Author's Note:
Sooner than originally planned, I have reached the end of this arc. I personally found it a little disturbing but hopefuly it isn't so bad.
Definitly eager to return to the dungeon.
Later.
Chapter 49: God-Slayer
Argo:
"Nrgh…" Eyes fluttering open, Argo felt pain return with her consciousness. Her back throbbed continually from the bullet lodged in her.
Hands feeling for the entry wound found only a spot of dried blood. Her body had tried to heal around it. Argo knew that if this was the old world, she would not have woken from this injury. Whatever organ was pierced probably would have killed her from internal bleeding. Even if it didn't, infection would be spreading and killing her as she was left weak from blood loss.
Unable to waste more time, Argo forced herself up. It was remarkable how well her body moved. She should be on the verge of death yet… It was more of a minor inconvenience. Her level three body was still primed with energy.
In some ways, the straw from the barn she had collapsed in that was stuck to her clothes was more annoying. Picking at it, Argo took a glance at her surroundings in the light of day. The sun had been up for hours at this point. She was lucky she had woken up at all when her half an hour nap turned into six to eight hours at least.
Walking to the door, Argo cautiously peeked out. The sight made her groan. In the morning light, a track of blood could be followed right to the door. At least it meant that the shadow from last night had not returned, nor had it sent anyone. That did not mean that it would not.
Without waiting further, Argo exited unto a small side road only a few hundred mels off the main southern road. Stepping unto it, Argo was already surrounded by merchant carts and travelers. Large convoys carried fish and imports from other lands north to Orario, whereas an almost equal number of convoys were travelling South where they brought the magic stones and their products to spread to the world. Among them were the smaller carts bringing the entirety of a small merchant's products to a new place.
It was somehow refreshing to see that outside the great walls of Orario, life still flowed normally. Maybe Argo would request a vacation sometime soon. See a part of this world she had found herself in. For now, though, Argo was stuck returning to the central of the world and the endless problems contained there.
At this distance, those walls were just visible and growing with every step. Beyond them, a glimmering tower in the center of the city was visible, Babel. Argo had giggled at the name in the beta, the obvious reference, but… this was now its own world. Was it possible for so many coincidences to exist?
Caught up in her thoughts, it took Argo a moment to realize that the traffic on the road was seizing as they beheld her. Faces turned from bored to disbelief or stunned terror. Fox ears twitching, Argo struggled to control her tail from whipping in agitation as well. Whole cart trains forgot to direct their horses and ran into one another.
Argo could not see exactly how bad she looked. Her back had the bullet hole and most of the dried blood that had leaked unto her pants and boots. But her left sleeve was bloody, and her coat covered with straw. It was horrible by anyone's regard
The first thing I am doing when I get back is getting a massage from that horrible man. Remembering she still had a bullet inside of her, Argo pushed it back to second. However… Argo's face paled when she finally considered that the bullet would have to come out. Did this world have an anesthetic? She hoped so.
With the distress she was causing, Argo's pace increased. While it was still a walk to her, the average person would struggle to keep pace with her for more than a kilometer or so. Leaving concerned questioners and gaping mouths behind, Argo arrived at the gates and ignored the line-up. Ganesha Familia and the guild checked everyone. Argo ignored them and began to walk past.
Of course, one of the Ganesha members immediately raised a cry and Argo found half a dozen arrows pointed her direction. Taking an emblem from her pouch, Argo flipped it at the leader but did not slow. She was almost past him by the time he called out to lower weapons.
Wait… Turning in surprise, Argo frowned. There should have been half a dozen arrows pointed at her. She counted two. Also, only two people, one a guild member, were checking entrance permissions and permits.
The South gate was the busiest of the four. It had more traffic than the other three combined. "This makes no sense…"
Inside the walls, Argo took off at a run. The throbbing pain increased to a hammer. Each step sending bolts of lightning through her midsection. Moans trying to escape from between gritted teeth, Argo did not slow a step.
I should have been here, if only I had not been careless!
Ten excruciating minutes later, Argo found herself on the steps of her familia home. The outside was so bare and faded that most people did not even know it was a familia home. Unassuming, it was low, stocky, and looked poor.
Argo nodded to her familia member disguised as a beggar on the street outside. They gaped back at her in disbelief at her destroyed outfit.
Shouldering it open, Argo wished the pain would fade again. Whatever running had done, however, her entire left side was a throbbing mess. "That was stupid."
Whatever was wrong in the city, she would not have changed anything by running here. But just knowing that something was, Argo suspected that one familia would be swirling at the center of everything. The catalyst for all change in the city recently, Hestia familia.
"Argo," her god's voice greeted her.
"Hermes!" Argo croaked, her teeth instantly clacking back together to contain a moan of pain.
"What… No, it is unimportant right now. Lie down, I will get you to Amid as soon as possible."
"NO!" Argo raised a weak hand to forestall the god. "What happened? Tell me what is wrong in the city."
Hermes' face was a mask. He still wore a concerned expression that did not suit him at all. Golden eyes stared at her with consternation. "Will you go to Amid peacefully if I tell you?"
"Yes." Argo promised. It was only logical; she needed the bullet out of her body.
"Ishtar has moved into the shopping district charming people so she can destroy Hestia familia."
"…" Argo blinked once at her god. Then tilting her head back, she screamed the guilty name that she had known would come up. "KIRITO!"
Bell:
"What time is it…?" Bell's question was quiet, barely audible in the night. Still, the shapes around him stirred slightly.
"I don't know," Klein replied at the same level. The usual happiness and cheer in his voice had vanished long ago. The day had been horrible. Beyond horrible. It was not right, everything that was happening was completely wrong.
Ishtar is a goddess and goddesses are goddesses.
So why? Why would she do something like this?
Bell had been able to separate the goddess from the deed when they fought the bull. After all, she had not created the monster. But Ishtar was the one doing this.
Joining Ganesha familia, Bell and the others had been part of the group surrounding the shopping district. Every person that exited needed to be questioned thoroughly. That was a lesson they had learned in blood. Innocent, wide-eyed crying children would stumble past the barricade only to turn around and drive a knife into an adventurer's back.
But even when one admitted that they loved Ishtar, what were you supposed to do with them? Currently, they were being manacled and thrown in the guild's dungeons. It could not last. How many had they missed?
Shivering, Bell almost did not notice when a figure shadowed the moonlight on the roof. Struggling to rise and let out a call, the figure blurred and suddenly a hand was stopping him from talking.
"Quiet." The feminine voice was strong and full of command. It was also one that Bell recognized after yesterday. Shakmi, captain of Ganesha familia. Bell had seen her older sister in action as a child. If they were as similar in strength as they were in appearance, she was a good person to have on your team.
"W-Who!?" Klein's gasp was not quiet. As he rushed over though, he made no more sound than a muted gasping. His eyes bulged as he took the woman in. Her mature features cast in moonlight gave her an alluring beauty. No, it only amplified it. She was maybe the second most beautiful human Bell had seen.
"Huh? Y-You?" Welf's voice at least was a whisper. Lili did not say anything as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, but she did glare at Shakmi's back.
"Something is happening." Shakmi whispered. "Goddess Ishtar could never have planned to bunk down for an entire evening while the city mobilized against her."
"So…?" Bell asked when his mouth was freed. He agreed, but that did not tell them what they should do.
"So, I have heard that you have resisted Ishtar's charm before."
Bell was not sure how that information had worked its way up to the Ganesha Familia captain. He had practically yelled it at the organizers of the resistance, but in the end, they simply shoved them to the side and sent them to act as lookouts and stand guard.
In response, Bell nodded. "So?"
Shakmi hesitated for the first time. When she started again, her words were slow, as if waiting for the moment Bell would erupt in protest.
"If you were to get close to Ishtar, you could gag her and toss her in a sack. That would stop her from charming people. If she were… delivered to the correct deity…"
Bell did not explode, but only because his jaw was hanging loose. As was the jaw of every person around him. Everyone except Klein. The man's eyes looked a little disturbed, but he eventually nodded calmly. No, not calm, he was still checking out the Ganesha captain!
"It is a tad improper," Shakmi said, "but—"
"A tad!?" Lili growled over the woman's words. "That is borderline blasphemy! Next, you'll ask him to kill Ishtar!"
Shakmi's expression hardened and grew defensive. "If the gods cannot or will not deal with her then we must. Besides Aisha, Bell is the only person I know of whom has resisted the woman's charming."
Bell nodded slowly. This was why he had been so eager to be here. He could do this… he had done it before. …hadn't he? Ishtar's outrage as she strode back down the stairs ordering her familia to kill him. It had to have been that.
"What about Aisha then?" Lili growled. "If she can do it, then recruit her!"
"Aisha is Ishtar familia at the end of the day. She does not believe she would be able to resist an order from her goddess face-to-face." Shakmi replied logically.
While Bell nodded, Lili scoffed. "What a grand excuse. She is just weaseling out of being forced to commit blasphemy! Why should Bell risk his eternal soul in this!?"
"Lili, that is enough." For a wonder, the girl actually subsided. She did not even give him a sullen glare, only a concerned glance.
"We will accompany you of course," Klein stood up and stretched. "I can't say I'll be resistant to this goddess charm thing, but I can carry the sack out."
Welf looked at them askance but sighed and stood up as well. "There's only one goddess whose approval I want, and it isn't Ishtar's."
"Idiots," Lili mumbled, but it had a fond cast to it. "Now, we need to figure out how we are going to approach this."
"No need," Shakmi shook her head. "Ganesha familia will lead a raid. Hard and strong, her forces will come to stop us. However, Ishtar herself will likely not. You will approach from the rear and kidnap her. Also, I will come with you."
"You?" Lili narrowed her eyes, as if sensing a trap. "That makes no sense, you should be leading the raid. They will expect a trap if you aren't there."
"Maybe," the blue-haired woman nodded gracefully. "But if I am not with you, a certain swordsman with cut you down with impunity."
The unspoken name hung in the air, Kirito. Bell barely suppressed gulping and shivering. Would they actually have to fight him? Bell could not believe it. The boy from the other world was an enigma. A boy that had grated Bell's frayed nerves when they first met. Now, he saw the hero the man would be, the hero he already was.
But what is a hero to a god?
The thought was chilling. Entertainment, that was all they amounted to in the eyes of the gods. Brief moments of levity from what they saw as the languorous passage of time.
"…Very well." Bell agreed his voice cold with anger. Anger at the gods. Blasphemous anger. "Let us kidnap a goddess."
Asuna:
"You will give the order, or I will leave this familia."
Asuna's frosty declaration barely lowered the temperature at all. Counting her, there were six people in Loki's office. The goddess herself, Lefiya, Astrid, Phineas, and Goran. All five of them looked at her with different expressions. Loki's was unreadable, the mirth long since gone. Lefiya was sympathetic. Understanding, but also unsure if she should help. The three leaders just radiated a cold fury. Not all of it directed at her.
"Neh, Asu-tan," Loki spoke in that almost disrespectful fashion again. "Don'tcha think it may not be wise to send a bunch of high-level adventurers after Ishtar? Only give her more muscle to work with."
"…" Asuna repressed the building rage at hearing the same argument repeated again. Delivered in a slightly different way, true, but the core of the message was one she had heard.
"Ishtar has trapped herself in a box. If she moves herself, she will be in danger. If she stays behind though, her numbers only dwindle. This won't be a race Asu-tan. Go cool your head and wait for a mission from the guild."
