Chapter 81

September 20

"Well... So much for these two." I sighed, looking at the small piles of ash and eggshell in two of my Cerberus fur cradles. "Okay, so room temperature isn't cutting it."

"No fire to speak of. Just very loud pops, a little sizzle and a weird smell." Shinkage reported, "I got curious, and gave the other eggs a sniff, or my closest version of it and nothing seemed different."

"Still a shame." I gave him a pat on the head, "Thank you though."

"What about the three you took to your room?"

"No problems... I think. Though, brushed Cerberus fur is nice to sleep on." I smiled, "I wonder if I can make that a thing when I get back home. Hell hounds are almost as soft."

"Just don't put fur on me. No self respecting dragon has fur."

"It's good you respect yourself." I chuckled, putting my hands near, but not on, the eggs I had left, "Lets put them back in the soundproof box, and get started. If nothing goes wrong, I might be able to dematerialize my new armour by the end of the week."

"Shame you can't add wings."

"I'm still considering it. Lets get started."

For the most part, the armour was done. All that was really left now was enchantment and assembly. Much to Issei's disappointment, it would have a 'uniboob' chest plate, domed at the front to deflect things away from things like my heart and lungs. I still didn't understand why women back home, and here, if looking at Rossweisse was any indication, insisted on 'breasts plate'. Taking a thrust/arrow/claw to the inner slant of a boob cup was just begging for it to slide forward right into the heart. Look good? Yes. Good for surviving? No.

I'd have to talk with her later. If only just to get to know her better.

Ahem.

Etch work, reinforcing ridges, sigils, runes, glyphs, channels for the two simplest, yet potentially most powerful enchantments I was attaching to the suit... And saving every single filing and scraped bit of metal dust, because even that could be reused, and would be, for things like adamant laced paint.

"Sensei." Akeno dropped by at lunch, "Ara, is that..."

"I was hoping you'd stop by." I said, not raising my head from my work, "This is part of that binding charm you showed me. I've added a little to it as well." I stopped tapping with my hammer and chisel, set the tools down, and offered the plate of metal to her. It was the main part of the forearm guard.

"Oh..." She put her lunch down and accepted, then nodded, "I see. Well, it's good to know you're taking my lessons seriously."

"Of course." I accepted the bit of armour back and set it down, "It will let me to use the overflow of mana, and put it into the armour. So that doesn't happen again." I motioned to my cut up scale pants, "And hopefully, keep me from losing my temper as quickly."

"Sensei is a little wild." She giggled.

"Get a room you two."

"We did." I said.

"Oh."

"I'm hoping that second bento is for me?"

"Even when I'm off duty, I'm at your service. I was hoping to get your opinion on my cooking." She replied, offering me one of the two lunches.

"Ah, finally managed to get on to the 'who makes lunch for Issei' list?"

"Asia-chan is surprisingly fierce about some things." Akeno nodded.

"Not surprising at all. Bound to happen when you have a bunch of people trying to get one person's attention. Heard your date was a little..."

"Don't lecture me please?"

"Not my job." I shook my head, "I did warn you though. Rias has noticed it too. For all his lust, something really big is stopping him from accepting you all want him. It makes him hesitate, but doesn't stop him from trying so hard to impress all of you."

"You don't think it's something physical, do you? You can make something to fix that, right?" She looked worried.

"No, I'm pretty sure he's got no issue there." I shook my head, "But looking at things from outside... Every time one of you asks him to trust you, or that yes you are sure it's okay to squeeze/poke/rub whatever... He freezes up."

We hmm'ed in unison, and ate a bit of our lunches. She was actually a reasonably good cook. Not surprising considering her solo living, "What does Sensei think?"

"Your skill at cooking is excellent. But your work with spice is too shy." I said seriously, "Issei is less about salt, and more about herbs."

"I will write that down." She smiled, "But I meant about what might have caused his problem?"

I accepted a Karate Chop of Justice from her, had another mouthful of very fluffy but somewhat plain omelette, then said, "Well... I arrived in Kuoh just in time to see him bleed to death because his date killed him." I did my best not to shrug at her look of realization, "I hadn't really thought about it until now. I mean, he's been beaten up, thrown around, had a dragon chase him for most of the summer... But that one thing is the only thing I can think of that combines 'pain' and 'women' together."

