FenrisFiltiarn: Thanks! Admittedly that segment was a lot of fun to write XD
fanficcyberman: I hope to keep it up all year round ;)
Falzyker: Actually, as you are soon about to discover...in actual Greek myth Hector's spear was never named. His most famous weapon was his sword...
PasiveNox: I hope to not disappoint!
Jwebb96: Poor Dorian, his embarrassing stories will be a point of contest between the two. lol
fabio mp19: It was a moment I thought...what would happen if two Sacred Gears chose to speak to each other. Surely at least the recipient would be able to hear both. I'll be sure to check yours out :D
naruto: I certainly hope you enjoy it! :)
Slayer Cross: That means so much to hear! Thank you! At this point, if both had balance breaker and nothing else it would depend on the fight. In a straight up battle, Dorian is more of a warrior and actually knows how to use his weapons (unlike Issei hardly ever using Ascalon lol) and would defeat Issei handedly. However, with Issei's boosting ability, if he let the fight drag on or become drawn out he could eventually boost to surpass Dorian. He'd have to make sure that doesn't happen.
Guest: Thanks! Both for the kind words and pointing out the typo. Sona is still indeed Serafall's little sister in my story. The mistake has been corrected. :D
Kiba swung through the air, his new holy-devil sword blocked by Freed though he was not alone. Xenovia brought down Durandal which he aptly dodged until her runic blade followed, biting into his side and drawing a gasp of pain and blood.
"You bi-"
He never finished as Hecuba shield bashed him in the face, sending the overwhelmed swordsman into a wall. He crawled from the rubble looking livid, even more so than usual.
"YOU...! HMMMPHH," he seemed to suppress his rage, punching himself in the side of the head as if to amp himself up. It could not have been good for his eye. "Calm down, think clearly, you have this…Nightmare!"
In a flash, five more copies of Freed split off from the original as he tapped into the power of Excalibur Nightmare residing within his bladed abomination. They grinned as two faced each of the attacking swordsman, each indistinguishable from the last.
"Oh no, nonono," Ratatoskr groaned as he leapt onto Kiba's shoulder. "There isn't enough Adderall in the world to deal with six of this guy."
"Rapidly," Freed spat as he vanished, becoming after images of the six copies.
The three split and paired off, deflecting the attacks assailing them. Xenovia and her twin blade style kept her foes at bay as did Hecuba's sword and shield combination. Kiba was pushed back yet heard words of encouragement in his ear.
"The one on the left, he's the real deal."
"How can you tell?"
"Illusory copies don't reek!" Kiba pressed his attack on the left opponent; sure enough he appeared a bit more worried as he charged.
"Transparency."
The weapons in Freed's hands turned invisible, making it impossible to trust where he was swinging other than the placement of his hands. It took all the skill and knowledge Kiba had to stay ahead.
"I thought Nightmare only created non-corporeal illusions!" Xenovia shouted as it became clear all six of the opponents were solid. Each was weaker than the original but in no way less dangerous.
"It must have gotten a power boost from Hrotti!" Hecuba theorized as she blocked one, catching the second's blade on her sword before high-kicking him in the jaw.
"Th-this is impossible! A holy-devil sword?" Valper exclaimed as he witnessed the apparent insanity before him. "Two opposing forces should never be able to mix!" Between his wide eyes and profuse sweating he looked like his entire world had crashed down around him. And then it hit him, he calmed down and started breathing steadily again. His mind had been racing and finally came to the only possibly conclusion he could think of. "Of course, it makes perfect sense! There's only one way that such contradictions could physically occur. I can't believe it, I knew the four Satans perished in the last war but you're telling me that Go…"
He never finished his sentence as a spear of light ripped through his chest, cutting off the old man's revelation. Without even a single remaining flicker of life, the monstrous former clergyman crumpled to the ground in a pool of his own blood. Kokabiel stood on high, hand still outstretched from having fired the shot. Dorian and Rias had scattered, believing the spear was aimed for them and only realized their error too late.
"A pity Valper, you really were extraordinary." He said with an almost mournful tone, gazing out at the fight with Freed as well as Irina fighting the clay giants with her sword. "Truly remarkable that you two can fight so fiercely even with your master slain."
Irina was the first to glance up as she bisected a nearby giant, giving her time to analyze his words as it started to reform. Xenovia listened intently yet remained focused on Freed.
"What…do you mean?" The innocent church girl asked hesitantly. She immediately regretted her question as Kokabiel started to cackle.
"You…you haven't a clue? It's been so many years I forgot the lower rung of followers were not educated on the truth. I suppose I can tell you now, the four original Satans were not the only casualties of the Great War…your God himself fell in battle!"
Shock swept through the battlefield, Xenovia staggered for an instant and took a stab in her upper thigh, Irina and Asia stood paralyzed at his words. Even Kiba gritted as he leapt over one of Freed's strikes, internally demanding what he and his comrades had suffered for and believed in for so long if God had been dead all that time?
"It…it can't be true," Irina muttered as the giants she had been fighting reformed. She bounded over one and cut the head off the next, yet it put itself together again in due course.
"Humans are so untrustworthy," he continued mockingly. "Tell one and suddenly everybody knows which devolves into chaos. Not even we fallen angels shared the information…though Valper seemed to guess it. He truly was a genius. All four Satans felled, God dead and our numbers obliterated, each side was left in an utter state of exhaustion. It was so bad we all had to use HUMANS to repopulate our numbers, though your genius Beelzebub gave devils an advantage with his piece system. We are all quickly devolving into species of half-breeds."
Is this how horrific the Vanir and Aesir fought before peace? Dorian shuddered at the thought. Suddenly the Allfather's childish and perverted antics seemed tame in comparison and worth the armistice. Did he act such as a way to forget what had occurred between them through his long life? Is this how they knew my Sacred Gear was not made by God…he died long before I arrived.
"Lies…they have to be lies." Even Asia was shaking as Koneko defended her.
"IRINA!"
Dorian's words cut through the air as a crack of lightning struck the giants directly in front of her. Rias Gremory's queen had floated down, arms raised to call upon another volley. To their amazement, the giants caught in the blast had been completely turned to glass. With the reveal by Dorian of the silica sand ingredients, Akeno had remembered her simple high school chemistry and what occurred when such sand met intense heat.
"You are more than your faith!" He continued as soon as she was in the clear. "It is a part of you but exists even without God!" His voice was frantic and desperate; fortunately, she heard and looked up at her friend in the sky. His face had twisted with concern; with how devout she was, if such a statement was true it could break her.
