[It's time for the, aptly named Crota's war arc to end. I had far to much trouble trying to find a way to end the chapter...that and a certain part driving me insane but that's in the past now. Time to do this!]
Chapter 20 Crota's Fall.
"Now then, let's bring down a god," I say over the intercom of my AC. My summons roar they're agreement as we rush out. Boosters roared to life as I led my pack.
"So, you made it to my throne after all." Crota hissed, his sword gleaming in the low light, I simply nod the AC's head. I had nothing to say this hunk of bonemeal, my fingers were over the triggers for my many guns. Crota's eyes glanced to his brother and hardened into steel.
"So, you think your new master can slay me heretic?" Crota asked tauntingly, Nokris growled but didn't rise any further to the bait. Instead, he just looked Crota in the eye.
"If bearers of light could so easily slay you, then why shouldn't a bearer of the dark?" Nokris said, I would've given him a thumbs up but I was inside a mech whose hands were sealed to its guns until they need to be reloaded. Crota's eyes went dark and he howled a battle cry, doors all around the arena opened and hive soldiers flooded out.
[BGM Crota's theme]
"You guys keep the adds off me, and keep an eye out for Sword Bearers, I'll take care of Crota's shield," I order, my voice dipping into murderous as my boosters thrust me straight towards Crota. He swung his sword vertically, but I reversed the flow of the thrusters and the sword barely missed me. The red glow of my AC lit up Crota's menacing face, my shoulder missiles light him up as I back away. Smoke block my view of him, but a boulder-sized boomer shot quickly blew away the smoke. Pulling on the joysticks to the left I slammed on the jump button and barely dodged it.
His luminescent shield cracked as he charged with his sword, the boosters roared to life once again as I pulled back, the sword mere inches from the cockpit as it made a rather large scratch on the chest piece of my AC. I pulled the trigger for the Gatling gun and force-fed hundreds of shells straight into that shield of his, which was quickly getting more and more cracked by the second. He howled like a beast and two-handed his blade and brought it down. I quickly switch my Gatling gun to the laser sword and held his blade at bay, barely. The metal of the mech groaned as sparks slowly began to come out of the arm joints. The ground around us cratered and a few pieces were pulverized instantly.
I acted on instinct and fired my battle fire point blank in his chest, along with a few missiles for good measure. His shield shattered and just like in the game he fell on a knee.
"We need a hive sword to hurt this bastard! Did you guys kill a sword bearer?" I asked them, Delta came lumbering over with a miniature of Light Ender. With a little help with lifting him up, he smashed Crota with his own sword. His shield came back just as the blade shatters from overuse. Before I could react Crota grabs my AC, and flipped me over like a flapjack. The mech lands ungracefully on it's back, I groan from the harsh landing. He grabs his blade and brings it up, knowing what he was trying to do I activate the laser blade and grit my teeth as his blade clashed with my mech's laser for the second time. The ground around us erupted, like a small tectonic earthquake the ground split apart into small chasms. Hearing the groan of metal I aimed the battle rifle right into his chest and fired round after explosive round into his shield.
The explosive rounds caused him to lose his footing, pulling on the joystick I slam the AC's foot right into his chest, smashing him into a wall. His shield was close to breaking, I tried to finish it off with some missiles but a clicking sound let me know I was out. Before Crota could catch wind of my lack of ammo I poured the last of the Gatling gun's ever-dwindling supply right into the largest crack of the shield. I didn't see the shield shatter, but I heard Crota slump over and take a knee. I focus on getting back up as in the corner of my screen I see Death gun legging it with yet another copy of Light-Ender, at least that's what I heard it's called. Stupid name either way, not nearly as cool as WillBreaker.
I expected to hear the sound of Crota getting his ass handed to him with his own sword, but as I finally managed to stand the AC up, Crota with the tiny sword between his fingers and Death gun just letting go of it.
"Shit, he didn't do that in the raid." I curse under my breath, Crota snarls and crushes the tiny blade between his fingers. He stands back up, his sword glowing the trademark green of hive magics. Before I could warn my summons to get back, a fog surrounded Crota and I, separating us from my summons and him from his back up. Observe!
Fog Of The Hive Pantheon, Divinity class 'item'. A small pocket dimension where Oryx and his children control, a place where the only ways out are death or getting through them. Only those who control this place can let anyone in or out.
"Well, shit." I say. The space was barely big enough for both him and my Ac with only just enough room for us to do battle. This isn't good for me.
