Blah blah blah, technicalities and crap.

Fujishima Kosuke owns AMG and its characters. I own Xerangref and Daisen, Kruss, Kyuss and Shantar (previous statements about using all of them stand).

A/N: Certain events and plots are hinted and somewhat revealed in this work. If you haven't read at least up to or past volume 19, you may be confused at some points.

I honestly have no idea how long this fic will be, it depends on whether or not I believe it's finished.

I'm trying to figure out the best way to continue this. I have many many ideas in mind, but only one can be used.

More new characters are always fun, eh?

Happiness' End

End of Chapter 24:

Thor turned to look at the little group in front of him, "As you have heard! I am Thor, Class 0 God, Type 0: Unlimited; Current seating on the Council of the Heavens as the Norse branch representative. At your service and whim, my ladies."

Thor bowed before Belldandy, Urd and Skuld, much to their surprise.

Things were looking up. With four First Class Gods, a First Class Goddess and a Class 0 God on their side, they were sure to be successful in bringing Keiichi back.

Belldandy got a sudden look of determination and nodded at everyone.

"I thank you for your help and determination. Now, for my Keiichi."

She turned and walked out of the Great Hall with the procession of gods and goddesses following.

Things were going to get rough for the demons.

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Chapter 25: Rescue

In the temple, many people would think that a party was going on; if not a party, then a meeting. Arguing could be heard from the streets as two female voices were constantly bickering back and forth. On occasion, a third female voice would interrupt the two feuding.

No one could've possibly guessed what topic the meeting was on, or wanted to know how what was being discussed would get carried out.

Urd and Peorth were constantly fighting and bickering over various plans and ideas on how to rescue Keiichi from a demon's lair.

The main problem being was the location of said lair. If it was on the Earthrealm, then things would be a great deal easier. If the lair was in Nidhegg, Urd was going to have to pull some strings with a person she didn't like to associate with much.

Another problem was whether it was Mara's lair, or this other demon that had been introduced into the equation. If it was the other demon's lair, things were going to be fairly interesting, as he was a very powerful demon by Urd's standards.

The constant bickering and fighting stopped when Skuld suggested the most basic of all strategies: Confront, distract, retrieve and run.

She outlined a basic, but very thorough plan that utilized everyone they had access to. Of course, she would stay at the temple and supply small headsets for each person going on the mission. This would serve as the unification ideal for the team, all reporting back to one person and one person giving orders. Skuld also included small optical devices so she could see what was going on before giving the order to the next team.

The overall outline of the plan split the group of 3 goddesses and 5 gods into three groups.

First, the confrontation method would include Belldandy, Urd and Peorth. Mara knew that all three goddesses looked out for the mortal man, so this wouldn't be a surprise. They would try to negotiate and possibly arouse the cocky and arrogant side of the more powerful demon.

Next in line, the distraction would be provided by Thor, Daisen and Shantar. Shantar had the advantage of longer range, but was also skilled in close combat. His overall preferred weapon was a simple set of arrows with an ornate and powerful long bow. He would lay cover fire for Thor and Daisen to get close, if it was needed. They would cover the three goddesses and provide a distraction at the same time.

Lastly, Kyuss and Kruss, being the fastest and smallest of the entire group, would get Keiichi and get out as quickly as possible. They would wait at the temple until the distraction was in full motion, giving ample time and ease to sneak in and out. Both Mara and the other demon would probably be too busy worrying about their mystery guests rather than noticing energy signatures.

If surprise dictated an extreme advantage, Thor warned everyone present that he would try to banish the more powerful demon back to Nidhegg. Belldandy nodded and suggested bringing along the God's CD just in case, which seemed like a sound idea.

Although Belldandy had faced off against Mara in the recent past, she had only used the God's CD as leverage above Mara, since the Demon's CD was still missing. However, with her last two actions, Mara had severely angered Belldandy. If she was going to try to retaliate or run from them, Belldandy wouldn't hesitate to use the God's CD to seal Mara away for another long period of time.

Now, the only problem that remained was where the demons were hiding…

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Xerangref could feel another couple of divine signatures appear at the temple, including a familiar signature that had vanished only a week before.