For a moment, she simply blinked at me, but then she nodded, opened her mouth to say something, closed her mouth, frowned, tried to speak, failed, then shook her head, "I had never considered that might be effecting him so deeply."

"If you want my advice?"

"I will use some rosemary next time."

I returned the previously issued Karate Chop of Justice, "Don't call him out on it. It might snap him out of it, but it might not, and send him into a spiral of self pity. He's going to have to convince himself, or it's never going to get better."

"Yes Sensei." She nodded seriously, before capturing my hand and putting it against her cheek, "Thank you for the advice."

"I'll tack the Counsellor plate outside the shop before school's out." I nodded, leaning forward to kiss her forehead, "Just keep showing you trust him, and he'll wake up to you all eventually."

"Unless one of them captures him first." She fu-fu'ed.

"Never stopped any of my previous hosts from starting a schedule, or the women from getting in line."

"Yes yes, compete after he finally breaks out of his shell." I sighed, "Seriously... even the giant metal cat is talking about hormones now, what is the world coming to?"

"Sensei, are you sure you should be getting that close to the giant horse?" Issei asked.

Odin knew how to travel in style. Somewhat old fashioned style, but style none the less. Unless this was one of its offspring, I was standing almost nose to nose with the one and only Sleipnir. Eight legs, glossy silver grey coat, flowing mane of hair, powerful build, intelligent eyes and close to three metres at the shoulder... This was indeed a godly horse.

The horse was hitched to an equally godly wagon that was about the same size as the train car we rode in on the way to the underworld, except instead of sleek and metal, it was done in a more traditional style of sweeping curves, metal and wood.

"Careful Sensei." Azazel chuckled, "He likes to bite."

I reached into my armoured coat, and took out a little cloth bag, "That's because you didn't bring a peace offering." I said, "Cookie?" I asked the titanic horse.

"Don't feed my horse strange things!" Odin complained, "You should know better too!" He pointed at the horse.

The horse, who very pointedly ignored him, lowered its great head down, and nipped the cookie from my hand with the same delicacy Cime's horse did. "That's what the cookie is for." I replied, looking into the horse's eyes, "Have to thank him for all the hard work."

"Bah whatever! There's places to see! People to go! Things to drink!" Odin grumbled, "Hurry and board everyone!"

I gave the side of Sleipnir's jaw a pat, "Did you eat his favourite shrubbery or something?"

Sleipnir's horsey lips drew back in a frankly terrifying attempt at a smile, and he nodded.

"Good." I gave him another cookie, "Thanks again." And I went to board with the rest.

Everyone was there. Well, not -everyone- but everyone but Sona's peerage. Baraqiel stood beside Azazel's chair. Azazel himself was sitting across from Odin, who was similarly guarded by Rossweisse (Who looked like she had simply given up on trying to lecture him). The rest of us were arrayed on wider carriage seats, and this included Irina, who was already chatting quietly with Xenovia. We (the adults) were all dressed for a semi-formal night on the town, while everyone else was in their school uniform.

"Sensei." Rias got my attention and motioned me to sit across from her, "Since you're of the local legal age, you'll be accompanying Odin-sama on his little tour. The rest of us will have to wait outside."

"Oh joy." I sighed, "I'm guessing Azazel and Baraqiel will be part of the inside crew?"

"Yes. But while they should be enough..."

"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best." I nodded.

"While we go from place to place, we'll have people in the air around the wagon as well." Rias added.

"Air?" I asked, suddenly feeling my stomach drop a little as we started to move upwards, "Oh right, flying horse."

Rias laughed quietly, "Yes indeed. Normal people won't be able to see us, and we'll have a teleport circle to get to and from the places Odin-sama wants to visit. Then, if all is well, you will be allowed to attend the meeting with the Japanese Gods."

I froze, right down to the tips of my tails, "Really?"

"Azazel seems to think your presence might help. If only to give your honest opinion of the three way alliance."

