16 Chapter 14

I hum, an easy smile on my face as I put my phone back away.

Completely ignoring the way it buzzed constantly at the surge of messages I got in response to the photo I sent her.

Now then.

How do I want to deal with this?

The smoking crater I snapped a photo of earlier suddenly erupts with a bright blue aura, a figure rising from the pillar of power right back into the sky.

As soon as the pillar vanishes, Vali reveals himself in full again, this time with a positively manic smirk plastered across his face.

The sheer glee on his face is contrasted fairly well by the bloody gash he's got a hand on across his torso.

I blink at him.

Do…do I make that same expression?

While looking like that?

You know, maybe Koneko is right.

Perhaps battle lust is a type of perversion?

Suddenly, Vali speaks up, "That sword of yours stings quite a bit…" He grins harder, "I certainly wasn't expecting it to possess a Dragon Slayer effect, though. Didn't look like it was doing much to the Red Dragon Emperor before…" He trails off, excited.

Dragon Slayer effect?

I look at my blade and tighten my grip harder, sending my power into it like I usually do.

This time, instead of filling an empty vessel, my power slides in alongside something else.

I draw both to the surface.

And watch, as that same Holy Aura flickers around the blade once more, mingling with my power seamlessly.

That same power I never felt before hums off it, albeit, dully.

That's what that is then?

I huff, "Trust me, this is news to me just as much as it is for you," I state dully, "that fight would have been so much easier if I had Dragon Slayer Magic or similar."

How did this happen? I knew my sword was empty, it lacked powers of its own when I first took it up, I felt that.

So then…did it gain a dragon slayer attribute when I finished off the dragon?

I can see the logic, maybe, but not the mechanics of how that works!

Unfortunately, I don't get much time to ruminate on the how, as Vali lets out a loud reverberating chuckle.

Then raises his hand to the side, and clads it in Demonic Power.

I tense, but stop dead and just stare as I watch his power spark and burst into a roaring flame.

Which he promptly slams into his torso.

With a smirk, the man doesn't even flinch as he cauterizes the gash across his body, staring me dead in the eyes all the while.

Which, if he was a girl, I'd absolutely take for 'fuck me' eyes.

After the fire dissipates, and the only thing left is the smell of smoke and burning flesh in the air, Vali finally responds verbally.

"Then it looks like coming out here will be worth it after all," He notes, pleased, "I left Grigori early for this, you know? You really should be grateful."

My brain takes a half second to process that, but really, I'm not even surprised.

"Ah, right," I idly began, "Kuroka told me about your group. She said you formed your team behind the Grigori's back. Why drop that cover now?"

He smiles knowingly at me, "It was fun and all, but Grigori is kind of a sinking ship. When I left?" He grimaced, "Well, let's just say things weren't going so great, and leave it at that." He waves it off.

I guess Vali has no reason to stick around for the Peace Conference, huh?

If that even happens here.

You know, I can't help but wonder whether Vali officially leaving the Grigori and turning traitor was a calculated move from Azazel or something Vali did by himself.

Judging by the way he needed to be adopted by Odin later to not be prosecuted to hell and back as a terrorist, I assume the latter.

Which kind of pisses me off, actually.

I frown right back at him.

Azazel…I think he was a shit leader. He'd rather have Grigori die than lead it.

Which to be fair? He's probably going to be getting his wish soon.

But! He still took in the white-haired battle manic before me and raised him basically like an adopted son.

And this brat fucking betrayed him.

My only hope left is that here? He left Grigori when he decided to come fight me so Azazel could claim that he had nothing to do with Vali showing up here to the Shinto.

Not like it'd save Azazel's ass, but I guess it's the thought counts.

I click my tongue and return to a more neutral look, staring at him blankly.

How could I forget?

He's also a stupid battle manic teenager with a grudge and lifelong goal of killing his Super Devil abuser grandfather.

It doesn't change anything, but I can see why he'd do it all, at least.

"Well, you're here," I hold my arms out to either side, "I gave you my welcoming gift for breaking into my property, what now?"

He smirks at me.

I smirk right back.

We both already know the answer.

I could have killed him right there, at the start.

If I had channeled light, instead of fire, I could have cleaved him in half.

But I didn't.

Do you know why?

I, too, wanted this fight!

