Dark Exorcist

Part 1 (3)

"Kasuke!" Asura rushed over to him. Trying to shake him awake with no luck. That's when Naiomi came dashing over. "Kasuke!? What happened captain!?"

"I...I don't know...he somehow fought off that devil. But once the battle was over, he collapsed" Tears filled her eyes as she looked at her friend's unconscious body. "Kasuke...KASUKE!!"

Deep Within His Subconsciousness...

"Am I dead?" The exorcist asked himself when he heard Akunomi: "You're not dead fool, you're in a spiritual trauma coma. Your body couldn't handle my power flowing through you for the first time so it gave out. Feel lucky...if it had been anyone else, their heart would've given out or worse. Your body on the other hand seems to be in stable condition. Think of this coma as your body's way of recuperating from the fight"

"How long will this coma last!?" He responded with a worried expression. Akunomi smirked replying: "Don't worry, with your resilient body it'll only be a few hours to a day at most so just think of this as a well-needed sleep. Even if your body began dying there's a way I can restart your heat. Once you've mastered my power there won't be any repercussions for using my power. Until then you'll have to expect this often. Too bad that wasn't a demon world heart, if we siphoned power from one of those, I'm sure we could become the most powerful demon in existence"

"Just what is a demon world heart?"

"Think of it like a demon heart, but 100 times bigger with far more power stored in it. But to create one of those takes massive amounts of demonic and negative spiritual energy to create. The only way we could possibly create one or at least find one would be to enter the demon world. There is where immense demonic energy flows in and out of our world. The only way into the demo world is if you become a true demon. The sheer pressure of all the demonic energy would kill you even if I used a demonic barrier"

"Hmmm, well then we'll just have to summon the demon heart somewhere far from anyone"

"Don't be foolish, the demon world heart is so massive that no matter where you summon it, many humans would either be killed by it's creation alone or by the demons drawn to it's power. This will be a hard task. But when it's time, you'll have to decide: Between giving up your human half and become a full demon like me or risk the lives of hundreds maybe even thousands to gain the power to eradicate every last demon on earth with infinite demonic power"

Kasuke stood there in the void in front of the demon king, conflicted of the two choices. "I can tell what you're feeling, you wish to save others from the demons, but also don't want to give up your humanity and be shunned by the exorcists and be haunted down like a mere demon. You have to decide what's more important: How others see you but being guilty of murder or being shunned by the world but letting it thrive without you"

MEANWHILE...

Naiomi sat by the exorcist's bed clutching his hand as he laid motionless in bed with slow calm breaths. She looked at his left hand and was horrified that it was dark as if a demonic shadow had covered it like a glove. "Kasuke, what's happening to you?" That's when she heard someone coming down the hall towards the clinic where the shinobi laid silent in a coma...

Zenra walked in leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed. "We have another assignment let's go, he's obviously too weak to be an exorcist or even a ninja for that matter. When he wakes up, I hope he gets kicked off our team, he's nothing but dead weight" Naiomi shook with rage when a kunai hit the doorway mere inches from Zenra's face.

"Don't you ever call him dead weight! He defeated a demon that even the captain couldn't handle! We would've been dead if it wasn't for him! If you bring this up again, I'll have captain prove to you that Kasuke...he's-he's stronger than all of us"

"Stronger than captain Asura? You must already be losing it Naiomi, pull yourself together. Now let's go" She looked back at her friend before making her way outside with Zenra where Asura was waiting. He was still a little injured from the fight before but was strong enough to accept their mission.

"Alright, after the fight with the country-level threat demon, I'm badly wounded, luckily most of my injuries were healed by Kasuke who somehow defeated the creature. I may have a talk with him at some point about it. But never the less, he saved us from dying at the hand of the sadistic monster. I will have a talk with the organization to promote him to B-rank exorcist later"

"B-rank!? He should be kicked from or team! He did nothing against the fight against the demon I fought!" Zenra blurted out. Naiomi aimed a kunai in his direction not looking at him, with a cold expression on her face. "I told you not to speak about him like that. He's in a coma from fighting so hard to protect us against such a fierce enemy. You couldn't even win against the demon that was nowhere near the foe me and the captain were faced with.

