Draconis: Alright, let's see if I can get this shit out faster than last time.
Kenshin: I'm betting it's out after Christmas.
Draconis: Fuck off.
Nagi: Do you always antagonize the author like this Kenshin?
Kenshin: Eh, only when he takes forever.
Draconis: Anyway...I'll just get started before you two start roasting me.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 97
Hero vs Assassin.
Draconis: Begin!
(Start)
Last time
"You know...if had I reburied Dad, he'd probably be rolling in his grave right now." Kenshin said.
"I know, but if you're ready...then let's go..." Nagi said as he called for his halberd.
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes. "I say I'm ready...but...even when I get my power back...can...I really beat him?" He thought.
"..." Nagi stared at Kenshin. "I asked already, but are you sure about this? If the Lion dude, Eva-Chan and your sister couldn't do it. Why are you trying at half strength?"
"...It's like you told me all those years ago, no matter the cost, no matter the situation...protect those who can't protect themselves." Kenshin said. "Besides..."
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdrive!"
"Hm? That same getup Yukari was wearing?" Nagi said with a curious look.
"That's not all!" Kenshin said. "I, who am about to awaken, am the Dragon of the Elements who will master the Principals of Creation and Destruction. I shall stride down the path to peace with the power of my Infinite will and unbreakable Dream. I will become the Abyssal Dragon of the Elements, and I will navigate the Light and the Dark to bring you to your peaceful end!"
"Abyssal Elemental Overdrive!"
Kenshin emerged in his original form with the seal still active. "Whew!" Nagi whistled with a smirk. "Nice showing, but you're still weaker than them."
"We'll see if that has any bearing on this fight at all." "Kenshin said before closing his eyes. "But before we start...I want to say something."
"What is it?" Nagi said.
"I...was always going to leave." Kenshin said.
"So you admit you were a coward?" Nagi said.
"..." Kenshin bristled for a moment before letting out a sigh. "...Nagi..this world...hated me...especially the Confederacy."
"Hn?" Nagi grunted curiously.
"Besides...peace can only be achieved if the people will it...if it's held in check by a collective organization like the Ala Rubra or the Rikudou Organization...it will always fail in the end." Kenshin said. "Also...I eventually would have gone to Makai to master my power before Sirzechs, the guy who took me...well...took me out of here...and seeing as it was gearing up for a war...I probably would have stayed and fought the war effort there...and seeing what happened in the Youkai Revolution...I probably would have stayed there and ruled as the Seventeeth Demon King, but...I promise you it would have been after Ialda, Hottan or whatever she wants to call herself was dealt with."
"Are you sure about that?" Nagi said.
"I am." Kenshin said. "If Negi told you anything about me...you should already know the answer."
"!" Nagi's eyes widened a bit as Kenshin disappeared.
Kenshin said as he used Shundou to appear above Nagi. "Heavenly Demon Revival!"
"This woulda worked earlier, but Yukari already used it!" Nagi said as he blocked it with his halberd.
"G-Grhhhh!" Kenshin growled as Nagi held him back. "Heh!" Kenshin smirked. "You'll find my connection to the spirits is stronger!"
"!" Nagi reached forward and grabbed the sword.
"? !" Kenshin was pulled forward by Nagi, right into his fist, which sent him rocketing to the ground.
(crash!)
"G-Ghhhh!" Kenshin pushed himself back up. "Fuck...he hits like a fuckin' truck on steroids." Kenshin said before smirking. "That's just like him though. This time I don't have a twenty year advantage to prepare for him."
"Talking to ourselves are we?"
"? !" Kenshin rounded to see Nagi standing right behind him. "Wait...how is that...I didn't even sense him move!" Kenshin thought as he leaped backward.
"Running again are we?" Nagi asked.
"Gh? !" Kenshin grunted.
"You hopped into this fight, I'm not gonna let you hop back out Kenshin." Nagi said. "Come on, I want to see if the boy from so long ago did get any stronger."
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes for a bit before taking off right at him. "Tch..with this seal...it's like the gap hasn't lessened at all."
(flashback)
Nagi knocked back a five year old Kenshin with a finger flick. "Come on Kenshin, you can barely stand, can we stop this? Al, Eishun and Arika probably have dinner ready by now."
"No..." Kenshin slowly raised his practice sword. "I was told...this wasn't over until I could land a hit on you."
"Haa..." Nagi sighed and dodged out of the way of Kenshin's stab, flicking Kenshin backward.
(Flashback pause)
"Haa..." Nagi sighed and dodged out of the way, raising his hand to flick Kenshin backward.
(clench!)
"Heh!" Kenshin smirked and sent his wind propelled fist sailing toward Nagi's face.
"Gh!" Nagi grunted as he caught the fist, holding it back, a bit of strain evident on his face.
(flashback resume.)
"Gotta say I admire your determination kid." Nagi said as he kept dodging Kenshin's attacks as Kenshin got faster.
"!" Kenshin shot forward.
"? !" Nagi stepped out of the way at the last second as Kenshin crashed into the wall.
"Dang it!" Kenshin said pulling himself out of said wall.
"That was Shundou...kid how did you learn that?" Nagi asked.
"I learned if from watching you and Dad!" Kenshin said shooting forward.
Nagi noticed Kenshin wasn't wearing shoes. "I see, it is easier to do when you can feel the ground under your feet."
"I saw." Kenshin said.
(flashback pause.)
"He's gotten so much faster, but this isn't anything I can't handle." Nagi thought.
"Gaah...everything I try he has an answer for!" Kenshin thought. "Hrrh!" Kenshin grunted as Nagi's fist impacted his left cheek.
"I'll admit you've gotten way better kid, but you're still not gonna beat me." Nagi said driving his knee into Kenshin's chest.
"Guoh? !" Kenshin gasped out, having the wind driven out of him.
"Hrm!" Nagi punched Kenshin in the face, sending him rocketing back toward the seal.
"A-Aaauuughhh!" Kenshin cried out in pain as he slammed against it, the seal sending a feeling of holy magic through him.
"Onii-Chan!" Miyuki said as Kenshin fell.
"S-Stay back..." Kenshin said as he slowly got to his feet. "F-Fuck...it's like the seal was trying to rip my soul out just then..."
"It was designed to seal you soul and all." Yuurei said.
"Onii-Chan, you can't expect me to just-"
"Miyuki, I'm sorry but you're down an arm and your regeneration isn't as good as mine." Kenshin said. "You wouldn't be able to do much to Nagi." Kenshin said. "Just focus on healing Yukari."
"O-OK." Miyuki said.
"I'm almost done with Sairaorg-Sama, but he's not waking up for awhile." Regulus said.
"OK." Kenshin said.
"So, done chatting?" Nagi said.
"Krh!" Kenshin shot toward Nagi.
(flashback resume)
"Kaaahhh! !" Kenshin used Shundou to appear right in front of Nagi.
"? !" Nagi watched as flames lit along the edge of Kenshin's blade. "That's-? !"
"I've improved it Uncle! Katensho! !" Kenshin said slashing down at Nagi.
(boom!)
"? !" In another room, Ryuushin felt the explosion and looked over at Eishun. They both nodded and took off.
"H-Hey! Don't leave me to cook dinner all alone!" Arika shouts.
When they got there, they saw Nagi holding Kenshin's practice sword with a smile on his face.
"D...Dang it..." Kenshin cursed. "Even...though I gave it all I had...I still couldn't..."
"What are you talking about kid?" Nagi said lowering Kenshin to the ground before showing him his hand. "I think you did good, look at this burn."
"A-Ah? !" Kenshin said seeing it. "U-Uncle Nagi! I'm so sorry!" He said.
"Hahahaha! What are ya talking about? The objective was to get a hit in on me, and you did it!" Nagi grinned.
(Flashback end)
"Katensho!" Kenshin roared slashing his sword down at Nagi.
However...when the smoke cleared this time...There was no wound, no burn. "Sorry Kenshin...that won't work this time." Nagi said.
"Ghh? !" Kenshin growled as Nagi's fist laid into his face sending him on a tumble.
"Kenshin..." Nagi said with a regretful gaze. "I'm sorry about this...but...I need the mana Negi gave you, to save her...to do that...I have to kill you." He said as a lone tear rolled down his cheek.
"Then doesn't that defeat the purpose of saving her?" Kenshin asked. "The only...reason she'd come back was because of me."
"...I know, but...she deserves to be free." Nagi said.
"Then let me think of something! We don't have to do this Nagi!" Kenshin said.
"..." Nagi went silent.
"Please Uncle...I...I don't want to do this." Kenshin said, his brow twitching, conflict evident on his face. "I don't want to have to kill you to get to her."
"..." Nagi let out a sigh. "I'm sorry Kenshin, but the answer's no. I...would trust you with a lot, but you've failed once already...I have to do it myself."
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes, letting out a sigh to calm himself down. "Then...I'll do what I have to." He started walking forward. "I ask thee, eternal time. My body shackled by the powers of creation, I beseech thee! Return my true body to me!"
"!" Nagi's eyes widened as Kenshin disappeared. "Guoh? !" Nagi doubled over as he felt a fist punch him in the stomach.
"This is how strong I really am Nagi." Kenshin said as he stepped forward sending the Thousand Master flying across the top of Riot Peak. "I don't know if this will be enough to beat you, but it will at least let me stand in the same ring as you."
