What's Natsume doing here?
Well, no matter what the reason, she's in danger now. Tobio is currently a beast in Berserker mode, and he's going to attack both allies and enemies indiscriminately.
"Drako-kun?" Natsume asks when she sees me standing in front of her.
"Oh, you must be the man Kazuhisa told me about, the boy with the bow. And you... Minagawa Natsume, aren't you? Fufufu, how nice of you to come. Nice to meet you, I'm Hanezu Himejima. I presume you've heard this name before, right?
Floating in the surroundings were several ritual implements, tokko, which were facing towards the black beasts. These ritual implements possessing supernatural power, they moved freely through the air as they attacked the black beasts.
<<Kill kill kill kill KILL kill kill kill kill kill kill KILL kill kill kill kill kill kill KILL kill kill kill kill kill kill KILL kill kill kill kill kill kill KILL kill killlllllllllllllLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!>> (AN: He's saying "kiru=kill" over and over using different kanji, hiragana, and katakana)
From the mouth of the humanoid black beast, something like a curse was being spat out. Hearing it made one's mind feel odd, such was the power possessed by the resentment in this voice.
The tokko Himejima Hanezu has fired, they all failed to score a direct hit. From the ceiling, floor, and walls the numerous blades extended, resulting in all of the tokko being chopped apart.
At this result, Himejima Hanezu was anything but astonished, he was in ecstasy.
"...Already my tokko have been seen through huh. Observe."
He pointed in the direction of a windowed wall. In all likelihood, this was an outlook room, which had been made for the purpose of observing the scenery outside. That scenery——had been repainted in black. The entire visible scenery had become a world of mountains engulfed by blackness. Even the scenery of the sky had been dyed black, wrapping the entire region in jet blackness.
Tobio's power had caused all the sunlight to hide, creating a world of eternal darkness.
As I watched, from here and there throughout the mountain forests, gigantic distorted blades were springing up successively. The entirety of the surrounding was being buried by the force of these bizarre blade-like objects.
After releasing a brave roar, the black lion sank into the shadows that had extended beneath its feet. Once the lion was within its shadow, the shadow scattered and began shooting around the room. As each of them crawled along seemingly with an independent will, Tobio merely watched patiently. Thereupon, raising both arms up high, he immediately swung them down. Instantly, within the room, countless huge blades sprung from the floor, piercing through to the ceiling! Some of the blades had captured the black shadow, and the captured shadow was once again forming the form of a lion.
The lion had been skewered by the blades, but by violently shaking its huge body it forcibly destroyed the blades. With the lion having been released, it raced across the floor at high speed, closing the distance to Tobio, but Tobio also vanished in an instant, and without a sound, the battle commenced.
This battle... is not a battle in which I can interfere in human form. Not for the lion, who barely had a power that put him at the top of a High-Class Devil, but for Tobio himself.
Tobio's power today, while not being well utilized because he was acting in a frenzy, was very similar to the power I have in my Dragon form. Of course, this is not counting the use of [Senjutsu] in my true form.
As the two black beasts were battling, there was also a black <<Hound>> left behind, Jin, who was steadily walking around the room, his red eyes shining mysteriously.
With a *ZUN!* a single large thick blade appeared from behind Jin. The black lion was pierced by this. Jin, having sensed the lion's movements, had followed up for Tobio. Tobio revealed his form as he approached the lion head-on.
While in that pierced condition, the lion breathed out flames at the approaching Tobio but... Without any hesitation at all, and without evading, facing straight forward, stabbed into the blaze with both of his sharp hands! He kept stabbing with both hands until they reached the source of the flames it was breathing out of its mouth!
<<Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill killlllllLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!>>
Releasing a shriek of deeply held resentment, Tobio slipped his hands into its mouth and in one forcibly spread them apart!
The lion, its body ripped right in half, tumbled to the floor. With the apparent death to its body, the lion melted away into the darkness——.
