Draconis: Easy Kenshin, you'll get him soon enough.
Kenshin: What? I'm just going past you and Forbesii to get a drink.
Forbesii: Whatever you say.
Draconis: Whatever
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 65
An Army of Mimicry
Draconis: Begin. Also I'm closing the poll, no ones voted on it in three chapters.
(start)
Out in the ocean. Kraken and Poseidoness stood together underwater. "So, are you ready?" Poseidoness asked, already transformed into her beast form, multiple red tentacles spanning out in several directions.
"About as ready as I'll ever be." Kraken said. "What's taking Laura so long."
"The Drowned City is a ways away from here." The two turned to find a mermaid with dull blue eyes pale skin and a deep blue tailfin. "It's why I don't often come to council meetings in person unless my presences is implicitly requested."
"Aah, it's nice to see you Laura." Kraken said.
"My people are all in position." Laura said before looking above them. "What's going on there?" She said seeing ships.
"Above water support I guess." Kraken said.
"It is. One of the captains is a descendant of mine." Poseidoness said. "Pass the message along to your people that they are to avoid the barrels they're going to drop in the water."
"Aaah, Depth Charges." Laura nodded and got in touch with her general. "The ships above you are friendly, avoid their barrels, they're depth charges."
"Yes Laura-Sama. I will pass this intel along." The voice on the other line said.
"Hm?" Kraken looked out toward Hellgondo. "We got company."
"Finally." Poseidoness said.
"Is it the same for you?" Laura asked.
"Yes, I'm receiving reports from the our lieutenants that aquatic type youkai are pouring into the sea from Hellgondo." Her general said.
"OK, just like Akatama-San told us. Look for the core, destroy it and move on and keep an eye out for your clone." Laura said.
"Yes Laura-Sama."
(break)
Meanwhile, on the actual continent.
Everyone was rushing forward. "How much further Kenshin-kun? !" Kiba asked.
"Tamamo?" Kenshin said.
"It shouldn't be too much further now." Tamamo said. "Hellgondo, while it is the continent where the capitol is situated, it's also the smallest overall continent in Makai."
"Well there's your answer." Kenshin said.
"Hey!" Kazumi called out from above. "We got company!"
"Heh." Kenshin smirked. "Looks like Forbesii's rolling out the welcome wagon for us! PREPARE FOR BATTLE! !"
"PREPARE FOR BATTLE!" The battle cry spread throughout the Youkai Revolution.
"Kazumi do you see any targets we should be concerned about?" Kenshin asked.
"Hang on." Kazumi said. "...Not right off hand no, I'll keep you updated."
"OK." Kenshin said as he got in contact with the devils, Irina and Azazel. "Alright, this seems to just be a preliminary force. Take them down fast and move on."
"Got it." Rias and her peerage said.
"Understood." Sona and hers said.
"Roger that." Tamamo and the rest of Kenshin's peerage said.
"This should be simple." Vali said.
"Don't underestimate them too much. This is part of the force Forbesii kept here after all." Rasai said.
"Thanks Rasai I was just about to say that, but at the same time, Vali does have a point, if it's just ranks and files we might lose troops sure, but as long as we're careful we should be fine." Kenshin said.
"Still, keep an eye out." Grayfia said.
"Yeah, there's still no telling what's hidden in their ranks." Serafall said.
"Also, Azazel now would probably be a good time for you and your group to split." Kenshin said. "We'll cover your path."
"Got it. On me!" Azazel called out.
"Hey! Part of their force is splitting!" Members of the Homunculi force shouted.
"Hold! We don't need to give these rebels any advantages! Let the others handle it. In case you haven't noticed, the Vice Commander himself charges at us!"
"Hah! Glad to see I inspire such fear!" Kenshin smirked, leaping into their forces with Issei and Vali at his sides. "Balance BREAK!"
"Welsh Dragon! Balance Breaker!"
"Vanishing Dragon! Balance Breaker!"
"Balance Breaker! Elemental Overdrive!"
"But in all seriousness." Vali said.
"He's not the only one you should worry about." Issei said. "Dragon Shot!"
"Norse Lightning!" Vali shouts.
"Katensho!" Kenshin shouts.
The three attacks cut through the homunculi ranks. "Get them!"
"Yahaha!" Bikou said appearing next to Vali and batting some away with his staff.
"Haa!" Yukari shouts appearing in front of Kenshin and carving up anyone stupid enough to charge Kenshin.
"Sword Birth!" A eruption of swords halted the progress of any homunculi going toward Issei.
"Grh...!"
"Send the rest." Kenshin said.
"Get in there, all of you!" Lord Sabasa shouts.
The Youkai Revolution rushes in and collides with the Homunculus Army. "Devils, Irina, Bikou, Arthur, Le Fay, Cardinals and Taiyoukai pace yourselves we still got more to fight!" Kenshin said.
"Right, leave the grunts to our grunts!" Miyuki said. "We can't afford to spend too much effort here."
"We hear you and already realize that." Reina said sending a burst of wind outward, taking several homunculi out.
"Yeah I mean some of us have fought in a war before." Sheena said ramming a lightning covered fist through a homunculus' chest.
"I know, we look to you experienced ones to guide those without." Kenshin said.
A circle appeared next to Kenshin's head. "Kenshin, incoming three o'clock!"
"? !" Kenshin bent over backward as a spinning gold plate, enchanted by wind magic nearly split him in two. He let himself fall back and flipped back onto his feet. He looked to where the plate came from only to then stare in shock. "What? !"
"No..." Tamamo said with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"So you're Kenshin. I must admit, I'm impressed. The youkai haven't been this united since before I took throne."
The woman who spoke had blue-violet skin, a deep red snake tail that got lighter near the tip. She wore a similar top as Alice, but her chest was far bigger and instead of skirt Alice wore, this woman wore a cloth with one plate attached to it. Another similar plate came back to her and attached to the cloth. She also had two very thick black horns protruding from the back of her head and curving around to point forward.
"No, Alipheese the Fifteenth? !" Tamamo shouts. "Azazel said that the limit on the Homunculus Project was five years!"
"My body was exhumed roughly two years after my death." Alice XV said. "Through exhaustive means, my body was treated of all wounds and was revived, but then I was put to sleep. I was designated as a secret weapon if there was ever a rebellion."
"...Bastard..." Kenshin growled with a deep scowl, his hatred for Forbesii growing.
"I hear you killed Shin Tatsu. I saw him after he did the same thing I did...I berated him for it, but you must take me down as well." Alice XV said.
"Kenshin, you need to continue on." Yukari said. "Let me handle her."
"No, let me do it, we have a history together. I should be the one to lay her back to rest." Sheena said.
"Kenshin...?" Tamamo said seeing him stare hard at Alice XV.
"I'll do it." Kenshin said. "She needs to be dealt with quickly and if Alice comes to the battlefield, I sure as hell don't want her fighting her own mother. Besides. I don't have a history with her. There's no mind games she can play with me."
"He is right. He is probably the best opponent." Alice XV said.
"Finish up and move on, I'll catch up." Kenshin said.
"Right...this is after all why we slotted alternative opponents for Forbesii." Yukari nodded. "Good luck."
Everyone gave Kenshin and Alice XV some space. "Tell me, before we begin...how is she?" Alice XV asked.
"She is alright." Kenshin said. "She's currently sleeping, or at least I hope she is."
"You aren't the only one." Alice XV said with her eyes closed. "It's good to hear she is still alive."
"I don't care what Forbesii was to you two, but Alice was your real daughter. You should have never offered up your own life." Kenshin said. "Same with Shin!" He leaped toward Alice XV. "Flash Kill!"
"Hn!" Alice XV raised both gold plates and defended against the attack.
"I saw the event of your death through a dream." Kenshin said. "Your daughter never truly got over your death!"
"I realize this, but you haven't had children before, so who are you to comment on my decision?" Alice XV asked as her gold plates glew and a burst of wind blew Kenshin back.
"Hah! What do I know? I know that because you refused to deal with Forbesii properly. It inflicted untold damage on Makai." Kenshin said.
"Hmn!" Alice XV extended her hand at Kenshin. "Frost Ozma!"
"!" Kenshin flew away as the area around him exploded in ice.
Alice XV took his back and sent the tip of her tail at his head. "? !" She watched as Kenshin moved his head out of the way and caught it, turning and driving his palm into her ribcage. "Ghn!" Blood filled her mouth as she was sent flying back.
"Hn...so it really is her reanimated corpse, same with Dad and Shin." Kenshin thought as the Fifteenth Demon Queen caught herself in mid air.
"Hahaha, I see you're worthy of the power bestowed upon you." Alice XV said. "It pleases me to see the future of Makai, potentially in good hands."
"Stop posturing and let's continue." Kenshin said holding Kuroi Jigoku at the ready.
"Of course, but in this form, I stand no chance against you." Alice XV said.
"Hn?" Kenshin narrowed his eyes curiously.
"Have you ever felt it odd that my daughter Alice overflows with dark magic, that I do as well?" Alice XV said.
"What are you on about?" Kenshin said.
