AN: ... I don't think I have an excuse for this one being so late.
*****
As Gasper's fingers pressed down on Saji's ear, a golden glow surrounded his wounds.
Saji let out a sigh, feeling the pain in his body lessen.
Saji slapped Gasper's hand away.
"Really, my grandpa is going to be mad—that's the first thing you say?" Saji said, his eyebrow twitching ferociously.
Gasper backed away, seeing the expression on Saji's face. "Well, what else was I supposed to say?" he said, asking himself more than Saji.
"WELL, HOW about an 'I'm sorry' for leaving me here to fight this FREAK OF NATURE ALONE WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING!!" Saji said, pointing furiously at the bewildered Freak.
Gasper almost dropped his steel ball, not expecting Saji to scream out of nowhere.
"I'm sorry? Saji, can't you see we got a bigger chicken to fry?" Gasper said as he pointed at Freak.
Freak stared at the two of them as they pointed at him, his expression slowly twisting into one of complete confusion. '... Chicken?'
Freak shook his head. "You…" Freak pointed at Gasper, his expression dead serious.
"How did you break out?"
Gasper turned his head to look at him, a smug look on his face.
"Honestly, if I tried to explain it to you, you wouldn't understand; you see, it's because my genius is simply unparalleled." Gasper ran his fingers through his hair and flicked his hand out.
"But to put it in layman's terms…"
A smile spread across his lips.
"It's simply because you're weak."
Freak's eye twitched.
Saji looked at Gasper like he'd grown a second head.
""Weak?"" Saji and Freak said in unison.
"Oh, I see." Freak looked at Gasper with pity.
Freak brought his hands together, a loud clap sounding out. "So you've lost your mind in there, a true tragedy."
Freak was fighting back tears as he looked at Gasper. "But do not worry, once I get you to the boss, he will surely help fix you—"
Gasper turned his head and looked Saji over, completely ignoring Freak's monologue.
Gasper placed a hand on Saji's shoulder. "Hey~"
"Can you keep up, Black Dragon King?" Gasper whispered as he removed his hand from Saji's shoulder.
Saji physically cringed at the name.
Saji looked Gasper in the eyes as Freak rambled on.
There was nothing but pure confidence.
'Could he have found a way to beat this guy...?'
Saji felt a pit of despair slowly form in his gut. 'Oh God, please don't tell me he's winging this.'
Saji turned his gaze towards Freak. 'No, he wouldn't be that stupid, not against someone like this… but then what exactly did he learn in that box to make him this confident?'
Saji closed his eyes as he placed his hand on his neck, his stiff neck muscles releasing. "...This much is nothing but a scratch."
The steel ball in Gasper's hand began to spin.
"Then follow my lead."
Gasper tilted his hand; the steel ball slid right off.
As the ball began to fall, Gasper turned his body to face Saji and jumped back as one of his legs lunged forward right at Saji!
Freak's eyes widened, his monologue stopping; he could not believe what was happening in front of him.
Gasper… was he about to attack Saji!?
Saji watched Gasper's leg get closer.
And closer.
Right as it was about to touch his chest… something stopped it.
The steel ball.
Blue energy covered both Gasper and the steel ball.
"[LAGTRAIN]"
As Gasper invoked the name, his body stopped in midair.
A breeze blew behind Freak.
Freak turned his head, his eyes wide as he felt a familiar magical signature appear behind him!
It was Gasper with a kick aimed right at his side!
He brought up his charred arm as quickly as he could.
As the kick landed, the steel ball dug into Freak's forearm.
Without knowing why, Freak brought his other hand up at an impossible angle and placed it right in front of his own face.
Freak glared at his hand as his skin began to twist, taking the form of a spiral. 'I–I CAN'T CONTROL IT!'
A magic circle came to life in his palm.
"[FACELIFT]!!!"
Facelift manifested itself and, without wasting any time, brought its clawed hand forward, amputating Freak's arm at the elbow!
The circle in Freak's falling hand went off, sending a beam of magic into the sky.
Freak pointed at Gasper with what remained of his arm, blood spraying across him.
[FACELIFT] threw a backhand right at Gasper's leg, completely deflecting the steel ball and sending Gasper flying through the air!
Gasper skidded to a stop, completely covered in Freak's blood.
"You're tricky…" Freak said as the blood flowing from his arm stopped, turning into pink flesh that molded itself into a new hand. "Aren't you?"
Gasper didn't even bother looking at him and continued to stare at the ground, shadows covering his face.
[FACELIFT], floating behind Freak, clenched one of his hands.
The blood on Gasper's clothes, face, and mouth all began to bubble.
Saji brought his hand forward, pointing his gauntlet at Freak.
And fired two lines.
