At the forest outskirts of Machi Town, the five of them are waiting for their demonic foe.
Kenzaki is on the trees, observing carefully. Ryuken is sitting down on the ground, with bags, front and back. Kouga is still stretching, while Mie is mending Tsuyuki's hand. A faint light is glowing from Mie's hands.
MIE: ...
TSUYUKI: ...
MIE: (glances at Tsuyuki)
TSUYUKI: (notices her)
MIE: (quickly looks away) Um... I think it's done.
TSUYUKI: (looks at her hand, tries to move it slowly) Errgh!
MIE: Ah! Are you hurt? Let me-
TSUYUKI: No. It's... it's fine...
MIE: I'm... I'm sorry, Yuki-chan. I'm... not that good of a healer.
TSUYUKI: (stands up) You don't have to feel sorry, Mie. (tightly clenches her fist, ignoring the pain) ... you have done enough.
MIE: ... well, (stands up) at least let me wrap it first.
Mie pulls a long piece of white cotton cloth from inside her sleeves, rips it off, and proceeds to bandage Tsuyuki's hand.
After finally stretching, Kouga sits down on the ground and pulls out his fingerless gloves from his pocket.
KOUGA: (chuckles) Finally... after months, I get to use these bad boys. (wears them) And on a Level Four?! (chuckles) This is gonna be good...
RYUKEN: ... gloves?
KOUGA: (shows his hand to Ryuken) Oh, you'll see... (pause) Oh, wait... you can't see. You'll be hiding the whole time. Ah, well. You'll get to see them someday. I gotta let my Steel Gloves feel some real Demon flesh once in a while.
RYUKEN: ... those are fabric.
KOUGA: (laughs) Yeah... they sure are... (pulls out a blue sports headband with a red cougar symbol)
RYUKEN: What's that?
KOUGA: Oh, this... it's... (sadly stares at it) ... it's nothing.
Kenzaki, standing on a tree branch, notices a figure moving from afar. He then leaps from tree to tree until he lands on the ground near the others.
KENZAKI: He's near. Ryuken.
RYUKEN: Ah... okay. (stands up, walks away, carrying all his bags)
KENZAKI: Ryuken!
RYUKEN: (halts, looks back)
KENZAKI: Don't come out, unless I told you to.
RYUKEN: A- alright! (walks into the forest, stays behind a bush)
KENZAKI: Everyone... get ready.
KOUGA: (stands up, wears the headband on his forehead, cracks an exciting smile) ... about time.
The four of them stand side by side together. They all take out their metal buttons and place them on their chest. Strands of glowing threads appear and sews itself on each of their bodies, forming military-like uniforms.
Kenzaki fits on a turquoise uniform with white lines, Tsuyuki wears a green uniform with black lines, while Mie & Kouga both wear grey uniforms.
Mie folds both of her sleeves, revealing a white cotton bandage, wrapped on both of her arms.
Kouga, with his gloves on, fist bumps his palm. Pieces of metal starts layering from his fingers, to his palm, and finally to his wrist.
Tsuyuki pulls out her skinless pencil. She flicks her wrist towards the ground and the pencil transforms into a long, wooden staff.
RYUKEN: (staring from the bush) ... Woah.
Kenzaki touches his ring, preparing for the Stone Ape to arrive.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Sounds of giant footsteps slowly approaching can be heard, getting louder and louder. The four of them silently waits for their foe. A shadowy figure can be seen from the trees, getting bigger, getting closer.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
A body made of soil and rock. Fist as large as boulders. Standing at 2-storeys high. Our four, young Exorcist, are about to face their first Level Four Demon: Beirul, the Stone Ape.
BEIRUL: (stares menacingly)
TSUYUKI: (glares silently)
MIE: (sweating nervously)
KOUGA: (smiles eagerly)
KENZAKI: ... I expected you to crash down from the sky like earlier.
BEIRUL: ... there is no need. I have a clear mind on what I need to do.
KENZAKI: And that is?
BEIRUL: To find that boy... so I could seek the answer I wish for.
RYUKEN: (quietly breathing, nervous)
KENZAKI: The answers?
BEIRUL: Unlike others of my kind, I do not wish to harm you humans. My only wish is to search for my Master.
TSUYUKI: ... Master?
KENZAKI: Who do you serve?
BEIRUL: You don't deserve to learn who I serve. To utter his name in front of you would only be a waste of his excellency.
KOUGA: Jeez... sounds like a pompous prick.
BEIRUL: YOU DARE MOCK MY MASTER!!!
TSUYUKI: (glares silently)
MIE: (squeals anxiously)
KOUGA: (readies his fighting stance)
KENZAKI: (holds his hand out at Kouga) Demon, I do have one question.
BEIRUL: ... you may speak.
KENZAKI: Once you seek this boy, what would you do to him?
BEIRUL: ... I would want to know... how and why... does Master's Sense rings from within him.
KENZAKI: And... if you don't get the answers you wished for?
TSUYUKI: ...
MIE: ...
KOUGA: ...
