Chapter 31: Vacation's End

Jereth

(21 weeks 3 days after birth of the 8th)

Consciousness announces itself with a cloudy sort of feeling and an ache in my groin, like I pulled a muscle or something…although considering last nights events after my years of 'inactivity' maybe I shouldn't be surprised.

Try having almost 3 hours of intense sex after a few years of merely spanking it on your own and see how you feel…

"Did someone tire themselves out last night? Poor, poor Devil King…"

My eyes widen as I see a smirking Raffaello standing behind the very same kitchen counter that I vaguely recall railing her on at some point, cooking something that smells like oatmeal.

She's totally fine.

I let my head fall back to the floor with a thump, still in my birthday suit, and resignedly say, "The energy most Women have after an intense night of sex is astounding to me. Here I am, practically immobile, and you're dancing around the house making breakfast and all sorts of other movement-reliant activities."

I can practically hear the laugh in her voice as she playfully says, "Perhaps you just didn't sufficiently exhaust me…"

That drags a chuckle out of me and I cheekily reply, "That's not how I remember things. If memory serves by the time I was through you were more or less unconscious, insensate to whatever I wanted to do to you…"

"I was wondering why I woke up with a mustache and glasses drawn on my face this morning…you have a strange set of priorities Godslayer. Also that was not very amusing."

I snicker and retort, "It was for me. You look hot with a Hitler-stache by the way."

"That doesn't sound like much of a compliment..."

She walks over and hands me a steaming bowl of the delicious goop, a small spoonful of brown sugar and cream already on it.

"A necessary pick-me-up for the poor boy."

I glance at my crotch and amusedly reply, "Was that a sex joke?"

She merely winks and airily says, "Sex is never a joke."

A few hours later along with a change of clothes and a shower and I think it's time I leave my impromptu 'vacation' behind.

It's a damn shame really…

"I suppose I'll merely be preparing meals for one now…"

I glance at Raffaello out of the corner of my eye, a bit surprised by her melancholy tone. I'd figured she'd be sending me off with a 'good riddance' sort of mood.

"Yah, and I guess I'll have to rely on my own brilliant intellect to solve problems instead of asking my teacher for help."

She snorts at that.

"With that ego of yours I'm surprised you weren't calling out your own name last night…"

I legitimately laugh at that even the Sword-Saint grins slightly. Afterwards there's a few more seconds of relaxed silence before I heavily sigh. Turning to face her I offer a non-mocking smile and quietly say, "I legitimately do appreciate your help Raffaello. I'd say goodbye, but, well…I imagine we'll see each other again sooner or later."

She extends her hand and smiles just as honestly as I am.

"So instead of goodbye how about we simply say, A far poco?"

I nod in agreement and firmly grasp her hand-

-only for her to pull me close and kiss my cheeks, left to right, and softly intone, "Good hunting Godslayer."

Her tone suddenly becomes more mischievous as she slyly says, "You should probably stay on guard during your trip back, if I might add."

My smile instantly turns upside down and I retort, "Well doesn't that sound wonderfully ominous…"

She just keeps smiling that enigmatic smile and I shake my head before jumping into the air, summoning my board and armor before gently accelerating away. Once I'm about a kilometer away or so I hit the afterburners and shoot forward, swiftly reaching speeds upwards of Mach 4.

Time to head home.

Raffaello

…I wasn't joking when I had said for him to be on guard, I've been having strange visions of rainbow colored wings and a towering tree for the past few days.

Not enough to draw any specific conclusions, but the fact that I started having them whenever I was near Jereth seems to suggest that he'll be encountering whatever this being is sooner rather than later.

After a moment of introspection I simply shrug.

Worrying won't accomplish much. After all, killing Gods is a Godslayer's duty…

"Hey, long time no see Master!"

And just like that I feel a migraine approach.

Also my head sort of hurts.

I heave a sigh and glare at my approaching disciple-

-before my eye twitches at what he's carrying in the see-through plastic bag.

A container of Green Peach Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Ice Cream.

I sourly glare at him and ask, "Where did you get that?"

"Ah, well it's kinda a long story…you see after a few weeks of searching I wasn't finding anything but get this! I was just leaving another shop when I ran into this guy who said he worked for, ah man what was it again? Brewers, Buyers?"

A sinking feeling in my stomach I ask, "Breyers?"

"Yah that's the one! Anyway he was interested in that flavor I was looking for and said if I didn't mind coming along with him he could maybe whip up an experimental batch-"

I sigh and tune him out, already knowing how this particular story will end.

