The two warriors stood silent in perfect stillness waiting for the other to make a move that would lead to an opening for one of them to seize victory. The silence could be cut with a knife from the intensity of the scene they displayed. Einz made the first move, his new body demonstrating its speed by disappearing in a flash, Kousuke by instinct or pure luck blocked the strike with his bone blades. The blades cracked from the impact of the force behind the sword swing, Einz then sucker punched Kousuke in the stomach, grabbed him by the hair, and started dragging him across the ground like he did before. The speed at which Einz ran was now faster than in the beginning, far exceeding what he had done at the start of the fight. It was impossible to see him, he was a blur with only the sound of his running behind heard like a high-pitched whistle hurting the ears of those who had sensitive strong hearing. He threw Kousuke in the air as if he were a ragdoll, Einz jumped up followed by a downward slash with his sword Astarok, while Kousuke tried to block it again. The bone blades shattered from impact, breaking off his hands entirely, he launched to the ground with his back slamming on the dirt and rocks as he coughed up blood from the force hurting his insides. Einz thrust Astarok to Kousuke, the wicked aura glowing around the blade screaming out. Kousuke rolled out of the way to dodge the sword thrust before it hit him anywhere on his body that would have immobilized him.
Einz went for another attack, he wasn't going to stop his momentum till the fight was over. The blade of the sword grazed Kousuke's face just below his left eye, and soon his arms and hands were scarred up again as well from blocking the sword strikes. Kousuke got some distance from Einz, and he tried to reject the wounds, but the cuts wouldn't heal properly. Even more, the attempt to remove them only caused more pain.
'Damn, this isn't good. I got rid of all the old burns after I got the flames under control but this time they won't heal. What kind of poison is that he hit me with? It's not the same as the one Ren was hit with this seems more potent. Even more, my magic feels weaker like it's draining quicker than normal.'
[ALERT!!!! Hell Blade Astarok, one of three Archdemon swords detected. Astarok has the unique skill Soul Devour. If hit with its blade Astarok will absorb the magic of its target till eventually it will devour the soul of its enemy. Astarok grows in strength the more magic it devours.]
'You've gotta be kidding me. So that sword is eating my magic and making itself and Einz stronger. I'm glad this help screen has knowledge of this world or I'd be screwed. His speed is way higher than it was earlier too. He's not as strong in brute force as he was, but he makes up for it with his tenacity and skill. Even his demeanor feels more pressuring than before. There's no doubt he's more dangerous now than after his release. I've got to avoid being hit with that sword, that poison emanating from it is deadly even with the flames backing me up. That and the damn thing eats away at magic so if it keeps hitting me I'll have nothing to defend myself with but my bare hands. That new skill I got could help but it's useless if I can't actually hit him. If he were serious I'd be dead a hundred times already, he has no intent to kill me just hurt me enough so I can't put up a resistance. I need to be careful, he'll give me more than new scars if I'm careless by even a second.'
The pain was starting to subside, but the scars were permanent now. Kousuke knew that if he was to survive he had to avoid the sword more than he did before, he couldn't afford to block it now that the bone blades were destroyed, and losing any more magic would be a guaranteed victory for Einz.
Einz struck again, and Kousuke tried to fight back with flames to block the sword strikes from touching him again with its poison. Einz wasn't letting him get an opening, he wasn't going to kill Kousuke, just hurt him enough to make him submit. Kousuke wasn't going to be Einz's caged beast, the problem he was realizing was that Einz was more powerful than accounted for, and even with using more of the Gouki Ryu it still wasn't enough if he couldn't touch him.
Kousuke didn't have a weapon like Ren's sword to counteract the Hell blade or anything just for defense.
'There's no choice I have to use the move. Shishou will kill me for sure for this. She forbade me from even attempting to practice it when I caught her trying to adjust it again in secret. Sorry Shishou, you can hate me later for figuring it out when I went through your private stuff but I've got no choice.'
Kousuke turned off the Jushin Kakusei reverting back to himself, he held his hands together in a prayer, Einz was confused but out of respect to his opponent, he let him continue. He was honorable despite his nature, letting his enemy have a fair advantage was his choice.
Kousuke breathed hard, he had to steel himself for this. The move that originated from the first Gouki Ryu User in Japan, a forbidden move never to be unleashed unless it was life or death.
"Behold, the beast cries, behold, the beast roars. Hear, the fury in the voice. See, the hate burning in his steps, speak, the coming of divine wrath approaches. I call thee to come down the mountain, the Lord Shuten-doji to release you and be mine to command. I've offered you the lives of one hundred, I've pledged to your anger, I am the element of fire to bring you life. I order you, be my body, my weapon, my soul, destroy everything with your fury as I utter the words for your descent. Devour them all!!!!"
