Draconis: While I'm writing the request I shouldn't fall behind on the main story.
Azazel: Sure you can't.
Draconis: Anyway, for those of you who read UQ Holder (owned by Ken Akamatsu), or as I am just now liking to call it, Negima 2. You'll recognize a character here.
Evangeline: Wait...you aren-!
Draconis: Yes yes, now lets begin
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 80
Prepare for the Void.
Exdeath: Did someone say Void?
Draconis: How did you even get in here? ! I've been playing FFV but what the hell? ! FFV is owned by SquareEnix by the way!
Exdeath: I disguised myself as that tree in your backyard.
Draconis: Ugh...Ophis if you wouldn't mind.
Ophis: (opens a portal behind Exdeath and shoves him in.) There.
Exdeath: NOOO! WHY? ! (Engulfed by the Void)
Azazel: Wait, doesn't he become Neo Exdeath when he's engulfed by the Void?
Ophis: I put him close to Great Red. He won't be a problem.
Draconis & Azazel: Ouch. Begin...
(start)
In Transylvania
Carmilla Faction Territory.
Azazel was sitting on the second floor terrace of a cafe in a foggy village in the Carmilla Faction's territory. "Haaa...it's only been a few days, but I already miss Hikari's cooking." He sighed out. He looked down at the people moving in the street, wearing thick clothes to protect themselves from the noontime sun overhead. "Funny, it's noon, but there's still fog. Must be magical then." Azazel mused to himself. "Fuck it's boring here though. Sucks worse that I timed my arrival like an idiot and Lady Carmilla was in a meeting."
Azazel looked up at the sky for a moment before looking back down, realizing he wasn't alone on the terrace anymore. A young woman with maroon hair tied in a facing down pineapple style, wearing glasses over her chestnut brown eyes was across the terrace. She wore a tattered beige mage's cloak and a black martial artist's gi. "!" Azazel blinked, making sure he was seeing this correctly. "What? Did Yama send you here to take me down?"
"..." She turned to him and approached, sitting down across from him. "Hello, Azazel-San."
"...Negi Springfield." Azazel nodded. "Last time I saw you, you turned Kenshin into a shell of himself, mostly because he refused to raise his hands against you again."
"..." Negi looked down at the tea she was drinking with a solemn gaze.
"I'm confused...why aren't you trying to kill me?" Azazel asked. "I mean don't get me wrong, I'd prefer a dialogue to a battle, but isn't Yama controlling you?"
"The apparatus isn't for me." Negi said.
"It's not?" Azazel asked.
"Yes...and I'm sure Yukari-San is close to figuring this out for herself." Negi said. "The one it's for is currently resting. I can resist her at times, hence how I'm here talking to you."
"Her?" Azazel asked.
"Ialda." Negi clarified. "I've yet to figure out what she is, but I know one thing..."
"Being?" Azazel said.
"She is far more powerful than Hottan was." Negi said.
"Great..." Azazel drawled.
"I've sent a message along to Tertium already. He's doing his research on her in Mundus Magicus." Negi said.
"Well I'll see what I can find from this end. Kenshin's got the Rikudou intelligence stores I can look into." Azazel said.
"I see." Negi said. "If it comes down to it, he knows how to break Asuna-San from her seal."
"She came up a lot in the stuff I was reading when we were at Mundus Magicus the first time, but who is she?" Azazel said.
"She was Hottan's daughter...Hottan's and an unknown woman." Negi said. "She was born with an innate ability called the 'White of Mars' also more commonly dubbed as Magic Cancel."
"Whoa Whoa Whoa." Azazel said. "Magic Cancel? Like Kenshin's Kuroi Jigoku's Holy Cancel, but for all magic?"
"I don't know if it would work on your brand of magic. It might just be limited to Mundus Magicus' brand. Though she is still susceptible to illusions, and I think pure elemental magic would also work on her as they would technically be part of the environment." Negi said. "Her name is Asuna Kagurazaka, but her real, full name is Asuna Vesperina Theotanasia Entheofushia."
"So if we ended up having to fight her, break out an illusionist or go to Dulio or Kenshin if he's got his external mastery up." Azazel snorted.
"Well I don't think you'll have to." Negi said.
"So why are you here?" Azazel said. "Should I be ready for something to happen?"
"You should always be ready for something to happen. This isn't exactly friendly territory." Negi said.
"Hahahaha, you sounded like Kenshin just now." Azazel laughed.
"..." Negi bowed her head with a smile. "I see...it's just a shame..."
"What?" Azazel said.
"From what I'm finding. Asuna-San will probably be needed, and...I might have to be killed again." Negi said.
"...You know Kenshin won't do that." Azazel said with a serious expression. "...Killing you the first time almost destroyed him and had it not been for Rias. It probably would have."
"..." A tear fell into the tea cup Negi had in front of her. "I-I know..." She said.
"Well, try not to worry about it too much, give us a chance to do our work and we'll see what we can do about it." Azazel said. "But still...I gotta ask. Kenshin was busy a lot during his time in your Wales, he said as much whenever I brought it up to him. So...how did you fall for him?"
"..." A warm smile spread across her face. "Because...he saved me."
"Saved you?" Azazel said.
"From myself...my loneliness, my pain..." Negi said. "Shortly before I met Kenshin, my home village had been attacked by demons. Being the child I was...I wanted my father, The Thousand Master, Nagi Springfield to come back to me and come and save us. I thought during and after that attack...that I was being punished for something...I began to lose hope and the will to live. When I met him. He comforted me and told me it was going to be alright. Everyone was keeping themselves busy, and I was studying to become a mage, but still...I still felt hopeless." Negi sighed. "He comforted me every time and gave me both a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on to let out that pain."
"Hmn...I see. To think Kenshin was that thoughtful as a kid." Azazel said.
"He was always very thoughtful...I think I was the only teacher in Mahora that saw it, that he was a good person, or at least tried to be, that was caught in a terrible situation." Negi said with a forlorn smile. "Haa...I need to leave. Ialda could wake up any moment."
"Right." Azazel said. Negi vanished just as Vali and the male members of his team appeared.
"Who was that?" Vali said.
"Hey, that looked like that girl Kenshin was whining over." Bikou said.
Back at Kuoh Kenshin furrowed his brow. "...Next time I see Bikou...I don't know why, but I'm kicking him dead in the ass." He grumbled.
"You know Kenshin's going to beat you down for that right?" Azazel said.
"Gyahahahaha! He's half the world away in Japan! He can't hear me!" Bikou said.
"He's also the Dragon of the Elements. The Wind carries things like that." Arthur said.
"All I'm saying is he needs to just find a way to take care of it, instead of moping." Bikou shrugged.
"Anyway. I assume you're here to give me a heads up on the Evil Dragons?" Azazel asked.
"Azi Dahaka was a powerful one. I had fun." Vali said leaning back with a smile. "Eventually I will settle my score with the Sekiryuutei and the Dragon of the Elements."
"Didn't he technically win your rubber match?" Azazel said.
"Semantics." Vali waved his hand dismissively.
"Hey, the final battle between the Oppai Dragon, the Lust Dragon and the Ketsu Dragon. Hey old man, can you write Vali into the show?" Bikou asked.
"I'm already considering it." Azazel said.
"Wh-What? !" Albion shouts. "You mean I won't be able to laugh at Ddraig anymore? ! No...wait...there wasn't a time I was laughing at him about this...this must be what it means to have a comrade...then next time I'll see him I'll share this pain...!"
"Also...I'm sure Kenshin already knows, but I know who is behind this too. From Euclid himself." Vali said with a growl.
"Tch...I should have figured." Azazel said. "Damn. I was hoping it wasn't, but if your Grandad's on the move Vali then we aren't the only ones that will be hurt here. Stay ready and I'll keep the Kuoh team posted."
"Right, but there is something else." Vali said. "Apparently Bikou got in touch with Sun Wukong to keep him posted on this, and Sun Wukong suggested a trainer for Kenshin to Sirzechs. One that is headed to where Kenshin is as we speak."
"Really? That's good." Azazel said.
(break)
With Rias, Kiba and Evangeline.
"Ugh...it's so boring here." Evangeline said.
"I hear you, even the training sessions have become dull." Rias said.
"At least you two can train." Kiba said with his arms crossed.
"What the hell is taking them so long? It's been a few days since the head of the Tepes last talked to us." Rias griped.
"Well why don't you go into our room and call Kenshin? That should pass the time for a few hours." Evangeline said.
"There's not that much to talk about." Rias said.
"That's not what I meant." Evangeline said.
"Then what?" Rias asked with narrowed eyes.
