Kenshin: So Hades and the bone squad.
Azazel: Shalba...
Yukari: Potentially another confrontation with Forbesii.
Rias: Wow, our plates are full aren't they?
Issei: Tell me about it (slump)
Draconis: (snoring)
Kenshin: (pops snot bubble)
Draconis: Huuuhhh? Oh? Is it time to start again?
Kenshin: Duh.
Dragon of the Elements.
Chapter 48
Until My Last Breath!
Draconis: Begin!
(start)
Previously.
"Go Dragon Blaster! !" Issei shouts, shooting his Bishop cannons through the ceiling.
"Four Elements Fist! Elemental Spica!" Kenshin shouts punching through the floor.
The two attacks roared in their respective directions. Le Fay informed them that the devices had been destroyed and her, Sextum, Irina and Xenovia left.
Kenshin cracked his neck with a smirk and opened communications with everyone. "Ladies, Gentlemen. Let's go laugh in the face of death."
"Right, let's get out there and destroy that device and get out of here!" Azazel said stabbing his spear through the large window.
Rias, Azazel, Kiba, Akeno, Yukari, Evangeline and Chachamaru rush through the window while Kuroka,, Koneko, Vali, Asia, Miyuki, Hikari, Tamamo and Kazumi stayed behind. "Alright, everyone I've got eyes on all of you!" Kazumi said looking at her Sacred Gear's screen as she sent out camera drones. "Keep communications open and I'll make sure you don't get taken down! I'll be calling out patterns and strays so keep your ears open at all times."
Kuroka, Tamamo and Hikari set up a defensive barrier. Koneko moved forward and held Kuroka up along with Ravel.
"Ara? Shirone? Are you trying to help me?" Kuroka asked.
"I'm repaying the debt I owed you for helping me earlier. Concentrate on the defense. I'll support you with Senjutsu." Koneko said.
"And you?" Kuroka asked Ravel.
Ravel blushed in embarrassment. "I just feel like it, be grateful!"
"Nyahahaha. Very well, do as you wish." Kuroka said. "Shirone, would you like me to teach you how to use Senjutsu and youjutsu? I don't mind if you refuse."
"No, please teach me. I want to get stronger, no...I need to, even if it means relying on Nee-Sama." Koneko said.
"Hmph...even if I'm not in Balance Breaker..." Vali said extending his hand as several reapers charged them.
"Not alone you don't." Miyuki said doing the same.
"Do as you wish." Vali said with a calm smirk.
The two fire off a large blast of demonic power, obliterating the reapers. Ophis stepped forward and held her hand out. "I will not sit back." She said.
(Boom!)
"What the hell? !" Kenshin and Issei both said seeing an explosion go off in the parking lot.
"Some of our allies were in that blast!" Kazumi said. "They're safe though."
Kenshin dropped his fist on Ophis' head. "Don't do unnecessary things, just stand back and let us handle this!"
"Fine." Ophis said rubbing her head.
"Alright Issei, let's get out there and dance." Kenshin said.
"Right!" Issei said as the two took off outside.
The two landed on the parking lot surface. Kenshin dove into the fray slashing and hacking at anything that so much as looked at him funny. He jumped into the air and flicked his naginata downward, covered in charms. "Bakahatsu Aikyou, Blasting Zone!"
(Boom!)
The naginata detonated in a fiery explosion. "Nice!" Salamander whooped.
"Now clean them up." Undine said.
"Can do." Kenshin smirked, taking out two more charms. Spires of water erupted to life with strands of black inside them spurted to life and tore through any reapers dumb enough to be in the way.
"I'd say do something for Gnomey and I, but Yukari-Chan's already taking care of that." Sylph said.
"Hm?" Kenshin said seeing Yukari tearing through Reapers with Kazeken and Ryuuga. "Nice." Kenshin said. A large column of destruction magic whizzed by him and he turned to see Rias volleying her magic at the reapers while Akeno struck any stragglers down with holy lightning. The two noticed Issei and went over to him asking for boosts. "Evangeline, Chachamaru, go cover them while Issei gets the boosts together."
"On it." Evangeline said.
"Understood." Chachamaru replied.
Evangeline and Chachamaru appeared in front of the three. Evangeline caught Reapers in her strings and Chachamaru, with her hands morphed into guns, headshots them. "Master, are you going to use your Magia Erebea?"
"Show me a worthy opponent and I might." Evangeline snorted.
"Evangeline." Hikari said through the communication line.
"What is it? I'm kinda busy here." Evangeline said as she drove her arm through a reaper's chest.
"When we make it out of here. There's something I want to ask you." Hikari said.
"Very well, save it for then." Evangeline said.
Rias and Akeno shot forward, sending a combined attack at a large section of reapers, destroying them.
Kenshin meanwhile went back to the ground and was about to be attacked by reapers from behind when someone knocked them back. "?" He saw it was the Hero Faction member, Siegfried. "Aren't these clowns on your side?"
"I'm on my own side, whether these Reapers adhere to that is not my problem." Siegfried said as he moved behind Kenshin, his back to the elemental dragon's. "You would put up a good fight against me, but I'll deal with these guys here first."
"Heh, stop talking while I'm working!" Kenshin shouts with a smirk as the two dove into the fray, slashing reapers at will. "Come on guys, you can't hit me? That's too bad!" Kenshin mocked. Once there was a break in the action Kenshin turned to find a surprised look on Siegfried's face. "What?"
"Interesting, the ones you were fighting were high class reapers." Siegfried said. "Able to take on low end Ultimate Devils."
"Well too bad for them, but they can't hang with me. Hell, they're having a hard time hanging with Yukari over there." Kenshin said.
"Those are mid classes." Siegfried said.
"Oh well." Kenshin shrugged.
"Interesting, you're already quite powerful." Siegfried said. "You and the Sekiryuutei over there who is handling mid classes himself."
"Still didn't mean shit for dick against Cao Cao and Forbesii though." Kenshin said.
"Without that sword of his you'd be able to beat Forbesii though it would be a war of attrition." Siegfried noted. "As for Cao Cao, he's special. The Sekiryuutei shouldn't worry too much about it." Kenshin nodded and watched as Azazel fought a reaper one on one. "Hoo? Azazel-San's fighting Pluto?"
"Pluto?" Kenshin asked.
"The Ultimate Class Reaper. Basically he's like the right hand man to Hades himself." Siegfried said.
Kenshin nodded, then pointed Kuroi Jigoku at him. "Alright, we've stalled enough, let's rock."
"Heheheh...very well." Siegfried said bringing out four of his dragon arms each wielding a sword for a total of six.
"Kenshin-kun." Kiba said.
"What?" Kenshin said.
"I'll take him." Kiba said, glaring hard at Siegfried.
"Really? You're gonna take one of the named opponents, erg fine." Kenshin said as he skulked off and started fighting the reapers around them as Kiba and Siegfried dueled. "Fuck, you guys are boring!" Kenshin griped as he cut through wave after wave of them.
"I know right? !" Yukari said as she moved in next to him. "It's so disappointing!"
"I couldn't forgive having that loss against you in Kyoto, so I trained relentlessly with the Sekiryuutei and the Dragon of the Elements as opponents."
"Hmn...interesting. Come." Siegfried said.
The two vanished. Kiba's one sword going against Siegfried's six. "?" Kenshin glanced over at it. "Hm...Kiba's gotten really good."
"Well yeah, he did fight against you, Xenovia, Irina and me to get ready for this guy in particular." Yukari said. "At least that was the easiest way to get to the six blades this guy has."
"Yeah." Kenshin said.
A shallow cut developed on Siegfried's cheek. "Hmph! Nothung! Tyrfing!"
One sword made a hole in the artificial atmosphere while another made a huge crater in the parking lot. "Now, Balmung!" Siegfried said, thrusting a sword wreathed in a drill shaped aura at Kiba who switched to a holy sword and surrounded himself with Glory Drag Troopers. The drill attack destroyed roughly half of them.
Kiba glanced over at Yukari who glanced back. The two shared a short nod as Siegfried slashed his fourth sword at Kiba. "Ha! Dainsleif!" The ground began freezing, creating spires that destroyed even more troopers. Leaving a single one behind.
"U-Unholy crap." Issei said landing nearby. "Those swords are a real threat."
"Hn." Kenshin said glancing over at this.
"Relax Issei." Yukari said. "He can't hope to beat all of us, hell I doubt he can beat one of us." She laughed.
"Strong words woman, after I'm finished with him, you're next." Siegfried said.
"Sweet, Kenshin can I borrow the Balance Breaker?" Yukari asked.
"I guess." Kenshin shrugged.
Siegfried narrowed his eyes. "They are acting way too calm." He thought. "Bah, no matter."
He went to take down the last trooper, only for it to move faster than he could react and cleave off one of his arms. "? !" Issei stared at it, it removed it's helmet to reveal Kiba.
"? ! Impossible, then that one over there is...? !" Siegfried's eyes widened as the unarmored Kiba disappeared.
"Aaah illusion magic, it's always funny to see the victim fall for one the first time." Yukari said.
"I set this up in case I needed it, I could have made the illusion myself, but that would take a significant amount of energy, so if Yukari-San was in the area, I'd send out a signal to her and she'd do it for me." Kiba said.
"There's also his sword to consider." Yukari said with a cheshire like grin.