"I... wow..."

She laughed again, "I may need to mark the calendar, Sensei is speechless."

With Delly's help, and Azazel's recommendations for 'otherworldly creature friendly' establishments, I was actually able to enjoy myself somewhat. Not nearly to the extent that Odin did. But I was at least able to enjoy a social atmosphere, even if I had to (more than once) say I was just there for the food, and not the 'social' atmosphere.

Like at the second place we visited. It was apparently hosted by a bunch of devils (who worked the 'night shift' of contract work) and fallen angels. I'm sure there was a name for the type of establishment, something like 'Yamato Nadeshiko' except none of the girls were actually Japanese, even though they were all dressed as picture perfect Geisha (with the knot at the front).

As we all stepped off the teleport circle and into the wagon after leaving that place, and got ourselves back onto the comfortable carriage benches, Odin said, "Japanese girls are the best! Aza-boy?! Where's the next place?" Issei, I noticed, was practically grinding his teeth with jealousy, even though Asia and Koneko were napping against him on either side.

I was pretty sure Odin was just this side of drunk, and had been enjoying all kinds of things behind the 'private screens' of the Geisha bar. Rossweisse was beside herself at this point though, having been told to stay behind because she wouldn't stop complaining, and when she did complain, Odin poked her soft spot of being single, sending her into a depressed fit of near tears.

"Lord Odin! We have the meeting with the Japanese Gods soon! You can't treat this as a vacation until the last minute!" She complained.

"What? I can't hear you! Going deaf in my old age!" He grumbled back, "At least the Fox knows how to enjoy herself, unlike you!"

"She also knows how to treat the part timers." Xenovia said, eating some takeout sushi I'd gotten everyone on the 'outside' crew, "Going out with the rest." She hopped out of the carriage, her wings opening up behind her as she stepped into open air."

"Yes, thank you Sensei." Kiba finished off his take out tray as well, then joined his fellow knight.

"Part timers give full value." I said, waving, "Wing envy. I have it." I sighed.

"I'd bet if you asked Lord Michael, he'd give you a card." Irina commented, spreading her wings, pure white and almost glowing, and hopping out as well.

I shook my head, though Irina was gone already. "I'd probably fall." I sighed, "Though, I bet Bell would make an excellent angel."

"Your card of him makes him seem very pure." Rias agreed, "Like Issei, except not as..."

Issei pouted, "President... I'm trying to get better, but..." He motioned to the two sleeping girls on either side of him.

"I don't mind that." Rias replied, "I would worry if you suddenly stopped being so lustful."

I looked across to Akeno, who, under normal circumstances would have chimed in with something like, 'I think his lust is perfect the way it is' or something like that. Instead though, she was looking out of the window, hand on her chin, with what some call the 'thousand mile stare'.

"Hey?" I moved over to her. I reached into a pocket and pulled out a faded copper coin, placing it on the windowsill next to her.

"Hm? Oh... It's supposed to be the other way round." She smiled, though it was a distant distracted smile. She still took the coin though, "Thank you for the takeout."

"Can't have my students skipping dinner." I put a hand on her shoulder, but couldn't think of a thing to say, that wouldn't sound preachy. So instead, I just nodded and let one of my tails swish against her.

Then the horse, Sleipnir, made a long noise of distress, a screeching whinny that made my tails poof out suddenly. This was followed by the wagon lurching to a halt, that sent anyone standing to their knees and anyone sitting facing the front into the opposite bench. Akeno and I were fine, since I had a hand on her, and a hand on the wall.

"What happened? An attack?" Issei was quick to recover and get to his feet, both gauntlets appearing and starting to power up for his balance breaker.

We looked out the window, and I spotted our four guards in formation, weapons out and in an aggressive posture. Turning to try and look where they were, I saw what looked like a young man floating freely in the air. Easily qualifying as 'roguishly' handsome, he had the same wrap/robe style of dress like Odin, and an easygoing smirk on his face. The two biggest differences compared to Odin, were the youthful appearance, and the colour of his clothing, which was black instead of various greys and blues.

