Draconis: Alright, let's get started.
Kenshin: He says almost two whole days after he opened this document.
Draconis: (starts writing Kenshin into a yaoi scene with MilTan)
Kenshin: (pales) Please no!
Draconis: That's what I thought anyway let's get started.
Dragon of the Elements
Chapter 95
The Top Of the World.
Draconis: Begin!
(Start)
A Day Later
In Phoenix.
"Wait, so you're telling me that the world's most infamous assassin in recent memory...reinvented himself as your second banana in a kid's show?" A man asked, standing in front of a crowd that was talking to Issei's group.
"I-I know it's hard to believe, but it's true." Issei said.
"I don't know, I'm going to need to see some proof." A woman said.
"Of course. Kazumi if you wouldn't mind?" Hikari said.
"On it." Kazumi said as a screen appeared overhead.
The crowd watched as a display of one of the Oppai Dragon episodes played. "Tch...hahahahaha...!" A lot of the men and a few of the women began to laugh.
While ascending Olympus Mons. Kenshin glowered. "What is it?" Alice said, taking notice of it.
"I feel like someone's having a cheap laugh at my expense right now." Kenshin said.
Back at Phoenix one of the women shook their head humorously. "Wow, the things you can do when you're not running for your life."
"That's not all though." Kazumi said.
The crowd watched as Kazumi played clips from the attack on Lilith, how Kenshin assisted in the evacuation. The Youkai Revolution which Hikari explained was a revolt against a tyrant where they watched Kenshin saving several villages of demons in Natalia and Sabasa.
Even lighthearted scenes where he comforted crying children by playing with them, or in the case of the Underworld, signed autographs for them.
"He's protecting them all with his life..."
"He...looks so happy."
The crowd murmured, looking unsure of themselves as the clips ended. "Yes." They all turned to Ravel who walked forward. "He's even been protecting this world in secret."
"What do you mean?" One of the men asked.
"The Rikudou Organization's sole purpose was to protect peace in this world. Five disgraced officers from Hellas' Nine Divisions and one boy leading an organization made up of cast offs and runaway from all corners of the world." Rossweisse said. "You would hear about attacks on places around here, but the places they raided were hardly innocent."
"The same organization you all villified, was the one protecting you all from shadow organizations who sought to lead this world further into war." Sona said.
"...So those fake Megalo Knights...who killed indiscriminately were..." One of the women said with wide eyes.
"Yes." Akeno nodded. "They were a part of one of the shadow organizations that the Rikudou Organization and Kenshin-kun fought against."
"Wait...I remember now...I was saved one day by a red haired boy with cat ears, wielding a sword of black. I was being pursued by a group of bandits" A man said, "Are you telling me that was Kuroshi Kenshin?"
"A red haired boy with nekomimi, wielding a sword of black...who else could it be?" Koneko asked.
More and more similar stories kept coming up from around the crowd. "See? A lot of you were even helped by Kenshin-San's compatriots." Valerie said with a smile.
"There's a division in the Senate right now. The Praetor against the Consul." Another man said. "The head official of this city is in league with the Praetor."
"OK, um quick question...what's a Praetor?" Xenovia asked.
"He's the leader of the Confederacy, he's basically the president or prime minister of this nation." Hikari answered.
"Oh." Xenovia said.
"Did some of us have them all wrong?" A woman asked herself.
"It seems so." A man said.
"Excuse me." The crowd split and a dark skinned man in a suit with a bald head and brown eyes approached the group, flanked by two men in knights armor.
"..." Issei and the others were put on edge, but the man waved them off with a smile. "Relax, these are my personal guards, they are actually friends of mine from childhood. They share no employ with either the Praetor or the Consul. I'm...I guess you can call me the mayor of Phoenix. My name is Jackson Samuel."
"..." Issei resisted the urge to ask if his middle initial was an 'L'
"You were thinking of asking if my middle name started with an 'L' weren't you?" Jackson asked.
"U-Uuhh..." Issei stammered.
"Hahahaha, it's fine boy, but no it doesn't, the middle name is Isaiah." Jackson laughed as did the crowd.
"Yeah a lot of us asked him that question when he ran for office." A few of the crowd members said in agreement.
"Yes, anyway could you all give me a moment alone with these people?" Jackson asked. The crowd soon dispersed leaving Issei's group alone with Samuel and his knights. "So tell me, where is young Kenshin now?"
"Um..." Issei said.
"Don't worry this conversation is completely confidential." Jackson said as his knights drove the ends of their halberds against the ground. "There. A privacy barrier has been erected in a five block radius."
"He's ascending Riot Peak." Sona said.
"Ah, so he's marching up Olympus Mons to investigate the sudden welling of mana there. Good. If it doesn't get fixed soon, I fear it will put too much pressure on the shield volcano and cause an explosive eruption." Jackson said.
"Um..." Asia said.
"Yes? What is it?" Jackson asked.
"Kenshin went up there expecting a fight." Kazumi said. "With the Ala Rubra."
"Well, there's a reason it's called Riot Peak. We've prepared for this." Jackson said. "It's just the mana well above it would put undue stress and pressure on the land."
"And a fight against the likes of Nagi wouldn't?" Hikari said.
"There's a barrier that absorbs vibrations and redirects mana laid over the mountain, sustained by machines." Jackson said. "Why is he ascending the peak anyway?"
"He was sealed and had to make a vessel for himself. His actual body is sealed up there." Rossweisse said.
"By the way, from what I've heard these Crimson Wings guys were all dead, yet you don't seem that surprised that they're on the mountain." Bennia said.
"Because I've seen reports and sightings of them and of the Ala Alba members running around the world." Jackson said. "There were too many for it not to be true."
"OK.." Irina said. "Despite being on the side of the Praetor who desires peace according to Kenshin and Hikari-San. Why are you so calm about the idea about having Kenshin so close to your city, subjectively anyway."
"Oh, that's easy. I too was one of the people the boy had a personal hand in saving." Jackson said with a smile. "To the west of here is the prison known as the Noctis Labryrinth, an underground prison where the Confederacy would stash prisoners of war. In fact Hikari-San here spent a year in it's lock up with her master, the Queen of Calamity and the then Princess of Hellas Theodora-Sama."
"Yes, I recall that all too well..." Hikari said, her eyes closed.
"What happened?" Gasper said.
"Well because the prison was underground, that meant the above ground was pretty much a wasteland. I was stranded there by men posing as Megalo Knights and was left to die there. My luck would turn for the worse as a tiger dragon would find and attack me as my supplies wore to nothing." Jackson said.
"A...Tiger Dragon?" Issei said. "Ddraig?"
"Don't look at me, I don't know what he's talking about either." Ddraig said. "Must be a type of Dragon native to this world."
"That sounds about right. It's what you're thinking." Jackson said. "I was exhausted and low on mana, so I tried to make a run for it, but it moved to attack and probably devour me. That's when a young boy leaped between us and fought the thing off, however my exhaustion made me pass out before I saw the end of the fight. When I woke up I saw a fire going, it was night and there was a note tucked under my face followed by a storage seal. Drink and eat sparingly, and use the map and compass I stashed in your pocket to get to the marked destination." Jackson explained. "Then I saw a figure walking away and called out to it, but it disappeared before I could get my sentence out. The things I remembered about him was a black jacket, short neck length red hair and a pair of ears, like yours." He pointed at Hikari.
"That doesn't imply much, he could have been a demi human or beast man." Hikari said.