The sky darkened, sounds of thunder boomed in the clouds, with the winds blowing hot air all around. Einz observed carefully, whatever it was Kousuke chanted didn't feel like a prayer to a God. More, like a prayer to a demon.
A deep crimson aura surrounded Kousuke, he was gritting in immense pain, and the aura looked like it was going to devour him completely. He wouldn't let it happen, he was the one in control, the force covering him was his servant not the other way around.
Over at the tents set up to treat the survivors,
They witnessed the raging storm, the clouds turning into the deep color of the aura on Kousuke. Megumi helping the victims saw the sky, the look of pure anger and worry on her face as Ituski saw her.
"He didn't! That stupid son of a b**ch!!! What has he done!"
Ituski limped to Megumi, she had to know what was going on. If it concerned Kousuke she had to know.
"Sensei, what are you afraid of? I've never seen you scared."
Megumi looked at Itsuki, and she lowered her head down trying to hide her eyes.
"Itsuki, whatever happens next. I won't help or say anything to Kousuke when this is over. He's on his own now. He'll have to bear the consequences of this later. I just hope he'll be the same idiot Toranoko when this is done."
Ituski's eyes brimmed with fear. Exactly what Kousuke had done not only scared Megumi, made her disappointed in him greatly.
Kousuke in the woods continued to assert dominance over the aura, it did its best to consume his soul. But Kousuke had a bigger hunger to eat it instead. Soon the aura stopped raging against him, it became stable and formed the image of a massive fiery bear.
"You're mine now, I'm your king. Saa, Yatsuo jigoku made kami kudake(Now, Let's bite him to Hell)!!!"
Kousuke changed again, like with his tiger and shark he changed. The transformation was different, more haunting, and filled with strong fury.
He roared out, his teeth grew in size with his canine so large they were barely covered with his lips, his knuckles extended, pushing out his skin, shaping into large blades in the fashion of a bear's claws. Thick, coarse hair covered the back of his knuckles, his shoulders, his upper back, his hair wild and long like a true wild man. The tattoos that covered his arms and back now covered the front of his body and neck. They looked like violent brush strokes converging on the neck.
"Gouki Ryu, Oni Yobigoe(The Ogre's Calling)," Kousuke said with a stoic tone.
Einz stood his ground, using his will to defy the immense pressure shocking his whole body.
"What have you done to yourself, boy. This power, it's not a warrior's will. What is this you call?"
"The forbidden technique of the Gouki Ryu, the power to call one of Shitennō(Four Divine Kings) of the Shuten-doji himself. This one is the Hoshikuma-doji; the Star-Bear Demon. Unlike Jushin Kakusei I'm not assimilating an Alpha into myself I'm being granted the power of the actual bear demon himself."
"How did you acquire such a power. The power of the Doji's personal animal?"
Kousuke tried to slow his breathing, the instincts of the bear were strong. The desire to maul Einz was intense, enough that Kousuke wanted to fight badly.
"I learned it from Shishou's old scroll she tried to keep hidden. Fortunately, she's dense at hiding her stuff. To call upon the Shitennō and pact with it you have to kill one hundred of the same animal as them. Bathe in their blood day and night for three days and then say the chant I did earlier. I never completed it till now, I was only a kid then and I was filled with hate toward Shiina. But now I don't care, if I have to sacrifice my soul to beat you to save my loved ones then I'll pay it gladly."
Kousuke tried to keep his composure. Unlike before when he snapped or got the shark soul he wouldn't go berserk, that was the only saving grace. But the drawback was that he was still at a weak level and the stress was damaging his body down to the marrow of his bones. He could feel even twitching a finger felt like glass under skin scraping at his muscle tendons. The aura surrounding him was burning the air around him. It felt like an angry heat wave enveloping the surroundings. Einz could see that the very ground Kousuke stood on was starting to catch fire, Kousuke had turned himself into a living furnace.
"Sorry if this animal looks odd to you but bears were the only ones available near me at military school for this to work. Rather have had the dragon but I'm fine with this. Last round Einz. I hope you're ready to lose."
Einz gave a weak chuckle. He was impressed but not afraid. Both screamed and charged at each other, although Einz was faster, Kousuke's body was tougher. The hairs that grew were not cosmetic, they were strong as armor, the very touch of hitting them made the blade of Einz's sword vibrate from impact. Kousuke's strength was enhanced beyond what he was already, just a swipe from the knuckle claws not only damaged Einz, but the force behind knocked a tree back, and even the ground when Einz would dodge would be destroyed from Kousuke's fist hitting it.
