Rumi opened her eyes after hearing his voice, saw her brother stooping before her defending her from the Ghasts. As scary as his face looked, he still looked cool in the way he appeared to save her like a superhero popping in to save the civilian from the bad guys.
Koutetsu turned to check on Rumi, he could see she was trembling, he thought it was because of his face and how beastly it looked. Rumi wasn't afraid that, she embraced her brother, trembling over him from how frightened she was of dying by the Ghasts. Koutetsu held her back, he felt guilty letting his mental problems almost cost him his last family member left. He couldn't face Akane or Mana if he saw them again if he let Rumi die without making an effort to save her.
"I'm so sorry Rumi. Your big brother is such a wimp. I shouldn't have left you all alone." He wept holding her, his guilt wracking his conscience.
Rumi rubbed her face on his shoulders, she didn't care about that, she was happy he came for her, that he saved her. Koutetsu let Rumi go, and Kaede held her hand so they could get to safety. Kaede patted Koutetsu's head for good luck in turn, she knew that Koutetsu was ok now even if he didn't say it out loud.
Koutetsu was about to run off to help the others before Rumi called out to him again.
"Onii-Chan, go get 'em'!" She cheered on raising a fist for him.
Koutetsu looked at her little face, even with tears in them she still wanted to support her big brother. Koutetsu felt inspired seeing her trying to give him hope amidst all the deaths she witnessed and the pain she had gone through before meeting him. He wiped his eyes and gave a thumbs up to Rumi that he received her feelings, he turned to dash toward the others in a mad speed. Kicking every Ghast along the way, burning them to ash.
The strength the flames had was increasing, they were becoming more effective, and his desire to save his friends and Rumi was burning him up more. He could feel how intense the power output of the flames was becoming.
"Level Up, increase in magic flame output adjusted."
He ignored the message, he didn't care about the level-up, and his focus was on his friends and getting to them in time.
"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" He clawed and hacked every Ghast coming to him. It was like swatting flies at this point trying to reach the others.
"Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, increase to lung capacity adjusted."
'I'm gaining levels faster? The others fought these guys before I arrived. Should the same happen to them? They still look tired out.'
"Notice. Extra Skill; Paragon. Prime Caliber exclusive skill. Level increase doubled after overcoming personal obstacle affecting one's soul . The effect will not work if one is either in a death-like state or all falls into hopelessness."
'So that's it. Then that means when I came back to life that second time it didn't work because I was still technically dead. I didn't level up after fighting Master because my body was still adjusting to the resurrection. But now with this, I can get stronger quickly as long as I don't fall into despair again.'
"C'mon c'mon, keep coming rotters. Let's see how long you can keep me fed."
"Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, Level Up, bone density increased"
After his level frenzy, Koutetsu made it to the others, he made a dramatic entrance by delivering a devastating backkick to Dreiz before he swung his axe down on Ryuji's head, saving Ryuji from having the top of his skull cleaved off.
"About damn time! What took you so long you prick." He complained, screaming at Koutetsu for acting useless earlier.
"Bite me, kinniku-baka, I'm here now. So what the hell are these guys?" Koutetsu looked at all the knights present, he stared intensely at Einz who was still standing with his arms crossed watching the fight.
"Insanely strong is what they are. They call themselves Schwartzreiters. Careful, these guys are not ordinary DreadKnights they're stronger and have more skill too. We're getting our lives handed to them practically." An exhausted Ryuji spoke explaining what was happening.
Koutetsu looked at each one, he was analyzing them thoroughly with his Coded Eyes, Ryuji was right the aura and coding they gave off were far more sinister than anything he had seen yet. He knew these guys were not to be taken lightly in this fight.
"Ok then, I'm guessing that one over there with the big sword is the leader, he's not entering unless he needs to. This one you've been fighting has gotta be the powerhouse, the one with the chain is good at snaring and trapping people, and that one with the spear is fast and has strong counter skills. I think I know how we can beat them."
"You gotta plan I'm all in. But it better be good we're all hitting are limits here." Ryuji told him trying to catch his breath.
Koutetsu nodded, all the years playing online video games were going to pay off. He had been in situations like this during dungeon raids when he used to play with teams before he got sick of them during his last miserable years.
"Itsuki, keep helping Ryuji, your ice magic will be a good counter for this guy, he's strong but not that fast, you need to slow his movements down so Ryuji can use his strength against him. Hiro, switch up the weapon and make one that can counter the chain before it grabs you so you can make an opening to fire your arrows, that one knows your bow is your best weapon, he's purposely tiring you out quicker so you can't defend anymore when your magic goes out. Ren, your reaction timing, even if it kills you increases your personal awareness and rhythm, outcounter his own counters."
