Chapter 5: The awakening
A/N Hey I'm gonna put this riiiight up here and answer some new reviews I got.
Lord Burrito- Thanks for the input. It's easy to put out shorter chapters faster but something MUST progress, even a little, in a chapter or it'll just be kinda bland or slice of life I guess? Something this story certainly isn't.
faizalsyach- LOL don't worry, I have absolutely no intention to abandon this or start up a bunch of other stories and barely write for this. I like to do ONE thing until I've completed it and I have a really good idea of what I wanna do for this story.
Guest- Thanks for the input, dude. I always worry about formatting and structure so it definitely helps when I get real advice about that. I'll be starting new paragraphs for dialogue like you recommended. Glad you're sticking around.
RaiKiri- Thanks for the input and ideas. As for a Kala and Ray lemon… well I like to put in that sexual tension before two characters get intimate you know? Advance that affection bar, baby. Affection + sexual attraction gets high enough? Well, things will happen. May happen soon, based on how they've been coming along. As for Akeno and Rias, well in Canon they were straight. DON'T worry just yet.. because I have plans to make Kala more appealing to just about anyone WHILE explaining why some girls, who were straight in canon, would consider Kala attractive. So harem? Ahh probably.. It does seem to be the theme of Highschool DxD. About your Sirzechs idea, while sadly, he isn't born yet.. He will be in the next arc that takes place before Canon. Thanks for the words of encouragement
kept123- Thank YOU for reading.
plums- Is the pincer move older? Oh damn, it is. Well she'll certainly use more modern tactics in the war, which may or may not help in the long run, as you'll see. Yeah you're right about the Supernatural side not knowing of it used in war. I've always seen them as very prideful beings anyways and likely wouldn't use human-made tactics in their wars even if they knew about them. I can imagine more progressive ones like Sirzechs using them but these are the old time-devils, angels and fallen who, most believe to be far above humanity. While they could have captured the cannon, Kala was more inclined to put it out of commission so the Castle held up. Thanks for reading!
-[Three weeks later, Castle Denric]-
In the following weeks of the first attack, Kalawarner had been front and center of at least eight more attempted raids of the Castle by the Devils. Though they had gotten reinforcements from Baraqiel's armored division in the form of about 1000 two winged Fallen, Thirty Defender-class cannons that was set up along Denric's walls and fifty, four winged Fallen in full-plate knight sets, which Kalawarner had to admit made them look especially intimidating. It turns out, they were all sent because Azazel and Shemhazai had been impressed by Kalawarner's tactics she'd employed against the attacking Devils. In truth, Azazel thought the Castle would have fallen after the first week and he'd need to issue orders of retreat. Now, he placed far more importance on it. Enough so that there was news they'd be getting support from a squad of six-winged Fallen. That they'd arrive within the week, to be placed under Unuriel's command.
Kalawarner, upon getting command of the fifty Fallen Knights the second week in had decided to put them in their own Division she named the Armored Knights Division. Making use of their heavy armor and the more powerful magic they possessed having four wings, Kalawarner had deployed a more modern tactic called 'Blitzkrieg' that usually used tanks and heavy artillery. Lacking tanks and planes, she decided to use the Knights, who could fill both roles. Kalawarner had gotten creative with what they had, ordering some of the strongest knights to carry the cannons and provide air support for the Knights below them that engaged in a melee battle. That was not the first time she had used more modern ideas during attacks. She had gotten her magic to be far more flexible in how it acted and was shaped. She found she could essentially create landmines out of her Holy magic, to the shock of Raynare and Unuriel, who had been there for the two, painstaking days when Kalawarner had set up and hidden the Holy landmines under the soil outside the Castle.
Both tactics had succeeded. The Devils, who were prepared to clash in melee, while using cannons and familiars as mounts, were certainly overwhelmed by the flying Knights wielding Cannons meant for Castle defense. Though the attacking group of five thousand were absolutely terrified after losing about two thousand of their men that was first in line for the siege, to random explosions of holy magic all across the ground. It was so fast that only very few were able to get off the ground and fly above the exploding mess all around them. Though soon after the few Devils had taken flight, they had been shot down by the Armored Fallen Division, who were waiting for them with their cannons. The battle hadn't lasted much longer but the Devil survivors, one in particular, had been particularly terrified when they heard the sadistic cackling of a female Fallen when they began to be routed. Zeoticus Gremory, the minor Heir of the Gremory Pillar would wake up in a cold sweat for centuries to come, remembering that scary laughter.
