Astrid was still stunned that Sting and Rogue had shown up and seized Minerva.
"I don't understand, what made you come here?" Astrid asked as Sting placed Minerva down.
"It was that letter you sent us," Sting explained.
Astrid then remembered that the letter that she send to Sting a few days prior to the attack on their Guildhall.
"Oh, yes, I forgotten that," said Astrid.
"We got here as soon as we could, but it looks like we got here bit too late to save the Guildhall," Hookfang noted.
"Yeah, we ran into the towns' people as they were making their way out of the city and they told us everything," said Skull.
"They then informed us of the strange-looking cube that destroyed the city and mention how it crash landed just over the ridge," Rogue added.
Sting smiled at Minerva. "Milady, please come back to the Guild with us."
Minerva was still crying.
Zogrin smiled. "Go where ever you like, I shan't stop you. But no matter where you may fully, you will still be in a world without magic."
Astrid narrowed her eyes. "We know that Face has been destroyed."
"It is true that one was demolished," Zogrin admitted.
Astrid's eyes widened.
"Hold on, we did see a bunch of creepy looking face statues on our way over here," said Sting.
Rogue nodded. "If those are indeed what you're talking about, there are far too many to count."
"What?" Astrid stared.
"Just one hour, that is approximately how long we have until every last one of them detonates," Zogrin informed them. "Thousands of pulse bombs will unleash their power all at once and thus cleanse the scourge of magic from this world forever."
Astrid was completely horrified.
"It is exactly as I envisioned, you can take comfort in the fact that it isn't your failure there was simply nothing you could have done to stop it."
Meanwhile Hiccup was still battling Tempest, unaware that he was about to lose his magic in an hour's time.
"Tell me do you have to make all that noise when you use your curses?" Hiccup asked narrowing his eyes at Tempest.
"Glug Glug!" said Tempest.
"I'll take that as a yes," Hiccup groaned.
Then suddenly he found that the ground had turned to quicksand beneath his feet and he was beginning to sink. Tempest then immediately dealt a powerful kick right under his chin, but he quickly recovered.
"Fire Dragon's Plasma Blast!" Hiccup yelled as he formed a plasma orb in his hand and then tossed it directly at Tempest.
"Drip Drop!" said Tempest.
Suddenly a rainstorm rained on top of them and the plasma blast soon became steam.
"You're starting to annoy me," said Hiccup as he landed.
Tempest then immediately emerged through the mist directly in front of him and Hiccup quickly counted his pants with one of his own.
"You should just give up," said Tempest.
"You wish," said Hiccup.
Eret was charging towards Torafuzar and he was doing the same, the two of them struck one another and soon appeared behind one another. Eret then fell to his knees as Torafuzar's rockhard skin actually did some damage to his wrist.
"This guy is tough," he said wincing as he looked at his wrist. "What in the name of Thor is he made of?"
Torafuzar looked at him. "You use Iron Elemental Magic, it may be rare but it is extremely predictable. One look from you told me what to expect."
Eret narrowed his eyes. "You're want to talk about looks." Then suddenly his wrist became an iron club. "Iron Dragon's Club!"
He then immediately extended his club towards Torafuzar, but he courted in his bare hand.
"Pitiful," he said and tossed him at the rubble with all his strength. "They say the weakest dog house the loudest!"
"That explains why you won't stop running your mouth," said Eret. Then immediately propelled himself forwards down towards Torafuzar. "I'll shut you up!"
Heather meanwhile was still battling against Keyes.
"Water Slicer!" she yelled.
She then unleashed slashes of razor sharp water towards Keyes, but the attack merely went straight through his body. Keyes chuckled and then transformed into dark fog.
"It went right through him," she said as she began looking around. She then turned and saw Keyes re-materialising behind her. "His technique is similar to mine, but I never experience of fighting someone like me."
"Your stories," said Keyes.
Heather frowned. "What did you just say?"
Keyes chuckled. "Seilah claims that mortals are only capable of weaving uninteresting and drearily tales, but I find the stories of your particular group of mortals to be quite fascinating and extremely amusing."
Ruby was still stunned about what had happened to Aquarius and how the Celestial King save them.
"Aquarius and the Celestial Spirit King gave all they had," she said sadly and she then began to pick herself up. "So, I've got to keep fighting. I cannot give up now."
However she was still too weak and immediately collapsed. "My friends need me, but I can't even stand up. I'm sorry."
Meanwhile Zogrin was still facing against Astrid and the others in what he considered a polite conversation.