"This is because dark magic runs unrestrained in and out of our bodies." Alice XV said. "So, what would happen if that magic were to be compressed."
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened in realization.
A dark aura surrounded Alice XV's body and grew thicker and more oppressive by the second. "Shit!" Kenshin took off toward her.
"? !" Tamamo looked up after batting a homunculus away with her tails. "No...that's a technique of the Dark Goddess'!"
Kenshin slashed Kuroi Jigoku at Alice XV only to have it collide against the shell of pure power exuding off of her. "Ghh!"
"Haa!" Alice XV shouted out, a pulse of her power sending Kenshin flying backward.
"Hn!" Kenshin stabilized himself and looked out at Alice XV. Her lamia features were gone, replaced by more human ones.
"This form can be held by either our lamia bodies or human forms, I just find it easier to fight in this human form." Alice XV said crossing her arms.
"..." Kenshin glared hard at her. "Damn, this just got a whole lot harder." His eyes widened as the Fifteenth Demon Queen disappeared.
"Behind you." Alice XV said.
"? !" Kenshin turned and raised his sword and naginata to defend against her punch. "Damn! Her physical power has increased greatly, and I can barely sense her in a serene state!"
"Graah!" Alice XV shouted knocking him back.
"What just happened? How did she grow so powerful?" Rias asked, landing next to Tamamo, blasting homunculi away with her magic.
"It's a secret, forbidden technique of the Fateburn clan." Tamamo said. "Their dark magic is so potent it has to waft around the body at most times or else it drives them to madness. It was dubbed the Vessel of Darkness when the Dark Goddess first used it."
"Kenshin..." Rias said looking up at Kenshin trading blows with Alice XV. "Be careful."
(break)
Back at the ships.
"!" Alice shot out of the bed she was laying in. "Uhn...how long was I out?" She wondered to herself as she left the bed and went outside. "? !" She noticed the clear signs of the ship's crew doing battle. She ran down the ship's captain. "Hey, where is everyone, where's Kenshin?"
"The Vice Commander made a judgment call and decided to leave without you m'lady." The Captain said. "Akatama of the Grand Cardinals rationalized it saying if you fell, we'd lose the reason we were even fighting this war."
"..." Alice narrowed her eyes and looked out toward Hellgondo. "So the battle's already underway."
"Here it is." The Captain nodded. "I wouldn't know about over there on land, but we've been dropping depth charges for about an hour now."
"I see, keep up the good work, but I'm heading to the battlefield. I need to be with my people as they fight." Alice said.
"I see, may the Dark Goddess watch over you my Queen." The Captain said with a respectful bow.
"And you as well." Alice said as she teleported off the ship and onto the shores. A rouge homunculus saw and charged her. Their reward was to be crushed by Alice's coiling tail until their core broke. She moved north. "Well, Hellgondo hasn't changed much." She mused.
(Boom! Boom!)
"Huh?" Alice said as she heard the sounds of a fierce clash. "That sounds pretty far away, but I can hear it?"
She closed her eyes sensing outward. "Kenshin's fighting someone...but who?" She moved faster to the north, anxious to find out what was stalling her Vice Commander's charge. It was too close for him to already be at Rashoumen. It wasn't until she traveled a fourth of the way that she recognized the other signature. "That's-? !" She took off at her own version of a dead sprint.
Back with Kenshin. He was knocked back and landed on his feet. "Kenshin, tag out! Let me take over!" Yukari said.
"Why are you STILL here? ! I said to move on, all of you!" Kenshin shouts. "Shit!" He used Ninefold Rakshasa as a massive ball of flame shot toward him, cutting it down to nothing. "? !" Kenshin was decked in the face by Alice XV. He grabbed her wrist and threw her over his shoulder, slamming her to the ground.
"Krh, Yukari I hate to say it, but he's right we're just in the way and my true form is better served for fighting Forbesii." Tamamo said with a vexed look.
"Yeah, we should get moving and let Kenshin handle this." Issei said.
"I concur." Vali said. "We've already mopped up the preliminary force."
"Fine, hurry up and win!" Yukari said.
"Tamamo, until I return you're in charge!" Kenshin said as they all took off. He stared hard at Alice XV
"Forbesii wasn't always the way he is now." Alice XV said.
"I don't care, the less I know about the bastard, the easier it will be for me to slice him to ribbons." Kenshin scowled. "I already got this talk from Shin. But you know, it's kind of hard to see your point when he's doing all this shady shit!"
"I'm not saying this for him and in the end I don't think Shin Tatsu was either. We are merely explaining why we couldn't bring ourselves to kill him." Alice XV said.
"I don't get how you can continue to defend him even have he disturbed your final rest and is pitting you against your daughter!" Kenshin said leaping toward her. "Devastating Gale: Flash Kill!" He slashed outward at the Fifteenth Demon Queen.
"!" Alice XV dove out of the way only to look up. "? !"
"Heavenly Demon Revival: Gaia!" Kenshin shouts.
(crash!)
Alice XV narrowly dodged out of the way at the last second. Kenshin turned and slashed to his left. "Katensho!"
"Gah!" Alice XV shouts, crossing her arms to defend herself.
"Crushing Flame Profusion!" He punched at her, his fist colliding against her arms.
"Ghh! So powerful...!" Alice XV said as she was blown backward.
Kenshin moved above her and threw a couple of charms ahead of them. "Daichi Guntou! Gekietsu Kumori no Mai: Shadow Binds!"
"Guuaahhhh! !" Alice XV cried out, numerous fists of earth slamming into her back as strands of black magic tied her to the ground.
"Four Elements Fist! Elemental Spica!" Kenshin shouts burying his fist into the Fifteenth Demon Queen's stomach.
"Haa...haa...haa..." Kenshin stood over her. "Now, I'll leave you here, tied up and be on my wa-!"
"You really think you had me, didn't you?"
Kenshin felt a bone jarring punch land into the small of his back. "Guuah? !" Kenshin was sent tumbling painfully away. "Grrhh...!" He pushed himself up.
"Kenshin give yourself a second to heal! The small of your back, specifically your spine is cracked!" Undine said.
"Put some slime on it, hold it together while it heals. I'll try not to take anymore shots there." Kenshin thought.
"..." Alice XV looked him over. "Your body is shaking, though I'd imagine it's not from fear. You haven't been scared of me this entire time. That punch must have cracked your spine."
"Grh..." Kenshin scowled.
"The techniques you're using, the sword ones anyway, those aren't the ones Shin Tatsu knows. Yet you claim to be a student of his."
"I was, but I was unable to finish training under him." Kenshin said.
"Oh? Then who finished your training?" Alice XV asked.
"Kuroshi Ragnarok." Kenshin answered.
"..." Alice XV stared at him. "The First King of Demons who has been dead since the Divine Wars which shook Makai to it's core...you honestly expect me to believe that? !" She said taking off right at him.
"I don't expect you to believe shit!" Kenshin said taking off toward her as well, holding his naginata spinning behind him. "Haa! !" Kenshin threw his hand forward, his naginata colliding against her dark mana infused fist.
"Haaaaaa! !" Alice XV roared out.
"Rrrraaahhhh! !" Kenshin roared back. "Something else for you not to believe. Not only did he train me! I'm also his reincarnation!"
An explosion of dark and elemental magic separated the two. "Alright Kenshin your back is healed!" Undine said.
"Right, get ready! I'm going to end this with the Quadruple Giga!" Kenshin thought.
The two rushed toward each other again, but before they met, a figure appeared and knocked an attack away from Kenshin's back.
"? !" Kenshin looked back not only seeing Alice XV, meaning he had been given the slip again, but her daughter. "Alice? !"
"Kenshin, what are you doing here? You should be leading the charge not back here fighting an underling." Alice said keeping her eyes on Alice XV.
"Yes, but Alice don't you know who th-!" Kenshin was cut off.
"I know exactly who this is, but the point remains that she is not the one you're supposed to be fighting." Alice said. "You were too impatient to win...and I know what it is you were no doubt trying to do." Alice said.
"..." Kenshin stared at her back.
"But, from the moment Father's corpse appeared from Masouen and that Sitri girl's peerage told me what happened. I had begun to resolve myself for this." Alice said. "This is a Fateburn family matter."
"But..." Kenshin said.
"Are you arguing with your superior officer?" Alice said. "You have no place in this conflict, please leave."
"Nn..." Kenshin stared at her back, not budging.
"Please Kenshin, she is my mother...let me lay her back to rest." Alice said.
Kenshin clenched his fists and sheathed his sword. "I'm sorry." He said before he took off.
"Alice..." Alice XV said.
"..." Alice stared at her mother.
"No...no words can be said to take back what I did." Alice XV said closing her eyes.
"Tamamo explained it to me after I was old enough to understand it...I didn't like it, but I understood what you were trying to do..." Alice said. "Even if you failed...I'm the one who let him on the throne."
"I see..." Alice XV said. "But what will you do? I passed long before I could ever teach you the technique I'm using."
"And you think that stopped me?" Alice said.
