Calamity DxD

Chapter 1: The Boy With A Village On His Shoulders

Winter had come once again, and amidst the howling wind and punishing cold, a boy no older than sixteen waded knee-deep through snow. Out with his grandfather's rifle, he was tracking a deer he'd been tailing for thirty minutes, staying as silent as a ghost all the while. His breath came out in puffs of vapour, and a brief shiver ran through him as just the briefest touch of the cold wind got through his thick coat. Crunching and stalking through the fresh snow, he followed the deer tracks. The lack of bones on the ground was a good sign. The last thing he needed was to run into a bear, or any other of the nasty creatures that lived in the woods at the edge of the village. Birds still chirped up above, and the pitter-pat of snowfall was a kind of reassurance to him. A silent forest was a dangerous one. He'd learned that lesson all too well and was reminded of it far too often.

Advancing slowly, he brushed past thickets and dead branches. He'd taken a winding path, one far away from the well-trodden tracks the other villagers had made. Not that they made any difference now. Most of them refused to enter the forest these days. They were a superstitious people to begin with, his grandfather included, and while the boy wished they were just being foolish, they were right to be afraid. That's why they sent him. Laying down on a snow-capped boulder, he looked down his iron sights and observed the dear as it looked around before finding a patch of grass to graze on. It was a good two dozen meters away. He lined up the shot, waited, and then fired.

The walk back with the fresh kill on his shoulders was thankfully uneventful as deer carcasses were a favourite among the more... gluttonous denizens of the forest. All morning he'd been in there, and each moment was spent with a cursory glance over his shoulder every couple of seconds, just to be sure he was alone. He only did it more when leaving with his kills. The things in there were opportunistic to say the least. With his latest kill extracted from the forest, he dumped it in the flatbed of his grandfather's truck with the other deer he'd killed that morning, and pulled a tarpaulin over them. He warmed up the engine and got driving back to the village, a good twenty minutes drive away, an hour by foot. Even as he drove he still didn't let his guard down. No car was a deterrent, and the noise only served to attract them. He was, though. While the beasts out there were not afraid of humans, they were afraid of him. The people of the village called him 'Beast Killer' or just 'Hunter'. He didn't mind the titles, but to him, he was just doing what was expected of him. What is grandfather expected of him.

He pulled up outside his and his grandfather's house not soon after, counting himself lucky for an admittedly boring drive. Nothing had stalked the truck to his knowledge, and none of the deer were missing. He just wished he could have gotten at least one boar. He liked the taste of those. His grandfather greeted him at the door. Kolya was an old man, as weathered and stubborn as a rock, still out hunting and fishing at the age of sixty-two. With a face like worn leather and an almost permanent frown, one would mistake him for some kind of curmudgeon. He was anything but. Kolya was a kindly figure, well liked around the village and practically one of it's cornerstone members. Despite his age, he was still fit and strong, just not as quick as he once was and had a keen mind.

''A good hunt this morning, Ryn?'' he greeted his grandson with a smile. Dobrynya, or as he preferred, Ryn, nodded as he pulled back the tarp over the carcasses. Kolya nodded approvingly. ''Good, good. We'll eat for a while yet. Come inside and get warm Ryn, there's tea.''

''I'll take ours inside. Don't want them attracting anything.'' Ryn said, heaving one deer over his left shoulder, and then another over his right. These weren't young deer either. These were fully grown bucks and does he was hefting around as if they were nothing. He deposited the dead animals one by one in their storage shed where it was cold enough that they'd keep for a while. Then he took the others to the village square, where he met with the people who had requested his help and handed over animals they were after. They met him with big smiles and praise, some offering money, others spare food. There were some, and he'd grown somewhat used to it, who offered their daughters. He politely declined, saying he had too much to do. When he returned to his home after getting some rather disappointed looks from some of the villagers and said daughters, he breathed a sigh of relief and settled by the fire in a seat in the living room of his and Kolya's modest home. There were family photos on the walls, some with a young Ryn with his family, other much older ones of his parents on the first few times they'd visited each other's homes and families when they started dating. There were pictures of Kolya in his old officer's uniform during the days of the Soviet Union, relaxing with a cigarette and his friends.

The old man's radio was playing as it struggled to maintain a signal at times. Deep in the rural regions of Russia made getting anything from the outside world difficult, radio and TV included. With his coat hanging up, he was wearing a worn grey wool jumper, and a trusty pair of grey Adidas sweatpants, with thermal leggings underneath. He took a sip of his tea and relaxed, feeling his hands warm up against the cup.

''Thanks for this, Kolya. Really needed it.'' Ryn said gratefully as he saw the old man return from the kitchen with two sandwiches of cured meat and cheese. He put the plate down on the small, dark wooden table between them. He took one. ''Cheers.'' Usually the two would chat about goings-on in the village over a spread of meat and cheese with a bottle of vodka between them.

''Have to keep you fed, son. I know it's tough doing what you do, so it's the least I can do to keep your stomach full. Plus, look at you! You're getting so big these days.'' Kolya smiled and flicked a hand out, gesturing to the outline of muscle against the grey wool of Ryn's jumper. He was also quite tall, standing a head taller than most in the village. The old man rested back in his seat. ''Any monsters out there today?'' He waited for Ryn to finish chewing.

