“The Original is blinded right now!” I announced. 

The twelfths furthest legs moved outward slightly, their kneecaps flapped downward and  they swiftly shot a thick bruning ray of light at Fumia and Serpent from either side. The two rolled inward towards me as the ray of light tore up even the ground. “Are you guys alright?” And the two nodded. 

“Bastard scraped my leg!” Serpent looked down, his skin bubbling and the surrounding area red and crispy.

As the blast of the Original had stopped it began moving, almost crushing us in the process. 

“Don’t let it get away!” Fumia shouted.

Serpent shot his chain link towards the hooves of the Original’s backmost limbs. Struggling, Fumia pitched in and began pulling, but if anything the Original was dragging them rather than the other way like they intended. 

I shot myself forward using Motion and carved a gash horizontally on their thick scales. Fed up with this, the Original roared and from under their hooves rolled hundreds of baseball equivalent steel balls. The instant Serpent saw them, he released his grasp from his chain link and pulled Fumia aside, throwing her to the ground. My eyes widened at the site, sweeping down from the Originals scaly back. I ran towards Serpent but was sent flying yards onto my back. My clothes covered in soot, the air overcome by a vibrant gray cloud, and my ears ringing. Taking this opportunity, the Original let out a rain of bullets towards us. Fumia gazed quizzically around her but swiftly dove to cover. 

What lay next to me sent chills down my spine and goosebumps up my arms, what lay next to me is what leaves a soldier scared for the remainder of his life, what lay next to me I wouldn’t wish anyone to see, what lay next to me is something I hope to lock behind a wall of memories.

“SERPENT!” My lips rattled and warm tears broke from my face, washing down my chin and onto the ground. His charcoal body lay flat, lay silent. One two, I gasped. “Serpent?” I cried out, rolling up my sleeves, I wiped away my tears with my bare arms. One two, again, a faint heart beat, a faint hope, a faint flicker of life. “SERPENT!” His crisp body moved slightly in the direction of my voice. Flakes falling from him, he looked my way, lifting his head slightly.

“K-ka-ka-kan-kanade-e-e-eee, f-f-fin-fin-finish th-t-thi-this.” His raspy voice barely even a whisper, he laid his head back and his heart gave out it’s last beat. 

“NO! SERPENT! SERPENT!” I inhaled and screamed one last time, “UMI!” For the first time since I had met him, I shouted Serpent’s real name.

The ground shook and the Original came moved slightly closer. “TERAS SAVRAS! It’s over…” Revealing myself from cover, they roared in my direction. Laying flat on their stomach they used all six limbs as firepower aimed directly at me. 

“Kanade!” Fumia ran towards me but for the first time could not keep up.

I could feel everything, the soles of my shoes burning under my feet, the warm wind blowing across my face as I ran, my skin boiling with so many emotions, the grips of my handles biting into the open wounds on my palms. “GRAAAAAAAAAAAH!” This feeling…what is it? My blades began illuminating a blinding white from the hilt of my swords to the tip of the blades. As I ran, a veil lifted around me, but it was far different from entering my mind palace and far, far different from when I activated concentrated breathing. I felt isolated, nothing in my path, the bullets that flew in my direction just zipped right past. It felt as if all my bottled up emotions were too much to handle and that glass which held the finally began overflowing. With my blades illuminating a blinding white, I performed Typhoon once more. Sending myself into the air once more before diving onto the Original it felt as if wings had expanded from my back, as if I had truly become the Black Tenshi. Shouting on my descent I glided across the Original, beams of light expelling through the gashes I tore into their body. Zipping back and covering their body in slashes, I shot myself into the air one more time. “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” As I landed onto the nape of the Original, a flash of colors danced in the sky before everything turned white. 

***

“--De? Kanade? Are you alright?”

Opening my eyes I found myself resting in the lap of Fumia. Looking up, for the first time in quite some time her facial expression was more than just stern. Our eyes held contact for quite some time before I rose to my knees and glanced around. In the palm of my hands were my blades, but there was something peculiar about them. Etched into the center of both blades was the number one. Looking directly ahead the Original stood nothing but bones lay, no thick green scales, no emerald eyes, no latex-like skin, no large metal hooves, no, all that remained was the dark gray bone of the Original. 

Underworld workers were on the scene bagging the bones and the barren ward held life again, although it was a rescue team.

“Is it finally over?” I sighed, laying back into Fumia’s lap.

She nods reassuring that everyone in the Cathedral is in medical care. 

“Kanade, I seriously can’t believe you, Fumia. I mean look at what condition you’re both in.” Sora yapped like a dog barking.

“I need medical care too Kanade,. But rest assured once I’m healthy you’ll be the first person I visit.” She helped me onto the stretcher.

Being rolled away I noticed her neck was naked, scarfless. Glancing downard her navy-blue scarf was wrapped around my neck. Closing my eyes I rested for the first time in what had felt like months.