That wouldn't last for long as Akeno noticed his eyes going up and then looked back at her with more determination than before. Time was their enemy, even if she needed some to breathe, it was actually pushing her adversary to attack sooner. His mana grew stronger around his sword as a white aura grew barely visible around him.
'Wait, white aura…' It clicked in the ravenhead's mind. "You can use Touki." Frederick's new offensive came to a halt as he stared at her with wide eyes. "It makes sense; your love for the arena, the certainty of your movements, your connection with your sword." Her smile grew confident despite her exhaustion, born from the satisfaction of watching the shock in Frederick's face. "Your Fighting Spirit is already burning brightly and that makes you possibly the strongest direct fighter in the arena."
The veteran warrior stood there for a few seconds before taking a deep breath and talking for the first time. "Looks like you are more competent than I expected." His voice was high pitched, so extremely high pitched that some of it was lost in a frequency only dogs could hear, and Akeno's brow twitched but otherwise she remained stoic. "Surrender, you can't win."
Still smiling, Akeno surrounded herself with power as the smell of ozone grew stronger. "Come and make me."
Shaking his head the swordsman looked disappointed. "You really are a glutton for punishment." A twitch escaped the Queen's lips. "Since you already figured it out, I don't need to hold back anymore." His Ki became more pronounced, much to the audience's excitement.
The bald man then charged faster than before and despite knowing what her opponent was using that didn't mean she recovered the advantage or found any sort of leverage. If anything it was the opposite as knowing her opponent mastered himself to that level filled Akeno with trepidation.
Lightning left her hands straight towards Frederick but his movements were still perfect and he dodged the charge. Instead of trying again, Akeno took flight only for another magenta wall to block her path. She had felt it taking form and expected it, using her arm to push herself from it to the side.
That dodge was sloppy as her shoulder got hit by the sword and another kick came to her chest. She was launched to the side again, this time hitting a wall while feeling like her ribs were breaking apart.
And her adversary wasn't stopping to give her any more chances as he made a long turn towards her. Flying evidently wasn't his speciality and he actually started going faster once his feet were back on the ground, his sword raised above his head and bringing it down to cut off her leg.
His reach was perfect however Akeno moved just in time and let out a blast of mana behind her to kick up some dust. Frederick wasn't deterred as he no longer held concern for his opponent's well being. The rookie proved herself sufficiently dangerous that meant she was worthy of him going all out.
So he swung his sword in the direction had been in, only hearing as his blade hit stone and not flesh.
Akeno had used the blast to push herself up and was holding the wall that barely separated the stands from the arena. Her hands were hurting but she smiled as her opponent was blind by his inability to detect her mana.
A problem she didn't have as she kicked the wall and used her wings in an effort to stay afloat just enough to unleash several beams on mana around the place, kicking up more dust. Enough so that Frederick noticed his prey wasn't in his range anymore but still unable to tell exactly where she was.
Eventually he realized she was flying and followed her cue but much faster as unlike her his wings were still healthy. Once he escaped the dust he looked around and saw nothing but the audience who were doing something or another. His eyes failed to find the raven haired woman and soon his gaze moved up.
Going around the billboard took just a second before he started looking around the roof. Already he started to wonder if Akeno had escaped or was using some sort of trick to hide.
Whatever the arena passed as judges still considered the match going as the clock kept ticking so the man knew the fight was still going even if his opponent was missing.
Then there was the cheering, a part the man usually enjoyed the crowd's attention but now it was starting to get in his way as he tried to focus his senses to detect his hidden opponent. Part of him debated landing and declaring himself the victor to try and drag Akeno from wherever she was hiding but there was just one problem.
She was a Wizard type and Frederick had watched enough Rating Games to know that giving her any time to prepare was a terrible idea.
Then he recognized the voice of his favorite mistress cutting through the arena. "SHE IS DOWN THERE, RICK!" Certainly she used some magic to make herself louder and the tone he usually compared to a fine melody was full of concern.
Still the message was received and his eyes turned to see an frustrated Akeno hidden behind some rocks. Around her mana pulsed in concentration with a steady but slow build up.
It wasn't for an attack, he realized, she was trying to recover some energy.
During the time the man flew around looking for her, Akeno didn't remain idle or just build up her energy. As a Queen of Gremory, Rias' right hand woman, she knew basic strategy and knew that she couldn't win the fight unless something changed.
While he looked around her mind ran over dozens of possibilities; an explosion of full power like Rias used to make, a single sword like Shirou's, a cage like Yubelluna's secret weapon, anything that could implement her Lightning and defeat her opponent before his sword took a hand or a leg.
"You are thinking too much." Medusa's words came like the ring of a bell just before Frederick turned to her.
Those words made her freeze as her power build up reached its limit, from there she could only recover with proper rest.
Not that was in her mind as it was like a light was turned on in her mind. "Could it be that simple?"
Remembered how Shirou usually fights, remembered how Rias dedicated herself more to her own way of fighting, how all her friends took their own steps to grow stronger.
Right down to her present opponent and how he dedicated himself to a single weapon. It reminded her of Souji but in a different way, a different path.
"'How I fight and how I don't'…" A calm smile grew in her lips as she began to focus on her right hand. "Shirou-kun, I take it back; that was just the right amount of vagueness." She didn't know if she was mad or desperate but at least it was something to try.
It went against most of what Akeno had been taught but not everything, not against the lessons of the magi in her life. Since all her talent was worthless against a master, she discarded all of it. Every spell, teaching and practice but the essential was thrown aside. Changing herself, devoting all her being to a single thing like she saw many do before.
Perhaps it wasn't true she was throwing things away and in truth she was consolidating all her knowledge and power in a single point. The real question was: would it be enough?
That would be her last gamble, if she failed then there was only defeat.
All hesitation left her body and anxiety took its place completely. Seconds ticked but for Akeno they felt like centuries. 'Am I going to fail? Is this going to work? Is this the right path?'
"You are thinking too much." Medusa's words echoed again and her eyes abandoned any doubt.
No longer she was a Queen, she was a warrior and her place was on the battlefield. "Let there be Lightning."
On her hand a weapon began to take shape, familiar but not as Akeno poured everything she had on it. It moved almost by itself, obeying a command the ravenhead didn't know she gave. Almost like a serpent the weapon wrapped itself in her arm and promptly began to burn her as lightning should.
Akeno felt a greater awareness as her senses burned from pain and excitement, her arm throwing the Lightning in her hand towards her adversary.
Frederick saw the attack coming and flew a few centimeters to the left, enough to let it pass and keep going in his main trajectory. His evasive maneuver was successful for a moment before the Lightning moved after him from its center and without prompt. While his skill with mana was subpar he felt his Ki clashing against the new weapon.
The moment contact was made he began to move away from the Lightning, mostly by instinct than anything else even as Akeno's new weapon began to change and pursue his movements.
Something was wrong as his flexibility failed him and for the first time in this match Frederick found himself flying away from his enemy's attack. But he didn't stop and instead moved around to keep going from another angle, the Lightning regressing towards Akeno once he was out of its range.
The ravenhead seemed to stumble as her whole arm was tied with Lightning, something she would never recommend considering her weakened state and the dangerous nature of Lightning.
Yoruichi could do it and Akeno knew she lacked the skill and power to reproduce the same results safely but the pain helped her focus. Thankfully her body was resistant against it else the ravenhead would have knocked herself out because it beared repeating that she wouldn't recommend tying her arm with Lightning.
For the first time in a long time Akeno was embracing the benefits of her bloodline even if she didn't take them into account.
