Welcome back to another chapter, the last in the volume.
Sorry, my upload schedule isn't very consistent. I'm a graduate student actively looking for a job, so I can't promise when things will be done.
We just hit 1k favorites, which is fantastic, and I'm glad to have you all on board; anyway, let's get into this.
Beta Readers: Chris72637, Luxutor, MegaDumbo, and Tupjunk
...
*BOOM-BOOMBOOMBOOM-CRASH
An avalanche of solid rock came crashing down onto the frost-covered woods, shredding the desolate environment around two figures as they stood off, both ablaze in an ethereal light as blood splattered around them, coating the white surface in a layer of red.
One a leader, a person willing to go to any lengths to enforce her will, abandoning everyone and everything that held her back from greatness.
She did not hesitate; she did not waver; any chance to rise ever higher, the chieftain would take it, no matter what suffering it brought on others.
The other stood as a mere cog, a piece to be used and discarded, his purpose uncertain, living on his whims and those alone to determine his actions.
Call it a curse from his late grandfather's dying breathes, or just a fundamental part of his person, but he fought only for the sake of others, selfish in his own way, yet undeniably selfless at the same time, a living enigma.
Onlookers could only watch their struggle, unable to compete or even comprehend what they were seeing in this otherworldly matchup of firepower, but-
Something strange had happened.
Both had fired, an explosion of energy following suit as one's blazing arrow pierced through the blazing storm, slashing its target across the face before racing off, sending an earth-shattering blast in all directions as the forest was engulfed in an inferno, then-
Nothing.
Both froze in place, staring off into nothing, not moving, not speaking. It was as if time had just...stopped for them...as if they were somewhere else entirely; even as the cold mountain air washed over them and debris scattered around them as the flames drew ever closer, neither showed any sign of life.
It was terrifying, especially so for a certain vessel's teammates, who were stuck between an army of bandits and their friend, both sides equally at a loss.
Pyrrha let off a bated breath, ignoring the howling winds as they drifted through her hair as ash flowed around them, "I...I don't understand. Why aren't they moving?... What's happening?"
Behind her shades, Coco's eyes narrowed, soon shifting to the side toward a certain Faunus, "Well, Vel, hear anything?"
The rabbit girl squinted, her giant ears twitching about before drooping with her emotions, "Well...they're breathing, I think, but I don't hear anything-"
Coco gave her an unreadable look, "Whaddya mean you don't hear anything? You hear everything!"
"I...I don't-"
"Come on, Vel, I'll even take a sniffle, but you gotta gimme something here."
"I don't know, okay! It's like they're not even alive. They're just...just standing there..."
The leader huffed, clicking her tongue in thought, "Then...Fox, what about you? Is your connection with him still up?..."
"Fox?"
Ren cut her off, leaning in front of the teen, "I think something's wrong with him, he's-"
She rolled her eyes as she turned, "Yeah, he's a pain. Come on, dude, I know you're blind, but don't add deaf to the-"
Her breath hitched, seeing the copper-themed teen in much the same way, staring off blankly into space.
Fox couldn't move, nor could he speak, only taking rapid breaths as some unbearable force bore down on him; the Huntsman could feel it pouring in from one direction-
That kid-
But what was-
"Get Out."
*FWING
A foreign voice, the same one the teen had heard moments prior, rang out in his head, but the words could not even settle. His mind exploded into agony as something severed, not broke- no.
It slashed through their connection.
His teammates could only watch as blood trickled out of his nose, and soon, the teen collapsed into a heap on the snow, utterly unmoving.
As panic set in
One could only wonder what could cause such a thing.
And if those two had something to do with it.
...
Meanwhile
*Drip-Drop-Drip-Drop
Blood trickled down from above, landing around the former Huntress, sending small waves bouncing toward the shores of shredded flesh, though she paid it no mind.
Raven couldn't move, frozen in place, her black hair grazing the liquid surface as her red eyes shimmered, stuck staring at the boy as every fiber of her soul screamed at her to move, to take up arms and fight, but she couldn't even shiver.
"I'm going to give you one chance. Submit."
*SPLASH
Against her own will, the leader's palms slid to the sides, her forehead grazing the revolting waters of blood below, staring down at the reflection of her own eyes, but she could feel the sheer hatred flooding through the air as if this figure could materialize emotion itself.
So intense it felt like she was suffocating.
So disgusting she wanted to empty the contents of her stomach.
So horrifying she wanted to curl up into a ball and wait for it to pass.
But-
*Bump-Bump
He was just sitting there, looking down at her.
*Bump-Bump
This presence...it was of a different kind, something so absolute, so above everything else, higher than Ozpin, even more malevolent than Salem herself-
This man's existence felt wrong, as if it were something to be shut away in the farthest depths of the planet, kept far away from any living thing. She felt like a speck of dust against a coming storm, utterly helpless before an unmatched power.
*Bump-Bump
It was overwhelmingly evil, so horrible, it sent the Maiden inside of her haywire, thundering around inside her soul as if it was trying to claw its way out. All the while, she felt his single eye observe her with such indifference that it made her feel as if every battle, every accomplishment, every single feat in her existence meant nothing!
It was unreal
How could she...no...how could anyone compare to this...to this...thing-
*Bump-Bump-Bump-Bump-Bump-Bump
He moved, the simple tilt of his head sending a shockwave through the bandit as toxic air caught in her throat.
"For such an insignificant little bird...you don't know when to fly away."
*FWING
*BWOOOOOSH
Before she could even blink, an unseen force sent the Branwen face-first into the pool of blood below, forced to inhale the disgusting liquid as she thrashed around, fruitlessly trying to push her way out.
No matter how much strength she used, no matter how hard she tried, Raven couldn't fight back, as if a mountain of weight was keeping her down below, with the visceral fluids burning her like acid as she screamed into the void.
She clawed at the muck below, feeling torn skin and organs ripping beneath her nails, reaching up for the dim glow so close, yet so far out of reach, what little air remained in her lungs sputtering out bit by bit.
How long would this go on? Seconds felt like an eternity; every fiber of her body and soul screamed for release, but whatever rationality was left in her failing mind could only wonder if this was a better end than even a second longer in front of that thing.
*FWIP
*BWOOOOOSH
The pressure disappeared with the moment as the chieftain erupted from her near watery grave, crawling onto the shore as foreign fluids dripped from her mouth as she desperately tried to take in air.
Seconds ticked by, and as she looked up, her face paled in cold realization as red trickled down to the pond below, seeing his visage across the rippling surface.
He hadn't moved at all, still sitting there on his throne of rotten bone, a faint sadistic smirk growing on his face...how was that possible...was it...no-
It was the sheer pressure coming off of him, making her feel as if there were no other option but to do as he wanted, only releasing when he had his fill, however long that would last.
