Draconis: Yo.
Kenshin: What?
Draconis: Not you. Yo Saji!
Saji: E-Eh? Th-The author's talking to me? !
Draconis: Yeah, Issei, Vali, Kenshin and Yukari are all gonna be busy and can't participate in the idea I've got, at least not right away.
Saji: Wh-What's that got to do with me?
Draconis: Well, seeing as you've got a Dragon King for a Sacred Gear(s ) I figured I could give you some exposure.
Saji: F-For real? !
Draconis: Sure! Why not? !
Kenshin: (raises shotglass) Congrats.
Issei: Way to go man!
Vali: Hmph, have fun.
Yukari: Make the most of it.
Saji: U-Uhm...
Momo: Come on Gen-Chan you can do it!
Ruruko: We believe in you!
Saji: Deal!
Draconis: Haha! Alright, let's get started! But before I do. I have to address a guest review and I will do so by saying...Just continue reading and your question will be answered.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 57
When Dragons Clash.
Draconis: Begin! Also, there are going to be some things mentioned in this chapter that happened in the Issei lemon chapter I'll be posting on the side story along with posting this. Be sure to read it if you're confused.
(start)
The Next Morning.
Kenshin and Granberia were camped out to rest after their expedition to the Gold Volcano. Kenshin awoke and looked at the morning sky. "Yaaannn..." He let out a long yawn.
"Mmhn...aaah...haa...!"
"Huh?" Kenshin said shaking the sleepiness from his head.
"More...ohhh, more...harder...harder! Uuhhhn...!"
"...?" Kenshin turned his head toward Granberia whose back was turned toward him, but her tail was twitching erratically.
"Ooh, so close...so cloooossseee...!" The Dragon Knight flipped on her back, obviously still asleep, but her left hand was under the chest piece of her armor and her right hand was in between her legs.
"..." Kenshin stared. "Someone's having a fun dream."
"Yeah...Granberia for all of her master swordsmanship, is hilariously weak to the perverse and lewd. It's why Alma Elma can get under her skin so easily. Granberia represses her sexuality." Salamander said.
"I see..." Kenshin thought.
"Ooh...mmgh! Aah...aaaaahhhh! Yeeeesss!" Granberia's back arched upward before she collapsed. Her eyes cracked open and she looked at her fingers. "...Haa..." She shuddered and started to bring her fingers to her outstretched tongue before she glanced over and saw Kenshin sitting up, looking right at her.
"Uhh...hi. Good morning." Kenshin greeted.
"..." The Dragon Knight's face went cherry red and she sat up. "U-Uh...h-how much of that d-did you see? !"
"The tail end of it I think?" Kenshin said.
"...Do...Don't tell Alma, Please, I'll never live it down." Granberia said, bowing her head.
"Fine, but you really don't need to be embarrassed." Kenshin said. "You're a demon. We're naturally lustful Granberia. Some are more obvious about it than others like the Succubi and Incubi, but still...and hell everyone has a wet dream every now and again."
"Y-Yes." Granberia said closing her eyes.
"Hm?" Kenshin said hearing the telltale noise of a communication circle coming up. "Yo?"
"What is it?" Granberia asked.
"Hold on, what, slow down your frenzied mana is causing the communication to short out." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin, you need to...come back to Grangold immediately, we're under attack!" He heard Sona say.
"We have an army at Grangold, let them flex their muscles." Kenshin said.
"You don't un...stand! It's a Dra-on...Vr..ra says it's..T...at...!" The connection went dead.
"Sona! Hey! Sona! Come in!" Kenshin said. "Damn!"
"What is it?" Granberia said.
"Grangold is under attack, by a Dragon apparently." Kenshin said. "We need to move."
"We won't make it back very quickly." Granberia said.
"Balance Break!" Kenshin called out.
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdrive!"
"!" Granberia stared at Kenshin, her eyes widening slightly in shock. "The level of his power...just exploded!" She thought.
"This should cut time off our return. Man it's good to be back." Kenshin said. "Grab on." He said holding out his hand.
Granberia grabbed his shoulder and tightened her grip. "Will this do?"
"Yes, and brace yourself." Kenshin said. The next moment they took off.
(break)
At the same time as the above was happening.
Alice had called Sona into her room. "Has there been any word from the Fallen Angel?"
"Azazel? No, not yet." Sona said. "Him taking off with Issei does present a problem. What if a powerful enemy were to appear?"
"We have an army. I have confidence we'll be able to handle it until they or Kenshin returned, plus, you devils were brought here to help us were you not? You shouldn't be so nervous." Alice said.
"I'm not Alice-Sama, it's just there are opponents that even we can't beat." Sona said. "What's more, we can't seem to find Vali."
"Have you tried Kenshin's little sister? From what I've seen those two spend a lot of time together, most of it is training, but still." Alice said.
"She said he stepped out and would return shortly." Sona said.
"Hmn, I see your point however. That Fallen Angel took off with Erubetie and Inutora as well." Alice said. "Who else left with him?"
"Chachamaru-San, Irina-San, Asia-San...pretty much women who have a romantic interest in Issei except for Kazumi-San who's abilities as a scout were too valuable to take from here. Oh, and Kiba-kun." Sona said.
"Hmn, I imagine your Queen must be miffed at that last one." Alice mused.
"Indee-...wait how do you figure that?" Sona asked.
"Please, anyone with working eyes can see she's infatuated with that Knight of the Gremory girl's." Alice said.
Sona noticed Alice's expression sour slightly at the mention of Rias. "Do you not like Rias or something?"
"Hm?" Alice said.
"Your expression went sour when you mentioned Rias." Sona said.
"Kenshin won't stop talking about wanting to spend more time with her." Alice said furrowing her brow. "Honestly it's getting annoying. I have no qualms with her personally."
"They are engaged, he should want to spend more time with her." Sona pointed out. "He also would like to spend more time with others, like Yukari-San, Akeno-San, Koneko-San or Ravel-San."
"I know that, but he is the Vice Commander. I need him to do what he's been doing." Alice said.
"...Which is be by your side right?" Sona guessed.
"...What are you implying?" Alice said narrowing her eyes.
"Kenshin's Vice Commander duties usually put him in your company." Sona said. "Even when we went to Sabasa, I think Kenshin could have proven he wasn't a homunculi or a traitor to Makai without your presence."
"And?" Alice said. "I don't see your point."
"You talked about my Queen, Tsubaki being infatuated with Kiba-kun, well Alice-Sama, I think the same is true for you. I think you're infatuated with Kenshin."
"..." Alice stared at her, her eyes slightly widening.
"I can't say I blame you, considering your position." Sona said. "You were about to lose this war, possibly your life when Kenshin and Yubelluna-San appeared. He saved you, your people, and revived your three Heavenly Knights as his servants. From there he took the reins and led a counterstrike and dealt a crushing blow to this region we're currently in. Then he came to the Underworld and gained our assistance. You're turning the tide of this war, because of Kenshin's will. He gave your people and yourself reason to hope again."
"Y-Yeah, well..." Alice said.
"So really it's no surprise that you are infatuated with him." Sona said.
"I am not infatuated with hi-" The door swung open and one of the lesser youkai burst into the room.
"Alipheese-Sama! We got trouble!" He said.
"What is it?" Alice said.
"A large dragon is approaching. We've tried deterring it, but our attacks seem to bounce off it!" He said.
"A Dragon? !" Sona said. "What color was it? If it's black then we might be getting attacked by..."
"What does that matter?" Alice said.
Sona moved next to her. "Luka managed to steal something from Kenshin while he was in the Underworld. He can't initiate his Juggernaut Drive right now which allows him to control the body of a black dragon." She whispered.
"Seriously? !" Alice whispered back.
"Yes." Sona replied.
"Well?" Alice said.
"It's a blue western type dragon." The lesser youkai said.
"..." Sona narrowed her eyes. "A blue one...?" She muttered, pondering.
"What is it?" Alice asked.
Sona lifted her head. "You." She pointed at the lesser youkai. "Run along and tell the army to pull back immediately, if it's what I think it is, you will die fighting this opponent."
"Alipheese-Sama?" He asked.
"Do as she says." Alice said raising up. "I'm going to the front lines."
"Ma'am!" He said leaving the room. Alice and Sona left as well and headed toward the west wall.
"What do you think it is?" Alice asked. "You seem gravely concerned."
The earth shook under them. "I don't know for sure, I need to speak with my pawn. He has a Dragon type Sacred Gear. A Dragon King. If anyone could know what's attacking us, it would be him." Sona said.
"Get in contact with him, and call the rest of the devils to the front lines." Alice said. "I'll call the three Cardinals that are still here."
