Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to some more LoCG! Group and the gang have met up, the final pieces are falling into place! How shall the hero's defeat the Devourer? And shall Touma finally break free from the illusion? Well To bad! You'll have to wait a little longer for that! More set up MOOORE TENSION! Evil laughter. Well anyways… Review time.
Whwsms:{The GROUP reunion was one I feel had a good balance of Levity and seriousness. Wake up Sheeple! The magic is real! Thats the scene I feel I did best on in the last chapter. I knew I needed to address what Meab was up to. And I felt having Murieann pity her was like… one of the cruelest things for her to do. Honestly I did this because due to certain behavior quirks and hints you get from her. Uiharu seems like the type to swear there.}
5had0wHand:{You gave me the idea, and it worked so thanks. Awake may need a long drink after this is over.
I felt it was important to have consequences and show that even if you don't see them things happen. So them dying felt like it would happen, Ainmire didn't care they were side characters to him. Quickly isn't the term I'd use, more like they can't deny it. Yep, and to me it just works, Uiharu feels like a character who'd swear there. Nah, Touma's too good a guy to sue her for that.
Eh, he might as well be a angel of death.
Pity is just the cruelest emotion for Muireann to feel for Meab at that moment. Glad you liked it}
VLPURN:{Hello new reviewer, glad to see another new face here… Well name, and to answer your question. This is Tsuchimikado, you really honestly expect him not to expect this?}
With that out of the way, this chapter does have a few things I wish were better. But I you think of any improvements feel free to tell me. Constructive criticism is both encouraged and desired. Now let this tale of an infinity commence once again!
Chapter 41
Myths and Mirrors
Swallowing the last remnants of the forgotten god, Index frowned. It wasn't enough, she was still hungry. One god wasn't enough anymore; she needed more.
'If I'm to protect Touma, then it'll be worth it' Index thought to herself as she turned towards her next meal.
There were a few gods that had decided to hide close to the new world's reconstructing earth. But Index wasn't feeling like any of them, no she wanted something specific.
Looking towards the place where the new world's sun once more burned brightly, Index smiled. "Tezcatlipoca, I think a bit of spice would go nice with squid, don't you?" she said in a sing-song voice. She then moved towards her prey, her habit burning away to reveal the armor which she had shown Stiyl Magnus.
Space distorted and from those looking towards her, what they'd see would not be a girl in armor. But a vast armored purple serpent reaching towards the sun. Large mandibles poised ready to latch onto its surface. The Aztech's would be reminded of Quetzalcoatl, but the great devourer belonged to no religion.
A third god would be entering the library.
...
Stiyl felt cold, no the weather wasn't the reason, he had magic that kept him warm. No, he felt cold inside as he followed the leader of the largest magic cabal in England, a half god and his wife. A saint, Fey, and Valkyrie and finally, the man who had started world war three. All they needed now was a rouge and they'd be a fully fledged D&D party.
They were wandering through Norway, In order for the spell they wanted to work. Still reeling from the Information Leivinia Birdway had given them, on the true extent of a magic god's powers. They realized they needed to be fairly accurate with their Idol-theory. And they wouldn't find the materials they needed in Japan. Itsuwa had been dropped off in England where she was consulting an expert on the Necronomicon.
However that's not what was on Stiyl's mind, nore why he felt cold. 'Index, does he really mean that much to you?' Stiyl sighed as they made their way to a particular cabin. 'You really loved him so much you were willing to cast aside your humanity to save him.' That was it, ever since Index became a magic god. She had been dedicating herself to protecting Kamijou Touma, the Imagine Breaker.
It hurt Stiyl worse because she had decided that he needed to die. Die because he had tried to kill the Imagine Breaker. When she had looked at him Index's purple eyes were filled with hate. Stiyl couldn't bear it, he didn't care about the Imagine Breaker. But he did care about Index, if it was his presence that kept her happy. If it was him, the Imagine Breaker he loathed more than anything. That was the source of Index's happiness. Stiyl was prepared to leap into hell itself, to pull him out. Pull him out and chain him somewhere Index only knew. All to make Index happy, as that is all that mattered to Stiyl.