The King of Curses let off a bellowing chuckle, his very voice making this realm of bone and flesh rattle, "This is what they call strength now?... Secrecy, factionalism...and using others to enforce your will, all on the back of a power you don't understand...Did I get that right?"
...
...
"You can speak."
A pressure lifted, sending the bandit into a coughing fit as her dry throat wheezed for air, unable to function within the vicinity of this being, "You're... You're not that boy... you're something else-"
"He-he...hehehehehe."
From his throne, the strongest sorcerer to ever exist tapped an elongated nail over his face, "Observant… isn't that what you called this brat? Want me to praise you for telling a grain of sand apart from a desert?"
He let off a snort, his other eye flicking open, "You aren't worth my name, losing to such trash, but you're just a consequence of this boring world, where fear, anger, passion, the driving blocks of hunger are suppressed at all costs...Humanity sits behind its walls without a true predator to bring out their best, making them grow weak without a single clue as to why they've become so insignificant."
Raven shifted as she stared down at her hands, "But...but the Grimm, they've-"
The man waved a hand, silencing her in an instant, "Bottom feeders scrounging off the remains of your negativity...tell me...do you know why those things pursue you?"
Her silence spoke volumes.
He scoffed, "...So I was right. The wheel's slowed down so much that what little Cursed Energy is left can't even form a spirit...its users gone and forgotten. Instead, they've been replaced with something lower on the rungs..."
A blast of foul air billowed through the King of Curses' hair as he let off a sadistic chuckle, "It's the epitome of a loser's struggle, only rising because your superiors fell away...and that leaves you, the strongest weakling floating amidst a sea of disappointment."
Raven tried to swallow her disgust, but it did no good, hardly able to formulate a sentence, let alone speak her mind, but she somehow forced it out, "Is that why I'm here...to satisfy your curiosity?"
"No."
She bristled as a bone-rattling chill ran over her as the man slowly sat upright, "You've managed to catch my interest, and it's the only thing keeping your miserable hide alive, but as to how you're here...Well, I wouldn't know the answer to that, not that it matters. You just might prove some use to me."
Raven's hands were shaking, even as she tried to clench against the ground beneath her. The chieftain struggled to even twitch, as if the weight of an entire world was bearing down on her, forcing her to pant as if she had nothing left to give, "And...what...what makes you think I'd serve anyone but myself? I threw that subservient life away...years ago."
The Curse let off an unimpressed hum, his red eyes dulled as if she were worth nothing, not even the space she took up, "Then don't. I'm sure I'd cause that brat more than enough trouble if I eviscerated you in front of his classmates for it to be worth my time, but that's not what you'll choose."
He leaned closer, a contemplative look across his darkened face, "You preach about strength, yet you rely on the weak. You talk about breaking the cycle but scurry in the shadows where other actors can't see you. It's cowardice at its finest, masked as bravado...for someone with your potential, it's so foolish."
He raised a hand, looking over his purple nails without a care for her or anything else, "You're so close to the truth of this world, but intentions mean nothing without a way forward."
Seconds ticked by as droplets continued to fall from above. All the while, Raven contemplated her circumstances, wanting to reject him, to say he could take her life and be done with this madness but-
Her head dropped low, "Strength...you can give me that?"
"No."
"What?"
The King of Curses darkly chuckled, a malicious glint appearing in his eyes. "We'll be making a trade of sorts, you and I...and in exchange for what I want, not only will I let you leave this place alive, but I'll give you the means to keep climbing higher. What you do after that...well, that depends on you and how badly you desire to seize things for yourself."
The chieftain was quiet for a moment, "If I agree...Will I be stronger than him?... That boy."
The man shrugged, "Who knows? It all depends on your hunger to find more. But what do you have to lose, woman? Either you accept or die. Be grateful I'm allowing you to prove yourself with this arrangement."
He raised his fingers, "Two conditions: the first, you'll share every piece of information I deem important-"
Her gaze narrowed, "...What do you mean by important? If I said it out loud, it could be days before we find something you want."
The former sorcerer grinned down at her, "Not in this place, you see. Our souls are connected in a way, and the exchange will happen as soon as we come to terms."
"The soul...and you're inside of him-"
If a normal person were here, they'd take one glance at this place and never trust a word this man said. It was a reality of rot and decay, but the Branwen saw through to what lay beyond. "...You can't take control, not like him, can you?"
The Curse's grin faded, his expression becoming cold as Raven stared down at her reflection. Her rationality slowly returned as she tried to plot a course.
With a burst of pressure, she felt a sudden need to keep the discussion moving, as if she had said something horribly wrong. "Even so...I need guarantees."
He scoffed, waving a hand over the horizon, "The pact itself does that, and if either of us were to break it, then the offenders would be punished severely."
The King of Curses shrugged, raising two fingers, "Now, for the second requirement, at some point, I'll give you a command, just one, and you'll be forced to follow through with it when I say your name."
Another shiver racked Raven's spine as if every part of her knew this was a horrible decision, one that had such wide-reaching implications it could shatter everything as she knew it.
The statement was so ambiguous that the bandit could only wonder what a being like this would want after calling in this level of power over her, and something told her if she tried to probe the man or test him any further, it would end with her untimely death, but what would that mean for-
No...she shouldn't think about that...she left it behind for a reason, but the thought crawled forward despite her wishes.
A distant image popped into mind: a small bundle held in her arms, running a finger through soft locks of blonde hair as a pair of lilac eyes stared up at her, causing the leader to tremble that much more.
There was one thing in this world she cared for
One thing that could never burn
Even if it was a fluke
Even if she had nothing to do with this
Raven had to be sure.
"...I have one rule-"
She let off a breath, but it did little to calm her nerves, "No matter what you have planned, my daughter, Yang Xiao Long, will never be harmed."
The figure let off a fascinated hum, "Ironclad wording...already figuring things out, are you?... But to waste it on something so inconsequential...Nevertheless, I'll accept those terms."
The Chieftan closed her eyes, "Then we have a deal."
*Bump-Bump
At that moment, a pulse rang through the woman's mind, followed by an agonizing ring bouncing inside her skull as information flooded her head. The pain was surreal, as if months, if not years, of experiences, came crashing in at once, enough to send any normal person into hysterics, but through sheer strength of will, she suppressed it into nothing more than a wince.
What happened next, call it a lapse of judgment, a misunderstanding of the fine print, or even foolish arrogance, it all led to the same answer.
Raven looked up to the man, his face partially obscured in shadow, "Then if we're done here, send me on my-"
She froze, eyes locked onto his face, focusing on the black markings shaped like a spearhead around his forehead, her entire body beginning to tremble, "No-"
It happened all at once as if whatever they had done had finally made something click open within the former Huntress' mind, something locked away...that image...that visage.
It wasn't the first time she had encountered it, but why was it making her feel as though her eyes had been opened to its meaning for the first time?
