Within mere moments, fear wormed its way into the members of the ORC as bolts of energy surged towards them. With no time to spare they scattered to escape Ruto's sudden attack, feeling and hearing the explosions that rocked the field around them. They hadn't expected him to attack so suddenly and with such animosity, and it frightened them.
"Watch your step!" Ruto called tauntingly as white magic circles appeared in random places across the field. "Wouldn't want you to step on any of those element mines I put down." The mines faded and were no longer visible, further setting the ORC on edge.
What the hell does Ruto think he's doing? Rias thought angrily. She tapped into her Power of Destruction, the crimson energy of it pulsed and surged around her hands. She loosed several bolts of Destruction at Ruto, to which he responded with rapid dodges, then launched a quick volley of explosive orbs back at her. Akeno threw up a shield around Rias, who nodded her thanks as the orbs exploded harmlessly against the shield.
Kiba got in behind Ruto, aiming to take him down quickly. However, Ruto turned in the nick of time as he heard Kiba let out a battle cry. He didn't understand why he'd make his presence known if his goal was to stealthily take him down. Kiba slashed at Ruto, who thanks to his Scale Mail, was able to block with his hands and forearms. Ruto sidestepped Kiba's downward swing and grabbed him by the head. He tossed Kiba forward, making him stumble. While he was off balance, Ruto snapped his fingers, making an elemental mine appear in front of Kiba and erupt in an arc of magical lightning from the ground to the sky.
Kiba was able to escape by sheer luck thanks to his Knight speed, but he wasn't unscathed as the heat from the mine left him slightly singed.
He's not playing around. It's like he actually wants to kill us. Kiba thought as he steadied himself.
"So you want to play with lightning? Well, why not play with me Ruto?" Akeno challenged as she floated above Ruto in her Shrine Maiden attire, lightning coursing around her arms and hands. Multiple bolts of lightning struck around Ruto before a massive bolt stuck him directly.
Ruto hissed with the pain, but he wasn't going to go down that easily. It was a good hit, but not nearly good enough. Suddenly Koneko was on him. She threw a powerful right hook which caught him in the chest, winding him and making him topple backwards. He recovered with a roll and stood back up. She pressed her advantage with a flying kick, which unfortunately for her, was caught in Ruto's right hand. He swung her by the leg and threw her skywards at Akeno, who instinctively made to catch her. However before he threw her, he'd left a small magic circle on her leg set to explode when he wanted it to.
And explode it did as both Akeno and Koneko were blown out of the sky leaving a trail of smoke as they fell. The others watched in horror, which quickly turned to anger. "Ruto!" came the voice of an enraged Haru, his own Scale Mail appearing and almost glowing with his anger. The boosters on his shoulders fired, sending him towards Ruto at high speed.
Finally. Ruto thought with a grin. Ruto braced himself for impact. Haru collided with him head on and the two Emperors brawled in mid air, colliding with the ground every so often and tearing it up, leaving shallow trenches. Haru smashed Ruto into the ground and used him to stop them moving which left a 20 metre long scar in the ground. He then went on to launch a barrage of strikes on Ruto, who guarded his head with his forearms.
Damn, he's got me pinned. Unless I can get him off me, the others will catch up and finish me off. he thought while gritting his teeth. He then remembered his ability to manipulate time, which he felt rather stupid for not remembering sooner.
In an instant, Ruto vanished, leaving Haru confused. "What the— where'd he go?" he asked aloud. Ruto appeared behind Haru and savagely struck him with a spin kick to the side of the head which sent the Red Emperor tumbling across the field. However, despite knocking Haru away, Kiba was soon back on the offensive.
Ruto summoned a translucent, spectral sword made of condensed mana just as Kiba attacked. Ruto parried the strike and backhanded Kiba leaving him stunned. Kiba shook his head to clear the dizziness. Ruto spotted the opening and moved to exploit it, but some crimson projectiles flew past him. In his peripherals, he saw several more coming straight for him and whacked the first one away, but it destroyed his blade.
Rias was back at it, determined to shut him down. She watched as he destroyed her Destruction orbs and his own blade, only to have it reform immediately afterwards. We've never taken his entire range of abilities into account. Who knows what else he can do. she thought as she fired more Destruction at him.
