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Humanity vs Obelyn

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How many struggles had they faced in order to reach this day? No one person had experienced all of them, so perhaps it was impossible to truly answer that question. But the last week... the last long week... had been revealing in many ways. Now Kisa stood, facing the Red Viper who'd started this alongside a host of others. Before it all began, Soji stood tall, facing Obelyn and exchanging a few quiet words.

Kisa no longer believed in destiny, but some things... well, it was hard to imagine them going any other way. Throughout the entirety of this armageddon, he had been one of the pillars of support fighting to protect the world - as he'd proved when he stood against Ravenna, taking her down as the last challenge before they finally confronted Obelyn himself. Of course, the Red Viper was not simply a demon. He was a Demon Lord, and his power was astronomically above that of lesser beings.

The first moment of the battle was very nearly its last as an enormous crimson serpent erupted across the area, spiraling out of a stone he wore and lashing towards those who had come to confront Obelyn for the sake of their world. Moments before it struck, though, a brilliant light erupted from Soji's hands and a white coat settled over him. The serpent darted backwards as the light struck it, its beautiful scales scorched by the divine light of one of humanity's truest heroes.

You couldn't challenge a god if you only defended yourself, though. Soji shot forward a moment later, his blade arcing around as he began a rapid series of strokes against the Red Viper's servant. A girl with pale hair joined him on the other side a moment later, carrying a truly ridiculous number of blades with her - but such weapons were necessary for a battle like this, and together, Soji and Youmu began to cut the great serpent down to size. Before a fatal blow could be delivered, though, Obelyn gestured with his hand, and the serpent shrunk back into the stone it normally was. He lashed out with a kick a moment later, sending Youmu rocketing backwards, her armor literally dented in the shape of Obelyn's shoes.

Without hesitation, the Red Viper continued his assault, thrusting out with his Sunspear and using the massive advantage in range it gave him to force Soji onto the defensive. It would've been worse if he was truly divine... but for all of his power, Soji wasn't a god, and it wasn't so easy for toxins to penetrate his defenses. Coughing slightly, Youmu darted forward again a moment later, having shed the now-worthless armor she'd been wearing. That lowered her defenses, but it also made her lighter, and she didn't hesitate to use that to her advantage. Even a weapon as large as Obelyn's could only be in one place at one time, after all... and with her blades joining in, the two of them were able to start pressuring Obelyn again.

Yet... there was no weakness in Obelyn's voice as he spoke. "Truly, I admire you humans." he said quietly, deflecting a blow from Soji and spinning his spear around to knock Youmu's blade aside before thrusting out at Soji with the other end. "When you're given a true reason to fight, it seems there is no end to your ability to grow. I've envied that, over the years... if passion alone were power for me, I would have long since toppled those who murdered my sister." Darting backwards to give himself some room, the Red Viper slammed his spear into the ground, sending out a blast of energy that threw everyone else away. "But I resolved to do whatever I must. Do you think I am powerful, hero of mankind?"

"No."

Obelyn faltered at that, just for a moment - but it was enough for Soji to push through and stab deep into the Red Viper's shoulder.

"You have power, but that's not the same thing at all. Tell him, Kisa." As Soji pulled back, the tattooed girl shot forward, driving her fist into the Red Viper's stomach. It was a long ways from being enough to drop him - but every bit helped.

"I know how you feel, Obelyn." she said quietly. She, Soji, and Youmu pulled back a moment later as Kisa's forces, which she'd been setting up, commenced a full barrage against Obelyn. This was the force that Kisa had used against countless groups that had come after her, and it was quite literally enough to wreck an army. Fire, frost, lightning, wind... even almighty power rained down on Obelyn, and yet the Red Viper stood strong, barely fazed by the force of the assault. "There was a time... when I felt that I had to be stronger than anyone else. I mean... demons literally have the power to end the world, and most of them wanted to kill me on sight. I got stronger because I had to, but I've realized... that wasn't true strength. Just brawling with others, tearing apart everyone who came to face me... the only thing I improved was my capacity for violence." As the barrage from her demons finished, she joined Soji and Youmu in a three-pronged assault, circling around the Red Viper.