Raven knew she had seen it and was sure of that much. With those jagged edges and enough of those lunatics carving it into their skin, how could she not? ...but this was different-
"That's..."
Her gaze focused on those slits beneath his eyes, knowing what lay underneath.
Raven's heart raced as images poured into her mind, not from memory, not from any experience or anything she knew-
But the Maiden inside of her, as if it were telling her something, appearing as flashes of information, faint depictions of chaos and destruction, as if it were missing significant pieces of some puzzle...but warning stood clear-
"Ryomen?..."
"But how is that...but the cult isn't..."
She suddenly trembled as if a horrible realization had just taken hold.
"No-NO-NO! I TAKE IT BACK; I RECIND OUR AGREEMENT!"
He ignored her, having already set the vow in place. The cards were entirely within his hand, and he was fully aware.
Sukuna observed her with losing interest, having gotten every bit of information he needed. The Curse no longer had any use for her presence, "...So close, yet so far off...it's a shame you forgot one thing."
"...huh?"
The slits along his face opened, revealing the maddened look of four eyes gleaming down at her from above, a horrid smile etched across his borrowed face, "We never agreed I'd let you leave unharmed...and for slighting me...I think penance is in order."
*FWIP
He swiped a single hand toward her, and in that moment, the left side of her vision distorted-
Into perfect cubes
The last thing she would see was his horrid visage, standing over her with that demented smile as an explosion of blood erupted from her face.
...
Back in reality
"Come on, dude, stop playing-"
"Fox!"
"FOX!"
The remaining members of PYRN could only watch as Coco fruitlessly tried to shake her copper-themed teammate awake, but the young man was completely unresponsive, his eyes open and unmoving.
For the first time since they had arrived, Pyrrha could see a genuine look of fear cross the stylish girl's face as she slammed an ear against the boy's chest, "...It's beating...then...then why isn't he-"
*CRUNCH
*BOOM
One of the bandits, a balding man coated in scars and adorned in much the same black and red attire as the others, had taken a step forward, only for Yatsu to slam his massive sword into the ground as a warning, sending cracks along the solid surface and stopping the man in his tracks. All the while, mumblings came from the opposing side.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"What does it look like? Following through, unless you wanna be the one to tell her we didn't follow orders."
Another voice called out, "How do you know that's what she wants?"
The man spat to the side, brandishing a jagged sword as he spun it within his hand, "Branwen code: unless told otherwise, the objective remains, and this just might be our chance to prove ourselves if you think about it."
"What are you talking about?"
A vicious sneer crawled along the man's scarred face as he glanced toward the unmoving sorcerer in the distance, "Without that kid in the picture, I'd say we stand a pretty good chance...why not take advantage while he's...occupied, and earn some respect?"
He turned to face the students, calling out over his shoulder, "Someone slice his throat. We'll deal with fixing the Chief up later-"
"NO!"
*BWING
A blur of red shot out from the crowd of students, hurling a metallic object as it sailed over the snow-covered horizon. Its bronze surface glimmered, and the weapon's rounded edge cracked against the bandit's face, flying off before rounding back, pulled by some unseen force, and stopping just before his skull.
*SHWING
A pair of boots crunched against the snow as the sounds of changing metallic parts echoed out, followed by a thunderous hurl as Miló slammed against the shield in its spear form, the sudden force sending the man tumbling as a figure launched off the metallic platform, flying over the entire crowd as Pyrrha skidded to a stop, back to back with her unmoving partner.
With the flick of a wrist, her weapons vibrated before shooting off into her hands, taking a warrior's stand, green eyes flaring, "As if I'd let you!"
The man coughed, rubbing a hand along his face before spitting to the side, rising to his feet with a pained grunt, "And what do you hope to achieve here, girl? To prove yourself as a Huntress, or are you hoping we end your life before the rest?"
The invincible girl looked down for a second, "...I don't know-"
"Hm?"
Her brow furrowed, "I don't know why I do the things I do...why I can't bring myself to let anyone down...it's why I went to Beacon. It's why I was so happy to be teamed with people who cared-"
She glanced over her shoulder at a set of spiked pink hair, feeling like she was underwhelming against someone for the first time in her life, "...and maybe people who understand, who I want to spend more time with, and while I'm still figuring things out, I know one thing-"
She raised Akoúo̱, with Miló held above, ready to lunge at a moment's notice, "I won't let you take that away from us!"
A round of chuckles broke out from the crowd, having heard the same song and dance more often than not, even earning a disinterested clap from the defacto leader, "Right, right, and next you'll sail off into the sunset and live happily ever after, like some kinda fairy tale, am I right?"
The figure shrugged, "Sorry, kid, but life's not about that weak-minded shi-"
*BANG
The sound of exploding flesh rang out, followed by a blood-curdling scream as the frozen deadlock came to a sudden stop.
All parties stopped in their tracks, watching as Raven stumbled, her black hair flowing wild as she fell onto her back. Every inch of her trembled as she desperately tried to kick away from the still unmoving sorcerer, her voice shrill, as if filled with a terror no one could comprehend.
"You're not...You're not their-"
Pyrrha watched as the woman clenched a hand over her face, with pools of red liquid trickling down to the snow below.
What?
What happened?
What had changed-
What was-
She gasped as the Branwen pulled her hand back, shouting over the prevailing silence, her right eye glaring toward the boy with a mixture of fear and absolute hatred.
But the left-
It was gone
Nothing more than a bloody hole oozing liquid at a record pace, utterly blind to the world as she yelled-
"YOU'RE WORSE!"
Like a switch had been flipped, the chieftain stumbled to her feet, and to the shock of everyone-
She turned and ran, almost falling over as she haphazardly crashed through the fields, soon raising a hand as a flash of red opened before her, revealing a swirling vortex of energy a few dozen yards away, but Pyrrha wasn't focused on that-
But on her still-motionless partner-
There was so much going through her head-
The things he had said
Those powers of his
What had just happened between him and that woman...and Fox as well
But Pyrrha wasn't the sort to let things get in the way of what mattered most-
Her friend wasn't safe, and the rest could wait for later.
And if one had woken up...then the other-
Well, she just had to try.
...
Meanwhile
Yuji found himself in much of the same straits as the bandit, standing in that disgusting soul he had seen more than enough for a lifetime, having woken up moments prior as if he had blanked for a few minutes.
He wasn't scared.
He wasn't confused.
He knew what this was and who was waiting for him.
The sorcerer looked up, seeing the same twisted image of himself perched on his throne as always, a condescending look on his tattooed face as he looked down on him from above.
They stood in absolute silence, and from Sukuna's look, it seemed that he had already won something- but what?
This was the monster who murdered in the thousands-
A remnant from the Heian Era that refused to dissapear-
The being that drove fear into the hearts of men a thousand years after his death, as if he could reappear in a moment and destroy everyone and everything in his path.