"Alright." Sona said. She opened a communication circle. "Saji, Tsubaki."
"Yes Sona-Sama." They said.
"Your presences are required at the west wall. Tsubaki, get in touch with the others and tell them to report as well." Sona said.
"Yes." Tsubaki said.
"Saji, tell Vritra I need to ask him something when we get there. Wake him up." Sona said.
"Vritra? Why?" Saji asked.
"Just do it." Sona said.
"Alright." Saji said.
The two arrived at the west wall to find Kazumi, Tamamo, Alma, Jordan, Akatama and Bureijin already there with Evangeline. Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Xenovia, and Rossweisse along with Rasai soon joined them, followed by Sona's peerage." Alice narrowed her eyes seeing two people dressed in Tokusatsu outfits. "Who are they?"
Sona leaned over. "It's my sister and Grayfia-San. The latter says it was Kenshin's idea." Sona whispered.
"Ah." Alice nodded. "So...what do I call you two?"
"I'm Satan Pink!" Satan Pink introduced.
"...Satan Yellow." Satan Yellow introduced unenthusiastically.
"Alright, Saji is Vritra awake?" Sona asked.
"Yeah." Saji said. "Come on Vritra."
The Sacred Gears Saji was wearing flared to life. "The hell do you want?" Vritra asked.
(boom!)
"? !" Everyone turned to where a blue dragon had just blasted a squad of retreating youkai.
"I need to know what we're dealing with here." Sona said.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Vritra said tugging Saji's right arm forward to get a better look.
"She?" Tamamo asked.
"She's supposed to be in the world of familiars." Vritra said.
"...So it is as I feared..." Sona said with a glower.
"Who is it?" Alice asked.
"The only female among the Five Dragon Kings. The Chaos Karma Dragon, Tiamat." Vritra said.
"Seriously? !" Saji said.
"Vritra, are you certain that is Tiamat?" Satan Yellow asked.
"I am. The power is unmistakably hers." Vritra said. "What's more, I can tell it's the real her, not one of these sham youkais you've been fighting. There's a limit to what you can fake after all, and this...Homunculus King must have met it when he met Tiamat."
"So you're saying he made Tiamat his familiar?" Tamamo asked.
"I doubt it. Tiamat's strong, and according to you all, this asshole has the Sword of God, but that wouldn't be enough to beat Tiamat, not without suffering massive amounts of damage." Vritra said. "If the King is injured, wouldn't the homunculi army fight more fiercely to defend their wounded ruler?"
"I see..." Alice turned to Kazumi. "See if you can find anything on that dragon, a control apparatus, anything."
"OK." Kazumi said. She sent one of her drones out and flew around Tiamat, keeping her distance. "Zoom, Five." She said, making the picture bigger. "Ten..." She said. "...No...there's something, but I can't make it out. Fifteen." She scanned her eyes over the picture. "There's a thin black strip going around her neck."
"Let me see." Vritra said. Kazumi nodded and held the monitor in front of Saji. "...Oh that motherfucker!" He shouts.
"What is it?" Akatama asked.
"A slave collar, a fucking slave collar geared for Dragons!" Vritra seethed. "Putting us in Sacred Gears is one thing, that over the years we've gotten over, but that...oooh!" He growled. "Forcibly enslaving a Dragon with one of those is the worst insult you can deal to a dragon! Even most of the dragons that aren't enslaved are angered by it!"
"Vritra?" Saji said.
"Tiamat and I aren't close, but that is infuriating." Vritra said.
"Well, how do we free her?" Rias asked.
"You need to break the collar, but only the power of another dragon can pull it off." Vritra said.
"Well I'm part dragon." Akatama said.
"Tiamat will see you coming and stop you, you're not exactly strong enough to take on even one of the Dragon Kings, let alone the strongest." Vritra said.
"Tiamat has power on par with the Four Satans." Sona said
"Yes, Where are the Heavenly Dragons, or the Dragon of the Elements?" Vritra asked. "They will be of help here."
"None of them are here...fucking hell did that bastard send Tiamat out knowing this?" Evangeline asked.
"How would Forbesii know?" Alice asked. "In any case, we need to move now."
"Yes, oi Partner." Vritra said. "Your participation in this battle is required."
"Eh?" Saji said. "I gotta fight the Chaos Karma Dragon? !"
"Relax, we'll be doing it the same way we did when we fought that fox Yasaka." Vritra said. "It's just going to take some time to set up."
"Alright." Alice said. "First, let's get her attention on us." She extended her hand outward and closed her eyes focusing her magic. "Omega Blaze!" She shouted her eyes opening wide.
The air around Tiamat exploded. "Aagh!" Tiamat cried out in pain. "Who did that? !"
"Down here you overgrown lizard." Tiamat looked down to find the devils and the three Grand Cardinals led by Evangeline and the two Satan Rangers.
"Don't you think you should be more respectful to one of the Dragon Kings?" Satan Yellow asked.
"I don't show respect to those trying to kill me." Evangeline said.
Satan Pink pointed dramatically at Tiamat. "We are here to stop you, Chaos Karma Dragon!" She declared.
Sona sweatdropped. "I know what she's trying to do, but it's still weird to hear from such a cute sounding voice."
A communication circle appeared next to Satan Yellow's head. "The collar does not suppress the personality so don't be surprised by her reacting and communicating or whatnot, it just makes it impossible to disobey the orders of the one who put the blasted thing on." Vritra said.
"Yes, thank you." Satan Yellow said.
"Stop me? Tch, don't make me laugh." Tiamat scoffed. "There is only two of you strong enough to fight me, and neither of them have dragon in them."
"You might be surprised at what we can do." Akatama said spinning his naginata over his head before slashing it downward. "Humid Boil!"
"Grhhh..." Tiamat growled as it suddenly started to get unbearably hot.
"Jordan." Akatama said.
"Tatsumaki!" Jordan shouts flapping his wings outward, making a vortex of wind appear, surrounding Tiamat. He brought his wings together and focused his magic. "...!"
"Aaggh!" Tiamat shouted feeling small, non bleeding cuts opening up. She let out a roar, sending a vibration through the air, scattering the air. Everyone covered their ears.
"Damn, that was loud..." Bureijin said.
"Did you really think some hot air and wind would stop me?" Tiamat asked.
"Well, had to try something...like this!" Akatama shouts punching the ground. "Geyser Eruption Fist!"
"Guuooh!" Tiamat groaned as an explosion of super hot water hit her underbelly. "Grh..." She glared at the crowd in front of her and inhaled. "Chaos Breath!" She shouted, exhaling a blue breath attack.
"Nivis Tempestas Obscurans!" Evangeline and Rossweisse both called out.
"Won't work!" Tiamat shouts as it gained a flame element.
"What? !" Evangeline exclaimed.
Satans Pink and Yellow shot forward and erected a barrier, successfully blocking the attack. Tiamat breathed smoke out through her nose. "Fools, My title isn't just for posterity. My chaotic magic turns my breath attack into your attack's opposing element."
"Ah shit..." Evangeline said. "Alright Rossweisse no spells of elemental nature unless we're in close quarters."
"Got it." Rossweisse said taking out a spear.
"Haa!" Rias blasted Tiamat in the face with her magic.
"Roar, Thunder!" Akeno shouted hitting Tiamat with her lightning.
"...Hmn." Tiamat emerged from the smoke of their attacks relatively unharmed. "You have guts, I can respect that!" She said pulling one of her hands back. "Here's your reward!" Tiamat said dragging her hand across the earth, sending sharpened spikes of rock at them along with large boulders.
"Blow them out of the sky!" Rasai shouts.
Tsubaki, Sona, Rias, and Bureijin join him in doing so while Satans Pink and Yellow block the spikes with a barrier. Satan Yellow jumped forward and cocked her fist back punching Tiamat on the nose. "Why you!" She shot her hand forward, trying to grab Satan Yellow, only for her to dodge out of the way.
Satan Pink followed suit. Leaping forward. "You may be able to attack with our opposing elements, but what happens when they're so close you can't get your breath out? Hm? !" She shouts firing lances of ice at Tiamat.
"..." Tiamat slashed them out of the way with her hand and sent blades of pressurized air at the devils and youkai.
"I don't think so." Alma said countering with her wind magic, causing an explosion of wind that blew everyone back. Tiamat inhaled again.
"Guess again!" Rasai said using his destruction magic like a whip and wrapping it around Tiamat's jowls and held them shut.
"Grrhhh!" Tiamat growled.
"You can use your destruction magic like that?" Satan Yellow asked. "Impressive."