Rossweisse seemed to know who it was, her surprised gasp telling me it isn't someone she wanted to see. "Loki." Rias said quietly, "Another Norse God."

Behind me, Azazel hopped out of the wagon, his wings floofing out from his back, "Well if it isn't Loki-dono." He started, using respectful words, but with the same smugness as usual, "I'm guessing you know that Odin, Chief God of Europe is on here?"

Loki crossed his arms, shrugged, "Him leaving to talk with other factions is problematic."

"I hardly think missing some boring paperwork is reason enough to stop him." Azazel frowns.

"Oh! You're Azazel, right? Governor of the Fallen Angels? Normally, I wouldn't bother associating with you, the Devils, or the Angels, but since you're here with Odin, I'll just deal with you all at once."

"Oh, so it's fine for you to step over and talk," Azazel looked genuinely angry now.

"You're the ones who stepped on our soil first, to spread the words of your God. The Norse are warriors! Peace is pointless. So, yes, if destroying other factions means the occasional meeting, then yes, it IS okay if I do it."

"You should be talking to Michael about that, or maybe try and get a medium to talk to the dead God." Azazel shrugged.

"Besides! If Odin talks to the Japanese Gods, and creates peace, there will be no Ragnarok!" Loki grinned, "Besides, why do you even want to negotiate with us? Knowledge of Yggdrasil? Bah!"

Azazel sighed, then pointed at Loki, "Not like I expect an honest answer, but are your actions on behalf of the Chaos Brigade?"

Loki threw his head back and laughed, "What do I even care about a bunch of terrorists and some crazy dragon goth loli who wants a soundproof room?"

"Well, that's one less problem, but..." Azazel looked back into the wagon, "It's still a problem. At least it's not the Vanir?"

While they had been talking, none of us had been idle. I had been warming up my magic, not quite to boiling, but at least to the point of say, being tough enough to survive a fall if the wagon was blown up. Rias and Akeno had put on their gauntlets. Koneko put on her weighted gloves. Issei was waiting for the exact second they needed him in Balance Breaker. And Asia was already glowing faintly, ready to extend her healing aura to whoever needed it.

Even as Odin sighed that old man sigh, and Rossweisse drew her sword, we were just waiting for the word.

Speaking of... Odin, after sighing, stood, walked to the wagon door, and simply stepped out into open air, except a small magic circle appeared under him.

"Delly?" I said quietly, "Can you do that for me?"

"Sorry not yet." I had the distinct impression she had a sad face, but she was still hiding in my mana.

"We'll find someone to teach you. Be ready though."

"Ah Loki. I see there are still some hard headed people around." Odin's tone was like a father speaking to a child.

"Lord Loki! You are pointing your sword at the Chief God of the North! You are overstepping your bounds!" Rossweisse said, "If you have a problem with Lord Odin trying to negotiate with others, bring it up at a meeting!" With the last word, her business suit blinked over to that silly not quite bikini armour.

"The opinion of a mere battle maiden, a budget one at that, is worthless to me." Loki sneered, "Odin! Do you intend to keep negotiating, and stepping out of our northern world?"

"Azazel has shown me many interesting things, here, outside our 'northern world'." Odin smiled, "Now I know you swing a little, but have you seen the women here? I think once things have settled a little, and negotiations are done, I might started up a little exchange." Odin ran his hand through his beard, chuckling quietly.

"Very well, in that case I will correct your path with force."

I'd already been feeling a little twitchy. My tails and spine not quite at the 'plan escape route' level of caution. But when Loki said that, my tails floofed out, and I started to look for possible ways to dodge if I were suddenly thrown out of the wagon. I wasn't the only one. Issei switched to his Balance Breaker, Asia's glow wavered slightly, and I could feel Akeno grip one of my tails. But the moment of fear passed, and everyone BUT me, stepped out of the wagon, devil or in Issei's case, dragon wings, sprouting from their back.

Sigh... I wanted wings.

Instead, I put one hand on the top of the door frame, and swing up to the flat roof of the wagon.

"A fight then?" Odin asked.

"Take my answer how ever you wish."

