Chapter 9: Freed & Jin

Chapter 9:

"___" - Speech

(___) - Thoughts

{___} - Internal Voice(s)

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"What are these old-man Balba?" Freed's pupils were locked onto the three separate cloths that sat neatly on the table in front of him. 

(This aura, are they what I think they are?) 

His face seemed to light up with almost child-like bliss as he resisted the urge to reach out and snag them that very instant. 

Obviously, his excitement was picked up on by the elderly man who stood opposite him. A faint grin formed on his face as he slowly started to unravel one of the cloths. 

"Freed, it looks like today's your lucky day —an acquaintance has provided me with three new toys that I think would do well in your hands." 

"Ho! You spoil me old-man!" 

(Looks like I chose the right side after all!) 

Balba chuckled lightly as he finished unveiling the first "toy". It was a wide blade that appeared to be shaped like an elongated Kris, its handle had a distinct diamond-shaped gap in it alongside spikes on each side. 

"I'm sure you already at least have a rough idea of what this is. This is Excalibur-Rapidly, this sword has the ability to enhance its own speed and velocity at will, and the same goes for its wielder —namely you." 

Sniffle 

A fake tear ran down Freed's face as he wiped his eyes with the back of his palm. 

"You're too kind old-man!" 

"Haha, there's no need for you to get all sentimental on me just yet. We're still not done." 

The second cloth revealed a considerably more slender, rapier-like sword with a sharply pointed two-edge blade with a swirl-like pattern on its grip. 

Furthermore, it sported a gold crossguard with embroidery that seemed to take the form of a pair of angel wings. Protruding from its hilt was a long gold swirl pattern, like that of a drill. 

"This beaut right here is Excalibur-Nightmare, I think you'll find this, particularly to your liking." 

"Oh?" 

"Whether Nightmare is effective or not is up to that vivid imagination of yours, this blade has the ability to cast illusions depending on whatever your mind can conjure up. Not to mention it allegedly can control the dreams of others, however, I've yet to see it in practice." 

Freed nodded along as he stared intently at the blade, though all three of the Excalibur fragments were more than willing to respond to him, Balba seemed to have a point. 

(You're right old-man, this one in particular is certainly on my wavelength.) 

"And? The third one?" 

Balba smiled as he started to unwrap the final Excalibur, revealing a rather plain-looking sword with a halcyon-colored hilt. 

(What? That one looks rather underwhelming.) 

"Though it's simplistic in both design and ability, you shouldn't take its utility for granted, I myself have enjoyed its boons." 

"Is that so?" 

"It is, this is Excalibur-Transparency. It can turn both itself and its wielder invisible on command, if you're smart enough it'll end up being a far more potent ally than you could ever imagine." 

"I see, then I shall accept these gifts with utmost gratitude!"

(If only I had Excalibur-Mimic as well, I would've been able to witness something truly special. Oh well, sometimes you just have to make do with what you have.)

Balba hummed approvingly as Freed tucked Transparency inside his cleric robe. Then proceeded to clasp Nightmare in his left hand and Rapidly in his right.

(Just by holding them in my palms I feel a hundred times stronger! This must be the result of all the good karma I've collected by ridding the world of Devil filth!) 

All of a sudden, Balba's brow furrowed as if something was amiss in his own territory. 

"Old man?" Naturally, Freed was able to pick up on his change of expression. 

"Your luck truly is boundless, it looks like you'll have a chance to test out those new additions to your arsenal sooner than I imagined." 

"What are you talking ab—" His expression gradually mimicked Balba's as he picked up on the same sensation. 

"Oh, you're right." Freed cupped his hands around his mouth and called out into the empty halls in front of him. 

"I KNOW YOU'RE THERE! IWATA JIN!" 

(I didn't expect us to meet again so soon, tch. Does he have any idea how painful it was fixing my eye?) 

"THERE'S NO NEED TO SHOUT, I CAN HEAR YOU! FREED!" 

(Looks like he did a little research, but there's hardly anything to uncover from my human life, what a shame.) 

"An acquaintance of yours?" 

"Old man, this guy is after the swords." 

The shadows parted as the faint candle-lit hallway echoed with the sound of slippers tapping against the floorboard. 

As the footsteps grew louder the figure of a man with a plain white collared shirt alongside a lit smoke in his mouth started to come into view. 

Balba held his fingers to his chin as he examined the figure. 

"You're a Fallen Angel aren't you?" 

Jin narrowed his eyes as he squinted towards the former Archbishop. 

"That I am, I take it you're Balba Galilei?" 

"Indeed, my acquaintance here doesn't seem to be much of a fan of you. However I'm of the opinion we should be cooperating together, wouldn't you agree?" 

"Old man!" 

"You keep quiet, let me do the talking." 

Jin remained unresponsive as ever as he threw his bud onto the floor and stomped out its embers. 

"Work together? Like you and Kokabiel?" 

The elderly man's eyes lit up with mild surprise as his lips curled upwards. 

"You're well informed, a respectable quality. In that case, you shouldn't have any qualms coming under the wing of one of your own?" 

Jin groaned as he dusted off his glasses with the bottom of his shirt. 

"Weren't you listening? Your 'acquaintance' just told you that I'm after the swords. However, I should thank you for confirming your alliance with Kokabiel, it makes my job considerably easier to carry out." 

Balba scowled as the Fallen Angel didn't seem even remotely interested in cooperation. 

"Suit yourself —Freed!" 

"With pleasure!" 

Freed's grip on Excalibur-Rapidly tightened as he imbued the armament with Holy Power causing it to tremble whilst he grinned manically. 

(Huh, that thing looks pretty nasty. I'd probably die if I tried to take him on.) 