Off to his left Ruto saw Haru stand back up and begin his own attack. Haru dashed at Ruto and threw a punch. Ruto fully expected to block the blow with his blade until he heard [BOOST!] come from Haru's left gauntlet. His fist shattered the spectral blade and smashed into Ruto's chest, warping the plate of Scale Mail. Ruto slid backwards only to have Kiba slash at him faster and with more ferocity than before.
Ruto seized Kiba's blade, only to have Kiba pull himself towards him and jump with a kick to his forehead, not hurting him, but enough to stagger him. Ruto stumbled slightly as he lost his balance from the kick to the head.
Haru capitalised on Ruto's slip and thrust towards him, getting his faceplate in a vice grip and lifted him from the ground. He felt strength surge through him as he threw Ruto towards the tree line. Ruto felt multiple trees shred, warp and break as he collided with them. He eventually tumbled to a stop in a clearing, where he got up with a groan.
"What'd I do to piss him off?" Ruto wondered aloud. His entire back and shoulders hurt from the collisions with the trees.
Do you want a list? Albion asked sarcastically. Ruto didn't have much time until Haru was on him again, but he was ready for the Red Emperor this time.
[BOOST!]
Go on Haru, keep generating power. Just be ready to have it used against you. a powerful punch missed Ruto as he sidestepped his counterpart. The strike left Haru vulnerable in an arched position as his fist was buried in a small crater. Ruto planted a devastating kick into the side of Haru's head, collapsing the red Scale Mail slightly into the shape of a boot heel. He then grabbed Haru's arm and used it as a tether as he kicked Haru's legs out from under him. Haru, dazed and still in Ruto's grasp, tried to gain some distance by attempting to scramble to his feet.
[DIVIDE!] came the voice of Albion, accompanied by Ruto's oddly cold and harsh laughter. Haru's body felt heavy and a cold sweat broke out all over him. Dread worked its way into his belly, leaving him feeling nauseous.
"You feel that Haru, your strength is leaving you? Not good is it? How're you gonna protect Rias and the others if you're weakened so easily? I could wipe them all out now and you couldn't stop me. Not like this." Ruto said with brutal honesty, but what got Haru was how sincere he sounded.
"Shut up..." Haru growled, feeling protective rage for the others begin to overwhelm him. The large green gem on Haru's left gauntlet started to pulsate with bright green light. "What the hell is your deal, huh!?" Haru bellowed.
Ruto raised an eyebrow. "What? Was it something I said?" he asked mockingly. He stood over Haru, waiting for him to try anything that looked like an attack.
"You say you wanna help us, yet you don't even care when you hurt any of us. I don't care what you do to me, but all you do is disrespect Rias and the others. Akeno and Koneko didn't need to be taken down how you did it. Do you even care if you kill one of us?" Haru questioned angrily. Ruto was silent for a moment, contemplating his answer.
He didn't mind the ORC, didn't particularly like them as a collective, but he liked Akeno, Kiba and Haru. Koneko was a neutral factor. Rias was his main problem, as she was their leader. To him, she was their downfall, being a naive and inexperienced king, coddling her peerage rather than strengthening them. Rossweisse… was another case entirely.
"Lemme tell you something Haru, I don't much care for your little club. Your leader's blind to the bigger picture, and her followers are a ragtag bunch of misfits that follow without question. My reasons for helping you are my own, but I will tell you this. My main objective is to make you powerful, thus keeping you alive. Whether people die along the way is of no concern of mine." he explained coolly.
Haru was stunned, a look of betrayal in his eyes. His hair fell over his eyes as he lowered his head.
"So you're saying none of us mean anything to you?" he said quietly.
"You're marginally amusing at most." Ruto replied deadpan. Get pissed off already! C'mon Haru, lemme see you grit those teeth! He got the result he wanted when he felt a solid uppercut hit him, sending him hurtling into the air at breakneck speeds. He spread his ethereal blue wings to steady himself. In the blink of an eye, he was forced to block several blindingly fast strikes from the furious Sekiryuutei until one kick to his abdomen got through, knocking the air from his lungs and blood from his mouth.
He couldn't keep himself elevated with the speed he was approaching the ground, so he reinforced his body with mana as he bounced across the ground like a stone on a pond and into the field in view of the others. He was still for a short while, dizzy, aching, but planning. Kiba approached cautiously with his sword raised while Rias was more confident in her approach as destructive power still pulsed around her hands.