''Not this morning, no. Quiet as a grave out there. Just the normal sounds of the forest.'' Ryn replied. He'd become keenly aware of when the forest changed, and each time it did, it was unexpected and sent a chill down his spine. It would suddenly become like he was being watched and he wasn't wanted there, which it turned out was correct on both counts. Then there was the attempted murder and consumption of him quickly after. Whether he was getting better at avoiding those places or the things there had decided he wasn't worth the trouble was anyone's guess. ''Nothing on the way back either, but we'll see if that changes tonight.''

''You're on watch again?'' Kolya made a face of concern. His grandson had taken it upon himself to keep watch during the night ever since the monsters first began sniffing around. A few of the villagers had also volunteered to keep watch with him, for which Ryn was grateful.

''Have to be. Who else is gonna do anything if some freak shows up?'' Ryn said with a shrug and took another bite of his sandwich.

''You're doing too much, Ryn.'' Kolya protested, but his grandson shook his head.

''Maybe. I'm still the only one who can protect this place. They've been attacking less and less lately too. Maybe they're getting the hint that they don't wanna tangle with me anymore.'' Ryn chuckled, though it was dry and humourless. ''I'll rest when I can be sure everyone's safe, grandfather. Only then.''

As much as Kolya wished there could be another life for the boy, he couldn't deny that he'd become a fine young man. So strong and bound to duty. He was proud, and he knew his own son and daughter-in-law would be proud too. The other villagers could see it too, seeing him as some sort of folk-hero. On numerous occasions he'd beat back the monsters in the dark, saving villagers or livestock from ravenous creatures pulled from nightmares. Whether it was with makeshift weapons or his bare fists, it didn't matter. The fact remained that a sixteen-year-old boy was single-handedly keeping the place from being overrun by monsters and its people from starving.

''Well, how do you feel about it?'' Kolya asked.

''How I feel about it?'' Ryn paused in thought, ''Never really thought about it. I just do it because it needs doing. People will either die or starve. Is there really anything to think about?'' Kolya left it alone after that. The people of the village, himself included, were tough and hard people. Struggle was a part of life, but through it came real grit. If this was what Ryn wanted to do, then he wouldn't stop him. He would just encourage him to do his best and keep the boy fed and with a safe place to rest.

''Well, you're doing a good job. I'll do my best for you, you know that.'' Kolya said.

''Of course you will, you've always done your best for me.'' Ryn replied. He downed the rest of his tea and stood up. ''We should get those deer butchered.''

''Before we do that, Ryn, we should go visit the family. Haven't had a quiet moment to see them recently.'' Kolya said and finished his own tea. Putting his coat back on, Ryn nodded. Kolya followed with his own coat and the two left the house, a small bottle of vodka and two shot glasses in a plastic bag in his hand.

They made their way to the village cemetery, a fenced off area with a gate, where affixed to the top of the arch was a crucifix with Jesus Christ on it. The cemetery was well kept, with the paths between the graves clear of snow. The graves themselves ranged from simple wooden fixtures with names and dates on them, to carved stone, engraved with the detail of the dead and a message to them. Others simply held a surname, representing an entire family line buried in one place, or were unmarked entirely. They found the graves of Ryn's parents, Anatoli and Svetlana beside each other and still bearing flowers from their last visit. They brushed snow off of their headstones and said a prayer for them. Then, Kolya took the small bottle and two glasses from his bag, poured two measures and offered one to Ryn, which he took.

''To their memory.'' Kolya said.

''To their memory.'' Ryn parroted, then they clinked their glasses together and downed their shots. Ryn was used to the burn in his chest, finding it pleasant against the harsh, biting cold. There was silence between them for a while, both savouring the warmth their drink provided.

''Seems like yesterday when Anatoli came home looking like he'd just won the lottery. Your father wouldn't stop talking about your mother, but when he calmed down, he told me he didn't know what to do.'' Kolya laughed.

''And you told him to find his balls and ask her out or shut up about her.'' Ryn grinned. Kolya had told this story many times, but Ryn always let him tell it. Seeing his grandfather so happy as he reminisced, it never seemed right to interrupt. Besides, he enjoyed hearing about his parents' antics.

''Took him months to work up the courage to ask her out, and everyone but him could see she liked him back. Couldn't tell if he was a coward or just stupid. I kicked him out of the house and told him not to come back until he'd asked her out. He didn't come back for three days!'' They both laughed.

''But he didn't come back alone.'' Ryn said.

''Exactly. I was expecting him to come back and beg me to let him in, but I was surprised to see him bring home that firecracker. Formidable woman, your mother. Hell of a drinker too. She could drink me and your father under the table any day.'' Kolya smiled widely at the memories. ''I raised your father to be a dependable man, and he was. But Lana... Lana was tough as nails from the start. I remember the day you were born, and when I saw her I didn't recognise her at all. Admittedly, when Anatoli first got with her, I didn't think there was a motherly bone in her body. But there she was, holding you with the softest look on her face I'd ever seen. I like to think you got the best of both of them.''

''How so?''

