Draconis: Hoo boy. I get my computer back just in time for this?
Kenshin: Come on Ialda, time to get this work.
Ialda: (crosses her arms.) I could say the same to you.
Draconis: Welp, seems they're ready, and so am I.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 106
Demigod vs Resonance
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
With Ricardo, Kura and Seras.
"How much further till the capitol?" Ricardo asked one of his pilots.
"We just passed the Noctis Labryithus Praetor sir." She answered.
"Damn it, double time it. We refueled when we left Phoenix, we should have plenty to get us there." Ricardo said walking back to the upper part of the Bridge.
"Ricardo, I know you're concerned, but the people were evacuated and I have to believe that Kenshin and his allies will win." Seras said.
"I know, it's just I let all this happen on my watch." Ricardo said with a sigh.
"I let the Cosmo Entelecheia attack on New Ostia happen on my watch. Things happen that are just outside our control." Kurt said.
"I guess." Ricardo said.
"Sir! We've got a massive burst of energy coming right at us! !"
"What? ! DIVERT TO THE RIGHT OF IT!" Ricardo ordered.
"Prepare to broadside!" Kurt shouted.
"Nnnghh!" Seras grunted as they all grabbed the railings while the pilots were safely buckled in. The same couldn't be said for the rest of the ships occupants however.
The blast soared by them, before going off in a bright explosion that propelled the ship forward. When the ship finally stabilized Ricardo got off the floor. "Status Report!"
"No damage done to the ship, and that blast even propelled us forward by a decent margin, but you're gonna want to look at this sir." One of crew members put a display up.
"Yes? That's where Noctis Labryinthus was." Seras said.
"Yes President Seras, but this was before that blast whizzed by us. This is after the explosion." He said putting up another picture.
"? !" Kurt's, Ricardo's and Sera's eyes all widened in shock.
"It's...a burning crater..." Seras said. "The entire thing is gone."
"That blast...I managed to get a good look at it before it passed us." Kurt said. "...It...resembled a Katensho, Ryuushin's signature attack...I mean I know he had to have taught it to his children...but."
"Hold on! Kenshin and his siblings are all in Megalo fighting Ialda and her hoards of demons!" Seras said.
"Kurt, are you telling me one of them fired a Katensho off that large...and that powerful that it reached all the way over here?" Ricardo said. "We're hundreds of kilometers away!"
"Unless...you don't think Kenshin's making use of that power he displayed at the base of Olympus Mons...do you?" Seras asked.
"..." Ricardo stared at her wide eyed.
"If he is...there might not BE a Megalomesembria to get back to." Kurt said.
(break)
With Kenshin.
Kenshin and Ialda still had not moved, as if to dare one another to make the first move.
"What are they doing?" Issei said.
"They're feeling each other out." Sairaorg said. "They're probably running countless simulations in their heads, trying to determine which move is best.
Kenshin's hand extended forward. "Here it comes!" Sairaorg said as two flaming dragon heads appear behind Ialda, facing her at her left and right, exhaling fire at her. Kenshin looked up, seeing Ialda had escaped his opening attack and sent her bladed mantle at him.
He extended Shiroi Tengoku at her. "Katentou!" The blade, sheathe and all started to spew flames which seemed to flow nimbly. They started to counter and meet each and every slash from Ialda's mantle.
"What's going on? I've never seen that attack before." Issei said.
"It's call the Knives of Heavenly Fire, or Katentou." Rias explained. "He used it when he rescued Sona and I on Masouen "
"It's fast, but it's getting broken apart by Ialda's attacks." Sairaorg said.
"Yes, that's why he keeps sending it out." Rias said, noticing the flames were still spewing from Kenshn's blade. "It's a hit to his mana, but it does make a perfect defense for Ialda's mantle when coupled with Serene Mind."
Suddenly each tendril of flame open up and swallowed each blade of Ialda's mantle. Slowly it began overtaking the mantle. "G-Grh..." Ialda growled.
"It's...consuming her mantle?" Issei wondered.
"No, I think the more apt term is that Kenshin's attack is shredding it to nothing and advancing forward." Rias said, staring upward.
"..." Kenshin stared forward. He turned and slashed Kuroi Jigoku upward, blocking Ialda's staff as his Katentou dissipated. He then pointed Shiroi Tengoku at her stomach. "Wind Cannon."
"Gulah!" Ialda gasped out as she was driven back.
"..." Kenshin merely scowled at her.
"Haa...haa..hahahaha...you know, the plan was to send all lives in the Solar System to paradise at first." Ialda said with a laugh. "They wouldn't have died. They'd be free...and so would I." Ialda said.
"Until you realized that our dimension wasn't alone." Kenshin said, his scowl unmoving.
"Exactly. I had to expand my plan to encompass it all...that's what I needed you for at first. Your power as Primordial of Life paired with the Resonance once again? It would be simple, but exhausting to pull off." Ialda said.
"That's your excuse?" Kenshin said, his scowl deepening. For making me...no my family...this world suffer? ! You put this world through a war, further consuming the limited mana!" Kenshin shouted. "So many people, so many children, myself not withstanding never got to have a happy childhood or life because of you! Kinda flies in the face of your so called peace plan huh? !"
Ialda smirked darkly. "What can I say? To achieve peace, certain sacrifices have to be made."
"Tch!" Kenshin growled. "You're so full of shit."
"No...I merely do what needs done." Ialda said swinging her staff outward. "Like you used to before you started becoming selfish."
"Oh don't even." A voice said from behind her. Ialda noticed the Kenshin in front of her vanish and turned to find Kenshin behind her.
"When did he? !" Ialda's thoughts were cut off as Kenshin's hand slapped down on her shoulder.
"Peace is a journey, not a flight." Kenshin said. "It takes everyone working together toward the same goal to achieve it. That's what getting sent to the Underworld taught me." Kenshin said. "I may end up being the Last Kuroshi by the time this day ends...but I will live on forever in their memory."
"Well, we'll see about that." Ialda said. "Gulh? !" She gasped out as a spear stabbed into her upper abdomen.
"I used to have one of these loaded into a seal under my chin, turned upside down, in order to self terminate if I ever got captured with no way out in Rikudou. I reloaded it and moved it onto my hand, just for you." Kenshin said. "Remember...I've been working as an assassin for years...I'm intimately acquainted with killing...even if I'm not proud of it. I don't like using my assassin skills."
"G-Ghhh..." Ialda gasped out as blood filled her throat.
"I just wished that if only I could be someone like Dad, like Nagi, hell even like Al, Eishun or Jack someone...that could be considered a good person...that everything would be alright...but no...I had to be the bearer of all this world's hatred...because of you...this world never fully accepted me or my family!" Kenshin roared uppercutting Ialda into the sky.
Ialda stabilized herself. "Oh what? Are you gonna cry to me about how your life went. Look Kenshin. I may have dumped you in this city, but every choice after was yours." Ialda said with a smirk as she met the suddenly appearing Kenshin's sword slash with her staff.
"Then explain the fate of my long lost family! Why were my parents orphaned by a Yukari and I that unwillingly traveled into the past!" Kenshin growled. "WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT OUTSIDE OF FORBESII!"
Ialda either dodged Kenshin's subsequent attacks or took them. "This again? Your family...in whole." She smirked. "...were necessary sacrifices."
If anything, this served to make Kenshin angrier. "YOU BITCH!" He said rushing forward, decking Ialda in the face, sending her backward. "Grrrh!" Kenshin growled as he appeared above her "Akuma Hirameki!" A purple beam of light erupted from Kenshin's hand which engulfed her completely.
"Haaa..." Ialda said with a smile, healing after Kenshin's attack. "Come now, did you never think on why you were sent back in time...I knew a being like Lucifer Sirzechs would steal you away, which is why I enlisted Loki's help after you left the this dimension to go be Lucifer's willing bitch." Ialda mocked. "I asked Forbesii to send you back in time, Yukari was just a bonus!"
"What? !" Rias and Issei said while Sairaorg frowned.
"I feel like she's making this up." Sairaorg said.
"Who knows what she's saying anymore. She maybe trying to rile Kenshin up for all we know." Rias said.
