Archangel of Death (109)

Hikaru was a man of few words.

When Hanami first became an assassin, Hikaru was one of the first people she met as a part of her team.

He was sitting on the top of a brick wall gate, eating an apple.

''When he saw her, he answered her greeting with a simple nod of the head. He watched as she walked inside of the palace in front of her.''

''Hikaru knew that she was innocent. In fact, Hanami is probably the only Bloodhound that was raised peacefully.''

Hikaru and the others already lived in hell.

Hers was just beginning.

''Somehow Hikaru felt that she needed protecting. She was precious, like the sun peeking out of the clouds after days of nonstop rain.''

''He was always watching from the shadows, making sure that her state of mind never faltered. He wanted to see her happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own life, which to him didn't mean much, but it was all he could offer.''

''Hikaru was known as the mercenary who brought death with him wherever he went. His scythe could easily cut diamond cleanly in half with one swing.''

It was so sharp that he could cut a man down without letting the blade even graze skin.

Everyone saw him as dangerous.

''But Hikaru didn't like to show his power. It made him feel... evil. He wasn't evil.''

''He couldn't be... right?''

As archangels, none of them had a real family.

''Archangels are made by forced breeding, so the parents usually always harbor hatred for the child. The very process of creating one of them is seen as an evil practice.''

''Hikaru was raised by assassins since birth. His original mother and father refused to take care of him.''

The assassins started training him as soon as he learned how to walk.

''He looked up to them. He wanted to be able to protect them himself. So he trained his hardest.''

His "parents" allowed him to go on a mission with them for the first time just five months after his birth (that'd make him 15 as a regular human).

''He was happy. He'd be able to show them how capable he was.''

''It was supposed to be just one target. Some wealthy man in Don Viper's circle. He was secretly stealing money from the Shogun through underground connections. So Viper had hired Hikaru's parents to kill him.''

But the man was prepared.

They were ambushed, by two different factions.

''The noble hired assassins to kill Hikaru's parents, but Viper secretly also hired another squad to kill Hikaru. Archangel blood is highly sought after. It's more expensive than even diamond.''

''In seconds, Hikaru stood in a sea of blood before he knew it. His parents protected him until the bitter end.''

''Hikaru was covered in blood from head to toe. He didn't cry nor scream.''

''Why would he? Those weren't his real parents. They were stand-ins.''

He quietly picked up his father's scythe and silently but efficiently killed anyone that he saw in his vicinity.

The scythe was soaked with blood, and so was he.

''That's when Hikaru's ability as an archangel kicked in. His body absorbed the blood that covered his body, and so did the weapon that he held. Red mist would slowly emit from his body, screaming for more.''

''It made Hikaru cold and ruthless. He hated that feeling. He remained silent, saying nothing of it, simply walking away.''

''At the end of the day, they were all humans. Humans could never understand what it meant to be an archangel.''

''Hikaru felt nothing for them. He could only protect his own. And there were only twelve of them left in the entire world.''

''He's not letting them go. Ever.''

--

Hikaru emitted blood red mist from his body as his matte black eyes showed the slightest glint of red. The eyes of an archangel that wouldn't reflect light. His scythe started emitting a noise that sounded like a high pitched scream.

Don Viper faced him. He cracked his knuckles. "Don't worry. I'll put you to rest."

When Viper blinked, Hikaru was gone. He was already behind him after cutting Viper in half.

Viper looked behind him. Hikaru had only cut through smoke.

Hikaru stood up and turned around. He dashed forward and started shredding away at Viper's body, swinging hundreds of times per second.

Viper's body turned completely into smoke as he quickly came back together.

Before he completely regenerated, Don was blown up with an explosion of blue fire.

Kosuke had his hand out. "Hellfire Burn."

Viper reformed himself in the sky. He reached out his right hand, which turned into a hand made out of lava. It grew hundreds of times its size as it smashed the ground, burning the entirety of his property.

Hanami and Kosuke got away.

Hikaru was flying up the side of the arm, heading for Viper. Don blew out a high powered shot of lava. Hikaru moved too fast for the human eye to see, but the lava was cut up into particles in a flash.

Hikaru was skilled enough to where he could cut anything, or anyone, down to the atomic level.