"Don't play dumb, I've heard the moans." Evangeline said.
"!" Rias fumed with a blush. "We weren't doing that!"
"Uh huh, sure you weren't." Evangeline said with a snide grin.
"Are you insinuating that she was..." Kiba said.
"Yes." Evangeline said.
"I wasn't!" Rias said.
"Then it was a wet dream!" Evangeline accused.
Before the argument could continue a knock was heard on the door. Evangeline got up and answered it. "Huh? Gasper? The hell?"
"U-Um..." The young Gasper lookalike said.
"It must be his brother." Kiba said. "What is it?"
"I am here to take you to the head of the Tepes clan." He said.
"Finally!" Evangeline huffed.
"Has he finally decided what to do?" Rias asked.
"He?" The young man said a curious look. "She wants to see those who defeated the Old Maou reps, the Evil God Loki, the hero descendants and the King of Demons."
"...What's going on here?" Evangeline said with a critical look.
"Rias Gremory-Dono, I must now take you to the head of the Tepes clan, Lady Valerie Tepes who is also the leader of the Tepes Faction." The young man said.
"Excuse me? !" Rias said with a shocked look.
"Gasper-kun's childhood friend is the head of the Tepes clan and faction?" Kiba said.
"Well come on." Evangeline said crossing her arms.
(Break)
Back in Japan.
Kenshin was meditating in his room when Tamamo came in. "What is it?" He asked without opening his eyes.
"You knew it was me?" Tamamo said.
"Your aura gives off a unique feeling. Also your tails are also surrounded separately in that aura." Kenshin said.
"Ah." Tamamo nodded. "Anyway. We've been asked, all three peerage to gather in the dojo."
"Hm. Alright." Kenshin got up and followed Tamamo to the dojo where everyone was waiting with the addition of Dulio, Griselda and a third person Kenshin didn't recognize. "Who is that?" He pointed them out.
"Oh, right you haven't met yet. Kenshin this is Slash Dog, of the Grigori."
He approached Kenshin. "Tobio Ikuse. I had heard you wanted to meet me."
"I had said I hadn't met you yet, but nice to meet you nonetheless." Kenshin nodded, shaking Tobio's hand before going to a knee. "This must be Canis Lyakkon." He said petting the canine next to Tobio.
"Yes." Tobio nodded. "It's like Sairaorg Bael's Regulus Nemea."
"I figured." Kenshin nodded scratching behind it's ears before standing up and turning to Dulio. However he happened to glance over. "What's Ophis doing here?"
"This semi involves her too." Dulio said.
"OK." Kenshin crossed his arms. "Are we going to train or something."
"You are, but you won't be training with me." Dulio said.
"Come again?" Kenshin asked. "What's the problem?"
"I'm too busy to take on a student, that and Griselda won't let me." Dulio said.
"Oh don't blame this on me galivanter." Griselda said with an eyeroll.
"Anyway here's the thing Kenshin." Dulio said with a slight groan. "I could help you with your external elemental mastery or elemental kinesis as it were, but you have other things you need to work on as well, things I cannot fathom about how to go about working on."
"Yeah?" Kenshin said, the three peerages standing behind him with the clear exceptions being Rias, Kiba and Evangeline. "So what's the big deal? I could work on those myself."
"That wouldn't be advisable." Dulio said. "So! With that in mind, I've decided to defer to a teacher Sun Wukong picked out. She should be here any moment."
"I'm already here." A voice said from behind him.
"? !" Kenshin and the rest of the Devils, Sextum and Irina all tensed. A rather buxom woman with white skin, black hair, wearing a decorative black dressed that seemed victorian in origin, with a black boa and a red summer hat.
"Ah, Dana-San, thank you for coming Dulio said with a smile.
"Wh...When the hell did she get here?" Kenshin thought, suddenly put on edge.
"Hmn?" The woman now named Dana looked over and saw Ophis. "Aah, Ophis, I see you finally took my advice, and became something cute."
"..." Ophis didn't react with any sort of facial expression. "Dana Ananga Jagan Natha...You rarely leave the Dimensional Gap, what brings you here? Being one of the pure blooded Vampires, but having no interest in their dealings."
"Of course not, back in the world this one, his family, that red head, the bot, and Kitty are from, Vampires are like walking corpses, they're so boring." Dana said pointing out the people in question.
"You're from Mundus Magicus?" Kazumi asked.
"Used to be." Dana shrugged. "Now I live in the Dimensional Gap." She turned to Kenshin, before letting out an aura of overflowing darkness that surrounded everyone. "I wish to test something."
"Kulh? !" Kenshin was suddenly slashed across the neck, before he fell on the ground, his head rolling on the ground before stopping at Dana's feet.
"? !" Everyone let out gasps of shock, some looked murderously at Dana, while others looked to be on the verge of tears. However, before anyone, namely Yukari, Xenovia and Issei could move a voice cut it.
"Uaaghh! You fuckin' BITCH!"
Everyone looked at Kenshin's decapitated head in shock before his headless body got up, freaking out everyone and grabbed it reattaching it to his body, his skin and veins regenerating. Dana let out an amused laugh. "Oh ho ho ho! fifteen seconds when surrounded by dark mana, impressive!"
"Go fuck yourself!" Kenshin snapped.
"So rude." Dana said spinning her parasol.
"Oh I'm sorry! People tend to react poorly when you cut their fucking head off!" Kenshin spat.
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Wait a fuckin' minute! Kenshin since when are you able to survive being beheaded? !" Yukari shouted.
"I don't know Yukari, right now I'm more pissed off than confused." Kenshin said glaring at Dana.
"He can only do so when the air around him is overflowing with dark mana, not even the mana in Makai or the Underworld would suffice in almost all spots." Dana said. "That's how youkai regeneration works after all. Their bodies take in the dark mana around them and uses it to heal any injuries. What a casual shounen anime fan would call a Zenkai Boost from being beaten half to death on a regular basis, strengthens this, or maybe they're the God or Goddess of Darkness, who knows. Also, Nothingness works this way too, where as the light of Being is the strongest light in the multiverse, the dark of Nothingness is the deepest darkness in the multiverse." (1 )
"Hold on...I am..." Tamamo glanced away in thought. "Ninety percent sure I can't do that!"
"I did say almost all spots in Makai and the Underworld wouldn't suffice. Haven't you ever been healed by your mother showering you in dark mana?" Dana asked.
"..." Tamamo went into thought.
Kenshin held his neck, still scowling at Dana. "So that explains it."
"Like I said don't go trying that in places not overflowing in Dark Mana. It won't work." Dana reminded
"Hmn." Kenshin grunted.
"Now, Kenshin Kuroshi, you feel you've begun to plateau do you not?" Dana asked.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "That's why I was going to the sloth over here for help."
"Hey!" Dulio said.
"...Hahahaha." Griselda laughed quietly.
"You need help with more than just your elemental magic." Dana said. "That's why I'm here. Now...you're coming with me." She said burying her fist into Kenshin's stomach.
"Guoh? !" Kenshin fell to his knees, holding his stomach before hitting the ground flat, unconscious.
"Hey!" Yukari said.
"Relax, he's incapacitated to make the trip." Ophis said. "Dana and I can survive in the gap by ourselves, but right now Kenshin cannot."
"Can anyone else come with?" Yukari asked.
"Sure, if you want." Dana said cracking her knuckles.
"Dana, it's not necessary, I can accompany her if it means that much to her." Ophis said.
"Oh fine, spoilsport." Dana grumbled. "Anyone else?"
"Hmn...I'll go." Sextum said.
"You, why you're Tertium Averruncus' sister, what are you doing here...hn, I suppose the same thing the rest of this group is doing." Dana said. "Is that all? If so when do you need them back?"
"Here." Dulio said passing her a slip of paper. "This is the frequency of mine and Sun Wukong's mana. We'll be in contact."
"Most of my peerage will stay here and man down the fort." Sona said. "Yura, you go with them."
"Yes Kaichou." Yura said.
"Koneko, you Gasper, Asia and Kazumi stay here." Akeno said. "The rest of us will go as well."
"I agree, Kazumi you stay here." Yukari said.
"OK." The aforementioned four said. "I can train with Onee-Sama." Koneko added.
"So this group." Dana pointed at Kenshin's peerage. "And this one?" She pointed at Rias' peerage with Irina standing next to them.
"And me." Everyone turned to find Raynare walking forward.
"You are?" Dana asked.
"Raynare." She introduced.
"Why are you dressed like a stripper?" Dana asked. "Should I start paying you? If so you should start dancing."
"!#$?" Raynare's mouth was covered by Issei as she started to hurl obscenities at Dana.
