Dark Exorcist

Part 2 (2)

"The girls looked at one another before placing their hands on the swordsmen's shoulders as his body began to manifest blue spiritual energy. Gripping his blade tightly, the seinshin ascended back into the air towards the sphere of darkness. "Sword art: 1,000 spiritual slashes!" As his katana was engulfed by a blue flame-like aura, he unleashed dozens of slashes in mere seconds before sliding his sword back to it's side with a small flash.

The moment his blade slid back to it's holster, the orb of darkness began to c***k apart with light illuminating the growing cracks. All watched as the barrier finally shattered apart revealing Akunomi fighting the fused Exosagain up close.

"Kasuke!" Naiomi cried out as the warrior evaded coming strikes from the powerful foe. Just then they landed a blow right through Akunomi's abdomen. Naiomi and the others watched as Akunomi controlling Kasuke's body spat out blood with a hole in his stomach as he fell from the sky towards the group of fighters. Tenkai quickly caught him before laying him on his back as blood ran from his body.

"If I can do this in time! Holy healing: Max power!" Tenkai aimed his hands down at the wounded warrior as his injuries were quickly healed. Kasuke opened his eyes looking up at Tenkai and the others.

"Kasuke you're ok!" The two women cried with joy. Mashida looked at Tenaki before standing up, part of his chest now covered in the dark corrosion. "Tenkai...we need to use their ability against them. Even Akunomi was no match against them. We have to use...Souls as one!"

"Haha! You fool, it takes full concentration and power control to complete the technique souls as one, how can you possibly hope to use it!?" The exosagain mocked still floating above them.

"As much as I hate demons, I think this may be the only way. Let's do this" Both stood beside one another as they focused their power simultaneously. Then at the same time they cried out: Souls as one!" They began to fuse when both were sent back in opposite directions. Tenkai hit a tree while Kasuke landed in a lake as small drips of blood ran from his bottom lip. "Damn it! How could we fail!?"

"Haha! Maybe it's because of your demonic power attempting to fuse with a holy warrior. It rejected you, as will the world!" The fused exosagain moved right for Mashida reaching for the man's throat when Tenkai teleported in between them, blocking the incoming strike with his blade getting sent smashing through a large tree.

"What do we do!? We gave him all our spiritual energy so we can't use any techniques and his capabilities are on a far greater level than any demon...

Meanwhile the white exosagain was back at their organization as he walked down the hallway, the halls were white with a black carpeted floor. He could feel himself growing dizzy and weak as he held onto the wall making his way into his bedroom as he walked over to the mirror on his dresser.

His hair was becoming gray and long while his eyes became red. "What blasphemy is this? Am I becoming a demonic creature!? How could this be, I defeated that worthless-" He remembered the clone making contact with his forehead with their fingers. "So, they used some kind of curse on me without my knowledge. Never the less, no mere curse will be enough to stop me"

Just then an abrupt pain struck through his body as he gripped the dresser growing more pale as his breath grew heavy. A sudden voice could be heard within his subconscious: "Seems my curse is taking affect, not long before your body completely belongs to me"

Back on the battlefield the cyan-hooded exorcist pointed his index finger toward the sky as a sphere of blue energy began to build up. It Began to expand growing larger every second. Just then the others finally showed up.

"Kenjiro, Asura what are you doing here!?" Kasuke responded walking over to them gripping his shoulder still soaked from landing in the water moments ago.

"We could easily feel the high level of spiritual energy. Once Kenjiro was finally up we quickly raced over here"

"What about unit three's captain where are they? We're going to need all the help we can get" Kasuke responded. Asura told him that the captain was in a different country aiding a different crisis and couldn't help. Kasuke looked over at Tenkai who had been knocked out by the impact.

"Captain Asura, I'd rather you not interfere in this matter, unless you'd rather lose your title as captain and be killed by me"

"Who are you exactly? You don't look familiar"

"Fool, I am the unification of two of the exosagain. I plan to rid this world of all demons, starting with the one inside Kasuke" Before anyone could do anything, the fused warrior moved right up to Kasuke placing his hand against the man's chest. "paralysis crest" A red symbol appeared upon the boy's chest causing him to hit the ground unable to move. "it's time to extract the putrid devil from your body and destroy it"

"Kasuke!" Naiomi cried out charging right for him with the rest all advancing toward the exosagain in all directions. The moment they got within melee range an immense golden explosion erupted from their target sending them all scattering back. Both Asura and Kenjiro landed on a tree branch, throwing spiritual shurikens and a kunai charged with spiritual energy right for their assailant.

