Ch 7
The two stood there at Monstadt's center. as if Time just stops. Uncaring of their peripheral Visions
Lumine: Oh Aether... it's really really you...
She couldn't believe it. This was her brother reborn... he looks...
Lumine: You look so different.... Brown Hair... Brown eyes. you look so... fierce
Issei eyes her cautiously, still thinking of that day at the underground defiled statue where she chose not to come back with him
Issei: And You haven't aged a day, Lumine
Lumine stepped forward. Her left hand on her chest, Her very existence yearning for their reunion. But His Narrowed Gaze shuts off any emotional responses to her
Issei: how long has it been? 2 years for you, 18 years for me.... But man I wish it was forever
Lumine heard his hostility, Clearly not Happy to see her again
Lumine: B-But this is great..! We can be reunited, Like you wanted right? We can use this chance to bring everyone together, rule this world for every-
Issei: Stop. That's the one thing I never got behind even back then. I tried reaching out to you, I tried begging you to come back with me. You didn't budge and said that I have to finish my journey to finally see you. Did you know how much it broke my heart? To know that a former Sister who I loved dearly and would die for to turn her back on me?
Lumine: B-But Nothing foretold that you would die at Nat-
Issei/Aether: Oh that wasn't an Accident! I was tired! I WANTED to Die!
Lumine- hell, Even the Abyss Battalion Stopped to process the Word's he just said. Lumine in particular is Shocked and Slightly Mortified
Lumine: W-What...?
Aether: All I've ever Wanted was to leave this world with you! I never cared about any Prophecy or Fate that was going on in this world! I just Wanted you back so that we could Leave!
Issei unconsciously Switched his Form over to Aether due to his uncontrollable anger. Bringing Gasps and Shocked faces to the bystanders around them
"Oh my goodness! What?!"
"Is that the Traveler!"
"He came back!"
Aether Ignored the Comments and continued on
Aether: But the moment you said we couldn't see each other yet... it broke me... and After Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, and Fontaine... I was ready to end it all... I went to Natlan, Saw that they were at War with the Abyss, I saw an opportunity and took it. It was Mavuika that was supposed to Die but I knocked her out the Way first!
The Onlookers around them were all in shock at what Aether Said. This was their Traveler, the one they lost 2 years ago... and to hear his declaration that he planned his death... They didn't expect it from someone like him. The ORC never really heard Issei's voice in so much pain before, even with the whole thing with Raynare, This is Him being Himself...
Paimon: ...wha...?
Paimon on the Other hand fell on her knees, she Looked like she was about to Cry as She's trying to Process what blasphemous word's just came out of his mouth. She didn't know Aether felt that way, She was always aware of His depression and Exhaustion. But to know that He planned his own death that day...
Paimon: Aether.... n-no... why... didn't you tell Paimon...
Her voice was just barely higher than a quite whine, Koneko and Ravel knelt down next to her, Trying to comfort the now Fragile girl
Koneko: Hey, keep it together
Ravel: It okay Miss... Issei-Sama is just airing out everything in his heart... it hurts us too but this is him coping with everything...
Back with Issei, who was almost out of breath at this point
Issei: I died, Reborn a new, and when I thought everything was going well... My ass got sent right back here....
Lumine stood still. Processing everything said by her Broth-
Aether: and After Everything this world put me through..... I don't wanna be Aether anymore. I don't wanna be Your brother anymore
That last declaration was a final straw as That felt like a dagger through her heart. Her face went Dark as she stared at the ground, a Hydro Herald float next to her
Imber: Y-Your Highness... A-Are you Alright...?
Lumine was silent was a few moments, her face expressionless...
Lumine: .... Imber.... I want my brother back. Let's get him and go
Imber: .... Understood, Your Highness
Everyone stood alert at her order. The Hydro Herald, Imber signaled The Abyss Mage's, The Hilichurls, the Lawachurl's to advance through the city.
Aether: Guys!
Gasper: Got it!
Irina: Leave it to us!
Xenovia: we'll take care of it!
Koneko: Mm!
His friends understood what they had to do. They Saw a couple groups go left and right around the City. They too spilt off on their on as Issei stood his ground and backed away
Gasper, Irina, and Koneko went to the left wing of the City. Through the narrow street to be met with a couple of Mage's and Lawachurl's
Gasper: Alright, you know what to do...
