Here you go. Enjoy. I own nothing.
So far, the score right now for the poll is:
12 for Gladius and Gauntlet.
22 for dual gauntlet.
17 for Sword and Shield.
Looks like Dual Gauntlet wins. I was hoping we'd go with Sword and Shield but I made a promise to obey the poll.
Though im not disappointed in Dual Gauntlets. I do enjoy my idea with it.
Mmmmm. Eyegouging.
Issei woke up a few hours after Artemis left him behind to go handle her thoughts. When he woke up, it was night time on Olympus and the lighting in his room was from the single candle by his bed. It wasn't too bright but it reminded him of his time back in Rome. 'Seems that Olympus has never heard of a lightbulb.' Issei thought with an inward chuckle. He actually really enjoyed the light from a candle because it really was what he was used to. Not all of it was bad after all.
Issei smiled at his thoughts only to be surprised when a voice from the darkness came. It was Artemis.
"Good evening… Issei."
"Evening Artemis." Issei said before yawning. "How you feeling?"
"I'm fine. So, why did you make it so I'd be your slave?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Cause I needed a slave." He said, looking elsewhere instead of her face. She frowned at him.
"I mean it. Why?"
"I said why." Issei said, trying not to admit that this was his ploy.
Artemis huffed. "Typical beasts. Always lying."
Issei sighed. "Alright. It was a way for me to get closer to you so I could convince you that I'm not a beast. Well, in the way you describe." He said, turning in his bed to face her while he laid down. "I truly have no interest in a slave… I couldn't do that after being one."
Artemis nodded. "I see. It's like I thought…" She said quietly. "I've decided… that I will give you a chance… but one slip up… and you die." Artemis said, glaring at him.
Issei shrugged. "So be it. I don't plan on making mistakes anymore." He said, before giving her a smile. "So, where do I take my baths or showers?"
Artemis smirked. "Trying to sneak a peak at the goddesses huh?" She said, trying to get him to slip up.
Issei raised a brow. "Oh yes, cause that's a surefire way to get on your good side. I totally wanna see you and the other ones naked." He said, not even rolling his eyes.
"I knew you were a beast." Artemis said with a smirk.
"Uh huh. Are you going to answer my question or not? I'd like to get cleaned."
"Yea, we all use the public bath house, though some of us have the luxury of private baths. Mixed bathing as well so you will be bathing with females as well as males."
"Uh huh. Well, can you take me there? I don't really know my way around Olympus."
"Yea sure, but I'm not joining you in it."
"Didn't ask you to do so." Issei replied as he left his room with Artemis, only in his underwear. He had a change of clothes on his shoulder as well as a towel.
Artemis and Issei walked in silence as she led him around Olympus. Issei had been getting stares as soon as he left the palace. The women have all been ogling the man meat that was dangled before them. Issei was a prime steak, juicy. Artemis had a frown on her face as she noticed the stares he was getting.
"Would it kill you to get some clothes on beast?!" Artemis fumed, glaring at Issei.
Issei blinked. "Why would I do that?"
"You are indecent!"
"No I'm smart! Why would I put my clothes on when im just going to the bath to get naked anyway! Plus I am not showing anything that would be considered naughty!"
Artemis fumed but she had no good argument. She just stopped talking and just glared as they walked down the path. She then pointed at the building at the end of the road. "There." She said, storming off. Issei stared at Artemis before sighing and heading down the path, going to the bathhouse.
He entered the bathhouse a few minutes later and saw that it was empty. He felt the heat coming from the water and Issei smiled brightly. "This is going to feel nice." He commented as he waded into the bath, letting out a groan of pleasure. "Oh yea. That's the stuff." He said, taking a seat on one of the ledges in inside the bath itself, so he could sit with his neck above the water. "Mmmmm..." He groaned out, leaning his head back. He closed his eyes tight and began to fall asleep, still tired. The fight with Ares and Artemis wore him out, as did the healing he was going through.
He didn't know how long he was napping, but he found himself gently shaken to wake up. He opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was Athena's beautiful face.
"You should never be sleeping in the bathtub." Athena chided playfully.
"Hey, it's comfy here." He defended himself only for Athena to giggle.
"I'm only playing. You can do whatever you like." She said with a smile. "Just thought I'd have a chat with you."
"Oh? Well, what do you wanna talk about Athena?" He asked with a smile.
"Artemis. What do you think about her?"
"In what manner?"
"Just what do you think about her?"
"She's… a bitch. She's very much a sexist and I want to slap her sometimes… but… I can see that she's trying hard here to find it in her to look past the fact I am a male. I think she's very pretty and that if you look past her sexist attitude, she's actually probably very pleasant company."
"I see. Do you dislike her and dislike us for forcing you to come here?"
"Not at all. I'm not really a fan of being used to change someones attitude… but coming to Olympus is really nice. I really enjoy the entire thing. It's really beautiful up here and everyone, minus a couple, is really nice and enjoyable."