"...Heheheh..." Despite being unconscious, quiet snickers could be heard from Kenshin.
"Also, they hold the right to leave whenever they please." Griselda said. "We could need them at a moment's notice."
"Yes Yes." Dana said. "But you should know the flow of time is warped heavily. A lot of time could pass for them in the time they are gone from this world..at least I'll make it that way. I can control the time dialation at my castle."
(break)
Later.
Dimensional Gap.
"Hnn..." Kenshin groaned as he sat up. He was in a bed chamber he didn't recognize. "Ugh, that fucking bitch." Kenshin groaned, holding his stomach as he got out of bed. "So this is her castle or something?"
"Yes." He looked over and saw Ophis.
"Ophis? You're here?" He asked.
"Obviously." Ophis said.
"Well come on, I'm gonna go looking for the bitch." Kenshin said.
"..." Ophis nodded and grabbed his hand.
He left the room and started walking the halls. "Oi! Dana, you gorilla of a woman, where are you? !" Kenshin shouted. "Hm?" He saw the leg of a person running down the hall. "Hm, maybe they can help me grab on Ophis." He picked up Ophis onto his back and took off after them. Long blonde hair greeted them, but he couldn't make out who they were. "? !" He ducked behind a pillar as a large beast went by. "Don't want to cause a fight in here." He whispered. "What the hell is that thing? A Behemoth?"
"Who knows." Ophis whispered more for Kenshin's piece of mind. "It's one of Dana's pets."
"Jeez...she keeps some exotic pets huh?" Kenshin whispered back
"..." Ophis nodded.
It passed and he continued running outside. "Huh? Dawn? Isn't this the Dimensional Gap?" Kenshin wondered as he exited the castle. "...This landscape...it kind of reminds me of Mundus Magicus..." He walked forward, finding the owner of the blonde hair, a girl he was chasing after. "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you, I just want...to...know..." Kenshin went silent, his eyes widening at the sight.
Across from him, in a tattered cloak...was Evangeline. "E...Evangeline? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with Rias?" Kenshin asked.
"...Qui es-tu?" 'Evangeline' said with a defensive, yet curious glare. (Who are you?)
"French? Huh, I had no idea she knew it, but why is she speaking it to me? As a Devil the translation magic should be working." Kenshin thought. "Eh, I'll play along."
"Viens Evangeline, cest moi, Kenshin." Kenshin said (What? Evangeline it's me Kenshin.)
"You know that language?" Ophis asked
"I had to learn several in Rikudou, remember?" Kenshin asked. Ophis nodded.
"Kenshin? Je ne vous ai jamais rencontre dans ma vie." 'Evangeline' said getting his attention. (Kenshin? I've never met you before in my life)
"Qu'est ce que c'est censé vouloir dire? Je vous connais depuis Mahora!" Kenshin asked. (What's that supposed to mean? I've known you since Mahora!)
"Mahora?" 'Evangeline' said curiously.
"OK, something is wrong here..." Kenshin muttered.
"Hmm..." Ophis said. "Could this be a past version of the irritable vampire?" She wondered. "It's possible with Dana around."
"Pourquoi parlez-vous français?" Kenshin asked changing subjects to ask why she was speaking french. (Why are you speaking French?)
"Parce que je suis Français, mon idiot." Evangeline said with an annoyed glare. (A/N: Because I am French, you idiot.)
"..." Kenshin went into thought. "...Why have I never put that together before? Though it's faint her voice does carry a slight french accent, and some of her mannerisms are french as well..."
"Je ne t'ai jamais vu auparavant, ce hag t'a-t-il traîné ici?" Evangeline asked. (I've never seen you before, did that hag drag you here?)
"Vieille sorcière? Vous voulez dire Dana?" Kenshin asked. (Hag? You mean Dana?)
"Qui d'autre?" Evangeline asked with a deadpanned look. "Hmph, en tout cas, je n'ai aucune affaire avec vous, si vous n'êtes pas là pour quelque raison que ce soit, restez à l'écart!" (Who else? Hmph I have no business with you, so if you have no reason for being here, then stay out of my way!")
"Hey! Hang on Ophis!" Kenshin said following after her as she leaped off the balcony and onto the bridge below. He caught up to her when she stopped in a large open chamber, where Dana was sleeping. "Wait!" Kenshin said seeing Evangeline leap toward Dana, a murderous look in her eyes.
(clench!)
Dana caught Evangeline's wrist "Kitty dear, this is artless, you have to at least try to impress me with your murder schemes, and be a good girl and wear the clothes I laid out for you." Dana said stabbing her through the stomach.
"Oi!" Kenshin said.
"Hm? Oh, you're up. Well here's a further wake up call anyway." Dana said as Ophis disappeared.
"Huh? !" Kenshin looked up seeing a magic circle appear above him before playing a near eardrum shattering alarm. "Aaaagh? !" Kenshin said covering his ears.
When it stopped Kenshin looked around, Evangeline was gone and he seemed to be alone until... "You wanted to see me?"
"? !" Kenshin rounded to find Dana dressed in her usual attire. "What was that?" Kenshin glowered.
"Hmm?" Dana asked.
"I just saw Evangeline." Kenshin said. "Why did I just see Evangeline? Why did she not know me at that?"
"Because she didn't." Dana said.
"Bullshit!" Kenshin snapped. "I've known her for a few years!"
"The Kitty you saw was from before that time." Dana said. "Hell...before she met your father and or Nagi Springfield at that."
"Excuse me?" Kenshin said.
"You'll figure it out. Come." Dana said.
"Hold on, you're not making a lick of fucking sense here." Kenshin said. "You confirm that Evangeline was here, but you say it's from a time before she knew me? What are you trying to pull here?"
"It's the truth, remember where you are boya." Dana said. "The Dimensional Gap is a place where the flow of time is warped, here in my castle it is heavily so because I can make it that way."
"So heavily that an Evangeline from a different era and the me of the present time can exist in the same area?" Kenshin asked.
"Indeed." Dana said. "To answer your next, yet unasked question. I am the one who trained Kitty, and raised her. Not that she would ever acknowledge me as such."
"...It was shortly after she became a Vampire isn't it?" Kenshin asked. "You took her in that is."
"Yes, now follow, let's get your training started." Dana said.
"Fine, don't expect me to beg you. If you don't want me around, I'm happy to clear out." Kenshin said crossing his arms.
"Well, at least you're not a groveling mess." Dana said. "By the way, call me Master if you're going to study under me."
"No." Kenshin denied. "I didn't even call Shin Tatsu or Ragnarok master and they were my freakin' predecessors. You really think I'm doing that for someone I don't know?"
"Hahahahahaha, oh you and Kitty have so much in common." Dana laughed. "Which is why I'm hoping I'm right about you."
"Excusez-moi?" Kenshin asked.
"Ok, why are you speaking French?" Dana asked.
"Agh, sorry. Seeing as the Evangeline I saw didn't know me...or Japanese or English apparently I was speaking French with her in order to communicate." Kenshin said.
"Ah, I see." Dana nodded. "Anyway, to answer your question. I believe that you are Kitty's...sorry, I mean Evangeline's destined man."
"Pfft? !" Kenshin sputtered.
"What?" Dana said.
"You're joking right? Are you taking the piss right now?" Kenshin asked.
"No...how would I even do that?" Dana asked.
"Ugh..." Kenshin groaned. "Evangeline...since Nagi bit the big one has pretty much been drinking herself into her version of an early grave."
"And?" Dana asked. "You talk like you're any better, Mr. I started drinking hard liquor at the age of Ten."
"Erk!" Kenshin slumped. "What I'm trying to say is, I'm not suited for it."
"I'm not asking you to stop her from enjoying her vices." Dana said. "Let me explain by saying this...that she doesn't know love."
"Again, calling BS. She loved Nagi, Negi's father." Kenshin said.
Dana dropped her fist on Kenshin's head. A bit surprised when Kenshin wasn't floored by it. "Interesting."
"What? You expect me to let you hit me unguarded again? What do you think I am some low grade schmuck?" Kenshin snorted.
"Compared to me, yes." Dana said.
"You can survive in the harsh environment of the Dimensional Gap. I would be shocked if you weren't obscenely powerful." Kenshin said with an eyeroll. "Now, back to what you were saying."
"Right. Anyway...yes Kitty...er.." Dana was cut off.
"Call her Kitty if you're that used to it. She kept the name." Kenshin said.
"..." Dana turned her head so Kenshin wouldn't see her smiling, as if she just received relieving news. "Ahem, anyway. Kitty, while she does know how to love...sadly she doesn't know what it feels like to be loved."