"My forte is shape manipulation, now hurry! I can't hold her mouth shut forever!" Rasai grunted.
"Right!" Satan Pink said. "Celsius Cross Trigger!"
"Whew!" Evangeline said as the Satan Ranger's attack took effect, freezing the earth and air around Tiamat. "Attack now, all of you!"
"Right!" The group chorused.
Saji watched as the group laid into Tiamat. "Could this...actually work?"
"Hmn, it remains to be seen." Alice said. "I get why they left me up here, but not being able to participate is annoying."
"Well you are the Demon Queen Alice-Sama...if you go down, so does the Revolution, I mean there's only so much Kenshin can do on his own." Saji said.
"I know." Alice said closing her eyes.
"This won't work." Vritra said. "The two Satan levels down there could probably pull it off and beat Tiamat if they were alone, but with everyone down there..."
"Nivis Tempestas Obscurans/Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens!" Evangeline and Rossweisse shout casting their spells, firing them at Tiamat.
"Let's go!" Akatama said to the others, who were charging their own attacks.
Arcs of flames, lightning, destruction, water and wind all struck Tiamat. Sona turned to Reya. "How is it? Is she knocked out?"
"..." Reya's face filled with fear. "N...No...not even close...in fact, I think all we've done is make her angry."
(crack!)
"Khh!" Evangeline growled as Tiamat started breaking free of the ice. "Magia Erebea!" A dark aura surrounded her. She nodded toward Rossweisse who nodded back and fired another Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens at Evangeline. Evangeline extended her right hand toward it as her magic circle appeared and halted the spell's progress. "Sinistra Stagnant! Complexio! Supplementum Pro Armationem! Agilitias Fulminis!"
"Whoa? !" Rasai shouts shielding his eyes as Evangeline took off. "What was that? !"
"Magia Erebea, A technique that Evangeline-San created. It allows her to take in offensive spells and use them to up her power." Satan Yellow said. "Hikari-San also knows the spell."
Rasai furrowed his brow. "Seriously? Is everyone in Kenshin Kuroshi's peerage absurdly powerful with the exception of that scout?"
"Huh? Grah? !" Tiamat shouts as Evangeline knocked her head to the left. "Grh? !" She turned her head only to realize her attacker was gone.
"Haa!" Evangeline said dropping her fist on top of Tiamat's head.
"Gruoh!" Tiamat said, her head hitting the ground from the force.
Evangeline glanced over at them angrily. "Just because I'm attacking now doesn't mean you idiots stop!"
"Right." Satan Yellow said. "Everyone, keep up the assault!"
"Grrrhhh!" Tiamat growled as she was pelted on all sides by magic and fists causing it to retreat backward..
"Keep it up!" Satan Pink shouts sending multiple lances of ice at Tiamat.
"Hey, they're actually beating it back! We should go and assist!" One of the youkai said, making the others chorus in agreement.
"? !" Alice's eyes widened. "Stop you fools!" She shouted only to be ignored.
"!" Tiamat noticed them incoming and her body moved against her will. "No, damn it! I don't want to...attack them! I have no quarrel with any of these people!" She thought.
Her body inhaled, ready to exhale her breath attack at the charging youkai. "! !" Satans Yellow and Pink as well as Evangeline all noticed this. "Shit!" Evangeline cursed moving to attack Tiamat while the two Satan Rangers moved in front of the youkai. At the same moment, Tiamat's attack launched toward them.
"Barrier!" Satan Yellow and Pink all shout.
"Iaculatio Fulgoris!" Evangeline shouts, throwing spears of lightning into Tiamat's skin.
"Onee-Sama!" Rias and Sona shout in worry.
The smoke cleared and both of them of them were wounded badly. Satan Yellow collasped, Satan Pink turned toward the youkai. "Are you...alright?"
"..." Everyone was stunned into silence.
"Just looking at you all, you are...that's...good..." Satan Pink said as she fainted.
"Shit! Anyone with healing magic get over there now!" Akatama ordered.
"!" Sona nodded toward most of her peerage.
"Wait!" Evangeline shouts seeing Tiamat charge up another attack as Sona's peerage proceeded toward the two fallen Satan Rangers. Koneko and Yura moved forward to try and force Tiamat's mouth shut only to get swatted into the castle wall. "Shit!" She flew downward, intent on dropping her heel on Tiamat's nose.
However it was too late as Tiamat's attack launched at second sooner that Evangeline could manage to attack her in. "Mirror Alice!" Tsubaki called out, trying to block the attack with her Sacred Gear.
"Just try to move! You can't hope to block that thing forever!" Evangeline said attacking Tiamat with lightning enhanced attacks. "!" Her eyes widened seeing Tiamat's fist roaring toward her.
"Delete Field! Shadow Prison!"
Tiamat's breath attack vanished while her fist was restrained. "? !" Evangeline and Tsubaki looked over to see Saji walked toward Tiamat. "Saji? !" Tsubaki said.
"Gen-Chan! Saji-kun!" Momo and Ruruko called out.
"Saji." Sona said.
"Everyone pull back. I'll take this from here." Saji said.
"..." Tiamat turned toward him. "You're going to fight me all alone...I admire your bravery, but it's suicide!" She said batting Evangeline away with her other hand and ripping herself free, charging toward him.
"Vritra Promotion!"
"? !" Tiamat stopped as a black eastern dragon wreathed in flames appeared before her. "Vritra? !"
"His wielder, Genshirou Saji! I will be your opponent from here on out!" Saji shouts.
"Hm? !" Tiamat stared at him before closing her eyes and laughing under her breath. "A wielder huh? The weakest of the Dragon Kings, hacked into several different pieces by Indra...you're just teasing me with freedom at this point."
"Don't underestimate me!" Saji shouts, the dragon opening it's mouth and a large extension of Absorption Line launched forward and attached to Tiamat's neck.
"Grh? !" Tiamat scowled at it before looking up. "!" She saw Saji being pulled into her. "He's reeling himself in? !" She thought.
Saji sunk his teeth into Tiamat's neck. "Up we go!" He shouts taking Tiamat into the sky, spinning around with her a couple of times before diving downward, bombing Tiamat into the ground.
"Graah!" Tiamat gasped in pain as her body hit the ground.
Saji drove his head forward and bashed it against Tiamat's. He dodged backward as Tiamat swiped her claws at him and whipped his tail around smacking her across the face. "Oi, remember, because I'm holding back the influence of my power driving you mad, the the trade off is that the promotion isn't as powerful. The Sekiryuutei isn't here to calm you down after all."
"I know." Saji thought. "I'll make due with what I got!"
"Grh? !" Tiamat growled as a shadowy aura restrained her. "This again? !"
"I can't give her a moment to rest, I have to keep going!" Saji said as Vritra inhaled.
"!" Tiamat narrowed her eyes in anger and worry as she knew what was coming. "Those flames, if they strike me, I won't be able to extinguish them, at least not very easily." She thought as she inhaled as well.
The two dragons roared, their breath attacks flying out, blue flames clashing against black flames. Saji/Vritra dug into the ground, trying to hold their position. "Grhh..." Saji grunted.
"You've got guts I'll give you that, but Tiamat's not someone you can beat in a battle like this. Not only does her chaotic natured magic give her breath attacks the ability to change to a form beneficial to herself, but it also packs a devastating punch." Vritra said.
"Right!" Saji said diving to the side, narrowing dodging the breath attack as it charged by him and struck open field, he rushed forward and swung his tail at Tiamat.
"Not this time!" Tiamat shouts grabbing his tail. Saji/Vritra dug their hands into the ground as Tiamat tried to throw them. The second she realized she couldn't Saji/Vritra let go of the ground and closed in on Tiamat, wrapping around her body, applying a painful squeeze.
"Grruuhhh..." Tiamat growled in pain.
"Now! Use my flames with Blaze Black Flare to burn off the collar!" Vritra shouts.
"Got it!" Saji said.
"!" Tiamat took to the skies, flying erratically, making it impossible for Saji to concentrate. "It's...the collar's doing!" She said.
"I know! I get that your actions aren't your own!" Vritra shouts.
Saji cursed. "Dammit! I can't...gather the flames...!"
"Uncoil now!" Vritra shouts as Tiamat starts dive bombing.
Saji uncoiled and let Tiamat crash into the ground. "Haa...Haa..." Saji panted.
Evangeline narrowed her eyes seeing Saji just floating where he was. "That form is wearing him out..." Her eyes snapped toward Tiamat and reeled her hand back. "This is gonna suck, not being my element and all." She thought going into a chant.
"What's she doing?" Rias said.
