With the vast smell of iron filling the field, and the screaming cries of war blaring out, the unexpected battle continued to prosper. Several soldiers on both sides had already fallen, yet the morals of many still lingered on as they gave it their all. While many key figures were occupied with their own battles, those who stood behind them focused on supporting one another.
A warrior in that very same position struck his enemies with swift attacks from his nunchaku, while also defending the injured who limped behind him.
This warrior being the angelic man of Shiro Fuloreen’s army. The man who matched her in snowy color, yet their races of angel and succubus were polar opposites. Hidari Monjo. With another quick strike, and spreading one of his feathery wings, he shouted to those behind.
Hidari: [Fall back if you cannot fight! The rest of you, call for medical assistance to quicken the pace! I’ll hold them off for the time being!]
Though he could not see their reactions, he knew that they accepted his words.
Countless soldiers from the side of the enemy charged him, only for them to be attacked by his styleless art.
The temple, the stomach, the legs, the chin. Though he did not have a form for his martial arts, he knew more than just the basics to a proper fight. The areas that were most durable, the areas that were the most vulnerable, the strongest and weakest ways to attack. There were many things he had studied since he had built his now destroyed dojo.
That very same dojo provided him the view that he now focused on. His attention was on not that of the defeated enemies in front of him, but the woman in white who stood in front of another with the opposite colors.
The woman who provided him with a purpose, and a reason to serve her.
Hidari: [Lady Shiro…]
For the first time since joining her, he witnessed a far more serious look covering her face. It had not been long that he served under her. However he had witnessed the effortless defeat of many grunts around the area. Even the two she had fought provided her with a similar appearance. Though they were strong, and had cornered her on occasion, they failed to ultimately put up a tough fight against her due to their own conflicting mindsets. Perhaps if they had teamed up far more often, Shiro would have likely put on the same serious expression.
But that look was now finally present. Her fight against this new opponent had not even started, but she had already focused on stopping the incoming attack from them along with moving into position to use her sword effectively.
It was clear as day that whoever this girl was, she was likely far stronger than Hidari could imagine. If he were to assist his lady, he would only be creating a much bigger problem for her, and a free kill or two for the bloodthirsty girl.
With his eyes set on the two, he continued to defeat those around him as–
???: [Mind if I chew on you for a bit?]
A loud bang of metal occurred as both Hidari’s nunchaku and two damaged knives clashed within the air. A swift attack from the two, that neither could even predict was going to happen. Yet their instincts took complete control over the situation.
A man in ripped up clothes, with gray hair and sharp dark gray eyes that provided the same appearance landed across from Hidari. The same knives from before were pulled closed to his mouth, which presented a third knife within his sharp teeth.
Adjusting his position and moving his nunchaku into place, Hidari took his time observing the man.
Hidari: [That’s quite the appearance for an oni. I can’t really say I’ve seen one that looks similar to you.]
???: [Hehe! I’ve got some mixed blood. My old man was an oni, and my mother was a shark woman. I ain’t exactly full blooded, but I’ve got all the blood I need to be just like a real oni!]
Hidari: [I see. I haven’t heard of many shark people, though I was aware of their existence.]
Taking a glance towards his lady far out within the field, Hidari gauged the situation at hand.
Hidari: [I can’t let him move towards Lady Shiro. Even if he were to be defeated, there’s a good chance that it would only provide that girl with a distraction…]
Once again, he set his sights on the opponent before him.
Hidari: [Very well then. Your name?]
Knife: [Heh! Why do I need to tell that to an opponent who isn’t even worth the trouble? Prove your worth and I might just tell you! As for now, just call me Knife! The same name as the thing that’s gonna cut you down!]
With a leap forward, Knife approached Hidari, only for another quick deflection by his nunchaku. In the middle of the air, Knife provided a flip before charging straight down at him again. With a swift spin, Hidari allowed for one of the nunchaku to be carried by the wind, the force allowing another parry against the oncoming attack.
Sliding his boots against the floor, Knife charged towards him from the ground and the ground alone. Holding his arms across from each other, he attempted a cross-like slash only for it to be blocked by Hidari. Raising a leg into the air, he prepared to strike down at Hidari with a hidden weapon.
Hidari: [Another knife?!]
