Path Of Blood - 55 Chapter 47

Haruki stared at the giant monstrosity right in front of him.

A zombie of two meters tall… With Grimm parts protruding out of his body. Nobody knew if he was still conscious or just a puppet for Aergia.

He was the final masterpiece of Aergia, she has finally reanimated a human, she could probably do it normally but she tried to fuse both body and Grimm consciousness together.

He was Holding a Huge Great sword, And The mask he was wearing before was replaced by a Grimm eyemask.

Covered in Heavy metal armour, but the chest piece was missing, The place where his heart should be has a hole in it.

Reminding Haruki of his ‘Sin’…

He smirked and brought out warmonger, “So uhh… did you get a haircut?”

*Rrraaaaarrrggghhh!!!

Corvus slammed down his weapon towards Haruki, He caught the blade with one hand.

*Crack!!* A huge crater appeared where Haruki was standing.

He was still standing in the middle, uninjured by the brute Force that came pummeling towards him.

“You were stronger alive!” Haruki said as he punched him on the stomach, sending corvus flying towards the rubble.

When corvus stood up his neck was twisted in an awkward manner.

*Snap!*

He snapped back his neck in place, and roared towards Haruki.

But when Haruki was about to charge towards Corvus, Someone Held his shoulders.

It was Ozpin, His face looked solemn… It was his old friend, well his corpse at least, His intuition was right it was indeed the Original Corvus, One of his greatest friends from his first incarnation.

“Mr. Haruki, I know you can handle him yourself… but… would you… no… please… let me put him to rest.”

Haruki nodded and let Ozpin handle it.

“I won’t let them stain your dignity more than this, And sorry old friend… I thought you died back then… Let me… Let me make it up to you…”

He gave a hollow laugh, As he stared at his friend.

“Just like old times…”

He slowly walked towards him, Gripping his cane.

Corvus sensed the approaching life from, it then spoke with a dehydrated and gravely voice, “O…Oz..m-ma… O-Old… Fri..end…”

It’s upper torso twisted bad it faced Ozpin’s direction.

Ozpin frowned, He tried to calm his emotions, but his anger still surfaced.

They blasphemed his friend’s rest…

If he doesn’t avenge him, how could he call himself a friend of Corvus.

He would be here for him this time…

As Haruki went to the direction of Neo and his women, He was looking at the battle of Ozpin and Corvus.

Neo and The others ran towards him and hugged him, “Hey! Hey! there’s room for everyone… calm down.”

He said while grinning. Neo looked up and immediately said, ( *Sigh* I’m glad you’re safe…)

He patted her head and said, *Sigh* “I should be the one saying this to all of you, I’m glad you’re all okay.”

Cinder giggled and pinched him in the sides, “Don’t think we’re just damsels in distress…”

Emerald nodded from the side, “Yes… We kinda made an amazing combo…”

Pyrrha was silent, Two’s suicide was still haunting her. Haruki noticed this, and asked what’s wrong.

Pyrrha shook her head and just silently buried her head into his chest, He let her do it… he’ll just ask when the time is right. Because at times like this you just have to be there for her and let her sort out her thoughts…

Winter and Mercury finally found the opportunity to go near Haruki. He looked towards them, “Thanks… if it wasn’t for you guys I- -”

Mercury raised his hands up, “Don’t even mention it… if it wasn’t for you I would’ve died anyways, and plus were getting paid for this right?”

Haruki laughed at Mercury’s remark. Winter on the other hand coughed so she could speak.

*Cough!*

“Although I don’t care about the money… I owe you a favor so I’m just returning it, and besides at least no civilians got hurt that badly, only… only the ones that turned into Grimm were… exterminated.”

Qrow approached all of them, He had so many questions he wanted to ask put his priority was Keeping Ozpin safe, so he asked Haruki.

“Hey kid… do you think he can take on that monster?”

Haruki brought his focus back on the battle, “Yeah… They are after all… friends.”

Qrow nodded his head and stared at the battle, the others didn’t know what they meant, only Haruki and Qrow knew about the truth…

Winter kept stealing glances at Haruki, Neo noticed this and she was staring at Haruki’s face demanding an explanation, He pretended not to notice Neo’s stare…

But deep down he was sweating bullets. Cinder sighed at the side, ‘This idiot is truly a damn womanizer! He wasn’t like this in his past life, So why now!?’

As cinder wondered why, Winter on the other hand was frustrated… ‘How in the hell does he have so many!? The information I got was he was just dating that Neo Girl… Did they miss any info regarding these three? Weiss… dear sister be careful of this wolf…’

Emerald noticed the rings on both Haruki and Neo, but when she was about to scream out the rings, Haruki winked at her.

