Tides Of Protomis LXXXVII

Corde Vs Volker

Since Arctaius had taken note of the scouting party, his awareness of their presence only increased. Whether they be in their uniforms, hidden on the rooftops, or in civilian clothes, with robes underneath a few layers, regardless, he saw them. Though he took note of the mixed expressions of the rest of those there, he opted to ignore it, his eyes darting around at his observers… Aside from one. A man with an orange head of hair, observing from one of the taller buildings. His expression was one of contempt. Here he was, standing up here, and he wasn’t even noticed? What a joke...

“He seems unaware of my presence… This is all the infamous Agium is? Though, that only works to my advantage. I’ll handle this quickly and go on to more important targets.”

Volker began to hop between the roofs, all the while, Arctaius continued his walk through the city. Though the two did not reveal their knowledge of each other, time and time again, they kept placing their attention on one another. Trying to gain whatever information they could. Even so, the expression of both of the two remained the same. Both less than willing to let their opponent know they were on their tail. Though briefly, Volker began to move his attention away from Corde, taking note of the cluster of ruined buildings in front of him… It looked like the Yamato never did go back into that area, as his data told him. He wouldn’t be causing collateral damage like the corners did. Within 10 or so minutes, Volker, Arctaius, and all those he traveled with arrived in the former exclusion zone. Now, within a square of deprecated skyscrapers, Arctaius stopped, and Volker stood overhead, on one of their roofs. He opens his left hand, revealing his palm. And soon, appearing within it, was a Double-Bladed weapon. Both of the blades are reminiscent of a shortsword. His hand gripped the hilt in the center of the two blades, where they were embedded. The slayer bent his knees, as he tightened his grip. An orange glow began surrounding him soon after.

“Now then… Astaroth!”

The blades seemed to warp, as the glow around him began to grow to encompass them, and soon, they extended. The total length of the weapon, around the same height as the slayer's body. He began a dash off of the roof, as he raised the blade above his body, as he began his descent, he pulled his blade back, moving it behind his shoulder. His eyes focused upon Arctaius, as he prepared to fling it at the unassuming opponent...Or, seemingly. Arctaius’ gaze shot toward Volker as he turned his head. It was then that the man took note of the more likely fact, he was simply pretending. This took Volker by surprise, as his eyes widened, but he regained his composure soon after, beginning to prepare himself. His arm began to extend, as he resumed his planned launch… At the least, until Arctaius seemed to blur across his view, appearing in front of him, launching a fist at him. Volker took note of his body language before his fist shot out. As such, he weaved out of the way, changing the position of his blade, swinging the end at the man’s chest. However, Arctaius clasped his palms around the blade, holding it in place.

“Did you think you could tail me and I wouldn't notice? You fools must think lowly of us.”

Volker frowned at this development, as he began to push forward, grunting with effort, not stopping his attempt to bludgeon his opponent… However, as Arctaius’ muscles tightened, he soon found himself thrown back, pushed away with the man’s pure strength. Quickly shooting across the zone. This did not continue for long, however, as he stopped himself, his feet landing upon the wall of a ruined building. He kept his attention on his opponent all the while.

“It looks like you’re going to be a troublesome one… No matter- I’ll eliminate you regardless!!”

As he yelled across the city, Arctaius responded in turn, yelling back in return.

“As if!”

Volker dashed forward, his blade remaining in his hand. Arctaius flew forward to meet his charge until the two reached each other's melee range. A storm of swipes and stabs alike began to rush toward Arctaius, many of which, were only narrowly avoided. Something the tide wasn’t happy about.

“He’s a cut above those four...This could end up being an issue.”

Soon, Volker retreated from his range, changing the position of his blade, and sending it toward his left shoulder. Arctaius flew to the right, weaving past his strike. However, soon after, Volker spun his blade, shoving the other end toward his right. A direct hit, the blade went right through.

“Tch.”

However, Arctaius looked undisturbed by this fact, twitching his muscle, and forcing the blade out. Volker prepared to launch another thrust, but, his opponent did not let him get the chance. Arctaius’ fist crashed into Volker's cheek with a left hook, his opponent going wide-eyed as a result before he was sent cascading into the ground, ripping it apart as he flew across it, all the while, knocking down any buildings he came in contact with, sending dust and debris cascading into the sky. Even so, Arctaius was nowhere near finished, a wild yellow glow surrounded his fist, as the air around it seemed to wave. Then, a flight toward his enemy began, something Volker took notice of from the rubble of a building he crashed into. Needless to say, he was not willing to get hit by an attack like that. It was after this, that his irises seemed to glow, with the same color as the light around him, even moreso as he invoked one word.