Pushing through every useless thought Akeno threw her arm towards her opponent and the weapon was unleashed again, its form far more defined than any other she made. All could recognize it as a chain with dozens of links made of pure Lightning. It pulsed and moved at its creator's whims, charging at its prey.
More cautious than before Frederick raised his sword, focusing all his mana and some of his Ki to make it even sharper. With its wave-like pattern the flame-bladed sword seemed to let out a river of power as he stepped to the side and struck the chain with all his might.
The weapon broke but unlike its previous kin it wasn't gone and instead the broken link moved with Akeno's hand to connect with Frederick's chest. A scream ran over the arena before the man got away from the chain, charging at Akeno at max speed. The pain was a wake up call; he needed to win quickly.
But the links of the chain moved around to intercept him, the weapon using its links to move with far more precision than any chain of steel would be able to. Frederick took two hits on his arm and one on his back and that was with his body bending as much as possible to avoid them.
Then he noticed Akeno's smile once he was close enough and feared some sort of trap. However he was committed to the attack as he could see the chain moving closer with its links dancing around the woman's arm. There was only one path to him and it was forward with his first strike being a stab to her right shoulder.
'Immobilize the arm and the chain wouldn't be a problem', was his train of thought but the moment his rapier connected Frederick knew something was wrong. There were no magic circles or sudden defenses, the raven head's aura also was absent, the chain didn't move and his effort of avoiding its links was successful.
Too successful. It was like Akeno wasn't even trying to stop him.
Because she couldn't, all of her focus was in her chain so when the sword pierced her shoulder it did so completely, the tip popping on the other side as the weapon sunk until the handle met her shoulder.
Easy or not Frederick knew to not waste an opportunity and with a downward swing he could cut Akeno's arm off and secure an advantage if not a win.
But then Lightning ran over his body when the chain moved and began to tie itself around his arm and sword, the ravenhead revealing a grin which carried a mix of pain and triumph. The movement was so sudden and without warning that there was no way the older warrior could avoid it.
The links closed tightly around him, spreading like serpents and going up his arm in at a pace that was frighteningly fast. He tried to pull his sword back and run away but Akeno's other arm came and held him in place as the chain grew tighter. Its links also kept moving, those behind him didn't attack but steadily returned to their mistress.
When he saw the look of concentration on Akeno's face he knew she was in control of the situation but something else filled his heart with dread. She was having fun.
Akeno was enjoying their position, sharing her pain with her opponent while also keeping him stuck as doom loomed closer. Panic began to set in and he tried to pull the sword one more time before deciding it was futile. She wasn't going to let go and the chain was growing tighter.
However Frederick wasn't one of the most prized fighters in the Underground Arena for nothing. He earned his position after years of struggles, suffering and blood, a lot of blood. Sure he was one of its top fighters even if not the strongest or most skilled one, more than one noble asked him to join a peerage only to be rejected.
Because the man was wise enough to know that in fights other than one on one he would be destroyed, especially against Wizard types with proper support. There was no future for him in Rating Games so the man refused to take the risk, believing it was better to be a big fish in a small pond.
He knew his limits and was sure that a Wizard type with a proper support could decimate him or neutralize his main ability. Akeno was bringing his fears into reality in the worst way possible; by herself.
Soon panic was swallowed by determination and resolve as long ago Frederick had already vowed that he would never lose to a Wizard type. "You don't belong here."
A kick came from her side and Akeno flinched but remained steady while commanding the chain to move higher and faster through the man's arm while much of it kept the sword and her shoulder in place.
It was hurting a lot but it was the kind of pain she could deal with, the kind that left a warm sensation in her belly which felt somewhat like she was eating a very delicious meal.
Not the kind of pain a devil could take for long and in the proportion she was suffering but Akeno could do it because unconsciously she was using her advantages as a True Hybrid.
Born from one of the strongest fallen angels and a human, despite her Reincarnation giving her the weaknesses of devils, her physiology actually didn't change much. Her potential could surpass her father even, the problem was that she never truly pushed herself.
She became what devil classified as a Wizard type, a fighting style belonging to those who fought at a distance and had a preference to not directly dealing with their opponents. Learning to use weapons and developing her own brand of Gradation Air to avoid direct contact with her enemies, she never experimented with the opposite.
When all her resources failed she had to fight for real, to grind herself into the mud to bring her enemies down and seize an impossible victory. That wasn't how she was taught.
Always a Queen, always a Wizard type.
No more.
That changed in the arena as her smile grew more feral and the chain touched Frederick's shoulder, the fight was coming close to an end.
Of course the most experienced warrior noticed that too and knew he had to act. From a period of four seconds precisely Frederick unleashed a volley of kicks on Akeno's side, always in the same place in the area where her ribs started. His kicks were so fast neither could really count how many he threw.
However the chain was still getting closer to a vital area and no matter how experienced he was Frederick wasn't capable of ignoring them as Akeno was apparently doing. He didn't know if she was being hurt by her weapon, which she was, or how she was standing despite her wounds, with just determination and stubbornness.
All of her power was on those chains and knowing it or not didn't change what Frederick had to do to win; break them.
His weapon was stuck, the chains locked it and Akeno's arm in place and he was feeling so much pain there was no way for him to do anything else but keep attacking.
Still his Ki flowed and he jumped on one leg, unleashed his wings and channeled as much of his spirit he could on his leg before seeding it to Akeno's face.
She couldn't dodge or raise any sort of defense since all her power was on the chain so the kick connected, forcing her neck back and her body to fly away much to Frederick's relief. Akeno's forced flight took her towards the other side of the arena close to her entrance and the explosion of her impact raised another cloud of dust.
The pull from his arm was still there but it was harder on his sword so Frederick abandoned it as most of the chain was locking it in place. With his kick the chain grew slack a little and thanks to his wings he avoided flying uncontrollably and landed a few meters ahead after she met the wall.
Any devil would have been unconscious at that point unless they were Ultimate Class, of that Frederick was sure. Yet the pain didn't leave him, neither did the chain.
Worse yet the pain began to grow more intense as the chain began to tie around his neck like a viper whose eyes he shared. Frederick took hold of it with both hands, Ki fighting to keep the Lightning at bay but that didn't help much. His whole body was starting to break, his pain receptors going into hayware as the damage stacked so much he fell to his knees.
And the chain kept going, trying to close in on his throat while his body took more electricity than a hundred electric chairs could ever produce.
He looked up in panic, seeing his team shouting in panic but the security kept them back. Frederick saw how they were trying to save him but it was in vain.
Then his eyes landed on Akeno's side of the arena and he saw a man with red hair and folded arms with an expression that indicated he was struggling to remain calm.
'Get your fighter.' Frederick wanted to say. 'She lost.'
Words couldn't leave his mouth as he had no strength to say anything as his body finally gave out. His spirit was exhausted and many would have died with less.
And it was still going, the chain wasn't letting go, going completely around the man's throat but not growing any tighter.
Only because its owner didn't judge the fight over the chain retained its form while just sending relevant amounts of its Element throughout its extension.
Nobody said anything and an eerie silence dominated all of the arena as people watched Frederick fall. Clearly he was defeated but no one was going to infertere unless they were part of the staff and they were a little lost in what to do.
Fortunately for them Akeno began to shake a little before starting to try and get to her feet.
Slowly the ravenhead first reached her knees before trying anything else, her right arm practically useless with a sword stuck on her shoulder. Useless except by the chain that remained fixed on the weapon and her adversary, still shining as brightly as first summoned.