"I know, that's why I researched the characteristics and was immediately greeted by the Consul's lies about him." Jackson said. "There's no way I could believe that the person who saved my life was the monster Ferdinand II makes him out to be. My research about him earned the attention the Praetor who was passing through who voiced his own discontent with the situation."
"The Praetor is of the same mind as you?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes, the Praetor, the current one is an old compatriot of the Ala Rubra named Ricardo." Jackson said.
"Ah, I see. Good for him." Hikari said with a smile. "Are you two still in communication?"
"Yes, we've been sending messages over the last year via our ermine friend." Jackson said.
"Ermine?" Irina asked.
"Down here." Everyone looked down and saw a small furry white, squirrel like animal smoking a cigarette.
"Oh...it's you." Hikari glowered.
"Huh?" Everyone else said in confusion.
The Ermine climbed up Jackson, sitting on his shoulder. "Albert Chamomile." He said exhaling a cloud of smoke.
"You know this one Hikari Tsuki?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah, he was Negi's familiar...and a notorious panty pincher." Hikari glowered.
"Hey I was keeping my sick sister warm!" Chamo balked.
"Oh don't even! I've spoken to your sister and she's as annoyed with your lecherous actions as anyone else!" Hikari snapped.
"..." A lot of the women in the group were unamused by the ermine. Issei snickered. "He reminds me of that sage we faced awhile back."
"Don't remind me, I had already forgotten about that." Irina grumbled.
"You sought out Negi in Mahora because you were on the run from the law for stealing over three thousand sets of underwear! Three! Thousand!" Hikari snapped.
"It gets cold in the winter!" Chamo said.
"How cold could it possibly get when you have that much cloth around you!" Hikari argued.
"H-Hikari-San..." Rias said trying to calm her down.
"Oh my god I'm arguing with an perverted ermine..." Hikari sighed out with a slump.
"Ricardo has requested a cease to our messaging back and forth as the heat has started building in Megalomesembria, so you can take him with you if you want." Jackson said.
"Alright, maybe he can help us and Kenshin with Negi-San." Rias said.
"Where is Kenshin anyway I just got here." Chamo said as he leaped over and stood on Issei's shoulder.
"He's climbing Olympus Mons to fight the Ala Rubra with a group to help him." Xenovia said.
"..." Chamo turned and stared at her. "You're...serious?"
"Yeah? What's that look for?" Issei said.
"Is Kenshin trying to get them all killed? !" Chamo shouts.
"What do you mean?" Asia said.
"Chamo, relax." Hikari said. "He took both his sisters and Evangeline up there with him."
"Yeah, but that still might not be enough against the goddamn Thousand Master himself!" Chamo said. "Come on! You know better than I do how ridiculously strong he is!"
"Hnn!" All the Devils except for Asia and Xenovia cringed, holding their heads.
"Wha...What'd I say?" Chamo said.
"We're all Devils now except for her and her." Hikari said pointing at Irina and Gabriel. "Even mentioning God in front of us causes irritation, except when you mean to refer to a dark god like Alipheese the First, the Dark Goddess and creator of Youkai."
"First off...who? Second off...Those two cuties there didn't flinch." Chamo said gesturing toward Xenovia and Asia.
"They were kicked out of the church for knowing God is dead." Gabriel said.
"Hm? !" Jackson, the two knights and Chamo all widened their eyes in shock.
"Well not exactly dead, but his body is destroyed." Gabriel said. "We angels handle prayers and blessings in his stead, controlled by my brother Michael, who allows Asia and Xenovia the ability to pray."
"Ah...yes...and you are?" Jackson asked.
"Oh. I'm Archangel Gabriel. Nice to meet you." Gabriel smiled innocently.
"...M-Mother fucker..." Jackson said staring at her in shock.
"Ah, could you please not curse in the presence of this many ladies?" Gabriel said with a cross look.
"O...OK." Jackson said.
"Holy crap Kenshin, what have you been up to since you disappeared." Chamo said.
"Well, that girl there's his fiancee." Issei said pointing at Rias.
"..." Chamo stared at her. "Huh...damn...Kenshin really knows how to pick 'em. She's quite a beauty."
"..." Rias glowered at the ermine, a pale crimson aura wrapping around her.
"R-Relax, the compliment is innocent!" Chamo said.
"Well he does have a harem going, some of the women here are a part of it." Issei said.
Chamo looked around as he noticed some of the women blushing or in Akeno's case giggling. "Huh, he's been busy."
Jackson approached Gabriel. "So, anyone who still believes in the Lord are still having their prayers heard?"
"Oh yes." Gabriel said. "Our Heavenly Father left a system in place in the event he was indisposed."
"I see." Jackson said.
"Hey, Gabriel-Sama, are you sure you should be speaking so freely about this?" Irina whispered as Jackson walked away.
"Oh it's quite alright Irina-Chan." Gabriel smiled. "Michael and Kenshin both agreed that being transparent about it would actually help us gain more followers."
"Well you are behind on the number of followers." Akeno said.
"Yes, we can't just tempt them." Gabriel sighed.
"Still Hikari, you know how strong Nagi is. The only people who could take him was Rakan, Negi-Aneki and your husband in his prime, which sadly wasn't that long because of the poison." Chamo said.
"Chamo, Kenshin knew the risks, he's not a fool." Hikari said.
"OK." Chamo said.
(break)
That Night
With the Olympus Mons Party.
The sun was setting as the group set up camp. "Man, I can kinda see the stars already." Saji said looking up at the sky.
"Indeed." Granberia said. "To think we had to come to another planet to see a sight like this."
"Sairaorg, come with me for a bit." Kenshin said.
"Hm?" Sairaorg said following Kenshin away from the group. "What is it?"
"Take your shoes off." Kenshin said as he did so.
"Eh? OK." Sairaorg said kicking his footwear off.
"...!" Kenshin started disappearing and reappearing all over the place.
"..." Sairaorg watched all this with an impressed look. "You're pretty fast."
"I was using a technique called Shundou or Instant Movement." Kenshin said. "When combined with my Balance Breaker it grants me vastly increased speed even without the Vessel. It's also how I was seemingly dueling Issei and Saji at the same time, while also forcing them apart."
Sairaorg nodded and crossed his arms. "I saw Rias' Queen practicing the technique and tried to replicate it, but I just didn't understand how it worked."
"You didn't just go up to her and ask?" Kenshin asked.
"She was hard at work, I didn't want to break her concentration." Sairaorg said with a shrug.
"Well, the only reason I'm teaching this to you is because...wait a second." Kenshin disappeared and reappeared with Saji and Granberia. "You two should learn this too."
"What?" Granberia asked.
Kenshin let out a sigh and demonstrated Shundou again for them. "Whoa! I remember this, you were using it in our fight!" Saji said.
"Yeah Yeah." Kenshin said. "Take off your shoes, it's easier to learn this without them and you only have tonight to practice."
"Why just us?" Granberia asked.
"The three opponents you three will be facing all know the technique." Kenshin said. "Miyuki already knows it and Alma doesn't need it. Evangeline knows it in case she needs to jump in and so does Yukari while Tamamo also doesn't really need it, but probably already knows it and Alice isn't here to fight. Now the technique works by lining the soles of your feet with mana and using it to propel yourself forward." Kenshin said. "You need to find the right amount, too much and you'll destroy your foothold, too little and you won't move far. Try it out."
"...!" All three of them moved...
(thud!)
...and all three of them crashed. "Too much mana, see your foothold is destroyed. Keep practicing, we'll break to go eat soon and come back."