There were very few things that made a person like this happy...but would-
What could he have possibly gained in so little-
He turned, looking around the chamber of gore, yet saw nothing. "That lady!... Where is-"
"You've been busy, haven't you, brat?"
The entire room grew cold, with Yuji seeing his breath with every repetition. The sheer pressure was enough to break the spirit of any man but with Itadori? It only made him angry.
He turned, glaring up at the King of Curses, "What did you do with her!? Answer me!"
Sukuna only snorted, "You've made quite a few bonds, replacing the ones I've culled, no doubt-"
The vessel growled, swiping a hand as jagged slash marks sliced across the bloody waters around him, "SHUT IT BEFORE I KICK YOUR-"
"I wonder-"
The Disgraced One smiled down at the boy, a vicious look crossing his borrowed face.
"What sort of faces will they make when I tear them limb from limb?"
Yuji shook with rage, taking a step forward, then another as a violent surge of energy blasted the sea around him apart. With him taking off an explosive leap, rocketing straight toward the Curse as his eyes burned yellow, "AS IF I'D LET YOU! SUKUNAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
But as the boy flew, something strange happened, as if a sudden pressure had pushed against his shoulder, gently, but it was there-"
"Yuji-"
"Come on, wake up!"
"Please..."
It was coming from above. That voice...that was-
Terror crossed the boy's face as he saw a satisfied grin cross the Curse's face, with him raising a hand toward the sky.
With their connection open like this, Yuji knew exactly what that man could do if anyone even came close to him...let alone touch him.
In a split-second decision, the sorcerer pushed himself out of the Demon's soul, cutting their link without so much as a thought, his sudden disappearance sending a gale of wind over the man's spiked hair.
All the while, Sukuna hadn't even moved from his seat, deciding to recline back in smug satisfaction, knowing everything he needed, and as the world around him grew dark, and he fell into another slumber, his voice echoed out once more before fading into nothing-
"A weak new era, one of Maidens, Relics, and Immortals...but it can be just like the good old days soon enough."
His grin grew manic.
"I can't wait to see it."
...
Back in reality
"Yuji-"
"Yuji-"
"Yuji!"
Itadori blinked, and he was no longer in that awful place but back on that icy mountain- not that he could see it. After all, there was a blob of red and two bright green lights flashing in his face as someone shook him something fierce.
*Wa-wa-wa-wa-wa
"Pyr?"
She stopped, a surprised look crossing her face as she looked down at him from a few inches away, "...Eh?"
He tilted his head, "Eh?"
The armored girl dumbly stared down at him like a deer caught in the headlights, making the sorcerer raise a brow, "...You good?"
She awkwardly fidgeted, looking a little goofy when she was all dressed up in that bronze armor of hers, "Um...Well...yes, but...I'm just surprised that worked is all...Wait, I should be asking you that!"
His head tilted further, giving her his usual confused look, "Asking me what?"
A shimmer flashed over her eyes, and to the vessel's surprise, she yanked him in for a one-armed hug, "Oh, thank God you're alright."
Eh?
Despite how protective she was being, something told Yuji he was being insulted, and he didn't know how.
Regardless, the moment didn't last long as she pulled away, her expression becoming stern in an instant, "We can talk about what happened with you and that awful woman later, but right now, we need to-"
Yuji's eyes flashed as he stepped back, looking around like a rabid animal, "That lady! Where'd she-"
*Crunch...Crunch...crunch...crunch
His eyes flashed toward a distant sound, widening as he saw a pathway of bloody footsteps leading into the horizon. At the head of the trail was the Branwen, completely disheveled, holding a hand to her face as she stumbled away, running for her life toward a swirling mess of red.
Going off nothing more than videogame logic, Yuji could only guess that the red thing was a portal and it was gonna teleport her to the next level. If he didn't stop her, then she'd escape with the answers he needed.
"You-"
He tried to take off running, "GET BACK HERE!"
Pyrrha tried to stop him but couldn't catch his shoulder, "Yuji, stop!"
*CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH-FWING
He had only taken a few steps before a metal shield slid under his legs, swiping him off his feet as he tumbled over the snow, landing on his hands and knees. He looked up to his team leader with a confused glare, "What are you doing!?"
The invincible girl let off a huff, her face scrunching up into a wince, "...Fox is down."
Itadori paused, "What do you mean?... Is he-"
"He's not...you know...but something's wrong with him, and right now, we need to be there for Coco and her team; there's the rest of these bandits, and who knows how many Grimm on the way."
She grimaced, "I know it's not what you want to hear, but I'm making the decision as the team lead. Let her go, Yuji."
The sorcerer glanced over his shoulder, his fists tightening so hard you could hear bones popping, watching as she inched ever closer toward that uncertain horizon.
His face scrunched up as he looked away toward the ground, "...I get it, we gotta take care of our seniors, right?"
Pyrrha gave him a nod, her eyes narrowing as she watched the chieftain cross the threshold, the portal closing soon after. The armored girl shook her head, pushing the matter aside as she offered the vessel a hand with a smile, "You really are easy to convince, you know that?"
Yuji shrugged, taking her hand as she hauled him to his feet, "Nah, I don't need no convincin', Pyr. You're just trying to do the right thing."
He flashed his usual grin, "It's what I like about ya!"
She stiffened up for a moment, looking away bashfully, her pale face mimicking her hair, "T...Thank you for...that-"
With a calming breath, the redhead looked over the situation, seeing the bandits in chaos once again, their entire structure seeming to fall apart with their leader's departure, her mind piecing together plans.
Complicated
Complicated
Very Complicated
Oh, forget it: time for a Yuji plan.
She briefly slumped over before hollering out over the tundra, "Nora! I need you to bounce!-"
A distant gasp of excitement was heard, followed by Ren's desperate attempts to make her stop, then a massive explosion, ending in a resounding, "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"
*BOOM
A crater formed as the perky ginger landed, hopping up with another pirate hat made of snow on top of her head, "Captain Creampuff reporting for duty!... Hey, where'd me first mate go?-"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
*BWOOOOSH
Ren slammed into the snow at Mach 2, tumbling into a tunnel beneath the group's feet, mumbling through the slush until Yuji gave a casual shrug, reaching a hand into the abyss before pulling the guy out by his collar.
Nora beamed, "Oh, there he is!"
He mumbled again before spitting out some snow, "...You did that on purpose-"
From above, Yuji gave a two-finger salute, "Yo."
The pink eye Huntsmen shook the debris off himself before pausing, realizing just who was holding him, giving a short sigh of relief, "Well, at least you're alright."
The sorcerer raised a brow, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head with a free hand, "Ah, come on. You guys don't gotta worry about m-oof!"
*Pomph
In the blink of an eye, Nora had run up, wrapping her arms around the vessel's torso, "Don't scare us like that-"
His eyes widened a bit before softening, "Uh...sorry, I didn't mean to-"
She looked up at him with her energized blue eyes, "What's a girl gonna do without her Master at Arms...you know, cause you throw crazy hands!"