Vali moves first, posing as he calls, "Balance, Break!" causing his divine-given wings to sparkle and erupt with blue and white power.

At once, the jewels ingrained upon the wings' spine announce—

[Vanishing Dragon Balance Breaker!]

Brilliant white draconic metal shines into existence around him, forming across his body like a second skin.

Besides?

I breathe, my blade sparkling with white light as I get into a stance mid-air.

An actual fight will always be far better than most training.

Especially since I don't believe he intends to kill me.

"Try to keep up," Vali says casually and clearly, despite the full body armor, "I'd like for this to last at least a little bit, you know?"

I can almost feel the condescending smirk this guy is sending my way.

I'm going to punch it off him real soon.

"Try not to become mince meat too fast," I reply in kind, smirking all the while, "I know you Devils have a thing for keeling over in the light and divine, but don't worry!"

My smirk widens.

"I'll go easy on you."

I didn't even need to see his face, I could feel the eyebrow twitching there, as he just stared at me.

My smirk turns into a full-on grin.

Then he charges.

A blurry line of white and blue light surges towards me like a bullet train.

Even with my eyes, he's fast. Incredibly so.

I barely have time to raise my blade and block a fist aimed straight at my nose.

The sheer force behind his attack sends me flying away from my estate, my arms rattling and teeth clenched tightly as I endure.

He's stronger than Issei was.

That thought flashes through my mind, as suddenly he's upon me again.

Hinokami Kagura—

His hand was already raised, a ball of aura flaring into existence from his palm.

Fake Rainbow.

I twist and fling myself aside, an afterimage barely taking my place before it's deleted in a blinding flash of Demonic Power.

Pushing my body and speed, I flash rapidly all around him, several dozen afterimages appearing all around him.

Vali laughs.

"You call that speed? Well, watch this!" He intones before he flashes to the side.

Clad in a brilliant light, he ping pongs between my afterimages, punching one out before flashing to another.

It doesn't take me long to realize he's taking them out far faster than I can create them.

This air battle? Not working for me.

I need the ground. I need to be able to put my body, my legs, into my speed!

My blade dims, before igniting into swirling flames.

My afterimages dim and disperse themselves, and almost as soon as they do, Vali rushes towards me.

But my blade is already swinging.

Raging Storm Sun Tree.

Several times, in fact, with the combination of Clean Storm Wind Tree and Raging Sun.

But these slashes around me aren't meant to protect me, no, they're meant to obscure me.

Fire lashes and spirals out in every which way, and Vali charges bullheaded straight through it.

He punches a hole straight through the center with his sheer speed alone, causing the flames to burst out in all directions.

Only to slam to a halt as he hits nothing but air on the other side, and looks around in confusion.

Meanwhile, my feet land softly on the ground, obscured by the now flaming trees.

I breathe in, knead chakra in my stomach, and spit out flames.

The flaming trees are soon joined by a massive fireball, rising from the tree line and soaring straight into Vali's back like a comet, hitting his armored figure with a blazing explosion.

When the flames clear, Vali floats there, body slightly turned and head pointedly looking towards me.

I can almost feel the smirk on his face, as I see the demonic magic circle spiral slowly at his block, completely negating my attack.

I click my tongue and flip him the bird.

He snorts derisively before exploding into a line of light, heading straight towards me.

Just as he approaches, I twist and backflip back, avoiding a crushing haymaker that slams and craters the ground like a meteor impact.

My blade booms with my light, flaring and mixing with its new aura and power, as I swing mid-flip.

Setting Sun Transformation.

Vali's wing moves to guard his neck just in time, I hear him tick lightly as the metal of the wing gives slightly under the blade, bending and creaking softly.

But not quite cut.

Damn.

His fist is suddenly far too close to my chin.

At that moment, I recall something that Kuroka told me way back when we first met.

Something about my Holy Spirit Power almost constantly radiated out around me, almost like a shrine?

Now, what kind of being am I fighting again? Who just so happens to get weaker when exposed to divine power?

I grin savagely.

Vali's instincts likely feel what's coming, if my face didn't already give it away, but it's far too late.

I let the chest containing my sun open.

And almost as soon as I do, my Holy Spirit Power explodes out in a tidal wave, washing over Vali like a surfer in the ocean.

