The Light Born In The Darkness (CH 43)

A/N: This story is rated M for mature content not suitable for children.

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Chapter 43: Clash In Kuoh

Kuoh Town

Unohana, her sword at the ready, stood poised to confront both Okita and Surtr. One was a samurai whose prowess was nearly on par with her own, while the other was a clone of a fire giant, possessing a level of destructive power that even the gods find intimidating.

With a relaxed demeanor, Unohana inquired, "Are you two planning to just stand there all day, or are you actually going to make a move against me?"

Okita remained silent, aware that she was attempting to provoke him into making a potentially deadly error. He realized that Surtr's composure was starting to wane, so he needed to take action quickly.

Okita could still feel Rias close by, observing, and he was aware that Surtr could sense her presence too. Because of this, he refrained from unleashing his full strength, worried about potentially harming the Gremory heiress. They would need to collaborate to defeat that formidable woman.

"If you're not going to approach me, then I'll come to you," Unohana declared with a fierce grin as she surged forward with incredible speed. "This time, Okita, I will end you."

"You're as wild as always," Okita remarked, their blades meeting with a shower of sparks as they fought against Unohana.

Surtr tried to land a surprise attack, but Unohana blocked his attack with a hidden knife and cut him from the arm to his chest as she leaped away from the two reincarnated devils.

"You two would be difficult to battle as a team," Unohana confessed with a displeased expression. "However, it's fortunate that I have backup."

Surtr appeared bewildered, but then he sensed a grip around his neck before being hurled to the outskirts of Kuoh Town.

Okita witnessed the entire scene unfold as a figure darted in and swiftly abducted his ally. Frustrated, he cursed while defending against Unohana’s downward strike, which kept him occupied while Surtr was nowhere to be seen.

"Who was that? You were meant to be here by yourself," Okita remarked, puzzled, as he recalled that Unohana was expected to come alone.

"Do you honestly believe that I would be assigned to watch over Rias, or rather the baby she carries, all on my own?" Unohana replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Do you truly think Lord Satanchia would make such an error?"

Okita muttered quietly to himself as he realized the situation: Lord Satanchia must have stationed several concealed guards around Rias, just in case Unohana was unable to keep her safe for any reason.

"I can tell you're starting to understand," Unohana said as she assumed a fighting position to continue their duel. Okita mirrored her stance but also extended his awareness to check for any concealed foes nearby, relieved to find none.

"It doesn't matter; I'll defeat you right here and right now," Okita proclaimed with unwavering confidence and resolve. "And don't believe for a second that Surtr will be defeated by anyone, regardless of who they are. They have never encountered the unstoppable force that is Surtr Second."

Unohana glanced at Okita and chuckled, causing him to feel both puzzled and irritated. After a moment, she ceased her laughter, maintaining her guard in case Okita chose to strike while he believed she was preoccupied. Luckily for the samurai, he did not take that opportunity.

"Are you out of your mind?" Okita questioned, gripping the hilt of his katana more tightly. "Your friends are about to perish, and you think that's amusing?"

Unohana replied with a dismissive shake of her head, "My allies won't fall to your clone companion; in fact, I'm confident he will be overcome."

Okita scrutinized Unohana's expression for any hints of dishonesty and concluded that while she possessed many qualities, being a liar was not one of them—she was not someone to place her trust in others without reason. He then turned his gaze toward the presence he sensed from Surtr, and for the first time, a sense of uncertainty and concern about the entire operation washed over him.

Okita pushed aside his concerns and firmed his determination. He needed to overcome Unohana, retrieve Rias and bring her back to the underworld, and then assist Surtr in defeating his adversary. If he couldn't defeat them before reaching him, they might end up returning to their own kind together.

Rias observed the scene from what she believed to be a secure spot, but soon realized her mistake as Unohana and Okita engaged in battle, producing shockwaves and air blades that obliterated everything in their path.

"This is unbelievable," Issei's pawn remarked as he observed the clash, maneuvering away to increase the gap between himself and the battling devils.

Akeno embraced Rias and hoisted her off the ground, while Kiba, Xenovia and Koneko created a protective shield around them, doing their best to guard her from the slicing winds.

"What will you do, Rias?" Akeno inquired anxiously. She was aware that the bond between her king and her Clan was currently strained, but would she be willing to sacrifice everything she understood to safeguard her unborn child?

Rias listened to her queen, contemplating her choices in her mind. She realized that whichever path she took, her life would be transformed.

If she decided to return to her family, her father would likely force her to terminate her pregnancy, disregarding her wishes and the potential risks involved, before arranging for her to be sold to the Phenex or any devil who could benefit him.

If she decides to align herself with her child's father, she risks being labeled a traitor, a reputation from which she can't recover. While her child would be secure, she is uncertain whether Naruto's protection will continue for her once she gives birth. Her baby’s safety is guaranteed, but her own future remains uncertain.

Additionally, she had to take her peerage into account; they would be labeled as traitors alongside her, making them targets as well. She was uncertain whether Naruto would be willing to accept and safeguard them.

Another issue is that Kiba shared a rather close bond with Okita, who served as his mentor. Rias was aware that her decisions would inevitably impact the lives of her peerage, regardless of the path she chose.

The decision was far from simple. Returning to the underworld would seal her fate and that of her child, but it would ensure the safety of her peerage. On the other hand, if she sided with the Extra demon faction, her child would be secure, but her fate and that of her peerage would be uncertain, depending on Naruto's will. Ultimately, she had to choose between sacrificing herself and her child for the safety of her peerage, or risking her own safety and that of her peerage for the well-being of her child.