"Take heart!" Akeno added as she drifted to Irina's side, unleashing another volley of lightning. "Mr. Held speaks truth, fight for the moment…and mourn later."
"I…yes, you are right!" She asserted, shaking the welled up tears from her eyes. With a resounding war cry echoing her internal turmoil she shattered the nearest line of giants. Being converted to glass, their pieces clattered to the ground completely powerless. The two continued their tag-team, Akeno reducing the giants to glass as Irina broke them. They had found their rhythm, though her partner looked more torn than ever.
The things I said…the things I did for God! Every harsh word, questionable action and decision Xenovia had ever made came flooding back into her mind and it showed on her face. Her eyes were wide with conflict which only served to shake her focus as both Freed copies pressed the attack. She had lost her reason, her goal sought after her whole life, her entire mission up to that point.
"Because of the casualties, there was no way any side was going to start another on their own. Our leaders dead and numbers shattered…pathetic. Azazel proudly declared that there would never be a second after losing every soldier under him. I couldn't stand it! Forcas understood though, understood how close we were to victory, it was within our grasp and now we only survive with Sacred Gears and intermixing our bloodlines with humans!"
No one noticed his slight sneer over towards Rias' Queen.
"Michael has certainly been doing a good job making it appear God is still around though there is no longer any divine protection, minimal blessings and no balance hence your little fusion over there." He motioned towards Kiba's holy-devil sword still clashing with Freed. "I wouldn't be surprised if his absence had something to do with yours," this time he was referring to Dorian.
"Asia, please hold it together, ASIA!" Issei called out, he dared not leave Rias' side, yet the sight of the young former nun looking shaken to her core was too much to bear. Even after becoming a devil she had continued to believe in God as Xenovia deduced, sacrificed her life to serve him, and now to learn the truth…
"Well, I suppose the secret will remain," the fallen Grigori concluded. "I will take your heads and continue the war. With the army that we will marshal from the hoard, arm and outfit with the treasures found within, we will march on both Heaven and Hell…Michael and the four new fledgling Satans will fall at my feet!"
Dorian's rage peaked at the uncaring nature that Kokabiel was taking towards tearing down the beliefs of those around him. He was terrified, exasperated and frustrated at facing not only the one responsible for his death but also an opponent so far above him as to be laughable. He no longer cared as he gripped Twilight Star, roaring in rage as he renewed his assault, clashing with the light-forged blade already waiting for him.
On the Ground…
Xenovia swung, the attack slow from her wound releasing blood down her leg to stain the ground. Even without the injury, her soul was torn from the revelation and did just as much to hamper her movement. It was possible he was lying, yet no matter how much she tried to force herself to believe that she just couldn't, something inside told her otherwise.
With God dead…what am I fighting for now? She glanced up at Kokabiel clashing with Dorian and the small army of Freed's still accosting the others. Whatever else, Xenovia knew what she wanted in that moment. To protect Irina, her pagan friend, Asia may she forgive me…and to kill this insane bastard!
Xenovia stepped forward, ramming Durandal through the nearest Freed. The copy gasped in pain as the power maintaining it dissipated, however in that moment he was just as solid as any other and she could not move. The second came from the left; she raised her runic blade to parry.
"Mimic."
At those words, Freed's blade bent and curved, using the power of Excalibur to change its shape into a bladed whip. The agile weapon ducked beneath her sword, burying itself in her chest through the heart.
"Destruction."
An explosion engulfed the two, obscuring them in a dark fog. Despite the wound inflicted upon her, Xenovia somehow pushed through, decapitating the second Freed before the blade in her chest faded away to leave an open wound.
"XENOVIA!" Irina shouted, unable to get to her with the clay giants surrounding her and Akeno. The devil Queen immediately released a torrent of lightning, glassing as many as she could in a path towards her.
Hecuba parried the latest attack, riposting and jabbing a Freed copy in the chest before ducking low and taking the legs out from under the other. With an opening, she rushed over to Xenovia's side, checking her injuries.
"Healer…WE NEED A HEALER!" She cried out, yet Asia was in no position to assist. She too was held back by the army marching forth though Koneko protected the former nun with her powerful attacks. As effective as their strategy was, they could not hope to clear out the army bearing down on them with the time remaining. Already the white-haired rook was battered and bruised. The pair of Freeds Hecuba had been facing skipped over to her, relishing in her anguish.
"One down," they giggled in tandem.
"Xenovia," Hecuba scrambled for bandages in her pack and started wrapping the wound in vain, it was far too late.
"Just…kill him," she whispered weakly. "Let Asia know I'm…sorry for everything…"
She went completely limp, her magnificent swords falling from powerless grip to clatter on the ground. The sound drew Hecuba's attention as she eyed the blue blade glimmering in the moonlight.
Why…WHY did she call that sword Durandal? It looks nothing like…
"Need a minute?" The two Freeds alternated.
"We can give you one."
"Then you can follow behind her."
"Do hurry, we can't contain ourselves for very long."
Hecuba's stalwart training was all that kept her anger in check. With resolute determination she stared down at Monster's Bane. It was a magnificent sword, yet was crafted to pierce the skin of the nightmares of mankind. As horrifying as Freed was, he was still human. With a hesitating gaze, her eyes fell back to Durandal, the blade that would destroy anyone who laid hands on and could not master its power. A power so rare that Xenovia was the only known current possessor who could hold it.
It has the same name, but it's a holy sword…that is impossible. Of course, their God is dead; the impossible seems more common nowadays. Without waiting another second, Hecuba sheathed Monster's Bane on her hip.
A Freed lunged forward to take advantage of her action, hands reaching for her throat. He fell back with a cry of pain as a fresh wound appeared on his hand Hecuba had not intended. After having been gifted it, the young Spartan kept the immaculate knife of Dwarven-make on a sheath across her chest. As the sinister grin of Siegfried's clone drew nearer, it seemed to slide out of its own accord, cutting him across the back of the hand. The wound bled profusely despite being a clone.
The odd dwarf was not lying when he said it would not miss the mark easily. Did it sense my desire to keep him away and moved on its own? The craftsmanship of his people is even grander than I imagined.
With the moment of relief, Hecuba reached out to grab hold of the pristine holy blade lying before her. Freed's copies jumped back, even those battling Kiba stopped to gaze at the sight before them. Hecuba was grasping the hilt of Durandal, eyes squeezed shut and watering with pain as a gold light surrounded her, her knuckles whitened from how hard she gripped the gold handle.
