Draconis: (waves smelling salts in front of Kenshin's nose)
Kenshin: (still unconscious)
Ravel: Would you please stop, I can smell that stuff too and it's horrid.
Asia: I...wasn't going to say anything, but she's right.
Draconis: Right, sorry. Alright Kenshin's out of it. Before we begin, if you haven't checked the now closed poll. It was ten to four with 'Yes' winning. Wonder if I should even bother with polls at this point. Next to no one seems to vote on them. Anyway harem update.
Kenshin: (Same)
Issei: Asia, Irina, Kuroka, Seekvaira, Kazumi, Sextum, Sheena, Kunou, Yasaka, Le Fay, Chachamaru, Erubetie, Yura, Rami, Rumi, Remi, Kiyome, Raynare(will be brought back after this arc)
Draconis: Jeez, Issei's a bit ahead. Anyway, let's get a move on.
Dragon of the Elements.
Chapter 66
Countermeasures
Draconis: Begin!
(Start)
With Azazel.
"Alright, just about done, this should put down the doubles too." Azazel said as he pieced together a remote device. "And how's the decryption going?" He said. "Oh, it's done. Wonder why it never went well when I tried to hack the System in Heaven...meh I guess it was a long time ago. I've obviously gotten all around better in all parts of the trade since then."
He opened up the now decrypted files. "Hm...data logging, data logging, more data logging. Man if we weren't enemies I'd have liked to hire this Forbesii as a researcher, when it comes to something that interests him, he's very thorough." Azazel said.
He finally found something that wasn't labeled as a datalog. "Huh? Status Report, Homunculus Number One. Codename Genesis." Azazel clicked on it and another window with a diagram of a humanoid being appeared with a data sheet to the right of it. "Codename Genesis, actual name...Forbesii." He looked further on down. "Hmm..." He read further. "The link to the artificial spirits is still progressing well, but the original ones I created are just as unruly as the original Yonseirei. Further sealing of their more rabid instinctual personality traits was required. I am also forced to bind this seal to a certain youki level of mine, if it were to ever dip below that level, my elemental powers would be severed until my power came back up to that level." Azazel read aloud.
He looked over at the diagram and noticed a caution sign next to his left hand. "That must be his dominant hand." He clicked on it. "Hm?" Another window opened up. It read.
Sword Hand
Hand used mainly to wield the Tsurugi no Kami.
CAUTION! CAUTION! CAUTION!
Holy mana burning is progressing faster the more the Tsurugi no Kami is used, without a proper splicing to Homunculus Core, it will continue to spread unchecked throughout body, causing irreversible harm and destabilization to mana and youki, if it reaches the core, Sentinelization will occur and Subject Forbesii, Codename Genesis will no longer be himself. Use Tsurugi no Kami sparingly if at all possible."
"Sentinelization...? That couldn't be referring the Holy Sentinels could it?" Azazel mumbled as he read on.
Sentinelization has only occurred once in the recorded history of Makai, coincidentally to a past Dragon of the Elements named Heinrich Hein, who earned fame as a master elementalist who was forced to fell his lover, Black Alice. The Eighth Demon Queen who had been driven to insanity for unknown reasons. Sentinelization occurred when he charged the Divine Realms above Makai in a rage, killing scores upon scores of angels with the Tsurugi no Kami in hand, also for an unknown reason.
"All efforts to halt the process while retaining the ability to wield the sword have proven fruitless. The failsafe plan requires the youkai genes of the current Dragon of the Elements, but unfortunately since disappearing from Mundus Magicus and Mahora, Subject Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin has been transformed into a devil." Azazel read aloud. "Upon further study introducing the devil genes of Kenshin-kun's body would cause a destabilization of my core, and I would need him alive at that. A powerful mana draining seal geared toward devil mana will be needed to reverse the process and return him to his youkai origins"
"So that's why Kenshin was turned back into a youkai..." Azazel said. He noticed that both instances of Kenshin's name were hyperlinked so he clicked on it. Another window similar to the sheet and diagram displayed for Forbesii popped up.
Subject Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin. Codename Indomitable Will
"...Whoa..." Azazel said as he looked over the bio Forbesii had on Kenshin. "How much does this guy fucking know about Kenshin? It's like he studied him relentlessly."
Subject was almost terminated by Hottan today, however thankfully he was brought back from the brink by his mother Tsuki Hikari, Codename Crescent Moon. Has been reunited with family members Ryuushin Tsuki Kuroshi, Yukari Kuroshi Tsuki, and Miyuki Kuroshi Tsuki, Codenames Waning Moon, Full Moon and New Moon respectively. Will need to keep a closer eye on Subject Hottan, Codename Origin.
Curiously, when the temporal flux activated around Subjects Indomitable Will and Full Moon during their fight during the final day of the World Tree in Mahora's state of magical surging, I had expected them both back shortly after Negi Springfield, Codename Curiosity and Chao Lingshin, Codename Time's Outlaw had concluded. However I was dismayed when only Full Moon had returned.
"..." Azazel read on.
In a perhaps unsurprising twist, Subject Origin was dispatched by Indomitable Will. It was only a matter of time before Kenshin-kun figured out how to accomplish the feat, but the fact that the person who helped him do it, Rias Gremory, Codename Destruction Princess, now has Curiosity's aura around her is indeed just that, curious.
"OK, so he's been doing his homework...why does he need Kenshin's genes?" Azazel said. He clicked on the chest of the Kenshin diagram.
Due to Subject Indomitable Will's recently halted use of the Sins of the Dragon God and the Aura of the Shinigami. He has a heightened resistance to holy magic that was retained albeit lessened even when he became a devil, displayed best by his ability to combat Fallen Angel Cadre and member of Grigori, Kokabiel, even working the Fallen Angel over once Full Moon had perished sending Indomitable Will into a state of fury. Studies have shown it is the highest seen since Heinrich Hein's who used the Tsurugi no Kami just as I am. Ripping out his genes and splicing them into my core will prove beneficial if I am to continue to be forced to use the Tsurugi no Kami against powerful targets.
"Hmn..." Azazel said. "So, He doesn't need Kenshin alive, just his body, and as a youkai."
(Beep! Beep!)
"Oh! My remote's done." Azazel said taking hold of the device. "Hm...to deactivate the doubles I need to be in close. Hm, maybe I'll get lucky and a bunch of them will be huddled together. Anyway, might as well tell everyone the big secret." He tried to open communications. "Huh?" He turned back to the screen and saw a message on it.
"You might be able to walk out of here with all the information in this mainframe, but that's all you're doing."
"Fuck me." Azazel groaned and started running out of the building telling the youkai he brought there to finish cleaning up.
(break)
"Are you really the King of Demons? ! I'm not impressed!" Raiser said as he surrounded Forbesii in a column of fire.
"Grh..." Forbesii crossed his arms as a sweat broke out on his skin. "Hmhmhm, well excuse me for conserving my power." He slashed his arms out sending a blast of cold wind out, extinguishing the blaze. "I just don't think you're worthy of it." He said taking off toward Raiser.
"Not so fast!" Yubeluna said making an explosion glyph appear under the Demon King's feet.
"Oh?" Forbesii stopped and was engulfed in the explosion.
"Nice work Yubeluna." Raiser said with a smirk.
"Th-Thank you, but we need to focus. Someone that Kenshin-Sama was having trouble with won't be felled that easily." Yubeluna said.
"I know, that sword of his, it has the highest aura of holy mana I've ever felt." Raiser said.
"And yet...I didn't need it to defend against that attack." Forbesii walked out of the smoke, his burned skin already regenerating. "Are you really descended from the legendary immortal bird? If so...I'm not impressed."
"Krh!" Raiser bristled before relaxing himself. "Heh, I see. I'll just have to do more then!"
