Beyond the Outer Gates Lies...a Rearguard Action?
"Hey, Az-kun," Serafall called out to the hallway. The Fallen stepped back into the conference room, and raised an eyebrow at the ladies.
"I need to meet Behe-chan and Shizu-chan," the Maou Shoujo told him, "Plus a few other things to get ready. So how about you take Nike-neechan and Oakley-chan out for lunch, and then we can all meet up at my hotel."
"I don't see problem with that," he said. Then he gave her a mock glare, "Other than your choice and overuse of honorifics. But why your hotel?"
"We don't want to be in the way of the people staying here," the Leviathan said evasively, "Plus, my conference rooms have more comfortable chairs, and the translation spells are built in."
"So you just want to show off," Nike concluded. Serafall scowled in fake protest, and the goddess elbowed her.
"Alright, let's do that," he agreed, "But someone will have to let Kendra know."
"Who?" Serafall's frown was earnest this time.
"Miss Takako," Oakley explained, "For some reason, Harry calls her that."
"It is one of his references, I'm sure," Azazel shook his head, "I can't believe he got me to do it."
"Okay, well I can call her," Serafall said, "I got her number when I first got here. So after you get done eating, I'll have the main conference room set up for us. The front desk will be able to give you directions."
"I thought your hotel was not yet open?" Nike prompted.
"Not fully," the Leviathan confirmed, "Some of the rooms still need decorating and furniture. But the conference rooms are open. And so're the pools, which is way better than the one here…"
"Is this okay?" Azazel asked Oakley, "I thought that you would prefer this to a Japanese restaurant. But I didn't think to ask if you might be a vegetarian."
"Nah," the Human waved it off, "Ah'm a Texas girl. Nothing Ah like better than a good steak. Unless maybe it's a really good bison steak."
Then she looked at the goddess and asked, "What about you, Miss Nike?"
"Please, just Nike," she smiled kindly, "And I am a soldier. I know well that you cannot afford to be picky on the battlefield."
"Amen to that," Oakley agreed. Then she blushed and flinched.
After that, the conversation died off. The server took their orders, but after that silence reigned. The two divinities observed the girl carefully. Oakley, in turn, looked down at the table, and fidgeted in her chair.
"Is something the matter, Bethany?" Nike finally asked, gently.
"Please, Oakley," she said quickly. Then she shrunk a little, "Ah know it came from the Heroes, but it still feels like me."
"You are the reincarnation of Annie Oakley," Azazel told her, "Regardless of how you learned about it."
The girl nodded.
"And my question, Oakley?" the goddess pressed carefully.
"Well, it's just…" the sniper trailed off for a moment, as if hunting for the words, "Mah papa raised me to be a good Catholic girl. And while Ah've seen lotsa stuff these last few months… It's just sitting down to eat with a Fallen angel, the most notorious womanizer in the Bible next ta Solomon, and an honest to goodness Greek goddess… It's beyond mah expectations. And ah gotta wonder what mah papa in Heaven thinks of all this."
She paused again and frowned deeply.
"And then there's the fact that Ah was your enemy at this time yesterday," Oakley continued, "In fact, Ah think it was right about now we were fightin' y'all."
She inclined her head towards Azazel as she said that. They both considered her words.
"You were never my enemy," Nike said first. Oakley looked surprised.
"As a goddess of war, my inclinations are similar to those of my Lady Athena. I prefer to support those who are defending themselves and others from an aggressor. However, I am the Goddess of Victory. I may support one side, but must offer paths to victory to any who ask for them. Though it is ultimately up to them to execute a path. And I will celebrate with whoever wins."
Oakley considered that, but seemed uncertain.
"What that means," Nike explained with a bit of humor, "is that, the Hero Faction, who are aggressors, and have self-contradictory goals, are my enemies. But you, as one who honestly sought to defend others, even as part of the Hero Faction, where never one I would oppose."
"Ah think Ah'm glad to hear that," Oakley relaxed a little, and smiled.
"As for my role in the Bible," Azazel said sternly, "You must remember that the Church and the Bible are works of man. There are things its writers did not understand. Things that have been distorted by time and translation. And yes, even instances of flat out lies added to serve the purposes of those who sought power over faith. God and the Angels do the best they can, but there's that pesky free will that Humans have…"
"So you didn't do the things the Bible said?" Oakley prompted hopefully. And Nike gave the Grigori a curious yet sardonic look, and if to ask how he would get out of that.
"Ah, no," he admitted, knowing he literally could not lie to her, "Depending on which version you read, it is probably mostly accurate. But the Bible tends to focus more on the 'what', than the 'why' in my case. Yes, I married Human women, committed the sin of Lust, and Fell. But I genuinely loved my wives, as well as lusted for them. And I care for and admire Humanity as a whole. I'm far from perfect, but who, outside of Him, ever could be?"
He was saved any further questions as the waiter arrived with their steaks. Oakley, hungry now that her worries were partly assuaged, dug in with gusto. After watching her for a few moments, Nike and Azazel followed suit.
By the time Oakley and her escorts arrived, Takako and Bob were there, both wearing identical shozokus, albeit with masks and with added breastplates and bracers added. Each kunoichi also belt with six shuriken across the front, and a wakizashi, sai, baton, and Taser across the back.
Serafall was present, now in her magical girl costume. And standing with her were two unfamiliar women.
The standout woman was almost as tall as Heracles, having a few millimeters on even Dresden. And she was in flats. Very expensive looking, black, leather flats. And a very expensive charcoal grey business suit and short skirt. Both the suit coat and white silk dress shirt were exceedingly low cut, showing expansive amount of her prodigious cleavage. And the skirt also showed most of her exceedingly long legs. Oakley wasn't sure if she was more turned on or jealous. In addition to a huge chest, the woman had a narrow waist, broad hips, and her arms and legs that were slightly larger than average. Not bodybuilder size, but she had more muscle mass than most people. She had sparkling, dark blue eyes behind narrow glasses, a hawkish nose, and smallish mouth. She was pretty but scary, at least until the smirk and nod she offered Azazel softened her expression. Finally, she had corn silk hair, both in color and in its fine, sleek texture. It trailed down to the middle of her back, with a strand pulled forward over each shoulder, draped over her breasts.