"..." Kenshin backed away and let out a sigh. "I see what you're doing."
"Hm? What am I doing then?" Ialda mocked.
"I'm angry, but truth or not...you're trying to piss me off even more so I make mistakes." Kenshin said before pointing Kuroi Jigoku at her. "It won't work, not this time." Kenshin scowled. "Ialda, I'm determined to end you...so I can finally move on with my life." He closes his eyes. "Whether...I do that with my sisters and mother...remains to be seen."
"I see..." Ialda said with a smirk. "Well, can't fault a lady for trying!" She appeared in front of Kenshin, laying her fist into his gut. "You know Kenshin, deep down Entheofushia and I respected you!" She said as she appeared behind him and started laying into him. "We respected your endless drive, your bonds to your loved ones and your ability to survive...but I was the one who wanted to take all that away!" Ialda said batting Kenshin away.
"Oh really? !" Kenshin shouted as he stabilized himself. Ialda shot downward and kicked him in the face.
"Yes really! Why do you think I sent your family to be devoured by the void!" Ialda said, barraging Kenshin with numerous spells.
"G-Grrhh..." Kenshin growled as his body took the blows.
"Kenshin!" Rias shouted in worry.
"Hang on Rias." Sairaorg said grabbing her shoulder as she tried to fly off. "There has to be a reason Kenshin is doing this."
"...I agree with Sairaorg-San Chief. Kenshin realized Ialda was trying to piss him off. Maybe his rationality is there this time." Issei said.
Ialda knocked Kenshin away and extended her hand toward him. "Die from your favorite spell! Ourania Phologosis!"
Kenshin's eyes widened. "Not enough time to activate the Dream Barrier!" He thought as he extended his hand outward. "Reflecxio!" He shouted trying to drive the spell back, but was engulfed by it.
"Kenshin!" Rias cried out in worry and although no one noticed, her own eyes began flickering to gold.
"Chief!" Issei said holding her back
"Calm down Rias!" Sairaorg said, helping Issei.
"I...I can't help it! That bitch...she's hurting the one I love in multiple ways!" Rias said with an angry scowl.
"I know Rias, but believe in Kenshin!" Sairaorg said.
"..." Rias paused. "Haaa...thank you...I will...thank you Sairaorg, Issei."
Kenshin was exposed with a charred black bone of a right arm. He looked down at it as his hand turned to ash, leaving a jagged ending at his elbow.
"Oh my, I seem to have burned your hand away." Ialda cackled.
"..." Kenshin scowled, and appeared above her.
"? !" Ialda looked up, raising her staff. "Reflectio!"
"THAT WON'T WORK!" Kenshin roared, stabbing his right arm forward, breaking it off the rest of his body.
"!" Ialda's eyes widened as Kenshin's bone stabbed into her forehead.
"Heh!" Kenshin smirked. "Bakahatsu Aikyou!"
The bone lodged in Ialda's head glew brightly before exploding. Watching from Lucifer's Castle Millicas cheered. "Wow! Onii-Sama is so awesome!"
Sirzechs petted his son's head with a smile. "Yes, yes he is."
"Damn, how high is his pain tolerance to allow breaking a bone himself?" Falbium said with an impressed look.
"I don't know. I think it might be able to compete with your clan's Ultimate Defense." Ajuka conjectured coyly.
"Heh, right now...I actually kinda wanna find out." Falbium said with a smile.
"But...Millicas...isn't it scary to see one of your heroes get beaten down?" Grayfia asked.
"It is, but I just know Kenshin-Onii-Sama will make it through this! How could one of my heroes not? !" Millicas said with a wide smile.
Sirzechs smiled and patted his son's head. "Exactly. Let's believe in Kenshin."
"Heh, I trained him well." Sun Wukong said.
"Yes. Rias loves him to death...we'll believe in him." Venerana said with a smile.
"Yes...you're absolutely right Venerana." Zeoticus said.
"Hmn..." Michael brought his hands together. "I will pray for Kenshin's victory."
Kenshin smirked at Ialda. "Is that all ya got?" He said as he regrew his lost arm.
"Hhhrrrgghh..." Ialda growled as her head regenerated.
"How many deathblows can you take? Kenshin wondered.
"Who knows...and we're not going to find out." Ialda glowered.
"Oh? On the contrary, we ARE going to find out and drive past that limit." Kenshin said as he took out a coin out of his pocket and started flipping it.
"Funny..." Ialda said. "I sensed that Senjutsu energy in you when you were trying to break this loose. Senjutsu means no regeneration...what gives?"
"Oh? Remember that beating you gave me before you launched the Ourania Phologosis at me?" Kenshin said. "I let you do that. See the only two ways to dispense Senjutsu energy is to either use it or have it beaten out of you." Kenshin said.
"I see." Sairaorg said crossing his arms. "I knew it. Kenshin wanted to get the Senjutsu ki out of him so he could regain his regenerative abilities."
"I'm starting to wonder if Kenshin is a masochist, or if that bit he told Nagi Springfield about his pain receptors are seriously dulled was true." Issei drawled.
"Haa...honestly that man worries me sometimes." Rias said with a sigh.
"By the way Rias, why are you wearing Kenshin's armor?" Sairaorg asked.
"Eh?" Rias looked down, she was still wearing Kenshin's Balance Breaker. "..." Rias narrowed her eyes curiously. "You'd think...that Kenshin would take his power back...but he hasn't...and...what's this power I've felt bubbling up inside me...it gets so intense when I think about the possibility of Kenshin dying." She thought.
Ialda scowled at Kenshin. "Fine then...I have another question...why the hell do you feel STRONGER than last time? Near the end of our fight at Olympus Mons I could feel the power you were exhuming and that's why I took in the power of all these souls."
"..." Kenshin looked down at himself. "You know, you're actually right about that...I'm not sure myself.
A circle opened up next to his head. "Kenshin boy. I don't think you're actually stronger." Sun Wukong said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"I think your the soul of your father's full power might have been unconsciously flowing through you. This added power made it extremely difficult for you to control, so your body tried it's best to control it while your mind focused on the rage." Sun Wukong said. "Now that Ryuushin has a temporary body for now. His power isn't trying to flow through your body and your mind and body can control your power immensely better than before. You might be stronger...but I think it's because your level of control skyrocketed." Sun Wukong explained.
"I see." Kenshin said with a nod.
Ialda heard this as well. "Well...I see then..." She welled up her mana as a massive magic circle opened up behind her. "Rizevim gave this to me for safe keeping, but I never thought I'd actually have to use it!"
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as numerous Evil Dragons began pouring out of the seal. "What the? !"
"Issei! Sairaorg! I don't need protecting, spread out!" Rias shouted.
"Right!" Sairaorg said.
"Chief..." Issei said.
"Don't worry about me Issei, I'll be fine." Rias smiled.
"R-Right!" Issei said as he flew away.
Rias flew up next to Kenshin. "Don't say anything, I'm stepping in."
"I wasn't." Kenshin said with a smile, turning into a smirk as he turned to Ialda. "Looks like you face two of us now!"
"Hn?" Ialda grunted, squinting as Rias appeared. "Her eyes are gold too?"
Kenshin heard this and turned to Rias. "Wait, they are...what the hell?" Kenshin said.
"I've been worrying about your wellbeing for awhile...and what she did to your family angered me too." Rias said.
"...!" Kenshin held her by the sides. "Whoa...I thought this power would reach Yukari or Miyuki first, but you?"
"I think it might be because I'm the Co Primorial of Death, or that you're still sharing your power with me." Rias said with a smile.
Kenshin looked down, seeing the armor she was wearing finally shattering, the orbs fusing into her skin, not destroying her clothes. "Heh...I see..." Kenshin said with a smile. "Well, my dear...demigoddess...I think it is...wanna join me in beating my greatest enemy?"
"My beloved Demigod Dragon of the Elements...I would absolutely love to." Rias said with a smirk.
Ialda growled at this "Damn it...I wasn't expecting the red haired devil to activate the same power as Kenshin!" She thought.
Kenshin stood in front of Rias. "Alright. I'll get in close, you stay back and light her ass up. Sound good?"