“Switch!!”

As he spoke, the space around Arctaius began to wave, warp, in a way much different from simple heat. After all, he was knowledgeable about that subject. This, however, eluded him. And it continued too, as he appeared, seemingly, in the same place his opponent was in earlier. Arctaius’ eyes widened in surprise.

“What?! How did he-”

However, his thought remained unfinished, as Volker began his descent upon the man, with a clear view of his back. The resulting boom from the man’s increased speed alerted him, and he soon turned on his heel as he got within his range, and soon caught the blade within his hands once again, stopping his assault right there… Now, this was starting to get annoying, he’d made zero progress here, on top of the fact that his attempt at an ambush didn't work.

“No matter...I still have the power to defeat him, the fact that he has to defend tells me that much.”

A golden glow soon swirled around Arctaius’ body, growing to encompass it as a whole, and soon, the light around Volker began to grow as well. The two continued to push out their respective power, the force that resulted collapsing the ground under them, a rapidly expanding crater came soon after, though it was shallow, it was extensive. Eventually, the two broke their deadlock and began to launch a flurry of blade strikes and fists alike at their opponent. The force of their respective attacks further damaged what remained around them. Whether it be destroyed by the impact of an air jet, or cut by the razor wind that came from the Slayer’s swipes. Either way, it was clear that their effort was growing. This was something that did not go unnoticed, In the Hashimoto-Kai HQ, Jirou and Chairman Hashimoto sat within his office, a chessboard lay between the two.

“So, Holy order, huh… You know anything about them?”

Ren pushed a black rook forward, as he put his gaze on his son.

“Not much. All we know is their fighting “Demons”, and they’re gunning for Miyamoto, probably us now too.”

His father leaned back into his chair, pushing his white locks away from his eyes.

“Sounds like they’ll be an issue. Guys who hide around like that never are good news, are they.”

Jirou nodded.

“Ye-”

However, he soon stopped, as he felt a feeling rush down his spine, or, more specifically the just barley lump near the top, between his shoulders. This protomis he detected was familiar to both of them. But, what they took note of, is how much it seemed to expand.

“It looks like Corde is fighting… It may be A new opponent… Is it a demon, or the holy order?”

Ren stood up.

“Could be either one, You need me to help?”

JIrou stood as well.

“Nah, I got this, pops…”

Jirou began a dash toward the room’s window, opening it, and jumping out, shooting across the sky soon after, his father took a seat once again, watching him as he began to leave his sight... Elsewhere, Alarick stood on the street, leaning on a brick wall in silence. At the least, until he felt a familiar power as well.

“Whoever this new one is, It looks like he’s pushing Arctaius…”

Zhao stood on top of one of the Shima Ward’s many buildings, his gaze focused upon the direction his detection pointed him to, South… It was clear what was happening at that time, he began to levitate over the roof.

“I’d best see what’s going on.”

Soon, the proto-humans began their dash toward the former Exclusion zone, ready to go after whatever threat appeared there. On the streets below them, a man leaned on a tree, a communicator in hand, he glanced around, looking for prying eyes, before he leaned in, speaking into the device.

“Sir, I’m afraid our plan has failed. The resonance of protomis has attracted the other tides and their allies, Volker will have company soon.”

Hawks’ eyes widened at this statement, the screen soon displayed him standing up, slamming his hand on the desk as he began speaking.

“If that’s the case, then what are you waiting for, Hurry up and follow them.”

Hawks turned his attention from the screen, likely to the other people within his room.

“Begin sending in support!”

The field agent saluted.

“ Y- Yes Sir!!!”

Soon, the communicator went off, the display dissipating as he began a dash to follow them. Across the city, the other members of the order did the very same.

Part B

The deadlock between Volker and Corde continued, regardless of how they tried, they found that they could simply not launch their assaults. Even so, they continued to push, and push, until they both sound themselves blown back. They skidded on the ground, ripping it apart under their feet until they came to a stop 30 or so feet away from each other. They both found that their opponents' wounds were trivial at best, A few small cuts left on Arctaius’ arms, something that would heal within a minute at the most. As for Volker, naught but a few patches of burned skin.

