Winter: Planning; That Which; Turned Into; Action And; Fighting PT. 7/8
"It looks like everyone's done with their fighting then," I said, glancing at the map as I watched everyone except for Erebus enter Layer Triangle.
"Guess I better head there myself as well," I said, grabbing my silver piece of headgear before putting it on my head.
"Right, let's go on then," I said to myself, getting out of the vehicle before making my way to the hole the five of them had caused hours earlier.
It was a massive hole, about 20 feet high and 30 feet across. I hopped across it, glancing at the building.
"It's practically falling apart," I murmured, looking at the falling rubble and debris caused from their fighting. "I know I said to hold back, but did they actually listen?"
Inside the building proper, there were tons of holes that led deeper inside, with one looking as if it had ripped away about a fifth of the building away. There were plenty of holes in the ceiling, and the amount of guards' unconscious were more than I was willing to count.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to see if there were would be any problems on my way.
"They really did a good job then," I thought aloud, opening my eyes as I continued on my way, using the holes Erebus had made to walk straight there while also looking at the carnage our group had caused.
In the distance, I could feel rumbles as Erebus continued to fight with Iapetus, dust falling from the ceiling as their fighting continued.
"If only I was stronger, than I could fight on the front lines with them," I muttered, sighing to myself. I was never meant to fight on the front lines; my ability was never suited for that. Even so, I wanna be there too, to save Depra as well.
"Ah, I'm almost there," I thought aloud as I had just passed through Layer Square, and the rumblings only grew louder as I continued to walk past the destruction they left in their wake, not a dead person in sight.
Until…
"Ah well, no matter. Five on one, yes, this will be the greatest fight I've been in such a long time!" Iapetus roared out, showcasing a grin that showed all his teeth.
"Make that six on one!" I yelled out, walking out onto the battlefield.
"Huh? Were you the one giving orders then?" Iapetus said, frowning at me as I walked into the room, glancing at all my teammates before his brown eyes seemingly pierced through me.
There he is, I thought as I saw Depra behind Iapetus, bound, unconscious, but seemingly unharmed.
Thank God. We still have time then.
"Yes, I was, but I have no need to hide from you any longer!" I yelled out, the future of my death visible within my mind.
No, it won't happen. I'm here to change that outcome, no matter what!
"L-Lachesis?"
"Depra, you're awake!" I yelled out, and he looked up at us, a horrified expression on his face.
"No, stop, why the hell are you are here!?" He screamed out, looking around at us all.
"We're to save you Depra, no, King!" I yelled out along with the others, and Iapetus let out a giggle.
"Sorry, I couldn't help but laugh at your ridiculousness. Honestly, you should know that you've only been led to your deaths. Therefore!" Iapetus yelled out, giving us an awful grin that sent chills down my spine before continuing. "I will allow you to leave with your lives intact, so hurry on home to your families; after all, they must be worried about you guys!"
I pointed at King behind him, glaring at Iapetus. "We're not leaving without him. After all, he's a part of our family!"
"No, please, leave now, leave before it's-!" King froze as Iapetus turned around to him, and he slowly walked towards King before lifting his hair forcefully.
"Take a good, long look at these people; this will be the last time you get to see them alive. In order to bring back our family, it seems your 'family' must die."
He started to shake his head; a pleading look on his face. "Wait, please, don't-!"
"Do you know why we brought you here, the one they call King?" Iapetus asked, and King shook his head, the same look on his face.
"It's so you can be closer to your roots; the dirt beneath your feet so you can feel Mother, the mountain in the distance so you can feel 'yourself,' this facility you're in, all of it, is for the sake of our glorious family reunion!"
"Please-!"
"Pierce."
And King fell forward, his hair covering his face once more.
"And that's why, when you wake up, this 'family' of yours will be dead and gone to usher in our family reunion!"
Iapetus started to cackle as he took ten steps away from King, picking up his spear of dirt.
"Now come, you band of misfits, with everything you've got!"
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"Pierce!"
"Masochistic Tendencies!"
Eros jumped in the way of his attack, letting out screams of pleasure.
"Oh my, those pack quite the punch~!" Eros purred out.
"Happiness, PUNCH!"
Hemera managed to get right next to him, slamming her fist directly into his dirt spear, disintegrating it.
"Shadow Step."
I took Hemera away, bringing her back next to Nyx.
"Aw, thanks for the assist buddy!" she said, patting me on the back.
"Pierce!"
"Shadow Slash!"
I slashed horizontally, colliding with his attack before getting sent backwards towards Lachesis.
"He's quite tough, isn't he?" Lachesis muttered, her eyes surveying the battlefield from the back.
"Indeed, but we'll get him yet," I said before rushing towards him.
"If you think you six will be enough to beat me, you're surely mistaken!" Iapetus roared out, reeling his arms back once more.
"PIERCE!"
"Night Rend."
The night sky swallowed up his attack midair before it vanished as quickly as it appeared, and Nyx let out a grin.
"I think you're the one mistaken here! Go now you three!"
"Nightfall: Night Pierce!"
"Pierce!"
A barrage of his attack covered with the night sky came raining back down at him from the literal night sky, but not before he sent out an attack of his own to cancel it out.