He flinches and gasps, and at that moment, his punch goes slower, tilts slightly of course.

I move, pulling my blade back off his wing, and spinning into a horizontal slash that bats his fist away completely.

As soon as I land, I hold out my hand, and focus, commanding my wild radiating aura to focus purely on him.

Vali snarls, his light blue Demonic Power boiling and flickering to the surface around his body in an attempt to disperse the golden divine power that concentrates around him and solidifies, bathing the area in brilliant golden light.

I breathe in, kneading my chakra once more, and spit it back out as a concentrated bloom of crimson hot flames!

With glee, I watch as he attempts to throw out another demonic barrier, only for my flames to crash into and through it like playdough, hitting him spot-on with a firework like explosion.

I follow in soon behind, knowing the risks, but realizing if I don't keep the pressure on, he'll pull something out to turn the tides.

See, the only reason I haven't completely folded in this fight yet is because of my nature, and the fact that he hasn't landed a solid hit on my body yet.

And that first one only matters because the second one is true.

As soon as he can Divide my power, I may as well throw in the towel.

But, If I can weaken him first, with a combination of my divine power, light, and new Dragon Slayer blade, then maybe…just maybe, I could eke out a win here.

If I could combine my light and fire like berserker me did, then my chances would soar, but I don't know how to do that.

And the last time I tried something new like that in the middle of a fight, berserker me happened.

So let's not do that again, yeah?

I coat my blade with light as I enter the fray once more, mixing it with the meager dragon slaying power of my blade.

"Let's see how good your endurance is, White Dragon Emperor!" I barked out jubilantly.

And then I started to dance.

Thirteenth Form.

Technically, I have others of course, but keep it simple for now stupid!

It goes like this.

Dance, into Clear Blue Sky, into Raging Sun, and so on.

Keep going, keep battering him down with light imbued dragon slaying sword slashes.

If there is one person that can take it, it's Vali, the fucker that got chewed up and swallowed by Fenrir and lived.

My vertical slash is dodged, barely clipping his chest armor.

When I leap above him, his wings block another spinning slash.

He meets my sword head-on, punching back two more slashes, meeting them blow for blow, the armor across his fists cracking slightly and smoking.

Stepping back, he thrusts out both hands, his Demonic Power boiling and bursting forth in a flash.

I suspect he's trying to push me off him and give himself some breathing space.

It doesn't work.

With a circular slash, my light-infused blade cuts through his demonic power and disperses it.

I step into his guard once more with a flash of movement, backflip over the surprised jab he sent out in response, and aim straight for his head in another sweeping slash.

He ducks underneath it, his wings lash out to try and sweep me to the side.

My eyes glimmer as I see an opportunity.

If I could cut off his wings, would he be able to use Divide anymore?

He certainly wouldn't be able to vent excess power, at the very least.

My halos flash into existence behind me, as I dodge his sweeping wing by flinging myself high upwards.

Only to fall straight back down at such speeds I come in shrouded by a heat haze.

Vali guards his face as I swing down, seemingly, I miss.

"Hmm?" Vali starts, confused, seeing my blade embedded into the ground beside him, "Did...did you seriously-" Only to gasp as his weight shifts slightly.

His left wing is bent so badly out of shape, it's hanging there, splintered and broken and nearly fallen off, having been the true target of my attack.

I spiral back into the air before he can even think to react, slashing upwards, completely cleaving the wing off with that motion.

Vali blanches at that, his body going ramrod still as he staggers from the sudden weight shift.

He only barely manages to dodge my next form, a stab aimed down at his chest, which instead embeds itself into the ground.

"You…!" Vali tries to get out, but I keep coming back.

The ground shatters behind me as I move back into his guard, pushing and straining my body as I unleash a flurry of consecutive slashes at him.

Each hammering blow is endured by his gauntlets, left splintered and smoked as I leap over his guard and deliver a wheel-shaped slash into his right shoulder unimpeded, cleaving into it as I pass over.

He grunts in exacerbated pain, whirling around to face my new position, he shouts out, "That's! Enough!"

He throws out both arms, several demonic spell circles manifesting to fire off bullets straight for me.

Too many, can't cleave them all at once.

I move, vanishing in a blur of gold, afterimages appearing by the dozens all around him.