Campione have the most insane luck ever…

"And so he wanted me to sign on as some sort of 'beneficiary' or whatever so I just gave him Andre's number and headed on over here! Is my buddy Jereth still around? I mean, I went to all the trouble of-"

"-You just missed him by about 5 minutes."

Doni's quiet for a few seconds before his excited expression seamlessly transforms into a crestfallen one.

"Aw seriously? I was all hyped up and everything…now what?"

…Having a bored Salvatore wandering the countryside is just begging for trouble, so how do I…heh, this should do nicely.

"Foolish student of mine, didn't you know Jereth typically spends most of his time on the westernmost portion of the United States? That is where you first fought him after all, correct?"

"Hey yah, you're right! Haha! This is why you're my Master, you've always got the best advice!"

He practically shoves the bag of ice cream into my hands and runs off, shouting over his shoulder, "Hold on to that for me! Later Master!"

…First the surfboard, and now the ice cream…honestly, is there no limit to that child's obliviousness?

I sigh once more before giving a small grin at the sky where Jereth left not more than 10 minutes ago.

Looks like Salvatore is once again his problem and not mine.

Jereth

"You should probably stay on guard during your trip back, if I might add."

…Those words are giving me the heeby-jeebies right now, and the fact that I'm flying through a pretty heavy rain squall is of only mild comfort.

What are the odds that I get attacked by a Heretic God on the way back? I mean I'm traveling pretty fast right now, so unless said God has some variant of Godspeed I should be fine!

…Right?

Ugh, this sucks…next time I see that Witch I won't settle for drawing on her face, I'll go ahead and super glue her damn fingers together, see how funny her cryptic warnings are then…

Yes, I'm vindictive sometimes.

Still though, the tiny ray of sunshine that pokes through the clouds cheers me up slightly, the beam creating a small rainbow as it interacts with the droplets around-

-wait a second.

This crepuscular ray is following me perfectly…and I'm moving at almost Mach 3…and there's still storm clouds all around me, suggesting that the rain hasn't dispersed yet…

OH SHI-

-I slew my board into a desperate 90 degree turn that barely keeps me out of the path of a 30 meter long something that then impacts the water below with an almighty splash, the geyser reaching me all the way 200 meters up as I kill my speed.

What the fuck was that?! I didn't even sense it!

I get my answer within a few seconds as whatever it was that tried to sideline me breaches the water again and gently floats on top of the waves.

…Holy shit…it's beautiful.

30 meters of feathered body that's a bright white and red in coloration, legs like a lion's or dog's but talons like an eagle's…

It's the wings and head that draw my attention though. The 50 meter long falcon wings are comprised of rainbow-like feathers, shining in the ray of sunlight surrounding it and the head is like a Doberman Pinscher's, long and regal with white and black fur.

And the Divine Beast is surrounded by droplets of water leaking off it's hide, the liquid glistening in the light like a million microscopic gemstones.

I'd like to think I'm not one to be overly awed by the Supernatural, it kinda goes against my training as a Monastic and my generally ornery personality, but I can't deny that I take a good few seconds to just stare in awe at the majesty of the Divine Beast before me.

…Shame I have to kill it now.

watch?v=VTPhcKs_CYU (Eureka 7-Ninety Three)

"Violent skies fly to my side and sound our clarion call, the founder of lightning and guardian of the one true root seeks your aide! Father of Storms!"

The air around me rumbles and sudden snarls of lightning surround us, the odd interplay of shadow, sunlight and electricity creating a surreal landscape.

The giant creature lets loose a battle cry that's halfway between a dog's bark and an eagle's shriek before flapping it's wings once and shooting towards me in a blur.

"Levinsnakes Writhe."

An enormous cage of lightning surrounds me for a split second before I send it streaking towards the charging Heretic being-

-and it eats the Spell headfirst, it's head mostly exploding in a cloud of burning fur and flesh while crazily spinning feathers trace chaotic smoke trails across the sky.

With a rather flat sounding splash it impacts the water below and gently floats to the surface, resting there bonelessly.

…

…Well that was weirdly anti-climactic.

And just as soon as I think that the body twitches and suddenly stands up on the water again, the head seemingly growing out of it's neck without any difficulty and within seconds the Divine Beast is glaring upwards at me, no worse for wear.

Well that settles it then, this is Simurgh I'm facing off against here. The looks are a perfect fit, and that healing ability even though I blew it's head off seals the deal.

Dunno why the sun follows it everywhere it goes though…maybe something to do with how she's been associated with the Phoenix?

My introspection is cut short as Simurgh suddenly takes to the skies in a terrifying burst of speed and I have to flip my board downwards in a frantic dive to avoid it's massive talons taking a chunk out of me.