"Hm?" Forbesii saw flames burning brightly behind the Phoenix heir. "Very well Raiser Phenex, let's see what you can do." He said as the two met in the middle.
"Raiser-Sama!" Yubeluna shouts.
"Place your explosions with little regard to my safety! I'll be fine!" Raiser shouts.
"Will you really though?" Forbesii said with a cold smirk as the Tsurugi no Kami pushed against the wall of flames Raiser had erected.
"As long as I don't let that thing touch me directly I should be fine." Raiser thought. "!" He narrowly dodged a slash at his neck and punched at Forbesii's head.
"You know it is somewhat curious that you of all people were the first responder to Kenshin's plight." Forbesii said as they traded shots. "I mean wasn't it him that beat you for the right to marry the Gremory heiress? A woman you lusted after?"
"Feh, if you're trying to get in my head it won't work." Raiser said.
"I wouldn't say that, I can be very persistent!" Forbesii batted Raiser away and extended his hand outward. "Water Sphere!"
"Gh!" Raiser's eyes widened as water surrounded him and closed in. "Shit this water has a holy element tacked on it! I have to act fast!" He thought.
"Your tactic will fail!" Yubeluna said setting off another explosion under Forbesii's feet.
"No. Yours will fail." Forbesii said jumping out of the smoke diving down at her, the Tsurugi no Kami encased in holy flames. "Flames of Perdition!"
"!" Yubeluna attempted to dodge, but was saved by Raiser kicking the Tsurugi no Kami, sending it off course.
"Hn? !" Forbesii was then kicked in the face by the Phenex heir. "Gah!"
"Yubeluna are you OK?" Raiser said.
"I'm fine, Raiser-Sama." She replied.
"Hmhmhm, that was a fine kick, plenty of power behind it." Forbesii complimented as he rubbed his nose.
"Looks like that training with the Bael heir is paying off." Raiser said.
"That's what you've been doing when you leave the mansion?" Yubeluna said. "I was wondering what it was you were up to when you'd leave late in the morning and come back exhausted in the evening."
"He said it was best if I didn't have much sources of comfort. I kinda saw his point." Raiser said.
"You still won't defeat me." Forbesii said appearing behind them.
"Krh? !" Raiser and Yubeluna turned to face him as he slashed the Sword of God down at them.
The sound of metal hitting metal was heard. "?" Forbesii looked over only to get a fist to the face.
"You..." Raiser said.
"Inutora-San, thank you." Yubeluna said.
"Heh, no problem." Inutora said slashing his other hand scythe at Forbesii's neck.
"Grh? !" Forbesii was blown back, his head separated from his body.
"Now's our chance!" Inutora said leaping skyward, lofting both scythes overhead as he shot down toward the Demon King.
"Yubeluna!" Raiser said taking off for the Demon King as well.
"Right!" Yubeluna said readying another explosion spell.
"Earth Mantis' Rumbling Slash!"
"Phoenix Talons!"
"? !" Inutora's eyes widened as Forbesii's headless body sprung up and blocked his scythes with his arm while the Tsurugi no Kami stabbed through the left side of Raiser's abdomen.
"Raiser-Sama! !" Yubeluna shouted.
"Guhh...!" Raiser gasped out.
"You think just because you can separate my head from my body, means you can kill me?" Forbesii said as his body pulled the holy sword out of the Phenex heir's torso.
"Gaah...aah..." Raiser held his bleeding wound.
"You feel that don't you, Raiser Phenex? The holy mana is working it's way into your system, you can't heal yourself...and your body is feeling the effects...if you don't do anything about it, you'll die...and unlike any other time for members of your family...you won't come back." Forbesii said.
"Damn it!" Inutora growled and slashed downward, cutting the Demon King's arm off, Forbesii jumped back, grabbing his head. He stabbed the Tsurugi no Kami in the ground and reattached his head before calling his arm back to him to reattach.
"You really think you can defeat your new Dark God." Forbesii said crossing his arms with a derisive smirk on his face. "How sad, how foolish you are."
"Ha! A Dark God with a holy weapon, don't make me laugh!" Inutora pointed his scythe at Forbesii. "Next time your head comes off, it'll be after I hack off your arms and legs!"
"Hmhmhm, by all means Mantis of the Earth, far better men than you have tried." Forbesii said pointing the Tsurugi no Kami at the Grand Cardinal of Earth.
Forbesii vanished, alerting Inutora who turned and slashed his hand scythe to block a downward slash from the King of Demons. "Nice try, but what I lack with the water element, I make for with Senjutsu."
"Interesting." Forbesii said.
"Sword Birth!"
"? !" Forbesii leaped into the air, only to get batted back down by a single blade naginata.
"Sorry Inutora-San, but we're jumping into this battle." Kiba said as he and Tsubaki walked up to the Earth Mantis' sides.
"Do as you like, I was just making due till someone showed up, fighting him one on one isn't favorable." Inutora said. "What about the Phoenix?"
"He, Yubeluna-San and one of my Glory Drag Troopers are finding Sextum, she knows how to flush holy mana out of someone's system." Kiba said as the other three troopers.
"Yubeluna-San would stay, but her first responsibility as a Queen of a peerage is to ensure her King's safety." Tsubaki said.
"That's a healthy attitude to have, Devils." Forbesii said as he approached them. "Still, now I'm curious how you took your doubles out."
"We switched on them, faster than they could react." Tsubaki said.
"They have our minds sure, but not our unpredictibility and ability to think on the fly." Kiba said.
"Hmhmhm my mistake, when I rebuild them I'll be sure to study you all more closely." Forbesii said. "I was pressed for time and the only one I was really concerned about being prepared for was Kenshin-kun."
"That could prove to be your undoing." Inutora said pointing his scythe at Forbesii.
"We'll have to see about that, come." Forbesii said pointing the Tsurugi no Kami at them. "Tri-Pronged Holy Ray!"
"Gh!" Inutora blocked the one aimed at his head with his scythe, smacking it to the ground.
Kiba substituted himself for one of his troopers while Tsubaki reflected the one aimed at her with Mirror Alice. "Hn? !" Tsubaki casted it off as Forbesii targeted her first and blocked the Tsurugi no Kami with her naginata. However the Demon King quickly overpowered her and drove her into a wall. "Ghh!" Tsubaki growled.
"She's not you're only opponent!" Inutora said as both he and Kiba attempted to cleave Forbesii down the back with their scythe and Garm respectively.
"Hmn." Forbesii didn't move as a barrier erected behind him. "Grh, I don't have time for you." He thought as he flew upward. He raised his sword skyward, a pulse of mana shooting out of it.
"!" Inutora's eyes widened as he turned to Kiba and Tsubaki. "Put up whatever barrier you can right now!" He said flying toward Forbesii.
"? !" Kiba watched as the skies began to cloud up quickly. He felt numerous pulses of energy from them. "Tsubaki-San, he's right, we need to pool our power into a barrier right now!"
"I know!" Tsubaki said.
"I won't let you!" Inutora shouts as he got in closer to Forbesii, his tan colored mana surrounding his hand scythes. "Diamond Scythes!"
"You're too late." Forbesii said. "Wind God's Vehemence!"
A twister began screaming down from the heavens. "Didn't you hear me? ! I SAID I WON'T LET YOU! !" Inutora roared, flying right at it.
"Hm?" Forbesii watched with a little interest as Inutora collided against the lowering twister.
"Rrrruuuoooooooohhhhhh! ! !" Inutora roared out as he slashed into it over and over, using Senjutsu to speed up his strikes.
"How very interesting, Inutora-kun. You never displayed such strength when you were in service to me." Forbesii said with a derisive smile.
