Ch 6: Know thy Enemy and Allies

Horatius

"You want to take a god from our universe and put into yours."

Michael gravely nods.

"And you want that God to be Yahweh, am I right?"

"...Yes."

I resist the urge to sigh and instead ask, "Ok, I'll bite. Where's your Yahweh? On vacation?"

"Father is...dead."

I raise an eyebrow at Gabriel's quiet answer.

"Huh. Guess I shouldn't be surprised..."

Michael bows his head slightly and asks, "I ask of you again, Mr. Horatius-"

"Drop the 'Mr.' part, it's making me nervous."

Blinking once but continuing without pause the Angel continues with, "Horatius, then. I would be grateful beyond measure if you could offer us aid in transferring your universe's version of Yahweh to our own, assuming such a thing is possible."

…

Shit, where do I even start with this?

"Ok, I'm going to humor this request of yours because you at least had the decency to be upfront about it...but why don't you start by explaining what Heaven is and what part your God played in keeping it...I'm assuming functioning, otherwise you wouldn't be here talking to me."

The male Angel nods and states, "Heaven is the resting place of our faithful's souls, as well as the home of us Angels. Father was instrumental in making sure such a realm was even feasible in the first place. Creating such a large and complicated space separate from this world's, running a system that heard the prayers of the faithful and allowed us to act on those same prayers, as well as actually maintaining a stable resting place for the believer's souls...those were the providence of Yahweh."

Scáthach and Altera's disbelief is pretty much in line with my own.

"Wait wait wait...you said Heaven retains people's souls?"

The Angel raises an eyebrow and carefully replies, "Yes, those who believe in Heaven and God-and lived decent lives-are admitted past the Pearly Gates. Judging by your reaction such a feat is...unusual to you?"

"A bit more than, 'unusual'. More like damn near impossible. These souls, are they conscious while residing in Heaven or are they in a state of 'unfeeling'?"

"Oh, they are very much awake and active. What would the point of a paradise be if one could not interact with their peers, speak with those who they once believed to have been gone forever?"

I instinctively shiver, Gabriel frowning at my reaction.

"You do not approve, Horatius?"

"On a personal level? Not a damn bit. But bear in mind that I'm kinda biased on this issue, individual freedom has always been a constant factor in my life, something I fought hard to obtain. The idea of something as immortal as my soul being at the mercy of a higher power is...unpleasant."

While they clearly don't agree with my ultimate feelings on the matter, neither tries to convince me or tell me I'm wrong, which I appreciate.

Filius Canis, their God had dominion over who knows how many people's souls? Back home the soul was one of the most difficult and near inviolable things a person had, the methods to both retain and transfer it hideously complex and finicky to work with. Even my own simple version of, 'look around for an empty container before passing GO and collecting $200' was no easy piece of work.

And these fuckers apparently made a paradise for countless numbers of the things.

...Unfortunately for them, it basically cements what I was already pretty sure was going to be my answer.

"So if God is six feet under, who's keeping things running, for lack of a better term? Although since you're asking for me to send you a gift-wrapped Yahweh, it probably hasn't been smooth sailing, has it?"

Both Angels shake their heads, Michael sighing before explaining, "I have been keeping Heaving in as fine a working condition as I can for several centuries now...but it is a losing battle. I'm a blind man trying to maintain the finest of paintings, with only a sense of touch and others spoken words to guide my hand. Over time, the flaws and shoddy workmanship has begun to mar the overall work."

I lean back and consider his words...already feeling bad about what I know I'm going to have to tell them.

"Ok, I have a short answer and a long answer. Which one do you want?"

Gabriel attempts a cheerful smile despite the obvious nervousness evident in her body language, answering, "How about the short answer then?"

"Alright, short answer it is then. First, I actually don't have any available way to 'transfer' a God from my world to this one. And second, even if I did, I wouldn't want to in the slightest."

My words hit like bullets and while neither Angel faints or anything dramatic like that they're both distressed.

...Makes me feel like an asshole.

"May...may we have the long answer, then?"

Nodding at Michael's completely understandable request I reply, "The truth of the matter is that I know absolutely nothing about how to move from universe to universe, I rely on a friend for that."

"Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg?"

I neutrally glance at Gabriel and quietly state, "You've been reading those articles, haven't you?"