However, the man easily caught the shurikens made of green energy, throwing them right back at Kenjiro while evading the coming kunai as it landed beside Kasuke. "Your attempts at stopping this is pointless, your duty as exorcists is to kill all demons"

"We also have a responsibility to protect our comrades" Asura argued. "Enough of your meaningless talk...it's time to begin the extraction" The hooded man placed his palm on the target's chest. "Soul extract" A golden aura surrounded them as Akunomi's demonic soul was being pulled out from the boy's abdomen with a beam of light emanating from the point of extraction. Kasuke let out cries of despair from the immense pain of the demon leaving his body.

Once the extraction was complete, Akunomi's dark essence faded into the dark sky while it's former vessel laid unconscious at the brink of death. "The extraction is finished. I shall return to headquarters to decide your punishments later" Without another word the exosagin flew off into the night.

Kasuke was carried by Asura while Tenkai was carried by Kenjiro as they made their way up a large mountain over to the entrance of a large cave where both warriors were laid beside each other. "What do we do? Tenkai is the only one who knows how to use healing arts but is out cold" Naiomi asked placing her hand on the man's forehead.

"I can sense Kasuke's spiritual energy, it's faint...since the demon was connected to him for so long, it must've put a great strain on his body once it was ripped from his spiritual core by force. He's lucky to even be alive after such an experience. However, I can sense his lifeforce slowly growing weaker. If we don't find a way to sustain his life energy...he'll surely die"

"No don't say that! He's already been through so much in such a short amount of time! I-I won't let this be the end. I-I'll give him as much of my life force as I can!"

"Naiomi, you're not recovered from the fight, you need to rest first and hope his body can hold out long enough"

"There's no time...Kasuke! I won't let you die!" She focused her blue spiritual energy into her palms as she began compressing his chest while sending waves of her energy to his heart with each pump...

Deep within his subconscious...

Kasuke stood on the white platform he usually did when speaking with Akunomi. However, he was nowhere to be seen, all was quiet. Though he was a demon, Kasuke felt a little sad about losing the demon king. He saw the throne sitting there, empty...Mashida slowly walked over, sitting in Akunomi's place. "He's gone...he was a demon with dark intentions...so why is it, I feel as though I've lost a part of myself? Akunomi gave me the power to break human boundaries between exorcists and demons. With him gone, what can I do? I'm back to my weak C-rank self"

Just then he heard a faint voice from the darkness around him. "Kasuke, wake up! I won't lose you! Though your power is gone...you still have me and the allies you've gained through your short journey as an exorcist. So please...come back!" Naiomi did one final compression using all of her power as Kasuke took a deep breath opening his eyes.

"Kasuke! You're ok!" She hugged him tightly with tears running down her face. The man looked around to see Kenjiro, Asura and Hisoko standing around him with smiles on their face. "Glad to have you back Kasuke" Asura responded placing his hand on the teammates shoulder before they stood up.

Mashida looked over at Tenkai who was still out-cold. He walked over to him, placing his hand upon the swordsmen's chest. A slit flash of green light emanated from his palm as the man in white weakly opened his eyes to see his friend standing over him.

"Kasuke? Where are we?"

"I'm not sure, but my friends got us here and saved me from succumbing to my extraction. Looks like I've lost the power of the demon king. Now I'm nothing more than a low-rank exorcist again"

"Don't be so hard on yourself my friend, I've seen power corrupted people, especially demonic power. You were the first I've seen to use demonic power for a good cause. You wanted to turn their power against them and make this world a better place instead of letting the remaining humans of this world die. With that kind of will-power and determination, I believe you have what it takes to save this world. A man with a demon-half but a pure heart that can endure a demon's influence, that's something only few can manage. Truly, your heart is fare purer than any other"

Tenkai used his katana to lift himself up to his feet looking at the others than back at Kasuke. "You may have lost him, but I know something that can help you. There is a place I used to spend time at, it was beautiful and untouched by the demons. We must go there and help restore your power. I pray for a god named Kaisu, he is a god that believes all should love one's self. That they shouldn't let the cruel world make you lose sight on the love you feel for yourself and those who stand behind you. I've believed in him all these years, through the harsh times I went through as a child up till now. My father told me once...those who accept their sins and only move forward for those they love will truly be at peace. My father told me I'd have a purpose in this life, that I'd protect those who needed it. My father was right...I have a purpose...to stop the demons and save as many humans as I can. That is my goal"

All looked at the swordsmen who had a look of determination on his face. "We must head to Isanu, there is where we will find the valley that was untouched by these devils. The faith there was so strong, no demon could go near it" Tenkai held his sword close to his face closing his eyes as a golden symbol appeared underneath all of them. Just as they were about to teleport, a lesser-demon jumped out from the dark outside the cave.