"That's exactly the kind of world Louis wanted me to believe in! A world where all that matters is who is strong enough to crush others, where ideas like fairness and justice get crushed under the boots of those who don't care for them! I truly get what it feels like to have others hurt you for reasons you don't even understand, but vengeance only calls for more vengeance. You, more than anyone else, are human... and it's because of that humanity that we're going to stop you."

"I have no intention of accepting a world where vengeance continues... and I'm sure that as happy as you'd be to kill yourself when your vengeance is complete, you're not going to ruin things for the rest of us and then get away that easily. A lot of people have asked me what I choose... and you should have paid attention."

"I choose a world of Acceptance - where all of our ideas can exist. So I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't pursue your own ideas... but if you or anyone else tries to force a world onto the rest of us, then we're going to stop you. And we're going to do it in the way of humanity - because the bonds that bind us together are our true strength."

With that, a nearby wall simply burst apart - and Mataki appeared, at the head of all of humanity's survivors. "You know, Kisa, there's still a lot of things I disagree with you about... but I have to admit, I don't feel like losing here. " The distraction was enough, and all the allies humanity had gathered began their final assault on Obelyn. It would be wrong to say that any one of them was a decisive part of the victory, although a few stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Soji, as always, was a pillar of support - but his greatest impact on the battle wasn't his blade, it was the blessings he was able to provide to his allies. Mataki had the powers of Bel at his disposal, a power that even many gods might envy, and he didn't hesitate to put it to use. Nix Gallen joined in (with a certain serpentine friend aiding with punches and kicks... wait, what?), Aka Yuuki directed her demons' powers, and when people got hurt by Obelyn's counterattacks, helpers like Minori were there to heal wounds and let them jump back into battle. Even Bel was there, smirking slightly as he watched all of the power of humanity (and a great many demons besides) focus on one target.

Alone, none of them could have stood up to the might of the foe they faced. Even as a group, most of them would have been crushed - his Sunspear swatted foes back like flies, his toxic mist inflicted them with all manner of debilitating ailments, and even direct hits could do nothing more than chip away at his power... but that was the rub, wasn't it? If you chipped at something long enough, it would fall - and all that power was enough as Kisa, towards the back, raised a pitch-black gem.

As she crushed it, her eyes changed, becoming as dark as the abyss. Quietly, she put a hand over one of her eyes, focusing all of her energy into the others. "You fought for your beliefs and gave it everything you had. For that you have my utmost respect." she said quietly. "And for everything else, to stand against those who would dominate humanity... you have my thanks. But if we must defeat you to restore the world, and end this cycle of violence, then so be it." The battlefield slowed for just a moment as her one open eye gleamed... then a wave of energy lashed out with every bit of force she could put behind this.

Kisa no longer believed in destiny... but perhaps this had been inevitable from the beginning. There were many that Obelyn called his enemies, but only one that he called rival - Balor Fomorian. It was this warrior, dead but not entirely gone, that Kisa drew upon for power... and all of that had been pushed into the Evil Eye, the gaze that brought its targets back down. Of course, against someone of Obelyn's stature, it was limited... it certainly couldn't weaken him for very long. That was enough, though. Darting forward, Soji and Mataki lashed out, cutting into him from either side. As scarlet blood filled the air, Kisa darted forward, forming a massive cleaver as she did so.

If he'd been at full strength, that wouldn't have been enough to end it... but he'd suffered repeated blows from humanity's mightiest in the few moments when his powers were weakened, and Kisa's heavy blade hit the ground with a thud as she turned back to look at him.

"...Aren't you going to kill me?" Obelyn asked, staring up at the ceiling.

"...I'm tired of killing." Kisa said as Balor's powers left her. "You were never truly our enemy, Obelyn."

"Nor you... mine..." he whispered. "Then... may I... entrust my vengeance to you?"

The eyes of all humanity were on them now... and for the first time here, Kisa smiled slightly. "I already said it, didn't I? Our real power is the bonds we share with each other. Rest now, serpent... and let humanity take care of the rest."