Even so, the two acknowledged that this would not be a fact for the entire battle, and, as such, they stayed in their current positions, ready for their opponent to make a strike. They watched for even the smallest movements, observing them, and making their own in turn. However, Volker was the first to make an attack, pointing his blade at Arctaius, and beginning a dash forward, a clear attempt to stab him. Arctaius dashed forward to meet his charge, and soon, they met in the middle. Volker began to thrust his weapon at Arctaius. He began to dodge around the strikes, and, Volker changed his strategy, spinning the blade, and using the other end to send a swipe at the side of his torso. He moved out of reach, sending a fist at Volker’s face in response. But, his attack hit air, as he ducked under the punch, spinning his blade, and attempting to cut him once again. At the least, until a burst of light flew out of Arctaius’ other palm. He suppressed his pain, as he took note of his skin begging to char, as he began to lose his footing, Long enough to swipe at Arctaius, leaving a cut going down his chest. It was after this that he was thrown back.

“Taking this lightly won’t end well...”

Just in front of him, Volker tightened his grip on his blade, as he squinted his eyes.

“It’s time that I end this… There are other things we have to worry about… I may have to go into holy drive if this keeps up.”

The two prepared to get back into their melee… But were soon interrupted, as, landing around them were Alarick, Lei, And Kazimir. Soon after, Jirou and Miyamoto flew overhead, Miyamoto landed by Kazimir, and Jirou, Beside Arctaius. Arctaius glanced at Jirou as he took note of him cracking his knuckles.

“Oi, Corde, Don’t mind if we join in, do you?”

Arctaius smirked.

“Of course not… Nothing personal with this one.”

Alarick soon leaped over to them. He focused his gaze on Volker, as he straightened his fingers, a black glow surrounded his hand.

“Alright, let’s-”

“Not so fast!!”

As the unknown voice resounded through the street, their eyes shot toward the source. 10 nameless slayers stood on the roof of a building. Most notable, however, were the three at the head, Lumeris class slayers. On the left, A tall man with lightly tanned skin, his raven curly hair glistening in the sunlight. His broad shoulders draped in a white cape, the same as the rest of his uniform. Though, what distinguished him was the golden pin on his chest. Something that identified him as Farid Al-Mutairi.

In the center, was a pale-skinned woman just a few inches shorter than him, her full figure was, for the most part, covered by her clothing. However, with one look at her face, one could tell she was matured, her full red lips the same color as her crimson pupils. Her white hair flowed with the wind. As Farid had, she had the very same golden pin. This woman was known as Ixtli Hawkins. To the right, was yet another wearing similar clothes. Though around the same height as Farid, he was much skinnier, lanky, even. His cold brown eyes moved across the area, as he eyed his opponents. His dark braided dark orange hair flowed as well. Andris Pagonis had arrived on the scene. Eventually, they began their descent, along with the troops, landing just outside of the square.

Farid began to step forward, as a deep voice came from his mouth.

“You won’t have any more victories, now that we are here… It’s time that we end this…”

The lanky second man soon did the same, he eyed the white-haired youth, and, his target did the same in response.

“I’ll take the Hashimoto.”

Ixtil began walking in tandem with her allies before she spoke as well.

“And I-- the von zaisen…”

Soon, a red light began to swirl around Kazimir, the very same happened to Miyamoto, as she pulled her gloves onto her hands, Zhao reached for the blade at his side, drawing it from its hilt, and pointing in the enemy's direction… At the least, until the gazes of the slayers, and Miyamoto, shot to the very center of them, all, where a red sphere of light began to form. At first, it was calm, until the air around it began to wave, and the light intensified. Then, the sphere seemed to crack open, something that made Alarick Twitch.

“Something isn’t right here...I’m sensing a dimensional Fracture.”

Soon, the face of the sphere opened, revealing what was reminiscent of a red void.

“It’s a portal… Just like the ones the reavers arrived through.”

Miyamoto put her hand on her chin.

“But, that demonic energy I'm sensing… There’s so much- I’ve never seen a demon this strong before.”

Kazimir sighed at this development. No matter what the occasion was, and who they were fighting, it always seemed like something came in to throw a wrench in their strategies.

“It's always something, isn’t it…” he mumbled

Elsewhere, Volker tightened his grip on Astaroth, as his body began to glow once more.

“It looks like we have an interloper.”

As he spoke, A grotesque, vaguely humanoid mass of tissue exited the portal, with small areas of its skin covered in what looked to be hardened plates of skin, growing out of the body underneath. At first, it was inactive, until, the four eyes on its face shot open, and the light intensified once more... Now, it began to look across the ground, at all of those there. This much confused the rather green troops that lay behind the three slayers, after all, they’d never seen a creature that looked so much like them. Though to the four lumeris class slayers, there were more than aware of what threat this thing held, and most of all., what it was…

A higher-class Demon.

To Be Continued