"You won't attack me, you're just as weak as he is" Preparing to attack she gripped the knife tightly filling it with her spiritual energy as it swarmed with violet energy. Just before she could attack, Asaura caught her fist responding: "Enough you two. Zenra, if you keep acting like this, I'll have you suspended from the unit for two weeks without pay, so think twice about what you say. She's right, he fought hard for us and this entire country, that demon was like nothing I had ever seen before. If Kasuke hadn't awakened his power during that fight, we all would've been dead. Oh, I almost forgot Naiomi, I never taught either of you the types of demons there are. There are five types of demons in terms of threat and power:

•Lesser-Demons

•City-tier

•Continental

•World-tier

•Universal

The exosagins only believe in the first four. They think a universal devil is impossible, but I feel as though demons are slowly becoming stronger. One day they may surpass all but the S-rank exosagins. So you both and Kasuke will have to master exorcist skills and hopefully keep the demon's population under control at least here since we can't travel the whole world nonstop. Anyway, we have a special mission that also is with unit three. This will be our first duo unit mission. We're told a legion of demons over took a village known as Kekosin south of us. So we need both units in case another high-level threat happens to appear. Now let's move out"

(Kasuke...) Naiomi thought clinching her fist, worried to leave him alone for too long. Asura could tell how worried she was and walked over to her placing his hand on her shoulder. "If you're that worried about him, I'll show you something to put yourself at ease" He walked her back to Mashida's bed where he told her to focus on Kasuke's spiritual energy. She took a deep breath sensing the man's life energy when she saw an immense power in the center of his heart that looked like a red ball with massive power emanating from it.

"See? If his life was in danger the spiritual core near his heart would grow smaller and weaker like a candle or battery. But as you can see it's still blazing with power, he's nowhere near dead" She smiled with tears in her eyes before wiping them away. They met back up with Zena before heading south towards Kekoshin. All three of them moved swiftly through the trees like shadows in the knight as Naiomi seemed to be getting the hang of going tree to tree like a good shinobi.

After about two hours they decided to take a break and rest..

Back Inside Kasuke's Mind...

"If I'm going to be trapped here, then I might as well train, teach me how to become stronger" Akunomi smirked in his chair looking at the exorcist. "Very well, let us begin. Let's see you defeat a duplication of me. These are only 10% percent of my true power, but even so...don't let your guard down"

Mashida prepared himself for the coming threat as the clone stood before him. It looked like Akunomi but made out of silver energy like a ghost pr hologram. It dashed straight for him, throwing physical strikes, mainly using his hands like daggers with it's fingers closed together instead of energy range attacks. Focusing his spiritual energy and his quick reaction, Kasuke managed to dodge each coming strike that came his way.

"Impressive, seems you're a fast learner, you've only been on two missions yet you seem to be able to react quickly in a situation. Then let us raise the challenge" The duplication backflipped to gain distance before aiming is palm in the target's direction, it's index and middle finger together pointing up.

"Secret art: Spirit shards of demonic despair" Kasuke looked around him waiting for an attack when demonic energy in the shape of shattered glass shot up from the white platform, piercing into his knees and arms as blood began to run down his body.

"You're lucky this is all a dream-like battle, other-wise I would be enjoying this so much more. However, seeing this is still some-what entertaining" Kasuke shook in pain, pulling the demonic glass-like fragments out of his body as they hit the platform dissolving into wisps of red energy.

"This is getting us nowhere if you're not oing to fight back. You've only dodged and taken hits by my attacks. Let's try this again" Akunomi prepared to attack once more as red light filled the void...

CHAPTER 4 Demonic Power

Back In The Endless Forest the unit were almost to the city of Kekoshin when Asura felt something nearby. He jumped farther than before placing his palm against a tree, leaving a blue symbol that looked like a diamond inside a magical circle before it faded into the wood of the tree. He signaled the others to stop as he took out two kunai. He placed one on the tree he had marked before throwing another one across five rows of trees hitting another and waited...

Just then a lesser demon came out of the moon-lit sky, attempting to claw him with his piercing claws. He leapt from the tree across the forest. The moment the demon's foot made contact with the tree. Bonds made of blue energy trapped him up against the tree. Asura clapped his hands together as the kunai he had thrown launched off the tree back to the demon picking up speed as spiritual energy flowed throw it. "Secret art: Spiritual reversal!" The kunai struck it's target in the abdomen before unleashing an eruption of blue light filling the forest while getting the dozens of other demon's attention to it's location.

"Get ready, that should've gotten their attention. I'll keep the strong demons away from you two while you take out the lesser-demons, hopefully unit three will be here soon"

"Be careful captain you're still hurt from the last fight" Naiomi responded. Asura gave her a nod before pulling out his last kunai. (Damn it, I forgot to restock on these things) He filled it with as much spiritual energy as he could before tossing it in a large open area where not many trees were. (The mindless demons should be attracted to the kunai since it'll have the highest source of spiritual energy. If I can get a decent amount to surround it, I'll be able to make it explode killing a great portion of their numbers)

Naiomi pulled out a single handed samari sword holding it vertically as she scouted on the branch of a tree in the darkness. (Kasuke, I will be strong like you and captain Asura, I won't be the one falling behind!) She kept a close eye on her surroundings when a large amount of demonic spiritual energy manifested out in the distance.