That had not been all that happened during those three weeks. They had gotten word that other areas all across the Underworld and even the human world were embroiled in conflict between the three Factions. Unuriel, Raynare and Kalawarner had passed the threshold two wings and had ascended into four wings. This was celebrated by them and a small group of Fallen that had been sent with them to the Castle. Though Unuriel had gotten drunk and told Raynare and Kalawarner embarrassing secrets. One such being that his Human lover had often pet his wings and called him her 'little birdie' which had both Fallen laughing at his expense. Raynare, upon getting four wings during the end of their two hour training routine during the second week had cried tears of joy and immediately glomped her tired partner and had thanked her for a solid five minutes while kissing Kalawarner's cheek. Kalawarner took this in stride and had felt more pride at changing her friend's fate in canon than advancing to four wings herself.
Kalawarner had become closer to Unuriel and the other Fallen from their group as the weeks had gone by. Getting to know them much like how Jack Haille had gotten to know many of his friends once he joined the Marines. Though she had begun to fear losing them like Jack Haille had in some firefights. When Jack had been discharged from the Marines, he had lost all of the friends he made there from terrorists and poor decisions made by military personnel. He had almost been dishonorably discharged after getting into a fistfight with a Major that had indirectly gotten his friend killed. Part of why he had left the Military was the fact that he heavily disagreed with the top brass and how they treated their soldiers as Conscripts and not citizens. Here, in Grigori, though, Kalawarner had realized there was a certain family-like feeling to it all. Sure, there were disagreements, but nobody had treated anyone as expendable tools or bodies to toss into the meat grinder. She might be able to attribute that to Unuriel's leadership skills, but she had seen how the Fallen reinforcements they received treated the two-winged Fallen of their group. There was virtually no difference.
Kalawarner was currently sitting in Denric's Courtyard that had been converted into a training yard. Sitting next to her was her partner and friend, Raynare who she had gotten to know far better. Even in knowing her Mortal sin, Superbia. She had a certain pride to her that made her despise the thought of being so weak. To seek power due to pride.
'I can… understand that. God, I've felt it myself.. The Fallen are actually rather close to human the more I think on it' Kalawarner thought as she stared up at the red-orange dusky sky of the Underworld.
"Kala? Can I ask you something?"
"Didn't you just?" Kalawarner responded with a teasing grin.
"Ugh… That was really lame. Come on! You know what I mean"
"Hahahahahaha.. All right, ask away, my lovely partner" Kalawarner said while glancing back at her partner.
Raynare coughed to herself and stared at her friend before asking. "I have a few things to ask actually. One, you said Azazel-sama taught you the training method we're doing.. but he sounded like he's never heard of it before."
"Right.. I should have known you'd ask sooner or later. Sorry, Ray. I shouldn't have lied to you like that. I just panicked and your suggestion made the most sense." Kalawarner said as she sighed and turned to face her friend.
"But I can't tell you where I learned how to train. Not… right now. After the War? Can you wait until then?" Kalawarner asked, earnestly looking right into her friend's eyes.
"Uh.. okay? Hey, Kala it's not that big a deal unless you're a traitor or something like that.. I've just been curious about it for a while is all!" Raynare said, trying to reassure her.
"Right. I just don't like to start any kind of relationship like that. Never gets far."
"Speaking from experience?" Raynare'd asked, looking a bit envious but also worried for Kalawarner.
"Yeah I.. was romantically involved with someone a long time ago. They lied to me about being single and it lead to some complications." Kalawarner said, reminded of her past life.
"Lying to someone like that.. It hurts you know? The reason betrayal hurts so much is because it comes from somebody you give a damn about. Remember that, Ray. Please." She said sighing to herself and gauging Raynare's reaction.
"I'm so sorry that happened to you, Kala.. I won't do it, okay? Promise" Raynare said while embracing her friend, eliciting an assured smile from Kalawarner.