"..." Nagi wiped his mouth and narrowed his eyes in thought. "So this is Kenshin's full power huh? Man Ryuu, that little shy brat really got powerful."
"Haa!" Kenshin roared as he appeared in front of Nagi slashing downward with Kuroi Jigoku.
"Ghh!" Nagi held his halberd up, blocking the slash, but the ground began to crater from the force. "So...Strong!"
"Eat THIS!" Kenshin said driving his knee into Nagi's face sending him tumbling backward.
"!" Nagi's eyes widened, as soon as he sat up, Kenshin was already rushing him.
"Can't let him think or get a spell off!" Kenshin thought.
"Krh!" Nagi grunted as Kenshin kept driving him back, attacking relentlessly. "..." He glanced at Alice who was still pouring dark mana into the seal. "If the seal's off, why is she still doing that...unless, this release is only temporary...so that's it. Kenshin's trying to finish me off quickly."
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened sightly as Nagi grabbed his sword, stopping it's advance, before slugging Kenshin backward.
"..." Nagi looked down at his bleeding hand. "You know Kenshin, you're awful desperate for someone standing in the same ring as me." He said.
"!" Kenshin vanished and appeared behind Nagi, driving his elbow toward Nagi's back, Nagi turned and caught it.
"Nice try, but you're not gonna get the drop on me when I'm serious kid." Nagi said. "?" He looked up seeing Kenshin's tail throw out a human shaped stencil. "? !"
A clone Kenshin took it's place and grabbed Nagi by the head, twisting as it landed and lifting Nagi up, throwing him overhead directly onto the ground.
"Guah? !" Nagi gasped out.
"Oh? Here's me literally getting the drop on your ass Uncle." Kenshin said with a smirk. He reeled his leg back and kicked Nagi into the sky.
"Grah!" Nagi punched down at Kenshin, sending a beam of light magic off his fist.
"Yume Shouheki!" Kenshin shouts as his barrier blocks the attack. He shot in front of Nagi. "Elemental Spica!"
"..." Nagi stood there as Kenshin's fist laid into his cheek.
"? ! !" Kenshin's eyes widened. "No! How has the seal already reset? ! It's barely been a minute!" Kenshin thought.
"Seems your time ran out faster than you thought it would." Nagi said grabbing Kenshin's wrist pulling it away.
"Guah? !" Kenshin gasped out as Nagi slugged him toward the ground. He bounced off the earth and was driven back down toward it as Nagi kicked him in the stomach.
"Come on Kenshin! You hopped into this fight! You had to know this was coming!" Nagi said as he barraged Kenshin with a vicious series of punches.
"G-Grrhh, Gahh..aaagh! Aaaaaggh...!" Kenshin cried out in pain.
"Kenshin-Chan? !/ Onii-Chan? !" Alma and Miyuki both yell out in worry.
"Don't! Miyuki your arm is still totally broken, and Alma, if you abandon Granberia's healing she might heal awkwardly!" Alice said. "Miyuki, if you want to help your brother, start pouring mana into the seal with me! I'm almost done, but I could use a hand!"
"R-Right!" Miyuki said.
"Come on Kenshin, get up and show me that power you had before!" Nagi shouts as he kept brutalizing the Dragon of the Elements.
"D-Damn it!" Kenshin thought. "There's nothing I can...do!" Kenshin groaned physically and mentally as Nagi laid into him. "He's...too strong to counteract against! F...Fuck...I..I'm...sorry...everyone..."
"!" The next thing Kenshin knew he was upright, trudging toward a familiar figure. "Y..You..." Kenshin said with wide eyes before falling to his knees.
"...Hello Kenshin." The man spoke, revealing himself to be Ryuushin.
"...Dad. Are you here to voice your disappointment with my decision to leave here too?" Kenshin said, his head bowed slightly.
"I'll admit to a slight miffing sure...but unlike Nagi...I understand why. If it were me and lets say your mother was in Rias' position...I'd have dropped everything and went to stay where she was too." Ryuushin said. "I don't approve of his motivation in this fight, but in the end I think I get it. Even if he couldn't be there for her...a father goes to hell and back for their children. I'll just give him his punishment when he gets back to the Pure World."
"..." Kenshin looked back up at him before letting out a sigh. "Everything that's happened...if I had just been here...I could have..."
"Yes, maybe you could have...or maybe you'd have died too..." Ryuushin said. "That's the thing about the future...it holds nearly infinite possibilities."
"Dad..even with my full power I don't think I can beat Nagi." Kenshin said.
"Hahahaha! What's this, You're giving up? That's so unlike you Kenshin!" Ryuushin laughed.
"...Dad, if I remember correctly...you're the one who pushed for me to create those charms, but now...it's like I don't need them anymore..." Kenshin said.
"That's because they were only meant for you to find out how to control and focus your power." Ryuushin said. "They were never meant to be a permanent means of fighting. Remember practicing spells before you started making them...how they'd blow up in your face a lot? That's because the latent power inside you was so raw and uncontrollable, it needed a catalyst."
"...We aren't welcome in Mundus Magicus, I'm pretty sure a handful of the Devil Clan heads find me to be a nuisance...will we ever have a home?" Kenshin said.
"Home is wherever you want it to be, damn those who say otherwise." Ryuushin said. "If people don't like you, ask why or show them that they're idiots, however...right now those very same people need your help." He turned and began to walk away.
"...I'm not as strong as you and Nagi are Dad, not you in your prime..." Kenshin said.
"..." Ryuushin turned back to him. "That's right, you're not as strong as we are or were." He smiled. "You're stronger."
"!" Kenshin looked back up as his vision washed away and he was back on the ground. "Come on Kenshin get up and...? !"
(Boom! !)
A powerful storm of elemental magic engulfed Kenshin forcing Nagi to jump out. "What the?"
"Whew..." Alice lowered her arms and stopped releasing dark mana. "Finally, that was exhausting. Kenshin you owe me a feast after this."
"I'll keep that in mind Alice." Kenshin said as he walked forward, power rolling off him in waves. "I'll make it a huge feast if you help heal everyone."
"Seriously? You heard me from all the way over there?" Alice said with a disinterested look.
"These ears aren't just to make me look cute you know." Kenshin said
"Well, if you're offering." Alice said with a nonchalant smirk and shrug.
"I'm good for it, besides, if our kids are anything like you I'm keeping them healthy if anything." Kenshin said before turning back to Nagi. "You wanted me at my strongest, so here I am."
"..." Nagi smirked. "Impressive! Now that I get a good look at you, you're even stronger than that Lion brat back there!"
"Yes, well in a way I do have a couple decades experience on him." Kenshin said. "But now...let's take this off the mountain!"
"!" Nagi's eyes widened as Kenshin appeared in front of him, grabbing him by the throat and flying off the mountain.
"? !" Tamamo's and Zect's eyes widened as the two shot overhead. "Are you serious? He's THAT strong?" Zect said.
"Indeed." Tamamo said.
"You're kidding! It's way past anything Shin Tatsu ever showed me!" Zect said.
"Grh!" Nagi threw Kenshin's hand off his neck and punched Kenshin in the face, sending him crashing into the face of the mountain.
"Ghh! Heh!" Kenshin smirked and shot off, rushing Nagi, Kuroi Jigoku held in a sheathed position. "Flash Kill! Microburst!"
"!" Nagi was sent screaming backward by an explosion of wind after he blocked Kenshin's slash with his halberd.
(Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!)
Bursts of power rang all over the face of the mountain as Kenshin and Nagi traded blows.. "Hrm?" Kenshin grunted seeing a spout of lava bubbling up. "Hrm!"
"What the? !" Nagi said seeing lava snakes rushing him. "You can control elements externally? !"
"I AM the Dragon of the Elements after all, Uncle." Kenshin said.
"Hahahahahaha! Ryuu! Your son really turned into a powerful brat!" Nagi laughed as he destroyed the snakes with light magic arrows.
(break)
Meanwhile
In Phoenix.
Issei, Rias, Sona, and the others were resting after their rounds in Phoenix, trying to promote Kenshin as a good person, not as a monster, when a crowd of people rushed by them. "H-Hey!" Issei said grabbing one of them by the arm.
"What's the rush?" Sona asked.
"Get to a TV, or TV shop or even the town square! There's something going on!" He ripped his arm out of Issei's grip and rushed away.
"What is it?" Rias wondered.
"We better do as he says. Kazumi are there any shops in the area?" Sona asked.
"Yeah, there's one close by luckily with no one around it yet, just to the west of here." Kazumi said.
"I'm worried about Kenshin-kun and the others, I feel like something's going on there." Akeno said.
"I know." Xenovia said. "I keep asking him for a child, but he keeps denying saying I'm not ready yet."
"You're not." Hikari deadpanned.
"Seriously, why do you want to rush into motherhood?" Raynare said with a scoff. "You realize that for nine months you can't do much of anything without endangering the child you wanted."
"I believe Senpai is OK." Koneko said.
"Yeah! I agree with her!" Ravel said.
They got to a TV store as a crowd started to develop. "Folks we have something of great interest here, two men are fighting their way DOWN Riot Peak! I repeat, DOWN Riot Peak! They're moving at such blinding speeds that our recording magic can't make them out as they rush down the northern face of the mountain...my word! The force of their attacks is so stifling, that even if we wanted to we couldn't send a live reporter out there!"