"Now, I can end your life without distractions. Prepare to die worm." Crota snarls, holding his sword up in a threatening manner. I turn on the intercom and chuckle, hiding just how nervous I was behind a carefree smile.
"Thanks for the compliment, in your culture, your most powerful gods are worms are they not?" I ask, voice full of snark. His reaction was not pleasant, he roared like a demon and charged. I tried to dodge his attack completely but there wasn't enough room nor could the AC be flexible enough to dodge like a creature of flesh and bone. Crota's sword cut a nice chunk of the metal plate off my Chariot. I was about to fire the Gatling gun but I remember it ran out of ammo, so I do the next best thing. I eject the gun right in his face, another surprise hit when the ejected weapon actually hit him and the not the shield. Ok, I have a chance.
Equipping a less powerful version of the battle rifle in the left and swapped the right for the laser blade I go on the attack. The arena was too small for me to miss, however, the explosive rounds pinged off his carapace before they exploded. Making the gun next to useless. Converting booster power into the laser blade I swung it across the arena, at first he would block it but he ducks under the laser blade. Growling I swing down but it was much to slow as Crota leaned against the wall of fog arena, avoiding the laser completely. Before I could attempt another horizontal slice he thrust forward with his own blade. The boosters wouldn't respond so I slammed on the gas as hard as it would go and leaned for extra measure, thankfully leaning back saved my life as his blade went right through the cockpit and pinged off my mask. I swallowed the scream that tried to come up, a window opened in the lower left corner of what remained of the screen, a seven popped up and it went down to six. The remaining number of fatal hits this AC can take before it blows. I back the AC up as much as I could, my arms shaking at the near-death experience, I take a breath and fire up the laser blade. My mask falls off, but I still wore a mask of a grinning winner.
'Fake till you make it right?' I tell myself, though I'm quite sure this is not what it was made for.
"Heh, if you think that's gonna bring down my mech, well, you got another thing coming. We've been through hell this AC and I, and we walked out, liberating some treasure along the way from the depths of the very hell we plunged ourselves into. Your gonna have harder than this if you want to beat us." Then, music began to play, a song I knew very well. I chuckle as it begins to overtake Crota's theme.
"Well, we did work for rebels. So, let's once again, ROW ROW FIGHT THE POWER!" I shout.
[Personal BGM playlist start. Libera Me from Hell]
Then the unexpected happens. A staticky, mechanical voice came online.
"Row. Row. Fight. Power!" It attempted to mimic what I said. The eye of the AC glows blood red and the laser blade was enveloped in shadow, as were some of the joints. It's sparking left hand cracked it's head as if it had a neck. My controls stopped working as the mech stood up straight.
"Borrow. Control." Chariot grunted out, its voice sounded like a distorted tape recording. My mouth was agape as Crota came lumbering towards me, no, us. Crota swung his blade diagonally across, it cut off most ways of escape, and I wouldn't be able to dodge the blow completely. However, in a movie that most definitely shouldn't be possible Chariot moved as if it wasn't made of stiff metal. The AC dodged the sword by ducking under it and sliding to the right. Swinging the now dark purple laser blade through Crota's calf. Crota groaned in pain but leaped at us, each swing of his blade was either blocked or reduced to a graze, but even a graze can prove lethal.
They clashed blades, the green blade almost passing through the sword. Chariot closed the fist of his unarmed hand and slammed it into Crota's gut. Crota gasped for air, giving my AC the perfect chance to push the deity back on his butt and swinging for the kill shot, sadly Crota rolled out of the way.
Chariot continued to mimic Crota's fighting style and swung as he would, parrying blows that I couldn't have done before. Skimming the edges of his carapace and causing ever more damage to the deity in front of us. Sadly Chariot mimicked Crota to much and made the same fatal mistake he would make. It went for the big overhead swing, and Crota parried the mighty mech like it was nothing and smashed the handle of the sword into the side of Chariot. Chariot nearly lost it's balanced before it could recover Crota slashed the back engines of my AC, explosions rocked us as the AC struggled to stay on its feet. Sensing an incoming kick I used Chariot's shadow to push us away from the foot. The fatal blows that the AC could take dropped to three.
