In an incredibly long minka house full of kitsune, three stood out from the hundreds that resided there. Two of which had been daughters of the powerful group, the Kōkatsu Family. The other was the head of the family herself, the one and only, Kōkatsu the Almighty.
The Mother of All stood before the two as she provided a lesson onto them. A lesson for how they would conduct battle strategies with each other.
Kōkatsu: [The two of ya are real damn strong. Kaoru, yer healin’ and support based skills are above the level of an expert. Then there’s you, Kiyomi. Yer physical strength ain’t somethin’ that can be brushed off that easily. No matter what stands in yer way, yer capable of crushin’ it without a second thought.]
A finger was then raised in front of the two and waved between them in a loop.
Kōkatsu: [However, there’s a real problem between the two of ya. Ya both got all ya need to be the greatest kitsune duo in the world. Everythin’ except for synergy. If the two of ya want to reach a point like that, then yer gonna need to start hittin’ yer heads together and come up with a new way to fight. I sadly can’t get involved here, since somethin’ like this only comes naturally from the people who are tryin’ to synergize. But I trust that both of you can figure this out! Yer two of the smartest and cutest daughters I’ve got! Now get to it!]
WIth a firm pat to their shoulders, Kōkatsu exited the room. A playful salute was performed by the two as she left. Now alone with each other, the kitsune daughters focused on what they would create.
Kiyomi: [I’m not really good with this stuff…What should we do, Kaoru?]
Kaoru: [Let’s just think logically here. If I have my support based moves and yours focus more on physical moves, then we need to find a middle ground between the two.]
Suddenly, an idea was sparked from Kiyomi’s head.
Kiyomi: [I’ve got it!]
Kaoru: [Perfect! Let me hear it!]
Kiyomi: [You can use your stuff to teleport them to my location and from there, I beat them up!]
Kaoru’s ears flopped to the sides in confusion.
Kaoru: [Kiyomi…I can’t teleport people. That’s more of Zen’s thing.]
Kiyomi: [Ah, damn. You’re right. What do we do…]
At that moment, another idea for a cooperative move was formed. Only this time, the owner of this thought had been the kitsune on the other side.
Kaoru: [I know! You could gather up our opponents into a single area and I could use my barriers to contain them!]
Kiyomi: [...But what happens after that?]
Kaoru: [I…didn’t think that far ahead. Hmmm.]
The excitement on Kaoru’s face slowly dissipated as she came to the tragic realization.
Kiyomi: [Surely we can think of something if we just try hard enough! Let’s see…What if…What if I use my counter ability and you heal me at the exact same time? We’d be invincible!]
Kaoru: [I don’t doubt the idea of that, but I’m also worried about what the effects of that might be after using such a move for too long. Both for my sake and yours as well.]
Kiyomi: [That’s fair. Guess we’ll stick to barriers and bashing then. We haven’t made any progress with it though.]
Kaoru: [Lady Kōkatsu provided us with as much time as we need! We’ll find our answer eventually!]
They sat in silence. Hair was scratched and chins were rubbed as the two seeked their special move.
Reflecting on what was said, the two quickly paused from their excessive thinking and spoke their words aloud.
Kiyomi: [Barrier…]
Kaoru: [Bashing…]
Two pairs of fingers released an energetic snap as the kitsune pointed to each other.
Kaoru and Kiyomi: [That’s it!]
From there, the first among Kōkatsu’s children had formed their ultimate move.
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Amongst the chilling battlefield, the cracking of bones and pained screams rippled out into the air as repeated strikes were delivered. These were not normal injuries comparable to a mighty punch or a vicious slash of a weapon. These were wounds of a far greater level.
A kitsune of maroon skin and messy black hair ruthlessly struck her opponents. From a heavy clothesline, to a pile driver, she provided those around her with an experience in battle that would haunt them for the rest of their life, assuming they lived from such injuries. She was not alone in this effort however. Providing a wall to every angle that Kiyomi struck at was Kaoru Teppen. The two had formed a perfect combination. One where Kiyomi would use her immense set of well defined muscles to crush her opponents and Kaoru would provide a barrier in opposition. This allowed for a deadly attack from both sides without a need for Kaoru to take up a much more offensive based power.
The combination technique was known as…
Kaoru and Kiyomi: [Zenko Sisters, Barrier Bashing!]
With a mighty laugh, Kiyomi thrusted another soldier’s face into a barrier. She then quickly picked up the next and slammed their spine into a barrier below her.
Kiyomi: [Who would have thought that all it would take to make something this strong was just some muscles and some walls? I could do this all day without even breaking a sweat!]
Kaoru: [It’s rather easy to keep these barriers going, along with my own. WIth that said, I feel like you’re enjoying this a little bit too much, sister…]
Placed safely in a bubble of her own, Kaoru gave a concerned comment to her older sister. Kiyomi turned to face her with a smile. Though a soldier approached close behind, a mighty backhanded fist was delivered without looking and squeezed their face against the barrier that was formed behind it.