"What a fucking moron!" Freed laughed with jubilation. "Valper JUST finished tell you no one he knew could wield Durandal! The odds that this bitch could are…"
The crackling maelstrom of power suddenly collapsed in on itself, becoming a stalwart pillar of brilliant energy that sent a wave of cool air across the battlefield. Even Kokabiel took note, his distraction allowing Dorian to catch him in the shoulder, drawing blood. Angered, he kneed Dorian in his gut and sent him plummeting into a wall.
"Another Durandal wielder? No…from another mythology the odds of another random natural possessor would be…"
"One in ten million, at least?" Dorian smiled as he looked up and saw the same as the rest. Hecuba held the blade aloft without pain while the shape started changing.
The unique broadsword evened out on both sides, the half-circle guard split and filled in to cover both sides. Durandal retained its blue-gold color scheme yet appeared to become an entirely different weapon. After several seconds it almost resembled an oversized Spatha, a Greek longsword albeit much wider and more exotic in design, but what drew Dorian's gaze was Hecuba's face. She had a look in her eyes as she beheld the modified Durandal in her hands, she recognized it but more than that was what the others sensed about it.
"The holy aura is gone?" Irina gasped. "What did you do to it?"
"I found it father…I found it," Hecuba whispered sadly at what sorrow had occurred for her to hold the weapon once more.
"An Olympian can hold Durandal?" Freed's laughter had fallen way to frustrated confusion. "Everybody knows Durandal was given to Roland by Charlemagne to wield in God's name, it originated in Heaven."
"Wrong," Dorian could not help but smile smugly as he staggered to his feet, more than happy to educate the insane cleric. He had heard the name Durandal before in his studies abroad and when researching holy blades tirelessly, very obscure European myths and tales that would surely have been overlooked by such grand institutions. "Durandal was seen once in legends BEFORE Roland was gifted the blade…only once beyond scattered claims. If you studied outside your own religion and expanded your horizons you might have heard of it."
Freed gritted his teeth so hard they groaned against the pressure. He wanted to know so badly yet refused to give them the satisfaction of a question, Dorian didn't need it to continue.
"It was first chronicled long ago, before the walls of an ancient city wielded by its most stalwart defender…Hector of Troy."
She is not A natural wielder...she is THE natural wielder.
"The Trojan Legendary Blade, Durandal!" Hecuba cried as the transformation completed, the aura stabilizing and exploding outward. The former Olympian commander stood there before Freed ready to fight, tears still staining her eyes over the fallen Xenovia at her feet and the receding pain of grabbing the blade before it remembered her family. "No one else dies here this day; I swear it by the blade of my ancestors!"
Our family's weapon is a wild stallion; the words of her parents came back to her. Yet it will recall the reigns of its former partner. Simply hold it, and it will respond.
"TAKE A KNEE!" Winding up the sword to release her pent up anger, the former Olympian commander performed a devastating horizontal slash towards the pair of Freed's staring her down. A blinding light erupted from Durandal and rippled outward like a shockwave. One Freed raised his blade in time; however the second was not so fast and was consumed by the energy.
At Hecuba's words, Kiba ducked down as did Irina clasping her hands in prayer while Akeno floated up high to avoid the attack. The original Freed raised his Ex-Hrotti, catching the wave on its blade, splitting it down the middle. He and a single clone of Excalibur Nightmare were all that remained as the crackling light dissipated from the battlefield.
Xenovia must have been new with Durandal; such an attack was surely within her grasp if she'd but tried.
"M-my sword!" Freed inspected Ex-Hrotti, a tiny crack had appeared along its surface. Not enough to compromise the strength of the weapon, but enough to mar its aesthetics as he saw the scar on his eye had done.
"Mr. Yuuto," Hecuba approached the kneeling knight, grasping his arm to help him back up. "Let's finish him, so that no others will fall."
His only reply was a glance to Xenovia's body; Asia had finally reached her shedding tears down her cheek. A soft green encompassed her body, yet she refused to stir, Twilight Healing was an incredible Sacred Gear…yet could not bring back the dead. Finally he looked back into her eyes and nodded before turning to the last remaining Freeds with a look of pure determination, his rage tempered to end him once and for all.
High above in the sky…
"President! Take it!" Issei shouted, softly clapping Rias on her back to transfer a full boost into her alone with Akeno continuing to rain down bolt after bolt upon the seemingly endless parade of giants. With Dorian thrown clear she had an opening.
TRANSFER!
The red-haired devil heiress' aura plumed at the touch that lingered a moment longer, reflecting the trust between the two as her powers skyrocketed as the gem on Issei's Gear dimmed. Her aura was truly terrifying, Dorian was certain she could have reduced Forcas to a charred husk with the power coursing through her body.
Unfortunately, she was not facing Forcas.
"Truly, a talent to one day match Sirzechs!" Kokabiel called out, absolutely ecstatic at the raging power bubbling towards him. "You may have just stepped into the power of Ultimate-class devils in this moment!"
"GO TO HELL!" A miniature nebula of swirling black and red destruction power formed in her hand, coalescing into a forward cone as she unleashed the full might towards Kokabiel.
The ground shook as the mass of energy impacted its intended target though he succeeded in raising both hands to catch it. The fallen general started gathering his own energy in opposition.
"INCREDIBLE!" He cried out in absolute joy. "You would make an INCREDIBLE Satan one day!"
His gathered holy light and Rias' demonic power clashed, pushing back and forth in a torrential contest of strength and none could get close. Despite her greatest efforts, her own attack started to destabilize, lose shape and push further away from its target before finally collapsing. Fringes of the power licked at Kokabiel, shredding the edges of his coat yet he ignored it in the heat of the moment. He hands were singed and darkened, yet they were surface injuries only while Rias' breath had become ragged and quick.
"Issei, can you boost her again?" Dorian asked upon realizing they would not win from her attack.
BOOST!
"I got one more left in me, but President is exhausted, she can't possibly have enough energy to boost her again. "Maybe I can…"
"LIGHTNING!"
A great bolt of lightning erupted past them, making straight for Kokabiel while he was distracted. Unfortunately, even in his focused state, it took but a single wing to negate the attack. At last the Gremory' heiress' attack sputtered and died, she had nothing left.
