"KYORAAKUUUUU!!!!"
Asim screams as he sees his partner fell to the ground–unconscious.
Kuzo remembers... the conversation between Sanroku and Eliz he had eavesdropped on. Sanroku might've noticed his presence...but for some reason he had allowed him to stay....
_ _ _
" Sanroku... Are you out of your mind? Why are you putting that guy as one of the commander? Don't you understand the gravity of the situation? He's...."
"Weak?"
"Weak doesn't begin to describe him. You should have seen his performance during the training. He–"
"Eliz... one shouldn't jump to conclusions."
"I'm not–"
" You do realize that I'm the one who makes the decisions here right?"
" Don't I have the rights to choose my partner?"
" Do you doubt my decisions?"
"Till now I didn't... but at this point I'm not sure."
She flung her arms wide open to emphasize on her point.
"There's a reason I chose him."
"Enlighten me."
" You don't know why he's so weak do you?"
" Because he doesn't try hard enough. These Lethegos they have this in them... they'll never try hard enough. It's as if..they don't have any survival instincts. All they know is one thing. Eat. Eat. Eat. That too not humans but their own species..."
She screamed her lungs out.
" Nice explanation. If I didn't know enough I could probably accept it. But well... do you wish to know the truth?"
" Eh...."
" It's because of the curse. You know that a vampire shouldn't ever consume another vampire, right...?"
She nodded.
" If one does... they will get poisoned and will die immediately... but the Lethegos. Nobody knows how but they escaped it. Do you believe it was without consequences?"
" No... every action has a opposite reaction...that's the law of nature right?"
" Yes... The Fates cursed them from doing so. The curse does many things... which I'm pretty sure you'd see for yourself when you are on the battlefield alongside the Lethegos. One of them is. It prevents them from using their full power. It prevents them from consuming beyond a particular point. If they try to they will just puke it out. And if a vampire can't consume his power will remain stagnant..."
"So..."
" I get your question. Why am I risking sending him in?"
"Yes.."
" I believe... or rather I'm pretty sure. He'll find a way to surpass his limits. And I expect interference. If it happens you must not deviate from our plans. You must battle against Mizen only. Kuzo will have to take care of the interference...and if can't... death is inevitable."
Eliz bowed down to him and disappeared.
Sanroku said to himself," I wonder what you'll do Kuzo."
He turned to face the window
" I would have loved to overlook the progress of this battle. But I can't. Crusader's here. I must ensure he gets a suitable greeting....for what he had done in the last Holy War."
Saying this Sanroku vanished too.
A chill ran down Kuzo's spine as he walked back to his quarters.
_ _ _
Asim's rage knew no bounds. Just as he takes a step forward the earth itself parts as if to give him way–as if it's trembling with fear. The air becomes heavy. He is gripping the Kanābo so tightly that it's glowing red hot with the heat of his hands. And then he jumps into the air.
Kuzo doesn't dodge. Asim is about to use his strongest attacks–one which Sanroku had warned Kuzo against–Son Of Gaea. It would destroy everything within a kilometre radius...if it doesn't find its target. Kuzo knows he can't move that fast...even with the Kyuketsuki abilities. Using the Curse of the Lethe had already drained him out. He couldn't pull out another one of these.
'F**k the curse',he says in his mind.
Consuming any more flesh would be disastrous...
As Asim's attack comes he lifts up Kyoraku's body from the ground and uses it as a shield against the incoming attack. But what Asim does is unexpected...Just as his blade is about to touch Kyoraku's unconscious body he turns mid-air and smashes the Kanābo into Kuzo's side. Half of his body almost evaporated due to the impact . And for the first time he feels as of his soul had been sucked out...as if he's gonna die. His eyes rolled backwards.
He remembered the what his father had said before he had died...
– – –
"YOU CAN'T DIE ON ME LIKE THAT YOU OLD GEEZERRR"
Kuzo screamed at the cracking out his lungs. His face was messy with all the all the crying.
His father touched his tear streaked face as Kuzo tried pulling out the knife his uncle had stabbed into his father's heart–it was dipped in his Lethego blood. His father would surely die now...Kuzo knew that...He just didn't want to accept it.
"Kuzo I thought I'd live long enough to protect you...so I didn't teach you this...ughhh"
He coughed up blood.It was green. A green blood from a Lethego...that meant sure death that too a painful one.
" There's this one thing which a Lethego can do. But for that he will have to sacrifice his life force. I'd never want you to use it. But if the time comes. As the old monk.."
He laughed as he remembered what Kuzo had commented on the old monk a year ago.
"..said you'll have to use it... to prove your loyalty and love. So I'll tell u about it.."
Kuzo remained patient. He knew what his dad was telling now was really important. His eyes did not have the usual playful gleam.. his face wasn't smiling,.. his sharp canines weren't poking out.
"I don't know it's name. You can make one for it yourself. What u need to do is to force the opponent to consume a chunk of your flesh . And then you have to invade their mind...ah....ah... Damn you Arzen... I'll never forgive for this. My soul will haunt you for this."
" Don't worry dad... I'll kill him with my own two hands. And then I'll feed him to the Lycanthropes"
His father laughed.
