54Sooooooo sorry for the long wait. School and work had been working me to bone and I barely had anytime to get in any writing. So, again, I apologize.
Any-hoo…
Hopefully, at this point your interested. If not that's fine. Anyhow, I would like feedback on this story so far. Screw my feelings and give me any criticism you have.
I hope to put out more chapters and keep you guys updated! Anyhow, enjoy.
Chapter 11. Where There's Smoke, There's Fire.
(Before the drop off.)
(Bad Guy POV)
It's a glorious day, I thought.
Standing above the city, looking down upon those who are dying. The city slowly falling into disrepair and ruins. That idiotic bratlocked up and that small girl was just a side benefit. Or annoyance, take your pick. In my mind, things couldn't be perfect.
I mean, I love the smell of blood, smoke, and fire all in one day. Destruction is a unique art that I perfected over the years. Yes, it's an easy thing to master but to fully destroy something, now that takes practice.
Gathering the demons, devil exiles, and so forth was easy enough. Just mention you're going to destroy the devil's homeland and they simply say yes. Unfortunately, since Kokabiel was locked up he was excused. I'm sure he would've made a great addition.
The beautiful moment was ruined by a flyby of a dark, red energy blast. I looked towards the source of the shot and wasn't surprised when I learned it was Rias Gremory. Again, not surprising that she was decimating the grunts.
'Must I do everything myself?'
I hopped down from my view point and landed in the newly dug trench.
Once she saw, her power spiked. Probably about me imprisoning her 'lover' or me destroying the city. Mostly likely both.
Anyhow, she threw another blast of energy at me. I simply held out my hand and let the blast collide with it. The explosion destroyed at least a building and a half.
'She's holding back.'
Pity, I was hoping to fight the strongest generation of devils.
"There's no need to hold back dear." I called out.
She kept silent.
"Alright, let me make it easier for you."
I crossed my arms above my chest, like you would see pharaohs doing. Power gathered in my hands until I thought I had enough. I then threw my arms to the side releasing the power. My power had destroyed, I'm just estimating, 3 miles worth of property. Now with the all the clear space she hopefully has nothing to worry about.
But it looks like I ruined my chance because she was on her knees, breathing hard. I guess my power drained her shield thus draining her power.
I simply walked up and looked at her. So much for being the strongest generation. I gave her a kick and sent her flying a little way. Now she's hurt and powerless.
"I shouldn't let you suffer. I'll make it quick."
I extended my hand towards her ready to fire. Only to be stop when I was struck by a similar blast.
It didn't faze me much. The blast was equivalent to a pinch. I saw Sirzech land in front of his sister, not that it offered much protection anyway. I do say the family resemblance is easily recognizable, I wonder what would happen if yellow got into the mix.
"Spacing out are we?" I heard Sirzech saying.
"Have full right to be."
"Really? Given the current situation I think it's a bad idea to spacing out."
I shrugged as another explosion went off in the distance. Soon the cracking of knuckles were heard.
With a quick flick of his wrist, he shot a blast. And with a quick of my wrist, I reflected the shot towards a different part of the city. The explosion had sounded off before he shot another. This time I just caught it.
Judging from his expression, I did something to surprise. I passed the ball of energy back and forth between my hands before throwing it back. He stood there, preparing for the impact. Before he had a chance, I rushed forward and knee his gut making him drop the guard. I then quickly zipped away from my own attack.
The blast had rung out and bright yellow filled the sky. Once the explosion disappeared, a block wide trench had took it's place. I assumed Sirzechs was on the other end of the trench so I searched for that little sister of his. I mean, who wouldn't want a girl that had big breasts and a nice ass.
She was laying off to the side, either she dodged it or her brother threw her to the side.
Regardless, I was going to get a very good side benefit from my plan. I was going to pick her up and be on my way but a shot of energy collided with me.
I wasn't blow off my feet or any of that crap, I merely stood there in annoyance. I looked back towards the trench to see one irritated devil. Though he does look different. I mean, the only difference that I saw was his hair was the same color as his energy. Dark red.
"It's been awhile since I got this serious." he said.