What Loki said did make sense. It was likely the correct decision. Ishtar may have charm on her side, but once the other deities came down on her, order would be restored, however… "I can't do that."
Turning, Asuna strode from the room. She may not have the might of Loki familia behind her, but there was at least one other place that would help her.
"Asuna…"
"You should not be doing this; Loki is smarter than you think."
Asuna spared only a quick glance for Lefiya who had followed after her and spoken first. Astrid got a full-on scowl. "I don't care how logical her plan is. Ishtar has him! The longer he stays with her, the longer Ishtar has to… to…" Asuna fell silent. She felt that if she spoke the sentence, it would force the actual event into being.
"I do understand," Astrid's tail was a whip, swishing irritably. "But you admitted yourself at the beginning the effect Ishtar has. Doing this will be hard."
Asuna was going to bite back about the difficulty, all the while fighting down that bubbling fear in her stomach that thinking about the goddess created. Not fear of the goddess per se, fear of her own powerlessness. All created because thinking about Ishtar threatened to make Asuna milk-eyed with a loopy smile. It was the lingering fragments of her charm, binding her to the goddess.
In the time it took Asuna to put together a reply, she heard the implications in it and stopped. The two women flanking her passed on almost a meter before turning.
"The two of you will help?" Asuna asked warily. They would either help or hinder. If it was the latter, Asuna was practically stuck. Astrid was stronger than her and Lefiya's magic was terrifying.
Both nodded. Lefiya gave her a friendly smile whereas Astrid rolled her eyes. "You and that boy have both saved my life," Lefiya said, "I would be a poor friend if I did not help now."
"Sheesh, you may be over the moon for the guy, but I would think you still felt something for the people in your familia."
Asuna bowed graciously. "Thank you both. This will be dangerous though. Even just the sight of that woman can adle the brain."
"Sight…" Astrid agreed as if thinking. "It is a hard technique, but if it comes to that keep your eyes away and we can hope her voice is not commanding."
Sighing heavily, Asuna shook her head wearily at the two amazing adventurers. She knew that she had grown immensely since coming to this world. The pledge she had once made to die herself seemed foolish now. But even after growing so much, the high-level adventurers of this world have a grace or presence that Asuna did not match.
"Well, it is about three in the morning," Astrid spoke. "What is that plan?"
"I…" Frowning, Asuna had not realized how much time had ticked by. The whole day was gone and the next was coming. She did not think she could sleep, nor did she think Ishtar would for long.
"We can use the darkness," Lefiya said suddenly. "If necessary, my magic can draw or scatter a great number of people."
"Yes, I am afraid we may have to." Astrid did not look happy but did agree.
"I will get him out during that." Asuna agreed, a rough plan agreed upon by the three of them.
"Is that… enough?" Lefiya asked. "I don't know much about the charm but… will he come? Ishtar may be the issue here."
Asuna's jaw worked, but she did not have a reply. Stroking the hilt of her rapier, a thought crossed her mind, but she did not give voice to it. The natives would not let her leave if they had even considered what Asuna was thinking. "If Ishtar is in my way, then we can resolve everything."
The two gave each other looks like they were planning on how to rescue her once she had gotten herself arrested but did not say anything.
Having reached a tentative agreement, Asuna took up the lead once more and led them from Twilight Manor.
Rain:
Drip, drip drip.
Into the stunned silence of the night, only the pattering of blood on the stone roads existed. Rain's right hand shook on the hilt of her sword as it had not since her first week as an adventurer.
Slowly, with deliberate movements, she extracted her blade from the back of the man leaking blood on the ground. With a disgusting slurp, she freed it and the corpse collapsed with a thud. Rivers of blood now pouring from him as the still beating heart ejected its lifeblood unto the stones of Orario, staining the city red.
Even then, Rain's eyes kept flipping back to Philia's. The girl who was basically her sister now was staring wide-eyed in shock. The knife that had cut into her jerkin above her heart was still held in her hand even after the man had released it.
"Thank you…" Philia said after another moment. That broke the tension as the rest of the familia spoke on top of each other. Some of them were crying and hugging each other.
It was one thing to kill monsters, and even seeing monsters kill people… Rain looked horrified at her hand. There was no blood on her, but she felt dirty. She just ran an innocent man through the back with one of her blades because Ishtar had charmed him.
Throwing her left hand over her mouth, Rain staggered a step as her vision blurred and nausea threatened to empty her stomach.
Murderer.
The word floated through her mind unbidden. Had he had a family? Was he a nice person? What had he been doing in the shopping district before Ishtar conquered it?
As Rain's knees threatened to buckle, Philia was suddenly there, pulling her away. "I know it is selfish of me to ask… but please do not regret this."
Briefly Rain saw four blues eyes staring up at her with a sharp need. Looking at them though settled them into two eyes. Those piercing orbs gaining clarity. "Philia… I…"
Philia's hand on her mouth cut her off. Her other hand snaked around Rain's waist pulling them together in an almost romantic fashion. "Don't! Please!"
Rain stiffened. When Philia's hand lowered from her mouth their breaths began to mingle. The horror of the sightless eyes and fountaining chest began to subside. "Thank you."
Breathing the words right back, Rain closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Philia's. She thought her chest may burst from the love she felt towards to this girl. The feeling was so similar to her emotions to Kirito, yet slightly different. There was no desire to kiss the girl, but Rain knew that she wanted to spend her life with Philia as much as she did with Kirito.
With her heart settled thanks to her friend, Rain became aware of everyone else milling around, talking, vomiting, and doing a myriad of other things. The group was seriously impressive, it included all of Hestia familia, Take-Mikazuchi familia, Miach familia, and oddly enough, Daphne and Cassandra from Apollo familia. Cassandra had barely reacted to the murder and kept frowning at Miach's back as if blaming the god for making her be there.
"We need to keep moving," Hestia reminded them coolly. The death had barely affected the gods at all. None of the three deities had spared the body more than a single pitying gaze. "He had a friend, remember? That one will be reporting to Ishtar about our whereabouts."
A shadow touched down beside them. Mikoto. "I followed that one a street or so. You are likely correct Goddess Hestia, they whispered a message to someone who took off. There will be a net of assassins closing in soon."
The goddess only glared toward the inner city. "Where the hell did Bell and Lili run off to? I could use that Girl's head right about now…"
"We do not have her," Take said levelly. The man's voice was gravelly and somewhat… resigned, Rain thought. To what she wished she knew.
"We continue South then." Hestia ordered. No matter what state someone was in, they stood up at that. They had spent most of the day surveying the outskirts of the shopping district. A few people had randomly attacked them, but this last man had been the most convincing, the only one that had needed to be killed.
Now, their path had brought them very near Daedalus street. Much further south and they would be in the complex maze, far from Kirito. It was counterproductive to their ultimate goal.
Sensing the bubbling dissent, Hestia stamped her foot, looking truly like the small child her height suggested. "We have to! Don't argue!"
Sharing a glance with her familia, reactions were mixed. Philia was intense, but willing. Leafa was frowning in open disagreement, while Silica, still white-faced, was nodding agreement. Sachi's eyes were distant and unfocused, willing to get dragged whereever she was told to go. Strea was supporting Yui, the young girl traumatized by the death. That left Haruhime and Mikoto's uncertain looks.
"We follow our goddess," Rain reminded them. With just that, their procession was moving again. Sparse glares were shot at her, but they all agreed that now was not the time to be arguing.
Wanting to be doing something, Rain leapt unto one of the nearby houses as a look-out. Silica as their best pair of eyes took the front. With the gods and supporters in the middle, the adventurers escorted them through the fearful city.
"Oh, Kirito…" Hoping the boy was fine, Rain sent a prayer to her absent lover.
Kirito:
Flicker.
The boy's consciousness was weak and dim. He could not remember his name or address. Neither could he have said if he was alive. He simply was.
A sphere of thought floating through the ether between worlds. Like the world's most immersive 3D cinema, Kirito watched as monsters killed people… kind of. They did not leave behind bodies, they exploded into specks of light. Yet, the ball of half-conscious thought that watched the movie knew they would not wake again… in that world at least. The last to die pricked at sphere Kirito's mind. That one should have been protected.
Flicker.
A boy ran forward wielding an axe with a head carved from a white substance that looked like bone. A very familiar boy with black hair, eyes full of rage and fear. A knight struck out at the boy and sent him reeling. Less than a minute later the knight was flying away on a dragon, a golden-haired girl dangling beneath him.
Flicker.
As with the first ones, Kirito witnessed everything. Death, kidnapping, rape, and everything in between. The orb that was his fragment of consciousness did not feel anything at these scenes. Emotion required understanding. They simply were. Things that he could have experienced.
Some things he should have experienced.
Should have…
Flicker.
Each scene was absorbed and internalized by the orb that was Kirito. Each time, it added something to him. Like the automatic response of a digestive system, the orb slowly figured out what to do with the visions. How they should be treated.
The orb, that once started soft, and malleable, began to firm. Ever so slowly getting shaped into a sphere of obsidian as scenes of sadness drowned it.
Bell:
Chest heaving, Bell stared wide-eyed in panic at the street below. Body garbed in black, he wished for one of those helms of hades that Hermes familia had lent them for the wargame.
Two amazons were barely three meters below him. His breathing was restricted through his nose but still sounded like Hestia's snoring to him. Thankfully, they were oblivious.
"Urgh, I can't believe she came back like this…"
"I know, right? The audacity of our goddess!"
Neither of the upset amazons sounded much pleased with the situation. They had to know that to Ishtar, each and every one of them is expendable. Yet, if Bell were to jump down and ask for their help, they would likely stab him in the stomach.
Both familia ties and now a charm kept them obedient to their goddess' orders. Even if those orders were tying a noose around their necks.
As they moved on, Bell finally released his breath. The patrols were sparse and random. Ishtar was acting confident for someone who loosely held a position in the middle of the city.
Did she rely on the guild's sloth? Or perhaps she had informants?
Bell did not have time to think as a brief gesture from the leader of their group signaled them on. Crossing the lip of a building's roof, Bell caught sight of the rest of the shopping district and Orario beyond. It was darker than usual, buildings and people faded into lumps that a normal human would not be able to make out. The moon was bright, but the torches and storefront magic lanterns were not maintained. The workers that would have turned them on had either been driven out or were charmed and doing something else.
All in all, it turned the city into a wild maze like a forest or the dungeon. If Bell considered Ishtar's thralls as monsters, then the similarities grew too eerie for his liking.
On the street below, almost out of Bell's eyeshot now, the amazons guided their path. After spending nearly thirty minutes here, they had finally realized that Ishtar's plan was not that stupid after all.
They simply had no idea where she was. Hopefully, one of these patrols would return to report back to her. This was the third group they followed. The first had simply been going to raid an empty bar of alcohol before taking up posts on the western edge, watching for Ganesha familia raids.
The next had gone to an inn where they changed out with another pair that yawned and began tramping around wildly. Completely unhelpful.
The whole thing had left Bell confused. He knew that they had lost their captain, Aisha who fled Ishtar, and Samira, their second in command. Bell had no delusion of being a great tactician, but even he thought that he could come up with a better plan than this. Kirito or Lili could have done it in a heartbeat.
The only reason Bell could come up with was that Ishtar did not do it herself. The goddess may be simply ordering people to guard her and expecting the thralls to work it out themselves.
