John vs Fran!

“So, you are the warlock known as John Newman?” asked Fran as her eyes took in the sight. She took in John in his shining white and gold armor, a smile crossed her face as she saw the similarities to her own armor. White and gold do go together, especially with people who use the light, thought Fran as she continued to look over her opponent. His helm was covered in his helmet, two leathery looking dragonesque wings sprung from the base and rose towards the back of his head. A reinforced and protruding decoration was on the front of the helm, in place of a face guard. No face guard? Must be a more offensive type to not give me a chance to attack his face, concluded Fran. Instead of full plate armor, Fran noticed John’s legs were mostly chainmail with plate reinforced parts around key areas. Yes, definitely offensive type. That lower armor is made for quick movements while providing protection from non-direct attacks, thought Fran of her observations so far. She held back a laugh at the sight of his leather boots compared to the far superior quality of his other pieces of armor. She did, however, take notice of his weapon. A two handed ax that appeared to be made of magically enchanted bones.

“And what’s this? You brought your whores to fight with you?” asked Fran as she and her men stared down the four women that flanked John’s sides.

“The fuck you say?!” Miho yelled back, her face red with anger.

“Aww, did I hit the little Asian whore’s feelings?” taunted Fran, who wanted as many of them as angry as she could get. “Oh, and you aren’t even able to satisfy him enough that he has to go fuck monsters!” mocked Fran.

“You stupid bitch! I can more than-” started Miho before she was cut off by John sticking his hand up. Miho, still clearly angry, backed down as she gritted her teeth.

“Don’t worry, Miho, master will kick her ass!” reassured Idena as lightning cackled all around her.

“Oh? Does the little birdie think she can beat us?” asked Fran. “We are the Order’s Inquisition! The elite of the elite! I am Grand Inquisitor Francisca Brighton!” declared Fran. John’s face shifted from his harsh demeanor to one of total and complete shock. Moira has a sister?! John’s mind raced with this new information. Why hadn’t Moira or her father ever mentioned her when John had talked with them. Does she have the Blessing too? Can she get the Blessing if I kill Moira and their dad?

“Now!” commanded Fran, who charged directly at the distracted John while her two subordinates cut off the four women from their beloved leader. Fourth Inquisitor’s gun rattled off his explosive bullets, the explosions **** the Asawaki twins back. Miho deflected the bullets as she fell back to a safe distance while Mikuru’s earthen walls were able to absorb the **** of the explosions.

Second Inquisitor, meanwhile, had charged forward with a new drone, AD-345, which had a multitude of offensive capabilities at its disposal. Activate weapon package D34, thought Second Inquisitor as he revealed his own weapon: a mechanical whip. With a quick flick of his wrist, the whip extended out, Gali’s legs the clear target.

“Oh no you don’t!” cried Gali as her staff came down in the path of the whip. The whip quickly retreated back as Second Inquisitor re-positioned himself so his drone and he could position Gali in their crossfire.

“Fuck off, you mechanical fly!” growled Idena as she sent a bolt of lightning at AD-345, in the hope of shorting out its electronics.

“Beep. Boop,” was the drone’s response as a flap opened and tiny rubber balls were shot out towards Idena. As the balls got near the lightning, the electrical discharge was drawn to the rubber balls, nullifying any lightning they came near. Idena was unable to dodge the balls in time and felt the full **** of the non-lethal but strong weapon to counter Idena.

A loud clank sound echoed through the hallway as Fran’s blade and John’s ax connected with each other. A fierce look of determination were burned on both their faces as each other refused to back off. Their blades slid along each other as Fran and John both pushed against the other in an attempt for each of them to assert dominance over the other. As the two played this game of strength, John used this chance to cast Observe on Fran.

“Ah, so you’re just a step-sister? Guess I don’t have to worry about any Golden Rose shenanigans,” John said to Fran, whose stoic look did not change, must to John’s annoyance.

“Ah, must be that Observe ability your dossier mentioned,” retorted Fran, who wore a smile on her face that grew wider as John’s face grew even more annoyed. “Oh yes, I know all about your moves. Moira was thoroughly debriefed after her pathetic failure to bring you in at the Academy,” Fran informed John. “Sadly for you, I’m not my sister,” Fran said as she summoned a burst of strength that threw John back. “In fact, I’m superior to Moira in every way. She is weak, and only with the full blessing of the Golden Rose would she ever stand a chance against me,” monologued Fran as John pulled himself up from the rubble of the wall he went through. “Now, prepare yourself, John Newman, for you face the strongest non-Grail warrior of the Brighton Branch of the Order of the Golden Rose!” boasted Fran as her sword glowed with a bright light.