A few hours passed, they had eaten and were practicing again and Sairaorg approached Kenshin. "I have a question."
"What?" Kenshin said.
"In my case, I'm already pretty fast, so isn't my learning this a moot point?" Sairaorg asked.
"No. Trust me Sairaorg, it's less about you learning to use it and more about recognizing when it's used." Kenshin said.
"I see...I have to also ask...do you have any tips I should know about for the fight against this Nagi Springfield?" Sairaorg said.
"Just one...Start in the Balance Breaker." Kenshin said.
"Hm? Don't you think that's a little extreme?" Sairaorg asked.
"No, I don't." Kenshin said standing up, using Devil magic to change into his true form so he could look Sairaorg in the eyes. "The entire time I knew him. Nagi in his prime only lost fights to people like Rakan and my father...and that was before the poison that eventually killed him began taking full effect. I've long suspected that Nagi and even my father were far more powerful than I could imagine. It took poisoning to kill my Dad and Nagi was done in by his daughter killing him to free him from Hottan Ialda's control. Why Hottan didn't possess Negi then I don't know, but the point I'm trying to make is that I don't think I can beat Nagi unless I truly got serious...and you know what that means."
"So even if we win here today, we still have one more crazy strong opponent to deal with." Sairaorg said.
"Yes, but she's mine." Kenshin said as he turned away. "I have to find a way..."
"A way?" Sairaorg said.
"I have to find a way to kill Ialda while at the same time not killing Negi." Kenshin said. "I...I can't do that again."
"..." Sairaorg stared at Kenshin's back before patting him on the shoulder. "You'll figure it out, but you should ask for help on the subject anyway. We have several smart heads here. Make use of the aid at least one of them can provide."
"Yeah." Kenshin nodded. "Haa..." He let out a sigh.
"So this Nagi Springfield is really that fearsome." Sairaorg said.
"Megalomesembria was losing the Schismatic War over twenty years ago until he and the Ala Rubra appeared. They completely turned the tide of that war." Kenshin said. "Trust me, if you don't take this seriously you might end up dead."
"Well how about this." Sairaorg said. "I'll feel the situation out, I mean he's probably not going to go all out right to start either right?"
"..." Kenshin paused. "You have a point there. Very well, but if things get too hairy-"
"Yes Yes, make use of Regulus' power. I brought him for just such an occasion." Sairaorg said. "But again...he's really that strong?"
"I'm of the mind that if Nagi got truly serious, he might even be able to give Rizevim a run for his money. He might not win, but Rizevim would definitely not escape unscathed."
"Right...well thanks for teaching this to me then." Sairaorg said. "I'm always willing to learn new combat techniques."
"Hmn." Kenshin turned to him with a small smirk. "Kinda like me." He said.
"Heheheh." Sairaorg said. "That said...I'll try to have this guy taken care of before your seal is broken, so you can focus on your former flame."
"R-Right..." Kenshin said glancing away. "Fuck...how am I gonna not piss Rias off with this.." He muttered.
"Hahahaha, I think as long as she has your love she won't care much." Sairaorg laughed as he went back to practicing.
(break)
The Next Day, Mid Afternoon.
Kenshin and his party arrived at the peak of Olympus Mons. "..." Kenshin looked around. "Yes...my body is definitely here."
"Yo! Kenshin!"
"!" Everyone looked around as the Ala Rubra appeared across from them. Eishun Konoe, Gateau Kagura Vandenberg, Takamichi Takahata, Filius Zect and Nagi Springfield. Fililus Zect wore the guise of a small boy with pale green hair wearing a hoodie jacket and jeans while Gateau resembled Takamichi, just older with graying hair and a goatee.
"So I was right. Ialda put the heaviest hitters here, to protect my seal." Kenshin said.
"Actually, we don't give a damn about this seal." Nagi said jerking his thumb toward it.
"Hn?" Kenshin grunted.
"We just came here because we knew it'd draw you." Zect said.
"Sounds like you." Tamamo said with a glower. "Rat bastard."
"Whoa ho ho, that's an awfully heavy insult to be directing at my master." Nagi said.
"Then you didn't truly know him, child." Tamamo said.
"You're confusing not knowing with not caring about shit that didn't matter anymore." Nagi said.
"Tell that to the people in Makai who still remember his atrocities." Tamamo said. "How his Homunculus Project nearly led Makai to ruin."
"Hey I didn't ask for my wife's death." Zect said. "That's all the project was for."
"Tch! I'm not going to have this conversation with you again." Tamamo glared.
"Well whatever." Zect said before his eyes landed on Alice. "Oh my, another Fateburn stands before me, maybe I'll dispose of you after I'm done with the opponent Kenshin's slotted up for me."
"You go anywhere near her Zect and I'll split you in half." Kenshin with a scowl.
"Besides you're going to be fighting me." Saji said clenching his fists.
"Hm?" Zect ignored him and glanced between Kenshin and Alice a few times. "Aaah...I see."
"What is it Zect?" Gateau asked.
"Kenshin here's sired a couple of heirs with the Fateburn here." Zect said.
"Ah so that's what he's been up to all this time." Nagi stated nonchalantly.
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes at Nagi.
"What?" Nagi said.
"You make it sound like all I've been doing since leaving here is chase skirts like some deviant." Kenshin said.
"Isn't it?" Nagi said. "I mean the last time you were here you had quite a bit of women coming after you."
"Tch!" Kenshin scowled.
"Nagi, in Auros Albireo-San mentioned that when you spoke to Kenshin in the Dimensional Gap, that you hadn't said everything you wanted to say to him." Miyuki said.
"That's true, I didn't..and that's mainly because of Arika and Ryuu." Nagi said.
"Then spit it out." Kenshin said. "I'm standing right here."
"You promised me she'd be safe." Nagi said.
"..." Kenshin said nothing in response.
"At the Mahora Budokai. Al's message. I saw it back in the Pure World." Nagi said.
"Well I'm sorry. I can't control the actions of another person. It happened too quickly I had no time to react!" Kenshin said.
"..." Sairaorg looked down, seeing Kenshin's fists clenched tightly.
"Nagi...you seem uncharacteristically dark." Evangeline said with narrowed eyes.
"Well Eva-Chan, people tend to get that way when their entire family's been killed then resurrected and enslaved, though thankfully Ialda didn't think Arika was worth resurrecting." Nagi said.
"That's not Kenshin's fault Nagi." Yukari said with a scowl. "Yama would have brought Negi back regardless of him having Ialda's Resonance core or not."
"Oh I know that and at the core...that's not what I'm angry about." Nagi said. "No, what really gets to me is that Kenshin's only just recently getting here...and that's ONLY because Ialda brought him here. He was basically FORCED to come."
"Oh right, because it was that easy." Kenshin scoffed. "Nagi, I didn't even KNOW that Mundus Magicus was in this dimension until recently and by the way I was helping fight a damn war at my home!"
"You know my daughter's been fighting off Ialda Baoth's influence for close to a year now right?" Nagi said. "She's been fighting a war of her own against the Resonance..and she's been losing that war."
"The Resonance drives everyone to madness Nagi. Negi's no exception." Evangeline said. "You know that as well as I do."
"Yes, but it shouldn't be happening this soon. I held off the Resonance of Hottan Ialda for ten years...and could have kept doing it for another thirty. Negi's stronger than I am, but she's already losing?" Nagi said. "No...that couldn't be right...until I found out why."
"Hn?" Kenshin grunted.
