Vance walked forward and smirked at me. Dearie and I watched his moves carefully, staying on guard. Vance definitely felt stronger than the last time we encountered him. Nior also was on the edge as she watched Vance as she didn't know he was even alive.
"I thought you died back in Woodcrest..." I said.
"Oh I did, old friend." Vance said then stopped walking. He held his arms out and expressed a wicked grin on his face. "But, that was all an act...Suxen knew I couldn't beat you so he planned for me to fake my death so he could give me a bit of Alice's power. He needs me, I am a Bishop after all."
I scoffed and continued to watch Vance. "What are you all doing? Why are you all attacking the Ball?"
"Well...If you must know, both Cecilia and Ashera are very important to you aren't they? Suxen wasn't lying when he said he would take everything away from you...but I wanted to have a little fun with you for old times sake. I've grown noticably stronger than last time and I've been dying to test out my new power." Vance said then looked at his hands.
"Yes...The Demon's power is simply amazing. I feel like I have no limits to what I can do now. I feel like I can take on an entire army of angels!" Vance laughed and looked at me with an insane smile. "Let's dance Claudio! It's time that I finally show you what I can really do!"
I looked at my mask and noticed the markings that was once on the mask was no longer on there. 'Seems like the Joker's power is in need of a recharge...Hmph, that's alright. I don't need it right now to beat Vance.'
I made my mask disappear then closed my eyes. I took a deep breath then began to hop up and down, rolling my shoulders and stretching. "Step back, Nior. You don't want to be caught in this crossfire."
Nior was released from her chains then she stood up quickly and retreated from the area. She appeared on the top of a building and watched us. "He's not using the mask..? Vance is much stronger now, he shouldn't underestimate him..!"
Vance laughed and his dark aura surged powerfully around his body then he got into his battle stance. "Come on! Let's go!"
I stopped stretching then opened my eyes. I got into my stance then white sparks crackled around my body. "Let's do this, Dearie."
"I'm with you, Claudio." Dearie said then prepared herself for battle.
I grunted then propelled myself toward Vance. Vance propelled himself toward me then clashed with me. I pushed him away then went for a sweep kick, but he evaded my kick then struck me with a right hook. I grunted softly then groaned as he blasted me away. Vance laughed as he flew after me.
I recovered and flew backwards then held my hands out toward Vance, firing multiple Light Blasts at him from my fingertips. Vance deflected each Light Blast then landed a gut punch on me. He grabbed my head then flew to the ground and slammed me down. He noticed the Live Decoy disappear and looked up.
'Predicable.' Vance thought to himself.
Vance dodged my axe kick then grabbed my leg, spinning me around then threw me toward a building. I stopped myself from crashing into the building then grunted as Vance appeared in front of me then palmed my stomach, blowing me through the wall of the building.
The people in the building screamed in horror after seeing that I flew past them. They watched as Vance flew toward me at high speeds. Along the way he hypnotized the people in the building to give him their life force and began to grow even stronger.
"Alert: Vance is feeding off the Life Force of the citizens! He's growing stronger!" Dearie warned.
"What's wrong, Claudio?! This isn't how you imagined the fight would go huh?! Well don't worry, I'll end your suffering soon!" Vance laughed.
I watched as Vance flew toward me and blocked his kick then grunted. 'He is a lot stronger now...more in tune with his abilities, but I can't let him win! I need to get to that ball!'
Vance kneed my stomach after making me block high then knocked me away. He grabbed Dearie and smirked. "You're mine now, System!"
Dearie groaned loudly as he began to drain her Life Force. "C-C-Cla-a-audio-o-o!!"
I stood up and noticed Vance was about to kill Dearie and my heart thumped. I grunted and closed my eyes tightly.
"Fight." A voice said to me in my head.
"Stop holding back! Explode!" Another voice said.
"Do not let him destroy Dearie!"
I bellowed and my angelic aura surged powerfully around my body then my markings shined brightly. I awakened my Angel Mode then flew toward Vance at high speeds then kicked him away, making him let go of Dearie. He crashed into a building and grunted softly. He looked up and noticed me in my Angel Mode.
I glared at Vance as I held Dearie close to me. I grit my teeth and my Wrath Symbol shined brightly then my dark aura fused with my aura.
Vance felt his hands slightly trembling and looked at his hands. 'This power...Why am I shaking..? I can't even sense his aura anymore...'
"You've crossed the line touching Dearie with your filthy hands...No one harms MY System! No one!" I bellowed and my aura surged to the sky and the clouds shined golden once again.
Nior watched and began to sweat. She looked up and noticed the clouds had turned golden. She grunted and her eyes shined. 'He did this..? How strong is Claudio truly..?'
"As I am now, Vance...you stand no chance." I said then landed on the ground.
Vance landed on the ground as well then chuckled softly. He had a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. "Suxen never told me how strong you currently are now...but I have a fraction of Alice's power! That is more than enough to kill you!"