The other girl was almost lost. She was shorter than Serafall, and almost as slender as Oakley. She had a shy, retreating aura, and was standing behind the giant blonde as if to hide from the others. She had pink hair, not quite down to her shoulders. Her features were delicate, at least from what Oakley could see, because her bangs covered her left eye and much of her left cheek. Her right eye was visible, a slightly darker shade of pink than her hair, and darted to each of the newcomers as if evaluating them. She was wearing a loose white dress that went down to her calves and elbows. She had a second cyan dress over the top, a light blue number that was tighter across her modest bust and tight stomach; it would have been a very revealing sundress if worn alone, but instead just accented the white under-gown and prevented it from being too loose. A pair of light blue long socks or tights disappeared under her dress, and her feet were covered by a pair of white sneakers.
The Devils and Youkai were gathered around a midsized conference table, with a map of Kyoto spread out over it. And the chairs around it did look very comfortable. There was another table at the back of the room with some bedsheets thrown haphazardly on it, like the Maou had quickly and carelessly uncovered the furniture they were using.
"Good, you're here," the Leviathan grinned happily at them.
"Introductions, again," Serafall said. She tried to put her hands on the tall woman's shoulders, and had to go on her tiptoes to succeed.
"This is my Queen, Behemoth," she presented the blonde, "Behe-chan, you already know Azazel and Nike, but the skinny cutie is Oakley. She's a sniper and Harry-chan rescued her from the Hero Faction's clutches. And she can see lies. Oakley, Behemoth is really strong and tough, plus she can control fire and lightning. Though not as good as Harry-chan or the Bomb Queen, or Ake-chan..."
The Human frowned, not clear on who the Bomb Queen or Ake-chan were.
"… and that was before she became my Queen. So she's even better now, and not nearly as slow as she used to be."
Oakley thought Behemoth would scowl at her King, but instead she just stuck her tongue out at the playful Maou fondly. The gunner was quickly getting the impression that Behemoth's slightly severe features did not match her personality.
"And none of the three of you have met Shizukesa," Serafall pulled the pinkette forward, "She's got really good eyes, and awesome TK powers. She doesn't have a weapon like most Knights, but we're teaching her karate and judo and tae kwon do, and she's picking it up really quick."
Azazel stepped forward and extended his hand to Shizukesa. The girl shook it, not tightly but not loosely or limply, either. She repeated that handshake with Nike, but when their digits touched, the goddess's expression suddenly changed. Her eyes narrowed and her lips tightened. In response, Shizukesa's eyes widened in fear, to the point even her hidden left orb was readily visible. Serafall caught Nike's gaze, and shook her head once. The goddess considered the pair for a moment, and then relaxed.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Shizukesa," Nike said, a hint of wonder in her voice.
"And you as well, Lady Nike," the timid Knight responded. She then shook Oakley's hand.
"Please, simply call me Nike," the goddess said again.
"And everyone already met Takako and Bob," Serafall took charge, "So we can get started."
They all sat down. There were three tape marks on the map, at the places Oakley had indicated were the anchors for the Hero Faction's pocket dimension.
"Okay, Harry is going to take the attack team in through this one," the Leviathan conjured an ice pointer, and indicated the anchor closest to Nijou Castle, "And they'll call us if Leo shows up there. Which leaves these two that we know about, and probably one or two that we don't."
"Sorry," Oakley said.
"Not your fault," Behemoth said, unconcerned, "We can't even be sure that they really had five to start, because it doesn't really look like the four we do know about would form a pentagram."
"You would not have any more way to know than the rest of us, if or where they opened a new anchor," Nike added, "Less, considering you are not a magic user, unlike some of us, and are unfamiliar with the city."
"So, should we split up?" Shizukesa asked cautiously.
"No," Takako slowly shook her head, "They'll attack from here."
She pointed to the second mark on the map, namely Maruyama Park.
"In terms of stirring up magic, it is close to two nexuses," the ninja continued, "And there will be more people in the vicinity, so more reaction and chaos."
"I agree," Nike nodded, and they could feel the weight of her power press down on them for a moment.
"I'll still have my people watching the other anchor," Takako continued, "and the city in general. And our allies in the Kyoto Police Department have also been informed. Once the attack starts, KPD will announce it as a gas leak, and evacuate the area."
"Won't that just cause a panic?" Oakley asked.
"Not if the three of us use 'Large, Friendly Letters', first," Azazel said, indicating himself, Serafall, and Nike.
"What is 'Large, Friendly Letters'?" Bob asked, stumbling a bit over the English words.
"It's a white magic spell, created by a British magician in the late seventies," Nike explained, "It is designed for just such an occasion. It uses low level mind magic to imbue the citizens with a general calm, so that any evacuation with be clean and efficient. In addition, any supernatural elements are disguised by illusion magic. They will see us as police, and the Hero Faction as people either resisting in fear, or looting. That reinforces the geas, most of them will also feel they are better people than the 'fools' who are causing trouble during an emergency."
"That's a little scary," Oakley said.
"Better than putting them at risk from both our own battles and a stampede," Takako said, though she was nodding her agreement with Oakley.
"Also, we have these for everyone," the kunoichi handed out earbuds, "They will let us keep in contact. They run off both the local cellular towers and a clairaudience spell, so we shouldn't have to worry about interference."
"And on that note," Azazel turned to the Human, "Oakley, I would like to place a translation spell on you. With your permission, of course."