"They're coming..." Zenra commented looking out in the distance toward Kekoshin. He focused his energy into his palm creating a sphere of blue spiritual energy. The exorcist waited as the monsters grew closer, growing louder each second...(Now!) "Seishin sphere!" Zenra cried out firing the projectile off into the pitch-black forest. Naiomi watched as the attack blew up a few meters away causing a bright burst of light killing several demons in the process.

(Heh, hopefully that killed a few of them) Zenra thought with a smirk when a buff pale demon with red eyes and sharp teeth lunged out of the dark right for him. "What!? They were already this close!? Or are they just faster than I thought!?" He jumped back from the tree just as the demon struck the tree easily making a hole deep into the center. (s**t! This one's strong! Is there more of them!?) "Take this! Secret Art: Holy light!"

As Zenra was moving away from the demon still in mid-air, he put his two index fingers in the shape of a cross as his body grew brighter lighting up the area in a blinding flash of light that frightened all the lesser demons as they let out screams of terror keeping out of the light's range. However, it didn't seem to affect the demon he was facing as it kicked off from a tree going right for him. Before he could block, he was struck in the ribs with immense power. He was sent soaring across the forest before hitting a large tree, hitting the grass in pain.

"D-damn it. I knew he wasn't a lesser-demon yet I was stupid enough to think that would work on him and that's just one of them!?" The demon descended down with red demonic electricity in it's fist as it prepared to attack once more when shurikens surging with green spiritual energy came spiraling out from the dark as three hit the demon in the chest, piercing deeply in it's clay-like skin before all three gave off powerful surges of green electricity, causing the devil to hit the ground on it's back in pain as it let out low groans of pain.

"W-who's there!?" The exorcist called out still barley able to move as he weakly sat up clutching his abdomen in pain as he could see blood stains on his torso. Just then a member of unit stepped into view beside the injured ninja.

"Kojiro Asukomi of unit three" The shinobi replied in a calm emotionless tone. He had black hair that covered his right hazel eye with a plain exspression. "I see you're having some trouble, allow me to be of aid" Zenra weakly stood up still covering his bloody wound with his hand responding in an angry tone: "I-I don't need help, I can handle this on my-" Before he could finish, Kojiro tossed another shuriken past the ninja, piercing a demon that was right behind Zenra.

"You better take this more seriously...otherwise you'll die" The 3rd unit ninja jumped onto a tree branch before swiftly moving through the night silently. Meanwhile Naiomi was fighting off multiple demons at once as they surrounded her. She gripped her blade tightly waiting for one of them to make the next move, that's when she heard one leap into the air from the horde. Quickly she spun around, slicing right through the demon as it's split body hit the ground in a pool of blood.

She could feel her heart racing, this was the first time she had to deal with so many demons all at once. (This isn't good, I normally fight demons either 1v1 or 1v2. But with this many demons I might not last long. The exam didn't prepare me enough for something like this! I know I'm not good at using my spiritual energy yet, but if I don't try, I may be screwed. I'll have to attempt the exorcit ability my father used in front of me all those years ago.

She stuck her sword into the grass before making quick hand moves, advancing right for the first demon she saw, placing her palm against it's abdomen. "Secret technique: Spiritual fracture link!" A violet symbol appeared on the demon's chest as she jumped back, clapping her hands together. The symbol lit up as a thread made of violet spiritual energy shot out of the demon's body connecting many of the other's cores before a fierce surge of power was sent through them right to their spiritual cores, causing the cores themselves to be destroyed from within their bodies.

She was already out of breath from using her first spiritual energy technique, but she was happy it was successful. She smiled still regaining her breath. (I will strive to master the technique you created father, the spiritual fracture link is a lesser-known technique that is useful when taking on a large number of weak or average demons. By converting my power into sharp threads within my target, I can send them shooting out from my target, piercing through nearby enemies until they're all connected than create a flow of power destroying their cores virtually killing them. Too think I have trouble with using spiritual energy yet can use such a strong ability)

She saw that the horde of devils had diminished down to just five, but knew these ones were stronger than average demons if they were still alive and not running away after so many of their horde were wiped out. She pulled her blade out of the dirt ready to continue the fight when pink threat shot out of the trees, wrapping around the demons keeping them in place.

