Underground Elevators

"What did you just say?"

Takeru spoke in a quiet voice that did nothing to hide his intensity, Kageo's words triggering something within as he forced his left hand to grip Muramasa as well. The effect was further enhanced by his heavy breathing, a clear manifestation of the fatigue plaguing him "Are you telling me to run away?"

In his mind, images of a silver-haired girl (around ten years of age) whose eyes bore the same hue as his flashed and flickered. Despite being sick and bound to a wheelchair, she kept smiling at him, a warm smile that would prove to be his source of strength.

"Are you telling me to run and face her? Face her and tell her that I FAILED?!" At that last rage-filled word, Muramasa flared to life, the ground shaking as the red mist concentrated on the blade. "I've gotten this far for her sake! I CAN'T TURN BACK NOW!"

He knew that he was badly hurt, and that drawing all his seithr would do a number on his body, but he didn't care. He was going to win, for his Mizuki-chan.

As such, he prepared to end this battle in one stroke.

"You choose a painful path, I'm going to drag you out of here. You see reality...no, I am in no position to preach. But I will drag you out of here, alive." he had no reason why he was going to make sure this boy turned back the hard way, he was trying to do something on spirit alone? This was nothing if not enough in this world to get by on. If that were so...then many warriors would not have died, many heroes would not have fallen during dark times. Perseverance was strong in people, but it alone was no solution. As Kageo started walking towards him, he'd began to glow with a dark blue and black aura picking its way up around him. He'd have to finish him with that it seemed, since the boy would move and struggle against the inevitable. He would have to put him out in the way he knew best, non-fatally.

"This ends here." He was not opening himself up...on the contrary, while his paw-hands were now free and claws had emerged from them; the midnight blue claws glinting before the glow he possessed of raw caeroule energy, still his spear stood up at his back. Held up by his tail, he was preparing for a technique that he'd developed in order to defeat an opponent quickly. It might end in him being damaged, if that armagus struck him; but it would stop this boy with ease and he was most sure this youth had little left in him.

"This is it..." Takeru spoke in a low feral growl as the seithr gathered in his sword reached the peak "I'm ending this with one blow!"

He raised Muramasa over his head, the crimson light giving the Armagus the look of a malevolent demonic weapon. In fact, it seemed as if the light reflected in his eyes, which did well to enhance his ominous look.

"EXCALIBUR..." He roared with all his might before bringing the blade down "MORGAN!!"

With one mighty swing, the seithr was released, sending a huge energy wave at his opponent. If one had examined the ground after the battle, it looked as if it had been cleaved in half at the direction the wave traveled in.

Was this really his choice and answer? He'd looked at him and shook his head, what foolish gesture...an attack that could certainly tear through most opponents, without a doubt. Still, even with one attack of this degree, he would not be denied. The degree of the attack would demand that he responded with something greater, while the attack was a mass of seithr, it would not hold together if something completely ripped at it and tore at that weakened section...now would it?

"This is your resolve, let me show you its weakness! Seithr Boost: Overlord!" the small measure designed to allow him to absorb an alarming amount of seithr, it was as to such that he'd ripped into the center of the wave, with both his spear poised over his back as he raced towards the wave; his aura...like a dark red/black/blue shade had leeched from the wave's centermost area and was immediately divided. Kageo had managed to breakdown some of the attack before rushing, he'd used Kagennotsuki to charge through the center, while bearing some damage from the concentrated seithr, he'd merely absorbed the force and pressed onward. Moving faster and faster...until he was but a swift blur; all of this taking no more than 40 seconds. The impossibly fast movement had him standing before the boy and looking upon him with blue eyes, they were full of no emotion in that instant. "To sleep with you, Kaka's palm!" a weakened version of one of his closer range martial arts strikes, he'd stricken the boy's face, chest, and stomach region with his large sleeves. Having used the seithr to enhance the power behind it. He knew that this would launch the boy into the nearby wall, he'd hoped it would knock him unconscious. Since he did not want to do much worse.

"Gaah!" Takeru gasped, both from surprise that someone broke through his match-ending move and the multiple blows to his body that sent him crashing into a wall, the impact causing rubble and debris to fly everywhere.

"D-Damn it..." he growled, amazingly still conscious even after the punishment he took. However, as evidenced by the slumped sitting position he was currently in, his body had reached it's absolute limit. He couldn't move even if he tried.