She has the decency to realize I'm not overtly pleased with that statement and look ashamed, apologizing with, "I-I meant no disrespect to you or your friend, Horatius...it's just that with the potential to finally have Father back in Heaven your privacy-"

I wave a hand, muttering, "It's fine, it's fine..."

I need to stop being such a hardass about this. If someone with bizarre powers popped up back home and there were online articles about every facet of them it'd be a bold-faced lie to say I wouldn't even skim the things, just to get a general background.

"Getting back to what I was saying, I don't have a clue how to transfer things over from Universe to Universe...especially not something as complex as a damn God. And on that note..."

I take a moment to gather your thoughts.

"Ok, I'm assuming you've read the articles about Gods then?"

They nod.

"Primordial beings of Gaia that fucked around with Humanity for awhile before being kicked to the curb and either disappearing entirely or adopting more simple and limited states?"

"...Not quite as colorfully described as that, but yes...I will confess to being confused as to why Yahweh was not among those recognized, considering there is a Church-"

"We're getting ahead of ourselves, you've got the basics and that's good enough. Back home there three theories pertaining to Yahweh's state of being, since unlike most other Gods there was never any real sightings or believable documentation of it's existence."

I settle into my seat.

"The first theory is that Yahweh never actually existed as a real God, that the Son of God and his apostles-among others-were just a band of particularly imaginative and powerful Magus and Magicians that claimed to receive their strength from a higher power."

I cast a significant glance at the two Angels.

"You can see why this might be a bit of a hiccup."

Before they make any sort of response I plow forward with, "The second is that, like the rest of the Gods, Yahweh reduced itself into a more 'base' form that is less a sentient than it is a behavior...or at least until they sacrifice a great deal of their power. Personally I think this is the more likely option."

I take a moment to breathe, knowing this one might sting a little.

"The third option is that Yahweh is some sort of all-knowing, all-seeing, omnipotent force of power that no Human could ever hope to comprehend. Which is really where we jump from talking about Yahweh to talking about Monad, but no one seems to remember gnosticism, so whatever..."

I sigh, giving the Angels a sympathetic gaze.

"Ideally, the third option is a false one. Because if it isn't, well...this God you profess to love and respect and wish for their return? It knows about your prayers and in it's divine wisdom has decided you aren't worth the slightest iota of attention."

I darkly chuckle.

"And people wonder why atheism ever caught on, even a little."

Michael and Gabriel both seem lost in thought before the female of the duo shakily asks, "You...you said that, were such an exchange possible, you wouldn't want to do so. But two of these options seem impossible regardless of our wants...so why did you say that you had no intention of performing this feat?"

...That's a heavy topic.

"Put bluntly, Gabriel, I think taking a God from my universe and placing it in charge of your faithful's souls would be an utterly irresponsible fucking thing to do."

Their eyes demand I explain that statement.

"The Gods of my universe were rotten beings. There were a few exceptions, sure...but by and large the Gods were manipulative, childish and sociopathic personalities that thought nothing of making Human's their playthings, just to alleviate their idle hours. And you want to take one of them and place it on the highest throne you have?"

Gabriel bristles and retorts, "Father would never-"

"Exactly! Your God, not mine! This is something you need to understand! Our Gods were in some respects perfect examples of Humanity, being more cruel, more whimsical, more passionate and more impulsive than we ever could be. Yahweh's religion is responsible for some of the most violent crusades the world has ever seen, Christianity and all of it's other forms and subsets are no cleaner or dirtier than any other system of belief. And you want to put that God in charge of your believer's souls? Madness."

I try to interject as much sincerity into my tone as I can.

"Maybe this is presumptuous of me to assume since I've know you two for all of a few minutes...but you strike me as genuinely well-meaning leaders, asking for help not because it'll lighten your responsibilities, but because you genuinely think someone else can do a better job. I'll tell you now, whatever job you think you're doing? It's a thousand times better than whatever shade of Yahweh could ever hope to do."

...Almost a full minute of awkward silence ensues, my impassioned plea hopefully convincing them to abandon their well-meaning lunacy-

-and both Angels sag, defeat obvious in their postures.

...Christ I feel awful now.

"...Sorry if that last bit was a little harsh...but I really wanted you to understand that nothing good was going to come out of your request, assuming it was even possible in the first place."

I half expect a few cold shoulders, maybe a few please for me to reconsider-

-and have to blink in surprise as Gabriel leans in to kiss me on the forehead, Michael repeating the action as Gabriel steps back.

