0Beyond the Outer Gates Lies... A Dragon's Bane?
I woke up alone. I had complex feelings about that; a little mad, a little sad, more than a little worried. Was she embarrassed? Did she regret it? Had I gone to far, despite her sleeping confession?
Or maybe Sona summoned her Peerage, and Tsubasa didn't wake me so Sona wouldn't know.
'Or perhaps Sona Sitri summoned her Rook to talk about what you did last night, and told her not to wake you,' Lash teased me.
'Except that would go against the pact not to talk about what I did with each of them, so the others won't feel bad or jealous,' I reminded her.
'Oh, Harry,' Lash shook her insubstantial head, 'You underestimate just how much girls can gossip within those restrictions.'
A single bead of cold sweat ran down the back of my neck.
The guest room I was staying in had a three-quarters bath. Even though I had cleaned myself with magic, I took a warm shower before getting dressed and heading down to the dining hall. Not a room, but a full hall. Bigger then the cafeteria of the reclaimed military base where we trained for the Tournament. Fancier, too.
Sona's Peerage were all present. Azazel, Ophis's crew, and most of the Gremory Peerage were there, too. But Ise, Shizukesa, and Oakley were all missing. Everyone else was already eating, so I grabbed some food from the buffet, and sat down with the three of my four girlfriends present. Tsubasa very deliberately did not look at me, while Sona and Reya openly studied me.
'Fine, you were right,' I told Lash, before she could claim victory. She pouted that I spoiled her moment.
"I'm surprised no-one woke me," I said vaguely.
"We agreed to meet at 7 AM, barring any emergencies," Sona said, "It is 6:41, and we all trust your ability to get out of bed on time. Unless perhaps you had a reason not to set or to sleep through your alarm, Harry."
"I plead the fifth," I countered.
"The right to develop establish fair and equitable Devil contracts without interference by the government or noble houses, excepting your King in the case of a Peerage member?" Rias frowned at me in confusion. And I remembered where we were and what we had just studied.
"Yes," I nodded without missing a beat, "Fair and equitable Devil contact."
"I think you are missing an R, Harry," Reya said.
"It's okay, I got an O in exchange," I told her. Which earned me a glare from Rossweisse, after Akeno exploded into laughter and sprayed the former Valkyrie with scrambled eggs.
I started casually eating a strip of bacon, and was spared further banter or teasing when Ise and Serafall's girls walked in. All three of them wore grim expressions. The two Kings gave them their full and immediate attention.
"We're surrounded," Oakley drawled.
"I wish I was surprised," Rias said.
"Can you provide any more concrete information?" Sona asked.
"There are nineteen Devils, twelve Grim Reapers, seven of the low tier Heroes, forty seven Draugr, and seventy eight Annihilation Maker Beasts," Shizukesa said softly. We all looked at her in surprise.
"I shifted back to my abandoned form and Lord Hyoudou Boosted my vision by a factor of eight," she explained nervously.
"Mah eyes might not be quite as good as Shizu's," Oakley added, "But mah gun's got a mighty good scope, so I can tell you who all the Hero Mooks are. And which of the Maker Beasts were the tough ones made from sculptures and which are the cheap ones made from nothing. The split is about thirty, seventy."
"But we did not see any of the core Heroes, not did I recognize any High class or higher Devils," the pink Knight concluded.
"Still, why haven't they moved yet?" I asked, "They have us surrounded and outnumbered, and with what sounds like troops they'd throw away without a thought. I have to assume they are planning something."
"Aren't they just waiting for their leaders and heavy hitters?" Tsubasa proposed.
"That could be the case," Rossweisse agreed, "especially if they think we have reinforcements but are not certain."
She gestured at the former Hero and former Beholder.
"I made sure they did not see me," Shizukesa agreed, "But they did not seem to be particularly on the look out. Nor did I see them planning anything."
"The obvious answer is that they are waiting for Georg to arrive, to sweep us all into Dimension Lost," Akeno proposed.
