The Red Hand

Chapter 376 – It’s Namesake.

"Ahh, listen to those cheers." Akagi smiled as she took in the sound of the massive army denouncing her and cheering on their leader. "It does my heart good to hear the sounds of dead men walking." She said as she pat her chest.@@novelbin@@

"Well, you definitely fired them up, that's for sure." Halifax noted that her words may have had the opposite of the intended effect. "But I'm going to bet that's exactly what you wanted, wasn't it?" She figured Akagi would've been sad had the army turned tail and ran.

{Not to mention that Penelope would've probably started killing anyone who ran, so there's that.} (Halifax)

"What? You think me so evil that I actually want to smash an entire army? Perish the thought." Akagi smirked.

{I'm just a good kitty that wants pets! I would never do something so heinous, MEW!} (Akagi)

"Are your people really going to fight a hundred thousand soldiers?" Amakusa asked, interjecting. "Those Ninja and the others are good, but can they hold off that many people all at once?" She figured they'd just be worn down and slaughtered once they tired out.

"Do not worry about our forces." Kira said. "Each of them has been trained for this very moment, and with the improvements that Lady Akagi has made, this will end in nothing less than total victory." Akagi had given each Ninja specially designed weapon made by Imp and Imperial, and each was outfitted in lightweight, strong, and durable armor that would render them nimble and highly resilient. “And none of us would dare bring same to Lady Akagi in such an important moment.”

"Besides, pet, do not forget that we've got a couple of Hero units to throw into the fight. Silfana, Kira and you are far more effective than any one of the ninjas." Akagi said with a nasty smirk as she eyed up the Hero. “Though out of the three, you are by far the weakest and most squishy.”

"What?!? You're sending me?!?" Amakusa's blood ran cold as she imagined being forced to gleefully slaughter soldiers. "I refuse! I'm not spilling more blood for you, and especially no against people I fought beside!"

{I have to get out of here! She's crazy enough to actually make me do it! I don't want to hurt people anymore!} (Amakusa)

"They slaughtered an innocent people who never wanted war. I'd say turning your blade on such people is warranted." Akagi scoffed at her words. "Besides, this is part of your punishment." She cackled evilly. “Do not forget your place, pet.”

"Y-You're not serious..." Amakusa slowly backed away as her body trembled. "I-I won't do it! I don't care how much control you have over me... I won't... I won't spill blood on a battlefield for you! I won't!"

"Oh, pet, it's already too late for that." Akagi laughed as she reminded Amakusa that she'd killed the King and Prince of Amdamell for her. "Besides, aren't we forgetting one tinsy winsy but ever so crucial little tiny detail? I OWN YOU! “

"P-Please... No... I don't... I don't want to kill more people." Amakusa's entire body started shaking violently in fear. "Don't make me do it."

“Come little pet. Its time to do your master's bidding!” Akagi said with a laugh. “And I expect a big ol' smile on your face the entire time!”

"Halifax! Please! Please tell her not to do it!" Amakusa begged the Divine Blade to step in and stop Akagi from forcing something so heinous on her. "I've sworn to make amends for what I did, but I don't want to stain my hands with more blood! Please talk some sense into her!"

{PLEASE!} (Amakusa)

“I don't know if its possible to talk sense into Akagi, but I'll agree that making you spill blood like that is wrong.” Halifax sighed as she stepped between the two. “Akagi, what you're going to have her do is too much, and you know that.”

{Killing those who seek to kill you is one thing, but don't go using Shiroe like this.} (Halifax)

“She's killed many already, so what's a few more bodies on the pile?” Akagi shrugged. “It matters not at this point.”

“The difference is that you're going to force her to do it against her will.” Halifax didn't back down, and her insistence drew the visible ire of Kira, though the Half-Dragon knew better than to interrupt. “Listen, I know what that's like, and it just about the most unpleasant thing you can imagine. I was forced to kill so many against my will. I was made to watch as my body moved on its own and lives were taken using my power, so I won't stand back and watch you do that to someone else... Not after what I went through.” She paused for a moment before adding. “Please, for me. Won't you do me this favor as your friend?”

{Ah, pulling the friend card. A very powerful card indeed.} (Akagi)

Time seemed to pause as Akagi mulled over her words, thoughts clearly flickering behind the Demon's eyes before Akagi eventually shrugged. “Fine, its not like I need her power to make this a success anyway.” She continued. “But in exchange, I demand some pets later. Don't go thinking my kindness is free.” She winked.