Athena smiled. "Well, I'm really happy that you came. You've actually brightened my fathers mood… no you've really brought a new light to Olympus."
"How could I do that? I don't understand how I could be so influential."
"Hmm. I guess it's because we have been pretty stale lately. Not much has happened in our side of the world… though that might be changing if this Khaos Brigade is as we fear."
Issei nodded. "I see. I'm just the newest thing to happen."
"Now now, while that is partially true, it's because you are a celebrity among the supernatural. Your actions shaped a lot of what the world is now. While you may not have known at the time the effects of what you've done, it still happened and we all thank you."
"If I could do it again…. I wouldn't. If I am being honest. Then again, I'd never have been a Gladiator if it wasn't for that man… so it wouldn't have mattered. I wouldn't have done it to shape the world. I wanted revenge… I wanted to escape to survive."
"I can understand that. I actually agree with you." Athena said with a chuckle. "So, what do you have planned? Like what is your plan with Artemis?"
"I'm gonna wing it. Planning… doesn't always end the way it is planned. I rather just wing it and do things on the spot. Plus it's more from the heart that way." Issei said with a grin.
Athena laughed and nodded. "I see I see. So you'd be a good front line General while you'd suck at commanding an army from behind."
"Oh yea easily. I'm good at commanding soldiers and reading the battlefield, but things change and plans fall apart. I would know about that after all."
Athena nodded. "I think you and Ares would get along well, if he could find it in him to not be so arrogant."
"Probably could learn from him actually. I'm sure he has a lot of war experience."
"He did. He could impart some knowledge, but I think it is you who would be teaching him. Perhaps teach each other?"
Issei shrugged. "I'd have fun with that. So, Athena, perhaps you can explain things to me. You guys all are God's and Goddesses but you all aren't on the same level in terms of power right? I heard that the God of the bible was one of the top ten as well as the Heavenly Dragons… Who exactly is in the top ten? I know its Great Red, Ophis and the God of the Bible. Who else?"
"Hmm. That's a hard question because its really a matter of opinion… but if you want my opinion? Great Red, Ophis, Shiva, Vishnu, Indra, Crom Cruach has reached Heavenly Dragon status, the two heavenly dragons. Then you have the super devils Sirzechs and Ajuka. Then Typhon, Hades, Thor and Ra. Those are the strongest beings in the top ten. It's more than ten but a lot of them are about equal in power. Thor and Hades are about the same, while the Heavenly Dragons and Crom Cruach are as strong as God. Sirzechs and Ajuka… they are very hard to tell but I'd put them on part with God as well."
"So… the Hindu mythology is the strongest?"
"In terms of individual, they have the strongest people… but I have to say Heaven would be the strongest out of all mythologies due to the numbers they have."
"Are any of the mythologies against peace?"
"I cannot answer that. The Egyptians and the Hindu are not really advocating for peace but I don't think they'd cause any trouble either… However Indra… might be the main one you have to worry about. I hear he's related to someone from the Khaos Brigade."
"And if this person from the Khaos Brigade hurts people… Indra might have to be looked at?"
"Perhaps… but its a slippery slope." She said with a smile. "I wouldn't worry about it too much. The Khaos Brigade needs to be dealt with first if the rumors about them are true."
"You think they are a true threat?"
"Yes. They are bigger than just Julius and Katerea. Even The White Dragon Emperor is a part of them. I hear there are multiple factions within them. We have the Old Satan Faction that Katerea was part of. We have the Hero Faction, The Magicians who have their own sub faction known as Hexennacht."
"Who do you think is in charge?"
"From what I hear, it's Ophis."
"But from what I read, Ophis never involved her or hisself in the affairs of others. How… I don't think she's the leader."
"But didn't the White Dragon say they follow Ophis?"
"Yea… just… I dunno. I don't think we know too much about the Khaos Brigade anyway."
"No we do not." She nodded before moving through the water to sit next to Issei. Issei followed her movements and that is when she put her right hand on his left thigh. "Though, I wouldn't mind getting to know more about you."
"What do you wanna know?" Issei asked without losing a beat.
"Do you li-" She was interrupted as several loud explosions were heard going off outside. Athena quickly looked up and got out of the bath, immediately drying herself off with magic and getting her armor. She looked outside and could see a big fire in the distance. It was then magic appeared around Olympus with a loud siren like sound. "We're under attack!" Athena exclaimed. "THE PALACE!" She said with wide eyes, immediately running away, leaving Issei to get out of the pool and dry off with Norse magic. He really preferred to dry off with a towel as he was old fashioned like that but now wasn't the time for tradition. It was now the time for war.
Issei quickly summoned on a spare change of clothes with his Norse magic before activating his sacred gear and the armor that was gifted to him by the Norse. Issei looked very much like a Spartan with the breastplate while the helmet was that of a centurion. With his Gladius in his left hand while his right was his gauntlet, he ran. He was fearful now… as he knew that one person was in the palace.
Artemis.
Read. Review. Moo.
Ruh Roh. Khaos Brigade!