Chapter II

Wormface

"Ah…! Isn't it refreshing? Remarked Iris, as she fills her lungs with cold breeze. "Eat clouds! Ha ha!" Pretending to swallow the fog that touches her cheeks, like a child that she always is.

Iris Irine, the daughter and heiress of the leader of Payon City. She's a pretty little lass with long dark ponytail and dark eyes, 18 years old and about five feet four inches tall. A spoiled brat who gets whatever she likes… including her being a Valkyrie and training her powers under the guidance of a mighty swordsman Chaos, who was send out to search for "wormface", a mega size fluke devastating towns and other cities, and Iris Irine decided to tag-along.

Right now, she is standing at a high cliff, over looking a vast forested area covered with thick leafy trees stretching up in the air. These trees can grow up to 10-storeys high, and one can find them only in this place. It produces the toughest kind of wood, and it is said that even the saw-like teeth of termites can't put a hole on it. It covers the forests of Rune Midgard, with vines tenderly touching the ground letting the small animals populate its strong branches. It is in these trees that magical creatures live. It is also the haven of fairies and spirits of the forest, creatures living in harmony with human and nature. And it is also a source of food and medicine for the people of Rune Midgard.

Rivers and streams can also be seen in the distance, with cool clear water, zigzagging, and separating one town from another. Hills and mountains are majestically watching the four corners at the north, east, south, and west, piled up in different formations, contributing to the mysterious appearance of the country, in complement with the horizon.

"Awesome!" She said, admiring the whole scene. "I wish we could get to see this everyday!"

Rune Midgard is a beautiful country. With cities like Alberta, Aldebaran, Comodo, Geffen, Izlude, Morroc, Payon, Prontrera, Lutie X-mas town, and the mysterious Turtle Island. (Don't worry… you'll get to know these places later in the story.) It is a country full of mystical creatures, rare jewels, magical rivers and cave of wonders. In addition, each City is the home of Masters of different trades. Where Mages, Healers, Assassins, and swordsmen come for training. (Don't worry… you'll know it too, later.) Indeed, Rune Midgard is the best place for adventurers and explorers, for magic seekers and treasure hunters.

"The weather is so uplifting… ah! Right Chaos?" Turning to him who is sitting solemnly at one corner.

Suddenly, he looks up, straight and serious. "Only for now, Iris." He senses something in the air. "Bad spirits arising!"

"Huh?" It surprises her that he did not even notice the great panorama. "Alright! Let's go search for it now!" she snapped stubbornly.

"Iris, will you… Can you…?" Getting annoyed at her grumbling, he chooses to avoid facing her. He is feeling dead tired from traveling 3 days and 3 nights in search of wormface to no avail, and her spoiled attitude gets to his nerves sometimes.

"Can you just zip it; right?" She said angrily… "I know you're going to say that!"

"No fun!" she mumbled… wondering to herself. "How can he be so square?"

"Oh whatever..." she sighed, starting to get glum herself, "We have to find wormface before the sun sets!"

So she turned to Chaos, only to see him eyes wide-open, "Well well well, what do you know…? At last! He noticed how pretty I look in my new battle suit. Does this mean he already likes me? Oh Chaos! My prince charming!" Iris thought dreamilyShe always have a big crush on Chaos, only she cannot tell it or he will not let her tag-along anymore.

"Uh… Iris…" Chaos finally said, still eyes wide open, and fixed on something behind her.

"Yes Chaos? She said sweetly. "Oh migosh! Is he going to kiss me now? Wait a minute, why is he looking through me…? And not paying attention to my flirting? And what's that smell!"

"I… Iris…, behind you…" he said, pointing at something at Iris' back.

"What now?" Turning her head to where the smell is coming from…"Huh…?" and what did Iris see?

A HEAD! With numerous pointed horns around its face, that resembles an old Chinese festive mask, with a very jolly expression and with three glasslike circular objects on its forehead. The spikes go continuously on both sides of its 30-meters long (I'm not good with measurements) snake like body covered with hard plates. And its head stands erect enabling it to peep up the hill where Iris and Chaos are.

"Ch… Chaos…" Iris doesn't know what to do. She's trembling with fright and can't decide what to think. All she knows is that, one wrong move and this thing will easily gobble her up. She stands there immobile, holding her breath, and eyes fixed on the creature. Then she saw something coming out of its eyes. Something wet…, something slender…, something long...,

"Eeew!" She thought, though still frightened.

Then she realized that what looks like the monster's eyes are not its eyes at all! It is the MOUTH! It opened wide… (cut from left to right) in front of Iris, showing its shark like teeth and putting out its six long slimy tongues.

"Aaaaaah!" Screamed Iris, jumping behind Chaos.

Chaos wasted no time. As quick as a flash, he jumped on the Head, cutting it off with his sword.

"Ch… Chaos…" said she.

"Hmn?" He just smiled at her, feeling proud of his self. "Please wipe off that silly look. You adore my courage, I know!"

Now Iris is looking up at something tall behind him. Chaos is confused as ever, he turned his head at the same direction… "Huh?"

There are five dragon-like creatures towering above them. And five more can be seen coming from afar. "Aargh! They've gone wild!" Pulling Iris on the sleeve and running away in hysteria. "Retreeeeat!"