I gave a questioning look. I don't doubt his abilities, it's just that he can't win. He so far behind in the question of power, but he could be up in intelligence.
He charged, engaging me in melee. With easy grace, I made punches looked like they were hitting air. I jumped back disengaging. But he wouldn't let up and continued his assault. Annoyed with all this running around I caught his fist that was flying towards my face. He threw his other fist in attempt stun me.
I simply dodged and countered with a round-house kick. That sent him face first into the ground. He easily got up and faced me.
"Never caught your name."
"Never threw it."
He just sighed and charged once again. This time, he opened with a kick which I easily avoided.
Then he threw a energy enhanced punch. I just evaded and threw a shot of energy of my own. He barely dodged it and the shot flew towards the castle.
I smiled knowing I would enjoy the fireworks. The sweet sound of the boom along with the sight of flying stone. I barely had anytime to savor the sight before Sirzech struck me in the face. He followed up with a series of punches and kicks, all hitting their mark. He performed his own round house, sending me a little way.
He then proceeded to throw a big ball of power my way. I regain my footing and caught said ball. I then threw it back like a baseball. For his response was a simple block and as a result, a pillar of yellow light shot up into the sky and left a reasonable size hole in the ground.
"I was expecting much more..."
I was going to walk away, but was stopped when he jumped out of the hole. Or should I say flew. He was now hovering in the air, himself covered in a bright red.
"Now were talking."
He disappeared from the sky. Probably trying to catch the upper hand, but I'll amuse him a little. He reappeared behind me a second later in an attempt to punch me, but I block it with ease. The force was able to send up shards of the earth. He then attempts another but as a uppercut. I tilted my head back, dodging the blow. I placed my hands to the ground and did a backflip.
Making sure to kick him upwards. As he was sent into the air, I got back onto my feet and jumped after him. I then punch his stomach as I reached him. He came forward puking out little blood and as he did so I threw another one into his face, throwing his head back once more.
Next came the flurry of my own punches. Don't worry, I didn't forget to add kicks to the mix. After a few strikes he began to go limp on me. His bright red cover faded. After the tirade of punches and kicks, I let him fall to the ground.
As a last-minute addition, I shot one ball of energy. The explosion occurred as soon as he made contact with the ground. I landed back onto the ground and walked up to the crater he now laid in. Peering inside to make sure he was down there, which he was, and hopped down to meet him.
He looked battered, bleeding in certain areas, and it looks like I might have broken a bone or two.
"Come Sirzechs. I was expecting more from you. I never kn-."
The one thing I hate most is interruption. But I'll make an exception for Sirzech.
I was sent out of the crater and back to level ground.
"Don't count me out yet, sorcerer."
I just started to laugh and got up. To see him standing before the ledge of the crater, his bright red aura returning.
"Now there's the devil I was expecting."
In response, he threw two balls of energy. Will this guy ever learn? I let the balls make contact, making the explosion. I expected him to charge straight up to me, but was surprised when I got struck in the back. The blow sent me out of the cloud of smoke and back into the rough earth.
I got back up and turned to the fading cloud of smoke. And of course, he was standing there.
"And here I thought you were a straight forward person."
He stayed silent. I was going to make another comment but was stopped when a blast struck me in the back. I turned to find Rias. Again, going to make comment but was interrupted by a beeping sound.
Like a ringtone for a phone. I reached into my pocket to take out said phone. The message that read across the screen was enough to make me mad. I put the phone away and faced my opponents.
"Sorry to cut this fight short but I have plans to take care of."
In a flash, I punched Sirzech in the face with enough force to effectively knock him out. For Rias, I gave her a gut punch. She did spit little blood, but went unconscious all the same. I then picked her up and threw her over my shoulder.
After taking care one of the annoyances, I started my way towards the semi destroyed castle of the Gremory's. I wouldn't say I surprised that it withstood the blast, I mean these are the Gremory's we're talking about.
Walking up to the front doors was easy enough since all the guards were out fighting the monsters I set loose on the city. With a kick, the doors were brought down from their hinges. The first thing I saw was the servants.