Kiyomi: [I’m just enjoying myself in the same way Lady Kōkatsu would! Just look at her!]
Their eyes drifted to the side, watching as countless enemy troops fell to the floor at her hands.
Kiyomi: [She isn’t having any trouble in the slightest.]
Kaoru: [I suppose that’s Lady Kōkatsu for you…You’d need more than thirty warships to even scratch her.]
A shared smile stretched out across their faces. They continued to watch the performance from their all powerful mother.
A kick.
There were over a hundred soldiers that charged the kitsune who stood taller than every opposing force in front of her. A number as large as that would surely reduce any foe they set their eyes on to ashes.
And yet, a kick was let loose. A kick that only had a fraction of strength put into it.
That fraction did not matter, as each and every one of them was launched into the air from just that kick alone.
Behind it was a woman who provided a terrifying howl of a laugh as she decimated her foes.
Kōkatsu: [Yahahaha! S’been a bit since I got to stretch like this! I’ve had my fair share of scenarios where a battle had to start. Whether it was some slaves that needed freein’ or someone who tried to mess with our own. But I haven’t had an experience like this since ten years ago, when we were all jus’ a bunch of youthful brats!]
Another group of a hundred attempted to charge her. They were well aware of her position in the world and the threat she imposed onto them. However, the reward for taking her head would likely outweigh the risk.
Before the bunch could step within twenty feet of her however, Kōkatsu pulled out her two katanas at a rapid speed and slashed the empty air with them. She then sheathed them slowly, and a loud clink rang out as the blades returned to their home.
What then followed was those same hundred who ran at her from behind being reduced to ribbons of meat. She did not turn to meet a single one of them, yet they were no longer in this world.
Kōkatsu: [Small fry ain’t enough. If yer gonna take me out, ya better bring someone higher up!]
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???: [In that case, I shall be the one to do battle with you!]
A woman who stood taller than even Kiyomi appeared before Kōkatsu. She wore the same uniform as those around her, but her mighty appearance presented an image that she was not like the rest.
Despite that…
Kōkatsu: [I suggest ya run while ya can. If yer goin’ up against me, then yer bound to lose.]
Sariza: [I don’t need a reason to run, for I, Sariza, will be the one to finally strike down a god!]
With a heavy sigh, Kōkatsu shrugged her shoulders and extended a single palm towards the woman.
Kōkatsu: [Alright. Jus’ tell Yama on the other side that I warned ya in advance.]
The woman shined a grim smile as she looked towards the hand.
Sariza: [I see! So you plan on using an element against me? How unfortunate for you! My ability allows me to reduce any hint of elemental damage to nothing as long as it’s set to the correct one! I’m smart enough to deduce however that the element that will leave your palm is that of wind!]
A single fang appeared across Kōkatsu’s smirk.
Kōkatsu: [Wind, huh?]
A thin orange glow circled her figure.
Kōkatsu: [I guess you aren’t entirely wrong.]
A quick thrust of Kōkatsu’s palm was let loose. A gust in the wind was sent at the woman.
Kōkatsu: [Whirl of Hagoromo!]
The woman braced herself for the damage, yet she could not stop it. Despite her bold claim, despite what her ability had been capable of, there was a clear difference between what she believed and what was given.
Sariza: [M-Matōki?! This is a… matōki attack?! Woah!]
Without the ability to resist, her body was forced into the air. An immense pain of being crushed rested in her stomach. However, something far more dangerous would soon arrive.
Less than two seconds had passed, and Kōkatsu reappeared behind her in the air. The blades to her sides were released once more and the same orange glow that existed on her body was now extended to the swords in her hands.
Kōkatsu: [Sly Sword Style…]
Her katanas were raised above her head, and with a wicked slash down at the woman, she was split into three and launched into the ground below. Her blood painted the grass as she fell with rain of the very same following close behind.
Kōkatsu: [...Mae’s Retribution!]
There was only one sentence that left the mouths of the soldiers nearby.
Soldiers: [She’s…She’s a monster…!]
Before they could even run, Kōkatsu landed on the ground and caused the ground to elevate rapidly in the process. This led to the soldiers that cowered in fear to join their comrades as they were sent through the air.
Dusting off her hands, Kōkatsu placed her clenched fists against her hips and gave a sly smile.
Kōkatsu: [And that right there is what makes me sly! Ya never know what to expect from my moves! Yahahaha–]
Her pride was through the roof. Her joy was unfathomable. Her status was just as her title entailed, almighty.
However, there was something that even an all powerful goddess could fall prey to.
It was something she had fallen prey to for quite some time now.
Her own thoughts.
