"The world as you know it is ending and with the awakening of the Core of Thunder, your hero will soon die. Fallan will take control once again like she did when the Sovereigns gave her power. You may have unbeatable power, but everyone's story comes to an end.." Qiao Zhi smirked and summoned his lance in his hand.
"Is that so because the future I see, she will very much be alive enough to kill the Overlords for good. I know I can't win this fight, but I will do all I can to stall for time. Besides just because I can't win this fight, doesn't mean you can kill me. My Skin Shedding Technique allows me to resurrect on a constant basis. I will come back to life for as many times as I need.." Nagini said then her eyes shined.
"Then let's get this party started!" Qiao Zhi dashed to Nagini.
Nagini looked at Qiao Zhi and dodged his attacks then used her Cross to blast him away then flew after him. She changed her cross into Attack Mode, turning the cross into a Greatsword and slashed down. Qiao Zhi blocked the attack grunted, crashing into the ground. Nagini flew down and went for an immediate killing blow, but Qiao Zhi got up and moved out of the way, seeing the attack. Nagini manipulated the gravity around her and she landed softly on the ground.
"I know your powers. Though they have no limitations, each power can be countered." Qiao Zhi said then twirled his lance in a circle and got into his stance.
Nagini stood up and looked at Qiao Zhi. "Oh really..? Counter this then."
Nagini snapped her fingers and a barrage of razor winds immediately cut Qiao Zhi and he grunted loudly then was blown away by the force of Nagini's heartbeat. Nagini pointed at Qiao Zhi and her Fell Snake quickly slithered to him. The snake burrowed underground and Qiao Zhi stood up slowly then heard rumbling under him. He dodged the moment the snake emerged from the ground then his eyes widened when he noticed a large beam coming from the snake's mouth.
He blocked the beam then an explosion happened. The beam created a crater in the ground and Nagini looked at the aftermath. The smoke cleared and Qiao Zhi was still standing. His lightning wing disappeared and he looked up. Nagini snapped her fingers and the snake burrowed underground again. She jumped down the crater and yelled then slashed down once again. Qiao Zhi parried the attack then kicked her backwards. He dashed to her and rushed her with attacks then landed a powerful attack on her face. Nagini grunted and slid backwards from the knockback then she laughed softly.
Qiao grunted feeling a massive spike in her power.
"This fight...awakens a lot of memories for me.." Nagini said then the Gem of Science awakened within her. "The betrayal I felt when you betrayed us...Viktoria Kästner dying because of you. Oh I'll never forgive you...and if I happen to defeat you...I'll hide you within the walls of this reality...I will wear your skin as a suit. Heh...you'll understand true pain.."
'Her entire demeanor changed...this is the Number X I remember. She was crazy back then and is crazy now..' Qiao Zhi thought to himself.
"Well I know that I can't hold back against you anymore. This will be a true battle against Gods at this point." Qiao Zhi said then transformed into his Risen King Form and his lightning turned gray then his eyes changed into the color red. A black crown appeared on his head. "You are one of the strongest Rulers to date and I refuse to allow you to get an easy win...Not that you'll have a chance anymore. I know more about you than you realize."
Nagini heard a roar in the distance and noticed a black dragon with six eyes, six wings, and horns that curved to the front of its head.
"Say hello to the Risen Dragon of the End. This is the End Dragon named Quietus. Quietus, show her true power. Expiration." Qiao Zhi commanded.
Quietus roared and unleashed a massive purple beam of death at Nagini. Nagini mumbled something then a purple explosion happened and high winds blew. Qiao Zhi smirked then watched as the smoke cleared and his eyes widened. Nagini's cross was in Defense Mode and she stood up then switched back to attack mode.
"The difference between you and I is very clear, Zhong Li. The difference between us is I can see an attack coming from a mile away and you...you can't see anything coming." Nagini said then vanished then appeared above Qiao Zhi.
Qiao Zhi dodged the attack then was caught off guard when she vanished again. He groaned as he was blasted away by a beam from her cross. Nagini stopped time then flew to Qiao Zhi then struck his back and resumed time. Qiao Zhi crashed through the ground and Nagini flew after him. Quietus flew after us but Nagini's Fell Snake stopped him and wrapped around his neck, causing him to crash to the ground.
Nagini grabbed the back of Qiao Zhi's head and warped away. She tossed him up then grabbed his leg then flew down to the ground and slammed him on the ground. She picked him up and bellowed then threw him a great distance by manipulating her physical strength.