"When you met her in the World of Demons, I'm sure it shocked you, and Ialda was preoccupied with her ruse trying to throw you off your game, but Negi did something that day that Ialda never caught on to. She mapped your body out, especially the magical parts of your DNA and made a connection between the two of you at the genetic level." Nagi said.
"What are you on about?" Kenshin asked.
"She explained it all to me using this while Ialda's control was still at a minimum and needed to take breaks because of the apparatus." Nagi said. "That said...you've been growing steadily in power since that day right Kenshin and not just because of your training."
"..." Kenshin narrowed his eyes at him.
"Having trouble figuring it out?" Nagi asked. "It's a transfer connection Kenshin at the genetic level. Negi's been giving you her mana."
"? !" Kenshin's eyes widened.
"A little bit each day since that fateful day in Makai." Nagi said. "Honestly I'd find it rather touching in any other circumstance, but when she realized it was weakening her too much to fight off Ialda's influence, it was too late. She's losing because of you Kenshin."
"..." Kenshin's head bowed forward, gritting his teeth.
"She loved a young man so much she is willing to give up all her mana to give him the chance to destroy Ialda Baoth for good." Nagi said. "The problem is that man abstained from coming back here to settle things for far too long and now she will lose herself because of it."
"Y...You're full of it Nagi..." Kenshin growled out.
"No, I'm not and deep down...you know I'm right." Nagi said.
"Kenshin-Senpai, I sense a larger amount of mana inside you."
"What is it?"
"I-I don't know, it just feels like your mana stores grew, but at the same time, the added mana stores don't feel like yours."
"Weird."
"Well it also feels like it's growing a bit each day." Kenshin recalled the conversation he had with Koneko a few days ago.
"Damn it Negi, why did you..." Kenshin thought. He looked up at Nagi. "I ask thee...eternal ti-!" Kenshin was cut off by Sairaorg slapping his hand down on his shoulder.
"Stick to the plan. He's got you worked up." Sairaorg said.
"..." Kenshin closed his eyes, letting out a sigh before nodding. "No...Nagi..on second thought I don't think you're lying." Kenshin said. "That just sounds like something Negi would do, but what do you mean by giving me the chance to destroy Ialda?"
"It's a magical genetic trait she got from her mother who is descended from Ialda." Nagi said. "But seeing as you ran from here...I just don't think you have the strength to pull it off."
"Hmph...easy thing to say to a man bound by a seal." Kenshin snorted.
"Then break it and come at me. Show me what you've got." Nagi said with a small smirk.
"Very well, but it'll take a bit. Until then you can fight him." Kenshin said jerking his thumb at Sairaorg. "But one last question before the fighting starts. I have a pretty good idea why, but where is Albireo?" Kenshin asked.
"It was decided that Albireo's brand of offensive magic was too dangerous for this area." Eishun said.
"Right..." Kenshin nodded. "We are standing atop a fuckin' volcano right now. Gravity Magic would be the worst magic to use here. Alright...let's begi-!"
"Wait." Evangeline said. "Nagi, you sound like you want to kill Ialda as badly as we do, so why are you doing what she says? I know Negi's your daughter and all, but..."
"That's not the only reason." Nagi said as he rolled up his shirt and channeled some mana to the front of his torso.
"!" Kenshin's, Yukari's, Miyuki's and Evangeline's eyes widened as the same apparatus that once controlled Negi Ialda appeared on Nagi's chest and abdomen.
"So that's it." Miyuki said.
"We could get that off you." Yukari said.
"Don't bother." Nagi said as he lowered his shirt. "Being under her control is the only way I can make sure Negi's alright."
"..." Kenshin stared at him.
"Don't hold back either." Eishun said. "Once Ialda Baoth is dead and gone everyone she personally resurrected will return to the afterlife. Fight to kill."
"No complaints here." Granberia said unsheathing Ares.
"Vritra." Saji thought.
"Right." Vritra said letting his power flow through Saji.
"Balance Break!" Saji shouts.
"Hm?" Zect said seeing Saji undergo the Malebolge Vritra Promotion. "How interesting. I sense a very dark power emanating from you. I think only Nagi or I would be able to take you on."
"Good, because Kuroshi wants me to fight you." Saji said.
"If you don't think you can beat him Saji, keep him busy until the seal is broken. I'll come to help." Tamamo said.
"I'll keep that in mind." Saji said.
"Hmhmhm." Zect stretched his arms out at his sides. "Your aura feels strange...powerfully so like a Dragon's."
"That's because I'm the Vessel for the Dragon King, Prison Dragon Vritra." Saji said.
Zect's aura began to well around him. "You're around his level in strength, that Elemental Master that defeated me before. Let's see what you got."
"Lets Do This!" Saji shouts.
"Hm, you're a youkai." Eishun said as Granberia approached him.
"Indeed, but you will find few Youkai better with a blade than I." Granberia said holding Ares at the ready.
"Well at least this will be a fair fight then." Eishun said with a confident smile. "That succubus kept trying to seduce me the half the time."
"Trust me I know how that feels. You won't find any such perversions with me." Granberia said. "Only the blade...and the fight!"
"Come on then!" Eishun said rushing forward.
"My, Eishun seems fired up." Gateau said. "Hm? !" He leaped back as a burst of wind shot at him from the side.
"Sorry, you just seemed so wide open." Alma said with a teasing smile.
Gateau lit up a cigarette, exhaling the smoke with a calm smile. "I hope you don't plan on wasting your time trying to seduce me. It won't work."
"Well the challenge is half the fun." Alma giggled.
"No, what I mean is I've got nothing for you, I'm sterile." Gateau said.
"Ah, that's disappointing, you are a handsome older fellow, but then again...you're not really my type." Alma said.
"Huh, always wondered why Gateau didn't have kids." Miyuki said.
"Yes, he did always say it was unfortunate, but there was nothing he could do." Takamichi said.
"...!" Miyuki punched at Takamichi only to meet a force of air pressure. "Tch..."
"You're not going to take me down so easily Miyuki-kun." Takamichi said with a calm smile.
"I figured as much. You were never one to really let your guard down." Miyuki responded readying her polearm.
"Hm? Is that a new weapon?" Takamichi said.
"Yeah, I got it from a distant cousin of mine in Makai." Miyuki said.
Meanwhile as the fights started Kenshin, Alice, Tamamo, Evangeline and Yukari approached the seal. "Keep a look out, if any of these fights look like they're going south you jump in." Kenshin said to Yukari and Evangeline as Tamamo exposed the seal. "They don't seem overly concerned with the seal and that's concerning to me." Kenshin said.
"Right." Yukari nodded.
"I already knew to do that." Evangeline said.
"Alright you two start dumping your mana into the seal now! It's not at the level of the Dark Goddess and the Six Ancestors but it's close enough!" Tamamo said extending her hands toward the seal.
"Hrn!" Kenshin grunted letting his mana flow forth.
"Haaa!" Alice shouted out, pooling her mana toward the seal.
"Ghh!" Zect grunted as Saji wrapped a tentacle around his arm.
"Haa!" Saji shouted, jumping up and throwing Zect to the ground. "Damn, why aren't any of our curses working?"
"I have no idea." Vritra said.
"Oh you can thank my Kiriste Aegis for that." Zect said getting to his feet. "You know, I too was a previous host for the Resonance." Zect said as he and Saji traded blows.
"Grh!" Saji grunted as his armor showed small fractures from the force of Zect's punches "Damn, he's so strong..!" Saji thought.
"Hrm!" Zect stepped forward and drove his knee into Saji's chest.