"You've done enough old boy, I can handle things from here." I tried to stop it, thinking maybe I could shove the mech inside my inventory for safe keeping. It refused, taking control of the seat belts and strapped me in, stopping me from leaving. As I struggle to escape the ridiculously strong bindings Crota sliced Chariot's legs off. The mech fell on it's back and I coughed up blood from the hard impact. Chariot tried to right himself but Crota's foot was on the cockpit, pinning it down. He brought his sword up and pierced just above my head, ripping through armored plating and wires with tired ease. The fatal blow counter went red with the last number. Chariot didn't scream, I don't know if he even can anymore.
'I need to regain control of this fight, or we're both done for.' I thought to myself, summoning a small knife and using Death's Grasp to float it over and slice the bindings. I pull Willbreaker out of my inventory and stuck some elixirs on my belt, I was gonna need them soon. Crota pulled his sword out of Chariot, it slick with oil and wire, and he went down for another blow.
I launched myself out of the seat, making him stop his descent and have to pull his sword back for defense, except I wasn't swinging for him. I vaulted myself over his head and landed behind him.
"Oi! C'mon you ripe cunt, I'm right here!" I taunted, upon seeing the sword I was using he lost it. He screamed louder than ever before and scrambled towards me. Rapid slashes I could barely track pounded upon my sword, which it's held its ground, unlike my bones which cracked at every impact. I opened my inventory and expanded it, dropping Chariot in it. I couldn't sigh in relief as Crota hasn't let up at all, quite the opposite in fact. He swung his blade upwards, I blocked the blow but I was lifted from the ground and sent flying high into the sky. Just as I orientate myself Crota jumps we were eye level for only a moment as he swung his blade downwards, I try to block but Willbreaker slips by an inch, letting Crota slice through my neck, nearly taking my head for the second time today.
I cratered the ground on my 'landing'. Half of my health gone in a single stroke of that bastard's sword. I popped open one of my elixirs and guzzle it down, just in time for Crota to land and strike once more.
"How dare you use my father's blade, you insignificant speck! You worm! You filthy beast! I'll rip you apart and feed you to the thralls." He howled, his sword glowing green with hive magics. Emerald fire erupted behind me, I dodged under his legs, quickly swapping weapons to my scythe, I hook my scythe in one of the many crevices in his carapace and flip myself right onto his back. He growls and tries to grab me, but his hands were much slower than his blade and were far easier to dodge. I ran up the spine straight to the back of the neck, drawing Willbreaker from my belt I lept and stabbed down. Crota quickly blocks with his hand where his spine and skull connect, Willbreaker sinks into the carapace as if it was flesh but...the pain of using Willbreaker spawned into existence and I held down my screams of pure agony. My arms shook violently from the pain of using Willbreaker, so I couldn't do much to defend myself when Crota pulls the sword, and by extension me, out of his hand and slam me into the ground by his feet.
"Weakling." He sneered, no longer talking like a mad beast. He brought his foot up to crush me like the bug he saw me as, grunting I shoot fire out the sols of my boots and propel me under him again, however my arms were still to much pain for me to capitalize on this opportunity. Even though I had no intention of attacking at this second, Crota would not fall for the same trick twice. He swiftly brought up his heel and bounced me off it, as I fly towards the same spot I was just in I force the still burning arms to grab the elixir and I shove the entire bottle in my mouth. Crunching down and then swallowing the glass was a bit painful but nothing compared to swinging Willbreaker. I used Crota's own shadow to push the sword towards me. I grab it just as he walks casually forward, he is getting over confident. I pretended to still be injured, cradling my arms as if they still burned. My shadow long is gone, but he wouldn't be looking down at what he must think as a trivial thing.
"Stand insect, and face your death with a warrior's pride," Crota demanded of me, I smirk and turn around. Still playing the part of the disabled man. My 'shadow' taking form right behind him.
"Funny you say face my death. When, in certain situations, I am death." I say in faux arrogance, it was rather easy to push the buttons of such creatures. My shit eating grin hiding behind my repaired mask. His sword was suddenly nano meters away from said mask.
"You? Death? Don't make me laugh. I haven't heard such insolence in many moons, though you are strong. How about this worm, serve me and I will allow you to live. Give all the strength you obtain to me and I may drizzle some back down as a reward." Crota 'offered', that would not be a life. It's nothing more than slavery, and might as well be an end to my life as a Gamer. It said a lot about me and my system, that a screen refused to pop up allowing me to make such a stupid mistake.