Tobio and Jin had destroyed the lion. As for the next objective, it appeared to be Himejima Hanezu.
However, there was a third party that appeared at that moment. It was a silver-haired youth, Valina. Upon seeing this scenery, Valina's whole body began trembling as she smiled with ecstasy.
"Despite visually confirming Minagawa Natsume he's hasn't returned to normal. Azazel!! Isn't this different than what you said!! What was that about a 'cute dog comparable to a heavenly dragon'!! This is…that monster is!!"
Putting aside the youth's trembling voice, another familiar voice was heard reverberating throughout the room.
'Repainting the surrounding landscape on top of changing into a black beast, huh. Geez, that I would happen to meet a Longinus with such a shady history.'
The plush dragon on Vali's shoulder, its mouth was moving on its own, and the voice of the 'Governor-General' was coming from it.
The 'Governor-General' addressed Himejima Hanezu.
'Yo, chief engineer-dono.'
"Grigori huh."
Himejima Hanezu immediately guessed as to the identity of the voice he was hearing.
'How about it? His power is quite irregular?'
The tone of the 'Governor General's' voice was cynical.
"This is that 'Dog', isn't it? The one incarnation that overthrows gods… it must be the dog of the black blade."
'Ahh, that's it. That's the correct understanding. His black blade is the one said to cut even god. However, in any case, I hear that boy was born naturally being able to express the Sacred Gear.'
"Isn't that something particularly rare? The case of one being naturally born with that…"
The 'Governor-General' continued Himejima Hanezu's words.
'Ahh, that's right. Ikuse Tobio was one who was naturally born that way.'
"That such a thing was possible…"
Contrary to Himejima Hanezu, who was smiling fearlessly, Valina narrowed her eyes, saying, "It's not such an irregular thing."
The 'Governor-General' continued.
'Ikuse Tobio's grandmother placed a seal on her grandchild, who was naturally born, possessing the power to break the balance of the world. You guys came casually into contact with that in such a reckless and rude manner. You wanted to see it didn't you? Abandoning everything for the sake of seeing this form, right? That comes at a price. It's nice to have a chance to enjoy being able to freely watch you getting sliced apart.'
Hearing that, Himejima Hanezu sneered.
"...Kukuku, it's fine whether it's the case of the 'lightning' or if it's this case, the bloodline of the Himejima is being cursed, Oji-ue (uncle)!!"
That sneer, it was a level of ugliness that he hadn't shown until now. However, he put on a satisfied smile.
Himejima Hanezu took one step forward. His expression was one of satisfaction.
"It should be possible for you with one of those ominous blades."
He took one step towards Tobio, then one more. Again he launched the tokko, and again they were completely shut down. He also attacked with the shakujou in his hands, but a blade was produced from the shadow beneath Jin's feet, cutting off both of his arms. Despite losing his arms, Himejima Hanezu again drew closer.
Tobio calmly swiped horizontally with his arm.
Approaching until he was right before his eyes, Himejima Hanezu spoke.
"The Five Principal Clans, the Himejima, destroy them."
Announcing that, Himejima Hanezu's head went flying in an arc after being severed from his body by a blade protruding from the floor.
The black lion, Himejima Hanezu, both had been defeated by Tobio and Jin.
Natsume, Valina and I had been watching this happen....
"Well, how about it? Has it been boring for you having yet to encounter the 'Red One', Valina?"
While saying that, the figure of a man was revealed at that point, a beard growing from his chin. The suit he was wearing was very disorderly, giving him a very tough impression.
"It's just your imagination, 'Governor-General'. No, Azazel. I mean, for you to have come here expressly, particularly since you can simply transmit your voice through this dragon."
Grinning, the man called 'Governor-General' gently brushed Valina's head.
"Nice to meet you, Minagawa Natsume. I am Azazel, the 'Governor-General'. And it's good always to see you, Drako."
"Azazel…"
"I am just a little bit late, Natsume, Dra-kun."