...What?

A melancholy-but genuine-smile adorning their faces Michael quietly states, "There is no need to apologize, Horatius...if nothing else, your heartfelt words have made us realize that, in hindsight...what we asked for was both hasty and more than a little rude."

I awkwardly cough into my fist.

"Well, I wouldn't go that far-"

Gabriel giggles, a noise that seems like it could make Primate Murder crack a legitimate smile and says, "No need to be so shy, Horatius, there has been no harm done. One method has been debunked, certainly...but it is not the first time we have tried to preserve Heaven and met with failure. And it almost certainly won't be the last, yet we shall continue trying evermore, won't we, Brother?"

Michael regally nods.

"We shall, Sister. On a different note-and one that shames me-we never thanked you for your intervention in defeating the Jabberwocky. You and your companions saved a great many lives that day, so for that we thank you, Horatius."

They friggin' bow to us and just like that I'm immensely uncomfortable.

"Oh for the love of-stop doing that, please! We didn't waste that ugly crime against nature because we were looking for a parade or anything like that...trust me, I'm used to this job being thankless. Not having an angry mob after me is reward enough."

Both Angels share a glance that seems amused for some reason, both giving one final bow that I hastily return as best I can from where I'm sitting, Michael stating, "If at all possible I would like to meet with you again, Horatius. Preferably in a more amicable setting where my manners are not forgotten and we can converse on more pleasant topics. Farewell, and good health."

They gracefully exit and we all sit quietly, lost in thought.

"As a reward for killing the Jabberwocky do you think they'll let me fondle that woman's breasts? There's no way those are real."

Scáthach's comment makes me laugh in sudden mirth.

"I'm fairly certain that's how Angel's fall, Scáthach. It's like babies first cigarette in boob-massage form."

"No one ever died from a tit-fondling, Horatius."

"Debatable. And as much as I enjoy debating the pros and cons of a woman's body, we really should get away from these people as soon as possible."

Scáthach nods in agreement while Altera tilts her head.

"We should?"

"We should. It's pretty clear that we present an unknown factor to these people, but one they think they know due to those stupid articles. I mean those two-no matter how much I think I actually like them-basically came up to us and asked for help taking something from a completely different dimension and putting it into theirs. With no mention of compensation, I might add. And factor in the kids who clearly had no idea how to conduct an interrogation but wanted info anyway...yeah, it's only a matter of time before they stop asking and start demanding. Best be on our way before that."

Altera contritely nods as I haul myself to my feet, stretching out my back and feeling my spine pop.

"Let's go talk to Miss Tepes, get our mystery monster's location and make tracks."

Exiting the room I notice Tobio sitting off to the side, his dog calmly sitting in his lap.

"Ahh, Horatius-san. I take it you're feeling better?"

"Like new. Thanks for getting me out of there, by the way, I hear you're the one who got my roasted ass to a medic in time."

He offers a humble smile, his voice soft and mildly amused as he glances at Scáthach.

"Think nothing of it. Besides, your companion can be very...persuasive."

Scáthach winks at the young man and cheerily replies, "Nothing personal, in fact you're now on my good list."

"...I'm glad to hear that?"

I resist the urge to roll my eyes and instead ask, "I don't suppose you could me tell me where Miss Tepes' room is? I kinda need to ask her something."

I notice the slightly cornered look he has in his eyes and add, "You're welcome to take us there and stick around. I take it you've been tasked with watching us?"

He has the decency to look slightly ashamed, replying, "Unfortunately so, Horatius-san. My boss-"

"Eh, don't worry about it. Lead on."

He nods and without further comment the dog leaps off his lap, trotting down the hallway and marking the path for us.

...I wonder if there's more to that Dog than merely having good senses. It seems...oddly reduced as it is right now.

That matter is promptly put out of sight and mind as Tobio unlocks an unmarked door, leads us inside-

-and I find the schoolchildren staring at me and company with openly surprised looks, all of them scattered around the room as our target sits in the middle of them.

Ahh Hell. This'll be awkward.

As if to accentuate my point there's a feminine squeak of surprise, a rustling of cloth-

-and then a short, petite looking girl wearing a dress runs up to us...a paper bag over her head and hiding her features from view.

Yeah, I ain't gonna ask.

"U-um, are you the ones who rescued Valerie?!"