"Tenkai!" Kasuke called out as the swordsmen lost focus, causing them all to travel half-way there before being separated into projectiles of golden light like shooting stars. Kasuke and Naiomi landed in the middle of a forest with a clear path leading north towards Isanu. The warrior slowly got to his feet, his body sore from the impact already being hurt from the extraction not long ago. Naiomi managed to get up with minor bruises.

"Oh no we lost the others during the teleportation!"

"D-don't worry Naiomi, I have faith that Tenkai either landed with the others or isn't that far from them" Meanwhile Tenkai and Hisoko landed in a random part of the Isanu forest far off the path. He perfectly landed on his feet on a tree branch before landing onto the soil below. He looked at Hisoko who got her shirt caught in a tree limb as she hung upside down waving her hands franticly.

"Hey you, Tenkai, come help me down!"

"Don't be so loud, I can sense a dark essence nearby. We must've landed further off the path then I thought"

"I'll be as loud as I want, only Kasuke can tell me what to do! Now get me down!" Hisoko shouted with an annoyed look on her face. Tenkai walked over to the tree where his ally hung upside down when a sudden feeling of chills ran through his body, that's when he realized it was becoming colder at a fast rate, he could see his breath as it began to snow.

"What is this!? It's never snowed before, and after all the damage the demons caused it shouldn't even be able to snow this much or even at all!" He looked behind himself to see a silhouette in the growing snow. A demon stood motionless holding up a lantern. It's face was concealed by the snow with only it's blue skin and gray coat could be seen.

"A demon that can control the weather? Strange, I've never heard of a demon with frost abilities before. Never the less, I have to find the others which mean I need to kill this demon quickly. The area around them formed into an all-out blizzard with Tenkai unable to see more than a few feet ahead of him with his white cloak blowing in the intense wind. Just then a shard of ice went past him, piercing the side of his cheek causing blood to run down his face.

"You frozen bitch..." (I'm still weakened from our last fight, but should have enough power to use one or two techniques...Spiritual art: Aura sense) Gripping his blade tightly he closed his eyes. He could see a trail of red demonic essence in front of him in the darkness as he kept his eyes closed. Moving at half his normal speed, he slashed his blade in an instant, only to see the red demonic aura had moved behind him. He took a deep breath, the cold air hurting his lungs, (1,000 spiritual slashes!)

Blue rays of light surrounded him like a barrier from him moving his blade at near-instantaneous speed. Tenkai managed to decapitate the demon behind him before sliding his blade back to his side. Hisoko watched as the snow began to melt. Tenkai felt light-headed but knew with it being night and they were in a part of the forest that radiated evil, he couldn't afford for them to stay there much longer.

Quickly he cut her down as she landed in her arms. Without putting her down he focused as much spiritual energy as he could as his body glowed with a golden aura, moving through the forest at great speed.

Meanwhile Kenjiro and Asura also landed in a random part of the forest but didn't take long for them to find the path towards the Isanu valley. "Hope the others are ok" The unit captain commented as they walked through the path towards their target location. Just then a golem-like demon stepped out onto their path. It was a demon made out of rock that was seven feet tall with red eyes.

"Well then, first time I've seen a demon made of rock. However, rock is easily broken" Kenjiro responded pulling out a thin needle made of metal. "Let's see how many you can take" He said in a calm tone. Asura watched as the exorcist threw the single needle right for the demon's forehead. The projectile pierced the demonic creature's head but it seemed unaffected by the hit.

"I assume you can't feel pain, lucky you" Snapping his fingers the needle blew up, blowing off the demon's head leaving pieces of smaller rocks all around it's feet. Just then the rocks floated back up to the demon's neck reforming it's head.

"Fine, you want to play that game, let's see you handle this, Asura step in" Kenjiro pulled out a dozen needles in between his finger throwing them all towards the demon as it began to charge them. Multiple needles struck the demon's rock body as Asura tossed two kunai in the center path between them and the rock creature. The needles ignited simultaneously blowing the creature to pieces. Right before it could rebuild itself Asura activated his two kunai, completely destroying the creature entirely.

"There, I'm surprised how simple that was considering the high feeling of demon energy in this forest. Gives me chills the more I focus on it. We should hurry" Kenjiro commented as they raced through the forest towards an entrance with bamboo that was tall and aligned like a gate. They waited there as Tenkai and the others finally arrived.

"Strange how the forest is radiating dark spiritual energy yet rarely any demons have appeared. Anyway, here's Isanu valley, here no demon has been able to enter. This is where we'll be able to give you the strength you need to take on the exosagin and the god-like demons that may appear" Kasuke and the others followed the white swordsmen past the bamboo gates as they walked down a large path with hundreds of pink peddles floating all around them. Kasuke could feel a sense of relief around them, as if they took away his stress.