''Your father was a calm and considerate man. Hesitant in most things he did, but as I said, he was dependable. Any time things went wrong, everyone looked to Anatoli for help, and he was only too happy to do it. Your mother was a big ball of fury and willpower, but somehow Anatoli managed to calm her down. She was strong, a real force of personality. I don't think I ever saw that woman back down from anything.'' He chuckled. ''Oh, the amount of trouble she caused him. Someone only had to look at her the wrong way and that was it, all bets were off. Then she'd get real shy when your father had to get involved. He'd scold her like she was a misbehaving child.'' Kolya laughed, then he lit up a cigarette, took a drag and exhaled. ''In the last few months, I've seen you deal with things no kid your age should. Hell, humans shouldn't deal with them. But you've never backed down from anything that was thrown at you, and you did it because you thought it was the right thing to do. You might have been scared, but you kept your cool, then tore some monster to pieces. Good to see you using the boxing I taught you, by the way.''

''I guess.'' Ryn shrugged.

''They'd both be so proud. Their son is a hero to his village! How many parents could say that, eh?'' He sighed. ''I just wish they could have seen it. If that storm hadn't come, they'd never have had to look for help. I should have gone.'' Ryn put a strong hand on Kolya's shoulder.

''What's done is done. They stepped up to help the village, and they did save us. Not everyone can be so lucky, grandfather. To die saving their home and everyone in it is a good way to go.'' He said. He remembered Kolya saying similar words to him when he was younger, and he'd taken them to heart. It seemed as he got older, the old man was able to express what he really thought about it. But to Ryn, those words were true. They went and visited his grandmother, Anna's grave. After paying their respects, the chatted for a while before leaving for home. Kolya wanted to get those deer butchered before he started dinner.


Darkness came quickly as the sun fell in the early afternoon. With the deer skinned and butchered, Ryn sat outside and kept his eyes scanning the darkness behind their house as he waited for Kolya to finish up their dinner. It was always under cover of darkness that the monsters came, always seeking to steal someone away or eat their animals.

''I though I'd find you here.'' A gentle voice caught his attention and he looked to see Natalya smiling at him. She was fully covered up in layers of thick clothes and a big coat and boots up to her knees. From under her hat, he could see a few stray locks of blonde hair. She didn't wait for an invitation to join him as she sat on an upturned crate next to his own. ''I always see you doing this, and you're always alone. Though I'd join you for a change.'' She and Ryn went back years. She was the daughter of the village doctors, and so knew everyone on a first name basis. As time went on, she learned her parents' trade and helped them out at the only clinic the village had. They had been friends as children, going hunting and fishing with Kolya or having adventures of their own with the other kids. These days, she only really saw him when he needed to get patched up, either from a bear attack, wrestling with monsters, or particularly ornery boars.

''It's best if I do this alone, I thought I told you that.'' He said. She shrugged, her own blue eyes looking out into the inky black.

''I know, I won't get in the way, so don't worry.'' She shifted on the crate. ''How's Kolya? Haven't seen him in a while. Been so busy lately, so I haven't had the chance to catch up.''

''He's fine, still kicking. He's inside cooking dinner if you wanna say hi.'' Ryn replied, letting another lull in the conversation occur. ''I got us some meat this morning. Deer. I know how much you like the stuff. Spent all morning tracking those damn deer, so it'd better taste good.''

''You inviting me in?'' Natalya smiled mischievously. Ryn shrugged.

''I mean, you're always welcome, you know? If you wanna join us then go ahead.'' He said. Natalya chuckled and shook her head in amusement.

''Thanks. I sometimes forget how... to the point you are. Personally I always found it kinda charming.'' She said, gaining a curious look from Ryn. He didn't know what she was getting at.

''That right?''

''Mm-hmm.'' She nodded. ''And nothing bothers you. It's pretty cool, you know? What I'm saying is that, I haven't been able to say thanks for what you do. Sure, I patch you up sometimes, but I'm so focused on the job that I forget. So thanks. For looking out for all of us.'' She said, a tinge of red on her cheeks. If only she knew how much things did bother him. He was asking twenty questions a second in his head.

''Uh... sure. Thanks.'' Ryn said, though he looked more confused than ever. ''You're pretty cool for patching me up. So... thanks to you too.'' Then the awkward silence followed. ''So you... wanna come in and eat with us?'' Natalia beamed at him.

''I'd love to! I haven't eaten with you and Kolya in ages, and the sooner we get out of the cold, the better. Let's go!'' She stood and grabbed his arm, taking a moment to feel the hard muscle under her fingers, then pulled him to the door with all of her dainty weight.

''Uh, Kolya? We've got a guest!'' Ryn called as he closed the door. Natalya had already gotten her boots off and headed into the kitchen to meet with the old man. He quickly followed, seeing the two in a tight hug. They parted and Kolya spied his grandson over Natalya's shoulder and smirked.

''How long has it been now? A few months since you last came to see my boy?'' He asked. Ryn frowned, looking at Kolya suspiciously.

''Well I don't just come to see him, Kolya.'' Natalia said smiling.

''Of course, of course. Take a seat in the living room. Ryn, there's tea. Serve her some. Dinner will be ready soon.'' The old man returned to his task while Ryn poured two cups and took them to the living room. He handed Natalya her cup, which she took gratefully.