"Sure, but you can't expect me to stay back forever." Rias said.
"I don't. Still there's something I wanna try." Kenshin said as he started flipping his coin again.
"Are you two done, or should I give you time to kiss each other good-!" Ialda was silenced as something tore through her skull.
(catch!)
"..." Ialda turned, a coin shaped hole in her head to find Kenshin holding a now red and gray coin in his hand.
"Huh. I didn't think that'd actually work." Kenshin said. "Guess imbuing the coin with wind, earth and fire mana lets it happen. Sylph I'm surprised at how many uses I'm finding for your power."
"Honestly I'm surprised too." Salamander said.
"Yeah...I'm just sad because most of them seem to be violent. I'm supposed to be a playful spirit." Sylph said.
"I know, I'm sorry." Kenshin thought.
"You fool, you left your beloved devil girl wide open!" Ialda shouted, flying right at Rias.
"Don't think I'll be easy to take!" Rias said, welling up two large orbs of destruction magic in her hands.
"? !" Ialda's eyes widened as she was halted in front of Rias.
"Ialda...you said earlier, when you made that pactio with me, that your artifact gave you the ability to do whatever the Primordial of Life can." Kenshin said as he flew up next to her. "You can't use the elements like I can, but they are still there." Kenshin said. "Do you realize what is happening? Your body is being halted by Wind Possession right now."
"T-There's...no...way you're stronger than me now..." Ialda snarled.
"Maybe, maybe not. Rias, my dear...let the bitch have it." Kenshin said.
"With pleasure." Rias smiled and blasted Ialda back with both orbs of destruction magic at once. "Kenshin, I have to ask...why are you goading her into using her full power?"
"Other than wanting to shatter her spirit like she's been trying to do to me. While Dad and I were fighting her, he brought up an interesting point." Kenshin said. "Today is the first day Ialda took in ALL her power from the Agartha Asteroid. So why isn't she using it all?"
"Wouldn't it overwhelm you?" Rias asked with a worried look.
"That was one thing I was worried about, but now I have you at my side." Kenshin said with a smile.
"..." Rias smiled back and looked forward, seeing Ialda flying back at them. "So what do you mean by she isn't using her full power?"
"She isn't. No matter how weak each individual soul is, all of them together, each individual soul should be upending us...I mean at least in our base forms or even with both of us in our Balance Breaker, or even in this state. If she's keeping them in reserve that means she's afraid I might actually kill her." Kenshin said. "That and there's one other thing."
"What is it?" Rias said watching as Ialda got closer.
"I don't think her current container...her body and soul alone can handle that amount of mana from the souls. I think if we keep laying into her, she'll start to break." Kenshin said. "Still, let's keep the fighting in the sky."
"Right." Rias said with a resolute look.
Ialda arrived back in front of them with a small scowl. "That actually hurt, like that dragon boy's attack from earlier." Ialda said.
"..." Kenshin and Rias both scowled.
"Oh come on...do you really think you can take me on?" Ialda asked as a small crack developed in her forehead.
"? !" Rias let out a quiet gasp as she saw this.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes at this. "Dad...it seems you were right." Kenshin thought before smirking. "Heh, you're not looking so good there Ialda."
"I'm not feeling so good boy." Ialda said with a bored look. "You wanted me at my strongest...so here we go." She disappeared.
"? !" Kenshin and Rias started to look around before Rias' eyes widened, landing back on Kenshin. "Behind you!"
"? !" Kenshin turned only to receive Ialda's fist in his gut. "Guoh? !" He grunted as he was sent flying away.
"You!" Rias' aura flared up around her as her magic circle appeared in front of her, launching a massive dragon shaped missile of destruction magic at Ialda.
"Hmhm..." Ialda held her staff outward, a barrier flaring to life, diverting Rias' attack.
"W-What? !" Rias said in shock.
"Don't hesitate Rias!" Kenshin shouted as he came flying back in. "Keep attacking!"
"You? !" Ialda shouted. "That blast should have sent you kilometers away!"
"Well luckily for me I'm fast!" Kenshin said as he shot toward her. "Flash Kill!"
"!" Ialda backed away, forced to dodge as Kenshin shot by her and Rias
"She may blast me away at certain points." Kenshin said to Rias. "I'm the bigger threat. I'll try to make it back as fast as I can."
"I understand." Rias nodded.
"Now...to make her desperate." Kenshin said as a hand mirror appeared in his hand. "Oh and one more thing. Don't worry about the amount of damage I'm taking. I expunged the Senjutsu I used to try to bust this out so my regenerative abilities would come back."
"F-Fine, just...try not to take too much." Rias said with a anxious look. "No matter what you say...I'm always going to worry in fights like these."
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes with a smile. "I love you, Rias."
Ialda appeared in front of them from a short distance. "Kenshin, are you sure you want this? The power of billions of souls thrown on you and your beloved crimson haired devil?"
"Oh it'll be just me that gets all the smoke." Kenshin said with a smirk. "But Ialda, maybe you ought to take a look at yourself." Kenshin said throwing the hand mirror at her.
"!" Ialda caught the mirror and brought it to her face. "!"
"You said you weren't feeling so good earlier, maybe that's why." Kenshin said as a shocked look appeared on Ialda's face. "Dad was right about you. All those souls, your mana network can just barely handle them all." Kenshin said. "It must be bursting at the seams like an overused and overheated and old water heater." Kenshin said.
"K..Khh..." Ialda threw the mirror to the side with an angry glare.
"You could stop using all that power sure, but then you go right back to getting stomped out by Rias and I." Kenshin smirked.
"Kenshin..." Ialda growled. "You understand what you're getting into right?" She asked.
"What I understand is, that I'm about to pound you so hard Rias is gonna get jealous." Kenshin said, his smirk widening.
Back in Lucifer's Castle, Zeoticus was aghast. "Can he not? !"
"Hmhmhm." Venerana giggled. "Come on now Zeoticus, it's good that they have such a loving relationship."
"What does Onii-Sama mean by that Mom, Dad?" Millicas asked.
"Uh...I-I'll tell you when you're older..." Sirzechs and Grayfia both said with matching sweatdrops.
"Hahahahahaha!" Azazel chuckled.
"Oh, I probably wouldn't be jealous for long." Rias said. "I know you'd make it up to me...thoroughly." Rias said with a smirk of her own.
"Oh you know I would my love." Kenshin said with a laugh.
"Can they not? !" Zeoticus exclaimed. "I don't need images in my head of Kenshin going to town on my daughter!"
"Just like I don't need images of you going to town on other women, but I tolerate it anyway." Venerana said with an eyeroll. "Rias is a grown woman, just accept that."
"But I still shower you in the most love." Zeoticus said with a slightly hurt expression.
Venerana leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "I know that my dear, but it still doesn't get any less annoying, even with your provisions."
Zeoticus smiled and wrapped an arm around Venerana's waist. "I know...and I'm sorry...but I think I'm like Kenshin in a way. I just can't turn down love...though I value yours the most." He kissed Venerana on the cheek.
"Hmhm!" Venerana giggled. "I know Zeoticus."
Sirzechs, ignoring his parents scene, turned toward the screen. Serafall smiled. "Come on, Kenshin/Kenshin-Chan. Come back to us." Sirzechs/Serafall said.
Kenshin and Rias looked at Ialda who seemed slightly panicked. "No...if I keep using this power my container will break." Ialda thought. "Yet...if I refuse to use it...I go back to being Kenshin's plaything!" Ialda thought before growling. "NO! Kenshin thinks he's my puppet master? ! Well I'll prove that I'm the only puppet master!" Ialda thought, appearing in front of Kenshin.
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened before Ialda's fist planted itself between his eyes.
"Unngh!" Kenshin grunted as he was sent flying away.
"Haaa!" Rias shouted out, blasting Ialda with her destruction magic. "!" Rias' eyes widened as Ialda emerged with only slight wounds.
"You really thought that would be enough to kill ME? !" Ialda said with a smirk as she grabbed Rias by the neck, driving her back.
Kenshin, meanwhile landed where Albireo was healing everyone, and saw the wound on Akeno's body.
"I'm doing everything I can Kenshin." Albireo said.