"Kulh!" Saji gasped out, feeling the blow through his armor.
Zect pushed Saji away. "I didn't get to be the Fourteenth Demon King just because the Alipheese of that generation liked smaller men you know. I would suggest you stop holding back."
"Fine!" Saij said wrapping a tentacle around Zect's left arm pulling it forward.
"Oh my, are you trying to curse me?" Zect asked. "That might not go so well for you." Zect said as a barrier appeared in front of him, it allowed the tentacles through, but the black aura around them was blocked.
"What? !" Saji said.
"Kiriste Aegis, my barrier spell, I told you before didn't I? You're going to have to do a lot better than this if you want to down me boy." Zect said as he yanked Saji flying forward.
"Uwah!" Saji said as he was forced into a lunge by the former Demon King. "...Heh." He smirked behind his helmet as he pivoted his legs forward, black flames coating them. "Haa!"
"? !" Zect's eyes widened as his barrier broke and was kicked in the chest for his troubles.
"Now let's try this again!" Saji said as the black aura fully went through the tentacle he had wrapped around Zect's arm.
"Khh!" Zect saw dark markings crawling up his left arm. "Hrmn!"
(thud!)
Zect's left forearm and hand fell to the ground with a dull wet thud before turning to ash. "Interesting..." He said.
"..." Saji watched as Zect's left arm grew back. "Right...you're a youkai just like Kuroshi, Yukari, Granberia-San, Miyuki and Tamamo-San..."
"Yes." Zect said as he flexed his left arm a few times before disappearing.
"Damn!" Saji turned and drove his fist forward.
"Good reaction, but not good enough I'm afraid." Zect said as he drove his elbow into Saji's spine.
"Ggggh!" Saji grunted in pain as he was sent tumbling onto the ground. He got back up and his fist met Zect's. "Grhhhh!"
"I'm impressed!" Zect shouted as their auras exploded to life around them. "Few people in this world can match my fists and I'm also the one who beat Nagi over there into shape."
"You'll find I'm tougher than you think!" Saji said blasting Zect with an orb of fire.
"Gah!" Zect recoiled as Saji wrapped another tentacle around his wrist, before he had a chance to react Saji yanked Zect back toward him and slugged him backward again before inflicting him with another curse.
"Kiriste Aegis!" Zect said.
"Haaa!" Saji rushed forward and punched Zect's barrier with his black flame coated fist, but this time it didn't budge. "What?"
"I wasn't putting as much into that last barrier as I am this one." Zect said. "Also I know what you're doing with this tentacle." He said as he used a burst of his mana to slice it off. "I must say Kenshin slotted me with quite a nuisance to deal with. You can curse me, suck out my mana and blood and you're strength is nothing to scoff at either, he doesn't know that much about me so he just threw the special one at me."
"Shut up and fight!" Saji shouts as he barrages Zect's barrier with a blistering barrage of flaming fists.
"Hrmn..." Zect narrowed his eyes wistfully. "Such ferocity, but it is woefully unfocused!" Zect said dispelling his barrier, ducking under Saji's fists and driving his elbow into Saji's chest.
"Guah? !" Saji gasped out as he was sent flying.
Zect appeared above Saji and kicked him back to the ground, he grabbed one of Saji's tentacles and turned swinging him overhead and slamming him into the dirt again.
"? !" Kenshin and Yukari both noticed this.
"You've got plenty of tricks dragon possessor, but your strength just isn't there. There's little weight behind your attacks." Zect said as he aimed his fist down at Saji. "Farewell."
"Yukari!" Kenshin said.
"Right!" Yukari said moving to stop Zect when...
"Stop!"
"? !" Kenshin, Yukari and Zect all looked down at Saji in surprise as he got to his feet.
"Kuroshi, you worry too much." Saji said.
"Hn?" Kenshin said.
"That didn't hurt at all." Saji said, smirking behind his helmet.
"Really now?" Zect drawled as he landed across from Saji. "Then why are you shaking?"
"OK, maybe it hurt a little, but I'll be fine. Yukari might need to jump into a harder fight and she'll need all her strength. Trust me Kuroshi, I got this."
"Come on back." Kenshin sighed.
"Wha?" Yukari said.
"He wants to get his ass kicked some more and show off, come on back." Kenshin said.
"Besides, I already got help coming when that seal breaks." Saji said. "I'll just try to whoop your ass before then."
"Heheheh, I like the confidence." Zect said.
"Alright Saji, do what you want, but if it looks like you're about to buy the farm one of us is coming in whether you like it or not." Yukari said. "Even if I have to take Tamamo's place to do it."
"Got it! Count on me!" Saji said.
"Still, what will you do? You can't equal me in terms of raw power. Not yet anyway. I've heard of the Six Dragon Kings and how powerful each of them are so you could pass me by sooner or later."
"Actually it's five now. The Blaze Meteor Dragon, Tannin gave up his position and became a Devil." Saji said.
"Huh, a Dragon Devil, interesting." Zect said with a musing look.
"Hrm!" Saji rushed Zect.
"Haa..." Zect extended his hand reapplying his Kiriste Aegis.
"Heh! Delete Field!" Saji shouts.
"Huh? !" Zect said as his barrier was easily broken through and he was punched backward. "? !" Zect's eyes widened as Saji appeared in front of Zect, barraging him with a relentless assault of fists.
"Haaa!" Saji said kicking him toward the ground and landing.
"Hahahahahaha!" Zect laughed as he emerged from the dust with little injuries. "Interesting indeed! You even know Shundou!"
"Damn, he can even keep up with me in this form, with the Queen Promotion active...a Demon King level opponent indeed..." Saji thought. "No matter! I will not rest until I defeat him!"
Meanwhile Alma was having quite the go of it with Gateau who turned out to be quite the martial artist once she got in close. "You know just because you're sterile doesn't mean my advances won't work..." She said appearing behind him, her hands smoothing up his torso, chest against his back. "It just means you don't have much to give."
"Which would defeat the purpose of you even trying." Gateau said as he batted her away with an Iaiken punch.
"Ah, I suppose you got me there. Why bother with the seduction if there's so little payoff." Alma said as she countered his next attack with a Shamshir wind blast.
"Hmn...I'm surprised...a succubus who practices martial arts is quite peculiar." Gateau said. "I can't imagine that sat very well with your parents."
"..." Alma lost her smile and glared. "No...she didn't, I tried to make her see why I was doing it, but she just wouldn't listen."
"I would apologize, but honestly, getting you off your seduction game and into the fight would help this end quicker." Gateau said.
"...You're right." Alma said as she appeared behind Gateau, driving her elbow toward his back.
"!" Gateau disappeared and reappeared facing her and drove his fist into her chest, sending her flying.
"!" Alma flexed her wings, stopping herself. Gateau appeared behind her and tried to knock her to the ground only for her tail to wrap around his wrist. She spun around out of the way of his fist, releasing his arm and driving her heel into the side of his head. Gateau shook this off quickly and turned, blasting Alma with a Gousatsu Iaiken. "..." The Succubus Queen didn't hesitate as she lunged toward the attack.
"Hrm? !" Gateau's eyes widened slightly seeing her in front of him with only moderate damage as the wind spiraled around her like a shell.
"You can thank Kenshin-Chan for that little number." Alma said as she grabbed him by the shoulders and drove her knee into his chin. As Gateau popped up further into the air, staggered she sent a blistering fast fist into his chest. "Diamond Plated Fist!"
Granberia and Eishun paused their own battle to look up at this fight. "Where was that when she was fighting me?" Eishun pondered aloud.