Deciding this'll go smoother if I just be polite I smile and reply, "We are, may I have the honor of having your name...Miss..."

I narrow my eyes and tilt my head to the side.

"Ah, my apologies. May I have the honor of knowing your name, Mister…?"

I hide a smirk as a round of surprised looks dominates the room, the effeminate boy making sputtering noises.

"Huh?! You could tell Gasper-kun was a boy?!"

I glance to the source of the surprised shout...and find it came from the brown-haired boy who was looked at Scáthach, Altera and the Queen of Heroes like they were pieces of meat.

...Whatever, now's not the time to get into that. Besides, if they ever get truly annoyed they can always just punt him through a wall or something.

"Sure could. I've seen my fair share of crossdressers over the years, not to mention his Adam's Apple is just noticeable enough to give things away. Regardless, we were happy to help, Mr. Gasper."

Offering a polite nod my gaze switches to the cheerfully humming Valerie, her attention...elsewhere, I guess is the word.

"And while I hate to interrupt your reunion, hopefully I can make this quick and be out of your hair. Mind if I speak with Miss Valerie?"

"Oh, um, sure! I mean, she's still a little out of it, but you can try?"

"No worries, she always seemed lucid enough to use her 'Sacred Gear' and that's all I really need her to do."

…

I resist the urge to sigh as the temperature in the room seems to drop at my words, the kids noticeably stiffening.

"U-um, t-that might be a p-problem?"

"I noticed, your reactions weren't exactly subtle."

My eyes roam, resignedly asking, "Well? What's the catch?"

The girl with long white hair wearing a spiffy grey business suit quickly explains, "Valerie-san's Sacred Gear has been...split, for lack of a better term. Sacred Gears reside in a person's soul so it's analogous to missing portions of her very being. And the Sephiroth Graal tends to overwhelm it's users far more quickly than other Gears..."

Pinching the bridge of my nose at yet another set back I grumpily ask, "Ok, and just how long has she been using this Gear of hers to end up like...this?"

"From what we know, she has been using it near constantly for years."

And just like that my mood clears.

"Oh, that's no problem then. A few more minutes won't hurt her, which is all I imagine we'll need."

I expect that to be the end of the conversation-

-and am sorely disappointed as a chestnut-haired girl with twin-tails gasps and resolutely states, "You can't do that to Gasper-kun's friend, she's already been through more enough torment, she doesn't need you adding to it!"

The brown-haired boy again jumps in with, "Yeah, what Irina-chan said! Valerie-san deserves the chance to get better, it's not right to force her to use her powers anymore!"

...Count to ten, Horatius. They're kids, and you're a millennia old dude. Act like it.

Taking a deep breath and keeping my voice level I reply, "Ok, first of all, I'm not forcing her. She was perfectly happy to help me when I was aiding her escape, she'll likely be happy to do so again. Second, if you want to bring 'my right' into this...I'm the one who rescued her from people that would have forced-your words, not mine-her to keep using her Gear. Going by your 'logic' of rights, none of you deserve to so much as breathe the air around her, let alone dictate to me what I can and can't do."

The redhead who's name I never learned gains an ugly expression, scowling as she retorts, "If you're threatening my servants-"

"Thirdly, you seem to be forgetting a very important fact. The only reason we're in your world at all is because something out there wants to destroy my world! And do the goddamned math, if Valerie has been using her fractured Sacred Gear constantly for years and only ended up this far gone...what the Hell do you think a few more minutes of usage is going to do? I'll spare you reaching for your calculators, nothing."

I try and largely fail to reign in my annoyance.

"Don't presume to tell me what I can or cannot do, children. Because when it comes to the fate of my world versus your misplaced 'morals'...there's no contest. Step aside."

As if to accentuate my point Scáthach manifests a Gáe Bolg and twirls it once before it's haft meatily smacks into her palm, an eager smile gracing her features.

"Whoah, slow down there, beautiful. I know I just basically threatened them but isn't that a bit much? They are still Kids..."

"Feh, look at their bodies. Are those the physiques of children? Besides, I'm still rather pissed at how they approached us when it was clear they had information about my past."

"...I was referring more to their mental ages, but fair enough. Just try not to stab anyone until it's certain this'll become a fight?"

"No promises in combat."

...More than I expected.

The rapid mental exchange had barely lasted more than a second and in that second things obviously kicked up a notch.