Naiomi looked up to see a woman sitting in the tree behind them with her palm out, threads made of her energy attached to each of her fingers. She had long light-brown hair with green eyes. "How sad, seems unit two isn't as strong as I thought they were. Naiomi Sonada correct? I assume the wounded ninja a few meters away is Zenra Kinchin. Sigh...how I wonder how you both made it into the exorcist organization is beyond me. Let me guess, your father was an exorcist so you thought to yourself: "I'll follow in my father's footsteps" Is that right?"

"So what if it is!? What does it matter to you!?"

"It doesn't really, I just feel you're not suited to be an exorcist. You can barely even use spiritual energy yet I've mastered using it. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Hisako Noragami, I'm also part of unit three"

"But your name wasn't called when the exams were over" Naiomi responded confused. The female exorcist dropped down walking towards her, two demons lunged at her from behind when she aimed her palm towards them still facing Naiomi not even looking at the incoming assailants. She swiped her fingers upward as her pink spiritual threads shot up from the grass piercing threw them as blood gushed onto the soil before her threads vanished causing the pair of monsters to hit the ground dead.

"Understand this: Your unit is the weakest of the four units. However, I hear your member Kasuke is rather strong, possibly stronger than his own captain. An exorcist of such power should be far more than a mere C-rank, maybe I'll go meet him some time, I doubt he already has a girlfriend and I'm sure you haven't decided if you like him or not"

Naiomi grinded her teeth in anger but held her tongue before gripping her blade. "I'll accept your help, but stay away from Kasuke" Hisako smirked watching right while Naiomi watched left. (So, she really does have feelings for Kasuke, it'll be fun to mess with her once this is over)

Meanwhile Kojiro stood in the grass with his right hand in his pocket as more mindless creatures charged straight for him. He didn't flinch as he opened his empty palm. "Spiritual lightning shuriken" Instead of using a physical shuriken, he manifested a large one made out of green spiritual energy. The ninja threw the powerful attack right for the coming demons as it blew up on contact, completely incinerating the creatures leaving no essence of them left.

"Hmmm, I'm confused on why the exosagins had two units on this mission when all these devils are no threat" He walked through the forest to only hear fighting out in the distance. "Either the demons are already low in numbers or they're focusing on Hisoko and the other member of unit two" Just then Asura spotted a Silhouette of a demon out in the distance. It let out an echoing roar that shook the entire area.

The captain remained crouched on a tree branch right above his set kunai still emanating spiritual energy. That's when he spotted the demon, it was a colossal monster higher than all the trees. It had dark skin, tentacles whipping around with a large red eye that glistened in the night. Kojiro landed beside him Standing on the same branch as the captain looking out at the coming monster. "Hmph, that's a unique demon, I haven't seen one of those before" The unit three ninja commented staring at the creature as it grew closer.

It let out another roar as one of it's massive tentacles went flying right for them. Both exorcists dove from the tree as the demon's tentacle smashed through the trees while the two shinobi landed several Kilometers away. Kenjiro pulled out six shurikens, each one in between his fingers with his hands crossed. "Let's see just how strong this demon is. Flooding each projectile with his spiritual energy once more, he made a swiping motion with his hands going in opposite directions as all six shurikens spun through the air right for the colossal demon's eye.

The pair watched as the ninja stars were just about to hit when the monster wrapped it's tentacles around itself for protection. The green glowing projectiles blew up on contact with bright light before fading. They looked to see the demon only had mere bruises from the attack but not enough to make any difference in the fight.

"Damn it! Just how strong is this thing!?" That's when a cry rang out. Asura and Kenjiro turned to see Naiomi being lifted up by one of the demon's tentacles. She couldn't move her body and therefore couldn't use her secret art. Hisoko threw her palm towards the tentacle holding the exorcist as her violet spiritual thread shot out of the tips of her fingers when another tentacle came out from nowhere, knocking her aside before hitting a tree with great force.

"Y-you bastard, I'll take your head off for that!" She weakly stood back up while Kenjiro came to her side standing beside her. "Are you ok Hisoko?" She kept her eyes on the monster as she stood up covered in dirt with her hair a mess. "Rrrr, spiritual thread cage!" The angered ninja crossed her arms, creating a dome of spiritual thread over the massive demon. "Let's see you escape this!" She clinched her fists causing the thread to tighten around it's body keeping the monster in place.

Just then, muscular arms grew out of it's sides as it threw a punch right for the female exorcist, it's fist was multiple times her size and she didn't have time to release her technique and dodge. "Spiritual barrier!" Kenjiro appeared in between Hisoko and the coming strike as he was engulfed in green fire-like spiritual energy. The blow was so powerful, it sent a shockwave through the entire forest. Naiomi tried to break free but wasn't strong enough.

