Chapter 6: Prelude to Chaos
"...Umm, customer-san? Are you sure you don't, erm...need a delivery for all of this?"
"Nope, we'll be fine. We've got our own transport. Thanks for asking though."
"Ah, well...you can drive around the back and show your receipt there and our team will load the vehicle. Your payment?"
Bassaym grinned, whipping out a credit card and cheerily announcing, "Got it right here~!"
Kiba raised an eyebrow at Bassaym's cheery tone, asking, "You seem rather happy about spending a bit more than two million yen, Terrance-san. Would you be offended if I said I find that strange?"
"Nope. But it's not my money~!"
Kiba shared a glance with Issei and Asia, carefully asking, "So...may I ask who's money it is then?"
"It's my big brother's organization's. I swiped one of their business cards before I left for Kuoh. On that note, what's one of the most expensive markets in Kuoh? I need to get my money's worth while I still can."
Issei and Asia were still staring at the invoice with wide eyes while Kiba just stared strangely at the dark-haired young man.
"...Is this some form of payback? For giving you an empty house, that is?"
"It's a part of it, at least. I also sent him, his closest friends and allies the security footage-courtesy of a certain Grim Reaper-of when you guys were about to start attacking me, when you all thought I was here to gather more women for his harem."
Issei blanched, shakily asking, "He...he's not going to be mad at me for saying stuff like that...will he?"
Bassaym heartily chuckled before replying, "I doubt it. More like he'll be distraught to realize even among the Supernatural his reputation sucks. And then he'll have to tell his organization to cancel this card and just generally go through the hassle of administrative work. Game set and match, Godou! I win!"
The cashier just looked at Bassaym with a disturbed expression, Issei, Kiba and Asia wondering if all Campione were as odd as their newfound 'friend'.
"Thanks again for your help, you three. Having to pick out all this crap myself would have been a headache-and-a-half...nevermind that I now have homework of all things to deal with..."
Issei shared a wince at the statement, dryly replying, "Urgh, could have done without that unpleasant little reminder..."
Both Asia and Kiba looked at their friend, Asia asking, "U-um...have you not finished your assignments yet, Issei-kun?"
"What? Finish them? I haven't even looked at them! Wait...d-don't tell me you two are already finished?!"
Asia seemed genuinely distraught at the fact that she had left her...companion, boyfriend(?)-Bassaym couldn't tell-behind while Kiba was just shaking his head.
"D-don't worry, Issei-kun! I can help you with the homework once we're back home! A-and maybe we can, umm...do something else, after we finish it?"
The blatantly hopeful-yet suggestive-words of the girl caused a brief trickle of blood to leak from the brown-haired boy's nose, Bassaym sighing to himself as the action answered his previous question of what, exactly, their relationship was.
"Although the bleeding nose would go a long way in explaining why sex is considered such a weird and mostly wary taboo in Japan. All the dudes expel the blood that should be going to their dicks through their nostrils. Talk about a serious epidemic..."
"Well if you two are going to flirt and bone each other, I would appreciate it if you don't do it in my house, these floors are still clean."
Both turned an interesting shade of red at his words, sputtering useless denials as Kiba good-naturedly pushed them out the front door, calling over his shoulder, "I will see you in class tomorrow, Terrance-san! Best of luck in the decorating process!"
"Much appreciated. See you tomorrow, Kiba-san."
The front door closed as the three departed...leaving Bassaym alone with an oddly quiet and subdued team of Miyo and Bennia.
Both girls-for the remainder of their shopping trip-had been largely silent, seemingly content to just watch and observe him from afar.
"Might as well clear things up now, before this begins to stew and subsequently ferment."
"You're not happy with what happened earlier, are you?"
Miyo took a moment to gather her thoughts, taking a deep breath-
"Hell no, I'm fucking frustrated. Do that thing with the deathly aura again, that was so hot~!"
-and promptly smacking her forehead with an open palm at Bennia's proclamation.
Bassaym was just blinking in open shock.
"...Come again?"
"I would, but you left me hanging last time!"
Heaving a gargantuan sigh the Godslayer gave the tiny Reaper a wryly amused gaze, asking, "Is this a deflection? Or are you just legitimately angry that whatever it was I did earlier got cut off?"
"Both."
The Campione shifted his gaze to the Nekoshou.
"And you, Miyo-san? Or is it just Bennia who's the only deviant here?"
"Hey!"
Letting her ears and tails spring free the Yokai slowly replied, "I can respect that-as a Godslayer-you are the ultimate authority when it comes to fighting off Heretic Gods, yet..."