"You mean there are still thousands of those things left?" said Astrid stunned. "But how? That is insane."
"You've got to be joking, right?" said Sting.
"We only have one hour," said Rogue.
Hookfang rubbed his chin. "If that's really how long we have, we are in serious trouble."
"If they lose their magic in combat that would be disastrous," said Skull.
"Yeah," Hookfang agreed. "And let's not forget the many things in this world and operate with magic power."
Minerva looked at Zogrin. "What utter nonsense, you can even control one Face remotely. So what in the name of Helheim makes you think you can set off thousands of them at once? Your bluff."
"Oh contraire, the former chairman has the ability to operate them, I must say as much as I would rather avoid humans altogether he has proven himself rather useful," Zogrin admitted.
"Then your underling should have killed him."
Astrid stared at her. "He's dead?"
"You seem to have forgotten, Helheim has a necromancer amongst our ranks," Zogrin smirked.
"What the heck does that mean?" Hookfang asked.
Skull looked at him. "It means someone that can control the dead."
"Through this power the late chairman is hard at work in the control room. Readying the Faces for detonation," Zogrin smirked.
Astrid glared at him. "You're using his corpse."
"Despite all of this destruction, the control room still stands?" said Minerva in disbelief.
Sting and Rogue and immediately stepped forward.
"All right Astrid, you heard him," said Sting cracking his knuckles. "Go and shut it down."
"Sting and I will handle things here," Rogue assured.
"Are you sure?" Astrid asked.
"Yeah, just take milady and the cats with you," Sting instructed. "Keep them safe."
"We will meet up after we defeat him," Rogue assured.
"As I said, I dislike you mortals, but they can be so entertaining," said Zogrin. "You defeating the Underworld King? Ridiculous."
Sting and Rogue and immediately charged towards him.
"Just watch us!" Sting yelled.
"Honestly now," said Zogrin as he began dodging each and every one of Sting's glowing fists and kicks.
Whilst Sting distracted him, Rogue attempted to attack him from behind from within her shadows, but Zogrin clearly predicted such a tactic and avoided the attack.
Rogue then immediately turned Astrid. "Astrid, this is your chance!"
"Get the others and go!" Sting ordered.
Astrid then immediately placed Minerva's arm around her shoulders and lifted her up. "Please be careful, he's dangerous."
"This clown, he's got nothing on Hiccup," said Sting with his fist glowing with light.
"Go and destroy Face!" Rogue yelled with her fist covered in shadow.
Astrid smiled. "You got it."
"What fools, brave fools" Minerva smiled.
Skull had to literally had to drag Hookfang away as he wanted to join the fight.
"Let me go I wanna fight him!" Hookfang yelled.
"Don't be stupid, we need to get out of here right now," said Skull.
Hookfang glared at him. "You're saying that we can't help them?"
"I'm saying we would only get in the way, you and I both know that they can pull this off," said Skull.
"Good point," Hookfang nodded and stopped struggling.
Zogrin smirked and then unleashed a powerful burst of energy that pushed both Sting and Rogue backwards.
"Holy Dragon's Roar!" Sting roared unleashing his dragon breath attack.
Zogrin however merely knock it aside with his hand and Rogue immediately appeared behind him within her shadow.
"Shadow Dragon's Slash!" Rogue yelled and sent a powerful shadow sliced towards him.
However, Zogrin blocked it with his bare hand and then tossed it directly towards Sting and the two of them collided. He then moved his hand in these powerful slices of energy towards them and the two of them screamed when the attack struck them.
"This Dragon Slaying Magic, it is such an offensive concept," said Zogrin. "Mortals are not worthy of that power."
When the smoke cleared both Sting and Rogue back on their feet and ready to attack again.
"Well do you know what I think what offensive?" Sting glared. "It's anyone who tried to hurt our friends!"
Hiccup and the others were still battling against their demon opponents and there were starting to lose the upper hand.
"Whoosh!" said Tempest and created a powerful tornado that ensnared Hiccup.
"I will be blown away that easily!" Hiccup yelled and immediately fired a series of plasma blast that pelted Tempest.
"Whoosh!" Tempest repeated and Hiccup found himself being blown away yet again.
Eret was having similar problems with Torafuzar, his attack Sting appeared to be able to penetrate his hard skin.
"What's the matter out of energy?" Torafuzar mocked.
"You wish," Eret glared.
Hiccup then immediately landed behind him and Eret turned his head around to look at him.