BEIRUL: ... then...
RYUKEN: ...
BEIRUL: ... he would be... of no use to me.
KENZAKI: So... you would leave him be?
BEIRUL: Leave him?
KENZAKI: ...
BEIRUL: No. I would do whatever I can... to free my Master...
RYUKEN: ...
BEIRUL: ... even if I have to crush him.
RYUKEN: (shocked, frightened)
KENZAKI: ... unfortunately, Demon... I cannot let you freely do as you wish.
BEIRUL: Where is the boy?
KENZAKI: (his ring starts to shine) As Exorcist, I vowed... to the Code-
BEIRUL: I can Sense my Master. He is near...
KENZAKI: (blue energy glows from the ring) -to protect the supernatural balance of the world-
Tsuyuki starts spinning her staff above her head.
BEIRUL: Where did you hide the boy?
KENZAKI: (the blue energy forms into a greatsword) -to keep our demonic foes away from the unknowing masses-
She spins it faster.
BEIRUL: Where did you hide him?!
A strong wind circles around her.
BEIRUL: ANSWER ME!!!
SHINK!
Tsuyuki slashes her staff down to the ground. Attached at the end of the staff reveals a Bardiche/Voulge-like blade that forms from the wind.
KENZAKI: (grips the greatsword with both hands) -and expel them, if we must.
BEIRUL: RRRRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! (slams his fist towards them)
KENZAKI: Spread out!
Kenzaki, Tsuyuki & Mie leaps away, dodging the fist, while Kouga backflips from the impact, jumps on the fist, runs up his arms, and delivers a hard punch on Beirul's face, before cracking a proud smirk.
KOUGA: Hah! How did that feel, you-
BEIRUL: (grabs Kouga)
KOUGA: Wha-
BEIRUL: (flings him to the trees)
KOUGA: AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
TSUYUKI: (notices Kouga flying in the air, scoffs) Idiot!
MIE: Kouga-kun!!!
TSUYUKI: Mie!
MIE: Y- Yuki-chan!
TSUYUKI: I'll give you an opening! Don't waste it!
Tsuyuki runs towards Beirul, who aims another fist at her. She dodges it, and slashes his knees, forcing him to kneel down.
BEIRUL: Erggh!!!
Mie closes in onto Beirul, and attached a seal on his leg, before running away.
BEIRUL: You little-
BOOM!!!
His knees exploded, destroyed, and fell down to the ground.
BEIRUL: (grunts in pain)
RYUKEN: (witnessing everything, eyes wide in shock and awe)
Kenzaki jumps on Beirul's back. Beirul notices, and turns his head around to see him. As Kenzaki lifts his energy greatsword to strike, Beirul's fist rushes at Kenzaki, surprising him out of nowhere.
Kenzaki quickly conjures an energy shield before the blow. The fist pushes Kenzaki away, throwing him to the ground.
MIE: Kenzaki-kun! (runs to him)
KENZAKI: (grunts)
Beirul slowly gets up, regenerating his leg. Tsuyuki, from a distance, spins her spear above her head, creating a small tornado around her. Charging up her spear, she abruptly stops spinning, and slashes it, firing a wind slash.
Beirul quickly notices, and blocks it by raising his fist to his face. Tsuyuki continues firing multiple wind slashes at Beirul.
Beirul continues blocking, until Tsuyuki stops, running out of breath.
He then stabs at the ground, and lifts a huge chunk of earth, raises it up with both hands, and launches it at her. Alarmed, she quickly dodges it before it reached the ground.
KOUGA: (jumps out of the bushes) YO! I'm not done ye-
Kouga notices the giant chunk of earth, flying straight at him.
KOUGA: Crap.
The earth crashes to the ground, towards the forest, destroying the trees on its way. Debris flies out, hitting Tsuyuki while she was running away.
MIE: There has to be a way to...
KENZAKI: (pants) ... his head.
MIE: Huh?
KENZAKI: I attacked his head a few times earlier today. (pants) He wasn't happy.
MIE: You can just shoot it from here.
KENZAKI: My arrows aren't strong enough.
MIE: (takes out a seal) Try this.
Tsuyuki is on the ground, trying to get up. Beirul approaches her. As he towers over Tsuyuki, he raises both his fist. As he was about to deal the killing blow, a blue energy arrow lands on his face. Annoyed, he turns to Mie and Kenzaki, holding an energy bow.
BEIRUL: You shoot me with that one more-
BOOM!!!
His face explodes, dust flies out of his face.
MIE: Did it work?
As the dust clears, part of Beirul's face was destroyed, but it is slowly regenerating.
KENZAKI: Not enough.
MIE: Er...
KENZAKI: Mie.
MIE: Ah?
KENZAKI: I need you to stop him from dislocating his body parts.
MIE: W- what?
Beirul grabs the weak Tsuyuki and lifts her up. She sees his messed-up face, slowly stitching itself back together.
BEIRUL: You Exorcist never learn...