"Grrh? ! This damage, you gained the power of a dragon slayer? !" Siegfried said.
"It took a lot of training to be able to pull off, I was told about them after Issei-kun went berserk and began to really work at it after coming back from Kenshin-kun's homeworld, where he unlocked his own berserk form. I gained this blade in order to be of help to stop them when the time comes." Kiba said. "However, when Issei-kun cast aside his Juggernaut Drive and Kenshin seemed to be under control of his. I stopped. It wasn't until I fell to you in Kyoto that I started back up."
"Huh, so that's why you kept asking to spar with me, and even Ragnarok-ossan even though he said no." Kenshin said.
"Same here and with Miyuki too. He tried to train with everyone who had dragon in them." Yukari said.
Rias and Akeno landed near them. "That's great Yuuto, I never expected you would actually be able to keep up with Issei and Kenshin, but I've very glad to see you prove me wrong." Rias said.
"Of course." Kiba nodded.
"Training with the Sekiryuutei, Dragon of the Elements and other dragons. If you want to get stronger, you should try the same. But, be prepared to lose your life, Issei and Kenshin won't hold back when asked not to." Kiba said.
"...Hn...I'll consider it, if you survive this." Siegfried said.
"Hm?" Kenshin said seeing a mist wash in. "Oh boy, more." Kenshin said unenthusiastically as more reapers showed up.
"Are you serious? ! There's at least four or five hundred here!" Issei said appearing to his left.
"Four to Five hundred more fodders with scythes, no...there's more than that..." Kenshin said with a disinterested expression. "Maybe I'm just getting too powerful, or maybe..." He looked up to where Azazel and Pluto were dueling. "I'm just fighting the wrong reaper."
"Kenshin, no." Kazumi said as Evangeline and Chachamaru came over. "You need to stay there."
Kenshin smirked. "Kenshin, Yes! They can handle themselves, I'm bored!" However before he could take off, Issei's armor jewels began glowing. "What now?"
"Th-The other Senpais want me to take Chief's breasts to the next level." Issei said, with a slightly depraved expression.
"The same guys who tried to take you over against Sairaorg? What the hell happened?" Kenshin asked.
"Seriously." Yukari drawled as they all turned and got in position to start beating away reapers.
"I don't know, but they want me to transfer power to Chief's breasts!" Issei said.
"E-Eh? !" Rias shouts.
"...Oh dear god no..." Siegfried said with a baneful expression. "No you don't!"
"Kenshin, Chachamaru to Knight, suppressing fire?" Evangeline said as Siegfried charged Issei.
"Make it so." Kenshin shrugged.
"Yes Master, Kenshin-San." Chachamaru said promoting to Knight and a barrage of bullets fired from submachine guns at Siegfried.
"What the? !" Siegfried was forced to stop and block the barrage with his blades.
"Boosted Gear: Gift! !" Issei shouts, placing his hands on Rias' breasts.
"Seriously, I wonder for how much longer I'm going to be OK with this." Kenshin thought.
"Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust! Bust!"
A familiar red light emitted from Rias' chest before shooting outward, hitting not only Issei, but Kenshin as well. "The hell? !"
"This is...my aura's replenishing!" Issei said.
"Are they seriously being hit by nipple beams?" Evangeline drawled.
Issei found he could continue using the bishop forms cannons. "Kenshin, you're not going to believe this." Salamander said.
"What?" Kenshin asked.
"That power that the pervert just brought out of your fiancee just enabled us to let more than just you use the Balance Breaker at once." Undine said.
"HEH? !" Kenshin blanched.
"What?" Yukari said with a curious look.
"Try going into the Balance Breaker, right now." Kenshin said.
"Huh, but won't it?" Yukari said.
"Just try it." Kenshin said.
Yukari shrugged. "Balance...Break!" She shouts. "Whoa? !" She shouts as the armor began forming.
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdrive!"
"No way..." Yukari said looking herself over. "This is awesome!" She whooped.
"I would gather that because Issei's oppai power up, when transferred to Rias, inspired a feeling of lust when she received it, because it also invokes a feeling of pleasure, and there's only one person she'd lust after." Azazel said through communication.
"Kenshin." Yukari nodded.
"Yes, and seeing as Kenshin carries the Four Spirits and didn't need a power up himself, the newly found lust power up went to the spirits which could only be used for one thing." Azazel said.
"Expansion of the ability to use the Balance Breaker." Kenshin said. "Sweet." He watched as Issei leveled off a third of the Reapers. "Alright Yukari, ready to wreck these idiots?"
"Always." Yukari said with a smirk. "Is the current limit now two?"
"Yes." Undine answered.
Issei, Yukari and Kenshin went to town, the former receiving refills of power from Rias' chest. "Hey Kenshin!" Issei said.
"What? !" Kenshin said swiping sword and naginata to block scythes.
"I know this stuff's starting to bother you and I'm sorry!" Issei said.
"Issei, in situations like this, I can't raise much of a complaint!" Kenshin said. "Besides your tit lust did just help Yukari and I!"
"Yeah, don't sweat it for now!" Yukari said.
"Uhehehehehe...Oppai sure are fun." Issei and Kenshin heard Ddraig say.
"Uhm...Issei, I think you might have finally broken Ddraig." Kenshin said.
"D-Ddraig! Uuuoooooo! ! You bastards! This is for Ddraig!" Issei said shooting out the cannon for what seemed to be the seventh time at this point.
By the time the Reapers were all taken down. There was nothing left but destroyed ground and dirt. Issei wept in lament as every time Rias refueled Issei's power, her chest shrunk until she was flattened. Kenshin walked up to her and looked her over.
"This...isn't bad for you, right...?" Rias asked.
"...Meh." Kenshin shrugged. "I'm sure this is just a sign of your power depleting. Some bed rest and some food and you'll probably be back to normal. By the way, no it isn't. There's more than just your breasts for me to rub you know." With that said Rias froze for a second feeling his hand on her backside.
"K-Kenshin..." Rias whined softly.
"What? Issei can grope you but I can't?" Kenshin asked. "That's an odd double standard."
"You two are both idiots." Evangeline drawled.
"!" Kenshin's head snapped up as a tear in space opened up. A man wearing slight armor and a cape with long auburn hair levitated down to them, between Siegfried and them. "...Shalba Beelzebub, one of the leaders of the Old Satan faction. I was wondering when you'd show up."
"..." Shalba turned away from them.
"Shalba, I had received a report, but I didn't know you were acting alone." Siegfried said.
"Good evening Siegfried. I certainly got a lot of assistance from you people. You have my gratitude, my wounds are healed, though I did lose Ophis' snake and my powers have decreased." Shalba said.
"So why are you here then? I don't know if you noticed, but the numbers aren't exactly in your favor here." Yukari said.
"Oh nothing much really, I just figured I would come and declare war on you." Shalba said with an air of confidence before smiling evilly and lifting his cape to reveal a youth, who looked to be controlled.
"Leonardo!" Siegfried said.
"Shalba, why did you bring him here? ! No why is he with you? ! Leonardo was supposed to be on a different mission, why is he here? !" Georg said appearing behind Siegfried.
"I figured I'd have him assist me for a little while, just like this!" Shalba shouts placing his hand on Leonardo's head with a small magic circle on top of his hand. The letters inscribed on it moved fast.
"Uwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! !" Leonardo screamed in agony as his shadow expanded over the whole field. Shalba moved to the skies and laughed.
"Fuhahahahahaha! ! I owe Lord Forbesii for this, making it so simple to control someone. With the splendid and idealistic Annihilation Maker. Now I will have him create it! A monster to eliminate the current filthy devils of this world!" Shalba shouts.
The massive shadow took form of a two hundred meter titanic monster. "Un...holy...shit...!" Yukari said with wide eyes.
"U-Unbelievable..." Evangeline said in shock.
Smaller monsters, compared to that thing, also spawned with it. "Destroy them! !" Azazel shouts.
Everyone that was able started to attack the monsters, but it was to no avail. "Oi, Partner." Yuurei said.
"Not now!" Kenshin thought, trying to beat back one of the lesser monsters.
"It's time we teamed up, with my power we could smash that thing, the big one." Yuurei said.
"But you'll try to overtake my will." Kenshin thought.
"With power comes risk." Yuurei said.
"..." Kenshin went silent.
"Kenshin, are you considering this? !" Salamander said.
"I don't have time to go into the Vessel." Kenshin thought.
"Without my help, shit's gonna hit the fan real quick." Yuurei said.
"Grh..." Salamander grunted.
"Tch, fine Yuurei, but only until that thing is either handled or someone comes along to take my place!" Kenshin thought.
"Sure Sure." Yuurei said.
"Everyone. I need you to keep those things off me for a bit." Kenshin said opening his eyes to reveal pure black where white should be and purple irises as the tendril grew from his neck.
"..." Yukari nodded hesitantly.
"Alright." Evangeline said.
"Alright Yuurei, let's dance." Kenshin thought.
"Hehehehehee! Let's!" Yuurei cackled.
Kenshin scowled up at the massive beast. "I, who shall awaken...am the Dragon of the Elements who stole the principles of Creation and Destruction from the Gods...I laugh at the Dream and pursue the Infinite...I will become the Black Dragon of Destruction...and drive you to the darkest ends of all life itself, Juggernaut Drive! !"
"Kenshin..." Rias said in worry as the Black Dragon appeared from under him and lifted him up.