Her ribbon had been undone during her last flight and the cascade of her hair covered her face completely, only Shirou was close enough to see a small smile on her lips brimming with satisfaction.
Once she stood up the crowd roared at her victory as the timer above her head stopped and her eyes remained hidden behind her hair. All they needed to know was that Akeno was victorious.
Yet Shirou was concerned as she remained standing at the corner of the arena for a few seconds with blood still pouring from her wounds. Her shoulder was the worst by far for even if the chain held the sword in places it still was lodged between her flesh and bone. None of the Queen's traits helped with that sort of situation.
However Shirou wasn't a fool and he remembered his fight with Vali very well, specially how the White Dragon Emperor survived hundreds of cuts and lost more blood than most humans had in their body.
'What was Lucifer if not a fallen angel?' Shirou knew Akeno had more in common with Vali than anyone else in the planet despite him being a great grandson and not the direct son of the Devil.
Including their survivability.
He stood there in shock as Frederick's team moved to save their fighter. Of note was the fact every single one of them was a woman and their faces held a great deal of concern.
When they tried to break the chain with mana it was a failure as it only shook and lost a little of its luster. One of them turned to Akeno and begged her to let the man go.
A small tilt in the head followed by the chain leaving his body were the only indications she heard the request as the Lightning construct moved towards its creator and involved Akeno's arm completely.
Shirou was about to rush in as well when Akeno began to walk towards the exit with her head high but eyes still lost behind her hair. She staggered a little but still made all the way through.
"Akeno?" For a moment Shirou feared she had lost consciousness and was moving by instinct alone.
He was somewhat reassured when she turned to him with her usual smile that had most of the male populace of Kuoh bending backwards just to look at her. "That was fun." Lightning cracked and the chain disappeared, her wound bleeding more. "Can you catch me, Shirou-kun?"
Akeno blacked out just as she felt the warmth of his arms.
…
A doctor yawned out loud as her shift in the hospital was about to end, exhaustion permeating in her body as the sun basked the room through a huge window. With short green hair going that just reached her shoulders and the figure typical of a healthy devil, able to compete with models, the woman held an air of exhaustion.
Hardly her fault as her shift had lasted longer than intended and over the last few weeks she had taken some extra work under the orders of a Maou.
Didn't help that her normal workload was usually big thanks to the position of the hospital she worked on; the Frontier.
The Frontier was named like so because it was the area where the controlled territory of the Underworld ended and vast Wildlands began. Technically speaking it wasn't really a frontier since its location was far ahead of its demarcation in any map. The frontier posts, including the one where her hospital was located, were several kilometers in the middle of the Wildlands.
Its place was actually located inside one of the many fortresses that populated the Frontier, command centers where explorers, bounty hunters, researchers and settlers used to coordinate, communicate and negotiate with the main government.
Those fortresses also held many fundamental structures that couldn't safely be built outside strong boundary fields to keep dangerous monsters and the unstable weather from the Wildlands at bay.
Expansion and settlement took time after all and the devils were forced to learn patience or be consumed by their own world. It was one of the many reasons why they tried to take over Earth, the more tame and peaceful dimension, multiple times before the Original Maou were ultimately destroyed.
Still once the Great War ended they found themselves with little choice but to fully explore, expand and try to make the best of a bad situation.
For that they built their fortresses every few kilometers conquered, allocated many resources towards such endeavors, changed their system several times over to the point most criminal offenses held some time working in the Frontier while also trying to make sure the survival rates there were as high as possible due to the low birthrates.
Those were just a few of the measures devils took as they worked into taming the Underworld, a process they knew could take several millennia before they could finally call it a success.
Of course with so many dangers the hospitals of the Frontier were the heart of the expansion, allowing those who managed to enter their premises to recover and go back to work no matter the danger they faced.
Supposing they survived said dangers in the first place.
Still that meant the doctors and nurses in the Frontier were some of the most busy devils in the whole Underworld and such thoughts crossed that woman's mind now and again when she was reminded of a particular operation or a problematic injury.
Then she would touch a scalpel in her pocket with a small smile as EM did wonders and miracles, saving several lives in cases that in the past could only be called lost turned to doable.
It was thanks to EM that many doctors were relieved that most of their patients were saved and why she didn't mind doing some extra work for the Gremory as she turned a corner and entered the Intense Care wing of the hospital, marching towards her newest protege.
Of the several beds in the room only a few were occupied by devils who just needed some time to recover their energies after their lives were saved. Complete restoration was impossible for one or two, their limbs lost completely or devoured by a creature which would never leave their nightmares.
Prosthetics would be made and thanks to the Grigori the doctor knew they would get the best of the best, the sort of miraculous prosthetic that was going to allow them to feel what they touched even in a lesser manner.
Also one of them asked for a rocket power fist and Azazel was eccentric enough that nobody doubted he was going to get it.
'Hmm~ I wish that man offered me something nice~' Devil or not, she found the Governor General handsome when he popped up to leave her protege and take a look around the place. He even promised her a coffee if she ever showed up in Runeas while he was around. 'Is my break this month? No, it is still four months away… Can I take an early vacation?' When her eyes landed on a curtain with a green light behind it, she smiled and shook her head. "Not with my dear apprentice around~"
"Daline-sensei? You are back?"
Pushing the curtain around the bed just enough to get in, Daline looked inside with a grin. "Who else would be around this ungoetialy hour? The nurses are too busy with the less endangered patients and we are almost at the end of our shift." The woman shook her head at noticing Asia's bright disposition. "Then again, you are used to the sun, aren't you? Despite waking up early you are still going out full throttle."
Dressed in a nurse's outfit with a badge around her neck that showed a picture and credentials, Asia looked like the stereotype that men dreamed of having to have to take care of them.
Her hair was done in a neat bun inside a small hat and the Bishop looked to be sweating a little even if her eyes didn't show any sort of exhaustion.
A tilt of her head showed that Asia didn't understand the metaphor but her patient, a woman with dark curly white hair that was almost silver, chuckled at the comment before wincing and holding her modest chest.
Asia looked at her patient with a concerned but disappointed look. "Please Vitlia-san, stay still. I haven't finished your treatment yet."
Vitlia's smile was still present but she also looked pretty chastised. "Sorry, sorry you're too nice for me. I thought that ticora would have done me in."
"Manticora poison is dangerous and we always had too many in these parts." Daline moved around to the bottom of the bed and retrieved the patient's sheet. It clearly stated that the woman had a manticora's spikes hit her on her back, pierce her lungs and scratch her heart. "Thank Goetia and your lucky stars Asia is around because of the migration of those beasts we used almost all our supply of antidotes. Honestly, in any other situation you would have been dead."
"You bet your ass I'll." The woman in bed replied firmly before wincing again.
"Please don't, Vitlia-san. Because of the poison I haven't finished with your wound just yet."
"Sorry." By the look on her face the doctor knew she wasn't sorry at all. Easier for her to see than the former nun since
Yet measures needed to be taken. "Listen here, Vitlia, Asia is about to finish her shift and so help me if you force her to stay even a second longer-" The doctor paused once she read the hour the patient was registered for treatment and, she was sure, the other nurses called for Asia to save her life. "Asia, how long have you been taking care of Vitlia?"
"Humm… A few minutes?"
An arched eyebrow showed skepticism. "And the other nurses?"
"There are other patients that need- Auchie." The sheet hit the blonde in the head.