Bell could not ask the others if they agreed or ask anything. He met Welf's wide eyes and tried to smile supportively. By the way the blacksmith grimaced, Bell did not think he had managed it. The four of them advanced in a loose diamond shape. Shakmi led them, Bell had the left side and Klein the right. Welf as the least agile among them took up the rear.
They stayed like that for another half an hour. The pair of amazons walking a tight ring through alleys flanking the main streets. Just when Bell was sure that Shakmi would give the order to peel off, the amazons whispered something to each other and changed direction.
Exiting unto a main street for once, they established a larger gap between themselves and Bell's group. He could not get any closer than a dozen meters or so as they stood, hands on hips, in the middle of the wide avenue.
"Think we should ask her?"
"No, let's just grab some coffee and keep going. Do you remember the rumours about the things she did to Aisha?"
Shivering, the amazons approached a building that Bell recognized, the Benevolent goddess. "No way…"
Shakmi heard his whisper and rounded on him. "You are aware of that institution as well, then?"
"Umm, yes?"
Shakmi nodded after a moment. "I am surprised Syr would have told you all, and I have no idea how Ishtar knows, but to take over a restaurant that Freya patronized does make a certain amount of sense."
"Err, what?" Bell had had no idea about that.
"…" Shakmi did not reply, merely turn back to observing the restaurant. "I don't like the solution, but I think we have to hit the building hard and fast. Welf, Klein, stop anyone else from entering after Bell and I go in."
Both men nodded assent instantly. Neither wanted to go up against a goddess that could melt their brains. It went against the initial plan, but finding Ishtar had taken too long. Bell did not want to do his job either. It would be so much easier if he could simply protect Shakmi while she took Ishtar.
Bell's adoration for deities had been tested on the day of the Great Reckoning. Hermes' ploys to get Bell to return to Orario had only furthered his views that all gods were only on the lower world for their own goals. Little had changed since then. Even with the disillusionment, they were still gods. Even if a high-level adventurer pretended to be a normal citizen, you didn't slap them across the face and expect to walk away whole.
Trying to tamp down on the thoughts eroding his mind and spirit, Bell instead thought of the innocent people that were being harmed right now. Bell knew that there were good people inside that restaurant who had probably been harmed.
When Shakmi dropped to the road, Bell followed. It seemed they were going through the front door. Walking straight, Bell swallowed once more and focused. Time seemed to slow, and details jumped out as his body entered battle mode. From his pouch, bell extracted a gag that he held loosely in his right hand. It was a poor substitute for a dagger, but it was the best he had.
No one stopped them as they crossed the dark street. It was honestly hard to tell that it was Ishtar's headquarters at all. Yet, he did not doubt that it was. There was a strange foreboding to the place similar to the lair of a monster rex.
Shakmi walked up the wooden stairs to the porch silently. Crossing it like a ghost, she finally looked back. Searching his eyes, the woman waited for Bell's nod before pulling the door open.
Thunk!
Bell's heightened senses caught the sound of a chair hitting the ground in time with the door opening. Too soon for someone reacting to their entrance. Once the door was pulled away, Bell saw them. The Goddess Ishtar lounging around a table with two servants fanning her as she sucked on a pipe. Also around the table was the owner, Syr. Gray hair disheveled as she sorted papers and made marks on them. Last was Kirito. He had likely been sitting there and helping, but was already standing and facing the door.
His eyes froze Bell faster than even Ishtar's did. There was simply nothing remaining. Black mirrors that reflected the emptiness within. He did not look like those that Bell had seen charmed so far. Rather than a soul whipped into a frenzy of love and doing anything to please the object of their affections, Kirito was the opposite. Bell would have said the man's soul had fled.
"Get her!" Shakmi ordered. Not waiting, she charged not the goddess, but Kirito. Eyes never meeting Ishtar's the Ganesha familia captain brought back a fist and lashed out at full force. The punch itself had the speed of a level four adventurer and was no more than a blur to Bell.
Somehow, Kirito dodged it. Body flowing faster than a striking snake, he responded with his blow from the side. The force of it sent Shakmi sprawling through tables and into the far wall. With crunches that could have been heard half a kilo or more off, Shakmi rose from the remnants of one of the thick wooden pillars supported the building.
Bell did not wait. Pushing off his foot hard, he used every bit of speed that he possessed. The distance from the front door to Ishtar only taking him a second to cover. The goddess' eyes blazed with fury as she rose to her feet. Removing her pipe, she was going to speak.
Body outstretched, Bell had to make it. He had to stop the cry for help. Gag in hand, he lunged.
Reach!
Blinking, Bell groaned and tried to lift his aching body. He was on the ground. How? When? A million questions circled, but he finally managed to get his head up.
His still whirling vision gave him multiples of the interior of the inn. Ishtar was in a blind spot, but Bell could see two copies of Kirito and Shakmi struggling. Her fist was being held just away from his face, as the Ganesha captain slowly forced him down with her superior strength.
Then, as Bell's vision cleared and Ishtar entered it, the goddess spoke. "Enough." The single word carried incredible command.
Yes, I fought hard enough. I should take a nap… Maybe I will wake up in her arms…
"Grr…" Growling to himself, Bell focused on the pain in his body. There were two sites worse than the rest. First, his right upper arm ached like a cudgel had hit him. Except it wasn't a cudgel, only Kirito's open-palm strike. The other was his left shoulder that crashed through tables until the bar broke his flight, and Bell's body broke it.
Without Welf's armour, Bell would have required a surgeon and months to regain use of his arm, if he ever did. Gulping, Bell stood up once more on shaky legs.
The struggle between Shakmi and Kirito had ended. The Ganesha captain had staggered back. Her head was down, still not looking at Ishtar, but she did not try to attack further.
"Now—"
Whatever Ishtar had been about to say was cut off as Klein staggered in, a gash in his temple leaking blood. "I heard a bang, you have her yet? We need to—"
This time, he cut off as the proud warrior collapsed to his knees, jaw agape as he beheld the deity before him. With an absent-minded movement, his right hand rose to press fist to heart.
"I am Klein. Single, Twenty-three years of age. Would you do me the honour of—"
"Shut up," Ishtar spat scornfully. "Sit silently until I deal with you. Now, Kirito, let's say we teach this woman some manners, hmm?"
"Will that… make you happy?"
"Yes, Yes, it will."
Bell opened his mouth to cry out. He needed to get their attention off Shakmi. The woman would be struggling to fight the charm right now. Even Bell was not as resistant as he hoped. That command of 'Shut up' had not been directed at him, but he still struggled to move his mouth.
"Eh?" Suddenly, Shakmi was beside him. She paused to adjust as she wrapped Bell with one arm and flung him over her shoulder.
That gave Bell a great view of the room as she ran for the entrance and Klein. Kirito merely stood there, head cocked, not doing a thing.
He could have stopped us.
Burdened as she was, Shakmi would not be able to out-run him. But he simply stood there as impassively as Syr who had not moved. She looked bored by the interruption.
Then, one more harsh burst of acceleration and slowing, Klein was beside him and Bell was out in the dark night. Shakmi was running and then leaping unto roofs. Bell caught sight of Welf tailing them, arms working but losing ground.
They stayed like that for half a dozen minutes, their path carrying them to the South-east of Orario. Only when they were beyond the pursuit of any Ishtar thralls did Shakmi stop.
Bell collapsed heaving, but she stayed upright, swaying, not even breathing hard. A little while later, Welf joined them, collapsing hard to the ground. "What… happened."
Shakmi answered in a groan. "I underestimated him. I watched the wargame, I heard about the level-up but I still…"
"You…" Welf bit off a curse. Rising anger in his eyes combatted the terror and exhaustion from moments before. "You were the one lecturing us about how important this was! How we only have one chance!"
"I agree." Shakmi's relenting took the wind from Welf's sails. The boy sagging back to the ground. "I was… selfish I suppose. I wanted to render him unconscious with one blow. Otherwise, I would have had to potentially break both of his legs to stop him."
Bell nodded glumly. He thought Shakmi had done all that could be expected. Now they had to focus on what came next. "Kirito's eyes… why is he so different?"
Shakmi sank to the tiled roof, sitting as well. The usually composed woman now looked… worried. "I have no idea. His status is not impaired but… he acted oddly."
"He could have caught us." Bell agreed. Finally sparing a glance for Klein, Bell did not like what he saw. The man lay on his back, staring at the starry sky with a loving devotion. But it was not the stars that had captured his heart.
Welf shook the man. "Oi, Klein, pull yourself together."
"…" Klein opened his mouth, but did not say anything. His eyes focused a little and he glared at Welf, smacking the blacksmith's hand away.
"He is following Ishtar's command still…" Shakmi sighed. Visible signs of frustration tinged her expression as she massaged her temples with a hand.
"He will… get better?" Bell asked, his stomach a churning disaster. The effect was simply too powerful to be believed.
"Pr-Yes." Shakmi answered.
Bell was not sure if he had heard a catch in her voice at the beginning for a completely different word. "We need to do it again." Bell said instead, changing the subject. "You will be ready for Kirito and I can—"
"No." Shakmi said, and Welf nodded agreement. "They will be ready."
Trying to contain his emotions, Bell stood. As he did, he noticed that the Eastern sky was tinged red. Dawn would be coming in an hour. Coming with it would be more bloodshed.
Freya:
"What… has happened?" Talking to herself, Freya stared aghast into the heart of the city. Had her gamble backfired. Her arcanum eyes could not be lied to, yet she wished they were mistaken.
"I have not gotten a report," A steady male voice answered. The man now lounged indolently in a chair; head propped on fist. Of course, his speech sounded completely honest, a man just trying to help. Freya could hear the undertones, the agitation bordering on mockery.
Any other time, she would have scolded him, but there was no time for that right now. Also, he had a reason, forced to go sleepless to watch the dynamics play out before them. Only, he could not see anything.
Freya, however, was watching a play go very, very wrong. She did not understand what Ishtar's charm had done to the boy. The soul that she had gotten so adept at finding, even through walls, was now… faded. Distant may be the better word. As it was when he had first come to this world.
Her knuckles went white from strain as she gripped the banister before her. The cold wind this high in the air went unnoticed, as did the drink and refreshment on a table behind her. Freya could only stare at the dim soul and fret.
Just as concerning, was the meeting between the two boys only moments before. The bright white light with the clear center had interacted with the black orb and dimmed. The brilliance reduced as if the black soul had absorbed it. If Kirito had though, his soul displayed no visible change.
"Goddess?"
The concerned question came at just the right time. Making a decision, Freya nodded and released the banister. It must be the charm. The boys could only grow and be themselves if they were free.
That… could be an issue. Freya did not mean to control them the way Ishtar was trying to. But if one of them was her Odr… No, that was a problem for a later date.
"Let us go. We will gather everyone in Folkvangr."
"As you wish." Standing up, Heathcliff had an odd, self-satisfied smile on his face.
Not paying him any mind, Freya swept from her tower atop the city and descended to mingle with the commoners once more.
Leafa:
"Watch out!" Her yell was for Silica. The young girl threw herself across the cobbled path without pause. Her trust may have saved her life as a thrown spear thudded to the ground where she had been.
Even as Silica rose to find her assailant, Leafa was there. Jumping unto the nearby roof, Leafa's slash hit the amazon's shield and skidded off with sparks. The force drove her foe back a step.