They reached the end of the path where a large statue stood in the center made of gold. "This is the statue of Kaisu. Place your palm on the statue and think very hard about what it is you want. It is said that if your wish is pure, he will grand you the one wish you want most"

"I'll give it a try" Kasuke said unsure. He walked over to the tall statue, slowly placing his hand upon it. He closed his thinking really hard about what he wanted... (Please...give me the power I need to save this world from the demons that plague it) All watched as a golden aura transferred from the statue to the man's neck where the demonic symbol with the three triangles appeared. One of them slowly faded before his symbol faded.

"Whoa, I feel...strange, like a surge of power rushing through me" They all sensed his power and could feel a strange power emanating from within him. "Hmm, I can't tell what happened, but something does feel different about your aura" Asura responded.

"Kaisu deemed you worthy and granted you some of his power. Now you've regained some of the power you lost"

After a day of rest, they found a village of people who seemed to be unaffected by the demons around them. They walked through town where it looked like your average medieval town with rows of stone houses and small stores.

"Hello travels, I can tell from most of your uniforms that you must be exorcists" An elderly man dressed in a red robe with a long beard stood before them holding a cane with both hands. "I am the chief of this village, how may we help you?"

"Hi, I was here years ago and don't remember seeing a village around here" Tenkai commented. The old man walked up to him looking closely at him. "Ah yes, I remember you're the young man who saved our village years ago. You're Tenkai the white swordsmen correct?"

"Yes, but I don't remember anything like that happening"

"Yes, it's only fair that you would think that. This forest has something dark about it. For some reason, when humans leave this forest, they seem to forget all that's happened until they've returned"

"That can't be-" Just then mental images began flowing into Tenkai at an intense rate. Sweat began to run down as his face as the memories came back. He saw hundreds of bodies all over the forest, blood covering most of the forest. He stood in the forest with his clothes and blade covered in blood.

"T-this forest was swarming with demons, bodies of innocent humans all over the forest. I...I managed to kill them all, but the horrible and gruesome deaths all the innocent humans endured cursed this forest with an immense level of demonic energy. That can only mean...this forest is one of the main sources that's drawing the demons to this world!"

"Are you saying this forest has the most concentration of demonic power!?" Kasuke responded in shock.

"Yea, this is where another powerful demon could appear soon"

Meanwhile...

The white exosagain walked through the halls of the headquarters outside. His eyes glowing red with a purple aura swarming around his body. "Hehe, I'm back...now to pay Kasuke a visit" With a smirk the possessed exosagin flew off into the sky headed for the others. With a smirk the possessed exosagin flew off into the sky headed for the others, a smirk on his face as he reached their location, touching down in front of them.

“Kasuke, it’s time I take back the rest of my soul from within you and reign over this world as the true demon lord”

“T-that voice..Akunomi!?” A feeling of fear washed over him as Tenkai and Hisoko stood in front of their ally to protect him when the demon lord aimed his index finger towards them. “Time fraction” All but Kasuke were sealed with blood-red bubbles that froze them in time.

“You bastard!” Just then the possessed exosagain moved right up to him, placing his hand in the center of the man’s chest. A magical symbol formed on his chest as purple energy was extracted from his body. As the rest of the demon lord’s soul was absorbed into his new vessel, he reformed his old appearance over the body as Akunomi stood before Kasuke in his real appearance.

The power radiating from Akunomi was far stronger than anything Mashida had sensed while sealed inside the exorcist. “N-no, I-I won’t let you get away with this!” Kasuke weakly said shaking from the trauma of having so much power extracted from him.

“You should rest and not do anything rash, your body is under a lot of stress from having my soul and power ripped out of you. You’re lucky you didn’t die. Most humans wouldn’t even survive such an experience. Now then, I have a world to rule over, you can sit there and watch as I kill both demons and humans of this world” The demon lord soared into the sky like a purple shooting star while the bubbles of blood-red energy cracked open with all the warriors shaking their head in confusion while the weakened exorcist collapsed out cold...

He awoke half an hour later up against a tree with Hisoko and Naiomi sitting beside him while the others stood around the area watching for any possible demons who may try to attack them. Kasuke looked up at them still weak looking at Naiomi Whispering: “I-I need to be taken to a-a demon heart”

She looked at him in confusion then at Hisoko who understood the man’s plan. Hisoko lifted Mashida up telling everyone: “We need to find a demonic heart nearby. That’s what Kasuke just told me and Naiomi!”