A woman caught Qiao Zhi with her tail and noticed Nagini rushing towards him and she tossed him into the air then the woman tossed him into the air. Nagini flew into the air and grabbed his leg and warped away.
"What the- Felola, who the heck was that?" A male asked.
"No idea...anyway continue with what you were saying." Felola answered.
Nagini bellowed and flew down to the ground again and aura emitted from her eyes.
"Stella! Look out!" A young girl pushed her older sister out the way.
Nagini slammed Qiao Zhi on his back once again and he coughed blood. Qiao Zhi managed to kick Nagini off him and caught his breath then stood up.
"Miyuna, Saya! Stay behind me!" Stella said then glared at Nagini and Qiao Zhi.
"She can even warp through different time periods...Fuck she's more powerful than I realized initially.." Qiao Zhi said and wiped his lips as he stood up.
"Hey! Who are you two?!" Stella asked.
Nagini snapped her fingers and erased their memories of her and Qiao Zhi then warped herself and Qiao Zhi back to her domain.
"That had to just been a flex. No wonder Maruno had to kill you and the Gem of Science was temporarily deactivated. You hold too much power than one could understand." Qiao Zhi said then got back into his stance. "Even with all of that...There is no way you are truly defeating me!"
An army of Risen began to emerge from the ground and Qiao Zhi laughed. Nagini looked at the Risen and knew she was gonna be in her pocket dimension for longer than she had anticipated.
In the original dimension, I had finally killed Hazuki by destroying his core and took his communicator. I coughed a bit of blood and felt weakened. I sat on the ground and everyone had surrounded me.
"The Overlord of Thunder told me that Judgement Order has started the process of reviving the Overlords. Even if we make it to St. Fraskia before they finish we would still be too late. In the state that I'm in as well, the Core will end up killing me...and I'm not sure if the Ruler of Rebirth will be so generous again." I said and closed my eyes. "I also promised Nagini that I would find the Gems of Humanity, Virtues, and Anima if the Fallen Overlord were to be revived.."
Misao looked at me and crossed her arms. "We can't do this alone even with the power of three Rulers and an Old World Legend. Yumeji, Kikyo, and Saito have yet to awaken their Gems and there's no telling of they will awaken their powers on time."
"We will have to make due with what we have.." I said and stood up then took a paper out of my pocket then opened it. "Also we may have a chance at saving Orishi from death...Nagini told me earlier that someone went rouge in St. Fraskia and found Orishi's body and was set on reviving her. She will be revived using Maruno's Crest. Silent Fox had plans of using Orishi to go against us."
"Big sis is coming back? Yes! We'll have our teacher back better than ever now!" Yumeji smiled happily.
"Saito is pleased by this outcome. The war is easily winnable with her by our side." Saito nodded.
I nodded and thought about Nagini. I closed my eyes and hoped she wasn't losing against Qiao Zhi. I opened my eyes again then stood up. "Alright everyone. We shall set out to St. Fraskia...Let us end this fight once and for all."
"Yeah!" Everyone nodded.
Nagini defeated multiple waves of Risen and manipulated her energy to have limitless energy and stamina. Qiao Zhi growled in annoyance because of Nagini's abilities.
"No matter what you try, there is no defeating me. For all I care, we can be in a stalemate here, but I know for certain you won't be joining Fallan again and repeating history!" Nagini bellowed and transformed her Cross in it's Origin Mode.
Her cross unleashed a massive beam of energy and struck down the Risen effortlessly. Qiao Zhi looked at Nagini and smirked.
"It does appear we are at a stalemate, but since I can't leave, you can't leave here either...You are stuck here with me." Qiao Zhi smirked.
"Even though that isn't true, I'd much rather keep a watch on you. In this dimension, I will create a perfect universe with Hisumi. A universe I've always wanted where none of my allies die...and in that universe, you will die to prevent anything from happening. Hisumi will become the new Number I. Once the war is over...I will fulfill my wishes and fulfill Hisumi's wishes as well." Nagini said.
"Funny how you go from not caring about anyone but Dr. Ashikaga and yourself to caring about some girl who you barely even know. You've changed.." Qiao Zhi said.
Nagini smiled and turned her Cross back into Attack Mode. "She's a special case. Her determination...her drive...her willpower, it reminds me of Dr. Ashikaga and I will do all it takes to make sure it stays that way. No one will ruin her. She's my lab rat...my friend."
Qiao Zhi looked at Nagini in disgust. "You make me sick...just for that, I'll make you suffer a million times over! I'll rip you of your willpower and shove that same willpower down your throat."
"I'd love to see you try." Nagini said then got into her battle stance.