She sighed and gave an understanding nod. But she still pouted, her understanding didn’t mean she was super okay with it…

Haruki sighed inwardly, ‘Ahh… I’m such a sinner… I guess my popular era has come…’

Mercury kicked him in the back of his knee, “Sorry… I just got a sudden urge to kick you…”

Haruki scratched his head. And focused on the battle of Ozpin.

Ozpin dodged the strikes of the hulking corvus, Frowning he created a magic circle below to freeze him in place.

Corvus was stuck in a pose where he was about to strike. Ozpin pointed his cane at Corvus and fired a Red beam.

*Bam!!!*

Corvus was sent flying, Ozpin appeared behind him. He struck at Corvus multiple times.

Corvus was buried under the debris and rocksthat Ozpin threw at him.

Ozpin was still frowning, “The past you would have easily countered that… what have they done to you…”

Corvus picked up the rocks using his Grimm arms and tossed it towards Ozpins direction.

Rrraaaarrghh!!

Ozpin created a magic circle beneath his feet, the rubble that got inside the range of the magic circle were frozen in place, He waved his hand… then the debris turned into Spikes.

The rock spikes surrounded Corvus, and he aimed his arms at him, He closed his palms and created a fist.

The spikes stabbed towards corvus. “Explode.”

The Debris Exploded, Corvus screeched a deafening inhuman roar… The roar of the Manticore Grimm.

“Oz…Ozz…ma… Kill…Me…” Corvos tried to speak as his mouth was mangled into pieces, It was slowly replaced by a Grimm part. Tentacles flew out from his back and Grabbed a Few Grimm that were surrounding them.

He absorbed the Negative aura that was fueling their existence, Slowly healing the damage Ozpin has dealt him.

Ozpin frowned, He charged the magic circle on his cane. Corvus Jumped up and he tried to slam down to flatten Ozpin.

*Crash!!!*

Ozpin held up his cane and a green magic barrier Protected him from the damage. A huge crater was created beneath his feet.

Corvus kept hammering the barrier along with his Grimm arms.

*Bam Bam Bam!!*

Finally a tiny crack appeared on his Barrier, Ozpin has already created two rock pillars that came out from the ground and slammed towards the sides of Corvus.

He was held in place But Ozpin still has no idea how to deal with him.

He kept firingmagic Towards corvus But His resilience was on a whole new realm, Corvus finally broke free he dashed towards his blade.

Ozpin Used the rubble as weapons, turned the rocks into sharp blades, And fired them towards Corvus.

Corvus howled into the night, And he kept slashing and slashing towards the rocks to shatter them, each second he gets faster and faster. Until only a few rock blades were stuck in his body.

Corvus’s mask slid down, and his glowing blood red eyes were revealed, He cracked his neck and revealed a monstrous grin.

Tentacles suddenly sprouted from his back, with spikes at the tip. He fired them towards the direction of Ozpin.

He then spoke towards Ozpin with his unearthly and gravely voice, “My turn…”

He brought down his arms and the spikes came crashing into Ozpin.

Ozpin created a huge magic circle beneath his feet. Freezing the spikes in place.

He attacked each spikes individually and then removed the magic circle. It all came hurling back towards Corvus.

Corvus jumped in the middle of the barrage spikes as he attacked the spikes that would hit him.

*Boooom*

A cloud of smoke were created between them,

They both slowly walked away from the smoke… Both were unscathed.

They charged at one another, Clashing with both of their weapons.

Then he heard a sound, A robotic voice coming from corvus.

[Calibration complete…

Memory Unit: Green

All systems green.

Combat preparations complete…_]

Corvus smiled, [It’s nice to see you again brother… I hate the fact that you had to see me this way… Aergia probably brought me back… ]

He looked up at the sky, He gripped his blade and stabbed it towards the ground. He opened and closed his fist, he wanted to make sure that this wasn’t limbo. He put his palms on his chest… He noticed that there was a hole in it.

He laughed madly, [Hahahahahahahaha!!! Fuck… that bitch…]

He glared towards the direction Aergia and Eris fled to.

Ozpin held out his hands, “Cor… Corvus… is- is that really you?”

He was shaken he thought that he would have to only fight the corpse…

Sadly Corvus shook his head, [No… Ozma… this isn’t the Corvus you once knew, That man was long gone… what I am… what I’ve become… I am but a copy of his memories. Injected into one of Aergia’s twisted machines…

Would you do me a favor one last time my good friend? Destroy this body of mine… Make sure they can’t bring me back this time…]

Ozpin nodded his head, “I never expected to meet this way, there can’t be any worse reunions out there…”

Corvus laughed merrily, [Hahahaha! I couldn’t agree more! Say how about a duel for old times sake, but this time this’ll be my last.]

He looked towards Haruki and laughed, [It looks like you lived boy!]

