We were standing in the field where we practiced for the Ball Tournament. Haru stood a bit away from me and the Exorcist girls stood across from us. Our surroundings were enveloped by a barrier made up of red aura with the others standing on the outside.
Xenovia wanted to test me and the servants of Gremory and now we were here. Irina and Xenovia both had their respective Excaliburs in sword form and unsheathed respectively. The two had also done away with their white robes, revealing their tight, black battle wear. Whoever designed those outfits for people working for a CHURCH should be fired. Because if their outfits weren't erotic, then I didn't know the definition of the word.
I stared at Irina, noting how much she had filled out since we last met.
"Irina, I think the heretical Hakuryuukou is thinking sinful things about you." Xenovia pointed out. Hey! Nobody asked you!
Irina blushed sharply, seeming so embarrassed. "Ru-chan! We're not even married yet! To be thinking about doing such things with me so soon, I… I don't know what to say!"
"KILL HER, RUTO!"
"DON'T LET THAT WOMAN FROM THE CHURCH DEFEAT YOU, RUTO-SAMA!"
"Do your best, Ruto-kun!"
Mittelt, Ravel, and Akeno-san were all radiating killing intent towards Irina again.
"Even if it's just a match, be cautious of the Holy Swords!" Rias warned.
"Y-Yes!" Haru seemed more nervous than I was, but I was confident. I had a reason for winning.
"Hey, Xenovia!" I shouted. "Don't forget our bet! If Haru and I win, then I get your Excalibur and Yuuki gets to smash it to pieces!"
Xenovia nodded. "Of course." Then she paused. "That Sacred Gear she possessed. It was 'Sword Birth', wasn't it? The possessor can create any Demonic-Sword they imagine in their head. It's unique among the Demonic-Sword related Sacred Gears… I heard that there was a 'subject' that avoided from being disposed by the 'Holy-Sword Project'… Is that her?" Xenovia's eyes became directed to Yuuki who lay unconscious next to Asia who gave numerous worried glances as the unconscious Knight. Hey, we couldn't very well leave her behind.
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Yeah? What's it to you?"
Xenovia shook her head. "Nothing. It matters not." She raised her Holy Sword. "It is time to finish what we began yesterday!"
I took my own battle stance, Divine Dividing still present on my back. "I couldn't agree more!" I turned to Haru. "Haru, try to go easy on Iri for me, can you? Even if she's your opponent, I don't want her to get too hurt."
"Alright! I'll take her out while doing as little physical damage as possible!" That… That was too easy.
"If you even think about using Dress Break on Irina, I will rip your arm from your body, Haru."
"Come ooooon dude, I'm not that low! She's my friend too, you know!!"
"Sacred Gear Sword Birth, Divine Dividing, and Boosted Gear. And also the Twilight Healing that Asia Argento has. All of them are Sacred Gear that are said to be a heresy to us. Maybe it was natural for you to turn into a Devil." Xenovia said, smirking at Asia.
"Oh, I am SO going to enjoy this." I declared.
"Shall we start th—GAAAK!" Xenovia was cut short because I was suddenly in front of her, slamming my fist into her stomach, knocking all of the wind out of her and sending her skidding backwards on her feet.
I smirked, raising the fist I had used to hit her. "The first strike can decide the match!"
[Divide!]
"And so it begins." Xenovia noted with narrowed eyes. "Perish!" She lunged forward, swinging her sword down on my head. I dodged right, avoiding the bad end of her blade. She tried following up with a kick, but I raised my arm to block it.
"Ha! You won't get me with the same trick twice!"
"Who said it was the same?" Then I realized that her sword was still raised into the air, ready to swing down again. Only now, I had no appendages to guard it with.
*KATCHIN*
Except of course my wings again. Ah, Divine Dividing, where would I be without you?
I knocked her blade away by further manipulating my wings. Then I drove both of my fists forward, trying to slam them into her stomach, but she twirled her blade in hand, rotating it until the flat of her blade was in front of her, blocking both of my blows with its massive size. I resisted the urge to admit that slamming my fists against a hunk of holy metal hurt like Hell.
"My sword is a mass of destruction. There's nothing it can't destroy. Be it weapons or the body of a heretical Devil." Xenovia slammed her sword into the ground—
*DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!*
It created a powerful explosion that REALLY hurt from this close distance. I was sent flying, smashing against the wall far from me. I ended up losing my balance and fell to one knee. There were dust clouds everywhere and I had to cover my mouth with my sleeve to keep from inhaling the dust.