"I thought I recognized that power from earlier," he sneered upon glancing across the field to Akeno still surrounded. She had spared a single shot but was still facing the clay troops below. "The inheritor of Baraqiel's power?"
Baraqiel? Dorian glanced over to Akeno.
"Do not mention me in the same breath as him!" She roared back at the remark. The dark look she had given Rias was present on her face once again tenfold. Holding out both hands, she unleashed a squall of bolts reducing everything near her to glass and continuing to Kokabiel who effortlessly deflected each one after another.
"To think that traitor's half-breed spawn would be here as well, and becoming a devil as well?" He found the entire situation utterly entertaining.
Baraqiel's…, all doubt had been removed from Dorian's mind as he looked at Akeno anew. Same hair, eyes, obviously not his build but she has his nose. So she was Baraqiel's 'greatest treasure' the Allfather mentioned.
"A fallen angel half-breed of Baraqiel, leftovers of the Holy Sword Project, the Red Dragon Emperor and a Nekoshou in denial…you certainly have weird tastes in your servants. Do you and your brother purposefully select the broken dregs of your peoples or has it been sheer serendipity?"
Dorian's left eye twitched at his words, similar mockery to a certain Olympian goddess flooding his mind.
"How dare you insult my brother and servants in the same sentence?" Rias' anger pushed despite her exhaustion. "You WILL die here!"
Kokabiel replied with raucous laughter. "Then TRY it! Try and kill me, your Dragon Emperor, you the Crimson-haired Princess of Ruin and your Fallen Devil half…"
The fallen angel grunted in pain as a blast struck him in the back. He had been completely unaware of the attack; it was different from the Holy-Lightning of Akeno who was on the opposite side of the field trying to help while slowing the Clay Giants. He saw the eyes of pure rage from the Einherjar of Asgard staring back at him, his swordspear still crackling with Olympian energy.
"She's not the only one who can shoot lightning asshole," he growled despite the minimal effect his attack had on him; it took every fiber of self-control to adhere to Iggy's request and restrain his balance breaker. "Don't you DARE insult any of them for who they are...to belittle them for where they came from!"
He took off, runes of flight propelling him forward and Twilight Star extended to its full length. Simultaneously, augmented runes of every element he could conceive materialized about each shoulder, firing barrage after barrage towards him. Kokabiel's wings deflected each incoming projectile including what little shots of destruction Rias could muster in support.
Kokabiel caught the swordspear on a pair of crossed wings, creating a spear of light to impale Dorian while his weapon was occupied. The gold-haired fighter twisted in mid-air, dodging the jab by a hair's breadth and kneeing Kokabiel in the chest to minimal effect.
"Did you honestly think that would…?"
Kokabiel noticed the rune transferred from the blow too late, one of Rossweisse's more complicated gravity seals glowed brightly, dragging him earthbound at incredible velocity. Both Dorian and Kokabiel smashed into the ground at full speed, kicking up a great plume of dust and debris obscuring all vision.
"Issei! Can you see anything?" Rias called out as she landed. Her young pawn could only shake his head.
Finally, the smoke cleared and revealed the fate of the combatants. Kokabiel was standing tall; a single cut across his face and Twilight Star buried in his chest. It was an ugly wound, but clearly non-fatal as he removed the weapon, chucking it across the field in disgust. The former Grigori was holding the battered Einherjar by the throat and squeezing hard with a single hand. Dorian struggled yet could not free himself.
"How fitting, I was the reason behind your first death and now will be the direct cause of your second. Never say I do not rectify my errors. Does that ancient Nordic magic work twice?"
DORIAN! Iggy called out in concern within his soul, preparing to unleash her power. Even if it would be wasted, she would not leave him to die.
D-damn it! His vision was blurring and he could hear the straining of bone and sinew beneath the grip many times stronger than he could hope to be even with Asgard's strength. In that moment of certain death every regret and uncertainty came rushing back to his mind starting with his most recent questions. Would things have been better had I stayed out of the fight in the fire? I would never have died, never gotten pulled into this constant warfare, never failed anyone, never…
The darkness of the night was washed away in an instant as a blinding flash emerged from the sky, bathing the battlefield in a prism of rainbow light. A similar pillar of energy impacted the school; easily punching through the Sitri Peerage's barrier, even a collection of trained devils could not stop the Bifrost. Kokabiel loosened his grip as he and Dorian turned toward it in tandem.
Three familiar feminine shapes floated down from on high, Rossweisse and Thrud already arrayed in their Valkyrie armor with Bennia close behind, skull mask obscuring her young features. Dorian could not help but focus on their faces glowing in the light of the realm-spanning bridge. He could think of no sight more beautiful, his gaze drifting to each of them in turn before resting on Rossweisse's who only now saw his predicament.
I would never have saved that little girl, found a home…or met the most amazing woman I've ever known.
Dorian brought his legs up as his doubt faded and determination returned, uppercutting a distracted Kokabiel in the chin and freeing himself. In a flash, he blasted backwards out of reach towards his discarded weapon buried in the ground beyond. Holding out a hand, he called it back to him through the invisible ties which bound them. Iggy's relief could be felt through his core, happy beyond words.
Did they get Skilja's warning already? No he couldn't have reached Asgard yet, they must have been heading here beforehand.
"That's our lovely ladies boss!" Ratatoskr called out as he pumped his tiny arms in the air at their arrival. "Not the ride of the Valkyries I would prefer but I'll take it!"
"Dorian!" Rossweisse called out while touching down to the ground, her smile widening as she saw his own.
"Help them!" He called out, pointing to Akeno, Koneko and Irina very nearly overwhelmed by the numerous clay giants still remaining. They followed his motions to Hecuba and Kiba still dueling with Freed beyond.
"Dibs on the golems!" Bennia called out, disappearing into a teleportation field and emerging directly overtop one bearing down on a bloody Koneko. "Just a trim, I'll leave the sideburns!"
She slashed her scythe sideways, decapitating the clay giant. To their collected shock, instead of reforming the construct crumbled into a mass of sand that started to blow away in the wind. A pale white wisp had been ripped from it on contact and was currently disappearing into the depths of the scythe.
"Sweet Shangri-La," she exclaimed at the realization, her patented mischievous grin widening. "They animated these things with lesser souls engraved in the sand itself. You couldn't have given me a better target!"
