131 Tai and Rubi (2/2)
Souma, Tai, and the others watched in shocked silence as she crossed the battlefield while ignoring everybody. Finally, she stopped, and surprisingly, it was in front of Haru and Hina. She knelt down next to them, placing a hand on each of their heads. She held back her tears as she shook her head, her voice sounding hoarse. ”To do this to mere children. What has our world become? What was it like before mana turned us all into monsters?”
...
”Ugh.” Ed groaned as he finally awoke from his absorption of the mass of golden faith energy. It had seemingly taken much longer than usual due to the extensive damage to his soul. He examined the battlefield, quickly assessing the situation. 'Good, looks like Rubi finished her fight. Tai's held on until now and the other espers are slowly edging a win over the soldiers.' He cracked his neck while glancing at Tai. ”Hey, when we beat this guy you need to land the finishing blow. I can't handle any more golden faith energy.”
”Sure.” Tai happily agreed, grateful he was finally getting some powerful backup for the fight. ”I hope you're ready, Prime Minister. I may not have the means to defeat golden faith energy yet, but he's different.”
”Oh?” Souma rose an eyebrow while glancing at Ed. ”You think I can't handle some measly purple elements? I was fighting espers stronger than you two when you were still in diapers!” He glanced back towards Hina and Rubi, worry in his eyes. But he retained his silence, as much to his relief, it seemed Rubi had no intention of blackmailing him during the fight.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, Ed's eyes began glowing a golden color. ”Kekeke!!!” A screechy laugh echoed from his throat.
”Ed?!” Tai yelled in shock, not sure of what was happening.
”So, this is what a filthy human's body feels like.” Ed rose his hand to his face, eyeing it in disgust. ”Such an ugly creature, but I guess beggars can't be choosers.”
”That voice...” Souma's body trembled in shock. ”Camazotz, is that you?!” He questioned in disbelief.
”Indeed, it is I.” He haughtily replied as he slowly walked over. ”To think I carelessly lost to this filthy primate.” He glared at Tai and the others. ”I will have my revenge!”
”Ed...” Tai muttered under his breath, a complicated expression on his face. If Ed died, then everything until now had been for nothing. The bat mutant's body was nearly worthless without Ed's powers to capitalize on it.
”Good, good!” Souma nodded excitedly as he headed towards Ed. ”Together, we'll destroy them all. I'll use all my connections to find an esper that can properly restore your soul to your body right after I get my granddaughter healed.”
”Kekeke. Sure, sure.” Ed's possessed body laughed eerily as it crouched down, seeming to prepare to attack Tai. Just as he was about to charge forward, his eyes returned to normal. ”BURN!” He shouted as he quickly turned around and threw a hand covered in purple flames towards Souma's body.
”AGH! YOU BASTARD!” Souma screamed in shock as Ed's hand directly penetrated his fat stomach.
”Tai, now!” Ed yelled, knowing he couldn't be the one to finish the job himself. Otherwise, the golden faith energy would almost guarantee him a shattered soul.
”On it!” Tai replied as he sent all of his flames forward. They traveled along Ed's arm without causing harm before entering the Prime Minister's stomach and wreaking havoc within his body.
”Ugh!” Souma coughed blood as he stumbled several steps back, the flames freezing and electrocuting the inside of his body. He desperately tried to cover his organs in protective layers of mana and golden faith energy, but it was too late. ”Hina...” He gasped as the final words left his lips and he collapsed into the snow.
”Good!” Tai smiled as he hurriedly turned around and waved his fan, sending out multiple flame dragons towards the remaining soldiers fighting against his group of espers. With him entering the battle of the minions, the fight was quickly over. They hadn't even suffered a single casualty thanks to the espers' excellent teamwork. Tai's eyes went vacant for a moment as he absorbed large volumes of the dead Prime Minister's golden faith energy, but unlike Ed, he quickly recovered back to normal.
With the battle over, the group reconvened near Camazotz collapsed body.
”Ed, just what the hell was that?!” Tai questioned.
”It was the soul of Camazotz.” Ed sighed. ”I really don't want to talk about the details, but just think of it as me using him temporarily while letting him think he got one up on me. I'd appreciate it if you don't pry any further about it.”
”Sure.” Tai nodded, though he still seemed concerned.
Suddenly, a chorus of shouts and footsteps echoed from one side of the mountain.
”Seems they're here.” Tai frowned. ”Grab the bat's body and let's go.” A green flame dragon appeared under his feet as he soared into the sky.
”Right.” The other espers all nodded. Various powers covered their bodies as they took to the air. Ed grabbed Camazotz's body and flew using his silver flames, still desiring to improve his control over them since he had a tendency to overly rely on his mana-batteries. Rubi shot rings of flame from her feet, using them like footholds to jump through the skies. Surprisingly, she cared two bodies with her.
The blue-eyed esper from before covered them in a fog as they left the mountain. Tai frowned as he glanced back at Rubi. ”Why are you bringing those Japanese kids with us? You should've just left them behind.”
”And what if they woke up and exposed our identities?” She countered.
”They were knocked out as soon as the battle started.” Tai replied. ”If you really want to bring them, I won't stop you. But you're responsible for them.
”Of course.” She smiled as she glanced at the child she carried in each arm. ”These young espers deserve better. Much better.”