"You find it offensive-even insulting-that I just waltzed into your territory and proclaimed you unfit to guard it, telling you to leave everything to me?"
Miyo blinked in surprise at the accurate assessment but nonetheless nodded, stating, "Yes. Terrance-san, have you ever considered that I-and others as well-consider Kuoh our home? That maybe we want to fight to protect it? More than that, many of us at this academy are powerful in our own right...do you truly think us so useless?"
Miyo fell silent, her piece said.
Once the initial shock of the Godking's confrontation had worn off and she had time to focus on what he actually said she found herself becoming...annoyed.
Did he not understand what he was asking them to do, by letting him handle enemies that could potentially threaten them all? Especially when one considered said threats were likely only present because he was in the first place!
The moment stretched, Bennia's golden eyes flickering between the two with rapid movements.
...When it came, Bassaym's words were swift and certain.
"You seem to be forgetting, Miyo-san, that I got a firsthand look at all of you when I first arrived at the academy, when I was almost outright attacked. I know exactly what array of powers you all wield and my command is still the same. Stay out of my way. This isn't a matter of pure power or anything as mundane as that. If raw strength was all that was needed to trump Heretic Gods I would ask Hyoudou-san or that Lilith girl to help me in a heartbeat, that much is easy to discern."
The Campione's brow furrowed, his tone once more becoming icy, like it was earlier.
"But it's not that simple. Battles amongst Campione and Gods are a game of cat-and-mouse, of counters and counterattacks. Of deception and trickery intermixed with bold assaults. Our Authorities are our trump cards, but they can be neutralized. Say I wield a power reliant upon the sun, for example. An Aztec God like Inti would be able to nullify those powers, as in legend he could blot out the star at will, creating solar eclipses. That kind of power can't be beaten by simply punching it or shooting beams of light from your hands. You need the strength of legends of your own at your back, hence why you should leave those kinds of fights to me and me alone. What if a God that specialized in killing Dragons shows up? Your two friends would be in serious danger, just by dint of their damn nature."
The Nekoshou and Campione glared at each other, neither giving an inch.
"Umm...not to totally wreck the atmosphere or anything, but is there I place I should dump all your stuff, Bassaym-kun?"
Bennia's sudden question snapped the duo out of their staredown, the Campione clearing his throat before replying, "Er, yeah, just dump it on the floor-"
Relief clear on her features Bennia opened up her portal, the void traversing the length of the living room and dropping all of it's contents onto the floor with a deafening screech and clatter.
"-gently...never mind then."
"Eh heh heh...woopsie~?"
Sighing to himself the Godslayer cast a sidelong glance at the Yokai, stating, "We'll talk about this later."
"Agreed."
"...Don't suppose I could ask for your help in setting things up? Bennia-chan seems to have all the grace of a drug-addled bison."
"Hey!"
A slight smile tugged at Miyo's lips as she replied, "All right, your Highness...I guess I can help you~."
Bassaym had to bite back on a sigh, quickly followed by an incredulous gaze as Miyo effortlessly picked up a table that had to weight at least 155 kilograms, giving the Godslayer a curious gaze as she asked, "So where does this go, Terrance-san?"
"...Holy shit, if she wanted to get physical I'd actually have a run for my money."
"So how did you end up attending Kuoh, Miyo-san?"
"Well I know two other Nekoshou who also attend here, not to mention that I know Chiaki-chan from my time spent in Kyoto. I got to know Bennia-chan during that time as well. They all told me about this academy and seeing as how I never really got to complete my formal education, it seemed to be a good opportunity."
Both the Campione and the Nekoshou carefully maneuvered a bed frame around the house's corridors, mindful not to scrape the sides.
"Got any family?"
A noticeable silence from the Nekoshou, her drooped ears and quiet voice answering Bassaym's question preemptively.
"No...no it's just me. What about you, Terrance-san?"
Bassaym's reply was as equally subdued.
"All dead."
The duo set their load down in Bassaym's room with subdued actions, both lost in thought.
"...I get that this is a rather sensitive topic, Terrance-san, but...how did your family die?"
The bed frame creaked dangerously in Bassaym's grip.
"A Heretic God. And it wasn't quick. Enough said."
Miyo gave the Campione a worried glance as he was once more surrounded with his dangerous and cold aura, her tails shivering in both fear and delight before the sensation disappeared as quickly as it came.
"I'll be downstairs."