Rushing down the face of Olympus Mons Nagi buried his left foot in Kenshin's stomach, dragging him across the ground. "Haa!" Kenshin punched Nagi's leg off him and threw him forward, encasing himself in an elemental aura. "Full Body Elemental Spica!"
"Oh shit!" Nagi shouted out as Kenshin crashed into him. "Hrrrrgggghhh!" Nagi growled as Kenshin drove him into the ground instead. He gripped Kenshin by the shoulders and sent them on a tumble down the face of the mountain before throwing him off. They had at this time made it to the cliff edge and Kenshin was flung off Olympus Mons completely.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened as Nagi bore down on him, slashing his halberd downward. He defended with Kuroi Jigoku.
"? !" Hikari's eyes widened as she watched from Phoenix. "That's Nagi and Kenshin." She said quietly
"What...? !" Chamo said in a whisper. "Are you serious Hikari?"
"G-Ghh!" Kenshin grunted before smirking. "Updraft!"
"? !" Nagi's eyes widened as he was blown off of Kenshin by a fierce burst of wind.
"? !" The TV announcer gasped. "Th-That's...That's the Thousand Master, Nagi Springfield! !"
"Oh my god! I thought he was dead!
"He's still alive? !"
"Yes everyone, the hero we all thought was killed by his daughter to defeat the head of the Cosmo Entelecheia who possessed him is in fact alive and well once again! However, who is that they're fighting? !"
"..." Kenshin sprung off the ground, onto his feet and leaped into the air. "Katensho!" He shouted out, slashing at Nagi.
"Hrm!" Nagi grunted, making a barrier to block it.
"Wait! That technique! It was clearly the Crimson Dragon's Heavenly Fire Strike? ! Have both the Thousand Master and the Crimson Dragon been amongst us this whole time? !" The reporter asked.
"No you idiot." Issei muttered as a crowd started to develop around them. The shopkeeper coming out to open the window so everyone could hear it.
The dust settled and Nagi emerged unharmed. "You've gotten a lot better at that one kid!" Nagi said. 'Then again, I guess I should expect nothing less from one of Ryuu's kids!" He laughed.
Kenshin landed on the ground. "Well I have had years of practice Uncle." Kenshin said slashing his sword out to his side.
"So what's the deal here Kenshin? You know we were fighting up there to keep innocent people out of the crossfire." Nagi asked.
"Well come on Uncle Nagi." Kenshin said. "The barrier around this massive shield volcano maybe strong, but the clash of two titans like us? I was afraid we'd bust the shield and cause an explosive eruption. We'd end up killing everyone and ourselves. Hell I was worried about it while you were fighting Sairaorg due to the power of his Sacred Gear which at complete mastery can supposedly destroy the Earth."
"Huh, I see." Nagi shrugged. "Well whatever, hopefully no one's dumb enough to try and get a front row seat to our duel."
"What do you mean?" Kenshin asked.
"You don't feel that?" Nagi asked. "This whole area's been bathed in recording magic. I'd imagine we're live in Phoenix right now, soon it might start spreading."
"..." Kenshin deadpanned. "Are you fucking serious? God fucking damn it. Welp! There goes my cover!"
"Hahahahahaha!" Nagi laughed at his annoyance.
Issei's group looked around as the crowd began to murmur. "..."
"Wait, did he say Kenshin? As in...THE Kenshin?"
"Why is he calling the Thousand Master, Uncle? Are they related?"
"The Hero and the Assassin are related?"
"To be clear." Hikari spoke up. "Nagi and Kenshin aren't related by blood. Nagi helped Ryuushin raise Kenshin...when I couldn't be there." Hikari said.
"Why couldn't you?"
"I was being held hostage by the perpetrator of the war twenty years ago. I was taken from my husband and son when the latter was born...I never recovered until I was saved." Hikari said.
"..." The crowd turned to Hikari before looking back at the screen.
"So he didn't have his mother as a child...how sad..Maybe that's why he became what he did..."
Back with Kenshin and Nagi. "So why are you so worried anyway? Everyone watched Negi kick Jack's ass."
"Yeah except she's a freakin' cinnamon roll in this world compared to me." Kenshin snorted.
"Oh come on, it can't be that bad." Nagi said.
"Ha! Showing why Arika always called you a birdbrain huh? !" Kenshin said. "What rock were you hiding under before you got possessed by Ialda? And did Dad tell you nothing while you were in the afterlife?"
"Not really? I was usually with Arika or Negi or asleep." Nagi said.
"Haa..." Kenshin sighed. "Jeez, I'd rather not, but I guess before we begin I'll show you." He threw his armor off and took off his shirt.
"What are you...?" Nagi said with narrowed, curious eyes.
"Look at what happened to me, what your precious Confederacy did to me while you've been out of the picture." Kenshin said as he made a handsign. "Release."
"...!" Nagi's eyes widened a bit as he watched Kenshin's image change. "Wh...What the? ! Why the fuck are you so scarred Kenshin? !"
"I figured that would be your reaction." Kenshin said. "Though most of these were from several-plus years ago."
"Sever-...wait a second that wouldn't even be double digits for your age back then!" Nagi shouted out in shock.
"Exactly." Kenshin said with a shrug.
"Who the fuck would do that to a kid? Let alone a shy brat like you? !" Nagi said.
"Megalomesembria." Kenshin said.
"? !" Nagi stopped cold.
"You do remember that the Confederacy hated Dad right?" Kenshin asked. "For the destruction of the Dragon Village? They could never get to him...so...they did the next best...or rather worst thing if you're me. They branded us both as vicious monsters, unnecessary existences...that needed to be purged. The fact that I was just scared little brat...didn't mean a fucking thing. Though I did find it easier to get away when there was very little knights and mostly the townspeople."
"..." Nagi said nothing as Kenshin put his shirt back on.
"Four years I spent in that hellhole." Kenshin said. "They even took my left eye. That's why it looks different from what you remember."
"Tch..." Nagi scowled down at the ground.
"Now do you understand why I didn't stay here?" Kenshin asked as he threw his armor back on. "As long as Ferdinand II is in power in Megalo, he won't stop looking for me...because I killed his father when I massacred the Senate at the end of those four years. Leaving only Ricardo and Kurt alive to my knowledge. They call me monster...but I'm a monster of their own creation. There wasn't anything here...that I could hang onto Uncle, the only thing...no..the only person that could have kept me here...Negi was gone...killed by thrusting herself onto my blade...That's why I stayed away." He said before closing his eyes. "I'm sorry I'm such a failure." He said with a small smile.
"No." Nagi said with a sigh. "If you're a failure then so am I."
"Well I won't argue there. We're both a couple of miserable failures." Kenshin said. "But it's in the past now, even if it doesn't seem to want to stay there. I'm still the outcast I always was here...and you're a resurrected puppet of the LifeMaker. Let's just move past it...and there's only one real way I can do that." He raised Kuroi Jigoku. "This."
"Right." Nagi nodded. "We've talked enough."
Meanwhile in Phoenix, the crowd outside of Issei's group varied from surprised to horrified.
"They did that to a child?"
"I knew Ferdinand the First was a piece of shit, but to do even that?"
"If that never happened...he'd be vastly different from what we've been told."
"It's like the Thousand Master was hoping that boy would succeed him along with that Negi girl that defeated Jack Rakan."
"Yet, we made it impossible...didn't we?"
"I figured it was bad, but to think it was that horrible." Seekvaira said, standing next to Issei.
"Yeah, I mean you don't get to be how he is and not have something happen in the past." Raynare said.
"Yes, the scars are proof, not that I thought he was lying to begin with." Erubetie said.
Back with Nagi and Kenshin, they remained motionless, until mana exploded from them both. "Let's start this out with a bang!" Nagi said.
"Something we agree on!" Kenshin said as they both went into chants.
"Heed the contract and serve me, O King of the Skies! Come forth, Titan-slaying blazing thunder. Hurl down lightning one hundred times and even one thousand times!"/Heed the Contract and Serve Me, O Tyrant of Flame! Come, flame of purification, fiery broadsword. Fire and brimstone surge forth, burn Sodom, turn the sinners into the dust of death!
"Thousand Thunderbolts!/Blazing Heat in the Sky!"
The two powerful spells, a storm of lightning and fire screamed toward one another and collided. "Grh!" Kenshin grunted as he felt the great resistance.
"Haa!" Nagi yelled out.
The two spells exploded furiously, leaving a large cloud of smoke in their wake. "!" Kenshin sensed something coming in and looked up, seeing Nagi divebombing him with several hundred magic arrows of light at his back. "Heh!" Kenshin smirked and matched the amount with his own in fire arrows as he charged Nagi head on.
"That's what I like to see, no fear!" Nagi said with a smirk as he cocked his fist back.
"Never!" Kenshin said. "I had all the fear beaten out of me all those years ago!"
"Funny! I had all the fear beaten out of me in the war!" Nagi shouted as their fists connected with each other.
"Oh really? ! You took an asskicking or two in the war? !" Kenshin said as he pushed back against Nagi's fist.
"Kid, you wouldn't believe how many licks we took in the war!" Nagi said as he threw Kenshin back. "Dios Tukuos!"