"..." Kenshin stared at her.
"That's where you come in. Or so my Divination says." Dana said. "You are the only man left who can teach her what it feels like to be loved."
"...Sorry, but what you're asking is impossible." Kenshin said.
"If it is, why did you save her life? Without her magic she would have died in Mundus Magicus after you freed her from Hottan Ialda's control." Dana said.
"...Ialda?" Kenshin said. "I know Hottan, but who the hell's Ialda?"
"I'll explain that later." Dana said.
"...Funny...I think I've heard that name somewhere before..." Kenshin muttered. "Anyway go ahead."
"No you go ahead, I asked you a question." Dana said.
"Because we made a promise." Kenshin said. "We promised to see Hottan destroyed together. I am a man who tries to keep the promises he does make and pays his debts."(1 )
"A promise hm? That can be founded on a budding love at least." Dana said with a smirk.
"Whatever. I do care about Evangeline, but I was more referring to the point that you're telling me to love her and right now that's not possible. You can't tell someone to love someone else, shipper." Kenshin said. "You should look at the way Sirzechs Gremory did things. He brought me into his dimension to protect his sister Rias Gremory, and left me with a lot of freedom. She and I are now soon to be happily married."
"Hm...Good point." Dana said. "Counterpoint. I'm also not asking you to become her significant other, though that would be the best thing to happen. All I'm asking, is let her know what it's like to be loved in general."
"..." Kenshin glanced away. "...I'll see what I can do, but in the present, she is...pretty irritable."
"So are you." Dana pointed out.
"Ok how?" Kenshin said.
"You just saw a past version of Kitty, is it too hard to believe that I am able to look into your past?" Dana asked. "Before you ask, I don't need Hottan Ialda coming after me, so that's why I didn't yank you out of that world."
"..." Kenshin went silent.
Dana punched at Kenshin making him dodge. "Admit it, you like Kitty, don't you? ! Don't you? !"
"Gah! What the fuck's wrong with you, ya crazy bitch! What are you in Primary school? !" Kenshin snapped.
"Ahem." The two turned to find Yukari, Akeno, the two peerages, Yura, Sextum, and Raynare standing to the side.
"Tch!" Kenshin shoved Dana off him. "Alright let's get started."
(break)
"Wh...What the hell...!" Issei gasped for breath.
"O-Oh my god...this is...insane...!" Tamamo said.
"Come on you guys, let's keep going..." Kenshin said as the two peerages, Sextum, Raynare and Yura all ran around Dana's castle.
"Still for fuck's sake...one hundred laps around the castle...with gravity weighing us all down? !" Miyuki said.
"What's the big deal here?" Chachamaru said as she lapped them for the seventh time.
"You're a freakin' gynoid, of course you're not exhausted!" Alma shouts.
"Oh suck it up." Granberia said running past them.
"This isn't THAT hard." Yura said.
"Sextum Averruncus is ten laps behind everyone. For that everyone else does ten more laps." Dana ordered.
"Oh come on Sextum!" Xenovia complained.
"Haa! Haa! Haa! I...I can't help it! I think I'm going to die! Oh god!" Sextum said gasping for breath.
"Issei...will fuck the ever loving shit out of you later. I'll fucking arrange it!" Alma shouts.
"E-Eeh? !" Issei said with a blush.
"Haaaaaa! !" Sextum gained a fire in her eyes and took off.
"After everyone's done, the physical fighters will do two thousand pushups with several tons on their backs while the ranged fighters and magicians will run through an obstacle course!" Dana said.
"Are you fucking serious? !" Yukari said.
"No one can do that!" Alma snapped.
"Bring on the challenge!" Granberia laughed.
"Love the attitude!" Dana said.
"Fucking hell this is Granberia getting me back for all the teasing at long last!" Alma thought.
"Haa..haa..haa..." Akeno ran close to Kenshin. "Are we...almost...done...?" She asked.
"Not sure..." Kenshin said.
"Haa...haa..Kenshin, I might seriously consider fucking you for a night to get something to eat." Alma said.
"Alma, right now I'd welcome the chance to fuck some fine succubus pussy right now..." Kenshin said. "Just pound away at it. Not caring if you put me under because of it."
"Can I get in on this..." Issei said.
"The more the merrier..." Alma sighed out, exhausted.
"I want in on this too." Akeno said.
"Same here..." Irina said, holding the magic doorknob in her hand.
After their morning training regimen was done. Dana surprised everyone by cutting Tamamo, Yukari and Miyuki in half. "You bitch!" Hikari seethed.
"Silence!" Dana said holding a stopwatch. "Hmm...15 seconds for the kitsune ancestress, 45 for the elder sister and a minute for the younger sister." She said. "As expected from one of the youkai ancestors, but the other two need work."
"I really wish I could kill you right now." Yukari scowled, getting to a kneel.
"Ditto." Miyuki glowered.
"How the hell did you cut me down?" Tamamo glared.
"The Dimensional gap is my home. It's where I'm strongest and you're still not used to your full power yet fox." Dana said with a smirk.
"Grrhh..." Tamamo growled.
"So what? Are you going to keep cutting us down like this, making sure we're surrounded in darkness or nothingness?" Erubetie asked.
"The more severe the wound, the greater the improvement on your regeneration." Dana said. "Observe." Dana said cutting off her own arm, only to have it regrow in a second, then she blew her entire lower body and arms away, only to have it regrow in five seconds.
"What about me? How is that supposed to help me?" Irina said.
"You won't be participating in this particular training angel, this is only for the former youkai." Dana said.
Issei, Irina, Rias' peerage, Sextum and Yura all sighed. "So wait, what will we be doing? More work outs?" Issei asked.
"No, you will be doing something different." Dana said. "Basically those of you with regenerative abilities that are purposed for combat will participate in this training, and the game is tag, if I catch you, you suffer a normally fatal blow."
"Cheese it! !" Kenshin said as he, Yukari, Miyuki, Hikari, Tamamo, Alma, Granberia and Erubetie all took off.
"Excuse me, but what do we do Dana-San?" Rossweisse asked.
"For now focus on your normal training you were doing before you got here. I'll figure something up for you all soon to supplement this." Dana said taking off after the youkai members of Kenshin's peerage.
(break)
"Ughhh..." Kenshin and the youkai members of his peerage all walked toward a bed. "I could have died fourteen times...how about you all?"
"Twenty..." Yukari groaned.
"Thirty Seven." Miyuki said.
"Twenty Five..." Hikari said.
"Fifty..." Alma said.
"Seven." Erubetie said. Everyone stared at her in annoyance. "What? The strongest slimes are always hard to kill."
"After I raised my guard all the way, thirteen." Tamamo said.
"Twenty one..." Granberia said. "I regret asking her to bring it on."
"I regret coming..." Alma groaned.
"This is for the greater good..." Kenshin said as they all crashed onto the bed Dana was previously sleeping on and passed out themselves.
Kenshin awoke the next morning, hearing a gasp. He looked up and saw the Past Evangeline. "You..." She said.
"Oh neat you know English this time." Kenshin said as he picked himself up out of bed. "So what's up little miss vampire?" Kenshin asked.
"Where is she?" Evangeline asked.
"Dana? Fuck if I know." Kenshin said. "Wouldn't mind catching the bitch by surprise and tearing her a new one."
"Then you're useless to me." Evangeline said walking away.
"Hey! Like I said, I know you!" Kenshin said.
"I still don't have the faintest idea who you are." Evangeline said.
"You were turned into a vampire in the middle ages." Kenshin said.
"!" Evangeline held her daggers at his throat. "Who told you? That hag?"
"Like I said, I know you, I don't know an abundance, but I know you." Kenshin said.
"...Hrmn...you don't appear to be lying." Evangeline grunted, pulling her daggers away before walking away and collapsing.
"Hey!" Kenshin rushed toward her, scooping her into his arms. "What's wrong? !"
"S...So...H..Hungry..." Evangeline said with a pained expression. .
"..." Kenshin ran her into the castle, laying her on a nearby couch. He took her dagger and sliced his palm open. "Here." Kenshin said holding her lips against his wound. "Drink."
"Mmh...mmmn..." Evangeline grabbed his wrist and kept drinking. "Haa..." She finally pulled away with a relieved smile.
"Come on." Kenshin said with a smile petting her head. "That's not like your usual blood donations. Feel Free to take more."
"!" Evangeline batted his hand away with a blush. "Don't touch me like that...gh...for taking your blood, I'm sorry, it was impolite of me I lost my wits with hunger" Evangeline said glancing away with an annoyed look.