"I refuse that shitty deal on all grounds. I wonder what your father would say to such a dishonorable offer?" I question rhetorically, I knew Oryx well enough that if I were to be beaten by his son and to be spared? That goes against his entire philosophy of the weak being culled to sharpen the teeth of the strong. Crota flinched, knowing just what his father would do to him if I had actually accepted such a weak deal.
"Fine, then perish." Crota coldly responds he pulled his sword back and thrust with more than enough force..tis a shame, it won't be touching me.
"No, you." Crota's sword stopped mid-thrust as he coughed up blood. He looked down, WIllbreaker stabbing through his back out his stomach, he checked his back to see who stabbed him. Only to be face to face with a Shade of Oryx, or at least my best mimicry of it. The shade disintegrated after the sword was thrust through, I walked past his shaking sword. Around the globs of divine blood and pulled the sword all the way through. He staggered backward as I wiped away the blood. Crota was still in a state of shock, but a few seconds later he came to his senses….and then promptly dropped them on their head.
"YOU BASTARD TRICKSTER! HOW DARE YOU USE A SHADE OF MY FATHER AGAINST ME! I WILL DESTROY EVERYTHING YOU EVER CARED ABOUT!" He screeched his bloodthirsty scream. I gripped my blade as he charged, moving far slower than before. However, the moment he swung his sword it was emblazoned with the green luminescent fire of hive sorceries. I dodged the blade easily, but the power surrounding the blade fluctuated space itself.
'Ok, I'm going to avoid that sword like the damn plague.' I say to myself, gulping a little. Flipping Willbreaker in my grip I dashed towards Crota's legs. Crota in his berserker rage sliced the area by his feet, I threw myself to the far right, avoiding the blast of contorted space.
"Okay, how about this." I murmur, dashing towards Crota. He goes to swing, but I was already on him. I run up his arm and go straight towards the throat. Just need one clean slice, I swing my own blade….and Crota blocked it with his hand. Willbreaker cut through the boney hand of Crota, but, it got stuck! Fingers of bone curled around the sword as pain zaps up my arm. He lifted me up and stared me down as I couldn't let go of Willbreaker. He slammed me into the ground so hard I bounced off the cratered ground. Before I could recover a giant fist smashed into me, the crater deepened and I coughed up pieces of bone. My music was overwhelmed by Crota's own theme as he continued to pummel me into the ground. Hitting me hard enough to cause me great harm, but not enough to kill me. With every punch, more of my bones come out as dusty coughs. Black blood drips from Crota's fists as they crashed into my body, I could barely get my arms up in a guard before he strikes again, my arms shatter like glass and I skip the edge of the pit. I try to drink my elixir but Crota's foot crushes my lower back and body. The sudden shock made me vomit up my elixir, it didn't heal me at all.
'Shit.' I groan in my head, my broken fingers grip the ground as I crawl away. It took a second to realize I couldn't feel my legs. A quick glance back confirmed they, along with my lower spine, are a red smear under his foot. 'Healing hands' I manage to cast, barely. It's getting tough to stay awake, good God I'm tired.
{Partner! Hang on, stay awake. I'll think of something, just hang on!} Bahamut yelled in my mind, I nod as best I could. My legs slowly starting to reform themselves, that's when I heard Crota's laughter. His demented, mocking, laughter.
"So that is the extent of your teeth? Broken upon my sharpened canines?" He mocked, taking his time walking slowly. On pure instinct I continue to crawl away, my spine hadn't attached to my legs yet and I can't stand up. Willbreaker landed inches away from my face, it was slick with Crota's and my own blood.
"You mimic what you can't wield, your teeth are false. Instead, you have gums sucking on anything you can hold onto and attempt to draw strength from that." Crota continued to taunt, I was to focused on trying to get up to be offended by his taunts. I grabbed Willbreaker's handle and try to pull myself up. My legs wobble as I force them to stand, Crota shaking the ground as he approached certainly doesn't help that.
"Oh shut up." I snarl, his voice starting to grate on my nerves. Once my body wants to work again I will kill him. Nothing will save him, he leaned down so we were eye level. His breath whipping my cape as he stared into me.
"Still, the toothless one still cries? I'll fix that right now." Crota hissed, he stood up. My legs still didn't want to work. Yet I still stand, in the corner of my eye, I see something shifting in the fog. Crota didn't seem to notice it, I see a familiar set of twirled horns in the fog. I chuckle, of all the people to come to my rescue, he was the very last person I expected.
