1,594And we're back to it
A blanket of light fell over the group...
...
When Issei opened his eyes, he found himself inside a colosseum.
It was filled with rocks, craters, crumbled pillars, and skeletons. A lot of skeletons. There were many, many skeletons. Some had missing bones, shattered bones, fractures, and pieces missing. No person having been left whole.
The only similarity between these bodies was that they were all different warriors of the past, ranging from across the globe, across different timelines. There were Greeks, Persians, Vikings, and Spartans. African soldiers of the early eighteen-hundreds and even those of the Ottoman empire. Issei could see soldiers of the alliance, those of the Iron Cross, with and without the infamous swastika, and many many more.
It was a graveyard of soldiers and warriors throughout history. All in one place. And, in the very center of the grounds, a massive tree. The bark had been stripped, some of the roots looking ripped from the ground, and the head bare with just a few dead leaves.
Issei felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Artemis. She had a dangerous look on her face. They constantly scanned the area, looking for the slightest movements.
Scylla and Medusa weren't too far behind. The former had her hounds sniffing around while Medusa's snakes kept their eyes on the swivel. There was a golden hue around her own as she held her bow in a tight grip.
Apollo stayed by Kuisha, keeping her a hair's distance away from him. Just enough to protect her if they were attacked.
Boom!
Issei felt the malice and felt his body move on its own as he dove forward. The ground behind him exploded from an attack. Dust had been kicked up and a pillar was turned into fragments.
The brunette rolled back to his feet and summoned the Boosted Gear.
"So you aren't fleeing..."
Issei looked up towards the rafters of the colosseum. There, he saw five individuals. One which he was very acquainted with and could feel the anger boiling at the sight of him.
"So, you are here, Vali..." He growled. A slight aura of power began to surge around Issei, enough so that the pebbles and small rocks began to shake at his feet.
The silverette could feel the power despite their distance and felt a sinister grin split across his face. "Hm, still holding a grudge? Well, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I, too, have been dying for a rematch as well."
Issei's eyes flashed green momentarily. "There will not be another..."
"Hoh? The last time was mere luck, Hyoudou. That sword will not touch me, this time."
"Is that so...? How about we test that theory," Issei growled, taking a step forward.
Grip!
Before he could get any further, Issei shot around to see Kuisha had moved to his side. The look in her eyes slowly quelled the rage burning in the boy's gut. He shut his eyes, taking several calming breaths as he did so.
"Hm, her again. Are you afraid to fight me by yourself, Hyoudou?" Vali taunted.
"Hah, this is the dragon that beat you, Vali? I'm disappointed," one of the unfamiliar faces spoke up. He was dressed in a school uniform with Chinese armor over top of that. In his hand, there was a spear. It looked dangerous but Issei felt no type of presence from it.
"Careful, Cao Cao, Vali might take it to heart this time," another said. The voice belonged to, what Issei believed, was a wall of a man. He stood at two meters and, despite the similar uniform to the, now named, Cao Cao and Greek inspired armor, was packed with rippling muscle.
Vali wasn't amused and was more annoyed by their interruption. "I don't need this constant pestering from you 'heroes'. I still believe I could have handled this myself."
"How about you dance with me, if you're so confident, little dragon~," Scylla spoke up, stepping in front of Issei.
"For Zeus to have sent such an...underwhelming welcome party, I feel insulted," the large man chided.
"..."
"What?" The large man turned towards the final member. A short boy with gray hair and purple eyes.
"..."
"You think they can beat us?"
"..."
"Gods or no gods, they're still weak!"
"..."
"Shut it! I'm not arrogant, I am confident!"
"..."
"Enough, you two!" Cao Cao ordered. "Heracles, you would do well to remember why we are here. Leonardo, do the thing."
Flash!
The group tensed as the boy's eyes glowed a bright hue of purple for a split second. It was also in that moment that the air shifted but, overall, nothing seemed to change. The only foreboding danger was the dead silence that followed as both sides stared one another down.
"Has anything actually occurred~?" Scylla questioned.
"I don't know but I'd rather not run the risk."
Artemis and Medusa readied their bows and Apollo had formed two magic circles in the palms of his hand. A magic circle also formed underneath Kuisha and her hands started to glow.