"!" Kenshin's body reacted immediately, slashing his sword forward. "Katensho!"
(boom!)
The two attacks collided, exploding in smoke and electric wisps. "Haaaaaa! !" Kenshin and Nagi roared as they took to the skies.
(Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!)
Brusts of air pressure rang across the horizon as Kenshin and Nagi traded punches. "Actually I would." Kenshin said as they deadlocked against each other.
"Yeah, I suppose you would. Negi did mention that Chao girl to me before, would've liked to meet that one." Nagi said. "Hrmph!" He grunted and forced Kenshin backward into a mid air stagger. "Haa!" Before smashing his light covered fist into Kenshin's face.
"Shiiiiiit!" Kenshin was sent crashing into a nearby stalagmite.
"Ohhh! The Thousand Master rocked the Assassin of the Six Paths with that one." The TV announcer said.
"Pfft!" Kenshin spit out a glob of blood and smirked. "So that's how it feels to take a serious blow from you.
"Get up, your old man could take much more than this." Nagi said flying right at him.
However at the last second, Kenshin dodged...as if a stream passing an obstacle and spin kicked Nagi in the back of the head.
"Grah!" Nagi gasped out, but smirked as Kenshin's left arm was in reach, so he grasped hold of his forearm.
"Hrn?" Kenshin grunted as Nagi stood up.
"Here's a little trick Negi and I were working on while the apparatus was still on." Nagi said.
"Wha-?" Kenshin's eyes widened as an intense, yet focused burst of Nagi's thunder magic hit his forearm. "Grr-uuaaahhh!" Kenshin wrested his arm free. "!" He ducked Nagi's stab at him and flew away. "..." Kenshin raised his left arm before turning and blocked Nagi's halberd with Kuroi Jigoku using his right hand. "Bastard. Why the hell can't I close my left hand."
"Because the muscles have been tased to the point of temporary paralysis." Nagi said.
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as Nagi started forcing him back. "If he's right, then my left arm's shot!" Kenshin thought.
"Haa!" Nagi shouts sending Kenshin crashing to the ground.
"Grh!" Kenshin growled in pain as he slid across it. "How the hell could Nagi understand that sort of thing, he's the biggest fucking power idiot I know!" He thought as Nagi flew down toward him, kicking at his head.
Kenshin swiveled his head out of the way and threw Kuroi Jigoku into the air. "Elemental Spica!"
"Grrraahh!" Nagi growled out as he was sent flying.
"Alright, gotta cut this off and regenerate. Can't wait for the mana to-!"
"I'm not gonna let you do that kid." Nagi said as he appeared behind Kenshin via Shundou.
"!" Kenshin turned and countered Nagi's attacks, but just barely, receiving wounds of his own.
Back in Phoenix Reya noticed this. "Hey, why isn't Kenshin using his left arm at all."
"Yeah, it's like it's just flapping in the wind." Bennia said.
"Shit..." Chamo said. "Ane-San must have been experimenting again and told her Dad about it." Chamo said.
"Yeah." Hikari said.
"What's going on Hikari-San? Chamo-San?" Issei asked.
"Kenshin can't use his left arm right now." Chamo said.
"What do you mean?" Xenovia asked.
"When Nagi Springfield grabbed Kenshin-kun's forearm earlier, he must have channeled an intense amount of thunder magic into his hand and that led to Kenshin-kun's arm being paralyzed, is that what you're trying to say Chamo-San?" Akeno asked.
"Yeah, someone like Kenshin, who probably doesn't understand how it works, is probably trying to put some distance between him and Nagi so he can rip the arm off and regenerate it, but Nagi's just too fast and too tenacious to let that happen. Kenshin's going to have to figure something out, or Nagi's gonna eat him alive, even with all his power." Chamo said.
"Haa...haa..haa.." Kenshin panted as he lifted his sword.
"Come on Kenshin, is that all you got?" Nagi said with a coy smile. "I thought you had some shit to work through."
"So you and Negi have been talking...she must have dumbed down some of her theories on magic so your dumbass would understand them." Kenshin said. "Hrmn!" He grunted as his wounds regenerated.
"You sure you should be talking to me like that when I've got you on the back foot?" Nagi asked.
"You do remember who else was teaching to fight all those years ago right Uncle?" Kenshin asked with a smirk. "Dad, a guy who would sit back and take a defensive beating, waiting for that one glorious moment where he had his opponent figured out."
"I didn't forget Kenshin." Nagi said. "Still..what's the plan?"
"To get you to stop screwing around." Kenshin said, losing his smirk and glaring.
"Huh?" Nagi said as Kenshin disappeared and reappeared behind him.
"Crushing Flame Profusion!" Kenshin said.
"..." Nagi moved out of the way using Shundou and backhanded Kenshin to the ground. Kenshin bounced up. "I see...you want that, huh."
"Dad seemed to think I was stronger than him at his best." Kenshin said. "Which also means he thinks I'm stronger than you at your best."
"Well yeah, that's his job, to believe in his kids...and when I get sent back to the afterlife, he's probably gonna tear me a new one." Nagi said. "But...I ain't using it kid." Nagi said with an impassive gaze. "I refuse to use the power that bitch cursed me with."
"Hmph, I guess I'll just have to make you use it then." Kenshin said with a grunt.
"Make me? Kenshin, you realize you're losing this fight right?" Nagi asked.
"Really, then why aren't I hurt right now. You haven't done any significant damage to me and because of my demonic regeneration being as strong as it is...any wound you got on me is gone." Kenshin said. "I'm not the weak, sniveling little brat you left behind all those years ago Uncle. Take me seriously or I'm gonna start kicking your ass."
"..." Nagi swung his halberd outward. "Let's see it."
"Fine." Kenshin sighed before stabbing Kuroi Jigoku into the ground. "Katensou Eruption!"
"!" Nagi jumped off the ground as flaming spears shot out of the ground, but instead of staying there, they pursued him. "Shit!" Nagi said as he started slashing them apart with his halberd.
"..." Kenshin controlled the destroyed bits of spear converting them into flaming knives of Heavenly Fire. "What are you going to do about your left hand Kenshin?" Undine asked. "You can't expect to keep up with him for long with it paralyzed."
"I don't know. I can't force the mana out and if he sees me trying to cut my arm off he'll be on me in a second." Kenshin thought. "I have an idea, I just hope I can pull it off. I've never tested Hydrokinesis like this before."
"Well, no time like the present right?" Undine asked.
"I suppose." Kenshin said out loud as Nagi blasted all his flaming knives away. He flew up and greeted Nagi by driving his right elbow at Nagi's chest. Nagi caught this, but Kenshin relaxed and extended his right arm, forcing it through the pain of Nagi's grip and gripped Nagi's forearm.
"What's he thinking? That only leaves his left which is already paralyzed." Nagi thought. "...!" His eyes widened.
Kenshin raised his left hand, the fingers of which were moving fluidly almost like a glove filled with water. The jewels on Kenshin's headband glowing. Suddenly Kenshin's left hand formed a fist. "Now Gnome! !" Kenshin thought.
"! !" Gnome let her power flow from Kenshin's body, to his left fist.
"G-Grrhh..." Kenshin growled in pain as he punched at Nagi. "Diamond Fist! !" He roared, punching Nagi in the stomach.
"Guoh? !" Nagi doubled over, spitting up blood as he was sent flying away.
"Haa...Haa...haa.." Kenshin panted. "Damn, I knew it...I have to use Senjutsu to open up my mana network in the paralyzed limb...It's not a complete paralysis...I can still feel pain in my left arm because I'm expanding my mana network there with Senjutsu and Touki, I just can't use it without Hydrokinesis. Oh well...no matter." Kenshin said as he flew at Nagi. "Hrm!" Kenshin drove his elbow into Nagi's chest. "Koukaimon!" Kenshin shouts, ejecting a flame arrow right into Nagi's chest.
"I don't get it! How is he able to use his left arm right now? !" Nagi thought, just barely dodging Kenshin's left punch, but a wound opening up on his cheek anyway. He felt Kenshin grab the back of his head and drive his face into the Dragon of the Elements' knee, driving the wind out of him and knocking him back.
"Full Body Elemental Spica!" Kenshin said rushing right toward him.
"!" Nagi erected a powerful barrier to block this. "If he hits me with that I'm screwed!"
"Ruuuoooooohhh! !" Kenshin roared.
"Hrrrgh..!" Light magic began to surround Nagi's body. "Haaaaaaaaa! !" He began pushing back against Kenshin, his barrier dropping.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened at this. "He's replicating my technique with pure light magic? !" He thought.
Kenshin's and Nagi's hands met as they deadlocked. "..." Nagi glanced at Kenshin's left hand. "His hand it feels awfully clammy, he's not nervous...and wait...why does it feel squishy?" Nagi thought.
"Pay attention birdbrain!" Kenshin said driving his head into Nagi's.
"Gah!" Nagi grunted in pain.
Wisps of their respective attacks shot off of them, destroying the earth beneath them. "HAA!" They both shouted out and shot by each other, turning immediately.
"Crushing Flame...!"
"One Thousand Light Arrows of...!"
"Profusion!/Light!"
Both attacks, Nagi's light arrows congealing into a single massive beam collided. "Haaaaa! !" Nagi roared.