"Hm? !" Alice XV said as dark mana began to swirl and pool around Alice's body, growing in strength by the second. "
Before long Alice stood in front of her mother in her own human form. "Like you, I found it much easier and less entrapping to move in this form." Alice said. "I only just mastered it recently."
"...Hmn!" Alice XV couldn't help the prideful smile that stretched across her face. "I see, just so you know every second I spend tied to this corpse, is another second my soul cries out in agony. Don't think of fighting me to a draw so that Kenshin boya can defeat Forbesii without me dying again...I am tired..."
"I know." Alice said closing her eyes. "That's what I came here to do. To defeat him and put you to rest again!" She said appearing in front of her mother and punching at her face.
"Grh!" Alice XV grunted grabbing her daughter's wrist, holding her back.
Suddenly Alice's fist came unclenched. "Omega Fire!" She shouts.
"? !" Alice XV's eyes widened as an explosion engulfed them both.
(break)
Tamamo and the rest of the Revolution arrived in the outskirts of a large city. "We're here." Tamamo said. "Alright! Spread out in formation and scour the capitol! If Hellgondo is the last bastion, then we've just arrived at the battlefield!"
"Yes!" The Youkai Revolution charged into the city. Meanwhile the Grand Cardinals, Devils, Irina, Bikou, Arthur, Le Fay, and Sextum walked into the city.
"This is a big place." Issei said as he looked around.
"Mmn...I kinda feel like some devil cities are bigger." Serafall replied.
"We only have access to half our total world's sphere of course the city's going to look small compared to some Underworld cities." Tamamo said.
"OK jeez, I didn't mean to offend." Serafall said with a wince.
The group proceeded deeper into the city until Le Fay's head snapped upward, as did Irina's. "We're being watched."
"Oh dear, It seems I've been spotted."
"..." Tamamo narrowed her eyes into a scowl. "You're actually coming out to meet us on the battlefield yourself Forbesii?"
A small crash was heard as the Sixteenth King of Demons landed in front of them. "Whether I wait in the back or appear in the front makes little difference. I am eager to squash this insipid rebellion." Forbesii said with a calm, emotionless smile.
"Arrogant prick." Inutora growled.
"Is it arrogance when I've proven time and again that I cannot be bested?" Forbesii asked.
"You have yet to fight us." Vali said removing his helmet.
"Hmhmhmhmhm...you devils who suffer from light and holy bane even worse than the youkai do?" Forbesii asked.
"Then how about a dragon? !"
"Hooo?" Forbesii said seeing Tiamat land in front of them in her human form. "Hello again Chaos Karma Dragon, Tiamat. I see you got rid of the collar I worked so painstakingly hard on for you."
Tiamat bristled at this. "You got lucky last time false demon, such a thing will not occur again!" She appeared above him in an instant both hands overhead. She swung them downward.
"Hmn." Forbesii made no move to avoid as a figure stopped Tiamat cold.
"? !" Tiamat's eyes widened in shock as she was stopped...by herself.
"What? !" Grayfia said.
"Hey, I thought he couldn't to make a fake of Tiamat! That's why he had to enslave her!" Saji shouts.
"Hmhmhmhm, it wasn't that I couldn't. I was just missing something." Forbesii said as Tiamat and H-Tiamat separated.
"My DNA." Tiamat growled.
"Exactly." Forbesii said, his smile becoming more callous. "Let's see who is stronger, the original...or the homunculus."
"Well that's all well and good, but you're forgetting there's more than just her!" Bikou said swinging his extended staff at Forbesii.
"Hmn..." Forbesii raised the Tsurugi no Kami above his head to defend as another figure shot past him and buried his fist into Bikou's stomach.
"Guah? !" Bikou spat out blood. He looked up only to recoil. "What the? !"
Standing before him was himself. "You see...I didn't just stop there." Forbesii said. "Kenshin-kun was allowed to go out and enlist the help of devils, a fallen angel...and even an angel...so I thought...why don't I do the same."
"? ! !" Everyone's eyes widened as they found themselves standing across from themselves.
"Nngh..." Yukari scowled.
"What in the hell? !" Issei said in shock.
"..." Grayfia went silent.
"I've heard of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, but this is nuts!" Serafall shouts.
"You see, how can you even think about taking me on, when you'll be so busy trying to kill yourselves." Forbesii said with a smirk.
"Please tell me he didn't discover the seal on me...if he did, it could be only a matter of time before he breaks it, one by one until only Mother remains." Tamamo thought, scowling at Forbesii.
"Yes, I didn't bother with the support ranks however. So the ones known as Ravel Phenex, Asia Argento and the one who was too pathetic to homunculize, Gasper Vladi can relax. But there was also one person I could not homunculize." He said he shot forward.
"That would be me, wouldn't it? !"
Forbesii was kicked back by none other than Kenshin. "Aah, Kenshin-kun...I was wondering when you'd arrive."
"Forbesii..." Kenshin scowled as he looked out at Forbesii's homunculus force. "How did you get your hands on their DNA?"
"It was during my time with Rizevim's Khaos Brigade...you would not believe how lax the Sitri hospitals security system is." Forbesii said. "You'd think they'd be more cautious with all the things they have on file. It was easy enough to replicate and or steal."
"Krh...!" Sona growled.
Kenshin unsheathed Kuroi Jigoku, the elements already starting to spiral around it. "Does your audacity know no bounds? You did this, and you are even using Alice's own mother against her? !"
"One must take every advantage one can get." Forbesii said with a small smirk.
"You piece of shit..." Kenshin growled.
"Alright, everyone spread out and take out your doubles." Tamamo said keeping an eye on her own homunculus.
Everyone spread out, leaving Kenshin and Forbesii alone. "You've never beaten me before Kenshin, what's going to lead me to believe that's going to change now." Forbesii asked.
"Well for one, I'm not exhausted like I have been the last few times we've met." Kenshin said. "For two...I'm not going to hold back!" He shouts as his armor shatters, the jewels fusing into his body.
"Ooooh?" Forbesii said shielding his eyes with barely restrained fascination. "So this is the Vessel of the Elements huh...so powerful...how magnificent."
"..." Kenshin stared at Forbesii. "Something's wrong...he's seen it before I know that much, but he doesn't seem the least bit intimidated by it...does he really think he can defeat me in this form?" Kenshin bristled at the thought. "Forbesii! !" He roared
Forbesii raised his sword as Kenshin slashed downward with Heavenly Demon Revival. The ground cratered beneath his feet. "Such amazing power...splendid, show me more Kenshin-kun." Forbesii said with a smirk.
"Grhh..." Kenshin's scowl deepened. "You're going to regret having requested such a thing...Forbesii!" He cocked his fist back, surrounded in the elements. "Elemental Spica!"
"Grh!" Forbesii growled as Kenshin's fist impacted his cheek, sending him flying away. Kenshin appeared at his side and surrounded his leg in earth and flame magic.
"Crushing Lava Profusion!" Kenshin shouts.
"Guah!" Forbesii gasped in pain as Kenshin kicked him high in the sky, his back burned as lava scattered around from the kick. "He's gotten better at external molding, interesting, but it's still not up to snuff." He thought.
Forbesii caught himself and looked around. He turned and saw Kenshin coming in hot from a distance. "Yes...keep it up Kenshin, keep attacking me fiercely, but know that you will never win in that form." Forbesii thought as he barely caught each of Kenshin's slashes as he used Ninefold Rakshasa.
"Dragonic Asura!" Kenshin roared.
"Hrrhh!" Forbesii let himself be taken back by the large flame dragon that Kenshin sent out. He slashed the Tsurugi no Kami downward and cut the dragon in half. He then slashed the sword to his right. "Sun God's Wrath!"
"Hn? !" Kenshin watched as a white hot column of fire was expelled from the Tsurugi no Kami and was sent screaming right at him. "Don't make me laugh!" He pointed Kuroi Jigoku forward, surrounded in wind and water magic and flew through the column, cutting through it and appearing in front of Forbesii, his naginata spinning rapidly with the elements surrounding it. "Elemental CATACLYSM!" Kenshin roared throwing the blade into Forbesii's side.
"Grah!" Forbesii growled in pain as he was sent crashing into the ground where the attack exploded in a brilliant display of elemental magic.
"..." Kenshin waited for the dust to settle, but when it did, he saw Forbesii getting to his feet. The Demon King looked up and smirked at Kenshin. "What's going on here? I know my attacks are hitting home, but how is it he's not even the least bit injured?"
(break)
With Azazel.
Azazel's group had already arrived at the mainframe of the building to the northwest of Rashoumen where Forbesii was cranking out his homunculi. "Alright, your guy's job is to protect me while I look into this." Azazel said.
"Sir." The men and women nodded.
Azazel walked up to the computer and started hammering away at keys. "Say, Azazel-Sama, your society I hear is a lot like ours, so how did you become so technologically sound?" One of the women asked.
"Well I was curious about things and wanted to find out how they worked." Azazel said. "This along with getting my V-card swiped ended up getting me kicked out of Heaven." Azazel shrugged. "Now if you please. I have to concentrate."