The blood on Gasper exploded forward, multiple hands forming on him.
"Freak, I have to tell you a little secret…"
The hands came down, ready to wrap themselves around Gasper—
Only for them to stop.
They began to vibrate violently, their skin twisting into a spiral!
"I know what your Stand ability is~"
BOOOOM!
Each hand exploded into blood, but the blood did not fall; as if it was being pulled by gravity itself, it all converged into one spot.
Gasper raised his head; his face was distorted into a spiral.
He looked at Freak with a crazed smile.
Freak's eyes narrowed as he saw something slowly crawling its way up Gasper's neck and onto his cheek.
It was the Steel Ball…
And it was pulling in Freak's blood, forming it into a vortex!
Gasper raised a hand to the side, his steel ball launching itself off his face into his palm.
Without even waiting for Freak to respond to what he said, he threw the ball covered in blood right at him!
Gasper watched the steel ball soar.
"You can control matter and mold it into anything you want."
The blood surrounding the steel ball began to spiral around it, turning it into a drill!
Freak pushed off the ground, his wings opening.
Only to be violently yanked back down to the ground!
"WHA—?!"
Freak's eyes darted to his legs to see two blue lines!
"But it's not just any matter, is it?"
Gasper pointed a finger at Freak. "It has to be matter that was originally a part of you to be controlled!"
As the drill of blood got closer, Freak slashed the air in front of him with a hand, a ghostly green arm flowing with his movements.
The drill of blood split in two, and within a fraction of a second every single blood droplet molded itself into butterflies with small hands for wings.
But the steel ball did not stop.
BAM!
"UGH!"
The steel ball dug itself into Freak's chest, sending him rotating in the air as he crashed into a building.
Gasper looked at Saji, and Saji looked back.
Then both looked back at the building as they began to approach it.
"So you weren't just being lazy in there, huh?" Saji asked.
Gasper waved a hand in front of him, blowing away the dust coming from the building. "Pff, like I would ever be lazy, but maybe I should once in a while…" he grinned at him. "It's hard work saving your ass all the time."
Saji clicked his tongue. "It's not ALL the time."
"Yep, just fourteen times, but who's counting? Am I right?"
"It's only been five time—"
Gasper cut him off. "Oh, and that's not even bringing up—"
"Don't you dare." Saji bared his teeth at him, only for Gasper to give him a toothy smile, his fangs in full display.
"And if I do? Whatcha gonna d—"
Before Gasper could finish, a piece of debris came right at them.
Both jumped away in different directions.
The debris got covered in goo as eight blobs began to bulge from it; black scales grew on the goo.
Its protrusions exploded outward as four clawed, scaled feet hit the ground, then, at its far end, a tail with an axe at its end popped out.
Two of the protrusions on its back popped, causing a shockwave throughout the area; two humongous wings with purple on the inside emerged.
And soon enough, the final blob, the one right at the front, finally gave way; a head carved in scales made its way out.
Purple reptilian eyes opened as it bore down on them.
Its mouth opened, revealing rows of teeth and a pit filled with eyes.
Drool slowly dripped from its mouth.
Saji and Gasper looked at the dragon, their expressions the same.
Cold as steel.
"Tsk!" Saji clicked his tongue as he put a hand in his pocket.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"
Someone laughed maniacally on top of its head.
Gasper sighed, "Good grief."
*****
Occult research club
Grayfia released a soft breath as she lowered her teacup. "You know. Ever since you left the underworld, Lord Gremory and Lady Gremory have been more worried than they have been in years."
Rias stopped right as she was about to take a sip of her tea. "Surely you jest; I would expect that from brother, but from mother and father…"
Grayfia gave her a small smile. "Well, this is the first time you've been gone for so long, and your first time having such responsibility on your shoulders, Rias."
Has it been that long?
It couldn't have been; she just went down there last summer.
Rias brushed a couple of strands of hair behind her ear. "They worry too much."
Grayfia just stared at her for a second.
"Truth be told, I think they don't worry enough."
Rias blinked in confusion. "What… do you mean by that?"
Grayfia closed her eyes. "Rias… what do you think makes a king?"
Rias thought about it for a second. "A King is marked as one because a King can command those under them; that is what makes them a King."
Grayfia opened her eyes again as she looked at Rias.
"Yes, the ability to give direction is a quality that is pivotal to being a king… but those who chose the protection of a king's shadow never chose to stay for direction, Rias; they chose to stay because they saw what is most understandable about the person they follow."
Grayfia raised her teacup up to her mouth.
"And what is most understandable to our people is strength."
She took a sip.
Strength for protection.
Strength to bear the consequences of their people's actions.
Strength to help them move forward when they have none left.