"After Ellasone was imprisoned for killing the bishop of St. Julian's Cathedral for trafficking Children for Necessarius." Kanzaki began "The young girl whom he had taken in Seachel ended up taking up his work." She bit her lip a moment "as much as Ellason would have hated her doing so."
They stopped in front of the cabin "What is she doing up here then?" Birdway asked, "Shouldn't she be in England where Necessarius can guard her?" She raised an eyebrow.
Kanzaki scoffed "No, Ellasone would never allow such a thing, so she was moved here. I moved her here" Kanzaki stepped up to the door. "However, that doesn't stop her from aiding us."
Celt spoke up "Ellasone, I've heard that name before, what does his work have to do with us love?" She seemed to be asking for more confirmation than actually being confused.
Ollerus, who had been healed on their way here, gestured with his hand. "Restraints, norse ones in specific. Ellasone crafted the Anglicans many magical restraints." He smiled softly "Including a spiritual Item of Gleipnir which he had used."
"How do you know that Half-god" Stiyl glared at Ollerus.
"I do my research, Stiyl, I do tend to want to avoid you all." Ollerus said as Silvia Scoffed.
"Lets just get this done with and return to Academy City so we can get this incident over with." the saint growled out.
Fiamma looked at Kanzaki "If you would, I'm sure she'd prefer a familiar face" he said, gesturing with his one arm.
Kanzaki sighed and knocked on the door, after a minute it opened. A girl of around 16-17 with blond hair that was a mixture of gold and light brown. Wearing a red dress over her almost delicate looking figure. Stepped out, her veins were fairly visible below her skin. And her wrists and ankles appeared to have impressions on them.
She looked at Kanzaki and her eyes lit up "Ah! Kanzaki, please come in, your friends are welcome to join." She said in English as she moved to the side allowing the party in.
"They aren't my friends, just… acquaintances, Seachel" Kanzaki replied as she stepped in.
Birdway sneered, "As If I'd ever be friends with that bag of fat." She mocked the saint as she stepped inside. "I'm only here because I heard that you had something we'd need."
Brunhild pushed Birdway forwards as she entered. "Try not to anger our host for the moment."
Fiamma looked around their space "shockingly clean, I suspected more clutter for someone who works with restraints."
Seachel led them to the living room as she grabbed herself a cup of tea. "I keep most of that in the basement where I work."
Celt smiled as she sat on a couch near the girl. "I would love to see how some of your spells work, love." she then sighed "sadly we don't have that kind of time"
Seachel nodded as she revealed an object in her hand. It wasn't there moments before, however she had not used magic. Merely sleight of hand, it was a communication talisman. "I know, the church had informed me when you left japan." she frowned. "The Library's gone rogue and you need a spiritual Item based on Gleipnir to be used in a ritual to seal her power back up."
Stiyl nodded "you have one?" he asked.
Seachel sat down in a rocking chair. "I do, however It's been untested, I tried to improve on Ellasone's original. I had hit a snag for a bit, but a girl who called herself a Deverger along with her odd drum-like spiritual item helped a few months ago." She looked towards a window as she spoke.
Kanzaki narrowed her eyes but stayed silent. Stiyl commended her focus, he expected nothing less from his partner. But he wouldn't lie and say he wasn't curious if the person Seachel spoke of was a former member of GREMLIN. "I'll trust it works, are you comfortable with us taking it?" Kanzaki asked.
Seachel looked at each of them suspiciously. After a moment her eyes softened "Normally I'd say no, but I trust you Kanzaki." She got up, "Allow me to retrieve it for you, you'd be surprised how light it is."
As she left, Stiyl thought to himself. 'One down, let's hope the others got theirs.'
...
The dark sky outside had begun to brighten, it was still dark however outside the window of the 117th branch of Judgement.
"So in essence, what we need is something that holds the image, or meaning of the defeat of Kronos." Uiharu asked as she scrolled through a website about Greek myths.
"Yeah, based on what the... magicians said. Part of the silver sister's spell included the myths of Kronos. Meaning whatever the spell or whatever is used to seal her power will need to include the myths correlation to his defeat." Misaka confirmed as she looked through a set of books about Greek mythology.
"Hmm It appears we'll need something that would hold the role of Zeus's Lightning bolt, Poseidon's Trident, and Hades' Bident." Kuroko said, scratching her head. "Seriously, I'm confused on how stuff like this works." she sighed "Magic's way too convenient, what was the point of developing my power if I could just cobble together something for the same effect."