Now, Belldandy had friends to help her reclaim this mortal man.

Xerangref looked over at the slumping figure that was tied to a beam with his hands above his head. His body was still swaying after the last bout of fun.

Blood splotches could be seen on the ground and cuts and bruises were easily visible on the young man's flesh.

He knew what was coming, the normal rescue attempt that the goddesses would make. First, the talking began. If things bored Xerangref, he was going to start a fight. He knew that the puny goddesses were no match for him, so he wasn't worried. It may have been overconfidence, but it was the truth. Even if they brought friends, the ones they brought would fall before him as well.

All they had to do was wait…and to avoid that little paradox, Xerangref decided to leave a little present to help the rescue party along, so that the fun could begin even sooner.

He lacked in patience when it came to the torture and humiliation of goddesses.

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While discussing certain escape routes that Kyuss and Kruss could take while fleeing the scene with Keiichi, things became eerily quiet in a very quick moment.

All the gods present and Belldandy immediately looked in one certain direction, their eyes seemed unfocused.

Skuld pulled on Belldandy's arm, "Onee-sama? What is it onee-sama?"

Belldandy looked at Skuld with an unreadable expression, "It seems that the demon knows of our presence and our ideas…he's baiting us to him by revealing a small part of his power as a beacon."

Thor just smiled, "Let's not look a gift horse in the mouth eh! This is wonderful! The sooner we get there, the sooner we fight!"

Daisen shook his head and sighed, "Uncle Thor, it isn't all about fighting you know…Sure I love the battles and fights as much as another warrior god, but aren't you going a bit too far?"

Thor grinned at Daisen's response, "Ah, dear nephew. You know I rarely get the chance to see much action anymore! This is exciting and top notch!"

Belldandy looked at the elder god with gratitude while Urd sighed and all the gods shook their heads.

"Well then, shall we be going?" Thor asked as he brought out Mjollner.

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Xerangref wasn't disappointed as he felt three of the six energy signatures leave the temple shortly after he left the bait out for the goddesses. Soon he could sense the three women in front of the run down arcade. Soon after, the three appeared before he and Mara. Xerangref was surprised, as the third person was not the smallest of the three sisters, but a goddess he had never seen around before.

That meant she must be staying with the other two powers as the three goddesses before him came to negotiate.

Xerangref smiled as Urd shuddered at the sight of him. He had made sure that she remember, since he embarrassed her so easily and quickly at the temple when taking the weak mortal male.

Belldandy approached the two demons with a look of anger and determination on her face, "Where is my Keiichi? What have you done with him?"

As Xerangref spoke, he noticed a small look of surprise on the strange goddess' face, as well as on Belldandy's face. His voice had apparently had an impact on them.

"He's here with us, little goddess. But the question is, what are you going to do about it?"

"We simply came to talk and try to claim his release. He has done nothing to either of you, so he should not be harmed."

Xerangref snapped his fingers and Keiichi appeared behind Mara. A single light turned on below the young man to let everyone present see his condition.

Belldandy and Peorth gasped while Urd growled. Despite her efforts, Urd still looked as if she were visibly ill. What they had subjected Keiichi to was horrible; horrible, but not uncommon from a more powerful and menacing demon.

With seeing Keiichi in his current condition, Belldandy had already made up her mind. Mara had gone far too far this time.

Belldandy, with tears running down her cheeks turned to look at Mara, "Why Mara? Why would you possibly do this?"

Mara sneered at Belldandy, "Why do you think? I'm sick and tired on dealing with all the crap that you and your sisters subjected me to. Now, it's my turn to get even."

That being said, Mara pulled out her dual kodachi blades and got in a fighting stance.

"If that is the way you wish things to be, Mara…"

"It is!" Mara shouted as she charged the trio of goddesses. She was surprised to suddenly be stopped by another blade. She looked at the new opponent, but only saw the blade of another sword coming at her.

