A/N: Someone needs to put the "FA" sound effect over some of the stuff he does in these chapters ToT. As promised.
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Compared to humans, the Dead Apostles were simply superior existences. They were borne of ancient mystery, wielded a power beyond understanding, possessed great strength and most of all, they were immortal. The presence of powerful communication tools, social media and whatnot, had only stabilized them instead of weakening the mystery that made them.
The myth of vampirism, of blood-sucking immortals with banging bods.
That was why many magi wanted to achieve that kind of existence, because it would give them the one thing they sought most, time.
The time needed to study, to reach the Root.
But, there was a reason THEY were the ones in hiding and not us. If they were so great, how come man dominated the land and all its beasts. There was a reason even this guy was continually moving from place to place, sating his bloodthirst on villages, instead of feasting on entire cities.
So, my victory was never in doubt.
"Do you think you're the first magus to think of utilizing pushing force?"
A flash of crimson. A negligible force. A 'flash' still.
I burst through the light and smashed my heel against his chin. Or, I wanted to. He easily blocked it with his palm, hissing.
"I told you I'd rip your fucking throat-!!"
Luvia proved why I was so enamored with her. When the vampire held me in the air by my foot, she dropkicked him in the chest, providing just enough time for me to spin myself around and kick him again. This time, my leg was coated in red. It struck him in the chest, lopping him into the air.
With Blue, I deleted the distance between us. To him, it must have surely appeared like teleportation when I appeared next to him with my foot pulled back.
"GOAL!"
The next moment, he was flying through the air again, courtesy of a devious kick to his shoulder. I felt no resistance. Unlike the last two times, my strikes didn't lose their momentum. I realized whatever he was using to absorb our attacks was conscious, or at least needed an object to make contact with his own body, his skin.
"You motherfuc-"
I was on him before he finished his words, firing Red right into his abdomen. With another grunt, the bloodsucker met the face of the hill I'd promised Vespaio I'd bring him too. A massive boom. The earth broke under him, the hill trembled, and a great gust of wind ripped some lone tree to send it tumbling down the hillside.
I stood at the edge of the crater, leaning on my knee with a grin.
"So, did I do well?"
"I am loathe to admit I underestimated your abilities, magus of the Clock Tower." Father Vespaio joined me, hands behind his back. He eyed the cloud of dust rising from the crater with a raised brow. "We are allies in this, so I shall bury my desire to rid the world of you alongside this monstrosity."
I glanced his way, "Just admit I'd solo you, baldie."
With a cackle, the crazy ginger vaulted over us, holding two swords to either side. She hit the ground with a boom, but flair was all her actions really amounted to. The vampire casually stepped to the side and kicked her in the side, throwing her back from whence she came.
"Since when does the Church give women a fighting chance? What in the bloody hell was the idea there even? I am a Dead Apostle. A creature older than your lineage. King. Slaughterer. Scholar. And you thought jumping at me with swords was a good idea?"
Now, I didn't know what the weird obsession with ripping off shirts was, but I just wanted to put it out there that that shit was never cool, and would never be cool. I physically recoiled when he gripped his clothes by the shoulder before ripping everything off, baring his carved muscly chest.
Shame, because he was dripped out too.
Actually, maybe if it was a hot chick-
"You. Petulant child." He stabbed a finger through the air. "Did you bloody figure it out?"
An executor with a greatsword shot at him… then the idiot fell dead. The vampire had ripped out his throat. He raised the viscera overhead, and held open his mouth, letting the blood flow into his mouth. At the same time, the veins under his skin shimmered. They shone bright through his pale flesh, pulsing, like a multitude of explosions were enclosed underneath.
"Bloodlight." Father Vespaio noted, calm as ever. He then turned to me. His words were a bit more alarmed. "We've made a mistake. I thought it was someone else."
"What the f… What's that supposed to mean?"
"We were under the impression it was a different monster. This one is… This one is far beyond us."
Amusement flickered across the Dead Apostle's face. A moment later, he burst out laughing.