"You all right?" he asked.
Hiccup picked himself up. "I've been shocked, blown away and drenched, I'm feeling just peachy."
"Having as much fun as I am?"
"Looks that way."
"Can you guys focus on the point at hand?" Heather asked that she fired a jet of water at Keyes.
"Don't worry we've got our head in the game," Hiccup assured.
"We just want to call off some steam," said Eret.
Tempest and Torafuzar were standing side-by-side with one another.
"Don't they realise how hopeless the situation is?" said Tempest shaking his head.
"I can never understand mortals," Torafuzar admitted.
"That's because you guys wouldn't understand the meaning of friendship," said Hiccup as he raised his fists.
"Yeah, we know that we have each other's backs which is more than I can say for you guys," Eret nodded.
Hiccup and Eret then immediately charged towards the two of them.
Keyes had just re-materialised in front of Heather and had a smile on his skeleton face.
"In what captivating way will your story unfold?" Keyes asked curiously. "I can't wait to find out."
Heather merely narrowed her eyes. 'I need to concentrate on winning this fight, but I can't help but worry about Ragnar.'
Freida had taken Ragnar to the far end of the rubble of the former fortress. She had just told him about Face."
Ragnar just stared at her. "It can't be there are thousands of them?"
Freida merely stood there and smiled.
"I just can't believe that the Council built a weapon like that. It's crazy," he said in disbelief. He then rose to his feet and looked directly at her. "Now tell me the real reason why you brought me here and I know that it wasn't to tell me about Face."
"Of course not," said Freida.
The two of them just stood there in silence.
"I was hoping to look on the face of crushing despair on your face," she admitted.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but that is not going to happen," said Ragnar strongly.
"Not yet," Freida admitted. "I mean killing you outright just seem so boring to me."
Ragnar just looked at her. "Tell me, and be honest, you know me don't you?"
"I do, very well in fact," Freida admitted.
"Is that so? I recognise your face and the way you sound, but there is no way that you can be her," Ragnar glared. "I know that you're just wearing a disguise. Tell me who you are and why are you doing this?" She just stood there in silence. "Answer me! Tell me who you really are!"
Freida chuckled. "You already know exactly who I am. You may not want to believe it that's its true, but I was the one that gave you birth."
Ragnar glared at her with hatred. "You're right, I don't believe you! Because it's impossible, my mother is dead I saw it with my own eyes! Deliora killed her right in front of me!"
The horrible memories of Deliora destroying his old town soon entered back into his memories. Ragnar was crying within the rubble of his house looking at the dead body of his mother.
"My name is Freida Keatson," she said looking directly at Ragnar. "I am your mother."
"No you're not!" Ragnar yelled as he created many ice swords and send them directly to water.
Freida however merely waved her hand and dispelled the swords and shattered like glass. Ragnar then immediately charged towards her innovate swinging his punches, but she dodged each and every one of them. Then she caught his fist and unleashed a burst of ice sending him backwards.
"She's long gone!" Ragnar yelled and freed his hand from the ice. "He was murdered 19 years ago!"
Freida laughed and in rage Ragnar was about to strike her with another burst of ice, but she merely raised her hand creating an icy tundra beneath him. Ragnar was caught completely unaware and immediately shot up into the air and landed amongst the rubble.
"This is even better than I thought it be," she said shaking her head. She then stopped laughing and looked directly at Ragnar. "I am being honest with you, kid. Your Mummy is right here, I mean technically speaking she is at least."
"And what do you mean by that?" Ragnar yelled furiously.
"Let's just say, I'm somebody that had an even bigger impact on you," she smiled devilishly. "Someone that you been dying to get revenge on for as long as you can remember."
Ragnar's eyes widened.
Meanwhile Hiccup and the others were still battling against the other Nine Demon Gates and Hiccup just narrowly avoided getting struck by Tempest. He soon backed up and joined the others in the Nine Demon Gates to did the same.
Hiccup and the others then immediately charged at their opponents, Hiccup performed a powerful sidekick to Tempest, Eret punched Torafuzar and Heather swung a mean roundhouse kick at Keyes. However all three of their opponents managed to block the attacks, apart from Keyes, who merely transformed into vapour and avoided Heather's attack completely.
Hiccup then immediately grabbed Tempest and began to toss him. "Eret!" Hiccup yelled as he tossed him.
"I got it!" Eret yelled as he grabbed hold of Torafuzar's arm.
Then the two of them began to swing them towards one another.
"Kabam!" said Tempest.