A wave of golden energy slammed into Loki a half second later, Xenovia's silly plank of metal launching a wave of pure power at the young looking God. A moment of smoke, a laugh, and Loki hovered there as if bored.

"A holy sword? Flashy, but useless." Loki waved away a little smoke. He started to motion with his other hand, and I wasn't the only one who could feel him gathering power there. "You are but servants of true power. I am a God, and you are my lessers!"

Issei acts next, his wings beating once, the jets on his back igniting and sending him towards Loki. Even at that speed though, Loki simply faded to the side, smiling. Issei twists in mid air, his wings bracing him, "President!"

"Permission Granted!" Rias called back, her gauntlets glowing as the metal rings filled with her destructive power.

"Promotion Queen!" Issei shouted, his body suddenly emitting a red aura.

"Oh right, the Red Dragon Emperor is here." Loki pretended to yawn, holding out his hand, a pale blue glow forming in his hand.

"DRAGON SHOT!" Issei called out, trying to preempt Loki's attack, then "BOOSTBOOSTBOOSTBOOSTBOOSTBOOST!"

"Not Enou-" Loki's shot went skyward, as Issei hit him a second time. He was unharmed, but looking irritated that he missed, "Not enough." He finished, "But not bad." He waved his hand, and Issei was swept backward by what looked like air pressure. He turned back, "Oh! Red hair... You must be the Gremory girl I've heard about." He looked across the rest of us while Issei recovered "Two leaders of the Fallen Angels, a bunch of fodder devils, an angel, the Red Dragon Emperor, and..." He looked at me, "A curiosity." He gave Odin a raised eyebrow, "Quite the guard detail."

"Most of them know how to have a good time." Odin shrugged, "And considering you are here, it wasn't a bad call, now was it?"

"Seems a little unfair." Loki shrugged, shaking his head, "Suppose I'll just call him..." He motioned to the side, "My lovely son!" A pause, "And just because they are cluttering up the attic..." He grinned, looking right at me as he waved his other hand, "Something new!"

To either side of him, the air started to ripple and warp. To his right, the distortion was massive, while on the left, there were many many smaller ones. From the right, as the distortion cleared, a truly enormous wolf appeared. Ten meters tall, nearly twice that long, it's head alone was half the size of the wagon. Sleek grey and silver fur, chilling gold eyes, this could be no other creature than Fenrir.

So impressive was this massive wolf, that it took me a moment to realize that there was a familiar, if unwelcome buzzing in the air.

To Loki's left, was a swarm of flying swords. The killer razor edged dragonflies from the Dungeon.

"This is bad." Azazel said, "Stay away from that wolf, especially you Issei. It's Fenrir."

"And those are flying swords." I said, looking directly at Loki, "HEY! HORSEFUCKER!"

Sleipnir did a very close version of a horsey laugh, Odin did an old man chuckle, while everyone else looked at me, shocked.

Except Loki, he was furious.

"Yeah you! Did you ever build that wall? Or were you too busy?" I taunted, making an obvious hip-thrust motion, "Tell you what! I'll trade you your dog's life, for that bit of my HOME you've stolen!"

"Sensei... Don't provoke the God." Rias chided.

"You DARE talk to me like that?" Loki growled, pointing at Odin, "If it wasn't for HIM, that NEVER would have happened!" Odin looked over his shoulder, then back at Loki with a 'who me?' look. "We'll see who's laughing when my Son's fangs rip you to shreds!"

"Great, you just pissed off the guy with a god killing wolf." Azazel sighed, "Don't get bitten, Sensei."

"Akeno, Rias, those bugs have very flammable wings." I said.

"I remember." Akeno nodded.

"Kill them!" Loki pointed at us.

With everyone but me able to fly, or float, I had exactly one chance to maybe deal with that wolf. But I needed it closer. "Hey Azazel, you know what we call monsters with stuff like 'god killing teeth' or 'fireproof fur'?"

A low growling filled the air, and I could hear the windows of the wagon rattle in their frames, "What's that?"

"Rare loot." I looked back to Fenrir, watching it crouch down, "Get ready to dodge left." I called over the side at Sleipnir.