"That's fucking hilarious. You're telling me I've been avoiding you because I thought you were prepared and you were-… HAHAHAHAHA…"
Vespaio ignored him. "The Burial Agency. They're the only ones who can-"
"You wanna run?" I raised a brow.
"I should," He shook his head from side to side, "But, surely the Lord will welcome me into his Kingdom. I will fight him, and I will wound him as best I can."
Hm, that gave me an interesting idea.
I raised my hand, and fired an explosion at him. 'Bloodlight' gobbled it up like before.
"The force from that other spell was greater, brat. Let me show you something interesting in return."
He stomped his foot on the ground. The same explosive force tore up the ground, cracking the earth as it came my way. But, that wasn't all. What hit me wasn't just my explosion, no, it was far greater. Closer to the sort of destruction I unleashed when using Red.
Of course, it didn't really do anything. Infinity spilled out and the explosion stopped long before it ever even reached me.
When the dust cleared, the vamp stood unbothered, but his skin wasn't glowing anymore.
I narrowed my eyes and fired a Gandr.
He stepped aside, avoiding the dark laser.
Yep. I understood his ability now… or at least, some of it.
The best part was, I hadn't even used my eyes yet.
"God-fucking-dammit you stupid child. I'll do it myself." Bloodlight snarled. "I can absorb-"
Many Dead Apostles were former magus. Their 'abilities' were magecraft that had stopped being magecraft and became a part of their existence once they became what they were now. They were 'researchers', geniuses. And, like every magus, they wanted to gloat. They wanted the world to know exactly how superior they were.
"Don't explain your ability like a seasonal villain, I already know."
So, I deprived him of that chance with a grin.
He raised a brow.
"Sit humbled, your 'power' was so simple I didn't even need my eyes. Be honored, I have chosen to make your mystery my own." I pointed a finger at him. "Kinetic Energy. You're absorbing kinetic energy. That's why you're dodging magick, but throwing back spells that only cause damage after they're done casting."
That was how he could straight up absorb an explosion, a punch or a kick, but had to dodge something like Gandr, which did not adhere to such laws of Physics.
Judging by how his eyes widened ever so slightly, I was right.
"But you need physical contact. The last Red worked so there's probably a limit to how much you can absorb at a given time. Is your body the storage?"
"You…"
I cackled. "Imagine that! A thousand year headstart and I figured it out in a couple minutes. A 'petulant' child. Ugh, if I was so talentless, I'd probably kill myself."
He did not answer my provocations with any kind of anger. Instead, he straightened his back, and craned his neck.
"Good fucking job. But, do tell. How does knowing this help you? Nothing you can do will affect me for I am ancient. Older than any magick you wield. You do know how mystery works, don't you? And if you want to physically overpower me… well, good fucking luck."
No modern magus could beat him with magecraft, was that what he was trying to say? No, he was somewhat right. In a physical contest, even ignoring his physical prowess, he could absorb the impact from any blow and get stronger for it while his opponent gradually tired.
Hmm, a stalemate?
Nahhhh.
"Be honoured further, you're going to be my guinea pig."
"What?"
I glanced at Vespaio, "You lot'll have to buy me a couple minutes."
"And you will be able to end him then?"
I only nodded.
"I have a spell for this, just needs some calibration."
In a way, I was more limited than Gojo when it came to Limitless. Mine was a set of spells, not an ingrained technique. But, for that very reason, my skillset was a lot more versatile. Where I gave up easy access, I gained free 'editing'. And truly, the code I wrote for these particular spells was a useful one, one I spent much time mixing-and-matching.
"Very well. Surely, the Lord will forgive me for choosing to end the greater of two evils."
Even the sword-wielding ginger nun finally woke up, looking around confusedly as Vespaio walked to her side. He raised the girl to her feet by her shoulder, and eyed what little else remained of his squad. Of the original five, only three remained.
Once again, I made sure Luvia wasn't around before inhaling deeply. In the end, I cared little for these church folk. Her safety however, was paramount.
Finally, I lowered my aviators, activating my magic circuits.
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Hope you enjoyed.
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