"I don't mind." Kenshin said. "Wow...she's so polite." Kenshin thought. "I could...get used to this." He thought.
"..." Evangeline stared at him.
"You're a vampire. You needed it and I don't mind supplying." Kenshin smiled.
"...Th...Thanks." Evangeline said. "But don't treat me like a kid, I'm at least older than you." She said huffing with an embarrassed blush. "I think."
"Well, physically I'm in my teens. What about you?" Kenshin said as they began walking the halls.
"Physically?" Evangeline asked.
"Eerrr, it's a long story." Kenshin said.
"So you're an old codger." Evangeline said with a smirk.
"I'm not that old!" Kenshin snapped. "How old are you anyway? !"
"I'm sixteen." Evangeline said.
"Just six years?" Kenshin thought. "She was turned into a Shinso at age ten...and presently she's chronologically over seven hundred years old so..."
"What about it?" Evangeline said.
"Oh, no reason, but you want to fuck Dana up? Need a hand? I could totally stand to get a few licks on that bitch." Kenshin asked.
"!" Evangeline stared at him wide eyes before huffing, turning the corner. "I don't need help from anyone."
"Hey! Evangeline I wanna talk to you some...more.." Kenshin said seeing that she wasn't there. "Damn she's good at slipping away."
Dana appeared behind him. "You're late...you know what that means, right?"
"!" Kenshin paled and turned toward her. "It's not my fault that no one woke me up!"
"I'll destroy you one extra time for each minute you were late!" Dana said.
"Fuuuuccckkk! !" Kenshin took off.
Later that day Kenshin's youkai peerage members and he were knelt down panting. "I hate you guys." Kenshin glowered. "I could have died fifteen extra time because you didn't wake me up."
"That sounds like it's not our problem." Granberia said.
Kenshin flipped her off in response. "So what the hell do you want now...also...where the hell are the others? !" He said looking around.
"In their own training areas." Dana said. "Speaking of which." A large door opened up behind them and a large amount of hands reached out and grabbed everyone but Kenshin.
"Hey!" Kenshin looked back as the door slammed shut.
"Relax, they've been sent to their training areas." Dana said.
"...What is everyone doing then?" Kenshin asked
"Oh, well the Angel and Fallen Angel are dueling each other. The Fallen Angel Devil hybrid is rushing around in a very active supercell thunderstorm and is expected to be able to control that lightning. The blue haired swordswoman has just now been reinforced against a behemoth with the dragonkin and your little sister. The Slime woman has been dumped into a volcano with Sextum Averruncus backing her up.
"Oh my god! Get her out of there! !" Undine shouts.
"Seriously?" Kenshin glowered.
"If she can survive against the lava golems there, she can survive truly anywhere." Dana said. "The Valkyrie and now your mother are both dueling against jötnar."
"Frost Giants?" Kenshin asked. Dana nodded.
"Your succubus and the slender bluenette are both locked deep underground, they have to find away out using the succubus' wind magic. She can't carve her way though and it's a deep maze filled with numerous beasts." Dana said. And lastly the Red Dragon, your twin sister and the fox are fighting a past vision of Tannin the former Dragon King.
"You're kidding me." Kenshin said.
"I do not kid." Dana smirked.
"OK, so what do you have for me." Kenshin asked. "Fighting a Dragon King solo? A past vision of Heinrich, Shin Tatsu or my father? What?" Dana waved her hand and four large weights appeared. "...Really?" Kenshin said. "Fine..." He walked over to one of the weights only for Dana to flick him on the forehead, knocking him to the ground. "What the hell? !"
"You won't be lifting these with your arms and legs. No you are to lift these only with your elemental prowess." Dana said stabbing a black spire behind each of the weights. Kenshin noticed one of the weights she stopped at had a ring. Dana put her hand on it. "Water. " She walked to the one to it's right, a flat weight plate, easily as wide as Kenshin was tall and a foot and a half tall off the ground. "Inside this weight is earth I want you to lift with Terrakinesis or External Earth Element usage." She walked to the next one. "This one I want you to levitate off the ground with wind." She walked up to the last one which also had a ring on it. "Fire. With the fire and water ones you will make extensions shaped like your hands to lift them."
"Ugh, fine." Kenshin said. "Ba-"
"Atatatatatat!" Dana stopped him. "If you master this in your base form you'll see exponential gains in your Balance Breaker and it's subspecies form."
"So with the base form of my Sacred Gear then?" Kenshin asked.
"Sure. You don't fight without the elements so you shouldn't train without them." Dana shrugged. "Also once you've began if any of those weights hit the ground and aren't lifted in thirty seconds afterward, the rods are overflowing the area you're in with dark mana." She said before disappearing.
"...Super..." Kenshin winced as he took out his cards. "Card Equip All!"
(Break)
A day later.
Kenshin was still at it. "Hrrghhh!" Kenshin grunted as he lifted all the weights simultaneously with his elemental magic. "Haa!" He gasped out as they hit the ground. "So...tired...so sleepy..." He said. "How many times has a fatal wound that hasn't been my heart or brain been punched into me?" He wondered.
"Kenshin-boya. I haven't seen you in awhile, what the hell are you doing?" He turned to find Evangeline.
"Oh, hey Evangeline." Kenshin said. "Dana's training."
"I can see that." Evangeline said. "Weight lifting using only Aerokinesis, Terrakinesis, Hydrokinesis and Pyrokinesis, the four names given to external elemental magic molding. Sounds like the kind of shit she'd pull."
"Yup and if...grrhhh!" Kenshin grunted as the weights lifted again. "I don't lift them within thirty seconds after they hit the ground. A normally fatal blow is dealt to me."
"Yeah, sounds about right." Evangeline said before throwing off her cloak, while pulling Kenshin out of the formation.
"O-Oi? !" Kenshin said before turning around. Seeing her cloak standing where he was, the weights still being lifted.
"We can fool the rods for awhile with that." Evangeline said wearing a pink lolita dress.
"Huh?" Kenshin said staring at her.
"What?" Evangeline said with annoyed look.
"Well, I didn't think you were wearing anything under that cloak. That dress looks good on you. Suits your current form." Kenshin said.
"Current form?" Evangeline drawled.
"You know you can change how you look right?" Kenshin asked.
"Oh, that's what you mean." Evangeline nodded. "I'm just wearing the form I was vampirized in so you'd recognize me."
"I can recognize you pretty well." Kenshin said. "No matter the form."
"I'll keep that in mind, but I'm comfortable in this form." Evangeline said. "Anyway. Your external elemental magic molding...is..."
"Shit." Kenshin finished. "Don't worry I know I suck at it. Still it's weird, pumping elemental iron is supposed to help me get better at that?" Kenshin asked.
"Well the less particles of elemental magic you're able to individually control and make do as you please, the better your overall control will be." Evangeline said.
"She's right you know." Salamander said.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me this earlier? !" Kenshin thought.
"Would have felt cheap if you didn't figure it out yourself." Undine said.
"Dana will soon start taking earth out of the weight, while expecting you to test the waters on using less elemental kinesis to lift the other three." Evangeline said.
"I see." Kenshin said. "Any tips?"
"Well, none that would really help, but for your own health. Relax, when you master elemental kinesis, you should be able to do this without breaking a sweat." Evangeline said. "Stressing your mind like that will kill you."
"I see, you're probably right." Kenshin said.
Later Dana walked back up to Kenshin who was sitting cross legged, presumably meditating. "Oh?"
"Hm?" Kenshin opened his eyes as the weights were being lifted around him.
"I wasn't expecting you to figure it out so easily." Dana said. "Who told you?"
"No one, I'm a training nut, did you expect me to not figure it out eventually?" Kenshin asked. "Probably best to protect the past Evangeline's identity here, don't want to create any new memories." He paused. "Wait...aren't I already creating new memories? Gah time theory is so confusing." He thought.
"Ah, very well." She opened a gap next to her and pulled out a block of earth before rearranging the other blocks of earth inside the flat weight. "Carry on."
"Ghh..." Kenshin grunted as he got back to his feet, lifting up the weights with a layer less water, fire and air as well.
"Also, I've been meaning to tell you something that's going to piss you off." Dana said. "Not due to hesitance, I've just been busy."
"What?" Kenshin asked.
"You're not supposed to exist." Dana said.
"...Well fuck you too." Kenshin glowered. "You realize how many people have said that about me? Yeah it pisses me off, but fuck 'em."
"Now now, my reason for saying this isn't like theirs, hear me out, though I'm gonna talk anyway so listen up or pull your ears off." Dana said. "Your ancestor Ragnarok died charging the Divine Realms above Makai, but have you ever wondered what might have happened had he not?"