Ruto lay still, his eyes closed in concentration. His mana rushed through his body and pooled into his arms and legs as he prepared a counter-attack for whatever they were going to throw at him. His limbs tingled and pulsed faintly with the mana infused with them. He sensed that Kiba and Rias were standing over him, watching him for any movements, that was until they saw Haru burst from the trees and fly towards Ruto with rage burning in him.
Once Haru was at the right distance, Ruto sprung into action. He rapidly got into an animalistic crouch and beat his wings, surging towards Haru as gale-like winds made Kiba and Rias stumble and shield themselves from the wind and debris. The two Emperors looked like clashing gods as they smashed into each other. Using his mana-enhanced strength, Ruto delivered a crushing blow to Haru's chest, crumpling the Scale Mail as his fist drove upwards. He then delivered a swift kick to the side, making Haru stumble, but he grabbed Ruto's leg and swung hum overhead.
Ruto rolled and slid to a stop as he made a standing recovery from hitting the ground. He pushed off with his back foot and was instantly back at Haru, grabbing his forearms and flipped over him. Using Haru like a flail, he savagely slammed him into the ground, then grabbed Haru by the head and viciously kneed Haru in the face, shattering the front of his helmet. Haru hurtled for roughly 50 metres before sliding to a stop.
Just what the hell is this guy? Haru thought hopelessly. No matter what I do, he's always got me beat. Just what the hell am I doing wrong!?
Boy, winning isn't your objective in this fight. Ddraig said calmly. Haru, despite his disorientation, was able to respond.
Huh? Ddraig? Whaddaya mean I'm not meant to win? Am I supposed to let him beat me into the ground and hurt the others? he replied angrily.
Why do you think he fought all of you at once? It isn't some vain exercise in superiority, but to test your teamwork skills. He's being so harsh on you all to force you into cooperating. At his level of power, do you honestly think you'd stand a chance if he wanted to kill you? Ddraig asked coolly.
Wait, so you're saying he's teaching us a harsh lesson? Haru asked in surprise.
Yes. Your lack of communication and cooperation is leading to the downfall of you all at the hands of one. If you cannot take him on, even when he's at quarter strength, how do you think you will fare against Riser and his peerage? Or perhaps adversaries that make him pale in comparison? Ddraig informed Haru.
Haru was silent as he took in this information. Then he asked Ddraig, how strong is he, really? You said he was at quarter strength right? So what's he holding back? He was both curious and dreading the answer. He was handing the ORC its collective ass and was quarter strength. It scared him to think that should he want to, he could obliterate the ORC if he felt like it.
He is at the level of a Cadre rank Fallen Angel, but that's just a rough estimate of his raw base power. Taking his magical abilities, both known and unknown into account, as well as his natural talent with Divine Dividing, I'd say he's exceptionally powerful for someone his age and with such limited experience with his Sacred Gear and his more powerful magical abilities. But then there's him as a person. He seems very capable of manipulating others and situations surrounding them. He also has a natural… killer instinct about him. Not sure if you've noticed though, after all, you've seen him fight and are currently fighting him. Ddraig surmised thoroughly. Quite simply, you're around someone who could possibly take on Riser's peerage by himself and win. She finished gravely.
Haru gulped. Thanks Ddraig, I'll keep all of that in mind. He sounded much calmer than he actually was, as the info drop left him slightly shaken. He got up and eyed Ruto, who was toying with Kiba and Rias.
Bastard's been holding back so much this whole time. Dammit...
Ruto took off to distance himself and began firing off a rapid barrage of spells. They were nothing too devastating, more of a distraction than an attack. I doubt Haru has much time left with his Scale Mail. Given the amount of time he's had it and the amount he's used it, his body wouldn't handle the strain of a prolonged battle with it. Ruto thought.
You seem to be struggling, Ruto. Could it be that you underestimated them? Albion asked.
Only a fool underestimates their opponents. Especially when there's a group of them attacking like an angry peasant mob. And I did say this was a test for myself, Albion. Ruto replied. Doesn't help that I've given myself a handicap for this. I'm just too considerate sometimes.