Suddenly a powerful gust slammed into Hiccup causing him to release Tempest and Torafuzar took the opportunity to swing his arm sending Eret flying into him. Keyes then unleashed a powerful burst of dark for putting Heather back.
'Something very wrong,' said Heather. 'I've got this nasty feeling that Ragnar was in trouble.'
Ruby then lifted herself up. "Guys, let me help. I promise I can still fight."
"You've done more than enough," said Hiccup strongly. "Let us finish what you started."
"He's right," Eret nodded and a smile appeared on his face. "Besides I just caught the scent."
"Me too," Hiccup added.
Heather looked at them. "What?"
"It's really familiar," said Eret.
"Smells like backup," Hiccup added.
The two of them could smell Sting and Rogue battling against Zogrin. The two of them charged towards Zogrin with a fists filled with light and shadow they then began swinging a series of punches and kicks towards him, but he dodged them at blinding speed.
However, Sting's fist and actually graze his cheek, though he didn't seem to register it. "I see now," he said as he blocked Rogue's fists, but he was ill prepared for Sting dealing him a powerful kick beneath his chin.
However, the attack just merely stunned him. "I punished her for it, but I understand why Kyôka so love to play with your kind."
"Oh, do you?" Rogue glared.
"We came here to fight, not talk," Sting spat.
"You are completely at the mercy of your emotions and yet at the same time you are wholly unaware of this weakness. You don't realise how close you are to your imminent demise, just like lambs led to slaughter."
The Twin Dragons just stared at him as they felt a twinge of fear.
"It's endearing in a way, but that won't save you," said Zogrin.
Meanwhile Astrid was carrying Minerva down the ruined hallways with Hookfang and Skull in tore.
"Man, this place has got to be the biggest dump I've ever seen in my life," said Hookfang.
"You have to wonder what caused this devastation," said Skull.
"A frightening thought," Hookfang admitted.
"Do you know how we can find the control room from here? Are we close?" Astrid asked looking at Minerva.
"Everything has been damaged beyond recognition, I can't tell," Minerva admitted.
"Zogrin claimed that it was still intact, but where could it be? We're running out of time."
"You should go on, I'm only slowing your progress." Astrid ignored that request and carried on logging Minerva. "I have no idea where we are, I can't even walk on my own. Leave me behind. I have no interest in being anyone's burden."
Astrid ignored her and carried on down the corridor with her by her side.
Minerva then immediately pushed herself away from Astrid. "Didn't you hear what I said? Keep dragging the around we're all going to die!"
Astrid looked at her. "You may not believe in yourself right now, Minerva. But I still do, realising how far that you strayed is the first step to getting onto the right path. It may seem impossible, but I know that you have it in you. The journey ahead will be challenging, but face your past and seek out redemption for your sins. Salvation is out there if you want it."
Minerva just stared at her stunned.
"Hang on, somebody is coming towards us," Hookfang warned.
"Stand on your guard," said Skull.
Then emerging from the dust were Toothless, Skullcrusher and Cloudjumper.
"It's you," said Skullcrusher stunned.
Astrid stared at them. "Toothless? Skullcrusher? Cloudjumper?"
"Astrid!" said Toothless relieved and Fannmalth was beginning to sweat.
"This was unexpected," said Skullcrusher.
"Seeing them all the company that Astrid is with?" Cloudjumper asked.
"What the heck are you guys doing here?" Toothless asked.
Astrid smiled down at him. "I'm very glad to see you, but we're going have to say the catching up later."
"Can you guys at least give us the situation report?" Skullcrusher asked.
"All that I know is that a bunch of crazy stuff is going down," said Hookfang.
"Can you care to elaborate on that?" Cloudjumper asked.
"Basically we came all the way from Sabretooth with Sting and Rogue and on the way we found that there are thousands of Faces that are going to activate in under an hour," Skull explained.
"Sounds desperate," said Toothless looking troubled.
"Agreed, we should accompany you," Skullcrusher nodded.
Hookfang then noticed the fungus on Toothless' head. "What's with the mushroom on your head?"
"I don't know it just grew there when I regained consciousness," said Toothless shaking his head. "We been trying to pull it off, but it doesn't seem to budge."
Minerva then immediately approached him which may Toothless a little concerned.
"What is she doing?" Cloudjumper asked looking at Skull.
"No clue," Skull admitted.
Skullcrusher looked at Toothless. "Did you somehow get on Minerva's backside?"