"Why are you laugh-" He was interrupted as a small sun exploded in his face, taking the opportunity I form a large hand and pull it out of his shadow and slapped him into the opposite side of the fog. Crota's shock was as palpable as the anger that someone would dare break the sacred laws of his land.
"Nokris, what took you so long?" I ask with an exhausted sigh, Nokris emerges from the fog. His hands still glowing orange from launching a small sun at his brother's face. If crota wasn't angry before, he certainly is now.
"How dare a heretic like yourself step foot in this place where I was trained." Crota hissed, his sword engulfed once more in hive magics as he got up. Nokris just narrowed his eyes.
"You're not the only one who was trained here, o brother mine," Nokris responded. Now that made Crota pounce, he lept high in the sky and had every intention of impaling Nokris on his sword. To bad, he made such a nice shadow. Multiple hands of darkness held Crota up, as he struggled to escape I flew and sat on Nokris's shoulder. The hive prince glared at first but he stopped once he saw the look in my eye.
"Plan?" Was all he asked as his brother started to escape my many bindings. I nod, I glance at the dagger I made him and pointed to that and then Crota's chest. Nokris nodded, looks like he understood. I look at my own forgery of Willbreaker and grip the handle. Bahamut explained the rest of my plan to Nokris as I wiped the blood off Willbreaker.
[Pov shift, Crota, First person.]
Bastards! Both of them, weak toothless little shits! I break free of these pathetic bindings of shadow, light ender glowing with my unyielding wrath! The toothless one stepped off the heretic's shoulder, skeletal wings popping out of his back as he shot towards me, sword extended. I dodge the obvious blow but cowardly heretic blasts me with solar flames, I growl as it singes my body but I refuse to stop. I will not let them know how close to my limit I'm at. I bring up my blade and block bolts of arc energy, over the sounds of crackling lightning I heard a sword being pulled out and felt the rush of wind upon my bone, I twisted my head and narrowly dodged a decapitating blow. I lift my sword and bring it down with all my might, cutting the toothless one in half. Before he could regenerate I crush his head under my heel. Not even those pesky guardians could survive that, and he had no little light to bring him back from death.
With the death of his new master the heretic no longer holds anything back and launches both solar and arc energy at me. My blade blocks every magical blow, and I push forward. Every step I take spreads some of that toothless's brain matter across the floor, it didn't quite feel the same as guardian innards but it means the same as it did for them. I was soon well within range and the moment the heretic stopped I acted. I grabbed the heretic by the throat and choke slammed him into the ground. He groaned from the pain, he was never good at withstanding physical pain and it wasn't because he chose to become a wizard.
"Get. up. I'm not done with you yet." I told the heretic, he only just chuckled. Not one out of fear or even the type of laughter one would expect someone trying not to cry, but of genuine humor.
"What's so funny, you damn heretic," I demanded of him, my sword nano inches from his neck. He kept chuckling as if his death wasn't glaring him down.
"Nothing, yet everything. This is rather nostalgic, isn't it o brother mine?" There he goes again, speaking like an Ahamkara.
"You are no brother of mine. You never were, not once. You were always a worm, diving into things you never should've because you were too weak to do anything the proper way." the heretic only smiles at me. That's a smile of a victor, what victory could he have here? His master is dead, pieces of the gray matter still on my heel, a sword pointed at his throat and he has not Throneworld of his own unlike my father and I. by all rights, he is dead to the world, so why does he still smile like that?
"You always did a piss poor job of finishing things Crota, even after all these millennia, you're still terrible at making sure your opponent is gone." My eyes widen at the heretic's words. But that's impossible! He couldn't mean his master, I already-
When I turned around to look not only was the body gone but my guard was down. A stabbing pain blossoms in my chest, and twists near my heart. I turn back, expecting to see his master be the one to stab me, but it was the heretic. He plunged the dagger far into my chest.
"Goodbye, brother." Nokris whispered in my ear as he tears the blade from my chest. I collapsed on my knees and try to breathe. Suddenly chains and dark tendrils coil around my sword arm, impossible! It should be impossible for him to use chains here in my…..oh this isn't my ascendant plane so it doesn't apply here. I look up. The toothless one floated above us, his wings flapping and blocking out the small light of this fog realm. My father's sword held in his hands, engulfed in black flames. His wings disappeared and he dropped from the sky. I try to pull my sword hand free but these chains were strong, but my will to live must be stronger! The toothless one got ever closer to his goal, and I closer to final death by the second.