"The Thousand Master and Kenshin Kuroshi are locked in a struggle for dominance!"
"Come on Thousand Master!"
"You can do it!"
"Kuroshi! Don't give in!"
"You're too strong to lose here, give Nagi everything you got!"
"Weird..." Koneko said. "Some people are cheering Kenshin-Senpai on."
"Heh, it means my idea's working." Issei grinned.
"I...feel like some of them might just be battle fanatics and this fight might be a dream come true." Irina said with a nervous smile.
"Well, no matter the case. Nothing we can do about it but watch." Rias said.
"Jeez...Kenshin-Aniki...you got so damn powerful." Chamo said.
"Haaaaa!" Nagi roared.
"G-Ghh..." Kenshin growled as he was slowly being forced backward. "Gotta...open them further..." Kenshin said focusing on his left arm, infusing more Senjutsu energy into it. "Now Sylph, Gnome Undine, do it!"
"But if we do that you could get seriously hurt!" Sylph said.
"Just do it!" Kenshin thought. "He's going to overtake me if I don't do something!"
"Fine! But whatever happens is on you!" Undine said.
Wind, Earth and Water joined the flames. "Contain it...Contain it...CONTAIN IT!" Kenshin thought as a mantra.
"G-Gggghhhhh!" Nagi groaned and growled as Kenshin started pushing him back instead, his own attack compressing as Kenshin's gained ground.
"Haa...haa...haa..." Sweat rolled off Kenshin's face as his left arm quivered from strain.
"So...Th-This is it, this is what you meant...what Ryuu meant...Damn...Kenshin you really turned into one amazing brat. You're even using your old man's secret technique, that I doubt he ever truly perfected." Nagi said.
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes. "I don't want to kill you Uncle...I'll let up after I feel your mana go to a resting state." Kenshin said.
"Oh no, The Thousand Master is losing ground rapidly to Kenshin Kuroshi! This may be it for him!"
"Come on Nagi! Don't give up!"
"You can do it!
"Man, Kenshin Kuroshi really got that strong? !"
"If he's been that strong this whole time then it's no wonder the government could never catch him!"
"!" Kenshin's eyes opened back up as he felt push back. "What the? !" He saw Nagi's mana building, but not only that, his attack turning to a grayish color. Suddenly his attack got violently shoved back. "HAAA! !" Kenshin roared, stopping it's progress.
"GRRR...AAAAHHHHH! !" Nagi let out a roar of his own, continuing their war of attrition.
"G-Grrhhh! F-Fuck...I don't know how, but it feels like Nagi just got stronger!" Kenshin growled as his left arm strained further.
"Incredible...Nagi Springfield has regained ground on Kenshin Kuroshi, but what's with that aura around him?"
"...It's Light Magic." Gabriel said. "Yet..."
"It's also Dark Magic." Rossweisse said. "He's somehow blending them both together as one."
(boom!)
Finally the two attacks could contain their ferocity no longer and went off in a brilliant flash of light.
"Haa...haa...haa..haa.." Kenshin pulled his left arm back, it was twitching uncontrollably as he held it in his right hand. "F...Fuck..."
"Remember what Sun Wukong said before about taking in Senjutsu, natural ki or youki." Salamander said. "You can't take in Dark mana when you do that, so you can't regenerate and heal."
"Trust me Salamander, I didn't forget, but..." A smirk appeared on Kenshin's face as he saw Nagi's figure slowly emerging from the dust. "I'd be foolish to think I could beat Uncle Nagi without taking on some risk."
"God damn it..." Nagi cursed as he looked down at his darkened left arm. "You...fucking made me use it."
"And you're going to keep using it." Kenshin said. "I'm not going to stop until you show me everything you got." He looked down at his left hand before slipping his thumb into his mouth, tucked against his cheek. "Wind Bullet! !"He shouted as he pulled against his cheek until his thumb slipped out of his mouth.
(Boom!)
"!" An explosion of wind shot toward Nagi who crossed his arms to defend. "Ghh!" He grunted as wounds opened up on his arms.
"Uncle Nagi, you still haven't done anything in terms of lasting damage to me." Kenshin said raising his twitching left arm. "I did this to myself."
"How are you even using that arm right now?" Nagi said lowering his arms. "It should be so tensed up that you can't move it."
"Sixty percent of the body is made up of water." Kenshin said. "Fluids anyway. I've been working on manipulating the elements outside my body, when I came up with an idea. What if I were able to manipulate the fluids in a body? I found I couldn't do it offensively on other people though so it would be purely a means of detoxifying my body or another's of a poison."
"But if you couldn't use it offensively, how were you using it to fight?" Nagi asked.
"The water was just forcing my arm to move into position...from there I hardened my arm with the power of Gnome, the Earth Spirit." Kenshin said.
"But how? That paralysis spell should have shut your mana network almost completely in that arm." Nagi said
"That would be why my arm is in pain right now." Kenshin said looking down at it. "I've been using Senjutsu to take in power from nature and using it to force open my left arm's mana network back open, while I'm doing that however...I cannot take in any dark mana, because it will taint the power I'm taking in...and that wouldn't be pretty...I basically traded my regeneration for a power boost."
"..." Nagi stared at him silently.
"So...I'm a little insulted...here I am, putting my body through hell, taking a huge risk...and you won't go all out?" Kenshin asked. "You need to stop fucking around Uncle."
"Ulgh!" Nagi doubled over as Kenshin drove his left fist into Nagi's stomach.
"You hate Ialda, fine. I despise her as well, but if you're not going to use your full power, then you do not deserve to be hailed as the strongest mage, no...the strongest man in this world!" Kenshin shouted.
"..." Time seemed to slow down as Kenshin bore down on Nagi.
(Flashback)
Nagi and Ryuushin both laid on the ground panting heavily. It was after a fierce battle. Ryuushin having said that their first battle left a bad taste in his mouth, when he was pursing his and Hikari's masters. They had fought...given it their absolute all, but in the end...there was no victor.
"Damn it...I...used that power again." Nagi cursed.
"What even was that anyway...?" Ryuushin asked.
"...when I was younger...someone in a black mantle and hood cursed me with that power...it's dark..it scared me and everyone around me..." Nagi said. "I..felt alone until Master and Al met me..I think people didn't want to be around me...and I understood why. I've always hated using it."
"I don't know why. Power is power no matter where it comes from." Ryuushin said.
"Huh?" Nagi said. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is. It's may have been forced upon you...but..."
(Flashback End)
"You're the one who gets to decide how to use it." Nagi recalled Ryuushin saying to him as Kenshin's fist laid into his face.
Nagi caught himself on his feet as Kenshin stepped toward him. "IT'S YOUR POWER! ! NO ONE ELSE'S! !" Kenshin yelled.
"! !" Nagi's eyes widened as a dark aura exploded out of him.
"!" Kenshin paused as he witnessed this.
"It's your power Nagi, whether you choose to use it is up to you, but...I don't think it would be bad if you did use it. You're a good man after all." Ryuushin's words from so long ago rang in his mind.
The dark and light aura mixed, creating a gray aura. "You act like you want to win so badly...Damn it...you would have won if you hadn't dredged this out of me kid." Nagi said looking over at Kenshin. "You must be crazy."
"..Heh." Kenshin smirked. "What can I say? I learned from the best."
"..." Nagi closed his eyes with a smirk of his own. "You gonna be alright with that busted arm? I can still sense my paralysis spell in you ya know."
"Heh, don't worry about me old man, I'd be more worried about you breakin' a hip at your age." Kenshin chided.
"Hmn." Nagi's eyes opened as his smirk widened. "OK, but don't blame me for what happens next Kenshin, YOU asked for this!"
Kenshin's aura exploded outward. "No, I demanded it!" He said
(break)
Lucifer's Castle.
The Four Satans, Michael and Azazel were having a meeting, though he wasn't the Governor General anymore, Shemhaza sent Azazel to these meetings in his place because he was most familiar with the other five in the room. They were having another boring 'status update' meeting when a light shone on the table. "Huh?" Falbium said. "Yo Sirzechs, what's up?"
"Hmn..." Sirzechs narrowed his eyes in thought. "This alert would only go off when Kenshin was doing something interesting while I was observing him."
"Well come on! Play it!" Serafall said.
"Yeah, let's see it, because Serafall wants to see how her new love interest is doing." Falbium said before Serafall clocked him over the head with her magical girl staff. "Don't know why you're embarrassed about it." He snickered.
"It's rude to comment on the affections of a maiden Falbium-Chan." Serafall huffed.
"Yeah, except you're not a maiden." Ajuka commented coyly. At her surprised look he went on. "You think I can't sense the faint traces of his mana in you?"
"L-Lets just watch the damn feed." Serafall glowered with a blush.
"Hahaha." Sirzechs chuckled as he opened the alert. "Oh, Oh my."
"Doesn't that look like a male version of that Negi girl Kenshin is so fixated on?" Michael asked.
"That's her father Nagi Springfield." Azazel said. "Hailed in Mundus Magicus as the Thousand Master, the strongest man in Mundus Magicus. Hikari filled me in on him."
"During one of your dates I'm sure." Falbium mused.
"That's none of your business and I'll thank you to stay out of my personal affairs." Azazel said.