"...Don't worry Rias, I'm still me." Kenshin said. "I'm not overtaken by grief and sorrow this time...now...LET'S GO! !"
Kenshin and the Black Dragon took off as Yuurei's armor took form. He cut off Shalba who was making way for the hotel. "!" Shalba stopped and stared. "The Black Dragon of Destruction..." He growled.
"That's right, leave now and take your monsters with you, or face death at my hand..." Kenshin said extending his blade at Shalba. "Your choice."
"Hehehehehehehe! ! Yeah ya shrimp! You won't like Partner when he's angry, cause he feels more inclined to let me play!" Yuurei shouts in sadistic glee through the dragon itself.
Shalba's eyes widened in insane joy. "Never! I shall become a curse, a poison that will devour the Underworld! Those devils who declined me! I have no business with such an Underworld. I don't give a damn about them, or the authority or possession of the Underworld anymore! Fuhahahaha! ! This Shalba Beelzebub shall use his last bit of power to destroy the Underworld together with the monsters."
"Gyahahahahahaha! Well said ya crazy fucker!" Yuurei said. "But still it's a big problem for me if Partner bites the dust so, sorry, you're gonna die!"
"Just try it!" Shalba roared.
"? !" Kenshin looked over as one of the titantic monsters limbs swung at him as Shalba flew by him. "Fuck! Yuurei!"
"I'm on it!" Yuurei said blocking the monsters hand. "Grrh! This thing's pretty strong!"
"It's still nothing compared to Great Red!" Kenshin shouts.
"Hyaahahaahaha! Indeed it isn't!" Yuurei said.
"? !" Kenshin looked over, seeing Shalba flying off with Ophis. "Goddammit! ! We can't let him get away!"
The space began to crumble around them. "If we wait any longer we won't be able to warp out. I'll start the incantation!" Kuroka said.
"Kenshin, Issei! It's time to go!" Rias called out.
"No, I'll go after Shalba, kick his ass and get Ophis back!" Issei said.
"What? ! If that's the case I'll go too!" Akeno said.
"There's no point in showing off by yourself!" Kiba said.
"I'll stay behind too!" Kenshin said. "Someone has to make sure this big bastard doesn't try to follow after you! When I can get away, Issei and I will meet up and try to get out with Ophis!"
"Got it! We'll open the Dragon's Gate and summon you three!" Azazel said. "It seems Pluto was working with Shalba and the Old Satans so be careful!"
"Got it!" Issei said as he took off. Everyone else vanished, leaving Kenshin alone with the titan monster.
"Grrraahhh! !" Kenshin and Yuurei roared.
The titanic monster was thrown back, but advanced to attack them. "Oi Partner, send me that Dragon Cutter!" Yuurei said.
"Take it!" Kenshin said throwing the blade toward one of his arms once it landed in Yuurei's palm, it became one with the armor and extended outward, forming a huge spirit version of it.
"Hahahaha! Time to slice and dice!" Yuurei shouts as he and Kenshin flew toward the titan monster.
It reached forward to grab the two, but being smaller came with its perks as they were able to evade it and slice into it's left fore limb instead. "Heh, you big clumsy fucker!" Yuurei cackled.
"Focus!" Kenshin shouts as they flew past it's right hind limb and hacked the spirit Dragon Cutter at it as well before flying away.
The massive monster turned back to them, it's cut off limbs regenerating. "Oh dear..." Yuurei said as the beast let our a roar.
"Tch...seems flesh wounds and dismemberment aren't gonna be enough." Kenshin said.
"What then? My power is proportional to yours, if I can't take it out, neither can you." Yuurei said.
"Well...we haven't tried everything yet..." Kenshin said.
"The Quadruple Omega?" Yuurei said.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "We just need to stall it for a bit."
"One stall coming right up." Yuurei said throwing the spiritual Zanryuu up and catching it like a spear. "Destruction Lancer!" He shouts throwing the weapon at the beast, watching it stab into it's chest and explode in a black light.
"That will do." Kenshin said. "Alright, Sylph, Gnome, Undine, Salamander, just like with Great Red!"
"Right!" The Four Spirits said, with Gnome of course just giving a nod.
"Grrhh!" Kenshin grunted at the amount of power that was being charged into the sphere in front of the Black Dragon's mouth. "So much...! Without Ophis I don't know how I could have controlled this the first time!"
"Don't be a wimp, you don't need your loli to control this!" Yuurei said.
"She was in an mature form when I used this the first time numb nuts!" Kenshin snapped.
"...Oh." Yuurei said.
The beast recovered from the blast and started flying at them. "Partner..." Yuurei said.
"It's not ready." Kenshin said
"Partner...!" Yuurei said as the beast got closer.
"Almost!" Kenshin said.
"Partner, I think you've held fire long enough!" Yuurei said as the beast was almost in his face.
"NOW! QUADRUPLE OMEGA! !" Kenshin roared blasting the massive beast at point blank range in the face.
When the dust settled. The beast was driven far away, but Kenshin could see that it was regenerating as he dropped out of the Juggernaut Drive. "Shit..." Kenshin cursed.
"Here, I'll give you the last bit of the power I have available to replenish yourself with. Use it to kill that thing." Yuurei said.
"Huh?" Kenshin said.
"Like I said. It's a problem for me if you die." Yuurei said. "As in...end of the line for me."
Kenshin felt his reserves replenish and assumed the Balance Breaker again. However as he readied the Quadruple Giga, the monster suddenly it broke down and withered away. "...Huh?" Kenshin said.
"Seems it was closer to dead than you thought." Salamander said.
"I see." Kenshin sensed for Issei. "Something's wrong. Issei should have found them by now."
Kenshin flew through the gap at high speeds. He felt Issei's power at a fever pitch. "He must have found Shalba. Come on Issei, take him down!" Kenshin said.
Minutes passed before Kenshin arrived where Issei and Shalba were the latter looking heavily battered. He saw Shalba shoot an arrow into Issei's chest. "!" Kenshin's eyes widened as he felt a familiar aura. The aura...of Samael. "NO! !" He shouts as he unsheathed his sword and slashed it at Shalba. "KATENSHO! !"
When the dust settled Shalba was no more. Kenshin flew like a dart at Issei. He ripped the arrow out and threw it away. "Issei hang on!" Kenshin said.
"(Cough cough ) Is he gone?" Issei asked.
"Yes, Yes. I killed him." Kenshin said. "It's OK. Now let's get moving." He tried to open up communications. "Oi! Azazel! Open the Dragon's Gate now! We need help! Huh...Hey! Is anyone there! Answer me! !" Kenshin shouts. "Dammit!"
"We're too far away...from anywhere to set up communications." Ophis said. "And I'm unstable, so I can't open a way out right now."
Kenshin reached over and slashed her bindings off. "Hey...Ophis...why did you cooperate with them?" Issei asked.
"Issei, don't talk right now. I'm gonna get us out of here, get you to a doctor or Asia and you're gonna be OK!" Kenshin said.
"Why did you save me?" Ophis asked.
"You saved Asia and Irina." Issei said. "You were grateful to them for spending time with you, so I was grateful to you for saving the lives of people I love..." Issei said before coughing.
"They promised me they will defeat Great Red. I want to return to this place and obtain silence." Ophis said.
"There's no way they would hold up their end of the bargain...weren't you used by them a lot?" Issei asked.
"As long as I defeated Great Red, it didn't matter." Ophis said.
"..." Kenshin and Issei stared at her. "Kenshin...will...you be friends with her...for me?" Issei asked.
"Friends? What is the benefit of becoming that?" Ophis asked.
"Well, you'd have someone to talk to." Issei said.
"I see...that sounds fun." Ophis replied.
"It is...so Kenshin, could you? Even you can see how lonely she is..." Issei said.
"...?" Ophis glanced at him. "Lonely...?" She thought.
"...Yes...Of course." Kenshin said bowing his head. "D...Don't you worry about anything...OK?"
"..." Ophis glanced at Kenshin. "He's...weeping?"
Suddenly an orb of light appeared between the three and exploded, blinding them. "Agh!" Kenshin grunted.
"Hn!" Ophis said.
(squelch!)
"Guuhhh...!" A sharp intake of air was heard as the light died down. Kenshin's vision returned slowly to see a white blade protruding from him. He slowly looked down and saw it was stabbed at an angle...and the third thing he took note of...was that every beat of his heart, hurt. He glanced behind him. "Y...Yooouuu...Fo...For...besiiiiii...!" He growled weakly.
"Hmhmhmhm...hello Kenshin-kun." Forbesii said with an emotionless smile as he pulled his sword back. "You let your guard down."
"FUCK YOU! !" Kenshin roared slashing at Forbesii's neck with Kuroi Jigoku. It was blocked and Forbesii backed away as Kenshin readied his blade. "Ophis, take Issei and get out of here! I'm going to remain here and fight."
"...Kenshin...!" Issei grunted.
"...Very well." Ophis said looping Issei's arm over her shoulders. "I'll come back for you."
"Yes, hopefully I'll have this bastard finished by then." Kenshin said. "Now go, Hurry!"
Ophis nodded and took off with Issei in tow. "Hmhmhm, you're going to die Kenshin-kun. You know that."
"..." Kenshin said nothing.
"That stab was right to your beating heart. Even as we speak holy magic courses slowly through your veins."