"Looks like I lost..." he said in a tone of voice that hid his disappointment.

The Kaka rose while his body released all of the seithr very suddenly, while his body began the assessment of the slight damage he'd taken, as blowing through the attack wasn't very wise for anyone, even his tactic had regarded him some damage; though it was hardly enough to stall his nanobots from taking their actions and patching him up internally. He was going to help Iron Tager, but perhaps after he'd gotten this vigilante out of the hallway first, he had no wish to see him die.

"I'm not here to chastise your decision, but I will speak on it. This should tell you something...if you cannot defeat me; you've no hope with the Grim Reaper. I am hardly a shadow compared to that man." he'd looked to Takeru and after determining that he would not be able to lift a hand much against him, he'd gathered him and his armagus up; hoisting the youth over his shoulder with the armagus in hand. "I'm getting you upstairs, at least out of this degree of dangerous turf." his words came as he no sooner headed to drop the lad off in the cathedral above.

(Exuent with Takeru) ~~~~~~~~~~~>

(Returning from the Cathedral)~~~~~~~~~~~>

Having made great haste, the kaka could only wonder how well Tager was doing against the two battered opponents. With someone as strong as he, the imagination left little to thought: Kageo was very confident within the Red Devil's sharp mind and powerful abilities to earn him a victory. But it would not prevent him from offering help where it may have been needed. With 15% battle damage, he was still quite capable of going on.

As the children started playing behind him, Tager took one little time to assess his opponent's ability. It seemed both were injured from their battles while he had barely any battle damage incurred. Merely tickling due to his inner comms engine shortcircuiting. Which means he had to make it fast. Given Hakumen was in the opposing party, if they stalled enough for him to be worn down enough for the white knight's power to factor into this fight, it would definitely turn bad.
"I'm sorry to end this reunion of justicemen. Really touching, but I am to take you back to the Sector. And Kokonoe ordered me to do so the hard way.", he said his last sentence before engaging battle and charging towards the ninja, surrounded by magnetic energy; he was aiming to bring this man down before he could do anything worth notice. It was the only way to be sure Hakumen wouldn't come back to being fighting-fit.

Bang had rolled to dodge the Red Devil's fierce attack, but only barely so; the injuries he had occured from his earlier duel with Hakumen surely took their toll.

"I fear I may be but an impediment to my comrade at this rate." The scruffy ninja panted heavily as he slowly staggered to his feet. He looked between Iron Tager, then to Kageo. The kaka had returned from his earlier duel with Takeru, the victor having sustained minor injuries from his battle with the swordswinging vigilante.

Bang knew what he had to do.

"Have at you!" The ninja roared at the top of his lungs as he charged for the modified kaka. He believed that if he can keep Kageo at bay, then Hakumen's chances of defeating Iron Tager would increase, if only for a small amount.

"Then I will judge your fate as well, Red Devil!" As Hakumen had been sure to sidestep the Red Devil's charge, even with it not being aimed for him, any further blows to him would be troublesome at best, he would not have himself stopped here. Even at the disadvantage, through will alone, Hakumen drew Okami and started towards the Red Devil in a sudden charge, it was at least somewhat managed as an attack, as he thrusted the base of his sword towards Iron Tager's back, this granted he was turned away from him still. Having taken a chance to end the great cyborg's battle before it began, "Guren(Crimson Lotus)!" the hilt of his blade aimed for the spine of the giant Sector Seven agent.

"Bang Shishigami, famed vigilante of Ronan-Gai, it saddens me that we come into conflict. You are a great friend to the kaka tribe." though the exchange of words was shared, the kaka knew better about just who he was and what it meant. Having understood that even weakened that he would not go down too easily, it meant that he would have to end the battle before it got too serious. Kageo was quick to thrust both of his palms out towards the skilled ninja, counting on the fact that he might evade him or in fact stop his attack. If Bang Shishigami was able to 'play' with Tao, then he knew better about holding back too much. As long as it was enough to subdue the talented Shinobi before Bang overexerted himself in an effort to defeat him. Even with a job to do, it did not stop a sense of concern for the shinobi who was a good friend and self-proclaimed teacher of Tao.