Asura and the others watched as the green barrier dissipated from Kenjiro as he collapsed out cold. "Kenjiro!" Hiroko cried out as she pulled out her katana. "I thought I wouldn't need to use this technique but-" The sword began to glow with her violet aura when a tentacle came right for her, grabbing her as well. Her blade dropped to the ground leaving her powerless as well.

Meanwhile...

Kasuke awoke in the clinic. "Naiomi? Asura? They must've gone out on a mission. I should try to hurry and catch up with them. I'm sure I can sense one of their spiritual energies once I get close enough"

Back In The Forest...

Zenra was still hurt but decided he had finally had enough. "That's it! I'm tired of being pushed around by all you demon! Prepare to die!" In full rage he launched himself off a tree into the air towards the giant demon as he pulled two daggers out preparing to slice the beast apart. Just then he was grabbed by the creature's snake-like tongue and swallowed whole.

"Noooo! Zenra!" The unit two captain clapped his hands together manifesting swords made of energy around him when the creature turned towards him firing an immense blaze of purple flames right for him. Asura closed his eyes as the flames grew closer when he realized he didn't feel anything. He opened his eyes to find himself standing far behind the monster with Kasuke standing beside him with his palm on his shoulder. "Kasuke!?" He looked at his ally in shock.

"Stay back captain, I'll handle this...Come Akunomi" His eyes went from hazel to red as the four-triangle symbol manifested on his neck from red flames. "Heh, so you want to take out that monster as soon as possible? Then let the blood bath begin" Kasuke with Akunomi controlling half his mind smirked as the ninja ran at fierce speed towards the creature. The others watched as tentacles shot out from it's body towards the exorcist, Kasuke dodged each one that came his way getting closer and closer to his target.

He spotted Naiomi and waited as another arm came right form him. At the last second, he jumped onto it, running up the demon's arm before using it to jump higher into the air right for the tentacle holding his teammate. "Kasuke!" She cried with surprise and excitement. "Piercing s***h!" Kasuke focused his power into his palm creating a blade made of red energy as he cut off the creature's tentacle causing it to let go of Naiomi.

The exorcist caught her, landing in the grass before setting her down. Wait here, I'll finish this fight"

"Wait! What about your hand!? Isn't fighting what caused your hand to be corroded like that!?"

"Don't worry, protecting you is what matters" He responded placing his hand on her head before approaching the beast, walking towards it as if it weren't a threat. The monster let out a bellowing roar before sending it's massive fist straight for the ninja. Mashida stood his ground with a serious expression as the fist struck something in between him and the attack.

"Is that all you have demon? I was sure you could at least get through the power field of my spiritual energy that nullified most attacks that come in to contact with it. "You must not be as strong as you think you are. Allow me to show you what true strength is" Mashida vanished in a flash of red light before standing right in front of his opponent's torso. "Forbidden art: Spiritual life Fracture" Placing his index and middle finger on the demon's torso, he sent a surge of power right for it's spiritual core, causing it to fracture.

The others watched as the massive demon turned to a pool of black goo with Zenra in the center unconscious. (Hmmm, the demon ate that man, how pathetic) Akunomi said within the shinobi's mind. Just then the black goo began to flow within the shinobi's body as demonic energy began to flow through his body. His red hair faded to gray as he floated up into the air, his eyes glowing red as his ninja uniform ripped away leaving a black shirt and black pants.

"This power...it's incredible. So this is what it feels like to be the strongest exorcist!"

"Guess again Zenra, you're nowhere near as strong as me" The floating demonic ninja looked down at him in anger before flying right for him, throwing a punch with demonic energy engulfing his fist. Kasuke stepped out of the way as Zenra struck the ground, leaving a massive c***k in the earth.

"Rrr, I've had enough of you! A low-class exorcist just showing up and acting better than everyone else! It's time someone killed you! Forbidden art: Demonic Seal!" Putting his hands together like a triangle right at Kasuke he prepared to seal him within the darkness with he realized his target was gone. A sudden pain ran through the demonic man as he realized Kasuke was right behind him, his fist right through his chest as blood ran from his body onto the soil.

"Even after gaining all that power, you still are nothing Zenra and if you're willing to kill your own ally to prove you're better, than you don't deserve to be called an exorcist" He pulled his hand out as his eyes reverted back to their hazel color and the symbol faded into his skin.

"Is everyone ok?" The ninja called out walking over to Naiomi leading her over to the others. Kenjiro was still out cold but Asura and Hisoko seemed fine. "So this is Kasuke? His power is nothing like any exorcists I've ever seen. Could he...be stronger than even the exosagins!?)

"Seems everyone's ok, let's hurry and head back. So we can rest" Asura suggested...