Jin's hands remained at his sides as he still somehow showed little intent on confronting Freed head-on. 

"Already giving up? I'm certainly not complaining!" 

With lightning speed, Freed charged toward Jin with the tip of his blade perfectly aligned with his heart. 

Clang! 

However, the two were unable to meet. 

"Jin-sama, I'd appreciate it if you didn't make my job any harder than it needs to be." 

"Oi, that's my catchphrase." 

Oron's amber spear quaked as it clashed against Freed's Holy Sword. Both auras collided as they competed with each other to prove whose Holy Power was on top. 

"Tsk, of course, you went and got yourself a bodyguard." 

His assistant sneered as he allowed all four of his wings to protrude from his backside, causing Freed's pupils to dilate as he recalled his confrontation with Jin. 

With the help of Excalibur-Nightmare, he cast an illusion of himself causing Oron to swing at thin air whilst Freed threw a vertical swing at his wings as he threatened to dismember them. 

(What happened? Some sort of trick? No, it must have something to do with one of those swords.)

"Focus, Oron." 

A silver spear catapulted itself towards Freed's blade, throwing it off course and giving Oron enough time to reaffirm his stance.

"Apologies, Jin-sama." 

Freed sneered as he shot an inflamed glare towards Jin. 

"What are you looking at me for? Your opponents over there." 

In an instant, Oron's aura flared to life as his feathers hardened, even more so than Jin's, and struck at Freed's face and torso. 

"Again!?" 

Although Excalibur-Rapidly's speed was more than enough to allow Freed to block the two wings gunning for his face, he was still forced to endure the agonizing sensation of blade-like feathers digging into his ribcage. 

Oron had already begun to prepare his next attack as blood dripped from the Stray Exorcists' sides. 

"You Crows truly are insufferable!" 

Freed used up a large chunk of his stamina as he distanced himself from Oron, his teeth grit together as his brain raced to formulate a path to victory. 

"What's wrong? Scared?" Oron taunted. 

The bishounen smirked as he pointed the tip of Excalibur-Nightmare towards Oron, the blade quickly became enveloped in a considerably large eerie purple mist causing both Oron's and Jin's stomachs to churn. 

(Something's off, is it that sword? That's odd, for a Holy Ordnance it's got an awfully cold presence.)

Without warning, the shadows beneath Oron's feet became three-dimensional as they stretched toward his head like tentacles. 

"Oron!" 

"Calling out to him won't do you any good, now that Excalibur-Nightmare's got a hold on him it's already over." 

Powerless to resist, Oron could feel the energy being forcibly sapped from his body as he flopped onto the ground in an involuntary slumber. 

(He fell that easily? Just what the hell is that sword?) 

"Night night, lapdog." 

(Shit!) 

Freed rushed towards Oron's unconscious body, the tip of Excalibur-Rapidly primed and ready to dig into his heart. 

Clatter! 

"Finally, I've been itching for a rematch! Jin!" 

He didn't hesitate to put [Twice Critical] in between Freed's Excalibur and Oron, by virtue of the fact that the gauntlet was composed entirely of Draconic scales it served as an exceptional shield. 

(There's no way I can beat this guy whilst he has those two Excalibur's, however thanks to his injuries it's possible that I make him retreat again like last time.) 

His power increased twofold thanks to his gauntlet, his instincts pushed him to target Freed's already battered torso, but the Stray's grin only grew wider as Jin cocked his fist back. 

"Do you honestly think I wouldn't be able to predict something so obvious? Ha!" 

Before he knew it, Excalibur-Rapidly had appeared in between his knuckles as his hand sustained minor cuts from its bladed edge. 

(Maniac!) 

The normal response would be to put some distance between him and Freed, but leaving Oron's body vulnerable was completely out of the question.

(It's strange, why isn't he putting me to sleep like he did Oron? Either he just really wants to fight me, or he's only able to do it to one person at a time.) 

"Now it's my turn! -ZE!" 

Freed lunged forward as he swung horizontally at Jin's throat, the latter once again used [Twice Critical] as a buffer. However, Freed instantaneously launched a follow-up in response. 

(His knee? I've seen that one before!) 

With both the power-up from [Twice Critical] and the [Gold General] piece coursing through his veins, he conjured a silver spear in his left hand with breakneck efficiency as he jammed it into Freed's kneecap. 

"SHIT!" 

The Stray Exorcist staggered back giving Jin a brief window to catch his breath. Notwithstanding, as he glanced behind Freed he noticed that something, or specifically someone had gone missing. 

(So he ran? Unfortunately for him, there's a nasty surprise or two waiting for him out there.) 

"Tch, you're seriously a pain in the ass to fight, you know that?" 

"I aim to please." 

(That eerie Excalibur still seems to be active, don't tell me —does he have to expend his own stamina to keep Oron asleep?) 

As his eyes darted between his fallen assistant and Excalibur-Nightmare, the more feasible the idea became. 

(But, my stamina is depleting almost just as fast, will I be able to win in a war of attrition? I still have that bracelet with me, but if I use it now I'll be left defenseless once Kokabiel arrives. Even with the Leviathan, all Kokabiel would need is a single attack to reduce me to ash.) 

He glanced at the open wounds on Freed's torso and kneecap, the slow dripping of claret from his body onto the ground offered him a slight sense of confidence. 

"What are you gawking at? Just because you managed to land a lucky hit doesn't mean you have the right to get all arrogant!" 

(He's able to swing the Excalibur in his right hand at ridiculous speeds, just one opening would be more than enough for him to kill me. Retrieving those swords is important, but keeping Oron alive takes priority.) 

"Hey Freed, why don't we just call it here for today?" 

"Pfft, fat chance." 

(It was worth a try.)