In an instant, teleportation runes formed across the battlefield at regular intervals. Bennia disappeared into one and emerged several feet down, dropping a trio of giants in one swing, her scythe reaping the souls from their very cores and rendering the collection of Earth and sediment inert. Before they could focus on her she was gone again, this time appearing across the field and repeated the gesture again, and again and again. Her speed increased with each attempt and it was not long before she resembled a hyperactive pinball shredding the giants wherever she went. She had given Akeno and the others the breathing space they required to rest and it was not long before they leapt back into the fray, determined to reduce the portion of the army of Fafnir's hoard Freed had summoned to the dirt from whence it had been spawned.
Across the Battlefield…
"Knock knock," Thrud called out cheerily as Gullbjorn impacted Ex-Hrotti resulting in a devastating shockwave. The opening allowed Rossweisse to fly past, settling over a fallen Xenovia.
"She…she's not responding," Asia's eyes were filled with tears. She had healed all of Xenovia's external injuries but it did not help, she had passed before they reached her.
The silver Valkyrie looked her over, a brief flash of memory from when she had first beheld Dorian's fallen body in the apartment complex. He was the first time she had delved into the ancient magics since graduating; breathing deep she laid a gentle hand on Xenovia's head to repeat the attempt. She saw it all in an instant, the battle, her determination and fall after the realization of her God's death followed by her words of apology. Rossweisse attempted to draw closer yet was repulsed by the holy light of Heaven surrounding her spirit.
She is more than worthy, if only she did not serve another…
"Please…"
Rossweisse paused as the voice echoed around her within the young woman's soul where there should be only emptiness. The more she listened, the louder and more prominent it became, eventually breaking through the blinding radiance barring her path.
"Please…even if God is dead and will never forgive me, just give me another chance. Give me another chance to fight…" The more she insisted, the dimmer the light grew. Eventually it could keep Rossweisse out no longer. She replied back solemnly with a bowed head and three words.
"…As you wish…"
Not Far…
The battle-hardened Valkyrie kicked off the original, sailing with an arched back over the head of the copy that had tried to stab her from behind. Instead she spun, decapitating the final clone and leaving only the original though with his duplicates gone he had returned to full strength. She gave him no time to recover, bouncing back as soon as her foot touched the ground. Freed was skilled at duels and combat against similarly-armed combatants. He had never faced a weapon like Gullbjorn or the crackling power radiating from it, Kiba and Hecuba panted with relief as they watched.
"Who are…?" Freed tried to ask before a steel-toed boot cracked him in the face, knocking out several teeth.
The mad swordsman was barely keeping up; he'd considered himself a skilled warrior oftentimes overwhelming his victims through sheer speed and savagery. Despite that, this unknown woman was driving him into a corner with her nonstop flurry of blows and untamed ferocity. For every swing of her axe he blocked, she would use a combination of kicks or punches leaving him covered in bruises after a matter of seconds. He couldn't even focus to split himself or summon the powers of Ex-Hrotti.
This pagan WHORE! The other rats were annoying enough and now I have HER to deal with? She'll regret interfering!
Freed leapt back, holding out Ex-Hrotti, parrying her axe as a window into the hoard opened to his left. Confidently, he reached his hand within blindly with a single thought in his mind, to provide him what the hoard considered its mightiest treasure.
"I'll carve your skull in two!" He screamed, the pain in his missing eye worse than ever. "Hrotti may have been the most priceless object of Fafnir, but just wait until you face the second greatest treasure within!" He felt resistance as an object entered his hand and he pulled it forth. "Prepare for the might of…!"
Freed froze solid, even Thrud hesitated as he revealed the item in his hands…a frilly pair of green and purple panties. They were rather risqué and of exquisite-make as if worn by a woman of high-class; despite the untold amount of time in the hoard they were pristine as ever, the most cherished object of the dragon Fafnir.
"What the fu…"
Freed could not finish his sentence, between the shock of what he had drawn forth and the injuries sustained he could not react in time as Thrud leapt forward, dismembering his left arm just below the shoulder. The limb slumped to the ground still clutching the object which had led to his downfall as Freed screamed at the top of his lungs in pain.
"I had no idea Fafnir was a man of culture!" Ratatoskr squeaked, his gaze locked squarely on the pair of underwear lying on the ground. "However did he score a pair of Freyja's knickers? Fifty to one odds the Allfather lost a bet."
"Damned pervert dragon," Thrud muttered under her breath, the only one present who understood the depths that the old Dragon King had sunk since his reincarnation from the tales woven by her father. "I hope you didn't grow too attached to that sword, cause like the arm you aren't keeping it long."
Freed had already taken up a new stance against her though Thrud seemed bored, leaning the axe lazily over a shoulder. The grin of utter superiority and playfulness was inescapable, Dorian glanced her way when he could, ever inspired by her balance of self.
"I…still have plenty of powers left," Freed threatened. "Nightm…"
A glowing blue magic circle burst to life and spread across the length of Ex-Hrotti, the symbols impossibly complex and detailed. Freed found himself unable to call up the powers as the sword started to shake in his remaining hand.
"My friend over there," Thrud motioned towards Rossweisse still kneeling over Xenovia. "She's a genius…like as good as I am in combat she blows both of us out of the water in terms of magic. She developed that beauty just for you, actually made a way so I could transfer it to your sword through contact." She kissed the side of her axe-head for emphasis. "You lost after the first swing; but I got to have a bit of fun though."
Freed was trembling both through sheer anger and the effort to hold the weapon quaking violently, after seconds he could take it no longer. The rune exploded outward, throwing Kokabiel's swordsman into a nearby metal pole. Once the ringing had stopped he staggered to his feet, realizing his weapon was suddenly far lighter. The shape had transformed, the pale blade of Ex-Hrotti vanished to be replaced by a curved broadsword of European make. To those who knew the legend of Excalibur, it was much closer to the descriptions; it only took one look at the ground to determine what happened.
The broken remains of Hrotti laid at his feet, the blade and handle snapped cleanly in two. The magic seal served its purpose, rending the Asgardian blade from the foreign Holy Sword though was broken in the process as expected, an infinitely preferable fate to its misuse.
"Nightmare!" Freed roared as five more appeared around Thrud. Unlike before all save the original would be mere illusions without the reinforcement of Hrotti. "Destruction!"
The shockwave of power erupted from the blade, cascading towards the daughter of thunder across the way. She stood ready to tank the hit, but it became unnecessary. A new blast of red flames struck the wave of power from the side, cancelling it out with an explosion. The engaged warriors turned towards its source…a blue-haired swordswoman on her feet wielding Angurvadal, the once dim runes of war now blazing with light in recognition of the new power coursing through her body.