She screams in pain as he squeezes her body, until Kouga launches a surprise kick at the side of his head. He then spins his leg in mid-air and delivers another kick right at his face. Stunned, Beirul drops Tsuyuki to the ground.
KOUGA: (smiles) You missed me?
Beirul tries to grab him, but Kouga managed to dodge and sits on Beirul's head. He then hammer fist his face, angering Beirul even more.
Beirul grabs Kouga and throws him forward in the air. Using his legs, he slows his momentum, and completely stops in mid-air. Launching from the air itself, he springs back at Beirul and double punches him in the face, knocking him back.
Kouga steps on his face and jumps from it. High above his foe, he positions his leg upwards while facing Beirul. He springs downwards from the air and delivers a mean, right hook at him.
BEIRUL: (grunts in pain)
KOUGA: Think again when you're flinging me around, Baboon Butt!
BEIRUL: (grabs Kouga with both hands)
KOUGA: Urggh... (struggles to escape)
BEIRUL: (squeezing Kouga) I won't this time...
Mie jumps at Beirul, surprising him. With a seal stuck on her palm, she strikes Beirul at his face, pushing him back. Stunned, he drops Kouga.
Mie lands in front of Beirul, presses her palms together, as if channelling energy from within. She takes a deep breath, and as the Stone Ape is about to deliver an attack on her, a burst of flames breathes out from her lungs, burning Beirul. Engulfed in flames, Beirul tries to put the fire out, brushing them out with his hands.
While Beirul is kept busy with the fire, Mie slides between his legs and stands behind him. She presses her palms again, multiple white cotton cloth on her arms emerges from the wrapping, spreading outwards.
With her hands, she controls the movement of the cloth and launches dozens of strips towards Beirul, mummifying most of his body. She pulls the cotton strips tighter, preventing his escape.
But Beirul, with all his strength, pulls away, trying to break free. Dragged over the ground, she launched more cotton strips towards the trees behind her, enwrapping them, preventing Beirul from moving even further.
Unable to move or separates his body parts, Beirul notices Kenzaki in the distance, holding a giant blue energy spear, charging it with energy. Panicked, he violently moves around to escape.
MIE: (struggling) I... can't... hold on...!
KENZAKI: Not yet.
MIE: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
KOUGA: (grabs the cotton strips, pulls it) Errrrrrghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
MIE: K-Kouga.....kuuuuun.....
KOUGA: AHHHHHHHH!!!!
KENZAKI: (sweating) Not yet.
As Beirul tries to pull forward, a strong gust of wind pushes him back. Tsuyuki is at the front, spinning her spear, blowing a wind spiral at Beirul.
KENZAKI: (gritting his teeth) Not yet.
TSUYUKI: (spinning furiously) AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
BEIRUL: (enduring) RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
KENZAKI: (charging his spear) Not... yet...
BEIRUL: RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
MIE & KOUGA: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TSUYUKI: KENZAKI!!!
KENZAKI: MOVE! NOW!!!
Kenzaki fires his spear, Tsuyuki leaps away, Mie cuts the cloth with the motion of her hand and is pulled towards the trees with Kouga.
Beirul tears the cloth around him, faces Kenzaki, only to see the spear, flying straight at him.
BEIRUL: Ah-
The spear lunges at him where Kenzaki aims at: his head.
Kenzaki catches his breath, but he notices that something wasn't right.
He sharply focuses on Beirul, noticing that the Demon had tilted his head upwards, barely dodged the spear, only for it to penetrate his neck.
BEIRUL: (calmly breathing) ... that was a clo-
BOOM!!!
The spear explodes, a bright blue flash of energy burns where Beirul stands. The rest take cover from the explosion, getting out of harm's way.
As the flash dissipates, all that's left are pieces of sizzling rock and burned dirt.
RYUKEN: T- they... they did it...
Kenzaki, Tsuyuki, Mie, and Kouga regroup in the middle of the battlefield.
RYUKEN: (excited) ... they did it.
Despite the Demon being blown to pieces, their faces don't seem excited.
RYUKEN: (stands up from the bushes) You did it! You beat th-
KENZAKI: RYUKEN! STAND DOWN!
RYUKEN: ... ah?
KENZAKI: It's not over...
The scattered pieces of the Demon's remains start moving towards in front of the young Exorcist, slowly forming itself back again.
TSUYUKI: You missed...
KENZAKI: He's got good reflexes...
KOUGA: (scoffs) For a big, lump of crap...
MIE: Ah... my arm's hurt...
The remains start to pile up. They all prepare their battle stance.
KENZAKI: (wields double energy swords) Alright... it's now or never.
The pieces start to divide.
KENZAKI: We just have to break the head.
Multiple legs start to form.
KOUGA: Umm... that's... a little too much?
The bodies start to grow.
MIE: They... look a little smaller...
Their heads are taking shape.
TSUYUKI: Oh... great.
Standing before the young Exorcist, compiled of rock and dirt, are four Stone Golems, ready to begin the next round.
KENZAKI: (scoffs) ... the fight just got fair now.
End of Chapter 11
Comments (0)
See all