Rias rests her hand on her belly, contemplating the future that awaits her child, filled with endless possibilities and potential once they arrive in the world.

The thoughts of the red-haired girl shifted to Naruto and what he might feel about her. Does he view her as a possible romantic interest, just a casual fling, or someone he has used and is now ready to move on from? These questions flooded her mind, causing her a great deal of stress.

Rias then recapped her knowledge, noting that her faction was currently launching an assault on the Extra demon Faction, which, according to the limited information she received from Unohana, was prepared for the impending attack.

Rias couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth when she learned that Naruto had stationed additional guards around her. She understood it was foolish to believe it was specifically for her and not solely for their child, but she couldn’t shake off the emotions it stirred within her.

"I've decided what my next steps will be," Rias announced, capturing the attention of her peerage. She glanced around at each of them, fully aware that what she was about to say would alter their lives permanently.

Surtr Second vs

Surtr let out a groan as he rose from the depression in the ground caused by his fall. His adversaries, or rather, adversaries, loomed over him with expressionless faces.

The two figure looked identical to each other and their faces made Surtr think he was facing against Grayfia Satanchia formerly Lucifuge.

The two women were wearing maid uniforms, and if Surtr was being truthful, he might have attempted to flirt with them had they not been his foes. Unfortunately, fate was unkind, and he needed to eliminate them to assist his ally in the fight against Unohana. Once that was done, they could return to their king without delay.

"If you both wish to stay alive, move aside immediately," Surtr announced, stepping forward menacingly, his figure engulfed in flames fueled by his overwhelming strength.

The twins regarded him with unchanging expressions, even with the fire giant looming before them. Surtr assumed they were paralyzed with fear, but as he attempted to move past them, he was met with a fierce kick to both his face and neck from each woman.

"What in the world?" Surtr shouted, both due to the impact of the strikes launching him through the air and the fact that the spots struck were completely encased in ice, even in the presence of his fire.

"You’re tougher than you appear, Fire Fly," one of the twins remarked. Upon a closer look, Surtr noticed that her hair reached her shoulders, while her sister's flowed down her back. "Don’t you agree, Tsukiko?"

"I'm not particularly impressed, Yuki," said Tsukiko, the long-haired twin, as Surtr realized her name. "I expected him to be more powerful, considering he's a clone of the entity destined to bring about the downfall of a pantheon."

"I have no doubt that he's restraining most of his strength to avoid damaging our dad's new toy," Yuki proposed, her face as expressionless as her twin's, and her tone remained steady.

Surtr felt a surge of anger upon hearing them refer to Rias as a toy. He had been a caretaker for the red-haired young woman since she was a child, and hearing her described in such an objectifying manner did not sit well with him.

"What was that you two just mentioned?" Surtr inquired, his tone steady yet the heat in the air intensified. The ground beneath the fire giant's feet started to liquefy into molten rock. "I challenge you to say it again."

This elicited a response from the twins, who exchanged identical smirks. They looked at each other and then back at Surtr, their eyes sparkling with mischief.

"It appears you're not just feeble but also hard of hearing. I mentioned that the red-haired plaything you came for is our father's," Yuki stated in a flat tone that contrasted sharply with the intensity of her words.

"I have no doubt that Daddy would enjoy having Rias back in his bed and might even want to have another baby with her once their first child arrives," Tsukiko teased the fire giant, hoping to provoke him into losing his temper and attacking. Her wish was fulfilled as Surtr expanded to an enormous size.

"This could be quite intriguing, sister," Yuki remarked while observing the furious fire giant. He either didn't care due to his anger or was indifferent to the fact that his flames would impact the residents of Kuoh Town.

"Speak for yourself. This fool gets swept away by his emotions far too quickly. I doubt he even understands that his power could endanger Rias and certainly impact the humans in Kuoh," Tsukiko remarked, shaking her head. Their mother, Grayfia, had instilled in them the importance of staying composed during battle, no matter the circumstances. It’s almost shameful to see a member of a Satan’s peerage lose control so easily. "Thank goodness our father thought ahead."

At Tsukiko's command, a crimson shield enveloped Kuoh Town, guarding it against Surtr's aura for the moment. However, they were aware that this protection wouldn't endure for long. The barrier was not meant to be permanent; its purpose was simply to buy enough time for the evacuation of the town.

"Die!" The fire giant bellowed in rage as his enormous, blazing fist descended upon Tsukiko and Yuki, who were chatting leisurely. Surtr's frustration intensified as his fist struck the ground with tremendous power, generating a shockwave that rippled through the town and far beyond. "I've got you now; this is the consequence of challenging me."

BAM BOOM BAM

Surtr's triumphant roar was suddenly cut off by a barrage of massive icicles that pierced his fiery skin, inflicting immense pain as his molten flesh began to freeze, much to his astonishment.

"What is happening?" Surtr yelled, the agony jolting him back to reality. He couldn't comprehend what he was witnessing; he was fire incarnate, so how was he being frozen? It simply didn't add up.

"You truly have strength, but lack intelligence," Yuki's voice echoed from the sky as Surtr looked up to find both sisters hovering above him, their twelve devil wings spread wide.

"Let's take care of the rabid dog now before he creates any more chaos," Tsukiko stated, her presence causing the atmosphere to chill, as if the very fabric of space was warping around her immense power. Yuki exuded a similar intensity.

For the first time in a long while, Surtr the Second found himself questioning whether he could successfully defend against an adversary since meeting his king.

Chapter End

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A/N: The next time we wrap up the conflict in Kuoh Town, I appreciate all the ongoing support from everyone. Until we meet again!