Author's Note: There will be a few characters that refer to Koge-Donbo's Pita-Ten Manga, which mean more of these characters others aren't mine. Rest assured, though: Yuan, Lazuli, and now Kain from the previous chapters are definitely Original Characters.
"Asgard, realm of the gods...
Utgard, land of the demons...
Ragnarok-- the war between the gods and the demon invaders-- cast the world in to a state of violent chaos.
Overrun by demons, Asgard tethered on the bring of destruction.
In desperation, the gods broke the ancient covenant and created the black-winged Grim Angels.
Each armed with a Diviner, the angels descended to battle..."
Assisting these Angels with their powerful might and leadership were the Seven Magi, the proxies of the gods.
Out of these seven notable figures, one proved themselves of exceptional might against the demon assault.
That very Magus was Hector...
Chapter 5
It was the great war known as Ragnarok. The gods tried to preserve Asgard as the Angels fought back the demonic invasion. Leading the Angels in the resistance in the name of the gods were their proxies, the Seven Magi.
Granada Fortress, the territory entrusted to Magus Hector, was about to face a terrible onslaught. Although he had a few of his most trusted subordinates at his side, the Magus felt he had to make a difficult decision...
"Lord Hector. I can see the demons approaching from the horizon. I am certain they will bring the battle to this fortress very soon. What are your orders, sir?"
A prominent Grim Angel stood in attention right in front of Hector with a few other followers at his side. He short, dark violet hair and focused golden eyes. He wore a long black coat with golden lining and a single brown shoulder pat. Wielded in his right hand was a jagged Great sword colored in gold. Many have come to known this godly weapon as the Balder, the Diviner of light.
Hector stared out into the distance while pondering his decision. After his mind was finally made up, he turned his attention back to his soldiers.
"Sir Konan, you are no doubt one of the greatest of the Grim Angels born from the will of the gods. As your commander, am I right to assume you are my most loyal follower as well?" Hector asked.
Konan knelt down. "For the sake of bringing a swift end to Ragnarok, you can be assured I will obey your every order." he answered.
"Good. Your absolute trust is necessary if I am to expect a greater victory today." Hector said.
Konan raised his head. "What do you mean by this?" he asked in concern.
"Sir Konan, I order you to take your squadron along with the rest of the Angels stationed here and move to the forefront. You are to leave Granada Fortress in my care." Hector instructed.
"Lord Hector!" Konan exclaimed. "Are you certain? Granada Fortress holds one of the pillars of the gods! If the demons reach it, the gods' protection over our sacred realm will be weakened!"
"Did you not say you would willingly obey my every order?" Hector reminded his prized solider.
Konan humbly bowed his head in apology. "I'm sorry, sir. I won't question you again."
Hector nodded. "In this state of war, the gods, my fellow Magi, and your fellow Grim Angels have been forced to fight in separate fronts. Our power is divided while the demons gain strength over time. If we are to find a victory in this battle, we must begin to focus our strength by unifying on one sole front and begin pushing them back. We cannot do so by remaining on the defensive, so I feel it would be best to gather our strength at the front." he explained. "Sir Konan, as I said before, you are one of the greatest blessings given to us by the gods. Your strength will be more useful where it can do the most damage to our foe."
Konan slowly raised his head. "I do not mean to be defiant, but this must be said. Even with your mighty power as a Magus, with the sheer number of demons approaching, this battle will be an arduous task for you to take on single-handedly." he voiced with great concern.
But Hector nodded his head. "Do not underestimate your leader. I will be fine." he sternly insisted.
"... understood, Lord Hector..." Konan answered.
"Very well then. Now, take your soldiers and leave this place immediately. Your companion Tess already made his way there, and I have gained knowledge that it shall also be the premiere battle for another you know very well..." he answered.
Konan swiftly raised his head. "Is that so? Who is it?" he asked in desperate curiosity.
"She was the first conversion case and she ended up being a splendid masterpiece upon her completion. Even her diviner is a beauty to behold." Hector informed. "I believe you know her as Misha."
Konan's mind raced upon hearing that name. "Misha? But... what did she... and why?"
The concerned Grim Angel clutched his heart and bowed respectfully to Hector.
"I shall lave at once!" he announced before making his way towards the main battlefront at Heaven's Gate.
The other angels soon followed. They all flew in a swift yet orderly fashion, but they all had a hard time keeping up with their lead angel. Konan's hands trembled as this latest development still haunted his mind. "I've heard of the method of converting a normal Angel into one of our kind, but I didn't think the gods would allow this! Misha, what in Asgard did you sacrifice?"
Back in the hall of Granada Fortress, Hector stood erect as he held his Tentacle Rod at his side. "No demon shall make it out of here alive. I swear it."
In a matter of moments, the first wave of demons swarmed in, and Hector charged forward, striking down the incoming demons with the might of the Magi. His Tentacle Rod shone brilliantly with his Magus power as it burned through demon after demon.
"Hmph. Such minor foes are no match for me." he scoffed.