"It would take him a while to build up the mist to nab somethin' this big," Oakley supplied.
"They are probably preparing some sort of large scale spell to block teleportation," Reya mused.
"Would that work against the interplanar translocation circle?" I asked. Based on what Lash and I had deciphered of the circle, it would be very hard to block. At least without knowing it and preparing a specific spell to block it. There almost certainly were spells that could do it, but we would sense them.
"You are likely both correct," Azazel said, "They shouldn't know about the translocation circle, as that is a secret of the Gremory family and those they trust. But the Brigands would be fools not to try to block regular teleportation, as a way for us to escape or receive backup."
"That still doesn't explain why they aren't attacking," Tsubasa said, "Unless they think we are going to run. Or they don't think they can take us down yet."
"Maybe they are waiting for us to attack," I mused. Everyone looked at me in surprise, even Sona and Az.
"I didn't know much about Underworld law until 10 days ago," I reminded them, "and still don't know a lot. But those Old Maou flunkies might have some legal reason to be here. They might have some neutrals watching, and and if we attack first, you become the Nobles who ignore the law to oppress your opponents. Or just people doing things you don't like."
I pointed to Rias and Sona. The red-head frowned thoughtfully, while my King nodded.
"Similarly," I continued, "the Reapers are 'just here to do their jobs' and take the souls of me or the Zeroes if they die. They could have Hades or Pluto watching, and if we hurt the Reapers, they coming roaring in to defend their fellows."
"I had not considered that angle," Sona said, "But as you say it, it makes sense. And is very much in line with the underhanded tactics the Old Maou employ."
"So Oakley," I gave the slender Pawn a sideways glance, "What do you say you give me some lessons in sniping? We go and thin the herd a bit?"
The Texan smirked. Everyone else looked at me in varying flavors of confusion.
"Dresden, you just said..." Asia looked at me, worried.
"I said we don't dare go after the Devils or Reapers out there, until they attack first," I explained darkly, "And probably not the Zeroes, either, just to be safe. But that leaves the Maker Beasts and Draugr. The beasts are arguably just litter. And from what I've learned of the relationship between Hell and Helheim, there's no excuse for for Hela's super zombies to be here. And none of them are alive. Frankly, the Draugr are undead, so it is my responsibility and pleasure to destroy them. To free the souls and bodies."
I shrugged, and a Barrett XM500 appeared in my hand.
"We can take out some of them, and they can't do much about it," I said. Then I grinned angrily, "And if they decide to attack, that's on them. Not us."
"That is correct," Rias said cautiously, "Hela's minions being on Gremory land effectively constitutes an invasion. And even if the Hero Faction claims ownership and value of the Maker Beasts, we would simply need to reimburse them."
"You know, Rias," I said conspiratorially, "I do have one major complaint about this 'vacation home'. Sure there is the lake to west, but there's no pool. What about guests who don't like to swim in lakes? Or might have allergies? I really think a nice in-ground pool on the..."
I pause and stared very pointed at Shizukesa. The Knight just looked back. And did nothing. I rolled my hand. And finally she got it.
"North," she said softly.
"On the north side of the villa would be nice. Like a double Olympic size pool, a hot tub, a couple of small water slides. It would get good sun exposure, too. So if you started to, oh, I don't know, blow out some of the trees and loosen up the soil on that side, that would be a good start on the project."
The red head grinned at at me.
"That is an excellent suggestion, Harry," she nodded, "Ise darling, would you care to help me with that. Akeno, Rossweisse, would you two assist as well?"
"Sure," Ise agreed, his gauntlet suddenly appearing.
"Of course," Akeno looked excited.
"And do you mind if we do some target shooting from the eastern wall?" I asked Gremory.
"Be my guest," she inclined her head.
"Would my girlfriends like to join?" I asked, "You can't borrow my gun, but maybe you could practice your aim with magic. Shizukesa, would you like to come too?"
"Sounds like fun," Tsubasa agreed.
