Kuro pt. 2

The battle between man and wyvern raged. Fist against axe. Flesh against scaly flesh. Nidhogg would strike, followed by Simon’s swift counters. With a sinister smile Simon titled his head. “Huh???? Is this really all you got? The steed of Emperor Nazarick and this is all you can manage to muster? You take my arm and now you grovel? What kinda pissant art you?” To kill you with Adam is the only kindness I’ll bestow to you” Simon spat turning his head curtly. Taking hold of his ax he raised it and quickly brought it down. Only for it to connect against the cobblestone.

“Estarossa….please It's been years since you left the church….there’s no need for such unwanted ire!”

“Ire? You think I’m in the throes of hatred?”

“Why else would you even betray the church like you are now?”

“Simple! I saw the Cardinal’s face and I didn’t like it”

“Y--You saw the Cardinal face’s that’s---” Roxas fell forward and tumbled on the ground. A clap of thunder followed him. Staggering to his feet he wiped his lip. Spinning his paintbrushes around he drew a small Pentagon. Cupping his paw around his muzzle he spoke in that same unrecognizable language. The dragon appeared before him. With one swift motion, he pierced the dragon’s spine with his brush. Gasping and sputtering the dragon wallowed in pain on the ground. Black lines seared into its flesh as if it was being burned from the inside out. Its howling wales of haunting pain continued as from under its grey skin, it could be seen, an unmistakable sight. Black sludge flowing through its veins. Roxas smiled as a wall of ink appeared behind him. A smirk on his muzzle he laughed.

“See you all in hell!” He spat stepping into the wall, the wall closed around him, and without a trace, it vanished into thin air. The dragon suddenly shot up its body undergoing some sort of strange metamorphosis. Its gray skin crumbling away and flaking off like ashes to snow. Once it had all fallen away I stepped back gasping as I took in its new form. It turned to me and it appeared thusly: What was once cold clammy skin was now a ghastly white color... Arms once four now only numbered two. A head without horns was now crowned with two large spiraling crystalline horns that protruded from its forehead and curved towards the sky. When It stood up and drew breath I swear the Earth shook. Its mouth hung agape pumping out thick clouds of steaming breath. Chains of drool leaked from its mouth and dropped to the ground. It contorted itself and arched backward its back nearly hitting the destroyed cobblestone street. Suddenly it shot forward without warning, standing completely upright with sinister silence. As the beast stood there, that feeling buried deep inside of me again, I wasn’t gonna just stand around, not while I can still fight. Clasping my hands together, the shadows gathered and danced around my hands.

ASTROGIUS: HOUSE CHANGE!!!

I had no idea what I was doing but something deep inside of my very being screamed saying it was the right thing to do. A strong noble calm washed over me as I bathed in the golden light.

“Dad when I grow up I wanna be a Superhero just like you!”

“A Superhero? Are you sure Flaemis that’s pretty dangerous?”

A world Needs a Savior to rely on. My memories blended and danced with my thoughts in the present. As the golden light began to fade, All I could feel was righteous indignation. A burning pyre of myriads of emotions. Upon my form was golden flesh, a cestus of ebony horns wrapped tightly betwixt my fingers and my hair now like that of the hair of a golden statue. Two large horns protruded from the sides of my head, like those of a bull.

TAURUS VOLUNTAS I took charge foot pounding against the ground, fist raised and magic bubbling over. As I drew closer and closer millions of memories played over and over in my head. Striking the dragon with my cestus I watched it flinch. Its feet digging ever so slightly into the soil. Screaming I put everything into my fists.

TAURUS: TERRA: VOLUNTAS PERPETUA. Fist after fist after fist, punch after punch slamming into it. Over and over like a never-ending assault of arrows. My fists impacting against its torso, head, arms, shoulders, everywhere above its waist weren’t safe.

Oh heart of mine beat forever, beat until every cell of my enemy is erased. Become my very weapon oh heart of mine. Beat and scream until my enemy is gone! Oh heart of mine, Beat, beat, oh war cry of my soul. As I continued to wail into it with an endless barrage, its hands moved. In the blink of an eye, it lifted its arms and knocked me away. Jumping away and regrouping Virgil grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back as the dragon just stood there.

“That’s a neat trick!” It spoke softly. “Wanna see mine?” It suddenly leaped forward knocking Kin and Virgil out of the way. Next came a punch to my jaw. Like an entire brick wall was thrown at me. Yet it didn’t stop there, pushing me aside and setting its sights on Simon. Grabbing his head it punched him over and over before throwing him in the air. Taking off it followed after him. With a sickening childlike laugh its feet connected against Simon’s spine. Gasping for breath as blood flew from his mouth Simon was no just another passenger on this Dragon’s idea of playtime. With a consecutive follow-up punch, Simon was sent flying, his body limp and unmoving as he crashed through a building. Shooting through it and landing on the other side.

“Is that it? What a waste of a Deva?”

Straining choked cries and pooling blood, Simon yet again forced himself to stand. Lifting his ax over his shoulder. His cheeks puffed and swelled when suddenly he lowered his head and a mouthful of blood spilled onto the ground. INNATE SKILL: 100% Tribute: Release Restraint! As the words left Simon’s mouth he coughed yet another mouthful of blood.

Red lightning surged and whizzed around him, his unkempt green hair standing on end. His limbs of what remained, began to necrose, turning pitch black all the while deep red veiny lines ran up his limbs. Splintering away from the red lines were several smaller cracks like that on a tea kettle that’s been overused.

“Oi Dreadnought…..if you survive this spell….you’ll” Simon wobbled and teetered wheezing and sputtering. “Earn my respect” Simon readied his ax one last time. His body shaking. Suddenly like a maelstrom, a loud burst of wind blew apart the serenity. Simon lifted his gaze and took a stance.

“I expect you to use everything you got to stop this”

“Why would I go all out for a soon-to-be corpse?” The Dragon raised its guard and shook its head. “Human’s never ceased to amaze me with their prideful machinations first Leone and now you”

There was no reply. Simon silently nodded to himself.

ADAMAS DIAVOLOS Simon raced forward like a blur. In the blink of an eye, his Axe was in the air and in mid-swing. The ax however wasn’t just a blade at that moment. As it swiped through the air it ignited into a brilliant display of purple flames. With all his might the blade connected. Digging and searing, boiling and melting away Nidhogg’s flesh. The flames grew and grew. Burning and burning before turning a sinister black hue. Screaming and shouting Simon’s flames incinerated himself and the dragon. Both prisoners to the black flames of rage. The flames soared into the air, all the while Simon held his Axe firmly in the torso of the Dragon. Refusing to budge an inch.

“Yield!” The dragon shouted striking Simon’s jaw. Simon’s face drooped, there was no life in his eyes, no light, no Simon. Simon Shinomiya had passed away. But his body refused to give.

gripping his blade to the bitter end Simon slipped away. Even in death, he refused to lie down. His ax crumbled to pieces and turned to dust. A small golden orb escaped from his chest and began to float slowly into the sky.

“Even in death, you defy me” Nidhogg roared striking Simon’s jaw. A loud crack resounded through the air, but Simon’s body didn’t seem to notice. Still standing up as if he hadn’t given up. "Rest Easy warrior...I hope I can have a rematch with you someday even if you aren't you, one hundred, two hundred three hundred years from now"

Simon Shinomiya

Age: 45

Deceased!

Chapter 9 End!