"Why show your full power to the man you intend to kill, before you're ready to kill him!" Inutora shouts, still cutting into the twister.
"I see, I see. All four of you disloyal turncoats plotted to kill me, just as Luka and Alipheese did. But you had to wait for a certain time to do so." Forbesii said. "Well, now you will understand, what it means to stand against your new Dark God."
"No! You'll learn what it means to wake from your own fucking delusions!" Inutora shouts.
"Hoo? Well then, do try your hardest to wake me then." Forbesii said. "By the way, if you think one twister is my limit...you're sadly mistaken."
"? !" Inutora watched as a second twister screamed past him. "Shit!" He grunted as he refocused his strength on the strengthening one baring down on him. "Grh!" He growled as numerous small wounds ripped open on his arms.
"You can't 'wake me' with such pitiful strength, Grand Cardinal of the Earth." Forbesii said.
"Ghh!" Meanwhile, Kiba and Tsubaki's barrier was being tested by the second twister. Two of Kiba's troopers had already been crushed and the barrier was already fracturing. "We need...to move!" Kiba said.
"The second we do...the twister will take us both down!" Tsubaki said.
(crack!)
"Damn!" Kiba said stepping in front of Tsubaki. "Stay there!"
"Yuuto-kun!" Tsubaki shouts.
"I have the Garm, I'll be able to do something!" Kiba said.
"No...Yuuto-kun. You've already protected me, in Lilith, now it's my turn...to protect you." Tsubaki thought.
"! !" Kiba's eyes widened as a mirror placed itself in between the now broken barrier and himself. It absorbed the twister, but was close to breaking when it did.
"Oh?" Forbesii said taking notice of this.
"Haa...haa...haa..." Tsubaki panted heavily, exhaustion wracking her body. "...Heh...wow...I...actually pulled it...off..." She fell forward into Kiba's arms as the mirror disappeared.
"Guaaahhhh! !" Inutora's arms finally gave out and the first twister crashed into his chest. However a figure cut by and grabbed Inutora before he could hit the ground.
"Huh?" Kiba said looking over, seeing Jordan carrying the fallen mantis demon.
"Gh...sorry, Jordan." Inutora grunted.
"Don't worry about it. You did well, he was most focused on taking you down." Jordan said. "You, Knight, make another one of those troopers and have it carry these two off, a battlefield of this caliber is no place for wounded."
"Wounded?" Kiba said looking over at Tsubaki. "!" He let out a gasp, seeing a small, but noticeably darkening bloodstain developing along her uniform's right shoulder. "..." Kiba bowed his head as another trooper appeared behind him and scooped up the fallen naginata wielder.
"I can...walk.." Inutora said struggling to his feet. "I'll make sure this one makes it to the healers."
"Thank you..." Kiba said as the final trooper's armor began to form around his body.
"They won't get away." Forbesii said landing across from them and pointed the Tsurugi no Kami forward. "Holy Ray."
"Hurah!" Kiba shouted out, batting the attack away with Garm.
"Hm?" Forbesii said.
"Your fight is with us, the wounded are of no concern to you!" Kiba shouts.
"He's right." Jordan said sliding into a stance. "I lost my wife because of you, I'm going to make you pay for that!" Jordan vanished in a burst of wind.
"..." Forbesii raised the Tsurugi no Kami to block the downward kick Jordan sent his way. "You'll make me pay...you, the eldest, but weakest of the Cardinals. Hmhmhmhm..."
"Hrm, that maybe true, I don't have the elemental capabilities of Akatama, nor Inutora's tough skin, or Bureijin's fierce flames, but I do have my mind!" Jordan brings his other leg up and around Forbesii's neck, locking it with Forbesii's own sword arm.
"? !" Forbesii looked down at it as Jordan kept himself up by flapping his wings.
"Knight, NOW!" Jordan shouts.
"Right!" Kiba charged forward, sword poised to strike.
"Grh!" Forbesii scowled and the Tsurugi no Kami's aura glew brighter.
"Haa!" Kiba shouted as he swung the Garm at the Demon King. He extended his free hand outward and another sword appeared. "Holy Eraser!"
"Heheh, you really think that toy can help you against my almighty blade?" Forbesii said with a small smirk as the Holy Eraser started absorbing the Tsurugi no Kami's aura.
"It doesn't have to devour the aura, only weaken it!" Kiba said.
"!" Forbesii watched as the barrier in front of him started to crack.
"Let me give you a hand!" A third sword slashed down at the barrier.
"You, Dragon Knight Granberia!" Forbesii said.
"So, Kenshin fell to you again, no matter! That's why we're here!" Granberia shouts, flames spiraling around Ares.
"Tch, I can't move! I have to...use more of the Tsurugi no Kami's power!" Forbesii thought.
"? !" Jordan watched as the Tsurugi no Kami started glowing again. "Hurry! He's preparing something!"
"Uuuuooohhh! !" Kiba and Granberia shout.
"It's too late! Divine Devastation!" Forbesii yelled out.
A powerful force expelled from the Tsurugi no Kami and forced all three of them back, sending Jordan crashing into a wall. Kiba, his armor damaged and Granberia both caught their bearings and looked over at Forbesii. "What was that?" Granberia said.
"Another technique of the Tsurugi no Kami I'm guessing." Kiba said.
"That is correct." Forbesii said walking toward them. "Give up, the only one of you that could have beaten me has already fallen, and that in itself was only because of the Holy Canceler, Kuroi Jigoku. None of you stand a chance against me."
"Don't make me laugh!" Granberia shouts taking off right at Forbesii.
"Hmhmhm..." Forbesii readied his sword for defense.
"Sword Birth: Holy Eraser!"
"? !" Forbesii looked around as multiple Holy Eraser blades erupted from the ground. "I can't use the barrier like this!"
"Vaporizing Rebellion Sword! !" Granberia shouted slashing Ares fiercely at Forbesii over and over again.
"Ghh!" Forbesii growled as he hurried to keep pace with the Dragon Knight.
"Is something the matter? ! Certainly one Knight isn't too much for a King!" Granberia mocked as she kept the assault up.
"Rrrahh!" Forbesii slashed horizontally, knocking Ares to the side. "Let me instruct you on the power of your King!"
"...Heh." Granberia smirked.
"Imperial Downfall Strike!"
"? !" Forbesii jumped back as Kiba slashed down at him, narrowly avoiding being bisected.
"Wind Infused Quill Arrows! Twister Bolts!"
"Ghh!" Forbesii growled as several small, but sharp bursts of wind dig into his back.
"Most high level harpies can make powerful whirlwinds with a pulse of mana and a beat of their wings, but I figured out how to apply this to my quills!" Jordan said extending his wings forward.
"Gruah!" Granberia shouted out as she and Kiba slashed their swords at Forbesii, causing him to raise his sword to defend.
"Tch!" Forbesii growled. "This is somewhat advantageous, the aura of the blade is being sucked away, meaning my body is less at risk for Sentinelization, but if the stronger devils, or Alipheese herself show up I'll be in trouble."
"We've almost got him." Jordan said.
"Do you, Jordan? Do you really?" Forbesii said.
"? !" Jordan watched as his quills tore through the Demon King's torso.
"Wha? !" Granberia and Kiba shout in surprise as they suddenly had to defend against the quills themselves. They were driven back as a result.
Forbesii slashed his free hand out, sending a sharp burst of wind outward, cutting down the Holy Erasers around him. He turned to Jordan as his wounds healed. "So inconsequential..." He said walking toward the downed harpy chieftain. "Both your attack, and the race from which you hail."
"Krh!" Jordan growled.
"Such unbalance in your population...one man for every lifetime of the Harpy Queen, at least the lamia's can say the Demon Queen herself comes from their particular race, but your lot...what can you do that other races can't do for themselves already?" Forbesii said.