"Oh come on Azazel, we all know you're hungry for some Mama Tigress." Serafall giggled, taking her chance to tease someone else for their attraction to a member of the Kuroshi Tsuki clans.
"Yes, the only difference is, I'm not embarrassed about it, Levia-tan." Azazel mocked. "All my harems are defunct and she is one of the most attractive women I've met...and I don't mean just looks either."
"Oh my." Michael said covering his mouth.
"What?" Sirzechs said.
"It sounds like Azazel's in love." Michael said with a smile.
"S-Shut up Michael! !" Azazel snapped. "I-I meant she's an amazing cook!"
"Uh huh, just keep telling yourself that Azazel." Ajuka chided.
"Uh hey guys." Serafall said. "What's wrong with Kenshin-Chan?"
"Huh?" The other Satans, former governor and Archangel all said. They all saw Kenshin holding his arm.
"That's odd, shouldn't his regeneration be taking care of any injuries he sustains?" Ajuka said.
"Not if he's using Senjutsu." The six leaders turn to find Sun Wukong and Ophis approaching them.
"He's using Senjutsu? Why?" Sirzechs said.
"Hell if I know, but if he's taking in natural mana, he cannot take in dark mana which is how he regenerates and heals." Sun Wukong said. "Still, it seems like he's feeling a lot of pain, even though he's trying to hide it."
"...His mana network's closed off in that arm..." Ophis said.
"..." Azazel pulled up the active scan he had on Kenshin. "She's right. His left arm's partially paralyzed, he can still feel the pain, but he can't move it...unless..."
"Unless?" Serafall asked.
"Unless he's using the elements in his body to make it move." Azazel said.
"Which means he's using Senjutsu to force his mana network back open, but such a thing is excruciatingly painful, even if it's a single limb." Sun Wukong said. "His pain threshold must be legendary.."
"Another thing...that guy he's fighting...I asked Kenshin about him a few times in the past, and Kenshin flat out said if he was a Devil he would be Satan Class without question." Azazel said.
"..." The four Satans glanced at him.
"That Euclid fellow was Satan level too wasn't he?" Michael asked.
"He...was...but let's just say if the level of Satan was measured out, Euclid would be at the very bottom." Ajuka said. "For Kenshin to say that this Nagi Springfield is in that class without question, having felt the power of two of them then it must be true."
"Well, it's not like either of us were taking things seriously." Serafall said.
"Yes, but I see where Ajuka's going. Kenshin's always been able to determine an opponent's strength just from a single fight, he's the kind to sit back and let the attacks come and analyze their fight pattern."
"Heheheh, and he says he's not a strategist." Falbium chuckled lazily.
"He can't do much more than a couple of opponent in depth." Sirzechs said. "Anyway, if Kenshin says Nagi Springfield is firmly in the Satan class of strength. I'm inclined to believe him. This will be quite the test for him."
Back with Issei's group, the announcer said. "It looks like this is the final battle." Issei said.
"To think Dark and Light magic could mix like this." Irina said with a thoughtful look.
"Kenshin said to me before that humans and youkai were probably the only ones capable of pulling it off, but to actually see it done." Raynare said.
"..." Koneko closed her eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Gasper said out of concern.
"When Senpai uses Senjutsu himself, it takes away his own ability to heal. He said himself that he was using it." Koneko said. "If this fight goes beyond his ability to win, he won't be able to heal in time."
"Uuuu..." Gasper said.
"Come on now." The two turned to Valerie. "Just from the look in his eyes, I can tell he'll be fine." Valerie said with a smile. "Just relax and have faith in him."
Back with Kenshin and Nagi, Kenshin knelt down and picked up a stone and threw it in the air. Time seemed to slow down as the two locked eyes, the stone plummeting back to the ground.
(clack...Boom!)
Kenshin and Nagi clashed, sword against halberd, the ground cratering beneath them. "G-Grrhh!" Kenshin growled as overwhelming pressure bore down on him.
"I can't do the kinda shit Negi and Eva-Chan could with it, but this magic does give a hell of a power boost." Nagi said with a smirk.
"Yeah, no fuckin' kidding." Kenshin said as he pushed back against the force.
"Haa!" Nagi shouted, throwing their weapons to the side and punching Kenshin in the stomach.
"Guoh? !" Kenshin doubled over and was sent flying through a large stalagmite. As the rocks started to fall around him, they suddenly stopped and were suspended in the air. Kenshin flew out of the dust and rubble as the large stones followed him.
"Hoo?" Nagi said.
"Haaaaaaaa! !" Kenshin yelled out as he forced the stones to break apart and form spears.
"Oh my! Kenshin Kuroshi can apparently control those large rocks!" The broadcast announcer in Phoenix said.
"Wow, Kenshin-Chan's really improved." Serafall said from Lucifer's Castle.
"Seems like every day the gap is shrinking, eh Sirzechs?" Azazel asked.
"Indeed." Sirzechs said with a smile.
"That's a lot of rocks kid! Your head alright? I can see the blood coming out of your nose from here!" Nagi shouted.
"Tch!" Kenshin wiped his nose clean. "Eat this! !"
All of the earth spears shot toward Nagi "He's right Kenshin, you really strained yourself there. I know you can't beat him without risk, but..."
"I know Undine, but my safety means nothing in this fight." Kenshin thought. "If I don't go all out in this fight, Nagi's going to destroy me."
"Then why aren't you using the Vessel?" Salamander asked.
"Because I want to beat him...not kill him." Kenshin thought.
Nagi flew out of the storm of stone spears unfazed and unharmed. "!" Kenshin's right met Nagi's halberd blade, blocking it.
"Heh, gotcha kid." Nagi said grabbing Kenshin's right forearm.
"Grrr-rrrrhhh! !" Kenshin growled in pain as another intense burst of thunder magic hit his right forearm. Nagi let go of his arm.
"Shit...shit..." Kenshin cursed as his right arm twitched uncontrollably.
"Now you're down both your arms, what you're doing to keep them moving will now need to be done with both of them." Nagi said before flying forward at a blistering pace.
"! !" Kenshin could do nothing as Nagi grabbed him by the face and drove him into the face of a massive stalagmite, making an almost as massive crater. "G-Ghhh..." Kenshin grunted weakly.
"You know Kenshin, that possessive bitch wants to see something from you. That's why she's having me fight you." Nagi said.
"An...And...what the hell would...that be?" Kenshin said with a weak glare.
"She described it as the power to save or destroy the world. She was pretty vague about it, but at the same time. She insisted that it would make you overwhelmingly powerful." Nagi said.
"The Vessel? She wants me to use the Vessel against Nagi?" Kenshin thought.
"Though, enough talking...if I don't put you through the wringer, you'll never use it." Nagi said before sighing as he grabbed Kenshin by the throat and lifted him up. "I'm sorry Kenshin, but this is the way it has to be."
"Kulh? !" Kenshin let out a choking gasp before Nagi threw him to the side. "!" Kenshin's eyes widened as Nagi appeared in front of him almost immediately, his fists coated in light magic.
"..." Nagi silently, but brutally beat Kenshin down to the ground who was helpless to stop him.
"..." Kenshin laid prone on the ground as Nagi stepped away.
"..." Nagi narrowed his eyes, letting out a wistful sigh. "Damn it...Ryuu...I'm...so sorry..."
"This...isn't...over yet."
"!" Nagi's eyes widened as one of Kenshin's legs curled back and kicked him in the chest. "Guhh!" Nagi groaned as the wind was forced out of him.
Kenshin's legs curled upward and he leaped to his feet. "You're right, it does give you a hell of a power boost." He said as his injuries healed.
"Hn?" Nagi grunted, arching a brow. "You're not using that Senjutsu anymore?"
"I was letting you beat it out of me." Kenshin said. "But I will shortly. That said I have a confession to make Uncle. I've not been using my own full power either."
"Oh really? You make me use this, and you're still holding back?" Nagi said with an amused look.
"Yup, but there's a better reason for that than yours." Kenshin said before closing his eyes. "The technique I'm talking about using deals damage to me the longer I use it, by rending my muscular structure down to nothing. It's rigged to cut out after that point. So it doesn't start destroying organs and bone."
"I see." Nagi said. "That is a great reason not to use it."
"You must have noticed Miyuki using against Takamichi...even though I'd rather she didn't...the feeling of having your muscles slowly rended away...it's...excruciatingly painful. Not even Yukari can stand using it for very long. I think I'm the only one who could use it for a prolonged period of time." Kenshin looked up at the afternoon sun. "I could probably use it well into the night now."
"Well, seeing as I'm already 'dressed for a night out on the town.'" Nagi jokingly said.
"Heh." Kenshin closed his eyes and smirked. "Then I guess we'll be going on a ballroom blitz." Kenshin said as he raised Kuroi Jigoku. "Sylph." Kenshin said.
Nagi watched as the elements gathered around Kenshin's blade. "Oi, I've seen this before. Ryuu said it was called the Quadruple Giga."
"This technique requires me to absorb it." Kenshin said.
"Huh, so like Negi's Raisoku Shundou." Nagi said.
"Raisoku Shundou?" Kenshin said. "You mean that Raiten Taisou thing Miyuki, Yukari, Mom and Eva were going on about?"
"Is that what she calls it? I couldn't remember the name." Nagi said. "But yeah basically she absorbs a Thousand Thunderbolts spell into her body."