Thanks for that Nyx.
"Lights Out!" Hemera roared out, punching him square in the chest.
"You'll have to do better than that brat," Iapetus said, raising his hand up in the air.
"Lustful Infatuation!"
"Pierce!"
Eros managed to block his attack once more, letting out a cry of pain before a shocked look overcame his face.
"It, didn't work?"
"If you think that puny love of yours could overcome the love I feel for my family, then you're a bigger fool than I thought."
"Shadow Thrust!"
I thrusted right at him, only to be sent aside by another spear of dirt he created.
"Hmph, is that really the best this group of you can do!?" He roared out.
"PIERCE!"
"Shadow Step!"
I managed to get everyone away, bringing them all back to Lachesis in the back, watching his attacks rip up the ground around him as he cackled with laughter.
"Whoa, you were fighting this guy by your damn self?" Nyx muttered, standing back up.
"He is indeed quite strong. I don't think we can beat him unless we pull out some higher-octane attacks," I agreed, glancing back at Lachesis.
"Just don't kill him," Lachesis warned, and we all let out a collective cry of relief.
"Finally! It's on now, Mr. Tall Man!" Hemera roared, getting back to her feet.
"Oh my, I can't wait~!" Eros purred out, winking at us as he too got back to his feet.
"I still can't use the power in my right eye, it would kill him; but I shall use other moves instead now," I said, getting up, and we all looked towards Iapetus.
"Honestly, how did a no-name group of misfits like you even manage to get this far, let alone beat my sons?"
"That's because we're not a no name group!" We all yelled out, and we collectively rushed towards.
"Pierce!" Iapetus roared out, but nothing happened as his eyes grew wide, looking over at Aether, who also hadn't moved at all.
"I'm Aether of the Sky, Embodiment of Perfection, Ruler of Those Beneath Me," he said, glaring at him. "Peasants like you should know better than to make spears of air while I'm around."
"Damn brat, how did you-!?"
"Nightfall: Darkest Night!"
A mist of darkness enveloped him, probably from when Nyx took my darkness in earlier, which tangled around him, causing him to tense up involuntarily.
"If you think the love we feel for our King is shallow, you are surely mistaken!" Eros yelled out, running ahead of me and Hemera.
"Passion's Rush!"
Eros rushed towards Iapetus, slamming into him, causing him to take a single step back.
"And if you think we can only be happy with our own family, you're dead wrong Mr. Tall Man!" Hemera agreed, pulling her arms back as she too ran ahead.
"Daybreak!"
And explosion of light enveloped Iapetus as she slammed both her fists into him, causing him to take another step back.
"And if you think that the family we have with him is any less than what a real family has," I started, leaping up in the air as I started to spin.
"THEN YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S BLIND, IAPETUS!"
"SHADOW SAW!"
He just barely managed to block with his spear, and yet I continued to spin even faster, cutting through his spear, my sword finally making contact as I sent him back another two steps before he fell onto his knees, breathing hard before he glared at us.
"Who, the hell are you?"
"I'm Aether of the Sky, Embodiment of Perfection, Ruler of Those Beneath Me!" Aether said, readjusting his red baseball hat.
"I'm Eros, Charmer of Incubus', Love Master and Sexual Deviant Extraordinaire!" Eros purred out, picking up his pink beret before putting it back on his head.
"I'm Erebus of the Blazing Red and the Billowing Black, Slayer of Demons!" I yelled out, slamming my katana into the ground, glaring at him through my purple kabuto.
"I'm The Daytime Beauty Hemera, Bringer of the Sun and Optimism, Princess of Happiness!" Hemera yelled out, readjusting her yellow cowboy hat before slamming her gauntlets together.
"I'm The Mysterious Beauty Nyx, Denizen of the Night and Dark, Princess of Pessimism!" Nyx yelled out, her tiara glowing a bright blue.
"And I'm Lachesis, Seer of the Future, Changer of Fate, Foreteller of Life and Death!" Lachesis yelled out, the jewels in her silver diadem glowing.
"And Together, we are-!"
"And our group name shall be-!"
A name that King shall no longer forget…
"THE NELNEHATS!" We roared out together, and Iapetus's eyes widened.
"That's impossible! That legendary group of 8 demon slayers who managed to kill one of the archdemons almost a decade ago, is just a bunch of brats like you!?"
"Believe it or not, but that's who we are!" We yelled out, and Iapetus slowly got to his feet, chuckling to himself.
"HOW ABSOLUTELY FUCKING EXCELLENT!" He roared out, causing the entire building to shake.
"This is absolutely perfect! How wonderful, what glorious entertainment you all will offer on this glorious night of our long-awaited family reunion!"
He created another spear, this one metal, that shot out of the wall into his hands before slamming it down onto the ground.
"Allow me to introduce myself once more, for it is truly an honor fighting a group such as yourself!"
"FOR MY NAME IS IAPETUS, IAPETUS THE PIERCER, PROGENITOR OF MAN, THE TITAN CRAFTSMAN!"
He pointed his spear at us, his grin the widest it had been all night.
"NOW COME AT ME, NELNEHAT'S!"