The kids are readying weapons and the such while Scáthach leisurely strolls forward, predatory smirk plastered across her lips.

Thankfully Altera is content to hang back a bit, the Ouroboros Dragon calmly watching the proceedings with a detached air as she grabs the back of the King of Combat's leg.

"Now now, there's no need for any violence~!"

I try not to blatantly sigh in relief as Valerie cheerily interrupts us, calmly walking forward and standing directly before me.

"Samuel-kun says it would be a good idea to help you this one last time, since this is a matter of dire importance for all of our worlds."

It takes a great deal of effort not to cast a significant glance in the children's direction at her uttering of the ord, 'all of our worlds'.

"Now, allow me to begin."

She closes her blood-red eyes...and the room seems to, for lack of a better term, darken. Almost as if the light was being drawn towards some invisible source...and is it just me or is the temperature dropping?

"The Beast. What you seek is The Beast. The creature spoken of in Revelations, of it's many heads and fearsome crown. 666, Trihexa. The final point of the Trinity. Void, the absence of anything and everything, the Ouroboros. Dreams, to wish and imagine of infinity, the DxD. Reality, of all it's imperfections and death, the one constant in the universe, the Trihexa. A being equal and opposite to it's kin..."

…

Well of fucking course. First it's a couple Angels asking me to mail-order them Yahweh, now it's the Beast of Revelation kicking down our door.

And 'Reality'? It sounds like this interpretation has some upgrades, back home it was just a manifestation of sin and other shit like that…

And it doesn't escape my notice the way the so far stoic Ouroboros visibly stiffens at the creature's mention.

"Ok, my first and only question is thus. Where is this thing?"

"It rests, neither awake nor dreaming, locked away at the End of the World. You will find it in that direction."

She points a finger in some arbitrary line and Scáthach doesn't have to be told to rapidly triangulate exactly where her finger is pointing.

As if some switch was flipped Valerie sags slightly, her eyes opening and rapidly blinking as she glances around the room.

Ok, time to get to work.

I rapidly turn on my heel and stride out of the room, fervently hoping that none of the kids accost me before I can get out of here.

Thankfully they don't and I mentally ask, "Ok, opinions? I'm pretty sure this is our mark but if anyone thinks otherwise, feel free to speak up or forever hold your peace."

Scáthach snorts, her voice dry as she replies, "Is there any question at all? Of course this monstrosity is what we're looking for. After all, what other creature would be locked away in a coma-like state due to...their..."

She trails off as memories come unbidden to me, of someone I once spent a great deal of time with who was in a…similar situation.

"My apologies, Horatius...I didn't mean to-"

"Don't worry about it, It's fine...Altera, your thoughts?"

I am in agreement with you both. This is without a doubt our prey."

Well that makes three of us...and one silent absentee.

"Queen of Heroes, you have an opinion on this?"

Silence.

I give Scáthach a suspicious glare, the Queen of Ulster innocently shrugging in a most unconvincing manner.

...Fine. Childish methods it is.

"Hey, Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gilgamesh? Gil-"

"WHAT?!"

Got em'.

"Did you hear what we were talking about earlier? In regards to-"

"Yes, I am aware. And I agree, that is our quarry. Now leave me be."

…

I'm honestly at a loss for words.

Heaving a despondent sigh I pull open the door to my 'room', pausing only long enough to give a brief nod to Tobio-the poor guy's face clearly says this is not what he usually deals with-before shutting it and collapsing onto the bed.

"Alright, I'm going to grab a thirty minute nap and then we'll be out of here. Sound good?"

"The sooner the better..."

Altera just nods, dematerializing alongside Scáthach, leaving the Ouroboros Dragon to look around the room...before she decides to seat herself on a nearby chair, staring at me with all the subtlety of a loaded gun.

...How did we end up grabbing her attention again?

The afterglow of an intense sex session with two of the strongest Heroic Spirits had left me understandably drained. In more ways than one.

"Gods above, woman...how did any man survive more than a single night with you? That was thorough in a way that beggars my powers of description."

The Queen of Ulster has the decency to look mildly embarrassed at her actions, the bombshell of a woman wrapped in several furs and lounging in one of the rough hewn chairs of her fortress-home.

"Ahh, yes...it seems I owe you two an apology for my sudden...aggressiveness. That was a rather unseemly way to treat two guests."