"..." Kenshin grunted lifting the weights up again, going into thought.
"If he says put in Makai, accepting the fact that Alipheese the First is gone, at least until the Goddess of Light makes a move, which due to extenuating circumstances, she would never do, so that would mean she would be gone for good." Dana said.
"What's that got to do with me?" Kenshin asked.
"Well if Ragnarok accepts the fact. He stays in Makai and rules for the first century or so as the First Demon King, officially. Youkai started calling him that when he proved his power was second only to Alipheese's, anyway. He's Demon King, he probably takes the sealed fox as his queen, and he's the Primordial of Life, so why does he need to reincarnate? He'll live forever if he damn well pleases if he doesn't get himself killed on purpose."
"..." Kenshin didn't respond.
"With Ragnarok among the living, the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans likely never get banished as Draco Tsuki takes a more proactive approach with his clan, knowing his brother's there to support him. With the Kuroshi and Tsuki clans still alive and thriving because there's no circumstances that can exist for them to be wiped out. Your parents are likely still born as brother and sister, but they are aware of the fact their whole lives, and never get together and have you three together. You'd be an only child and your twin sister and little sister would be born to only your mother as members only of the Tsuki clan, while you are only a Kuroshi. Additionally. With Ragnarok around. Heinrich Hein and Shin Tatsu are likely just ordinary youkai men."
"I get what you're saying, that this version of me probably shouldn't exist, but your theory is based on a lot of 'IF'" Kenshin said. "There's equal chances that even if Ragnarok doesn't go to the Divine Realms. He just fucks off and is never heard from again. He could have pulled a Micaela and left Makai entirely and maybe even come back to the Underworld. Plus, Yama's a fucking psycho, he'd probably still try to kill Ragnarok for the sheer fun of it." Kenshin said. "Also Ragnarok probably doesn't settle things in Makai every time, so Heinrich and Shin Tatsu are also probably still youkai heroes."
"Yes, all that is certainly possible." Dana nodded. "Astute thinking."
"The bottom line is, I exist and nobody can take that from me." Kenshin said.
"Hahahahaha!" Dana laughed. "Well said! Also the weight has been doubled!"
"Ghh!" Kenshin grunted as the weights...well...weight suddenly doubled due to gravity magic. "You-!"
"Have fun suffering dearie." Dana said as she walked away.
"BITCH!" Kenshin shouted. "Kaah...fucking warn someone next time. I was in mid fucking lift." He grumbled. "Though I'm clearly getting the long end of the stick here, I'm wonder how everyone else is doing.
(break)
With Irina and Raynare.
"Haa..haa..haa..." Raynare panted.
"Huff...huff..huff..." Irina held herself up, her hands on her knees, holding her holy sword. "How long have we been here?"
"No idea...I lost count after eighteen hours." Raynare said. "Honestly it'd be a little easier if we weren't having to spend energy flying the whole time." Irina and Raynare were in a sky with no land below them or water to land in. It was almost like a void except there was a blue sky above them and numerous large floating rocks for them to hide behind, but the tops of them were covered in spikes so they couldn't sit on them.
"Yeah, no kidding." Irina said.
"Question." Raynare said she she launched several red spears at Irina who blocked with her own light spears.
"What?" Irina asked in annoyance.
"Why don't you just say fuck it and take the plunge?" Raynare asked.
"Because I want to be of help to Michael-Sama and my father!" Irina huffed, rushing toward Raynare.
"With the alliance in place, that might I add, ain't going anywhere any time soon, given the current political climate of the Heaven and the Underworld. You being Fallen wouldn't hurt your ability to do that." Raynare said holding Irina back with her spear in a defensive position. "Say what you want about Michael, but he's usually very kind and understanding."
"Yeah well.." Irina was cut off.
"Sometimes you have to make a decision for you, no one else, just you." Raynare said throwing Irina off, stabbing her spear at Irina over and over again.
"..." Irina dodged left and right, out of the way of her spear thrusts.
"I'm just saying. You seem like you hold yourself back A LOT." Raynare said. "From what I've heard anyway."
"Well being in service to Heaven is all I've ever known!" Irina said.
"Fair enough. Being a Fallen Angel is pretty much all I've ever known." Raynare said. "All I'm saying is that even angels are selfish at times. Let's continue, that quote 'she hulking bitch' unquote should come to get us sooner or later."
Meanwhile, Akeno was dodging bolts of lightning, her patience and manners forgotten awhile ago. "Aah! For fucks sake where is that woman? ! It'd be nice if I knew I wasn't alone here!" Akeno fumed.
Akeno flew into a cave to catch her breath, as she did she recalled what Dana had said to her when this had started.
"Yes, with your thunder and lighting magic, you can conjure up thunderstorms, and add in the holy lightning from your blood line, but however it takes you some time to conjure up the storm itself for truly powerful lightning, unless you use your own mana stores. The idea here is that if you can control natural lightning you'll get stronger from it." Dana said. "Thereby shortening the conjuring time."
"But still, natural lightning is unpredictable!" Akeno said firing a blast of her own lightning out of the cave in frustration.
(Boom!)
"Huh?" Akeno said seeing lightning strike her blast of lightning magic. "...Hmm...interesting..."
With Xenovia, Miyuki and Granberia. The behemoth leaped at them. "Haa!" Miyuki leaped up to meet it, running it through the chest with her polearm. "Hrrrrhhhh!" She grunted turning it on it's side.
The behemoth growled, slashing it's claws at Miyuki. "Oh no you don't!" Granberia said lunging forward. "Dragon Butcher!" She shouted, swinging Ares powerfully, knocking the behemoth fully on it's side, off of Miyuki's polearm.
"Now Miyuki!" Xenovia said flying in front of Miyuki. Miyuki spun away from her, swinging her pole arm broadside into Xenovia's feet as she braced herself. She was sent flying at the behemoth. "Excalibur Destruction!" Xenovia called out, lofting Ex Durandal overhead.
(Boom!)
Durandal's explosive, destructive magic slammed into the behemoth, cratering the ground. Miyuki, Granberia and Xenovia all landed on the ground. "Jeez, what's the point of this?" Miyuki said.
"Maybe to work on our teamwork?" Xenovia suggested.
"Problem, Miyuki and I are a part of Kenshin's peerage, you're a part of Rias-San's." Granberia said.
"Yeah, wouldn't work well for Rating Games." Xenovia said.
"Maybe Dana doesn't give a rat's ass about those. I do kind of see where she's coming from in the sense that we do often fight together as groups in real battles. Onii-Chan's and Rias' peerages anyway." Miyuki said.
"I suppose, but why aren't we switching out?" Granberia asked.
"Well we have only been here a day and a half." Miyuki said.
"True, maybe she's giving us a set time to do this with before swapping things up." Xenovia said.
"Also, she probably has all our documents or has been briefed on us." Miyuki said.
"Or she just likes seeing us writhe in agony." Granberia said, rolling her sword arm around.
"That too." Xenovia and Miyuki said with their eyes closed.
"Grrrhhh..." The behemoth began to growl again.
"Break's over." Miyuki said.
"Well at least we're doing better at this than when we got in, right?" Xenovia asked.
"You have a point there. We were annihilated by this thing the first time." Granberia said.
"Welp, time to get back to it." Miyuki said.
(break)
"Grroooo!"
"Shaddap!" Sextum shouts, giving the roaring lava golem a face full of ice. "Erubetie, are you alright?"
"I'm fine..." Erubetie said, panting as she smacked several golems with a slime whip, making them flinch
"She's been like that since we got here, it must be hard on her body, being what she is." Sextum thought. "How much more of this can she take.
"Don't worry about me Sextum." Erubetie said. "I'll be fine."
"If you're sure." Sextum said creating an ice shield to block one of the lava golem's punches. Spikes of ice shot outward stabbing into the lava golem. They melted, but Sextum controlled the water to send it into the volcano wall.
"Are you sure you're alright? I can generate slime from my body, but you, for you to make water and ice in here must be taking a considerable amount of mana." Erubetie said.
"Yeah, no kidding." Sextum said. "Huh?" She lifted her left hand seeing Erubetie's blue slime on the back of it as her level of mana steadily rose.
"I am made up of tens of thousands of slimes. I'll be fine sparing some." Erubetie said.
"Thanks. Now let's go!" Sextum said.
"Right." Erubetie said.
Meanwhile in a snowed over plain, Hikari bashed back a group of frost giants with green flames while Rossweisse stood behind her. "You almost ready back there?" Hikari asked.
"Yes, but still I'm amazed at how long these giants are lasting!" Rossweisse said.