"No, Saji's Vritra promotion is exhausting him, he won't be able to hold it much longer!" Sona said.
"!" Rias turned to her with wide eyes, before her head snapped forward, seeing Xenovia rush toward Tiamat. "Xenovia? !"
"Thousand Thunderbolts!" Evangeline shouted, launching the strongest lightning spell in her arsenal at the Dragon King.
"Durandal! !" Xenovia said slashing her sword forward, a powerful force flinging off her blade.
"? !" Tiamat roared in pain as the two attacks struck her.
"Hey!" Saji shouts.
"Relax, this gives you a chance to breathe." Vritra said.
"Yeah, but..." Saji thought.
The dust settled and Tiamat stood there, no visible signs of harm on her. Her tail swung into Xenovia who shielded herself with Ex-Durandal, angling her body to stab it into the ground and stop herself after being struck. Tiamat shot toward Evangeline, her hand reaching forward to grab the Shinso. "!" Evangeline's eyes widened as her Magia Erebea cut out. "No! Damn! The Thousand Thunderbolts wiped me out!"
"Evangeline-San!" Saji shouts flying down toward her.
"WAIT!" Vritra shouts.
It was too late as Tiamat stopped short of Evangeline and turned, inhaling.
"!" Saji's eyes widened. "Oh no! There's no time!"
"Gen-Chan! Saji-kun!" Momo and Ruruko cried out in fright as Saji was engulfed in blue flames.
"Saji!" Sona, Rias and everyone else shout in worry.
"Ghh..." Saji emerged from the smoke, badly injured, crashing into the ground. Tiamat got over the top of him and pinned him down.
"...I am sorry, if this collar wasn't on me, I wouldn't even be here..." Tiamat said.
"Grrhh..." Saji struggled weakly as Tiamat reeled her hand back.
"No! Saji get up!" Sona shouts. "Don't let her kill you!"
"Gen-Chan, fight! Come on! !" Momo cried out.
"Saji-kun, please! !" Ruruko shouts.
"Dammit! This is it!" Saji thought closing his eyes.
Suddenly a faint voice as heard, coming in fast, saying the world 'Mine' in rapid succession. It got louder and louder until Tiamat was blown away, tumbling painfully on the ground.
"Mine!" The source of the voice said with a smirk.
"Guuhh...K-Kenshin...?" Saji said as the Vritra promotion canceled. .
Kenshin turned to Saji. "Hey, you did great man, but let me take it from here."
"Well, I'm not exactly in any condition to argue the point." Saji said with a tired grin.
"Alright then, Granberia, get him out of here." Kenshin said.
"Yeah Yeah." Granberia said grabbing Saji and running him back toward the crowd.
"Hey, that's the Vice Commander! The Vice Commander has returned!" The youkai chorused.
"Kenshin?" Alice said gazing at him from a distance. "I didn't recognize him with that armor on." She thought.
"Thank you Kenshin..." Sona thought, breathing a sigh of relief.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes sensing Alma, Tamamo, Kazumi and Evangeline. "What the hell? Where's Yukari, Miyuki and Mom? Come to think of it, where the fuck is Vali and his team?"
"You..." Tiamat growled, getting back up, scowling at Kenshin.
"Oh well, I guess I'll find out later." Kenshin said turning back to Tiamat. "Yo! If I'm not mistaken, you're Tiamat, the Chaos Karma Dragon right? !"
"...I am Dragon King Tiamat, yes." Tiamat said.
"Awesome!" Kenshin grinned. "I was needing an opponent to test my regained power against, and you're perfect!"
"The hell am I? Chopped Liver?" Granberia muttered.
"..." Tiamat stared at Kenshin. "That power...Ragnarok Kuroshi?" She asked. "No, the armor and hair is different. You're Kenshin Kuroshi..." She said.
"Yup." Kenshin said cracking his neck from side to side. "So, why is it you're here Tiamat? Last I heard you were in the Familiar Forest, kicking the ass of whomever tried to tame you."
"I was." Tiamat said as the two closed in on each other. "I don't sense a familiar contract on you, am I to assume you want to test your might?"
"Yeah I transferred my former familiar, Sheena's contract to Issei before we got here." Kenshin said. "That said, you haven't answered my question."
"A man with ashy tan skin and long silver hair wielding a sword of white came to me, and before I could react, this collar was on my neck. A slave collar geared to dragons." Tiamat said.
"...I see..." Kenshin scowled. "You've met Forbesii then."
"Taking it off isn't going to be easy." Tiamat said.
"Wouldn't be fun if it were." Kenshin said.
"Hmph." Tiamat exhaled smoke through her nose. "Just like Ragnarok, you revel in battle."
"I am his reincarnation." Kenshin said.
"That said, I sense the power of Ddraig in you as well." Tiamat said. "...I hate Ddraig."
"Yeah he's said as much, now...enough talking!" Kenshin said taking off like a bullet at Tiamat.
"Coming right at me? ! Don't be foolish!" Tiamat shouts, exhaling a breath attack at Kenshin.
"Who said I was coming right at you? !" Kenshin said dodging out of the way of the breath, taking Tiamat's right and shoulder charging right into her ribcage with the power of wind and earth.
"Guulh? !" The air was driven right out of the Chaos Karma Dragon's lungs. Kenshin threw a charm at the ground underneath Tiamat's chin.
"Pillar Upheaval!" Kenshin shouts.
A pillar of earth shot out of the ground and slammed into Tiamat's chin, causing her to fly back to gather her bearings. She looked around. "Where is he? !"
"Dragon's Descent!" Kenshin shouts, flying down at her head, with Kuroi Jigoku pointed forward, flames spiraling around the blade. Tiamat looked up and exhaled her breath, the element changing to water. "What the hell? !" Kenshin shouts. "Katensho!"
An explosion of steam blanketed the area. The Boosted Gear came to life. "Elemental Dragon."
"Vritra?" Kenshin said. "You can speak through the Boosted Gear?"
"Yes, now listen, Tiamat's mana is infused with the properties of chaos." Vritra said.
"What the hell does that mean?" Kenshin asked as he dodged a large blue fireball and took off as Tiamat fired more at him through the cover of the steam.
"Her Chaotic mana wreaks havoc on her opponent's magic, Now that I think about it, it can also cause some people's magic to go haywire." Vritra said. "The only people who can defend against this is are other dragons or those stronger than her like say, Ajuka Beelzebub."
"Well luckily I'm at least half dragon." Kenshin said, slashing downward, blasting a fireball out of the sky with a large water bullet, causing another explosion of steam. He threw three separate charms, causing tendrils of dark magic to run down into the steam.
"Yes, when she attacks with her breath, it is typically in defense, though as you can see she is attacking you with it. Anyway, when she attacks with it, it shifts into the element or form that the offending attack is vulnerable against." Vritra said.
"I see that." Kenshin said seeing white lights running up his black tendrils, destroying the charms. Getting tired of the hide and seek game, he took out a charm, threw it in front of him and activated it, sending out an explosion of wind scattering the steam. "Couldn't you have just warmed it up so much that she had to get out of there to breathe?" Salamander asked.
"Need an enclosed space for that Salamander." Kenshin thought. "If we were doing this in your Volcano, then sure, but I might also trigger and eruption in the process."
"Oh...right." Salamander said with a sweatdrop.
"In any case a shoot out it definitely to my disadvantage." Kenshin said. "Kind works out, since my external elemental molding is pretty much garbage without the charms anyway."
"It's not that bad, just not, you know...great." Undine said.
"For the purposes of fighting a fully grown Dragon Ki...well I guess since Tiamat's female, Queen. It's garbage without the charms." Kenshin said as he started flying toward Tiamat.
"Eh, good point." Undine said.
Kenshin threw a substitution stencil behind him and activated it before throwing a charm at Tiamat. "Eimei Issen!" Kenshin shouts running through handsigns while closing his eyes.
"Argh? !" Tiamat was blinded by a flash of light. When her vision came back Kenshin was right in front of her, cocking his fist back to punch at her nose. "Grhh!" She slammed her palm down, pinning Kenshin to the ground.
"!" Everyone shared a sharp gasp.
"Why the hell would he let her do that? !" Akatama thought.
"I have you now, Dragon of the Elements." Tiamat said.
"Heheheheheh, do you now?" Kenshin asked as his body lit up.
"What? !" Tiamat shouts. "What's going on? !"
"Boom." Kenshin said as he exploded.
"Argh!" Tiamat roared in pain as she recoiled her wounded hand. "Damn! A decoy! Where is he? !"
"!" Jordan looked behind Tiamat. "Over there!" He said.
