Hera: Are you awake Ryker? Can you hear me?
Ryker opened his eyes to see Hera looking down at and wind blasting his face. Hera's eyes were still glowing a deep purple color and the hands she hand on his back felt like icy knives, piercing his skin.
Ryker: Youch! Jeez Hera. Do you really have to freeze me to death?!
Hera: Sorry about that. We've got some company so I got a little carried away.
Ryker: Anyway, fancy seeing you here. Come here often?
Hera: That comment is especially creepy after what you said earlier.
Ryker raised an eyebrow and placed his thumb on his chin.
Ryker: So what kind of company do we have Hera? They bring pizza?
Hera: Ryker!
Ryker: Yes ma'am!
Hera: Can you be serious for like, 2 seconds please. I really don't want you to fall into another coma.
Ryker: Awww, she cares about me.
Hera: Keep that up and I'll put you in a coma.
Ryker gulped in fear and brought his hands together in a prayer. "Please let this be my greatest day ever All Father".
Hera: W-what the hell are you going on about Ryker?!
Ryker: Where's our company at Hera? I'll go say hi.
Hera brought her hand over Ryker's face and. . .
Smack!
Hera: You just woke up from a coma and then proceeded to knock yourself out AGAIN Ryker!
Ryker: And?
Hera: What do you mean and?! We have Shades chasing us!
Ryker: I'm aware of this. Also, why are you so worked up right now Hera? You're not your usual loveable self.
Hera: I w-what? Is this the time for this Ryker?! We have a serious-
Ryker: Alright alright, I'll see what I can do, you clearly can't fight in the air if you can barely control your mana while flying.
Hera: It's not as easy as Emelia makes it look.
Hera: Damn! What am I doing?! Ryker, we need to find a way back to the hospital and get rid of these chumps.
Ryker: Do we need to though? Seems pretty inconvenient to deal something like that.
Hera: Huh? Seriousely?
Hera: So you'd rather have all of the people in the hospital die?
Ryker: No I meant bring me back to the hospital, I really don't want to deal with that place anymore.
Hera slapped Ryker again and took a sharp turn to the right as she shot ice crystals behind her. The crystals flew through the dark sky for a few seconds before making impact with some sort of invisible barrier.
Ryker: Well, that's certainly a problem.
Hera: I'm going to drop you.
Ryker: Allow me to assist you Ms. Mizuki.
Ryker grabbed Hera's right hand and winked at her before twisting it and releasing himself into a 300 foot free fall. Hera desperately grabbed at him but failed to hold on and only lost control of her mana, also throwing her into a free fall towards a skyscraper ahead.
Hera: Dumbass!
Ryker: That wasn't part of the plan!
Ryker: Guess there's no better time to test myself than now. Anemos!
Ryker pointed his hand backwards, opposite of his position to Hera and sent Hurricane like winds blasting out of his bruised hand. Just before this tremendous amount of magic sent him flying straight at Hera, a wave fire and lightning exploded through the spot that Hera and Ryker were, only half a second prior.
Shade Prince: Lucky little-
Yasu: Firebolt!
Hera/Ryker: What!
A human sized ball of flames shot upwards at the Shade Prince and his followers as it grew in brightness the closer it got to them. The heat from this ball of fire reached all the way out to Hera who was the length of a Baseball Diamond from the blast.
Ryker: Damn that's hot! When did Yasu get this strong?
A flash of red light blurred past Ryker, right behind the massive fireball. This light sent Ryker flying in the wrong direction and broke his alignment with Hera. The fireball erupted into a massive explosion of flames that changed from orange and yellow to Blue and Green once the Beam of light smashed through it.
Yasu: Talon!
A massive streak of flames burst to light in the shape of a claw, covering Yasu's right hand and flames begun to erupt from his feet, propelling him to even greater speeds just before making impact with the group of Shades.
Yasu: I'm tired of you bothering us you son of a bitch!
Shade Prince: How is he generating this much magical power?! He's stronger than my lord Estrea!
Yasu: Now die! Soaring Talon!