"I know, but let me help." Kenshin said holding his hand over Akeno, Kiba and Evangeline.
"Hnn!" Akeno and Kiba both grunted as their bodies jerked upward in pain. Akeno's eyes opened. "Kenshin...-kun? Wait...my wound?" Akeno said holding her hand over the wound, or rather the scar from the wound that Ialda had gave her.
Kenshin smiled. "You're alright...I'm glad." Kenshin said before turning away.
Evangeline saw his eyes. "Wait, you're in the Demigod State again? What happened?"
"...Ialda...she..sent Mom, Dad, Yukari and Miyuki to the Dimensional Gap to die." Kenshin said in a solemn tone.
"!" Akeno and Kiba both gasp, but Evangeline nods and lets out a solemn sigh. "I'm sorry Kenshin."
"Hmn." Kenshin nodded back. "For now though...please stay out of this fight." Kenshin said before taking off
"Kenshin-kun wait!" Kiba said before Evangeline grabbed his wrist. "Let me go!"
"No, you can barely control that sword's curse." Evangeline said before looking over at Akeno. "Don't you do anything either, your power is spent."
"Tch..." Akeno growled.
"Damn it!" Kiba said punching the floor.
"Well..." All of them turned to Albireo who was smiling. "If I don't have to heal you any longer, I suppose I could take some time to restore your energy."
"Hmn, well thank you for that Albireo." Evangeline said.
Meanwhile, Rias ripped Ialda's hand off her neck and slammed her fist into the LifeMaker's face, sending her flying back. Ialda stabilized herself and smirked. "Even if you are sporting the same power upgrade Kenshin is...do you really think you can beat me? Even if you do I'll possess you...though I consider you a downgrade...though your destruction magic is interesting."
"You won't possess me." Rias said with a glare. "You will die to Kenshin."
"Ah, playing the safe route." Ialda mused. "Well then! Let me give you a gift!"
"!" Rias watched as Ialda sent a wide blast of mana at her. She flew out of the way, watching it obliterate a mountain in the horizon.
"You should pay more attention girl!" Ialda shouts, baring down on her.
"G-Ghhh!" Rias grunted, catching her staff with her right hand, reinforcing it's grip with her left. "This is too much!" Rias thought, before thoughts of Kenshin came to mind. "No! He wouldn't give up here...so neither will I!" Rias thought.
"Gh? !" Ialda's eyes widened as Rias started forcing her back. "What? !"
"Unfortunately for you, magic responds to ones mental and emotional state." Rias growled. "And right now...all I can think of right now...IS MAKING YOU DISAPPEAR! !"
"Aaaaaaggghhhhhhhh!" Ialda screamed out in pain as she was engulfed by Rias' destruction magic.
"Haa...haa..." Rias panted. "Damn...I'm not used to this level of power."
"Well you're not used to fighting either." Rias looked over and saw Kenshin smiling at her. "That's the main problem.
"Kenshin!" Rias lunged forward and hugged Kenshin tightly.
"Hahaha, alright, come on Rias we gotta focus." Kenshin said as he saw Ialda flying back in.
"You truly think that you and your redhaired devil lover can defeat me?" Ialda said.
"Heh." Kenshin smirked. "I don't just think we can...I know we can."
Rias smiled at Kenshin before pointing at Ialda. "Yes! Your days of making the world suffer are over Ialda Baoth!" She declared.
"Oh is it? Who's going to stop me? You two?" Ialda smirked. "Please."
Kenshin smirked back. "That's right! Rias and I will take you out!"
"Well, let's see you do it then!" Ialda shouted with a smirk.
"Kenshin." Rias said.
"What?" Kenshin said.
"Let me have a crack at her alone." Rias said.
"? !" Kenshin said. "Rias has going into this form for the first time driven you mad? ! There's no way I'd!"
Rias cut him off by saying. "That's not it! Part of me wants to test these powers out sure, but...I'm...I'm tired of always feeling like I'm a hindrance to you." Rias said with a frustrated look.
"Rias..." Kenshin said with wide eyes.
Rias' bangs shadowed her eyes. "I don't want to be someone you have to protect all the time...I want to be at your side, always."
"..." Kenshin let out a sigh and cast away his blades. "I understand Rias, go ahead, but if you look like you're about to bite off more than you can chew I'm stepping in."
"I accept those conditions, thank you, my Kenshin." Rias said before raising her voice. "There's been a change of plans, Ialda Baoth! I'll be challenging you myself!"
"Oh really? !" Ialda shouted with a smirk. "Come on then Devil Girl!" Ialda said as she charged Rias. "Even given your power up. I highly doubt you're on the level of the last non Kuroshi Tsuki I faced!"
"Hmn!" Rias smirked. "Really? Your power doesn't feel so tough to ME!" Rias shouted driving her knee upward, covered in destruction magic.
"Grh!" Ialda growled as Rias dodged her at every turn
"Did you forget that I still had Kenshin's powers? !" Rias said.
"Krrrhh! Don't you mock me!" Ialda shouted punching at Rias' face.
"Hrmn! Come on! This can't be all the power you have!" Rias said driving both her feet into Ialda's chest.
"Gaaaaahhhh!" Ialda roared, only to come flying back. Only to have Rias spin kick her in the chest.
(boom boom!)
Sonicbooms went off in the air as Rias and Ialda dueled. "Hrmn." Rias grunted feeling her forearm go numb from Ialda punching at it as she blocked, even while using her destruction magic as a defense. "Tch! I take back what I said...she's pretty strong. She must be limiting the release of her power to short bursts like Kenshin and his sisters do! Maybe I should do the same!"
"Rias!" Kenshin said through a communication circle as he followed the two. "I have an idea I want you to try if you're interested! Ialda's stronger than she's letting on!"
"I'm listening!" Rias said as she put distance between her and Ialda, who pursued after her.
"The spell, Ensis Exsequenes! You know, where a blade of mana is formed on your hand, try using it with your magic!" Kenshin said.
"But Kenshin I-!" Rias was cut off.
"But nothing Rias! I believe in you!" She glanced over to see Kenshin smiling at her, giving her a thumbs up.
"Kenshin..." Rias closed her eyes for a moment before opening them with a determined smirk. "Alright!"
"? !" Ialda watched as Rias focused all of her destruction magic on her dominant arm, and a dark crimson blade formed forward. She took a stance and aimed her hand forward. She spoke the name of the technique in english. "Executioner's Blade! Blade of Destruction!" Rias said with a smirk, her golden eyes shining. "Come on Ialda! I'm ready for you!"
"We'll see about that!" Ialda says diving for her, only for Rias to slash into her right shoulder with her destruction blade. "Nnnghh!" Ialda shouts. She backs away and rips her arm off as it turns to dust. "What the?"
"Like it?" Rias asked with a smirk. "This blade is pure destruction incarnate." She said raising her hand.
"..." Ialda eyed Rias warily. "That...that hurt beyond anything I've ever felt before. Even what Kenshin did to me is nothing compared to what she just did.
"Better be careful." Kenshin said from behind her. Ialda turned to him. "Rias' Power of Destruction can wipe out anything if she's strong enough. Sure at her base she's weaker than two other users. One because she has years of experience and the other for the same reason and because he's a just a natural...I would imagine it even destroys souls..." Kenshin said.
"? !" Ialda's eyes widened.
"Or the mana from those souls anyway. What you just lost Ialda...it ain't ever coming back. Rias probably just wiped out quite a bit of soul power. Oh but who am I kidding you got plenty left, right?"
"...Ialda Baoth...you made the man I love and his family suffer." Rias said with a scowl as a crimson aura wrapped around her. "I cannot permit you to live any longer!"
"? !" Ialda turned back around and blocked Rias' destruction magic with a barrier. "She really means to challenge me alone!"
Rias smirked, but a magic circle opened up next to her ear. "Try to keep the fighting in the sky as best you can." Kenshin said. "I don't care about what the people here did to me. They don't deserve to have their livelihoods ruined."
"I'll try, but I can't make any promises. You're right about the flow of this power, it's so intense!" Rias said.
"Like I said. I'll be keeping an eye on your fight." Kenshin said.