"Really?" Kenshin blinked in surprise before grinning. "That sounds exciting! Maybe I'll ask her for a spar in that form."
"Hahahahahaha!" Nagi laughed. "I already did! Believe me it's no walk in the park!"
"Well, here goes nothing." Kenshin said.
(Crack! Crack!)
"Yo Kenshin, your armor's breaking." Nagi said.
"It's normal" Kenshin said.
(Boom!)
"Vessel of the Elements!"
"Huh, where's your ice cream truck Sweet Tooth?" Nagi asked with a grin.
"Heheheheh." Kenshin snickered as his flaming hair whipped around before settling into it's usual styling, minus the tying that it usually had in the Balance Breaker.
"How do you resist the pain?" Nagi asked. "Seriously kid, if it were me using that I might not be able to handle it."
"...My experiences in Megalo kind of dulled a lot of the pain receptors in my body." Kenshin said closing his eyes before raising his left arm and dragging his sword across it, cutting his arm. "...That didn't even hurt...not even a bit."
"..." Nagi's eyes narrowed in regret. "...You can't feel anything anymore...can you?"
"Oddly enough...no...I can still feel irritation...and I can feel pleasure just fine. It''s just I can ignore the pain I feel easier than most people." Kenshin said.
"I see...that's good." Nagi said. "Kenshin...please..." Nagi closed his eyes with a smile. "After this...is over...please tell Yukari and Eva...that I'm sorry."
"...Tell them yourself." Kenshin said as he vanished.
"! !" Nagi's eyes widened as he looked around
Kenshin gripped Nagi's shoulder from behind and turned him around, punching him into a large boulder. He then slashed Kuroi Jigoku outward "Death Sword Chaos Star!" Yet this usage had an extra tick as each slash launched a Katensho at Nagi.
"!" Nagi crossed his arms, activating his barrier to take the hit. "Keh!" Nagi smirked and leaped into the air, gathering thousands of light arrows into his hand before closing his fist around them. "Hrm!" He punched down at Kenshin.
"..." Kenshin looked up, his left eye glowing brightly. "Dream Barrier!"
Kenshin shot out of the dust of Nagi's blocked attack and punched at him, he was shocked when his fist went through, but there was no blood.
(poof!)
Nagi's form puffed into smoke. "!" Kenshin looked around seeing several clones. "The shadow clone technique? Really?" Kenshin drawled as all seven of them began attacking him. Kenshin dodged and blocked their assault. "Hnngg!" He groaned as one of them sliced into his back. "Haa!"
A burst of wind sent them all flying backward. "!" They all caught themselves and flew back at Kenshin. "Ghh!" They all grunted as Kenshin battled them all, and slowly got further away from each other as he did.
"This has to be for shits and or giggles. That technique halves your power for each successive copy, that's why I usually only make one!"
"Damn kid, you're really moving that fast huh? !" Nagi said.
"The Vessel greatly amplifies all my physical abilities!" Kenshin reappeared at the center of the seven Nagis and six of them vanished.
"Well, I was hoping you'd play along and maybe make seven Kenshins to give our audience a show, but if you're just gonna sink the showboat...well then I'm not going to bother with it." Nagi said. "In that lightning form of hers, Negi can make a thousand copies of herself."
"Really?" Kenshin said blinking in surprise. "Jeez, what kind of training was Negi doing when I disappeared.
"But I digress." Nagi said as he vanished.
"Katensho!" Kenshin slashed his sword upward, blocking Nagi's Dios Tukuos with his attack. He flew right at Nagi and their fists collided again and again, sonic booms resounding through the clearing.
"Grrhhh!" Kenshin's and Nagi's hands interlocked in a deadlock, their auras whipping around, trying to overpower one another. "Fuck." Kenshin smirked. "To think this form might not even be enough to beat you." Kenshin said.
"Heh. Don't sell yourself short kid, you're making me take this battle completely seriously." Nagi said before pulling his head back and slamming it into Kenshin's own.
"Gah!" Kenshin staggered backward. "Shit! He can still do good damage to me in this form!" He thought. "Kuoh? !" Kenshin had the wind driven out of him as Nagi punched him in the chest, sending him rocketing through several large floating rocks. Nagi flew after him, into the debris. "!" Nagi looked around seeing it change form into earthen spears and shoot right at him. "That's how you wanna play Kenshin? OK." He said as he went into a spin while casting Dios Tukuos, making the lightning ax spell whip around him destroying the spears as they got close to him.
"..." Kenshin shot toward Nagi, looking to drive his fist into Nagi's face.
(clench!)
However Nagi had other plans, catching Kenshin's fist in his hand and driving his own light magic empowered fist into Kenshin's face, making Kenshin fly back before catching himself. "Oohh, damn kid I got you pretty good there."
"This is nothing." Kenshin said grabbing his broken nose and readjusting it. He then shot the bloodied mucus out of his nose. "Try losing one of your arms everyday for a month straight."
"God damn! what the fuck was going on in Megalo? !" Nagi said with a pissed off look.
"Megalo? Nonono, I met the psycho who trained Eva and trained with her for a month and a half." Kenshin said before shuddering.
"Yikes." Nagi said with a sweatdrop.
"Indeed." Kenshin said.
"But all that said Kenshin...you gotta stop holding back." Nagi said.
"What do you mean?" Kenshin said with a confused look. "I'm not-!"
"You are, I know what you're doing." Nagi said. "You're hoping to knock me unconscious...so you can run me back to Yukari so she can remove the apparatus. Aren't you? So that after Ialda's dealt with Negi and I can have a last moment of closure before Ialda's death sends me back to the afterlife. Am I right?" Nagi asked.
"..." Kenshin's head bowed forward, his bangs covering his eyes.
"I thought so...you really are such a gentle child." Nagi said closing his eyes with a smile. "But...I'm sorry Kenshin...that's not going to work."
"!" Kenshin looked up at Nagi with wide eyes.
"The apparatus is rigged to jolt my body back awake if I should lose consciousness...and if I don't fight you to kill you. Ialda will take control of me...and effectively make me her puppet...it's not fair, it shouldn't be you who has to do it, but it is..." Nagi said with a morose smile
"..." Kenshin's sword started to rattle as his arm shook.
"There's only one way this fight can end Kenshin...either I die...or you do." Nagi said.
"..." Kenshin raised his sword, staring at Nagi impassively.
"I'm.."
"Shut up and fight." Kenshin said before appeared in front of Nagi. "Flash Kill!"
"Grrhhh!" Nagi growled as an powerful force exploded from Kenshin.
"Tornado!" Kenshin shouted out as he shot by Nagi, a fierce whirlwind exploding to life around the Thousand Master.
"Gruuuaaahh!" Nagi yelled out in pain.
"...Uncle, I don't give a fuck about what you said." Kenshin thought. "If you want me to go all out in this fight...fine...I know you can take it, but...I refuse to play Ialda's game. I will NOT kill you!"
Nagi emerged from the whirlwind, bleeding lightly. "That's what I'm talking about Kenshin." He wiped his chin with a smirk. "Let me see how strong that kid I helped Ryuu raise all those years ago."
"Fine then!" Kenshin said as he shot forward.
"Haa!" Nagi yelled out as they both punched at each other. "G-Grrrhh!" They both growled as their fists ended up in each others' faces. They pulled their fists back and doubled over as their fists ended up in each others' stomachs. "Rggh!" Kenshin and Nagi headbutted each other before kicking away from each other. "Damn it kid stop doing what I'm doing!"
"Doing what you're doing? ! Stop doing what I'm doing you birdbrained asshole!" Kenshin snapped.
"!" Nagi saw Kenshin vanish and looked up.
"Heavenly Demon Revival!" Kenshin shouted slashing down at him.
"Howling Lightning Wave!" Nagi shouted, slashing his halberd at Kenshin.
(Boom!)
The area around the two exploded in lightning. Nagi shot out of the explosion with Kenshin hot on his tail. "Damn you're fast!" Kenshin said as he closed in.
"Fucking hell, you're still faster." Nagi said.
"What can I say? !" Kenshin said. "I've been busy!" He started slashing at Nagi. "Ninefold Rakshasa! Dragonic Asura!"
"Whoa!" Nagi said as he saw the large dragon shoot out from the formation in front of Kenshin. He welled up his mana and threw his halberd like a spear.
"Whoa!" Kenshin moved out of the way, but not before the blade of Nagi's halberd cut him on the left side of his torso. "Shit!" He said holding his sword defensively as Nagi slashed a lightning ax down at him. "Haa!" A violent burst of wind shot out, obliterating the lightning ax as Nagi flew above him.
"Tch!" Nagi grunted and clenched his fist.
"? !" Kenshin stared as the Thousand Thunderbolts spell encased his fist. "If he hits me with that, I m screwed!" Kenshin thought.
Kenshin raised his own fist, and to everyone that was watching's shock, the orbs of Kenshin's Balance Breaker all shot out of his body and attached in a line in Kenshin's raised arm. "Hrggghh!" Kenshin growled as a bright light surrounded his arm, shaping the head and neck of a dragon.
"Th-This is-!" Hikari said.
"What is it Hikari-San?" Issei said.
"Ryuushin's secret technique, the one he was never able to perfect." Hikari said with a nostalgic look, tears in the corners of her eyes.