From the front of the boot came a small knife that jutted out. Moving his leg down, Hidari allowed his nunchaku to support himself in preventing the blade from reaching him. Taking advantage of his position, Knife lunged an arm at his abdomen. Noticing his current predicament, Hidari adjusted his body to narrowly dodged the knife, and a swift uppercut was provided as a counter.
Recovering from the uppercut, Knife raised his other leg and quickly moved it down to Hidari’s shoulder. With no time to dodge the attack in a proper fashion, a small rip to Hidari’s clothes along with a shallow wound against his skin was formed. However, he did not go without his own compensation, as enough time was given to pay Knife back with a heavy headbutt.
Sliding back again and covering his nose to stop the bleeding, Knife provided a grim smile as he looked at Hidari.
However, much like the opponents that Hidari had taken down before battling his new foe, he paid him no mind. Instead, his mind drifted back towards the lady he served.
With his wings fighting the wind around him, and one of his arms spinning his nunchaku against the cold breeze, he allowed for another space in which he could think to himself.
The very thing he sought answers to…was himself.
He enjoyed serving Shiro, and would likely continue to do so for as long as he lived.
Shiro Fuloreen had provided him with a new purpose. One he could not abandon by any simple means. Though she allowed for the option to leave if needed, he did not see this as an option that mattered. She was a woman who had descended into his world and provided a whole new view on the life he had lived. A view that he should have remembered from the lessons that his parents had taught him, yet he failed to recall those memories until that very moment.
Shiro Fuloreen was the lady he would likely serve for the rest of time. However, could the same be said about serving when it came to Hidari himself?
Though he had joined her to fulfill his dreams, he still did not have a style to his name. The knowledge he sought out was still something that was desired. A piece that was still out of his reach.
He had his nunchaku, he had his element, he had the skills he was gifted with and the angelic blood within his body that provided what he had needed. Yet there was still something that was missing.
He required what he had chased, yet he still could not find it.
Shiro had her own that he could learn, but was that really the correct option for him?
From the beginning, he desired the path in which he could make something his own.
But here he stood in battle, with only the basics of his studying available to him while he faced a mighty opponent.
Perhaps nothing was gained after he had joined his lady, even if she provided him with far more than his dojo.
Hidari: [Damn it…I can’t let my dream fade just yet…]
Growing impatient over Hidari’s quiet behavior, Knife adjusted his posture and gave an annoyed snarl.
Knife: [Hey! You done with your meditating or whatever? We’re in the middle of a fight here!]
Focusing back on the fight, Hidari provided a coy smile to the man.
Hidari: [Heh. I would have assumed that you would attack if I was just going to stand still.]
Knife: [Normally, I would. But after that first attempt, I get the feeling that doing that wouldn’t be the smartest idea.]
Hidari: [I see. Well, to some degree, you are correct. Though standing still is also a bad option as well.]
In contrast to the coy look on Hidari’s face, a smug appearance now represented Knife’s own.
Knife: [Oh? And why’s that?]
Hidari: [You haven’t noticed it yet? The change that’s occurred ever since our battle started?]
Knife: [Change? Other than the weather, I haven’t noticed…Wait a minute…]
Hidari: [You’ve noticed now, haven’t you?]
A circular field around the two had now changed. The sky above had gained a dark blue pitch. The grass below started to lose color. But one other key detail revealed itself to Knife.
Cold.
It was incredibly cold.
The chill of the wind, the hail that now struck down at them, the now frozen wound on Hidari’s body.
Knife: [My attack…!]
Yes. The very wound that was created along Hidari’s shoulder was now cauterized by the temperature around them. It was not a wound that required such a thing, however it was also not something that couldn’t be healed after being cauterized.
Continuing the motion of his wings and nunchaku, Hidari gave a confident smile to the bewildered Knife.
Hidari: [Since our battle started, I allowed for my element to activate and combine itself with the strikes of my weapon, along with the quick movements of my wings. This let me spread it around the area much faster than I could have normally. Luckily, it also allowed me to control where this would affect. I wouldn’t want my lady slowing down because of my own tactic.]
Providing another smug grin, Knife pulled his blades close with a bloodthirsty look in his eyes.
Knife: [Well, well, well! I guess you might not be a disappointment after all!]
