23 Frost and Flames
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|| CHAPTER 23 | Frost and Flames ||
"Have you ever felt cold from standing beneath the blistering heat for too long?
"Or perhaps, you felt hot when making contact with a frigid item?
"Either way, touches of frost and flames are like enemies, yet they complement each other so well. With the way their colours clash and their elements complete one another, one wouldn't dare to combine both powers on high levels.
"The fire from hell melted the cloudy white ice while the frosted liquid took out the blazing red flames.
"They're opposite souls that get along even if they fight no matter how you see them."
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"Yes, I am. Please, take care of me from now on... Ichijou Shizuka."
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"Pleasure to have you with us, Seimei no Seigyo-ki."
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"Took you long enough to get him, Master."
"You know that promise you made was kind of cliche, right?"
"Wha––?!" A look of shock spread across the blonde's face as she took a step back. "You know full well that I made the same promise to you, Shiroyuubi!!!" Shizuka pouted at the tall, dirty-blonde-haired kitsune, known as Shiroyuubi.
Another familiar one with silvery-white hair and icy-blue eyes chimed in their little conversation, "Master, I believe you should go now. The others are having troubles dealing with the corrupted demons, it seemed."
"Ahh, Fuyukiku! Seimei-san, let me introduce you to one of my best, contracted spirits, Fuyukiku!! Also known as the Winter Fox! A beauty among kitsunes of all kinds––"
Fuyukiku cleared his throat, stopping his master from continuing her words.
"H-Hehehe, sorry..."
The female Ichijou chuckled apologetically at the fox spirit. She scratched her cheek lightly and looked away–– far, FAR away from Fuyukiku's eyes.
"Anyways, I'll introduce you to the others later, Seimei-san. Right now, we have some beatings to do!! Let's go, gang!!"
"Master..."
Fuyukiku and Shiroyuubi sighed audibly with slouched shoulders at their master's behaviour. Meanwhile, Seimei could only chuckle with content at his first master's liveliness.
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Shizuka appeared on the battlefield with an invisible Seimei beside her. No one seemed to notice her since they were too busy fighting the demons.
"GRUAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!! DIE! DIE! DIE!!!!!!"
"Whoa, easy there! I'm too young to die! Spirit Fire Magic: Fox Fire!!!"
Purple swirls of fires emit from both of Yuzuru's hands as he launched towards several demons. He burned their wings to dust, then proceeded to burn other parts of their bodies as well.
"HRRUUAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
"IT HURTS!! MY KING!!! HELP USSSSS!!!!!"
Their KING ignored their desperate pleads and ear-splitting wails. Unexpectedly to Shizuka, he seemed to be having a glaring competition with the Head of the Ichijou Clan–– her beloved father.
Both of them didn't talk one bit and just stared at each other in silence.
A look of exhaustion spread across the female's face. Her presence had yet to be noticed by the others, so she sighed deeply in return for the addition of that fact.
'What on Gaia's green earth are they doing?! When I said I leave the KING in your hands, I never meant a staredown!'
Shizuka deadpanned at the two duos in the darkened sky that were having a staring competition, 'I guess... Otou-san knows what he's doing so I'm just gonna finish what I came here to do...'
Taking a deep breath, the air around her shifted around and narrowed. Suffocation and despair were all the enemy felt upon dying quietly from the entrance of Shizuka's opening act.
The show had yet to begin.
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Shizuka closed her gold-tinged eyes and spread her arms wide.
A solemn look was portrayed with no hint of hesitation on her face. She eyed every one of them on the battlefield with her crystalline blue pools of orbs that changed a minute ago. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes.
When she opened her mouth, visible air came out.
"The spirits of the Ichijou Clan, I hereby order you all as your master and as the Grand Summoner of the Ichijou Clan..."
Shizuka raised her hand up high and her voice echoed menacingly throughout the battlegrounds. Even the earth shook with such fury at the soft intake of a breath she took.
"... Shiroyuubi, holder of the Great Spirit's everlasting flames... Fuyukiku, the manipulator of the stormy, winter season itself... Kurogane, the beast of an eternal, death-filled night... Kyuusei, the legendary dark nine-tailed kitsune..."
All eyes, including the demons, were on her now. Even the KING and Eito broke their stares as they looked at the source. Mizuto and Yuzuru both lighted up upon seeing their little sister there.
"... And lastly, Seimei no Seigyo-ki, former Keeper, Grand Spirit Wielder, and Grand Summoner, the controller of life and time themselves..."
All eyes soon widened at her statement.
"... Seimei...?"
"Wh––? Did she just say what I think she said?"
"She did it, huh?"
'THE KEEPER!! WHERE IS THE KEEPER???!!!!' the KING demanded–– well his mouth wasn't even open, so did it count as speaking?
"H-He's gone!!!"
"M-My K-KING––"
'FOOLS!! YOU, USELESS GRAVELS!!! Not only did you waste my powers that had been granted for your forms, but my time as well.'
