Near the capital of the world, many private resorts were owned by the ruler of the world, Devi Bloodfire. One of these resorts just so happened to be the place she currently was staying at for the day, along with her husband, Damon Bloodfire and their baby girl, Divinia.
While there, Damon spent time with his daughter whilst watching his wife dance with flames surrounding her body. As he watched the embers along her boots spark up as her feet hit the ground, he grew curious as to what she was doing.
Damon: [So? What’s this all about?]
Smiling back to her husband, Devi gave her explanation.
Devi: [I’ve decided on my advanced ability, along with the condition I have set for it.]
Damon: [Oh?]
Devi: [If I am able to successfully perform my dance correctly, I will be gifted with a set of armor like no other. I’ve viewed my defensive options and they’re rather lacking. Other than using my ability to dodge or countering an attack with my sword, there isn’t very much that can protect me when I’m in danger. That is why I’ve created this. My dance does not require specific steps, but rather a specific rhythm. So long as I perform that rhythm, no matter what it may be, from tapping my feet along the ground as I move to attacking with either my limbs or my sword, I may activate it.]
Damon: [That’s quite the powerful ability, my dear. But if that’s all it takes, that armor will probably break against some tough opponents.]
Devi: [Of course! Thus, I made a second condition to it. Depending on how long I dance for shall determine how long I may use that armor. Two sacrifices made so that my armor will never break.]
Laughing, the loving husband said the words Devi had heard many times before.
Damon: [That’s my wonderful Devi for you! Always two steps ahead of everyone!]
While spending time with her family, Devi’s advanced matōki ability was formed.
A powerful set of armor like no other. One that would not yield to anything.
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Speechless.
Both the snow goddess and the dark god of hatred were speechless at the sight of the gold plated woman. They could not understand how, but Devi Bloodfire had transformed and prevented any damage from being received. This ability of hers was mysterious, incredibly so. However, the oni clad in black wasted no time at all to process his situation. Devi Bloodfire’s death was of the utmost importance to him, thus he called his blade back into his hand. Plucked from the wall by a faint aura of matōki, Nero gripped tightly on the hilt and thrusted towards her chest at an incredible speed. Shiro attempted to intervene, but Devi merely raised a hand, as if asking her to remain standing.
Once the blade made contact, a loud clang of metal echoed through the room. Devi had not been injured, nor had she even been moved. She merely smiled back up at her opponent, before an explosion was given back followed by several more flames enveloping Nero’s clothes.
Her death was of the utmost importance. Patting off his clothes as quickly as he could, Nero put all of his strength as well as a large portion of matoki behind his next attack. Aiming directly down at Devi’s head, the Braveheart swiftly lifted one of her armplates to meet the attack. Not an ounce of damage onto Devi, with the only difference now being that the armplate was slightly chipped in places. The two divine beings were astonished.
Shiro: [Strong! Devi’s super strong!]
Nero: [Martire had no effect?! Martire, the blade that will pierce through all, had no effect on her trivial armor?!]
Just as the armor did before, another explosion was let loose against Nero, causing him to jump several feet back as he patted off his clothes again. Slowly making her way over, Devi confidently took each step towards Nero as he looked on in shock. Slamming his boot down, a wall of ice was formed between him and Devi. From within the wall was an odd squelching sound, which became louder and louder, ultimately reaching its peak as Devi melted her way through by walking alone.
Devi: [Refreshing.]
Taking one big step, Devi flung herself towards Nero and caught him by surprise. A fierce slash was let loose across the left side of his abdomen, which was then followed by a wall of flames that fell over his entire body.
Devi: [Seiyaah!]
Nero: [Ghnnnk!]
The spurs on Nero’s boots relentlessly shook as he scraped across the ground. Using his ice, Nero slowly evaporated the fire around him, revealing a terrifying glare he now pierced back at Devi. Making her way over to her friend, Shiro flew through the air and landed beside the powerful former ruler, ready to fight alongside her. Taking the opportunity they had while Nero cooled himself off, Shiro spoke to the Braveheart.