Along the bottom of his feet, as well as the bottom half of his wings, Hidari’s body started to freeze over. He closed his eyes as his smile remained.
Hidari: [I’m quite fond of being kind hearted…]
…Only to open them back up with a determined gaze.
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Hidari: [...but it seems I’ll need to get a little cold in order to continue!]
With his breath now visible, half of Hidari’s face started to freeze as well.
A golden and white koi ascended the stream before it, aiming for the top of the waterfall.
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Though the forces that opposed them were many, a single member among the side of the royal and divine was able to push back far more than any other being could. It was not only a matter of size, but also a matter of skill, power, and raw technology based talent. Something that many on the battlefield were unfamiliar with, yet this person was more than well versed on the subject.
With a large, mechanical arm attached to his body, Migi Paribozijiou flung several soldiers that wished to engage in battle with him into the air. He neither grabbed, nor punched them. Instead, a simple, tough shove of his mechanical arm was enough to blast them away.
Far behind him stood several kitsune, who were bewildered in amazement over a new form of battle that they were unfamiliar with.
Tapping his foot against the floor, Migi provided a gleaming smile to them as he protected those who needed healing.
Migi: [Yo! Don’t worry about any of these losers out here! Just let my rockin’ self handle them, and the rest of you can focus on healing our brave troops!]
With kind smiles, the vast sea of kitsune nodded their heads in agreement.
Multiple Kitsune: [Right! Thank you, sir!]
Raising his regular hand in the air, he provided one last statement to them.
Migi: [I’ve got just one last thing to say!]
He then lowered his hand, along with his posture, and pointed it toward those behind.
Migi: [...Are you ready to rock?]
He expected not a single response.
Though he did not require one, it was always silence that followed the question. Whether he was by himself, or with the traveling group he had met for the first time, it was always the same.
Despite that common occurrence–
Multiple Kitsune: [We’re ready to rock!]
The eyes behind the sunglasses started to widen, before quickly sharpening into an absurdly confident look and a loud shout of enthusiasm.
Migi: [That’s what I’m rockin’ about!]
With a zealous swing of his mechanical arm, Migi sent an unbelievable amount of the forces in front of him flying into the distance. The power of his swipe caused a massive wave of land to continue moving and attacking those who remained beyond the enemies he had struck.
Giving a bright smile, Migi looked towards the lady he now served.
Migi: [I’m real glad that I met Rockin’ Lady Shiro! This is all I needed in life!]
His eyes now shifted towards the enemies in front of him.
Migi: [I’ll have to do some expert level building for her as a gift of thanks when this is over!]
Behind the enemy forces however, he started to notice something greater approaching.
Migi: [Are those…]
Within the clouds of smoke came large figures riding slow moving vehicles. The reason as to why they were so slow would soon become clear, as the snouts of cannons started to push past the clouds around them and were aimed towards Migi.
Rather, not just Migi alone, but those behind him as well. The kitsune behind Migi were not concerned over their own safety however, but the man who continued to protect them as they focused on assisting the injured. A singular kitsune spoke out to him.
Kitsune: [Mister Migi! Please move back! We can provide barriers against their attacks! Please don’t die trying to save us!]
Even if the situation should have scared him, Migi still provided the same smile as before.
Migi: [Oh? Why should I be scared of some children playing with their toys all of a sudden?]
Raising his finger towards the cannons that approached, he continued to speak to the sea of kitsune behind him.
Migi: [Listen, you rockin’ pretty ladies! I wouldn’t want your cute faces getting hurt all because I didn’t do my part! When it comes to something like this, something where our enemy decides a little bit of extra force is required, we just gotta play into their game. When it comes down to that…]
At that moment, air from Migi’s mechanical arm was released. However, it was not released in the same manner as when he had taken off the arm to use the one attached to his body. Instead, it moved out and to the side, while the gear and metal started to shift in place. The front of the arm was inverted inwards, and an arrow shaped piece of metal started to present itself where the hand once was. At the top of the arrow was an empty hole, with another empty hole being present at the top of the arm.
Migi: [...something like this is needed.]
From the top hole came a light that grew from a small ball into a greater and greater orb. Without end, the light within his arm continued to increase in brightness and size. Inside of the arm, a handle was provided to the attached arm which Migi quickly gripped onto. He then rested his thumb against a trigger placed directly in front of the same handle.