"Hrn!" Kenshin grunted as pain slowly started to spread through his body. "Hah!" He roared as the elements flared to life around him.
"I see...like before you've proven to have become an elemental master." Forbesii said. "Mastering the same level of magic as Shin Tatsu-Shishou."
"? !" Kenshin scowled. "Shin Tatsu...Shishou?"
"Yes, I too learned swordsmanship and elemental magic from Shin Tatsu-Shishou, even if we had differing masters finish our training, we are still sibling students you and I." Forbesii said with a demure look. "As such we ought to be able to understand each other...and our master's want for peace."
"Shut your fucking mouth! !" Kenshin yelled his naginata spiraling overhead. The elements glowing brightly around it. He could feel it along with their power. The anger that the Yonseirei felt. "Tamamo told me...how you've plotted to replace youkai with homunculized versions of themselves, how you ruled with an iron fist, putting anyone who spoke against you to death! If you think you understand our master's desire for peace...then you never knew our master at all! !" Kenshin roared. "Then you come to this world, and help terrorists who mean to disturb that peace, killing innocent people, devil, angel, fallen angel, youkai and human alike! My brother could die because of you scum!"
"Kenshin-kun, if you cannot see the forest for the trees, or the flames for the embers. You can't understand true peace." Forbesii said. "Come, I'll show you how it really works." He said extending his hand to Kenshin.
"I said...SHUT THE FUCK UP! !" Kenshin roared throwing his naginata at Forbesii.
It struck Forbesii and expanded, the elements spiraling around in a violent storm. "Kenshin, I know you're angry, trust me, we all are..." Undine said. "But getting worked up like that is going to cause your heart to race, hastening the holy magic in your veins."
"I know..." Kenshin thought with a grunt.
"...Hottan was right."
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as Forbesii was standing up, a barrier being casted away.
"You...do not listen." Forbesii said with a light scowl.
"Gh..." Kenshin grunted. "To tyrants like you, never!" He charged Forbesii, changing direction at the last second and attacking him from the side. Forbesii glanced at him. "!" Kenshin's blade hesitated for a moment. "The...Serene Conqueror? !" He shrugged off the wave of intimidation and stabbed Kuroi Jigoku at Forbesii's head, but the stab missed as Forbesii moved his head.
"Wind God's Fist." Forbesii said pressing his fist to Kenshin's chest.
"Gah!" Kenshin gasped as a powerful gust expelled from the Demon King's fist and sent him tumbling back. Kenshin landed on his back and held his sword horizontally as Forbesii slashed down at him. "Grrhh! Demon Skull Beheading, or in this case because you made fake spirits, Earth Rumbling Decapitation...so you were telling the truth." He snarled.
"Hmph." Forbesii smirked.
"How did you do it eh? That's Ragnarok and Dark Goddess level magic." Kenshin said.
"You think I wouldn't figure it out given the many years I've been alive?" Forbesii asked. "Now, I could destroy those four inside you without any repercussion."
"Grrhh! Earthly Armament, Left Leg!" Kenshin shouts kicking at Forbesii's head.
"Hmn, Earthly Armament Right Arm." Forbesii said, raising his arm to block it.
"Tch!" Kenshin brought his other leg up and pressed it against Forbesii's throat, flipping him onto his back. Kenshin sprung up a second before Forbesii did and slashed his sword at the Demon King's neck. "Flash Kill!"
"Uhn? !" Forbesii's eyes widened as blood squirted out of his neck as his head fell off.
"Grrhhh! !" Kenshin growled and got over the top of him, hacking and slashing at his headless body until the Demon King's arm swung upward, smacking the broad side of the Tsurugi no Kami at Kenshin's temple, knocking the Dragon of the Elements off.
"Grh!" Kenshin growled as the headless body got up and picked it's head up and reattached it.
"Hmhmhm, good you remember that I'm still a homunculus...but can you find and destroy my core I wonder." Forbesii said.
"I know where your core is, I can sense it." Kenshin said. "No matter where you try and move it, I can still find it."
"Good Good...now how about the destroying then? !" Forbesii said as he pointed the Tsurugi no Kami at Kenshin. "Sun God's Wrath!"
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as a spiraling column of white hot flame roared from the tip of Forbesii's sword. "Krh!" Kenshin slashed Kuroi Jigoku at it. "Katensho! !"
The two attacks met and canceled each other out. The two met blade to blade and pushed against one another. "You talk about Shin Tatsu's ambition of peace, yet you're the one who killed him! Why even bother at that point? !" Kenshin shouts.
"Hard to understand though it may be. That was the purpose he gave to me when he trained me. What else am I to do?" Forbesii said.
"If that's the case then what's the fucking deal? ! You rule with an iron fist, through fear and you banish or kill anyone who might disagree with you!" Kenshin said.
"Rebellious elements must be stricken away if a nation, a world is to survive." Forbesii said.
"Is that why you banished the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans from Makai then? !" Kenshin asked.
"They forced my hand by inciting chaos. If they had just followed my rule, they'd still be alive." Forbesii said.
"You're working with an organization with that in it's name you self righteous hypocrite!" Kenshin shouts as he twists his sword around and slashes at Forbesii's waist forcing the Demon King back.
"Huhuhu...you're far stronger than Luka ever was." Forbesii said. "Anyway, to answer your question, as to why I am still pursuing the peace our master desired even after killing him...is that I will destroy everything he built...and build anew, atop the ashes. That of course...means you as well Kenshin. My way of peace...is to rule through fear."
"Good luck with that, because you won't make it out of here alive you bastard!" Kenshin shouts as he drove Forbesii back.
"Grh!" Forbesii slid off of Kenshin's sword and stabbed it into the ground before ripping it up, showering Kenshin with sharpened spires of earth. "Gaia's Fury!"
"Gh!" Kenshin grunted and stopped his advance. Forbesii walked up to him.
"You know, if we had time, I could make a respectable second in command out of you." Forbesii said. "But sadly we don't...it's time for you to die and after I'm done, I'll find away to end the line on the Dragon of the Elements...so worry not, your sisters will join you shortly." He stabbed the Tsurugi no Kami at Kenshin's throat. However it was grabbed by a hand of red, with green jewels on it before it could connect. "? !"
"Hrn..heheheh...sorry, but this hand..isn't mine, or even a devil's for that matter." Kenshin smirked. "Now...about your threat to kill me, that I'm not so angry about...but you leave my sisters OUT OF THIS! !" Kenshin pulled the Tsurugi no Kami forward and punched Forbesii in the face.
"? !" Forbesii caught himself and watched as a purple aura wrapped around him as the elements flared chaotically around him.
"Grraaahhh! !" Kenshin roared, diving for the Demon King, Kuroi Jigoku overhead. "Heavenly Demon Revival!"
"Grrhh! !" Forbesii grunted as he blocked Kenshin's sword with the Tsurugi no Kami, but the force of the attack blew him back further as the land in front of Kenshin cratered.
"Aah...He should be getting burnt by the Tsurugi no Kami's magic, how can this be...? !" Forbesii said with wide eyes. "!" He noticed four silhouettes around Kenshin, and he recognized the Four Spirits' respective faces. "I see, you're stalling the holy magic is that it, well no matter...you can't keep it up forever!"
"It's not only that you moron." Yuurei said to himself. "Incompatible and weaker than it should be though it is. Partner is still using his Touki in this form. It's just enough to catch you off guard."
Kenshin threw out a clone and had it pincer Forbesii in. They both cocked their fists back. "Elemental Spica! !"
"Grrhh! !" Forbesii growled and flew out of the attack zone. "!" He looked up and saw Kenshin bearing down on him.
"Something the matter? !" Kenshin shouts, bashing his fists down on Forbesii's skull.
"Gahh!" Forbesii tumbled painfully across the ground. He got back up and looked up at Kenshin. "My lord he's gone mad, what the hell's gotten into him?...!" Kenshin disappeared from Forbesii's sight and reappeared in front of him.
"Haa! !" Kenshin roared tackling Forbesii through a stalagmite. Flames spiraled around Kuroi Jigoku as he stood back up. "THIS IS YOUR END! !" He roared slashed Kuroi Jigoku downward at Forbesii. "Katensho! !"
The attack struck Forbesii and exploded. Kenshin panted softly as he watch the dust settle. However...when it did, there was two people standing there. Forbesii and a middle aged man with silver hair and a beard, wearing an outfit strikingly similar to Sirzechs only silver in color. "He resembles Vali in a way." Kenshin thought.
"You're getting lambasted by this guy Forbesii? Come on you can do better than that." He said.
"My apologies. I did not see fit to use my full power here, knowing that before he dies, Kenshin-kun will send his memories somehow back to his allies." Forbesii said.
"Ah, well no matter." The man waved him off dismissively. "As long as the holy magic is in his system, as long as we don't let him leave, he'll die eventually."
"Forbesii was still holding back? Dammit!" Kenshin cursed mentally as his Touki fizzled out.
"So you're the stand in for Ragnarok Kuroshi eh? My father sends his thanks to him for his help in the Three Factions War." The man said.
"Your father?" Kenshin said. "For your old man to have known Ragnarok, he would have had to be pushing it up there in years don't you think?"
"Oh he was. He was ancient!" The man laughed. "But considering he was one of the Original Satans, that is to be expected."
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "The Leviathan, Beelzebub and Asmodeus descendants all bit it...so that leaves...!" Kenshin's eyes widened.