"Lavinia!"
The two of them, Lavinia and Natsume, having exchanged a brief reunion greeting, Lavinia spoke to Azazel.
"That you would show your honourable face is quite a big deal, Governor-General Azazel."
While saying this, she looked over at the completely transformed Tobio.
"I see, this is what the big deal is."
Having merely just seen it Lavinia seemed to understand what had happened.
Azazel then asked.
"Lavinia. Did those guys escape?"
Lavinia sighed.
"I feel very regretful."
"No, from the beginning, I had understood that they would be extremely troublesome."
Shrugging his shoulders, Azazel set his sights on Tobio, and then he looked at me.
"Drako… would you help us this time?"
"We have already finished our deal, Azazel. I'm no longer in debt with you."
It seemed that he was waiting for this answer, and he just took a little sigh and turned to Valina and Lavinia.
"Now then, Lavinia, Valina. Let's stop that. Lend me your power."
Azazel took one step forward, and Valina began following right behind him.
"Good grief, I'm always being asked to clean up afterwards. How long do I have to put up with this cruelty?"
Lavinia also took off her worn-out hat and began advancing towards Tobio.
"Toby, please come and return to us. Have we conversed enough?"
The three of them selected a fixed distance.
Glowing wings grew from Vali's back, a magic circle filled with powerful magic formed beneath Lavinia's feet, and simultaneously she summoned the ice princess to appear beside her.
As cold air began to circulate within the room, Azazel who was leading had 12 black wings appear from his back with a *kasakasa* sound!
Lavinia spread her arms, and the princess simultaneously did the same. The room was instantly frozen. Even the countless blades that were sprouting up had been frozen over, Lavinia's world of ice. Tobio and Jin had also been encased in ice. However, the ice engulfing them immediately began to crack.
"Ikuse's Baa-chan! You had used Buddhist magic to manage it!"
From his breast pocket, Azazel produced something similar to a sutra (religious text). While tying a token to his hand, he opened the sutra. The sutra started glowing, with multiple characters floating up into the air. These floating characters, they surrounded Tobio and Jin while lacing with power. The characters became a single, long chain that bound Tobio and Jin.
The encasement in ice, together with the characters from the sutra, were restraining Tobio and Jin.
"Valina! Steal his power now!"
Hearing Azazel's order, Valina quickly flapped her light wings and closed in on Tobio and Jin, touching each of them once.
The silver-haired youth snapped her fingers while floating in the air.
"Halve."
'Divide!!'
A powerful voice reverberated within the room, and even Natsume noticed that the power surrounding Tobio had immediately been reduced. Furthermore, when the voice said 'Divide!!', there was a light released from Vali's light wings in concert with it.
Gradually Tobio and Jin were losing power. As they watched, the darkness outside was steadily clearing, and the gigantic blades were beginning to crack. After a short while, Tobio dropped to his knees on the spot. And simultaneously with the cleansing of the dark regions, the countless blades crumbled and dissolved. The dark clothes that had been covering Tobio had come off, and his true appearance began to become visible. Jin was also losing strength, having bent down on the spot.
Due to the teamwork of Azazel, Vali, and Lavinia, Tobio was beginning to wake with the total conclusion of the supernatural phenomenon, and the room's interior was also returning to how it was originally. Visible through the glass wall was the splendid mountain forest scenery that was spread out before them.
Confirming all of this, Azazel sighed.
"Phew, with this one task has been completed, huh. The Himejima follow Shintoism, yet she was familiar with this sort of sealing technique. For that, she was banished, Ikuse's grandmother."
Leaving behind Azazel who was muttering such words, Natsume rushed towards Tobio who had returned to normal.
"Ikuse-kun!"
Natsume confirmed that the fallen Tobio was breathing. He...was still breathing.
I placed a hand on Natsume's shoulder.
"Everyone, they are all safe. Now, lets return, Natsume."