“I'll pet you as much as you want, so just leave Shiroe out of this mess.” Halifax rolled her eyes. “If need be I'll step in against the army, so she doesn't need to do anything.”

“So be it, but I'll be holding you to your promises.” Akagi replied with a smirk. “I'll be waiting for my ear scratches after the slaughter!”

{Well, I was curious to see if she'd actually put up a fight over that. Though it was to be expected, and I lose nothing by letting the pet go on this one. I'm glad to see that Halifax actually has the chutzpah to hold firm to her principles, even when dealing with me. I like that.} (Akagi)

“Then, I suppose that I'll be off.” Halifax said as she turned to leave to fight Penelope.

"Going to fight your 'cousin?'" Akagi asked as Amakusa fell to her knees in relief.

"As much as I don't want to have to fight her, I'll deal with Penelope. If we're lucky, I talk some sense into her and Arcus so that this whole thing can be brought to a close without violence. I wouldn't mind having them on board if possible but..." Halifax paused, worried that she might be forced to end the Demi-God.

{You followed me around like a little kid for a while there, Pen... I can't believe its come to this...} (Halifax)

"Do as you see fit with the two of them. I'll leave that call entirely up to you." Akagi said, eliciting a nod from the Divine Blade who walked forward toward the spot where she and the Demi-God would collide.

{A battle between siblings! Blade versus Bow! I'll have to check that one off my bingo chart!} (Akagi)

"Alright! Listen up!" Akagi said as she slowly stood from her throne. "The enemy has rejected our offers of peace and now stands poised to wage war upon us!" She continued her speech to the Ninja. "I know that this is not the kind of battle you were trained to fight, but know that I have the utmost confidence in each and every one of your abilities! You are warriors of Clan Dumetor, but more than that... You are my family, a family whose strength is a reflection of my own! So when the enemy stands before us, ready to spill our blood, ready to take the life that we've but for ourselves what do we do? How do we respond?"

"With Death! Swift and without Mercy!" (Ninja)

"Make me proud! And let this battle show the rest of this world what happens when they defy me!" Akagi cackled as a massive magic formation appeared in the sky above, glowing like a star.

{Oh? Merkyul told me about some kind of magic preparations, and I guess this was what that was. Lets see just how powerful a spell they can sling.} (Akagi)

{IS THAT AN ANNIHLATION CANNON?!?} (Amakusa)

"It would seem that our enemy is pulling out all the stops with that one." Silfana said as she looked up at the magic formation. "It would easily level a mountain or three."

"It's powerful, indeed..." Akagi smirked as she pulled out the Black Sunrise.

*ZAP* *ZAP* *ZAP* *CRACKLE* SPARK* BOOM*

As the magic formation powered up it crackled with white and blue energy before gathering up that energy and shooting a massive beam of white energy toward Akagi and her forces. It was so powerful that it seemed to vaporize the very air it touched while turning anything further out into plasma. The heat erupting from the magical attack was enough to instantly warm the air around the entire battlefield, even going so far as to ignite dry grass, and so bright was the light shining from it that it would've easily blinded anyone who looked at it for more than a split second. Annihilation Cannon was one of the ultimate magical attacks used on a military scale and generally only deployed to crack fortresses or take down large magical creatures. Against normal foot soldiers the effect would be devastating.

"But not powerful enough." Akagi smirked as she slashed upward, sending a single strike into the air, which met the beam, slicing it in two on contact before traveling back to the source, shattering the magical formation into pieces, ending the beam before it even reached the ground and scattering its magic around like an exploded firework.

{SHE DESTORYED AN ANNIHLATION CANNON HEAD ON?!?} (Amakusa)

"And while we're out it, lets go ahead and set the mood." With a grin, Akagi then slashed toward the Sun, this time putting more power into the attack and channeling power into the Black Sunrise's blade. "Now, show them why you're called the Black Sunrise! Cover the land in darkness!" She laughed as the star flickered and warped before slowly turning black as if a total eclipse had blocked it out. The sudden darkness only lasted for a brief moment as the Sun above began bathing the land in an eerie red glow, though this caused more panic rather than less.

"Muahahahaha!" Akagi began to cackle demonically as she allowed her body to morph into a flame-like shadow that vaguely resembled her usual appearance. "Slaughter them all! Leave none of the fodder alive! And make them rue the day they ever put stock in the words of those foolish beings that call themselves Gods! Show them the true meaning of fear!"