"You've never seen a frost giant before? !" Hikari said. "You're a Valkyrie! How could you not? !"
"Mine and my grandmother's job was to act as Odin-Sama's bodyguard. Thor-Sama was the one who regularly went to fight in Jötunheimr!" Rossweisse snapped.
"OK jeez, sorry." Hikari said, before one of the frost giants stepped over Hikari's fire line. "..." Hikari leaped forward, drawing both her hands back. "Jade Lioness' Roar!" She shot her hands forward, a large green shot of youki, shaped like the head of a lioness slammed into the frost giant, knocking him back. "Haaaaa!" She shot down, encasing her staff which had already been converted into a spear in green flames. She stabbed it into the frost giant's chest, piercing it's cold heart.
"Whoa! You killed one of them!" Rossweisse said.
"Yeah it only took a fuckin' day and a half." Hikari said huffing in frustration. "Come on! I dare one of you to step over that line!" The frost giants didn't seem to take too kindly to this as they all stepped over the line. "Oh damn..." Hikari said with a grimace.
"Alright!" Rossweisse said raising both her hands, firing every fire spell she knew at the frost giants.
"Is that the Blazing Heat in the Sky Spell?" Hikari said seeing a red hot streak of flame leading the charge on all of the spells Rossweisse unleashed. While the others laid into the frost giants, knocking them all back, the Blazing Heat in the Sky zeroed in on one in particular and pierced it through the chest, killing it. "Hah!" Hikari said thrusting her spear in the air in triumph.
"Did I kill one?" Rossweisse asked.
"Yeah, you wasted one of the biggest ones." Hikari said with a confident smirk. "I think we're getting the hang of this."
"Indeed, but still I'd at least like to think she'd check in on us every so often." Rossweisse said.
"No." Hikari shook her head as the frost giants slowly started getting back to their feet. "I'm convinced, with the amount of times she's tried to kill us, the former youkai anyway...that she just likes seeing us suffer." (2 )
(break)
With Alma and Yura.
"I'm curious as to why we were paired up." Yura said as she and Alma proceeded through the maze, Yura using her Twinkle Aegis as both shield and light.
"Hm? You don't like me?" Alma said with a coy smile.
"Weren't you complaining the whole time before this?" Yura asked.
"Because I was being overworked and then later had to flee for my life." Alma said.
"Ah." Yura nodded.
"Left." Alma said as they came to a branching path.
"How is it you're able to tell? The wind must be so far away at this point." Yura said.
"Well it was closer to the right, sooo..." Alma trailed off.
"Oh, right I didn't think about that." Yura said. "I wonder what we're going to run into next?"
"Probably some kind of scorpion youkai, or a mummy." Alma said.
"Fun..." Yura sniped sarcastically. "So, are you more keen on Issei or Kenshin? Cause if I were to assume, it's Kenshin."
"You're asking a succubus which man she'd rather fuck?" Alma said with a curious smile.
"Well, I'm just assuming because of..." Yura said.
"I understand. I've not really given it much thought. The only reason it seems like what you think is because I'm in Kenshin-Chan's company more often." Alma said.
"I see." Yura said. "Whew...if it weren't for this maze being littered with caches of supplies we'd probably be death on legs right now."
"No kidding." Alma said.
"I wonder how everyone else is doing?" Yura said.
"They're fine." Alma said. "You don't spend as much time around them as I do, trust me they're fine, probably suffering like that sadistic bitch wants us to though." Alma said.
(break)
With Issei, Chachamaru, Yukari and Tamamo.
"Fuck!" Issei cursed as he blasted a dark fire ball to bits with his Dragon Shot.
"Kitsune Cannon!" Tamamo shouted out, as her attack slammed into Tannin's chest, knocking him off balance.
"Crimson Katensho!" Yukari shouts as a deep red streak of flames slammed Tannin on his back.
"Guaaah!" Tannin gasped out.
"Now Chachamaru-San!" Issei said.
"Right!" Chachamaru said making use of her Sacred Gear.
"Hnnn?" Tannin's eyes cracked open. "!" They went wide as a massive beam of light slammed down onto him.
"Hrrhh!" Yukari brought her hands together, focusing her mana before throwing them both upward and interlocking them.
"? !" Tannin's limbs were surrounded in earth, trapping him there.
"Stay right there, we need a break." Yukari sighed, dropping from the Balance Breaker.
Issei dropped from his as well as they regrouped. "Man he really doesn't remember us." He said.
"I don't feel any devil mana coming from him either." Tamamo said.
"It's likely a version of him from before he became a devil." Chachamaru said.
"Yeah but still? Pulling past versions of people here, just who the hell is that woman really?" Yukari said.
"Her mana feels similar to Master's." Chachamaru said.
"I don't see Evangeline pulling people out of timelines, I'm sorry." Yukari said.
"Yeah." Issei said.
"Well..maybe they have a history?" Tamamo suggested.
"Probably." Yukari said.
"That said. We've come pretty far in a short amount of time. Earlier we got destroyed by Tannin-ossan." Issei said.
"Yeah, but that's because we keep finding ways to throw him off guard." Tamamo said.
"I concur, we have basically just been getting lucky." Chachamaru said.
"See? Even the robo girl agrees and she can calculate better than any of us." Tamamo said. "Aah!" She gasped in pain feeling something hit her on the rear. She turned to Chachamaru who was busy going over calculations. "..." Tamamo turned away from her rolling her eyes while Chachamaru cast away the BB gun that was behind her back.
"Anyway, I hope everyone else is alright." Issei said.
"I'm sure they are, they're tough." Yukari said.
(crack!)
"Uh oh." Issei said.
"Agh! Not yet!" Yukari said strengthening the earth magic holding Tannin down.
"Here, let me." Tamamo said using her earth magic to make stone fists to punch Tannin in the face over and over again.
"Ugghhh..." Tannin stopped struggling, falling unconscious.
"That should keep him down." Tamamo said. "For an hour anyway."
"S...Sorry ossan." Issei winced. "I know this is before we met but still."
(break)
Back with Kenshin.
"Hrrnnghh!" Kenshin grunted, sweat rolling off his body, his jacket and shirt cast to the side as he lifted the weights for what felt like the ten thousandth time. "I swear to god...if I wasn't a workout nut and a demon turned devil...I think I'd be having a stroke right now." Kenshin panted.
"Why don't you ask for a break?" Kenshin glanced over at Ophis who was sitting cross legged a short distance away.
"For someone who knows her, you're strangely naïve about Dana...it's obvious she's loving the sight of me suffering right now." Kenshin said. "She wouldn't give me a break."
"I suppose." Ophis said. "Hm?" She said seeing something behind Kenshin.
"What?" Kenshin asked before turning around. "..." He glowered as he saw the Tsurugi no Kami. "You do realize that you might have set off warning bells in Heaven just by coming here, right?"
"It's hard to get your attention when you're concentrating on Dark Magic." Ilias' image appeared over the blade.
"And Micaela?" Kenshin asked.
"I told her I was coming here, she knows where I am." Ilias said.
"Yeah, and Tamamo's really gonna let me have it if she sees you talking to me." Kenshin said.
"And I would say she needs to learn to trust you more, what can I do in here, with my power decreasing every day?" Ilias asked.
"Huh?" Kenshin asked as the weights around him lifted again. "What do you mean by that?"
"I'm steadily losing power to the Almighty's sword. What's worse is the blade isn't even really using it, it's just letting it filter out." Ilias grunted.
"Maybe it can't handle two Primordial powers." Kenshin suggested.
"If that were the case, I think the sword would have booted me out." Ilias said.
"Good point." Kenshin said. "I'm guessing it's a special sort of seal. I'm still having trouble pinning it down."
"I see." Ilias said. "You might have to grill the information out of Forbesii himself."
"I'll see if I can score a visit. I have to ask him about the homunculized Phenex anyway." Kenshin said.
"Very well." Ilias said. "So, awhile ago, I felt Alipheese's presence."
"I figured you'd ask about that." Kenshin said, keeping his weights lifting.
"What did she want?" Ilias asked.
"She came mainly to see me." Kenshin said.
"Oh ho? That must have been quite the honor for a former youkai like you." Ilias said.
"I'll neither confirm nor deny." Kenshin said. "Though looking back on it, I'm curious."
"Why?" Ilias asked.
"Because she never brought you up, not once." Kenshin replied. "I figured she'd at least like to know that her old nemesis is in a bad predicament."
"...I see." Ilias said.
"...Are you angry?" Kenshin asked seeing an unusual look on the Primordial of Light's face.