He moves his circles, attacking in as many directions as he can.

I focus, pushing my Holy Spirit Power upon his shoulders as hard as I possibly can, watching as he stills and flinches, and his Demonic Power sputters at the holy invasion.

And once more I'm in his guard.

And the Dance is complete.

Two slashes, one vertical, one horizontal, right to his chest, to complement the first attack I gave him.

The light and holy cleaves through his armor like butter, drawing gouts of blood, and sending him reeling back with a loud gasp.

His Demonic Power fades completely after that, and he grabs his chest as his helmet unfolds.

He stands there, half bent over, smirking at me.

"Well," he starts, amused, "I guess the video wasn't doctored, huh?"

I breathe out and simply deadpan at him.

Is this what it feels like…

"You know, I'm almost insulted," I state back, "did you come here to fight, or be my test dummy for attacks?"

He chuckles, "No, no…I just figured, training my resistance against holy, light, and dragon slaying powers would be a good idea." His eyes glimmer, "I figure, I might as well get something out of this, you know?"

…what it feels like to be used for training.

Well. What goes around comes around, I suppose.

"Still, though," he continues, unabated, "you only figured out your heritage about a month or two ago, no? I was expecting a much worse showing, but you're pretty good for a rookie."

My gaze sharpens, "How did you find that out." I demand.

He laughs right back in my face, and levels an easy smirk at me, "How do you think?"

I snarl and go to say something more with my sword, but he waves me off.

"Don't worry, don't worry…didn't hurt your cat, or anything," he says, bemused, "I just so happened to be in the vicinity of some girl talk between her, and another member of my team."

He grimaces before finishing, "Let's just say I didn't much care for most of it, just the bit about you specifically. After watching the video online, I put two and two together, and knew where to find you."

Damnit kitty. What are you flaying Le Fay with?

Probably sexual stuff. It's always sexual stuff with her.

I click my tongue, before huffing out, "Somehow, I'm not even surprised."

And for that one blissful moment, me and Vali looked at each other and seemed to come to some sort of understanding.

But that's beside the point right now.

I break this moment, but I simply asking the very obvious.

"You gonna stop holding back now?"

Vali blinks at that, then smiles.

"If you think you can handle it."

I'm about to get every single bone in my body broken, aren't I?

I meet his gaze with a smile of my own.

"Test me."

Vali grinned.

And his aura exploded.

His armor rapidly repairs itself in bubbling light, and even his wing reforms with such speed you wouldn't even know it was cut off before.

His Demonic Power roars forth with the power of his Sacred Gear, and my Holy Spirit Power gets crushed under its rampaging chaotic wake.

I still as cold dread shoots up my spine, and I rapidly pull back every ounce of power into my body.

I dredge up every bit of energy I possess, and strain it within my body to beat back the tide of pressure I feel rolling off the half-devil before me.

Even with my meager Senjutsu aura sensing, I can feel it.

His power, right now, is stronger than Issei's was in his Juggernaut Drive.

And beyond that, unlike the animalistic wild drive that fueled Juggernaut Drive, I'm facing something far worse.

Controlled power, backed by a sentient mind, a mind acclaimed for being a combat genius.

I'm fucked, aren't I?

That thought couldn't be proved right sooner, then when his fist suddenly appeared, buried into my chest, a trail of light blasting out behind.

I couldn't see him move.

And suddenly, I'm sent flying.

My touki snapped like a twig, my ribs shattered like china, and I'm left sprawling through the air, not even sure what the fuck is going on.

I hear his voice resound right next to me, just slightly below, "I noticed you're much stronger on the ground than in the air," he remarks casually, "It's because you're focused on your physical body more, right? You can kick off with your legs on the ground, and put more force behind your attacks then."

I lash out with a wild slash in the direction of his voice as my body repairs itself.

Suddenly, his voice is on the other side.

"Here, allow me to help you with that little problem."

The air cracks like thunder as his foot impacts my stomach, and I'm flung like a ragdoll straight into the sky.

Thank fuck there aren't any bones to break there, just, organs.

My entire body is buzzing, and I can't stop being thankful that I don't experience true pain, or else my body may have given up from the shock of it.

But I won't have that.

His voice echoes from above, "Here we go," the air cracks again as my momentum is halted, an armored grip around my face, "enjoying the view?"