Moving his empty hand on top of the mechanical arm, Migi adjusted his grip as his body started to shake from the light provided. It was only natural, after all. His mechanical arm was no longer an arm but instead something else.
Migi: [Rockin’ Super Ultra Omega Party Go Go…BEAM!]
From the hole at the front arrow, a single light could be seen. Only for a split second of a moment could that very shine be seen.
What soon followed…was a devastating beam that scraped across the sky in no time at all, and exploded on contact. A dazzling explosion of light and glitter wiped out the several cannons aimed towards the singular man and his immense cannon-arm.
Smoke started to exit Migi’s cannon as he raised a single eyebrow towards those in front of him.
Migi: [What’s wrong? Are your toys broken already? I guess your technical prowess can’t match up to my rockin’ self!]
The vast land of kitsune behind him started to cheer, while others were dumbfounded in amazement over the strength of Migi’s blast. They could not fathom that such a weapon was hidden within his arm of metal.
Migi: [Hehe! And now…him!]
Taking in the praises delivered to him from behind, Migi couldn’t help but smile as he set his sights on a new target.
Aiming towards the main ship, he set his sights on the single man seated on a throne at the deck. A man who paid little to no attention to those on the ground, with the exception of the lady that Migi served and the former ruler of the world.
Before he could even charge another attack, however, the man’s cold sharp eyes turned to match Migi’s sight.
Migi’s smile morphed into a frown, and a single drop of sweat fell across his face. He was not scared of the enemies he had fought before. He was not scared of the cannons that faced him.
But when met with the eyes of this single man, Migi’s body could not help but shake ever so slightly.
Lowering his cannon, he irritatingly clicked his tongue as he moved his eyes.
Migi: [Tch. Why the hell is that guy so much different than the rest of them…]
Looking across the battlefield, Migi attempted to find someone to assist. He was unsure of how to help many who were in battle, but there had been one person in particular that he knew he could back up.
Migi: [Alrighty! Looks like I’ll go with her then!]
Providing enough assistance for the kitsune behind him to fully heal the injured, Migi set his sights on a new target that he would protect.
The rainbow colored koi followed in close tandem with the golden and white koi beside it. Both with the same goal in sight.
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Zipping across the battlefield, moving past each of the soldiers on her side while also scratching those who were not, a small cat girl traversed the land around her at high speeds. All the while, a look of pure annoyance rested on her face as she grew more and more irritated with every action she performed. A single snake woman struggled to battle a foe in front of them, but before a crushing blow could be delivered onto her, the small yellow cat girl struck their opponent down.
Watching as the girl cleaned her paws shortly after, the blue snake woman hesitated for a brief moment to thank her.
Poi: [T-Thank you, Missss…Bachi, correct?]
Though she had provided a kind smile to the girl, an angered expression was given back to her.
Bachi: [Ha?! Stay out of my way if n’ya don’t wanna get hurt, jackass! Jus’ go back to where the others are!]
Surprised by the explosive reaction, the blue snake woman of Silvia Bloodfire’s group, Poi, attempted to reason with the girl.
Poi: [W-Well, I ssssupposssse I sssshould. But I wanted to at leasssst thank you for your help–]
Bachi: [If n’yar done thankin’, then go! The hell is with these people?!]
Poi: [Well, I–]
Bachi: [Hurry up and go already!]
A shadow then loomed over the snake woman, which Bachi took quick notice of. Pouncing into the air, she deflected the metal claws that were aimed towards Poi. Claws that would have likely shredded her to ribbons.
Placing all fours onto the ground, Bachi gave a small hiss as she readied herself for another pounce. Behind her was the blue snake again, who was in the same state of shock as before.
Poi: [Th-Thank y–]
Bachi: [GO!]
Giving a surprised jolt before following it with a nod, Poi moved to a different space within the battlefield. Watching as she left, Bachi set her ferocious eyes back onto her opponent.
???: [Ooooo! You’ve got quite the scary set of eyes!]
A large muscular man dressed in black and white now stood before her. Much like she had noticed before, a pair of large metal claws attached to his hands.
Bachi: [Beat it, chump. I’m not in the mood.]