Kōkatsu: [Ha…..haha….ha…]
Her smile faded. Her joy was no longer there.
She turned around and her vision was no longer the same.
Where she now stood was the inside of a castle. A beautifully lit, red and gold castle.
In front of her sat a man with short black hair that gave a kind smile to her. Beside him was a woman with red pigtails who did the very same. Behind them, hiding ever so slightly behind a door, was a little girl with black hair and red tipped ends.
It was a sight she had seen for many years now. With almost every odd day that passed, she saw it.
This was her new normal. She spent time with many people she grew familiar with. There were two families that exceeded this standard however. One was a close friend’s, whose name was written out across the bracelet she had worn. The other were these three that she saw in front of her.
She spent several days speaking with them, eating with them and assisting in raising their daughter.
She could even recall the days where the little girl was much smaller. A girl who could not even walk, yet she was always happy to see Kōkatsu. Her now shy self being a large but still cute contrast compared to those days.
The woman was someone that Kōkatsu had once bickered with time and time again. Yet, somehow, the two grew close within the following years. It was as if the tension between them had faded, and all that remained was a blossoming friendship
The man…was also a close friend of hers. One who often turned to her for advice, even if she was not familiar with the same love he seeked. Regardless, she assisted him with furthering his relationship with his wife as well as the duties of being a parent. A topic that Kōkatsu was familiar with herself as there were more than two hundred children of her own that slept in the same bed as her.
She continued to stare at the man, until eventually, the real scene returned.
He was still there. He stood far beyond her current position, right in front of the other person who was close to her.
However, he was no longer the same.
The peaceful, kind hearted husband and father of the Virtuoso family…was no longer the man she knew.
What awaited her beyond the field was a man who had lost his joy.
A man filled with hatred in his heart.
???: [Lady Kōkatsu?]
With a light tug at her sleeve, Kōkatsu was snapped out of her own thoughts and placed back into the world. She looked to her side to see the first daughter she had ever adopted, Kaoru Teppen.
She wanted to smile at her child, but she could not. Instead, she casted her eyes down as she responded.
Kōkatsu: [...I don’t know how much longer I can do it…Kaoru…]
Kaoru: [Lady Kōkatsu…]
Kōkatsu: [...I wanna keep fighting…especially for the sake of the village…but…it’s all too much for me right now…]
Kaoru did not speak any further. She only provided a gentle hug to her mother.
No matter how many days passed, Kōkatsu could not become used to this new normal.
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Though the snake people struggled in battle against their mighty foes, each attack thrown at them was blocked by a much more powerful individual. Rushing across the battlefield, the woman who once had the last name of Hemobi and was now referred to as Silvia Bloodfire aided her troops relentlessly. She provided each of them with a moment of protection so that a finishing blow could be delivered by them shortly after.
She was the goddess of success and failure, but she only wished to view a successful outcome for her own forces.
With every movement she took, she prioritized their safety. A parry from her tail, a blinding light provided from her element, she aided them in any way she could.
As she stopped the next oncoming attack and allowed for her own force to attack, she spoke with them following their triumphant success.
Silvia: [Poi, are you alright?]
With a polite smile, Poi looked towards her lady.
Poi: [Yessss, Lady Ssssilvia! It issss thankssss to you that I wassss able to achieve victory!]
Silvia shook her head in response. A smile was reflected on her own expression.
Silvia: [You won becausssse you are sssstrong. My aid wassss only a ssssmall contribution.]
The purple-scaled goddess turned her head over her shoulder. A much stronger foe was slowly approaching.
Silvia: [Poi, assssisssst the otherssss. I sssshall deal with thingssss from here.]
Concern started to wash over Poi’s face.
Poi: [Are you ssssure, Lady Ssssilvia? I can help if you nee–]
Silvia: [I am alright, Poi. I will take care of it.]
With a quick nod, Poi rushed towards her allies nearby and assisted them in battle. Silvia turned to face her new opponent, a large oni soldier who carried a massive trident in his hands.
Oni Soldier: [Smart move to get your kid out of here. They’ll probably start crying if they see your corpse!]
A retort would likely soon follow. The Silvia who conquered the fourth trial was known for her cold threats she sent towards her foes.
The merciless descriptions of how they would die.
A retort…did not follow. Not a single word followed. Only silence.
A single memory flashed by her brain.
A day where she finally snapped and yelled at a friend of hers, only to have her logic thrown right back at her. It was a harsh exchange for the two, yet it remained engraved in her mind.
There were words she should not have said, actions she should not have taken, but she could not change the past. No one could.
Even if they forgave her, there were some aspects that she could not forgive herself for.
She continued to reflect on these memories…even as her foe approached.
Oni Soldier: [This ain’t the time to zone out! Guess you’ll just die while you do so!]
Silvia’s fierce eyes moved up. The trident was now inches away from her.
