supernatural beings. Sona was teaching at her Rating Game school, also as it's acting principal. Serafall was starring in another, highly successful T.V show, with Kenshin himself as a co-star. Asia was enjoying a peaceful, carefree life with her friends and Issei, the one she loved. Gasper was running across a castle garden playing with a girl Kenshin did not recognize. Sheena was sitting in front of a house, holding a bundle in her arms, looking at it adoringly. A child Kenshin assumed.
Yukari, Miyuki and Hikari were all walking through a university city, with Kenshin and Ryuushin. He noticed that he and Yukari were holding hands, the latter's head on his shoulder, Vali was standing over Great Red in victory. Bikou was standing over Issei, Vali and Kenshin himself in victory. Arthur was walking across a castle hall speaking with a young woman who resembled him slightly, his sister Kenshin presumed. Azazel was in a lab researching numerous Sacred Gears with Hikari in the lab with him, acting as his assistant. Kazumi was the head of a world renowned news agency. Chachamaru was in the class Kenshin and Negi used to teach, before everything had happened, and went wrong. Evangeline was sitting in a throne in a castle in the middle of a kingdom of darkness
And finally, Issei was in the middle of a sea of women, all naked while Issei himself wore a crown. Off to the side, Kenshin, Vali, Kiba and all the other males acted as his servants.
The only ones he couldn't find were Rias' and Grayfia's. "I ask you again Kenshin, would you really take them away from all of this?" Hottan said with an unusually sympathetic tone.
"..." Kenshin went silent.
"They are happy now, some back before a time before bad things happened to them, others, like your direct family, have had their painful pasts completely wiped away." Hottan said. "The only ones who could resist this spell, are people like you, or people who are satisfied with their lives to this point."
"Tch..." Kenshin growled.
"Feh...Don't listen to him Kenshin."
"? !" Hottan and Kenshin looked around.
"Did you forget I was here?" The voice asked as the mark on Kenshin's back glew brightly.
"Ophis?" Kenshin said.
"Ophis?" Hottan muttered curiously.
"Yes, now...are you really going to let this guy sweet talk you into giving up?" Ophis asked. "So what if they're in a so called 'Perfect World'? It's still a lie, Vali would never truly accept just being handed the victory over Great Red, neither would that monkey Bikou over you and the Heavenly Dragons and don't even get me started on wiping away the pain."
"...Yes." Kenshin said. "You're right. Pain is never truly wiped away You can put stuff on top of it to ease it, or have it healed, but it never truly fades. They may seem happy, but I bet in their hearts they are deeply confused, wondering how they got to that point."
"So, you plan to resist me to the end, do yo-? !" Hottan's eyes widened as Kenshin appeared in front of him and grabbed him by the face and took off.
"If I'm going to do this, I need to get Hottan away from everyone, they're all sitting ducks right now!" Kenshin thought.
"There is still the matter of the Crimson Satan, if you're really going to try and save him, you cannot fight Hottan at full strength." Ophis said.
"I know, and I have a plan for that, but...you are all just going to have to trust me." Kenshin thought as he landed on the ground and threw Hottan away from him.
Hottan smirked demurely. "So, you want to spare your dear friends and family a cruel fate of being destroyed in the crossfire of our final battle, very well then."
"Sylph, Salamander, Undine, Gnome. I need you to pull back your power." Kenshin said.
"Hm? !" Hottan said.
"Kenshin, what are you thinking? !" Undine said.
"Without our power he's going to slaughter you!" Salamander berated.
"Please Kenshin-Chan keep our power!" Sylph shouts.
Gnome nodded in agreement with her sisters.
"Look, just trust me OK! When I say, give it back!" Kenshin thought. "I trust you four with my life, so trust me!"
"..." The Four Spirits went silent, and did as they were asked.
"...Kenshin." Hottan said as the jewels in Kenshin's armor lost light. "Even for you, this has to be a whole new dimension of recklessness."
"Sirzechs, I took Hottan away from everyone. If you can hear me in there you have to fight him now!" Kenshin said.
"..." Hottan donned a light scowl and approached Kenshin. "You know Kenshin...I tried to be nice. For my own sake of course, but I still tried, yet...you always have to be such a fucking...pest!" Hottan said driving his head forward, his forehead coated in Sirzechs' destruction magic.