I just raised an eyebrow before being paraded with weapons. Swords and spears tried to pierce my skin but broke on contact. They stumbled back in surprise and before any of them could defend themselves I shot energy towards the grand-staircase. The explosion was enough kill a few and knock out the rest.
I knew what I need wasn't upstairs, well not yet. I continued my through the house until I reached the ballroom. Like any ballroom, it had the big arch ceiling with pillars supporting them, tables stuffed to the walls to create space, and of course the dance floor.
I walked to the center of the room, my footsteps echoing throughout the room. The symbol of the Gremory family was engraved into the marble floor along with other symbols that I wasn't familiar with. I dropped Rias to the ground and admired the scene while I could.
The echoes of another's footstep made me sigh.
"Such a shame that a floor like this has to be destroyed."
"You can't... break it..." Sirzech said in between breaths.
"Everything can be broken."
"You... don't know... how..."
I chuckled at that remark.
"You really think I'll cause this much destruction just to get here and not know how to break it?"
I turned towards him with a grin plastered on my face and a horrified expression on his. He quickly hid it behind that serious mask of his. A blast was shot soon after. I dodged it and dashed forward, quickly grabbing his outstretched arm. In one swift motion, I severed the connection of his forearm to his elbow.
His scream now filled the room as he fell back onto the floor. Clutching his wounded arm, I walked back towards the center and placed the piece of flesh into one of the small circles in the inner ring of the symbol.
"One down, five to go."
I'm honestly surprised things have gotten this far. My phone buzzed once more and I sighed in frustration. The second message calmed me down a bit. Getting involved a bit early but that can be overlooked if this succeeded.
The great boom of the doors echoed, alerting me of another presence. I turned to find the source and was relieved of who it was.
Good old Dad.
"Surrender now or things will go wrong." he said, his voice echoing throughout the ballroom.
"Your compassion will kill everyone one of these days." was my response.
He charged and swung in a wide arc with his right. So, slow, I thought. I easily blocked it with my right. I expected him to swing with his left, but was surprised when Sirzech jumped over him and attempted a down-arc kick. I grabbed it with my left and tossed him aside. Then Dad swung with his left and I caught that too. Quickly grabbing his right, I locked him in place for me to bring my knee up while pulling him down. The contact sent him into the roof or through it.
Being kicked in the back turned my attention back towards Sirzechs. He attempted another kick but I caught and then proceeded to bend his leg backwards. I then grabbed his face and slammed him into the floor, sending up pebbles.
"I'm surprise you got up after the knockout punch and the loss of your arm."
Signs of twitching meant that he was still conscious. Soon after, a sound of broken wood and a smash meant the father had came back down.
"Now stay down will you?"
I was going to walk towards the dad again but was stopped when I felt something holding onto my ankle. I looked down to see Sirzech laying in a pool of his own blood.
"Stop…"
I smirked at my victory. I easily broke free and kick him in the face like a football, sending him into the wall. I turned in time to see a fist ram itself into my face, sending me into the wall as well. I didn't go through like Sirzech, but still got stuck in it. Easily getting out of the wall and rubbing the spot where I was punched.
"Got to say pops, not bad."
He tried to continue his assault but failed when I punched him in the gut and then kicking his kneecap. Making him fall to his other knee and he was holding his gut. I wrapped my arm around his throat and grabbed his forehead with my left hand.
The grunts of pain were heard. The fallen form of Rias Gremory were beginning to rise again.
"Ah! Rias, you just arrived a bit early for the main event. So this is the substitute for now, enjoy the show!"
With those words, I began to twist the old man's head. He was putting up quite a fight, grabbing my arms trying to pry them off.
"No!" she shouted and threw a blast.
I just put pops in front of that blast, hoping that was the trick to at least stun him. Yet, no such thing happened.
"Damn it old man, just die!"
She threw another one and I still kept pops in front as my shield. I finally gave up on the twisting and used both hands to grab him by the chin to pull. I placed my foot on his upper back and began to pull.
It wasn't long until I heard a snap and soon followed by a ripping sound. The head came popping off and the body fell forward. The expression on the man's face was priceless. The tongue sticking out and eyes going in different directions.
