AO: So the battle has begun? Hah, I'm so excited.
HOSHI: Yeah, but...remember dear Kiyoheme, this is just practice. Just so Humility figures out your strength and weaknesses so he can tell how we could attack or...yeah, you kinda get it now, right? In shorter words, please don't kill me.
There was a trembling tone in his voice and Ao laughed shortly before assuring the demon.
AO: Silly, I would never.
HUMILITY: Alright then, let's start. Go.
Ao hisses, her tongue feeling the air around her. Hoshi doesn't know why snakes always do that, and he finds it rather silly but this time, he felt a plump on his throat harder to swallow as fear builds up on his system.
The woman smirked as she quickly slithers towards him to attack. Her fangs are greatly showing and Hoshi knows that she was doing it to look more intimidating.
Hoshi however, predicted it from the start.
Her fast movement was to no use to the dragon shifting demon.
Though younger, dragon shifting demons are full of potential. And though slow and energy draining, Ao knew that Hoshi can be more powerful if he put his brain into the fight.
Ao hisses. Hoshi had been training with the ever so fast Zefarih after all. A demon known well for his unpredictable attacks, while he himself, is able to predict even the smallest movements.
Ao did not let that hinder her to impressing the White reaper however, as she thanks her mother for gifting her with such another great skill not present on normal kiyohemes. Long hair that can stretch up to 20 feet if she pleases.
Even though flying, Hoshi drains too much energy in his form. If he runs out of it, it will be pretty embarrasing to lose so quickly.
So he decided to lower down for landing, when Ao quickly stretches her hair to catch him.
Hoshi panicked, and quickly brighten,(as he is a light dragon afterall) for he knew he would never evade such a fast attack.
Ao shut her eyes close, but the damage had been done.
She was temporarily blinded and Hoshi knew this as she grimaced in pain.
HOSHI: So...sorry, I panicked for a bit.
Even those watching were only spared from such light by Humility's butterflies flooding their vision. Without the white reaper, they too, may have been temporarily blinded.
Humility smiles at Hoshi. Perhaps he have taken him lightly because of his goofy personality.
HOSHI: Alright, I...I get it, you still hate me and-
AO: Silence~ssss...
She hissed at the young demon.
AO: I hate noisy people. Very very much. So let's just get this over with.
HOSHI: But...but you're blind.
Ao sticks out her long tongue, feeling her surroundings, the air.
Then she smiled.
AO: Am I?
Then she quickly moved towards him to strike.
Hoshi was taken aback, and didn't even have enough time to think.
Ao quickly captured him with her long hair. Suffocating him.
Hoshi however, did not wait for her to tranfer her to her snake body to be crushed. He tried to transform his arms into dragon claws, and although painful and already weakened, he used it to cut some of her hair.
By the looks of it, Ao was very mad and quickly releases him.
She then tried to strike once more but Hoshi learned this time.
He evaded her attack.
Ao did not like the idea of losing to someone much younger than her, so she pretended not to see him.
AO: Sss~I know you're here somewhere.
Hoshi was wary, but he felt a bit confident since Ao wasn't even looking at him, and looking at the opposite.
Overcomed by his own pride, he tranformed wings enough to lift his body, and he smiled as he flew towards her to strike.
But was caught off guard when she quickly turned, her predatory eyes locked into his.
Her body all but muscle, she surprisingly was able to lift, a bit, but enough to capture Hoshi.
And by then, as he was wrapped and squeezed painfully, he knew it was already his defeat.
HOSHI: Al...right!
He was barely out of breath.
HOSHI: Y...you got me!
His raspy, suffocated voice told it all.
He's gonna die soon if Ao keeps it up, so she releases the demon as she proudly looked at Humility.
AO: Strong, enough?
The reaper smiled genuinely, thankful and happy that Zefarih, although a demon, had not failed him when it comes to the recruits. Turns out, perhaps not all demons are liars? Or were they just lucky that Gabby had a friend that turned out to be a half-demon?
HUMILITY: You are both impressive. And I am very happy you were able to showcase your skills. But Ao, you truly proved to be a greater one. But Hoshi, I feel like you have much more potential if you try harder.
HOSHI: 'Kay, 'kay...hahah, I'll...ya know...win next time or whatever.
Murasaki was very thrilled watching the fight, and felt an eagerness to do the same. After all, he's a half demon, right? Maybe he can do it too? Maybe he has powers too? And if so, he wonders what they could be.
Zefarih noticed the spark in his son's eyes and although new to his son's expressions, he knows what those eyes stands for. They were lit up in hope.