"And mah 2nd Amendments don't have that restriction," Oakley said smugly, "So Ah can lend them out and up ta three of us can shoot."
"Thank you," Shizukesa inclined her head, "But perhaps it is better if I go to the south wall with Lady Tsubaki, Xenovia, Kiba, and Koneko."
"What about us?" Fenrir barked.
"The three of us," Azazel indicated himself, Le Fay, and Fenrir, "Will stay inside, protecting Ophis. And Asia will be with us, because she needs to be as a central and safe point to provide healing."
Sona, Rias, and I all nodded our agreement. Rias's Bishop puffed up her cheeks in annoyance at being left out of the fight.
The forest to the south was thickest, and backed by a cliff. Which was probably why the Reapers, Devils and a few of the Heroes were there. Protection over escape. The Draugr were to the north, having come from that way. Or at least that was my best guess; it was the most direct route from Helheim after all. And the Maker Beasts were on our side, to the east. No-one was on the open, uncovered stretch between the western wall and the beach, and Shizukesa couldn't see anyone on or under the water. Shizukesa and Azazel were keep an eye in that direction, just in case.
None of our extra traps had been triggered yet, But those were all with in a hundred feet of the villa. The original defenses were even closer.
"Ah mean, I get that it's mostly ah excuse," Oakley said, "But do ya really need any help from me? Miss Serafall says you're a fair hand with a gun."
"I'm more of a pistol guy, myself," I told her, "Though I do have a certain fondness for the P90. And I've used the occasional shotgun. But long range sniping? Not so much."
"Fair," she nodded, "Well, let's start with something simple, for our non-shooting ladies here. This here lever is the safety. It's the single most important part of any gun..."
Johannes flinched, as the head of an Annihilation Maker knock-off of a displacer beast exploded. An instant later, the retort of the rifle echoed over them. He reached to the ground, and pulled stone zweihander out of the dirt.
"It is time," he said in stilled English, "The demons are attacking."
"Hold," Circe said strictly. The older Hero looked at the younger girl in annoyance.
"That was just a Maker Beast," she told him, "The wizard, the traitor, and the chessmaster are all there. And any of them are smart enough to realize that they can kill the Beasts, and there isn't anything we can do. If we attack because of this, we are the aggressors. And we are all protected from bullets, so stop being such a coward."
"If ye believe that, ye're a right bloody fool," Fergus mac Róich snorted at Circe, "We are not bulletproof."
Fergus (really Terrance Delaney), was a heavily muscled man in his early twenties with short cropped, dark brown hair. He lacked his Heroic fore-bearer's height, but otherwise was a spitting image of the ancient Irish Hero. His Sacred Gear was Inviolate Self, which protected him from being controlled or trapped; physically, mentally, or magically.
"What?" the girl snapped, "You are doubting Master Georg!"
"'Master' Georg is using a spell that's over three hundred years old," Fergus told her, "and was adapted from arrows to lead musket balls. Ye really think that it'll work on steel jacketed slugs traveling at super sonic speeds?"
Circe huffed, but she didn't deny it.
"But ye ain't wrong about the Maker thing," Fergus agreed to calm the witch down, "If Oakley..."
"The traitor," Circe insisted.
"She was mind controlled by Cao Cao," Fergus growled, "And killed by Remus. Dresden freed her and the Leviathan saved her life. Sounds to me like we betrayed her, not the other way 'round."
"You... Are you a traitor too?" she eyed him suspiciously.
"I joined the Hero faction out of respect for Perseus and to keep an eye on Connla," Fergus shot back, "But I have ta wonder in Dresden is right about how Heroic ye all really are. That's why I'm here babysitting you lot and Leo's toys."
"I thought it was because you didn't have a Balance Break," Circe said, softly and snidely.
"I won't betray ye," Fergus ignored her, "so long as Connla is on yere side."
Then he waved his hand, "But as I was saying, if Oakley really is in that fort, she could take yere head off yere shoulders at twice this distance. So if ye're really that nervous, Johannes, ye should move further into the forest, so there's at least a few trees between whoever's sniping, and ye're noggin."