"Guah!" Jordan gasped out in pain as the Tsurugi no Kami stabbed through his torso.
"I don't hate them per se, I'm just noticing their inconsequential worth to the good of Makai. After all, wasn't your mother a vicious warmonger?" Forbesii said.
"This coming from a tyrant?" Jordan snarled.
"You think what I am doing is tyranny, but it's actions like those of Cassandra Nerenid's, of your mother's that made me believe the things that I do, that the unruly Youkai race needed to be reined in." Forbesii said.
"By taking away their freedom? !" Jordan shouted.
"Freedom incites chaos, chaos incites war, war incites death. The only way to halt this process is if the youkai are stripped of the source element." Forbesii said. "So I will wipe the slate clean and replace it with a replica that I can control, and rule them as their deity."
"That's a good plan, too bad you'll never see it though!"
"!" Forbesii turned, blocking a downward stab from Arthur's Caliburn. "You, the royal descendant."
"That's not all." Arthur said.
"Nyoi Bo Extend!"
"Hm? ! Uhgh!" Forbesii grunted as Bikou's staff rammed into his chest as the descendant of Sun Wukong flew in.
"Gaahh...thanks..." Jordan said wincing in pain.
"Here man, you've had it, that's a holy wound." Bikou said bringing his Kinto'un. "Take this and find a healer."
"Right." Jordan said climbing on the golden cloud. "Thanks again. He said as he flew away.
Arthur and Bikou watched as Forbesii approached again. "Yo! Thanks for the sparring partner he really got my blood pumping." Bikou said with a grin.
"And you?" Forbesii said with narrowed eyes.
"Please, you might have made a copy of me, but you didn't make one of Gogmagog, the familiar of my sister's who you also didn't bother with a copy of." Arthur said. "When she figured that out, she brought out Gogmagog and Fenrir to rip apart mine and Kuroka's doubles.
"Hmn, I see. Seems I've made quite a few oversights with the rest of you as I prepared for my final battle with Kenshin-kun." Forbesii said. "But it is of little consequence when I have the Sword of God."
"Big mistake." Bikou smirked.
"I concur, you're in a war sir." Arthur said adjusting his glasses. "If any one of us takes you down the war is over in our victory."
"If you think it so easy, then come and lay me low then." Forbesii said.
"Well Bikou, let's show this False God of Darkness why he shouldn't underestimate us." Arthur said rushing forward
"Whoa ho ho! That's oddly hot blooded coming from you!" Bikou said rushing by him. "Nyoi-bo! Expand!"
"Hrn!" Forbesii grunted as Bikou's expanded weapon collided against the Tsurugi no Kami.
"Huurah!" Arthur appeared behind him and slashed his Caliburn at Forbesii's back.
"Hrh!" Forbesii growled and blocked that blade as well.
"Hm? !" Arthur said seeing Forbesii holding a second Tsurugi no Kami.
"Oh? You didn't know I could make replicas of the blade with it's power? How unfortunate." Forbesii said.
"Hahahaha!" Bikou laughed. "Yes! Finally a fun opponent!"
"Hmn, well I'm certainly glad someone respects power." Forbesii said.
"I not only respect power, I overcome it!" Bikou said.
"Touki!" Forbesii thought as the force coming from Bikou increased greatly.
"Heh, that's not all!" Arthur said as Caliburn started glowing brightly.
"Hrn? !" Forbesii glanced back feeling more force coming from Arthur as well.
"Seems you're in quite the pincer Forbesii-San." Arthur said. "My Caliburn is capable of producing massive amounts of holy aura, surpassing that of even Excalibur and Durandal. It might even surpass that sword you wield now, because I don't feel like the Almighty's grace is responding to your will at all!"
"Yeah, meanwhile I'm greatly skilled in Senjutsu and Touki, and am pretty damn strong myself!" Bikou said with a smirk.
"So choose! Which one of us do you want to focus on, and which one do you want to crush you!" Arthur said.
"Grrhhhh! !" Forbesii growled, straining against the two forces colliding against him. "Don't...you dare...GET COCKY! !"
"Wha? !" Arthur and Bikou exclaim as the earth under their feet shifted and threw them off.
Forbesii flew upward. "Kenshin Kuroshi has powerful allies, no more taking it easy from here on out!" He thought. He raised his swords and slashed them downward. "Wrath of the Sun God! Wind God's Vehemence!"
"!" Arthur and Bikou watched as spiraling flame and a twister of wind roared toward them.
(boom!)
"...Hmhmhmhm...!" Forbesii's eyes widened marginally seeing two figures standing in front of Bikou and Arthur.
"Sorry I was late Arthur-kun, I was waiting for an opportune moment to strike."
"My apologies for not jumping in sooner. I was doing the same."
"Think nothing of it Yuuto Kiba." Arthur said getting to his feet. "Thanks for the save."
"Hey you're that Dragon Knight chick, thanks for lookin' out. We should spar if we both make it out of this." Bikou said hopping to his feet.
"Of course." Kiba said.
"Hmn." Granberia smirked. "If you make it out of the fight, then I'd love to."
"Haha! I like you already!" Bikou laughed.
"Now, let's get started, Kenshin's down so it falls to us to fell this tyrant." Arthur said.
"Right!" Kiba and Granberia shout.
"I'm just in this for the thrill." Bikou said cracking his neck from side to side.
Forbesii bristled at the sight of the four. "I don't have time for this! I need to conserve my strength for the bigger threats! For those two Heavenly Dragons, for those Satan Level Devils, Fallen Angel Azazel, the emboldened Alipheese and last but not least Kenshin's own sisters!"
(Break)
Yukari, Issei and Rias arrived with Sona's peerage to where Ravel and Asia were healing Kenshin. "!" Rias let out a gasp.
"Kenshin...how did this happen...?" Issei said with wide eyes.
"..." Yukari looked her brother's body over. "So this is what the end result of the Vessel holds." She thought.
"Shit, I was too late." Everyone turned to find Azazel approaching. "How's he looking?" He asked Reya.
"..." Reya narrowed her eyes in thought as her Scouting Persona scanned Kenshin over. "..." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "His muscular structure is almost completely wiped out, the only pieces of it still in tact are keeping his internal organs from falling about. Restoring it could take hours, even days."
"What about his regeneration?" Yukari asked. "That should speed it up."
"It's more or less offline." Reya said.
"..." Yukari narrowed her eyes. "Kazumi." She said opening a communication circle. "Give me a video feed of the end of Kenshin's fight with the Demon King."
"On it." Kazumi said.
A screen appeared in front of Yukari, displaying the moment Kenshin started to get the upper hand, to when Forbesii struck him down and hovered over him. "Krh!" Yukari growled.
"That...underhanded prick!" Issei said.
"So Kenshin figured it out too, but he realized it too late." Azazel said.
"What do you mean?" Rias asked.
"The more Forbesii seems to use the Tsurugi no Kami, the greater risk he runs of undergoing a process called Sentinelization." Azazel said. "The process would basically strip Forbesii of everything that makes him who he is, so he would like to avoid it. Holy burns stretch from his sword hand on up his arm that he likely keeps hidden with an illusion."
"So it's a double edged sword." Yukari proposed. "It grants him power, but at a steep cost, but why does he need Kenshin?"
"He needed Kenshin as a youkai and because of his holy magic resistance. Adding in his DNA as a devil would have destabilized his core." Azazel said. "But that's not the worst part..."
"What then?" Issei said.
"Forbesii has known about Kenshin since the day he and Yukari were born." Azazel said. "He studied him damn near constantly, he basically knows Kenshin better than anyone at this point. He even knew about you two going to the past."