"Geez! I'm all covered in dirt because you destroyed the ground, Xenovia!" Irina complained, wiping the dirt off her clothes. She resumed a fighting stance. "But it's time to finish this now!"
I had no idea how Haru was doing in his fight, but Irina didn't seem to have a scratch on her, so I could only assume she was giving Haru a run for his money.
"I have no patience for this." Xenovia said.
[Divide!]
"Bring it on!" I gestured her to come forth now that I had received a new burst of power. We lunged at one another. Xenovia swung her heavy sword so easily, but my Knight speed allowed me to easily block and knock away her sword with my wings before she had time to release her Excalibur's destructive power. I wouldn't make the same mistake I made before!
"Perish!"
Xenovia swung her heavy sword down on me. Instinctively, I raised my arms and grabbed her by her wrists, stopping her from potentially slicing my skull open with her giant holy can-opener.
[Divide!]
"I won't lose here! I promised Yuuki!" I screamed out with my manly pride. "I sure as Hell won't lose to someone like you!" I held out a hand. "Burn!" A huge bolt of fire shot out of my hand, launching itself at Xenovia. The blue-haired Exorcist swung her sword forward, meeting my attack head-on. I could literally see the power her sword released shortly before impact, making sure that Xenovia was dealt no serious damage.
When the smoke cleared, I could tell that Xenovia was clearly annoyed how I continuously blocked and dodged her attacks, counterattacking on my own. It seemed as if we were repeating a pattern, neither of us landing a definite final strike. Even after my body became all badly damaged by her using her Excalibur's ability, I kept getting back up, more determined than before.
[Divide!]
I think I had built up enough power for one final attack.
I took my stance. "Let's settle this once and for all!" I charged up my left fist with Demonic Power, ready to deliver a final punch to KO Xenovia and win her Excalibur Destruction. Xenovia lowered her sword towards me.
"Ruto, look out!"
Eh? What's up, Rias?
I was surprised by Rias's sudden shout towards me.
"I'll take my revenge NOW!" My eyes widened in shock as a familiar, blonde swordsman ran by me using incredible, Knight-level speed. Xenovia easily sensing Yuuki's with her refined instincts, prepared to swing down on the incoming Knight. There was no doubt in my mind that, in her current frenzied state, Yuuki would be killed. Yuuki was clearly going in for the kill and Xenovia would respond with similar force.
"Don't do iiiiiit!" My body started moving before my mind could process it. I was the only one amongst us who had the speed to stop what would happen.
The only thing I ever really registered was a sharp pain on my arm and on a certain point on my chest and back.
I could have sworn I felt it before I heard the sound of steel passing through flesh.
I roared through clenched teeth at the intense pain that wracked through my body.
"Ruto!"
"Ruto-san!"
"Ruto-kun!"
"Ruto-sama!"
"Onii-chan!"
There was a sharp silence from the two girls standing around me.
Xenovia's eyes were wide in shock while Yuuki's were wide in horror.
"You know…" I groaned. "... it would be pretty nice if you pulled your sword out of my abdomen right about now…"
At the moment, I was in an unpleasant situation. Yuuki had been so enraged that she had rushed in, blindly thrusting her sword. She didn't notice me appear at the last minute. She didn't stop thrusting. And that's the story of how I got a Demonic Sword turning me into a Ruto-kabob. But still, it's better than the alternative if I hadn't stepped in the way.
Embedded halfway into my left arm, which I strengthened using the defense trait of the Rook's power that existed in my Queen piece, was the sharp end of Excalibur Destruction. If my defense trait had been any weaker, the blade would have cut clean through the bone of my arm.
But it burned like Hell!
Imagine that you placed your hand, covered in oil and gasoline, on a burning grill. Multiply that pain by twenty million. You're almost halfway close to how painful this sensation was.
With narrowed eyes, Xenovia withdrew her blade from my arm, allowing hot smoke to rise from the wound. The holy power was LITERALLY burning my arm.
I let out a loud groan as I felt the blade inside my torso vanish into nothingness, being dispelled by Yuuki's will. "R-Ruto… I-I… I didn't—!"
Blood spewed like a geyser from the now-unobstructed wound, blood slowly oozing from the large wound in my chest. I could also feel blood flowing out from the opening on my back as well. If anything, the sensation of blood trickling down my body made the sensation of pain even worse.
Xenovia let out a sigh. "What a shame. I was actually looking forward to seeing the end of our fight this time." She prepared to put away her sword, honestly seeming disappointed. I sensed it during our fight, too. Despite her harsh words, our fight was rather enjoyable. I didn't like her one bit, but I admired her power and skill as a fighter.