The French Hero took a look at the heavy, infernal oaks. Then moved a few steps back and completely behind a tree. Fergus snorted again, this time in amusement rather than condescension.
"You aren't afraid?" Circe glared at the Irish Hero, "After all that?"
"Nah, I suspect ye're right about them only going after the beasts, to try to whittle done our forces," he shrugged, "And if not, it's only death."
Circe did not look impressed. Instead she turned her attention and spells to the fortress, subtly probing for who was shooting at them.
"We only took out fourteen of the beasts," I told everyone when we met again for lunch, "But on the other hand, we definitely taught those trees the consequences of siding with our enemies."
"That's good?" Asia sounded confused.
"Harry is covering, in his way, for the fact that I am a terrible shot," Sona said, "and that he and Oakley lowered themselves to my level so I would not get discouraged."
"We didn't do much better," Reya said.
"And Oakley might have been playing possum," I reassured my King, "But I was definitely struggling."
"At first," Sona countered.
"I didn't say that."
"No, but we were all thinking it," Tsubasa said.
"Ither way," our sniping instructor stepped in, "We destroyed almost half of the tougher beasts, and a few of the weak ones. And we got most of the Zeroes to pull back further. Only Circe and Fergus were willin' to risk keeping their lookout. Johannes, Connla, and Odysseus all beat feet to outside a' mah range. Or at least what they think mah range is."
She grinned a bit there.
"And how is the pool coming?" I asked.
"Well, we will need professionals to pour the concrete and install the machines," Rias said, "But we have cleared the space, leveled the ground, and dug a starter hole. Which seemed to destroy or damage some misplaced bodies. And we decided to stack the removed dirt and stone as a sort of makeshift wall."
'Damage?' Lash said dubiously.
"Yeah, Lash is nervous about the idea that you injured the Draugr," I told them, "Don't they get stronger as they get hurt?"
"They do," Rossweisse confirmed, "But we also made sure to delimb them. They will be frenzied, but if they have to drag themselves along the ground, or can only kick and bite, that limits them."
"Why aren't they attacking?" Xenovia cut in loudly and angrily, "We are attacking them. We are weakening their forces. They should be fighting back. Do you really think their plans are worth this?"
"It depends on their plans," Tsubasa countered.
"They may be trying to lure us into a sense of superiority," Sona said.
"Or they are underestimating us," I said, "Or both."
"They're here," Shizukesa said suddenly. She lifter her head, and the eye hidden by her longer left bangs was glowing brightly between the strands of pink hair.
"Cao Cao, Georg, Siegfried, and Leonardo," she said, "Oh, and you said the girl with the double naginata is Benkei, right Oakley?"
The sniper Pawn nodded.
"She is there, too," Serafall's Knight said, "Staying close to Leonardo. And Shalba Beelzebub arrived via a different sort of teleportation, but at basically the same time. And now he is bringing out some sort of statue, and pointing at it."
"We should see what they're doing," Sona said.
"And prepare for an attack," Rias agreed.
"Here it is, child," the renegade Devil declared proudly, "Nothing so simple or cheap as your clay dolls. A masterpiece, made for my family by the finest craftsmen, from high quality steel and mythril. Now, bring it to life, so it can destroy Ophis and her guardians!"
Leonardo tilted his his head in confusion.
"He doesn't speak English," Sieg said flatly.
Shalba growled, and then repeated himself in Latin. This time Leonardo looked to Cao Cao, who nodded. Georg almost laughed when the normally emotionless boy rolled his eyes. Then the bearer of Annihilation Maker placed his hands on the statue of a dragon with extra limbs and tails. Black ichor began to flow out of hands and bind the statue.
"Yes, go forth, Jabberwocky!" Shalba exclaimed.
"That's the Jabberwocky," Rias took a step back, her face draining of all color. She looked terrified. Sona smirked slightly. And I just looked confused.