It was fast. REALLY fast. Like... Air pressure feeling like it was pushing you backwards as it got closer, fast. Everyone but me scattered, throwing magic, spears of light, sword energy, the works, as it crossed the distance between Loki and the wagon in about a second. Like any smart animal, Sleipnir dodged to the side, trying not to get eaten, thankfully, he listened to what direction I told him to move, and I jumped straight into the house devouring mouth as it tried to devour me and the wagon both.

"Sensei!" Issei yelled, reaching out a hand as her and the wagon both got smashed to bits, the giant wolf Fenrir throwing bits of broken wagon all over the place with great sweeping motions of its head.

"Worry about yourself Issei!" Azazel shouted back, "Protect them from the bugs!"

"Hahaha! That takes care of the curiosity!" Loki laughed, "Hm, these bugs are pretty to watch, even more when they get blood on them!"

Their small size, wide open air, speed and razor sharp edges made them difficult targets, and already they had given some of the ORC some nasty cuts. "Protect Asia!" Rias called out, "Akeno!"

"Yes President!" Akeno called back, electricity curling around her body, spreading out around her, "Give me a moment..."

"Akeno." Baraqiel flew over to her, swatting a few bugs out of the air, "Let me help."

She didn't agree, but when he put a hand on her shoulder, she didn't shrug him off either. A moment later, the two of them let out a spherical nova of electricity, vaporizing the killer insects. Issei, the most resistant to holy energy among the devils, had shielded Asia from the blast, as she radiated her healing aura for those who had been slashed by the bugs.

"Not bad!" Loki laughed, "How about this! That one!" He pointed at Rias, "Get a taste of her blood! So that when we go to kill the Devil Kings, you will know their flavour!"

The huge body of the wolf turned in mid step, and made to try and bite Rias out of the air. "RIAS!" Issei's wings and the jets on his back propelled him in the way of the oncoming wolf, slamming into the side of its head and causing the great beast to miss, if only just, "Damnit!" Issei shouted, "Asia!"

Even as he bounced off Fenris's head, one of its huge paws swatted him. As he spun out of control for a moment, he knew he'd been hit, and was already getting the attention of the healer.

"I've got you, Issei-san!"

"I'll keep them away!" Rossweisse said, spreading her arms and summoning up a half dozen magic circles, "Burn from the skies, dissolve to ash, be consumed by the worms!"

More of the flying swords were consumed, as the air around her and Odin lit up with little fires, "Ah yes, that's why I keep you around." Odin nodded, "Hm, that wolf is a problem though..." He looked at his poor wagon, "Suppose I'll fix this while no one is looking." He waved a hand at some of the bits of wood and metal still attached to the oddly calm horse.

"Lord Odin... why are you wasting your power when we need a hand?" Rosswiesse asked even as she focused her attention on a new wave of insects.

"Just a feeling." He said, tapping the side of his head where his hair covered his missing eye.

"HA!" Loki laughed, pointing at Asia, "I think you'll just have to die first!"

Fenris shrugs off the combined attacks from Rias, Azazel, Akeno and Baraqiel, then lunges towards Asia. Koneko, Kiba and Xenovia fly towards the ex-nun, getting ready to block with their bodies if need be...

"HALF DIMENSION!"

A green wave of light floods the battlefield, away from the defending ORC members, covering Fenris with is energy. The wolf almost hesitates, stopping its attack short to instead slash its claws at the light, ripping it apart as if it were solid somehow.

"Vali!" Issei shouts.

The White Dragon Emperor, armour and all, hovered between Fenris and the ORC, "Hm, only stopped it for a second..." He says, then glanced behind him, "Are you all okay?"

"Oh wow! That's a big doggo!" Bikou says as he flies by on his own personal flying cloud, "It even got through that scale armour?"

"Oh, you seem to have hurt it though, Vali." Kuroka, who had just stepped out of one of those eye bleeding spacial rifts, to stand on top of the now restored wagon, said while pointing.

Everyone stopped, Loki included, and turned to look at the titanic wolf. At the corner of its mouth, and slowly dripping down the point of its chin, was a slowly growing dribble of blood.