Natsume, wiping her overflowing tears away with her arm, nodded.
------------------------------------------
Author Notes!!
Finally, SlashDogs volume 1 has ended (It still have the aftermath and an extra final chapter about the Himejima's and Freed. Still, all the main stuff has already finished.)
From now on, most of the story will be told in the third person. There will also be chapters where it is shown in the first person, but these will not only consist of the first person (Drako), but other people's thoughts will also appear.
Pd: This is me, the author, experimenting to see which mode of writing is best for the story. Maybe in five chapters I'll think differently and go back to the first person than usual.
---------------------------------
Once Tobio was "defeated" by the efforts of Lavinia, Valina and Azazel, he fell unconscious.
"Good job, guys. You can say that this problem has been solved for the time being." Azazel sighed.
Valina only nodded as she approached the young man who had stood by while all this was happening. That young man, Drako, had been protecting Natsume from a possible attack by Tobio on his Balance Breaker. Now that Natsume was standing next to the now unconscious Tobio, Drako had gone in the direction of Sae Toujou and squatted, examining the fatal wound on her chest.
"She has been fatally wounded by the blade of Canis Lycaon, she has approximately two minutes to live. Sae Toujou was Tobio's reason for living, and he had worked so hard just to regain his normal life with her. It's sad that the only death we're going to have is Tobio's childhood friend, and that it's at his hands that she died."
Valina wailed as she looked at the innocent face of Sae Toujou. She still had the same smile she had given Tobio as she embraced him before her "death".
"It's true, she's dying because of blood loss. But that doesn't mean Sae is going to die."
As Drako said that, his arms began to take on a golden glow. White scales began to show through, and a golden aura surrounded Drako's dragon arms.
This was none other than Drako using his [Holy Healing Claws] to heal the wound of Sae Toujou.
"Holy Healing Claws], while being an extremely harmful weapon for beings who are based in the dark like you, Valina, can be used as a healing ability for beings outside the dark like humans. Although it's designed to be an attack skill, it can also be used to perform first aid."
"You mean...?"
"Yes, Sae Toujou's situation has been stabilized. But that's just for the moment, we have to get her to Grigori quickly so that her life can be successfully rescued."
What Drako had done had not only caught Valina's attention but had caught the attention of all present.
Natsume walked over to Azazel as soon as she heard Drako's words.
"Governor-General! You have to save Toujou-san's life!"
"Yes, I'll take her and Tobio to Grigori."
Azazel came to Sae and took her body and brought it to Tobio. Azazel started working on a teleportation circle at that very moment.
The leader of Grigori gave Drako a strange look, one of which was impossible to identify what he was thinking.
"Drako..."
Drako didn't say anything, but he looked back at him.
In that look... Azazel could feel that Drako had distanced himself from him a little.
Azazel already knew that Drako distrusted him, and he didn't feel that was strange. He was, after all, Azazel, the fallen angel that appears in the Bible.
But over these six months, and a common hostility, Azazel and Drako had grown closer and could be considered "friends. Besides, Azazel knew that Valina, the little girl he considered his adopted daughter, had feelings for Drako that went beyond friendship.
Azazel knew that the steps he had taken, and the fact that he had withheld crucial information from Drako, had caused Drako to be at least disappointed.
But even so, Azazel had his own reasons for acting the way he had.
Azazel had already lived for thousands of years, he had fallen from heaven in his youth, and he had fought a great war against the two other biblical factions. He had even joined hands with his creator and the first Lucifer to fight the heavenly dragons.
But many years had already passed since that chaotic time, and times of peace had come. To his own surprise, he liked these times of peace much more than the chaotic times of old.
That's when God, his creator, created the well-known Sacred Gears.
An idea that Azazel himself agreed to.
Actually, humans are not a weak race. Even without the need for Sacred Gears, they are a race that can easily reach their full potential. The problem is that this potential is much less than that of races like devils and angels.