''Ah, I forgot how comfy these chairs are.'' She looked at the photos on the wall, smiling a the pictures of a much younger Dobrynya. ''You used to have such nice blond hair. What happened, huh?'' Ryn sighed and shook his head. She did this any time she visited, and it was like de ja vu when she brought it up. His hair had been blond, almost white as a child, but over time his hair darkened to black. However, a white-blond streak had remained in his hair, parting it down the middle. Natalya always used to call him blondie despite herself being blonde. Now though, she made fun of him by comparing him to a badger. Unfortunately, the nickname 'Badger' had stuck, but it had died down as soon as he started saving people's lives. Funny how that works.

''How are your parents, by the way? Not too busy I hope.'' Ryn said before he sipped his drink.

''Thanks to you, injuries are down to a minimum. We're mainly dealing with cold or minor illnesses. Seriously, you've no idea how much you've freed them up.'' She snapped her fingers as she remembered something. ''Oh, right, my dad wanted to thank you for pulling his car out of that ditch. We honestly thought we'd have to abandon it.''

''No problem.'' Ryn said. Several days before, he had been told that Natalya's father, Evgeny, had lost control on the road leading into town and slid into a deep ditch. The town had no heavy vehicles or pulley systems, so it was down to Ryn to pull the car out. Tying a chain around the tow bar, Ryn dug his heels into the ground and pulled the car out of the ditch single-handedly. ''Was he alright, though?''

''He was fine. A little shaken up, but he was mostly bothered about the car. Also wouldn't stop raving about how what you did should have been physically impossible, the forces on the human body would have been too much, blah, blah, that kind of thing.'' She laughed.

''Well he's not entirely wrong...'' He muttered. ''And your mother?''

''She finally managed to quit smoking. Took years, and she's been a real grump, but she finally quit. Now I don't have dad lecturing her on how bad they are, he's just turned his attention to me.'' Her mother, Christina, had been a chain smoker for years. Evgeny didn't want his daughter doing the same.

''I see. That's great. You're not smoking are you? I just might have to lecture you myself if you are.'' Ryn raised an eyebrow at her and she put up her hands placatingly.

''No, no, I don't smoke! Besides, Dobrynya, you drink, so don't get high and mighty with me.'' She huffed.

''Don't know where you've been living, Nat, but we all drink. You included.'' Ryn deadpanned.

''Pshh, details, Ryn, details.'' She said dismissively.

''Alright, kids, that's enough flirting! Dinner's done!'' Kolya called from the kitchen, and both of them could hear the smile in his voice.

After dinner, Natalya had stayed for a while, drinking, snacking, and chatting with Ryn and Kolya. Though it became late, Ryn escorted her home at the old man's insistence. When he returned, he was looking at Ryn expectantly from his seat.

''Well?''

''Well what?''

''Did you ask?'' Ryn looked confused. Just what was the old man on about?

''Ask what? Was I supposed to ask something?'' Ryn inquired.

''Ryn,'' Kolya sighed, ''sometimes you're so straight forward it hurts. Did you ask her out?''

''Huh? No. Why would I do that?''

''Because she likes you, lad.''

''She does?'' Ryn tilted his head to one side. He looked so confused that Kolya thought he was going to blow a fuse.

''Son... of all the things I wanted you to inherit from your father, his denseness wasn't one of them. Do I need to lock you out of the house too?'' Kolya said. Ryn shook his head.

''Look, I wasn't sure, okay? I mean, I had a feeling there was something, but I don't know if I feel the same. Nothing wrong with her, she's just fine, but I just... don't feel that way I don't think.'' Ryn explained. Upon hearing this, the old man reclined his in his seat and looked thoughtfully at his grandson.

''I see. A shame, but if that's how it is then... nothing I can do about it. Better tell her then. Wouldn't want to seem like you're stringing her along.''

''Yeah. I'll... do that.'' He didn't. And he later came to regret it.


It had come in the early hours of the morning, and the village was alerted by the sounds of cows mooing in alarm and the clanking of cattle bells. Naturally a light sleeper, Ryn's eyes had pinged open and he was up like a shot and out the door. He preferred to sleep in his clothes for this exact reason, and met the creature in the dark, with only a flash light. It was quiet when he reached the cattle paddock, where he hopped the fence and shined his light on the cows and pat some of them tenderly to calm them down. After a little while, people began to emerge from their homes with rifles and lights of their own.

Then it attacked. A mass of black fur, as dark as the night itself, thumped through the snow in a loping gallop. The Bauk, or Ogre, roared and tackled Ryn to the ground, gnashing at him with its drooling mouth and its fangs missed their mark as the boy thrashed underneath it. It was heavy, easily several-hundred pounds of muscle and hunger. They fought like animals as they wrestled on the ground, kicking up snow and ice as each tried to gain an advantage on the other. With strength that belied anything a human should have been able to muster, Ryn punched, kicked, and grappled, matching the beast for everything it could throw at him. He used what Kolya had taught him and weaved around heavy swings of its long, tree trunk arms, delivering punishing counter crosses and jabs. When the beast had left itself open after a particularly angry punch, Ryn got in close and put as much force as he could into an uppercut. The Ogre's jaws clacked together with the sound of a gunshot, and teeth shattered and blood rushed from split gums.