I can't help but chuckle and cheekily reply, "You know, I was going to say that we could easily stay more than a few days, but you proceeded to jump me and my companion's bones before we could say otherwise. That time frame of just a few days is an incredibly arbitrary thing that we can change at the drop of a hat."

Now she looks sheepish, of all things.

"Again, I apologize for my actions. I hope I did not cause you two any discomfort?"

I glance down at Altera, the two of us entwined beneath another helping of animal furs, my arms wrapped around her lithe and warm frame, an uncharacteristically languid expression on her noble features.

...Well, she had been the 'meat' of the sandwich for most of the night. I'd probably be pretty satisfied too.

"Trust me, Lord of Spirits...discomfort is about the furthest thing I think either of us are feeling right now."

I can't resist making a joke about this, however.

"I see legends didn't exaggerate of your skill when handling a weapon with a shaft. Your hands and fingers have godly levels of skill."

She laughs, a full-bodied giggle that seems to raise the mood in the admittedly dreary cave by a fair bit as she leans forward, cheshire grin on her features as the furs gathered around her shoulders slip slightly, displaying a generous portion of her generous cleavage.

"Oh? And you have had the pleasure of being able to compare various wielder's talents upon this shafted 'weapon'? I no longer feel so special..."

Two can play at this game.

"You needn't worry, for I am something of a floriculturist and I can say, without a doubt, your flower is one of the most rare and beautiful specimens I have ever encountered."

Her eyes dance with a playful light.

"Well as something of a connoisseur of weapons with a haft that must be firmly gripped with two hands, I can firmly attest to your own being a well crafted and sculpted piece of art."

"You flatter me, surely a Queen such as yourself would have nothing but the finest of weaponry pass through her grasp at one point or another. How can a simple wanderer and his stick hope to compare against the tools of Heroes?"

"Ahh, but some Heroes and their sharp, pointy objects lack a certain...charm to them. Such as the ability to hold a woman's attention for more than a few minutes at a time."

We stare at each other for a few seconds, neither so much as blinking-

-and both burst out laughing simultaneously, even Altera wearing a small smile.

"Well well, Queen of Ulster, I must say it's been awhile since anyone has matched me in a battle of innuendo wits. You have my deepest respect and admiration."

"And mine yours. Spirits only know when I last had an opportunity to engage in a bit of playful banter."

We fall into a comfortable silence shortly afterwards, broken only by Altera asking, "Master, may we stay for a while?"

I give the tanned woman a long suffering look-call me Horatius, dammit-while Scáthach giggles in the background.

"Master? It seems I underestimated you, Horatius. You are into much more erotic play than I first gave you credit for..."

"That's not me, that's all her. C'mon, Altera, back me up here!"

She gives me a cute expression before tonelessly agreeing with, "I will back you up, Master."

...I swear, I think she says things like that on purpose.

"It seems on some matters she is not nearly so...flexible."

This time the slightest upturning of Altera's lips convinces me that yes, I'm being made fun of.

A few weeks in the Land of Shadows tends to leave one with an appreciation for the more colorful parts of life.

Such as greens, yellows, reds and other such shades of the rainbow.

In here everything is just grey, black, white and shades of concrete diarrhea.

No wonder they call it the land of the dead...it sucks here.

"You seem deep in thought, Horatius."

"That is the opposite of true. My current thoughts couldn't be any more shallow and surface-level if they were a kiddie pool in the sky."

Scáthach chuckles.

"I actually appreciate the context behind that statement now. Your descriptions of the modern world are quite fascinating."

"Well you were nothing if not a fast learner. One of these days I'm going to have to to take you to the movies, they're incredible to actually see in person..."

"...Yes...one day..."

I don't miss the melancholy in her tone as she repeats my words, prompting me to stare at her sidelong.

I've got a plan and method to free her from this lousy place...but I want to hear a few things first.

"Legends say you departed from our world in order to safeguard it from the Land of Shadows, that after fighting for so long and defeating countless Gods, Demons and other similar creatures you became something of a demigod yourself."

I thoughtfully gaze out at the dead land surrounding us.

"How much of that is true, and how much is embellishment? How do you feel about this legend personally? One needs only compare Attila the Hun's legend to the reality that is Altera and spot the inconsistencies right away..."

"Her tits, for example."

"...Yes, Scáthach. Those are indeed an inconsistency."