"And you can't help anyone if you pass out from mana exhaustion now move over." Slowly and carefully Asia began to step back from the patient while the doctor took her EM and stabbed it on the affected area. Thanks to the Bishop's efforts the damage was already mostly healed but the woman shook her head in frustration. "It was bigger than this but you should have another nurse relieve you once you got rid of the poison. I know that Twilight Healing was this dufus best chance-"
"Hey." She winced in pain again but this time her healer gave her no sympathy.
"-but after that you should have switched over. If this wasn't already the end of our shift then you could make a mistake and pass out of exhaustion. What would your patients do then?" The former nun looked down in embarrassment and Daline did her best to maintain her stern face. "It is worse in combat situations. You are planning to join your King during Rating Games, correct? Then more than most you need to learn how to pace yourself, choose wisely what to heal and when to heal."
"But leaving my friends hurt can't be right." Quickly Asia covered her head, expecting another smack.
Instead the woman shook her head and focused on studying the patient's wounds. "Most wounds any other nurse could have taken care of easily after you dealt with the venom. Delegation exists for a reason or else the toughest cases slip through the cracks."
"Are you saying my case wasn't important, Daline." Vitlia commented with an annoyed look.
The doctor sent her an unimpressed look. "We get to patch you every other day. You aren't important but routine."
"You hurt my heart more than the ticora did. What is your brother going to think?"
"That block head is stupider than you or else you wouldn't be married." The tone indicated a joke but Daline's face carried some real exasperation. "Seriously, when are you going to slow down? If you keep getting poisoned like this then you won't be able to have children." A sullen expression later had the doctor flinching. "Nothing so far?"
"We're trying…"
"Vitlia…" Sadness poured from the doctor as she removed EM. "Those things take time but you can't force this. You need to take care of yourself to increase your chances."
"I'm pushing two hundred next month, Daline. Nasta had hers ten years ago."
"Nasta spent every single night with her lover trying. You still insist on going on expeditions." A little sympathy at her old friend's situation didn't stop the doctor from spitting out facts.
"I am sure you are going to be with child soon, Vitlia-san." Yet Asia was even more sympathetic, offering a certainty that could only be called absolute.
It immediately lifted the white haired woman's spirits. "You really think so?"
"Of course. The important thing is to not give up."
Asia's words raised Vitlia's morale, who sat up on the bed and grabbed her for a hug while rubbing her head. "That 's right! Game isn't over until I quit! I'm grabbing him tonight, dragging him to the bed and- OW!" Suddenly she laid down with an immense pain in her ribs. "Daline, didn't you fix me?"
"I did but your muscles are still frail because of the poison so you opened the wound." Daline sounded unconcerned and unamused. "That is what you get for trying to jump out of the bed after almost dying."
"Should I- Auchie."
"No, you are resting. Sacred gear or not, doing things half assed because you are tired can do more bad than good." A small lie to keep the blonde from pushing herself too much.
With Twilight Healing specific ability there was no way Asia could harm anyone even if she actually tried. Azazel gave Daline everything the Grigori compiled about the sacred gear with instructions and theories of how Asia could push it further, including what it could and couldn't absolutely do.
Twilight Healing was made for one thing alone; healing. Azazel confirmed that God used the concept of Healing itself, the restoration of what it was, when forging Twilight Healing.
Sure He didn't use the whole thing, only its Light or fragments of the Concept essence to create the sacred gears that became Twilight Healing. Years of research showed that Healing as a Concept itself doesn't have a singular form and that was why God saw no problem in creating more than one sacred gear with it.
However that didn't mean it was instantaneous or there weren't ways to use it wisely or recklessly like in Asia's case. Daline could see by the shadows in her eyes and slumped shoulders that the Bishop was absolutely exhausted.
There was a reason the Intensive Care was mostly empty, after all. "You need to learn to not fret over every wound."
Curious green eyes settled in the doctor. "Sensei?"
"In a combat situation you need to evaluate who needs the most help, who is close to dying… and who is going to die regardless. Twilight Healing or not, EM or not, you don't have mana to spare for each and everyone."
"But this isn't- Auchie."
"Ya ain't listening." Suddenly the woman was speaking with a heavy accent before clearing her throat. "Listen, I know that its hard but if you are going to be part of a Combat Peerage then you need to expect yourself to make some choices that you won't like-"
"I won't let anyone die if I can help them." Asia interrupted with a firm look and determined expression. "I will save everyone, that is why I am here." Raising to her full height, still a head smaller than the doctor, she held her hands together as if to pray. "I just need to learn more, correct? Then I will learn everything if that is what it takes to save everyone."
Daline firmly believed the Bishop wasn't telling her a lie. 'You are naive…' Memories of dozens of bodies surrounded a younger Daline as her hands were covered in blood. She couldn't save a single one. "Beh, that is not what I mean."
"Auchie." Asia held her hands, massaging her head after another hit.
"I am just saying you need to take better care of yourself. Or do you think you can help anyone if you pass out? Sure you can't."
"You don't need to be so cruel, Daline."
"And you need to stay in bed. Let 's go, Asia. Now that your shift is over let's put something in your stomach so you recover."
"Hey, aren't you forgetting something." Vitlia pointed to the chest area where it hurt.
Daline gave her another unimpressed look. "I have no patience for patients who don't rest." And to make sure Asia wasn't going to do anything else she grabbed the blonde by the back of her dress and carried her like a cat.
"You're mean." Vitlia said with a groan.
"And you know it." Daline added before closing the door behind her and letting Asia go. "Now, we are done for today. Aren't we?" She asked with a forced smile.
"But I can-"
"'Aren't we'?" The smile turned a little unhinged and Asia nodded slowly, concerned about the doctor's well being. "Good. Honestly, you overestimate yourself too much."
"But didn't you say that I would learn more by working directly with the patients? Isn't that why Azazel-san sent me here?"
From any other person the way she asked questions would make Asia sound confrontational. "And you worked way too hard." Daline knew Asia didn't have a mean bone on her body. "Your sacred gear is better than EM and your knowledge on devil's physiology is now good enough that you can be a passable nurse." The smile the Bishop gave would have anyone else weak in their knees. "BUT. But, you need to remember that even if you know everything there is to know and can use as little mana as possible to restore someone, you still need to use the minimum necessary to restore flesh and blood which is a considerable quantity."
The older woman began to walk and the youngest didn't hesitate to follow. "But I didn't heal as many people today- Auchie." A light chop on her head shut her up.
"Not every wound or malady is the same. If you haven't learned that by now I am a failure as a teacher." The shot at her own credibility actually hurt Asia more than her. "Did you read the book about manticores that I gave you? It should be obligatory reading to anyone coming to these parts, honestly." It frustrated her that it wasn't but when she got a positive nod, Daline was satisfied. "Then you know their poison is corrosive and Vitlia only survived because of her power, right?"
"Of course. I also did my best to channel all of the poison on a single point before beginning to neutralize it. Isolating it took some time but I managed to save all her organs with just some blood vessels damaged."
"Great job, did you account for the acidic level of the poison when neutralizing it?" At Daline's question, Asia's face grew blank. "Also, did you know that organs are more resistant to it than blood vessels since a manticore mainly uses it to survive against their own predators." By the Bishop's face, she didn't know that.
"But I needed to-"
"To protect your patient, keep her organs healthy so she can recover." Daline called her out perfectly, fully understanding Asia's thought process. "Yet our organs are not as frail and that poison was especially bad to blood vessels. Keeping it locked into a strong organ, like a liver, would actually be better than keeping it on its original entrance point." When her student opened her mouth, Daline raised a hand, anticipating the question. "And yes, it was going to be more painful this way but also reduce her recovery time and mana expended."
A depressed Asia looked down before shaking her head quickly and giving the doctor a firm look. "Then I will do better next time."