Irina smiles as Pulls out a blue and Orange Belt with a box bulging on the right side, she slaps it onto her waist as the belt straps forms around
[LIBERA DRIVER!]
Irina: You already did enough today Gasper, let the girls take over this one. You get anyone you see out of here
Koneko nods as she puts on a Black belt with an emblem of a cat with headset, she then takes out a bright blue and Pink buckle with piano buttons and a DJ Disk. Irina also took out a blue and orange stamp with a snake emblem on the front. She pressed down on the top and inserts it on top of the box on her belt
[ENTRY!]
[COBRA!]
[WHAT'S GOING UP! WHAT'S GOING UP! WHAT'S GOING UP!~ ....]
Gasper seemed surprised at their artillery
Gasper: Wh-Where did you get those..?
Irina: Motohama-kun gave these to us, He said to use it whenever we want
Gasper: Damnit.... that does sound like him. Giving out Drivers like Candy...
The two girls then turned their attention to the Hoard of Abyss. Koneko slides the right side of her belt
[SET]
.
.
.
.
On the Other Side...
On the Right Wing of the City, Xenovia, Akeno, Ravel, and Rossweisse ran into A bunch of Hilichurls and Mage's, mostly Hydro Mage's
Rossweisse: Okay. This is a narrow street and there's still people here. Ravel, You and Me will be on evac. Akeno and Xenovia, Defend us while we do
Xenovia: Got it
Akeno: with pleasure~
Rossweisse nodded as she and Ravel began running around, helping people up and guiding them to the stairs up top.
Akeno: My my~ new fodder
Xenovia: Looks like we're in it over our heads, this time
Akeno Giggled
Akeno: I'm starting to see how Ise feels
Akeno reached up into the sky as yellow thunder came down to her, Forming into a Grey sword with a yellow emblem. She holds it to her waist then suddenly sheathing into a black belt with three slots around her
Xenovia meanwhile took out a red-orange belt with a box on the right side, similar to Irina's. And slapped it on her waist also. She then pulls out a red-orange stamp with a bee emblem on it and press it
[WEEK ENDRIVER!] [QUEEN BEE!]
Akeno took out a small yellow book and opens it
[LAMP DO ALANGINA! To aru Ikoku no Chi ni Inishie-kara Tsutawaru Fushigi na Chikara o Motsu Lamp ga Atta!]
Xenovia inserts her Stamp on top of the Belt as Akeno closed the book and placed it down on the third slot furthest from the handle of the sword
Xenovia, Akeno, Koneko, and Irina Eye's their Hoards. Did their Individual Poses akin to their form's
Xenovia: Henshin!
Irina: Henshin!
Akeno: Henshin~
Koneko: Henshin!
Akeno unsheaths her sword to trigger the transformation, with yellow lighting forming whit armor around her, ending with a yellow thundering helmet and on her left side of the Body. Koneko slid the Disk part of her buckle to Transform, Two mechanics Disk appeared above and below her forming a Pod in which Black under armor latched onto her, ending with a golden cat helmet with a headset and bright Blue and Pink armor with Soundwaves designs on her chest along with getting a sharp blue electric guitar
[BEAT! ....READY... FIGHT!]
[IKAZUCHI BATTOU! LAMP DO ALANGINA~! Ikazuchi Issatsu! Lamp no sei to Raimeiken Ikazuchi ga majiwaru toki inazuma no tsurugi ga hikari kagayaku!]
Irina and Xenovia Transformed with pulling their Stamps down to the left side, flipping down the cages that was on the driver's as a Cobra Snake and a Bee appeared and came down on them, deploying Xenovia with red-white Armor and a Bee motif helmet. And Irina with Blue-Orange Armor and a Cobra motif helmet
[LIBERA UP! AH! GOING MY WAY! KAMEN RIDER! JA! JA! JA! JEANNE!]
[SUBVERT UP! WOW! JUST BELIEVE IN MYSELF! KAMEN RIDER! AH! AGUILERA~!]
The Four girls didn't waste any time and just engaged their respective sides. With Irina Launching Lawachurl's up in the air with her Legs and Koneko using her guitar to either burn those Churl's or freeze Mage's respectively on the left wing. While Akeno was having the Time of her life dodging and Using Ikazuchi to electrocute the Hydro Mage's and Xenovia Jumping and flipping around, Using her red Kunai Weapons to Slash up Hilichurls like a windmill
While some of his Friend's split off cover both wings and Rias adn Asia helping people around to evacuate to higher ground, Aether Eyes Lumine with mild Anger and reaching into something behind his back
Aether: Why. What's the End goal?