Ren tapped Yuji's arm from below, "Don't mind her. The goofy stuff is just how she copes with serious stuff like this-"
From the side, Pyrrha's mouth hung open in disbelief, "I'm...I'm more shocked she knows what that position is."
From below, Ren huffed, "She saw it on one of your cereal boxes...wasn't it Captain Niko's Berry Crunc-"
The redhead flushed, "Can we please not talk about this right now... or ever!"
With everyone settling down and Ren and Nora eventually getting to their feet, Pyrrha gave a slow nod.
The redhead shook aside the relentless storm of emotions blasting her in the chest, taking a calming breath before her eyes flashed open, "...Alright, we can't expect Coco and her team to jump into the fight, not with the way Fox is...so it's up to us to handle the rest of their attackers before they can regroup."
She looked across her team, a dangerous glint reflecting in her eyes, "Yuji, Ren, Nora...what do you say we play some whirly ball?"
The vessel gave a thumbs up, his expression firm as always with these sorts of things, "Got it."
Nora hopped onto his arm, "Super party combo time!"
The only one who looked nervous was Ren, and honestly? Pyrrha didn't blame him.
After all, the other two were the ones who came up with this fight plan during a brainstorming session.
...
Moments later
The Branwen tribe was in complete chaos, with no discernable leadership in place without their leader; even those who had authority mere minutes prior found themselves ignored.
They were a group reliant on strength; unity, and cohesion weren't nearly as important as standing out, and without a leader to impress or a command structure to follow, things got ugly fast.
Some argued
Others tried to convince the rest to follow through with their last orders.
and some-
Well, they just turned tail and ran.
But before any sense of cohesion could occur, the sounds of rapid footsteps echoed out, followed by the whirl of a bronze shield flying through the atmosphere, crashing through their ranks as bodies flew skyward, only to be met with a spray of bullets from below.
It was only then that they realized one of the students was clinging to the handle, his free hand holding an elongated green pistol as he sprayed the flailing tribesmen down.
For every member that he missed, a perfect shot rang out from the distance as a certain redhead peppered them with precision fire, her javelin-turned rifle ringing true as she steered her teammate's makeshift vehicle at the same, but all this?
It was a distraction for what was to come.
A gleeful giggle rang out, followed by a massive explosion as Nora shot a grenade into the ground near her feet, sending herself flying, doing a complete flip before raising her hammer overhead, coming down right in the middle of the chaos. The resounding shockwave knocked many off balance as others rushed in to cut the isolated girl down, but the moment didn't last.
To their confusion, she raised her hammer high, only for a shadow to come crashing down from above, followed by a thunderous boom as a certain sorcerer landed on the tip of her weapon in a perfect handstand. She glanced up at him, "You ready? Swing-ji?"
The ginger got a nod, sending her into a bouncing fit, "EEEEEEEH! Oh, I love baseball!"
Pyrrha watched with an analytical eye, and taking everything she knew of her teammates into account, she played into their strengths, and with those two-
Strength wasn't an issue.
As one of the bandits dove in, dagger in hand, she did what they least expected: this tiny girl, who probably weighed less than her hammer, rounded about on her heels, swinging her weapon and the guy holding onto it-
*FWIP
*CRACK
Blue energy ignited around the sorcerer's legs as his shin came crashing against the man's skull, the force launching the bandit into his allies, with the dynamic duo becoming a literal whirlwind as the concept of dizziness was lost on the hyperactive Huntress, "Keep up, chicken legs!"
*whir-whir-whir-whirwhirwhirwhir
"WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
It was a tornado of boots, kicks, and sledgehammers to the face, clearing an entire circle around themselves, sending their enemies stumbling back into massive groups, and at that moment, a certain redheaded leader called out.
"Ren!"
"Right!"
As the quiet teen breached through the crowd, he let go of the hurling shield, tumbling over the snowy plains before landing in a crouch, taking off running as he peppered the raiders with precision fire, watching the bronze object sail straight up into the sky.
"Nora!"
Yuji could only watch the girl's blue eyes get a manic glint as she looked up at him with a smile on her face, arching her spin, growing ever higher, before with a thunderous shout, she gleefully yelled, "Fly baby, fly!"
*BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM
A flurry of grenades shot out after the sorcerer as he expertly flew through the skies, flipping back as a certain armored girl's shield stopped just beneath him, landing with a thud. He watched the explosive objects sailing toward him, taking years of athletic experience into play. Yuji did what he did best.
He took a pitcher's stance.
The sorcerer caught the first grenade with the swipe of a hand, raising an arm and a leg sky high, muscles clenched in preparation. His eyes flickered yellow as he bellowed out a roar, igniting the object in Cursed Energy before letting it fly. The sheer strength behind his throw sent a shockwave across the horizon.
*BWOOOSH
Time slowed as the explosive sailed straight down into the crowd of raiders, beeping more and more by the second as Nora shouted out, "RENNY, SAY A ONE-LINER!"
The pink-eyed Huntsman remained silent, taking a running dive as he rolled between a bandit's legs, raising a pistol high, his sights lined up, "I don't have one."
*pew-pew-pew
*BOOOOOOOOOOM
An explosion of fire dust intermingled with Cursed Energy engulfed the raiders whole, sending shrapnel straight through their auras as the blaze rocked them like a hurricane, thrown with such expert precision the resounding blast wouldn't tear them apart, an impossible task for most, but for a sorcerer-
These things were easy.
The next few moments were sheer chaos as Yuji's canon for an arm didn't stop for a second, with Ren and even Pyrrha igniting the explosives with precision fire, the entire battlefield becoming a tapestry of craters and smoldering-still twitching raiders.
Nora seemed to be enjoying this...a little too much, dancing around, "booping" the remaining stragglers with a metal hammer to the face.
Within less than a minute, things went still, leaving only the Beacon students and the fallout in their wake.
Pyrrha let off a sigh, lowering her sights as she combed over the aftermath, "And that's all of them-"
She cupped a hand, "Yuji, you can come down!"
The vessel gave a quick nod before leaping off, ready to tumble onto the snow below, but a blur of orange zoomed out beneath him-
"OOF!"
A pair of hands slammed into his torso, holding him up by his stomach, and as the smoke cleared-
"Nora, what are you?"
"Will you be my ballerina?"
"Eh?"
For some reason, the quirky girl started dancing, sliding around the snowy frost, holding Yuji like he weighed nothing. He dumbly stared down at her for a moment, wondering what was going through her head.
Yeah, that didn't last long. He joined in on it.
And it wasn't nearly as elegant as they pictured-
In a few seconds, after regrouping, Ren and Pyrrha could only watch as Yuji tried to take a graceful pose with his arms and legs stretched out, but looked more like a diet Superman than anything, while Nora bounced around her heels like a gorilla.