As the ninja demonstrated his speed, the Red Devil thought he was in for more trouble than expected. Except the ninja was charging towards Kageo. Good. The kaka should be able to at least hinder him somewhat. Which leaves Hakumen to me...
At least these sensors Kokonoe gave him made him see more than what the others thought, and probably Hakumen too. He simply turned a little 30°, using one arm from his side as a simple yet effective defense against the Silver Knight's attack. Though that attack was faster than it was expected to be, Iron Tager would not relent. If he's already recovering, I'll have to engage full power on-the-spot..., the hulking agent thought as he gathered some magnetic energy into his gauntlets. He'd need full charge and all tools available if he was ever to force Hakumen to submit.

As the Silver Knight leapt backwards, he'd landed with Ookami poised to attack, kneeling low and starting in on him again. Hakumen did realize that the reserves of the power were being denied by that wound from the unusual nail, in combination with the damage sustained by Ragna the Bloodedge, it was still slowing him down tremendously. If not for will alone, Hakumen would not have been moving. Though it was clearly not enough to stop him from taking any action, without anything but a focus on defeating the Red Devil, the next maneuver was already initiated in mid dash.

"Zantetsu(Rending Steel)!" The swift moving Ookami was aimed for the Red Devil's center mass once again, from an overhead, two handed slashing maneuvered aimed for his neck/shoulder region. The plan of course to damage him and then wound the Red Devil to stop him.

"Ah! It troubles me to face my disciple's kin!" Bang roared in his usual boisterous fashion as he leaped high into the air "Nevertheless, I will not hold back!"

Flames began to wreathe his foot as he descended "Prepare yourself!Feel the power of those who cry for JUSTICE!"

Should Kageo choose to block his burning heel, he would jump back and throw kunai aimed for the kaka's legs.

The action was already chosen just as the flame ridden feet would find themselves stopped by the shaft of Kagennotsuki, something that was supplemented by the head of the wide headed spear being angled slightly to the right before he'd leapt backwards and thrusted the spear out at skilled ninja in all of his speed, wanting to avert the direction of the attack, while he'd countered; there was no sure way to say it would hit the intended target. Either way, he knew that he'd have to watch his actions.

"Hiyah!" the blow was directed, he'd hoped that it would begin.

As he was preparing himself, the Red Devil saw the attack coming. As his hands were up, he simply blocked the sword with his steel gauntlets. I better not abuse that too much. His strength is still firm andI cannot allow to have those take too much damage..., he thought as he promptly shoved the attack away right where it came from, before releasing the charged power in a magnetic ball of electricity that Tager sent flying at fast speeds in Hakumen's direction, calling his attack out loud: "Spark Bolt!"
Of course, he'd not stop there: the hulking Tager would in fact make a short dash, protecting his head with his gauntlets. It would allow him to guard against eventual riposte attempts and allow him to reach Hakumen with a backfist swipe were he still close enough after the last blow.

As the powerful giant had shoved him backwards in his track, the Silver Knight did come to realize that this Red Devil's great size was not a hindrance towards his efforts much if at all. In fact, the truth was that it would allow him to contend with the weakened Leader of the Six Heroes with some effectiveness. 'It seems I will have to end this quickly...I cannot afford to allow him to catch me off guard.' while the kaka was not his concern, he made a small note of his presence; since it could prove troublesome if he interfered.

This bout with Iron Tager wasn't going to end easily, but even as the Spark Bolt had stricken the Sankishin wielding warrior, he'd emerged from the blast with little harm done to him; this due to the raised guard of Ookami. Something that once he realized was naught but the first attack, had him quickly raising his foot in an attempt to strike him as he neared his location. "Hotaru(Firefly)!" the hope was that the Red Devil would be caught off guard as his opponent was moving in on him.

Seeing as his charged attack only had a little effect, Tager thought quick, he couldn't afford too much waste of time. As the distance between the two combatants was closed again, Tager whipped his backfist out, trying to strike Hakumen without any regard to his own safety: in a trade of blows, Tager was surely the only person to even be able to surpass Hakumen's brute force.

He was hit by the kick, right in his face as his backfist aimed to strike back. As he fell back on the ground, Tager looked in front of him to verify if his back fist did hit the mark. He stood up as this fight wasn't an easy one despite Hakumen being at 20% power and injured. If he recovers his energy just a little more, the fight is going to become unwinnable quickly. I need to make it short and end this with just one blow.