"Of course, sorry Azazel-Sama." She said.
"It's cool." Azazel said. "Alright I'm in."
"Hey, we got company!" One of the men said.
"Protect Azazel-Sama while he works!" Another man said.
Azazel glanced back as the youkai started fighting with the homunculi that showed up. "So that's how they were defending it eh? Alright, let's try looking for a self destruction sequence...no. Smart. If it was there anyone with hacking abilities could trigger it. If we weren't enemies I'd have liked to strike up a technological conversation with that Demon King." Azazel kept hammering away at keys. "Well while I have access why don't I look for ways to remotely deactivate the homunculi.
He didn't find a deactivation sequence right away, but he did however find a list. "Huh?" Azazel looked down the list. "What the hell? He managed to make doubles of all the devils outside of Ravel, Asia, Gasper and Kenshin?"
"That's not the only ones he made..."
"? !" Azazel turned only to get batted to the left. He caught his bearings and looked over to find...himself. "Huh, how did he get a hold of my DNA?"
"Heh, remember when you cut your arm off against Katerea Leviathan?" H-Azazel said.
"Yeah?" Azazel said with a curious look.
"You spilled a lot of blood. The Demon King had certain scouts in place for the Khaos Brigade to fill him and their leaders in on certain goings on...well except for the Infinity Dragon Goddess of course. One of those scouts grabbed a few vials of the blood and that's all one really needs."
"Huh...so that might explain how Forbesii might know how to fight Kenshin so well. He's been watching his tape." Azazel said.
"Yep." H-Azazel said.
"So, I have a question before we begin." Azazel said. "A couple actually."
"OK?" H-Azazel said.
"God it feels weird talking to myself like this." H-Azazel snickered at this. "So anyway. I noticed Slime Queen Erubetie was on that list of doubles, but how?"
"Well, when she was killed, her murderer scooped up some of her slime and stored it away and headed for the hills. He brought it back to Forbesii, who then waited for her to be revived." H-Azazel said.
"He knew Erubetie would be revived?" Azazel said.
"He also knew Kenshin wouldn't stay dead...you would be shocked at how much that man actually knows." H-Azazel said. "...Everything that's happened so far has played right into his hands."
"..." Azazel narrowed his eyes in thought. "The events of this war to this point have played into his hands?" Azazel thought.
"Your other question?" H-Azazel said.
"Is there a remote shut off for you homunculi?" Azazel asked.
"Of course. Normal homunculi are easy to control, but those with powerful wills and strength are a little harder to manage, like myself or Tiamat. So Forbesii only dusts us off for special occasions." H-Azazel said.
"So that's why he only sent waves in." Azazel said. "One more...why wasn't he able to make a double of Kenshin? I noticed that Kenshin was on the list, but it had an 'X' on it and when I hovered over it. It said 'Impossible to duplicate'."
"Forbesii would have to give him the elements to run through him, just like Hottan had to do with his father, like Forbesii already had to do with Shin Tatsu...and then there's Kenshin's temperament to consider which can't be controlled, the Homunculus Kenshin would probably try to kill Forbesii before ever siding with him, this also happened with that Luka character. The current Dragon of the Elements cannot be tamed if he does not want you to do so, for that matter, it takes a great deal of dark mana to homunculize a Fateburn as well. He already had the Fifteenth, so he didn't bother making a clone of the current Queen."
"I see...well sorry, uh me...but you're in my way so I gotta kick your ass." Azazel said as a holy spear appeared in his hand.
"Heh." H-Azazel smirked. "You know, Homunculus though I am, I still have my pride to consider."
"As do I." Azazel said as his double formed a holy spear.
"LET'S GO!" Azazel and H-Azazel yell out, meeting in combat.
(break)
With Rias' Peerage.
"Gaah!" Rias shielded herself from her double's destruction magic.
"Come on, get up and writhe a bit more for me." H-Rias said with a smirk.
"Chief!" Issei said holding back his own double. "How the hell did that nutcase of a king replicate the Boosted Gear, Balance Breaker and all? !"
"Heh! You do scatter parts of your armor around when you fight you know. Those don't just go away when you drop out of it." H-Issei said.
Explosions of electricity resounded as Akeno and H-Akeno traded spells back and forth. "Ara ara, this is a first, having to bring myself to heel." Akeno said already in what Issei dubbed her S-mode.
"You really think you can?" H-Akeno said.
"Hmmn...Ufufufufu..." Both Akenos giggled. "This is going to be fun."
"Ey!" Koneko and H-Koneko's fists collided against one another. "You're just as strong as I am..." Koneko muttered.
"Of course I am, we're cut from the same cloth, I just have a core." H-Koneko muttered back.
"Haa!" Koneko punched at her double's head, her fist coated in senjutsu flames.
"Hn." H-Koneko caught her fist, her hand coated in the same flames.
"Haa!" Rossweisse and H-Rossweisse blasted each other with spells that canceled each other out. "OK, I get that he used my DNA to make you, but how do you know every single one of my spells? !" Rossweisse fumed.
"That's my little secret." H-Rossweisse said.
"Grrh!" Rossweisse growled summoning up numerous magic circles.
"Hhn." H-Rossweisse responded with the same.
(boom!)
Xenovia and H-Xenovia shielded their eyes from the blast. "It's interesting how you're able to replicate Durandal's power." Xenovia said.
"It's easy enough to replicate, I was designed to contain a lot of power." H-Xenovia said. "Especially since we're both power morons."
"Mmrn..." Xenovia glared at her double. "I always hated that label."
"Then do something about it!" H-Xenovia said slashing horizontally at Xenovia.
"Hn!" Xenovia slashed vertically the two forces expelled from the blades colliding and canceling each other out, destroying the ground and some building's around them in the process. "This is going to be difficult...difficult and annoying."
"Grrh!" Kiba and H-Kiba had to catch their bearings as they were blown by the wayside by the force. "Damn that power idiot." H-Kiba grunted. "Can't she learn to rein in her power."
"Hey she tries to, Durandal's aura is difficult to control." Kiba said as he created two swords to attack his double with.
H-Kiba blocked with swords of differing properties. "You are such an ass kisser." He grunted.
"...And you're supposed to be me?" Kiba said with narrowed eyes.
"Without all the nonsense." H-Kiba said.
"Hmn..." Kiba said as he jumped back away from a slash down his middle from his double.
"Huh I wonder why our doubles decided to team up?" Serafall asked as she and Sextum dodged lances of ice from H-Serafall and H-Sextum.
"Maybe because we can both use ice magic, though I obviously concede that you're better." Sextum said. "Haa!" She waved her hand out in front creating a cube of ice out in front of them to defend.
"Well so does Gray-Chan, but her double isn't teaming up on us." Serafall said.
"Well not everyone's going to want to team up." Sextum said. "Above!"
"Celsius Cross Trigger!" Serafall and H-Serafall launched their signature spells at each other, coating the surroundings around them in ice.
"Hrng!" Sextum put up her most powerful barrier as to not get frozen herself.
H-Sextum took this chance to shundou behind her and punch through her back. "? !" Her eyes widened as Sextum collapsed into a puddle of water.
"Nice try." Sextum said emerging from the puddle to stab her hand through her double's chest.
"Hmnhmn..." H-Sextum smirked at her. "You as well." She said before she too collapsed into a puddle of water.
"Tch.." Sextum jumped back as tendrils of water shot out of the puddle in an attempt to run her through.
"I hope So-tan's OK..." Serafall thought.
Speaking of Sona. She and her double were trading water spells at each other. "Krh...!"
"Haa!" H-Sona shouts sending a mass of water snakes at Sona.
"Hnn!" Sona leaped in the air, extending her hand downward. Her magic circle appeared on the ground.
The water snakes suddenly stopped and writhed around on the ground before turning back to puddles. "..." H-Sona glowered.
"You can't beat me with my own magic." Sona said adjusting her glasses. "That's one thing I will never allow to happen."
"We'll see about that." H-Sona said.
"Whoa? !" Saji said jumping past the two of them, taking flight away from his double.
"Get back here and let me strangle you!" H-Saji said extending his own Absorption Line at Saji.
"Oh like I would say shit like that!" Saji said countering with Black Blaze Flame.
"Delete Field!" H-Saji shouts casting the flames away.
"Tch...there's nothing either of us can do to the other...no matter what happens we can both get out of the other's techniques."
It was the same all over the battlefield. Evangeline, Yukari, Grayfia, Miyuki, Hikari, Alma, Granberia, Erubetie, Tamamo...everyone was deadlocked by their doubles and vice versa.
(break)
With Alice.
"Haaaaa! !" Alice and Alice XV roared, trading spells against one another. (1 )
"Haa...haaa..haa..." Alice XV and Alice both panted as the dust settled.
"She's powerful...as to be expected from my mother." Alice thought.
"Are you going to start trying? I know you're stronger than this...stronger than I am." Alice XV said.
"? !" Alice's hands moved on their own and interlocked with her mother's holding her back.