"Huhuhuhu...pleased to meet you Kenshin Tsuki Kuroshi. My name is Rizevim Rivan Lucifer." He introduced.
"..." Kenshin stared in shock. "Shit! Forbesii I could probably handle alone, but both him and a Super Devil? !"
"Run along Forbesii, seeing as you don't wanna go all out, I don't need you here." Rizevim said.
"Hn, taking my target from me? How cruel you are." Forbesii said with an emotionless smile.
"You have a rebellion to quell, you've enough on your plate as it is." Rizevim said waving him off. "Now beat it before I kill you on principle." Rizevim finished nonchalantly.
"..." Forbesii shrugged. "Very well then. Enjoy."
"Oh no you don't!" Kenshin shouted as he started to give chase after the Demon King as he took off.
A blast of demonic power shoved Kenshin back and he turned to Rizevim. "This has nothing to do with you, beat it!"
"Forget it kid, you won't catch him, and your time is limited anyway." Rizevim said. "This is possibly the only chance I'll get to fight with you."
"..." Kenshin scowled. "Why me?"
"Oh, I've fought all of the heirs to Ragnarok's power at some point or another. Elemental Masters, Dragons of the Elements, they're one in the same." Rizevim said. "I have to say the most entertaining of my duels was recently. A man by the name of Ryuushin..soon after a great war. I lied to him, saying I had a cure for his poison...and he just came a runnin' like an idiot."
"...Grrh..." Kenshin growled angrily.
"Oh don't look so angry, it's not like I killed him." Rizevim said. "I was just looking for the next Ragnarok. The stories I heard of how powerful he was, were just fascinating. Whether they satisfied me or not, I let them live."
"...So you're the new Leader of the Khaos Brigade with Ophis out of the picture." Kenshin said with narrowed eyes. "Anyway, I don't know if you know, but Ragnarok lowered his power to create his daughters with the help of the Goddess of Darkness, who created the youkai." Kenshin said. "He did this after he came back from helping with the Three Factions War."
"Doesn't mean one couldn't ascend to his heights still." Rizevim said with a blithe look. "Anyway I am the new leader with Ophis gone, but don't worry. I do not seek vengeance against the Underworld nor the current Satans. Sirzechs Gremory beat me fair and square...well...fair is a little debatable considering he seduced one of my servants."
"You mean Grayfia?" Kenshin asked.
"Yes. I suppose she couldn't help herself, most women would have killed to have a man like that back then." Rizevim mused. "Even if it meant betraying her master."
"Yeah, I know, free will's a bitch ain't it?" Kenshin replied snarkily. "She fell in love, she wasn't seduced. You can't control the heart of another."
"Fuahahahaha!" Rizevim laughed. "Indeed! You know it's funny how you can be so snarky when you're inching closer to death by the second."
"Aren't we all just inching closer to death by the second though Son of Lucifer?" Kenshin said.
"Whoa ho ho! Look at the philosophical brain on you!" Rizevim said.
"So then, tell me...if you have no malice toward the Underworld, why is it you're working with the Khaos Brigade?" Kenshin asked.
"Well those were my friends that fell at your hands." Rizevim said. "Other than that...life was boring for me outside of the duels against the Dragons of the Elements."
"Oh yes, because causing chaos always peps you right up." Kenshin drawled.
"Doesn't it? !" Rizevim laughed.
"Look, I don't really give a flying fuck how you get your sick kicks. However, when you involve innocent people and my friends, that's when I get pissed off." Kenshin scowled.
"You're a devil right?" Rizevim said. "A reincarnated one anyway? Ah, I do have to praise Ajuka Astaroth for his ingenuity. He figured out a way to combat our decline. Well in my opinion, Devils are meant to be vile, evil, wicked, brutal, scum, wrong, and especially vicious."
"With antiquated, or rather...anachronistic thinking like that it's no wonder there are new Satans these days. With the Devils dying out they had to become something different." Kenshin said. "I don't doubt they were something along those lines in the days of the Original Satans, but we can't move forward as a race like that."
"That's a heroes' thinking. You're no hero." Rizevim replied coyly.
"If an evil man saves his allies, is he not then considered a hero to his allies? Anyway you're right in one way. Heroes, true ones anyway, are hesitant to kill." Kenshin held Kuroi Jigoku in an iai stance before taking off toward Rizevim. "You will find no such things with me! Flash Kill!"
After Kenshin passed by him, slashing blindingly fast as he did. He looked back to see a barrier protecting Rizevim. "You've got spirit kid, I like that..." Rizevim said turning toward him with a smirk. "But that's all you've got."
"Uuurrooouuuuhhh! !" Kenshin roared as he charged at Rizevim again.
Rizevim blocked sword slashes with his barrier, and took a couple of punches. "You know, it's shocking that you would walk right into the jaws of death of your own volition." He said.
"I won't run from a fight! No, until my last breath fades, I will fight! !" Kenshin shouts slamming both fists into Rizevim's stomach, breaking through his barrier.
"Grh!" Rizevim was knocked back. "That elemental power is annoying." He took out a device and activated it. "Let's see how you fight without your power! Sacred Gear Canceler Activate!"
"Hn? !" Kenshin stopped short as a wave hit him. "...Huh?" Kenshin looked himself over. He was still in his Balance Breaker, and still able to feel the elements.
"...What in the hell? !" Rizevim shouts.
"...I would venture to guess, that your little toy there, only cancels out Sacred Gears constructed by God." Kenshin said. "Or maybe it has a limit that the spirits surpass. I mean...look at this." He lifted up his Boosted Gear hand. "This one shut down just fine."
"I'd go with the second one. I've seen this thing cancel out Azazel brand Gears before, I guess I can't cancel out the power of the one the spirits, those little animist sluts are actually inside." Rizevim mused. "Well no matter. The Dragon of the Elements, Shin Tatsu had around this level of power, and he lost to me."
"Well maybe I should up the ante then! !" Kenshin shouts taking Rizevim's back and ramming his elbow into it.
"Grah!" Rizevim grunted in pain as he was sent forward. He caught himself and turned, lunging for Kenshin, hitting him with a blistering barrage of fists. "You're just a strong, not mighty dragon from a strong, not mighty world...all of your power...pathetic."
Kenshin withstood his barrage and kicked Rizevim in the head. "My attacks aren't even making him flinch! Not even in the Balance Breaker! I'm hitting home, but it's like it doesn't matter to him!"
"You've certainly realized it by now." Rizevim said as Kenshin kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backward before getting into a slug fest with Kenshin. "Attacks like these won't put me down, not at all. So let me give you a taste of real power."
"Ggh!" Kenshin grunted as he crossed his arms as Rizevim's fist slammed against it. He felt his bones creaking from the strain. "Aagh!" He let himself be blown back by the attack and caught his bearings. Rizevim smirked and raised his hand.
"Now...as your ancestor Ragnarok would say...dance some more for me." Rizevim said
"As you wish!" Kenshin shouted, flames spiraling around his fist. "Honoo Taryou! !"
Rizevim's smirk widened as the attack collided against his barrier, breaking it, but not before taking some bite out of Kenshin's attack. "I see now..." Rizevim said. "You are certainly persistent, and well...you're certainly worth more than that worthless grandson of mine."
"?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "He just called Vali, the Hakuryuukou worthless?"
"Him and his good for nothing father." Rizevim said.
"Well you certainly failed at being a father." Kenshin snorted.
"I'd rather look at it as Vali's father failing to be a good son, I mean what was he thinking? Copulating with a human." Rizevim said with a cackle.
"You know...if there's one thing I abhor the most...it's a man who treats his own family like garbage." Kenshin said with a scowl.
"Good! Use that abhorrence and fight me!" Rizevim smirked. "In fact...I want you to hit me...as hard as you can."
"...?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes. "I know you're a Super Devil, but still do you rea-"
"Now hold on! In case you misheard me. I don't want half strength, or some random percentage. I want YOU to hit ME as HARD as YOU CAN." Rizevim said with a smirk.
"And if I refuse?" Kenshin asked.
"Then I guess the Kuroshi and Tsuki died for nothing." Rizevim snorted.
"GrraAAAH!" Kenshin roared, punching Rizevim square in the face. "!"
Rizevim tilted his head to the side. "Gyahahaha! Consider that nerve touched." Rizevim cocked his fist back and punched Kenshin in the stomach, driving the wind out of him and sending the Dragon of the Elements through several stalagmites. Kenshin picked himself back up, panting, holding his stomach.
"Fuck...that pierced through my armor, I should have used Earth Guard." Kenshin thought.
"See there Kenshin? That's what ya get for not listening." Rizevim said. "Now if you're ready...you, me...hard as you can."
"FINE!" Kenshin shouts taking out his naginata and spinning it. The elements spiraled around it strongly.
"Hahahaha! Much better! I can actually feel that!" Rizevim said as his hair whipped in the wind.
"Soon all you'll be feeling, is agonizing pain! !" Kenshin roared.
"Or crushing misery from seeing I was wrong about you. Go ahead, let's give that coin a flip shall we?" Rizevim said readying his barrier.
"Elemental...CATACLYSM! !" Kenshin yelled out throwing his naginata at Rizevim.
"Aw how cute he thinks it can cause a catacl-OH FUCK! !" Rizevim shouted as he was engulfed by the attack as it went off and realized how powerful it really was.