Chima: [Oh? But I believe you are quite the good match for someone like me, the great Chima Verde!]
Bachi: [N’ya got a shit name. N’yar parents must have hated n’ya.]
Providing a smug smile, the man provided the opposite look to that of Bachi’s own face.
Chima: [You may say that now, but it’s a name you shall take to your grave. There won’t be a single being who remembers yours, however. An ill-mannered child who rushed to her own death. That shall be the only memory people will have of you–]
Before he could finish speaking, a large burst of blood came rushing past where his left ear had been. The place his left ear was now placed however was against the grass below him. All of this finishing with the sight of the culprit, who now stood behind him with lightning sparking across her body.
Bachi: [The hell are n’ya talkin’ for? N’yar in the middle of a fight, are n’ya not?]
Placing his hand against his ear, Chima provided another smile as he looked at the girl. Removing his hand, the wound where his ear had been now gained a metallic look to it.
Bachi: [The hell?!]
Chima: [You are correct to some degree. We are, in fact, in the middle of a fight. A fight in which I shall triumph, and you shall fall! Sadly for you, I don’t believe that you’ll have many ways to make it out of this alive!]
Sparking up her electricity again, Bachi gave a smile of her own in response to his words. His claws ripped the grass as she slid them in preparation to move.
Bachi: [So basically, all I gotta do is hit n’ya enough that not even n’yar weird metal shit will stop how badly injured n’ya are? Sounds easy enough to me!]
Zipping towards him, Bachi was no longer visible. Following her quick movement, several slashes were placed across Chima’s body. However, none of the slashes were deep enough to cause serious bleeding, which allowed him to concentrate on where she had been.
A slash to the right arm. A slash to the left shoulder. A slash to the left side of the abdomen. A slash to the right thigh.
Chima: [I see. In that case…the next area you’ll attack from will be…HERE!]
Striking down towards the back of his left foot, Bachi quickly reappeared as she jumped back in the air. The once thin tail on her back now puffing up with shock. In response, Chima gave a terrifyingly smug look to her reaction.
Chima: [This battle should be quite easy. Just like I thought.]
Bachi: [How the hell did he…Damn it!]
Once again, Bachi disappeared with a small spark of lightning being the only thing visible. Stretching one of his legs back, Chima thrusted a single claw forward at eye level with himself, and watched as Bachi reappeared. Flipping herself below the arm to recover, she looked up at the man that towered over her with surprise.
Bachi: [The hell is goin’ on?!]
Chima: [Your movements are rather predictable. I was ever so slightly surprised at first, but I realized shortly after you took my ear, as well as the few attacks following that. You have a pattern in which you attack. An animalistic kind of nature if you will. I find it rather odd that someone like you would show up to a battle like this.]
Showing her fangs in anger, Bachi thought of the single reason that she was here. Kicking off the ground again, she performed a flip while still remaining fully visible.
Bachi: [I’m only here…’cause I’m gonna fight that BITCH!]
Chima: [Ghk!]
A deep X shaped cut was now formed across the chest of Chima’s uniform and skin. Blood started to spray out as he stumbled back, and placed a hand across various spots of the wound.
Chima: [You little…How dare you!]
Giving a mighty grin, Bachi started to laugh at the man as he treated his wounds.
Bachi: [Hahaha! What did I tell n’ya? This is all it’ll take! I hope n’ya don’t mind it, but think of that as a personal little autograph from n’yars truly!]
Shooting off into the air again, Bachi’s thoughts mimicked her own attacks as they viciously clawed at her mind.
Come to think of it, why am I even serving her?
To fight her? All because of that race?
Why does that matter?
I’m me! I take orders from no one, and move when I feel like moving!
If I felt like it, I could just run away from here as fast as I can, and never see her again!
Chima: [Guhn!]
An odd feeling started to rise up within Bachi as her previous shallow attacks were now followed by a much deeper one. The result of this led to Chima focusing on turning the wound into metal while the attacks continued.
…What was that?
Why did I get stronger there?
Is it because I want to leave?
Good! Then all I need to do is leave!
Leave! Come on!
Let’s go, body! Let’s get out of here!
Her attacks continued. Her body did not move away from her opponent.
Why…
Why aren’t you leaving?!
Leave! This battle isn’t yours!