"As a matter o' fact, you're currently the strongest Fateburn since the Dark Goddess herself, easy to see because you are the product of a union between a Fateburn and a Dragon of the Elements, like she did with Ragnarok Kuroshi." Alice XV said.
"Krh..." Alice said.
"So why are you hesitating?" Alice XV said.
"I know I said I would, but how can you expect me to murder my own mother without hesitation?" Alice said. "The last time I saw you, I was just a little girl!"
"..." Alice XV jumped back and closed her eyes. "I understand Alice, I truly do...but what's was thought to be dead for years...should stay dead, but let's make this easier for you then." Alice XV extended her dominant hand forward. "If you do not defend or retaliate against this...I will kill you." She said as her dark mana condensed strongly around her arm. "If you'd rather not die, you'd better do me in."
"!" Alice quickly gathered her own mana around her dominant arm.
"Here I come!" Alice XV said taking off toward her daughter.
"Khh!" Alice mirrored her.
"..." At the last second before they met. Alice XV's fist twitched upward, sailing over Alice's shoulder, missing her completely.
"? !" Alice's eyes widened as her own fist tore through her mother's chest.
"Kuhh..." Alice XV gasped out, blood filling her mouth.
"..." Alice held her mother up. "Y...You...let me..."
"Aye...I did..." Alice XV said. "I needed my blood to get hot enough to be able to resist his commands to some degree."
"!" Alice let out a quiet gasp.
"I'm...sorry I let things...get this bad...that Kenshin fellow was right...Shin Tatsu and I should have dealt with him properly." Alice XV said.
"B-But...I'm the one who..." Alice XV cut her daughter off.
"If we had dealt with him, you never would have had to make that decision." Alice XV said.
"Kh..." Alice screwed her eyes shut.
"Alice...I must say...I'm happy." Alice XV said.
"Wh-What?" Alice asked.
"I was...allowed to see you, as the fully grown, strong, beautiful woman...I always knew you'd be..." Alice XV said pulling herself away to look into her daughter's eyes with a smile.
"..." Alice stared into her mother's eyes.
"I'll tell Shin Tatsu all about you..and hear his own stories about you...Goodbye...My Beloved Daughter..." Alice XV said as she fell backward, reverting to her true form as she breathed her last breath.
"..." Alice stared down at her mother's unmoving form. A tear drop hit her mother's cheek. She knew she had to keep moving, and make her way to Rashoumen, but at the same time...she just couldn't.
"You have every right to cry out in this situation, Alice." She thought of what Kenshin might say.
Alice slowly wrapped her arms around her mother's body, pulling her in close, letting out a mournful scream.
(break)
With Azazel.
"Whoa!" Azazel said as he avoided volleys of light spears from his double. "Watch where you're throwing those!"
"Why the hell would I do that? !" H-Azazel shouts.
"Nn!" Azazel dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding getting his head taken off. "Man, I've felt his spears connect he's really as strong as I am." He thought. "But still..."
Azazel glanced outward to find that his forces were winning the battle of attrition against the homunculi that were being cranked out. "Hey you should probably pack it in man. I'd rather not kill myself."
"Well you're pretty cocky." H-Azazel said appearing in front of him and punching the real Azazel in the stomach.
"Guoh!" Azazel doubled over, holding his stomach. "...Heh." Azazel moved his free hand and stabbed his homunculus in the back with a short light sword.
"? !" H-Azazel jumped to the side before Azazel could rip the light sword upward toward his core. "The hell are you doing? !" He said pulling the sword out of his back.
"Fighting dirty, I mean I am one of the Fallen Angels, I'm allowed to play dirty." Azazel said with a coy smirk.
"My data on us suggests you're a borderline pacifist, even when they fight it's supposed to be by the book." H-Azazel said.
"Well then..." Azazel's smirk widened. "I guess I'm going off script here, I don't have time to fuck with you right now. There's a war to win!"
"!" H-Azazel created two light swords to counter Azazel's as the former Grigori leader shot toward him.
"Heh." Azazel opened his mouth and grabbed a short light sword with his teeth, jerking his head to the right and slashing his double across the throat.
"Guah!" H-Azazel jumped back, covering his neck, glaring at him.
"Hm...interesting. I was right. He may have my personality and my tendencies, but he does not have my creative mind." Azazel thought casting away the sword between his teeth.
"Bastard!" H-Azazel spat, appearing in front of his counterpart and slashing wildly at him.
"You're just a fake." Azazel said, easily blocking each one of his fake's strikes with one sword while he turned his other sword and ramming the butt of it toward his homunculus' chest.
"? !" H-Azazel's eyes widened as it turned into a spearhead half way through the thrust. He narrowly avoided being pierced through the core, but was unable to avoid the headbutt from Azazel sending him staggering backward. Azazel extended his left arm(2) at his double and it fired off at him.
"Hn? !" H-Azazel grunted and knocked it upward. It spun above him and stabilized itself. The fingers flexed and shot tiny missles down at him from the tips. "Gragh! Aaghh!"
"And...laser." Azazel said clicking a button in his hand.
"Gaaah!" H-Azazel growled out as the laser impacted him. He looked around in the dust and smoke, but couldn't find Azazel.
(stab!)
"Guuhhh...? !" H-Azazel looked behind him to see Azazel holding a thin spear in hand. He felt his body crumbling. "Gaah...dammit..." He cursed. "He knows a lot about Kenshin, but that idiot Forbesii didn't bother doing adequate research on the rest of ya. Believing that Sword of God would be too much for you all to handle."
"It is a gamechanger, but it's not an end all be all." Azazel said. "As long as we devils, youkai and I be careful we'll be fine."
"Well, we'll just see then, won't we?" H-Azazel said with a weary smirk before crumbling completely.
Azazel cast away his spear and called his left hand back. "Aah, some slight damage, but nothing to write home about." He said giving it a once over. He walked back to the console and hammered keys. "I may not be able to destroy it, but lets halt any further production...aaannnddd...done." He said as the machine powered down, leaving the access console on. The youkai around him cheered as they mopped up the joint.
Azazel meanwhile got in touch with Kazumi. "Hey, I have an update on the doubles situation."
"Thank goodness! Everyone's being stalemated! Even Kenshin, Grayfia-Sama and Serafall-Sama!" Kazumi said.
"Well I don't have much on the Kenshin front, but I have an update as far as the rest go. I've shut down the machine cranking these things out and there's a peculiarity, patch me through to everyone else." Azazel said.
"On it." Kazumi said. "Alright you're in."
"Everyone, the infinite army is no more. Press on, they will fall eventually!" Azazel said.
"Great! Thanks Azazel, but I'm a little busy so I have to concentrate!" Kenshin cut his connection.
"What about our doubles Azazel?" Vali asked. "He's able to do everything I can."
"Are you sure about that Vali?" Azazel said.
"Huh? What do you mean Sensei?" Issei asked.
"Think outside the box and you'll have you're answer. I'll join you all on the battlefield soon, I'm going to find a way to power down the rest of the homunculi out there. I don't think I'll be able to shut Forbesii down though." Azazel said.
"That's fine, we didn't come here only to not get our cracks at that son of a bitch." Inutora said.
"Alright, good luck." Azazel said.
"Yes!" Everyone said.
Yukari turned to her double with Miyuki behind her. "Outside the box huh?" Yukari said.
"Hmmm..." Miyuki stroked her chin in thought as she kept her eye on her double.
"Anything?" Yukari asked.
"I've got an idea, but it's a little risky." Miyuki said.
"Us even being here is risky, let's hear it." Yukari said.
"Alright, listen up." Miyuki said covering her mouth.
"..." H-Miyuki and H-Yukari narrowed their eyes at the two.
"I see...so you think that's what it is?" Yukari asked in a low tone.
"Yeah. I don't sense any elemental magic coming from either of these." Miyuki said. "They just know how we fight and have their characteristics boosted up, but there's a limit to what you can do with that."
"Right...OK then..." Yukari said. "Ready..."
"Break!" Miyuki and Yukari turned and broke for each other's doubles.
"? !" H-Miyuki raised her staff to block Yukari's swords, but the sheer velocity of Yukari's slashes knocked her on her back. She rolled to a kneel and glared.
"Haa!" Miyuki jabbed her staff over and over at H-Yukari.
"Grhh!" H-Yukari struggled to keep up.
"Heh! So they don't have elemental magic, their attributes were just boosted to the max, but with elemental magic I can go beyond that!" Miyuki thought.
"What's wrong?" Yukari said as her sister's clone. "Can't hit me?"
"Shut up!" H-Miyuki said swinging her quarterstaff at Yukari's head. Yukari ducked her head under the slash and rammed the butt of Kazeken's hilt into H-Miyuki's stomach.
"You don't have elemental magic, so when we start taking advantage of your weaknesses, there's nothing you can do about it, is there? !" Yukari drove her palm into H-Miyuki's chin, sending her upward.
"!" H-Miyuki's eyes widened as Yukari appeared above her, her blades glowing red.
"Katensho Seal: Release! Melt Slash!" Yukari shouts cutting through the homunculus' chest.