"Do ya have to?" the sniper sounded apprehensive, "Everyone here's speakin' English anyway."
"I'm not," Bob frowned, and the girl remembered Serafall's touted translation spell.
"Not all of the Youkai speak it well or at all," Az waved his hand towards Bob, "And you might need to interact with the police or Japanese civilians."
"So what does yer spell do?" she asked, "Precisely."
"It mimics the Language power the Christian factions and most gods possess," he explained, "For the next six hours, you will be able to understand any language spoken to you, and anyone you speak to will hear you speaking their own language. The translation is as pure as possible, and the spell affects your ears and lips, not your brain. Unfortunately, it does not cover the ability to read languages…"
"You think we should use that spell instead?" Serafall asked when he trailed off.
"What spell?"
"Serafall's younger sister found a spell that changes a person's primary language," Az could not help but grin as he remembered Dresden telling him about Sona's little mistake, "Until it wears off, or we reverse it, we could make it so you can speak, read, and write Japanese instead of English. That might be more useful, if you need to read any signs to report your location in battle, or to help civilians escape. And I promise that is all it does."
"Let's go with the second one," Oakley decided after a moment of thought, "But can Serafall be the one to cast it on me?"
"Sure," Serafall said. She brought up the complex circle and laid it over Oakley's forehead.
"Weird," the girl said, looking around the room, specifically at the various signs, "I can read the Japanese versions now, but even though I know I should know what the English signs mean, they are just gibberish. I still recognize the letters, and can figure out what they are supposed to mean, but somehow 'exit here' does not mean 'this way out' to me…"
"If there is nothing else, we should get moving," Takako said, "the earlier you three can cast the calming spell, the sooner you can begin to recover your energy."
"Right," Az and Bob said, the tengu kunoichi nodding.
"Actually there's one more thing," Serafall said, as the non-Devils started to move towards the door. They looked back at her, and the Maou pointed at Oakley.
"She's not exactly equipped for a fight," Serafall reminded them, and then gestured for the sniper to come over to the table with the sheets. Once Winchester was there, Serafall tore the sheets off and threw them to the side.
"Tada!" she proclaimed brightly, even as the bedding folded itself in midair and floated gently over to Shizukesa.
On the table were a rifle, a semi-automatic pistol, and a matte black knife.
"An M2010," Oakley cooed, "A Kimber Custom Warrior, and a Marine KA-Bar. Where did you get these on such short notice?"
"I made them," the Leviathan said triumphantly.
"You made these?" Oakley said, amazed, already partially disassembling the sniper rifle.
"Or manifested, if you prefer," Serafall qualified, "Those are made from my Devil power, not real materials. So if you are pulling something hinky, I can just make them go poof."
"But they seem to be pretty much perfect," the girl complained, "Except for the lack of ammo. How'd you manage that?"
"Well, Harry really wanted a gun," the Maou blushed slightly, "So I was doing all sorts of research on what one to get him. Until someone went and gave him every possible gun he could ever want."
Serafall glared at Az as she said that. And her claim made Oakley go ramrod straight.
"Every gun," the girl was almost drooling, "What… how?"
"You didn't notice in the fight?" the Fallen asked her, "That grey bracelet on his right wrist, that's an artificial Sacred Gear I made. It is like a weaker version of Sword Birth; it can turn into a gun, rather than just making them. And two points of fact, I didn't give it to Dresden, he stole it…"
"Harry's version is more likely," Serafall insisted.
"And it can only become real, working guns, and thus does not cover all the sci-fi guns Dresden would love to have," the Grigori finished, ignoring her.
"Any gun…" Oakley seemed lost in a dreamland. Then she shook her head to clear it. She attached the pistol's holster to her belt and asked, "Okay, but what about the ammo?"
"The guns use your mana to create bullets of compressed air and force," Behemoth answered, as her King and the Fallen glared at each other, "So long as you have the energy, all you have to do is pull the trigger. And the safety is not like a real gun's safety. Instead, it will make it fire non-lethal rounds. They'll still hurt like a gut punch, but the important thing is they will numb and stun where they hit. So a head or body shot will knock most people out. And if one doesn't work, three or four would do the job, even against me."
The tall woman slipped on trench coat, made out of thick leather and dyed a dark, earthy brown.
"Your mana is strong for a Human," Shizukesa sounded like she was trying to reassure the girl, "You could probably be a mid-level magician. And Serafall-sama's guns are very efficient. So you shouldn't have to worry about running out of bullets."
"The one thing the Heroes… the Zeros did teach me was how to tell how to sense how much magic I have left," the sniper offered. The Knight looked relieved.
Oakley secured the knife to her right leg, and then slung the rifle's strap over her shoulder, the long gun tight to her back. For the first time all day, the would-be hero did not feel nervous.
"Alright, let's go," she told the supernatural beings.
"Fourteen fifty," Takako reported, "If the Hero Faction intends to launch this attack before they start the ritual at fifteen hundred, it should be any minute now."
They had set up positions in the park. A large pond, half-frozen, ran through the park, and there was an island in the middle. Oakley remembered the island as the point she had transitioned to and from Dimension Lost on one of the food runs she had been sent on. So the allied forces had formed a loose perimeter around it.
"Incoming," Oakley said, turning her rifle to the forested area west of their position.
"Enemy spotted," Shizukesa said a moment later.
"Wow, we already have a challenger for Shizukesa's best eyes title," Serafall said, looking where the other women had indicated.
"Three humanoid figures, standing five meters tall," the Knight continued, "Fourteen three meter tall humanoids matching the description of the anti-Devil monsters faced yesterday. Ten airborne units superficially resembling griffons, but with four wings and an extended, trident tail. One point seven eight meter tall Human male, carrying an asymmetrical battle-axe. One point two three meter tall Human female, carrying a jian. I cannot see anyone matching the descriptions of Leonardo provided by Dresden and Oakley."