"The other question is… uh.. well…" Raynare fidgets nervously, trying to put her words in order.
"Are you looking to be with anybody? I mean.. romantically?" Raynare finally asked.
"Maybe? Not during the war because I'd probably be distracted by romantic interest's incredible looks and the fact I'd want to be intimate with them if we did end up together. Are you?" Kalawarner asked, smirking at her friend.
Raynare had froze for a second, face heating up as she attempted in vain to not smile as she turned her head away.
Before Raynare could answer, they felt a large heat descend upon them. Prompting them to look up, Kalawarner saw a very large ball of Holy flames. One she could recognize from the memories from the original Kalawarner. One most if not all Angels could recognize immediately.
Holy fire. As in the fire that appeared to Moses on the mountain he saw the burning bush. That fire had rapidly descended upon the Castle, shattering the barrier and coming down on them. It was seconds before its arrival that Kalawarner had covered Raynare with her body and dived down with her.
-[The skies above Denric Castle]-
The Leading Angel above the Castle, now almost in ruins, was smiling to himself as he witnessed the destruction he and his proper brethren wrought upon the traitors to his Father. This Angel, Numiel had been sent out weeks prior by his Father to enact judgement on the Devils and Traitors. All of his attacks thus far had been wildly successful. He took no prisoners and razed every structure built by the hated enemies of Heaven from above. Not even deigning to set his blessed feet on the dirty structures the enemy had made before burning them all to cinders.
Unfurling his pure white wings, he and his legion of three thousand Angels descended upon the Fallen, now weakened after the surprise attack orchestrated by the six-winged Angel. Starting with the troublesome knights the scouts had reported, he had started killing quite a few but they soon got their second wind and began pushing the Angels back fiercely. Some were screaming out in rage about harming their Second-in-command, Kala-something. It did not matter to Numiel. He figured they were all consumed by the sin of Wrath, Ira. It disgusted him to no end, seeing the tainted creatures he saw them become. Quickly cutting down another four-winged Knight, he was caught a bit off guard by a buxom Fallen with black hair and irate purple eyes, swinging madly at him. It was more of an annoyance, really. More due to the fact that the Fallen around her were coordinated with her and prevented him from landing a lethal strike to her. They'd begun killing his forces as some Knights picked up cannons meant for Castle defense from outside.
Flying back quickly he began to regroup his forces. The Fallen did the same but the woman who had attacked him looked furious. He decided to use that as he opened his mouth to speak.
-[Raynare, Castle Denric]-
"Ah.. to see my former Brothers and Sisters consumed by a mortal sin.. It breaks my heart. Why are you so angry? Surely you knew we would come for you as well?" Numiel had asked, smiling.
Raynare had looked incensed by his smile as she turned her Holy spear into a lance. Something she picked up from her best friend. About to reply venomously but her other friend, Unuriel landed beside her with a force of his own and put his hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"He's goading you to attack him, don't fall for it. Kala taught you better, right?" He said, looking over the Angels, ready to attack.
"Psh.. I know.. But he hurt her.. His fucking fire.. Kala put her body over mine to protect me.. I have to kill this asshole." Raynare spat out, glaring at Numiel.
"You're picking up Kala's swearing habits.. Follow my lead okay? We need to keep him busy. Kala'll be on her way here in twenty minutes after the healers help her out. She'll come up with something.. I hope" Unuriel said, the last part muttered to himself.
Both Fallen signaled their forces to attack, the Knights taking to the sky and the rest engaging the Angels on the ground. Raynare and Unuriel both starting to fight Numiel. Raynare unleashing multiple attacks with her Holy lance, stabbing, swinging and smashing the full construct at the Angel an Unuriel kept up with her and took Numiel's right side, swinging his Holy spear and using magic to speed himself up. It didn't amount to much though, Numiel had been dodging and parrying them both with impressive speed, even for a six-winged Angel.