"That's why Forbesii always seemed to have the upper hand on Kenshin..." Yukari said. "How he knew when to swing to divert the Quadruple Giga when Kenshin attacked Samael."
"He could have killed Kenshin any time he wanted, but why he didn't is unnerving." Azazel said. "It's like he was waiting for the right time, like waiting for a fruit or vegetable to reach the peak of ripeness."
"..." Yukari looked down at Kenshin.
"This of course means he also studied those around Kenshin as well." Azazel said. "This includes you, Miyuki, Hikari, hell even that Negi Springfield girl you and Kenshin mentioned. This even includes you two to an extent." He said glancing at Rias and Issei.
"Can I interject here?" Kazumi said. "I'm watching him take on Kiba, Granberia, Arthur and Bikou and it seems he's having some difficulty."
"Probably because there wasn't as much time to compile data on them." Azazel said. "Three of them anyway."
"So taking Kenshin's corpse to do Lord only knows what with it and bringing down the curtain on all Youkai seems to be his endgame." Yukari said.
"Right. Ravel, Asia you keep healing him. Kazumi, I need you to broadcast this message to everyone." Azazel said.
"Give me a sec." Kazumi said.
"Hm?" Alice said seeing a communication circle open up next to her as she hurried to Rashoumen.
"What the?" Tamamo said dodging tail swipes from her double.
"Hm?" Kiba said backing off as Granberia, Arthur and Bikou attacked Forbesii. "Keep attacking everyone, it seems we're getting a callout!"
"Right!" Granberia, Bikou and Arthur said.
"Grh!" Forbesii growled and jumped back, sending a volley of white spears down at them.
"Caliburn!" Arthur said blocking them with a sword swipe of his sword's aura.
"Everyone listen up, even those not currently fighting the Demon King, the previous call out about the Vice Commander being taken down, is unfortunately true, but remember what he said! No matter who falls you must press forward! Now, before he fell, and while I was raiding the Nexus Point we both made a discovery. As you are fighting the Demon King, force him to use the Sword of God as much as you can!" Azazel said.
"As much as we can?" Kiba said.
"Hmn..." Miyuki narrowed her eyes in thought as she combed around the capitol to aid anyone in need of assistance.
"The blade causes him to inch closer to a process called Sentinelization, which he wants to avoid at all costs! Let us call his bet!" Azazel said. "Anyone who has defeated their clone is commanded to strike at the Demon King, or help those who have not yet, I'll be by shortly to put them out of commission, Azazel out."
Yukari noticed Issei about to move out after Azazel left. "Issei. I need a favor before you take off."
"What is it?" Issei said.
"Get some boosts together and give them to Ravel and Asia." She turned to Sona's peerage. "Tsubaki got taken down some time ago, one of you go check on her, Saji you're with me, the rest keep these two defended while they work."
"Right." Issei said.
"Use the Tsurugi no Kami as much as possible...a risky gambit." Alice said.
"You heard Azazel-Sama! Make him use his blade!" Arthur said.
"? !" Forbesii jumped back as Granberia nearly cleaved him in two. "Use my blade as much as...Shit, they all know now! !" He thought.
"Nyoi-bo!" Bikou said driving his staff into Forbesii's back.
"Grh!" Forbesii rolled off of the staff and yanked the staff toward him, slicing toward his neck. He cut through Bikou, but Bikou then vanished.
"You missed Nya!"
"Ey!"
"Hrn? !" Forbesii watched as a spinning circle of blue fire and several smaller blue fireballs came flying at him. He dodged the wheel, but had to defend against the smaller fireballs.
"Ufufu, nice shot Shirone." Kuroka said with an amused look.
"Of course." Koneko said. "Let's keep the assault up like Azazel-Sensei said."
"Of course, Of course." Kuroka said with a nod.
"Thanks you furball!" Bikou shouted.
"Like you're one to talk!" Kuroka snapped.
"Huh...so Onee-Sama has someone she argues with as well." Koneko thought.
"Will you two focus? !" Arthur shouts as he blasts Forbesii with a wave of holy mana from Caliburn.
"Gh!" Forbesii erected a barrier from the Tsurugi no Kami to block it.
"Now Rossweisse!"
"!" Forbesii looked ahead and saw Rossweisse and Evangeline in front of him.
"Crystallitatio Tellustris!" Rossweisse shouts.
Forbesii's line of sight was blocked by numerous spires of ice erupting from the ground. However with the Serene Mind ability he was able to tell Evangeline was crisscrossing the spires to make her way toward him. He was about to use his elemental power to raise a defense when...
"Absorption Line!"
"Gh? !" Forbesii glanced to his left seeing Saji close by with his Sacred Gear attached to his right wrist. "You think this will hold me boy?" He said raising the Tsurugi no Kami up to slice the line off.
"Actually, it was meant to distract you! Now Evangeline! !" Saji shouts.
"!" Forbesii looked back over to see Evangeline right next to him. "Dammit!"
"Heh, but even then this isn't the end game." Evangeline said as she slashed her hand downward. "Ensis Exsequenes!" With a sword of pure energy extending from her hand.
Saji kept his Absorption Line going as Forbesii and Evangeline dueled. "Saji-San are you sure you can handle this?" He heard Chacharmaru ask from a communication circle. "Master I know can handle it, but..."
"To be honest, not really, but I had an idea." Saji said. "Keep this line open and when you begin the firing sequence that should give me enough time to promote to Rook.
"Dammit, that bastard Azazel must have made a remote to shut down the homunculi I made." Forbesii thought. "Out of my way you nuisance!" Forbesii shouted pushing forward, trying to force Evangeline off.
"You think you can smack me away so easily? Really?" Evangeline mocked. "Alright...Gelidus Capulus!"
"!" Forbesii watched the water rush around him in an almost coffin like fashion and began freezing. "No!"
"Shit!" Saji retracted his line as the watery coffin froze.
"Hmn." Evangeline placed her hand next to her head and communicated with Chachamaru. "Get ready, the bastard's already starting to break it, sheesh it's like I'm dealing with Asuna minus the Magic Cancel."
"Hai Master." Chachamaru said. "Get ready Saji-San."
"Right! Promotion Rook!" Saji said.
"Al-Iskandariya, Lethal Force Authorized, Fire in three..two...one.."
Just as Forbesii broke from the ice and pursued Evangeline, she pointed up. "Hn...? ! !" His eyes widened with dread seeing the massive laser from space bearing down on him. "Shit! !" He raised the Tsurugi no Kami to defend against it. "Rrrrrrrgghhh! !" He growled as the pressure started cracking the ground beneath his feet.
"..." Evangeline glowered. "All available hands ATTACK HIM NOW! !"
"Right! Shadow Prison!" Saji shouts.
"Hrgh? !" Forbesii scowled as Vritra's aura wrapped around his sword arm, trying to tug it downward.
"Anyone with close range weaponry get in there and quickly attack him and get that hell out of there, anyone attacking with spells do so from a safe distance! Make him lower his arm!" Evangeline ordered.
"Got it!" Granberia ran into the blast zone and coated her blade in flames. She held her Ares in a sheathed position and slashed outward. "Serene Demon Sword!"
"Earth Guard!" Forbesii said just before the sword made contact.
"Hah! You think that will stop me? !" Granberia said jumping back, before jumping forward. "Earth Rumbling Decapitation!"
"Gh!" Forbesii grunted from the powerful slash. "You're wasting your time, fool."
"Am I?" Granberia said lunging forward stabbing her Ares forward. "Lightning Sword Flash!"
"Gh? !" Forbesii watched as the sword ripped through his left bicep. He held his arm up with his right arm.
"What's the matter? ! You feeling a little wounded? !" Granberia said before she was tugged backward. She turned to Evangeline. "What the hell, why did you pull me out? !"