"No need to show off," Behemoth told the Knight, "Serafall didn't mean anything by that."
"An axe and a jian?" Oakley noted, as the first of the griffins appeared out of the mesh of tree branches, rendered only slightly less of a barrier by their lack of leaves, "That would be Remus and Mulan. If no-one objects, I'll take out Mulan."
They could hear the edge in her voice as she said it. Various sets of eyes met across the park, and Serafall finally said, "That works for us."
"And I believe the Roman Hero should be my responsibility," Nike said. An oversized xiphos appeared in her right hand, decorated with a set of fullers in the shape of a palm branch. And a heavy oval shield manifested on her left arm, with sharpened front edge.
"Great," Serafall nodded, "Should we take out the birdies, Az, and leave ogres to my girls and the Youkai?"
"Fighting alongside you?" the Fallen pretended to consider it, "Well, that sounds interesting."
"Behe-chan, Shizu-chan, listen to Takako while I'm gone, okay?"
Behemoth rolled her eyes at her King, but the pinkette bowed and said seriously, "Of course, Serafall-sama."
The Maou waved, and then both of them revealed their wings. Fallen and Devil shot skyward towards the first flock of griffins.
"What the?" a tourist emerged from the bathroom and pointed at the monsters trudging forward, "Those guys have guns! Are they terrorists?"
As if in response, the front most Maker Beast opened its mouth at spit a beam of Light at the mortal. Behemoth jumped forward and caught the attack with her right wrist. Her jacket smoked, but stopped the beam with hurting the Devil.
"Slight change of plans," Takako trilled quickly, "Bob, Shizukesa, protect the civilians and help the police get them out of here. Behemoth, you and I will start thinning these things out."
"Sure!" Levi-tan's Queen sounded delighted as she started to charge. The strand of hair on the right side of her face seemed to lift up of its own accord, and a bolt of lightning impaled the Beast that had shot at the Human. It started to disintegrate, but got off another attack first. This time Shizukesa pointed her palm at it. For a second, Takako thought she saw an eye on the pink Knight's hand, and then a wall of telekinetic energy blocked the Light.
"RAAAAHHH," Behemoth roared, jumping over the smaller Beasts, and crashing feet first into the jaw of one of the larger ones.
As soon as she was above the trees, Serafall created her TV counterpart's wand. As she started to wave it, Azazel raised his left arm. It morphed into a drill, and then detached. It flew at the first griffin, spiraling through its body.
"First," the Fallen proclaimed with just a hint of a smile.
Serafall completed her gesture, and frosty silver stars flew out of the wand. They looked like normal magical girl special effects, just a flourish that was not part of the attack. Until they sliced off the wings, forelegs, and tails of two of the griffins. As the monsters plummeted, her actual spell, a spike of ice, formed and impaled a third griffin.
"Up by two!" she stuck her tongue out at Az.
He pointed at a griffin in the next group. This time the robotic arm skittered along the hide of the Beast. It tore out some of the black feathers and fur, which did melt away. But it failed to do significant damage to the monster.
"Running out of power already?" Serafall sounded honestly concerned.
"No," he shook his head as the arm returned and reattached. He took out Down Fall Dragon Spear and added, "That one is a lot tougher."
The griffins suddenly jetted forward with remarkable speed. Serafall repeated the same gesture. Like Az's arm, her stars failed to injure the monsters, though the ice spike did tear through one of the four wings of a single griffin. But even that shattered the frozen attack, and barely slowed the injured Beast.
"I guess the first set were decoys to draw us in," she decided, suddenly much more serious, "Should we show this boy why we were terrors of the previous war?"
He smacked her gently on the back of the head.
"No destroying Japan," he admonished her. She scowled, so he added, "Sona and Harry live here. You wouldn't want to destroy all their stuff, would you?"
Serafall's pouted, embarrassed.
"Right, So-tan and Harry-chan would be sad," she nodded, "And I wouldn't want to have to defrost Behe-chan again. She was soooooo pissed the last time."
Azazel managed not to shudder.
"That's right, move to the entrance," Bob directed the mortals. Then she turned, and thrust her sai and baton into one of the beams of Light. It stopped the attack, but the unfortunately named tengu was knocked back. She let the force flip her over once, and landed on her feet.
"There shouldn't be any danger," Shizukesa added, both hands creating TK barriers to ward off the attacks, "We just want to be careful until we get the all clear from the gas company…"
Two of the Beasts turned north. They began the jog forward, faster than it looked like they would be able to move.
"Behemoth, Takako, I will head off those!" the Knight declared with determination.
"I can handle this," Bob added. She threw one of the shuriken on her belt into the next ray. Both vanished at the point of impact.
"Go," Takako agreed with the pinkette, "And Bob, conserve the Negation Stars."
"GRAH!" Behemoth appeared to miss the entire exchange as she tried to rip the head off the giant Beast she had drop kicked. Her hair continued to blast fire and lightning at the smaller ogres that tried to spit their Light at her.
Shizukesa sprinted away with the speed of a racecar, and dropped in front of the two monsters.
"Where are you going?" she demanded. Then she placed her wrists together and pointed both hands at the first ogre's head. A spiral drill of three TK beams shot out of her hands. Her target spit at her, but the Knight's attack shredded first the Light, then the Beast's head.
The second Beast ignored her, and disgorged an extra-large column of energy at a specific building. The newly minted Devil still was learning to read Japanese, but she recognized one kanji immediately. School.
Shizukesa threw herself between the monster and the school, and focused all of her telekinesis into the strongest wall she could create.
"Mulan," Oakley said evenly, though she still drew both her pistol and knife.
"Oakley," the Asian girl said the name like a curse, "So you did betray us. They said you might have, but I didn't want to believe it."