"It's not that simple but, based on what I looked up of Idol theory by Edward Alexander Crowely, It's basic magic. Don't forget something for Styxs and Tartarus" Uiharu answered.
Uhiaru glanced over at Saten and saw her in thought. "Got something Saten?" she asked.
Saten scratched her head "Maybe? You see, what Misaka said was that these items need to work in tangent with other similar ones in the spell." She showed what she was looking at, "Among other things, I looked at the other myths involved and their corresponding items." The computer she was on had multiple tabs concerning multiple myths and pantheons. "The Thunderbolt of Zeus could easily be linked together to Thor's hammer. That'll work for both part of sealing Kronos and the slaying of Jourmungand right? So, I was thinking, how could we make a Lighting bolt that would also work like… a nail for a hammer. And then it hit me, Isn't a lightning Rod kinda like Zeus's Lightning Bolt in that it directs the lightning?" The black haired urban legend hunter asked.
Silence fell across the room as Kuroko, Misaka and Uiharu stared at her. "You weren't just thinking about the items we needed. You were thinking about the ones they'd be used in tangent with? That's… genius Saten-san!" Uiharu felt herself shout in excitement.
Misaka blinked and shook her head, "damn, I mean… I wasn't even worrying about that yet. But you came up with a good point, well done Saten!" She smiled at her friend.
Kuroko grumbled "That means we also need to take into account the supposed ritual site to don't we?"
Uiharu paused "About that.. Misaka, when I was doing some research on Zeus. I took the time to look up something" She pulled up a tab "from what you said, Othinus is The Odin right?"
Saten tilted her head curiously "Yeah she did say something that hinted that. I was curious, I thought she had just used it. Odin based magic but you're saying she's the Odin. How is that? Wouldn't that make her over 2000 years old?" she asked.
Kuroko shook her head "That terrorist, to think she was an actual god of myth. She was something like this, Index is now?"
Misaka bit her lip, "I.. I'm not sure but maybe, magic definitely can allow for immortality."
Kuroko raised an eyebrow "something on your mind Onee-sama?"
Misaka looked nervously towards them "When you brought that up Saten, Uiharu kuroko." She held her hand to her lips "made me remember something that Idiot said in denmark" she took a breath "It makes so much more sense now"
A couple of raised eyebrows caused Misaka to continue. "He said he had seen a perfect world, where no one suffered, no one frowned. If Othinus was something like the silver sister is now." Fear filled Misaka's eyes as she looked at them. "Couldn't she have destroyed the entire world and even the surrounding solar system without us ever knowing?" She shook slightly "If… that high priest guy was like her… what would have happened had I shot my railgun at her?!" she muttered under her breath.
Uiharu froze as she looked at Misaka, "Y..your kidding, surely magic isn't that powerful-" before a ring interrupted her.
Misaka jumped before she pulled out her phone. Opening it her eyes widened, disbelief written across it. "No.. no no.. that can't be correct, surely that's a joke. No way it's that powerful ahahah" she laughed unstable as she held her head shaking it.
"Misaka-san.. What is it?" Uiharu asked, concerned whatever it was sent to Misaka. It was important at the very least.
"Onee-sama she's right don't keep things to yourself" Kuroko insisted to Misaka.
Misaka looked at them, her eyes desperate. "A..Alright, but you're not gonna believe what it says." before turning the phone to them to show a message from an anonymous source.
The message read "[In light of the situation, It was found Imperative we learned the true extent of what a magic god was capable of. Consulting the leader of The Dawn Colored Sunlight who was with Index during the Denmark Incident revealed the following. 'Kamijou Touma, and Magic God Othinus had fought for an undetermined amount of time in which the world/universe had been rewritten.']"
Uiharu fell silent, she couldn't believe it. It was impossible, no way could it be true.