Even as the amazon retreated, they grabbed a second spear and stabbed like lightning. The foot or so of steel slid off Leafa's gauntlet, leaving a furrow.
Grabbing a stronger foothold, Leafa whirled again, feinting first one way, and then attacking the other. Her opponent did not flinch, dead black eyes calmly meeting her attacks. No, not dead, just filled with a single-minded zealotry that did not allow for other thoughts.
It was chilling, and so different from the amazons Leafa and fought during the wargame. Once full of life, Ishtar was in the process of reducing them to toys.
The back-and-forth contest continued for a while. Feints and parries being traded at blinded speed. Leafa ended the contest with a powerful overhead strike. The amazon's upraised shield blocked it head-on which was her mistake. Turning it into a battle of strength, Leafa bore down with her higher status.
When the amazon crumpled to her knees, Leafa let up the pressure and swung her foot forward. Catching the amazon's temple, the dead eyes glazed over, and she collapsed.
Giving her opponent a dejected sigh, Leafa turned away and began to jog back to the group proper. The street was now light enough for the gods to see by. Slowly but surely night was turning into day, and their group continued to get harried. Skirting Daedalus Street, they were running out of room. The imposing labyrinth of tall buildings was a prime spot for ambushes and getting lost. It would also get them away from the attacks.
"Thank you, Leafa!" Silica greeted her. The young girl's eyes had a tinge of nervousness to them, but nowhere near the amount a normal person would have after nearly dying. Both of them had been through enough close scraps to know it could come at any time.
Leafa had once wondered why the other adventurers always had a live fast, die young, aura about them. Taking every pleasure, they gave only half a thought to the future. She thought she understood now, but still did not subscribe to it. Leafa was still planning on living a long life by her older brother's side.
"It was nothing… You helped me out last time."
"Last time? No, I think you mean the time before last."
"Oh, yeah…" Leafa wanted to sigh again. Her eyes kept fluttering open and closed. It had been long night full and violence and confusion. Every single person was a suspect. Leafa wanted to cry thinking about the mother and her small child. The spears they lowered at the pair and sent screaming into the city.
"I think we should—"
"Archers!" Mikoto screamed suddenly.
Flinging herself around, Leafa's blade was out of its scabbard before she saw the first shape. From the North, a line of shabbily dressed figures rose from rooftops with bows and crossbows.
Diving backwards, Leafa deflected one bolt that came close to her with a deft swing of her katana. The blade was designed for precise flowing forms, not defending against missiles.
The aim was poor, and no one was injured from the attack. The archers were merchants and citizens pulled from the streets by Ishtar. With the sun rising, Ishtar must be enacting the next stage of her plan and was not slowing down. No, she was speeding up.
"Shit!" Nautilus' cry from the backline caused Leafa to whirl again. There were forms emerging from the alleys, cloaks around their bodies, but the beauty of elves was unmistakable. These were not Ishtar familia members, but adventurer thralls she had managed to capture.
All four stuck forward staffs and began to cast.
"The gods…" Silica breathed in confusion. "They can't cast! They may kill the—"
"They don't know what they are doing anymore!" Leafa screamed in a near panic. Giving the mages one glare, she darted to where Take-mikazuchi familia milled in a confused huddle around the three deities trying to get a word in. The four young men of the familia: Keita, Ducker, Tetsuo, and Sasamaru were the core of it. The least experienced of them all, they kept gaping one way and then another, the night frying their nerves completely.
Not giving them a chance, Leafa darted between them and grabbed at Hestia. Body low, Leafa swept Hestia's legs out with her left arm and caught her shoulders with her right. In moments, Leafa was running into Daedalus street, Hestia held bridal carry in her arms.
The rapid intrusion caused a flurry of activity. No later had Haruhime guided by Take-mikazuchi entered the alley then the magic went off. A tornado of air showered them with shards of stone as lightning cackled in the air, causing Leafa's hair to stand up.
"Stay here." Lowering Hestia, Leafa peered out and assessed their situation. The rest of them had scattered. She could make out Silica across the street dueling with an amazon while Liz protected her from archers that were taking pot shots at her. Further ahead, Rain and Philia were getting harassed by a well put together party of adventurers.
Behind them, where the magic had come from, the rest of the group fought to keep their assailants from reaching the deities. Yuna and Nautilus, side-by-side, Ouka and Chigusa mirroring them. Mikoto was covering the far side, aided by Daphne while Cassandra cowered behind them.
Leafa tsked. They were in threat of being overrun. Ishtar, or someone, had planned this well. The citizens we let go… With a sinking heart, Leafa understood what had happened. The people they drove off had reported their direction, location, and numbers.
"Fall back into Daedalus Street!" Leafa screamed at them. Without staying to see if they had listened, she shooed the others onward. "Run further in!"
Following her own advice, Leafa rounded a corner before beginning her own chant. Hardened by practice, she barely noticed the strain of ensuring the flows of power stayed in place and did not erupt in the process called ignis fatuus. When she finished, Leafa spoke the name of her spell.
"Lady of the Sky!"
Stamping against the ground, her jump turned into soaring that took her ten meters into the air. Stepping unto the tall stone building that rimmed Daedalus street, Leafa observed the street beyond.
Things were starting to turn in their favour. Tired as they were, level three adventurers like Rain and Philia were hard to bring down. When people thought of adventurers their minds conjured up images of powerful sword strikes, or magic that seared the earth. Rarely did they consider that their endurance increased just as much.
Which was good, as Rain landed beside Leafa on the tall brick building, her face was a thunderhead. The armour on her chest has bent and blackened, emitting a faint trace of burning.
"Lightning." Rain explained to Leafa's questioning look.
Leafa only nodded with understanding. If Rain was not hampered, then they did not have time to heal it. How Liz would grind her teeth over the damage. Not because she needed to repair it, but because it had failed to complete its job. An impossibly high standard to meet.
Gaze going back to the street below, Leafa found that the fighting was winding down. The different groups were getting shoved into Daedalus Street. First Yuna and Nautilus, then Ouka and Chigusa.
"We can't keep on like this," Leafa said pointlessly. They had discussed it before. "Too much more and we will be complexly out of the loop. Unable to help… Kirito."
"We all want to help him!" Rain snapped. "We all—"
Rain cut off with a choke as she followed Leafa's gaze to the street for just a second.
She saw the same phenomenon that Leafa did. He was there. Standing erect, black cloak fluttering around him as usual. Not alone, or even leading, he walked behind a scantily clad Goddess. To his side was another girl Leafa recognized as Syr. The barkeeper was looking glum, hair astray but still maintaining a regal presence.
"Silica and Lisbeth…" Fear coursing through her, it was too late to help. The girls had more hearts than brains. With a coordinated effort, they darted out from a nearby house at the same time.
Ishtar twisted in surprise, not noticing the attack until too late. That did nothing for Kirito. Their dark-haired captain and boyfriend caught the lunging Silica and then the jumping Lisbeth with little effort. The two-pronged attack foiled without him drawing a weapon.
"Girls…" A melodious voice floated up to Leafa and made her sway in place. "Please do not be petty. Kneel and obey. Perhaps I will put you above the others in my service."
"Oh, yes please!" Silica's voice sounded younger than usual, high and eager to please.
"I can make you the most marvelous jewelry!" Lisbeth offered. "Anything you would like!"
The sight of it broiled Leafa's innards. The two women had been forged into warriors through many fights. Each one staring down death without flinching. Now, with only a few words they simpered and bowed, begging for recognition.
It should be me receiving Ishtar's pleasure. I'm better looking by far and a better adventurer.
Blinking, Leafa staggered and tried to empty her stomach. Only a faint trace of bile rose in her throat. There was nothing else to hurl. Rain did not say anything but she wavered where she sat expertly crouched, mouth moving.
"How?" Leafa hated how weak her voice was. The one word carried an infinite number of questions in it. Foremost of those was how could they survive this. One lost, and now three.
Leafa did not think she herself could get within ten meters of Ishtar before her will was crushed and reshaped by the goddess.
"I… I will think of something…"
Rain's voice, oddly, had the tone of a woman who had a plan, but wanted desperately a new one before voicing hers.
"Tell me!" Leafa begged. "We need everything we can get at this point."
It was not Rain that answered, but a third voice. "Idol." Philia crawled unto the roof and never rose more than a meter off it after that. Her eyes looked hunted, her brilliant blue cape now muddied and shredded.
"Idol…" Leafa understood but wished she did not. "You… you think you can win a battle of charm against a goddess!?"
What should have been a whispered conversation, Leafa's voice carried. The abashed second-in-command of Hestia familia should have called her down for that, but the red-headed girl's shoulders only sank more.
"It is the only way!" Philia defended Rain. "She can influence people! If we use her ability to inspire, and have Yuna help out…"
"Insanity…" Leafa breathed out. "Did you see her? Hear her? It is impossible. You want to battle with her for control of men's hearts? The only man who would even look at you is one—"
"One who already loves her." Philia agreed, her eyes not leaving Leafa's face.
Leafa was not looking at Philia however, she was transfixed by Rain. The second-in-command continued to sit there; shoulders slumped. That was when it truly dawned on Leafa on why Rain was hesitant to try. She was not afraid to fail, she was scared she would win.
Win strongly enough that Kirito's heart would be hers and hers alone. Leafa left a brief flutter of fear. She was on the verge of shouting out that they could not do this. Could not chance any of these outcomes. But she could not give voice to them, they had lost too many people already.
"Rain, we can figure it out no matter what happens." Philia laid a hand on her friend's knee. Leafa was in awe of how steady Philia's voice was. How much love and trust was in her voice.
"I… I agree."
Unlike Philia's, Leafa's agreement got a whipped head. Rain stared at her in disbelief. "You… But of course you do. Why?"
"You love him, Ishtar does not." Was Leafa's simple answer. "If one of you must control him, it should be you. Also… I do not truly think you, or anyone, has the power to control him that way."
"…Very well." Rain rose, her face stone. "I will monitor their position, Leafa you—"
"No." Philia cut Rain off. "Leafa, get Yuna and meet up with the deities, you Rain go and—"
This time, Philia cut-off and her brand-new blade rose in a defensive stature. It was longer than the knife she usually used. The length of Leafa's forearm, the blade was notched. Philia called it a sword breaker.
No sooner had Philia gotten her blade out had Leafa also whirled around. Three shadows jumped from the closest building and landed, long dark cloaks masking identities but Leafa thought they were all women, and all powerful.
"I finally found you."
Leafa gaped at that voice. From beneath the first cloak, Asuna's face appeared. The elf's eyes were blue augers of frozen ice. The anger of the oceans personified. Even though she was the weakest of the newcomers, Asuna seemed to lead the delegation of Thousand Elf and Loki familia's second-in-command.
An impressive trio at any time. Right now, it was enough to make Leafa want to cry from relief. "Asuna! We have a plan to—"
"Look out!" The elf's wintery voice froze Leafa, but she herself slide forward gracefully to cut the shafts of arrows from the sky.
Forgetting that they had risen, Leafa turned back to the street. Silica and Liz were nowhere to be seen. Only Ishtar with Kirito and Syr remained, a little more than fifty meters from them. The Goddess wore an amused smile, Syr glared at Ishtar, and Kirito… Displayed zero emotion.