"Who betrayed who?" the gunner countered, "They promised us we would help people, save people. And since the two of us couldn't get our Balance Breakers to work, they made us babysitters and errand girls."
"That is still helping," Mulan countered, "Serving the cause, assisting our superiors."
"And who are we saving?" Oakley asked, "That fox lady didn't hurt no-one, but what we… they are doing could kill her. And what about this? Attacking innocent civilians?"
"They don't matter?" Mulan snarled, "They are Japanese. They need to pay for what they did."
"What did they do?" Oakley sounded confused.
"Even if you are am ignorant American, you must have some idea the atrocities Japan perpetrated on China during the war."
"The war?" Oakley prompted, "You mean World War II?"
"YES!"
"Okay, first of all, that was over seventy years ago," Oakley protested, "You weren't born yet, your parents weren't born yet, and probably ninety percent of the people in this city weren't born yet. Second, you said you are Chinese-Canadian. And third, if you hate Japan so much, why are you speaking Japanese."
Mulan seemed to shake for a second.
"Enough, traitor," she barked, "You won't trick me."
The black haired girl jumped forward at the brunette, her sword extended. Oakley fired a quick shot, but Mulan's blade cut it in half and the magical bullet dissipated.
"Remember Master Siegfried's lessons," Mulan crowed, "One need not be faster than a bullet, just faster than the hand firing the bullet."
"Did I sound like that when I had that spear in my brain?" the sniper complained. She blocked the sword with her KA-Bar. Mulan had the edge in both weight and skill, and Oakley was forced to retreat. She fired twice more to prevent the Hero from following her, but both shots were blocked again.
"I know why you speak Japanese," Oakley said, "Remember all that anime you watch? Why would you do that if you didn't like Japan?"
"To learn about my enemies," Mulan said, but there was another break in her voice.
"I ain't been in Japan long. But I'm pretty sure you aren't learning much about Japan from Naruto, and Dragon Piece or whatever it is."
"I…" Mulan shuddered again. Then she lashed out with a furious combo, scoring a light hit on Oakley, before another round of gunfire forced her to retreat.
'This ain't working,' Winchester thought, 'I was hoping I could get her to shut down and start spouting numbers like I did. I guess I'll have the take her down. But can I?'
"No more words," Mulan said, and a light red, scaled gauntlet, set with a hexagon chunk of rough amber, appeared on her right hand. She ran forward again, faster than before. Oakley tried to stop her by firing a wide spray of bullets. Mulan slipped passed some, and cut down the rest. The sniper parried with both her knife and pistol in desperation. She was forced to one knee, but was gratified that Serafall's weapons held up to Mulan's doubled strength. Then she released the pistol and hit the stock of her rifle with her elbow. It rotated forward. Even though Oakley wasn't in any position to fire, Mulan flinched from having the barrel pointed right at her face. Leaving the Kimber behind, Oakley broke and ran for the forest.
'I can't win with her Twice Critical active. But if I can just avoid her for another fifty seconds, I might stand a chance during the cooldown. Big if, though.'
Oakley sheathed the knife and got the rifle ready; still running, still regretting losing the pistol.
'If I can line up a shot while she can't see me,' Oakley considered, 'she won't be able to block it.'
Then a tree crashed next to her. She instinctively swung the rifle up, and barely stopped the jian from taking her left arm. Oakley pulled the trigger. Even though the gun was magical, it still had the bark of a real weapon. And that weapon happened to be right next to Mulan's ear.
The Chinese girl's head jerked to the side. She swung wildly to keep Oakley from capitalizing. Pushing the off balance strike away, Oakley charged straight forward, back out of the woods towards the park.
'I need help,' she thought, 'They were right, I'm not a fighter. Not a hero.'
Then she heard another tree fall, but far behind her. And a shriek of rage.
"No," Oakley announced out loud, not caring if she was heard, "We might not have been great friends, but we helped one another. Now she's trapped, too. I can't just leave her like that. Maybe I ain't strong. But I will help Mulan."
Despite her previous declarations of wanting to help, it felt freeing. This was not a nebulous act of kindness. It was a specific, actionable goal. Not a faceless potential, but a specific person.
Oakley's eye felt sharper, as she slowed to a stop. She glanced around for a good place to launch an assault. A pile of brush and leaves; or an easily climbable tree. And in her search, she spotted the dropped Kimber. She retrieved the pistol, choosing to holster it and keep using the rifle. Oakley heard movement behind her. She dropped low, and spun around, bring the M2010. Mulan charged out around a broader tree. The swordswoman was panting heavily, her wet breath easily visible in the cold. The Hero's eyes were wild, then suddenly grew angry.
"What is that mask?" Mulan demanded, "A gift from your monster friends?"
Oakley reached up to touch her face. Instead of skin, her fingers stopped prematurely, feeling the texture of polished wood. But it didn't seem to have any weight, nor did it obscure her vision. No, that wasn't quite right, now that she focused on it. There was a strange red patch over Mulan's right ankle, and along the outside of her left arm, from her wrist to her elbow.
"You stepped wrong, and hurt your ankle," Oakley somehow knew it was true as she said it, "And strained your arm cutting down one of those trees…"
"How do you…."
"I see now," Oakley laughed, "Another type, another layer of truth. This is my Balance Breaker, Mask of Truth."
"No!" Mulan shouted hoarsely, "I will not be left behind, not by a traitor!"
Oakley lifted the rifle into position, and casually flicked the lever beside the trigger. She aimed at Mulan's left hip, and fired three times in rapid succession. The gunner did not resist the gun's recoil, instead letting it drift slightly higher with each shot, so the second bullet would potentially hit Mulan's waist and the third her shoulder. Mulan cut vertically upwards, taking all three bullets at once. Exactly as Oakley wanted. With her already subordinate left arm injured, the move put her off-balance and out of position. The next bullet, still non-lethal, hit the Asian girl's Twice Critical square in the jewel. It cracked, and the Sacred Gear shut down. In addition, the effect of the bullet was enough, even through the gauntlet, that the jian slipper from her grip.