The villagers looked on in astounded silence, shocked into immobility at the scene before them. As he had with countless monsters in recent memory, Ryn got the upper hand and flipped the creature off him and slammed it into the snowy, cold-hardened ground with a thud that sent snow sliding from rooftops. It sat up and the boy pounced onto its back and wrapped his arms around its thick, hairy neck in a constricting embrace, and squeezed. It seemed like an eternity as it threw its shoulders back, roaring out in gargled, choked bellows. Claws raked against Ryn's skin and cut bloody gouges into his flesh, but his grip never wavered, only tightened. Spittle flew from the Ogre's mouth as the corners began to froth. It's movements, once savage and furious in their rapidity, became sluggish and laboured as its lungs struggled for precious air. Finally, muscle gave out, pulping under titanic pressure and its neck caved as bone came apart. It twitched and gave final, desperate shrugs to free itself, then went still. The Ogre's body dissolved into nothing from the feet up, until finally Ryn's arms hung slack once their was nothing to grip.

That night, Ryn had his wounds treated and cleaned by Natalya, and after a final sweep of the village, everyone settled back down. He had tried to work up the courage to tell her how he felt, how he thought she should move on from him. He couldn't do it. Not with her looking at him with such reverence and adoration. The next day was a celebration of Ryn's achievement, much like the ones that had come before, where he was heralded as a hero and slayer of monsters.

Then for weeks, there was nothing. No attacks in the night, nothing stalking the villagers as they hunted or fished, nothing trying to make off with the children. There was peace for a time. Then it all changed when tracks were found near the ravine where Kolya and Ryn regularly went fishing.


''Like a chicken, you said?'' Kolya asked the child. He was knelt down with his hand gently upon the boy's shoulders. The boy nodded.

''Yeah, like a chicken! The prints were huge!'' The boy exclaimed, spacing his arms to give some measure of size. That made Kolya's heart sink. Large prints like that of a chicken. For something so ridiculous to inspire such dread in him...

''I've gone all along the ravine, grandfather, and they run its length and go off into the forest.'' Ryn said having just returned from the place. Then after a moment, ''You don't think it's-''

''The hag? I'd hope not, but what else could it be? What else leaves tracks like that? Months ago I'd have dismissed it outright, but now... I'd be a stupid old fool to do that.'' Kolya said gravely.

''Assuming it is, why here? Why now? Will she just ignore us or will she... I don't know, come back and cause problems? I can hunt her down if it'll help.'' Ryn had only just gotten the idea out before Kolya rounded on him, his slate grey eyes like thunder clouds.

''Don't! Don't go after her. It's better if we hope she ignores us. If she doesn't... then I suppose it's up to you. We'll help, but let's not actively seek her out.'' Kolya's tone, normally warm and fatherly, was stern and iron hard. He took a steadying breath. ''I know you're a strong, lad. We all know that. But her, that hag... you're not ready for that.''

''Baba Yaga...'' Ryn said quietly. The witch in the house on the legs of a chicken. Devourer of children and dealer of curses. There was no Russian child that didn't know the legends. Against Kolya's words, he still went looking. He went out on his own a day later, finding the tracks at the ravine had been only slightly hidden by fresh snowfall. He walked their length again and again, pondering what her appearance could have meant. He knew it was nothing good, but the questions still remained. His pacing ceased when he noticed movement from the corner of his eye, and when he turned his full attention to it, he could see a snake slithering through the snow as its body cut an undulating channel through it.

''A snake? Here?'' Having never seen one in person before, he knelt down and watched it, following it at a small distance. It was as black as obsidian, completely unbothered by the cold, which he thought was strange as he knew snakes were cold-blooded by nature. Then, like a freezing shadow had settled on him, he noticed a presence behind him. He looked but saw nothing. ''What?''

''Up here.'' A toneless voice made his head snap up, and sat seemingly weightlessly on a branch above him was a young girl with black hair and wearing strange clothing, completely unsuited to below freezing weather like this. It had to be minus-twenty out there at least. Grey, almost colourless eyes gazed down at him. ''Hello.''

''Wha-, no. Are you lost? Do you need help?'' He asked. The strange girl looked at him oddly, and her face took on a frankly weird expression as if she were caught between a smile and something else.

''Yes to both, in a way. But not in the ways you think. I believe it is you who needs help at this moment.'' The girl said. ''I have been watching you very carefully, Dobrynya Nikitich. You have caught my interest, and I believe you can be of use to me.''

''How do you know my name? I've never seen you before, and I know everyone at the village.'' Then as a thought settled in his mind, he lowered himself defensively. ''Are you a monster or something? If you are then I'm giving you one chance to leave.'' The girl merely chuckled.

''Always so ready to fight. That's part of why we are even speaking now. You've nothing to fear from me. In fact, I believe you have much to gain from this conversation. Be at ease.'' She said calmly. After a moment, Ryn straightened up. ''My name is Ophis, and you, child of man, have shown me that you have potential. You battle monsters. You perform feats of strength that no ordinary human could dream of. You rush into danger for others regardless of the threat to yourself, and ask for no reward. You have the makings of a hero.''