Backing up, Numiel took to the skies and had started to rain down Holy spears on them by the dozens. Seeing the spears rocketing towards them, both decided to take flight and chase him while evading the flying spears that killed a few unlucky Fallen below. This, however was what Numiel wanted. Smirking to himself, Numiel ignited his fists in Holy flames and disappeared in a burst of speed. Widening their eyes, Raynare and Unuriel tried to put up their guard but it was too late. Both had left themselves open to devastating gut punches by Numiel that sent them spiraling out of the air. Holy fire covering both of their bodies as Unuriel crashed straight through a tower. Raynare was luckier, as she had crashed into the soil of the training ground, flaring her magic to put out the flames as she lie there with ragged breathing, struggling to get back up.
Unuriel quickly descended upon her with the same amicable smile he used when he asked his question earlier. Readying his fist once again as he watched her struggle to get back up.
"You should submit, Fallen. I will be merciful, even to the likes of you if you surrender yourselves." The Angel stated as Raynare grit her teeth, hard.
'I just ascended… Why… Why..? I was supposed to get so much stronger.. For Azazel… For Kala..' She thought out as frustrated tears spilled from her eyes. Numiel closing in on her with flaming fist ready to strike and crack her skull open.
'I just.. wanted someone to care..' Raynare closed her eyes as tears rolled down her cheeks.
The feeling of heat was suddenly sapped away as a chill struck the area. As if plunging into arctic water, the chill sunk into them both. Strange as it was though, Raynare welcomed the chill. As if it was very familiar to her. Cold winds battering them as the flame in Numiel's hand started to flicker. Both turning around, they see Kalawarner standing not ten feet from them, her expression shadowed over by her bangs. But the anger was palpable. Numiel, though was the one who had truly felt the brunt of it. A cold and overbearing rage he'd never before felt directed at him. Though, he dismissed all notions of fear upon seeing Kalawarner's four wings. Adopting that same smile, he opted to speak but stopped before he could even begin once he saw her face. More specifically, her eyes.
-[Japan, Itsukushima Shrine]-
Amaterasu was in the middle of talking to her brother, Susanoo when she felt a strange feeling overtake her. As if she had blessed someone or had given birth to a child she had forgotten until just now. It was odd, it had a slight connection to herself, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi. It came from a peculiar soul, she had to admit. Ut had the form of a Fallen but the blood was not pure Angel. It was a strange concoction. One that increased the magnetism and attractiveness of the person in question. But one that came with a promise of power at the expense of loss. She looked at an equally stunned Susanoo and nodded slightly at him.
"We will have to meet them after the Great War. If they survive it.." Amaterasu said, prompting a nod from her brother.
-[Denric Castle training yard, Kalawarner]-
Kalawarner had seen red. Gazing at the teary face of her Best friend. Her partner. Her Raynare. She once again felt the protective and possessive impulse wash over her. Turning her vision to the confused Angel, she saw he had frozen in place as if trying to register something. It didn't matter to Kalawarner. He was trying to take away something that had become precious to her over the past month. Feeling her magic awaken and expand, she created a Gae-Bolg imitation and rushed the angel. The angel shook off his confusion and started to block. But it was not easy. Kalawarner had attacked him far more effectively than the other two. Mixing punches, kicks and feints in her fighting style. It was during the seventh swing that she managed to cut him, making his blood freeze upon exiting the wound. He decided to take her seriously as he took flight once again and started to gather holy flames in his hands and holy spear, turning the deadly instrument even deadlier.
Kalawarner wasted no time in pursuing him, briefly thinking about the ice effects her magic gained before shaking those thoughts away. She needed to get him away from Raynare as soon as possible. She sped up and ducked a very fast swing he had aimed right after her face. Her eyes somehow tracking the movement of his arms well. She predicted his next swing's trajectory accurately, dodging and delivering a roundhouse kick right into his cheekbone, throwing him off balance. Whatever new power she felt rush out of her had helped determine where he was going to be. It helped her keep up with his speed as she continued on her attack.
Ducking and cutting into his arm, she swirled away with precise movements to doge the angrily swung Holy spear aimed at her legs. Shifting her weight around, she executed s flip kick straight to his jaw, sending him tumbling back in a slight daze. Seeing her chance, Kalawarner created multiple Holy knives and launched them at Numiel. Numiel, realizing he was open, dived straight down to avoid them, using his four wings to shield himself from the knives. Until Kalawarner dove straight after him and hit him with a straight right cross that knocked a tooth and quite a bit of blood out.