Kuroko however laughed shakily her own eyes desperately denying whats infront of her. "Impossible, there's no way anyone on their own could hold enough power to just… rewrite the whole universe! The scale is just too immense" she shook her head. "Th..there must be some mistake"
However, Saten spoke up "But don't gods do that already?" When Uiharu and the others turned to her she continued. "I mean, Look at the myths Othinus Inspired. The world tree Is the universe. And what you said about phases, she made nine of them, not just one." She shook her head "Either way that still means, in some way Kamijou-san won. In some way, he defeated her." Uiharu looked at Saten confused as the others did the same. "Wouldn't that make the place where that took place itself symbolic?" causing their eyes to wident.
"The ritual site, the defeat and victory of Odin. The fields of Vigridir" Uiharu muttered. Saten was right, even if these so-called 'magic gods' could rewrite the universe. As unbelievable as that is, Kamijou Touma still in some way won against Othinus.
Misaka's shaky expression changed to a smile, shaking her head, as hope filled her face. "More than that, it's a sargasso, a ship graveyard. An artificial yet naturally made Island from the currents and piles of shipwrecks. Taken very broadly, it's full of symbolic meanings."
Kuroko stood up "We need to inform the board chairman then!" causing Misaka to frown.
"Yeah, you're right, he is involved with securing it." Misaka frowned, for reasons Uiharu didn't know. But either way, even if these gods could rewrite the universe. At the very least Index hadn't tried to. Meaning that, as small as it was and as uncertain it may be.
They had a chance.
...
Accelerator spat as he glanced at the message he received. "That's gonna be a pain. '' He flicked his wrist as a massive burning claw slammed down on him. It was launched back before suddenly seeming to be disassembled. Bone, muscles, blood-vessels and odd organs fell onto the ground.
A set of large metal sheets appeared inside a large mouthed tail causing it to scream and fall as black blood gushed out of it. "What does it say, Accelerator?" Awaki shouted as she tumbled out of the way of a large spiked tendril.
"Looks like someone found the ritual sight for us" Accelerator shouted back "fucking bastard says it's the shitty sargasso where GREMLIN had been in november." Accelerator leaned to the side and kicked a large armored head as it tried to snap at him.
The creature's large four-jawed head screamed in pain as the mouth opened in a flowering motion. 9 large forked tongues whipped out in an attempt to grab Accelerator. But 5 were shot as the other 4 were disassembled.
"Nyah, of course it had to be somewhere difficult to reach," Tsuchimikado said as he rounded behind the beast.
"Something tells me that the Index won't leave it unguarded" Etzali spoke as he angled an obsidian knife again. "If this is what we're dealing with here, she's going to make whatever's guarding there a lot harder to deal with."
Accelerator growled as he flew backwards facing the creature. "The bratty nun isn't even taking us seriously." he glared at the thing before him.
It looked as if someone decided to combine a dragon, the classic japanese kaiju ^1, Cthulhu, and a spider together. It's body was like that of a western dragon's but more bulky. It had large maple leaf-like spines adorning it's back to its tail. Two sets of immense bat-like wings sprouted from behind. The long tail it once had was tipped with an extra mouth, said tail was regrowing already. It had multiple extra legs that allowed it to move around exceedingly quickly. It's head was generally broad in structure, eight eyes lined the front and side of it's head. It could open its mouth in four places like a flower or beak and large sharp teeth adorned the inside. A multitude of tentacles sprouted from the back below the wings. And large sharp curved spikes lined the outside of its mouth.
"The fucking hell is this freak of mythology" Accel asked as it roared in a multitude of voices.
"No clue-nyah, Guess Index was playing a little build-a-beast" Tsuchmikado joked "Looks like it's pissed, watch out guys!"
He wasn't wrong, It opened its mouth as it breathed in, a low light glowed from within as it flexed its front legs which also acted like arms. The spines lit up blue and a bright blue beam of energy was released from its mouth.
Accelerator stood in front of the beam causing it to mostly reflect back. Some of its vectors were… odd, as if they weren't coming from the same direction. That caused some of the energy to be directed in generally random upward directions. All however missed any buildings due to the angle. "Honestly If you're gonna mimic that Kaiju I might have to rip the oxygen out of the area." Accelerator rolled his eyes as the creature was vaporized by its own attack.
"That took longer than it should have," Awaki said as she spun her flashlight around. "Honestly, why didn't it open with that?"
Etzali shook his head "whatever the case we need to get to the sargasso."
Tsuchimkado shrugged "Accelerator probably could get there and secure it on his own nyah."