You got all strong at the thought of leaving, so why aren’t you running away?!
We’ve done it several times in the past! Why is it a problem now?!
The hell is wrong with you?!
Bachi lacked many things, but despite what she lacked, she was smart enough to understand the basic thoughts of her mind. Noticing a small piece of what she had once thought about before increasing the effectiveness of her slashes, Bachi started to question herself.
Her.
Is it her?!
Why the hell does she matter?!
She’s just some crazy, weird white lady!
All I wanted was a fight with her, but before that, I wanted a proper race! She couldn’t even give me that!
Stop acting like she means anything to you! I could care less about her–
With a curled foot, Bachi’s body started to fall forward. Hitting the ground with her entirety, she slowly lifted her head as she looked towards the opponent standing above her.
Bachi: [I…tripped…? Why did that only happen no–]
Chima: [How unfortunate for you. A small mistake from your body has led to your own downfall. Oh well! Sucks to suck, I guess!]
Lifting his claws in the air, Chima gleefully readied himself to stab down at the girl and tear her apart.
Much like when she was imprisoned many years before, there was nothing but fear on Bachi’s own face.
A single thought, however, escaped her trembling lips.
Bachi: [...She was kinda nice…I guess…]
Shutting her eyes from the horror that approached, she readied herself for the end of her miserable life that would soon arrive.
The sound of the end then rang out. It was a sound she had not expected, though she accepted it regardless.
An explosive roar, followed by a noise provided from the man above her.
Chima: [Bmph!]
She shook in fear over her approaching death…and yet it did not arrive.
For some reason, there was a delay on what should have occurred.
It would all soon become known to her, as a voice called her name next to where she laid.
???: [Hey! Bachi! There’s no time for sleeping or shaking! The only thing we gotta do is blow this sucker away!]
Opening her eyes ever so slowly, Bachi gazed upon the familiar figure that she had met only recently. A man with spiky purple hair, oddly shaped sunglasses, a mechanical arm now formed into an arrow shaped cannon, and a long coat that hung over his shoulders with the label of ROCK★STAR placed across the back.
With a gleaming smile, he looked towards his shaking comrade sitting closeby. Her expression changed from a scared, to a now angry look at the sight of him.
Bachi: [D-Dumbass! I don’t need n’yar help! I was jus’ fine on my own!]
Shifting his sunglasses so his eyes were now visible to her, Migi kept his confident smile in place as he spoke again.
Migi: [Oi, oi! Bachi! We’re members of Shiro’s team, aren’t we? Us rockstars need to show the others how to do it!]
Bachi’s face wrinkled in confusion before producing another irritated explosion.
Bachi: [There is no we! I’m not a member of n’yar team! I’m Bachi! No one else, and nothin’ less!]
Migi: [Come on, Bachi! I’m sure you feel the same way as us! We gotta serve Lady Shiro to the end, even if it means dying! Maybe we need some nicknames for you…That might help. Let’s see…I could call you Shockin’ Bachi!]
Raising a finger at Migi, Bachi proceeded to erupt once again.
Bachi: [Listen! I’m not interested in–...I do kinda like the sound of that…]
Noticing that she was beginning to accept what Migi had called her, a beet red blush was placed across Bachi’s face as she started to yell.
Bachi: [No! N’yar not foolin’ me like this! Alright, fine! We’ll work together! But none of this weird white lady stuff! Deal?!]
Migi: [Heh! Alright! Sounds like a deal to me! Though I do wish you were a little more open to her!]
In front of the two was a large muscular man who started to stand after a blast made direct contact with his face. The smile of the man now gone, he sharpened his claws in preparation to kill.
Chima: [Good. I was hoping that I’d have more than one person to rip apart. This should do nicely.]
Migi and Bachi now matched their opponent, ready to strike as soon as the queue was given. Placing a hand against his cannon, Migi couldn’t help but smile over what they were doing.
Migi: [The time has finally come…It’s time for us to provide an even greater light onto the dazzling stage of Lady Shiro’s image!]
Bachi: [I jus’ said stop doin’ that!]
Two of the three members within Shiro’s crew now prepared themselves for a battle like no other.
A yellow koi fell lower than the others, but still continued to race to the top.
The end of the waterfall was still in sight for the three.
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