Lie tilted his head, "What...what am I looking at?"
Pyrrha just shook her head, "I...I don't know Ren...I can't right now."
It took a few moments for the redhead to convince Nora to put Yuji down, but soon, things simmered down, and the reality of the situation settled back in.
The bandits had fallen apart without their leader, and they had been the ones behind all of this, the mission should be over, but-
One glaring issue remained.
...
Minutes later
With Ren and Nora sticking behind to watch over their unconscious enemies, it left the other two members of their team walking back toward their upperclassmen.
Pyrrha led the charge, noticing that Coco hadn't moved so much as an inch, with the other members of CFVY standing nearby, "Any change?"
The stylish Huntress let off a huff, peeling her sunglasses back before tossing them to the side, a tired look crossing her face, "No-"
Her hands lightly shook, "This is on me...I never should have agreed to-"
Pyrrha took a step forward, "You can't blame this on yourself, how could you have-"
"Just...just stop, okay? I don't wanna hear no good words, not when my friend's...RAH!"
She growled, kicking a boot against the ground, sending snow and dirt in every direction before holding out a hand, "...Lemme borrow your scroll. Mine's dead, and I gotta call this in and...get him some help."
The armored girl paused, raising a hand, "But with communications down, we can't-"
Realization crossed the older girl's face, "Oh, that's just...that's..."
*BOOM-BOOM-BOOM
She punched the ground again and again before scrunching up against her knees, "...Then what am I supposed to do, just wait and see what happens!? God, I feel so...so helpless!"
Velvet dropped a hand on the girl's shoulder, "Coco, you can't keep doing to yourse-"
"I can, Vel, and I will!"
The minigun user was lightly shaking, staring down at her hands, "I'm in charge, and that means it's on ME, I should have known, I should have done...SOMETHING!"
She threw her handbag to the side, letting it crash against the dry ground, "But instead, I play the cool girl, act like it's fine that a freshman got taken off into the woods...honestly, I thought that dude was dead the second he disappeared, but what was I supposed to do? Let his friends panic and get themselves killed too?... And next thing I know, all this crazy shit happens, and I don't even know left from right anymore!"
A look crossed Pyrrha's face when she said that, "...Wait."
Coco grumbled, slowly looking up, "...What? If this some feel good bullcra-"
"All this happened when those two-"
*Crunch-crunch-crunch
She rounded about on her heels, "Yuji! You were connected with Fox, right? What happened when you-"
*Crunch-crunch-crunch
To her surprise, the sorcerer was already walking past her, a haunted look on his face as he stared down at the unconscious boy ahead.
"Yuji?"
The sorcerer's eyes were wide, his face completely shadowed as he looked straight down, a hand clenching his stomach so tight they could hear skin tearing, "...You."
It was a horrible realization, one that only he could understand-
He had completely forgotten their link.
And when Sukuna
When Sukuna
He was shaking, "You did this...it's...it's my-"
He just stared down at the ground, "It's my fault."
Pyrrha was stuck in place, raising a hand, yet not able to move an inch, "Yuji...what are you saying?"
He took a sharp breath, "I...I can't explain it, but with that masked lady when our...when our attacks hit, something weird happened, and Fox-Senpai got caught up in it."
From the side, Coco grabbed the vessel's ankle, looking up at him with both desperation and confusion, "Spit it out! What's wrong with him!?"
"I-it-"
Itadori fell to his knees, looking straight at the unconscious teen-
"...It's his soul-"
"A chunk of it's gone."
...
Hours Later
*Whir-Whir-Whir-Whir-Whir
The bullhead engine whirled around, leaving the cabin in utter silence. Inside, the members of team PYRN were scattered about, each in their own little world.
Ren and Nora sat together across from their resident vessel, who had stopped talking altogether some time ago, that horrified look still etched across his face, with their leader perched up in a seat some distance away, mulling things over.
Their seniors had taken a separate ride with their injured teammate, leaving the group alone, and if Pyrrha had to be honest, it was for the best.
Coco wasn't an irrational person, but there was a lot of tension in the air, even if what happened to Fox wasn't intentional. Well...emotions were running high, things were said, punches were thrown, and Yuji...well, he just stood there and took it until it was time to leave.
The bandits were arrested, the objective was complete, but it felt like there was something missing, and she knew just what it was.
The invincible girl wanted to shrink into her seat and disappear, but the painful silence between her teammates told her that this conversation needed to happen, especially after...all that.
Itadori was so lost in his own thoughts he didn't even notice her walking across the metal floor until she was right above, hands clasped together, before giving an awkward wave, "...Hello."
He lightly snorted, leaning his head against the wall, an exhausted look on his face, "What's with that greeting?... You're actin' like ya don't know me."
"Well...you...said some...things out there."
He didn't play dumb, just staring up at the ceiling, "Yeah...I did."
She sighed, rubbing a hand on her arm, "I...think this is something we need to talk about."
Ren chimed in, leaning against his knees, "You sure this is the best time for this, Pyrrha? It's kinda been a long day."
She flashed the two a reassuring smile, "It won't take long. Just bear with me for a bit, alright?"
Nora yawned, perching herself against Ren's shoulder as their team lead took a seat beside her partner, "Is it about the spooky stuff?"
Pyrrha had a conflicted look on her face, "...in a way."
She took a calming breath, reflecting on the chaos they had just gone through, "Yuji...I need you to give me an honest answer-"
Pyrrha looked him dead in the eyes, "What is a sorcerer?"
Itadori was quiet for a moment but soon looked away, out of one of the many windows toward the flowing sky, "I'll try to say it as best I can...We're the paper that keeps humanity safe, a thin little shield against a whole buncha bad things...and it's a losing fight-"
She tilted her head, "What do you mean?"
"Sorcerers don't live long lives, Pyr. They're short, and you'll die a painful death, and the most a guy like me can ask for is having no regrets when it happens. I've met my share of rotten Huntsmen and Huntresses, but by and large...you guys are mostly good people. We're not like that."
Images of Nanami and that awful woman, Mei Mei, came to mind, "Sure, some of us want what's best for people, but that means throwing your life away for em'...that sorta person doesn't last all that long, you know?... Most of the long-term sorcerers are terrible people...selfish, greedy, outright cruel, and wicked...I'm no different than them."
Across from him, Ren pushed himself up a bit, "Woah, hold on. Where's that coming from?... Yuji, you're not a bad person. You're... one of the nicest people I've ever met."
"Why? Cause I help people? Tch, I don't even know why I do it. It's just that I get a selfish kick out of i-"
Nora lunged onto her stomach, slamming a finger into his cheek, "Don't lie, boooooop!"
He looked confused, "I'm not, honestly."
She tilted her head, "Yeah, you are, silly! Why else would you put up with a pair of goofballs like me and Ren?"