"Haa...haaa...haaa..." Kenshin panted heavily. "Was that hard enough for you? !"
"Grh...uhnnn..." The dust settled to reveal Rizevim with moderate wounds and his armor was destroyed.
"There, now that you've seen that. Away with you, I have a family to get back to." Kenshin said turning around to leave.
"Hehe...heheheheh...Hyaahahahahahahaha! !" Rizevim laughed.
"Hm? !" Kenshin turned back to him. "What...? !"
"You think this is over? ! Hyahahaha! Don't be a fool!" Rizevim said taking out two familiar vials.
"? ! Phoenix Tears!" Kenshin shouts as he broke away for Rizevim. However it was for naught as the healing substance made contact with his skin. Rizevim extended his hand and blasted Kenshin back with a massive sphere of demonic power.
Kenshin slowly picked himself up. "Tch...I guess thinking that attack would be able to put down a Super Devil was foolish."
"I thought I told you to hit me as hard you can? !" Rizevim balked.
"That was one of my strongest attacks, but it loses power on the travel, it's a problem I can't correct." Kenshin said.
"Is that so...well...for failing to obey my command again...your punishment is death." Rizevim said, taking aim at him with a spear shaped aura of demonic magic. "Die." He launched it at Kenshin.
"? !" Kenshin tried to move, but his body locked up. "Oh no, the holy magic!"
The blast wave was enormous as it impacted the area where Kenshin was standing. "Hm?" Rizevim noticed a spiraling tornado off in the distance.
"...?" Kenshin opened his eyes to see he was inside the stationary vortex.
"That was so close!"
"Sylph?" Kenshin said seeing the wind spirit above him, stabilizing the tornado.
"It's OK Kenshin, you're gonna be fine." He looked over to see Salamander next to him, holding him up.
"This twister will only protect you for so long Kenshin! Come on out and face me, and die!" Rizevim shouts from outside. though he sounded further away
Kenshin heard him, but saw Undine and Gnome in front of him, Undine looked hurt. "Hey! Undine are you OK? !" Kenshin said.
"I...I'm fine. To protect us I had to make a wall of slime, It stung, but I'll live." Undine said. "We need to get out of here while we can."
"..." Gnome nodded.
"You can fight a little, kid, but against a Super Devil like me, it makes no difference." Rizevim said. "What's the plan then, you can't teleport, and you won't be able to find an exit while evading me!"
"..." Kenshin went silent before stepping forward.
"Kenshin...?" Salamander said.
"Sylph, stop powering the tornado, let it run out." Kenshin said.
"...?" Sylph was confused, but did as he requested and landed next to her sisters.
"..." Kenshin turned back to them with a calm look...before a peaceful smile stretched over his face.
"What is it Kenshin? Do you have some sort of plan?" Undine asked.
"...The end has come for this Dragon of the Elements. It's time for the next one to take his place." Kenshin said.
"! !" Gnome came over and grabbed his hand, shaking her head with wide eyes.
"Kenshin-Chan, what are you saying? !" Sylph asked with a stunned expression.
"Kenshin, all we have to do is wait for Ophis to return, she knows this place an-!" Undine was cut off.
"I won't make it until then and I don't want to endanger her as she is now." Kenshin said. "I can feel it, the holy magic is coursing slowly, but surely...and it's burning my body. If I have to fight Rizevim, I have to do it to drive him back, or kill him if I can."
"..." The Boosted Gear appeared on Kenshin's hand.
"Ddraig?" Kenshin said.
"...Part...no...Issei...he...he didn't make it." Ddraig said.
"..." Kenshin smiled again, as a tear rolled down his cheek. "...I see. Issei wanted to try and be Ophis' friend...so...tell her about him for me, will you? I'll be with him shortly, so I can't do it myself."
"Yes...and Kenshin?" Ddraig said.
"Yes?" Kenshin said.
"Your ancestors and your predecessors to your title...would be proud of the person you are." Ddraig said.
"...Hahahaha, come on now...no need to get all mushy with me Ddraig." Kenshin laughed even as more tears flowed down his face.
"Kenshin, it doesn't have to be this way! We could get you back home, you could be healed!" Salamander protested.
"If you use the Vessel in the condition you're in you'll surely...!" Undine said.
"I know...I'll die. It probably won't happen right away, but still..." Kenshin said. "This is...the only way..."
"I-Is it really?" Undine asked.
"..." Kenshin turned to face all of them. "You know..." He trailed off with a smile. "I wanted to be as good a person to you four...as Shin Tatsu, Dad, or Heinrich was...but...I can't help feeling I've fallen way short of that."
"..." The Yonseirei went silent.
Kenshin turned his head to where he sensed Rizevim. "I'm thankful to my mother for giving birth to me, with the strong body of mine...and to my father, for teaching me how to defend myself...and how to be a man. Along the way...I met others...who saved me from myself, and showed me how to give and receive love and kept me from falling apart...and most importantly." He closed his eyes with a wide smile. "I received the power to protect them all, from the four of you."
Kenshin couldn't see it, but Sylph, Gnome, Undine...and even Salamander had tears streaming from their eyes. But, what they didn't know as well...was that Kenshin could feel their sadness flowing through him. Kenshin turned away and closed his eyes. Yukari, Miyuki, Hikari, Rias and everyone else came to mind. He knew...he promised Rias he would return and his promise with Yukari as well, but...it seemed he would have to break those promises."...I'm satisfied with this bein' the end." Kenshin said. "So before I leave...I got one last thing I need to do." He raised Kuroi Jigoku skyward. "Sylph, Salamander, Undine, Gnome...thank you for everything you've done for me...please watch over this stupid bastard...for the final time."
"...YES!" The Four Spirits shouted through their tears as their powers flared to life on Kuroi Jigoku's blade.
The twister died down as Kenshin took off toward Rizevim who was still a distance away. "Just give up you idiot..." Rizevim said in disinterest.
"Come! Howl with me Elements! Let us become as one, for the final time! !" Kenshin thought as his armor fractured and his hair caught fire. An explosion of the elements drove Rizevim back as Kenshin got to him. "Vessel of the Elements! !" Kenshin declared.
"..." Rizevim stared at him. "That form huh..." He thought.A smirk slowly crawled Rizevim's face. "Finally ready to stop with the kiddy games and sit at the table with the big boys eh? ! Fine then! I'm game!" Rizevim's and Kenshin's fists met, but the former's recoiled and he jumped back. However Kenshin quickly took his back and kicked him back into the ground. Rizevim got up and laughed. "Hyahahahaha! Your aura's gone red with rage! You can't last that long in this form, you'll die a meaningless death in the middle of nowhere."
Kenshin drove his elbow into Rizevim's chest, knocked him skyward and then swung his leg into the Son of Lucifer's chest. "You're right, the end has come for me, but...I will at least do Sirzechs and the Trinity Alliance a favor by disposing of you! This will be my final act!" He charged forward. "I will protect everyone! ! Nothing! Not even this Super Devil will stop me! !" He thought. "Rage with me, Elements! Let this bastard know just what he's dealing with! !"
Rizevim smirked widely and created a blade of demonic energy. "Come then! Let's see what you're truly made of kid!"
Their blades clashed, tearing the earth beneath them to shreds. Kenshin slammed their blades to the ground and punched Rizevim in the face before grabbing the back of the Son of Lucifer's head and slamming it face first into his knee. "Gahh!" Rizevim gasped in pain.
"Toraken!" Kenshin shouts slashing Kuroi Jigoku up and down in quick succession. "Sou Toraken!" Kenshin said repeated the process two more times, ending with the upward slash that took him skyward. "Dragon Dive!" Kenshin shouts shooting down at him, Kuroi Jigoku pointed forward. He turned around and punched at Rizevim, his fist coated in flames. "Honoo Taryou! !"
Rizevim tumbled painfully across the ground. He looked forward as he got to his feet to see Kenshin cocking his fist back again, this time with the elements spiraling around his fist. He readied his barrier, but was not ready for the attack Kenshin had in mind.
"Shinkuryuuken! !" Kenshin shouts, punching his fist forward, a pressurized burst of air firing out carrying the other three elements, shaped like the head of a dragon, striking Rizevim.
"Hrrnnghh!" Rizevim growled, withstanding the force.
"And again!" Kenshin shouts firing off another burst.
This time Rizevim was blown onto his back. "This kid...if I don't get serious, he could really kill me." Rizevim thought. He got back up and smirked. "Heheheheh, the fight against your father was entertaining kid, but I haven't been this excited in a long time." He laughed, undaunted from Kenshin's assault. "But you still can't kill me kid...I'm still too strong for you."
"We'll just see about that." Kenshin said.
Rizevim appeared in front of Kenshin and uppercutted him. However Kenshin used his wings to stop himself and dove back down at the Son of Lucifer with Kuroi Jigoku over head. "Heavenly Demon Revival: Gaia! !"
"? !" Rizevim dodged this attack attempt as it cratered the ground. He threw another lance at Kenshin's face only to have it swatted down by Kenshin's sword as he moved it to an iai position. "Devastating Gale: Flash Kill!"
"Argh!" Rizevim growled in pain as Kenshin slashed him across the leg. "Bastard!" He shouts slashing Kenshin across the back.
"Hrn!" Kenshin grunted and turned around punching Rizevim who shielded himself and let the force carry him off.