Everyone heard Koutetsu, they were processing what he was getting at, it sounded too simple but they trusted his judgment. Itsuki was the first to trust his words, he wouldn't suggest anything unless he knew it was going to work.
"I trust you Koutetsu, Tsukikage let's go. When this is over you're going to make some sweets after this." Itsuki commented to Koutetsu wanting a reward for later.
Itsuki and Tsukikage ran to help Ryuji, Veirz tried to stop them, but Hiro fired another arrow at the sickle stopping his attempt. Koutetsu charged Megumi and Barnaby to help get them away from the fight to recover, dragging them far enough to use his flames to help speed up their recovery. Thankfully during the level-ups, he gained more control to use them on others like he can for himself.
They were helping with the physical wounds, it would take time for them to recover their magic and fatigue, Barnaby especially with how badly he drained himself.
Dreiz tried to strike Ryuji again, but Itsuki froze his arms in time, anytime Dreiz was close to a killing blow Itsuki stopped him in his place. He would break free quickly to continue his furious swings, one aimed at Itsuki now from his annoyance at her ice magic freezing him.
Tsukikage kicked the axe blade with tremendous force, the blowback gave Ryuji an opening chance to give a powerful shot to the rib cage area cracking the armor, followed by a clothesline strike to the head knocking him off balance.
"Got you ya deadhead." A cocky Ryuji said.
"Don't underestimate me you maggot!"
Dreiz grew angrier, his axe exploded in a sinister aura, the blast from it destroyed all of Ryuji's armor and wounded one of Tsukikage's legs. Itsuki defended herself with an ice shield before it hit her throat.
"Damn, think I made him angry."
"Hey Ryuji you ok?" Ituski concerningly asked.
"Yeah, but I'm exhausted. I can't steel myself right now, low on iron in my body. And everything else around me isn't strong enough to keep up with him."
Itsuki had to think, Ryuji needed something to strengthen himself to hold off the axe. Sand and rock wouldn't cut it, and he had nothing around him to ingest to harden himself that would be equal to iron. Itsuki had a thought click in her head that could work, it was a gamble but maybe it could pay off.
"Ryuji, it's gonna drain me but I'm going to make an ice that's the strongest I can create. When I make it you're going to eat it."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He wasn't sure how to accept that.
"You use elements to make armor, use my ice. There's nothing here that's strong enough to withstand that axe, if this works you'll be able to have something to fight back with. Trust me ok."
Ryuji was confused, he hadn't thought about that yet. That and it was magic ice Itsuki was going to give him, it wasn't a natural element, and it could either be rejected by his body or have bad side effects since he wasn't a Prime Caliber.
Itsuki needed time to make the ice, Tsukikage gave it his best to defend her, and Ryuji tried as well, he kept pounding at Dreiz's armor with his knuckle dusters to distract him along with the basics of Sambo he was practicing. Itsuki started coughing up blood, trying to make the ice in her current condition was beating up her insides. She dropped to a knee after finishing a diamond-shaped ice cube, she flung it to Ryuji before her exhaustion kicked in, and Tsukikage took a bad hit to defend it from Dreiz before he could cut it once he realized what they were up to. Ryuji caught it just in time, the cube was cold in his hand, and he could feel his skin stinging from the cold burn.
"Itsuki I could kiss you for this."
"Sorry, I'm spoken for. Just eat it already will ya."
Ryuji grinned as he accepted the ice, he bit down into it, swallowing the pieces as best as his throat could allow. His stomach felt horrible from its magic properties, but his body felt like it was powered up by the sudden rush of energy behind it.
"Alright then, let's see if magic really works on my body." Ryuji channeled the magic from the ice in his stomach, he could feel his body absorb it, and his skin started to harden just like the ice, with cold smoke emanating off his body. The change was complete, Ryuji's Esper body accepted the ice, giving him a temporary tool in his arsenal. Hoping for one that wouldn't damage his body badly in the long run.
"Level Up. Unique Skill upgraded, defense capabilities of Chassis selection increased. Warning! Detection of magic inside the body. The body is not capable of handling magic in its current state without magic training. A time limit of fifteen minutes till the body will suffer magic poisoning."
Ryuji received his warning. He got a level up thanks to Itsuki but he needed to win quickly before he suffered serious side effects.