"Haaa!" Ialda rushed toward Rias and swung her staff at Rias' neck. Rias raised her sword arm to block it and threw Ialda into a circle.
"Haaaa!" Rias yelled out her other fist covered in destruction magic.
"Krrh!" Ialda growled as she took Rias' punch to the chest. She was sent flying backward a bit before stabilizing herself and growling. "Take this, devil girl!" Ialda said sending her bladed mantle at Rias.
Kenshin didn't move as this happened, only smirking. "Let her have it Rias."
"Haaaaaa!" Rias said, her magic circle appeared behind her, countering all of Ialda's mantle strikes.
"Krh!" Ialda growled, that while her mantle was winning the war of attrition. Rias' destruction magic was striking in ways that would prevent damage to her.
"Haaaa!" Rias finally had enough and waved her arms out, sending a horizontal blast of her magic, obliterating Ialda's mantle, blowing it to pieces. "Haaa!" Rias charged forward.
"Krrrhh!" Ialda growled and punched at Rias who moved her arms to defend as she was blown backward.
"Damn it, it's like she's using another fighting style!" Rias thought.
"!" Kenshin thought, quickly following after them. A magic circle opened up next to his ear.
"Kenshin why are you letting Rias fight Ialda alone?" Sirzechs asked.
"She wanted to show me she's not a burden. I don't think she is, but you know how loved ones are. Trust me. She gets in too deep I'm stepping in." Kenshin said.
"...Hrm...well I guess I'm no better. I did let her peerage challenge Kokabiel alone, regardless of you being there and sending Yukari." Sirzechs said. "Loki too, but that was another matter. Just keep her safe."
"Brother what did you bring me to your world for?" Kenshin scoffed as he cut the connection.
Meanwhile Rias and Ialda were trading blows at a blistering pace. "My training with Kenshin is paying off! I don't know a set style, but my reaction time is vastly improved!"
"You're surprisingly annoying devil girl!" Ialda said knocking her back before appearing in front of Rias, grabbing the red haired devil by the neck.
"I have a name! It's Rias Gremory!" Rias shouted with a glare as she kicked upward, nailing Ialda in the chin, before driving her head forward and stabbing her destruction magic blade through Ialda's stomach.
"Gulh? !" Ialda coughed out blood, some of it landing on Rias' cheek as she sliced to the left, cutting her destruction blade out of her. "You...you insolent cur!" Ialda shouted, blasting at Rias with shots of dense mana. Rias was revealed to be unharmed however, her hand extended forward, her barrier in front of her, cracked, but stable.
Rias and Ialda flew by Kenshin who opened up a communication circle. "You're doing good, using your own power and letting the power I gave you supplement it, but Ialda's still not using all of hers."
"I see...then I'll just have to kick it up a notch." Rias said as a crimson aura started to leak from her body as she flew high into the sky. "Stay away for now Kenshin unless I'm in grave danger...I don't think I can control this."
"Right." Kenshin said.
Watching from the castle, Sirzechs' eyes widened in shock. "Dad?" Millicas asked, looking up at his father from Sirzechs' lap.
"What is it?" Michael asked.
"Th-That's...it's nowhere near mine, but Rias is using the Human Shaped Aura of Destruction." Sirzechs said.
"I see..." Azazel said. "She probably can't use it for very long."
"Sirzechs, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you defeat Vidread Beelzebub's son using that to become a titan of destruction?" Ajuka said. "The only way you honed it was by having me create alternate dimensions for you, or going to very remote areas."
"I did...how did Rias...come across it?" Sirzechs said.
"Kenshin obviously." Azazel said with a smirk.
"What do you mean?" Sirzechs said.
"Kenshin's been helping Rias train, that's why her fighting style is more polished." Azazel said. "Also when he's not training or getting some various levels of lovin' from the girls who adore him. He's crackin' the books on future opponents...and that includes you."
"Kenshin challenged Sirzechs?" Zeoticus asked.
"Yeah. One of the reasons he said being that the battle at the Ritual of Connection a few months ago left a bad taste in his mouth." Azazel said. "So obviously Kenshin imparted the knowledge he gained onto Rias. I mean...whatever you do, she should be able to do as well right?"
"But I...specifically asked that no records be recorded of my fight or that form!" Sirzechs said.
"Come on Sirzechs...did you really think everyone would listen?" Azazel laughed. "History must be chronicled after all."
"Still, to see my daughter fighting so forcefully." Venerana said.
"Do you think it's too brutish?" Serafall asked.
"Hmhm." Venerana giggled. "Not at all. I wouldn't mind learning how to defend myself up close when I can't generate my magic."
Meanwhile Rias looked down at Ialda, her crimson aura flaring, even going as far as to block Ialda's advance. "? !" Ialda looked up at her with wide eyes.
"...Wait...is she using that?" Kenshin said as he got to them.
"Take this...you insufferable bitch." Rias said with narrowed eyes as she extended her hand forward, firing several dense orbs of destruction at Ialda which knocked her back.
"Grrrrhhh! Damn you!" Ialda roared as she flew right at Rias, attacking her with everything she could think of, but Rias dodged at every turn until she finally raised her destruction sword up to block Ialda's staff.
"You may be made up of billions of souls but most of them are weak." Rias said. "DISAPPEAR!"
Ialda was blown back as several orbs of destruction magic slammed into Ialda driving her backward.
Kenshin appeared next to Rias with a smirk. "Damn girl, way to strut your stuff!"
Rias grinned and hugged Kenshin. "It's all thanks to your help my dear!"
Off in the distance. Ialda was floating, her body being regenerated sure, but she could feel it...the power she'd lost, while fighting Rias was never going to come back. "No..." Ialda growled.
"I'll be back my dear." Rias said with a smile.
"Be my guest." Kenshin said extending his hand forward.
Rias arrived at where Ialda was floating. "What is she doing?" Rias said, seeing Ialda's body twitching.
"Grrrhhhhhh...No...these...two...will not...defeat ME!" Ialda growled.
"Tch.." Rias extended her hand forward, a massive orb of destruction magic appearing in front of it. "This is the power of the woman who made my beloved Kenshin and his family suffer? Pathetic." Rias scoffed. "Extinguished Star!"
"Heh...kill her ass Rias...I'll clean up the Resonance after." Kenshin thought with a smirk.
Ialda was blown into space itself from the blast of Rias' attack. "Haa...haaa..haa..." Ialda panted as her body regenerated. "FINE! YOU WANT ALL MY POWER? ! TAKE IT!" Ialda roared as she shot down back to the atmosphere of Mundus Magicus, a plume of twisting clouds following her. She stopped in midair and roared. "Grrrrruuuaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Ialda roared as her aura covered over her.
"Oh no...what is this...?" Zeoticus said.
"I think Ialda is focusing all of the power of the Resonance." Ajuka said.
"Sirzechs you need to tell Kenshin to step in!" Serafall said.
"..." Sirzechs said nothing at first, before letting out a sigh. "...I believe in Rias and Kenshin's teamwork. They will prevail."
"Sirzechs! Are you willing to risk your little sister's life on that? !" Venerana shouted.
"Hrm..No I'm not, but the transfer spell takes too much time...we have to believe in them." Sirzechs said. "Trust me Mother...Father...I'm just as scared as you are."
"Onii-Sama and Onee-Sama will make it!" Millicas said, pumping his fist.
"? !" Everyone turned to him, before smiling. "Hm...funny how your son has been the most optimistic here Sirzechs." Michael said.
"Please let them make it out of this..." Zeoticus said.
"They will." Azazel said. "I am willing to stake my life on their teamwork. If one of them dies you can kill me later. Kenshin's lost too much to let Rias die and Rias loves Kenshin too much to let him die."
Back with Rias, Kenshin appeared next to her. "That was a pretty fast Extinguished Star." Kenshin commented as it launched Ialda into space. "Doesn't take you some time to charge that one?"
"Funnily enough it didn't this time around for the complete version." Rias said with a smile. "I think our new power has something to do with that." She said leaning to kiss Kenshin on the cheek when they both heard a scream and looked up.
"Rias get ready." Kenshin said as he felt power welling up from on high.