He grabbed one of the demons' heads and crushed them into pieces. Pieces of flesh and dried crimson blood spluttered everywhere the eyes could see.
The KING glared daggers at the rest and roared. A beast-like sound roared out but was overwhelmed by his voice ringing in their heads, causing great pain to surge through the nerves of their persons.
'HOW could you even lose him?! He's RIGHT in front of your eyes!! The ten of you!!'
The KING pointed at the ten half-demon individuals that were just floating leisurely, not doing anything at all.
'GET HER,' he ordered firmly.
It was obvious that he's demanding for the group to take Shizuka away. Sensing great danger from her, followed by a bad feeling he once had before in the past, the KING took note of her role as the Grand Summoner.
"Your wish is my command, my KING~" one with red hair and eyes replied in a singing tone. The others followed behind shortly, copying the nodding act of their strongest one.
The KING growled deeply. 'Another Grand Summoner... Once I got my hands on you, you Spirit Wielders won't be able to do more than wasting your powers on the worms of the lands...'
'Shizuka!! What. Are. You. Doing?!?!' Kishi telepathically asked the platinum-blonde girl, demanding an answer from her. Gritting his teeth with an unwavering stare that bored holes into the core of Shizuka's form.
'Hmm? Oya? Kishi, is that you? I thought you were back there, with the others~?'
'Don't ask me such questions when they're already obvious!! And also, don't change the topic!!' Kishi telepathically schooled his childhood friend, genuinely worried for her safety.
'Hahaha, sorry, sorry~ About your previous question, all I can answer is that you'll have to see for yourself~'
'Huh––?! What is that supposed to mean?!' Shizuka ended their conversation with her next sentence, "I summon you to aid me in my battle as I finish my enemies!!"
Bolts of Lightning struck down as five figures appeared. Shiroyuubi and Fuyukiku were already in a fighting stance. Silver strings with crystal stones at the end float around Seimei. They moved to his orders as he called their names, 'Lycreus.'
Two new, although familiar, individuals were there as well.
Possessing contrasting-coloured hairs, with one being snowy-white and the other midnight-black. They even had the same-coloured eyes, red, similar to the demons' blood-lust look.
The male with flowing white hair had dark skin, wolf ears and tails were visible with gold tips at their ends. The other with black hair had a very fair skin tone, completely different from the former one. He had white fox ears and similar-coloured foxtails, nine to be exact.
"Shiroyuubi. Fuyukiku."
The two said male nodded in acknowledgement to their master's call, with the former said fox giving a hum, keeping their eyes on the ten half-demons.
"You two deal with those two short ones, the one with no wings, and the one with the giant horns. You may use any means necessary," Shizuka ordered calmly, eyeing them with trust and her usual comforting look with those crystal-blue orbs.
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"Roger that."
"I'll gladly do so."
The two disappeared from their sight as they appeared again behind them. And so, their fight began.
"Kurogane. Kyuusei."
The two other spirits only hummed in confirmation as well, observing the demons' every move. Their eyes darted from one point to another, examining the details and taking in all points and guesses they could get.
"You two deal with that black one, the tall one, the big one, and the green-haired one. You may use any means as well."
"Affirmative, Master."
"You know... you're bad at describing people, Master," the white-haired wolf, we all know as Kurogane, said casually to his master, earning an embarrassed blush from the platinum-blonde Ichijou.
"... J-Just get on with it already!!!" Her voice went up a few octaves higher than normal, causing the male to cover his wolf ears.
"Jeez... You and that high-pitched voice of yours..."
"It's your fault, you know!!!"
Kurogane brushed off the female's statement as easily as a breeze. He then joined his partner in battle, with each of them dealing with two.
"Goodness Gaia... Well then, we'll both deal with them, Seimei-san. This is going to feel a bit weird when I borrow your power, but you'll have to get used to it~"
"As you wish, Master..."
'You know you can just call me Shizuka right? The others just call me 'master' to annoy me when I told them not to,' she accidentally conversed with Seimei mentally and she didn't seem to realize it.
Seimei, who did, chuckled lightly. "I mean, Shizuka-san..."
The girl brightened up at this and fire was visible in her eyes. "YOSHHHHHHHHH, Seimei-san let's do this!!!"
"Haha, of course."
"Sorry to ruin your fun, Princess, but we've gotta get that Keeper back–– well, former Keeper, that is," the one with red hair chimed in, emphasizing his words.
"Ahh, about that matter, Demon-san... You'll need to get through me first~"
"Mm, I'll take you up on that challenge," the demon accepted through his grin. "His Highness did order us to take you back as well, after all. I wouldn't really want to pass up on this golden chance now, do I?"
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One demon charged at the two kitsunes with his big horns. Swirled and tough, the horns on the demon's head dared not to break upon coming into contact harshly with a solid, cold surface.
