Itadaki no Hecate

Synchronized Feelings

The claws of a titan of solid medal, humanoid in form with a dragon's head, clashed against a flying, spinning disc-like blade coming at it at supersonic speeds. Not once did the soaring object get past his guard, for despite its size, the towering beast was anything but lumbering, and it moved with the quickness of a true predator.

Meanwhile, a wild-haired Flame Haze attempted to unload on the back of the Thousand Changes, but her attack was blocked by rapidly summoned Rinne meatshields and a barrier instantly woven by a single unending chain. The Scatterer of Sparkling Light continued to strafe her opponents, continually firing upon them, but each of her attacks was intercepted by the highly elusive Bel Peol.

And while the battle raged on above, so did the duel on the Palace between two Flame Hazes.

Margery Daw had transformed into a massive quadrapedal wolf with blazing purple fur. This form also had three heads, not unlike the mythical beast Cerberus. Her opponent, in response, had reinforced herself with ribbons stacked layer upon layer similar to a knight's plate armor. In either hand, ribbons formed spinning drill-like lances.

Upon transformation of the two, the fight continued. Margery's deafening roar pierced the hot, thick air as she prepared to chant another spell.

Episode 24: Synchronized Feelings

Holding Blutsauger in one hand, Yuji Sakai ran down the final stretch, a long hallway with columns parallel to an elegant carpet which led towards a bright light at the end. Hecate's glow was finally in sight.

All around him lay multitudes of scrapped robotic Rinne, most of which were cut to pieces, while others were scorched to ash. It was fairly simple to figure out who was responsible.

"She's already there," Yuji gasped, and redoubled his efforts to reach his dear friend, breathing heavily as he kept going.

He passed under a doorframe, finding the remains of a once-elegantly engraved iron door at his feet sliced cleanly into four pieces. Before him, a red-haired girl wearing a black cape continually hacked at Hecate, but she could not even get close. The more force she put into her attacks, the more she was repelled, as if repulsed by a barrier, and found herself getting knocked back.

Yuji was relieved that Hecate still remained alive, but there was still the matter of the Flame Haze standing between him and her. The Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter paused in her attempts to break through and turned around to face him.

"It's you," she said passively. Her expression was hard, and her eyes stared him down harshly, exuding her strong will.

"Our first encounter aside, for a Torch to have made it this deep into this storm is not something anyone would ever expect," Alastor observed. They had felt the swelling of power earlier as well, and while it did surprise them, it only spurred them on. "There must be some reason behind your actions."

Yuji smiled. "It's simple enough: I came for my friend."

The Flame Haze glanced at the Priestess, who remained kneeling with the Treasure, her eyes shut and her face expressing the anguish within her. "Do you have any idea who she is?"

"Supreme Throne Hecate, Priestess of Bal Masque, a cold, heartless Crimson Lord who has killed hundreds of Flame Hazes and consumed thousands of humans like me," Yuji said nonchalantly. "At least, that's what everyone else sees. But it's not everything she is."

He held Blutsauger firmly in his hand. "And I won't let anyone harm her."

The Flaming-Haired Blazing-Eyed Hunter looked at the blade of the Nietono no Shana, letting her eyes run over it from hilt to tip, and pointed it at the former Mystes. "You aren't the first Torch to fight me, but I've never met anyone who'd do it for such a pointless reason."