He tumbled across the ground and got back up. "Fuahahahahahahaha! ! Very well! I admit it! I haven't fought anyone as strong as you since Sirzechs in the Devil's civil war! In this form, you can stand on equal ground with a Super Devil!" Rizevim cackled.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes...a look of rage painted across his face. Throughout the battle he had been seeing images and visions, he didn't know what they were or how he was seeing them, but he knew one thing...what he saw... Pissed. Him. Off! He readied his sword and lunged for Rizevim, slashing chaotically, but precisely at the same time. "Ninefold Rakshasa! Dragonic Asura! !"
"Uuuooooohhhhh! !" Rizevim roared in pain as he was driven back by the dragon, blocking the slashes with his barrier. He got back up again. "Heheheheh...yes...keep resisting, keep resisting until the end, Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin! !" He said as he noticed the Vessel of the Elements flickering in and out.
"Haa...haa...haaa...haaaa...damn...there's only one thing I can do now." Kenshin said as he held Kuroi Jigoku at the ready, at head level pointing at Rizevim as the elements went from his body to the sword. "This...is where you die, RIZEVIM! !" He roared charging Rizevim.
"What a man! !" Rizevim laughed. "Sirzechs Gremory! I commend you for finding such an amazing warrior! However!" He created several spears of his mana and sent them at Kenshin.
(splash! Fwoosh!)
Slime and flames flared to life and behind them, in between Kenshin and the spears were Undine, Salamander and Sylph who held onto them. The three of them looked upon Rizevim in anger as the former two caught his spears. "..." Kenshin glanced over to see Gnome in a throwing pose with a determined look on her face.
Sylph, Undine and Salamander disappeared. "Kenshin-Chan! Kenshin!" The Four Spirits chorused. "ATTACK! !"
"Uuuuurrooooooo! !" Kenshin roared appearing in front of Rizevim.
"Oh Fu-!" Rizevim said with wide eyes as he erected his strongest barrier.
Kenshin stabbed Kuroi Jigoku forward. "Gruuuaaaahhh! !" Kenshin roared as it hit the barrier.
"Grruuuoooohhhh! !" Rizevim yelled out in agony as the elements struck at him through the barrier.
"This world...does not need the outdated ideologies of the former Satans...ANY LONGER! ! BE CRUSHED AND BEGONE! ! QUADRUPLE GIGA! !" Kenshin roared as he drove Rizevim backward before slashing Kuroi Jigoku downward.
Rizevim was sent flying far away before the attack exploded. "...Haa...haa...haa...haa...haa...haa..." Kenshin gasped for much needed breath as his body fell forward. However it was caught by Ophis. He felt the spirits reentering him. He didn't raise an argument. If they wanted to remain with him until he passed. He didn't mind.
"Can you walk?" Ophis asked.
"Barely..." Kenshin said.
"Then come on." Ophis said.
"...You know...I can't feel anything anymore..." He said with a weary smile. "It feels like I'm using Gnome's power with the penalty still there...y'know..."
"Kenshin, just hang on! We'll be out of here soon!" Undine shouts.
"...Ophis..." Kenshin said.
"What?" Ophis asked.
"What do you want to do...when we get back?" Kenshin asked trying to make conversation, even if he knew his was dying.
"Back? I, have nowhere to go back to...I no longer have the power to even think about taking my home back." Ophis said. "He's talking like the Sekiryuutei did..."
"Then...make my home your new home." Kenshin said. "At least until...you get your power back anyway..."
"Your home...?" Ophis asked.
"Yeah...I mean you were able to get along with Asia and Irina...among others...I think you'd like it there...hahaha, you know after I did some heavy duty soundproofing to the walls of your room." Kenshin's foot slipped and gave out. Ophis held him up. "Hey...Ophis?"
"What is it?" Ophis asked.
"...Have you...ever been in love with someone?" Kenshin asked.
"..." Ophis didn't respond.
"I see..." Kenshin said with a smile. "You know...loving silence is one thing, but...no one should have to be alone forever..."
"..." Ophis said nothing.
"Kenshin-Chan, please hang on!" Sylph shouts.
"...Despite our ups and down during our first time together back when I was younger...I had a wonderful time knowing you...Ophis..." Kenshin said.
"...I feel the same." Ophis said.
"You know...Asia's already lost Issei, ghh...I have to...keep moving..." Kenshin said his breathing becoming labored. "Miyuki puts on a strong front, but I know she wouldn't be able to handle something like this..."
"Come on..." Ophis said lifting him back up.
"Akeno...she's really a fragile person at heart...and Koneko...well...I'm glad she's getting along with Ravel at least...I wonder too...how Evangeline and Chachamaru will react...to this...?" Kenshin asked.
"Xenovia...Irina...Sextum...haha...I remember when we were all enemies..." He said.
"Rossweisse...Gasper...hurry back...home..." Kenshin said as his legs gave out again.
"Get up...you...you've always gotten back up before..." Gnome said.
"...Azazel...take good care of my mother...if you hurt her..." Kenshin's voice trailed off. "Kiba...you were a good man...I would have been honored to call you a friend if we had met back in my world."
"Kenshin, at least...at least make it until you can say goodbye to everyone!" Salamander said.
"..." Ophis let him speak
"Issei...I'm really glad...I told you I thought of you as a little brother...before we died." Kenshin said.
"Vali...Sairaorg...heheh...it's a shame we'll never be able to fight again..." Kenshin said
"..." Ophis knelt over Kenshin as his breathing slowed.
"...Rias...I might have terrible luck, but...I was truly lucky to have met...and fallen in love with someone as wonderful as you are..." Kenshin said.
"Kenshin...! !" A shout from far away was heard.
"...Huh?" Kenshin said. "...Yu...kari?"
"When the Sekiryuutei perished, his evil pieces flew away...I think the Dragon's Gate is open, and they went there. If that's the case...when she saw that happen. I don't think your sister could help herself." Ophis said
"...I see.." Kenshin said
"..." Ophis went silent and charged a bit of her power into Kenshin's body.
"Huh?" Kenshin said as he stood back up.
"I can't save you by myself in my condition, but...say whatever last words you wish to her." Ophis said.
"..." Kenshin nodded. "I can tell, I'm still fading, still on the edge of death...when I pass...please send her back to where she came from. I don't want...her get swallowed by the gap...would that be possible?" He said as he pulled out an orb from his head with Seishin Boido.
"Of course.." Ophis said. "With the Dragon's Gate open...it's possible in my condition."
"...Gh..." Kenshin shambled forward as Yukari appeared in front of him. He smiled weakly. "...Sorry...I...messed up..."
"..." Yukari stared at him. "He...feels so weak..." She thought. Kenshin fell forward and she caught him. "..Kenshin...?" She said with a shaky voice.
"Hahahaha...like you always said...my trying to do too much alone...would eventually..." Kenshin trailed off. Yukari knew why he was saying this...she knew what it meant...but she couldn't accept it.
"I don't want to hear something like that from you, I want you alive! !" Yukari shouts, tears in her eyes. "You promised me! You gave me your word that we'd survive together!" The tears were now flowing out of her eyes. "Kenshin...don't go...please."
"Yukari...I'm sorry, but...if I had to choose between you and me on who goes to meet their maker...I'd choose me every single time...you're...just too precious to me." Kenshin said.
"You're too precious for me to lose!" Yukari cried out. "Without you, there is no me!"
"And who would be there to comfort Miyuki and Mom...and everyone else?" Kenshin asked.
"...I...I know you're going to ask me to carry on...but...I..I don't know if I can take losing you a second time." Yukari sobbed.
"Please...Yukari...you're the only one who can...promise me...it's...the only way...I'll be able to rest...in peace..." Kenshin panted out.
"..." Yukari squeezed her eyes shut. "A...Alright...I..I will."
"Thank you..." Kenshin said as he fell forward landing on the ground. Placing the orb in his hand into hers as he fell.
"Kenshin..?" Yukari said.
"..." He didn't respond
"KENSHIN! !" Yukari screamed out as she clutched him in her arms.
"..." Ophis stepped forward and placed her hand on Yukari's shoulder. "Kenshin asked me to do this, I, am sorry." She said as she used her magic to send Yukari out of the dimensional gap, leaving Kenshin behind.
"...That hurt...why couldn't I have died then...?" Kenshin said with dull eyes, looking up at the sky, flipping onto his back.
"Kenshin." Ophis said kneeling down next to him.
"Ophis...I...wish...I could have had the chance...to ease your loneliness...even if only by a bit..." Kenshin said with a tired smile.
"..." A shiver ran through Ophis' body that she couldn't control.
"..." Kenshin looked back up at the sky. "Grandfather, Grandmother...Dad...I'll be home...soon..." He said, breathing out his last breath.
"..." Ophis reached forward and closed his eyes. "..." Ophis looked at him blankly. She heard the Yonseirei crying. Her eyes stung so she rubbed them. When she pulled her hand back she noticed her index fingers were both wet. "...I...am crying...?" She said. She reached up and held her temple in her hand. "...When did this happen...?" She wondered as her eyes stung again. "When...did I...become attached to you Kenshin...you and the Sekiryuutei both...?"
What the Infinity Dragon Goddess didn't realize...was that she considered both Kenshin and Issei as friends even if she didn't talk with Issei that much...and now, she knew just how badly it hurt to lose that. The spirits came out of his body and looked upon him. "..."