As a general rule, the maximum power an ordinary human can have, its limit, is in the same line as High-class Devil. Rare are the humans who can exceed that limit and advance to the next level of power.
This event is known as [Limit Breaker].
Few are the humans who can bring about this event, and currently there was only one in the world who had done so. More accurately, Azazel only knows one who had done that.
Vasco Strada the previous wielder of Durandal and Veteran Exorcist, known as "The Church's Device of Violence", "The Violence of Heaven", "The Vatican's Evil Killer", "Mr. Durandal", and "True Devil", a human who achieved strength dubbed "Limits of Humanity".
Of course, all of this was the removal of the physical body. But by the time God created Sacred Gears, Merlin had not yet created the magical system that humans currently use.
Seeing that his most precious creation was too weak to protect themselves from supernatural beings, God decided to create the Sacred Gear system.
It was in this system that Azazel saw a key to maintaining the peace that he cherished. Sacred Gears was the key, he was sure of it.
But more specifically, Azazel had his eyes on a mistake God made in creating the system.
The 13 artefacts that could make their user acquire the strength to kill Gods, the 13 Longinus.
Of course, putting the 13 Longinus together was virtually impossible. So Azazel had to take an alternative, and that's how he began to study Sacred Gears.
He had already come up with an idea for something similar to a Sacred Gear when God had not yet finished creating them, and Azazel had not yet fallen, called The Dragon Slaying Blade of Light and Darkness.
Azazel still had that memory in his mind, especially Michael's face as he laughed at him as he showed the project to its creator.
After the well-known Second World War, the human world and the different pantheons seemed to have calmed down a bit.
It was then that Azazel met what he thought would be unthinkable, a girl from the lineage of Lucifer who possessed one of the 13 Longinus.
Yes, he had met Valina.
The girl didn't seem to be in good shape after finding her, and she was obviously abused. It wasn't until a couple of years later that he was going to find the reason for her poor condition.
Abused by her father, her mother abused because of her helping Valina, and all incited by her grandfather.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer, Lucifer's son and Valina's grandfather, was a crazy man. Azazel knew him personally, and could only use the word "madness" to describe his state of mind.
During this time, a friend of his named Mephisto Pheles contacted him to tell him that a Longinus had joined the ranks of Grauzauberer.
And a few years later, Grigori had found another Longinus along with four Sacred Gears of the highest level.
Within a few years, Azazel had met an impressive new generation.
The bearer of the Divine Dividing, the Sacred Gear that contained the soul of the Vanishing Dragon, and descendant of the Maou Lucifer.
The bearer of the Absolute Demise, and genius-level mage from Grauzauberer.
The carrier of Canis Lycaon, an anomaly that was born with the Balance Breaker active.
Two of the carriers of the so-called "Four Fiends", who were part of the group of the carrier of Canis Lycaon.
Baraqiel's daughter, who had inherited his powerful lightning attack.
Uriel's granddaughter, who had inherited his powerful flames.
A Nekoshou, a race believed to be extinct.
And finally, a young dragon who was growing in strength by leaps and bounds.
(Azazel does not know that another Longinus is on the way.)
The latter was the one that had drawn the most attention to Azazel.
This dragon, Drako, had a close connection to everyone in the new generation. He was the mainstay of this new generation of talent.
Even knowing that he was the centre of this entire group, Azazel had taken it upon himself to hide information from him. Everything was necessary to make his plans to take the expected course.
For Tobio to awaken his Balance Breaker once again, and for Natsume Minagawa and Kouki Samejima to acquire the true forms of their respective Sacred Gears.
Knowing Drako, he would have solved everything himself. Tobio and the others didn't have to be in any danger if he alone could take charge of the situation.
Well, the goal had already been achieved. The relationship Azazel had with Drako could already be arranged in the future. For now, Azazel had to get the injured Tobio and Sae to Grigori.
The magic circle of teleportation was finally created, and Azazel disappeared along with Tobio and Sae.
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