That rankled Leafa but she did not know why. Her mind fixed on a much more important fact. "We need to find the others. They don't know that Ishtar got to Silica and Liz."
"Did she…" Asuna glared down at the goddess impassively. As before, her eyes conveyed all of her emotions, her face none. The two behind her only looked anxiously at Asuna.
Leafa understood then that those two were not there to help with Ishtar, they were there to make sure Asuna survived. "Keep each other out of trouble!"
Leaving it at that, Leafa dove off the building, translucent green wings beating and propelling her faster than an adventurer could run. Soaring past the tops of buildings, Leafa's eyes darted frantically for the party that she had left behind. They couldn't have gone too far. Surely, surely they would be… There!
One long black ponytail fading into a grate lowered in a small square. Diving, Leafa found that the grate turned into a road that snaked underneath the block of Daedalus Street above. Based on the angle it would emerge… Somewhere. It truly was a warren to rival the dungeon.
Leafa ran along the passage. It had only been a second, Hestia should be—Thud!
With the sound of colliding heads, Leafa felt a light pain in her forehead and stopped. Hestia, however, had been thrown to the ground a few meters away. Leafa's face paled as she watched her goddess roll on the ground and clutch her head.
"Goddess!" Removing a potion, she applied some to Hestia. Just beyond the injured goddess was the party that she remembered. Gods and nervous adventurers. None of the others had found them.
In a rush, she explained what had happened with Ishtar. They paled but understood. They would stop Silica and Liz if the two approached them. Or try at least. With more to find, Leafa dashed back into the open and took to the skies once again.
The others, she had to find them all. Sweat beading on her face, Leafa began a frantic search as the morning sun cleared Orario's wall to signal the start of the day.
Ishtar:
"Look at them flee!" Giggling, the goddess ran a hand over her body. She had the best proportions. Men's instincts went wild at the sight of her large breasts, perfect for breastfeeding. Her wide hips for childbearing, contrasted by her thin waist and perfectly shaped calves. Even women and gods. Everyone kneeled to her. Everyone should kneel to her.
Her mood could not be improved. The faces that stared defiance down at her would be morphed into ones of wide-eyed adoration. Each of them would beg to receive the punishments Ishtar had given to Aisha.
Then she would make them wait on her while Ishtar bedded Kirito. No, she would make him watch while they were bedded by strange men, many at once. No, she would…
Ishtar's mind generated and spat out a hundred different things she would do to the familia that had spurned her. Crushed her and stolen her key to victory. Even managing to defeat a monster that could kill level sixes.
But none of that mattered anymore. Two had come to her already. One by one, the rest would kneel. With them in hand, Ishtar would retreat to Knossos and take the time she needed to break in her new thralls. Then, she would emerge again and destroy Freya familia, claiming control over Orario.
Right now, things were progressing so well Ishtar wanted to laugh out loud. Hestia familia could not have known where the entrances to Knossos were. It made it all the more humorous that they were entering Daedalus Street where they were held. Hestia familia would never leave that warren of streets.
"Those orders… were not nice."
Ishtar jumped. She did not bother trying to hide her surprise. Mouth gaping, she whirled to look at Kirito. As usual, the sight of him did not send the pleasure it should have. Those dead eyes chilled Ishtar to the core. Where was the love? The adulation that should have gushed from every action was nowhere to be found.
"But they will make me happy… Is that not what you want to do? To be my savior?"
Placing a hand on his chest, Ishtar leaned forward, bending her knees slightly so she could stare up at Kirito. Her winning smile and charm oozing from every pore should have had the man on the edge of an orgasm at a single touch. A rock would have shown more expression.
After a short delay, Kirito nodded. "Yes… Making you happy. That… That must be my purpose."
Ishtar was not a fan of his hesitation. She was sure that once she pulled him into a bed, he would be far more ardent in his beliefs. So far, he had stopped two attacks on her. That would have to be proof enough.
"My Goddess." A one-armed man stopped before Ishtar, falling to one knee. "The ones you desire are being guided to the center of Daedalus Street. However, Ganesha familia is overwhelming forces in the shopping district. We have maybe an hour left."
"You have done well. Gaze on my face for five seconds before departing."
"I am not worthy…" Even as he said it though, his eyes were staring up through bangs of curly brown hair. A smoldering passion lingering there told Ishtar all she needed of his intentions. At exactly five seconds, he took off again.
A man's lust and desire were like a raging river. A wooden dam would shatter, but the water wheel could safely harvest its power.
"Goddess Ishtar, you did see the Loki familia members, yes?" Syr's voice had a note of petulance to it that Ishtar did not approve of.
Glaring at the silver-haired beauty, Ishtar could not believe that this random mortal had the backbone to resist her. Of course, Ishtar knew that her charm did not work well against women. But she had never turned the entire thing on in the presence of Aisha or Phryne before. Even facing it, Syr's eyes only bulged a little. Her breath coming a tad faster. As soon as Ishtar looked away it would be gone.
Despite that flaw, the random café owner was smart and observant. Some of her suggestions had been devious enough to come from the mind of a deity. More annoying was how her café's uniform managed to look regal on the girl. Rather than a dingy servant, she looked even more like a lady than she had when Ishtar had first entered.
"I did." Ishtar agreed. "They will approach me and kneel."
"Thousand Elf and the Water Witch do not need to approach you to kill you." Syr spat back.
"Oh, you are worried for me girl?" Ishtar mocked. Cupping Syr's face, Ishtar leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "Keep that up and maybe I'll let you share Kirito's bed once."
"Ah…"
That got the reaction Ishtar was hoping for. The sulkiness was gone, replaced by a loose jaw and flushed cheeks. Silver eyes wide with warmth and heat.
Sooner than expected, Syr's face was pointing to the ground, and she was shifting restlessly. "Well, if they killed you with magic, I would die as well. No other reason."
Snorting, Ishtar turned again to face Daedalus Street. The watchers were long gone at this point. They had to have been but… Ishtar thought someone was still watching her. Not a follower staring with love but… an enemy.
Taking a glance at Kirito, the boy's face had gone grown puzzled. He tilted his head and slowly looked around at rooftops.
Let them watch. Ishtar did not need to concern herself with whatever peasant found a method of spying on her. She needed to catch her fish and escape with them before she burned her hands on the grill.
"Let us go."
Walking straight, Ishtar passed through the entrance of Daedalus Street.
Argo:
Watching Ishtar go, Argo wanted to growl a million curses. Her side was fire. What passed as a local anesthetic in this world was garbage. A faint numbing sensation did little to suppress her howls as Amid stately burrowed through the entry wound and extracted the little piece of metal. The doll's expression had not shifted, even when Argo vowed to slowly tear the ham-fisted girl's fingers off one-by-one.
Gently touching the tender tissue, Argo jumped and felt real pain then. She had torn a lot of flesh running with the bullet in her. Now that it was out and magic applied to her body, it was still sensitive. Argo should have been resting, but there was no time.
Kirito and Hestia familia needed help. They may not think so yet, but they did. Ishtar had forces, so many people. Argo had seen steady streams meet her and Kirito before departing. Once struggling captives, they became pliant slaves.
This place was no safer. They needed shelter inside the palace of one of the great familias. Maybe the guild, if Ouranos was willing. Daedalus Street only held death in it.
Gritting teeth, Argo cursed the boy below. Cursed and prayed for. Whatever Kirito did, Argo needed him to stay alive.
Sachi:
"Ah, Ah…" Leaning against a nondescript brick wall, Sachi panted heavily. Her injuries were light, but her exhaustion sat heavily upon her. She had not gotten a good sleep the last two nights, none at all the night just past.
She had also spent all night running around in a near panic. It was too cruel. To open her feelings to Kirito only to lose him that very same day. She could not believe it. Would not believe it.
Pushing herself up, Sachi briefly saw a face in the doorway across the way. She thought it had been a young girl or boy. The brief glimpse of a dirty face was not enough to tell. "It is okay," Sachi tried to comfort them. "Just stay inside and we will sort it out."
Hoping her smile was comforting, Sachi turned to run on. She had gotten separated from Mikoto and the others. The girl she had transferred familias with was Sachi's best friend in this world. Sachi had not known how comforting the presence of another girl could be before she met Mikoto and Chigusa.
The ones in her school had always seemed vain. Sachi had gotten on better with the computer club that accepted her easily. Those bonds had weakened over time replaced by new ones. That saddened Sachi, but she understood now it was inevitable.
The computer club would be a fond memory, but it was not her future.
The sound of a boot kicking a loose rock had Sachi spinning before she even recognized the sound. From around the corner came a worn looking Silica. She had lost one of the ties for her pigtails leaving half her hair to spill down her back. Her clothes were muddy and torn in paces giving an overall haggard appearance.
"Sachi…"
Silica did not sound relieved. "Silica!" Rushing over, Sachi put her hands on Silica's shoulders. "Aren't you with Lisbeth? Where is she?"
Silica did not answer, her eyes flooding with tears. "She… She could not follow. Can you… come look at her?"
"Of course! We need to…" Frowning, Sachi blinked. "Wait, what happened to her?"
Silica did not slow. "I… don't want to say. Please."
New ties. Nodding, Sachi rushed forward. They needed her. Lisbeth needed her. Feet clattering loudly, Sachi could barely keep Silica in view. The cat-girl was fast and running. As she ran, her back was shaking.
Still crying?
Sachi did not understand. Something was wrong here. Silica was not behaving normally. Why did she not say clearly what had happened? Sachi did not have any more healing than Silica did. Maybe Sachi could carry Liz away?
But Silica could have done that.
"Silica!" Sachi yelled at her. "Where are you going!?" They had gone too far West. The others would be well South of here. No one was likely to be here. No one except…
Turning the corner, Sachi skidded to a halt, or tried to. What happened was her legs locked but her torso continued moving driving Sachi hard to her knees. Standing there were Ishtar and Kirito. Silica on her knees before Ishtar staring lovingly up at the goddess.
"I brought one!"
"I see that, what a good girl!" Ishtar stroked Silica's hair and she purred approvingly, rising into the contact. "Bring me one more and you'll guarantee yourself a spot at my side."
"Yes ma'am!" Standing quickly, Silica was gone. Past Sachi without a single look toward her.
"N-No way…" Sachi clasped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from blubbering. She could not leave, could not move. An emotion she had recently learned to recognize was starting to bubble up within her. Not for the stone-faced boy that already held Sachi's heart.
Weeping, Sachi's resistance broke as Ishtar ran a hand down her cheek.
Bell:
"We wasted too much time already! We have to try again!"
"We don't know where they are!" Shakmi snapped back. It was the first time in over an hour that Bell had found a chance to talk to her. The Ganesha familia leader was organizing a siege on the shopping district. Carefully combing every street, testing everyone's loyalty to Ishtar. It was slow, slow but effective. They would remove every last one of Ishtar's thralls. Close in on the goddess herself and then kidnap her and give her to Ouranos for disposal.
Even though it made sense, there were the reasons why they had attempted the night raid. There were very good reasons as too why they had to find Ishtar now.
"…She won't kill them." Shakmi finally said. "It would have been easier if things worked. This method is slow and bloody but… It will work. Ishtar will be stopped."
Bell clenched a fist. She was likely right. In all probability, Ishtar had doomed herself. But that was not certain. Ishtar had escaped once. She could do so again.