"I get what you're getting at, Grayfia, but I'm perfectly strong enough to keep any of my people in check," Rias said, somewhat dismissing Grayfia's words, thinking it was her parents meddling once more.
Grayfia looked away from Rias and turned her gaze to a window. "As you are now, yes, you are capable enough. "
Rias sighed, hearing her say that.
"And I truly believe that you have the potential to even match your brother one day."
"So why even bring this up?" Rias asked
"Because at the rate the boy is growing, can you truly say that you can keep up?"
"Of course," Rias responded without hesitation, "and even if one day he does surpass me, I know it will be fine; after all, he's family, Grayfia."
Grayfia sighed, "That's not the problem, Rias—"
Rias cut her off, an edge in her tone. "Then what is? What are you all so afraid of tha—"
BAM!
The door of the room was thrown open, drawing the attention of the two.
Standing in the doorway was a panting Millicas, dragging Gengo by the hand.
"MOTHER!" Millicas screamed in desperation.
Rias and Grayfia immediately got to their feet.
Grayfia rushed over to her son, checking him over.
"Millicas, what's wrong?" Rias asked, somewhat confused about why her cousin brought a boy she had never seen before with him.
"*Pant* It's Gasper and Saji—" Millicas took a breath in.
'Who?' Rias thought.
"—They need help."
"With what?" Grayfia asked.
Millicas looked at her. "Some guy attacked us, and Gasper grew an arm on his face!"
Rias looked at him like he was mad. "What...?"
"Yeah, the guy said something about some Old Satan bastards before we left," Gengo said in barely a whisper as he looked off to the side.
"Did you say, Old Satan?" Grayfia asked the boy her son had brought.
Gengo nodded.
"Please, miss... Please save my brother!" he said with tears in his eyes.
Grayfia nodded, her expression growing deadly serious.
"Where are they righ—" before Grayfia could finish speaking.
A strong magical output suddenly became apparent to her—and to anyone with a magic affinity in the immediate vicinity.
Grayfia didn't even bother finishing her sentence and started walking towards the door, her ponytail swaying with each step.
Rias followed, and Grayfia opened the door.
Akeno was standing there with her hand up, ready to knock.
Grayfia walked past her.
"Akeno, take care of Millicas," Rias said without wasting any time.
Akeno nodded and looked at their backs as they walked away.
She turned her attention to the room. "Oh, and who might you be?" she said, looking at Gengo.
As soon as Gengo was about to speak, something caught everyone's attention.
Something coming from the window
They all turned toward it.
The sky…
It was a pure, brilliant gold.
*****
Saji's eyes were closed, his face completely calm.
His arms and legs were loose as he lay… on nothing?
His hair was tugged by the wind as he fell.
The ground got closer.
Yet all he did was breathe.
He opened his eyes and pointed an arm out.
Hsss~!
A blue line shot out as the end of it stuck to a building.
Without wasting any time, Saji pulled on the line as his momentum carried him into an arc as a humongous axe tail swept right where he would have been.
Before he could go too high in his swing, he recalled his line, letting his body glide through the air.
The bottom of his foot landed right on the axe tail, and without wasting any time, he began running on it.
The dragon swiped at Gasper, who was flying in the air.
Gasper shifted his body to the side.
The dragon missed completely, its momentum carrying it forward and sending its tail sweeping back the way it came.
Saji, seeing himself nearing the end of the blade, backflipped off and threw another line onto a building.
As he reached the apex of his swing, he pulled on the line and recalled it, sending him flying through the air.
As he soared, he pointed both hands towards the face of the dragon that was currently spitting fire at Gasper.
Two lines shot out, and as they connected, energy shot through them right into Saji.
Saji felt his muscles bulge as the energy flowed through his body; he pulled on both of the lines, launching himself feet first at the dragon!
BOOOOM!!
"RAAAAWWW!!!"
As the hit landed, a tooth fell out of its mouth.
The force of the hit knocked Freak off the dragon's head, a magic circle in his hand.
Seeing the opportunity, Gasper launched himself forward.
As soon as the spell left Freak's magic circle, Gasper's pupils turned into golden hexagons.
The spell stopped midair.
But the world kept moving.
Gasper brought back his fist, and as he floated face to face with Freak, he threw his punch.
Before the punch could land, Freak's head split directly in half, letting Gasper's fist pass right through.
At the end of Gasper's knuckles… a stream of Golden bubbles floated out into the atmosphere.
A shadow covered Gasper.
And a humongous claw hit his whole body.
His body was sent to the ground, a trail of bubbles following him.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
The ground cratered as he landed.
Gasper pushed himself off the ground, spitting blood on the floor.
Then he felt something attach itself to his back.
He was pulled up into the air. He turned to see what pulled him and saw Saji pulling him up.