" What..?"
" Nah it's the first time you called me dad...Anyways when you enter his mind you have to force him to think that you are stronger than him.. even a hint of doubt will...."
He hesitated.
Kuzo held his palm in between his hands and said,"Tell me dad..."
"It will cause your body to burst into shreds...and don't be overconfident...this will kill you... But if you are successful you've almost won the battle. When a opponent.. aah..damn it....when a opponent...when a opponent...nah I can't go yet...I must complete my statement...You can't do it Shinigami!"
"Dad...."
" Ya..I got one minute more... once your opponent things you are stronger he'll go on defence. He'll doubt himself...and when he does that. Defeating him is easier... Remember th–"
And just like that his soul left his body...on to its journey ...finding another body...another life...probably a better one..Kuzo hoped.
– – –
Kuzo slowly gains his consciousness. His flesh is forming over the Kanābo making it difficult for Asim to pull it out.
Kuzo grabs a part of his flesh that is still healing and yanks it out. He handles it carefully and slams his left foot into the ground.
He makes a wide arc with his right arm and forces his raw flesh into Asim's mouth.. Asim resists but the deed is done Kuzo's blood has flowed down his throat. It has gone dry. Asim feels suddenly weakened.
Kuzo knew it was now or never. Asim was at his weakest now. Any further delay would only give him time to heal himself. He closed his eyes and made his way into Asim's mind. It provided little resistance. It was already focused on getting the foreign vampiric blood out of his body. Kuzo directs his blood inside Asim's body to one destination–his brain.
As soon as it's done he opens his eyes and stares into Asim's terrified eyes. The so called strongest vampire( when it comes to brute strength) is now in complete shambles. He has lost complete control of his body. His Kanābo is slowly slipping from his grip. His body is sweating heavily .
As Kuzo smirks something inside Asim clicks. He clenches his teeth , kicks the the ground below him and jumps backwards.
Kuzo whispers loud enough so that Asim can hear it.
"IN-GAME SUPREME!"
Kuzo knows that he's at his limit. He can barely move. Yes...he did made Asim fear him–but...What now? He couldn't just stand there. Just standing here would be of no use. If it's the battle of who survives till end...Kuzo would definitely lose. He needs to be decisive...only if he could pull something off...which surprises Asim.
That's when a memory rules through his mind.His last chat with Sanroku.
– – –
" Kuzo...Do you know all of the techniques?"
"I believe I do–"
" You may not know this one...it's kinda a forbidden one. Many of the Lethegos except the first Lethego died using it. So they never taught it."
Sanroku explained him the technique. A chill ran down Kuzo's spine as he heard about the after effects.
"So you want me to be the sacrificial lamb?"
"That was the plan initially...but I see potential in you."
"Eh–"
" You can have this."
Sanroku offered him an red glowing shard.
"It's a part fo my devil crystal. When you consume it it will act as a external source of energy for you. If your body produces it...you'll surely die. But if this produces it...chances of survival are higher. One more thing...when you use this I suppose you'll be at your limit and you'll have used 'that' by then. Overall if my calculations are correct you'll get just 3 minutes to finish the battle after using."
A grave expression filled Kuzo's face. He gulped and ask,
"So...what's the technique?"
"It's called–Complete Takeover. You can copy and use the ability of your opponents ...like you usually do...but this time–you can do it to an 100%."
– – –
Trust...
Before he left Sanroku had told Kuzo that he trusted him.
Trust
Trust.... It's a strong word. Especially when it comes from one of the greatest devils of all time.
Kuzo knew that whatever happens he couldn't let him down now.
He gives his cleaver a jerk and starts hopping from one foot to another. He takes out the pill and shoves it down his throat(in a way that was really disgusting.)
He mutters under his breath.
"Complete Takeover."
As he says this...it's as if he has dropped a heavy weight. As if the chains that were wrapped tightly around him shattered. All his power rushed out like the water in a ocean would if the earth was suddenly turned upside down.
"The speed and accuracy of Kyuketsuki... the strength and destructive force of a Massaass Dam...the so called perfect combo...let's see how good it is."
It's as if he's drunk on his power. A wide evil smile spreads across his face. Adrenaline coursing through his veins just a high power water pump.
And then he moves... so fast that surpasses that of a Kyuketsuki's. On the ground where he had earlier stood lies a huge crater.
But Asim he's no less. In a desperate attempt to save himself he parries the strike of Kuzo's cleaver. He's able to parry atleast 10-15 but the last one gets him. He's pushed backwards by the immense pressure of the attack. There wasn't even a scratch on his body.
He forces a mocking laughter at Kuzo. But he knows. The battle has already been lost.
His weapon...the Kanābo falls apart in slices...like the meat of an animal.He loses the grip of the hilt as it falls apart.
As Kuzo pulls back his hand over his shoulder he raises both his hands in a surrender...though he knows its not of any use.
Just then Kuzo throws the blade. It slices through air swiftly and lodges itself into Asim's face. It pierces into his brain causing his body to lose complete control...if it was a Lethego he would've survived...but no...The attack had killed The Leader of the Massaass Dam cult.