"How?" Mulan demanded, as Oakley sighted on her again, center mass.
"If you can predict where the bullet will be from where I'm aiming," Oakley explained sympathetically, "Then I can predict where your arms will be from parrying, especially with a shot grouping like that."
"So are you go…"
Mulan was cut off as the bullet hit her sternum. Her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed. Unconscious, a look of peace settled over the Hero's features. Oakley checked her pulse to be sure, but the other girl was alive and seemingly fine. She briefly searched her former comrade. Then another of Behemoth's shouts reached her. This one sounded pained.
"I'll be back," Oakley promised, and then raced out of the woods.
"Victoria," Remus growled. He was above average height in a normal crowd, though only average amongst the Heroes and Devils Nike was surrounded by. He had very dark brown skin, black hair in dreadlocks, and piercing green eyes. Also, his upper four incisors were sharpened to points. His axe was bronze, and as Serafall's Knight had said, one side of the double crescent blade was at least twenty centimeters longer than the other.
"I prefer Nike," the goddess answered, "And I am given to understand you are the reincarnation of Remus, one of the founders of Rome."
"Yes, the one you didn't side with!" he yelled, jumping at her and swinging his axe down. She deflected it with her shield, but the force of the blow made her step to the side.
"I am not sure I understand your meaning," she frowned, catching the backhand of his axe on her sword. Then she pushed his weapon wide, and kicked upward at his chin. He leaned back out of the way, still snarling.
"You supported Romulus, not me," he barked, "I could have been the famous one, the founder."
He gripped his axe with both hands and chopped laterally, aiming for Nike's shield rather than the goddess. He put a thin line on the buckler, and again forced her to dance to the side to keep her footing.
"Neither Romulus nor Remus offered prayers to me," Nike told him, "Nor did I support either brother. I celebrated Romulus's victory, as I celebrate all victors, whether or not I liked or supported them. If your predecessor had prayed to me, things might have gone differently."
She attacked for the first time, slicing at his neck. He blocked it and punched at her with his left hand. She blocked with the sharpened edge of her shield. Remus took a light cut, but was able to stop his hand before he lost fingers.
"And why are you here, playing bodyguard?" Nike asked, "Would their not be greater honor and glory fighting and dying against the Great Red."
"There is greater glory as one of three, against all the monsters that infest this city, rather than as one of more than a dozen against a single Dragon. And it allowed me to fight against you."
His answer was accompanied by two powerful overhand strikes.
"And where is your charge?" Nike asked, "Neither you nor Mulan seem to be standing watch over Leonardo."
"Cao Cao is over protective," Remus said, "The boy is stronger than either of us, he can care for himself, at least in a fight."
She caught the hook of his axe with her shield, then stabbed at his gut. He twisted out of the way, but her xiphos still sliced his uniform and the outer layer of skin.
"I guess I can't hold back against a goddess," Remus laughed, "Awaken, Colossus of Rhodes!"
His axe pulsed, and he grew to giant size, towering over the trees behind him. Nike's wings snapped out, and she flew up so she was eye to eye with him, even if now her entire body would have easily fit in one of his eye sockets.
"So you do not know where Leonardo is, then?"
"He's around somewhere, not that it will matter to you!"
He brought down his equally enlarged axe. This time, even though she was flying, she stopped it with her shield, and was not even budged a millimeter.
"Unfortunate," Nike sighed, "I had hoped to lead you into telling me where Annihilation Maker is, or at least leading you to look in his direction. But if you do not know, then there is no need to draw this out."
The goddess shot forward. She slammed the butt of her sword into Remus's throat with explosive force. He coughed weakly. The axe slipped from his fingers, and he started to shrink. Nike clipped the side of his head with the dull side of her shield, to make sure he was out.
"Now where?" she asked herself, looking around. She noticed there were eleven griffins circling Serafall and Azazel. Nike knew she had seen them destroy some of the initial ten. And her hovering allies were back to back, obviously on the defensive.
"Annihilation Maker has not been dormant," she said, "I will start there."
With a flap of her wings, the Goddess of Victory flew to reinforce her comrades.
"This math isn't adding up," Behemoth rumbled, "There were seventeen of these things to start. You've taken down four of the little ones. I've taken down the same number of little ones and one of the big ones…"
She trailed off as she put a fist through the chest of another of the ten foot tall monstrosities.
"… make that five of the little ones…"
"Little being a relative term," Takako noted, her wakizashi and sai creating numerous tiny cuts on one of the light-spitters, but not enough to make it collapse, yet.
"Granted," Behemoth acknowledged, "But there are still fifteen of them left. And that's not counting the ones Shizukesa is holding off north of here. Weren't you guys taking them out two or three at a time yesterday?"
"The ones yesterday were not this resilient," the kunoichi leader complained. Then they heard the sharp retort of a rifle, and the head of a Beast trying to flank Behemoth evaporated.
"The ones yesterday were created by Leo on the spot," Oakley reported, "These are pregens."
"Pregens?" Takako asked.
"That's what I call'em at least," the sniper added, "He molds a model of them out of clay in advance, and imbues it with Annihilation Maker's power. That makes them tougher, and also lets him call them quicker and for less energy. Fortunately, if you kill the Beast, the model crumbles, so he can't just reuse them. He ain't started using the cat ones yet, and based on what I saw him make, he should only have eight or ten more of this kind. Then he'll have to switch to the cats, or start making them on the fly."
The M2010 sang again, and a second of the smaller Beasts died. Though a replacement stomped out of the woods seconds later.
"Like the Mask," Behemoth noted, squinting to where Oakley was shooting from, "The white, horned, cyclops look suits you. But honestly, congrats on getting your Balance Break."