"Let someone else have a crack." Evangeline said. "Next!"
"Oraoraoraoraora! !" Bikou shouts a battle cry as he rushes in with his Nyoi-bo, which he had made extra thick and lined with his touki.
"Haaaa!" Forbesii roared out, knocking away his staff shots with powerful wind magic.
"Heh? Damn, Arthur you're up!" Bikou said.
"Right!" Arthur shouts rushing and stabbing forward.
"Huraaah!" Forbesii extended the Tsurugi no Kami's barrier to block Arthur's stab.
"I'll try this again!" Kiba thought stabbing his sword into the ground. "Holy Eraser Birth!"
"Gh!" Forbesii felt the force from Chachamaru's attack strengthen as the Holy Eraser blades, too many to count started draining away the holy magic barrier he had erected. "Rrghh..." He growled. "Stop interfering...with my vision! !"
"What the? !" Arthur shouts as he was blown backward.
"Rrgh!" Forbesii reeled his sword hand back and stabbed it forward, sending a pulse of magic upward.
"What the? !" Evangeline said shielding her eyes as the laser from Chachamaru's Sacred Gear scattered. "What happened? !"
"Unbelieveable, he destroyed Al-Iskandariya!" Chachamaru said. "Get ready!"
"I've had enough of these." Forbesii said slashing the Tsurugi no Kami out in a circle destroying all of the Holy Erasers.
"Kuah!" Kiba gasped out blood as the next moment Forbesii was in front of him, stabbing the Sword of God through the right side of his chest.
"Enough of you. Go join your mirror wielding friend." Forbesii said throwing Kiba back.
"Kuh..." Kiba hit the ground with a dull thud.
"Kiba!" Koneko shouts.
"Shirone!" Kuroka said as Koneko charged forward pelting Forbesii with blue balls of flame.
"Oh? Are you angry that your friend has fallen in combat?" Forbesii said walking forward, taking the blasts in stride. "Well that's just unfortunate, had he kept his nose out of matters above his station, he wouldn't have ended up like that."
"Shut up, he wasn't just a friend, he was like an older brother...you'll pay for hurting my family!" Koneko shouted condensing her blue flames around her fist. "Haa!"
"Hmn." Forbesii raised his blade to block the fist.
"Hnhh!" Koneko grunted in pain, merely touching the blade hurting her.
"That must be painful." Forbesii noted. "Here, let me replace it with a far worse pain." He knocked her back and stabbed the Sword of God at Koneko.
(riiinnnggg!)
Arthur dove in and blocked the sword with Caliburn. "Hmn? !" Forbesii had no time to react as two fists coated in blue flames connected right with his face while Bikou's staff rammed into his chest.
"Haa, thanks Arthur." Kuroka said. "I owe you one."
"Yes, thanks." Koneko said.
"Incoming!" Bikou said, but all of them reacted too late as a blast of holy magic blew them into a building, the sheer force knocking them all out cold with open head wounds.
"Shit!" Evangeline growled. "Get ready Granberia."
"Oh I am, I've been ready for this for too long!" Granberia said.
"Hmhmhmhmhm...you know, you could have said the exact same for Kenshin-kun...and look where that got him." Forbesii said, walking out with a smirk. "Crushed beneath his better's heel for the third or so time. If I didn't need his body's genes I would have done away with him entirely for being so pathetic."
"..." Evangeline went silent.
"Evangeline?" Granberia said.
"You called him...pathetic." Evangeline snarled, her fists quivering.
"I did, what of it?" Forbesii said. "Don't tell me, the Undying Mage, the Maga Nosferatu...the Dark Evangel actually came to care for someone."
"So what if I do, he isn't the only one that was haunted by what happened after he disappeared." Evangeline said. "My power unable to do the slightest in keeping them alive...I actually liked those idiotic girls...there's also something else. When he disappeared with Yukari...I felt a strange mana in the air. I'm feeling that strange mana right now, from your blade. There's also the matter of him defeating me to add me to his peerage."
"Huh, so there were others that Kenshin had to tame to accept being in this peerage." Granberia thought.
"Well I'm not surprised." Forbesii said. "I did make the request upon this blade to shoot Kenshin and Yukari back in time."
"Krh!" Evangeline growled.
"What...the hell...? How vast is that blade's power?" Granberia said.
"And unlike what I told Kenshin earlier...this is truth." Forbesii said.
The aura around Evangeline started to darken. "You...You are so much like Hottan it sickens me." Evangeline snarled as glyphs started to appear on the backs of her hands.
"Well I did create his homunculus body." Forbesii said with a callous smirk.
"Krh!" Evangeline growled. "And here I was thinking I'd never hate anyone as much as I hated him, but you're coming pretty fucking close."
"It matters not to me." Forbesii said pointing the Tsurugi no Kami at Evangeline. "You'll still fall to me, all the same."
"Let us just see about that!" Evangeline said activating the Magia Erebea and her Queen of Ice Armament.
Forbesii raised the Tsurugi no Kami to defend as Evangeline's Ensis Exsequenes collided against it. Evangeline snapped her fingers and numerous ice spears surrounded them. "Hm?" He looked around.
"Eat this!" Evangeline said, her entire body turning to ice as the spears rushed in.
"..." Forbesii closed his eyes as they all closed in.
The ice formation of Evangeline was torn apart by the spears, but she reformed from the ice. "..." Evangeline stared at the steam coming out from where Forbesii was standing. "Tch." She glowered seeing dark flames surrounding Forbesii as he walked out unharmed.
"Is that all your hatred is worth? My Gigamander's flames can easily handle such ice." Forbesii goaded.
"Tch!" Evangeline growled. "? !" She watched as Granberia rushed.
"Dragon Butcher!" Granberia said slashing at Forbesii's waist.
"Kh." Forbesii defended with the Tsurugi no Kami.
"Haa!" Evangeline shouts, appearing next to him, slashing one of his arms.
"Gh? !" Forbesii's eyes widened as his wound began freezing and burning at the same time. He slammed his and Granberia's swords to the ground and grabbed her by the throat, rushing forward with her in tow, driving her through several buildings with Evangeline pursuing him.
"Get back here you coward!" Evangeline shouts.
"Fine then!" Forbesii said turning on a dime and throwing Granberia at Evangeline.
"Shit!" Evangeline reacted quickly and caught the dragonkin. "! !"
"Wrath of the Sun God!" Forbesii said slashing his sword at him, sending a violent burst of white hot spiraling flames at them.
"Gh? !" Granberia reacted quickly, turning and putting herself between Evangeline and the blast.
"Hey? !" Evangeline said.
"Don't move!" Granberia said. "Guuuuaahhh! !" She cried out in pain as it hit.
"Oh? How noble of you Granberia, using yourself as a shield to protect the vampire." Forbesii said.
"Gh...you bastard." Granberia said turning, glaring weakly at Forbesii.
"Such is your punishment for standing against your new Dark God." Forbesii said.
"...I would...rather die...than call you a god!" Granberia spat.
Evangeline attached her strings to Granberia's back and flung the dragonkin behind her to where she'd land on her front. "There's no one to protect you now vampire."
"I don't need protecting, you heathen god." Evangeline spat.
"Well then, let's just see how true that is." Forbesii said with a smirk as he readied the Tsurugi no Kami for battle.
"Burning Spear!"
"? !" Forbesii watched as a spear stabbed in front of him and glew brightly. "Damn!" He erected a barrier just before it exploded.
However in his haste to defend against the exploding spear he was unprepared for the hand that clamped down on his shoulder and turned him around. "Diamond Plated Fist!"