Haruki replied with a forced smile, it was as if he was trying to hold something back. “And you just won’t die Corvus…”

He heartily laughed, [This old bag of bones still has some life left in him apparently…]

Haruki laughed as he gripped his other arm, his fingers dug into his flesh, He was suppressing the rebound of The path of shura. His fight with Eris got cut short, The path of shura won’t disappear unless the bloodlust was satisfied…

Neo Noticed that something was wrong but Haruki just shook his head and stared head on, he didn’t want to interrupt Ozpin’s fight.

Ozpin looked towards Haruki’s direction and subtly nodded, He knew that when Haruki went into that state, he must’ve paid a huge price… He has seen enough people do the same.

Haruki nodded back, He stared towards his women, they knew something was wrong… He looked towards them and gave them a gentle smile.

(Haru? What’s happening?) Neo said worriedly, Haruki just kissed them all in the forehead without saying a word. And He jumped towards the Grimm.

He was smiling like a maniac as Killing Intent overflowed from his body, Corvus automatically dashed towards him.

[Sorry kid, I can’t control my body…] Haruki just grins and kicks corvus away.

*Booom*

He was sent flying and Buried into the ground, He was embedded deep.

[HAHAHAHAHAHA!! Not bad!!!] He rose up from the ground, and when he climbed back up Ozpin was already there to intercept him.

He picked up his blade from the ground, He was grinning at Ozpin… To begin with, Victory or defeat was not significant between the two of them. The fight itself was the goal.

Their fighting spirits were mutually raised, and they gazed upon their opponents.

Ozpin matched the powers Corvus emanated, Even though this will be bad for him in the long run when he meets Salem again. This was kind of a ceremony to send off his precious friend. It was meaningful for the both of them. That’s why they had to fight equally.

Ozpin knew what Corvus wanted, To receive the death he would be most satisfied with…

And Then

*Fuuuuuhhh*

They inhaled in a deep way, “Orrrraaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!”

That was the signal for their final duel.

Ozpin condensed aura into his hands, while corvus covered his entire arm with Grimm tentacles.

Bang!!!*

The charged energies were scattered into different directions, it transformed into shockwaves, and spread out the destruction out to the surroundings.

They vanished into thin air, Against the blow coming from Corvus’s fist towards Ozpins head, He answered by thrusting his cane straight.

Heavy impact blows were produced as the two clashed.

With a high pitched metallic sound, The ground cracked once more.

[Hahahahahahahaha!! as formidable as always!!]

“Hehe, not bad for someone who’s one foot into the grave.”

With a grinding sound as their weapons met, The grin that appeared on their faces could be called fierce.

The weapons were repelled and they took distance from each other once more.

Corvus took a stance with his great sword, and waited for Ozpin. That cane, if only it was a little sharper…

Ozpin, who has prepared multiple magic circles on his cane. He bent his leg, as if preparing for a Sprint, He was calm gathering his magic.

Silence, Time flowed slightly.

And the moment when the huge wall from the broken building fell between the two people, their figures vanished.

Subsequently, consecutive strikes and sounds of clashing resounded in the area. Sparks scattered about midair and the ground.

Ozpin bent his body backwards as he dodged the slash coming towards him on his upper right, He approached it as he flicked it towards the side. The wind pressure when it was deflected, created a wind of destruction destroying everything in its path within a hundred meters. Corvus jumped upwards, after bending down as he drew back his fists.

Corvus then fired out his fist consecutively, He covered his hands with negative aura reinforcing it further as he dished out colossal damage. A fist the naked eye couldn’t follow.

But Ozpin, who was a master of battle, and close quarters combat, was not so normal he could not receive it either. Ozpin was pouring Magic power on his cane as he dodged and blocked Corvus’s skills.

Whenever Ozpin’s cane resisted the fists of Corvus, each charge of his cane counterbalanced the opposing forces before discharging at the surroundings. Small explosions of Magic and Negative Aura sounded around the two people as they exchanged blows.

For a lengthy long rally, they clashed and separated once more. Without missing a beat they began to move. Even with the exchange of blows there, the way of fighting changed.

Ozpin fired magic spikes at corvus aiming at his vitals as they both ran around the area, Corvus repelled everything with his fists, while ozpin had to fend of a tempest of weapons that came from above, Still not a single attack was hitting each other’s bodies.

[Even until now… i still couldn’t get through…]

“Have you finished warming up?”

[Keh, You really know how to put on airs…]

“Did you think i was serious?”

[Don’t say that… I have a sword style i specifically created just for you…]

Sparks were scattered with the blade and Cane, but the two were just joking around while running inside and towards the buildings. For the both of them, their attacks were certainly powerful, They understood each other…

There were still much to their fight, They haven’t gone serious and gone all out yet…

It had been 20 minutes since the duel has started.

The Battle between the two has just Begun…