Accelerator glared at them "And leave it unguarded when I need to also bring some shit there? No, Awaki, you're teleporting those two there. I'll head there on my own alright?"
Awaki growled "Fuck no! I can't do that, you know that. My trauma-"
Accelerator snapped back "Don't use your fucking trauma as an excuse!" He however caught himself and breathed for a second. "Because if you don't the very fucking universe could end up that bratty nun's lunch!"
Awaki shook her head in shock "What!?" she shouted.
Accelerator smirked "I'm not joking, that damn nun's capable of eating phases. So you'll need to get over that trauma" he turned around preparing to leave. "Or we may just find out what being digested feels like."
With that Accelerator launched himself into the air to make his way to the sargasso.
...
Mugino laughed as she fired four more meltdowner rays at the creatures in her way. They dodged but the beams bent at a right angle. "Ahahah! I gotta say,I'm enjoying this! Who'd have thought all I needed to help develop my ability more was some eldritch fucking abominations!" she bent to the side as a tendril smashed the ground next to her.
Holding her palm out, hands curved, a sphere of energy formed and she released her 'grip'. The sphere suddenly became a wave that launched forward vaporizing the creature that had attacked her. "Electromagnetic theories, reflection, refraction, photon-emissions. And even the wave-function collapse." Mugino laughed as she stepped backward and launched a set of 5 beams which seemed to cause each other to split into many more.
"Before a photon is measured, it holds every outcome" She ducked and launched a beam at the ground. It launched her back as she avoided a strike by another creature. "However espers can make those observations and choose which outcome happens. Why the hell have I been limiting myself to only one of these damn outcomes?"
A large metal pole was slammed into another of the creatures as Kinuhata leaped over it. "Um Mugino-your super spouting techno-babble right now, are you okay?" She landed back on the ground and picked up a set of 3 bathtubs.
Mugino sighed as the last creature was vaporized, this time by a scattershot of beams. "Oh, i'm feeling fantastic Come on Kinuhata, let's get the last 5 tubs and meet up with that Seal and Hamazura"
Kinuhata shrugged before glancing at Mugino "your phone's super ringing Mugino."
Mugino raised an eyebrow and took out her phone looking at the message within. "Fucking magic really is too convient, If It wasn't for Asgard I doubt I'd believe this" she frowned. "The fuck did they think then when they sent me after her?"
"What is it, Mugino?" Kinuhata asked as she walked over to Mugino.
"Looks like we now know the full extent of a regular magic god's powers." Mugino said as she put her phone away.
Kinuhata's eyebrows raised "and?"
Mugino turned and headed toward another residence building. "We should be fucking glad that dumb nun is obsessed with that boy."
...
Index giggled as she chased the Aztec Sungod through the solar system. "Hey Tezcatlipoca, do you think that you can really run from me?" She slammed into the god as he tried to launch rays of light at her. The two of them slammed through the new world's Jupiter and into Saturn. "I know you guys led Othinus to regain her power, I know you all led her to torment Touma. Touma's Mine! My human!" Index threw Tezcatlipoca backwards and once more chased him as an armored serpent.
Slamming her head into him and ramming him into the new-world's mars. The serpent fell away revealing Index as she grabbed Tezcatlipoca with her hands.
The god sputtered and coughed as he glared at her "you know full well that he does not belong to you, you're acting like that Eyepatched thief." he grinned.
Index went silent and lowered her head; her face was shadowed as she growled "I think I'll finish my food now." She glared at Tezcatlipoca and brought him close to her face. "Don't ever compare me to Othinus!"
As she felt the god struggle in her jaws, she frowned. She was acting differently, these emotions, this possessiveness of Touma. Were those really her's, they had to be. Othinus couldn't have felt this way for Touma.
Swallowing she thought as the Aztec sun god's power filled her. 'Are the personalities of the gods I've eaten influencing me?' She shook her head 'Nope, can't be Tezcatlipoca was just trying to mess with me. Take my Human, Touma, away from me.' Index froze at that thought, 'Only Othinus called Touma 'human', why am I-'
But her stomach growled once more, interrupting her.
Not even two gods were enough to satiate her hunger
^1: If this wasn't obvious it's referring to none other than Godzilla… but I assumed you knew that