"Cmon!" I growl, trying to free my arm, no luck. He got closer, I have an idea. I grab a shard of bone from my skin and rip it off, he is mere feet away I have seconds! I plunge the shard into my upper arm and twist it until my hand lets go of my blade. I can feel the heat from his twisted black flames, I grab my sword with a free hand and stab upwards! The toothless one's eyes widen behind his mask, he had no to time to dodge and would be upon impaled my blade…..wait, he tears his mask moments before being impaled and he has a jackal's grin. My sword does not taste flesh, for he fades through my sword, he can become incorporeal?! I have no defense as my sword passes harmlessly through him. He solidifies the moment and lands on a ridge of my carapace, sword raised.
"I promised you didn't I, your head is mine." it whispered in my ear before I could stop him. Before I could counter, he swings. The fog training ground of my youth fades away as my ascendant world came back, I rolled forward. My head bouncing once it hits the ground, I got a good look of my body disappearing into green fire…..my forces lay dead in front of me….his soldiers shouting their victory cries as my surviving brood run away from these monsters….it's getting dark, far….darker...than...normal…
'Father….do…..not…...underestimate…...this beast…hides…...his truest strength. His teeth….are…far...sharper than any….blade…' my final thoughts, my final prayer to my father. It was getting darker by the second. '….I'm sorry….for being so…...weak….my only regret….was that I wasn't….able….to…..be with you…..at the end….of the universe.'
[Pov Restored]
[BGM end]
My arms feel like they're about to explode from agony, I can barely stand as is. Yet I smile, why you ask.
"Because I won." I whispered maniacally, my smile larger than any before it. I still can't believe Wraith form worked, I really need to use that more. Crota's eyes faded and his body was already ashes by the time I glanced back at it. I glance at his sword and head and shove both in my inventory. I raise my sword and thrust in upwards. My summons roars their cries of victory, I want to savor this moment for as long as possible. For this is the moment, I slew a god. Not a demi-god like of the other lesser ascendant I slaughtered on the way here, no, an actual deity of the hive. Crota, son of Oryx, slain by Mores Modus Operandi. For that is my true name now, I'm no longer the human who couldn't stop a bigot with a gun, but a god slaying reaper. Now that has a nice ring to it.
Sadly, I couldn't bask in this moment for much longer. The ascendant realm began to shake and started to break away behind us. We ran back through Crota's castle as it fell to ruin. Past the light bridges as they crumbled far behind us. Through the maze of darkness while the ground beneath us gave way to the darkness below. Straight towards the portal back home. As I helped my summons in the portal, as they were pretty banged up, I felt a shiver down my spine and instead of dodging out of the way I pushed death gun through the portal. The Hand of Crota tackled me towards the failing ascendant plane.
"Are you insane! You'll kill us both!" I yelled, I still hadn't leveled up yet. I had to leave this place before I got any rewards. Not to mention I'm exhausted from that fight. I push the Hand off me, but he just jumps back on with suicidal recklessness.
"Killed my god. I kill you." The Hand said, I was a little surprised he could speak and tried to push him off me again but unlike last time, now he had a good grip on me. I manipulate the dark around me to impale him, but yet he still holds on. Even as he was being stabbed by dozens of sharp tendrils he continues to hold me down. The edge of the ascendant plane quickly approached, shit! I'm not gonna die to an endless void!
"I'm not gonna die like this!" I yell, I activate Angel of death and push off with all four of my wings. The Hand was surprised but I didn't worry about him, he lets go he falls off into the void. My wings struggled to carry us both in the state I was in, but my control over the shadows kept me from falling out of the sky. The second I thought I would I created a platform out of darkness, right in front of the portal where Wraith was still waiting for me. Refusing to go in without me. He glared down at the Hand, I knew what he was going to do with the hive soldier, sadly, so did the Hand. The Hand of Crota then did something I never expected him to do, his hand glowed with emerald fire and his hand tore through my stomach, up my spine and before I could stop him. Right to my wings where he ripped the entire left set off. Then I experienced a type of pain that made swinging Willbreaker underleveled feel like walking into a wall. The sudden pain caused me to lose control of the supporting shadows and just as I was about to reach the portal, we fell down. Wraith tried to grab me as I fell past but he couldn't reach.