"!" Tiamat felt something grab her tail. "Back there? !" She said.
Kenshin tugged back with both hands. "Grh!" He grunted.
"I don't know what you're trying to do, but it won't work!" Tiamat said.
"That's...what you think!" Kenshin said as he finally felt a little give and acted on it. "Gonna need everything short of the Vessel here Gnome!"
"!" Gnome nodded.
"Didn't you do this in the fight against Ryuujin, you know, before you had access to all our power?" Salamander asked.
"I was also using youki, which is now connected to my Touki which I don't think I have got a good enough grip on to use it with the Balance Breaker yet, and Gekietsu Kumori no Mai to create a extra set of arms which I forgot to do this time." Kenshin thought.
"Guah? !" Tiamat said feeling herself being lifted off the ground.
"Huurraaahhhh!" Kenshin roared swinging Tiamat over his shoulder and on downward.
"Did he...just throw her? !" Alice said with wide eyes.
"Guurahh? !" Tiamat gasped in pain as her back crashed into the ground.
"Aw...I know I threw Ryuujin further than that." Kenshin said with a deflated expression.
"Kenshin, focus." Undine said.
"Yeah I know." Kenshin said taking out his naginata and taking off toward Tiamat. The elements flared around it, growing stronger and stronger.
Tiamat pushed herself up. "I don't think so!" She said reaching for him.
Kenshin threw out another stencil and activated it. The clone grabbed his arm and swung him out of Tiamat's grip. Throwing him toward her.
"!" Tiamat watched as Kenshin closed in. "I can't stop him in time!"
"Elemental Cataclysm!" Kenshin shouts throwing his naginata forward, his attack hitting her in the chest.
"Guuuooohhhh! !" Tiamat roared in pain as she was engulfed in an elemental explosion.
Kenshin landed on her chest after the dust settled. "Tiamat, did you really think that size would increase your chance in winning?"
"Guuhh..." Tiamat raised her head and stared at Kenshin as he walked toward her neck. "!" Her hand reached forward and swiped at Kenshin who was forced to dodge.
"Shit!" Kenshin said. "She still has enough power to move?" He thought.
"My mistake..." Tiamat said as her body glew with a blue light and started shrinking down.
"..." Kenshin watched as the large dragon was replaced with a woman with long pale blue hair wearing a blue breast plate matching plated gloves, an open white jacket and a plated blue skirt with slits running up the sides. The collar on her neck growing smaller of course to match her new form.
"It's been quite some time since I've brought out this form against an opponent." Tiamat said opening her eyes to reveal pure blue irises with small black slits for pupils. "You have my respect."
"Well I could have come at you with my own dragon form, but it's kind of...in the shop." Kenshin said.
"Hmhmhmhm, how unfortunate." Tiamat said with a demure smile.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened as Tiamat appeared in front of him, punching at his face. He crossed his arms and blocked the punch. "Shit...!" Kenshin cursed.
"My power doesn't lessen in this form you know, it's compressed. The power of a Dragon King, compressed in human form!" Tiamat said.
"Guah? !" Kenshin gasped as he was sent flying back. He stabbed Kuroi Jigoku in the ground and stopped himself. "!" He didn't have much time to react as Tiamat was on him in a second, kicking right at his head. He leaned back, but as Tiamat missed her kick, she swung her heel into his ribs. "Guoh? !" He groaned as he was sent tumbling painfully on the ground. He got up only to see Tiamat diving over him. He fell back and curled his legs, letting her land on him, their momentum carrying them forward and Kenshin kicked Tiamat off of him. "Haa...haa..." Kenshin panted. "Damn, she's fucking powerful, as her title suggests." He thought with a smirk. "It's not just her strength that's been upped by the compression of her power. Her speed, her durability, everything's stronger. I'm going to have to be on my toes if I want to win this."
"Hmn...the first couple of shots surprised him, but I would be foolish to assume he hasn't acclimated at this point." Tiamat thought. "Heh, I like this one. However, the one thing I have to watch out for, or rather, the one thing I absolutely cannot let him do, is assume the form Vessel of the Elements. If he assumes that form, it's over for me."
Both Tiamat and Kenshin exhaled before rushing each other. Their forearms collided against each other. "Ghh..." Kenshin grunted.
"Grrh..." Tiamat growled. They kicked off one another, Tiamat landing first and flying right at him. Kenshin blocked her punch with his forearm and held up a hand sign, a powerful burst of wind coming out of his blocking hand causing him to go into a spin. "Guah? !" Tiamat was sent flying by a roundhouse kick from Kenshin who landed and pursued her. "!" She looked to her left and saw a second Kenshin. "Another decoy? !"
"Crushing Flame Profusion!" Both Kenshins shout.
Tiamat let out a roar that shockingly put the flames out. "What? !" Kenshin said.
"Guah!" Clone Kenshin cried out as he was slashed across the throat and forced to dispel. Tiamat turned to the real Kenshin and punched the ground, causing it to quake. "Whoa? !" Kenshin said losing his footing and uncasing his wings to fly. "!" He saw it was too late to move as Tiamat was bearing down on him. "The amount of power compressed in her fist, if that hits me I'm screwed!" He thought.
"Let's see how you stand up to this!" Tiamat said punching forward.
"Yume Shouheki!" Kenshin shouts as a red barrier blocked Tiamat's fist. "Grrhh!" His left eye glew brightly and began to bleed from the strain.
"Great Red's barrier magic? !" Tiamat thought. "No...it's weaker, significantly so, but still...it feels like his."
"!" Kenshin let out a short gasp as he noticed cracks developing in the barrier. "Oh...shit!" He dove out of the way, letting Tiamat's fist smash into the earth. "Whew..." He said getting up and slashing his sword down as Tiamat quickly pulled herself out and punched at his face again. "Grrrhhh! !" He said holding her back
"Kenshin!" Everyone shouts in worry.
"What are you STILL doing out here? !" Kenshin asked.
"But!" Rias said.
"I will be fine! Get back behind the walls, all of you!" Kenshin shouts.
Akatama placed his hand on Rias' shoulder. "He's right, there's not a whole lot we can do, and we'd be safer behind the wall."
"I know...but..." Rias said.
"Come on, we can at least watch from the wall." Akatama said pulling her back. Evangeline meanwhile nodded toward Kenshin and turned toward the youkai army. "Alright, come on! You heard him, some of you help transport the fallen Satan Rangers and lets go!"
"Come on! Go! Go!" Granberia ordered, helping her along.
Kenshin nodded toward Evangeline and Granberia before turning toward Tiamat. "Gah...you know what, fuck it, I'm giving it a shot."
"Hm? !" Tiamat's eyes widened as Kenshin started shoving her back. "What's this? !"
"Touki and my Balance Breaker!" Kenshin said knocking Tiamat off her feet and driving her back.
"Haa! You're just full of surprises aren't you? !" Tiamat said, sliding off of him and grabbing his face, using his momentum against him and slamming him into the ground.
"Grah!" Kenshin cried out in pain. "Fuck...!" He said seeing Tiamat's fist sailing toward him. He kicked his leg up and dropped his foot on her head.
"Grh!" Tiamat grunted as Kenshin managed to wiggle out from under her and cock his own fist back.
"Four Elements Fist! Elemental Spica!" Kenshin shouts.
"Haa!" Tiamat met his fist with her own. "Grrh!" Power flung off of them, fracturing the earth around them.
"Rrrggh..." Kenshin growled. "Tch...hahahahaha!" He laughed.
"What's so funny? !" Tiamat shouts.
"Nothing, it's just, I'm having a harder time with you than I did with either of the Heavenly Dragons." Kenshin laughed. "Granted that was before they both powered up!"
"Ha! I see." Tiamat said.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes at her neck. "I wonder..." He thought.
Tiamat and Kenshin both shot by each other. Tiamat turned toward Kenshin who was slipping something into his pocket. She shot toward him only to get kicked away from Kenshin. "...?" Kenshin stared as Miyuki landed in front of him.
"Dammit, I'm sorry I'm late." Miyuki said. "I was looking for Vali."
"Uhm, it's fine." Kenshin said. "Did you find him at least?"
"No, but I found someone else." Miyuki said.
"So we go away for a night and you end up fighting a Dragon King without us Kenshin? Tsk Tsk." Azazel said through a communication circle.
Yukari, Erubetie, Alma, Granberia, Evangeline, Chachamaru, and Hikari landed around Kenshin. "All of you?" Kenshin said.
"You've been in that form for awhile." Yukari said. "I can tell it's going to burn out soon."