"Finally."
I took the head back to the circle and repeated the process like I had done with Sirzech's arm. I heard Rias scream in anger or was in sadness. Could be both. I turned to face her only to receive a blast that sent me to the far end of the room.
"Not bad." I said from my place on the wall.
I looked at her to see the exact bright red aura that Sirzech had.
"Can you blame me though? He was going to die eventually. You know, old age and all."
She said nothing as she repeated her attack. With a wave of my hand I deflected it.
"I'm not forgetting you my dear." I said pulling my dagger from its hidden position. "You got to contribute too."
I rushed forward, catching her arm and forcing it behind her back. Putting pressure so she let up. With the tip of my knife, I pricked her necked to create a trickle of blood. Gathering enough on the blade, I let go of her arm and delivered a backhand to her head. Sent her to the wall and hopefully she'll stay there.
Repeat the process. Three down, two to go. Now I ran into a problem, how can I find them? They could be in the castle still. I shrugged and repeated the action I took with Rias to clear space. The castle was destroyed in an instant, save for the floating pile of rubble and the Gremory symbol. It made a slow descent, revealing who I was looking for.
Devil's don't really have the sense of 'get the fuck out'. Sirzech's wife is standing protectively of the mother and grandson.
"Oh ma, I hope you don't mind but I put pops to rest." Pointing out his body.
She tried to cover the kids face, preventing him from seeing the scene. The rustle of rubble brought my attention to Sirzech, again, climbing out of the remains of the wall. The look on Grayfia's face was a mix of worry and anger.
"Sirzech, my big curiosity is how did that happen?" Gesturing to the kid and Grayfia.
That only seemed to piss him off along with Grayfia. They were about to charge but was stopped when the kid rushed forward, balls of power in each hand. I caught the kid by the head and picked him up. He squirmed, throwing the punches in thin air.
Sirzech tried to run at me but failed and fell to the ground. Grayfia was about to charge was stopped when I put him in a choke hold.
"Is this how you raise your children? I could've done a better job. In a more violent way but still."
Now it's was the mother's turn to step up all pissed. She made to charge, but with a certain dagger pointed at a particular spot halted her progress.
"Let's not get hasty." I laughed. Torturing people was the fun part about chaos. "I think with the way you were raising him, he should be like the father."
Grayfia was going to make a comment but the sound of steel cutting through flesh silenced her. Soon the kid's scream soon followed. Now the blade was covered in his blood. I was going to repeat the process again but, that was the final trigger for the her as she surrounded me with circles.
Interesting. She's going to attack even her son is in the blast radius.
"I don't if you noticed but your husb—".
I didn't get to finished as the she unleashed her power. The only thing that was affected was the environment. Honestly it was more a decoration than anything. But the one thing that surprised me was the fact a body laid before my feet. I looked back up towards Grayfia to find the son unharmed.
I rolled the body with my foot to find that it was the headless father. Now that brought confusion to my face since I already killed the father and Sirzech laying helpless on the sidelines. But I'll worry about that later. At this rate, he'll be here before I can get things started. Plus, it seemed like Sirzech managed to crawl back to his wife and mother who was preparing an escape.
Typical response when defeated. I snapped in their general direction and sound of flesh being pierced echoed through the air allowing with the teleportation spell fading away. The mother soon fell barely keeping her breath after the damage was dealt. With their escape cut off, I return to the symbol to place the kid's blood in the fourth circle.
"Honestly, you devils are too easy to read and control." I said as I walked towards them.
Sirzech barely managed to sit up given that his legs were dead and Grayfia barely held her own ground given how much power she gave up, with the addition of a gravely injured step-mother.
"Now if you just hand over the mother's blood, this can be all over. But I prefer if didn't surrender."
I started my way towards the little group but was halted by something striking me in the back. We're are not talking about a simple blast, something made me move. The action sent me flying over the group and quite the distance away from the Gremory Castle. Once I made contact with the ground again, I stood to face the person who accomplish such a feat but I wasn't ready when I saw who.
"Hey jackass, you forgot someone and that someone is very pissed."