From the side, Lie deadpanned, "Don't lump me into your craziness."
She ignored him, pushing her finger deeper, "Cause you loooooove us!"
Yuji tried to lean back, "Oy, we just met. Don't go sayin' stuff like tha-"
"Nope!"
"I just mean-"
"Nope!"
The vessel huffed, "You just...you just don't get it. Everything I do is because I feel like it. How does that make me a good person?...I-"
This was something Yuji could never explain-
That him even being alive anywhere near truly kind people like this, with a monster like Sukuna inside of him
That in itself was selfish, and it was something that brought an unbearable amount of guilt to him.
He slammed his head back against the metal frame of the bullhead, "When I said I was gonna kill em'...those people... if they went anywhere near you guys, I meant it! I meant every single word of it! I'm no Huntsman, I'm... just a fraud."
"...Then we're liars-"
Beside him, Pyrrha spoke up, putting a hand on his shoulder, "...Yuji, I think I'm speaking for all of us when I say this. If I had known what you were going through, I would've never done what I did, and I need you to know that."
"What?"
She let off a sigh, "The other day when you were talking to Professor Port in the woods near campus, we were watching with some of the others...we-...we just wanted to know more about you, but what we heard, it-it..."
*Pomph
She pulled him into another hug, "It broke my heart. I couldn't imagine not knowing if my parents were alright, and you've been dealing with that this entire time...You don't have to pretend you're okay. We're friends, aren't we?"
Yuji let off a grumble, his chin perched on her shoulder, "And you don't gotta feel bad about spyin' on me...I woulda' told ya. It's just...I dunno how to talk to you guys sometimes. I guess I'm not used to being around my own kind anymore, is all."
Her hold tightened a bit, her face hidden behind her long red hair. "Like you said, you're just trying to do the right thing for us, and it's...it's what I like about you too. So stop talking bad about yourself, or I'll send Nora after you."
The ginger dove into the fray, yanking her bestie for the ride, "Ren, too!"
Lie tried to pull back, "I don't really do the whole...hug thing...oh forget it, just once-"
Yuji really didn't know how to handle this; everyone else he knew was a lot more distant from it all; heck, even his grandfather was never very affectionate...but-
The sorcerer found himself hugging them back, "I'm glad you guys are alright."
It came with a silent promise to be more honest with each other on their first steps to being like a real team, but one thing was for sure.
They mattered to each other, and for a guy who had lost so much-
To Yuji, it meant the world. Even if he couldn't tell them everything, it made him want to, but-
Deep down, his thoughts were a mess.
What had Sukuna done to that masked woman?
What was he planning?
Itadori didn't know the answer to these things, and on some level-
He was afraid to find out.
...
Later on
Things happened pretty quickly after they landed in them middle of the night, with CFVY getting hauled to the infirmary for a check-up, one of them bound to be a longer medical resident than the others, while the members of PYRN headed off to Beacon Tower to report to Professor Ozpin.
The elevator ride was a lot quieter than last time, so much so that no one said a word until walking into the Headmaster's office, with Pyrrha filling the man in on most of the events that had transpired.
The Director listened in with keen interest from his desk, his calculating expression never changing until the story came to an end, giving a curt nod once it did, "I see...then I suppose I owe you students an apology. I never meant to put you in harm's way like that...not while you're still learning, and I truly hope you can forgive me. If I had known what was out there, I wouldn't have-"
Despite everything, Yuji shook his head, cutting the man off, "It's best not to think that way, Gramps. You'll end up with a curse if you do."
He popped his shoulders with a tired shrug, "Ya can't fix what's already done, but we gotta figure out how to make it right from here."
The elderly man waved a hand. "And I suppose you're talking about Mr. Alistair's condition...dreadful news, isn't it? But are you sure what you said in the report is true?"
The vessel bit his cheek, "...Yeah, and that's what's gonna make this real tricky. Fixin' somethin' like this is nothing short of a miracle, but...I gotta try, Gramps."
Ozpin gave an affirming nod, a slight smile on his face, "I figured you would say something like that. You aren't the type to leave things unfinished...it's rather admirable...well then, why don't we-"
"Hold on-"
Both the Professor and his supposed grandson stopped as Pyrrha took a step forward, "Yuji, what are you two talking about? Do you...do you have a way to help Fox?"
The pair shared a look before the Director let off a hum, leaning back in his seat, "I suppose it's time we fill you in on the truth of Yuji's...unique abilities...I believe he and I owe you that much."
...
...
Nora bounced back and forth, "Welllll? We're waitinnnng."
Ozpin took a slow, very slow sip of his beloved cocoa, even annoying Ren in the process, "He's doing this on purpose."
The Professor paused, "Am I?"
"Yes...yes, you are."
A few more seconds passed before the Headmaster gently put his mug down, clasping his hands once more, "You see, amongst the other things in his arsenal, one thing stands out, something no other person I've met can do. Yuji can see and, from what I gather, possibly manipulate souls themselves."
The vessel awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, "Ehhh, your auras kinda makes seeing you guys a little hard...you've got like...filters on you."
Ren's mouth was a little open, "And...how does that work-"
He got a shrug. What else was he expecting?
*PAT-PAT-PAT-PAT-PAT
Nora was in the vessel's face, "Ooh-ooh, what color am I!? OOOOH, I bet me and Ren are the same color cause we're soul...friends...yeah friends...and nothing else."
That was a weird way of saying that.
Itadori put his hands on his hips, looking at the group with a squint, "Pyrrha's red, but it's black when she does the magneto thing-"
"Please stop calling it that-"
"But it's so cool!"
She opened her mouth but stopped, too flustered to say anything else.
He looked at the remaining two with a bit of confusion, "Nora's pink, and Ren...I dunno-"
Lie raised a brow, "You...don't know? But I thought you could see-"
Yuji cut him off, "Yeah, with everyone else, I can... just...not you for some reason. You're just a big ol' void."
"So...I don't have a soul?"
The sorcerer's head blurred from side to side, "Nah-nah-nah, you got one, I just can't see it, like a fog or...something blocking it, I dunno."
Ozpin cleared his throat, taking control of the conversation once more, "Well, while all this has been...enlightening, let's get on the matter at hand, shall we?... Yuji, do you think you can help CFVY with their predicament?"
The sorcerer took a slow breath, biting his cheek in thought, "Bein' real, I got no clue, Gramps...messin' with my soul is one thing, but it's another to start poking around other peoples."
He raised a hand, waving it around to jog his thoughts, "It's like walking around a house you've never been in, and bein' told you gotta fix up the place...But that doesn't mean I'm gonna quit-"
Itadori clenched a fist, "I don't care if it's gonna take me a week, a month, even a whole year. I'm gonna fix Fox-Senpai up, even if I gotta spend every day and every night workin' at it!"