"Guh..." H-Miyuki crumbled to nothing.
"Miyuki!" H-Yukari shouts. "You bitch!" She threw the real Miyuki off of her and rushed Yukari in a rage.
"..." Yukari raised her sword to defend, but didn't have to as a red lightning covered fist tore through her double's chest.
"Not...A...Chance." Miyuki said from behind her.
"Ghh..." H-Yukari crumbled to dust.
"Haa, thanks Miyuki." Yukari said sheathing her swords.
"Yeah, but...are you alright?" Miyuki asked.
"Huh? Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Yukari asked.
"Well, I know it wasn't really me, but..." Miyuki said.
"Oh, well Miyuki I knew she was the fake so it didn't bother me to do her in. It's not like I really killed you, y'know." Yukari said with a smile.
"I-I know but I couldn't help thinking of that just now." Miyuki said.
"Well don't worry, none of our family's dying if I can damn well help it." Yukari said. "Come on, let's get out there and help out."
"Yeah." Miyuki said. The two flew around Rashoumen looking for people to assist.
"Hey, where's your staff?" Yukari asked.
"Uhm..well when the fake you knocked me away and tried to kill you just now. She cut my staff in half...and there's cracks running up both ends. Can't really use it as a weapon now."
"Oh...want to borrow one of my swords?" Yukari asked.
"No, I'll be fine with my fists." Miyuki said.
Meanwhile, Sextum and Serafall were in a building that was being lambasted by their doubles. "Gaah, they aren't letting up." Serafall said.
"It wouldn't be as bad if it wasn't your double Serafall-Sama. I can handle Evangeline-San's ice magic to an extent." Sextum said.
"Oh do go on." Serafall giggled.
"I know you're a Satan, but please be serious." Sextum said with a deadpan.
"I am, but I'm drawing up nothing. I usually relied on my peerage or Falbium-Chan for strategies." Serafall said.
"Huh, I see. So it's up to me." Sextum said. "Well...considering how strong you are, we have to account that your homunculus is as strong as you."
"Yahuh. Obviously, but we have to hit them with something she'd never expect." Serafall stroked her chin in thought. "The thing is, my clone is expecting ME to take her down and no offense Sextum-Chan, but there's no way you can pull it off, I'm just too powerful."
"Hmm..." Sextum went into thought.
"You have something?" Serafall asked.
"What if I didn't have to be the one to kill you? Only get your clone in position for you to make the killing strike." Sextum suggested.
"Uh huh, go on." Serafall said.
"Well, first I'd need you to take down my clone, so she wouldn't interfere." Sextum said.
"Consider it done." Serafall said with a grin.
"Right, and while your clone is distracted with trying to pick you off, I'll surround her in water." Sextum said. "Then I'll freeze her."
"I dunno...that's kind of a tall order for you." Serafall said. "I'm an ice mage too and far stronger than you."
"It doesn't have to last long, just enough, it doesn't even matter if she breaks out, you just need to be in position." Sextum said.
"Aaah." Serafall nodded. "Well, we haven't got much else to lose, let's give it a shot."
"Alright." Sextum said. The building crumbled around them. H-Sextum and H-Serafall watched as Sextum stood alone with a barely intact barrier. "Haa...haa...haa..."
"Where am I at?" H-Serafall said.
"Back here." Serafall said grabbing H-Sextum by the back of her neck and flying upward.
"? !" H-Serafall turned and tried to skewer her with an ice spike.
"Nice try, catch me if you can Two Bit!" Serafall said taking H-Sextum up high.
"You-! I'll show you who the two bit imitation is!" H-Serafall said.
"Hahaha! You can't even act like me!" Serafall chided as she weaved in and out of ice spells fired by her double.
"Nrgh! Let go of me!" H-Sextum growled trying to wrest herself free to no avail.
"You have no chance, now away with you!" Serafall said throwing her upward and thrusting an ice covered hand through Sextum's chest, freezing and shattering her core.
"Tch!" H-Serafall scowled. "? !" Her eyes widened as water sprung up all around her.
"Hrrnnn! !" Sextum growled as she compressed the water around H-Serafall.
"You think...this will hold me? !" H-Serafall shouts.
"For a bit, yes! Freeze!" Sextum shouts.
"Wow, she actually pulled it off." Serafall whistled, impressed.
"Hurry!" Sextum said, sweat dripping from every pore in her body. "I can't hold your double for very long!"
"Right!" Serafall said landing behind H-Serafall as the small fixture of ice was close to breaking.
(crash!)
"I don't think so!" H-Serafall said turning toward Serafall.
"..." Serafall glowered as they both extended their hands out at one another
"Celsius Cross Trigger!" They both shouted.
"Damn!" Serafall cursed as she started to get forced back. "We're the same in strength, but she's got limitless energy!"
"Guah? !" H-Serafall gasped in pain.
"Huh?" Serafall felt the double's spell weakening and lowered the strength in her own spell. She saw H-Serafall with an ice sword in her chest.
"You...You bitch..." H-Serafall said, scowling weakly at Sextum, who held the sword.
"I figured you'd be having my double watching your back so Serafall-Sama couldn't take you down that way, keeping her in front of you as it were, so when my double was taken down, you'd have to keep doing just that, but you never bothered taking me down, you thought I was too weak, and that was your downfall."
"Damn..." H-Serafall crumbled to dust.
"That was impressive, but did you have to use me as bait?" Serafall asked.
"I did." Sextum nodded. "Sorry."
"Mou..." Serafall powered.
"...You're...the cutest bait there ever was?" Sextum said.
"Yay!" Serafall bounced on her heels with glee.
"..." Sextum sweatdropped at the Leviathan's antics. "So this is what Sona-San deals with..." She thought.
(break)
With Sona.
"Do something out of the ordinary hm..." Sona said rubbing her chin in thought as she hid behind a building. "? !" She dove out of the way as a high pressure stream of water cut down where she was just standing.
"You really thought you could hide from me?" H-Sona asked.
"Tch!" Sona countered her double's barrage of water snakes with her own. "I have an idea, but it's risky." She thought.
"Come on, you're going to die if this keeps up." H-Sona said brandishing a water whip.
"Ghh!" Sona crossed her arms, but didn't anticipate getting whipped on her right calf. "Still, if this keeps up, the only result is that I will fall." She thought. "Screw it, if it doesn't work I'm done for anyway."
"Hmm? You're swaying an awful lot there." H-Sona said as Sona closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
"Come over here and try it, kill me." Sona said opening her eyes, a cold focus in them.
"Oh hoo? ! So you're conceding! Very well then!" H-Sona sharpened her whip and swung it at Sona's neck.
"? !" Saji and Tsubaki who were fighting their own doubles nearby noticed this. "Kaichou! !" They both shouted.
"Focus on yourselves!" Their doubles yelled.
"...Kenshin was right." Sona thought as she ducked under the swing at the last second available to her.
"? !" H-Sona's eyes widened at this and pulled her whip back as Sona began to advance toward her. "You!" She swung the whip at her chest. The angle making sure it would slice down her left trapezius and continue down her front.
"Attacks with abundant blood lust in them..." Sona thought as she side stepped the swing and continued advances.
"What's going on here? ! She's supposed to be a mage!" H-Sona thought as she pulled her whip back again.
"Are easy to perceive!" Sona thought, gripping her homunculus' whip hand and stopping her next swing. "You lose." Sona said placing her hand on her double's chest.
"Ghh? !" H-Sona grunted as a quarter sized hole was punched through her chest by a high pressure stream of water. "How...the hell...?" She said as she began crumbling.
"You wouldn't know of this, but lately I have been training with Kenshin to work on my internal water elemental magic molding. What you just saw was the skill Serene Mind at work." Sona said.
With Issei and Rias, the two were still fighting their doubles to a stand still when Grayfia and her double joined them. "Onee-Sama?" Rias said.
"Sorry, It was my intention to lend you two a hand, but I couldn't shake or defeat my own double." Grayfia said.
"Well, it's not like we're ahead of you in that category." Issei said with a wry laugh.
"Speaking of which, does anyone have a plan?" Rias said.
"Hmn...well I kinda had an idea, but I'm not sure it will work." Issei said. "Especially with Grayfia-San's double here."
"Well does anyone else have an idea?" Grayfia said looking at Rias.
"Uh...we-well right now I guess it would be OK to see how Issei's idea goes and go from there." Rias said.
"Right. Ahem...please excuse and forget what I'm about to do." Issei said as he stepped forward.
"Hmn?" H-Issei, H-Rias and H-Grayfia all murmured curiously.
"Y'know now that I think about it, Oppai aren't all that great." Issei said nonchalantly, as if to talk about the weather.
H-Issei's, H-Rias' the real Rias' mouths hung open at this while the two Grayfias( 3) narrowed their eyes.
"Are you shitting me? ! What are you getting at here? !" H-Issei said.
"Hmmm? Issei's changing his preference?" H-Rias said.
"I'm not! He is!" H-Issei said.
"Well, all I'm saying is why limit yourself?" Issei said with a shrug. "I mean let's be serious here. Take the two women standing next to you for example."
