HIBIKI(POV)
Cough...
'D-damn him!... He actually managed to inflict serious damage on me with his small, pathetic gun,' I thought, bewildered by the newfound arsenal he possessed.
He really did a number on me. Deep burn marks marred my skin, and I could feel the searing pain coursing through my body. Internal bleeding gnawed at my organs, reminding me of the grave injuries I had sustained. Even the mighty Dragon God was pushed back by the sheer force of the blast that sent me flying.
I glared at him fiercely, seething with anger at the harm he had caused me. "Oi," I called out, my voice filled with a mix of frustration. "Where is that shield you were wielding before?" I interrogated, unable to comprehend how he had managed to incapacitate me with just a single shot.
"I don't know...?" he replied uncertainly. "I just followed what my instincts told me to."
"Stop feeding me those crappy lies!" I shouted, frustration boiling within me.
"It's not a lie," he retorted. "When I'm in trouble, the armband provides guidance or warns me about what's coming."
My assumptions were correct. That armband is no ordinary item. There must be a reason why it caused me harm, suggesting it possesses mystical properties. Moreover, a nagging feeling tells me that there's much more to it than meets the eye.
Examining my wounds, I noticed that the armband was impeding my hybrid VKS healing factor, significantly reducing its effectiveness. What was even more concerning was catching sight of James and Izumi engaged in a hushed conversation, deliberately trying to keep it hidden from me. Perhaps they were plotting an attack, but I wouldn't allow it to happen under my watchful gaze.
IZUMI(POV)
Seeing an opportunity to shift the tide of battle, I whispered to James, instructing him to attack Hibiki while I kept him distracted. I urged James to find an opening and use his gun against him.
"James, hold on a moment. I have something to give you before we start," I said, as small red wyverns emerged from my armor and swiftly attached themselves to his back.
[WELSH WYVERN JET]
Really? Is that the best name you could come up with?" he monotoned, a deadpan expression covering his face.
SMACK!
"Ow!" he exclaimed as my left arm connected with his shoulder. "What was that for?"
[You're too skeptical, that's what it's for.] Ddraig's voice resonated from my gauntlet, its glow indicating his presence.
"Well, consider it a friendly reminder to lighten up," I grinned, rubbing my arm. "Besides, it's not every day you get a dragon telling you off."
" So this things in my back will act as my wings." he said, with a hint of excitement in his face.
(IMAGE HERE.)
"Yes, and also be careful when using them. While you can control your flight with your mind and will, if you subject them to significant damage, you might find yourself in trouble," I warned him.
"Trouble? Like what?" he replied with a tinge of fear in his voice.
I winked at him, attempting to tease and lighten the mood. "HI-MI-TSU desu," I said seductively, hoping to elicit a playful response. However, instead of lightening up, he grew angry.
"So, based on what you said, his current state has put him on the defensive," he remarked.
"Umu, then I'll provide you with an opening to get in close and take a shot at him, preferably point-blank. That should give us the opportunity to incapacitate him and break his control over Great Red," I replied, strategizing our next move.
" Alright" he nodded.
Before I start assaulting Hibiki there is a strange feeling in my head its as if I was connected of something divine but I chose to ignore it and continue my part. Then before I gave the go signal Conrad starts circling around the colossal dragon confusing Hibiki from its hand why he made those courses.
I was amazed at Conrad's attentiveness; it was as if he could anticipate my every move. Snapping out of my trance, I accelerated at incredible speed and delivered a powerful punch directly to Hibiki's stomach, aided by Ddraig boosting my sacred gear to its absolute limit.
Hibiki quickly noticed my intention and swiftly blocked my attack, crossing his arms to shield his stomach. In response, I aimed a punch at his face, but he narrowly bent his neck, evading the blow. Undeterred, I followed up with a powerful uppercut aimed at his chin, but once again, he dodged it at the last possible moment. We engaged in a fierce brawl, with me launching a relentless barrage of attacks on the wide palm of the Dragon God while Hibiki focused on dodging, all while enduring the damage inflicted by Conrad's deadly shot.
" What the!?" I thought.
As I continued my relentless assault, I couldn't help but notice that despite the barrage of punches, I hadn't landed a solid hit on Hibiki. However, to my surprise, there was a subtle smirk on his face. It was then that I realized his attention was fixed on Conrad. I had unwittingly underestimated the true extent of his abilities.
"I've already figured out your pathetic plan," he cockily grinned, effortlessly sidestepping my feeble punch.
"This is bad, I need to act now! Conrad, forget waiting for an opening, shoot him right now!" I urgently shouted.
"Huh!" Conrad exclaimed, taken aback by the urgency in my voice.
"Just do what I say!" I shouted, emphasizing the importance of following my instructions.
" ALLRIGHT" He followed.
Conrad fired his infamous "Noisy Cricket" at Hibiki from close range as he flew towards him. The first shot produced a powerful shockwave, blowing both me and my brother away and creating a gaping hole in Great Red's palm, causing blood to spurt momentarily. Without wasting any time, Conrad swiftly followed up with a second shot, opposing a focused Ki blast straight from Hibiki's hand.
BOOM
The collision between Conrad's powerful blast and Hibiki's defensive maneuvers resulted in a massive explosion, unleashing a sphere of torrential energy. The sight was nothing short of mind-blowing, witnessing this intense battle between Conrad and my formidable older brother. It was astonishing to see Conrad seamlessly wield both of the weapons he had displayed earlier, demonstrating a level of mastery that suggested he was no stranger to such combat.
James Conrad flew over to me, a victorious smile adorning his face, though there was a hint of maniacal glee, reminiscent of a seasoned warrior.
"Glad I managed to escape from that explosion," he exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of satisfaction and confidence.
Curiosity piqued, I cautiously inquired, "How were you able to hold your ground against him?"
With a calm demeanor, Conrad replied, "Perhaps it's because of this armband." He gestured to the mystical accessory on his arm, suggesting it played a significant role in his abilities.
As I directed my gaze towards the colossal dragon, I noticed Hibiki in an even worse state than before. His clothing was tattered and stained with blood, and his intense glare fixed upon Conrad.