"Yes…" Takako started to say something, but suddenly stopped when the second channel on her earbud crackled to life.
"Takako-san," Kurama's voice emerged in her ear, unheard by her other allies, "Kunou-sama is missing."
"What?" the Tengu woman said in exasperation.
"We brought her back," the kitsune explained, "But the Commandant got into a heated argument with the KPD chief, and ordered us to get additional reinforcements. And before we knew it, she was gone. She's obviously not with you."
"No," Takako's voice was filled with worry, "She must have followed them."
"Eyes up!" Oakley shouted. One of the Beasts was preparing the crush the kunoichi's head. The sniper did not have a clear bead on its head, so instead she kneecapped it. It fell back, dropping the rock it had lifted.
"What's going on?" Serafall's voice asked across the comm.
"Kunou-sama is missing," Takako said, "Assuming she was not kidnapped, she probably followed the Oppai Dragon to help Yasaka-sama. I need to get in there."
"I didn't find an entrance talisman on Mulan," Oakley reported, finishing the monster she had crippled, "But I didn't expect to. Leo's probably the one who's got it. So your best bet is to keep your head in the game, and take these things out to wear him down."
"The police are proceeding with the evacuation," Bob said, "So I am on my way back."
"I could use backup," Shizukesa requested, "More have shown up here, and I am on the defensive, as they keep attacking buildings and civilians."
"Kurama, ask the KPD to speed up evacuation of the north side of the park," Takako said, "Oakley, can you back up Shizukesa? If she can hold them, you can finish them."
"On it," the Texan acknowledged, "And FYI, all the ones I'm seeing right now are weak around the offset set of eyes. And them griffins have a weak spot between their pairs of wings."
"Thanks for the tip," Azazel said, an eagle's shriek cutting the air as he took the Human's advice, burying his spear deep in its body.
Oakley found the pinkette Knight pinned down by six Beasts, with two more trying to flank her to the east. They were not actually firing at her though. They were firing at the building behind her. Thanks to her temporary language swap, the sniper could read the sign over the entrance, Hanaitadakijoshichugakukoto School. And with the new enhancement to her already great eyesight, she could see though the windows that there were still people inside.
Her Balance Break also granted her her oft coveted, oft feared ability to see through shapeshifting. So she could tell that Shizukesa was not in her true form. Or at least had an alternate form. Oakley might have been worried by what she saw, were it not for the fact that the Devil was struggling with all her might to protect a group of Human strangers.
She raise the rifle while still running, and fired at one of the monsters already attacking. Her aim was a bit off. She hit the creature's ear rather it temple eye. Its head was deflected, though it kept spitting. Slowing, Oakley fired again, and this time was on target. Even as the first monster died, another emerged from the trees, joining the flanking group.
"Where are you at, Leo?" Oakley mumbled, looking around. She continued to move, trying to find a spot where she could target both groups of Beasts. And still try to look for Leo, who she guessed was hidden in the forest somewhere within eyeshot.
Before she could find her spot, she heard something else.
"Goddess thought she was all that," a familiar voice grumbled, "But Hercules hits harder. And if she had used the blade, instead of the edge, she could have taken me out. But no, she's so much better than us, just knock me out. I deserve an Oscar for that performance…"
Remus's voice was a little rough. There was blood running down the right side of his head. He was stumbling a little as he walked. And he was following the Beasts, straight to Shizukesa. Though he had failed to spot Oakley.
His expression brightened when he saw the Knight. He raised his axe, even though he was still over one hundred feet away.
"Balance Break," Remus announced, and swung the weapon forward.
"No!" Oakley cried out. She fired, hitting the head of the axe as it left his hand. It went flying off. The shout and shot revealed her, and before she could fire again, he plowed into her. Remus knocked the M2010 out of her hand, and carried her down to the ground. The impact disrupted her focus, and her mask shattered. He pressed down on her, and put one hand around her throat.
"Nice shot, Oakley," he said mockingly, "but you know…"
Bang. His body jerked as she fired the Kimber into his gut. She fired again, and he finally released her neck. Gasping, she pushed him off.
"… it won't matter," his voice was weak, but still triumphant, "My Hunting Wolf was unleashed."
She looked up, and the axe was circling back around in mid-air.
"Even if I die, it will go after its target, until it gets a kill."
His eyes emptied, and Remus choked out his last breath.
Oakley watched the axe spin towards the forest, and then back around at the Knight. Building up speed. She could try to shoot it again, but it was too far and moving too fast, she couldn't count on hitting it, especially with her own Balance Break canceled. Even then, a hit would only delay the axe. She looked at Shizukesa, who was ignorant of the attack in her focus on protecting the school. Students were just starting to move out the entrance, escorted by police and teachers.
She didn't think anymore. Oakley surged to her feet, and ran. She tracked the route of the axe. And she threw herself into its path. The Sacred Gear passed through her. And then lost speed and fell to the ground.
"Oakley!" Behemoth roared. Having thinned out the other group, thanks to the girl's advice, she left the rest to the ninjas and went to check on her Peer and the sniper. She was close enough to see the axe hit. Blasting one of the Beasts to help Shizukesa, the Queen let her long legs carry her over to the hero.
"Man down," she declared, "Serafall, man down!"
The next second, the Leviathan's circle appeared, depositing both Serafall and Nike next to Oakley. The girl was nearly chopped in two. Her blood, guts, and even spinal fluid were leaking onto the grass. Serafall nodded sharply at Behemoth, who jumped towards the Beasts, snarling lividly.
Nike knelt down and immediately placed her hands over Oakley. Then she looked up at Serafall, her eyes soft.
"I cannot save her," the goddess said, "I can only save those who have a chance to live. The best I can do is ease her pain, and buy her a few minutes."