“Why!? That’s where most demons spawn near, we’d be putting his life in danger” Asuma argued. Hisoko gave him an annoyed look before turning to her partner Kenjiro who sighed closing his eyes before responding: “Fine, let’s get this over with. I don’t know what he’s planning but if any demons appear we’ll easily take them out" All but Asuma took off towards the strongest source of demonic spiritual energy while Asuma stood there, his arms crossed with an annoyed look on his face.

“Tsk! Fine, the only reason I’m coming is because I’m your unit captain and have to watch over you! That reminds me, why hasn’t their unit captain returned? He’d been gone for quite awhile, I might need to try and contact him soon unless something’s happened”

He caught up with the others with Kasuke still in Hisoko’s arns with Tenkai and Naiomi on both sides of her as they moved through the trees drawing closer to the dark essence flowing through the endless forest.

They reached the demonic heart, though this one felt different, it was bigger with a stronger essence of evil. Hisoko laid her friend by the heart as he crawled over to it still dizzy and weak as he reached his hand out, making contact with the corroded bloody heart emanating demonic energy.

As the purple aura began flowing into him, outlining his body in a purple aura, demons began spawning around them. “D-damn it! You have to keep them away from me so I can siphon all the spiritual power of the demon heart!” Tenkai moved from across the area, appearing beside Hisoko and Naiomi as four of the demons burst into splatters of blood, with blood dripping from the end of the swordsmen’s blade.

“You demonic bastards won’t touch Kasuke while I'm here” Tenkai snapped. Just then a c***k in reality formed as if the forest itself was made of glass. They watched as a purple rift formed with a demon in red armor riding on a horse made out of shadow-like flames entered their realm. He took one look at Mashida who’s veins could be seen throughout his face and neck as if he were dying, but continued to absorb every ounce of demonic essence within the anomaly.

The demonic horsemen charged right for the heart passing Asuma and Kenjiro with Hisoko to the left of Mashida and Naiomi on his right. “Kasuke!” His unit member cried out attempting to step between him and the coming demon. That’s when Tenkai appeared instantly in front of it as the demon pulled out a dark sword, attempting to stab them.

Their blades clashed with the horsemen stabbing the surface of Tenkai’s blade with sparks flying out. “Y-you won’t reach him!” He shouted before his assailant aimed his other hand towards the warrior, sending him staggering across the forest with a shockwave of force that shook the forest.

“Bastard!” Hisoko shouted as she and Kenjiro went right for him on both sides. Hisoko created spiritual threads, wrapping them around the demon with Kenjiro pulling out a kunai, flowing with his energy before stabbing it right into the demon’s shoulder armor. He jumped back as it erupted in a fierce explosion of blue light. Asuma wasn’t sure what to do anymore, so much was happening so fast and wasn’t even sure if he was strong enough to even fight the demon. He could only stand and watch as his feet were frozen and wouldn’t flinch.

As the light and smoke faded. They saw the left side of the demon’s red armor had been blow off, revealing a dark-black skeleton face with red eyes. “You mortals...I've had quite enough of your feeble attempts” His voice was deep and menacing that sent a chill up Naiomi’s spine.

(W-what do we do!? It's as if the demons are getting stronger each time they spawn!) Their foe got of the devil horse as it vanished. The armored demon pulled his blade out preparing to attack once more when the ground shook, all looked to see the demon heart wrinkle up and fall over before bursting into pieces of dust.

There stood Kasuke, an immense aura of demonic power flowing around him like flames as his injuries slowly healed. “Kasuke!” Naiomi cried in both surprise and happiness as her friend placed his hand on her shoulder. “All of you stay back, me and Tenkai will handle this. I may not be as strong as I was with the demon lord inside me, but I've definitely regained a lot of power not far from that level”

Naiomi saw Kasuke's eyes were black with purple glowing irises and his hair slightly floating up as if wind were blowing it upward. All watched in shook as the man calmly approached the armored demon as they stood just five feet from each other, the tall devil looking down at him. The others got out of the way, watching from a few meters away when the demon suddenly swung his blade down right for it’s target.

Kasuke caught it with one hand as the force of the s***h, shook the forest with cracks forming beneath his feet. “I may not be as strong as I once was, but the experience and near mastery of demonic power has helped me greatly improve my capabilities. Especially with the amount of power the demonic heart has just given me. I am no longer a mere human anymore; I no longer need Akunomi’s help to unleash my true power”

With an instantaneous strike, Mashida struck the assailant in the abdomen, shattering it’s armor. Shards of the chest plate shooting off in random directions. The demon took a few steps back clutching it’s chest as it spat out blood.