Slowly looking around with my eyes I alone, I see clouds.

He kicked me to fucking cloud level.

I can almost feel the amused smirk being radiated at me from beneath his helmet.

"Don't give out on me now, alright? You've still got one last thing to see!" He adds on, as his wings perk up and radiate.

[Divide!]

Weakness assaults me.

It felt like my power, the quality of my very being, just got violently cut in half.

I gasp through gritted teeth, and raise my blade once more, imbuing it with light.

[Divide!] [Divide!] [Divide!]

My unpowered blade smacks against his neck and rebounds off it dully.

Fuuucck…

"Hmm," Vali hums, "this should put you at…around Low Class, on the Devil scale, I believe?" He gets slightly closer, looking straight at my face, "Well, look at that. Are you still conscious? Color me further impressed!" He states, seemingly legitimately ecstatic.

Barely.

I'm just…barely…

What…what did I tell Koneko I was going to practice again?

"You know," the Chuuni Dragon Emperor begins to monologue, "I originally came here because I needed a new rival, and since you sort of killed my destined one, maybe you could fill in that role."

Ah, right.

"I wasn't expecting much, to be honest." He continues, "That video…well, I wasn't overly impressed, you mostly danced around the whole time, and didn't fight. Not until the end." He spits out

I grit my teeth.

"The…fuck you say…?" I weakly mutter back, "You got a problem with dance, Chuuni Dragon?"

He flinches, but only snickers as he grasps my face tighter.

"Someone's got a mouth still, huh?"

I snort.

"Someone does stupid poses when they transform, huh?" I spit right back, "You should join my Magical Girl Club at school, you'd fit right in!"

He twitches at that, and tilts his head slightly, "Magical…Girl Club?" He repeats back at me, floored.

I grin and take this moment to flip my inner floodgates open, just like before.

It's evening now, compared to early morning when I last tried this, It means I should be stronger…but grow weaker as time goes on.

The incoming tsunami wave of Holy Spirit Power slams into my body, roiling through like a violent current.

My mind barely holds on, I force it to hold on.

"Yeah, yeah…" I hum out, slowly, a molten honey aura bubbles around my body, and I can feel it once he finally looks at me, the moment his eyes widen.

In both shock and excitement.

"R-Really, it's a fun t-time…you should come see it-" My voice shifts rapidly before it finally breaks and I growl out instead, grabbing the arm that holds my body aloft.

My mind, rather than be carried along like before, is assaulted by a tidal wave of emotions and thoughts so foreign and wrong it makes me want to vomit.

How dare he enter my home, this half-devil spawn holding a wild animal in his wings!

How dare he-

Hnnghhh! No! Come on!

Stop it!

Let me free!

Vali, of course, helps in his way.

By throwing me up, slightly.

And punching me straight in the jaw.

My mind wavers, white noise fills my ears…

And golden, wrathful light, fills my vision.

My arms become clad with a bright molten aura, and I move as if possessed, slamming both fists right atop Vali's face.

The air roars as heat and wind billow out, Vali stares at me dumbly with a sunburnt face, as he rockets downward, his helmet blown off, and shoulder pouldrons halfway melted.

I snarl, before I move, to return his earlier favor.

Appearing just above the ground, I catch his flying body by the throat and stare dead into his eyes.

"Apologize to me," I command, "for being born into my world."

The creature before me blinks, then smirks, as his armor reforms quickly with a flash.

He responds rather simply. Rather cockily, for a half-breed parasite.

"Make me."

And so I shall.

~ A New Sun ~

Kuroka appeared, stepping from her magic circle in a hurry, into a forest of desolation.

Charred nature, as far as she could sense, see, and smell, stretched out around her.

The culprits?

The two dumbasses wailing at each other in the sky.

Noriaki snarls, taking a punch straight to his jaw that sends him spiraling back.

He rights himself quickly, and holds up his hand, an orb of spiraling golden flames forming above his palm, bathing the dimming evening sky in new golden light.

"Last Sun." He intones viciously, before throwing the miniature sun at her team's founder.

Who merely holds out his hand.

[Divide!][Divide!][Divide!][Divide!]

And divides the star into non-existence.

Noriaki grits his teeth, a ferocious grin spilling out onto his face as he charges straight back into the fight.