Mara backed away as the pointed edge sliced through the area her head had been. She looked at the a tall and muscular god that was holding a strange jagged sword that resembled an epee in his right hand. Mounted on his left arm, covering up past his elbow, was a combination of a circular shield and a sword edge; the edge ran out another foot from the bottom of the shield and over his hand. It was an offensive and defensive weapon at the same time, and this god seemed fully aware and skilled in using it. He also wore another sheathed sword with his empty sheath at his left side, with an addition of sets of throwing daggers strapped to his right side and a longer dagger strapped to his left shin.

Mara was pulled from her observation and she was pulled aside by Xerangref as an arrow shot past her. Mara was again surprised. Things were going to be far more complicated than Xerangref had outlined.

The next figure that appeared was massive. His presence both shocked and horrified both demons, as they stood and stared at the tall figure.

"Thor! What the living hell are you doing here on Earth! You have far more power than most gods, and yet you're willing to help out one measly mortal?"

Thor responded by swinging his massive hammer at the two demons. Both split in separate directions, but Mara wasn't fast enough. Part of her left leg was crushed under the partial blow Thor had landed on her.

Trying to make an escape, Mara limped towards the back of the arcade base and tried to hide, but was soon confronted by an irate Belldandy, Peorth and Urd.

Belldandy held a circular object in her hands while Urd and Peorth held the object with one hand on each side.

"Look, he made me do it! I didn't want to get that bad! I only wanted to rough the kid up a little and scare him! Xerangref started the torture idea! Please! Get that thing away from me!"

All three goddesses simply looked at Mara and smiled as they poured a small amount of power into the seal. Mara was soon fighting against the suction of the God's CD, but was failing at holding her ground due to her maimed left leg.

The three goddesses watched with satisfied looks as Mara was soon dragged into the seal. Belldandy chanted the final line and the seal was complete. She was at least happy that Mara was no longer going to bother her.

Urd had turned and was watching the battle continue in the next room. Kyuss and Kruss had already come and gathered Keiichi and left, and it was a good thing too. Thor and this demon called Xerangref were really getting violent. Each was employing massive amounts of energy and brute strength behind each attack.

Daisen and Shantar stood off to the side, watching the violent exchange with awe. Apparently, this was the first time either of them had seen Thor fight. Urd had seen it once before, and it was indeed a grand and frightening sight to behold.

After a few more minutes, Xerangref was showing fatigue and a look of pain. Through the match, Thor had landed a glancing blow on his right side. Even though the blow was extremely insignificant, Thor's overall power and brute strength had made it a blow that would hinder him in the long run.

After all, the only demon that could stand up to a heavenly council member was a member of Hell's court. Even though the council members were Class 0 gods or goddesses, they were still far older and held far more power than normal Class 0 gods or goddesses.

Another few seconds and the demon was disarmed and trapped by Thor, Daisen and Shantar. Shantar had shouldered his bow to pull out the medium length sword that he kept at his right side.

"I will give you one chance, and one chance only demon! Leave this mortal plane for good on your own accord or be forced to leave!"

Xerangref panted a response, "If that is the choice given, then I choose to leave. Now let me regain my arms and I'll be on my way."

Xerangref stood, but swayed to his left; the pain in his right side still strong and burning. He turned, reclaimed and sheathed his Mystletainn and then turned back to the gods.

He stared and hissed at Daisen, "You will see me again, fools! Count on it!"

The demon then vanished into the shadows with a growl.

Thor turned to look at his nephew and his friend with a smile. The elder god was apparently unwinded and looked like he hadn't shed a drop of sweat at all.

"A bit disappointing, but still fun, eh lads!" Soon Thor's hearty laughter could be heard ringing throughout the arcade. He turned to his other comrades, only to find Urd remaining.

She looked at Thor and nodded, then smiled.

"To think that I would get to see you fight twice in my lifetime, Thor. It is honor, but also scares the crap out of me."

Thor laughed again at this, while the two other gods grinned at her response.

"Well, we're done here, let's go home," Urd said as she motioned out of the arcade and towards the temple.

A/N: A few of the newer god's characteristics and fighting styles emerge! Left in mystery are both Kyuss and Kruss. What do they wield? What is their style of fighting? What will become of Xerangref? What exactly happened to Keiichi?

All will be revealed!