"Fuck that! It's not ending this way!" I wouldn't let this be another defeat. "We're finishing this fight, no matter what!" Xenovia turned to me in confusion.
"You're too injured to fight properly and to strike you down in your current state when your injuries were not inflicted by me would shame both you and I." Xenovia explained. "And Namikaze Haru has already been defeated, so it makes no difference."
Wha?
I looked to the other side of the area to see Haru on the ground, clutching a smoking wound on his torso, grunting in pain. Well, with Haru, his ability to win depends on gauging his opponent's strength and using the appropriate amount of Boosts.
"I don't care… I won't lose here…" I forced myself to my feet, stumbling once due to pain. "No matter what, I can't afford to lose again!" I placed my other hand on the wound on my arm that had been struck by Xenovia's holy sword. I clenched my teeth tightly as a small flame ignited on my arm. "GAAAH!" It was even worse pain as I began cauterizing the wound on my arm using my demonic flame. There was more smoke, this time from my own flames.
It went on for several seconds until I finally released the spell. Where there was once a huge gash was now a huge burn scar. I made sure not to roast the flesh inside of my arm. I wanted to stop the bleeding and burn out the holy power that "infected" the wound, not further injure myself.
"What are you—?!"
"Ru-chan!" Irina was present, observing the spectacle unfolding before everyone.
Then I placed both hands on the wounds to my torso, one hand on the opening on my back and the other on the wound on my chest.
"... One more…" I wheezed out. Then I ignited flames in my hands once more. "GRAAAAAAAAAAH!" I never thought that I could feel worse pain than being run through the chest with a light spear or being stabbed by a holy or light weapon. The worst part was that the pain came by my own hands. I knew I should stop…I could just stop. Just drop out right now, forfeit the fight, and let Asia heal my injuries… but I couldn't. I could, but I couldn't at the same time.
"Ruto…" I ignored Yuuki's expression. She knew why I was doing this. I still wasn't sure why I was doing this for her, what my reason for wanting to help her so bad was, but I did it nonetheless. My thoughts were still a blur. Even if my reason was completely different, I would fight believing it was because I cared for Yuuki. If it was a lie, then it is a lie I would happily embrace!
It took several seconds of excruciating pain before I felt confident enough to cancel the spell.
I was sweating like crazy and tears were rolling down the sides of my face due to pain, but I still stood determined.
"So… are we gonna continue… or what?" I panted out, tired from the mental exhaustion I caused myself due to enduring the intense pain of burning myself.
Xenovia stared at me, shocked beyond belief. "You can barely stand as it is. Is… Is this fight really so important to you?"
I nodded. "Of course… Obtaining Excalibur is the only way I can help Yuuki… at the very least, I want to help her destroy at least one of them… Even if all seven are impossible, maybe just getting one of them will be enough to help my friend…" I took a step forward, but fell forward onto one knee. "So… Come on… We have to finish this…" But seriously though… taking a sword straight through your gut and then burning that same wound closed really took a lot out of you.
Xenovia stared at me like I was potentially insane. Then she turned away. "I have no interest." She sheathed her Excalibur Destruction in its cloth once more. "While this has been entertaining thus far, fighting you in your current state using my Excalibur is as overkill as crushing an ant with a mountain. You had best get yourself healed. Perhaps next time, we will be able to finish our fight." She packed up and walked away. "How strange… the Welsh Dragon and the Vanishing Dragon being allies. I can't help but feel curious…" Then she shook her head. "Never mind. Farewell, Uzumaki Ruto."
It was faint, but I could sense it in her voice. Grudging respect. Not to mention she used my name "Uzumaki Ruto" rather than "Devil" or "Heretic".
Unable to maintain my attempt at acting tough any longer, I fell back onto the ground, huffing and puffing as if I had run a marathon.
Irina approached me, smiling adorably out of a strange mix of relief and worry. Before I could react, she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly for a few moments before letting go. "Despite so much time having passed, you're still the same Ru-chan… the same, lovable, heroic dummy… I'm glad. Maybe when the circumstances allow it…" Whatever she had been considering, Irina shook her head. "Until then, Ru-chan." With that confusing thought, Irina picked up her own stuff and followed after Xenovia. I saw her wink at me before she left my sight. "Haru-kun! Tell me when you wanna be judged, OK?! Wait up, Xenovia!"
No matter how you spin it, this was our loss.