After successfully repelling the first strike, a new wave charged on through, consisting mostly of Skeleton Nights, Wyverns and Dragons.
"Interesting..." Hector muttered to himself.
He then raised his mighty rod into the air as it gathered the ethereal power of Asgard right at the tip. As soon as it reached the midpoint of its charging stage, Hector readied his rod to attack.
"By the Knowledge of the Magi... ETHER BURST!"
The second wave roared ferociously as it made its charge, but Hector released an enormous ball of ether energy. It tore right through the seemingly-endless ranks of demons in an instant, and many more were whipped out by the resulting explosion. With the surviving demons startled by this overwhelming strike, Hector was given more then enough time to launch yet another Ether Burst, crushing more demons that crossed its path. In time, Hector managed to conquer yet another wave by swinging his mighty Tentacle Rod while releasing numerous streams of Ether Burst. It seemed that he had indeed won the battle single-handedly, however, the commander of the demon division could no longer take this lightly.
"WITHDRAW, SOLDIERS! LET ME HANDLE THIS!" A booming voice cried.
Immediately, the great demon horde drew back as their commander made his way to the front. His demonic armor and metallic wings gleamed with an eerie might as he levitated off the ground. The gigantic sword in hand glowed a corrupt light. The name "Excalibur" was neatly inscribed in runic letters.
"Isher, you traitor. I'm surprised to see you stick with your vows of honor after abandoning the gods." Hector said coldly.
"I've already told you once: my loyalty lies with my master. It was his decision to take his vengeance upon Asgard, so it is my duty to fight under him." Isher answered. "I am merely fulfilling my duties. In a sense, I am no different from the Grim Angels that serve you. However, are your kind truly just? Your gods have gone as far as to break an ancient covenant just to bring forth a resistance."
"It does not matter. You've brought all of this upon your kind, so now you all must face my judgment." Hector proclaimed.
"So be it..." Isher answered.
Both fighters prepared their weapons for their coming duel. Neither would move an inch until an opening revealed itself. After spending a long time of holding their positions, someone finally budged, and both warriors charged straight at each other. Isher swung his mighty blade at Hector's side, but the ether-infused Tentacle Rod block the swing with ease. Hector then charged up an attack and thrust his rod straight into Isher's armor, launching a portion of ethereal energy and pushing the Demon Knight back. Isher decided to retaliate by charging up his sword for a projectile attack of his own. He gave a single swing of his mighty sword, launching an enchanted beam at Hector, but the demonic power dissipated when Hector countered it with his rod. Trying to retain his offensive stance, Isher charged with his sword held in front of him, Hector countered by stabbing his Rod straight into Isher's face. The Demon Knight let out a cry of pain as he tried to recover from his facial burn, but Hector refused to give him that opportunity. He formed a wall of ethereal energy before him and sent it crashing into Isher, knocking him back a great distance. Isher struggled to regain his breath, but he refused to give up. He once again charged straight at the confident Magus with his sword thrust out.
"STAND DOWN, ISHER!" a mighty voice commanded.
Upon hearing this, Isher immediately held his attack and slowly descended onto the floor. Without hesitation, he bowed down in deep humility.
"Milord, it is an honor to have your presence on this very battlefield." he solemnly called out.
Hector shuddered. "Isher's one of the Great Generals of the Demon Army. There can only be one being who can hold authority over him." he thought in fear.
Suddenly, a small figure made his presence known as he marched confidently through a parting wave of demons.
He had silver hair that went down to his neck. His piercing crimson eyes lit up with malicious intent. He was wrapped in a long black cloak tied down with a big white bow beneath his neck. In his hand was golden staff engulfed with an eerie black aura.
The Great Magus growled as the commanding figure made his way towards the heart of Granada Fortress. Finally, as the figure reached Hector and Isher, he gave Hector a polite bow.
"It's been a long time since I've laid eyes on you." the figure grinned. "I see you're still the daring type."
"You..." Hector uttered in deep loathing. Despite his solemn gesture, the Magus was still cringing on the inside.
"Go on, Hector. Keep up this act of righteousness. I'd just like to see high in esteem the gods will hold you in before you finally fall." he said in amusement.
"It's your fault we've been put through this hell. You actually had the gall to unite the demons against Asgard. I'll put an end to this right now!" he proclaimed.
Hector prepared to launch a fully-powered Ether Burst, but the shadowy figure merely chuckled in response.
"Come now, Hector. Even you are aware that you can't possibly face the might of a former god." he told the Magus in a confident tone.
"Loki..." Hector uttered with deep hatred.
"I still don't understand all this hatred towards my cause. The gods have lost the most precious of ther kind, and in their arrogance, they turn around blame me for this death, and then they instantly condemn me! Of course, I could never take that kind of injustice lying down, so now their precious Asgard must fall under the demon spawn they hate so much." Loki explained. "It's amazing how easy that so many will unite under the purpose of revenge..."
"That no longer matters. You've placed Asgard in a state of chaos, and you shall be punished accordingly." Hector answered.