"Whoa? !" Nagi said. "Is that what I think it is? !"
"It sure is!" Kenshin said with a smirk. "It's the Crimson Dragon's Fist!" Kenshin said as the light around his arm turned dark red. "Though it was originally an assault of five strikes, I think I've finally perfected it for him."
"Oh really? ! Let's see it!" Nagi said.
"So you're serious about this huh?" Kenshin said. "Well...if you want to beat me so badly..." Kenshin said as he and Nagi took off toward each other. "MAYBE NEXT TIME DON'T TEACH ME HOW TO KICK YOUR ASS! !"
Their fists collided against each other, causing a massive flash of light and lightning. "Thousand Thunderbolts Fist!/ Perfected Crimson Dragon's Fist!"
"G-Grrrhhh!" Nagi and Kenshin both growled as they both tried to force past each other's fists.
"Oh my! It looks like this is the epic climax everyone!" The announcer said.
"H-Hrrrgh!" Nagi and Kenshin growled as bolts of lightning and offshoots of elemental magic shot off of them, tearing into the ground below.
Suddenly, their fists shot past each other, Nagi's fist ending up in Kenshin's face while Kenshin's fist sailed toward Nagi's chest.
"Grrh? !" Blood filled Nagi's mouth as he forced himself forward, sending Kenshin crashing into the ground.
Kenshin laid prone on the ground, seemingly knocked out while Nagi landed next to him, but Nagi himself was gasping for breath. "(cough!) Looks...like my plan worked..." He said holding his chest. "I can feel it, that hit broke my ribs into my lungs...heheheheh." Nagi smiled sadly at the unconscious Kenshin. "I'm sorry...I had to have you do that...I know you didn't want to, but this is the way it had to be...and I know you can't hear me...but...I'm proud of ya kid I know you'll figure this out." He dropped his halberd as it reverted to a staff and his form crumbled to dust, leaving behind his mage's cloak.
The crowd watching from Phoenix and all around the world was stunned into silence. Finally the announcer spoke up. "E-Everyone. The...The Thousand Master. Nagi Springfield...is...is dead."
"(cough!)" Kenshin coughed out some blood of his own as he opened his eyes. "Fuck...that smarted." Kenshin grunted. "Hey Uncle! Where did you learn how to pull that off? !" He said as he looked around. "Uncle?" Kenshin said before his eyes landed on the mage's cloak and staff. "What...why would he..." Kenshin stopped cold as he realized something.
He could not feel Nagi's mana anywhere near him.
His shaking hands slowly extended toward the cloak and gingerly grabbed it. Staring at it as his bangs covered his eyes. "...God damn it..." Kenshin finally said as his hand tightly clenched the fabric in his hands. "Th...This isn't what I wanted..I...I wanted to save Negi...and let you two have closure from everything that's happened." He said barely able to choke back a sob. "I...I didn't want to kill you Uncle..!" Tears rolled off his face and onto the cloak. "Damn it Nagi...why'd you have to be so stubborn? !" He cried out, his face pressed against the cloak, crying in anguish and grief.
The crowds all over the world heard this and murmured to themselves. "He was actively trying not to take his life."
"He kept calling him Uncle the entire time..."
"And...he's mourning...like we are..."
"Have we been wrong this entire time? Has the Senate been wrong about him this whole time?"
Issei's group watched this as well. Issei closed his eyes and let out a sigh. "What is it boya?" Chamo asked.
"It's just...I get now, why Kenshin says no one should ever be like him." Issei said. "I mean...how many times has he had to do this?"
"Yeah." Chamo said exhaling smoke. "Aniki's walked a long, painful path to get to this point. That's why he needs all of you. You all are the only things holding him together anymore."
"..." Everyone nodded solemnly.
Suddenly however, as Kenshin mourned, a beam of light tore through him shocking everyone. "What? !" Rias said.
"Who attacked him? !"
"Why attack now? ! The battle is over? !"
"What an underhanded move! Was someone watching the fight waiting to pick one of them off? !"
"Hmhmhmhmhm..." A dark laughter filled the air, then a figure, hooded in black robes and a mantle appeared. They removed the hood to reveal Negi Ialda's face.
"Her? !" Issei said.
"We need to move now!" Rias said.
"It's just the two of us here alone now Kenshin. Stand up, I know that couldn't have possibly done you in." Negi Ialda said.
"..." Kenshin slowly got to his feet, his wound already sealing shut.
"No one will reach us in time you know." Negi Ialda said.
"...I'm not even mad you're here." Kenshin said. "It makes ripping you out of Negi's body and rending you from existence all the easier."
"Hah!" Negi Ialda balked. "Still clinging to that eh?" "Well, Kenshin if you insist on doing this. Then before we begin, I'd like to tell you something."
"..." Kenshin snapped his fingers and suddenly Negi's image was replaced with Ialda's own. "We're live on the news Ialda. I won't let you admit to your own crimes wearing Negi's face. Show the world who you really are."
"Hmn." Ialda shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh well."
"Kenshin, did you ever stop and wonder why you were left with your father all those years ago?" Ialda asked.
"..." Kenshin said nothing.
"It's because I left you behind on purpose." Ialda said. "Do you really think I couldn't have taken you and your sister both and made it out before Ryuushin showed up?"
"..." Back in Phoenix Hikari watched this, eyes twitching and holding her head. "Hikari-San?" Issei said.
"I...I was the one they were possessing back then...wh...why don't I remember any of this?" Hikari asked.
"Hahahaha...aahh, really Kenshin it was supposed to be your father." Ialda said. "But he was made of something special. The stuff of heroes honestly. No matter what happened to him...he never broke except one time...yet he never let that define him. Honestly it was something I respected about him. No matter what I did to him. He wouldn't give in. Then came you...and I thought I was up against it again."
"What are you talking about?" Kenshin said.
"It's just I always wondered what would happen if people like you and your father...were to be subjected to unspeakable horrors as children. I mean...I've known about the Dragons of the Elements and the Primordials for so long...so I wondered if Ragnarok would still reincarnate into one who had been forced to walk down a ghastly...bloody path."
"!" Everyone who knew Kenshin, widened their eyes in shock.
"No...she...made him suffer just because..." Rias said.
"D-Damn it..." Hikari snarled.
"Your father passed my test with flying colors. Other than his master sparing him, he didn't become a mass murderer, forever haunted by the cries of his victims." Ialda said. "But you however Kenshin...you passed in a completely different way. The way that leads one to become possessed by me...you became the mass murderer I always wanted...you're the perfect being to rewrite the world..."
"...He...heheheh..." Kenshin started to laugh.
"Huh?" Ialda said.
"Heheheheheh...heheheh...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Kenshin lifted his head, eyes still shadowed by his bangs as he continued to laugh, it quickly becoming more and more manic.
"Kenshin...?" Sona and Rias both said with wide eyes.
"It's finally happened." Chamo said.
"What do you mean Chamo-San?" Issei asked.
"Hmn..." Chamo paused to sigh out smoke from his cigarette. "What do you think the natural reaction would be to being told that the totality of your suffering in life was due to one person...and they just confessed to it?"
"? !" Issei's, Rias', Sona's, Akeno's, Koneko's, Ravel's and everyone else's eyes widened in shock.
"So..." Kenshin said bowing his head with a smile, though to Ialda and the audience it seemed heavily strained. "I got a question for you, Ialda."
"?" Ialda narrowed her eyes in thought.
"Heheheheh..." Kenshin bowed his head as he quit laughing.
"What's so funny?" Ialda asked.
"S...So...y-you...made me suffer...j-just because you were curious?" Kenshin asked with a shaking voice.
"..." Ialda stared at him silently. "I did..this world is mine after all."
"...Heheheheheheh..." Kenshin chuckled darkly. "OK...I got a better question then..." He said as his smile widened into a smirk. "Do you wanna have the worst time of your life?"
Kenshin used Shundou to appear in front of her, driving his palm into her stomach, muttering something under his breath before saying. "Because...now that you've told me this...you are REALLY not gonna like what happens next."
"!" Ialda was driven back and looked down at herself. "Why can't I change back? !"
"The illusion I cast on you earlier has now become real because I've sealed it to be so." Kenshin said. "I've basically inverted yours and Negi's positions with Devil magic, because...I refuse to hurt her, however...you on the other hand..." Kenshin paused as he started laughing again. "I'll just say this...It was a beautiful day today." He said as his aura spread outward, plantlife growing around him. "On days like these...monsters like us'" He raised his head, fully exposing his eyes, both of which now had golden irises. "..Should be burning in HELL!"
(chapter end)
Draconis: Jeez is this going to be a thing...chapters being released this slowly because I'm constantly burnt out from work? Also I'm kinda getting burnt out on fights too.
Issei: Who knows.
Rias: Kenshin...a-are you OK?
Kenshin: Yeah? We're outside the story Rias. I'll let the worst times roll on Ialda's sorry ass next chapter.
Rias: OK, just making sure.
Draconis: Anyway, just bear with me guys. I'll find my bearings, eventually. I just had a few different ideas that kept coming up and writing those out in my 'idea log' kept eating up my time. Also, about the fact that Kenshin's eyes are both now gold. I'll expand on this next chapter...you know in two or three months.
Next time Kenshin and Ialda fight at last. See you all then.
Draconis678 out.