It would not be long until it pierced her body.
Despite that, she still thought of the past.
Her body lifted itself from off the ground by the end of her tail and moved past the tips of the trident.
Under and over, she bent her body and circled around the pole as she drew closed.
She was now inches away from them. It would not be long until they would defend themselves.
Unhinging her jaw, she removed her sword from its sheath and placed it in her mouth. The whole blade was swallowed and spat back out in an instant. A light blue liquid now drenched the sword.
The man knew what to expect. His impending death would be painful. It would be a death that would last an eternity while he vomited blood. All the while, she would likely talk down to him like he was the lowest of scum.
He was well aware of the poison on the blade. All he could do was accept what was coming.
With a powerful stab, the blade entered his heart.
Silvia performed an odd action at that very moment.
As hard as she could, she bit down on her tongue as she released her words to resist the way that she spoke.
With a sorrowful voice, she spoke to him.
Silvia: [I’m sorry…]
The pain…did not exist.
Silvia: [...The least I can do is remove the pain…and provide you with a quick death.]
Only a second passed, yet the man was already gone. Not a hint of suffering was left in his body. Blood started to escape Silvia’s mouth as she released the pressure of her teeth.
Silvia gently removed the blade. As the man’s body started to fall, she quickly grabbed ahold of it and softly placed him onto the ground. She clasped her hands together and stood still for several seconds, praying for his soul to find the salvation it deserved.
Her past once again returned to her.
Silvia: [It’s thanks to Yoro and Nero that I’m the way I am now. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to change. If it wasn’t for them…I wouldn’t have been able to open up to people as easily as I’m able to now…]
The image of a man started to form in her mind. A man with wavy, short red hair and a gray paperboy cap. His smile shining far greater than any other that she had seen.
Silvia: [...If it wasn’t for them…I wouldn’t have met Alf…Without Yoro…I wouldn’t have known how to speak with him…I truly can’t imagine a world like that…I likely would have given up on everything without him…He and our family are the very reason that I continue to move forward…]
The somber purple snake eyes turned towards the menacing figure across the battlefield. A man dressed in black with a chilling look in his eyes.
Silvia: [...I should have been the only one to change…That’s how it should have been…]
The merciless Silvia of the past was no more.
Shedding her skin, a new Silvia had been formed after a fateful meeting ten years ago.
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A woman with golden locks of hair and stunning white clothing observed the situation of the war from afar. Her worried eyes scanned the land as she gauged the casualties of each side along with what remained. Behind her, a soldier that served under her quickly approached.
Angel Soldier: [Lady Helig! I am here as you requested!]
Helig: [Your assistance is needed. As it stands, my ability is useless against him.]
Angel Soldier: [Useless?! Lady Helig, you mean–]
Helig: [His level is far greater than the capacity of my ability. There’s something to be said about reducing his strength, but I’m unsure of how to go about that. Sending our forces at him would only be suicide. Even those who stand higher than the rest would likely fall, given Lady Devi’s own troops being eradicated by those lower than him. One of our own could attempt to weaken him much like that succubus goddess is trying, but there’s the risk that we would lose one of our own by doing so. I must say, this is becoming increasingly frustrating. The sudden reappearance of their song after he entered the scene is only making things more irritating.]
As soon as Nero descended onto the battlefield, the chant that blared out upon their arrival to the village was once again replayed. There was a clear reason as to why. They viewed their victory as an assured one now that their king had come into play. Even if an advantage or disadvantage in numbers was unknown, Nero’s arrival was all the soldiers had needed to regain their strength.
Helig: [On a scale of one to ten, how extreme are our casualties?]
Angel Soldier: [It is difficult to say this, Lady Helig…but…seven…]
Helig looked towards the soldier, before turning her eyes back to Nero. A commanding shout was then released from her lips.
Helig: [Split our forces into two groups! The larger group will focus on the protection of the kitsune village behind us! As for the smaller amount, they will focus on assisting myself in battle! Is that understood?]
Angel Soldier: [Yes, Lady Helig!]
With a quick run to a nearby radio station, the soldier focused on relaying Helig’s order to the rest of her troops. Several enemies approached her from the front, only for a disgusted glare returned back to them. A blinding wave of light was released from her hands and eviscerated those that charged.
She set her sights back to Devi and Tequi, who now stood in front of Nero. Whispering to herself, she asked for a favor from them.
Helig: [Lady Devi. Lady Tequi. Please. I only need the opportunity to use my ability and this war will cease to exist. Please provide me with that opportunity!]
She then turned to look at the one who stood at the far most right of them, a goddess dressed in white.
Helig: [As for you, succubus goddess. Prove your worth here and now, lest my view of you being our greatest enemy shall remain.]
The stage was now set.
The battle against Nero Virtuoso had now started.
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