"Gah!" Kenshin gasped in pain, his back hitting a nearby stalagmite.
A blast of magic hit Hottan square in the side of the head and they both slowly turned to see Grayfia. "You...stupid bitch." Hottan said with a scowl, taking aim at her with Sirzechs' destruction magic.
"NOOO!"/"NOOOOO! !" Kenshin and Sirzechs both shout respectively as Hottan fired it off at Grayfia who was blown to the ground by it.
"Kah!" Grayfia spit up blood, staying on the ground.
"Yes..." Hottan scowled, walking toward Kenshin, grabbing him by the jacket and punching Kenshin with his destruction magic covered right fist, the force turning Kenshin around. Kenshin caught himself, blood seeping from his mouth and into his hand. He turned to Hottan.
"Sirzechs, I heard you in there just now, are you still awake in there?" Kenshin asked.
"Oh he's in here alright..." Hottan said. "He'll feel it when I snap your bones with his destruction magic covered fists! Every single one of them, until you can't raise a hand in defiance anymore!" Hottan pinned Kenshin against the stalagmite, punching and backhanding Kenshin over and over again. "I'll take my sweet time with this, for all the frustrating years this took to come to this point!"
Kenshin's face was bloodied and bruised when Hottan let up to attempt to move to another area of the body. Kenshin reached over and grabbed his arm. "Sirzechs, it's OK! I forgive you." He said before Hottan punched him in the face some more. "I know it's not your fault that what happened to me happened, and knowing the kind of person you are, I know you were probably trying to come up with something, anything to help!" Kenshin said.
"That's enough out of you..." Hottan said drawing his fist back.
"ONII-SAMA! !"
The two heard a scream and turned to see Rias running toward them. "Rias? !" Kenshin thought. "GET BACK! !" He shouts.
"Another one?" Hottan said moving to take aim at her when his body stiffened. "What...? !"
"I see, you're just a worrying older brother." Kenshin said to Sirzechs when they first met.
"It was so surreal...you know, not having to worry about stuff as much any longer.
"I'm glad...that I was brought here..."
"Sirzechs...I trust you..."
"Onii-Sama!" Sirzechs recalled the days when Rias was a child, and when she didn't care as much about his fawning over her.
"Play with me Onii-Sama!"
"Mou, Onii-Sama that's so embarrassing!"
He then recalled the last thing Rias had said to him before he was taken over by Hottan, while they were traveling to the palace in Ostia. "Onii-Sama, thank you for bringing such a wonderful person to our world."
"...Ghh...Ghhuuuhhh!" Sirzechs grunted, lowering his fist. "It's alright Kenshin, Rias...I've...got him."
Kenshin got to his feet. "Just...stand still." Kenshin said. "Don't make any sudden movements Sirzechs." He said walking up to him.
"What are you going to do?" Sirzechs said.
"You're just gonna have to trust me." Kenshin said as a white aura surrounded his hand. "Seishin Boido!" He thrust his hand through Sirzechs' chest.
"!" Rias let out a gasp as her brother's body went slack.
"You're probably not going to be able to fight after this, it saps the strength of the host body in relation to the strength of the one being extracted." Kenshin said. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, just get him out..." Sirzechs said.
"Yes." Kenshin said as he pulled his hand out of Sirzechs' chest, clutching a pitch black orb. He chucked it as hard as he could away from them as he set Sirzechs on the ground. He turned to Rias. "He's alright, Seishin Boido is not a fatal technique." Kenshin said.
Rias walked up to them. "So...is he gone?" She asked.
"Yeah, but not dead." Kenshin said with a grim smirk. "He's over there, probably mad as hell too. Heh!"
"What happened to everyone?" Rias asked.
"Hottan's spell Cosmo Entelecheia, coincidentally named after his organization. It translates to The Perfect World." Kenshin said. "Everyone affected by it, is seeing the world they've always wanted."
"...Then why aren't we affected by it?" Rias asked. "Grayfia too, why wasn't she affected?"
"I think Grayfia's satisfied with her life to this point." Kenshin said. "I've come to accept reality for what it is and his fantasy magic is ineffective against me." He said laying charms on his face. "Healing Light!"
"Then why am I not affected by it?" Rias asked.
"That much still confuses me." Kenshin said. "I mean I know we did...that..last night, but still."