"It wasn't me." Vali replied.

After launching myself into the mouth of the massive wolf, narrowly avoiding a lot of teeth, and getting pelted by bits of shattered wagon, I clung to the roof of Fenris's mouth.

"When was the last time you brushed?" I mumbled, needing to take in air, but really not wanting to. "I will not bend. I will not break." I started, drawing in air, feeding it to the flame of my magic, and holding tight with my tales and one hand as I reached into my coat and pulled out a mana potion. "I will be a wall, for the home my Goddess has given me."

I drank the potion, took another breath of air that smelled like rotten meat, and slowly worked my way towards the back of the cavern this wolf's mouth was.

"For Her a wall. For her a Gate." I paused as the head thrashed around, the sound of magic detonating against the wolf's body echoing around me, "I stand guard to let the worthy pass, and deny disaster entry!"

The second spell, to pull, and redirect magic through me started to hum through my body. I took out a second potion, clung to the slimy walls of Fenris's throat, endured a huge tongue slamming against my back and nearly knocking me out, then drank the potion. Even as my fingers sunk into the tough skin of its throat, I could feel its own innate protections weaken as I consumed his magic like I had with Riser.

"And I guard Her gardens." I took one last breath, my inner magic feeling like it was starting to burn my body from the inside.

I endure one more heavy lurch, the cavernous mouth filled with green light for a moment.

"WITH A FOREST OF CLAWS AND TEETH!" And I let go. My aura, tails, my entire body, flaring outwards with a madness of boiling acidic purple and a black riot of foxes.

"The White Dragon Emperor too? Hm, I suppose I'm satisfied for now." He looked to Fenrir, waving a hand, "Come, we will withdraw for now."

The giant wolf didn't move, instead it shook its head, and coughed, spraying a mist of blood from its mouth.

Then it convulsed, shaking its body harder, its great throat roaring in pain, bloody froth forming on its mouth.

"No... Impossible!" Loki's eyes went wide.

Then Fenris's throat convulsed, expanded, then EXPLODED in a shower of gore, the huge head coming free from the body, a black cloud of howling mist attached to the bloody stump of its neck, and the now lifeless head.

Sleipnir was the first to move, side stepping in the air a few times, the back of the wagon now directly under the falling head, as the huge wolf body simply fell from the sky, still spraying blood.

Kuroka, and now Arthur who had just stepped out of the Dimensional Gap, were narrowly missed by the head as it landed nose up on the top of the wagon. They were not however, missed by the shower of blood.

"Eww..." Kuroko pouted, her kimono ruined pretty much instantly.

"Impressive." Arthur, his nice suit also ruined, though he didn't seem to care.

"No! This can't be!" Loki raged, "I will kill EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU!"

I pushed open the jaw, then climbed out of the mouth of the beast, my hands and tails making sure I didn't accidentally cut myself on the needle sharp fangs. Covered in blood, body feverish from the huge amount of mana I'd just used, stomach threatening to empty itself now that I was out of the stench inside its mouth...

With a wet 'splat' my feet touched down on the top of the wagon. I looked to Loki, looked back at the severed head, and grabbed one of the teeth. About the length of my arm, I managed to rip it out of its mouth with out hurting myself. "Hey Kiba. I heard these teeth could kill gods." I held the tooth out to him.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!" Loki screamed, "If it is the last thing I do, I will kill you!" And with a flash of a magic circle, he vanished.

For a moment, no one moved, then they all looked at me, as I dripped blood everywhere while still holding the tooth out for Kiba to take.

"What? It's a monster. I kill monsters." I shrugged.

While everyone who had been wounded went into the wagon for a smile from Asia, I simply stood on top of the wagon by the dead wolf head... and dripped. I myself hadn't suffered more than some bruises, mostly from broken bits of wagon and Fenrir trying to clean me off the roof of his mouth like some peanut butter, so I stayed outside to keep blood off the carpet.