"...What will you do now?" Ophis asked.
"...Go to Yu-" Sylph was cut off.
"We will return to Makai for now..." Salamander interrupted.
"Mandy...?" Sylph said. "I thought we were going to Yukari-Chan."
"...No...I'm with Salamander on this one. I want to go home for a bit...and check in on my people." Undine said. "You should come too Sylph. I'm sure you must be worried about your friends in the forest."
"...Yeah..." Sylph said with a morose expression.
"..." Gnome kept staring at Kenshin.
"Are you going to your desert?" Salamander asked.
"..." Gnome nodded, but reached for Kenshin. "!"
"...The end result for all devils, they turn to dust." Ophis said with her eyes closed as Kenshin's body crumbled away. A purple orb was left behind. "Leaving behind the soul."
"...Tch..." Salamander said looking at the orb, or rather Kenshin's soul. "That just makes it worse..." She said.
"...Yes..." Undine lamented.
"No wonder there were so many similarities..." Sylph said.
"..." Gnome stared solemnly at Kenshin's soul.
"...It looks almost like his did." Ophis said. "The one Ddraig called the best Sekiryuutei...and the one who came the closest to achieving Ragnarok's great power...both are now gone..."
The orb that housed Kenshin's soul, had the elements spiraling around it in a calm harmony.
(break)
In another area of the Dimensional Gap.
Forbesii walked through the Dimensional Gap until he found a bloody, smoldering Rizevim. "Huhuhuhu...you're looking a little...well, not well done, cause you're still bleeding, but we'll call you medium rare."
"I'm not a steak you jackass!" Rizevim shouts.
"Hmhmhm..." Forbesii chuckled and took a phoenix tear out of Rizevim's pocket and poured it on him.
"Hrng...that bastard and his little animist sluts." Rizevim growled as he sat up, referring to Kenshin, Sylph, Salamander, Gnome and Undine. "He almost killed me, the fucker."
"Yes. Kenshin-kun is quite strong. There's a reason he was was sung in the same graces as Ragnarok Kuroshi was, in your world anyway." Forbesii said. "There's also his temperament to consider."
"His temperament?" Rizevim said.
"Yes, he was already going to die, he knew it, you knew it. So really what else did Kenshin-kun have to lose that wasn't already going to be lost?" Forbesii said. "He stopped trying to preserve himself and truly went full tilt."
"Hn, I guess..." Rizevim grunted.
"You know, Kenshin likely sent his memories of that fight, and the one he had with me back to his allies like I said before." Forbesii said.
"Yeah so?" Rizevim asked.
"Let's say the current Satans think you're dead...I have a plan that we might be able to implement if they do, would you be willing to cooperate? And if they don't...well then we can carry on as usual" Forbesii said with a calm smile.
"Hmm...if that is the case, what would I have to do?" Rizevim asked.
"Give me some of your biological material, and then lay low for awhile and let Euclid-kun stand in your place for the time being." Forbesii said. "Let me handle the plan itself."
"Hmn...very well." Rizevim shrugged. "Let us adjourn to your castle, Maouzyou for the time being."
"Fine by me." Forbesii said as the two disappeared.
(break)
In the area where the Kuroshi and Gremory parties had set up the Dragon's Gate. Everyone was waiting anxiously. When only Issei's evil pieces had returned through the gate, everyone was shocked. Asia was near inconsolable...Sextum and Kazumi were openly weeping. Kuroka had her own tears streaming down her face. Le Fay was bawling at the loss of her hero. Rias had her own tears dripping down her face at the loss of the person who was like a little brother to her. Seeing how that could not be good news. Yukari activated the Balance Breaker and dove through the gate, into the dimensional gap.
She had not returned yet and it had been quite some time. "Keep it open." Hikari said to Azazel.
"I know that, but..." Azazel said. "Huh?"
The seal array that housed the door glew brightly and when it died down. Yukari was there. "? !" She looked around frantically. "Send me back! !"
"We can't, you wouldn't survive the trip a second time." Tannin said.
"I DON'T CARE! !" Yukari screamed. "I won't leave him behind! He at least deserves a proper burial! !"
"? ! !" A wave of shock went through the room. Azazel closed his eyes and laid his fist into a wall. "Dammit! !"
"B-Burial...h...hey...y-you're...y-you're joking...r-right?" Rias said, her eyes wide with shock, tears flowing from her eyes as she fell to her knees.
Akeno sat on the floor, a dead look in her eyes. Ravel hugged Koneko tightly, who wasn't reacting any other way than shaking her head, muttering 'No...' while weeping.
"No...first Issei-kun, now Kenshin-kun too?" Kiba said with his own tears flowing from his eyes.
"No...Onii-Chan NO! !" Miyuki cried out, crashing into the closest person's chest, who happened to be Vali.
"..." Vali closed his eyes and held her.
"Kenshin..." Evangeline said, her head bowed. "...Hopefully you've found the peace you've been looking for all your life..."
"The Dragon of the Elements...you have my respect." Tannin said.
"...I...let another one die..." Tamamo said. "...I...I'm so sorry..." She whispered with a shivering voice.
"H-Hey! Y-Yukari! K-Kenshin's not dead...i-is he? H-He can't be! He promised me he would return!" Rias shouted, tears flowing from her eyes, a near crazed, broken look in her eyes.
(Smack!)
Yukari slapped Rias. Rias turned back toward her, holding her cheek, with wide eyes. "...Rias..." Yukari said with a conflicted look and a shaking voice. "H...He's gone Rias..." She whimpered out.
"..." Rias fell to her knees again, her eyes twitching. Kiba stepped forward and held her tightly as she let out an anguished scream.
"..." Yukari closed her eyes, her fists shaking. "Tannin...how is the situation at the Underworld Capitol?" She asked.
"The evacuations are going, but they're at risk of being overrun." Tannin said.
"...I see. I'll report there at once." Yukari said as the scale mail she was wearing began to break and her hair started to ignite. "There will be time to grieve later...after the job is complete."
"Yukari, you...you could die...you know that." Azazel said.
"Y'know...for the first time in quite some time...I'd actually welcome that." Yukari said as she teleported away.
"Tannin, make sure she doesn't get herself killed out of grief." Azazel said. "Please..."
"Yes..." Tannin said as he followed after Yukari.
Azazel turned and found that Hikari was missing. "Hikari? Where did you...?"
Hikari stood outside. Looking up at the cloudy sky, her face twitched as a raindrop hit her cheek. She wondered...why it was always her family that had to endure these kinds of hardships. The wrath of a mad king, a war they wanted nothing to do with. a psychotic would be god. Just as Kenshin was finally getting adjusted to this world again. He is killed, her son might not have been perfect, but dammit he had worked for and earned his happiness!
Hikari usually kept her composure in this situations. She had when her masters had left her and Ryuushin. She had when she was forced to nearly kill her husband when Hottan had possessed her, because she refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to her. She had even kept her composure when Ryuushin had died. She was trying to be strong for her children.
But now...
(Thud!)
A wet thudding sound was heard as her knees hit the moistened ground. Hikari had finally had enough. "Hee..." Her eyes burned with tears as she squeezed them shut. She bit her bottom lip as her body shook, her hands balled up into fists.
She felt so helpless. Her son was gone, and all she wanted was to have him back, to hold him in her arms and to do anything she could to make up for the time she still had not had with him. She didn't want to see her daughters, his sisters crying like they had been over him or in Yukari's case, holding back her tears, throwing herself into battle, not caring if she came out of it at all.
"!" Her eyes shot wide open as a pair of arms wrapped around her. She looked over and saw blonde bangs, and darker hair. "...A..za...zel...?" She said.
"If you want to cry, you should go ahead and cry." Azazel said. "You are a mother who has just out lived one of her children. Something no parent should ever have to experience."
"..." Hikari felt something inside of her shatter as the tears began pouring out of her eyes, letting out a loud cry of anguish. She felt Azazel's embrace strengthen.
"It's OK, I'm here for you Hikari, as long as you need me to be." Azazel said.
"...Why can't it ever be me for once...why does it have to be Ryuushin...and now Kenshin..." Hikari asked.
"Because...they would never have it that way." Azazel said. "They would much rather die themselves, then have lost you, or anyone they cared about...at least that's what I think."
"But it hurts so much!" Hikari wailed. "It hurts...so badly to be the one that gets left behind..."
"I know." Azazel said."Just let it all out, it's OK...I won't leave you."
Today, Hyoudou Issei and Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin left so many behind, who were now tasked with picking themselves back up again.
(Chapter end)
Draconis: (hangs a closed sign on his door) No character convo to end this chapter.
Some of you might be wondering why I decided to introduce Rizevim this early, a full four volumes before he's supposed to be...well...two and a half considering one and half of those four volumes are side story collections. As referenced at the end of his fight with Kenshin. He will be working with Forbesii on something in the near future.
As for why Kenshin was able to hang with him, well Forbesii said it. Kenshin had nothing left to lose that he wasn't already going to lose, so why preserve yourself at that point? At this point Rizevim is still stronger, in a fight that Kenshin actually tried to not die in, Rizevim would win.
And how Issei died happened like in canon.
Anyway, see you all next time. Oh! Also, I'm taking some time to work on a oneshot and update another story, so please don't expect the next chapter too quickly.
Draconis678 out.