Viper raised his gigantic arm and swiped at Hikaru, only for it to be cut up before it reached its target.

Don pulled his arm back, still dripping with red-hot magma. His other arm became lava as well. He unleashed a flurry of punches, just as fast as Hikaru could swing his blade. The punches burned the air, creating explosions with each punch. "Magma Rounds!!"

Hikaru was dodging the blows at first, but the explosions in the air got worse and worse. It threw off his rhythm and sent him hurdling back to the ground that was currently a lake of lava.

Viper raised two giant arms of lava and hit Hikaru with them.

Hikaru almost fell into the pit of magma, but swiped his scythe at the last second to bounce him off a wave of air. He landed on solid ground.

Hanami wanted to say something, but stopped herself.

Hikaru was covered in severe burns. He started breathing heavily as steam rose from his own body.

Hikaru looked back at them. "Both of you. Get away from here."

Kosuke stepped up. "I can't do that! Do you see yourself?!"

"Then who's gonna protect Hanami? She's in the worst position right now, her ability is weakest against fire!!"

Kosuke looked at Hanami. He quickly grabbed her and flew away.

Viper looked at them. "You're not getting away!!" He swung a giant lava arm their way.

Hikaru leapt in front of it and started swinging his weapon constantly. The wind blew away the lava.

Don grit his teeth. His entire body turned into smoke. He chased Kosuke down and hit him head on with smoke and sent both him and Hanami to the ground.

Hikaru quickly dashed to the cloud of smoke and dispersed it by cutting it over and over.

But Don appeared above him from a different cloud of smoke. He already had a giant hand of lava balled into a fist.

It was too late when Hikaru noticed. Viper scowled at him. "Volcano Fist!!"

Hikaru was hit in the back with the giant fist and sent to the ground. The lava gushed and splashed everywhere.

Kosuke shielded Hanami from the splashes. It burned his back. He let out a grunt as he picked Hanami up.

Hanami pushed Kosuke off of her. She fell to the ground and stood up. She watched as Don Viper pulled his arms back to their normal size.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Hikaru!!!" she screamed out.

Quickly, Hanami raised her arms.

A wooden pillar came out of the lava lake, pushing Hikaru out. She bent the pillar so that Hikaru landed beside her. He was knocked out, and his entire body was burned severely.

Hanami sharply looked at Viper. Wings grew out of her back as she bolted into the sky. "How could you!!!"

Kosuke flew up after her. "Hanami!! Don't!!"

Viper made a giant magma fist again. He aimed it at Hanami.

Kosuke couldn't reach her in time.

woosh!!

Someone scooped up Hanami and carried her away just a fraction of a second before impact.

She looked at who was carrying her. "Jin?"

Jin looked at her disapprovingly. "Honestly, I've never seen you act so recklessly."

Taichi had also come through and moved Kosuke out of the way. They both landed on solid ground.

Hanami saw a flash of red out the corner of her eye. She turned her head.

It was a large red arm made out of plasma.

"Giant Crimson Fist!! Fusion Flash!!"

boom!!!

Akasan clashed with Don Viper.

Viper narrowed his eyes. "You..."

Akasan's hair was red. He was in his Crimson Form. "Viper!!!"

Anzu appeared over Don Viper with two large pink hands clasped together. She smashed him in his head and sent him to the ground.

Hanami looked at Jin as she was let down. "Why did you decide to come?"

Jin crossed her arms. "Anzu came and got us, just in case there was trouble."

Taichi dropped Kosuke on the ground. He landed on his feet.

Viper stood up. He glared at Anzu and Akasan. "More of you came... it doesn't make a difference!!"

Akasan rushed him, he punched Viper in his chest, but he passed through smoke.

Viper closed the hole, trapping him. He punched Akasan in the face, sending him flying. Anzu smiled and got her turn. Her giant energy hands passed through Viper with every swipe. So she smashed the ground instead.

Viper reformed and took a deep breath. "Toxic Ash!!" He blew out a plume of dark smoke.

Anzu jumped back, but she wasn't going to get away in time.

Then something invisible hit Viper's entire body along with his Toxic Ash with a loud bang and threw him across the land into one of the buildings in town, destroying it completely.