Light blasted outwards from Yasu's hands and legs before a massive burst of Fire and Wind shot straight upwards at the Shades. The flames formed into the shape of a claw as they grew in size and intensity with every inch the wall traveled.
Yasu: Get her Ryker!
Ryker: I'm working on it!
Ryker: Anemos! Arma!
Multiple small bursts of Wind Magic shot from Ryker's hand as they propelled him forward every faster with every burst until he had properly aligned himself with Hera once again. At this moment, Ryker's eyes flickered green and his hand began emitting a green light as a Massive Hurricane type wind blasted him straight at Hera as she quickly flew towards the skyscraper ahead of her, unable to regain control.
Ryker: I didn't act like an idiot to kill you Hera!
"I more wanted to be your shield I guess". A thought ran through his mind only milliseconds before he grabbed her and redirected around the side of the building to avoid the Shades.
Hera: Huh? How did you-
Ryker: Not the time for questions.
Hera: Thanks.
Ryker: Sorry for causing this from the start and thanks for not dying, it'd suck if you did.
Hera leaned her head back and looked to her left to see a single Shade with a Golden shoulder pad chasing the two of them. The light from his Turquoise eyes escaped through the darkness of his hood.
Cardinal Pastor: You can't escape my Helios half breed. I will corrupt your soul and own you!
The Shade shot a gust of wind behind him and instantly appeared next to Ryker and Hera where he receives an Ice and Wind combo, sending him flying into another building.
Hera: Ryker! Wall run around to the East side of the building.
Ryker: On it!
Ryker pushed himself onto the side of the building and began sprinting forward and up the building with perfect step timing. His stride sent the two of them gliding off of the South Eastern corner of the building. Hera brought her left hand to Ryker's right hand and surged magic into her right hand.
Hera: You remember what to do?
Ryker: How could I forget? Let's do this.
The two of them pointed their hands at the Shade and Ryker's hand had erupted into a flame of green and white. The two of them shouted in Unison with glowing eyes.
Ryker/Hera: Blizzard!
Yasu: Move!
Yasu vanished and reappeared in front of Ryker kicking Hera out of the way and throwing out thick barrier of water magic, reinforced by another barrier of flames and shadows. "Get out of the way"! Yasu crossed his arms in front of his chest and ignited his entire body with powerful blue flames.
Ryker kicked off of the shadow barrier and latched onto the side of the building behind them only to realize he has no idea what Yasu's defending him from. Out of nowhere, a gigantic wave of Shadow magic beams came rushing towards the building. The attacks gave off a weird sound and smell as well as a blinding effect when stared at individually for too long.
Ryker: Yasu! You need to dodge!
Yasu looked back and focused his gaze past Ryker's face for a second until Ryker realized he was staring at something. Ryker looked back and saw cowering office workers and even a few of the employee's children with them.
Ryker: You have to be kidding me!
Yasu: Get out of here Ryker! You need to help Hera!
Ryker: Don't play hero with me now, we are both going to save Hera.
Yasu: Shut up and go!
Yasu's left leg flashed white and Ryker felt something smash into his ribs, sending him into a tail spin away from Yasu and the blast. "No you dumbass!", Ryker's hands shot a small burst of wind at the shadow wave, destroying a few of the beams.
"I believe it's time you understood just how terrible the situation you two have found yourselves in really is". A cocky older man's voice came from behind the shadows seemingly commanding them to stop upon speech. The hand like figures made of the shadow magic sat there, waiting to strike Yasu as the man spoke from afar.
Pastor: You two really have nowhere to run this time and since this rather convenient situation has come to me, I will make sure you two suffer for taking my master's life from this cruel and dying world. Soon, you will feel the Wrath of our ever soaring 8 Deadly Sins ands their magnificent might, may my Queen Hecate consume you in her ever loving Vainglory.
Yasu: The hell are you ranting about now? I swear that's all you weirdos do is rant about Shakespearian stuff or something.
Pastor: Shakespeare? And who might that be?
Yasu: Oh great, you're all high and mighty, yet you didn't even attend 4th grade. Perfect.
Pastor: If your aim is to make me angry, I wouldn't try it boy.
Yasu: Is that supposed to scare me?