The one named Loki laughed aloud. "Even one such as you should realize how faulted the gods are! You know that it is merely because of your military prowess that you are held in such high esteem! Your sense of justice has no value to them! The will of the gods is just that! They merely do as they wish!"
"This still doesn't justify your cause..." Hector replied.
"Neither does it justify yours..." Loki retorted.
He then raised his shimmering staff in the air. "Now then, Hector, I believe you've sparked your curiosity. Let's see what it is your Magus Power is capable of!"
Loki's staff soon resonated with intense chaotic energy as Hector charged up his Tentacle Rod with Asgard's Ethereal Energy. In a matter of moments, both weapons reached their maximum strength as the combatants prepared to launch their ultimate attacks.
"By the knowledge of the Magi... Ether Burst!"
"Onslaught of the Jotuns, Come forth... Muspelheim!"
Hector released his signature ball of ethereal energy while Loki unleashed what appeared to be a bright, burning sun with a big rune etched within it. As both attacks collided, the energies struggled to dominate one another. However, Loki's burning sun soon enveloped Hector's attack and absorbed its power. Anticipating the Danger, Hector performed an Elemental Transition before the attack collided with him. Finally, the devastating attack exploded many times over, but Hector's new form managed to minimize the damage.
Still, the desperate Magus was left drained of much of his power.
"I see you've learned a few tricks. You really have improved." Loki grinned.
"You... haven't... won... yet.." Hector claimed as he struggled to maintain his breath.
Suddenly, a couple of figures swooped in from the horizon and started a vicious assault on the demons.
Hector lowered his head slightly. "It appears my comrades could not trust me to handle guarding Granada alone." he thought regretfully. "At least this will work in my favor."
Loki merely shrugged as his demon army was quickly decimated from behind. He then gestured his staff towards the Demon Knight.
"Isher, disregard Granada for now and have your army take care of the assailants. We cannot allow this surprise attack to go on any further." Loki instructed.
Isher raised his sword in recognition. "Yes, Master Loki." He then pointed his great blade towards the angels from the rear.
"You heard our leader. Forget about Granada and attack those Angels!" Isher repeated.
The demons gave a confirmed roar before they rushed out to cover their rear.
Despite the incoming rescue effort, Loki still brimmed with confidence. "It seems that you've lucked out today, Hector. You owe your comrades much for this fortuitous maneuver." He then turned around, leaving his back exposed to the weakened Magus.
"I suppose it's time we say goodbye for now, old friend. But you should realize this: Under the brutality of those deemed evil, Asgard is weakening from their assault, even when it is under the care of the gods many hold in high esteem. That fact alone speaks volumes to me" he grinned. He then took a few steps before leaving the Magus with his final words.
"The will of the gods is not absolute. Their authority is only valid as long as they hold the greatest power..."
With that, the infamous former god took his leave as a figure with bat-like wings flew in at his side. She had raven-black hair in a small ponytail and eyes like the color of red roses. She a long, flowing white dress-robe with a red rose broach. In her right hand was a crystal ball rod.
"Shiva, Report." Loki ordered.
The raven-haired demon nodded. "Master Loki, there seems to be an interesting development in the main front. A pink-haired Grim Angel with a white scythe diviner went berserk and destroyed nearly 1/5th of our forces. It resonated with an aura unique in comparison to the other Grim Angels. I suspect something "special" empowers her particular diviner." she answered in a soft voice.
"1/5th? That's not bad." Loki answered curiously. "Has this Grim Angel ever been seen in any of the other battles?"
"No. It appears that this Grim Angel is a new face. This battle in the main front is her first battle." Shiva answered.
"I see..." Loki said with a grin. "It seems the gods have resorted to using conscripts..."
Shiva blinked her eyes. "What was that, Master?"
"It's nothing you need to concern yourself about." Loki assured. He then showed his attendant a satisfied gesture. "You know, I have yet to see what your little staff can do in battle, but you've proven to be an excellent scout to me thus far. I look forward to seeing more of your work in the future."
Shiva bowed her head. "I thank you, Master Loki."
For a moment, the demon lady's mind wandered on the sight of the pink-haired Angel's ferocity.
"...that pink-haired Angel... the one her allies called Misha…I don't understand why, there was a look in her eyes that suggested that she lost part of herself..." she thought with intense curiosity.
The battle at Granada Fortress raged on, but thanks to the surprise attack from the Grim Angel reinforcements, Asgard won out in the end with a fairly scathed fortress. The Angels sang praises of their brave hero Hector; however, other thoughts preoccupied the Magus as the others were deep into celebration...
"The will of the gods is not absolute. Their authority is only valid as long as they hold the greatest power..."
"The battle raged on, but through their valiant efforts, the angels brought an end to the war.
The demons were sealed away, but the gods would soon follow.
Leaving their power behind in the heavenly isle of Riviera, the gods entrusted the land's inhabitants to watch over it until the time of their rebirth.
1000 years passed quietly..."
Preview
Chapter 6- Rebirth of the Devilish Angel
"Then open your heart and soul to me. Realize the sacrifice that will allow you the power of your diviner!"
"My heart... it cries for my future"