"Thou are blinded by thy loyalty"
A deep voice sounded out in the wasteland called the Underworld. Following the voice was a clang of metal that resounded for all to hear. The cause of this was none other than The Old Man of the Mountain as he struck his opponent.
The one he struck was another man who appeared to be wearing a armor made from dragon scales. This man was none other than Vali Lucifer. When the fight started he had to instantly activate Empireo Juggernaut Overdrive. Otherwise his head would currently be on the ground.
"I don't want to hear that from someone like you. You cannot even kill someone without someone else's approval." Vali ridiculed as he blocked his strike.
The first Hassan did not answer as he suddenly appeared behind Vali. His sword struck down once more but the out come was the same. Thanks to his curse, Vali was able to turn around in time and block the strike. However Vali lost a good amount of armor from the attack.
"All intelligent beings are sheep. Nay matter how hard mthey try to forbear this fact. And yet, I accept this fact and allow myself to be guided. Hence that I never doth something that I shall regret. Thou are the like, no?" Informed Hassan mlas he asked.
However even as they talked they continued to fight. At any moment one of them could die. Yet they continue this conversation.
"Compression Divider!" Vali spoke.
Hassan raised his shield as he blocked the attack. Even with how formidable such a technique was, Hassan's power is not something that should be looked down upon. He is connected to the primordial concept of death and death cannot be divided. As such, most of Vali's abilities do not work on him.
"No luck, huh? Well anyway, I guess you are right. Lord Aizen once said, 'All living things believe in someone superior to them, and cannot live unless they blindly follow them'. I pretty sure he was describing me." Agreed Vali.
As he spoke their fight traveled all over the underworld. Vali has always been the fastest Espada and no one could match him. I mean how could they? He is the Vanishing Dragon. But now, things are different.
Hassan-I-Sabbath can seemingly match and surpass him. This being a new experience for Vali. No one had done that expect Aizen and Aizen lowers his speed to match his. Honestly, if Hassan was not cursed then Vali would have died as soon as this fight started. He was not ready for that incredible speed.
But now that Vali understands that his opponent is on his level, he is not going to get cut off guard again. As their battle went on all you could see was a silvery-white aura and a blue aura chasing each other. It is as if two stars are playing a game of hide and seek.
"Wise words, yet for what reason doth thou fight, White One? Surely not just because thy master tells thou so. For what intent, doth thou owe that power?" Wondered Hassan.
Vali blocked another attack from Hassan but this one had considerably more force as he was knocked back and sent crashing into the ground. He coughed up blood as he got up.
'Partner. You cannot continue like this. Hassan-I-Sabbath has showed no signs of slowing down. At this rate, you will lose.' Stated Albion.
Vali looked up at that skull shaped mask and grit his teeth. The man wont kill him. He cant. But Aizen will. So as he gets up he resolves himself to end this.
'Do something about that. At any rate, we might have to use that. So be ready, partner.' Thought Vali hesitantly.
Vali spread his wings as he ascended to Hassan's height.
"Why doth thou hesitate?" Hassan asked as he appeared before Vali and bashed him with his shield. "Why do you hesitate to use your full power?" Hassan asked again as he slashed Vali with his sword. Cutting right through Vali's scale mail and cutting into his flesh.
This actually killed Vali. As Hassan walks within the boundary of the valley and all of his attacks gained a instant death effect. So even though Vali can heal from almost ever injure, his body still died for a moment before being brought back by the Predator Piece.
"What's behooveful in a fight isn't fear, naught can be born of that. Wherein thou dodge 'I won't let thou cut me'. Should thee protect some one 'I won't let thou die '. Should thee attack 'I shall dispatch thou'.Use all of thy power without fear. Or hand over thy head. Its that simple." Lectured Hassan.
Having tasted death, Vali had to agree.
'Lets go, Albion! No more holding back!' Spoke Vali with resolve shinning in his eyes.
Albion roared as he agreed full heartedly. Space rippled as it took the knee before the supreme one. Vali's power rose to heights unimaginable to most as he and Albion began their chant.
"The pure White Dragon dwelling within me, rise up from your supremacy!" Vali chanted as Albion's full power became open to him. Mixing with his own.
"The silvery-white Morning Star I possess within me, claim the throne of Dawn!" Albion followed as Vali unlocked the power of his ancestor, the Original Lucifer. The mysterious black aura mixing with the others.
"The fragment of Transcendence that we hold, surpass the limits of reality and claim the throne in the Sky!" Both Vali and Albion chanted as the Predator piece inside of them awoke and answered to their desires. Mixing its energy with all the others and evolving them. Making them something more.