"Yeah," I told her incredulously, "We told you yesterday that the jerks sent a Maker Beast copy of the Jabberwocky as one of their kaiju. But I'm wondering what are those idiots doing? If Leo had two of the statues ready, why not use both of them yesterday?"
"He's got his limits," Oakley said, "He's gotten stronger, to even launch that attack yesterday. Two was probably too much. And that's assumin' this one has a statue, and ain't just a freeform Beast. But maybe they don't know what happened to the first one?"
Rias was looking at us, not sure why we weren't on the verge of panic.
"Well, Sona dear, shall we?" I extended my hand to her, as if asking for dance. Sona smiled back and took my hand.
"What was that?" Rias demanded shrilly.
'If this were One Piece, she would probably be making the Enel face,' Lash commented, amused. I wasn't sure what she meant, and ignored her.
"Weren't you listening yesterday?" I asked, "Or did you just not believe us?"
"I didn't think you were lying," the red-head countered defensively, "But I thought you had to be exaggerating. Even if this is a copy, it is still the Jabberwocky. And Annihilation Maker."
"Harry was not bragging or stretching the truth," Sona laid her hand on my bicep.
"If anything, this one was easier to kill than the last one," I inclined my head towards Oakley.
Then Shizukesa chuckled lightly.
"What is it?" Ise asked her.
"Just that Shalba Beelzebub's reaction is very much like Lady Rias's," the pink Knight said.
Rias pouted.
"What was that?" Shalba demanded shrilly. There was a flash of light, and the Maker Beast's head fell off. At the same instant, the statue he brought crumbled into chunks of corroded metal.
"If this were a cartoon, his jaw would be down to his stomach and his eyes would be bulging out of his head," Sieg whispered to his comrades.
"Were you not listening yesterday?" Georg demanded, "Or did you just not believe us?"
"I didn't think you were lying," Shalba countered imperiously, "but you did say you were not sure how the Devils were able to defeat the Jabberwocky so quickly. Besides, this one should have been stronger!"
"That is your first mistake," Cao Cao said darkly, "Leonardo is the reincarnation of Leonardo Da Vinci, one of the greatest artists and inventors of all time. Your 'finest craftsmen' do not hold a candle to him. Your prize statue was trash compared to his works. And the simple fact that Leonardo did not sculpt it meant that it was only slightly better than nothing at all with respect to Annihilation Maker."
"The reason we went along with your plan was to shut you up and to try to see how they beat it," Georg explained.
"And?" Shalba tried to save face. In his deluded mind, he had already expected that and tacitly agreed to it.
"Dresden," the magician said simply, "Vorpal."
"Ah, of course," Cao Cao sighed.
"Vorpal? That over engineered cutting spell?" Shalba questioned in disbelief.
"Vorpal," Georg agreed, "as in the name of the sword Alice Liddell used to behead the original Jabberwocky."
"Do you think the spell will function the same if Devils cast it?" Cao Cao asked Georg.
"I would expect so," the magician agreed, "Most mandalas will function the same regardless of the caster. That is their purpose."
"So there is no point in attempting to create further copies of that monster?" Sieg phrased it like a question, but was not.
His comrades nodded and the Devil scowled.
"Can we just attack now?" Benkei asked, stabbing one of the heads of her custom naginata into the ground impatiently.
"Yes."
I guess they got bored or ran out of stupid tricks. Because maybe twenty minutes after the second Jabberwocky fell, the other Maker Beasts, the Grim Reapers, and the Draugr attacked the manor en masse. Well, en masse might be a bit of an exaggeration. They had us out numbered, but we weren't talking armies in the thousands here.
Frankly, it was kind of sad. There were still thirty-six Draugr now charging the north wall. But only seven of them had ranged weapons. For a certain forgiving value of 'ranged'. Five crossbows, one shotgun, and one pistol. The rest had axes and swords.