"XENOVIA!" Irina cried as she saw her partner and friend standing, wiping tears of joy from her eyes. "You're alive!"
"She is more than alive," Rossweisse proclaimed as she stood to her feet. "She is Einherjar."
She's…like Dorian now?
Hecuba could not help but let a single tear fall as Xenovia advanced on Freed threateningly, an absolute aura of killing intent surrounding her. Her black church attire was shredded above her left breast but no wound nor scar marred her flesh, Asia's Twilight Healing having accomplished its task. The former commander of Olympus' troops glanced down at her rediscovered Durandal. She was grateful beyond words at its recovery, Dorian's most of all as such an event would have been impossible without her joining him. A twinge of guilt stabbed at her heart, how had it found its way to Christian lands and eventually to Xenovia? A mystery for another day, however as she dwelt on it, a single thought entered her mind.
A Trojan blade in my hands, a holy sword in hers…faith that it was meant to be.
"Xenovia!" Hecuba cried as she hurled Durandal towards her, spinning end over end.
She caught it expertly, the Trojan blade warping back into its previous Holy Sword form as soon as it made contact. The holy aura burst to life stronger than ever before through the power of the sword amplified by her natural prowess and new strength augmenting every aspect of her body.
Strength in her bones, magic in her blood. Dorian remembered well.
"FREED SELLZEN!" She roared as loud as she could. "I said you would pay for your crimes, and I meant it. Even if my soul has become that of a heretic…I will see you dead!"
Energy gathered at each blade in her hands, yellow-white light of heaven within Durandal and the crimson fires of war within Angurvadal. Raising both weapons high, she released a mighty war cry as she brought them down. A cut of pure energy in each color formed an "X" billowing towards Freed who only had time to raise his remaining sword in a pitiful defense. On impact, the partial Excalibur shattered into a hundred pieces as the wave dispersed his illusions under the wrath of the twin blades working together, the blast followed through to leave a crater in the Earth just beyond the terrified cleric.
Freed dropped the worthless hilt left in his quivering hand, all fight kicked out of him he turned to sprint full speed in the opposite direction cradling the still-bleeding stump of his lost appendage. If he was fast enough maybe he could…
All thought of escape left him as a sharp pain punched through his gut. He'd been so focused on escape that he didn't realize Kiba had maneuvered around him, his holy-devil sword angled upward; Freed had run straight into it. The weapon went clean through, jutting out his back as he found himself unable to move, the intense stare of the young devil knight boring through him just as much as his weapon.
"The Excalburs are broken," Kiba muttered as he pulled back his sword, ramming it upwards past his ribs into Freed's cold heart. "Thank you my comrades, I will always remember every one of you."
Opposite the Field…
"Well that was unexpected; however did more rabble reach here in time?" Kokabiel mused as he checked his watch, only a few minutes remained to the spell's completion. "It may be time to end this." Almost lazily, the fallen angel leader created a spear of light nearly the equal of the one he had used to obliterate the gymnasium. Taking careful aim towards the gathered allies he hurled the projectile as hard as he could.
"ROSE!" Dorian cried seeing where it was headed.
Rossweisse heard Dorian's warning, in an instant she formed the strongest defense barrier she could muster. Simultaneously, Akeno added to it as Hecuba braced it with her shield. Kiba and Xenovia all added their blades to the barrier, absorbing as much of the attack as was possible. The spear struck them full force, causing the beleaguered defenders to brace themselves. They were pushed back under such pressure that the concrete beneath them dented. Akeno and Rossweisse's arms burned and their seals cracked yet they refused to give up as long as they could. Asia did her best to heal them through the ordeal.
BOOST!
"Issei! Are you ready yet?"
"I need more time," he begged. "It's not enough, I need more power to…"
"ISSEI!" Rias called out from above. "If you two can defeat him, I'll let you do whatever you want with my breasts! Mr. Held, if you aid in this I will speak with my brother about opening negotiations with your people."
Dorian snapped in her direction, he appreciated the offer for himself, but the one to Issei gave him pause. What is she talking about? How is such a promise going to…?
BOOOSSSTTTT!
The burst of energy was as powerful as it was distressing what caused it. Issei Hyoudou smiled deviously at those words as his Sacred Gear overflowed with power.
"Y-you'd let me do anything…even suck on them?" He exclaimed, causing Dorian to shuffle slightly away from his necessary ally. Rias nodded, though looked away with a look of absolute embarrassment at what she had to say to motivate her pawn in front of everyone. "In that case, I'll do it; I'll kick this guy's ass even if I have to fight God…even if he IS dead! Here ya go! Don't make me regret this!" Issei slapped Dorian on the shoulder.
TRANSFER!
Warmth spread throughout Dorian's body as a power far beyond anything he'd ever experienced entered him. Even in his base form, he felt stronger than at Olympus, this was the moment Iggy had told him to wait for.
"RIDER'S REGALIA!"
Dorian's armor formed around his body, surprising Issei with a gasp. Asgard, Vanaheim, Musphelheim, Jotunheim and Hel glowed into being on the gems across the surface of the balance breaker. In a heartbeat, new magic seals of enhancement and control layered over Twilight Star as he extended it and took aim at Kokabiel standing in the crater from their previous descent. To his horror, the power was too much, his hands were shaking trying to control it and he could not keep it steady.
"Mr. Hyoudou!" He called out. "Get over here!"
The Red Dragon pawn inched forward uncertainly. "What do you want me to do?" Dorian snapped his face towards him, he was not angry with Issei, but his features were warped from the strain and frustration at having to explain himself.
"PUT YOUR FOOT ON IT…AND STAND!" Issei quickly complied, grabbing the spear with all his might and holding it on their foe between the two of them, his heel bracing the shaft. Fire of Musphelheim formed on the tip of his swordspear quickly shrouded in Olympian lightning. Dorian let the energy build and build, as much as he could spare as they would only get one shot.
"Don't miss!" Issei remarked in his ear as Dorian's armor disintegrated, its power being added to the attack along with that of the unused gems. "I have the greatest pair of tits in the world riding on this!"
"Is that honestly all you think about?" Dorian roared back, the attack was almost ready.
"Of course, I will become the strongest Harem Devil King this world has ever seen…just you watch!"
"There is more to women than breasts and more to life than harems! If I had wanted one I wouldn't have declined Zeus' offer in Olympus!"