''How do you know all that?''

''I know a great many things. The goings-on of the human world are no mystery to me, least of all anything regarding the most exceptional of your kind. I also know that if you were to find Baba Yaga as you are now, you would most certainly die. You do not want that, do you?''

''Of course not. I feel like this is leading to something.'' He was on edge now. The smile was fully formed. It was small, but definitely what it was meant to be.

''Because it is. I can help you in your endeavour, but I will do this only if you agree to my terms. There is no compulsion for you to agree, allow me to make that clear, but there is also no sense in you refusing.'' Ophis said.

''I'll be the judge of that, Ophis. Before I answer, let me hear your bargain.'' Ryn narrowed his eyes. It was all he could do to remain defiant in her presence as he felt his very willpower being stripped away layer by layer just by looking at her. There was some buried, unknown aspect of himself that seemed to cower away from her, but he had no idea what it was or why. Suddenly, her mask of passivity shifted to something more intense.

''I wish for silence. There is a pest infesting my home and I want him gone so that I can return. In order to do this, I have been finding talented individuals like yourself to aid me. If you agree to help me reclaim my silence, then I will give you the push you need to go beyond your current limits and destroy Baba Yaga.''

''Okay, and if I agree, would I have to leave the village?'' He asked cautiously.

''Yes. That is a requirement.''

''Then no. I can't leave, these people need me. Who'll protect them from the monsters then? I'm sorry but it can't be done.''

''I had expected as much. What if I told you that it is Baba Yaga causing monsters to prowl this territory? That she had been making this place her own for months? Do you not think it strange that monsters have been appearing, you begin to realise your power, and now a witch of all things has appeared? Now, what do you think would happen if that witch were to die?'' She let the questions hang, and for several long moments, only the sound of trickling water was heard. All else was silent. A gust of wind blew and shifted Ophis' shimmering black hair, and Ryn caught sight of a pointed ear.

''So if I accept and kill Baba Yaga, the monsters will stop attacking the village? How do I know you're telling the truth?'' It unnerved him when she smiled again.

''Ask the Dragon within you if I am a liar.'' Her words were vague.

''Dragon? What Dragon? Am I going to get a straight answer today?'' He said impatiently. Suddenly, she was gone from the tree branch, then on the ground beside him and looking up at him. He flinched and stepped back. She gripped his arm gently, but her hold was unbreakable. With her other hand, she reached up and pressed a finger to his chest.

[Ouroboros!] Three rasping voices intoned at once. Ryn doubled over but Ophis' grip never loosened.

''Greetings, Zmeya Gorynich. It's been a long time.''

[Infinite! Serpent! Dragon of the void!]

''Yes, yes, I am aware of my titles, Dragon of Calamity. Let us dispense with the shock and awe. Now, three-headed one, answer me this; am I known to lie?'' Her tone was steely and cool.

[No! Without intent! Not without good reason!]

''And do I seek to deceive your possessor?''

[No!] All three voices said at once.

''What... are you... doing?'' Ryn wheezed as he felt a wave of nausea batter him during this exchange.

''Verifying the truth of the matter with a being much older and much wiser than yourself. Zmeya Gorynich is an old and storied Dragon, the queen of a clan of Dragons and one who knows of me and my ways, however limited in her scope. I offer you nothing but the truth, child of man.'' Ophis said. She released his wrist and stepped away, smiling up at him. ''That Dragon is one half of the key to your power. The other is something much more personal. Your very soul burns where others flicker, much the same as the others I have chosen. Its power has already begun to saturate your being, and over time, you will come to understand and master it. But the Calamity Dragon is a fickle and particularly vengeful beast in your case. She and your soul are at odds. Unlock it, and you may yet find a way to reconcile and incorporate the two into a greater whole.''

''You like being vague. Cool.'' He said flatly. This conversation was becoming tiresome. He didn't know if it was the subject matter or simply the incomprehensible being he was speaking to, but he felt like he could just go home and sleep after this, and it wasn't even midday yet. She didn't respond. ''So what's this Dragon thing about? You still haven't explained that.''

''Within you lies a Sacred Gear, an item of great power created by God that is only bestowed upon humans at birth. Not every human has one, of course, but those that do tend to go on to perform acts that shape the course of history. Slaying Dragons, battling Gods, building empires, the list goes on. Within your particular Sacred Gear is sealed the soul of Zmeya Gorynich, the three-headed Dragon of Calamity. Her power, should you manage to tame her rage, will be yours to command. I aim to help you take the first step toward this goal. That is, if you agree to aid me.''

''I help you, you help me, I kill Baba Yaga, the village will be safe. The angry Dragon I'm carrying around says you're not lying to me. I go along with it and join your league of super humans. Did I get all that right?'' He was still getting the grips with the fact she'd just said that this item was made by literally God. The God. He was going to file that one away for later.

''Reductive, but correct.'' She nodded. She almost seemed human when she did things like that. He wasn't sure he'd even seen her blink over the duration of this discussion. ''You're taking this remarkably well, I must say.''