I vanished and Vance looked surprised then groaned a multiple invisible attacks struck his body. He groaned as he was blown away. I ran after him and flipped off one hand, firing two Light Blasts using my feet then roundhouse kicked a third one toward him. Dearie manipulated the Light Blasts to follow Vance.
Vance grunted and tried to dodge the Light Blasts, but felt a wall of light block him then groaned as all three Light Blasts struck him then an explosion happened. Vance flew out of the smoke then dodged two Holy Lances and noticed I was gone.
"He's so fast..! Where is he..?!" Vance asked then groaned as more invisible strikes began to connect to his body.
I appeared behind him with a Wrath Boosted Light Blast in hand then pressed it against him, launching him away then flew after him. "What's wrong?! Can't keep up anymore?! Suxen isn't here to save you now!"
Vance looked back and tried to dodge my attack, but I stopped time then quickly landed multiple attacks on him then snapped my fingers, resuming time. Vance grunted loudly in pain as he took the damage I inflicted while time was stopped then crashed onto the ground.
I landed on the ground in front of him and spread my wings then stared at Vance as he stood up. "Get up..."
Vance looked at me and his hands trembled more. He noticed the Spirit of Leo behind me and his eyes widened. 'What the hell..? Why is he this much stronger than me..?!'
I summoned four Light Blasts then shaped them into gatling guns and crossed my arms. "Now you dance, Demon."
Vance grunted as he began to dodge the barrage of Light Blasts that were being shot from the gatling guns that I created. He held his hands out and began to absorb the Light Blasts that were being shot at him.
'He mastered that technique...The Power of Creation that Suxen warned me about. I can't keep absorbing this, it's burning me..!' Vance thought to himself.
"Dearie." I said.
Dearie nodded and scanned me then copied my Light Blast then flew to the sky. She formed a Light Blast then began to amplify its size and power.
I walked forward then my afterimages rushed toward Vance, striking him at light speeds then I appeared in front of him and formed a Light Wall behind him and kneed his stomach, knocking him into the wall then struck him with a Wrath Boosted kick, blowing Vance through the wall. He rolled backwards then noticed a being made from my Light Blast rush toward him.
Vance dodged their attacks then began to hypnotize the people of the surrounding area into giving him their Life Force. "Die!"
I stood still and watched as Vance fired a powerful beam of dark energy at me. I held my hand out then a wall of energy appeared in front of me, blocking the beam. I lowered the wall as Vance's attack ended then smirked.
Dearie bellowed as she finished amplifying the Light Blast then condensed it into a small orb of energy. She flew back toward me and gave me the Light Blast.
I held the Light Blast in my hand then it shined silver. "I'll make sure you never come back."
I rose the True Light Blast to the sky and it grew into a massive orb of divine light. Vance stared at the orb of energy and his entire body trembled with fear. I bellowed and hurled the True Light Blast toward him.
Vance grunted and caught the True Light Blast with his hands, trying to push it back. His dark energy surged powerfully as he tried resisting, but my attack was pushing him back. He grunted loudly and yelled.
"Resistance is futile...Tell the Ruler of Hell hello when you get there!" I said then formed two Light Blasts then merged them together. "Now disappear!"
I fired my Holy Beacon at my True Light Blast, adding more power behind it. Vance couldn't withstand the power and his arms began to slowly disintegrate. I curved the beam upwards, sending Vance to the sky then the True Light Blast shined brightly enough for the entire city to see it then a massive explosion happened in the sky, instantly killing Vance.
Nior watched in pure awe and looked at me. "He was holding back that much power..? He was holding back against me..? I never stood a chance against him even a boost from Alice meant nothing to him..."
I held my head, feeling myself about to pass out, but stood strong despite my body wanting to shut down. "Let's go!"
"Yeah!" Dearie said.
Nior watched as the two of us flew off at high speeds to the palace the ball was taking place at. Her cloak appeared on her then she flew after me.
___________________________
Addis and Eve panted as they held off Lotus and the others for as long as they could. Addis looked at Rapunzel and Jabril, seeing they were tired as well.
"Well, that was a nice warm up...but I think it's time to stop stalling and just hand over the Princesses. You all are nothing compared to us now." Lotus said and smirked, crossing his arms.
'Where the hell is Yuki..?!' Jabril thought to herself.
"Make this easy for us and give up. You're not beating us." Xali said then sensed an attack from behind.
He dodged a flaming chakram then looked back, seeing Yuki appear behind him. He dodged Yuki's slash then blocked her next slash. Yuki slashed in a circle multiple times then slammed her claymore against the ground, causing stone spikes to protrude from the ground. He blocked the stone spikes then slid backwards.
"Sorry that I was late. Along my way here, I ran into a few of Lotus's pawns." Yuki said then her seven orbs of energy circled around her.
"Yuki!" Cecilia called out.
"About damn time you showed up! I don't know what good it will do now...Lotus, Xali, and Ryan have been kicking our asses!" Jabril said.
"Good thing I didn't come alone then." Yuki said and smirked.
Xali looked at Yuki then grunted as he felt insane amounts of Spiritual Force appear in the area. Verin also looked surprised as she felt it as well. Xali looked around and noticed Ryan fall onto one knee as he wasn't able to withstand the Spiritual Force this mysterious person was exerting.