"Right." Rias nodded. "But Kenshin...before we start. I saw something when I was attacking Ialda. There was a number above her head."
"A number?" Kenshin said.
"There's one above yours too. A '6'" Rias said.
"..." Kenshin went into thought, but was interrupted by Ialda shooting back down to them.
The first thing Ialda's eyes saw when she opened them was Kenshin, as she fired a blast at him. "Yume Shouheki!" Kenshin shouted, knowing Rias was with him as well.
"Kenshin? !" Rias shouted.
"D-Damn! This blast is so strong!" Kenshin said, his eyes glowing brightly. "If I wasn't in the Demigod State this barrier would fold easily! Rias, you still want your turn? Get ready!"
"Haaa!" Rias shot forward, stabbing her destruction blade forward, only to have it grabbed.
"G-Grrrhhh!" Ialda growled in anger. "You've hurt me for the last time!" She said swatting her across the sky.
"Rias!" Kenshin said as both he and Ialda gave hot pursuit.
Rias crossed her arms to defend Ialda's first attack, blasting her with destruction magic which Ialda plowed through. "? !" Rias was batted away again by Ialda's staff.
"!" Rias was caught by Kenshin. "Kenshin?" Rias said.
"That's enough Rias, let me have a turn." Kenshin said looking up and seeing Ialda's face and body cracking even more.
"G-Ggghhh!" Ialda growled.
Kenshin flew upward. "Hey, you hyper possessive cunt!" Kenshin shouted, blasting Ialda with Serene Conqueror.
Ialda turned to him with a scowl. "You're the bigger threat, I had forgotten that." Ialda said.
"I am." Kenshin said with a smirk. "And I'm here for retribution."
"Come on then!" Ialda shouted with a look of anger. Her ideals forgotten for the moment in a storm of fury.
"Alright." Kenshin said cracking his neck back and forth.
"Kenshin, be careful." Rias said.
"There's a reason you could keep up. You always took on the characteristics of your host at the time!" Kenshin said. "Yet here you stand."
"Because I wanted to possess you, or now kill you as myself!" Ialda said.
"Rias, what's the number over Ialda's head?" Kenshin asked.
"Hmmn..." Rias focused her eyes before her head backed up in surprise. "One Billion even."
"Heh...I see...so that's how many souls she has left." Kenshin said.
"Souls?" Rias asked curiously.
"You said you saw a six over my head right?" Kenshin said. "There are six souls currently inside me. My own, the souls of the Yonseirei, and Ophis."
"Ophis? What about Yuurei, and how did she get here?" Rias asked.
"Probably through our connection of mana, considering she helped remake my body." Kenshin said. "I'm betting on that number over our heads is the amount of souls we have. Ialda has one billion left? Holy hell everyone's been putting in work!" Kenshin said before taking out his swords. "I'm fucking ready for this!" Kenshin said. "Anyway, our roles are reversed. If it looks like I'm about to bite off more than I can chew you come in and we'll take the bitch together."
"Right!" Rias said.
"Grrrhhhh..." Ialda growled, her mantle flowing around her, ready to attack.
"Back away Rias...this is between me and her." Kenshin said.
"Right." Rias said.
"Hrrrghh..." Ialda growled
Kenshin's fist met Ialda's while it held Shiroi Tengoku. Ialda was forced to dodge out of the way of multiple streams of Katentou. Kenshin rushed forward and dueled Ialda in the sky. "This ain't gonna end like last time Ialda!"
"You're right! It will end in your death!" Ialda roared, as she sent a blast of her mana to send Kenshin flying away.
"Akuma Hirameki!" Kenshin said sending multiple beams of mana from his fists at Ialda.
"You think that will stop me? !" Ialda roared as she deflected each and every one before firing her own, punching Kenshin through several buildings.
However Kenshin only let her do this to examine her power. "I see. More than this is needed. I don't know the limits of this form...but I hope I can defeat her."
"Hrrraaahh!" Ialda roared as she punched Kenshin in the cheek, sending him flying backward. Ialda appeared below him and kicked him to the skies before appearing above him and slamming her fists into his sternum, sending him down to the ground.
Kenshin backflipped and slid across the roof of the building where Koneko and Sona were fighting Makie and Akira.
"Kenshin? !" Sona said with wide eyes.
"Senpai!" Koneko said.
"Stay back!" Kenshin warned as Ialda bore down on him. "Hrmn!" He hopped upward and uppercutted Ialda, sending her sliding across the roof across from him.
"I-Ialda..." Makie and Akira said, fear in their voices.
"You two! Attack him!" Ialda shouted.
"..." Kenshin's scowl deepened. "You mean to send my own students at me? !" Kenshin said as he flashed past them, causing them to look back as Kenshin's fist buried itself in Ialda's sternum.
"Gulh? !" Ialda's eyes widened.
"You should learn to take it easy, maybe then we wouldn't be in this situation." Kenshin said throwing Ialda over his shoulder, slamming into the roof.
"D-Damn you!" Ialda said getting back to her feet, charging Kenshin.
"Wind Possession!" Kenshin said, holding Ialda back with his wind magic, using both hands.
"G-Grrrhhh...RRRAAAHHH!" Ialda roared in anger.
"Hey, voices of resentment." Kenshin said. "Ialda is clearly my enemy...but...for some reason. I don't feel like you are."
"? !" Ialda's eyes widened in curiosity.
"I've had my fair share of enemies, trust me." Kenshin said. "But...Ialda aside...you all don't feel like you're enemies." Kenshin said. "You all just want this to end right? You can stop the pain, all you have to do is let yourselves move on." Kenshin said.
"G-Grrhhh!" Ialda growled. "Nice...try Kenshin!" She roared as her aura surrounded her.
"? !" Kenshin leaped back only to realized afterward that he couldn't move. "? !" Kenshin looked up at Ialda who bored down on him. "No! She turned my Wind Possession back on me? !"
"Huuuurrraaahhh!" Ialda growled, slamming her fist into Kenshin's cheek.
"Grrrhhhh!" Kenshin growled, pushing his face against her fist. "Grrh! Fuck you!" Kenshin said grabbing Ialda's arm and swinging her over his shoulder. He flew back as Ialda slammed him into the ground. "R-Rrrggghhhuuuuaaahhhh!" Ialda roared, a powerful aura surrounding her.
"? !" Sona's eyes widened at this. "We...We wouldn't be able to match this...be careful Kenshin..." Sona said.
"Kenshin-Senpai..." Koneko said in worry.
Kenshin charged forward, punching away all of Ialda's mantle strands.
"I feel like Ialda's control on us is weakening." Makie said.
"What? !" Sona said with wide eyes.
"We still can't turn her possession back on us, but we can still command our own free will." Akira said.
"Maybe it's because she herself is getting weaker." Koneko said.
"How so?" Sona asked.
"Every attack Ialda Baoth takes lessens the amount of souls, or soul power she has." Koneko said.
"Wait, seriously?" Sona asked.
"We weren't fighting her personally, that's why I didn't say anything." Koneko said.
"I see..." Sona said stroking her chin in thought.
"Haa!" Makie said kicking her ball at Sona.
"? !" Sona dodged out of the way. "What?"
"S-Sorry." Makie said with a sweatdropping smile. "While our free will is more our own than before, we can't completely ignore Ialda's orders."
"I understand, so we'll just make it look like we're fighting while she's distracted with Kenshin-Senpai." Koneko said.
"It will give me a chance to think of something." Sona said.
"Well how about I give you more of a chance?" The four turned to find Valerie with her Sephiroth Graal in hand, smiling.
"Valerie-San...are you sure you want to do this? What if what happened to you, happens again?" Koneko asked.
"Oh compared to the Evil Dragons reviving them is nothing. What Kenshin-San did to cleanse the effects of my Sacred Gear worked to perfection." Valerie said. "Sorry I'm just now getting here, the first person I revived, a Yukihiro Ayaka took me to revive girls being kept in a dungeon."
"The girls who couldn't fight are revived again? !" Akira said with wide eyes.
"Hai, and I can do the same for you." Valerie said walking in front of Akira and holding her Sephiroth Graal outward. "Please touch it."