The Director observed the teen with an unreadable interest, "You're always so willing to help those you hardly know-"
Yuji met his stare with nothing but fierce determination, "Don't need to. Him just bein' alive gives me more than enough reason to try, and I'm not gonna let my seniors lose someone so important to em'!"
For the first time, Ozpin looked a bit surprised before his gaze softened, "...Then I suppose I'll have to give you my full support, but before you go on your way...you don't happen to have your scroll, do you?"
The vessel's eyes widened as he looked around, patting his pockets, "Oh yeah, it's right...ehhhh!?"
He grabbed and held up the shattered device, with sparks of electricity jolting out of it, "Ah crap, it musta broke when I was fightin' that lady with the mask!"
"...Mask, you say?... Never the matter, give it here."
Ozpin didn't seem deterred, ushering the boy to hand it over, and with the simple flick of a tool, the case popped open, "The data storage is still intact, so I'm sure we'll pull something out of it."
And with that, the Headmaster gave an affirming nod, shoveling the device away for later, "Well, team PYRN, despite the challenges you've faced, you managed to not only rise to the occasion but very well might've saved your classmates' lives, and that is something to be proud of. You've done well, and I think you've earned a rest for the evening, that is all."
*Schwing
The window beside the Professor popped open again, with Yuji already having one foot out the thing, shouting over his shoulder to his teammates, "Ima go see Fox right now. I'll see you guys later!"
He disappeared into the void, even as Pyrrha tried to call out for him to wait, soon kicking the carpet with a pout, "...I would've gone with him..."
Ozpin couldn't help but lightly smile at the girl's annoyance, "The young are always in such a rush, aren't they?-"
"Never stopping to consider the consequences of their actions."
...
Meanwhile
A figure stood alone inside a colossal tent, having shut all her remaining followers out for the evening, not even letting her most trusted, like Vernal, see her in this condition.
A bonfire crackled nearby, but it did little to relieve the endless cold running through her veins, so stricken with terror she struggled to breath, let alone move.
The chieftain's head hung low as she stared down at her reflection amidst the bloody waters in the pool of water beneath her, her right eye still shimmering a vibrant red, and the left-
It was covered in an array of blood-stained bandages, topped off by a pitch-black piece of cloth, blind to the world forever more.
The longer she stared, the more her mind and heart raced, her thoughts flickering back to that awful place-
The bodies-
The gore-
The endless skulls and rot-
and
and
Him
An image burned into the darkest corners of her mind, those eyes...those markings...she wanted to deny it, what she thought...no...what she KNEW it was, all topped off with a maddened smile, manipulating her into doing his bidding before mutilating her over some petty grudge.
She shook, her hands clenching around the container's sides so hard that the container exploded into fragments, sending the red liquid crashing to the floor below as she huffed.
"That man..."
He made a fool of her, acting as though everything she had done, every single thing in her life was worthless.
"That man..."
A brilliant red flame ignited around her remaining eye.
He dared to make her fear for her life, to mock every aspect of her person as if she was a plaything and nothing more.
"That man..."
Her fists followed suit, vibrantly glowing against the night.
He bound her to his will, forcing her to follow the orders of anyone but herself...it was unforgivable.
*CRACK
The ground exploded around her as the Maiden's head shot up, staring off into empty space, focused only on the image of the being that wronged her and the sheer hatred driving her forward.
"I'll kill him!"
In that moment, the flames began to shift, no longer a vibrant red-
But a deep blue, with dazzling black tips.
The wheel turned just a bit more.
...
Chibi:
"Oy...Idol-"
On one of the many staircases of Beacon stood a giant of a teen, a giant scar along his rigid face, hand pressed against the wall as he stared down at the stylish Huntress below, her shades reflecting his smirk-filled expression.
"I never thought I'd find another like my Takada-chan, but you've managed to turn my boredom upside down...I kept asking myself, would my heart lose the 1v1 without you? I couldn't help but think...Nah, I'd win, because you're the jujutsu to my lobotomy-Kaisen, so..."
"Will you be my special?"
Coco quirked a brow, flipping her shades to study the giant known as Aoi Todo, the party crasher who walked a fine between unbelievable style and outright schizophrenia. He was dangerous-
But she liked that-
She gave a confident smirk, "...Sure, you look like fun."
His head dropped in disappointment, "I see, so that's your...wait, what?"
She saw question marks, "What?"
His eyes were wide as dinner plates, "You...you didn't say no."
"Uh...why would I?... You're cool and I...kinda wanna hang with you more...was I...supposed to say no?"
"Well, yeah...for...for the bit."
"Bit? I thought you wanted to go out?"
Todo tilted his head, flipping through the script that was supposed to happen, "Ehhhh, I do, but...can you just say no, and we can do something later...in like...five minutes?"
The Huntress cocked a hand on her hip, a confused but mischievous smirk crossing her face, "You're lucky I like what I see. Alright, I'll play along-"
She cleared her throat before throwing herself into the act, "I'm...I'm sorry Todo, there's...there's someone else."
Steam escaped his nose as he leaned into the wall, "Ah...I lost the war...to a mere rabbit...she always was faster to the punch, wasn't she?"
Coco held back tears, "That doesn't mean we can't be-"
He was already walking away, head held low as she called out to him, "Todo! Come back!"
"TODO!"
The sorcerer found himself on the roof of Beacon Tower as a magnetically held box dumped cherry blossoms around him from the skies above, all thanks to a certain redhead being dragged into this by her partner, who stood on the platform's edge.
Todo let off a sad hum as he stared at the back of Yuji's head, "Brother...she...didn't need a Boogie to her Woogie. What's left for me in this boring world?"
Yuji slowly turned, totally not reading of a script the giant had scribbled onto his hand a few minutes ago, "Oh no...Todo...you will always have...me...brothers stick together...no matter...oh crap, what does that say...oh...what."
Sparkles rained down in tears as the muscular teen smiled, pulling his besto-friendo into a bone-crushing hug, "Brother...what would I do without you?"
"...By the way...can I borrow some money for my date?"
"Huh? I thought you said-"
"BROTHER, DON'T ASK QUESTIONS!"
"Okay-okay, just take my wallet already, you unmedicated luny!"
The sparkles returned, "Ah...my brother's always there for me. I won't forget this as long as I live..."
He kicked a chunk of the roof off with a stomp, and the second it hit the ground, the sorcerer clapped, disappearing from sight, last being seen walking away with the tall girl of his dreams.
Yuji stood there on the roof, watching him go, with Pyrrha soon appearing at his side, "Are...are all your brothers like this?"
He scratched his neck, "Eh, Todo's one of a kind, but it's not my brothers' fault they're like that...my mom is Choso's dad."
"Oh, that's-"
She paused
"...What?"
...
That's all from me. I hope you enjoyed the volume; this might've been my favorite one to write so far. Take it easy, and I'll see you guys next time; cheers.
Discord:
/Aj6pnGqDuQ