"...Could it be, because of what Negi Springfield gave to me?" Rias wondered.
"Oi Grayfia." Kenshin said. "You OK over there?"
"Yes...just...a little wounded." Grayfia said walking over to them.
"Come and get Sirzechs." Kenshin said. "I've held up my end of the bargain, but he's exhausted."
"..." Grayfia slung Sirzechs' arm over her shoulder.
"Are you alright Grayfia?" Sirzechs asked.
"I'm fine, I've taken worse from you if you recall." Grayfia said.
"Hahaha...sorry." Sirzechs said with a sweatdrop.
"It was during the civil war, you were only doing your job." Grayfia said.
"..." Kenshin and Rias glanced over at each other with smiles on their faces before turning toward where Kenshin had thrown Hottan's core. At that exact moment the two heard the earth breaking and turned back around to find spires of sand stabbed through Sirzechs and Grayfia's chests. "! !"
"Onii-Sama! ! Grayfia! !" Rias screamed.
"...DAMMIT! !" Kenshin said rounding to find Hottan, in his natural form with braided blonde hair, dull blue eyes, soulless smirk and wearing a black mage's cloak.
"You managed to pull one over on me Kenshin." Hottan said. "That...will never happen again."
"..." Kenshin scowled ruefully at him. "You...are going to pay for that...!"
"Now?" The Spirits asked.
"Yes! Your power may not be able to kill him right now, but at least I'll be able to hurt him!" Kenshin thought.
The orbs on Kenshin's armor shined brightly and Kenshin threw charms on Grayfia and Sirzechs' wounds. Healing Light!" Kenshin intoned.
"!" Rias turned to him. "Kenshin?"
"Take Sirzechs and Grayfia somewhere safe." Kenshin said. "I'll cover you."
"What? ! Kenshin he's immune to your power, you won't be able to be-!"
"I am well aware of that Rias! But still if Sirzechs and Grayfia are on the battlefield they could get caught in the cross fire, so take them somewhere safe and come back!" Kenshin shouts throwing a clone stencil out and activating it. It ran over and grabbed Sirzechs.
"R-Right." Rias said grabbing Grayfia and taking off.
"I realize that the only power he's not immune to is yours Rias, otherwise I would have just told you to stay put, I'd rather not put you in danger, but I need your help here." Kenshin's clone said.
"I understand. My mind was just...racing is all." Rias replied.
Kenshin flew up to where Hottan was, his elemental power spiraling around him, whipping both his hair and samurai armor styled Scale Mail around. "Hmm?" Hottan said with a callous smirk. "Just can't control those tears can you Kenshin?" He said seeing tears flying into the wind from Kenshin's eyes.
"I've been thinking...ever since last night, about all the pain and suffering you've caused everyone." Kenshin said. "Because of you...my clans, the Kuroshi and Tsuki are nearly gone, myself and my immediate family all that is left. You caused the Schismatic War, for no real good reason...just to try and erase this world from existence, using your own daughter Asuna to do it." Kenshin said. "Then...you kidnapped my mother and my sister...doing who knows what to them for the next ten years after that. Because of you, my students are dead, my friends in Rikudou were resurrected and used for means that perverted their original objective.
Kenshin went on. "Because of you...the Ala Rubra is gone...my father dead and then revived only to be killed by me again..." The elements around him grew in ferocity. "Then...you put Negi in a position where she had to make me kill her...now you're going to threaten the people who came to find me, and bring me back home." He began to snarl. "No...I will not allow it! Even if the power of the elements can't kill you, you will wish they could!" He took out Kuroi Jigoku and unsheathed it. "Whatever it take..." He shot toward Hottan. "I WILL DEFEAT YOU, HOTTAN! !"
(chapter end)
Draconis: The fights were all kind of quick I know. I wanted to give everyone a little time to shine before I wrote the main fight between Kenshin and Hottan.
Kenshin: Come on Hottan, It's time we finished this!
Hottan: As you wish!
Draconis: That said. I kinda feel like I've made Sirzechs seem weak this whole arc. I should write something good for him soon.
Sirzechs: Eh, I'm just filling a role. Everyone still knows how powerful I am.
Draconis: Aah, still.
Anyway. Next time. The final battle between Kenshin and Hottan, see you all then.
Draconis678 out.