"Besides, I didn't get enough licks in." Evangeline said cracking her neck from side to side.
"I'm not all that used to sitting on the sidelines." Granberia said crossing her arms.
"Where's Issei?" Kenshin asked.
"He's in Grangold, giving boosts to the healers to help their progress along." Hikari said. "Azazel's helping with that effort as well."
"So what's the play then?" Alma asked with a wink.
"Hmn..." Kenshin strokes his chin in thought as he notices Tiamat getting up. "You know that team assault technique I was working on, The Hunt of the Dragons, Granberia, Erubetie, Alma you should have gotten info on it awhile ago."
"We did." Granberia said.
"You wanna gang up on her? Alright..." Alma said licking her lips.
"You should know that when you got us all back, it enabled three people to use the Balance Breaker...this is the maximum." Undine said. "Our power can't spread any further without weakening."
"Kinda doesn't go with the scheme though huh?" Kenshin thought. "Ah well."
Kenshin turned to Miyuki. "Three people can now go into the Balance Breaker now Miyuki. Enjoy."
"Awesome!" Miyuki said as she did just that.
"..." Tiamat stared across at them. "So you're giving up on the taming duel?" She asked as she charged forward.
"I have a responsibility to protect the men and women of Makai and the Youkai Revolution." Kenshin said. "In these situations I have to check my pride at the door."
"Alright...Kuroshi Dragons...disperse!" Kenshin said.
Granberia charged forward and held her Ares at the ready. "Dragon Butcher!" She shouted slashing powerfully out in front of her.
"Grah!" Tiamat shouts as she was forced to defend against the attack, getting knocked to the side.
"One hundred magic arrows of wind!" Hikari intoned appearing above Tiamat, her fist cocked back and glowing brightly. "Fuuka Houken!" She shouted, driving her fist into Tiamat's back.
Tiamat hit the ground spitting up blood and bouncing off the dirt. A fist of blue laid into her stomach knocking her skyward as Erubetie came out of the ground. "Not a moment of rest."
"Come on fox!" Evangeline said as her and Tamamo incanted their own spells. "Nivis Tempestas Obscurans!
"Hmph, Kitsune Cannon!" Tamamo shouts.
The two attacks spiraled together and collided against the Dragon King's body. Alma smiled demurely as the wind spiraled around her, she snapped her fingers and a large vortex appeared around the explosion of their attacks and compressed them. Miyuki stepped forward and threw her flame covered staff into the vortex, watching it light the vortex ablaze. "Onee-Chan!" She said.
Yukari flew toward the dying down vortex of flames. "Heavenly Demon Revival!" She said slashing downward, knocking Tiamat to the dirt.
"Taking aim..." Chachamaru said looking down at Tiamat.
"Nngh..." Tiamat grunted weakly. "!" She watched helplessly in shock as a column of pure energy from the heavens fired down upon her. She got to her feet only to see Kenshin in front of her, the elements singing along Kuroi Jigoku. "Oh..fu-!"
"Quadruple Giga!" Kenshin shouts slashing Kuroi Jigoku at Tiamat, making sure not to cut her with it.
"Whoa..." Inutora said watching from the wall as Kenshin's strongest attack hit Tiamat. "That was...brutally efficient..."
Kenshin walked toward Tiamat and crouched down next to her. "You alright?"
"...Hnn..." Tiamat groaned weakly. "I'll...live..."
"OK good." Kenshin said with a grin. "Here." He placed a charm on her stomach. "Healing Light."
"Nngh? !" Tiamat grunted in pain as her wounds slowly started to heal. "Why are you healing me...?"
"The collar's gone." Kenshin said. "See." He held it out in front of her, it was torn in two.
"When did you...?" Tiamat asked.
"After our little fist attack clash." Kenshin said. "My hand went by your neck and tore it off, the sheer momentum of my punch, empowered by the elements just carried it toward me."
"Then this last bit of fighting was..." Tiamat said.
"I wasn't able to say anything because my little sister jumped in, then the rest of my peerage, and I figured you were too...I guess we'll say amped from the fight anyway." Kenshin said. "Can't blame ya, I was pretty excited from it myself."
"Well, you'd be right..." Tiamat said looking up at the sky. "So my will is my own again?"
"Yes." Kenshin said. "People say you've got a cold personality, I don't see it."
"I don't like having my time wasted." Tiamat said sitting up. "If people think that is cold of me, that's on them."
"Yeah, sorry I was able to finish our fight the right way." Kenshin said.
"It's fine, I understand your position." Tiamat said shaking her head. "It was only a matter of time before that blasted thing was going to have me attacking innocents in order to gain an edge on you, besides...it could be said that you attained victory over me when you removed that collar."
"Hm? Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Kenshin asked.
"All I'm saying is that I'll be your familiar, but I want a rematch sometime down the line, and if I win, you will release me immediately." Tiamat said.
"Agreed." Kenshin said extending his hand toward her.
"However, I'm going to need rest after this." Tiamat said. "Don't expect anything from me for a little while."
"That's fine." Kenshin shrugged.
"Very well." Tiamat extended her hand and shook Kenshin's hand. "I look forward to working with you."
Kenshin stood up and helped Tiamat to her feet. He turned to his peerage. "It's OK, she's not a threat anymore."
Everyone relaxed their stance and walked toward Grangold.
(break)
That night.
"Seriously...?" Azazel said. "You made her your familiar?"
"Yeah? She has beef with Forbesii just like the rest of us." Kenshin said.
"Yeah, but still Kenshin, it's a Dragon King..." Azazel said.
"Queen." Kenshin corrected.
"..Pardon?" Azazel asked.
"Tiamat is female, it's Dragon Queen." Kenshin said. "I don't care what the values are on the chess board, in terms of ruling and titles, Males are Kings, Females are Queens."
"What about Drag Queens?" Bureijin said draping his arm over Kenshin's shoulders. "You know, like that vampire over there."
"They don't rule over anything." Kenshin said rolling his eyes. "And Gasper's more of a Drag Princess at this point."
"Eh true." Bureijin said.
"Anyway...You've tamed one of the Five Dragon Kings underneath the Heavenly Dragons in power." Azazel said. "You're amassing power at a frightening pace, don't be surprised if you're accused of trying to usurp power soon."
"Let them accuse if they like, I know what I'm doing." Kenshin said. "Besides, until recently you had Fafnir, another of the Dragon Kings and we were allies while you still had him and I didn't catch any shit for it."
"I didn't use Fafnir that much though." Azazel countered.
"I don't plan on bothering Tiamat all that much, our agreement is more of an immediate benefit sort of thing." Kenshin said.
"I guess." Azazel shrugged. "Anyway..." He took out a folder. "I found that research lab you mentioned. I handed the journal to Tamamo, it should be in your room. He pushed the folder toward Kenshin. "It seems to have been activated recently, but nothing was being made, almost like all the person wanted to do was access the main computer."
"Did you shut it down?" Kenshin asked. "That last thing we need is the homunculi finding it and cranking out more before we can secure the Gold Region."
"Yeah I shut it down, I also called some of my guys in to make claims on it and take it back to the Grigori." Azazel said.
"You're going to taking the tech...that Forbesii been using to create more homunculi in for research?" Kenshin asked.
"Yeah, I figure if we know more about how it works, we can stop his operation completely." Azazel said.
"I guess." Kenshin said. "Anyway, I'll look over this later."
"OK, where is Tiamat anyway?" Azazel asked.
"We both agreed it was better for her not to show her face for now." Kenshin said.
"True." Azazel said. "Also, you should read that journal more closely."
"Why?" Kenshin asked.
"Because, the more I read it...the more I was convinced that this Shin Tatsu guy let Forbesii do him in." Azazel said.
"..." Kenshin stared at him. "That...doesn't sound like him."
"That's why I'm saying read it closely." Azazel said. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to see if Hikari wants to have a drink with me."
"Happy barking." Kenshin drawled. He turned to Bureijin. "Could you gather the Knights and the Cardinals for me? I need to ask them something, you included."
"Hm? Well OK. Be right back hun." Kenshin rolled his eyes as Bureijin winked and walked away. A few moments later he came back with Akatama, Inutora, Jordan, Granberia, Tamamo, Erubetie and Alma.
"You needed to see us?" Akatama asked.
"Yes, I was wondering, how good would any of you say you are at external elemental magic usage?" Kenshin said.
"Hm?" Bureijin said. "Well, I know Alma and I are kind of in between, we're both good at both, but where she favors internal wind magic, I favor external fire magic."
"Yeah." Alma nodded.
"I favor external water magic." Akatama answered.
"I have to be great at internal water magic to keep myself under control." Erubetie said.