"The old fool brought up her mother." Granberia said with her eyes closed. "Alma's mother Ashai Elma has always been a real sore spot for her."
"Mother issues I take it?" Eishun asked. "Hrm, I feel for her then, my mother didn't exactly approve of me taking up the sword either, even if I made her see it my way in the end."
"Ashai...was a stickler to the ways of a Succubus. Insufferably so...she died sticking to those beliefs." Granberia said. "I never knew my mother, she died around the time she was born, but if that's how mothers act..." She trailed off with her eyes closed.
"Not all mothers are like that. This Ashai seems like an exception, not the rule." Eishun said as he lunged forward. "Zanganken!"
"Hrm!" Granberia held her Ares defensively as Eishun's sword hit it. "Haa!" She slashed outward, throwing Eishun off balance. She slashed down at him, forcing Eishun to block.
"Hrmn!" Eishun batted Granberia straight up into the air. "Zankusho-San!" He said assailing the Dragon Knight with multiple blasts of ki.
"Gh!" Granberia grunted, blocking most of them by crossing her arms. "So this is what the power of an exorcist from the nation of Japan feels like." She thought before smirking behind her arms. "Heh, I like it."
"? !" Eishun saw Granberia raise her sword overhead and shoot straight down toward him.
"Demon Skull Beheading: Blaze!" Granberia shouts as flames licked the edge of Ares' blade.
"Zankusen!" Eishun said slashing his nodachi up to counter her attack.
"You know Kenshin told me about you, he said you were quite the hardy warrior. I'm starting to see why he said that!" Granberia said as she landed on the ground, the sword struggle still going on.
"You know it's interesting! Quite so that there's a demon or a devil other than Kenshin and his father that can withstand damage from the Shinmeiryuu's exorcism skills." Eishun said, not giving an inch to the Dragon Knight.
"You'll find my pain threshold is much greater than that of a normal youkai or devil!" Granberia said as she stepped forward, finally driving the much thinner Eishun backward.
"..." Eishun closed his eyes and rolled to the left, slashing at her back. "Zantetsusen!"
"!" Granberia rolled out of the way as a spiral shaped ki blast shot past her. She got up only to see Eishun right in her face, grabbing her by the shoulder, locking his left foot and ankle behind hers before leaping into the air.
"No dodging or blocking this time." Eishun said. "Oro Gekka!" He shouts.
"Grrhh!" Granberia growled in pain as a much thicker, powerful ki blast hit her in the torso, sending her crashing into the ground.
"? !" Alma was snapped from her fight as she noticed this. "Berry!" She said.
"If I were you, I'd worry more about myself." Gateau said. "Muonken!"
"Gggh!" Alma grunted as she was sent to crash near where Granberia was.
"Damn it Alma, worry about your own fight." Granberia said as she rose to a kneel.
"S-Sorry. I couldn't help it." Alma said.
"I know, but still." Granberia said as Gateau joined Eishun. "Something's wrong with these two."
"Yeah, I felt it too." Alma said. "Both these guys seem to be able to keep up with us."
"Well they both probably know that instant movement technique." Granberia said. "But still that doesn't explain it."
"You're wondering how we're evading you even when you're using the elements to give yourselves an edge, aren't you?" Eishun asked.
"? !" Granberia's and Alma's eyes snapped toward him.
"Kenshin's father Ryuushin was a master elementalist, one of these Dragons of the Elements your world seems to refer to Kenshin as. Ryuushin was a trusted ally, nay a brother in arms to us." Gateau said. "He used them in battle constantly when his master trained him."
"At the height of his power Ryuushin would likely beat the current Kenshin as well." Eishun said as he raised his nodachi. "There's no advantages here for you, only a war of attrition."
"Grh!" Granberia growled.
"Kenshin...is this true?" Alma asked through a communication circle.
"...I don't know...I never knew Dad at his strongest. I only helped get him there when I went to the past." Kenshin said. "But if Eishun in particular is saying it, who has faced the Abyssal Elemental Overdrive, or been in it's vicinity is saying this...I'd be inclined to believe him."
"Tch. So be prepared for a difficult fight then?" Alma said.
"You should have been prepared for that from the jump." Kenshin reprimanded. "Now go. Figure a way out of this, because I can't help you."
Before the connection cut Granberia snorted. "We don't need your help. We were just caught off guard."
"Granby." Alma said.
"Don't even Alma, you can't be the lazy hedonist you always are here. They will kill you if they get the chance." Granberia said slashing her Ares outward. "To hell with your mother's dumb fucking opinions. You can be a damn Succubus Queen and a Martial Artist there's no rule saying you can't."
"Alma, I must ask you something." Kenshin said. "Why even bother learning martial arts if you'll never use it? I mean, remember what we talked about, before we had a run in with Minagi?" Kenshin said.
"...Alright." Alma said with her eyes closed. "I understand."
"Finished with your planning?" Gateau said.
"Planning what? We already know how to beat you." Granberia said.
"Oh really?" Eishun said with a bemused look. "Well, let's see it." He said as he used Shundou to appear behind Granberia. "Hyakka Ryo-? !"
"Hrm!" Alma spun onto her hands and drove her heel into Eishun's side before he could get his technique off.
"You're fighting me, Succubus Queen." Gateau said firing one of his Gousatsu Iaiken blasts at Alma.
"Hya!" Granberia stepped in the way and slashed her sword powerfully, splitting the beam in two. The dust cleared and revealed her standing behind Alma.
"Hrm..." Gateau said with a furrowed brow.
"You should probably know that Kenshin made us into Devils. He gave us positions that improved our weakest abilities." Granberia said. "A Knight has enhanced speed while..."
"A Rook has enhanced strength." Alma said. "But even with this enhancement Granberia here's still stronger than I am while..."
"Alma is still faster than I am. I daresay she's probably the second fastest in the group, only surpassed by Kenshin at his full power." Granberia said.
"So you're switching opponents, is that it?" Gateau asked.
"Don't know! Let's find out!" Granberia said as she and Alma twisted around each other and made beelines toward their originally slotted opponents.
"Gh!" Gateau backpedaled with Shundou as Alma chased him down. "Hrm!" He used Iaiken to counter the Succubus Queen's Shamshir.
"Zanmaken!" Eishun shouts meeting Granberia's Ares with his own blade.
"Nice try, but I was warned ahead of time about this technique!" Granberia shouts as she drove Eishun backward, flames igniting on Ares' edge. "Vaporizing Rebellion Sword!"
"Krh!" Eishun just barely managed to offset the five mighty slashes of the Dragon Knight's signature move.
Alma, at the same time kept her fight with Gateau close to Granberia's fight with Eishun as the two traded punches. "I must say you have fine movements. Despite your status you really took your training in the art seriously." Gateau said.
"Well, if you're going to do something, best to not half ass it!" Alma said. "Palm of Pure Violence!"
(Clench!)
"I agree." Gateau said clenching her wrist. "Hrm!" He punched at her, his fist lined with the mixed energy of ki and mana, Kanka.
(Clench!)
"Hrm? !" Gateau grunted.
"Dragon Knee!" Alma shouts leaping up and driving her knee into Gateau's chin.
"Tch!" Eishun was still being driven back by Granberia and slid to the side of her, taking her back in the process. "Ryuhazan!" He said slashing his nodachi outward.
"!" Granberia ducked the slash and drove the butt of her sword's hilt into Eishun's chest.
"Guah? !" Eishun gasped out, not only from this, but from Alma kicking him in the side, cracking a few ribs in the process.