The other four also moved forward to stand by Vali. Issei recognized Bikou standing next to the silverette. He was the one who had saved the coward at the meeting. However, there was still something tugging at the back of his mind. Something didn't feel right. And not in the dangerous type of off but something else. Something related to the five up in the stands.
Actually, it seemed it was all throughout the air. And there was still the question of where-
RRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBBBBBLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEE!
[!?]
The ground began to shake violently and crack as the large tree began to shift back and forth. The roots began to rip themselves from the ground, leaving much of the ground surrounding it to crack and tear. The few leaves that remained on the branches began to fall off and incinerate before they even had the chance to hit the ground. A massive body of scales and spikes slowly started to pull itself from beneath the ground, clawed hands dragging the beast below further above ground. More and more chunks of ground were thrown into the chasm below as more and more of the beast began to become visible. And it wasn't long before a head, long and serpent like, made its appearance. It was the equivalent to that of a viper. And it looked much less friendly than Medusa's.
"Ladon..." Artemis announced with a growl.
The dragon shook the remainder of the debri from himself before turning a blood red eye towards the group. At the sight of the twin gods, he smiled a toothy smile.
"Artemis, Apollo, so good to see you again," the dragon hissed.
Apollo stepped forward next, aiming his magic circles at the beast. "The feeling is not mutual. You should have stayed dead."
"Is that so? But it was no choice of mine. I was actually enjoying death. It was similar to that of a long slumber, and you two should know of how much I desire sleep," Ladon replied with a smirk.
"Then we shall be happy to return you to the afterlife," Medusa spoke up next. Ladon closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Unfortunately, I cannot allow that, for I have been revived for a greater calling."
"So you're just going to work with the Khaos Brigade!? Like that!?" Issei blurted out.
The Insomniac Dragon turned its attention to the Sekiryuutei. He stared at the boy for a period of a time, even squinting his eyes to get a closer look.
"Ddraig, is that you?"
[Ladon, it has been a time and a half.]
"So it is! Hahaha, I see that you have become less of yourself!"
[Do not test the Dragon of Domination, Ladon. Remember, the last time it was I that got you stuck as a guard dog for a plant.]
Ladon didn't lose his grin, albeit it looked far more sinister with that kind of face, as he lowered his head to come face to face with Issei.
"That may be so but times have changed, haven't they." As he said that, he seemed to look through Issei. It was as if he was staring into his soul.
[...]
"As I thought. And this child that I feel your soul bonded to?" He then focused on Issei.
"I can speak for myself," Issei replied.
The Insomniac Dragon was a bit surprised by the bite in his town. He actually didn't seem all too scared of him. "So it would seem. Tell me, child, how do you think you'll fair against a being such as I?"
"I'll bury you the same as those who tried to revive you."
There was a brief moment of pause before...
"Bwahahahahahahaha!" Ladon bursted out into laughter. His howls shook the very colosseum they stood in, the ground rumbling due to the pounding of his claws rising and falling. "I like this one, truly! He reminds me much of you when you were younger, Ddraig!"
Issei's glare didn't waver even as the dragon came down from his boisterous explosion. When he noticed the lack of doubt on the brunette's face, he actually felt even more impressed. Whether it was by the boy's sheer courage or by his ignorant stupidity. Either way, he was very much interested.
"You believe you can accomplish such a thing?"
Issei's fist tightened. "As long as lives are in danger, you bet your scaly ass."
Ladon rose his head and, what could be considered, a brow. There was another brief pause, everyone waiting with baited breath. Then, a grin formed on the dragon's face once more.
"I like you, Issei. Please, tell me, what is your last name. I must know, to engrave it within my memory."
"Hyoudou. And I'll make sure you never forget it!"
[Ascalon!]
Pierce!
In the blink of an eye, just as he had done with Vali, he summoned the famed Dragon Slayer and struck it through the dragon before him. It was a clean stab through the beast and was sure to have had some effect against him, no matter how powerful he was.
Issei was sure that as long as he got the first hit, the fight would be in their favor. There was no telling how strong any of them truly were but, if he could get an advantage on one of them, then maybe they would fare better.
Crack!
The group's eyes widened.
"What?"
Issei shot up to see where his sword had dug in. Cracks had formed around it. There was no blood or flesh. Not even any real resistance like scales usually possessed. So...
Shatter!