Shiro: [I never knew this is what your ability would be like, Devi! This is next level!]
Devi: [I thank you for the kind words, Shiro!]
Clenching her fist, Shiro gave a shine of her teeth to Devi.
Shiro: [With this, there’s no way we can lose! Victory is practically in our hands now!]
Devi: [I would not say so just yet. We’re running on a blitz strategy, after all.]
Shiro: [When it comes to Tempest and I, sure, but you have this awesome set of armor! He can’t do anything about it!]
Devi: [Give him five minutes and he will.]
Puzzled by her words, Shiro raised an eyebrow.
Shiro: [What do you mean, Devi?]
Devi: [My armor is currently running based on the amount of time I performed my dance in the base matōki ability. Should that same amount of time transpire, I will lose this armor and be unable to use it for at least an hour. If we’re unable to beat him in five minutes, we’ll have a much harder time, or even be unable to beat him as a whole.]
Moving her crimson eyes to look at Shiro, Devi displayed a kind smile.
Devi: [We decided that this was the best option together, thus, we shall see it through to the end together.]
Shiro: [R-right! I’ve got your back, and you’ve got mine!]
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Both of them looked back at their foe. The fire around Nero’s body was almost completely gone.
Devi: [Shiro, allow me to become your shield.]
Shiro: [What do you mean, Devi? We’re fighting him together, right?]
Moving her hand up, Devi grabbed her right shoulder and winced. This raised a great deal of concern for Shiro, who had not realized how much pain she was in.
Devi: [That injury I received earlier was far greater than I could have expected. Perhaps it was due to the adrenaline in the moment, but I had not noticed how deeply it cut into me. Our final attack is still as planned. That has not changed. However, before that happens, I need time to recover. In order to do so while keeping you safe, I shall become your shield. I will block his attacks and you can rush in to counter.]
Shiro fell silent for a few seconds, turning to look back at Nero as a drop of sweat rolled down her face.
Shiro: [By this point, he knows what will happen in the next ten seconds.]
Devi: [Indeed. Thus, I will simply take any and all force and push it back onto him. He will have no choice but to attack as such.]
Shiro: [I’d like to believe that, but he’s a lot more tricky than we can anticipate.]
Holding their blades steady, the duo was ready to attack at any moment. Nero’s body was no longer aflame. The clothes he had worn were now soggy. Oddly, he opened up his jacket and looked at the inner right side, only to then breath calmly and resume his wrathful glare. Gripping his blade, he charged forward to greet the two with his newfound rage. Devi stepped in front of Shiro, ready to receive his attack, only to then see his empty, curled hand move its fingers up. Her answer was given in the form of–
Shiro: [Devi!]
Looking over her shoulder, Devi noticed several spears of ice that were aimed at her and Shiro, making their way towards them from behind. In an act of desperation, Devi struck them with her left armplate, causing multiple explosions as she did so. Now that Devi was occupied, Shiro was forced to meet Nero head on, where the two clashed in a struggle of might. Due to Nero’s much fiercer, oni blooded strength, Shiro could hardly hold her own against him. However, Devi took quick notice of the situation and attempted to move in to kick Nero away. Noticing this, Nero shifted Tempest over and caused Shiro to trip, leaning the blade towards Devi. In Devi’s mind, she knew what would happen next. If her armor met Tempest, the blade’s double impact power would be repelled onto Shiro, causing an immense blast of fire to hit her. Avoiding this situation in a dangerous way, Devi charged towards Nero in a crossed arms attack. As she hit his gut, she braced herself for what would come next, that being a blast like before. Rolling back to her previous position, a great deal of pain was casted onto Devi’s face, the one of two places that was not protected by the armor and thus, it could still receive the terrifying force of her own ability. Making his way out of the smoke, a wall of ice from where Nero was blasted towards now had a hole broken inside, created in the same lane he was now walking in.
Nero: [What a foolish ability. You’ve created something so powerful…]
Shiro: [Woriyah!]
Shifting his blade to the side, Nero met Tempest and struck at Shiro’s approaching attacks with his own.