"Alma." Granberia said. The two locked eyes for a moment before nodding.
"You know Granby, you owe me when this is over." Alma said with a smile, turning her head.
"Focus on the fight you harlot." Granberia said as she now faced Gateau.
"Eh, maybe you're right. Maybe I'll just have Kenshin-Chan owe me that one then." Alma giggled as she faced down Eishun.
"Oh great, the hedonist is fighting me now." Eishun grunted.
"What? Can't handle a sexy woman?" Alma said, leaning forward.
"No, I just can't handle a provocative one." Eishun said as he readied his sword.
"Well, now is neither the time nor place." Alma said.
"Well...then how about this?" Eishun said slashing his nodachi out in front of him. "Zanmaken! Ni no Tachi!"
"!" Alma grabbed the back of Granberia's armor and flew upward, dodging the attack.
"What was that about?" Granberia said bringing out her own devil wings.
"Those Ni no Tachi attacks Kenshin-Chan and Yukari-Chan mentioned." Alma said.
"Ah, thanks for the save." Granberia said.
"Awh, you thanked me." Alma swooned.
"Alma, focus." Granberia said.
"Right right, just a little tease." Alma said as they faced Eishun and Gateau respectively.
Meanwhile Miyuki and Takamichi traded punches while Miyuki worked in the occasional polearm swipe. "Hrm!" Takamichi's fist laid into the polearm as she used it to block.
"Ghh!" Miyuki dug her heels into the ground. "!" She saw cracks developing in her weapon. "Oh for fucks sake, are you kidding me? !" She rolled out of the way, to the left as Takamichi's Iaiken punch went past her, creating a small crater in the ground.
"Weapon troubles?" Takamichi asked as he blocked her punch by raising his Kanka reinforced leg.
"Yeah. It's like I'm being told something and should just go unarmed." Miyuki said looking at her polearm.
"Well, weapons like yours need routine upkeeping that can't be done at home." Takamichi said. "There's only so much self repair that can be done by an amateur."
"Well I've been ridiculously busy." Miyuki said as she lunged forward, slashing her polearm at Takamichi's legs.
"Fair enough." Takamichi said leaping over it and batting Miyuki away with Muonken.
"Gah!" Miyuki said as she caught her balance. "Man I was even using Earth Guard and that hurt!"
"Hmhmhmhm." Takamichi chuckled. "I didn't earn the moniker 'Death Specs Takahata' just by looking imposing you know."
"Yeah no kidding." Miyuki drawled. "Ugh, before I went to Mahora, I would usually try to avoid getting in a fight, but always be prepared for one, now it seems like I'm somewhat seeking it out these days." Miyuki said as she lunged forward, stabbing and slashing her polearm at Takamichi getting him on the back foot.
"Oh I wouldn't say that. You're still trying to keep up with your siblings and most of the battles you've went towards were usually ones that needed to be fought." Takamichi said.
"I suppose you have a point there." Miyuki said.
"It's alright to choose the violent option when all non violent ones have exhausted themselves." Takamichi said as he slipped into a stance. "Shichijou Taisou: Muonken!" He shouted.
"!" Miyuki moved her polearm in front of her to defend as several powerful fist like strikes blitzed toward her.
(Crack! Crack! Snap!)
The last one broke her polearm in two. "Damn!" She leaped back. "No good, the head of it's broken too." Miyuki said as she tossed it to the side. "Fine, unarmed it is."
"Uh oh." Yukari said watching this from afar.
"What is it? I can't lose too much focus." Kenshin said.
"Miyuki's polearm just broke." Yukari said.
"Seriously? That sister of ours cannot keep a weapon." Kenshin said with his eyes closed. "I mean she broke how many staffs training with Mom?"
"Then she broke one in Makai...and now this." Yukari said.
"You know I can hear you!" Miyuki snapped at the two.
"We know." Kenshin and Yukari drawled. "After this we seriously need to get in touch with someone who can build a durable weapon." Yukari said.
"Maybe the Asgardians?" Kenshin wondered.
"I hate you guys." Miyuki glowered.
"Love you too." Kenshin and Yukari said. "In the meantime, do you want to use my dual blade Naginata? I mean good luck breaking that fuckin' thing."
"In a bit, I wanna try out that trick." Miyuki said as she landed on the ground.
"OK, just remember, control your body, you can't afford to lose a limb right now." Kenshin said.
"I know, I was practicing with it." Miyuki said
"Oh?" Takamichi said as earth started to collect around Miyuki's fists, forming gauntlets. "What are those supposed to do?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Miyuki said.
"!" Takamichi turned as Miyuki disappeared and punched at her, sending a Gousatsu Iaiken blast at the younger Tsuki. "? !" His eyes widened as the beam split off to the left and right of her.
"Haaa!" Miyuki yelled out as she flew at Takamichi.
"She's spitting the beam off, but how? I don't sense much power being used!" Takamichi thought. "!" He dodged to the side as Miyuki shot by him.
"Hm?" Yukari looked over at her sister, seeing her shoot wind magic out of the front of the gauntlets, stopping herself. "Huh, Kenshin I think Miyuki touched up your technique."
"No, it's the preliminary version." Kenshin said. "When I started losing arms doing that I thought of a way to stop myself until I could control it and to be honest I still can't fully control it."
Miyuki turned and punched at Takamichi who had no choice but to block with both his hands. "Hrrrrhhhh!" She growled.
"A wind propelled earth gauntlet. I'm impressed." Takamichi said. "I'm impressed.
"Believe it or not this is Onii-Chan's number!" Miyuki said as she kept punching at Takamichi,
"Grh! Ghh! Ungh!" Takamichi grunted from the strain blocking each punch of the assault making his arms quiver. He finally leaped back. "Shichijou Taisou: Muonken!"
"!" Miyuki raised her arms in front of her as she tanked through the seven shot assault. Her gauntlets were damaged, but she lowered her arms with a calm smirk as earth floated to her hands, repairing the damage. "Nice try Takamichi, but the same number won't work twice on me."
"Interesting. You've developed a taste for battle same as Kotarou-kun's and your brother." Takamichi said lowering his hands as they continued to shake. "I can't block these fists...she'll break both my arms before I land a counter blow."
"Alright, I got him on the back foot." Miyuki thought as she attacked him again.
(break)
With Sairaorg and Nagi, the latter had his arms crossed. "What are you waiting for? Aren't we supposed to be fighting?" Sairaorg asked.
"When you decide you want to take this seriously, sure. Until then I'm more than content to watch my buddies fight. Yo Eishun, you had to know this was coming. Kenshin knew you were weak to sexy women!" Nagi shouts. "Hell even the sight of those voluptuous curves and those huge boobs is distracting you!"
"Shut! Up! Nagi!" Eishun shouts as he continued fighting off Alma.
"What do you mean, when I want to take this seriously. I haven't even shown you my power yet." Sairaorg said.
"And you really think this suppressed power I'm feeling will do anything to me. You won't even move me from this spot." Nagi said.
"..." Sairaorg narrowed his eyes in irritation. "Kenshin said this guy was powerful, but he brushes me aside so easily, like I'm not even meant to be here?"
"Oh?" Nagi said as Sairaorg vanished. He took the staff he was holding and held it out to his right.
(thud!)
This caused Sairaorg to trip up and crash onto the ground. "Gah!"
"For reference, unless you plan to attack head on, a shundou where you go right by the person is pretty amateurish and bush league." Nagi said tapping his staff on his shoulder.