Issei's features hardened, he glanced towards Dorian with a look of sheer horror. "YOU DECLINED A HAR…!?"
The perverted dragon's final words were cut off as the attack reached its apex, erupting from Twilight Star with such force he was blown away, leaving Dorian alone to ensure the attack surpassing his limits reached its target. A funnel of black and red flames fired like a laser towards the grounded opponent, blue lightning coiling up it like a snake closer and closer. Still focused on his attack, Kokabiel did not spot the pillar of power until it was nearly upon him, raising his wings in defense with a look of surprise and astonishment. The attack impacted him before he could raise a hand in defense, setting off a catastrophic explosion. The holy spear pressing against the defense seals collapsed as its master could maintain it no longer. The young man had gathered so much energy that it took several seconds before the attack ran its course and the trail of energy sputtered and died. Dorian collapsed to his knees, utterly spent as he had thrown everything he could into the blast.
"YES!" Issei shouted, Ratatoskr acting similarly jubilant. A thick layer of dirt and smoke obscured their enemy and for a moment everybody relaxed…all that is except Dorian.
The seal around the school is still there.
A gust of air started to blow the plume away, revealing Kokabiel unmoving from his previous location. He was still standing…but was far from hale. The three wings that had risen to shield him were charbroiled, little more than twitching branches with the feathers burned away. The fire had made it through, carving a chunk out of his side cauterizing the wound as it went. His body was scorched all over, face was torn with a gaze of absolute pain and rage aimed squarely at Dorian.
"YOU dare….YOU DARE!?" In a flash his remaining seven wings were more than sufficient to propel him towards the drained Einherjar. With an outstretched hand he caught him in the throat, slamming Dorian into the brick wall behind him so hard it cracked as Twilight Star clattered to the ground. Jagged wings impaled him in a half dozen different parts of his body, the mastercrafted Asgardian armor barely protecting his vital organs.
That shot wasn't enough? Everything Rias had and me, what can bring this bastard down? Even if everyone dogpiled on him would it be enough? There is no time to…
"Who are you to wound me so," he laughed, slowly closing his fist purposefully. "I haven't felt such agony since the war…if you were a true foe of worth I would have made it quick."
"I am…" he groaned, gripping Kokabiel's wrist weakly if only to spite him. "An Einherjar of Asgard, servant of the Allfather, retainer to the Goddess Lady Freyja and pupil to the Valkyries Thrud Thorsdottir and Rossweisse! You may have killed me, but they gave me new life and purpose for which I will forever be grateful. Kill me again if you can, but you can never destroy me!"
"Well said, though you are still in my way."
DIVIDE!
A flash of blue and white appeared out of the corner of their eyes, how they had missed the terrifying presence no one knew as it was upon them. Dorian felt so weak at the same time that Kokabiel's aura of power noticeably dipped to the point his grip weakened. Something struck him across the face and sent the fallen angel hurtling across the field, pulverizing the ground as he landed Dorian leaned against the wall gasping for air as he beheld their savior.
Dorian's first thought was a balance breaker, a man in full armor and grand glowing blue dragon wings flanked by eight black devil ones had descended and driven their enemy forth in a single punch. Like his own, blue crystals adorned the joints and hands and the rest was covered in white plate, his face obscured by a great helm.
"The Vanishing Dragon, eternal foe to the Welsh?" Kokabiel spat as he staggered back to his feet. The Welsh Dragon, the very entity residing in Issei's boosted gear, was this some kind of opposing force? Even Issei seemed to have no idea who this newcomer was but Kokabiel understood with his knowledge spanning the ages. "What are you doing here? To have entered your Dividing Balance Breaker already…"
The white dragon vanished from Dorian's side barely able to be followed as he appeared in Kokabiel's midst. He buried a powerful fist into his gut, causing even the once proud general of heaven to double over in pain.
DIVIDE!
"Your wings are disgusting," the White Dragon mocked openly. "Azazel's wings are as dark as the void of the abyss…yours are just black like a crows. How far have you fallen that a novice with their gear managed to maim you so?"
"Vanishing Dragon, I'll kill…"
"My name is Albion," he interrupted, realizing Kokabiel was attempting to create a new spear of light over his head. "That won't help you; I can halve your power every ten seconds. If you don't hurry a human will be able to kill you soon."
Halving power? The opposite of Issei's boosting, no wonder I feel so weak. He must have divided me with Kokabiel.
Dorian very nearly felt sorry for his foe who lashed out desperately at Albion, launching spear after spear towards him as he slashed with his wings. After two divides already, his blows were easily parried, blocked and avoided by the new warrior, he couldn't keep up. Rossweisse, Thrud and Asia rushed to Dorian's side. Already the former saint was using her gear to tend to his injuries as the Valkyries looked him over with concern.
"Dorian, are you…"
"I'm okay Rose; he sighed in relief at seeing her face with a chuckle. "I guess this time you came to my aid at the last moment."
"So…you're my pupil are you?" Thrud remarked playfully as she delivered a soft punch to his shoulder. Dorian could not help but groan in embarrassment at her ribbing.
DIVIDE!
Kokabiel was far slower, his movements easily followed as he was pushed further. His body was covered in bruises, the burns from Dorian's attack still paining him and the wound was reopened from his exertions. At long last the Vanished Dragon decided he was done playing with his food. A powerful fist tore through Kokabiel's chest, exiting out the back covered in blood.
"That's…impossible…how…is that...?"
"Please, 'impossible, how is that possible?' Surely one as enlightened as you can think of something more clever to say in the moment of defeat? Feel lucky, Azazel told me to bring you back alive."
"Azazel sent you?" Dorian rushed closer once his injuries were better, Asia still chasing after to continue healing with an annoyed expression on her face.
"Indeed, he wanted to send his regards if I met you. He desires to discuss your gear again at the earliest convenience."
"AZAZEL YOU BASTA…" Kokabiel was silenced at last as Albion cracked him across the face. He slumped to the ground unconscious as the seal of destruction around the school finally began to dissolve without the power of its creator. With a heave, the ten-winged angel was slumped onto his armored shoulders.
He bested Kokabiel so easily, Dorian could not help but think as the realization washed through him. The Gremory Heiress, Baraqiel's daughter and Dorian himself had thrown everything they could even boosted beyond their limits, yet this dragon had a power that could circumnavigate overwhelming strength. I need to get MUCH stronger in more ways than one...