"We shall transcend all, as we rein supreme over all of creation!" They followed up as Vali's armor changed. Growing stronger and becoming something far above anything else in reality. Fitting for the White Dragon God of Supremacy.
"Thou shalt kneel down before our bright and glorious existence!" They finished their chant as their transformation completed.
"Diablos Dragon Ascension!"
Hassan looked at this form in awe. He has never seen such armor or power. Interesting.
"Magnificent. Truly magnificent. I understand now. Thou fight to protect thy loved ones. I respect that. However, lets discover how far thy resolve goes!" Hassan raised his voice as he charged at his opponent.
Vali charged as well and they met in a explosion of power that shook the underworld. Neither side giving in as both were pushed back. Their power seemingly even, however Hassan was pushed back a little bit farther than Vali.
"Lets try something new. Lets call it, Satan Compression Divider!" Vali said as he unleased his new attack.
Vali released a blast of energy in all directions that halved from existence everything it touched. Hassan once again held up his shield but this time it did not go so smoothly. His footing was erased and a portion of the underworld with it. He was pushed back as his shield broke under the power of the attack.
When the attack ended Vali could see that the entire left side of Hassan-I-Sabbath was missing. It having been halved from existence. Vali sighed thinking that it is over and began heading to his next mission.
He was stopped when he sensed Hassan behind him once more. He quickly turned around and blocked the attack. Witnessing that Hassan had healed somehow. Though he was covered in blue flames.
"How? You should not have such healing capabilities." Vali asked in bewilderment. This man should be dead.
"And yet hither I am. I hath no clue if I be alive or dead. As such, why should that hast killed me?" Asked Hassan.
Vali laughed at this. This old man could have been a good friend if he was not the enemy. However, he has orders.
"How amusing. Then allow me to show you death with my strongest attack. I will leave no doubt in your mind that you are dead!" Vali promised.
Hassan readied his blade as Vali readied his attack. In doing so the breast plates of his armor peeled back revealing a cannon muzzle that Vali charged by dividing the energy around him and adding it to the cannon. Adding his own as well and it was soon ready.
"Now, there will be nothing left of you! Satan Lucifer Smasher!" Vail named his attack as a huge beam of black and white energy shot out from his chest towards Hassan.
"Hearken... the Evening Bell hath tolled thy name. The feathers prophesied thy death. The bell's toll severs thy neck! Azrael!" Hassan charged towards Vali without fear as he released his Noble Phantasm.
Hassan's sword collided with the mass of energy as a space itself was destroyed.
In the end Hassan was destroyed. Not even a single atom of him remained. The Old Man of the Mountain no longer walks in the shadow of death and has now walks in death itself. No longer shall he walk the earth. Hassan-I-Sabbath has now truly met death.
"To think... even with all of that... he still managed to harm me." Vali spoke in between breaths.
"Quite the man, that one was. I wish I could have met him when he was alive." Albion spoke in awe.
Vali deactivated his transformation, knowing that his work is no complete. He then set out to help Alatreon with Trihexa. He will need all of the power he can get.
"Partner... Are you not going to heal that?" Albion asked with curiosity.
What he was talking about is Vali's missing left arm.
Even when faced with certain death, Hassan-I-Sabbath did not go down without a fight. His Noble Phantasm pierced through Vali's attack and severed his arm, killing it in the process. Making it impossible to heal regularly. As even those with a form of immortality will die from Azrael.
"No, I will not. Even though I can with the Predator piece. I will keep this wound to remember who gave it to me. To remind me of my own mortality." Vali answered.
Albion has no problems with that. A wound is a mark of shame for a dragon. However, if it is given to a dragon by an opponent that they beat in a hard battle then it is acceptable. Plus he admires Hassan's commitment as well.
"Is that what I think it is?" Spoke Albion in surprise as he noticed something.
Vali looked over at what he was talking about and gasped. He hurried over to it and looked down at it.
"Unbelievable..." Vali let out.
There before him was the old mans sword. Having survived the attack. Vali leaned down and picked up the sword. Normally touching a Noble Phantasm is a bad move but Vali could feel it call out to him.
"A gift, I believe. The Old Man of the Mountain has entrusted his Noble Phantasm to you. As a show of respect. Will you take it, Vali?" Asked Albion.
He held the sword in his hand as it filled with his power. It previous blue color changed to silver and a black aura radiated off of it. Vali grinned as the blade practically singed. Azreal having approved of its new owner.
"Yes...Yes I will. Lets get along...."
Azrael