"Internal." Granberia said. "Though for fire purposes, I am good with external as well."
"Well as you saw during the tunnel assault, I'm good with external earth magic and with how hard my body is, I'm good internally as well." Inutora said.
"I'm a master of both, and I have a great aptitude for fire as you've already seen." Tamamo said.
"I'm more external than internal myself." Jordan said. "Why do you ask?"
"Well...I think I'll just let this demonstration speak for itself." Kenshin said holding his hand out toward the glass of water in front of them. He concentrated on it and the water started to rise out of the glass, though it was very shaky. It hovered outside of the boundaries of the glass, before it hit the table.
"...Wow..." Akatama said. "That..."
"Sucked." Inutora said. "Sorry, I'm not even a water magic user and I know that sucked."
"How are you able to use the elements outside of your body then if it's that bad?" Erubetie asked. "Things like that Katensho don't count because you use the flame inside your body and your mana."
Kenshin took out one of each of his charms. "I use these." He placed them out in front of him. "They contain my mana and are marked and coded to change it's nature into a specific element. I've tried to get them to do more as I've grown, but changing and shifting the markings and codes is a painstaking process that I've had no time for lately."
"I remember these." Tamamo said. "You were working on these when you were five."
"Pfft!" Akatama did a spit take."When you were five? ! What the shit? !"
"Heh, looks like I wasn't the only one hard at work at a young age." Granberia said with a small smirk.
"Anyway, I was hoping I could both gain a better understanding of it all and improve my external elemental magic mastery." Kenshin said. "Forbesii's gonna have both, so I figure I've got the bones, why not make use of them?"
"Aaah, I see what you're after." Bureijin grinned.
"So basically you want us to help you buffer your weak points." Inutora said.
"More or less." Kenshin said.
"What about your internal mastery?" Akatama asked.
"No need." Tamamo said shaking her head. "His usage of internal elemental magic is almost, if not mastered already."
"Yeah...I'd have to agree there..." Jordan said. "He was going pretty fast."
"He threw that dragon with his bare hands." Akatama said.
"He was dodging it's attacks up until it assumed a human form which suggests use of Serene Mind considering the proximity he dodged some of them at." Bureijin said.
"He was obviously attacking very fiercely throughout the fight." Granberia said.
"Hey, be sure to give my friend Saji some thanks. He did damn good keeping Tiamat in check until I got there." Kenshin said.
"He's right." Tamamo said fanning herself.
"Anyway, the training can wait until tomorrow, for now relax and unwind." Kenshin said.
"No complaints there." Alma said appearing next to him and falling in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Oof..." Kenshin grunted. "Why don't you go mess with Issei sometime?" He asked.
"I do, you're just never around to see it." Alma said pecking him on the cheek.
"It's true she does. It's sometimes amuses me how he reacts." Jordan shrugged with a laugh.
"Alright Alma, I need to head upstairs." Kenshin said.
"Alright." Alma shrugged and got up. Kenshin collected his charms and got up as well and started to walk away.
He looked around. "Huh...I wonder where Rias is...?" He said while wordlessly activating his Gekietsu Kumori no Mai charm. He looked back and saw the Knights and Cardinals splitting up and spotted Alma with her back turned to him. He turned toward her and cracked the strand of magic like a wound up towel and pegged her right on the ass.
"Aah? !" Alma looked behind her to see Kenshin turned away and walking. "..." She rubbed the area where the strand had struck and giggled seeing the strand of magic in his hand evaporating. "Ufufufu, I see Kenshin-Chan, thought you could pull a fast one on me hm?" She said licking her index finger.
"Was that really necessary? You know she's going to get you back right?" Undine asked.
"Yeah, but she can't expect me to do nothing forever." Kenshin thought.
"Yeah, at least have a little fun with her!" Sylph said.
Issei stopped Kenshin. "Dude, did I just see that? Did you just whip that flirty succubus on the ass?"
"Uh...yeah?" Kenshin said. "Jeez Issei you know I can be a little perverse. Why so surprised?"
"Yeah, but with her?" Issei asked.
"She would care the least. She wants to play that game, I'm open to it every now and again." Kenshin shrugged.
"I guess..." Issei said.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check in on Serafall and Grayfia." Kenshin said walking by Issei.
He didn't have to go far as Serafall was doing a magical girl routine on the stage of the inn they were in while Grayfia sat at a table enjoying a glass of wine. He looked them over and decided they were fine, mainly because he didn't want to deal with a drunken Grayfia right now and an Alma Elma he had just provoked sexually in the same night.
He went upstairs and ran into Vali. "Oh...Kenshin..." Vali said.
"...?" Kenshin arched his brow at the look on his face. "You alright?"
"Oh, yes. I'm just tired from training." Vali said. "I was asleep when Miyuki was calling me."
"Hell of a time to take a nap." Kenshin said. "Most of your team was with Azazel, Bikou was upset when he realized I had already beaten Tiamat."
"Yes, I know." Vali said. "I apologize for not being there."
"Just keep us, or rather Miyuki posted when you're training OK?" Kenshin asked. "I asked you and your team to be here to help with the war effort, and so far it's just gotten Issei laid by Kuroka, granted you were a help in claiming the Gold Region."
"I'm not really motivated to fight weaklings." Vali said crossing his arms.
"I understand I really do, but to get to Forbesii, we have to clear out the riff raff." Kenshin shrugged.
"Yes Yes..." Vali said. "If you have a job for us, let us know." He said walking off.
"Huh...you ever feel like someone just lied to your face." Salamander asked.
"Shouldn't you be able to tell?" Kenshin thought.
"Albion's presence doesn't allow us to look in on him." Undine said. "I don't believe he was being honest about being asleep either."
"He has been kind of aloof around me since we met in Sabasa..." Kenshin muttered. "Oh well."
He proceeded until he bumped into Rossweisse. "Oh, Kenshin-San..." She said with a semi shy look.
"Heya." Kenshin said.
"Are you looking for Rias-San?" Rossweisse asked.
"I was gonna check in on her yeah." Kenshin said.
"How odd." Rossweisse said with a curious expression.
"What?" Kenshin asked.
"I just got through speaking to Rias-San, and you were in there with her. I thought you had made a clone." Rossweisse said.
"...?" Kenshin arched his brow. "...Did I make a clone...?" He wondered.
"I'm not sure...I must have been in my room when you did." Undine said.
"Same here." Salamander and Sylph said with Gnome nodding.
"I can't remember...I guess I did...my mind's honestly been everywhere during this whole war." Kenshin thought.
"Did you?" Rossweisse asked.
"I guess so..." Kenshin shrugged.
"Well, you do have the war to worry about so it's no surprise if something like that slipped your mind." Rossweisse said with a small smile.
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
"Uhm..." Rossweisse pressed her hands together. "Kenshin, if it's not too much trouble, and if you're free, would you mind accompanying me around sometime in the future?"
"Hm?" Kenshin said. "Well, we'll see. If not I'll be sure to let you know."
"OK. Thank you." Rossweisse said bowing respectfully toward him and walking away. Kenshin shook his head with a smile and walked away. He went to his room in the inn and sat down crosslegged on his bed.
"What are you doing?" Ophis asked.
"There were some things I saw during my fight with Rizevim." Kenshin thought.
"Still can't believe he fought you, or rather, that he came out and fought you." Ophis said.
"Anyway. I saw these things...and at first...I felt kind of bad, but as it progressed...I found myself getting more and more pissed." Kenshin thought. "I want to revisit this and see what I was seeing again."
He assumed a meditative pose and closed his eyes, relaxing his body. He found himself in his mind. He noticed Ophis was the only one around. "The Spirits must be in their rooms." Kenshin shrugged.
"You would be right." Ophis said.
"By the way, where is your real body right now?" Kenshin asked.
"This is my real body. My power was weakened so much that I could inhabit you like one of those spirits." Ophis said.
"So...if I lose..." Kenshin said.
"Then I will probably be captured by Rizevim's allies and have the rest of my power drained." Ophis said.
Kenshin walked up to her and patted her head. "All the more reason for me not to lose then eh?"
"Well yes, if you lose they'll have my full power at their beck and call." Ophis stated.
"Hahaha, it's cute how you're missing the point." Kenshin said as he walked away.
"...What other point was there...?" Ophis asked curiously.
Kenshin continued to snicker as he made his way into his memory room. He clicked his tongue as he looked through the books. "...Hm...it happened recently so maybe I should look over here." He said turning toward the halfway filled bookcase. He thumbed through the books until he found his fight against Rizevim. He opened it and flipped through the pages until he got to the part when he started using the Vessel. "Hm...Ah. Here's one...wait...this is my mind so..." He poked where the vision began to where it ended, then found the rest of them and did the same. "Only play these and stitch them together."