Addis watched as someone walked into the ballroom and smiled. "So the Astral finally shows up."
Daisy walked forward and adjusted her hat. "Well well, if it isn't out old buddies of The Anti! When Yuki warned me about your appearance...I knew that a war would eventually start between us...and Suxen."
Lotus looked back and smirked. "The Spirit said to be from a different dimension. The Astral Angel, Daisy. This one should be fun...I guess I can bring your head back to your boss!"
"Come." Daisy said.
Lotus smirked then dashed toward Daisy and slashed at her with his scythe, but she dodged it then parried his next attack with a swipe of her arm. She pushed Lotus away with her Spiritual Energy then projected her spirit toward Lotus. Lotus knocked her spirit back into her body which knocked Daisy away as well.
Daisy hit the wall and grunted softly then smirked. "I've never fought anyone that could easily knock away my spirit. I—"
Daisy paused as she sensed absurd amounts of Divine Energy. She stood up and looked at the door then noticed I flew inside the ball room at high speeds.
Lotus looked surprised as I flew straight toward him and struck his face, blowing him across the ballroom. He flew across the room then crashed through a pillar.
Xali looked at me then grunted softly. "You're here..."
I landed on the floor and stood up straight then glared at Xali. "There's nowhere else to run."
"Cloudy!" Daisy said in complete awe.
I looked back after hearing Daisy's voice and noticed Daisy. "Daisy..."
Daisy hurried toward me and held my arm. "Look at you!~ You look...amazing..!~"
I never really knew how much I missed Daisy until now. I couldn't help but to smile at her. Daisy smiled back at me and looked at Dearie then gently rubbed her head. Dearie also missed Daisy a lot, even growing emotional at the sight of Daisy.
"That's Claudio..?" Ashera asked in awe. "His power feels Divine...no way that's Claudio..."
"That's Claudio in the flesh..~" Cecilia said and smiled happily. "He's here...~"
Yuki smiled at me, impressed by how much I've grown since I first came to Royal Greens. "He's really something..~"
Detre and Madris smiled at the sight of me. It was like all hope had returned once I appeared. I could feel the hope return to everyone and it put my spirit at easy.
"Ugh...The Savior and at a very convenient timing." Lotus said then walked forward, holding the back of his nape. He looked at me and smirked. "Suxen told us some vital information though. He said you're truly awakened now. Seems like Leo's death was enough to draw forth that inner Deity within."
Daisy let go of my arm and glared at Lotus.
I looked at Lotus then closed my eyes. "Everyone, you can take a break now. I will take it from here."
"You think you can take on all three of us at the same time? Foolish!" Lotus laughed.
"No, I will take him. You two failed to kill him so now it's time that I step up." Xali said then manifested his black wings.
I looked at Xali then glared. "It's only right that you challenge me at my strongest so when I beat you, there's nothing for you to complain about."
"At his strongest? Is his Angel Mode not as strong as he currently gets?" Jabril asked.
Xali watched me and crossed his arms. "Show us your strongest then."
I closed my eyes then white lightning crackled around my body. I took a deep breath then exhaled. My silver aura calmly formed around my body then my hair slowly became silver.
Daisy's eyes widened as she couldn't sense my energy anymore then stepped back. Addis's eyes widened as well as he watched me. Aria grunted softly and couldn't help but stare at me. Everyone watched me in awe as they couldn't feel my energy anymore.
I opened my eyes and they shined silver. I bellowed and my aura circled above my head then my halo formed above my head. My aura surged powerfully then I fully awakened my Angelic Form. My aura vanished and I panted softly then white energy particles began to form around my body.
"He did it...He actually achieved it.." Addis said in disbelief.
"Yes, his Angelic Form...no he achieved a form higher. This is his Seraph Form. Claudio has achieved something no human should be able to." Eve said.
Lotus's jaw dropped as he stared at me. "Suxen didn't say he achieved such a form!"
Xali stared at me then lowered his arms. "I must say...I am truly impressed. The first human to ever become Seraph Class Angel although you truly pale in comparison to an actual angel..."
I stared at Xali then smirked. "But this isn't my strongest...Now I will crank it into overdrive because I know I'll need it to beat you."
They noticed I had summoned Leo's Mask and put it on then my black aura fused with my angelic aura. I then awakened my Willpower and boosted my power even more then a Symbol shined on my back. The Trinity Symbol shined on my back then I looked at Xali.
"This...is my strongest form. The Trinity Form. I am the Human, wielding the Willpower of Nexus, The Demon, wielding the Sins of Nexus, and the Angel, wielding The Soul of the Savior. I have The Alpha, The Nexus, and now The Omega. I am the TRUE Nexus and he is me. With my strongest, I will defeat your strongest." I said then heard Lilith's soft chuckle. I felt her hand on my left shoulder and felt Nexus's hand on my right.
"There's no way I lose to you now." I said then held my arms out.
"Defeat Xali." The voice said in my head.