Yasu brought his hands and body to a defensive stance.
Yasu: Because the only scary thing about you would have to be your face.
Pastor: Hmpf, seems you really want to die then?
Yasu: Talking to me or your men?
Pastor: Hmm, what a hopeless creature. Humans are so pathetic, I understand now why our Lord Malice won't let them become Dukes or Witches. I mean, it's so hard to believe that you humans can actually become Demons in the first place. Your weak bodies and limited life spans must be so terrifying for you.
Yasu: Tch, that condescending tone you're taking with me is really starting to piss me off old man.
Pastor: That disrespectful attitude you are giving me is equally annoying boy. Now please, give the Witch to us and we will be on our way.
Yasu: Oh yeah, so your the Prince's dog huh?
Pastor: How dare you-
Yasu: Well, he's dead now so he won't be able to have any fun with her. You're better off trying to kill me anyway. I'll never let you near Hera.
Pastor: You dumb humans, always thinking you have rights over us Demons. I'll have to be the one to inform you then. You humans are by far, indisputably the weakest beings in the known universe, the people of Venra and Vodros would crush you without ever having to try. Don't even start with Hell or the Angels my boy, they would crush this planet with only half a million men.
Yasu: What?! The hell are you spouting on about now? I didn't ask.
Pastor: Then I'll inform you of just how inferior to us and those two half breeds you are protecting right now. The Helios people have surpassed the Angels in raw might now, and so the fake rivalry you attempt to hold with that one will eventually end in his victory over you
Yasu: You shut your damn mouth!
Pastor: And it's quite obvious the Venra girl you Hera is clearly sick of dealing with your over zealous attitude. I wouldn't be surprised if she ran off with Ryker soon and left you all alone just like you said you were.
Yasu: I-
Yasu tried to speak but felt his chest contract and all the wind in his lungs knocked out of him. Small embers of red flames floated past him as they burned out and disappeared.
"W-what's happening to me? My body won't move". Yasu's vision quickly vanished and his body went limp but never fell. He tried to raise his hand in defense but felt it hit some cold object and fall back to his side.
Pastor: Shall my 3 dozen hands crafted from the Abyss tear your soul in half. I assure you, the suffering will end instantly.
"What's happening to me? Hand from the Abyss? The hell does that-"
Pastor: I'd suggest you answer or the grip on your soul will only tighten and crush you to a lifeless doll.
Yasu: W-what are y-you doing to me? Why can I m-move?
Pastor: My Abyssal hands have gripped your soul and are slowly tightening until they crush it. Satisfied?
Yasu: I wouldn't call that- Gyaaah!
Yasu: Wouldn't say it's very satisfying.
Pastor: Well well well, you aren't bleeding yet? I'm surprised your eyes haven't begun to leak blood or at least you nose. Your body may be stronger than I gave you credit for, Yasu Kenshi.
Yasu: D-damn right. This doesn't hurt at all you old geezer- Gyaaah!
The purple hand crushed Yasu's limb body as it choked the life out of him, blood slowly began to flow from his nose as his magic power dropped down to almost zero.
Pastor: I spoke too soon, I suppose. Looks like you were only a little above average, makes sense so I won't taunt you about it.
Yasu: And just who the hell do you think you're speaking to? Do I look like Kiyoshi Kazuhiko to you?
Pastor: Eh?
Yasu: If so, I'd more than love to knock some sense back into you, maybe bust that nose back into place for you?
Pastor: Nggh, you really are annoying to deal with aren't you. I offered you a way out and you still continue to give me this disrespectful attitude?! What is wrong with you boy!
Yasu: I'm just a pathetic human right? So how is it that I got into your head!
Yasu rose his head and shot blue flames out in every direction, incinerating all 36 of the purple hands around him. The blue tear drop on his hoodie reflected the light from his flames and magic, fire erupted all over the sky around the building, covering the Eastern side with blue light.
Yasu: I heard the tears of a Phoenix are supposed to heal.
Pastor: W-what the hell is that!
Yasu: But aren't their flames supposed to burn like no other.
Pastor: A Phoenix Talon!