The hand and I fell into the void of between ascendant planes. roaring like a demon the Hand socked me in the jaw, separating us. I growl at the sudden pain, using my fire element I accelerate myself into him. As we tumble further into darkness I get on top of him and punch the ever loving shit out of him. Fists breaking bone with every strike until the only thing I was punching was the fragments of dust from his disintegration. I snarl at the death of my punching bag and kick his disappearing corpse away from me. Instead of letting myself fall further I create a floor of darkness right under me, every bone in my body shatters when I land but hey, it's solid. I decided that I will groan about the pain later.
"Okay, how do I get back...up?" I ask myself. I try and look around for any indication to how far I've fallen but given it's a void there was no way for me to check. I sit down on my little platform in the endless darkness surrounding me. Trying to think of how I'm gonna make it out of here, then I remember a useful little power that a dark X-blade master and his many selves like to use. I stand up and wipe off the dust of the Hand's boney remains.
"Let see if I can do this." I murmur, I breathe in and out. Conjuring every last bit of dark element that I can call upon. Forming the image of the portal in my mind, and the exit. The portal where my summon still waits. I feel my mana drain out my arms, my hands start to shake but I keep my focus up. My ripped offset of wings slowly reforming on my back as they stretched to the heavens from this dark hell. They flap and I open my eyes, a perfect replica of the dark portals they used in Kingdom Hearts. I had little time to waste so I threw myself into the portal, I came out next to Wraith, who rolled his eyes at my dramatic entrance. I didn't get a skill for the portal, maybe if I try it later I can pick up that skill
"Took. You. Long enough." Wraith said, going through the portal at last. I Simply chuckle at my first summon and walk through the portal right back where my friends were still passed out. I checked my phone, barely five minutes have passed in this world. I dismiss my summons so they could have a well-deserved break they all left, well, all but one. Nokris stared down at his dagger, the dagger he used to stab Crota straight through the chest. He notices me looking at him and shoves the dagger away.
"Hmm, maybe you are worth following. Try to call me more, it's boring in that castle of yours. Oh, and thanks for the weapon. It saved our lives." Nokris tells me before disappearing, holding onto the dagger tightly. I collapse on my butt as screens pop in front of me. I just smile, this migraine, I'm gonna enjoy getting for once.
All skills level up by twenty!
For the mastery of your weapon of choice. +30 levels.
For the actions you've taken and the chaos that will surely follow. Gain 4000 Chaos affinity.
For your mastery of the dark. Gain 2000 Darkness affinity.
For your mastery of fire. Gain 1000 Fire affinity.
For risking your plan to save a friend. Gain 700 light affinity
For your use of other elements. All other elements gain 500 affinity.
You have earned the following titles; god slayer. Master of the negative elements.
For surviving blows that would kill a lesser gamer and striking back with more than double the force. +100 Vit, +200 Str, and +400 Dex.
For tactical decisions that resulted in your victory and having the will and the luck to follow through them. +250 Int, +350 Wis, and +500 Luck.
Now the big one. LEVEL UP 720 TIMES!
Gain. More than enough money for any side project you could think of. Along with a bunch of loot, I don't want to list out. Cause I'm lazy like that. Proto dassia Arastra, I'll see you star side.
Congratulations, you have past level 1000, enjoy this milestone. You deserve all the benefits, and all the new challenges, reaching this high of level brings.
I just stare at my screens and laugh. I laugh and laugh. I just became the strongest person in Japan, in Hell and the Grigori. I just surpassed them all, this is a good feeling. A mighty feeling. A tiring feeling, I need to nap.
Speaking of naps, Issie started to wake up. Along with the rest. They all stared at me with wide eyes and slacked jaws. I give them a curious look, must be a new aura I'm radiating or something.
"Holy shit dude! What the hell happened to you?" Issie asked me. I manage to sit myself up.
"Well, after killing Kokabiel I fought and killed a god," I said as casually as I could.
"Oh that explains a lot…...wait." Issie stopped himself as Rias and Sona's eyes widened in realization of what I said.
"You killed a god?" Sona asked me. I nodded.
"I have his head, wanna see it," I ask them, I heard a mixture of yes and no. So I pulled Crota's head out of my shadow. Many gasps and wows could be heard as I held Crota's head as a trophy.
"Yep, this is Crota. A bastard who thought putting a stop my growth was a good fucking idea!" I'm still a little bitter about that but I beat him and got a hell of a power boost so I'm not gonna complain anymore.
"Wow. Remind me never to piss you off." Kiba said I nod with a smile and chuck Crota's head back in my shadow(inventory). I stood up, stretched my back out until I heard a crack.