"Bell!" Argo's voice rang out. The Renart appearing from nowhere made Bell's vision waver for a moment. "Your familia is getting hounded into Daedalus Street, they need aid!"
"They will have it." Bell spoke. "Are you coming?" Bell challenged Shakmi.
Lili only rolled her eyes and stood up.
"I am," Welf intoned, hefting his great sword again.
"So… am I." Klein's voice was more hesitant, but it was back. His eyes were still wild, and the man started to drool if left unchecked, but against mooks he was solid. If they kept him away from Ishtar, all was fine.
"Then let us go." Argo seemed to disregard the other people. "We are running out of time."
"My familia has its orders." Shakmi said suddenly. "That boy needs a good beating. I'm coming."
Bell searched Argo's face for an emotion, but her expression did not change. If she cared in the slightest that one of Orario's strongest adventurers had joined the cause, she did not mention it.
In moments, Argo was leading them along the street. Slower than she wanted by the pained expression that she wore. She did not once utter a complaint out loud. Her only words were chopped sentences about how Ishtar had left behind only scattered resistance to feign interest in the shopping district. Her real objective had now entered Daedalus Street.
Bell shot accusatory glares at Shakmi, but if she reacted, he did not notice. The stoic woman with bright blue hair did not so much as grimace.
"Ishtar… is overextended." Lili panted, the one setting their pace. "She has not protected her flanks; we can collapse from all sides."
"She does not think she needs protection," Shakmi shrugged. "No one would kill a god, and it is impossible for almost everyone to kidnap her."
"Hehe, she does not need protection with me." Klein's smug grin made it clear he was not referring in a physical sense. Bell did not understand though.
Argo must have as the girl coughed loudly and swung her head to stare at the man in amazement.
Oddly, as the day started, so did Orario. People woke up with the sun and thought about what they were to do. More than one person was staringly forlornly to the East and the Shopping district that they could not enter. The shops here, however, were already open in full force, not wasting any time, pedaling the wares that the people would need to survive another day. Likely, wagons would be entering Orario in the next hour, looking to bring goods to their partnered stores and would need to be turned away.
All of that was secondary to disposing of Ishtar. Bell ran hard on Argo's heels and wished the girl would speed up a little. However, if anything she kept slowing down, her head searching more. Just as Bell was going to explode about speed, she came to a stop.
"We should talk." Her voice was serious and directed at Bell.
"Y-Yes?" Answering, he waited for the declaration with a tight stomach. He was not sure he could handle more bad news at the moment.
"Ishtar has already taken Silica and Lisbeth. Do not trust the pair. That also means that more of them may be Ishtar's by now."
Bell's stomach turned to ice. He wanted to vomit. He friends, his familia members… slaves. Hands tightening, Bell felt the old flames of anger swirl in his stomach.
"Calm down, Bell."
Bell looked at Lili's hands wrapped around his right. "How can you say that!?"
"I can say it because you have to. Running in like the hero from a tale is going to get you killed. You need to think this through more first."
"She is right." Shakmi agreed with Lili, placing a hand on Bell's shoulder. "We will strike when we can. Until then, we stay low and gather information."
There was no question in her tone, but Bell took it as one. "Fine, but if there is an opening, I will stop her."
"Good."
"Heh, I'm supposed to the hot-headed one." Receiving a supportive slap on the back from Welf, Bell smiled hesitantly. With his core melting a little, Bell moved onto the rooftops with the group, searching for Ishtar and his familia.
Asuna:
"We never should have entered here…" Asuna's statement held a truth to it. The same truth as a woman declaring they should have taken a different route home after running into a gang in a back alleyway.
Daedalus Street had too many poor, impoverished people. When an outsider walked through the streets, it could feel abandoned at times as they fled into buildings.
Ishtar's presence drew them to her like a lodestone. Now, flocks of those poor lined the streets and searched every inch looking for the members of Hestia familia. This caused a continually stream of fight as people fought to protect their property from the thralls which rode over them in a wave.
It made the streets seethe. Asuna had no idea what to do now. Her idea had been so simple. Hestia familia was Ishtar's goal, find them, find Ishtar. That had succeeded. Now she was left with a gaping hole ahead of her that Asuna had no idea how to fill. Did she attack Ishtar? Her magic would have causalities if she used it here.
"Thoughts?"
The two women with Asuna shared long knowing glances. Whole unspoken conversations passing between the two. Eventually, it was Astrid who stepped up and placed a hand on Asuna's shoulder.
"We should go for now. After this, it will not be long until Freya familia is issued an order to dispose of Ishtar. With her around to nullify the charm, this will get cleaned up quickly. We tried."
"Tried?" Asuna barked a laugh. "We did nothing. Nothing! The three of us could safely travel through the lower floors barely breaking a sweat! How can we amount to nothing!?"
Asuna's rant had some effect on the other two. Neither liked the implication that they were useless. But it was impossible to call them anything else in this mess. They could not attack the innocent civilians Ishtar had controlled, nor would it be easy to attack the goddess herself.
"What about…"
Whatever Lefiya had been about to say drifted into the wind. Asuna did not need an explanation as for why. Only a few blocks over, lights suddenly burst to life in a multi-arrayed pattern.
"Everyone? Can you hear me? It is time for the Idols Rain and Yuna's big debut! Come find us, we want everyone's support!"
Asuna took a step toward Rain's booming voice before regaining control of herself. Even now though, she still wanted to go find the origin. Where those lights were coming from.
"What… is an idol?"
Lefiya's question almost made Asuna giggle. Some hope being restored, she did start toward the magic amplified voice. "An idol gives people hope."
Although an idol nobody likes gets ripped from the stage…
Asuna had to assume it was the first. She thought she remembered vaguely something about Rain singing or cheering people on. It was all tamped down behind memories of Kirito's warm eyes and kind smiles. His small blushes, and awkward head scratches.
Alighting on a building, Asuna nodded sharply once in approval at what she found. They had not built a stage, but the two girls were standing by themselves on an overturned cart in what may have been the largest square in Daedalus Street.
Take-Mikazuchi and Miach were hunkered behind the cart using magic lanterns to produce the lights. Turned to max brightness like that, they would only last a few minutes. After that, the sun would be too bright for them anyway.
In Rain's hand… Asuna blinked. It really was a microphone. Where had the girl gotten a specialized magic item like that? Yuna did not have one, but the girl stood beside Rain beaming just as brightly.
Both women had discarded armour and were wearing matching dresses except Rain's was white and Yuna's Red. The contrasting colors with their hair setting them off as duo. Not exactly what Asuna would describe as an Idol outfit, but it was decent considering the short amount of time they must have prepared the plan in.
At the same time, mobs crashed into the square. The leader of one was a man with only a single arm. He had feverish eyes and pointed at the girls. "The red head is desired by the high goddess Ishtar! Bring her!"
Asuna moved to drop off the building. Even without magic, she could make a good job of knocking this rabble unconscious. Long enough to let Rain flee from this place.
"Oh, thank you all for coming!" Rain replied in an echoing voice louder than the man's. "I just know that we will make today the best day ever! Chuuu!"
"…" What. Asuna was not concerned about Rain's behavior. She was not sure that the ultra-cutesy routine was the best given her outfit, but it hardly mattered. The important people were Ishtar's brood. The crowd had ground to a sudden halt.
Only the one-armed man pressed on alone. "Take her, I said! Why are you all stopping?"
"Take me…?" Rain giggled in a cute way that would have men falling over themselves to ask her out. "No, we will take all you to a world of dreams! She is The Brilliant Yuna!"
"And she is The Gorgeous Rain!" Yuna finally said her first line. It was well-delivered and fell into sync with Rain perfectly.
Together, they said the rest. "And we are the dynamic Idol twins!"
That name sounded almost ad-libbed. Surely they had time to come up with something better.
"Wow, so cute!" The people there that had not been charmed by Ishtar were gathering around and cheering, eyes wide and expectant.
"No, you fools!" But the lone protestor was quickly drowned out. The will to fight had been drained from the mob as they gathered around expectantly. Not cheering, but willing to watch.
Tapping their feet against the upturned wagon, that sound created the only beat and instrumentation that they had. Beyond that, the girls had only their voices to awe the crowd with as they broke into song.
Each of the girls had their own gestures for the crowd occasionally, but there was no choreographed dancing. For a plan created on the fly, Asuna was amazed and delighted.
She could feel the magic in every word. From Rain, every gesture. This was as much magic as anything she did. Slowly, even some charmed by Ishtar began to cheer for the girls.
"They… are charming them, charming us." Astrid spoke with disbelief and a hint of disgust. "If I was guessing… The red head is the charmer, but the white-haired one is amplifying her power."
"Correct," Asuna replied. Shaking herself, she realized that she had not moved. She was allowing herself to be taken to the world of dreams that Rain and Yuna were singing about. A calming song with slow lyrics and beat that lulled the crowd into clapping in rhythm.
"This is dangerous." Astrid muttered.
"But also so promising…" Lefiya rebutted her without seeming to notice. "Can you imagine a floor boss raid with these two behind them, cheering them on?"
Asuna could see it, feel it. A power that worked better on groups. But groups of adventurers… Asuna was not sure if top-tier adventurers were ready to become Idol stans. Also, how would it work with the chain of command? Could someone else still give orders? Would they have to convey them through the idols?
Asuna's musing came to an abrupt halt as did the clapping. A trio entered the square from the main entrance. Asuna glared at the goddess leading the group, Ishtar. Oh, Asuna hated how her heart fluttered. Hated how she knew in the depths of her soul how much more beautiful the Goddess was than her.
"And what… are you all doing here?" Ishtar's voice was icy and carried. The people closest to her fell to their knees and began begging for forgiveness.
The song fell silent for a moment, but only that. Instantly, Yuna was jumping into the beginnings of a verse while Rain let out a call in a cute voice. "Keep that clapping up everyone! If Rainy loses the beat, she'll cry!"
Rainy!? And talking about herself in third person? She was making things up in the middle of the performance! It did not seem to matter that much though, as the clapping resumed from about half the crowd.
Asuna was a good distance from Ishtar, But the goddess' expression was crystal clear. A storm head had a tenth the fury of Ishtar.
"Quit that foolery!" The goddess ordered, her voice a shriek. "Kneel to me, fools!"
The song continued.
Ishtar's hands twitched at her side, but she did not scream again. She stepped forward. Those nearest to her clapping began to stutter and stop. Confusion reigned until Ishtar touched them. At the briefest contact, they became hers again.
"Lefiya… Arcs ray."
"And do what?" The elf shot back, "kill her?"
"No, if you hit the floor beneath her, Ishtar will survive. I can take her from there."
Another silent conversation between Astrid and Lefiya, but she began her chant. Every second spent creating it, Ishtar took more of her supplicants back. This time, Asuna did not believe that the song would be enough to grab their interests. Time was running out, but the song did not waver.
"Arcs Ray!"
The missile of light was as thick as Asuna's thigh and was bearing down on Ishtar's position. Some of the onlookers could take grave injury from this as well.
A shadow seemed to waver. One second, a forgettable figure following after the Goddess was by Ishtar's side, next they were between Lefiya's magic and the ground.
Asuna's eyes widened. She could not move. The magic's remnants faded into sparkles of light. Where it had connected, there was no damage. With a slash of his blade, Kirito remained standing, face impassive as he gazed up at them.
"He… cut it." Astrid finally spoke. Asuna did not think Lefiya could move.