"Gh!" Forbesii grunted as he was knocked back. "? !" He heard sloshing underneath him and narrowly avoided being skewered by sharpened blue slime which then turned and batted him away. "Hn? !" He looked up at the crackling skies.
"Roar Lightning!"
"Damn it!" Forbesii erected a holy barrier to defend against it, but the holy element passed by and struck him in the chest. Another figure landed in front of him wielding two swords. "You think that will-? !" He was cut off as he was frozen in time.
"Eighteenfold Rakshasa!"
"Ghh!" Forbesii grunted as he was wounded eighteen times over, unable to move.
"Twin Heavenly Demon Revival!"
"Hrgh!" Forbesii growled as a nineteenth wound was added.
"Hurry Yukari, I can't hold him much longer!"
"I know, just a bit long Gasper!" Yukari shouts moving Kazeken into a sheathed position. "Flash Kill!" As soon as she went by Forbesii cutting into his chest she turned her head. "Now Akatama!"
"Boiling Water Dragon Missile!" Akatama shouts, extending his gourd outward, a large, red hot water dragon firing out of it.
"Haa!" Gasper fell to a knee, gasping for breath.
"Hn? !" Forbesii was forced to defend and be pushed back by the water dragon which took him skyward.
"Destruction Missile!"
"Gaah!" Forbesii gasped out as a column of destruction magic hit him in the back sending him rocketing to the ground.
Rasai landed next to Yukari. "I don't think that did him in." Rasai said.
"If only it were that easy." Yukari said.
Forbesii stood up looking out at the crowd of demons and devils surrounding him. "..."
"All of your doubles are about gone thanks to Azazel." Yukari said. "You can't seriously hope to take us all on at once."
"My power is of a different level than you can comprehend. If you don't believe me, go ask your fallen brother." Forbesii said.
"Krh!" Yukari growled. "I'll make you pay for what you did!"
An attack crashed against Forbesii's barrier. He glanced over to see Rossweisse readying up another spell. "Iovis Tempestas Fulgriens!" She shouts.
"..." Forbesii raised his hand and blocked the attack, collecting it in his palm and launching it back out at her.
"!" Rossweisse froze in fright as her own attack rushed toward her.
"Wake up!" An ice wall erected between her and it. She turned her head to find Evangeline standing next to her. "Don't freeze up, expect everything."
"R-Right." Rossweisse said.
"Right!" Yukari said. "Don't give him time to fight back! Make him use the Tsurugi no Kami's aura to defend himself!"
"Burning Fist!"
"Water Dragon Bullet Barrage!"
"Melt Storm!"
"Shamshir!"
"Iacaulatio Grandinis!"
"Lightning!"
"Destruction Missile Barrage!"
"Durandal!"
"Katensho! !"
The respective attacks of Bureijin, Akatama, Erubetie, Alma, Evangeline, Akeno, Rasai, Xenovia and Yukari barraged Forbesii from all sides. However Forbesii emerged unscathed. "Seriously, either he'll have to break contact with that sword or it will turn him."
"..." Forbesii looked at his sword hand, the burning that was previously at his wrist was now past his elbow. "It's useless, you cannot lay a finger on me." He said.
"Hmn, I wonder about that, I did notice something earlier." Yukari said. "Irina now!"
"Right!" The lone angel of the group rushed forward, wielding her holy sword. "Light Sword Flash!"
"Grh? !" Forbesii grunted as her sword tore into the right side of his torso. "!" He felt Yukari take his back and slash Kazeken against his barrier, however this made it near impossible for him to defend against the holy arrows that Irina was now launching at him. "So they noticed that the Tsurugi no Kami's barrier does not halt the angels of the Almighty." He thought.
"Keep going! We're not finished here yet! !" Yukari shouts. "Irina, remember what I said, I'll try to shield you, but I can't guarantee I'll get everything."
"I got it! Don't worry about me!" Irina said.
Forbesii growled as the barrage continued. The Tsurugi no Kami began glowing brightly. "? !" Yukari took notice of this. "Irina get back!"
"Right!" Irina shouts.
Forbesii raised the Tsurugi no Kami skyward. "Divine Blast! !"
(Boom! !)
"? !" Ravel and Asia looked outward, seeing the blast go off. "..." Asia squeezed her eyes shut. "Please, everyone be alright."
"Damn it." Issei cursed. "Alright you two I have to go." He said.
"Good luck Issei-San." Asia said.
"Haa...haa..." Ravel panted, sweat dripping off her face as she continued healing Kenshin.
Meanwhile, Kenshin himself was standing in darkness. "Tch...such a fool." He berated himself.
"What are you doing here?"
"? !" Kenshin rounded to find someone he never expected to be there. "You...Luka?" He said.
"You aren't supposed to be here Kenshin." Luka said. "You should have already beaten Forbesii."
"I figured out his secret, but it was too late, the Vessel had already rended my muscles to nothing." Kenshin said.
"You used the Vessel, but you didn't use it to it's fullest capabilities." Luka said.
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes. "The power was immense, but at the same time...if anyone got in my way...friend or foe...I feel like I would have cut them down regardless."
"That's not it." Luka said shaking his head.
"Then what?" Kenshin asked.
"What happened with Wilheim...you didn't show it, but it scared you. The thought of fighting for revenge again...like you did in Mundus Magicus, and it almost cost you everything until that Rias girl consoled you."
"..." Kenshin let out a sigh. "...You're right. I was...so furious...I was ready to cut Wilheim down, no matter who got in my way. I don't want to lose anyone else, but my vengeful impulses might just end up costing me regardless."
"I know how you feel, I hold the same hatred for Forbesii." Luka said.
"You said you knew things about Forbesii, that you found when you were undercover." Kenshin said.
"Well, the first thing I found out you already knew, and the second you already figured out for yourself." Luka said. "So that just leaves the third."
"...?" Kenshin looked at him questioningly.
"Kenshin, Forbesii was the one to send you and Yukari into the past." Luka said.
"? ! !" Kenshin's eyes widened in shock. "What...?"
"The Tsurugi no Kami's power was the catalyst that activated the time machine you had." Luka said. "Forbesii's request on the blade made it so, but I have even worse news for you."
"What?" Kenshin said with narrowed eyes.
"Forbesii, he knew about you since you were born." Luka said.
"You're joking!" Kenshin said with an incredulous look.
"I wish I was." Luka said closing his eyes. "Everything, your birth, your upbringing, your stay in Megalo, the fight with Hottan, your dealings with Rikudou, Mahora, Kuoh and your fights as a devil, all of it."
"Krrrhhh..." Kenshin growled before bowing his head. "So what you're saying...is that I have no chance of beating him."
"That's an odd remark coming from you." Luka noted.
"If he knows all that, then you're saying he knows how I fight completely, the elements, my charms, the spells from Mundus Magicus that I rarely use...everything." Kenshin said.
"Then just hit him with something he's never seen before." Luka said crossing his arms with a grin.
"Like what?" Kenshin asked.
"Look within yourself...I'm sure you'll find the answer." Luka said. "Now...I have one more thing I need to tell you."
"?" Kenshin stared at him.
"You are allowed fight for your own reasons, no matter what they might be, if you feel they are ultimately for the greater good." Luka said. "Don't hold back anymore, because you feel the pursuit of your vendetta will change you for good, or that it will ultimately cost you in the end...it won't if you don't let it."
"..." Kenshin went silent.
"Reach deep within yourself...feel the pain of those of us who fell." Luka said.
"? !" Kenshin glanced around, the figures of Shin Tatsu, Alice XV, and even his father appearing.
"You and what family you have left are the only ones left of the Kuroshi and Tsuki, Kenshin." Shin Tatsu said.
"Everything we were survives now only in you all." Ryuushin said.