"Thanks, Itsuki I'm all energized up now." He declared slamming his fists together.
"Impressive, your body accepted a magic element. You're potential is commendable. That or you're a reckless fool filled with immense stupidity you maggot." Dreiz told him with an insulting compliment.
"Think so huh? Ya know I think I've got a name for my power now, I'll call it True Skill, Full Armored Jacket. This will be Frost Jacket."
"Notice, Unique Skill upgraded to True Skill. Unique Skill Elemental Chassis will now be registered as True Skill Full Armored Jacket."
Itsuki groaned at the terrible naming, Ryuji wasn't smart really, even that naming sounded ridiculous like he just ripped it off a movie. But it was Ryuji's choice, she wasn't going to ruin his mood on how excited he was getting the hang of his skill now.
"I was right, you really are a foolish maggot. Let me give you a death befitting one as pathetic as you."
"Bring it!" Ryuji yelled glaring at eyes while cracking his knuckles.
Hiro was still fighting Veirz, his magic was slowing down, and making as many arrows as he did was draining him. He tried to imagine a weapon like Koutetsu mentioned earlier to counter the chains. Veirz was patient, he knew how to get into Hiro's blind spots. The sickle broke off again, flowing around Hiro while the chain was trying to grab hold of his legs. The chain changed directions and grabbed his throat. The sickle shot at his head now with him pinned down unable to evade.
"Fall into the abyss child."
The sickle was a few feet away from Hiro's face, Hiro dispelled the bow, and he used his magic to make another weapon like he was told to do. Hiro countered by making a Kyu Gunto; a Russo-Japanese military saber like the one his father used during his service time. He blocked the sickle from reaching his face and even used it to break the chain behind him freeing himself.
"Level Up, Magical Skill Creation Magic increased. Caster now can create higher level reinforced weapons at the cost of increase magic use."
Hiro smirked upon hearing this, now that his skill increased his weapons would be stronger and harder to destroy. The cost to use them was higher but acceptable for now.
"I'm a surprised child. I would have assumed you would use another bow weapon."
"Much as I hate admitting it, Koutetsu did give me an idea on how to fix my tactics. This was the signature weapon my father used when he trained in the Army. Veirz, I won't let you catch me off guard again."
Veirz chuckled at Hiro's display. He was entertained by the idea Hiro was going to put up an actual fight.
Koutetsu was finishing Megumi's leg, he was done with Barnaby but he was well past his ability to fight back, and his magic was still not recovered after that many bullet creations.
"Stop worrying about us and go help the others. We'll be fine for now." Megumi told him.
"Master, are you sure? There's still Ghasts around here, you could be free lunch to them if you aren't ready."
"Dumba**! Go and help your friends. If you don't leave I'll smash your balls and feed them to the Ghasts myself." She ordered pointing her razor nails to Koutetsu's nether region to get him moving.
Koutetsu quivered at the threat. Even tired out Megumi still had a way of scaring him. Koutetsu acknowledged he asked Tsurara to stay with Megumi while he went back to his friends.
Ren was dodging the attacks from Zweiz, he was speeding up his strikes giving less room for Ren to make an offensive counter.
"Pathetic, the heir to Mitsurugi Sousuke is a poor choice. In my previous life, he defeated me when he was your age. I can never forget that display of power he had in his skills. Even when I heard he was crippled I knew he would have put up a better fight than you with him being the master swordsman as he is. You're truly a waste to his legacy."
"Don't speak as if you understand me or my Master. The dead have no stone to cast judgment on the living, I'll send you to your abyss soon." Ren closed his eyes, he switched off his sight as he did in his fight with Rina. His senses heightened again, the brush stroke imagery was clearer than earlier, and they shifted from a day set when it was a clear prediction of Zweiz's movements, his attacks looking like a blue dragon brush stroke. They would switch to a night setting with the red brush stroke when it was a new attack being recorded like he tried with Rina. The balance shifted in the setting of colors was in perfect unison, he could see every strike now perfectly. His sword was glowing a brighter sky-blue color than normal, the SuiRyu was responding to his determination to win.
"Level Up. Unique Skill fully unlocked. Unique Skill; Shouryuugan, Twin Star Dragon Eyes. Skill allows user to have complete predictability analysis of enemies allowing for counter tactics to be preformed and enemy fighting styles incorporated into user's moveset. Skill alternates imagery of analysis depending on Esper's personality."