Vali laughs boisterously, shouting to the heavens as he meets Noriaki blow for thunderous blow, their fist cracking the sky like thunder as they meet, "Yes! Yes! This is more like it! This is what I wanted to see! Come! COME!"

Kuroka just rolled her eyes, then stared deadpanning at the two.

Boys.

What was she worried about again? If Vali wanted to kill her Noriaki, he could have just utilized Juggernaut Drive right off the bat and overpowered him quickly.

But she eyes Noriaki in specific.

Even in that state of his.

Whatever that is exactly.

She was showing Le Fay the video of him fighting earlier while giving commentary about things that most definitely mattered.

Like how it was essential his boxers didn't get blown off during the fight, or else the resulting encumbrance would have made him lose outright.

Watching Le Fay squirm and bluster at all her little comments was most definitely worth it.

The scolding she's gonna get from Arthur later once he finds out about all that? Maybe not so much.

The fucking she's going to get after this fight for accidentally revealing Nori's location?

Okay, she's very much looking forward to that.

She should…probably make sure they have a house to fuck in, first though.

Noriaki suddenly raised his sword, a cyclone of golden fire whirling out from the blade as he slashed thrice.

Vali dodged between two, letting them slam into the ground beneath him and cleave open small molten ravines upon the Earth's surface, before blasting through the third to deliver a haymaker straight to his face.

To his credit, Noriaki tanked it with barely a flinch, grabbed Vali by his shoulder pauldrons, and breathed a stream of crimson flame straight into his face.

Vali tried to shield his face, but Noriaki just pressed harder, the flames intensifying and sparking with light before bursting golden.

Following swiftly after, Vali lashed out, grabbing Noriaki's face and forcing him to aim upwards into the sky.

Even from here, Kuroka winced, seeing Vali's gauntlets just gone, with his upper arms scorched to hell and back.

When Vali suddenly lurched forward, grappling Noriaki tightly, before shooting downwards in a stream of light, Kuroka decided now was the time to get out of dodge.

Casting a Youjutsu spell to make herself invisible, using Senjutsu so the boys couldn't detect her, and with a small simple application of that new power Noriaki gave her, she's off!

Nori was still trying to breathe fire on him, even as he was being dragged and slammed into the ground.

The heat wave that accompanied the small rumble as they struck the ground told her as much.

Even if she wasn't using Information Magic to keep watch of their fight from afar.

Just in case.

Luckily, the two seemed to have pushed their brawl away from the house, so that was still in one piece.

However, without the barrier around it, that could change.

So, Kuroka worked on setting up a rather rudimentary barrier around the house as she watched the fight like one would watch an anime episode.

Except, unlike in anime, where several episodes take up some five to ten minutes in an in-universe fight?

This fight lasts for hours.

And in some respects, it's painful to watch.

It's clear that whatever state Noriaki's in runs of the height of the sun.

As it fell, he got progressively weaker and weaker.

After a couple of hours, punches that would annihilate Vali's armor in one to two hits took double the amount of blows.

Another hour or so later? He couldn't even produce his golden flames anymore, and his normal crimson fire simply wasn't doing enough quick enough.

He ended up switching to pure light once more, and that brought greater results.

For a little under an hour, because that's when night finally truly began, and well…

As much as Kuroka would love to root for Noriaki here, It just isn't happening today.

Because she knows for a fact these two are going to go at it again sometime.

Hopefully, later rather than sooner.

By the time she got back, you couldn't even tell there was a forest there anymore, just scorched and molten plains.

And in the center of it all? A massive smoking crater, where a white armored figure stood over a robed one, foot firmly pressed down against his chest.

Shockingly enough, though, only Vali was heaving, with Noriaki wiggling underneath the armored boot trying to get out.

"You…" Vali gulped air, "are one persistent bastard, aren't you?"

"And your entire existence, is bullshit!" Noriaki groaned out, swinging his sword at Vali's leg, only for it to ping off it uselessly, "How are you so damn tough, huh? You're half devil, you should be keeling over foaming at the mouth from light poisoning!"

Vali chuckled breathlessly, "I'm just that good. And you've still got a long way to go."