The words in the book glew in affirmation. Kenshin took a breath and closed his eyes, his body going slack.
(flashback.)
Kenshin found himself standing in a large building. He looked out of a window and found it was actually a keep without the castle around it. "This is somewhere in the Underworld, I know that much."
A young boy with silver hair wearing clothes that reminded him a bit of Millicas' walked by him. "?" Kenshin looked over the boy. He seemed to be walking with a limp. "What's wrong with him? Oh god don't tell me I'm looking into Rizevim's past. I don't want to know why he's evil." Then he thought about it. "Wait, if this was Rizevim's past, why the keep, wouldn't he be in Lucifer's Castle?"
He followed the youth through the keep, who stopped at a room and knocked. "Come (cough!) in!" A female voice said.
The boy opened the door and entered, Kenshin followed. Inside was a beautiful woman with fair platinum blonde hair and light blue eyes. She smiled at him before coughing softly. "Vali. Come here."
"Yes mother." The boy said.
"!" Kenshin turned to the now named younger Vali with wide eyes. "Wait, that's Vali? !" He thought.
Vali's mother hugged Vali close as he sat on the bed with her. "How are you feeling?" She asked.
"I'm alright..." Vali said.
"..." Vali's mother furrowed her brow, but didn't say anything. Having noticed how he was limping. Finally she spoke up. "Are you sure?"
"Yes Mother, don't worry about me." Vali said. "What about you?" He asked pulling away.
"Oh I'm fine, just the same cough as usual." Vali's mother said with a smile.
"OK..." Vali said with a downcast look.
Vali's mother giggled and pet his head. "I'll be fine Vali. I'll beat this sickness and we can play together like we used to."
"I hope so..." Vali said looking even more down.
"..." Kenshin stared at the two. "...She...didn't make it...did she?" He wondered aloud with a distant voice.
"Here, how about we play a card game." Vali's Mother said taking out a deck of cards.
"OK." Vali said.
Kenshin watched them play a few games before Vali's mother felt sleepy. "I'm getting tired Vali, I'm gonna need a nap."
"OK, good night." Vali said kissing his mother on the cheek.
"Huh, who woulda thought that prickly cactus of a man was actually a cute kid at one point." Kenshin said. "Then again, I guess I have no room to talk."
He followed Vali out of the room. Where he bumped into an older looking man with silver hair. "Hmn, that doesn't look like Rizevim and if the kid's Vali then Lucifer's long dead." Kenshin said.
"..." Vali took a hesitant step back in front of the man who wore nobleman's clothes.
"Why are you stepping back? You're a Lucifer, one of the rightful rulers of the Underworld, don't disgrace your name." The man said.
"He's also a kid you pompous ass." Kenshin said, even knowing that the man couldn't hear him.
"Yes...Father." Vali said bowing his head.
"..." Vali's father closed his eyes. "Go outside, I don't wish for such a coward to be in my sight."
"Yes..." Vali said walking past his father.
Kenshin felt himself being pulled away from Vali. He glared over at Vali's father, but stopped when he saw the look on Vali's father's face. It was an expression of pure guilt and despair. "..." Kenshin stared at him, before following him to Vali's mother's room. Vali's father entered the room and saw his wife's sleeping form.
"...Good...she's asleep..." He exhaled and walked up to her, kneeling down next to her bed. He grabbed her hand and held it against his forehead with both hands. "Please...Please make it through this..." He said, his voice noticeably straining.
"...Why? So you two can run away together with that abomination of yours?"
"? !" Vali's father and Kenshin rounded to find Rizevim standing in the doorway with a smirk.
"Father...I..." Vali's father said.
"Shut up, you disgrace." Rizevim siad.
"..." Vali's father recoiled and bowed his head.
"This woman is doomed, She won't make it here in the Underworld." Rizevim said with a smirk.
"You don't know that!" Vali's father shouts, only to receive a backhand that sent him crashing into the wall.
"You dare raise your voice to me you worthless boy?" Rizevim said with a cruel smile.
Kenshin watched this, a scowl quickly developing on his face. "This...motherfucker..." He thought.
Rizevim walked toward Vali's sleeping mother. "I should just put her out of her misery...so she doesn't have to live the rest of her days with a worthless half breed son and an even more worthless man that sired him."
"!" Kenshin watched as Rizevim reeled his hand back only to get slugged in the face by Vali's father.
"STAY...THE FUCK! AWAY FROM HER! !" Vali's father roared.
Rizevim rubbed his cheek before grabbing his son by the throat and lifting him up. "Funny how you don't let me near her, but you have no problems taking out your frustrations on your son, who has a higher potential that you, but is still worthless."
"Grrh.." Vali's father growled weakly. "It's...only...because you wish it..." He grunted. "Because of your overwhelming power...you'll kill me..then her...if I don't bully and abuse him... You're the one who is afraid of him, not me!"
"Fear him, me? ! Your worthlessness has gone to your head son!" He said slamming his son into the floor.
"Guah!" Vali's father gasped out blood.
Kenshin growled as he watched this, his hatred for Rizevim growing. "It doesn't even have anything to do with me and I'd kill him again if he was in front of me."
He felt himself being yanked out of the memory and sat up. He put the book away and left the memory room. Kenshin found Ophis sitting where he had left her earlier. "Ophis..."
"Yes?" Ophis asked.
"Rizevim, he was a real piece of shit, wasn't he?" Kenshin asked.
"...He is the reason Vali is the way he is." Ophis said. "If it wasn't for my requesting his assistance, he probably never would have joined the Khaos Brigade. He never wants to feel weak again. Like he did as a child. Beating Great Red would make him the strongest."
"And beating me is just a stepping stone." Kenshin said.
"Yes." Ophis said. "I can speak of him like this, because I know him well." Ophis said. "But there are of course, some things I don't know."
"Of course." Kenshin said. "I'll be going."
"See you around." Ophis said.
Kenshin came to and found Miyuki in his room. "Oh! Onii-Chan, I was about to wake you up."
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"Well, Alice wants your input on how we handle the situations in the Gold Region." Miyuki said.
"Tell her it can wait until tomorrow." Kenshin said. "I need sleep."
"OK." Miyuki said turning toward the door.
"Hey Miyuki." Kenshin said.
"Yeah?" Miyuki said turning toward Kenshin.
"What do you and Vali talk about during training?" Kenshin asked.
"What do we talk about?" Miyuki said rubbing her cheek in thought. "Well, mostly just what we did right and wrong in training."
"Does he ever talk about his past?" Kenshin asked.
"Mmn...every now and again, just some things he and Azazel did." Miyuki said.
"Nothing any further back than that?" Kenshin asked.
"No, I've asked, but...he's really tight lipped about it." Miyuki said. "Why?"
"No reason." Kenshin said.
"Hm?" Miyuki said.
"Here." Kenshin said tossing her a deck of cards in a box. "Ask him to play a card game with you."
"You think it'll work?" Miyuki said tracing her finger around the box.
"Call it a hunch." Kenshin said. "Anyway, tell Alice what I said for me." He said laying his head on his pillow.
"OK. Good night Onii-Chan." Miyuki said.
"Night." Kenshin said.
Miyuki left the room and bumped into Vali on the way to see Alice. "Oh, hey Vali." She said with a faint blush.
"Hello Miyuki-San." Vali said, his hands in his pockets. "When would you like to begin training tomorrow?"
"Uhm, same time as usual is good for me." Miyuki said. "Hey, uhm..." She held out the deck of cards to him. "Would you wanna play a card game with me in a bit?"
"Hm...?" Vali said staring at the cards, a pensive look on his face. "Aah, well alright, I guess we could."
"OK!" Miyuki smiled widely and walked by him. "I'll be in my room shortly, wait for me there. I just need to take care of something for Onii-Chan!" She said taking off.
"Aah..." Vali said before closing his eyes and letting out a sigh. "Oh what the hell..." He made his way to Miyuki's room to wait on her.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Hey, I said I'd give you exposure, I never said you'd win.
Saji: B-But...
Tiamat: Oh buck up, you did well with the time you had.
Saji: Uhm, thanks.
Kenshin: I was wondering if you were ever going to build on this supposed pairing with Miyuki and Vali.
Also, I'm going to be running a poll on my profile, Check it and vote on it. It's an poll involving a potential pairing with Issei.
Alright, this and lemons will be posted together, then I'm on break from lemons. See you all next time.
Draconis678 out