"ENOUGH!" Unuriel's face had become twisted in anger, batting Kalawarner back with a flourish of his burning spear, burning and cutting Kalawarner's clothes and cutting her across her stomach as she slid back across the burnt soil.
Kalawarner was panting with ragged and pained breaths, whatever the new power was, it drained her magic quite a bit. She needed to keep it up still if she were to have any chance at beating the Angel in front of her.
"Oh are you angry, toothless? Sorry.. I'm just so agitated.. This blonde little shit strolled into our Castle, almost burned me to death AND tried to kill my friend.. You made her cry. For that ALONE I'm gonna curb stomp your teeth in" Kalawarner said, gripping her cut.
"Mad..? No. Us true Angels don't fall to Ira. You all, though.. Fornicating with humans.. You disgust me. We're better than that." He stated, pride oozing off his every word.
"Haha.. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Oh THAT is precious! You judge us for falling to a mortal sin? Something that makes us quite human..? You know.. The creatures that God is said to love? Acting like you're so much better.. What a fucking joke." Kalawarner spat out, laughing at the irony of his criticism.
"We ARE better! We're the paragons of virtue they strive to achieve. I wouldn't expect a filthy Fallen to understand." Numiel retorted venomously.
"Is that so? Some paragons you turned out to be.. waging war, getting ANGRY.. being prideful of your status as an angel in God's army. You hypocritical fuck. Get your head out of your ass, I can smell the shit from here" Raynare responded, glaring furiously at him.
The surrounding Fallen and other Angels had all stopped fighting and listened to the two enemies yell at each other.
"We're no fucking better. Us, Devils and Humans. Sure.. different things drive us, like desires and virtues.. But don't humans do the EXACT same thing? I fell because I dared.. I DARED to love my own gender. That very same love had branded me as filth. I refuse to see it that way just because I felt the same thing ANYONE can feel. You repress it and hide it.. But some of you have felt 'impure' love before too. Desire is not evil. I am not wrong. God is." Breathing out painfully, Kalawarner's speech had widened many eyes and many Angels and Fallen began to stop fighting and think.
Numiel's eyes narrowed in fury as his grip tightened around his flaming spear, ready to strike Kalawarner down.
"Arrogance… Arrogant being..! To DARE say such things.. I must kill you now before you become too dangerous.." Numiel got ready to fight again but was cut off when six Fallen descended upon the Castle.
All of them having six wings as they flew over, holding detailed and deadly looking Holy construct weapons. Numiel cursed under his breath and begrudgingly issued the order to retreat. The angels started to retreat as the six winged Fallen started to give chase to their fleeing targets. Kalawarner, though had immediately started running to Raynare, ignoring her fatigue to pull Raynare over to herself to check on her injuries. Raynare had just laid there, staring at her friend like she had just found God.
"Ray! Are you okay!? I saw you crying and I.." As Kalawarner talked, Raynare had pulled herself up despite her injuries, gazing into her friend's eyes and kissing her as her arms wrap around her neck, Kalawarner surprised as the shifted weight and Raynare's pushing had knocked her over on her back. Staring up back at her friend who had a mesmerized gaze locked on Kalawarner, she wrapped her arms around Raynare and deepened the kiss. Kalawarner had noted how shredded their clothing was and that Raynare's body was pushed right up into hers, creating a pleasant sensation of skin on skin contact that offset the pain she was in. It continued on for ten seconds until Raynare pulled up with a line of saliva connecting both of their tongues.
"Thank you, Kala… I.. I really care for you. I was so scared when you.." Raynare started but Kalawarner put her hand on her shoulder, halting her.
"I really care about you too, Ray. Sorry to worry you. You're the most precious person to me since I got here. Psh.. making me fall all over again. Maybe after all this we can… try.. things out hm?" Kalawarner winked at the last joke as Raynare rolled her eyes and laughed slightly.
"One thing though.. What's with your eyes..?" Raynare had asked with a confused expression.
'My eyes?' Kalawarner had looked over to a fallen sword on the ground, looking at the reflection.
What she saw shocked her, seeing completely red irises with a single comma pattern in each eye, spinning lazily yet ominously, adding a certain allure to her already alluring appearance.
"Fuck me JOGGING"