"Now for Freed," Albion started as he walked across the field towards the slain cleric. Before he could scoop him up, the golden armor of Thrud stood between them, hand outstretched to block his passage.
"He is the blood of a hero of Asgard," she announced coldly, Ratatoskr having filled her in on the crazed swordsman's identity and lineage. "I appreciate your timely intervention; however this one was created from our people. We will attend to his body."
"I had questions to ask him once we revive him," Albion countered, eyes narrowing at Thrud. "I was commanded to claim him as well for his allies in the church."
"The church created him, but he is of our people. We will take him back with us."
Albion groaned.
"Azazel told me not to create trouble, if you desire his corpse so badly I will not stand in your way. Do with it what you will."
[White one, I did not recall you backing down so easily in ages past.]
Dorian suddenly heard a booming voice, it seemed he could also hear it through Iggy's connection with Ddraig, the intended recipient.
Red one, I thought I sensed your presence. Though it is noticeably lessened.
P-please, no animosity, Dorian heard the soothing voice of Iggy interject. We seem to be of same purpose here, can we not leave it that way?
I have no desire to fight this day.
[Nor I, it seems both our wielders have stifled our hostility for the time being. What do you say we go our own ways for a time before our inevitable clash Albion?]
That is acceptable, let us meet again another day Ddraig. And child of Yggdrasil, I am glad to have made your acquaintance. You are as captivating as the woman who bore you, tell your mother…I have greatly missed our conversations.
Dorian could have sworn he sensed something akin to embarrassment from Iggy as the consciousness withdrew from their minds. He felt like he heard something best kept private.
"Whoa whoa whoa," Issei suddenly stepped in, clearly having heard the same exchange and was quite angry. "Who the hell are you? Because of you I can't suck on the President's nipples! We could have taken that bastard!"
The White Dragon warrior started flying away as if ignoring his ridiculous statement though shouted back before he disappeared into the distance.
"Grow stronger, as it stands this one would be a greater challenge than you." He motioned towards Dorian. "We will fight another day." With that, he was gone.
Dorian hardly knew what to say, the battle was over, the magic circle was gone while Valper and Freed's bodies were still lying across the way untended. Asia was quickly picking up all the nearby combatants she hadn't already helped. Issei was congratulating his ally Kiba on his balance breaker as Rias eyed them both with both pride and annoyance, no doubt contemplating their punishment for running off earlier.
"Xenovia…are you…?"
Irina was looking at her partner, she appeared no different but Dorian understood the trepidation. She had been resurrected by a Valkyrie as Einherjar just like him, that meant one thing.
Her faith was shaken enough to allow it, she seems still able to wield Durandal, possibly her gene…but that's it. Whatever blessing or standing her previous alignment would have granted are gone.
"I'm sorry Irina, I had to keep fighting." She apologized while looking her straight in the face despite the orange-haired girl's tears. "I will not shun God…but he is dead. They gave me a chance to keep going, though it seems I won't be able to come back to the Vatican with you."
Irina didn't say another word, instead throwing her arms around her friend's neck, letting the tears run their course.
"Doooriaaaan!" Bennia flew across the field, wrapping him in a tight hug with her arms and legs leaving him to support her.
"I'm fine Bennia," he patted the childish member of their team on the head. "I am…"
Thrud was next, embracing both Bennia and Dorian, her hair brushing his face and powerful arms squeezing tight.
"Thrud…"
Gentler hands joined them; even Rossweisse was now beside them leaning her forehead against him. The young man had no words as his face grew flushed at the situation he found himself.
"Are you gonna join em red?" Ratatoskr asked as he looked over the group hug completely jealous at Dorian's luck.
"Even if I do, the team would be incomplete without one more," she turned to the squirrel with a raised eyebrow. He could only groan in defeat.
"Fine, but if you tell anyone I will vehemently deny it!"
"Fair enough," with that last word Hecuba joined them, Rat acquiescing to hug Dorian's shoulder as they reveled in their reunion.
The reunion of Rias and her peerage was…decidedly less calm. Kiba had already reconciled with the others and was making his apology to Rias.
"I am proud of you Kiba," she announced upon looking over the balance breaker in his hands.
"I…I am sorry everyone," he started as Dorian could not help but overhear. "I betrayed the one who saved my life and cannot begin to say how sorry I…" Rias interrupted him, placing a soft hand on his cheek as she had the day she revived him to be her knight so long ago.
"You're back, that is enough for now. You'll have more chances to express the feelings of your fallen comrades."
Tears welled that he refused to release as he collapsed to a knee before her. "I promise you once again that I, Kiba Yuuto will protect you and everyone I call friend and ally. I will serve as a Knight of Rias Gremory for all my days."
Hopefully as a sword...and a man, Hecuba hoped with a smirk.
Dorian could not help but notice that the Dragon pawn Issei looked completely jealous at the proud words of his friend. As much as he liked the man, as the dress break incident had revealed, he couldn't stand being shown up in front of members of the fairer sex.
"Now that that is out of the way," Rias' hand suddenly became surrounded in a red aura. "I believe you still need to be punished for acting alone…a thousand spankings should be enough."
Dorian's eyes went wide; he barely noticed Akeno had appeared beside him with her usual smile giggling to herself.
"Ara ara, it seems you are privy to the inner workings of our group more than I thought." She teased, earning a glare of annoyance from Thrud and Rossweisse. "I hope you do not think ill of us for any…unseemly behavior you are about to witness."
"Your methods are…most interesting Lady Him…Akeno," he corrected at the threat of a stern look. "Though I do look forward to our future dealings."
Reinforcements from Asgard and Hell arrived almost thirty minutes later, the entirety of which the poor devil knight of Rias was spanked mercilessly. During this time, Dorian recounted the events leading up to the battle to the others. Thrud especially was quite curious to hear Rossweisse's firsthand knowledge of the dress break incident. She had already seen the whole "packaged deal," as she put it, during their wrestling match in Olympus yet couldn't resist seeing Rossweisse's pale face turn the brightest shade of red as Bennia took notes.
The final battle of the Holy Sword Arc draws to a close. Each side will rest and assess their injuries as a future where they can no longer remain so separate draws ever nearer. I hope everyone has been enjoying the series so far. The next few chapters may be delayed due to planning for future arcs and the differences (Remaining in Asgard vs. attending Kuoh Academy, etc.). Fear not for the story will continue and as always I hope everyone Reads and Reviews…but most of all Enjoys! :D