"Forbesii, you were right about him...he has fallen too far...and is haunted by a single overriding fear." Alice XV said. "That the Dragon of the Elements, the heir to Lord Ragnarok's power would arise again and stop him."
The three of them disappeared. "Kenshin, I dreamt...I yearned to be the one to defeat him." Luka said. "Yet he broke me and threw me with the rest."
"..." Kenshin watched as Luka walked past him.
"You can never know the torment we died in." Luka said. "Unless Forbesii is defeated on this day...the Youkai race will be lost...lost forever to the memory of time."
"..." Kenshin bowed his head, looking down at his hands.
"Kenshin." Luka said. "One last thing..." Kenshin turned toward him. "I...loved Alice dearly...It hurt to have to betray her like I did...her and my dear friends Alma, Granberia, and Erubetie...please...protect them in my stead." Luka vanished at this.
"...Oh no...most of the fighters that battled against the Demon King...are down!" Kenshin heard Kazumi's voice.
"Oh no, th-then that means...!" He heard Asia's frightened voice.
"Krh! Get ready, he could come at us at any moment!" He heard Ravel order.
"...No..." Kenshin said as his consciousness returned to his body. "Get up...get up! !" He thought.
"Come on...please get up, Kenshin-Sama." Ravel said pumping as much healing mana into him as she could. "Haa!" She gasped out as it suddenly cut off. "...No...I-I'm out?"
"Hrnn...?" Kenshin's eyes cracked open, he glanced at Ravel, she looked exhausted. She kept herself up, but there were tears in her eyes.
"No...this...this can't be the end." Ravel said. Her head over Kenshin's chest.
"Damn, Ruruko, promote to Rook and carry Kenshin away." Yura said.
"It won't matter. The Demon King has elemental powers." Reya said. "He'd easily catch up."
"Kenshin-Sama...please...get up..." Ravel cried out, her tears landing on his chest.
"Hrngh? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as his body's muscles tissue started regenerating at a quick pace.
"What the? !" Reya rounded and scanned Kenshin. "His body's repairing it's torn and missing tissues!"
"Ungh..." Kenshin's eyes opened all the way and he slowly sat up. "Fuck me...I should never let it get that bad again.." He grunted.
"Onii-Sama!" Asia said, relief washing over her with tears in her eyes.
"K-Kenshin-Sama...you're alright?" Ravel said wiping her eyes.
"Yes." Kenshin smiled, petting her head. "At least well enough to get back out there, my regeneration should take care of the rest. "Thank you for your work." He moved in and kissed the female Phenex on the lips.
"Mmhn? !" Ravel's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly melted into the kiss.
Kenshin pulled away and turned petting Asia's head. "Thanks to you too Asia." He said before getting up.
"How...are you standing right now? Almost your entire muscular structure was gone." Reya said. "It would have taken hours maybe even days to rebuild it and Ravel-San was clearly tapped on mana."
"I dunno..." Kenshin shrugged. "Ravel was crying over me, sorry by the way. Maybe the honest tears of a Phenex clan member work like Phoenix tears."
Ravel thanked her lucky stars Kenshin wasn't looking at her, as her face was currently inventing a new shade of red. "A-Aaaahhh? ! My tears did land on him! And they healed him almost completely! Does this mean what I think it means? !" she thought.
"Partner." Yuurei said letting everyone hear him.
"What is it Yuurei?" Kenshin asked.
"I have a way for you to even the scales against Forbesii without destroying your body." Yuurei said.
"I'm listening." Kenshin said.
"We combine our powers." Yuurei said.
"Whoa, are you talkin' like a Subspecies Balance Breaker?" Kenshin asked.
"Yeah, I'd like to see that bastard fall as much as you do." Yuurei said. "But to do that, I'll need that corpse of the Black Dragon of Destruction, and even then it will take some time for our powers to fully meld."
"Alright." Kenshin said. "Sona's peerage, go around and get those that have fallen off the battlefield. Asia, you and Ravel go and heal them." He paused to place his hand on Ravel's forehead, pumping a moderate amount of his own mana into her, letting it convert to her own stores. "There, it won't be as hard as healing me, so that should do. All of you go now."
"Right, good luck Onii-Sama/Kenshin-Sama/Kenshin-San." They all said as they took off.
Kenshin opened up communications with Kazumi. "Kazumi, how bad are our losses?"
"Kenshin? ! You're back up? !" Kazumi said.
"Yes, now report." Kenshin said. "Also did anyone fighting the Demon King die?"
"Most of the three Devil peerages are down or healing others, out of Rias' it's just her, Issei, Xenovia and Akeno. Sona's peerage that's actually slated to fight the Demon King, it's just Sona now, and from yours it's you, Tamamo, Miyuki and Yukari." Kazumi said. "To answer your other question, Chachamaru is scanning them, and I can confirm that they are all still alive, but pretty banged up."
"I see, what about Vali's team?" Kenshin asked. "And Raiser, Yubeluna and Rasai, and what's going on with Mom?"
"Raiser and Rasai are both down as well. Yubeluna is with Raiser making sure he makes it though, while Hikari has taken up position as an emergency healer." Kazumi said. "Ditto Le Fay, but the only other person left out of Vali's team is Vali himself.
"Please tell me Grayfia, Azazel and Serafall are still up." Kenshin said.
"They are, they're helping mop up the homunculi so Makai doesn't incur any further losses." Kazumi said.
"And Alice?" Kenshin asked.
"She's on her way to Rashoumen." Kazumi said.
"Hmn...I see." Kenshin said. "Open communications with everyone. Knowing their Vice Commander is back on his feet should boost morale."
"Alright." Kazumi said.
He felt the numerous communications opening and closed his eyes. "All fighting members of the Youkai Revolution, hear my voice!"
"Huh? !" Issei said stopping his flight. "Kenshin's back up? !"
"Kenshin...?" Yukari said looking around.
"Are you hallucinating? I took him down already." Forbesii said.
"Kenshin?" Rias said.
"Well, that's good." Serafall said to Grayfia as they took down scores of homunculi.
"Indeed, it's good to know he's back on his feet." Grayfia said.
"It's come to my attention that the forces battling the Demon King have suffered major losses, however you must not give up. Those who have been taken down still live, you must fight harder so they can be evacuated from the battlefield!" Kenshin said.
"Krh..." Akatama pushed himself to his feet. "He's right...we can't give in now..." He said.
"I will be preparing myself to fight Forbesii once again, but these preparations will take some time to set up! I need you all to hold Forbesii at bay until that time!" Kenshin said.
"Hold him at bay..." Vali said with narrowed eyes.
"Surely he doesn't think he's the only one who can defeat him." Azazel said.
"However! Do not think you're merely buying time for me. The glory of felling this tyrant is not just for myself or our Queen. Fight to defeat him yourself, like I already know you're going to!" Kenshin said. "This is YOUR fight just as much as it is mine! It is YOUR right to take the tyrant down as it is mine! I wish you all luck, and may the Goddess of Darkness, bless your endeavor!"
"Heh, cheeky bastard." Tiamat said with a smirk, before her double crumpled before her. "Huh?" She turned to find Azazel.
"You heard the man, go and deck that bastard one." Azazel said.
"Hah! Like I need you to tell me that!" Tiamat said before taking off.
Meanwhile Yukari, Xenovia and Akeno all got to their feet with Akatama. "Alright...you heard our Vice Commander." Akatama said with a smirk. "Let us overthrow this tyrant."
"Right!" Yukari, Xenovia and Akeno all shout.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Fuck me...
Kenshin: This took awhile.
Draconis: Writer's block, Drama at home, sorry if it was repetitive, didn't expose much of the other characters or dragged on. That's all I'll say. Anyway. Next time. The Final Battle of the Youkai Revolution. See you all then.
Draconis678 out