"Wha? No, not really, is there anything else you'd like to know." Ilias said changing the subject.
"?" Kenshin arched his brow curiously at her.
"..." Ophis stared at Ilias.
"Well now that you mention it, there is something." Kenshin said. "Would you happen to know anything about what the hell happened with Heinrich? He WAS a youkai hero, human though he was." Kenshin said. "For him to be revived, rejecting all that is...unsettling."
"Are you asking because I was the one to kill him?" Ilias asked. "The only reason for that is because he was butchering my angels, MY children." She finished with an indignant look.
"I'm not saying you were in the wrong for that. Any true mother would want to see someone's head on a pike if they were hurting or killing her children." Kenshin said. "But the timing of it bugs me, according to the spirits it was shortly after he killed Alipheese the Eighth, more commonly known as Black Alice."
"..." Ilias went into thought.
"I'm just saying, a Dragon of the Elements pops up in Makai, a human at that. I just figured maybe you were observing him from time to time." Kenshin said.
"Not as much as you might think." Ilias said with a dismissive look. "Though, during his assault on the Divine Realms...I do recall him screaming in a rage before I confronted him while he wielded this sword I'm currently trapped in"
"What was he saying?" Kenshin asked.
"He kept shouting for some cowardly snake to come out and face him, that he was going to pay for what he did to his dear Alice." Ilias said. "My money, if I had any would be on he was marching on the warpath for Yama."
"...How many Dragons of the Elements has Yama fucked over?" Kenshin said with a scowl.
"I'm guessing all of them." Ilias said. "The most indirect being your father of course. Excluding you and Ragnarok they were all potential Primordials of Life. I think he was looking for a way to harness the power of a Primordial of Life."
"Hn." Kenshin grunted.
"Well anyway. I just wanted to get up to speed on what happened awhile ago. Get in touch when you find out what this seal is." Ilias said before she and the Tsurugi no Kami disappeared.
"Hmn..." Ophis went into thought.
"What is it?" Kenshin asked.
"When you brought up Alipheese not even thinking about her, Ilias seemed...happy about it." Ophis said.
"..." Kenshin lifted the weights again. "Well, she might have been worried that Alipheese would come after her in that vulnerable a state."
"..." Ophis shook her head. "No, it's almost like she were relieved about it for a different reason."
"Who knows. I'm not an expert on her and never claimed to be." Kenshin said.
"So, I take my eyes off you for a few moments and she ups the difficulty of your training by leaps and bounds huh?" Kenshin turned to find Evangeline walking up to him with an amused smile. "..." She glanced over. "Who's the dull eyed girl?"
"Oh, right you two haven't met yet." Kenshin muttered. "This is Ophis, she's...I suppose you could say she's my ward." Kenshin answered.
"..." Ophis nodded mutely.
"She feels pretty powerful herself, why does she need you?" Evangeline asked.
"Well no one likes being alone right?" Kenshin asked.
"I suppose." Evangeline said, glancing away before swapping Kenshin out with her cloak.
"Whew, thanks. I was starting to struggle there." Kenshin said.
"Your mana does feel like it's waning." Evangeline said making a table and a couple of chairs appear. "Take a seat, your break will be finished before you know it."
"Thanks." Kenshin said doing just that. Within seconds Ophis was sitting on his lap.
"Ah, I see now, she's just fond of you." Evangeline said.
"Yeah." Kenshin said. "Man, I'd probably make a killing as a street performer, lifting these heavy ass weights with basically my mind." He joked.
"...I did make a living as one." Evangeline said.
"...Oh?" Kenshin said.
"Yes, here. I'll show you." Evangeline said as she took out a familiar looking doll.
"Oh, Chachazero." Kenshin said.
"You know her?" Evangeline asked with a curious look.
"Yeah, murderous little shit." Kenshin chuckled. "But she did had an odd cuteness about her."
"Well her core isn't active right now." Evangeline said as she and Chachazero started to dance together. "I could never stay in one place long, I..was always on the run." Evangeline said before ending her dance, her and Chachazero bow toward Kenshin and Ophis.
"You're great at that." Kenshin applauded.
"Hmph..." Evangeline turned her back to him before turning her head toward him. "By the way. That scar over your eye, how did you get it?"
"Hm?" Kenshin pointed at his left eye. Evangeline nodded with an eyeroll. "It was slashed out when I was eight."
"Slashed out? Like on purpose?" Evangeline asked.
"Yep." Kenshin nodded. "Thankfully someone gave me theirs."
"I see." Evangeline nodded. "By the way, you've been at that for awhile. Try and mold elemental magic outside your body now."
Ophis got off of Kenshin's lap and raised his hand. A large ball of flames collected in his hand. "Huh that was easy."
"It's also basic, do something else." Evangeline said before making a collection of ice rings scattered around the area. "The closest one to you, to the furthest one away. Direct your element of choice through these rings without touching the rings."
"Hmn..they are kinda small." Kenshin said.
"Wouldn't be a challenge otherwise." Evangeline shrugged.
"Hrmn!" Kenshin thrust his hand forward, commanding a tendril of flame to shoot through all the rings. He cast them away the next moment.
"Hm. You nicked rings three, six, eight, eleven, thirteen and fifteen." Evangeline said. "I notice the rings are melted in some spots."
"I see...Damn." Kenshin cursed.
"Well you're not going to be able to nail it first try, otherwise you wouldn't be training this." Evangeline shrugged.
"True." Kenshin shrugged.
"Also, I'm going to say something that's extremely rude." Evangeline said.
"Go for it." Kenshin said.
"You're not supposed to exist." Evangeline said.
"...Yup." Kenshin grinned. "Dana already told me. If Ragnarok hadn't charged into the Divine Realms after Alipheese sealed herself...I wouldn't exist or likely this version of me wouldn't exist. Heinrich, Shin Tatsu, my Dad, all of us wouldn't exist as they did in the past."
"You don't seem that saddened by the news." Evangeline said.
"Because I do exist. No one can take that away from me." Kenshin said. "No one, not even those who want me dead."
"What would you know about that?" Evangeline said.
"Quite a lot actually." Kenshin said.
"Hmph, well then. I'm going to help you master this elemental kinesis deficiency of yours." Evangeline said with a half smirk, half grin.
"Fine, come on then." Kenshin said with a smirk of his own, cracking his neck from side to side.
"Are you sure? My training's as hard as hers." Evangeline said.
"Heh, I've been through worse." Kenshin said punching his fist into his hand.
"Good! I like those who walk through the mud, working on their imperfections." Evangeline smirked.
Kenshin and the past Evangeline began their interval training, Ophis watching, while the rest trained in their own arenas set up by the sadistic Dana.
(chapter end)
Draconis: Harem update.
Issei: Same as beforehand
Kenshin: Rias, Akeno, Xenovia, Yukari, Koneko, Serafall, Sona, Tamamo, Ravel, Rossweisse, Undine, Sylph, Gnome, Salamander, Alice, Miyuki, Evangeline.
Evangeline: Figures, you were angling for it before this chapter anyway and Issei already has a vampire.
Draconis: Could have two more. I'm setting up another poll on my account.
Issei: Oh?
Kenshin: What's the question?
Draconis: In volume sixteen canonically. Valerie Tepes falls into a coma due to Rizevim stealing her gear. I'm planning on working around that and keeping her around so Gasper has her back. However if I do this. Should I pair Valerie with Issei or Gasper, if it's the former I might just genderbend Gasper and pair the now female Gasper with Issei.
Gasper: Yay~! Valerie's coming back with us!
Issei: I'd feel a little weirded out about your pairing idea if Gasper wasn't so girly already.
Draconis: Yeeaaah...
Footnotes
(1 ) In other words I'm only doing this when Kenshin and Co. train with Dana and here or there as a gag anywhere else.
(2 ) Addition to the conversation.
Draconis: Kenshin is a Lannister confirmed.
Kenshin: Fuck that, I'm a Targaryen supporter, Daenerys or Jon Snow for the Iron Throne.
Alice: Can't believe you didn't make that connection Draconis. Kenshin would never serve a leader he couldn't trust like that the current crazy queen of Westeros.
Draconis: Yeah yeah, and the hate mail from Cersei fans pours forth, also Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire is produced by HBO/written by George R R Martin.
(3 ) Hikari, you don't know how right you are, Touta Konoe and the UQ Holders would attest to this if they existed in my story.
Draconis: Also, before anyone asks Dana is going to be a recurring character, but a minor one.
Dana: How dare you call my lovely and beautiful presence minor? !
Draconis: ….Get out, go see if Exdeath is still alive out there.
Dana: Hmph, fine.
Draconis678 out