"One of them's married!" H-Issei balked, pointing at H-Grayfia.
"No, the real one is." Issei said jerking a thumb at Grayfia. "Unless this Demon King jackass has homunculized Sirzechs-Sama, and if that's the case, we might be royally fucked." He sweatdropped.
"...Huh, good point." H-Issei said.
H-Grayfia grabbed the back of H-Issei's head and pushed him down. "He hasn't yet, he plans to do so once he's crushed the real one."
"Him, crush Sirzechs-Sama when he seems to have his hands full with Kenshin? Give me a break." Grayfia deadpanned. "Kenshin's strong, but at their bests, Sirzechs-Sama would still crush him."
"But Kenshin doesn't have a blade that's deadly to devils, therein lies the edge." H-Rias said.
"Anyway! Back to my point." Issei said clapping his hands. "It's true that while both Chief and Grayfia-San have amazing racks." Cue an embarrassed blush from Rias and an annoyed glare from Grayfia here. "They've got so much more to offer."
"And how would you know?" H-Grayfia deadpanned.
"Eeeh, Sirzechs-Sama might have mentioned it." Issei said.
"! !" Grayfia stared at Issei's back with an angry blush, not necessarily directed at Issei himself. "Sirzechs, I'm going to kill you! Revealing my body to Kenshin on my own while I was drunk is one thing, but I don't need you talking to others about me without my permission! !" She thought.
Back in the Underworld, Sirzechs involuntarily shivered. "My 'Grayfia's going to kill me' sense is tingling." He said with a fearful look. "No...it's sounding off like a siren!"
"Sirzechs told you, really?" H-Grayfia drawled.
"Yahuh." Issei said, feeling a sweat develop from Grayfia's piercing gaze on him. "I mean, anyway. They have amazing racks, but look at them more closely."
"Huh?" H-Issei said turning to the two homunculized high class devils.
"Grayfia-San has an amazing pair of legs, she keeps them hidden but it's plain to see when she's not in her usual maid garb. Finely sculpted from all the labor she puts in with Chief's family and taking care of her son. Never let it be said that the older woman can't keep herself in shape." Issei whistled.
"Hm..." H-Issei crouched down and placed his hand on H-Grayfia's left leg, gliding it upward.
"What are you doing? !" H-Grayfia balked.
"Holy crap he's right. Your legs are nice." H-Issei said.
"H-Hey! Don't forget about me dammit!" H-Rias griped.
"I'm not." H-Issei said.
"..." Rias and Grayfia shared a glance as H-Issei began feeling the two up.
"It seems this Forbesii wasn't able to make a double of Kenshin...so are my double and Issei's an item." Rias wondered.
"Why is it I'm a little more forward when it comes to my double?" Grayfia thought.
Issei watched as H-Issei's hands explored the doubles bodies elliciting lewd moans from both of them.
"Haa...haa, not there...hyaaa...!" H-Rias moaned out feeling H-Issei's lips on her neck.
"Why are you rubbing there?" H-Grayfia said feeling H-Issei's hand rubbing her backside.
"Damn, I'm actually getting a little turned on watching this." Issei whispered as he moved his hands behind his back.
"Hm?" Rias and Grayfia saw this and watched them. Issei's right hand jabbed softly into his left and then made two thumbs up. "I see, he wants us to attack them." Rias thought.
"We'll have to be quick." Grayfia thought.
Rias and Grayfia disappeared. "Huuhh? H-Issei turned around. "Hey, where did your two go...crap!"
"Haa!" H-Rias was obliterated by a destruction orb.
"Ghh!" H-Grayfia was run through by spikes of ice erupting from the ground.
"Fuck!" H-Issei growled as Ascalon pierced his chest.
"Wow, you're even more gullible than me." Issei chuckled.
"Damn it..." H-Issei grunted as he and H-Grayfia turned to dust.
"I can't believe that worked." Grayfia said with narrowed eyes.
"Me neither, but I'm glad it did." Rias said.
"Um, before we move on, Grayfia-San, that bit about Sirzechs-Sama telling me about you was total BS." Issei said.
"...I see." Grayfia said closing her eyes. "Well it helped us win, so you're off the hook for now and so is he."
"Whew." Issei, and back in the Underworld, Sirzechs sighed in relief.
(break)
(break)
Back with Kenshin.
"Haa...haa...haa.." Kenshin panted.
"..." Forbesii raised his sword and smirked. "Getting a little winded there Kenshin-kun?"
"Shut...up..." Kenshin growled. "This is bad...I've been in the Vessel for too long, I'm losing more and more muscle tissue with each passing second, ejecting steam and my healing factor can only do so much, yet I haven't been able to put a hole in his armor yet."
"Hmhmhm...thinking of how big of a mistake you've made in facing me here today?" Forbesii said with a dark laugh.
"Mistake? ! HA! It's never a mistake to take down a tyrant!" Kenshin said appearing above him with Kuroi Jigoku overhead.
"Hmn." Forbesii bowed his head forward with his eyes closed and raised the Tsurugi no Kami to defend. The two blades clashed.
"?" Kenshin growled as he tried to over power the Demon King, but he noticed something odd. Forbesii's sword hand, which held the Tsurugi no Kami's hilt, was shaking.
What he didn't see because Forbesii's head was bowed was the wide eyed look on his face. "No...the sword is beginning to advance in it's burning again!" He thought. "I have to end this before he figures it out!"
Forbesii disappeared and took Kenshin's back. He stabbed at him only to miss as Kenshin locked his wrist with his arm, twisting his body around to throw him into a building. Kenshin charged forward. "Flash Kill!"
"Grrh!" Forbesii growled.
"What the? He's struggling now?" Kenshin thought.
"Could it be...?" Salamander thought.
"Partner, keep the attack up! He'll have to reveal his hand soon!" Yuurei shouts.
"Right!" Kenshin said driving Forbesii through the building. He pulled Kuroi Jigoku back. "Ninefold Rakshasa!"
"Hrrgh!" Forbesii growled as Kenshin slashed his sword rapidly at him. "!" The final slash called forth the Dragonic Asura which crashed into him. "Hurraaahh! !" He roared as he was forced to drop the Tsurugi no Kami.
"!" Kenshin's eyes widened in momentary shock as he noticed this. "Now's your chance! !" Yuurei shouts.
Kenshin shot toward Forbesii like a bullet, the elements surrounding his fist. "Four Elements Fist! ! ELEMENTAL SPICA! !"
"Guoh! !" Forbesii groaned loudly in pain as the fist caved in his chest. "Huah!" He gasped out, blood hitting Kenshin's face as he crashed into the ground.
Kenshin watched as the dust cleared up, Forbesii was healing, but he remained laying on the ground. "The Tsurugi no Kami burns him, slower than anyone else, but it still does! I finally get it! I found his weakness! We can finally win this! !"
Forbesii got to his feet and called the Tsurugi no Kami to his hand. Kenshin landed in front of him and slashed at the Demon King's neck. "Hrn!" Forbesii growled as he raised the holy sword to defend.
"Heh..." Kenshin smirked and shot wind magic out of his sword arm's elbow and went into a spin. "Wind Dragon's Blade Twister!" Kenshin shouts.
"Grrhh!" Forbesii growled as he used the Tsurugi no Kami's magic aura to defend.
"You look like you're in pain there JuuRokudaime-Sama!" Kenshin mocked.
"Cocky little, you think you can stand against me? !" Forbesii slashed his sword down, knocking Kenshin back as the Tsurugi no Kami cratered the ground underneath them.
"I know I can now." Kenshin said with a weary smirk. "I finally figured out your weakness, you did well hiding it, but I was gonna see it eventually."
"Hmn..." Forbesii looked down at his sword hand. He looked back at Kenshin with an emotionless smirk. "Have you now, well I commend your observation skills and your unparalleled battle sense, but you realized it too late."
"Hn?" Kenshin said.
"Your body is quivering involuntarily, the Vessel is taking it's toll on you, your bones are creaking from the strain, and I'm willing to bet you've lost well over eighty percent of your muscular structure. It's a testament to your willpower that you haven't fallen already. It won't be long now before the wind vacuum attacks your organs." Forbesii said.
"..." Kenshin glowered. "Dammit, he's right, but still! I won't give up!"
Forbesii appeared at Kenshin's side and backhanded him against a wall of the building. He put his hand next to Kenshin's head. "Tell me, have you ever wondered what happened to the family you lost all those years ago? Not your father no. He died from the poison, and you know everything else that happened to him, I refer to the family you and Yukari-kun killed."
"Hn? !" Kenshin scowled into Forbesii's eyes.
"You see, after you left and went reclused from the view of the world with your sister. I went and exhumed all of their bodies." Forbesii said.
"You-!" Kenshin growled.
"You see. When I told you before, when we met in the past that I did not care if the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans lived or died, I was only telling half the truth. I didn't care in the slightest if they lived, but I cared very greatly when I heard they had died." Forbesii said.