Sighing from her lips a little, Daline also shook her head. "Are you still going to focus on everyone else?"
"Of course, that is why the Lord gave Twilight Healing to me…" A second later Asia placed both hands on her mouth and looked around. Praising God in a devil hospital wasn't a good idea.
Indeed even the doctor in front of her threw a small glare before starting to walk again. "How many times I have to say, don't mention Him." The last word was full of loathing. "He abandoned you and never cared for us. The Great Enemy deserves only curses."
"Sorry…" It was easy to forget that she was in the Underworld and everybody was devils. Harder still because of her studies, ironically enough.
It all came down to how similar humans and devils were inside and out, literally and metaphorically. Daline for example wasn't different from some teachers in Kuoh; harsh but fair. Only when God was mentioned was that the woman lost her calm and could be called cruel.
Not really strange since like many devils Daline believed that God was still out there and never cared for them.
Yet the woman did her duty in guiding Asia, teaching her as much as she could about medicine, mana management, the duties of a battle medic and her personal philosophy. She never failed and when God wasn't mentioned the doctor would always treat the Bishop with respect even if she was a little annoyed with Asia's naivety.
Despite all that Asia kept her positive attitude and that desire to heal everyone. "I will do my best." She stopped in front of the doctor and bowed her head until her waist. "So please keep teaching me."
"You… really are too earnest for your own good." Another sigh. "Seriously, what was lady Gremory thinking about Reincarnating a nun of all people? I will never understand that." Shrugging one shoulder she passed by Asia. "Just don't mention Him, again." After a few steps she turned. "Are you coming?"
"Yes, Sensei." Asia caught up with the doctor's step easily as the woman continued to give her pointers on how to best save up her mana and expand her reserves.
All the while Daline tried to keep up the instructions for Asia's training, instructions that Azazel strongly suggested she kept a secret. "Twilight Healing can in theory evolve its ability infinitely so long as the user believes in it. Theoretically." Had said the Governor General with a wink. "That is why you must never say that she can't heal or fix something, just tell her she isn't ready yet and teach her what a doctor would need to know, at least in theory, to solve the problem. Maybe regrowing limbs is too much, not enough energy, but let's start small and say, get rid of a cold?"
Already Asia was showing the results of such a stance. 'When she arrived the idea of neutralizing poison never had even crossed her mind. Now she can deal with one of the greatest dangers in the Frontier by herself.' A block of envy settled in her stomach but Daline held it back. 'That sacred gear is the dream equipment to any doctor.'
Daline couldn't deny that she wanted it badly and hoped that Azazel found a way to reproduce it in mass. EM was good but Twilight Healing was better.
Until then she was going to work with Asia until the girl could heal anything.
…
When Akeno came to be again she felt a wave of relief and the good sort of exhaustion that came after a long day of work. It was almost like her spirit had been purified by her struggles and the last few hours had helped her find something in herself that she never knew was there.
Remembering the date, the realizations and the fights had all memories coated in a positive light despite disappointments and pain, lots of pain especially from the fights. Funnily enough remembering some of that pain warmed her heart and made sure she was never going to forget her former opponents.
Then her most recent memories finally caught up with her and Akeno jumped.
"Hey, hey. Calm down." Only for Shirou's soothing voice and his hand to keep her in bed. "It is fine. Fight is over. You are fine."
"Fight is…" Akeno noticed the pillow and the blanket before letting out a sigh and laying down again, looking at the roof. "Oh… What was the damage?"
Shirou looked at her with a coyly smile. "Let's say 'a lot' and let it go." Calmly he sat back on a chair and pulled the cover back up. "Cleaning the blood was harder. Remind me to make a sword to get rid of it safely later."
"Oh my." Lifting her clothes Akeno saw she was still dressed in the same damaged uniform and pouted. "Didn't you even take a peek?"
A deadpan stare was his best response. "Most women would slap someone for even suggesting that." Akeno giggled and he smiled a little. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired, sleepy… Satisfied." Akeno recognized with a smile, studying her hand above her face. "I think I am starting to develop a taste for fighting… Do you think I can learn Touki any time soon?" Shirou's eyes suddenly looked sad and her smile grew. "It is fine, Shirou-kun. I know I can't use Touki while fighting myself. Still remember your problems with it."
"Yeah… So are you finally ready to talk about it? The 'other' Akeno?" She nodded, much to his surprise. "Wow. I mean, today was just full of surprises."
"I know, right? Never thought I would find a way to find fighting fun. Usually I just like seeing people squirm but…" Closing and opening her hand multiple times, Akeno heard her bones cracking once and let out a sigh. "I really wanted to win the tournament."
There was a pause as Shirou stood up and left her view for a moment but the ravenhead was too lost in thought to follow. She just laid there, admiring her hand and remembering her fights, almost in disbelief that the person in the last match was her. Those emotions, that raw desire to win and the triumph after.
Also the cheering, that was practically intoxicating for her. She was used to some adulation and admiration from her peers at school but to have hundreds of people cheering her name was something else entirely.
'Exhilarating, pretty sure that is the word.' Akeno let her arm drop as Shirou came back with a glass of water. Only then did she notice how thirsty she was.
"Here." Helping her sit up again, he watched the relief in her face after her first gulp. "Tell me if you need more."
Akeno ended up drinking two whole glasses before relaxing again and Shirou letting the glass go. "Even after Riser's fight I never felt so tired."
"Well, maybe that was because you had a little more control there." At her incredulous expression he chuckled. "Against Riser's Queen you fought in the way you were used to and you won by an attack you knew would leave you exhausted. In that fight, everything went according to plan." Waving around, he smiled. "Here you were caught off guard and had to fight unlike ever before. And you liked it."
"Mmm… Maybe you are right." Then her eyes grew wide and Akeno looked at her surroundings for the first time. "Wait, we are still in the changing rooms…" Looking down she finally noticed the 'bed' she was laying on was actually a couple of benches with a cushion and pillows. Expanding her senses she could tell the small mattress she was on was made with mana, Shirou's to be more exact. "Why?"
Playfully, Shirou picked up a chair and turned around to use it to support his arms. "Can't you guess?"
A twitch on Akeno's lips revealed a smile. "The tournament isn't over?"
"Got it in one. Well, it could end if you surrender but you are on the final." There was no way he was going to surrender for her, not unless she wanted to. So he made sure the ravenhead could rest and hoped she would wake up.
Gears began to turn in her mind as the smile of joy grew. "How long was I unconscious?"
"Little more than half an hour but the rules for the last fight are obviously different." Eyes danced with mirth watching how relieved Akeno was. Shirou knew he made the right decision. "The final fights in this kind of tournament are in the central arena without a time limit. One hour is given so both fighters can recover enough to give everybody a show."
Playfully she tilted her head and looked exaggeratedly irritated. "And you just told me now?"
Raising his hands in surrender he replied, "It wasn't relevant until now." Then his expression changed to a more serious one. "But back to the topic, you have a few minutes before the fight or we can just go home." Calmly he touched her hand. "You are still exhausted and your reserves aren't close to full."
"Are you offering to share mana now?" She doubted it. Akeno could feel how weak Shirou was. "How much did you used to heal me?"
"Almost all of it. Barely managed a pillow without burning my circuits a little too much." The redhead admitted with a shrug. "Couldn't share now even if you asked."
Taking a deep breath, Akeno placed a hand over his. "Don't worry, I am fine. Better than fine, even." She began to stand up but was about to fall when he grabbed her side. "Okay, maybe not."