John took a deep breath to calm himself and study his surroundings. These halls are way too small to do proper battle in, thought John as he looked at the destruction the castle had received. Idena and Gali had already destroyed multiple walls and rooms in their fight while the twins had their opponent pinned down.

“What? Trying to figure out how to survive this? Well you won't. You will die here and now and I will drag your broken body to my father and tell him that the Order will be lead by me and the Warden a tool!” Fran gloated as she observed her loyal followers hold off John's four companions. He was on his own against her, and she knew that she could beat him. She could beat anybody.

“You're an arrogant bitch. Maybe moreso than Moira or Vanessa. I've beaten one and made the other into my personal ****. I'll beat you like I beat them and you'll be begging to serve me!” John roared at Fran as he charged at her, a holy light imbued him as Fran's glow had spread from her sword to all around her.

Their blades met each other as their holy powers collided with each other. Each could feel the power radiate from the other, too close to tell who was strongest. Streams of light shot out as Fran's sword and John's ax were locked together. The streams would strike walls or doors only for those things to explode from the sheer amount of holy power each stream held.

“Heh. You're stronger than I thought,” remarked Fran, only to see John smirk back at him.

“I was gonna say the same about you!” mused John as he re-adjusted his ax. The shift of his weapon caused the reaction he had hoped for as John watched the building holy energy burst through the nearby wall to create a hole large enough for him to get through.

“Catch me if you can!” taunted John as he rushed to and jumped through the hole, much to Fran’s anger. Fran, however, had no intentions of letting her prey get away and went after him. Both of them easily brushed off the short fall from the floor they were on to the ground. John used his early advantage to gain some space between himself and Fran before she could follow him.

“So, you’re not just a normal zealot, you’re a zealot with a hint of megalomania?” asked John, curious to see Fran’s response.

“You think me a madwoman?” spat Fran, who knew what John was planning and went with it in hopes of turning the tables on him. “Is it mad to think that the Order should be ruled by those worthy of it and not those who merely happen to be born into the right bloodline? An organization like the Order should be lead by those who embody it the most, with the Wardens as nothing more than enforcers if they cannot embody the Order. If they can, fine, let them guide the Order. But what about the ones that are all brawn and no brain? Why should the Order’s resources be wasted on their foolish wars because of some asinine reason?! I won’t let that happen! I will reshape the Order into what the Lady truly wanted: an organization that will bring true peace safety to both the Abyss and real world!” finished Fran, a maniacal look on her face.

John stood in silence as he took in all that Fran had told him. It was clear she had no love for Moira or how the Order was run. Sounds like she is very fond of a meritocracy. I gotta admit, I’m a fan of it. I’d be much higher in the social order before these powers if life was based on a meritocracy and not the nepotism that the world currently runs on. Perhaps there’s a chance I can convince her to side with me? John’s thoughts were interrupted, however, as Fran took advantage of his distracted mind and charged at him.

John was able to just barely parry the downward slice that Fran unleashed at him. Not a second after the deflection did the ground to his right explode as the holy power in the sword discharged into the ground at the finale of the swing. John stared in awe at the power of Fran’s weapon.

“Bare witness to Judicium, a holy blade forged from the fragments of the sword of Lucifer, the Light bringer, after his battle with his brother Michael! The Order found its fragments scattered over European churches, gathered as many as they could, and forged this sword with it. It is used to designate the Grand Inquisitor of the Shield Order’s branch. It is capable of magnifying the holy power of any righteous users. Plus it has one more unique ability, one that takes time to activate. Time that you graciously allowed me have by allowing me to monologue so long. Now, behold the secret ability of Judicium: I summon thee, holy warriors of light, created by our savior, the almighty Lady, to bring divine punishment upon this heathen who doth stand before your humble servant!” chanted Fran, who was engulfed by a light that radiated out from her sword. The light shot up to the skies where it illuminated the entire sky. John looked on in awe as he felt the sheer holy power wash over him.

“Wooooooooooooooooow! I wanna lick it!”

“Me too!”

John barely heard what he thought was Yatina and Mimi but was too focused on what he saw at the top of the light.