The moment of levity passes. With a heavy sight the maroon-haired woman begins with, "At the beginning, I truly believed that my assuming the mantle of 'Guardian of the Lands of the Dead' would immortalize me, cast my name among the greatest warriors of all time and guarantee my legend eternal."

"Well, you certainly succeeded."

Her smile turns bitter.

"If what you have told me of the current age is true, then yes, I succeeded. And I would give that fame up in a heartbeat if it freed me from this stagnated prison."

...That admission catches me off guard, to say the least.

Crossing her legs and resting her chin on an open palm her voice takes on a faraway lilt.

"At first I was actually quite welcoming of my duty, no shortage of powerful foes and spirits ensured I never lost my edge, guaranteed that I would have to improve my skill forever more..."

A derisive snort.

"I overestimated my own strength of character. Perhaps within...what, a century? Maybe two? Regardless, after however long I began to...regress. The lost thrill of combat left me barren, my skills could no longer improve-this land's denizens long having lost all semblance of a challenge-and I began to wonder. Was it all worth it? I gave up every Human and emotional connection I had ever known, all for the pursuit of my craft. A craft that could no longer be honed."

Her cadence becomes slow and melancholic.

"In some of my less proud moments, I allowed the beasts and wraiths that stalk these plains to attempt escape, desperate for any possible method of freedom from this dead world, uncaring of the consequences of my selfishness."

An ugly sneer mars her beautiful features.

"I could not even die, this land having long gained a tight hold on my soul. I tried."

A wince I have no control over causes my muscles to twitch, Scáthach noticing my action.

"Indeed. To answer your question, about how I feel towards me legacy, Horatius? I despise it. I despise it so much that I even tried to take my own life, a cowardly and ignoble action that didn't even have the courtesy of working, leaving me to face my shame for all of eternity. The worst part, of all this? Escaping this realm isn't even possible. I watched all manner of monsters try to break free, eagerly awaiting their results and planning to replicate them...and none succeeded. Even the reason I assumed this mantle was made a joke."

She heaves a long, inflectionless sigh.

"That is my position, Horatius. Does it live up to your expectations?"

…

Fuck, what do I say to that?

Well, at least I have a good solution that can maybe turn this mess around.

"No, but then I was careful not to really have any expectations. I've encountered my fair share of Heroes and Legends, enough that I tend to keep an open mind."

Shit, look no further than the disaster that was my centuries long interaction with Tiamat…

Goddammit, I need to get over that at some point in my life.

"Regardless, would you be interested if I told you I have a way to free you from your internment here?"

Her body halts all motion in a freeze so complete any passerby-assuming passerby are even a thing in this crappy dump-would mistake her for a statue.

"You...this isn't a jest? Not yet another cruel twist of fate?"

"No. This offer is as real and tangible as I am."

She sags, face still hidden from view and voice completely neutral.

"...How would you even go about creating a miracle that neither myself nor the olden Gods and Demons of this tomb could?"

"Well the actual method itself is pretty straightforward...but you know how I carry a facet of Gaia around with me? Long story short, I can borrow that power and destroy the Land of Shadows in it's entirety. No reforming, no regenerating...gone. Everything and everyone inside of it scattered to whatever after-existence awaits it."

I offer a playful grin.

"And I think it goes without saying that you've earned that spot on the Throne of Heroes a hundred times over."

She finally faces me and all I see is disbelief and raw hope etched across her features.

"...You can do this?"

"Horatius can indeed do so. He has performed such actions in the past."

Altera kneels next to me from where she silently approached, tone even and I can't really bring myself to care right now.

"Y-you finally called me by my name!"

"I did, Master?"

…

Ok, she's definitely just fucking around with me right now.

Introspection is brought to a halt as two hands with impossible strength yank me upright, Scáthach no more than a centimeter away from my face.

"When can you begin?"

"Umm...so you're certain-"

"More certain than I've ever been in my life. WHEN?"

"Well...right now, really."

She releases me and stares at the dreary sky with an expression I can only describe as serene.

"Very well, at your leisure."

"Whoa ok, slow down a second there...I actually wanted to make a request of you before I begin."

Her face twists and for a moment she looks ready to start yelling and telling me to get on with it before relenting, giving a small huff of irritation before testily asking, "Well? Name your price!"

Altera and I share a glance, a near imperceptible nod passing between us.

"As you no doubt noticed, Altera is a pure Heroic Spirit, sustained and fed by Prana. I can repeat the ritual for you, if you so wish."