Nero: [... and yet you’ve hardly honed your skill in using it!]
Picking herself off the ground, Devi charged towards Nero again to protect her friend. Shiro was already well aware of what would soon happen. Devi would attempt to rush in to save her, only for an attack that neither of them could expect would suddenly approach. What Nero had said was brutally true. Shiro had been told over the past week, while she was attempting to learn how to create an advanced ability of her own, that Devi had not used her advancement very often. There were occasions where she had, but those were incredibly rare and low in number. According to Devi, it had been nearly two decades since she had done so. Her skills using it now were likely rusty, or rather, they were always that way given how infrequent it was used. However, ever since Shiro was a child, she was a girl with an immense array of ideas. Much like the little girl who had used a pillow to move a wheel barrow, Shiro created a new idea for how to use Devi’s ability. Releasing one hand from her blade, Shiro created a matoki blast and fired it at Devi’s armor. A great deal of confusion was on Devi’s face, but on Nero’s, an equal reaction of shock could be seen.
Then, with a devilish smile, Shiro confidently spoke to him.
Shiro: [So? What will you do now? Because even if you stop my attacks…]
A white hot light started to illuminate from Devi’s armor. What then followed was another explosion that directly struck Nero, while Tempest simultaneously gashed his chest, which he shifted forward to the left, forming another wound onto Devi’s previous slash.
Shiro: [... YOU CAN’T STOP BOTH OF US!]
Flipping back again and again, Nero tried to gain some distance from the two. Devi had only now understood Shiro’s strategy, looking on at the goddess and seeing her point to Nero as she dashed over. Together, they charged towards Nero again, with Shiro stepping to the side as she tried to slash him. However, her attack was sloppy. Rather, it was not aimed at Nero, but Devi’s breastplate, which took the double impact and was ready to send it at Nero. This time, he was ready, forming a grand barrier of matoki between him and Devi. What he failed to account for was Shiro, who jumped behind and kicked him into the blast, forcing his barrier to break and letting the blast rip into him. As his body was flung back at Shiro, she quickly slashed through the air and cut off his right arm.
While he was on the ground, the two flew towards him again. While in the air, Shiro flew high up and then dropped back down, kicking her shoes against Devi’s armor as she ascended again. Now aware of both, Nero paid close attention to each of their moves. He looked towards Devi, then Shiro, then Devi, then… no one. Merely a looming ball of white matōki that hung in the air. Shiro was suddenly gone, causing a brief reaction of confusion before he realized what the goddess was using.
Nero: [Damn! That vanish technique from the last battle!]
With the late understanding that Devi was the current threat, Nero braced himself for the explosion and was sent into the air. As he reached high up towards the ball, the matoki stuck to his body and sealed him in place. From a cloud of smoke, Shiro emerged, spinning like a top before viciously cleaving Nero’s head off with Tempest.
Shiro: [How’s that!]
Striking a pose as she held Tempest behind her, Shiro swiftly descended to the floor alongside Nero’s body. Clapping at Shiro’s excellent attack, Devi congratulated her friend.
Devi: [Well done, Shiro! An excellent display for our blitz strategy!]
Though Devi was overjoyed by Shiro’s accomplishment, Shiro’s face displayed a look of irritation.
Shiro: [Remember, Devi. It’s not the end until we destroy the heart.]
???: [Interesting. You’re well versed in something you should not know about, Shiro.]
Even if they understood that he was not dead, the two turned to look back at Nero in shock by the sound of his headless voice speaking. Moving his body up, his head had suddenly been reattached, with a line of blood in the middle of the neck visible that bubbled as it healed. He then moved over to the missing arm, placing it back onto the stub he had once had which now healed perfectly into place.
Nero: [If you know about such a thing, that means you’ve discovered something I had failed to find. Once this battle is over, I’ll rob you of that possession for my own. It’s not much different than what you’ve done, taking it from the dead. What I’m more curious about is this blitz strategy you speak of. A foolish belief that you’ll be able to beat me in such a short amount of time. Five minutes. A mere five minutes, perhaps less at this point in time, is far too little to even comprehend what I’m capable of now.]