For that matter, as Asuna swallowed, she was not sure she could. It was hard to tell if Ishtar even noticed, her rounds continuing without slowing. She had almost half the crowd now. Yuna and Rain's voices were growing shriller as their effect weakened with each passing second.
"Ah, there you are."
Whirling around, Asuna's hand eased on her rapier when she saw that it was just Lisbeth. Then she grabbed it tighter. She had been taken with Silica.
"Stay back, Liz." Asuna warned. "I don't want to hurt you."
"…W-What are you talking about, Asuna? I'm your Blacksmith! I mean, you haven't come to me with any requests recently but…"
"Enough!" Asuna yelled. This was cruel, far too cruel. Her heart ached. No one should have to endure this. Ishtar was ruining everything. Everything was going wrong.
Liz pursed her lips. "I liked you. You soothed Kirito well, but we don't need you anymore. Ishtar will take care of everything."
From beneath her cloak, Lisbeth pulled a white blade just shorter than a longsword. It pulsed with magic power that made Asuna's skin crawl.
"I forged this for him… of course it isn't nearly good enough yet. Again… I'll make it better… The best…"
Asuna could not move; Liz had started to cry. Starting slowly, the tears welling up began to pour down her cheeks. Asuna went to take a step forward, but Liz growled and swung the blade.
In even a one-on-one fight, Asuna could crush Liz easily. But right now, Liz was strong and fast enough to be able to swing that blade and not all of them would be able to escape.
"Go down to her, please, Asuna. All of you. You will see how much better life is under Ishtar. A real goddess. I never used to believe in a divine power growing up. Even when I came to this world, the gods were still just game devices to me. People with weird powers, maybe. I did not understand. I understand now. I have knelt to something greater than myself… and now I am free."
Chilling. That was the only way to describe it. Liz looked fervent and at the same time not herself. She talked fairly normal and yet… Asuna shook her head. There was no time. But what could she do? What was Liz going to do?
"Even with a magic sword, you don't walk away from this." Astrid spoke coolly. "You know that, so why?"
Liz shook her head angrily. "You have no excuse. You are from this world. You understand what gods are. I have pledged myself to Ishtar. If you three want to kill me, then I will die for her."
"Liz!" Asuna yelled, stalking froward. Ignoring the sword pointed at her chest, Asuna did not stop. She walked until the point of the sword was cutting her skin. "No one worth having you follow them would ever give that order!"
"Ishtar asked me to stop you three from interfering, so that is what I will do."
"Then why are you crying?"
"Huh?" Liz blinked, and for once, her eyes looked her own. It was a shaky hand that touched her cheeks. "These are… These are tears of joy! That's right! I am happy about the prospect of serving Ishtar at your side, Asuna!"
"…Very well. Let us go to her together." Asuna raised a hand to stop Astrid and Lefiya without looking at either. She did not need them interfering.
"…Okay." Liz looked past Asuna to her friends once but eventually nodded.
Mikoto:
Emerging from the shadows of a building, Mikoto played with the stone-tipped arrow in her hands. Rather than a sharp tip, a dull rock was lashed to the wooden shaft.
It is anathema to kill a deity. One who does so damns their immortal soul.
It was a catechism that Mikoto had grown up with. The greatest sin someone could commit. A sin so great that there were zero reported cases of it happening. Not the meanest beggar, or even someone insane.
Yet that was what Mikoto was risking. Too much draw strength… hitting the wrong spot. Either would make her the first.
"I can do this… I can!"
"What can you do?"
Mikoto whirled to find Sachi clambering unto the roof behind her. "Sachi!" Dropping the arrow for a moment, Mikoto wrapped the girl in a tight hug.
"Ahaha…"
"Sorry, Sachi." Releasing the girl, Mikoto beamed at her friend warmly. "It is good to see you again. No one knew where you ended up."
Turning back to grab the arrow, Mikoto's ears picked up the sound of a knife sliding from a sheath. Freezing, Mikoto felt that steel on her throat. If Sachi pulled back, Mikoto would choke to death on her own blood.
"What…" Mikoto did not need to finish the question. Sachi had been taken. Mikoto had not even checked. In the square below, Mikoto's chance was dwindling away. Rain and Yuna would be expecting her arrow soon. It was essential to their plans.
"If you don't try to escape, I won't have to do this." Sachi whispered in her ear. "Wouldn't it be fun? Serving Ishtar together? She told me that if I behave well, Kirito will pat my head occasionally!"
"Sorry, Sachi."
"Huh? Wh—"
Throwing back her head, Mikoto heard a sickly crack as her right hand grabbed unto Sachi's. Just in time, a line of blood was pouring from her neck where Sachi had tried to cut it.
Moving with the skills Take-mikazuchi had taught her, Mikoto slid out of the grapple and turned to face her opponent. Sachi was wearing a sulky expression, blood pouring from her broken nose.
Hands low and wide, Mikoto stalked forward towards the girl. Her only weapon besides the discarded bow was her katana. Too long for close quarters combat and also too deadly.
Sachi's strike came with no warning. Mikoto barely had time to fend it off as she received her second surprise. Sachi was faster than her.
"Why?" Sachi's hurt voice made it sound like Mikoto was the one that had betrayed her. "We could have been together forever."
"We will be together again, Sachi." Mikoto promised. Jumping forward, Mikoto aimed a kick at Sachi's head. It was blocked by a raised forearm. Then, Sachi was diving at Mikoto, knife attempting to plunge into her heart.
Driven backwards, Mikoto caught the thrust and fell to the ground. Grunting from the hard impact, Mikoto grabbed the hilt with both hands straining. Anything less than her full effort and she would die.
"Is this because of Take?" Sachi panted, her blood now dripping onto Mikoto's face. "Give up on him! He will never love you! Join me! If we beg together, Ishtar will forgive you. Ishtar is merciful."
"Give up… on Take?" Mikoto barely noticed the struggle anymore as she stared up into her friend's fervent eyes. Sachi was so often afraid, but there was no hint of that anymore. No hint of the shy girl that liked to stay back and listen.
"Yes! He is a weak, imperfect god who does not deserve your love."
Mikoto's mind broiled but her words were cold. "The way you abandoned Kirito to serve Ishtar?"
"Of course not!" Sachi laughed. "I serve Ishtar because she is the most gorgeous existence in creation. If she allows me, I would bear Kirito's children."
"…" Mikoto's mouth twisted. "Is that what you would have me do?"
"Oh, yes! That would be great." Sachi nodded happily. "Is that not the best idea!"
"No."
"Huh?"
Mikoto's mind was a river of red rage. She knew that the other gods teased Take about being poor. That the god had bowed had to mortals before to apologize. He was too quick to apologize. He was far too friendly with women. He never got any of the hints Mikoto gave him.
But she would never abandon her love for him. Even if Take never saw her as anything more than a daughter, Mikoto would not desert her feelings.
"Raww!" With a roar, Mikoto twisted her hands and thrusted her hips. With a great heave, she knocked the knife from Sachi's hands and sent it spinning.
Sachi did not even watch it go. Face scowling, she thrust her palm at Mikoto's throat in a killing blow. Catching it on her hand, Mikoto diverted the thrust and replied with her own strike.
In moments, the stalemate from before had descended into a battle of death and skill. Mikoto's years of skill and learning against Sachi's incredible aptitude and quick growing status.
Strike, parry, block, feint. Their arms and legs were a whirlwind, neither landing a decisive blow. Mikoto caught Sachi's arm with a heavy kick, weakening the limb. In return, Sachi's punch to Mikoto's side cracked a rib.
"We could have been sisters!" Wailing, Sachi threw herself bodily at Mikoto.
Mikoto did not dodge, she let herself be taken out. Sliding across the floor, Mikoto grabbed her bow with her left hand and the arrow with her right. Wrapping her legs around Sachi, she leaned backwards off the building and took aim.
She had one chance. Already, the crowd was completely Ishtar's. Rain and Yuna were being pulled from the stage, gagged to face Ishtar whose face screamed murder.
Ishtar stared at the girls victoriously and Kirito's head was bent to the ground like a great strain was on his shoulders.
Taking a breath, Mikoto fired.
Before she could even see if it landed, Sachi had pulled her back up. The last thing Mikoto saw was Sachi's fist before a flash of pain and then darkness.
Rain:
Thud!
With a loud crack, an arrow struck the goddess Ishtar. Finally! A surge of relief flooded through Rain as Ishtar toppled to one knee and screamed in pain.
With the goddess' gaze gone, Rain felt the control on her soul lift somewhat. Ripping her hands away from the crowd members holding her, Rain punched them in the face and sent a pair sprawling. Neither would rise for a good time. Yuna pulled away with only a little more effort.
"Get her!" Rain screamed. The overturned cart that had doubled as their stage was flung away. From beneath rushed forward a group of men. Nautilus, the rest of the Take-mikazuchi members. With a loud collision, they collided with the crowd and sent them toppling like pins.
Pandemonium picking up, Rain darted forward to Ishtar. She had been struggling and weak before the arrow hit but Ishtar was still on one knee. Not sure where the arrow had hit, Rain prayed that it disorientated the goddess long enough for Rain to take her captive.
Ripping a length from her skirt to use as a gag, Rain closed the final few meters. Then, a black form she knew well slid in front of her. "Kirito! What are you—"
"Owww…" Struggling to breath, Rain put an uncertain hand on the stones she was laying on. Her middle left like an orc's cudgel had hit her.
That was… Kirito.
Groaning, Rain peeled herself off the ground. Even a hit from a level four could not knock her out in one blow. What she saw was not Kirito but Ishtar. The goddess was standing and mad.
"Kneel, girl."
Rain knelt. Yuna knelt. The men, keeping away the crowd and clearing their exit knelt. Everyone did, except Kirito and Syr. Rain had of course stolen glances at him since Ishtar had entered the square. The longer he had heard her song for the more hunched his shoulders had become. Now, he stood erect once more. Emotionless eyes sliding over her without pause.
"A poor attempt, an archer with a stone arrow. Until they are presented before me, I will take my displeasure out on you."
"Urgh…" Rain could not reply, her world swam before her. Kirito's eyes. Had they ever looked so dead before? Any thoughts of Kirito were removed as a pair of Violet eyes became her new world.
Ishtar's eyes took in her soul and devoured her. The anger and rage in them reflected and exacerbated Rain's own guilt. That's right, she had controlled people. They did not know how to defeat Ishtar's charm, so they had used their own. Rain was a monster.
Breaking eye contact, Rain emptied her stomach unto Ishtar's feet. The small portion that she had managed to consume while in Daedalus Street.
Where was Philia? Rain wanted Philia there. Philia would make things better. She always did.
"You… You disgusting animal!"
The voice came to Rain like something far away. A glint of steel caught her eyes but Rain did not, could not stir. Surely the beautiful goddess had the right to do with Rain's life what she wished.
"NO!" A pained scream pierced Rain's ears. Philia.
Ching! The sound of blade on blade. Confused, Rain looked up. Standing over her, Philia was stopping Ishtar's stab with her sword breaker. The fate of the contest was in the balance and leaning to Ishtar as the blade drifted closer to Rain's face.
"P-Please spare her, Goddess Ishtar! I can't live without her."
"Oh?" Like quicksilver, Ishtar's anger was replaced by cruelty. "Then clean-up her mess… with your mouth."