Well, you might wanna pay attention then. Albion said. Ruto looked downward to see Rossweisse glaring at him in full battle regalia holding her spear in one hand, and charging what he guessed was a spell that would hurt like a bitch if it hit him. The spell was cast and it was in the form of a lance of pure mana. It split into shards that, much to Ruto's dismay, began to track him like heat-seekers. For the first time Ruto was having to pull off some insane manoeuvres in the air as he tried to escape being hit. He bobbed and weaved, dived and stalled all in a desperate attempt to escape.
However, during this, the others had time to recover and organise. Rossweisse took off to meet him mid air and pressed the advantage. But this was when Ruto had an idea of his own. He flew straight at Rossweisse and a split second before colliding with her, nose dived straight at Rias, Haru and Kiba. He roughly ploughed into the ground, saving himself by digging his armoured fingers into the earth and stopping in a crouch. Rossweisse had to dodge her own spell as the homing shards flew past... straight at the three below.
Rias, Haru and Kiba only had a split second before the shards hit, resulting in a mighty explosion as they failed to hit their intended target. Silence reigned over the battlefield and the dust cloud lingered. Slowly it cleared to reveal Haru standing before a stunned looking Rias and Kiba. The two were crouched down looking up at Haru who stood over them with his arms outstretched protectively. The entire back of his Scale Mail was cracked, burnt and slightly melted.
"Haru..." Rias said quietly with wide eyes. Haru was silent. Then, blood trickled from the face plate of his helmet and he collapsed forward, not making a sound. Ruto observed the scene, feeling his job for that day was done. Overall, he wasn't impressed by their teamwork, which is to say there was hardly any. The team synergy was in place, but they didn't fight like a cohesive unit. They weren't organised and they certainly didn't support each other effectively.
Rossweisse descended and was mortified by what happened. Her spell had possibly killed one of her comrades. She ran over to Rias, Haru and Kiba. Ruto made his way over as well.
"Well my job's done. This idiot just couldn't resist could he? Oh well, I've learned what I wanted to know from this little skirmish." Ruto said dismissively. Rias suddenly turned on him.
"Just what the hell is your problem?" She asked. She was eerily calm and quiet. "He's your friend too. How can you be so dismissive? This is your fault, so do something!" she yelled furiously. Ruto raised an eyebrow at her.
"Is that what you expect your enemies to do, Rias? Knock you down and pick you back up, telling you everything's gonna be okay? Sorry, but reality dictates otherwise." Ruto said with an even tone.
It was then things took a turn for the worse. Rias quickly raised her hand and unleashed her fury through a blast of Destruction that enveloped Ruto, scorching the ground and burning the very air. Rossweisse and Kiba looked at their King with equal parts shock and horror that she'd just annihilated Ruto so suddenly.
"You really shouldn't have done that." came the steely voice of Ruto, who by rights should have been erased from existence by Rias' blast. He stood before them still in one piece. His once gloriously white Scale Male was now charred black. The large gems on it were cracked and fractured. He strode towards them with heavy steps which made them instinctively want to back away.
Ruto let out a loud, long sigh and stretched. "I'll let that slide this time, Gremory. After all, I did have that coming." he said, his tone much nicer than it was a moment before. "By the way, Rossweisse, that's some power you've got. Dayum."
"I could have killed him just now, Ruto!" Rossweisse shouted. Ruto shrugged and waved off her comment.
"It wasn't your fault Rossweisse. Sure, it was your spell, but I was the one who made it go towards them. So relax, it was all calculated." he said, trying but failing to reassure the Valkyrie.
The trio looked at him with no expression on their faces, baffled at how quickly his mood switched and how little damage Rias' attack seemed to have done to him. "Was all this just a game to you?" Rias growled.
Ruto rubbed the back of his armoured neck. "Kinda. I wanted to see how your team performs and to say I'm not impressed would be an understatement. Face it, your leadership fuckin' sucks." Ruto said with brutal honesty. "But I'm willing to help you out with that. But first, we should grab Haru, Akeno and Koneko and get our asses in the house." He said. He knelt down beside Haru and placed his hand on Haru's head. [Divide!] came the voice of Albion as Ruto took power from Haru, making his Scale Mail dissipate. He picked the unconscious Red Emperor up and slung him over his shoulder.