Holy shit it's quick for it's size!

I transfer a ton of my power into the board and lean back, sending myself into an improvised loop that puts me behind the Divine Bird-Dog-thing, that ray of sunlight still following it out of seemingly nowhere.

"Guardian of the Olden Tree, raise your weapon against the watery depths and march against the shapeshifter of death. Perun's Stones!"

A snap of my hands and Perun's fulgurite bow is in my grasp as I knock an arrow, letting it loose where it impacts straight into Simurgh's wing joint, causing it to briefly hiss in pain and falter in it's flight. I grin and head straight towards the back of its neck, aiming to put an arrow directly into its brain one more time when all of the sudden there's a searing pain in my side and I find myself torn off my board despite the anchoring Spells.

What the fuck was-oh that sucks…

Apparently she can fire off her feathers like projectiles and if the improvised dart stuck in my abdomen is any indicator they have more than a little 'oomph' to them.

Sure, this isn't the sturdiest of my armor pieces, but damn dude…

A brief flare of my Magic brings the board shooting beneath my feet again and I yank out the feather, quickly sealing the wound as I do and scowling up Simurgh, who's patiently watching me from above with her injuries I inflicted on her wing already healed.

Shit…she can heal even a destroyed head and brain, has a way to attack me that can punch through my armor and is actually fairly fast…this is a gonna be a real headache.

As if to merely confirm those thoughts the Divine Beast throws it's head back and unleashes one of it's deafening bark-howl-screech noises, the ray of sunlight illuminating it suddenly growing almost unbearably bright and growing to encompass an enormous tract of the ocean below.

What the Hell is it doing?

And then I notice the ocean suddenly heave upwards and something yank itself upwards in a spray of arcing droplets and fuck me.

Limbs that stretch dozens of meters long with leaves as big as a car door, a trunk almost 80 meters thick and reaching 500 meters into the sky from where it gracefully sways across the water's surface…

She just summoned Gaokerena.

Well this just went from bad to worse.

Simurgh softly lands on one of the upper branches and fixes me with an imperious glare, clearly daring me to come and knock her off her perch.

Ok, that pisses me off a bit.

I seamlessly transform the bow into it's axe form and swing wildly at the tree, a corkscrewing wave of lightning unfortunately being stopped dead by the tree's branches that suddenly spring upwards and shield the giant Divine Beast, catching fire and exploding in a wild shower of splinters, embers and smoke.

And then even the tree regenerates.

Screw it, if I can't wear this thing down then I'm just gonna have to wipe it all out in one go.

I creepily smirk as a certain spell comes to mind.

Not letting up on the lightning assault I quickly summon my phone and check the position of some of the orbiting debris and lucky me, there's a chunk of rock about the size of a loaf of bread almost directly overhead.

I quickly de-materialize the device and promptly curse as a barrage of feathers somehow arch over the protective wall of branches and fly towards me, necessitating a frantic bit of maneuvering on the board to avoid impalement.

Well this'll probably go a lot easier if I can just restrict it's movement somehow…

Oh wait, duh.

Rapidly shifting my aim towards Gaokerena I speed towards it, the vaguest of plans in my brain. Just as I'm about to clear the top another wave of feathers is shot towards me and a few enterprising branches snap upwards to try and stop my advance.

I'm moving too quickly for the branches but a few of the molted feathers tear gouges through my armor and one even fucks up my thigh pretty badly.

I ignore it and in the split second I cross over where Simurgh is protected by Gaokerena's branches I send a mental signal to my newest partner.

"Sic em' Fenrir."

The Great Wolf materializes out of thin air, fully grown, and unleashes a wild howl as he falls directly onto Simurgh's face, the larger being unleashing a panicked shriek at my boy's sudden appearance.

"Loose from Leyding, Strike out of Dromi, howl horribly, death of Odin. Gleipnir!"

A neat trick I'd figured out is that Fenrir is capable of directly applying Gleipnir's to whatever it is I'm having him attack, freeing me up to do other things while he proceeds to maul the shit out of his prey.

Through the mental link we share I can feel the predatory glee from the Divine Beast as he clamps his jaws around Simurgh's neck, causing a massive fetter to clang into place and drag the Heretic Beast's head downwards, keeping it from flying away just like I'd instructed.

Good boy!

I take only a few seconds to prep Aphelion Strike, dumping as much Magic as I dare into the spell, before turning around again and flying off, not wanting to be anywhere near Ground Zero for this.