Both of them were giving it their all, but the fight couldn't afford to last. Einz was worn from damage, the lasting effects from his previous wounds when Kousuke used the shark soul were resurfacing. He could feel the parts of his body it was torn and bitten off resonating pain throughout.
Kouske too could not hold on either. His body was also breaking, the power from the bear was heavy on his body. He could hear parts of his body crack and rip. His natural healing tried to keep it together, even the flames couldn't keep up with the process.
Their blows clashing with each other, the sound of them grunting as their bodies were forcing themselves to keep going. Kousuke's body was the worst, he was getting hotter and hotter, his thermal energy was making him stronger but it was also increasing his heart rate past the normal limit. Everything now around him was catching fire, if he didn't stop he would burn the entire area more than he would have at the arena.
Both stepped away from each other, and they hyperventilated as they tried to catch their breath. One last attack was all they could afford, if this failed for them both, there was no going back it would be game over for one of them.
"Thank you, I've never had this much fun in my life. Not when I was alive, or now that I've become the darkness for my Meister. I commend you for your spirit and your courage. But all must end, you will come with me." Einz got into his stance, he was preparing for his final move.
"You're welcome. And I admit, I respect you Einz. So many times you could have ended those fights with my class in place of your brothers. But you didn't, even if you are darkness itself you kept your light in your pride as a warrior and let them fight on equal grounds. So let me honor you with one last attack."
Kousuke held his right arm tight at the wrist. He cocked it back, the muscles tensing hard to imitate a spring effect. The more his arm wanted to be released the tighter the grip he held to hold back before it would strike.
Einz exploded his dark aura, the aura making the skull image howl around him. He dashed toward Kousuke. Everything that came into contact with him died as his power withered all around him.
"Todesschlag(Death Slash)!!" Einz sword his sword, releasing an energy slash that destroyed everything in its path.
Kousuke released his fist before the slash made contact. He was launched forward at such speed that Einz thought it was a suicide attack. When the slash hit Kousuke there was no effect. The image of Kousuke was an afterimage created from the effect of his speed and heat to make a feign attack.
"The boy is gone. Was that an invisibility spell? Did he transport himself? Not possible, I still feel his presence and the heat in the area. No! It's a trick he's behind me!"
Einz turns to see Kousuke in mid-air, his eyes glowing in the darkness Einz made from his attack. Kousuke was charging his clawed fist at Einz, the flames created a roaring bear's head around it with its maw opened ready to sink its fangs into Einz.
"TENBATSU, JUSHIN KOU(Heavenly Punishment, Beast God Bite)!!!" He yelled as the sound of the bear's mighty roar echoed throughout.
"Fall…..INTO THE ABYSS!!!" Einz defiantly yelled back not backing down from his opponent. Both fist and sword connected. The sound of a bomb going off could be heard all over the tents. Ituski held onto her bracelet shivering with worry for Kousuke. The others looked in fear at the origin of the explosive sound where Kousuke and Einz fought.
Kousuke and Einz were back with back from each other. Kousuke was down on one knee from where he landed. His right arm was horribly mangled, bone was sticking out from the forearm. His fingers were broken and disfigured. Einz was silent, he looked unscathed at first. He dropped his sword, then his left arm disintegrated, and half the left side of his body did including his helmet. The claw marks crossed his body, Kousuke hit him with the attack. The winner was clear.
"You win. Never have I felt this alive and happy to lose. I accept defeat boy. You earned your mantle. If you can humbly accept my request, I wish to grant you a title, one I hope you announce with pride to enemies. Das Bestienköning, in your language it means Juou; The Beast King."
Einz forced himself to walk to Kousuke, he fought hard with his body breaking down from the aftereffects. He wouldn't let it stop him. He wanted to pay one last respect to Kousuke before he passed. Before he would be reborn again from Noir and lose his memories of the fight. He placed his trembling hand on Kousuke's shoulder, and Kousuke could feel the emotion of gratitude in his touch.
"Auf Wiedersehen junger König, mögen deine Jagdgründe Wohlstand bringen.(Goodbye young king, may your hunting grounds bear prosperity)"
Einz's hand slowly slid off Kousuke's shoulder as his body fell back, slamming into the ground lifeless. Kousuke held his functioning hand in prayer for Einz hoping it was enough to satisfy his soul in the afterlife.
"Saraba, Kage no ken kurokishi yo, yasura kani nemure(Goodbye, Black Knight of the Shadow Sword. Rest in peace)," Kousuke said to him in Japanese, respecting Einz for saying his goodbye in his native German language.
[Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up. Strength Stat increased by 1000, Speed Stat increased by 800, Intuition Stat increased by 800, Stealth Stat increased by 500. Extra Skills obtained. Extra Skills; Fist of Herakles, the effectiveness of fist attacks increased by one-hundredth times base strength, attacks will create aftershock follow-up by releasing stored kinetic energy. Extra Skill; Survivor. The body will no longer be affected by status ailments or instant-kill attacks, and auto-recovery will be used on near-fatal injuries. Warning! Survivor skill can not be activated currently. The effects of Hell Blade Astarok are still in use. Skill will be active after forty-eight hours from Purging Astarok poison.]
Kousuke saw this and chuckled at the unwanted notice. Getting a reward but not being able to use it now was a bad tease.
'Guess that sword was more dangerous than I thought. It's even preventing me from using my new skill right now and would have been helpful in this case. I gotta get back and rest before I explode from all this energy. Hopefully, I can contain it enough to get Rina to safety.'
Kousuke struggled to stand up, every muscle in his body was hanging on from being ripped after using the forbidden technique. His body tried to self-repair, but the process was slow due to the exhaustion and overload of thermal energy in his body. He had to get back to the others to heal and stop his body from overloading itself, he could imagine that if his body exploded with the power it had built up it would be the equivalent of a napalm bomb.
Battered and limping he started his walk to first get Rina before heading back, he had to make sure she was ok after that encounter with Einz.
He stumbled his way to reach where he left the tired-out Rina, he began using Code Breaker despite the extra strain on his brain it would cause to use on his body by continuously regulating the heart to a limited safe level. The coding being nonstop to make it safe to carry Rina back to the resort to rest up with everyone. He knew if he let up for even a second the output would double, he couldn't risk that.
He made it to her finally, as he was about to pick her up she grabbed his hand before he could touch her, she wanted to ask him for a favor first.
"Take my clothes off please." She weakly asked.
"Huh???"
"Can't….go back like this….take off my outfit and bury it here. I'll just wear your shirt. Please." She pleaded still in her weak tone.
Kousuke didn't understand, but he could feel that if she showed up in the outfit she had on there would be questions she didn't want to answer at the moment.
Kousuke did as she asked, he was careful not to touch her in a way that was almost on the verge of groping or cupping an accidental feel. It took time with him having only one good hand to use at the moment, getting the shirt on was a pain in itself. He was finally able to get her dressed, his shirt was big enough to cover most of her body as he carried her on his back.
It would be a while till they reached the area, he wanted to talk to her and finally ask the questions that had been bugging him for some time now.
"I'm not one to question someone's personal life. But seriously, what the hell has been going on with you? First, you left abruptly at my house, then you showed up again and put me to sleep to slip out, and now you're fighting a DreadKnight looking like a ninja. Just who are you?"
Rina couldn't answer honestly without putting him in danger from Lady Yozora. She only answered the truth without giving too much away.
"There are circumstances with my family I can't tell you. Other than when they need something I have to help out. I don't tell others what it is because it's personal business and mine to deal with." Her arms wrapped closer around him as her face buried itself into his back. "But the time getting to know you and feeling like I do. It's honestly the best time I've had."
Kousuke couldn't say anymore. He felt it wasn't his place to pry into her personal affairs more than he needed. It wasn't complete closure, but he was feeling better hearing her talk more about her actions.
'I know this isn't the whole truth, I'm not dumb enough to fall for it. But I can tell she's hiding something for my sake. She's changed so much, there's a lot of grief and pain in her voice. I never spoke about what my problems were, even when my parents asked me before we became completely estranged, I never said a single word about how I felt or what went through my mind. Rina's stronger than me. She said something at least even if it was a half-truth, something I didn't even attempt to try back then in my old life.' Kousuke wanted to look back at her, look her in the eyes. He couldn't bring himself to do it. He just wanted to get back to the resort to help her out and see Rumi, he was tired out and starving from the fight.
Deeper in the wood line looking over everyone, a figure stood watching in the shadows. Wearing a cape of human faces and one fashioned into a hood, the figure looked on seeing the humans below celebrate an empty victory. The skeletal hand of the figure holding an orb absorbed the souls of Einz and his brethren, its red eyes burned at seeing Kousuke walking off not captured. A complete failure of its mission.
"Enjoy your victory while you can boy. I have plans for you, and not even the Jaakou can fathom what brilliance I have in store."
The skeleton hand flicked a finger at Astarok, the sword glowed, and then turned into a ball of light. It flew fast and went inside Kousuke's body without him noticing or being warned of it either.
"A little gift for you boy. Let's see how long you last until it makes you feel the hunger that Einz was able to stave off. I look forward to it."
A sinister laugh echoed out, there was no doubt that the skeleton figure was Einz and his brother's master. Grand Lich Noir, who was enjoying the entertainment he had just witnessed, hoping to see much more.