Hesitantly, Akira reached forward and grabbed the chalice. She felt a warm feeling flow through her as well as the voices in her head stopping. "!" Her eyes widened as she bent forward. "My will...it's completely my own again...Ialda's voice is gone."
"You are among the living once more, truly." Valerie smiled. "When Ialda Baoth is dispatched, you will remain here."
"Hey Hey! Me next!" Makie said raising her hand.
"Hai." Valerie smiled and moved in front of Makie. The pinkette grabbed the chalice and felt the same feeling Akira did. "Wow, that felt great!" Makie said.
"Hmhm, I'm glad." Valerie said. "Welcome back to the living world...um..."
"Makie, Sasaki Makie." Makie said with a bright smile.
"Ookuchi Akira." Akira introduced.
"Nice to meet you." Valerie said.
"So we don't have to fight anymore?" Sona asked.
"No. After everything that...vile bitch did to us...we'd never obey her." Akira said with a growl.
"Then let's protect Valerie-San while she goes and revives your friends." Koneko said.
"Right!" Makie said pumping her fist in the air. "Come on!"
"Right!" Akira said.
(break)
In the Dimensional Gap.
"Haa...haa...haa..." Ryuushin panted as he tried his best to hold up the barrier.
"This...is...impossible..." Yukari gasped out.
"Don't...talk like that...we can do this..." Miyuki said, sweat rolling down her face.
"Still, how are we supposed to get out of here...?" Hikari said.
Suddenly a small rip opened up in the void and out popped Vali and his team. He looked over at them. "Hey Miyuki." He said with a smile. "A friendly crow informed me that you needed help."
"Vali!" Miyuki said with a relieved smile.
"Thank you Azazel..." Hikari said with a relieved sigh.
"Come on over here and spare yourselves any further exhaustion." Bikou invited with a grin.
"We'll kindly take you up on that." Yukari said as their barriers merged. "Whew...Arthur are you alright?"
"I have Le Fay and Kuroka supplying me with mana, I'll be fine, in fact you two help them." Arthur said.
"Alright." Le Fay said moving to help Miyuki.
"I'm OK, help Yukari first." Hikari told Kuroka.
"Alright-nya." Kuroka said with a smile.
"!" Ryuushin pulled Kazeken away from Yukari and slashed at Vali's neck, stopping just short.
"Is that how you thank someone who saved your life?" Vali asked.
"You tried to kill my son." Ryuushin growled. "You...broke my daughter's heart."
"D-Dad! It was for a terrible reason, but Vali's already made up for it!" Miyuki said with worry in her voice as she embraced Vali.
"Hrmn..." Ryuushin closed his eyes and retracted Kazeken.
"What she says is true." Vali said. "As you are his father I understand your anger, and I have permanently lost what I had with Miyuki...but I'm at least happy to call her a friend." Vali said smiling at Miyuki, hugging her with one arm.
"Hmhm." Miyuki smiled at him.
"Hmn..." Ryuushin nodded. "Well...I can understand the frustration of losing the quarry of someone you meant to kill, I just think you went about it the wrong way, like I and Hikari did."
"Yes." Vali nodded. "I feel that way as well, and I regret having to lose what I had with Miyuki, but I am glad to call her a friend." Vali said.
"I see." Ryuushin said. "Well. As long as you feel remorse over it. If it were me, I probably would have been glad the bastard got delivered justice."
"Yeah, Kenshin said the same. " Vali said. "I've already apologized and made up, or at least tried to make up with them."
"Yeah." Miyuki said. "Even though I'm not interested in him like that anymore, I've been trying to hang out with Vali when I could."
"Well if you're sure Miyuki." Ryuushin said.
"Still how much time until we make it back to Mundus Magicus?" Hikari said.
"No telling." Vali said walking forward. "The Dimensional Gap is chaotic. We'll try to get back there as fast as we can, but I can't make any promises."
"Just try your best...I believe in my friends." Miyuki said with a smile.
"G-Ghhh!" Ryuushin hunched over, his eyes flickering to gold.
"Ryuushin? !" Hikari said.
"G-Ghh...the empathic link!" Ryuushin said.
"What is he talking about?" Kuroka said.
"The current and past Dragons of the Elements are empathically linked." Hikari said. "...Kenshin must have gone into the Demigod State and it's only just now affecting Ryuushin.
"Demigod State?" Vali said.
"It's a heightened state of power Kenshin can go into. It takes a lot to bring it out though...it must be because we were sent here." Hikari said.
"How powerful we talkin' here?" Bikou asked.
"Well in terms of raw power. Only Sirzechs Lucifer and Ajuka Beelzebub are stronger." Yukari said.
"Hrm...interesting." Vali said with a smirk.
"Dad relax." Miyuki said patting her father on the back, seeing the look on his face souring. "Vali's a battle lover. He loves to test his power against strong people. He probably just wants to fight Onii-Chan in that form."
"Oh." Ryuushin nodded. "Well I certainly get that. Just be prepared for my son to kick your ass. Seriously, the amount of power in that form was insane."
"Well, it will give me a measuring stick." Vali shrugged.
(break)
Back in Megalomesembria.
Kenshin and Ialda both floated across from each other, both scowling.
"Damn you..." Ialda growled.
"How much left now Rias?" Kenshin asked.
"Eight Hundred Million, you eliminated two hundred million souls by yourself with your assault just now." Rias said.
"Heh!" Kenshin smirked.
"Alright, you get back in there and I'll keep you posted on how many souls she has left." Rias said.
"Sounds good." Kenshin said charging forward opening communications with Rias. "Seriously, don't worry about the damage I'm taking. I'll call for you if I'm taking too much and I can't handle it!"
"Alright. I'll hold you to that!" Rias said.
Kenshin looked up, casting his swords away as Ialda charged in. "You vile filth sucking maggot!" Ialda Baoth screeched. "You will rue the the day you defied me! Prepare yourself to embrace oblivion!"
"Heh!" Kenshin smirked. "I think my Dad is proof enough that oblivion isn't that oblivious." Kenshin said. "But I'm glad to finally see you show your true colors Ialda,but...if you're thinking this is going to be easy then you are dead wrong."
"Heheheheh." Ialda chuckled. "Of all the things you might have said Kenshin...I say you must have forgotten how terrifying I can be. Even at a third of my strength I can take you."
"Well, we'll just have to see." Kenshin said with a smirk.
"Grrh! I've heard enough of your pathetic lies!" Ialda roared, her power welling up.
A pillar of red earth raised up between Kenshin and Ialda, only to split apart due to a blast of mana "Grrrh!" Kenshin knocked it away with a growl, before being fired at again. Kenshin smirked as he knocked it away and summoned a flaming dragon head to shoot a blast of fire at Ialda.
"Hrmn!" Ialda knocked it away. "Did you really think that would be enough?"
"Not really, but I just wanted to give it a shot." Kenshin said.
"You get on to me for not taking this seriously and you're just casually testing things out?" Ialda balked.
"Well maybe I'm just that much stronger than you." Kenshin mocked.
"We'll just see about that!" Ialda shouted, charging after Kenshin.
"Grh!" Kenshin grunted, grabbing her wrist, halting her advance.
"Krrrhhh!" Ialda growled, thrusting her free hand at Kenshin, only for Kenshin to grab it, interlocking his fingers with hers. "Damn you! !" Ialda growled.
"Rrrrgghh!" Kenshin growled, both their auras flaring to life, cratering the ground beneath them.
"Krrrrrhhhhh!" Ialda growled back as they struggled against one another.
"Krh...you've made me and my family suffer for the last time Ialda! I won't lose here!" Kenshin thought. "Especially not to some bitch who just hoards and steals other people's power!" He scowled. "I won't be defeated! I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!"
"Th-This can't be! How is he this strong? !" Ialda thought as she wrested her grip from Kenshin's and jumped back.
"Haa..haa..haa..." Kenshin and Ialda both panted.
"How quaint, I see there was some truth in your words after all." Ialda said with a smirk.
"There's more than truth Ialda!" Kenshin said.
"Yes, but will it be able to stand up to this?" Ialda said as her mantle began to move and shake.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened as several black wings and six more arms sprouted from Ialda's body. "W-What the hell? !"