It was Taichi. He jumped in the air and landed behind Anzu.

Anzu looked behind her. "Thanks big guy, I owe you one."

An eruption of smoke came from the town. Viper burst into the air. He made two giant magma fists.

Taichi opened his mouth then made a small hole with his lips.

pow!!

Viper was hit with something again that made a loud sound as it hit him.

The sound of the bang was loud enough to ring everyone's ears.

Akasan stood up. He was near Kosuke. "What was that?" he asked, holding his hands over his ears.

Kosuke stuck a finger in his ear. "Taichi attacks with soundwaves. Might wanna get used to it."

Akasan flew into the air.

"Hey, Akasan!!" Kosuke called out.

Akasan looked down. "Yeah?"

"Viper's entire body can turn into smoke or lava, you can't hit him with physical attacks unless he's completely off guard!!"

Akasan nodded. "Got it!" He zoomed off.

Hanami stared at him as he left.

Viper was bleeding from both ears. He raised both of his giant fists and sent them to the ground. "Dual Volcanic Fists!!"

Akasan charged his hand up. "Giant Crimson Fist!"

He hit one of them.

Jin suddenly flew in and met the tip of her blade with the other giant hand. "Still."

The entire arm turned to ice.

Anzu jumped into the air and smashed it. "This is so fun!!"

Akasan flew up to Viper.

Viper pulled his arms back. "You can't touch me!"

Akasan turned off his crimson fire. His eyes glowed purple. His right leg started glowing as well.

"Dark Crimson Flame: Whirlwind!! Five Hundred Million Volts!!!"

He spun around, bringing his leg into Viper. He passed through, but only half of Viper's body turned into smoke.

Viper froze. "What? I can't disperse! It's the lightning!!" he thought to himself.

Akasan's lightning shocked the molecules in Viper's body, keeping him from transforming all the way.

Akasan roared out as he spun around into a tornado of blue lightning.

Hanami watched with wonder as she saw Viper fall to the ground. "He... hit him."

Akasan's Nil turned off as he landed on the ground.

-

Hikaru was suddenly standing.

Hanami and Kosuke were shocked to see him up.

Hikaru couldn't feel his arms. They were limp at his sides. His eyes were completely white. He was barely conscious. He muttered something.

"I can't hear you!" Kosuke said.

Hikaru muttered again.

Hanami read his lips.

 'Throw me my blade.'

"He said throw him his blade!" Hanami yelled.

Kosuke looked around and found Hikaru's scythe on the ground. He picked it up and threw it to him.

Hikaru caught it with his teeth. He leapt in the air.

-

Don Viper stood back up. He stumbled to the side. "Those damn kids!!"

Hikaru ran past Akasan. As he did, he gave him a look.

Akasan immediately understood. They ran at Viper together.

Viper stomped on the ground, breaking apart everything. Akasan and Hikaru jumped on the rocks rising in the air to get closer to Viper.

Don roared out. "Stay away from me!!" He made two giant fists of lava and punched the rocks in the air.

Jin and Taichi jumped into action.

Taichi boomed out a wide soundwave. It destroyed one of the fists.

Jin touched another one with her sword. "Still." It turned into ice.

Akasan and Hikaru jumped on top of the fist made of ice and slid down towards Viper.

Don blew out a huge plume of smoke. "Toxic Ash!!"

Taichi boomed out another soundwave. It blew away the smoke and broke the ice.

Akasan jumped in the air while Hikaru fell to the ground.

Akasan charged his hand up with lightning. "Static Shock!!" He outstretched his hand, sending out a large shock of lightning.

Viper yelled out as he got electrocuted.

Hikaru suddenly moved up on him from the ground.

Don opened one eye to look at him. He saw the red mist bursting from his body. "A demon!!" he thought.

Hikaru brung his head up and cut Viper across his entire chest. Deeply.

Blood gushed all over the ground.

Viper fell over face first into a pool of blood.

Hikaru dropped his scythe and fell on his back.

Anzu walked up to Viper, grinning. "My team fought a Phantom. You wouldn't stand a chance against all of us. And half of us aren't even here, hmph." she said proudly.