Back in the ruins of Prontrera city, Fenris is able to distract Sara Irine's attention by throwing fireballs to the other Frost giants nearing her. With one quick roll on the ground, she is able to get hold of Sentinel Breeze, which is stuck on the pile of rocks at the middle of the kings' garden.

She pulls it up with all her might… "At last! Sentinel Breeze!" She joyously thinks …and feels the power of the sword traveling in her veins. "Balder… it won't be long now."

It started raining bullets in her direction. The Valkyrie is not happy with what is happening, so she commanded the Frost giants to exterminate her. However, Fenris is too fast for them. She eluded their laser attacks and one by one, she slices those metal freaks in half with the Sentinel itself.

"Dirty li'l rodent!" Said the Valkyrie. "But you can't leave unscathed!" She pulls out four ofudas and throws them to Fenris . "HAH!" Her voice ignited it and they lighted like meteorites traveling at high speed.

Fenris pulls out one talisman hanging at her waist, and as soon as she lets it go, it floated in the air as if it has a life of its own, and it started swirling about.

"Farewell Miss Valkyrie…" Fenris whisperedThe talisman swirls faster and faster like a tornado. Inside is Fenris Fenrir, looking so confident, she whispered…, "All this in a flash of a moment…"

"Wind spirit!" She commanded in a loud voice.

The talisman swirled much faster, creating a huge twister, then…"KA-BLAM!"

The explosion is too strong; it almost blew the suspended Valkyrie off of her floating staff. When the air cleared off, there's nobody left but her. Fenris is gone.

"Hmph! Do you think you can get away just like that!" Shouts the Valkyrie. She is so upset about Fenris' escape, but watching Fenris from above gave her ideas on how to handle the enemy. She pulls out four ofudas and releases them in the air. "We will meet again Fenris! Much sooner than you think!"

Miles from the ruined garden, away from Sara Irine's view is Fenris. She knows she's not supposed to run away, but she has other important things to deal with.

"Impressive Miss Valkyrie…" she just thought. "But you've entirely underestimated me!" …and on she continues with her journey. "Will be seeing you around!"

Meanwhile, with their powers combined, Chaos and Iris were able to destroy all 10-dragon monsters.

However, a gigantic one appeared in the scene. Far bigger than the first ten. With a body that has a diameter of 3 and 1/2 meters (I suck in measurements), and spikes on each sides that are 3 meters long, from the neck down to the tip of its tail. And if you will look at it from afar, you will mistaken it with a gigantic centipede, with half of its body (which looks like 40-meters long) and its head standing erect. It has head plates similar to three wide crowns on top of each other, wider plate-like scales. The head is immense in size, with longer beard, and this one looks fiercer than the first ten.

"Aaaaaargh!" Complained Chaos, as he tries to escape the monster's attacks.

He decided to take a short break to analyze the situation. Hiding on top of one tree with Iris and gasping for breath… "Eh… I don't think this one is going to let us off easily… she is Huge! Making the first ten look like worm tots! They must have been hers!"

Iris Irine feels her energy is draining out, but she knows she have to fight this monster with Chaos or it will kill them both. It looks like it is after them anyhow.

"You see Chaos…," said Iris, still gasping for air. "The more worm tots are slaughtered, the more it will get mad… if it's the parent that is!"

"Yes, if…!" agreed Chaos. "But, what if…? He thought. "And we… uh…"

"Slayed them all?" butted Iris.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Both get surprised when wormface's humongous head popped out of their hiding place.

"Wait a sec… will ya!" Screamed Iris, as they tried their best to escape the sharp fangs of the mad beast.

Chaos realized that eluding it would just be a waste of energy. He has to face the charging creature.

"Time out! You big dumb monster!" Shouted him. Hands clutched at his sword Vision, and determined to destroy the creature.

Iris noticed how red Chaos' face is. "Wow! He's gone berserk!" she thought

Running wild, Chaos trailed onto the monster's plated body, he leaps on its face and starts the attack…

"WAKARIMASH'TA KAAAAAA!"

The creature violently sways from left to right, right to left… "Uuuuurrk..!" …trying to shake Chaos off its head.

"I'm sorry about your worm tots!" he said, trying to crack the hard shell of the creature. "But what about those you've slayed!"

He puts Vision up in the air for the finishing touch.

"Chaos!" Screamed Iris.

"Guuuwaaarrrk!" Screeched the beast.

"You'll die a swift and painless death!" Shouted him, aiming the weapon on the creatures head

"Sword of Destruction…, Magnum split!"

With full force, Vision hits the plates on the monsters head… but is not able to penetrate.

"Wha – huh…!"

(To be continued… )

Authors Note: Ofudas – (correct me if I'm wrong) can be paper strips with something written on it, like a spell or magic. Talisman – (you know what it is). Vision – Chaos' sword, it also has a power to communicate with its owner just like Fenris' Laevatein. Sentinel Breeze – The sword that belongs to the man whom Fenris calls "Balder." To RAGNAROK fans: Tell me what you like to see in a Ragnarok story that interests you the most, and I'll try my best to put it in the next chapters. And FYI: Thinking of the first scene, I was able to write a poem about Rune Midgard, but the sad thing is, I can't include it here, 'cuz it's original. Sorry for some Japanese inserts. REVIEWS please.