"Guuuaaahhh! !" Kenshin gasped loudly in pain as Forbesii ran the Tsurugi no Kami through the left side of his abdomen. "You...homunculized them too? ! You bastard! Is there no level you won't stoop too? !"
"Homunculized them, oh no. They had no worth to me as homunculi." Forbesii said with a calm smirk. "You see, Wilheim told you that he got RyuuTaisho banished, but that isn't necessarily true either. I approached him in a different form and informed him of RyuuTaisho's...admittedly false intentions to betray his trust, and set him back on his backwards path. I couldn't have RyuuTaisho turning Wilheim at that juncture."
"So you got them banished? !" Kenshin balked.
"I needed them in that position. The Kuroshi and Tsuki clans had fallen from their status in those recent years, but they were still two of the revered clans in Makai, and commanded a lot of respect from their peers and so far, each Dragon of the Elements, barring Heinrich Hein had connections to the Kuroshi clan."
"Get to the fucking point!" Kenshin shouts.
"Very well. You see, in all of Makai...there were only two clans who had resistance to holy magics, but it had been diluted over the years." Forbesii said. "They had no use to me as homunculi, so what do you think I did to their bodies after you killed them?"
"...! !" Kenshin's eyes widened in shock and horror. "No...you...you didn't! !"
"Huhuhuhuhu." Forbesii chuckled darkly. "Yes, I did. Fifty percent of my make up is the various demons I was created from, while the other fourths are the holy resisting genes I ripped out of your family. The Sword of God, a near unparalleled healing factor, and holy resistance from your...or should I say our family's genes. I owe you quite a lot Kenshin-kun, I'm well on my way to becoming the new Dark God, all thanks to you."
"..." Yuurei growled under his breath.
"You..." Kenshin bowed his head forward, grinding his teeth together in barely restrained fury. "You arranged to have my family banished, you arranged to have them killed...by me no less! !" Kenshin grabbed the blade of the Tsurugi no Kami, pulling it out of his wound cutting and burning his hand in the process. "All so you could gouge out their genes and add them to your make up? !"
Forbesii landed back on the ground as Kenshin threw him back. Bursts of wind erupted from them as they traded sword strikes. "That's right Kenshin, keep it coming" Forbesii thought with a smirk.
"Start making your peace Forbesii! YOU DIE TODAY! !" Kenshin roared as he slashed downward. "Heavenly Demon's Thunderous Fury!"
"Grrh!" Forbesii hit the ground as fast as a bolt of lightning. "!" He looked up, seeing a fist shaped column of flames.
"Let me show you how much I care about your regeneration! !" Kenshin shouts barraging the Demon King with volleys of Crushing Flame Profusion. He stopped, gasping for much needed breath.
"Kenshin you can't keep this up! Your body can't take much more of the Vessel! !" Salamander warned.
"I don't care. As long as the end result is that he is dust in the wind, I'll gladly deal with the healing process that comes afterward!" Kenshin said turning to his right, seeing the Demon King already up and rushing him. Kenshin dodged the sword stab and drove his knee into Forbesii's face and threw him upward. He cast away Kuroi Jigoku for a moment and grabbed Forbesii by the throat and legs, driving his knee into the Demon King's back.
Forbesii wrested himself from Kenshin's grasp and leaped back, but was unable to avoid it as Kenshin called Kuroi Jigoku back to his hand and slashed downward firing off a Katensho at him. He crashed into a building.
"..." Kenshin landed in front of Forbesii. "Grrhhh! Hraaa!" Kenshin punched at Forbesii's head.
(clench!)
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened as Forbesii caught his fist. Forbesii then pointed the Tsurugi no Kami at Kenshin's chest. "!" He grabbed the sword and quickly redirected it as it started to glow.
"Holy Ray!" Forbesii said blasting a hole through Kenshin's left shoulder, sending him flying back
"Grrhh!" Kenshin growled weakly at Forbesii. "I can't move!" He thought.
"Kenshin-kun, your pure, unfilterated rage has been a pleasing feeling for me!" Forbesii said. "I've tasted the fury in your blade, but it would be a shame, IF I DIDN'T RETURN THE FAVOR!" The Tsurugi no Kami glew brightly and an arcing spear shaped column of light stabbed into Kenshin's abdomen and exploded in a brilliant white light.
Kenshin shot out of the smoke and hit the ground, tumbling painfully across it the jewels of his Balance Breaker detatching from his skin and vanishing.
"Oh no..." Kazumi saw this from her artifact. "Yukari, anyone! I have an update but it's a bad one! Kenshin's down! I repeat, Kenshin is DOWN!"
"What? ! I'm on my way!" Yukari shouts.
"Shit! I'm coming too!" Issei said.
Forbesii approached the downed Vice Commander. "You never stood a chance to begin with." Forbesii said pointing the Sword of God at Kenshin's throat. "Also, I do have a confession to make. That story about your deceased kin...was a pure, bold faced lie. The only thing I did was make your future stepgrandfather's men turn back, then I just burned the bodies, so Hottan couldn't use them against me when he eventually rebelled."
"Grh..." Kenshin grunted. "Damn it...he fucking played me like a violin." He thought. "He knew I knew his weakness now, so he distracted me with my own rage!" He thought.
"I know you like the back of..let's say your hand." Forbesii said leaning over and smacking Kenshin on the cheek a couple of times. "Though, what I mentioned I 'did' to your family, is what I have in mind for you. See, I don't need you, not like Hottan did anyway...I only need the corpse you will leave behind, and as a youkai, you will leave one behind."
"Krh!" Kenshin growled, struggling to raise himself up to no avail.
"Oh no no no." Forbesii clicked his tongue and held Kenshin down with one hand on his chest. "You have no more usable muscle tissue left Kenshin, just the ones keeping your organs from falling by the wayside inside you, and even that's a bare minimum, you can't move anymore."
"Forbesii, when I get back up I'll-!"
"That's just it Kenshin, you're not getting back up." Forbesii said. "This is goodbye Kuroshi Tsuki Kenshin, Last Son of the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans, and Alipheese the Sixteenth's last bastion of hope. With you gone, the Youkai Revolution is as good as finished."
"Phoenix Wingbeater!"
"? !" Forbesii's head snapped upward, and before he could react he was clotheslined by an arm wreathed in flames. Forbesii landed a short distance away only to find a glyph under his feet."
"Explode!"
"! !" Forbesii was engulfed in an explosion.
"Hn...?" Kenshin used what a pulse of mana to raise the earth under his upper body. He saw two figures in front of him. "Ha...hahaha, I thought I'd never see the day...that you'd be the one saving my bacon...Raiser." Kenshin laughed weakly. "Thanks to you too, Yubeluna."
Sure enough, the second heir of the Phenex clan and his Queen stood between him and Forbesii. "Ravel, you and Rias' bishop come and start on Kenshin."
"Yes, Onii-Sama!" Ravel and Asia moved to Kenshin's sides.
"Oh my god...Onii-Sama you look horrible." Asia said with wide eyes.
"Yeah.." Kenshin said.
"Hm, I'm curious, how did you get past my double of you." Forbesii said walking out of the smoke, unharmed.
"Please, he might have had my mind, but no fake can match the flames of a true Phenex." Raiser said.
"Onii-Sama, Kenshin-Sama cannot be moved like this. You have to drive him back." Ravel said.
"Raiser, he has the Phoenix Tears on him." Kenshin said. "Also, there's a weakness he has...that you should...ghh...know about."
"Hmn." Forbesii pointed the Tsurugi no Kami at Kenshin and fired off another spear shaped column of light at Kenshin's chest, but it was batted away by Raiser's flames.
"Make him...use the Tsurugi no Kami...to defend...uhhnn..." Kenshin slipped into unconsciousness.
"Hmn, you heard him." Raiser said nodding to Yubeluna.
"Yes Raiser-Sama." Yubeluna extended her hand forward and erected another circle to explode under Forbesii's feet. Forbesii jumped back.
"Let's go, Demon King!" Raiser shouts charging toward him.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Raiser, the Unlikely Hero.
Raiser: So does this mean I can see Rias' chest.
Kenshin: … (unconscious)
Raiser: (smirks pervertedly) I'm not hearing a No.
Rias: Oh lord...
Draconis: With Kenshin out of commission who will raise up to take down Forbesii, will it be Tamamo? Yukari? Issei? Vali? Alice?
Raiser: Ahem!
Draconis: I was getting to you. Or will Kenshin's unlikely savior be the one to win the day? Find out next time!
Footnotes
(1 ) Everything from this point had to be rewritten because I lost it. Oddly enough I think it came out better.
(2 ) I couldn't remember if it was the left or right arm that Azazel's robo hand was on, so I assumed left, if I'm wrong let me know and I'll go in and change it.
(3 ) Kenshin will come out of unconsciousness to do this one
Kenshin: Hey Sirzechs!
Sirzechs: Hm?
Kenshin: Grayfia and her double, Boosted Gear, Same Time.
Sirzechs: (faints from bloodloss due to nosebleed)
Grayfia: Ugh... (shakes head in exasperation)
Anyway, see you all next time.
Draconis678