Having faced off with the blow that the Red Devil lashed out with, it was when that he realized the extent of the damage. The fist had stricken him and sent him staggering into the wall. At any other time, he would've been fine putting a stop to the move that had just stricken him, but the large nail had an adverse effect on him. "It would appear that I have underestimated you, but no more." while his reserves were fed, there was little that he could offer towards breaking the deadlock. While taking stance again, Ookami was still gripped vigorously, the Silver Knight knew the reserves were gathering, but for some reason the extra power he'd come to expect was not channeling properly.

Despite his attack hitting its mark, Tager was sure Hakumen wasn't over with yet.
Charging his gauntlets again, Tager prepared his last attack, remembering Kokonoe ordered to give them hell... and Kokonoe's exact words were his missions. "Any last word before you're taken back to the Sector, Hakumen?", the Red Devil made his last inquiry to Hakumen, charging his gauntlets into overdrive, before delivering the uncontainable magnetic energy off in one straight overcharged punch. But the impact would be further strengthened due to the fact that the Spark Bolt had left magnetic traces Hakumen, which would draw him towards that furious blow. "Power output at one hundred and twenty percent! Take this!", shouted the agent as he threw up his fist to pummel the White Knight. This was the overpowering blow that Tager imagined; it was his attempt to end this skirmish in one shot.

Hakumen had not intended to respond at first, but he would tell the Red Devil something, while he'd took up to charge him. He was not willing to back down at all, while sweeping Ookami towards the Red Devil, his sword came around in a twist; well it marked the end of the battle, as Hakumen's aim was for the giant's waist. Sure enough he'd either hit or otherwise, but he was not to dodge this blow; the Silver Knight for one reason or another had no longer possessed the ability to do so. "We will test the end of this!" these were his last words.

As the Red Devil Advanced to his objective, he was not to back out of his attack despite noting that Hakumen was well-prepared for it, with a potential killing attack in store. The best the Red Devil could do was hit hard before Hakumen slashed his chest in half. As his fist launched forward and landed, the long sword made contact with his chest area, but his arms' length ensured that his wound wouldn't be deadly, even though he would need some patching up once back... As the Red Devil regained his stance, he noted it was his time to make a quip or two.
"In the end... I'm still standing...", he quietly nodded to himself after making contact with such a blow.
Keeping an eye on Hakumen, Tager pulled out his phone, hoping it was no longer down. "Kokonoe. It's me.", he tapped his phone a bit, in hopes of getting contact...

"Sir Hakumen!"

Bang was visibly dismayed when he saw the white knight fall before the might of the Red Devil. As much as he wanted to avenge his comrade's loss, he had to deal with the opponent in front of him, and he had to do it quickly.

He leaped into the air, and dove down with a mighty kick. He intended to hit Kageo on the chest with enough force to at least knock the kaka out cold.

Kageo had to end this bout as quickly as Tager managed with Hakumen, while he was by no means doubting Bang Shishigami's strength; he would have to show him some of the durability that he possessed. To any other kaka of his age or degree, such a mighty blow would have put them down; as such since the modified kaka's enhanced agility and sensory systems had revealed to him the intended path of the kick he'd be sure that it was adjusted. The blow had grazed his chest and slid down the side of his torso, while solidly connecting and inflicting some minor harm; it was harmless as far as the power it truly possessed.

"A good bout, Bang Shishigami; but I must bid you good night!" it was by now, as the flying kick had been mostly done that the kaka chose to expel the gathered force of indigo haze that had once more naturally gathered within his spear. At this range, the volume should either knock the weakened man of justice out or subdue him (so the hopes of this move are~); something that Kageo hoped to happen as he unleashed this modified version of his spear's shunting so close to both his own and Bang's bodies. "Indigo Haze Storm: Burst!" a literal explosion of the Indigo Haze energy at this range would expand and engulf the both of them. Despite the slight damage it would cause Kageo, he was well within damage expectations; he knew he would recover from this sooner than later.

The Silver Knight had been bested by the blow during the last past, the strike having packed just enough for his defeat. While his blow had landed, the grazing effect meant little to the Red Devil. Managing to remain on his knee, despite the raw power packed by the Sector Seven's mightiest warrior; Hakumen had just enough in him to sheath Ookami. As to never be without his blade of justice, he had no stamina to recover from the blow given him. And furthermore to his case, he'd had nothing to say as well, so fate was bided for but a moment...very well then.