"Do it," Serafall nodded. She dropped down by Oakley's head and lifted it gently. As Nike applied her power, the girl's eyes fluttered open.
"Serafall, did I stop it?"
"You did," the Devil confirmed her eye growing wet, "But why, Shizukesa could have stopped it with her power."
"No, it would keep hunting until it tasted blood. Even with him dead. And I didn't do it for her. If she diverted her power, or got hit, that school would have been destroyed. There are still kids in there."
Oakley started to cry.
"Am I gonna see my papa?" Oakley asked Nike and Serafall.
"I don't know," Serafall admitted. She wanted to lie for the girl, but it wouldn't work.
"I…" Oakley choked on her own breath, and her voice grew faint, "I don't want to die. I thought I could be brave, be a hero. But I don't want to die."
Serafall let out a sigh of relief. It was what she was waiting, hoping for.
"You know I can save you," Serafall said, "Take you into my Peerage. Would you become a Devil, to keep living? To keep helping?"
"Maybe," Oakley rasped after a moment, "Can you get me one of those bracelets Harry has?"
The Human laughed weakly.
"I can't promise that," Serafall answered, smiling in spite of herself, "But I promise I will pester Azazel every day until he makes you two."
"Alright," Oakley said, this time in English, as her eminent death prematurely ending the translation spell, "Do it."
Serafall summoned one of her Pawns. And placed it on the girl's chest. Nothing happened. Then Serafall looked hard at the girl again.
"So that's a Balance Breaker," Levi-tan said, and added a second piece. They flared, and vanished into Oakley's chest. The girl's injury reversed itself. And her eyes flooded with infernal energy.
"Wooh!' Oakley declared, "If that ain't like chugging a two liter of soda."
"Glad you are feeling better," Behemoth said, as she and Shizukesa joined them. The enraged Queen had taken down most of the Beasts, freeing up the Knight to finish the others.
"Thank you for saving me," Shizukesa said, bowing.
"Like I said, I didn't do it for you," Oakley said, "But I'm happy helping you protect the school also protected you."
"And I agree," the pinkette said, "But I thank you nevertheless."
"Is everything okay?" Takako asked over the comm.
"Better," Nike answered, "But we are not done yet."
"On your feet, soldier," Serafall told her new double Pawn, "We still have to find Leo. Oh, and you can consider this enemy territory."
Serafall squeed and added, "I've been waiting like forever to say that."
"We had best hurry," Azazel landed next to the Devils, pointing.
More ogres were marching out of the forest, accompanied by overly large panthers. And more griffins were flying out of the forest, this time there were flies the size of small dogs with them.
Oakley retrieved her rifle, looking briefly sad at Remus's blood on her vest and shirt.
"I haven't seen those bugs before, so I'm guessing the only premades he's got left are the big cats," Oakley said in Japanese, "But it seems like he's still got a lot of stamina left, to make that many. Or maybe that…"
"Maybe what?" Serafall asked.
"I just remembered them talking about some way to increase their powers temporarily," Oakley said, "But that is was real dangerous, like it could kill them. But they never told me what exactly it is. Could be a magical drug, or a spell or something. Maybe Leo's just chugging energy drinks."
"Either way, we have to stop this," Shizukesa said.
"We'll call for backup," Takako said as she surveyed the army.
"Someone wanted to send cats after me?" a new voice proclaimed, loud enough they could all hear it. Then a tornado appeared to erupt in the middle of the ground bound Beasts. Shizukesa and Oakley could make out bladed claws in the whirlwind. Serafall grinned even before the tornado vanished, revealing a complete lack of Maker Beasts. In their place was a small girl with dusky skin and light brown hair. She was wearing a linen skirt and top, embroidered with gold. She had on a tiara and multiple bracelets and anklets. But what stood out were the cat ears atop her head, the striped feline tail hanging out of her skirt, and the foot long claws extending from each finger and toe. Though the claws, impossibly, retracted into her finger and toe tips, until they looked like normal human nails.
The braying of mares, as loud as the roar of a jet engine, split the horizon. A large, bronze chariot flashed across the sky. An indescribably beautiful blonde woman skewered griffons with her spear, and swatted flies with her shield. When the Aegis touched the Maker insects, they turned to stone and then shattered. A second later, the sky was also clear, and the blonde landed her chariot next to them. The kunoichi pair and the cat girl darted over to complete their meeting. And Serafall sprang forward to pull both newcomers into a bear hug.
"Basty, Thena-neechan," the Leviathan exclaimed, "I thought you weren't coming!"
Then she turned to give the third goddess a fake nasty look and said, "Nike-neechan didn't tell us."
"I did not know either," the Winged Victory defended herself, "I merely reported to Lady Athena that we were going into battle. I was not informed that their plans had changed."
"We weren't going to let you have all the fun," Bastet hugged her back.
"We were concerned when we learned the Hero Faction was sending a Longinus user to indiscriminately attack a city," Athena explained, "So we came as quickly as we could. Unless I am mistaken, the Angelic host will be arriving shortly…"
Athena stopped short when the sky above them split, and a massive, draconic energy flowed out from the gap.
Next: Beyond the Outer Gates Lies...One Upsmanship?
Author's note: Just a little heads up. Two more chapters left in the adaptation of volume 9 of DxD. Then I will be taking a short break, to get in at least one chapter each for "Sailor Moon Delta" and "Hacking in the Database", plus getting the outline for the next section ready. The plan is six to eight chapters of romance/world building/original stuff, and then DxD 10. Then more romance/world building/original stuff, followed by DxD 11, a bit of romance colored by DxD 11, then DxD 12. After DxD twelve, the rest of what I'm calling Part I will be original stuff, probably 20-30 chapters (at least), completing all of the groundwork I've been laying. Once all that is done, there may or may not be a Part II (though I already have the Stinger planned...)