"Ah!" Nori snaps his fingers, his eyes widening rapidly in realization, "I got it! I need to be more Chuuni! Then the world will favor me more so I can pull off more ridiculous bullshit."

Kuroka had to hold back a laugh to not reveal herself so soon, it only got harder once Vali visibly twitched at that.

"See, I already got a catchphrase, now I just need to pose!" Nori exclaimed as if he was learning the truth of the world, "So, right before I go into Ara-Mitama next time, I'll do a JoJo pose! Tell me, Chuuni Dragon Emperor lay upon me your wisdom! What should my ultimate attack be call-ACK!"

Vali suddenly pressed his boot down harder, really grinding it into his chest.

"Would you please…just shut the fuck up?" Vali groaned out.

"B-But, But!" Nori heaved out, yet grinning, "I need that master's advice! Clearly, I am in the presence of the one true Chuuni! There can be no greater advice!"

Vali deadpanned at the desolate plains around them, then looked straight back down at Nori, and simply stated.

"These past few lines of conversation have done more damage to me than you did during the whole of our fight."

"ACK!?" Nori flinched as if punched in the nose, sputtering indignantly as Vali just smirked down at him.

Alright, this is cute and all, but…

Kuroka dropped her visibility and sensing protection, suddenly appearing as if from thin air.

"Alright, alright, nya~!" She starts, walking up to the two who perk up and look at her.

Well, Vali does, Nori barely lifts his head to glimpse at her.

"Haven't you two had enough fun, keep going any further, and you might attract…unwanted attention, nya~!" Kuroka reminded them.

Both boys grimaced at that, or at least Nori did. After all, they are right next to Kuoh.

The only reason she suspects that the Devils and Shinto haven't rushed out to see what is going on right outside is because the talks are going on right now.

Probably why Vali chose this time to do this, so they wouldn't be interrupted.

Vali sighs and removes his foot from Nori's chest, prompting a groan of relief from the half-buried demigod.

"If she's here, I guess I should probably go," she could feel Vali cringe as he continued, prompting her to smirk, "I don't wanna be around to hear what you two get up to…especially if even half of what she says is true."

Nori looks at her, narrowing his eyes, "The fuck you tell your little team?"

She wiggles her finger at him, and winks, "Only the truth, nya~!"

Nori groans, and Vali's armor drops, revealing a sympathetic look on his face aimed at the guy he just punched into a crater.

Oi! She's not that bad!

"One more thing," Vali adds on, looking at Nori, "my team is open to you if you wanna join. You're pretty tough yourself, and given time, I can tell you're only going to get better."

Kuroka blinks.

Noriaki blinks and widens his eyes into saucers as he fully registers what he just heard.

"I'll…" Nori begins, hesitantly, "I'll think about it, alright? Wanna see where everything lands in the world first."

Vali nods, "That's fine."

He then promptly turns and starts walking away.

Before suddenly stopping, turning his head back to them slightly.

"You better be stronger for next time," he adds ominously, "I want to show you what a real Juggernaut Drive looks like."

And with that, his demonic magic circle bursts into existence beneath him and flashes him away.

The silence that promise left behind is suddenly filled, by Nori snorting.

"Really? Couldn't even say goodbye properly? The hell man! Chuuni ass- OOF!" He grunts, cut off, as a new weight falls upon him.

This time, something she knows is far more welcome.

She straddled his lap, with her hands resting daintily upon his chest, smirking down upon him.

"Ah," He looks up at her, smiling warmly, "hi kitty…" He reaches up, stroking her face gently.

"Nori-kun~?" She begins with a small purr, "You okay…?"

He blinks at that, "Well, yeah, I can heal, remember?"

"No no no, not like that," she refutes, "I mean after getting your ass beaten so thoroughly, nya~?"

He deadpans at her promptly. "Yes, I am in fact not a sore loser and can take an L, kitty." Then, he smacks her straight on the ass.

She can't even get a mewl out before he suddenly wraps his arms around her, and pulls her down completely into a hug.

"Cleanups gonna suck, ain't it?" He suddenly continues, "Especially since I'd rather we get it done fast."

Kuroka hummed and purred against him, before asking in a quiet daze, "Why is that, Nori-kun~?"

He pats her on the back, before slowly sitting up with her.

"Why, because my sexy little kitty~!" He grins, "We're moving to Kyoto!"