Fuyukiku swiped his hand up, creating ice from the ground to block the demon's attack. Fuyukiku then closed his hand and the ice trapped the demon's horns.
"Ugh!!"
"Stay there for a while. I'm going to help Shiro-chan~"
"What?! Who said I need help from y–– WHOA!!" Shiroyuubi barely managed to dodge the two short demons' kicks. Chuckling, the other fox cocked his head and returned his question, "You were saying?" Fuyukiku quirked an eyebrow at Shiroyuubi as he struggled to aim at the twin demons.
"If you're gonna help me, then get on with it already!!"
"Yes, yes~ Don't be so impatient, Shiro-chan. The Rulers are going to send a curse upon those who are as impatient as a child, wanting to get his toys bought."
As the white fox raised both his hands up, he suddenly turned around to block an attack. He crossed his arms, hoping the damage done won't be too much.
"KAAKAKKAKKAAKA!! DID YOU FORGET ABOUT ME?! I MAY NOT HAVE ANY WINGS BUT I'M INVINCIBLE ON LAND, AND YOU'RE IN MY TERRITORY, FOX!!!"
"Hmm, is that so?"
"What about your offer then?!" Shiroyuubi shouted from the other side of the battlefield, aiming the question towards the frosty male.
"Sorry to say this, but you're going to handle them both on your own, Shiro-chan!"
"Then don't offer help in the first place, you Snowman!!"
Shiroyuubi clawed the two twins and stumbled back. He was preparing to attack when the twins charged at him again like they were never hit in the first place. "You guys are persistent, huh? Then how about this?!"
He kneed one of the twins in the head then grabbed it with one of his hands. The other kicked him, but he stood his place as he grabbed the other's leg. Once Shiroyuubi got a hold of them, he swung them ferociously as purple flames surround both his hands and the twins.
"Wait–– Shiro-chan, did you just call me 'snowman?'"
"Too late, Buddy!"
The twins were swung forward, hitting a giant rock. One of them bleed badly in the head and the other stumble when trying to stand up. They haven't said a word from the very beginning.
Well, it was quite noisy, with the horned one trying to get free from the ice and the yells of the one without wings being replied by Fuyukiku over and over again, "You're not giving up, eh?"
"Oh, Gaia, you guys are tougher than a Glisteratic Ore."
The twins flew at Shiroyuubi at high speed, their eyes wide and glowing. The drops of blood from their scars and scratched all floated around them, forming sharp needles charging at the fox.
He brought his hands in front of him, his teeth getting sharper and his nails turned into claws. He morphed into a fox mid-air as the twins attack him.
"Flames of the hidden Spirit Realm, I command you..."
His tail was on fire as he howled into the red-stained night. The volume of his howl was enough to send the short twins far away as it could be heard by everyone on the battlefield.
"I command thee to burn my enemies... Finish them as I feast on your power tonight, under the crimson blood moon... The Elder's Holocaust!!!"
A huge dark figure made out of a purple-coloured fire was formed on top of Shiroyuubi, a hundred times his size. It had the same appearance as him, aside from their size difference of course.
As the red moon shone on them, the figure turned dark-red and sparks were flying everywhere. He roared at the twins, who are in the same direction as the horned demon. Big flames of red and purple shot towards the three as they don't have any time to react to the heat.
"You're not the only ones who can take advantage of the Blood Moon tonight."
They burnt alive leaving only clouds of dust on the ground. The figure faded away as Shiroyuubi looked satisfied at his accomplishment, giving a smug look to his silver-furred partner.
"Guess I don't need your help, eh?"
The icy-blue-eyed fox spirit deadpanned at him as he covered his hands with ice. It's shaped like a claw as he slashed the one without wings, him bleeding afterwards.
"Arghh!!! Why you––!!"
"Keep your mouth shut or you'll bite your tongue~" Fuyukiku warned in a singing tone, but one could feel the venom lacing his voice when he said that. He locked the demon's head in his arms as he chanted some spells.
"Heed my calls as I summon winter here to freeze this land. Come forth my inner monster as I destroy my enemies into pieces, Eternal Northern Globe!!!"
The ground was covered in white ice as it also went up the demon's body slowly, freezing him in place.
"Wh-What is this?!"
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Fuyukiku let go of him and walked away, but not before looking back.
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"That, my friend, is the 'Eternal Northern Globe.' A spell that was made only for me. It'll freeze you slowly and prevents you from getting away." He turned his head back to Shiroyuubi's direction. "When you're frozen completely, you'll shatter into bits and pieces, fertilizing the earth also."
"H-HAAAHH??!! Fight me, you coward!!!"
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"... Farewell."
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The wingless demon froze and shattered into pieces, exactly like what the silver fox had said. The two gave their prayers before walking away to the others.
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"May your souls rest in peace and repent your sins."
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"We pray that the gods above will have mercy on you and give you a second chance."
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|| CHAPTER 23 | Frost and Flames - To be continued... ||
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