ZEFARIH: Liked the showdown, huh?
Murasaki looks at him, cheeks slightly turning red in embarrassment. He noticed, huh? How he wished he just didn't.
MURASAKI: Uh, yeah. I mean...it was pretty cool, I guess.
ZEFARIH: Well, I think I know what you're thinking.
Again, he felt embarrassed. Like...no! It was already bad enough that he noticed.
MURASAKI: Well..what then?
ZEFARIH: You wished to fight too?
MURASAKI: Huh? Ah, no, no... I...I can do a lot of things but being an athletic type...the...the macho type...not, not for me.
ZEFARIH: You're a demon for goodness sake, when you feel your veins lit up with power, that's it. You don't need to condition your body or anything. You just have to get used to using it and-
MURASAKI: No...I...you don't understand...I...I don't have the guts, dad. And I don't feel anything.
ZEFARIH: You're just saying that.
Hoshi walks up to them, catching his breath. Zefarih and Murasaki could tell he had a hard time since he was still pale.
HOSHI: Yo, that was dope, right?
ZEFARIH: Yes, next time, don't drop your guard.
HOSHI: Yeah, whatever...I still look cool so...yeah.
MURASAKI: I think you did great though, you wouldn't have failed if you know more about snakes.
HOSHI: Well, sorry then. I don't go to school to know about that. We learn those stuff from experience.
MURASAKI: Yeah, it took a lot to know that snakes uses their tongue to see, huh?
HOSHI: Shut up! I will make her cower next time.
AO: You've forgotten we're supposed to be allies.
HOSHI: Oh, Frick. I...I mean, you should have known I was just joking, you know!
MIKU: What an idiot. Hahhaha!
HOSHI: Oh, not you too!
AO: Get used to it, Miku laughs at small things.
MIKU: Well, even demons needs to be happy.
Humility felt a bit of a twist in his gut. For years they have been ordered to kill demons who roam the earth, pestering human lives and eating their souls. But it seems like he's seeing another part of them. Why were these creatures even classified as demons? He doesn't understand. But he hated this feeling.
He was...feeling sorry?
His inner Brylle squeezed his heart and told him not to give in. That they're all just pawns, disposable allies and that demons deserve no pity.
Humility breathed in and out. Thinking about how to feel.
ZEFARIH: Are you alright?
The demon asked, his hazel eyes kind and warm.
Humility felt even more confused.
HUMILITY: Yes. But...may I ask? What...what makes you like...like this?
ZEFARIH: Like what?
HUMILITY: Why...why are you different from all others? Why aren't you like the others?
Zefarih could see the confusion, the distrust and perhaps a bit of disgust in his eyes.
He knows that he had no rights to say that he shouldn't feel those emotions since...demons aren't really someone you'd want to put your life unto.
ZEFARIH: Let's just say that...we got tired from being the bad guys. That sometimes, we get self aware. We can hate other demons as much as humans can hate their own. We're not that different. Sometimes, we rather be powerless humans than demons. Demons who...never finds peace in anything. We are trying to live as normally as we could, unlike those who...you've probably learned to hate. And we...we offered help, because it's the only thing that will make us different from all the 'others'. We're still pretty bad, we get it, but...we're trying. If you're still hesitant..it's okay.
HUMILITY: Yeah, uh, I'm sorry...I...I just...don't want to rely on false safety. I...you know, Red he's...he's been...I...I just don't want him gone, you know? A great friend..and he deserves the world, to feel more happy. He doesn't deserve to feel this way. I wanted to help him with all I can.
ZEFARIH: And we'll help him.
Humility finally smiles.
While Hoshi was simply flirting with Hada in the background.
MURASAKI: Oi, I thought you're like...crushing on Fae already.
Hada, upon the realization, quickly rolled her eyes and flew to the tree.
HOSHI: Why do you do that?
MURASAKI: Hey, it isn't fair to flirt on multiple girls just because you can.
HOSHI: It's called having a back up dude.
A branch was intentively thrown to Hoshi's head, followed by Hada's banter.
HADA: Oh, sorry...that branch was rotten. Rotten like someone here who thinks they can play with feelings.
Hoshi stared at Murasaki, still salty that he ruined his chance.
MURASAKI: Bro, you'll never get a gf with that attitude.
HOSHI: Said the common rejected childhood friend.
MURASAKI: I'd rather be single forever than be a lowlife like you.
HADA: Damn, dude, he got you!
HOSHI: Whatever. It's not like it hurts. I've heard worse.