Lumine: I won't rest until I get you back brother... I refuse to believe you gave up on me. I'm cleaning up my mistake by taking you right here and now. I will make up for lost time and be the Best Person in your life, I don't care if Monstadt -hell- the entirety of Teyvat Falls anymore, I WILL get you back
Imber the Herald stepped front, reached out his hand to Create a Hydro cocoon From under Aether, trapping him
Rias: Ise!
Aether: Nice try but it won't work!
Aether Summons a black rod with two Red Boulders on each end to smash through the Water cocoon. Lumine Narrowed her eyes at the Weapon
Lumine: what in the world are you wielding...
Aether: Giga Finalizer. Something that's only DNA tied to me
Aether readys his weapon, getting ready in case they made the first move
Aether: I'm not Your brother anymore Lumi-
Lumine: SHUT UP!!!! YOU ARE MY BROTHER!!
She screamed out, Startling everyone around
Lumine: I'm getting you back no matter what! Be it is you like it or not!
Imber and a few Mage's advanced on Aether, who then closes th distance by running and jumping over them, flipping around mid-air to deliver a crushing slam, taking out those Mage's, He then Rushes in to Slash Imber who only dodged. The two goes at it for a while, with Aether constantly hitting and Imber Constantly defending
After what felt like 10 minutes of constant pressuring, Aether Began to get winded, only sliding back to catch his breath while Using his Finalizer as a crutch
Aether/Issei: Hah.... hah.... hah....
Aether subconsciously Reverts back to his Issei Form. Trying to get up
Imber: This is where you should surrender Traveler... Go with us and we'll call of this nationalistic takedown. Your Sister is waiting for you
Issei slowly gets up, and Eye the Herald
Issei: I'd rather be dead permanently than to be trapped here again...
Imber only shakes his head in disappointment
Imber: Ah... then this too bad then...
Imber slowly gets closer to Issei. Only within arm's reach while Issei was too tired to retaliate. Rias, Paimon and Asia could only watch in fear with how preoccupied they are with the Citizens
Rias: Ise! Run away!
Asia: Issei-san!
.
.
.
.
.
.
[BOO~oom!!!!!....]
A sound of a rocket launcher can be heard form behind Issei, Hitting Imber right in the face
Imber: GAAHH!!!
He stumbles back as Issei finally stood up, curiosity fills him as He looks at the smoke coming from half of Imber's face
Issei: What the...
???: ROLL-TIDE, MOTHERFUCKER!
Issei stopped as he heard the voice, Eyes widen as he recognized who's voice it is. He slowly turns back to see a familiar four eyed friend surprisingly in Knights of Favonius armor holding a rocket launcher standing on the Guardrail above the Fountain. Rias and Asia looked at the Pleasant guy Next to them in shock
Issei: .....MOTOHAMA?!
Rias: T-This is where you were...?!
Asia: you went gone for a week...
Motohama took off his glasses and slicks back his hair making a mid section
Motohama: Yep! Came here to research. I was surprised when Jean and Kaeya mentioned You lot so I waited to see you
Motohama jumped down, dropping the Rocket launcher and Tearing off the Favonius Armor one by one until the black under armor Leggings were left
Motohama: So you're Aether... Honestly I'm kinda mad you never told me
Issei: I didn't wanna remember
Motohama: And did that backfire horribly
He knelt down next to Issei. His expression sarcastic
Motohama: Y'know... Before Gai Died, He wanted me to watch over you, To protect you... but how can I do that if I don't even you who you are, Riku?
Issei only looks down in guilt
Motohama: *sigh* Get Your Geed-Ass back and rest up okay?
Motohama picked Issei up like a baby before throwing him to Rias, Paimon and Asia, He landed softly in front of them
Issei: Ow!
Paimon: Aether, are you Okay?!
Motohama: Y'know... I gotta give you Credit. Closing in from here and the church, smart move...
The Abyss stood cautious of this Individual
Motohama: But you Bitches forgot one thing. This Nation can only fall... when I fall. And that's Law
Motohama Grins as a Holographic Headset appears on his face
Motohama: Let's Dance, Migos.