2 seconds after I complete the process I risk a glance behind me-

-and in the blink of an eye Gaokerena, alongside the 2 struggling Beasts within, are instantly replaced by a huge fucking geyser of water that probably reaches just shy of the troposphere, the shockwave spreading outwards in a wave of water at least 20 meters tall-

-wait a second.

And then my head just explodes as the pressure wave hits me because my dumbass forget to protect my fucking ears.

Sometimes I think Creele has a point when he calls me an, 'absent-minded pathetic-sucking dumb mother-fucker'.

Twice removed.

Gritting my teeth and casting a healing spell on my head I feel Fenrir 'return' to my mind, his body more than a little destroyed by Aphelion Strike.

I briefly feel bad about leaving him to be the sacrificial lamb but the happy satisfaction he's broadcasting at a job well done leaves me shaking my head.

Dogs, man.

Leave em' in the trunk of your car with no food or water for hours and they'll be happy to see you when you finally let them out, instead of wanting to rip your head off.

Putting my Avatar's almost uncomfortable levels of loyalty aside for the moment I take a look at where Gaokerena used to be with Weaving of Black Wool and don't find a single Magical trace of Simurgh.

I guess being blown into next week overwhelmed her regeneration pretty good. Here's hoping she doesn't retain any of her Phoenix qualities though, otherwise this is probably just a stopgap measure…

A thought that's abruptly kicked aside as I feel the now familiar sensation of Divine Power entering my body, of the transference of a God's power.

Well I'll be damned, guess who just got a new Authority?

A sly smile crosses my face as I reach inward and perform a cursory examination of my newest abilities, already liking the potential they bring.

Primordial Seed. Hmm…at a glance it looks like a restoration type Authority…that'll be handy if I forget to pressure-proof my ears again like an idiot, said appendages are still ringing with the aftereffects of the Aphelion Strike, never mind the other wounds that I hastily closed up without doing any real sort of actual recovering…

It's the Avatar that really piques my interest though…ah well, there's a time and place to examine this sort of stuff, and it sure as shit ain't floating above the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Before I set off I glance toward where the waves are still spreading outwards on the horizon, losing very little in the way of momentum or energy.

…Hopefully they lose enough steam before they hit the coastal lines, or that's gonna be an awkward thing to explain to both Creele and Raffaello.

...

But seriously though, what's up with me and having to kill 2 animal-like Heretic Gods in a row?! I friggin' love animals, if this is setting a precedent I'm probably gonna die from substance abuse instead of Heretic related activity in order to cope...

First inspiration from Ref Boards, and now using tracks from Eureka 7? I think I need to go back and re-watch that show at some point in the future if I'm getting all this nostalgia trips from it...

And now Simurgh is a part of Jereth's arsenal, the details on it's given powers and the Avatar will be explained more in depth as soon as the revised Authority chapter is completed, which'll probably either this week or the next (it won't count as a regular upload)

Also, due to overwhelmingly 'yes' support, Raffaello will be playing a part in the story to come, and I've already thought of a good way to integrate her into events, so stay tuned on that front.

Kshail: Then we're all in luck, she's here to stay :D

ARSLOTHES: See above notes lol.

xanothos: Does it really need to be said that Shrek is both love and life? You gotta remember, Ogres have layers, and it just so happens that those layers are both love and life.

kronos797: Greatly appreciate the feedback! I only just started planning out Raffaello's additional interactions, after all the positive feedback, with the rest of the cast and so far it's been a blast.

OshiroNai: That makes quite a few of us then, femme fatales seem to be all the rage...makes me wonder why they aren't used more often. And just like stated above, the resident Swordsaint is going to be making re-appearances so hang tight :D

HelpfulNudge: So glad to see someone else familiar with that movie, whenever I quote it or Fast Times I always just get a bunch of confused looks from my friends. And then I have to explain it and they call me old XD

Griffin13: I happen to agree with your assessment that it's an interesting/entertaining dynamic that Jereth has with Raffaello in that he considers her to be a guide of sorts, and there's plenty more on the way.

pwashington: the anime definitely set THE standard in incredibly hot kissing scenes (seriously, I don't think too many shows have beaten it since and considering the gamut of fan-service oriented shows that's saying something).

LunarGale: Prayers have been answered, Raffaello is here to stay and kick ass!

Dat Guy: Early Matt Damon career high-five right back at you!

...and now it is somehow 2:09 in the morning. What is wrong with me...oh wait, that's right, this story hit a 100 followers! I'm staying up so early because I'd like to match the enthusiasm so many people seem to have for my basura!
Seriously though, that's awesome, and massive thanks to all who have been following along, you're my muse and my motivator, my smooth operator.

...I'm now quoting Sade lyrics. I need sleep.