"I've only met her the one time," said Toothless honestly. "Mind you that was when Hiccup and I did actually stormed the hotel they were staying at doing the Grand Magic Games."
Minerva then immediately grabbed hold the muscle in his head and tore it off him and Toothless roared in pain.
"How did she do that?" Cloudjumper stared.
"I don't know," said Skullcrusher stand. "We pulled and pulled on that thing, but it wouldn't budge."
"That's Minerva for you," Hookfang smiled.
"But what are you gonna do with it?" Skull asked.
Toothless was still clutching his head in pain rubbing the bald patch on his head.
"This mushroom is an extremely special kind," Minerva explained. "Very rare and quite valuable too."
"How much is it worth?" Fannmalth asked blowing his cover.
Minerva then immediately tightened her grip on him. "That all depends on how helpful it is. Show us to the control room and it might be worth your life."
"I was hoping that no one would see me like this," Fannmalth groaned.
Hookfang smiled. "Milady is back."
"I don't know whether to be joyous or terrified," said Skull.
Skullcrusher looked at Toothless. "Looks like you've been carrying a spy on your head all this time."
Toothless groaned. "I just wish there was an easier way to get off my head."
"The Face bombs are set to go in less than one hour, let's get moving," Astrid reminded.
Meanwhile at Ragnar was still in a bit range against Freida, or whoever she was.
Ragnar clenched his fist and eyes began to form around it. "You had better explain yourself right now!"
Freida immediately raised her hand and suddenly Ragnar felt himself being propelled backwards.
"I don't know where to start," Frieda admitted as Ragnar picked himself up. "I think I should start with my appearance, this body is merely just a vessel. I happen to come across a few random corpses."
Ragnar stared at her.
"I'm sure that you're fully aware that Helheim is filled with demons from Drago's Books don't you, myself included. In fact my true form is not even remotely human, but still you could probably imagine how hard it is to blend in when you go around looking like a big scary demon. That is why I needed a human costume if you will and when the time finally rolled around to pick which one I wanted, of course I had to pick the one with all of its body parts intact.
"Honestly I have become rather attached to this old thing. Anyway I didn't have any alternative motive for throwing this one on, it was just convenient. But somehow it has brought you and I together again, this day has been a long time coming my boy, I've been hungry for a taste of your blood."
Ragnar then slammed his hand on the rubble and glared at Freida. "Stop speaking in riddles and tell me exactly who you are! Why are you really using my mother's body and why do you want to use it to kill me?"
"You want to know?" Freida smiled fiendishly. "Because I won't be satisfied until I killed everyone that witch Ur cared about! After all, she put me in that prison of ice for 12 years!"
Ragnar's eyes widened in horror when he realised who she truly was. "What?
"I am not Freida, I'm Deliora!" Freida announced with a demonic smile. "There is no way you could ever forget my name."
Ragnar was completely speechless as he began to remember Ur's sacrifice. "No way! Ur killed Deliora I saw it!"
"Yes, I was dead for 12 long years," Freida admitted. "But wants Helheim built the Hell's Core Regeneration System, it gave me another chance to get my sweet revenge."
Ragnar clenched his fists. "You're here for revenge. Well, I know how that feels."
Freida smiled. "If you're having a hard time believing me, I can show you my true form. You know the one from your nightmares, the monster that killed your mother!"
Ragnar then immediately glared at her with burning hatred.
Meanwhile Hiccup and the others were still engaged with the Nine Demon Gate, but Heather was sensing an uneasy presence close by.
'That feeling of dread is not going away,' she said to herself looking concerned. 'I'm even more afraid than before, I know Ragnar need my help.'
She then immediately narrowed her eyes at Keyes. "Let's end this so that I can master Ragnar's side."
"Ragnar?" said Keyes looking intrigued. "How exciting, it's just as I supposed that young man and you have an intermingled story, do you not?"
"What?" Heather stared.
"But all stories that begin must one day end." Heather just stared at him and she felt a shilling feeling in her bones. "Ragnar's story truly began when Deliora took everything from him, that was his birth."
"What are you talking about?" Heather demanded.
"That grisly reaper harvested the lives of his mother and rendered his entire village to a burning pile of embers," Keyes explained. "That whole horrific event marks the beginning of his tail. What delicious irony for on this day that we should see this tail come to its tragic end."
Heather looked at him horrified. "No, it can't be. He'll die?"
"It's far richer than that, the boy will face despair in a form so sweet and familiar. Even so his tail will conclude the same way of his Master's deeds."