"Now if you excuse me, it's almost seven and I need to get home. My baby sister is probably worried sick or is just really hungry and hopefully didn't notice any of this crazy shit that happened. Later." I walk off, deciding to give my wings a little break. Besides, I can't skip leg day.
As I walked back I wondered what happened to Murayama. Hopefully, she kept Lily safe and preferably keeping her from noticing the craziness that was happening just a distance away. I notice Vali following me, he must want that fight. So I turn around, enjoy his surprised expression at being caught, and flip him the finger.
"No. not today. I've had enough fighting today Vali, so leave me alone. Go back to wherever you came from or I bring out holy water, and pepper spray." I only have one of those but honestly, if pepper spray didn't work I probably would slug him. Thankfully Vali didn't test me and just nods, slightly confused about what I said. I tilt my mask in thanks, I'm not wearing a hat so I have to tilt something. I walk the rest of the way home without incident. Lily and Murayama poked their heads in the hall, I waved at them and Lily jumped and hugged me.
"Yay! Your back! Did you have a good day big bro?" Lily asked me. I smile, pat her head and nod.
"It was….exciting. How about I make some dinner for us? You two must be hungry." I say with a smile. Lily nods, a huge smile on her face. She runs to the kitchen table as Murayama heads there as well, chuckling at my cute little sister. I make some picadio, making it a little extra spicy. Though seeing the expressions on Murayama's and Lily's faces after taking a bite maybe dicing in a ghost pepper and adding shavings of a lava pepper wasn't my brightest idea. Though I do have to admit, seeing them spit out fire is hilarious. I got them each a jug of milk, to which they drained. Lily needed a little help so I poured her milk into a glass. Surprisingly Lily wasn't hurt and she actually liked it that spicy. Good to know. Murayama gave me quite the stink eye however for the rest of the day. At least until Lily fell asleep in her lap watching cartoons.
"She is way too sweet. I think I'm gonna get diabetes at this rate." Murayama whispered. I nod sagely, I was gonna scoop her up and put her in her room but then I got a good idea this time.
"Wanna tuck her in?" I ask her in a quiet voice. Murayama nods so fast I'm surprised she doesn't have whiplash. I let her do it, I don't follow her. I don't wanna crowd her, and a few minutes later she comes down with a peaceful smile on her face. Suddenly she hugs me before I could ask why the sudden hug she just shushes me.
"I just wanna hug the guy who saved me not only once but twice. Is that too much to ask?" she asks cheekily. I gave up and hugged her back. The hug lasted a few minutes and it was only then I realized she fell asleep. 'You know, her snoring really should've tipped me off.' I think and my partner laughs. {I think you got yourself a fine mate their partner} Bahamut teased. I rolled my eyes at the old dragon as I gently carry Murayama upstairs into what has quickly become her room. After tucking her in I march into my room and collapse into bed. I conk out without changing into PJ's and wake up in my castle.
"Ahh, to the Bunker and beyond!" I cheer and run towards the store, though there is one thing I need to do first. I walk to the door I have never gone into, the masked door one. Taking a breath I open the door…"What the fuck?" I whisper in horror. Inside the room was a boy, chained to the wall and perpetually being held above the ground. Blood dripped from the boy's wrist from the chains cutting into his paper-thin skin, his body an even more unhealthy pale than my own. His face was mine, and when he opened his eyes I saw red eyes staring into my own.
"You...You!" He rasped, his hands reaching out to me. As if he was trying to strangle me. I walked in, the smell of rot filled the room and it took all my mental fortitude not to vomit.
"What happened here?" I tried asking him, but he only responded with a glare, if looks could kill I'd be a rotting corpse right now. I cut the poor soul loose and use my mastery of the shadows to gently grab him and carry him out of the room. A hospital appeared and doctors rushed out to grab the original Mores.
"You! You killed me! You killed me! YOU DID THIS TO ME YOU BASTARD!" The boy shouted as he was being dragged away. I stood in there in shock...what the hell is Ragnorak doing? What the hell is going on here?
[And thus the first non highschool dxd related arc is over. See you all soon for the next one. I hope this chapter keeps the pitch forks away. Also, remeber if you have questions either leave them in a comment or better yet PM me. I don't have an active social life, or life period, so I'm more than likely going to respond within a few minutes at the earliest or a few hours at the latest. See you crazy bastards later, Ragnorak out!]