Ladon broke apart. The group's eyes widened further as small particles of what they thought to be the Evil Dragon fluttered around them. They then realized the problem and their eyes shot to the stands where the five figures still stood. Vali had a large grin on his face.
"What did you do...?" Issei said slowly.
"He fell for it, Vali, kekeke!"
Vali's grin widened, borderline uncharacteristically. "Of course he did, he's such a disgrace."
Vali sounded unlike himself but, even still, his words were taking a toll on Issei. The brunette was clenching his teeth tight, grinding them as he blood began to boil.
"You bastards..."
"Hoho? Did I strike a nerve?" Vali continued to taunt "I've only spoken the truth. You're still the weakest Sekiryuutei in existence. You've stayed alive so far on luck and by those around you. But you take it all away and what are you left with. Nothing!"
"Shut up..."
"Issei!" Apollo tried to call out.
"You were a scared little boy the day you came out of your mom's womb-."
"Shut. Up."
"Master, please," Medusa tried next.
"You were a scared little boy the moment you were killed by a weakling fallen."
"Shut! Up!"
"This I'd like to see~," Scylla cackled.
"And you'll still be a scared little boy when I finally take your life..."
"I SAID SHUT UP!"
"Issei, don't-!" Artemis tried to reason.
"Hahaha, face it, Issei. You'll never be enough."
"You're just not enough..."
"Issei!" Kuisha's voice broke through. But it didn't stop what had already been set in motion.
Snap!
[Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost Boost!]
"I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
A surge of demonic and dragonic power exploded from Issei. A bow of green energy formed in his armored hand and an arrow of pure red energy notched itself. The remaining surge funneled at the tip of the arrow, swirling in a visual of destructive beauty.
[PIERCING ARROW!]
FWIP!
The sheer force behind the released attack began to rip through the colosseum grounds. Everything within its path was eviscerated even as the arrow arched upwards towards where the five stood. None of them moved and Vali still had that sickening grin on his face.
BAAAAAAAAAAAN!
SHATTER!
The arrow struck but, just as Ladon, the five shattered like glass. Along with it, the colosseum walls began to shake. Pieces began to crumble and fall as if the attack had caused a domino effect. The fissure also began to expand and the many skeletons fell into it, piece by piece.
Issei could care less as he blood was still boiling. He had never been as angry as he has today. Even at the cries of those around him, he couldn't stop himself from trying to kill his fated rival a second time.
Was this what it meant to be under the curse of the Heavenly Dragons? To feel such a rage that he didn't hesitate to destroy his opponent?
Even now, Issei held no regrets for his actions. In fact, he only felt more enraged that it was simply an illusion and not the real thing.
Visions of red and black flashed across his mind and he couldn't help the mixture of emotions beginning to swell inside him. His anger began to collide with the pain resurfacing in his chest. The realization that the enemy was long gone before they had even arrived. He was tricked again and had failed again due to his lack of ability. Unable to finish the job despite all the training he went through. All the help he received. All the resources. Only for it to be for nothing.
Damn it!
Hit!
Damn it!
Hit!
DAMN IT!
HIT!
Issei looked down at his fist. He was on his knees, staring at the blood that trickled from his knuckles. Even as the cracks reached him and Scylla pulled him away, he didn't react. He only stared into the nothingness.
The group gathered in the magic circle Apollo created. Issei was wrapped by Achilles but hadn't taken in any of the information surrounding him. All he could tell was that he was angry, sad, and ashamed. But, at this point, he couldn't tell why he felt any of those emotions, nor who he felt any of those emotions towards. All he could see now was that the enemy was gone, they had failed, and the Khaos Brigade had come a step closer to their goal.
Issei needed to grow stronger.
After another lengthy time away, I have returned.
Unfortunately, it is with another short chapter. The times I went over it again and again, it never sat right. Whether it was how I portrayed the fight or how I had characters act, I never felt it was the direction I wanted to head it or that I'd make the move too fast.
So, I have come up with this. I like this chapter. It will allow me to do more and flesh out character's as the story prolongs. It also allows me to create more build up for a future confrontation between both sides.
So, while I'm sorry, I'm also not sorry.
Anywho, I will definitely, definitely, DEFINITELY, try to update the next chapter as soon as possible. I have a great idea of where to go and also allow my mind to not run a mile a minute.
Anyways, catch you guys next time.