Resolve filling their eyes, the two glared back at their enemy.
Shiro: [You can say that all you like, Nero, but that doesn’t change your circumstance.]
Devi: [We know your weakness. Much like a swordsman’s fatal weak spot, we know where to strike to end this duel. Both Shiro and I are quite fast, along with the immense power we hold in our attacks. If you believe that you can keep up with the two of us, perhaps you are the truly foolish one here.]
Nero: [Oh please…]
Cracking his neck, his almond shaped eyes grew ever more sharp.
Nero: [You couldn’t fathom the sublime form that I’ve received.]
Raising his hand up, a ball of matōki that reached high and wide into the room was formed. The blast had gone so far that it nearly touched the ceiling. Devi was concerned by this, noticing that their lives would be in danger should the blast make contact. However, Shiro’s glare from earlier had not changed. In a low voice, she spoke sternly to him.
Shiro: [Go ahead. Do it.]
Raising his eyes, Nero grew curious over her arrogant bluff.
Nero: [Even someone as fast as you will not be able to avoid a blast this size, from this range, Shiro.]
Shiro: [You’re right. I can’t. But neither can she.]
His eyes moved over to Devi, confused as to why she would matter given that he intended to kill her from the beginning. It was only then that his eyes widened, realizing what she had meant.
Shiro: [What’s wrong? Scared it’ll go too far?]
Spreading her arms out to show a concept of range, Shiro looked back at Nero as she explained.
Shiro: [From this range, it’ll not only hit me and Devi, but Yoro as well. Is that what you want to do? Sacrifice your wife just so you can kill the both of us? Come to think of it, that blast is pretty big. If the range is a little too wide, Mena in that room over there will also get killed. So? What’s it gonna be, Nero?]
Flinching his eyes, Nero slowly lowered his hand, causing the blast above it to decrease in size before disappearing altogether. A brief moment of silence filled the air around them.
Shiro: [I’m tired of your games. We’re through with you.]
Piercing the ground with her sword, Devi took a deep breath, holding the top of the sword between the decorated horns.
A few days prior, after training Shiro in using Tempest and learning to fight with love in her heart, Devi had spoken to Shiro about something during dinner.
Devi: [If we’re going into this battle together with the blitz strategy in mind, we should have our own shout to determine that we’ll deliver the finishing blow we came up with. As such, I’d like for the two of us to say these exact words!]
Every night from that point, the two had practiced what they would say over and over again With their hearts now set on their goal, their souls burning ever brighter and their will to protect their family and friends fueling their power, the two shouted their declaration.
Devi: [I am Devi Bloodfire! Daughter of Morina and Chedmin Bloodfire! The former ruler of the world and the legendary, greatest swordswoman many refer to as Braveheart! A mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to many wonderful children!]
Shiro: [And I am Shiro Fuloreen! Daughter of the Brutal Gladiator, Goranio Fuloreen and the legendary hero, Airi Fuloreen! One of the eight gods of the world, who one day hopes to become the strongest there is! The incredibly loving wife to Xander Bloodfire, and the same of equal love to my three beautiful children!]
Raising both of their swords and thrusting them down together, the two pointed towards Nero.
Shiro and Devi: [Without falter nor fail, we won’t lose to you! For the future generations that desire to live, for the future of our families and friends that provide us joy, and for our very own future as we continue to move forward, we’ll put an end to your heartless madness with time to spare!]
Confident smiles accompanied both of their faces.
Shiro and Devi: [Prepare to meet your end, Nero Virtuoso!]
Standing there, irritatingly listening to their words, Nero cracked each individual knuckle on his empty fist.
Nero: [A bold choice of words for tombstone engravings.]
The final step in their blitz plan would soon arrive.
Though their battle was swift, this was their idea from the beginning. To beat Nero Virtuoso before he could do the same to them.
Without fail, they would destroy his heart and bring peace back onto the land. Together.
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