The Maker Beasts were mostly ground based, though a few of the insect ones looked like they might have been able to climb the walls. There were fliers. And there was also a couple of spellcasters in the Hero mooks wrangling the Beasts. Spellcasters, or Sacred Gear users with ranged powers.
Really, the only threat was from the south. About two thirds of the Reapers were armed with scythes, the rest with a xiphos.. es? Xiphosi? Xiphopodes? Whatever the plural was, and round shields. Either way, when they swung their weapons, and arc of black energy tinted with green flew out. Not an evil or sickly green, either. It was a gentle, almost comforting color. There were also Heroes and a handful of Devils attacking the southern wall.
As a result, most of our heavy hitters were on that side.
Oakley and Reya were on the north wall, destroying the Draugr. Koneko was with them, do deal with any of the super zombies that reached the wall.
Akeno was in the northeast corner, watching and contributing to both those sides.
Tsubaki and Rossweisse were fighting the Maker Beasts. Kiba was their short range back up, but his dagger bombs were also doing a good job at medium range.
Yours truly was on the southeast corner. Again, helping both sides and keeping an eye out for whatever the Brigand's next play was.
Rias, Xenovia, Ise, Le Fay, and Tsubasa were on the south wall. My Rook was trying her new spells. Le Fay was on defense, trying to tie down the Reapers. Most of the heavy shooting fell on Ise, Rias, and Xenovia. Or technically Ex-Durandal, as without her holy sword the former exorcist had fewer ranged options than Tsubasa. Of course with it she was making Shalba's followers second guess their allegiance.
Shizukesa was on the southwest corner. Mostly she was helping the south battlefield. But she was our best watcher, so if the Heroes or enemy Devils did have plans for the lake, she had the best chance of spotting it first.
Azazel, Sona, Fenrir, and Asia were in the central courtyard. All of them were guarding slashing watching Ophis. But Sona was also our strategist, directing the rest of us. And Asia was ready in case someone was wounded.
Which didn't seem likely at the moment. The Draugr were not going down quickly, but were not having much success. Reya's winds kept them back, and Oakley's sniping destroyed their brains. Much like the weaker and more common varieties of zombies, that was the simplest and fastest way to take them out.
The Maker Beasts were again resistant to Devil magics. But Tsubaki had her Shinra exorcist training, and Rossweisse blasted them with multiple schools of magic. That let her partially bypass their protection, even if she was using Devil power in the circles rather than pure mana. And like the bridge fight in Kyoto, my 2nd Amendment's guns tore the fake monsters apart like damp cardboard. And I was spending almost as much time shooting stunning and debuff type spell at the Reapers. Plus the occasional Fuego or Infriga to keep them honest.
It wasn't going quick, but it was going well. And despite that, my Wizard-sense was tingling.
"Finally," Georg complained.
Shalba had just left the two lead Heroes alone, going off to berate his followers for dodging Rias Gremory's Power of Destruction. The Devil had been hovering around them, trying to give directions and making sure they didn't deviate from his 'plan'. Which was so poorly conceived and random that it was some how both impossible to follow it and at the same time impossible to deviate from it. Cao Cao and Georg had been driven to distraction, just trying to get rid of him. Without getting rid of their supposed ally in the way both of them wished to.
"Quickly, before he returns," Cao Cao said hastily.
A swirl of mist appeared next to Georg. The magician reached inside. He drew out two long, wooden poles. The first was made of dark and rotting spruce. At one end of the six-foot long staff, the branches curled around what Hercules had described as a 'big, glass rupee'. Neither Cao Cao or Georg understood, until Jeanne explained it was a type of gem from a certain game series. Inside the transparent crystal, a slender ribbon of darkness roiled and twisted.
Georg kept the staff for himself, and handed the second to Cao Cao. The shorter branch was not a staff, but a javelin. The front half was dyed red and still appeared damp. The back half was plain, and the grains were large and visible, with faint runes carved in. It was a branch of mistletoe, magically enraged to be a suitable size.
Georg planted the normal end of the staff into the ground, and began to channel mana into it.