''We'll see about that when I've had time to think about it all.'' He grumbled. Then he sighed, feeling like he was making a deal with the Devil. ''Alright, fine. I'll help you get your silence or whatever. So how does this work.'' Wordlessly, Ophis poked him in the chest, and with a sudden rush of truly strange sensations emanating from his very core, his Sacred Gear manifested. With bursts of green light that enveloped his fists and lower legs, a pair of caestus made of forest-green metal appeared on his hands. The entire ridge over the knuckles was studded with five copper-coloured spiked studs. His legs from the knees down were similarly armoured, with thick greaves covered in round studs.

''That really sucked. Thanks.'' Ryn gasped, wincing with the sudden vertigo. However, discomfort was replaced with amazement as he looked over the green armour on his hands and legs. ''Whoa... these are seriously mine?''

''Yes. I believe I had just explained as much.'' Ophis replied. Her tone gave nothing away, so if she was being condescending then she hid it well. ''You are still a fledgling, a flickering flame in the winds of turmoil. But your tiny spark has just gotten a little brighter. When your business with Baba Yaga is concluded, you will come with me and nurture the flame of your soul. You may rejoice.''

Ryn, uncertain of what to do, slowly clapped his hands and gave a weak, ''Yay?''. Ophis had the good grace to give a small curtsey. It was flawless in its execution, but there was no substance behind the gesture. Empty and robotic.

''I will take my leave for now. I will know when your business is concluded. Either the witch or yourself will be dead. Should you succeed, I will return for you. For now, I will leave you in Zmeya Gorynich's... capable hands.'' In the span of an eye-blink, she was gone without a trace. Not even footprints in the snow remained.

''Great...'' With a heavy sigh and an even heavier mind, he began to trudge his way home. It was a long hour to be alone with his thoughts.


What awaited him when he returned was carnage and ruin. Blood had turned the snow from pure white to deepest red, and the houses, those that weren't still burning, were little more than embers. Men and women were torn apart, some clutching rifles, while others had makeshift weapons strewn around them. He'd seen the smoke on the horizon as he approached his home and sprinted the rest of the way. Horrified, he frantically searched for anyone who might have survived. Tracks from people and large creatures crisscrossed the snow, heavier footfalls having pounded the snow completely flat. The smell of ash and blood stung his eyes and nose, an acrid scent of fire and iron. Ryn made a beeline for his home, and when he arrived, he saw that the windows were smashed and the doors had been ripped from their hinges. There were signs of a struggle inside, and spent rifle casings dotted the floor. There was blood in the living room, spattered up the mantle piece and on the wall decorated with family photos. There was no sign of Kolya. His mind was a mess of confusion and horror as he searched every room. Not stopping to call out, he moved on, his mind fighting off every instinct to break down and become overwhelmed with the crushing possibility that his grandfather was gone.

He found Evgeny and Christina inside the clinic, their bodies ripped apart and half-eaten. He had only just gotten back out of the building before he fell to his knees in the snow and retched. His eyes watered as he emptied his stomach, the smell of death having burned itself into his nostrils and the sights he witnessed engraved themselves into his mind.

He'd only been gone for an hour. That very same morning, everyone was alive and going about their business. People were attending church or school, or wherever else they needed to be. He'd been about to knock on the clinic door to speak with Natalya. He'd been a coward and left to find Kolya instead. Ryn stood on shaky legs and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. He wandered the village, finding more devastation. There was nowhere he could look without seeing streaks of blood and broken bodies, as well as the shattered and burned remnants of houses and shops. Vehicles had been flipped with some ending up inside of buildings or coming to rest on top of unlucky villagers. The boy followed the blood as it all seemed to be flowing in one direction. It all led to the village square. Where an old fountain stood, tall and carved into the shape of angels with their wings spread and vases in their hands that poured water, the bodies of most of the villagers were massed in the water, turning it red.

Once more, he fell to his knees and stared at the slaughter.

''I was afraid this could happen.'' His head snapped to the side and he saw Ophis looking on impassively at the gore-slicked monument at the centre of the square. ''She acted far quicker than I had anticipated. In fact, I imagine she waited for the precise moment you were too far away to do anything.''

''What... what do you mean, Ophis?'' He asked, his voice hollow and shaky.

''Baba Yaga and her horde of monsters. It appears as though they waited until you were away from the village to attack. She is a cunning creature, and likely thought it too much trouble to deal with you as well as the villagers. She has taken the children and let her monsters do as they wished.'' She spoke matter-of-factly. She looked away from the fountain and into the vacant green eyes of Ryn. ''Are you angry?''

''What...''

''Are you angry?'' Ophis asked more insistently than before. ''You should be.''

''…''

''The Dragon within you is angry. She wishes to wreak Calamity upon the ones who did this. Will you allow her?''

''Yes...'' Ryn said under his breath.

''Speak up, child of man. I didn't hear you.'' She was smiling again.

''I will. What do I need to do?'' Orphis approached him until she was mere inches from him. She reached out a hand and placed it on his head.


As if teleported by forces unknown, Ryn found himself standing on a rectangular platform made of cut, grey stone. Around him was a tumultuous sky of grey clouds that moved and shifted in shape rapidly, mingling with dark and light hues. Off in the horizon stretched a cold and mountainous landscape of snowy peaks and deep, dark valleys. He felt no cold or wind, though he knew that by all logical means he should have been chilled to the bone already. Then, as if the very mountain he stood atop was alive, it began to shake and rumble.