That gains her attention.

"A summoning ritual?"

"Yup. You interested in creating a legend actually befitting of a warrior like yourself? I tell you now, me and Altera go to a lot of interesting places and meet a ton of unnatural creatures. And then more often than not kill them, but hey. No one ever said travel is safe."

The Lord of Spirits bows her head, obviously lost in thought...until she meets both of our gazes, an uncomplicated smile upon her features as she detaches a necklace from around her neck, simple and roughly etched symbols on it's stone surface.

"A gift from my mother. If that does not reach me from the Throne, well...I would be most surprised."

I'm about to respond with genuine gratitude, shocked that she so swiftly granted my and Altera's desire when she steps back, eyes closed in contentment.

…

We can talk later.

"Castles crumble, Empires fall. Villages wither, Nations bicker. Travel the World and Drown it all, Death comes for all!"

Answering my call Irappu rouses itself from it's 'slumber' and we merge, my body disappearing from the Land of Shadow's grasp as a greater power lays claim.

Destroying this dead plane of existence is easy.

In isolated patches and tunnels molten rock flows, the few remaining lifelines of this tomb-world that I take advantage of.

The mantle rips itself to shreds at my behest, gouts of lava spewing into the air-

-and with steady 'breaths' I rouse the still atmosphere into doing as I wish.

I had been present for the firebombings of Hamburg, the raging firestorm giving me an idea on how to create a suitably remarkable send off for the Lord of Spirits.

Compressing the balls of heat and pressure ever further and further, within a few minutes what had been an avalanche of fire and rock is now a miniature sun no larger than a fingernail, violently struggling for release.

Through Irrapu's senses I can sense the denizens of the Shadow Lands frantically trying to wrest control of their imminent doom away from me...but they're far too late and far too weak.

A 'snap' of my fingers releases the orb of destruction from it's confinement-

-and one final, echoing laugh from Scáthach marks the passing of the Land of Shadows in the brightest light it would ever see.

…

...My dreams seem to have been more vivid as of late. Almost eidetic, really...not that I'm complaining about their contents, meeting Scáthach and Altera were definitely the highlights of my life…

I heave out a breath and rise from the bed, stretching and making sure I'm limber...all while ignoring the Ouroboros Dragon still watching me, evidently not having moved a millimeter from where it first sat down.

Is it just going to follow us everywhere we go now? Christ, I hope not…

"Everyone ready to hit the road?"

"Of course! Anything to get away from this glorified interrogation chamber..."

"At your ready, Master."

...Still nothing from Gilgamesh, huh?

Well, we'll tackle that later. For now, we have a potential fortress to escape with guards who may or not be hostile.

A smirk crosses my lips.

Doesn't that sound like fun?

Yikes, around two months since I last updated!

Apologies about that, but I lost track of time and my train of thought and only got back to business as of now.

But we back, baby!

Side notes about this chapter, I took a few liberties in regards to Trihexa's actual powers and legend-not that they were particularly well explored beyond, 'has powerful lazors and regen fast'-and made it similar to Great Red and Ophis in terms of 'existential powers'.

Not too much more to speak of, review time!

Kinunatzs the Eternal: Oh, there wasn't anything wrong with it, it's just that we have different ideas on how to portray the Spirits abilities. And I didn't want to just blow you off so I took the path of least resistance and made a frown face.

I am well versed in communication, hur hur.

Jokes aside, I appreciate that you're sticking around despite having disagreements!

Dxhologram: If you think my few paragraphs of Issei POV was bad, try reading the entire Light Novels (which I sorta forced myself to do) which are largely from his perspective, with that similar train of thought. It's soul rending XD

Other than that hope you enjoyed my interpretations of the deities of Nasuverse, I had to take a few liberties with what little there is too glean from sources available.

Ruberforumfee: I've written lemonade before but I typically don't go out of my way to write it. Mostly because I have to be in the mood to actually write that stuff and I wasn't feeling it at this juncture. I do have one planned out later-actually part of the story-but otherwise that's sorta just it at the moment.

And there are a ton more reviews that I read and take into account, the fact that I'm now getting twenty-plus more reviews each chapter is a bit insane-in-the-membrane (makes it hard to reply to em'), thank you all, readers!

...

Also did anyone else see the new Halloween 2018 trailer? Seriously spooky shit right there!