Harbinger of Ruin: Ch.25

“You know I hate it when you do that,” I spoke with a blink of my eyes as I caught myself, staring at the dark basement around me while Okita chuckled as he clapped his hands.

“Oh, I do. Just wanted to see if you were still keeping up with your balancing training,” He answered as the lights turned on, revealing the room that was almost completely empty if not for the large ring in the centre of the dirt room.

I just rolled my eyes at his excuse before turning my gaze to the room, not missing him walking to the circle while taking off his haori and his katanas.

“Of course you did. So, what is this place? I half-expected us to go back to the Gremory Castle instead.”

“Oh, we're in the Underworld. We're just very far from any kind of civilization in all directions.”

“…Say what?”, I asked, blinking as the man grinned before stomping on the ground. The moment he did so, my eyes widened as the walls fell away and the circle expanded rapidly, growing to be the same size as that of the entire Kuoh Academy.

All around us, I bore witness to nothing but rocky outcroppings, dirt and the violet sky of the Underworld, looking back to Okita as he held a hand out.

“Now, make us both some bokkens…or a wooden sword for you.”

“I'm guessing my training is just sparring?”, I asked as I made the two bokken, tossing both to them before making a wooden training sword in the shape of Arondight for myself.

After all, if I'm going to use the blade more, I might as well learn to fight with something that is its weight, shape and size.

“Something of that kind, yes. I couldn't help but notice that you're still using the Sandanzuki I taught you. Didn't I tell you you should only use it to figure out your own move?”, He asked and I smirked before nodding.

“I did learn something actually, but I'm not too confident in it as it is now.”

“Really? Show it to me,” He said as he held both bokken in a stance and I took a deep breath as I held the wooden Arondight tight.

Kuzuryusen

My body blurred as I shot forward, aiming a downwards slash that Okita blocked before pushing me back. Steadying myself and continuing with a diagonal slash at his right shoulder, Okita blocked the attack and stepped back.

I did not stop as I slashed at his right arm, forcing the man to block the strike before pulling back as he went to push and delivered an upwards diagonal slash to his right wrist.

Okita seemed to understand what's going on as he blocked the strike, flipping over my and slapping at my wrist only to be surprised as I caught the wooden sword with a spin and aimed a vertical upwards slash at his groin.

“Whoa there!”, The man spoke with a grin as he blocked the strike, but I immediately pulled back and continued with a diagonal upwards cut to his left wrist.

Stopping the attack right as he went to block it, I ducked with a spin under his stab at my head before aiming a slash at his left arm, grunting as the man blocked the strike before kicking the wooden sword out of my hand.

However, he raised an eyebrow as I jumped and caught the wooden sword, swinging down immediately at his left shoulder with a diagonal slash that forced him back.

Reinforcement!

The ground cracked under me as I rushed in for the ninth and final strike, the wooden sword cracking both of his bokken before he smirked and stepped to the side.

“I see. An attack aimed at the nine vital points of a sword wielder. Not bad, Kiba,” He spoke and I just gave a thumbs-up while tapping my sword against my shoulder.

“Thanks, but the first issue is that it's way too slow. As for the second, it's hard to keep that flow in delivering the nine strikes when they're constantly blocked by someone who can do so.”

“Hmm, do you have to deliver the nine strikes in that pattern?”, He asked and I raised an eyebrow before shaking my head.

“No, I've done them in a different pattern when I first used it against Satanael and Kokabiel, but there wasn't much of a change in the speed.”

“It's not an issue of your skill to be truthful. Your strikes were precise and impressive. However, it appears your body itself is holding you back. That can be remedied with some training.”

“What else?”, I asked and the man crossed his arms with a hum.

“ 'I fear not the man that has practised 10 000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practised one kick 10 000 times'. Know what that means?”

“Repetition,” I answered and the man smiled before nodding.

“Exactly. The move itself is correct, the idea of it is correct and your form is perfect, but you're still thinking too much on which one should go next. Even as you deliver a strike, you're always hesitating on where to strike instead of simply striking.”

“It's not just speed, then?”, Okita chuckled at my question as he continued to pace around.

“It is indeed about speed and power, yes, but your mind gets caught between calculation and instinct. For any of the other pieces, that would be fine, but a Knight must think before the battle and train until thought becomes reflex. Anyone who uses a sword must make decisions in an instinct, but in order to do so effectively, they must already have decided on the correct path more than a thousand times in training.”

'You know, I'm starting to think that Kiba skimped on some parts of his training,' I thought with a raised eyebrow before nodding, grabbing the sword with both hands as I saw him tapping a bokken against his heel.

“Kuzuryusen is a dance of inevitability and precision. Each strike must blend into the next one even if it does not seem possible, which means you need to start on conditioning your mind to do so. That means more flow drills and more repetition of each strike until your muscle memory sings it to you in your dreams and nightmares.”