The moment I was waiting for hit. Not exactly waiting for, since I hadn't been able to figure out their plan. But out of nowhere there was a cloud of screaming void above the southern wall and forest. It blatantly shouted 'we are up to something'.
'My host,' Lash sounded worried. I called up a vision enhancing mandala.
'Lash, slow me by 50 percent, please,' I requested.
My vision drew out even as it magnified. The cloud wasn't made of water. It was a mass of teeth. No, not teeth. Black fangs. Swirling around like raindrops in a storm cloud. And I knew this power. If it wasn't obvious, the cloud was formed of Ophis's power. Was it her? Or was it the assholes using their stolen power.
Then there was a new figure on the south wall. Ophis, standing a few feet from Ise. She was staring up at the cloud. And she actually had a full, readable expression. Annoyance.
"Mine," Ophis hissed, extending her arms to the cloud.
"What are you doing?" Shalba squealed. The Devil charged Georg, spells forming over his hands. Cao Cao stepped between them. Staring down Beelezbub.
"Where did you get that power?" the Devil asked more politely.
"It is only a fragment of what we stole from Ophis for you," Georg said softly, "You and Rizevim will still have more than enough power for your doll."
Shalba huffed again.
"What is this spell?" the Devil queried, now interested in how they were using the stolen essence.
"Bait," Cao Cao said, "Are you ready?"
Georg nodded. But the True Longinus user was not just talking to his second. And in his earbud, Cao Cao heard another answer.
"Yes," the high and sharp voice said happily.
She pulled, and the cloud started to collapse. It fell towards Ophis.
Then it vanished.
'HARRY!' Lash shouted my name. Slowed my perception by a factor of ten. Grabbed my head and gently pulled it around.
Cao Cao had emerged from the woods while we were focused on the cloud. He had already lifted a two-tone short spear and was aiming it at the wall. At Ophis.
"Ise! Rias! Ophis! Reflectum!"
My voice sounded slow in my ears. Heedless of the injuries I would deal myself, I tried to move my body as fast as my mind was racing. I dropped the sniper rifle. Rotated. Lifted my staff. My thighs and shoulders screamed as my muscles tore. I channeled my power into my foci. Into my bracelet and watch. From them, into my staff to project the shield. The javelin wasn't the Spear of Destiny. But it had to be something. Cao Cao had to think it would do something to whoever he was aiming for. It looked like the Dragon God was his target but he still had time to adjust.
No. The projectile was flying. Faster than I would have suspected. Aimed at the dark, childlike immortal.
I released my shield. But something happened. Still inside the rune marked oak, the mystical energy began to buck and roil. Some of it unraveled. The rest tied into a tighter, inflexible, chaotic knot. For half an instant I tried to force the spell out.
Ise heard me. Saw the attack. Most of his armor fell away as he shifted to Knight mode. He stepped in front of Ophis. Swept her behind him. Raised his right hand to block or blast the javelin.
I realized the danger. Probably too late. I released my staff. I wasn't in a position to throw it. I was planning to kick it away. Even though I knew it was too late.
My staff exploded. Force and splinters slammed into me. The sphere of energy blocked most of my view. But I saw the spear hit Ise's palm. Continue trough armor and flesh like it wasn't there. Inch forward towards his bicep in my still slowed vision.
Then I saw nothing. Felt nothing.
Circe smirked. It was all she could do, not to cheer.
Resisting the urge to celebrate, she cast two more spells. The first concealed her, while sending off a sliver of power in a random direction. The second increased her physical abilities.
Like her disruption spell, the stealth spell was replicated five total times, making her that much harder to find while laying five false trails. The enhancement mandala could only be used on herself once, so she directed the other four copies to Fergus and her other comrades.
Then she released her Balance Break. The five orbiting crystals collapsed back into the wand. And barely forcing herself to jog instead of skip, she retreated to the rendezvous point.
Next: Beyond the Outer Gates Lies... Aftermathmatics?