"Apparently True Hybrids still suffer from adrenaline withdrawal. Even if you are better than most people in your position." Helping her sit down, he returned to his chair. "Seriously, between the cuts on your back, dozens of wounds, a concussion and the hole in your shoulder I know for sure that nobody else in your place would be able to wake up so fast, short of a god." Her eyes were wide as she stared at him and Shirou winced. "Sorry, maybe you weren't ready for that."
"No it is just… I am a True Hybrid? I thought I was a devil, even a half fallen angel." Akeno could feel her Queen Piece still there, filtrating mana.
However Shirou shook his head with a sad look. "Evil Pieces can't Reincarnate beings greater than devils. While you still have the weaknesses…" His hand hovered over her chest and both felt dregs of his mana touching the Evil Piece. "I bet that if I removed it you wouldn't have that problem anymore." Retreating his hand, the Mage got ready to reveal what he had known ever since he unlocked her circuits. "You are barely a devil, Akeno. In fact, you are still a True Hybrid born from a fallen angel. With devil characteristics due to the Piece, of course."
"But my wings…" The bat-like wings jumped from her back. "They are… they are…" Then with barely a thought they began to change. Huge angel wings dark as the night sky revealed themselves. "Oh…"
"Fallen angels can disguise themselves and with the Evil Piece filtering your mana you feel like a devil, can act like a devil and even use demonic energy."
"But I am still a fallen angel." The realization actually hurt. Only a little, much to her surprise. "I was never a real devil."
"Hmm, I wouldn't say that. Some of your pranks can be a little too 'devilish'." However she looked frozen so Shirou began to second guess himself. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
"No, no. I needed to hear that." Already Akeno didn't feel the loathing and hatred that loomed like a shadow for most of her life. In fact, she never felt better and looking at her wings she smiled a little. "They are like my father's." Standing up completely, she opened her wings fully and Shirou couldn't stop himself from admiring them.
There was a beauty on those wings that captivated the redhead in ways he couldn't explain, like the girl herself. In fact there was an aura around Akeno that certainly wasn't there before. It enhanced her lovely face, made her form more complete, he would dare to say perfect.
'Is this the effect a fallen angel can have or this is because it is her.' When Shirou offered to open his heart to Akeno he was honest and already his soul was ready to embrace her if she wanted. However there was no need to rush, she just found herself. "While I am happy for you and I don't mind, I don't think you can continue in the tournament if the devils see this."
"Right." Immediately Akeno's wings shrunk and became bat-like before retreating to her back. "But it felt good." The ravenhead embraced herself with a smile. "So good." It was like a rush in her veins that she couldn't describe. "But is it still fair that I participate in stuff like this? Or Rating Games?" Questions began and the rush was replaced with dread. "Can I still be Rias' Queen?"
Shirou was at his feet in an instant. "Calm down, nobody knows just yet and you still have the Evil Piece. For all intents and purposes you are a devil… Kinda." Looking at his face, she knew he wasn't lying. "Look, dragons can participate in this thing and until you start throwing Holy Lightning around you are just an overpowered devil."
Arching her eyebrow with a smile, Akeno giggled. "My once broken bones say I am not that overpowered."
He couldn't help himself but smile back. "That is because you are still holding back, just a tad." Both smiled at his observation and he touched her back softly. "You are still learning how to walk, later you can learn how to fly."
"Metaphorically?"
"Course. You are a better flier than me." A moment of silence passed. "Unless Bellerophon is helping, that is."
"Fufufufu." Then surprising herself, Akeno kissed him on his lips. It was a second, just a peck, but the redhead was surprised nonetheless. "I hope you don't mind." She was blushing to her ears.
"I will be here when you are ready." Promised the Mage with a blush of his own. "But let's focus on the present, shall we. Do you still want to fight?"
Taking a deep breath, Akeno looked into herself and saw two of her; one with bat-like wings and another with angel wings, darker than the night. Then both of them smiled and became one.
"Yes." The answer came easily. "Fufufufu. Maybe I am not ready to dish out 'Divine justice'." Demonic energy poured out from her being. "But I want to win this."
Tired, most of her mana spent and barely recovered from all the punishment she took in the third fight, Akeno still wanted one more round, the last round of the whole thing and possibly the last one for her in the Underground Arena.
'While the cheering is nice, I don't need this place anymore.' The ravenhead thought confidently. "This will be my last fight here." She said with a smile. "Let's leave with a 100% victory rate."
"PuffHahahaha! I think this is the first time I ever saw you this determined!" Akeno pouted but that only made Shirou laugh harder. When he eventually calmed down there was a small grin on his face. "Seriously though, I am happy that you finally found yourself." There was so much pride in his voice that the woman felt embarrassed. With a look of realization, the Mage picked something from his pocket. "Here."
For a second Akeno was confused at the blood stained ribbon on his hand until she realized her hair was loose. It was her ribbon which had fallen on the battlefield, a bit torn but still mostly intact.
"I had to ask someone to collect it for you since I didn't want to leave you alone but they found it really fast. Not hard since it was in a huge hole you made when you fell." Pushing it towards her, Shirou was happy when Akeno retrieved it, looking at the accessory with relief. "You also have enough time to get it set before the next fight starts."
Closing her fist tightly around it, Akeno shook her head and returned the ribbon to him. "Can you hold on to it until the end?" His face showed his confusion. "I just don't want it to get more damaged."
A pause later, Shirou held up his hand but not to collect the ribbon as his circuits began to glow vibrantly. Quickly Akeno placed a hand on his own and shook her head.
"Are you sure?"
On the personal side it was the hair that she remembered her mother by and on the logical more practical side it reduced the risk of her long hair getting in her way. In fact from everybody Shirou knew only Medusa had a longer hair than Akeno, perhaps they even had the same length with the goddess' size making her hair look longer.
But Akeno's hair was really long because while Rias' hair reached her tights, Akeno's went past that and reached her lower leg. Indeed if it wasn't for the mattress Shirou had Traced for her, her hair would have been on the floor at that moment. He didn't know it didn't bother her but that could also be chalked as part of her biology.
"No, that belongs to the Queen of Gremory and this," Akeno pushed her hair around her shoulders with a sensual smile, "belongs just to me, the girl you went on a date with. The Daughter of Baraqiel." The acknowledgment of her father was also easier than she thought and yet the woman still needed to pause after it. "Maybe I am not ready to talk with him yet… But it wouldn't be wrong to send him a message, right?"
"Are you asking me or yourself?" At her shrug, he chuckled. "What if you think about it after you deal with your last opponent?" Just from her smile Shirou knew she loved the idea. "The match is going to be in the main arena, no time limit-"
"You already said that."
"-and you are going to face Gertrude. Remember her? You must have." The Mage's smile grew confident. "You got enamored with her fight in the first place."
"Jealous?" Her coy smile made him shiver.
"If I say a little, will you think less of me?"
"Never. Also I always found your way of fighting beautiful." Akeno admitted, holding his arm. "So you don't need to be jealous. I like watching you fight and would love it if you could take a turn in the arena."
The statement didn't surprise Shirou in the slightest. "Oh, really?"
"Really. Seeing you dressed in tight clothes with your muscles bulging while showing everyone who is the boss." It was her turn to shiver a little. "That is hot." Shirou's eyebrows jumped and she couldn't help herself. "What? Just because I am not ready for us to not go any further doesn't mean I can't compliment my boyfriend."
Surprise wore off eventually and he smiled. "I am your boyfriend now, am I? That is new I suppose."
A sudden thought crossed Akeno's mind. "You have three girlfriends and none of them call you their boyfriend?"