"..." Sairaorg wiped himself off and got to his feet, punching at Nagi's back.
"Whoa ho ho!" Nagi said blocking it with his staff. "I'll admit you've got as much raw strength as Rakan, which is weird because you're smaller than him."
"? !" Sairaorg leaped back as the staff Nagi was holding suddenly turned into a halberd which Nagi slashed upward. He turned to Sairaorg with a smirk.
"You still have yet to move me from this spot." Nagi said. "Oi, Kenshin! You know there's only one person on this mountain I'll accept defeat from, and you already know who that is."
"..." Kenshin glanced back at Sairaorg. "Now do you see why I told you to come out guns blazing?" He asked. "Nagi's far stronger than anyone you've ever faced before and that includes what you saw from me in our fight."
"I see that now, but still!" Sairaorg said appearing in front of Nagi.
"Hm?" Nagi used his staff to block each of Sairaorg's punches before countering with his own.
"Guoh? !" Sairaorg doubled over as he slid back on his feet, holding his stomach. "What...was that?" He thought.
"He wasn't kidding you know." Nagi said raising his fist with another smirk. "You're gonna have to come a little bit stronger than that if you wanna impress me pal."
Sairaorg stared at Nagi, recalling another conversation he had with Kenshin the night before.
(mini flashback)
Sairaorg approached Kenshin who was in the middle of his nightwatch shift. "You done practicing?"
"Not yet." Sairaorg said. "I'm just taking a ten minute breather."
"Alright." Kenshin nodded. "What do you want then? You look like something's on your mind."
"This Nagi, tell me about him." Sairaorg said.
"I already told you about him. He's freakish fast and freakish strong. If I fought him one on one in his prime...lets say post Makai, so I had just come back from the Youkai Revolution and hadn't trained with Sun Wukong or even Dana yet...he'd have beaten my ass into the dirt."
"You have that little confidence that you'd win?" Sairaorg said.
"Not for lack of trying, dude was basically my uncle, but I always did want to belt that birdbrained idiot one." Kenshin said with a grumble. "Why the question? I've already told you what you need to do to fight him."
"You call him Uncle. I'm guessing you respect him." Sairaorg said.
"Kinda had to. I was five when I remember knowing him." Kenshin said with an arched brow. "Though I get what you're trying to ask." He looked up at the sky. "Nagi..he and Arika took care of me when Dad was too sick from the poison that was slowly killing him to do so. If you want to know where I got my tenacity from...look no further than Nagi Springfield and Ryuushin Kuroshi."
(mini flashback end)
"This is one of the men that inspired Kenshin to be the man he is today." Sairaorg thought as he stood upright. "I could feel it when he attacked...I don't want to bring out Regulus just yet, but..using Touki should do."
"Hm?" Nagi tilted his head curiously as an aura wrapped around Sairaorg. "What's this? Feels like Takamichi's Kanka...no..." Nagi muttered. "It's coming purely from within him."
"Hrm!" Sairaorg appeared in front of him and punched at Nagi's stomach, only to meet Nagi's staff.
"Kh!" Nagi grunted as he was forced back, but he smirked. "Haha! That's more like it!" He said thrusting his staff upward, throwing Sairaorg's fist off.
"Krh!" Sairaorg cocked his fist back and punched at Nagi who punched back at him. Their fists collided, making a powerful force explode outward.
"I see Sairaorg's keeping up now." Tamamo said looking back at the fight now.
"No." Evangeline said, her eyes closed. "Nagi's still not using all his power."
"What do you mean?" Tamamo asked Evangeline through a communication circle.
"Nagi's not known as the Strongest Mage for nothing." Evangeline said.
Nagi and Sairaorg trade punches. "Hahahaha! This is what I'm talkin' about!" Nagi said as he swiped his staff at Sairaorg. "Now you're showin' your stuff."
"Khh..." Sairaorg grunted as he was slowly being driven backward by the Thousand Master. "How strong is this man! He's grown to match my power almost instantly...and I feel like it's not even what he's truly capable of!" Sairaorg thought.
"Though I really gotta ask, is throwing punches all you know how to do?" Nagi asked as he ducked Sairaorg's fist and drove his left elbow toward the Bael's chest.
"!" Sairaorg barely dodged to the left, but then received a haymaker to the face for his trouble, knocking him back. "? !" He looked around as Nagi disappeared.
"Up here dude!" Nagi said as he flew above him, lightning flickering to life on his hand. "Dios Tukuos!" He shouts, swinging an ax made of lightning at Sairaorg.
"Gh!" Sairaorg grunted as he crossed his arms, unable to dodge the attack. "Guah!" He gasped out in pain as the ax struck him.
Nagi landed back on the ground only to see Sairaorg getting back up. "Oh?" Nagi said.
"Heh." Sairaorg smirked. "You know. When Kenshin told me about you. I had to admit I was a little skeptical. After all he did defeat someone you couldn't."
"Kenshin was always uniquely geared to take down Hottan." Nagi said. "Not truly kill him...or her in the case of Ialda, but I digress, it's different than being stronger."
"Yes, but as one who has faced Kenshin in battle previously...I was curious as to why this human man was giving him pause. Sure there's his past with you, but that wasn't it." Sairaorg said.
"Well yeah, we human mages aren't something to sniff at." Nagi said.
"Yes, but you feel like something more than just a mage." Sairaorg said as he disappeared and reappeared uppercutting at Nagi, making him step back. He extended his hand and caught the Thousand Master's staff as he swung it at the Bael.
"Well I did drop out of magic school when I was a kid. Too strict and by the book for me. I decided to cut my own path." Nagi said. "Oh?" He moved his head out of the way of Sairaorg's fist.
"Grh!" Sairaorg drove his elbow into Nagi's right temple, making Nagi stagger for just a moment. "Hrm!" He leaped toward Nagi and started laying into with a vicious assault of punches.
Nagi took all of these fists unable to defend himself. "Gah!" He gasped out as he was knocked the ground.
"? !" Eishun, Takamichi, Gateau and Zect all paused in their fights. "Nagi!" Eishun said.
"..." Sairaorg relaxed his body. "There's no way that did it."
"Relax guys." Nagi said as he curled his legs and leaped to his feet. "That was good. That's what you need to do if you wanna hang with me kid." Nagi said. "What's your name anyway."
"Sairaorg Bael. I am the heir the Bael Clan, but that doesn't mean I lived the pampered life of a noble." Sairaorg said cracking his knuckles. "Everything I have in this life I have earned."
"Same here." Nagi said with his eyes closed as he lifted his staff up, transforming it into a halberd. The air around him pulsed as his mana flared to life. "Well then..."
"!" Sairaorg's eyes widened at the sensation shooting through the air.
Nagi's eyes opened as he smirked. "Let's get started."
(chapter end)
Draconis: Finally! Fuck!
Kenshin: Dude this took forever. What gives?
Draconis: Some amount of writers block with the other fights as well as just life in general. Oh and I've decided that whole limit on the chapters in this arc...that's gone. I'll finish it when I finish it. Otherwise I don't do it justice.
Yukari: Fair enough.
Issei: Well as long as there's not much drag on them.
Draconis: ...About that...
Kenshin: Oh god what?
Draconis: Well it's great news for me personally, but bad news for those who want faster updates, in that being that I've finally landed a job.
Kenshin: No shit? Awesome dude.
Issei: Yeah, if that's what holds it up, take your time.
Draconis: Yeah, thanks. Anyway I'll just do the spellcheck and get this proofread and posted.
Draconis678 out.