“Repetition until it becomes instinct.”

“And instinct until it becomes art. Now, come on. Do it again and this time, don't stop even if I block it,” Okita spoke and I nodded as I held the sword straight, both of us taking a slow breath before I rushed forward with a burst of demonic energy.

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“…What happened to you?”, was the first thing Rias asked as I walked through the door, the other girls raising eyebrows as well while I just shrugged.

I did forget about my bruises and winced when I aggravated some of them, sitting down on the single couch with a relieved groan and relaxing into it.

“I decided to ask your brother for training…and he called Okita to help.”

“Oof~ That's low even for him. Then again, from the bruises, I'm guessing Okita was eager to train with you again?”, Akeno asked and I ignored the playful smirk on her face as I nodded.

“Yeah, the man doesn't hold back just because I'm supposed to be his best student,” I said and Rias smiled with a mixture of concern and amusement as she walked over.

“Best student? Unless I have another Knight piece hiding away, you are the only student he has. Also, what do you mean supposed to be? The guy's been training you for years.”

“I'm an 'apprentice in progress' according to him. Think that's his way of saying that I'm both strong but utterly weak at the same time.”

“That sounds…harsh to be honest,” Raynare spoke up and I shrugged as I let my head rest against the back of the couch.

“Eh, you get used to it after a few years. Besides, it helps me remember why I'm actually doing this training.”

“Which is?”, My king asked as she stood behind me, placing her hands on my neck and a pleased groan escaped my lips as I felt her energy beginning to soothe my wounds.

“The incident with Kokabiel showed me how wide the gap still is and how much more I need to train to close said gap.”

“Brother is one of the Four Great Satans. Comparing yourself to him is like comparing a droplet to the ocean.”

“I know, but…watching the guy fight was like nothing Kokabiel could use would shake his presence. I want to get to that level, to where I can go toe to toe with a Cadre and feel like I can win on my own.”

“We understand…but you do understand that if you're going to get strong, we'll have to get strong too, right? After all, we're not damsels in distress, right ladies?”

“Speak for yourself. I could use all the protection I can get,” I turned my head to the other couch as Mittelt spoke up, raising an eyebrow at the blonde sitting with her arms crossed.

“…Honestly, I completely forgot we almost lost your spunky little behind.”

“Oh, that's all I mean to you, huh?”

“Hey, I have Asia, Gasper and Rias to worry about.”

“W-Wait, why me?”, Asia asked and we all looked at her before Koneko shook her head.

“Because you're his adopted little sister, silly. As for Gaspy…”

“He's my bro, my dawg, my brother from another mother, my ride-or-die, my-!”

“Okay, I think you should stop before Gaspy faints,” Rias spoke and I grinned as I saw the dhampir steaming at the ears while the girls giggled.

“Right, sorry about that, Gasper.”

“I-I-I-I-It's o-o-okay~!”, He squeaked as he hid inside of his cardboard box and I shook my head before frowning as I looked out the window of the ORC building.

Without saying a word, I stood up and walked towards the window, drawing Rias' attention as I looked towards the gate.

“Yuuto, is everything alright?”, She asked as she walked up to me and I didn't respond as I simply narrowed my eyes before they widened as I felt Issei's energy surge.

“Crap! Knew it felt too similar to his! Rias, get Sona and get everyone to the main gate!”, I called as I opened the window and climbed out before turning as Rias grabbed my arm.

“What do you mean?! Explain this to me!”

“Right now, there's an energy very similar to Issei's at the door and unless there's another Dragon Emperor we don't know about, Issei and the White Dragon Emperor are about to clash!”, Her eyes widened before she turned to the shocked girls.

“Kalawarna, Raynare, Koneko, you guys go with Yuuto! The rest of you are with me!”

“Got it!”, They all chorused as I dropped down, rushing across the school grounds with the girls hot on my tails.

Ignoring the groups of students that looked surprised to see us running, I raced through the front gate and turned to see Issei having the Boosted Gear on his left hand and an uncertain look on his face.

Right in front of him stood a silver-haired teenager, a smug smirk on his face while a pair of draconic-like wings made out of blue light and a white frame were attached to his upper back.

'So, it was him. Vali Lucifer, the White Dragon Emperor…Shit, so this part still happens, huh?'

“I ain't gonna ask again, bastard. What the hell do you want from me?”

“And like I said, nothing for now. I simply wish to see what my rival looked like,” Vali responded as he stood with a relaxed smile, his hands still in his pockets despite the heavy pressure made from their auras clashing.

“Oh shit,” Glancing at Raynare as she cursed, I turned to see both her and Kalawarna frozen on the spot while Koneko frowned at their reactions.

