Chapter 183, Malefic Gunner of the Sacred Flower

"Now then, shall we settle this, Sacred Brave?" Aldebaran charged at me with his axes.

"Sweet Arms, Black Bullet!" I loaded a black bullet and fired my guns at him.

He blocks the bullets with his axe but not all, some manage to pass and hit his legs.

"Hyaa!" He threw an axe at me, I dodge but it grazes my left leg.

"Sweet Arms; Death Shot!" I fired a small bullet, but when he blocks with his axe, it explodes.

"I, William, Malefic Gunner of the Sacred Flower, now implore you, mistress of the wind, may my bullet find it's mark without mistake." I loaded my gun. "Sylph Shot."

I fire my gun and the bullet carried by wind aims itself at Aldebaran, it shoots in a straight line, Aldebaran jumps up but the bullets chase after him.

"Impossible!" He shouted.

"This is the power of the Malefic Gunner, I carry the power of Sylphid within my Sacred Gun, and it's bullet, will chase it foe till they make contact." I answered him. "Without wavering, faltering, or being led astray, my bullets shall chase my prey. My name is William Akatsuki, The Malefic Gunner of the Sacred Flower."

"Tch!" He tried his best but he couldn't outrun my bullets and above me a few meters he was caught.

"Let's end this." I said and held my pistol. "Sweet Arms, Engage!"

"If you shoot me, you'll go down too!" He shouted.

"Die!" I pulled the trigger.

He shoots down to the ground, I manage to break free from his lock and I hear a loud burst. I descend from the sea of clouds and find Aldebaran, unable to move, on the ground in the big creater.

"Any last words?" I asked as I pointed my gun as him.

"Ba... Baran..." That's all he can get out.

"Sweet Arms, Last Bullet." I loaded my gun and aimed at the his head. "Flower Farewell."

I fire, the bullet pierces his head and all at once, Aldebaran stops moving. His dead and our job is complete.

"Will!" Arata came running to me.

He jumps and hugs me tightly, wrapping his arms around my neck. I've really worried him haven't I.

-----

"Will! Will!" I hugged his neck tightly.

"I'm ok. Calm down." He said as he held me.

"Congrats... you took down a True Beast without help." Zander smiled at him.

I made sure to check if he didn't have any wounds before turning to Aldebaran's remains. I could still feel a small breathe of life from him. Maybe it's his essence trying to hand on.

"Arata?" Reinhardt called my name as I walked closer to Aldebaran.

"Growth." From Alistar's shoulder, Growth came flying to my side.

I picked a feather from his tail and held in my right hand.

"Oh Ancient, your light is the light of hope, your darkness is the darkness of despair, Ancient that was and is, may you rest now..." I said and the feather became a knife. "Take your leave from the stage of destiny, Aldebaran. Au Revior."

I stab Aldebaran in the chest with the knife and it glows, Aldebaran's body begins to fade, leaving only dust that is carried by the wind.

"With that... Aldebaran and all of the Taurus born from him shall disappear for good." I stated and the knife in my hand became a peony. "Le Fleur."

The flower blooms and the petals scatter, restoring the damage to the land and healing the remaining wounds on the others and myself.

-------

Two days after the battle with Aldebaran we were all gathered in the cafeteria. William had just recovered and my hand was starting to go back to normal.

"Arata... can I ask you something?" Will said and I nodded. "My Crest..."

"Arata, why are the Sacred Flowers on our Crest missing on Petal?" Alistar asked.

"Because the Flower had finally begun to bloom." Licht answered. "Take a look at William's Crest."

Will's Crest was now detailed, the Kite has turned into a petal with a gun embedded into it. Mine however hasn't changed. It means my flower hasn't bloomed yet.

"Then, what did Arata do exactly?" Andrew asked.

"It wasn't Arata but William." Licht said. "William made a vow to the Sacred Flower, the last step to awakening as a Sacred Brave."

"It means Will finally made a resolve to stand along side the Sacred Flower no matter what may pass." I told them. "In response to his vow, the first petal of the Flower inside me bonded with Will and gave him his new found Title and power."

"Malefic Gunner of the Sacred Flower..." Will said as he held his hand. "Arata, that power was...?"

"It's your power. You awakened as a True Sacred Brave." I smiled.

"Then... will all of us awaken as well?" Ethan asked.

"Who knows? The condition for awakening is unknown to me." Licht said. "If anyone knows... it'd be..."

"I don't know either." I answered.

Setting the talk aside, we had our usual chatter till I noticed that Hinako had left. I stand up to go after her but Will stops me.

"I'll go, we have unfinished business." Will states adn goes after her.

"What could've happened after their date?" Mao asked.

"Who knows, but whatever it was... it looked like it caused the two to fight." Touya said as I looked at the door. "But whatever it is, it's none of our business, it's between those two."

----

"Hinako." I call her name, the two of us were on the rooftop.

"William..." She nodded to her side.

"Listen, I'll forget about what you said the other day." I said. "But I'll tell you something important. I can't return your feelings for you."

"I see... is it... because of him?" She asked.

"Part of it is, and the other part is my selfish self wanting to be by his side at all times." I smiled. "Arata is my life, I'm his brother and I'll be by his side, so that something like that never happens again."

"Is that so?" She turned and faced me with a smiling face of tears.

"Hinako..." I didn't know what to do.

"Then be sure to protect him! Arata... is really a kind person..." She said and turend her back. "If you make him cry I'll punch you."

"I won't." I smiled and she ran off.

This power, Sweet Arms, I'll use it to protect Arata, so that nothing bad ever happens to him again. Besides... there was something that Aldebaran said before he died that got my attention. 'Baran.' Whatever it means, I'll protect Arata from them.