Saji pulled on the line, sending Gasper into the air above him.
He pointed his other hand towards the ground; a line shot out and connected to a piece of debris on the ground.
Gasper flipped in the air; the blood on his face slid off… but it did not fall.
It raced into his hand.
Without missing a beat, Saji sent that piece of debris into the air right towards Gasper.
The clouds around Gasper rushed into his hands, converting into droplets of water.
And that water converted into a pole made of pure water.
Gasper brought it back behind his head with both hands.
The dragon right in front of him opened his mouth, flames roaring to life.
And the piece of debris finally reached Gasper, hitting the end of the pole, the water covering the piece of debris.
Gasper swung his makeshift Water hammer right at the top of the dragon's head!
KRAKA BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!
As the hammer hit, a shock wave was sent through the area, the hit forcing shut the dragon's mouth.
Every cloud left in the sky seemingly dispersed into droplets of water that turned… into something round.
Freak covered himself as the shockwave rippled through.
Each one of the dragon's teeth fell out of its mouth.
And the water hammer and debris exploded…
Into golden bubbles.
Freak pointed a hand forward as the falling teeth of the dragon turned into hands pointing magic circles right at Gasper!
Gasper stiffened his fingers as he clawed the air.
And an absurd amount of Demonic power surged out to the point it could be used as a beacon for anything in the vicinity.
Gasper began to fall…
But as he fell…
The sky... it moved with him.
Freak widened his eyes.
He threw himself right at the dragon, its form changing rapidly as it condensed onto Freak in multiple layers!
All of the hands shot in unison; every beam was stopped by something.
All except for one.
The beam pierced right through Gasper's left shoulder.
Saji looked at the sky and widened his eyes. "Holy fuck."
The sky… it was distorting the very light of the sun, painting the sky golden.
Saji squinted at it.
'Wait a minute, are those…'
.
.
.
Saji turned and ran for his life!
'THEY'RE FUCKING BUBBLES!!!'
Gasper dropped his hand towards the earth.
And the sky fell.
It touched both the Freak and the dragon.
POP!
The world went Golden.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
*****
------
*Cough*
*Cough*
Gasper walked through the dust of what used to be a mall.
He put his hands up to his mouth. "SAJI!"
He turned in another direction.
"SAJI!" he yelled again.
'With his speed, he should have gotten away fast enough.'
He scratched the top of his head, not hearing anything call back.
His smile slowly disappeared.
'There's no way that hit him, right?'
"SAJJJJJJJJJJJJJJOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!" he screamed towards the heavens!
A voice echoed from somewhere in the rubble.
"IT'S SAJI YOU, DUMBASS!!"
Relief washed over him.
Gasper looked around. "Saji?"
"YES!"
"Oh."
Gasper scratched his head.
"Could've sworn you sounded different."
A piece of rubble flew into the sky, revealing a fist pointing upwards.
Saji, covered in dust, sat up. "Well, having dust in every pore in your body would do that-* cough*."
Gasper ran up to him and extended a hand, helping him up to his feet.
"Where's Freak?" Saji asked, patting himself down.
"Blown to smithereens; there's no way he survived that." Gasper meant that, after all, Freak was in the very center of the explosion
Gasper put a hand up and stood there.
Saji walked around, taking a look at what remained and couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
Gasper watched him walk.
Soon enough, something green came whooshing through the air, landing right in his palm.
He wiped his steel ball on his shirt and nodded at it.
He took a step towards Saji, only to feel his foot step on something.
It was a gun, Saji's gun.
He picked it up and holstered it.
"Hey… you don't think we'll have to pay for this, right?" Saji asked as he turned his gaze towards the sky.
"Don't think so."
Saji sighed. "Well, that's…" his speech slowed as he saw two dot-like figures in the sky. "...Good?"
They were approaching at high speeds.
"Hey, Gasper."
"Hm, yeah?"
"Look." he pointed at the dots in the sky.
Gasper turned to look… but…
His eyes widened as he felt something.
A familiar magical presence.
He turned his gaze, and within the rubble, he saw… an arm with a magic circle.
Aimed right at Saji!
Gasper pulled his arm back.
"SAJI, MOVE!" The steel ball in Gasper's hand spun to life.
The circle fired!
Saji turned toward Gasper… then froze as he saw the beam approaching him.
On pure instinct, he jumped back, trying to get away.
Gasper threw the steel ball as it got covered in blue energy.
Saji felt the beam sear his chest as it began to pierce him…
Then something dug into his side…
Before he knew it, a sound echoed in his mind.
[SNAP!]
.
.
.
.
.
"[LAGTRAIN]!!!!!"
With those words leaving Gasper's mouth, all Saji saw was colors.
←–TO BE CONTINUED—