[She forced you into this place, morsel.] One voice, a low hiss thick with disdain said. A great head attached to a long neck snaked out of the cloud below, a thick mist rolling off of its dark green scales. Serpentine eyes like rubies glowered down at him as they glowed with power. The head craned around as it watched the boy with narrowed eyes.

[There... is... a... reason...] Another voice, this time a smooth rumble like an avalanche. A second head came from the misty abyss below, this one with glacial blue, almost white eyes. It observed Ryn curiously, then a huff from its great nostrils signaled its disinterest.

[Slayer of our flesh. I bid you welcome.] A calm and regal voice spoke then, and from between the two other heads, coming to soar proudly over them to look straight down on him, was a head with eyes the colour of the purest amethyst. All three bore great curving horns, with smaller horns arranged around two larger ones. The other two heads joined the central head to stare down at the boy, who was feeling smaller than he had ever felt in his life. The dark green scales of the beast shimmered brightly in the light of the cold sun.

''You. You're the Dragon.'' Ryn said, though he mostly said as much as confirmation for himself.

[Indeed. You stand before we, the mighty Zmeya Gorynich, progenitress and greatest of our clan. It is as we said, you were forced here and we understand why. The Infinite Dragon God has seen fit to have you contact us, to her own ends to be sure. Tell us, Slayer, do you seek vengeance?]

[Do you seek death and destruction?] Red eyes flashed.

[An... end... to... transgressors?] Blue eyes flashed.

''Slayer? What are you talking about?''

[Answer us!] The red-eyed head lashed out and its jaws snapped just short of Ryn, making him flinch back. The sound of its jaws closing so quickly made his ears ring. The central head's purple eyes pulsed with light for a moment, and it seemed to silently chastise the red-eyed head, making it shrink back as it still glowered at the boy.

[I will answer your question, but I ask you again. Do you seek vengeance against Baba Yaga?]

''Of course I do. She destroyed my village, killed everyone she didn't want and took the children. Of course I want her dead!''

[A good answer, boy. Now it is our turn. We are are an entity that dwells within you, the soul of something that has already passed. However, there is another soul. This one is not like us. It does not speak, but it is the core of your being. You inherited this soul through time and blood, as you are a descendant of the original. You, boy, possess the soul of Dobrynya Nikitich, a Dragon slayer of old. In ages past, that man, your ancestor, destroyed our flesh. By some act of the divine, our soul was confined to the artefact Ophis brought out of you earlier. We call you Slayer because you are him, a reincarnation in a different time. No matter the differences that exist, you and he are mirror images of the other. What cruel trick fate has pulled on us to contain us within the same vessel, eh? The slayer and the slain, forced to exist in the same body.]

''I've never heard of this guy.'' Ryn said. There was something akin to a laugh, like a landslide stopping and starting from the blue-eyed head.

[I... find... this... amusing...] It rumbled.

[You will learn in time. As... unfortunate as our circumstances are, we have a vested interest in keeping you alive. I will be clear, boy, you are our enemy. But you are also our bulwark against oblivion. You need our strength. We need you to live. What say you then, Slayer, shall we take Calamity to our foes?]

''Yes. I have the feeling that this is far from our last discussion, but for now, juice me.'' Ryn said, looking the central head right in the eyes, all hesitation evaporated by the heat of anger.

The eyes of all three heads burned brightly and they all spoke as one. [THEN SPEAK THE NAME!]

He snapped back to reality, the scent of blood and fire assaulting his senses in a fresh wave. He saw the smile on Ophis' face as he stood, a new found fire in his heart. He held up a fist.

''Calamity Triple.''


Hey everyone, thanks for reading this first chapter. So I wanted to explain a bit about what I'm doing with this story. I wanted to make a character that strays from the norm. My plans for Ryn are to have him experience the world of DxD for a good amount of time before the events of the main timeline. I haven't seen many OCs where they start off in the Hero Faction, so I thought it would be something fresh. I've made him as the reincarnation of Dobrynya Nikitich, the one who killed the Zmei Gorynich, so it creates friction between him and the dragon inside his Sacred Gear. As for his Sacred Gear, it is a Dragon type, which may raise a few alarm bells but I've already got things about it planned out which might make it different from others. I'm going to tie in its abilities to the legend of Zmei Gorynich, and hopefully it'll be pretty cool when I get around to showing them off. I also know that Zmei shows up in a loose way in the light novels, but it is mentioned that Zmei is a clan of dragons and not a singular one. What I'm doing with this one is making Zmeya Gorynich the original Zmei. Also for the name, Zmeya, is the feminine form of Zmei, as some legends depict the dragon as female. Each head also has its own personality, so I think it'll be interesting seeing how they play off of each other and with Ryn. As for pairings and the like, I have nothing planned solidly planned for Ryn right now, though I do have Kuroka in mind, as I'm going to have him present when she is first found by Vali Team. Issei will still be a major player, but he won't show up for a while. I hope this story is interesting, and please leave a review if you think it is. Until next time.