Ren slashed the spear thanks to the prediction analysis, chipping the edge of it, the force of the strike was invisible to the naked eye, but its impact was real to Zweiz who didn't see it happening.
"You little worm. What did you do? You're no Caster and you're skill level as an Esper is laughable."
Ren took a deep breath relaxing his body, his muscles felt like they were burning up but becoming denser and stronger than before, his body was evolving even more now from not only unlocking his skill but pushing past his physical limitations due to his drive to beat Zweiz and himself for his own weakness from before. He didn't want to admit it but Rina made him see how much he limited himself by not fighting for his own will to live just a sword for another.
"Level Up, Level Up."
Ren could feel it more. The tightening of the muscles in his body became more prominent and defined. His strength and speed increased further, and Zweiz's spear began to barely have an edge against him. The will to fight for himself was further increasing his abilities, he was pushing past his old physical limitations to have the ideal body he strove for.
"You're right, I can't use magic except for what this sword can give, my Esper strength was average, but a swordsman's heart is much purer than your will of death that's why I'm growing stronger in this fight. I will surpass you and my master, I will see everything you do and cut your spear in half, you hear me Zweiz, you're no longer a threat to me anymore."
Zweiz was angered, and he continued his assault on Ren regardless of the counter hits being struck upon him, it was in Ren's favor, he was seeing everything Zweiz was doing in his mind, and his senses were getting sharper to the point he could hear the armor creak when it would move for a strike or the airflow when the spear would thrust down. Not as sharp as Tatsuya's hearing, but enough to determine the direction of the spear.
"I've had enough of these games." Zweiz became enraged, his spear glowed the same way Dreiz had earlier with the tip enlarging into a thin spike, Zweiz stabbed the ground, and soon multiple thin spikes were shooting up from the ground, Ren's footwork tried to be faster than the spikes popping up. One scratched his shin, another stabbed his foot hindering his movements.
"Schatten-Erddorn(Shadow Earth Spike). My ultimate attack. Let's see you predict an attack you can not find at blinding speed from underneath you."
Zweiz unleashed it again, Ren tried his best to fight it off, he was slower now with his foot injured, and the spikes had poison on them, Ren's fight or flight instinct had taken over, he either dodged haphazardly or slashed the ground to avoid another hit. One snuck up behind him, Zweiz thought he had Ren dead to rights, but Koutetsu flew in at the last second tackling him out of the spikes' path.
He blasted Zweiz with a small fireball to blind him, disrupting the spike's emergence temporarily.
"You made it, you finished helping Kuramori-Sensei and Morales-Sensei?" A tired Ren asked.
"Yeah, Tsurara will help with the remaining Ghasts in their way. Here let me help you out." Koutetsu used the flame on Ren's legs to heal the wounds. They closed up, but the poison was still lingering inside Ren.
"Damn, I can't rid the poison out of you. Whatever this stuff is, it's tougher than my current level can handle." A regrettable Koutetsu informed Ren.
"It's that spear. Long as he's still standing it'll keep growing till it takes me down."
Koutetsu helped Ren stand up. Both of them stared at Zweiz, his glowing eyes brimming with hate.
"Finally, the chosen boy is here to play. I'm under orders not to kill you. But I'll settle for your friend instead."
Koutetsu defiantly smiled at Zweiz, he wasn't going to be intimidated by him. Zweiz was ready to launch his ultimate attack again when a powerful pressure started to suffocate him and everyone else. The pressure was chilling, everyone felt like their souls were screaming in fear. Koutetsu looked behind Zweiz, Einz was entering the stage now.
"Zweiz, stand down, I'll deal with the child myself."
"Einz, I can handle them both, I swear I won't kill the boy." Einz glared at Zweiz, his helmet started caving in as Einz was asserting his dominance as the leader. Zweiz obeyed his command, he charged at Ren, grabbing him to move their fight away from Einz and Koutetsu.
Einz called his sword to his side, and the large blade flew to his hand, as he slammed into the ground next to him.
"I am Einz, the Shadow Sword, I will slash the light in you." He introduced himself bowing his head in respect to Koutetsu.
"Hayashi Koutetsu, a student at Kamui Academy, I'll rip out your guts."
Einz snickered, he picked up his sword swinging it with ease as if it weighed nothing at all. The tip of the blade pointed at Koutetsu, Einz was ready to fight him now.
"Come at me, you with the pride of a lion."
Koutetsu growled as he flared up his fists, he lunged to Einz who was standing waiting to show Koutetsu how inferior he was to Einz.