Ialda's legs evaporating into a twisting black mess, ending with a large orb where her waist should be. "Prepare yourself Kenshin." Ialda said.
"Heh." Kenshin smirked. "So, you show your true form at last. The monster you truly are."
"The monster that the Resonance made of me." Ialda corrected.
"Whatever." Kenshin scoffed. "Don't start making excuses for yourself now."
"Very well." Ialda said as Kenshin charged her.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened as four of Ialda's arms grabbed him. "G-Ghhh!"
"Be proud boy, not even your father and uncle were able to push me this far." Ialda said with a vicious smirk as she ripped his right leg off.
"A-Aaagghh! !" Kenshin cried out in pain. He scowled back at her. "Y...You bitch."
"I think I'll take this too." Ialda said, ripping off his left arm before throwing him to the ground.
"Kenshin!" Rias shouted, flying in after him.
"Hrmn!" Kenshin blasted her with Serene Conqueror to stop her.
"!" Rias' eyes widened as she felt the wave of intimidation.
"I'm fine!" Kenshin said using his mana to regenerate his limbs. "Man, good thing I vented all the Senjutsu out while Rias was fighting her." Kenshin said getting back to his feet.
"Hmhmn." Ialda chuckled as a wide array of magic circles appeared behind her.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened at this. "Shit! I have to get ready!" He said holding Shiroi Tengoku behind him. "Katentou!" He yelled out as various tendrils of flaming knives spewed from his kodachi. "G-Grrhh!" Kenshin growled, feeling the holy mana burn, from even using the word Heaven, even in Japanese.
"Krrrh...!" Ialda growled as Kenshin's tendrils of flame mana sliced through her mantle, even as her cloak tendrils did the same back to him.
"Grrh..." Kenshin growled, seeing Ialda healing faster than he did.
Four of Ialda's hands charged the Thousand Thunderbolts, Tearing Earth, The End of the World Ice spell and the Blazing Heat in the Sky spell, all aimed at Kenshin.
"? !" Rias' eyes widened as she flew right at Kenshin. "NO!"
"Rias! Stay back!" Kenshin shouted in worry.
"No! I refuse to let you take this attack!" Rias said as she tackled herself into him. "A-Aaah? !"
"R-Rias? !" Kenshin said with wide eyes as she disappeared, her eyes glowing a familiar golden glow as he took the attack..
"R...Rias..." Kenshin said, his hand extended forward, tears flowing down his cheeks. "No...No! NOT YOU TOO!"
"Hahahahahaha!" Ialda cackled. "How does it feel, you've killed another person you loved!" Ialda mocked.
"I-Iaaaallllldddddddaaaa!" Kenshin roared, tears flowing down his face. "First all my family...then my immediate family...now you took MY Rias away? !" Kenshin growled. "Fuck the Resonance, I'm gonna rip you limb from limb you fucking bitch!"
"!" Ialda's eyes widen as Kenshin's fist laid into her face.
"AAAAAAGGGHHHH!" Kenshin roared out as he barraged Ialda with punch after punch, with sword slash after sword slash. "Damn you! Damn you! ! DAMN YOOOOUUUU! ! !" He uppercutted Ialda and grabbed her by the tendrils that made up her legs and flipped several times before throwing her to the ground.
"? !" Alma, Achilla and Reya's eyes all widened, as well as Yue, Nodoka's and Haruna's as Ialda landed across from them.
"Hrn!" Ialda extended her hand toward Haruna, commanding her to command her summon to attack Kenshin.
"HRM!" Kenshin growled, punching it in the stomach destroying it completely. "Nothing...NOTHING WILL STOP ME FROM KILLING YOU IALDA! !"
Ialda flew backward, sending her mantle and numerous spells at Kenshin, only for him to cut or punch them away. "W-What is this? !"
"Turns out...rage is a good motivator...and by the way...I fucking hate you." Kenshin growled as he charged forward, cocking his fist back.
Suddenly a crimson magic flared on Kenshin's fist, forming a blade. "? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as it stabbed into Ialda's chest.
"A-...aaggghh..." Ialda gasped out in pain.
"W-What the? This looks like the Power of Destruction." Kenshin said with wide eyes after kicking Ialda away.
"Kenshin...I'm fine."
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened further in relief. "R-Rias? !"
"I don't know how it happened, but somehow our souls fused." Rias said. "I'm OK."
"T...Thank goodness..." Kenshin thought, his eyes already leaking tears.
"I believe your family will be fine too, but we need to focus." Rias said.
"Right." Kenshin nodded.
"Seeing as we are joined together like this. I wonder if I can flow my magic through your body?" Rias said.
"I think you can, I just used the Exsis Exsequens spell with your destruction magic." Kenshin thought.
"Hmn, well!" Rias said with a smile. "Why don't you keep your word and let me fight alongside you."
"Hrmn! I know I said I'd let you, but this is taking it to a whole 'nother level!" Kenshin thought.
"I know right!" Rias said.
"Let your magic flow through the left side of my body, I'll flow mine through the right." Kenshin thought. "I know how to get you out of my body."
"OK, good." Rias said, smiling. "I want to still be with you physically after this." Rias giggled. "I was so touched when you called me YOUR Rias."
"Hmn...because you are mine, and I am yours." Kenshin thought with a smile, before frowning as Ialda flew back at them.
"That looks like that Gremory Girl's magic." Ialda said as she noticed Kenshin's left side shrouded in crimson magic.
"It is." Kenshin said with a smirk. "Through some freak occurrence, when Rias dove in front of me to take your attacks, her soul fused with my body. I basically wield her Power of Destruction as my own now!"
"Grrhh..." Ialda growled.
The naginata that Kenshin lent Ryuushin and the naginata from his artifact appeared at his sides, his left flaring with destruction magic, while the right flared up with the power of the elements. "Get ready...Ialda...for you now face the Powers of Creation and Destruction!" He said as both the powers of Destruction and the Elements flowed around both his dual bladed naginatas.
Back in Lucifer's castle, Sirzechs' eyes went wide in shock. "Wait...Kenshin and Rias are one now?"
"It would seem so." Ajuka said.
"Well. If that's the case, let's cheer them on!" Serafall said.
"Yeah!" Millicas said pumping his fist, making Serafall reach over and hug him. "Hehehehe!" He chuckled as he hugged her back.
"Hmhmhm." Grayfia smiled. "I agree."
Falbium grinned. "I do too. Those two know what they are doing."
"Come on Sirzechs, if anyone can temper Kenshin's thoughts, it's your sister Rias." Michael said.
"Yeah...Rias will talk sense into that idiot." Azazel said.
"Hmn...I know, but maybe we should all go to congratulate them." Sirzechs suggested as he got up walking to the side as a large magical circle appeared underneath him. .
"Hey, no complaints here." Falbium said.
"Sure, he will have eliminated another threat to the alliance." Azazel said.
"I do not mind. It will allow me to get an update from Gabriel." Michael smiled.
"Sounds good. I wanna personally congratulate Kenshin-Chan for finally freeing himself from his past!" Serafall said with a wide smile.
"C-Can I come too?" Millicas asked.
"As long as you stay near me, your father and your grandparents. I don't mind." Grayfia said.
"Yay!" Millicas cheered.
"Haaa!" Kenshin threw both dual bladed naginatas at Ialda, the weapons criss crossing until they collided with the Lifemaker.
"A-Aaaaaaaggggghhh!" Ialda screamed out in pain.
"Heh." Kenshin and Rias' voice sounded out as one. "I hope that hurt a lot you bitch."
(chapter end)
Draconis: Sorry if this feels like a mess. Next chapter will conclude the battle.
Kenshin: Sure you should be telling the crowd that?
Draconis: They're probably as tired of this as I am. It's been two freakin years.
Kenshin: Good point.
Yukari: I still feel like you're being too hard on yourself.
Draconis: I am, but with this pandemic and being 'essential' how can I not?
Yukari: (closes her eyes and nods.) I understand your point.
Draconis: Anyway, I'll see you all next time. Sorry if I seem salty.
Draconis678 out