I was also up here so I wouldn't have to suffer through the looks almost everyone was giving me. That hurt more than almost any injury I'd suffered. Fear. But not just that. Being respected 'through' fear. That was the tyrant's path. I had just killed what amounted to a demi-god, while everyone else failed to leave more than a bruise on it. That honour went to Issei, I was told, when he saved Rias from getting eaten. He'd nearly been disembowelled for the trouble, but the act had saved Rias.

I hoped my phone was blood resistant.

Fox2: I'm sure you're on the way, but I need a small favour past the usual 'cleaning up weird stuff'.

Teacher: Name it. We are nearly at the site now with some hired help.

Fox2: Trusted help?

Teacher: Sent by Mikochu's relation. Hopefully.

Fox2: Our adversary had things from my home.

Teacher: We will keep an eye out, and collect them for you.

Fox2: I'm also going to want the body put on ice until I can process it.

A pause.

Teacher: Understood. I will have a cold room installed.

Fox2: Payment?

Teacher: I'd like a scarf at the very least.

Fox2: Done.

I tucked my phone away as I heard someone behind me. "Lady, you are crazy sauce you know that?" It was Bikou. His look at least hadn't changed towards me.

"I'm starting to wonder if I should have or not." I motioned towards the wolf head, sending flakes and droplets of blood scattering, "Sorry."

"Some say a person's worth is judged by their enemies." He shrugged, "You've just made one of a Norse god."

"Suppose so. Wonder if Tyr would buy me a drink or something now?" I shook my head, sighing and scrubbing more blood off my face.

"You know, for someone who basically just kicked more ass than... um, a Norse God, two fallen angel generals, a half dozen devils, a Valkyrie and a pair of dragons, you're acting pretty glum."

"This." I pointed at the head, "Is my job. Be it for eight hours a day, or days at a time, killing monsters meant food on the table, and getting home to my family and friends. If you wanted, I could come up with a good strategy for almost any monster I laid eyes on and watched in its natural environment for a few minutes."

"Ahhh, I see." Bikou nodded, standing on one foot and scratching his chin with his free hand, "You're good at fighting because being bad at it would get you killed. I'm good at it because I find it a lot of fun." He hooked a thumb over his shoulder, "Vali wants to prove he's stronger than anyone, Arthur is all about honourable combat annnnnd Kuroka just likes toying with people."

"Basically, yes." I nodded, "What's going on in there?"

"Politics." He frowned, "Someone wanted someone else to check on you too."

"I probably look scary as hell right now." I sighed, "And smell worse."

"I wasn't going to say it." He laughed, "They're trying to figure out how to deal with Loki. You might have taken a huge chunk outta his show of force, but he's still a God."

"He's got at least one part of my home too." I frowned, "And has obviously figured out a way to spawn monsters from it."

"They weren't so bad." He said, "I mean, sure, it helped that you guys have the pretty Miko and her old man here."

"Wide area of effect, fire or lightning, will burn the wings off leaving them easy targets. Still dangerous enough to cut through hardened leather if they crawl onto your boots." I said automatically, quoting one of Eina's many many many dungeon monster lectures, "Magic like that is common enough here, so those wouldn't be much of an issue."

"Yeah, I've read through your book a couple of times."

I resisted the urge to pat him on the shoulder or something, and my tails were feeling far too gross to be friendly with anyone right now. "Thanks."

"So what are you going to do with this anyhow? Mount it to a wall?" I poked the giant severed head with his staff.

"A few things." I ran my hand over some of the rough fur, "Already have an order for a scarf." With a grunt and a wet snap, I pulled another long tooth free, "And apparently this has teeth that can kill a god. I just happen to know someone who's handy with crafting things out of monster bits."

"A scarf huh..." He rubbed his chin again, "I bet I'd look good with a silver scarf."

I pictured him, sitting on his cloud, a silver scarf trailing behind him like some kind of World War 1 aviator. "Sure. Fur or yarn?"

NOTES!

So she didn't punch someone's head off. Does this count though?

Looking at what Fenrir would have done (in canon) this would certainly count as a 'significant' removal. But, it did try and eat Kodori. Bad doggo.

And if you're wondering about a certain insult, you can wiki the origins of Sleipnir. Just saying. Norse lore is really entertaining. :)