Philia shivered once. That was all before she went to her knees, mouth opening to begin.
In that instant, something stronger than Ishtar's charm whirled to life in Rain's heart. "NO!" Screaming the word, Rain wound her arms around Philia's shoulders and heaved her back unto herself.
"What are you doing!?" Philia struggled. "I won't let you die!"
"You can't do this!" Rain protested, crying. "I won't let it happen."
"Oh, my, what is this?" Ishtar chuckled again. "Perhaps you would like to do it together? Are you lovers? I thought—"
Whatever Ishtar thought, a shadow fell over her. The instant it did, a scream broke the air. "Duck, Onii-chan!"
Kirito, of course, did not duck. Whirling, the boy grabbed the scabbard being used as a blade with one hand, with the other he grabbed Leafa's armour and tossed her roughly to the ground beside Rain and Philia.
When she came to a halt, Rain saw that she had plugged her ears and bound her eyes. Deadening her senses against Ishtar's charm. This had not been part of the plan that Rain knew of.
Leafa rose to her knees groggily. The impact had been hard. Very hard.
Ishtar giggled then. A sound that froze Rain's soul. "I'll give you a choice girl. If you care for the one in your arms too much then… order this girl to take her place."
Order Leafa to…
One of the earplugs had fallen out, she had heard. Back stiffening, she turned to Rain, one green eye conveying confusion and an edge of wariness. Rain knew she was on the verge of a breakdown, but she possessed enough capacity to sense that Leafa was now trapped. Able to hear, having sensed Ishtar… she could not flee.
Rain's vision clouded once more with tears. Philia still wrapped in her arms was too precious. Rain could not sacrifice her and… Rain did not love Leafa the same way.
She could only curse herself as her mouth slowly spoke the words. "Leafa… please… can you… you need to…"
"Go on," Ishtar purred.
"You need to… Ishtar's feet…" Groaning, Rain thrashed against her helplessness. She did not want Leafa to do this, but there was nothing else to do.
"Ishtar, this is not nice." The voice was not melodious. If anything, it was almost dead. It did not matter, Kirito's voice sung in Rain's ears. All three of the girls on the ground before him gazed up at him with hopeful eyes.
Sighing, Ishtar turned to Kirito and placed a hand on his chest. "Remember what your purpose is?"
"To make you happy."
"Yes, and these girls were very mean to me. They are in the process of apologizing."
"Oh, I see…" Still, Kirito's frown did not leave his face. A frown that did not touch his eyes.
"Hmm… will you be happy if I let you play with them tonight?"
"I… think so?" Kirito's frown slowly lessened until the face was expressionless once more. Some part of Rain howled in despair.
Leafa staggered to her feet. "Onii-chan, please! Don't let her win. Don't let her—ah!"
Leafa tumbled to the ground from a casual back-handed slap by Ishtar. "You have not finished apologizing."
"Urgh…"
Rain had not finished the order, But Leafa had figured out enough at this point to understand what Rain had meant. For a brief moment, Rain thought Leafa would refuse.
Then, whispering something to herself, Leafa started to crawl forward just as someone else called out the goddess' name.
Striding toward them was Asuna. Standing tall in her blue dress, she glared daggers at Ishtar. Behind her was Lisbeth, looking confused as to why her prisoner was running ahead.
"Oh, one of Loki's brats!" Ishtar laughed. "I don't have anything against Loki, but I suppose I can have—"
Asuna, completely ignoring Ishtar grabbed Kirito's shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. The passion in it made Rain wonder if she was going to catch fire.
Five seconds, and then at ten Asuna released. No one had moved. Kirito's eyes may be a little wider but that was the only change.
"Did that… make you happy?" Kirito's voice was a croak.
"No." Asuna glared up at him. "It did nothing to help, did it?"
"I… am sorry I could not please you."
Ishtar lifted back her head and laughed. Peals of laughter splitting the otherwise silent square. Hundreds of silent watchers observed the proceedings. "Oh, that was rich. One final kiss? Is that what that was? Oh my, you have an amazon's heart. Or maybe… Do you believe in true love? That your kiss could wash away my charm?"
"You… will never claim him…" Asuna's face was twisted with effort. Sweat beaded strongly on her. Slowly, Rain watched the regal elf begin to break. Body shaking, her knees gave out. Throughout it all though, Asuna's eyes never stopped glaring defiance.
"On second thought, no. You have too much of Aisha in you. I will always be wondering when you will stab me in the back."
Ishtar flourished her dagger again and took aim. Asuna did not lower her gaze. It was clear she trembled in fear, but her eyes remained resolute.
"Ishtar, he is here!" Syr finally said something. A note in her voice that sounded suspiciously like hope.
"Another interruption!?" Ishtar screamed. She turned from Asuna in a rage and paused. Six people had entered the square. Bell, Shakmi, Argo, Lili, and two men walking backwards that Rain thought she recognized.
Kirito became more attentive, his posture shifting somewhat for a fight. It was just in time as the tall, blue-haired woman dashed to him.
Kirito blurred around her fist, but his counterattack was dodged as well. As Kirito tried to fend her off, two more shapes launched themselves from the surrounding roofs at Kirito. Colliding, four shapes rolled away without a single spoken word.
Kirito fought hard against the three assailants, but it was a pointless one. Shakmi had one arm, a cat woman had the second and an elf his legs. Even constrained, his body heaved and shook as he struggled for release. His face showed no strain, no emotion.
"You are mine, Ishtar!"
With no guardians remaining, Bell rushed Ishtar with a sack in his hand. There was nothing stopping him from taking her captive.
The goddess only narrowed her eyes.
Bell swooped down with the sack, and Ishtar smiled, extending a hand. The sack came down only halfway, obscuring the goddess' eyes, but not her smile. Bell had frozen where her hand touched his cheek.
Jerkily, Bell stepped back and released the fabric which Ishtar contemptuously flicked away. Bell held a hand to his head, his lips moving wordlessly. Firming up again, he straightened his back, "I want you to release everyone! People are not your puppets!"
Ishtar sneered at him then glanced to Kirito, still fighting. "You three, release him and restrain Bell. Except you, elf. You stay there. I'll have words for you later."
As the goddess of beauty commanded, so did they obey. In moments, Bell was restrained, arms behind his back, knees on the pavement.
"Now, let us end this." Smiling, Ishtar commanded the entire square. Wielding a knife, she stepped forward.
The Square:
The goddess Ishtar stepped forward, but Bell yelled again. "How can you do this!? Did you not come to this world for entertainment!? Controlling everyone defeats the purpose! Please, think about it more! Don't do this!"
Ishtar paused. She had never possessed Freya's arcanum eyes. Ishtar had to judge by what she saw on the outside like everyone else. Now, however, she thought she saw a white light emerging from the boy defying her.
A radiance that formed a halo contrasting the intensity of his bright red eyes. Before that light, Ishtar paused. The dagger in her hand froze. She had been ready to destroy Orario simply to cast down Freya. Now, before this light, she paused. If she killed it…
No, Ishtar wanted it to obey her. She wanted it. "Bell," she breathed seductively. "Beg to serve me. Ask to be mine and you will be my number one. Every pleasure imaginable will be yours."
The goddess knew the answer before the boy responded. "No. I want you to let everyone go."
"Why!?" Ishtar raged. "I am a goddess of Beauty. Why won't you love me!? No man can resist me! Are you gay!? Is that what it is!?"
"I… do not think so." Bell responded, voice wavering only slightly. "I want you to release everyone. You are ruining lives. For your happiness, everyone else is suffering."
"That is proper!" Ishtar raged. The goddess did not hear the sound of a sword being drawn behind. Neither did anyone else. No one present could take their eyes off the duel of wills happening between a young boy and a formidable goddess. A boy at the worst possible age to fight against the feelings of lust that Ishtar's charm made bubble forth.
In Bell's mind, he could only see a faint memory of the golden hair that had transfixed him as a boy. Much more strongly were the smiles of his familia, his friends, his goddess. His back burned with heat where his skill was transcribed. It was his ideal. The defense was far from perfect, Bell could feel his body begging to touch the woman in front of him. His heart was racing faster now than he could ever remember.
But his soul did not budge.
Bell would not beg to the tyrant of beauty and let her have her way. He had to free everyone from her, but he could not. He could only defy her with his last breath.
Hoping it was enough, Bell's back was straight as Ishtar stalked forward, knife ready to impale his heart.
Slick!
Th sound of steel tearing flesh. Bell's eyes bulged.
"Guh!" The sound of a death rattle leaving a throat. Ishtar looked down disbelieving at the tip of black metal protruding from her chest. With a slurping noise, it was gone, as was her strength.
Collapsing to the ground, Ishtar looked up at the boy that had betrayed her and wished she had not. That memory of white light was consumed by the torrent of black energy pouring from Kirito.
His eyes were filled with fury, his blade unmoving from where he had killed her.
That black aura rolled over all in attendance, visible for all to see. A darkness powerful enough to blot out the rising sun. The residents, now freed from their charm, screamed. Fear and despair torn from their throats, they fled.
Images of a monster scarier than anything the dungeon could produce burned into their irises.
God-Slayer.
The word would pass from their tongues and by the end of the day all would know what had happened in Daedalus Street. The newly christened Black Knight's name would be spoken with a new fear. It would be the name they said, but it was only a mask for the name they meant: God-Slayer.
Kirito sensed them fleeing but did not care. That anger burned strong within him still. Not at the goddess dying at his feet. Nor for the white light that had continued to defy her. The only person he was angry at was himself.
When presented with the choice to fight, Kirito had fled. His soul finding an escape path only available to those not originally from this world. Fear of what he may do had driven him away. Anger had what he had done had brought him back.
Failure.
Yes, he had failed a dozen times. One hundred times. Kirito did not remember anything he had experienced in the place between worlds, he did not need to. He had paid for his failure. Paid with his soul's future.
Kirito turned away as Ishtar died. The black aura only grew darker as the golden column of light gave it contrast.
Chapter Epilogue: The Sage
"Thank you, Royman."
Ouranos' deep voice boomed in the chamber beneath the guild. Seated on a tall throne at the back of a dark, columned room, the deity that stood well over two meters could intimidate anyone.
The guild chief, Royman, who had finished his report bowed and scampered off. Despite holding the post for nearly one hundred years at this point, he had never gotten used to being in Ouranos' presence. There was hardly a mortal alive that could stand before one of the great gods and not feel overwhelmed.
Then, it was the god's turn to sigh in relief. He had felt it happening, thought he knew what it meant, but that did not confirm anything. Finally though, his suspicions had been confirmed.
"Welcome back, Fels." At his words, a shadowed section off to the side resolved itself into the figure of a man.
"Ouranos," the sage replied simply. "I have returned."
The god's stiff neck bent slightly. It was like a boulder acknowledging the statement of truth. "What happened?"
"We were… taken. Sealed." The Sage said lightly. "I only retained powerful magical items which I believe buffered me against the spell's effects."
Ouranos gave no reply this time. It had been discussed at lengths between gods that had lost people in this fashion. That it was finally starting was a secret that only himself, Fels, and a god in the city of mages knew.
"How long?"
Fels hesitated on his answer. To Ouranos the cloaked figure did not seem any different. He was as close to the gods as any mortal was likely to reach. That did not mean that spending over a year in some altered state was easy.
"One month."
"…One month." The god echoed.