“You guys know him?”

“That's Vali, the White Dragon Emperor and according to Azazel, the strongest one in history. Issei, get over here now,” Raynare spoke hurriedly and Issei just frowned as Vali smirked.

“I would like to, but this white haired bastard doesn't want to let me pass.”

“Hah, are you slow? I said that I only stopped you because I wanted to see how powerful my counterpart is, but to be truthful, I find myself…disappointed.”

“Oh, how so?”, I asked, taking over the discussion while creating an Illusive Temptation to hide us from the eyes of the normal people around.

“He's far weaker than I was expecting and according to Albion, he seems to have done a deal to change part of his body into a dragon's. Was your own potential truly that pitiful that you must depend on the spirit of your Sacred Gear?”

“May I ask why you are harassing my pawn, Mr. Dragon Emperor?”, Sona cut in and I glanced back to see both her and Rias walking up to us, their Queens trailing behind while Sona's peerage began to surround us.

They were not the only ones as I saw Xenovia turning the corner with a frown before turning back to Vali as he smirked.

“Hmm, simply here to scope out the competition as one would say. Thank you for the talk, Issei Hyoudou. Perhaps when we meet again, we may do this properly, dragon emperor to dragon emperor,” He spoke before raising an eyebrow as pale blue tendrils shot from the ground and wrapped around his legs.

“And what makes you think we'll let you leave?”, Saji asked, Vali simply raising an eyebrow before the silver-haired teen tilted his head with a smirk.

[DIVIDE]

Saji's eyes widened as he felt his energy be cut in half, falling to a knee while the others looked surprised.

“Your Vritra gear is versatile, I'll tell you that, but comparing a fragment of a Dragon King to that of a Heavenly Dragon Emperor is like comparing an ember to the sun,” The teen spoke before flexing his aura, shattering the tendrils and everyone frowned as the Divine Dividing wielder floated upwards.

'Well, at least he's gone,' I thought with a relieved sigh as Vali vanished into the sky with a burst of speed, leaving only a trail of blue light in his wake before looking to see Asia helping Saji up.

“…That guy was a damn monster,” Turning my gaze to Issei, I was not surprised to see him sweating a bit before wiping his forehead.

“Y-Yeah, but it was hard to keep being angry at him. The guy was barely trying and I already felt like nothing.”

“Well, Vali has had his Sacred Gear for almost his entire life according to Azazel and you've only had yours for a few months at most. It's not a fair comparison,” Kalawarna spoke with a shrug and I nodded before patting the teen on his shoulder.

“Like she said, you're at the starting line while he's already at the finish. Give it time and you'll be kicking his ass with ease. As for you,” I spoke as I turned to Saji, who just nodded as he took deep breaths.

“Don't worry, I got it. Still got a lot of training to do.”

“What were you even thinking when you tried to capture him?”, Sona asked with a frown and I smirked as the teen sighed while scratching the back of his head.

“He's a Dragon Emperor like Issei so I thought I could do the same to exhaust him that I would do with Issei.”

“What does that mean?”

“It's how I was able to use Balance Breaker as well. I use my Absorption Line to drain their energy and use that energy to boost my own, which results in my energy overflowing and forcing my Balance Breaker to activate.”

“And who taught you this?”, She asked, to which I rolled my eyes as they all turned to me the moment Saji nodded his head.

“It seemed like a good idea at the time and besides, Saji's Sacred Gear is what made it possible for Gasper to grow in strength and for Issei to achieve his own Balance Breaker.”

“Where do you even get these ideas from?”, Rias asked with her arms crossed, to which I just smirked and pointed at my head.

“This thing here. Most of the ideas don't work, but when they do, it's quite the exciting sight to see them come to fruition.”

“I suppose it is. Anyway, return back to your duties, everyone, but make sure to keep a look out for the rest of the day.”

“Yes, President!”, The student council nodded as they dispersed, Rias nodding for us to go back to our duties as well.

“Come on, Saji. Better go before we're late for class,” I spoke with a smile as I began walking, the blonde just giving Asia a thankful smile before he began to walk besides me.

“I would like just one day to be normal. Just one day, man,” He muttered and I smirked as I dismissed Illusive Temptation while patting his shoulder.

“We both know you lost those privileges when you became a devil. Now, come on. I think Ms. Takamichi might put both of us on the detention list if we don't make it back.”

A/N: A simple chapter to sent up the next arc~ Also, there is going to be another villain from the novels/ anime/ manga that wasn't in the Conference arc, but who it is?

Well, you'll have to wait and see~

Anyway, next chapter: Meeting a Mad Genius and a Benevolent Leader? Oh, new swords~!!

As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one…

Ba-Bye~!!