Which actually had Shirou a little embarrassed and one leg scratching another. "Rias consider the term smaller to what we are, Yoruichi laughed when I brought it up and Xenovia is complicated."
"I was talking about Setsuna since Xenovia and you have a whole different thing." She replied with complete honesty and a little teasing.
"Why do I have the feeling that whatever response I give you is going to be told to someone later?" At her giggle, Shirou knew silence was the best policy at that moment.
Akeno recognized it too. "Boooooring~" She said while playing with his nose. "But a wise choice." Throwing her arms around his neck, her smile became mischievous once his hands held her hips. "So, my opponent is Gertrude, right?"
"Right…"
"And we have… half an hour before they come to collect us?" Akeno began to move left and right in short steps in the tempo of a dance.
Shirou didn't hesitate to do the same. "A little less than twenty minutes give or take. You were sleeping for a while. A real sleeping beauty."
"And the prince didn't think about giving me a kiss?" The teasing was so clear the redhead would have to be an idiot to not hear it.
Instead of replying immediately he chuckled a little. "I have nothing of prince in me. If anything I am a vagabond blacksmith whose lips don't belong in court."
"Oh, I don't know about it." Closing her eyes she fell into the rhythm completely, allowing him to guide her steps. Akeno's hand moved lower to his chest. "But then again, that is better. This way I can ask for compensation for not waking me up immediately."
"So I gave you a mattress, a lot of pillows and it still wasn't enough. What a demanding girlfriend I have." Shirou was happy to join the fun, lifting her up a little for a twirl before setting her back on her feet.
"Don't worry~ I know exactly what to ask and you will love it." At his silent nod, Akeno raised her arms behind his head and brought him closer. "Tell me, have you ever had a make out session with Rias?"
Funnily enough he hadn't since in their dates things were plenty romantic and Rias only got 'frisky' in their room. At that point things went way beyond what could be called 'make out' so just kissing was something he wasn't using on his dates. Neither Yoruichi nor Xenovia took part in many of those and the relationship with them was far more carnal anyway.
So Akeno was the legitimately the first girl Shirou had a 'make out session' and neither of them could complain much. The ravenhead didn't really know what she was doing at the beginning but both would agree she was a quick study and eager to learn what the magus was eager to teach.
She was always eager to learn anything from him.
Time passed with them like that, Akeno eventually pushing him on the mattress as they continued freely, her hands not stopping while her legs held him by the waist in a position so provocative that the Mage almost lost his composure.
Both fell into a comfortable rhythm soon enough, the familiar smell of blood and sweat started to bring some comfort, Akeno discovering she particularly liked them more than she should.
Or figuring out that the situation made them erotic for her. 'He tastes nice.' It was a flavor she couldn't find in any food and couldn't get enough of.
Similar thoughts were running on Shirou's mind as his blood started boiling again and other more developed instincts began to grow stronger. He held them all in and kept his hand only on her back while controlling certain impulses. It was a challenge so he tried to play with her hair a little.
Grabbing one of his hands she placed it on his ass. "You can touch~" Akeno broke the kiss just enough to say before renewing her attack.
Never in his life the redhead will be able to say if that sort of freedom made things better or worse considering how much he had to hold back. He settled on liking it, focusing on her flesh and pushing her back to stay on top as their tongues explored each other's mouths.
They rolled around the mattress for several minutes until knocks on the door snapped them back to reality. "Five minutes, I am here to escort you." When he opened the door it was the same devil as before and he barely reacted at Shirou's messed up look and Akeno basically romping on his lap. "Unless she is going to fight like that I suggest she change clothes." He closed the door to wait outside.
Both looked down to notice how the clothing from the former fight was almost falling apart not only because of the event but also by how much they were losing themselves during the make out.
Akeno giggled and jumped to her feet. "He barely even reacted." She raced to one of the lockers and picked another uniform.
"This probably is the most tame situation he ever found in this place. If anything it proves they are professionals." Shirou made the mattress disappear and fixed his appearance a little, turning around while the Queen changed clothes. 'Don't say anything, she is going to tease you.'
"Not gonna say anything?" He heard the clothes moving and closed his eyes just to make sure. "Or maybe… take a peek?"
She would let him get away with it too, she absolutely would. Yet Akeno was far more pleased by how he was shaking while also not looking, resisting the temptation.
Shirou knew she would let him, that didn't mean he was going to do anything until she was absolutely ready. "I think calling ourselves girlfriend and boyfriend makes this worse." Admitted the Mage. "Makes everything seem so… harmless and innoceeeeeent-"
Akeno had just bitten his earlobe playfully. "Ah~ Really? Maybe I should be something else then?" When she stepped back he turned around to say his opinion only to see she was topless and with a smug grin. Shirou took a moment to admire her big firm bosom before turning around in a rush. "My, my, so innocent…"
"You really are a devil." She was all too pleased with the title.
A minute later they were leaving the room, the man from before standing there with his hands behind his back. "Please follow me."
Nothing needed to be said for a while as the path was a little longer than usual. There were no arrows to guide their way this time, no signs either.
Just a maze-like corridor that could get anyone lost in if they weren't used to the place or had some sort of map.
There was also the heat because even with her few clothes Akeno could feel more sweat pouring from her forehead. She looked at Shirou and saw he was calm and not bothered by it at all. Too much time in the forge and his origins made him so resistant to heat it would take him standing close to a volcano before he was really bothered.
Then they began to hear the audience's cheers and there was also an announcer calling out to them, talking about Akeno's rookie status and win streak for a minute before hyping up Gertrude as a veteran warrior who won two minor tournaments in the past.
At that point their escort raised a hand and spoke a little louder. "Wait for a moment if you please. Your cue will be when your name is called. The coach must stay close to the exit until the end of the match while the fighter must fly down to the arena proper." He didn't bother looking at them.
"Anything else we need to know?" Shirou asked calmly, his voice barely piercing the other hundred calling Akeno and Gertrude for the match.
Turning to the redhead the man scowled. "Same rules as before, no time limit." Clearly the man was annoyed and Akeno gave him a look of amusement.
Shirou for his part just shrugged and looked at the ravenhead. "Are you sure you don't want a ribbon of some sort? Your hair is already long but like this it is going to be easier to grab."
"I don't plan on giving her a chance." She just barely had time to reply before her name was called and the man waved her in.
Skipping a little in place, Akeno walked out the huge entrance to the crowd's warmth. They called her name, told her to win, gave her cat calls and shouted she was the best.
'How I am going to miss this… Maybe I can do something like Serafall-sama and have a TV show? Hmm, that is a thought.' Forget that she couldn't act, Rating Games were too isolated for her and the ravenhead discovered the love of hundreds of fans wishing for her triumph. 'Depends I guess…'
Her eyes watched the other side as the redhead Gertrude also entered in the scene with a team besides her made of men and women in all sorts. She looked like a boxing champion walking on the ring sans the gloves. Paying more attention than before Akeno quickly noticed that much like her first opponent Gertrude lacked a weapon.
Remembering the first match she ever saw in the tournament, Akeno knew it wasn't by mistake. 'I doubt she forgot about it or anything like that…' This late in the game her chances of being underestimated were zero. 'Wouldn't be weird holding it back in the first few rounds to avoid something breaking. Even if it is slow, healing is easier for devils than repairing equipment, less expensive too. Which means she really fights just with her body.'
If that was an advantage or disadvantage it was too early to say because one thing was clear in that match; Gertrude's defenses were top notch.