Darkness enveloped the battlefield, it spread out beyond Simoea until it eventually encompassed the entire daylight side of Enoris. Akagi wanted to terrify the entire planet with one swift stroke, and she succeeded. Whether it was farming villages, ports, remote towns, or national Capitals, all found themselves bathed in a deep red glow as the Sun darkened. Most believed that this was a harbinger of the end times, and even many of the Gods who were watching events below began to get a little nervous. Blotting out the Sun was something that could and did happen, but to do it in such an easy and seemingly total manner was unprecedented. Panic quickly began to set in around the world, and in the ranks of the Demon Army the cheers and good spirits gave way to panic, doom, and terror. Ariel herself was equally afraid, and the dual sight of their most magical attack being destroyed and the Sun being blotted out made her want to puke. Penelope meanwhile stood undeterred, her eyes fixed solely on the form of Halifax who was approaching her position.

"Well, this certainly turned out interesting

"It's just a scare tactic, so don't let it bother you." Penelope said before she turned to Ariel. "Take your men and crush them. I'll be handling Halifax so don't go messing things up." She said as she got on her horse and began riding out to meet Halifax. It was clear that both women wanted this to be an undisturbed duel, and Halifax was already moving to a position that would allow them to fight in peace.

"Wait!" Ariel tried calling out to the Demi-God but was ignored as her horse kicked away. "Dammit!" She clicked her tongue in disgust, furious that Penelope would just leave them to their fates after seeing such things. "Melifous! Are your men ready for the assault?" The Elector-King was momentarily shaken but snapped out of it at the sound of her voice.

"Y-Yes!" Melifous said, sweat on his forehead. "Just say the word, and they shall ride forth and crush the enemy."

"Phima, can you attempt another blast like that?" Ariel looked between the two girls. “We might need another one if we're to have hope of winning.

"Not without risking the lives of the mages." Phima shook her head. "We used most of their magic reserves to cast that spell, and it would require their life force to use it again."

"Can you still fight?" Arielasked, worried that their best mage was now out of action. “Even using basic spells would be enough help.”

"We are fine." Phima replied. "I brought a special elixir that restored our stamina and magic, but since it was hard to make I only had the two doses. But we should be good to support you in the coming battle."

"Bath, you ready?" Ariel looked to the battle-ready Demon. “This might be our most dangerous battle yet.”

"Ariel, I was born ready." Bathrumd smirked as flame flickered from his finger tips.

"Then, let us begin." Ariel said, her eyes filled with worry, doubt, and fear.

_____________________________________________________________________________

<Halifax POV>

*CLOP* *CLOP* *CLOP* *CLOP*

Halifax had almost entirely ignored the battlefield around her and was locked firmly onto Penelope as the Demi-God approached. She'd wanted to talk with Penelope in an attempt to end things without a fight. Though the Divine Blade fully understood that Penelope was the least likely of all Demi-Gods to negotiate with her.

{Maybe we'll get lucky here...} (Halifax)

"How's it been, Pen?" Halifax said as Penelope leaped off her horse and allowed it to keep running into the distance. "It's been, what? A century since we last talked? You've grown a lot in that time."

{Though not in height.} (Halifax)

"Shut your mouth, traitor." Penelope hissed. “I have no interest in making small talk with you.”

“Good to see you too.” Halifax said with a wry smile.

"Hey, Halifax. How's it going?" Arcus asked with a light and cheery voice. "I see you've been busy, and you've also made a new friend! Congrats on that! I know you always wanted more!" He laughed, his cheerfulness belying his nervousness.

"Hey, I can make a few every once and a while." Halifax laughed. "But I don't suppose I can convince the two of you to help get that army to stand down and prevent what's coming? If at all possible I'd like for things to end without unneeded bloodshed."

"You know me well enough to understand that I do not yield to anyone, especially a vile being like that." Penelope retorted with a snort.

"Arcus, do you care to talk some sense into her?" Halifax figured that he was the only one who could get Penelope to back down at this point. “You've gotta know this isn't a battle you can win.”

"Sorry, Halifax." Arcus apologized. "As much as I realize this situation is all kinds of screwy, at the end of the day I'm Pen's weapon. So if this is the path she wants to go down, then I'll do my job and back her up. This does put us on opposing sides, but don't take it personally."

"Yeah, I understand..." Halifax sighed as she drew her blade.

{After all, I was once like that too.} (Halifax)