Also there was the issue that Akeno's reserves were considerably lower than her total even if she still had more energy than the bigger woman by a wide margin. The ravenhead still didn't work out all the kinks of her new fighting style but it was already a start and it was far more controlled than just throwing her power around constantly.
'This is how I fight and think less, funnily enough.' Akeno barely heard the announcer say everything it needed saying about her or the bets going around. 'Shirou mastered the sword, he can use many weapons but he always fights with a sword first. It is his best skill, easy to use and versatile when needed. Medusa as well.' Immediately her mind shifted to the fight with the goddess. 'She can create life, manipulate creatures and do Miracles. Yet she always goes for simple things; a blast of mana here, a punch there. Nothing stops her from creating a boundary field and sucking everyone's mana but that is too complicated.'
And it took time, time that could be extremely crucial during a fight. Time that Akeno wasted thinking on what weapon to use and how to use it best instead of doing anything else.
Wide eyes from the rookie had Gertrude smiling confidently, not knowing that the ravenhead's mind was somewhere else. 'Rias understood it first!' The realization was a hard pill to swallow. 'She stopped trying to force the Power of Destruction away from her imagination, stopped trying to be like her brother, and focused on doing what she could do best.'
Being a Jack of All Trades sounded nice on paper but in fact it was an extremely costly endeavor with the risk of nothing paying off because a true master could crush the less experienced warrior in their field of expertise.
Before the arena Akeno considered herself a Jack of All Trades capable of making weapons of all sizes for any situation. Except she herself didn't know how to use those weapons to their full potential and her advantages were useless when she was unable to even touch her enemies.
She lacked the skill, training into a dozen things at the same time and never developing the reflexes like a real fighter would. 'Thinking too much' as in not having the instincts or the habits needed to react, attack and counterattack with barely any thought.
Learning with the body was different from learning magic, the disciplines were opposites in their approach.
Through her devil magic Akeno easily learned how to manipulate all basic elements at the same time even if she didn't use them much and made the mistake of thinking the same approach was valid when training with weaponry.
But her mind and muscles needed to get used to the movements, used to the basics, before she could move on to other weapons and even then it would have been better to train with similar styles.
Same on how Shirou first mastered the sword before developing it with his bow through his magic, same as Setsuna who learned the naginata since childhood before moving to swords while having to develop her claws.
Same with Medusa who first learned how to fight as a monster and was still learning how to fight as a goddess.
Finally the announcer called for the fighters to jump down and Gertrude didn't waste time, throwing away a robe with her name on it, before diving towards the middle of the arena confidently.
Akeno needed a second before jumping as well, opening her wings and landing a considerable distance away from the giant woman, closer to the lava lake which dominated the central arena.
Her eyes jumped around, paying attention to every rock formation, every misshapen form and the size of the lava circle around them. It was big enough that it could be called a lake without a doubt and the temperature around the area was obviously high. Automatically the ravenhead's aura came up to protect her body just from the heat, knowing that the lava itself would always be dangerous regardless of her defenses.
Except that she was a True Hybrid daughter of one of the strongest fallen angels. 'Can I walk on lava? Better not risk it.' Not to say that the morbid curiosity left her at all. Akeno shook her head and slapped her cheeks. 'Once you are strong enough you don't need to care, focus on the opponent in front of you!' Her spirit screamed, hyping herself up. 'Win, Himejima Akeno! Win and show how far you have come! That you don't need to wait for your father to come save you anymore!'
Sparks of Lightning began to accumulate around Akeno and Gertrude smug grin grew as her aura became denser. Both fighters were ready to rumble but this fight was different.
This time there was an announcer. *Are you ready for the final match?!* The deafening cheering was all the answer he needed. The fighters were irrelevant, all was a spectacle for the masses and only their input mattered. *All betting pools are officially closed! Gertrude Dalimare versus Akeno Himejima!* A pause for drama had its intended effect as the audience cheered louder. "BEGIN!*
Gertrude moved first, her powerful legs giving the leverage needed for a leap that easily broke the sound barrier. Stone cracked in her wake, Akeno raising her arms with a chain around her hand. Everyone waited for the moment of impact, the contact that would start the fight for real.
Only for the redhead to kick the ground and jump just as Akeno prepared her chain for defense. All watched as the arc of the jump had Gertrude landing on the wall on the other side of the lava with a grin, her steps so hard that calling her footprints she made holes would be correct.
Still the change of positions gave more space for Akeno to work with so she immediately moved to the center of the arena while tying more of her chain around her right arm. The links on her left hand transformed into something similar to the tip of a spear or an arrow that sparked with intense Lightning.
Once again the veteran's powerful legs bent and she jumped, this time landing closer to Akeno before taking a few more steps forward.
Walking forward with a grin, Gertrude approached just enough until there were less than five meters between them. "This's better."
"Huh?" Akeno articulated with a tilt of her head.
That made the giant woman laugh. "You're a rookie so nobody told you; in the finals the fighters meet in the center before the match really starts." Cracking her hands menacingly, Gertrude's aura grew heavier. "But don't worry, you will learn." The woman let her demonic energy loose.
Now they were closer, Akeno could see how much taller Gertrude was and how her muscles bulged far more than most men she ever met. Even Beowulf, one of the tallest men she knew, was smaller than the giant before her and the Queen had to ponder if the woman really had some giant blood.
"Was hoping to fight Frederick today. Finally earn the big leagues." Her smile was dark and carried a real desire for violence. "But you came here, beat him and stole my thunder. Gonna make sure you regret that with every single one of your bones."
Gertrude raised a foot before bringing it down in a stomp that made the arena shake, cracking the whole and barely not breaking it apart. As a matter of fact the small quake was actually big enough that the whole Underground Arena felt it, the boundary fields preserving it flickering at the intensity of the woman's power.
Akeno smiled an honest thirsty smile with her sharp eyes studying her opponent openly, a wish for violence growing in her heart. "Oh my, do you promise?" Gold mana poured from her and flooded the whole arena, some weaker devils falling to their knees. "Because I can't wait to hear you scream."
"That is the spirit, sister!" Suddenly far more demonic energy than she should have exploded from Gertrude's form, quickly making Akeno realize something.
"You were holding back." There was no way to hide the pleasure in her smile.
Neither on Gertrude's. "Of course. You should always save the best for last." Her muscles grew stronger as demonic energy retreated inside the giant woman. Her skin began to let out vapor as her muscles grew even larger.
The crowd was cheering as Gertrude, who was already big, grew twice her size. There was a crack of bones breaking and rebuilding themselves repeatedly as the vapor from her sweat escaped with great intensity. Her clothing struggled to contain how big the woman had become after the transformation finished.
Before her muscles were already huge and she was a few heads taller than Akeno but now the woman was easily five times bigger than the Queen of Gremory and her muscles were bigger than the wheels of a truck.
A feral grin grew in Gertrude's lips. "You could have attacked whenever, sister." Her voice was the same despite her far taller and bulkier form.
Smirking to her heart's content, Akeno directed all her power to her chain and Lightning cracked. "That wouldn't be fun at all."
Feral grins were exchanged as powerful legs fixed themselves on the ground. The area around Akeno barely changed but every move Gertrude made had the rocks breaking apart. The ravenhead licked her lips before settling in a smile of excitement as she held her chain tightly.
The stands grew quiet, watching all the interactions with bubbling excitement, holding back every single emotion until the clash truly started. While this wasn't a major tournament the remaining fighters were promising warriors, amazons of legend who earned the finals.
And a Queen of the Arena would be crowned for the winner of their clash couldn't be called nothing else.