Sweeping past her the Godslayer descended to the house's ground floor, the Nekoshou sighing to herself. She'd fully expected him to ask about what happened to her own family...but evidently he'd been too upset or distracted to follow through.
"Aww...I wanted him to keep that aura for longer than that..."
Bennia poked her head through the ceiling, golden eyes disappointed as it was only Miyo left in the room. The Yokai merely frowned at the Reaper, asking, "Did you hear about what he said, Bennia-chan?"
The smaller girl quickly lost her cheer and quietly replied, "Yeah, I did...poor Bassaym-kun, no wonder he gets all scary like that...he's probably got all sorts of repressed anger and stuff..."
Miyo's frown deepened as she seemed to become lost in thought-
"I wouldn't mind him letting out all his 'repressed' feelings into me~! That aura of death is such a turn on~!"
-until Bennia's words caused her to roll her eyes in exasperation.
"Does everything have to be related in some form to sex with you, Bennia-chan?"
"Hey, sex feels great! And he's a Godslayer, he's probably super used to casual flings with all sorts of girls that try to manipulate him and stuff!"
The Nekoshou shook her head in wry amusement, leaving the room and stating, "Whatever you say, Bennia-chan."
"Don't try to play it cool, Miyo-chan! I saw you get all hot and bothered!"
"I appreciate your two's help during today, I'm sure you had other things you could be doing other than to help me...well, actually make a place to live."
Bennia merely floated lazily through the air, happily replying, "It was no biggie at all, Campione-kun! I would have just been procrastinating with my homework anyway and I got to fit your big things inside my tiny hole~!"
"...Please stop making that joke."
"Only if you get all angry and do that deathly aura thing again!"
Bassaym frowned before an expression of wry comprehension crossed his face.
"Ah. Of course you could sense that, being a Grim Reaper and all..."
"Exactly! Miyo-chan could feel it too, so c'mon!"
Bassaym met the gaze of the salivating Reaper and Nekoshou that was trying-and failing-to contain her own curiosity.
"...You'll stop with that joke? And other's like it?"
"Yyyyyup!"
The Godslayer's tone become one of resignation, his tone dry as he replied, "Alright, deal...but only for a few seconds, this Authority is...unpleasant."
Bennia nearly wet herself with excitement, even Miyo leaning in subconsciously as Bassaym took a deep breath and began to chant.
"From my mouth hangs the thread of fate, even the sun bows as the day grows late. Death Perception."
Miyo couldn't resist hugging her arms to her body as the temperature in the room seemed to drop by several dozen degrees, the light dimming so that everything seemed bleached of color and warmth as her tails and ears stood straight in blatant agitation.
Her teeth chattering the Yokai glanced towards Bennia, fully expecting her to be doing something completely inappropriate-
-and couldn't resist gaping as her assumption was about as far from the truth as possible. The little Grim Reaper was on her knees, hands tucked between her legs and face displaying an expression Miyo could only assume was found on those first setting eyes on their God.
Eyes wide, lips pulled upwards in a rapturous smile, breath coming slow and steady...Miyo was more than a little surprised by the-relatively-tame response.
The Nekoshou turned her attention back to the Devil King-
-and she immediately felt her breath catch in her throat at the sight that greeted her.
Bassaym's eyes had been an unusual shade of black, certainly...but now she felt like she was gazing into a void, no pupils or sclera present...all that remained in those inky depths were odd streamers of gold and yellow, flitting about in seemingly random directions.
"Is...is this what a Godking's Authority feels like? I...I see why Bennia-chan was so enthralled..."
Miyo spent a seemingly infinite two seconds gazing into Bassaym's altered eyes, lost in the hypnotic dance of the light within-
-and almost jumped halfway to the ceiling as the Godslayer suddenly flinched, averting his eyes from Miyo's as if stung, the aura of death, coldness and darkness dissipating as quickly as it came.
For a while no one spoke, the Yokai still recovering from her first exposure to an Authority and Bassaym lightly shaking his head, as if to dispel a bad dream.
"That...that was..."
Bennia's awestruck tone seemed to snap Bassaym out of his dazed moment, the Godking replying, "Aqen? It was."
The Reaper slowly and shakily regained her feet.
"Aqen...he's an older God than even that stupid Hades jerk...and you have his power?"
"Sure do."
A twisted smile pulled at Bassaym's lips.
"Drowned the fucker in the middle of a desert. Funny, right?"
Neither girl replied to his words, Miyo frowning slightly while Bennia was lost in a sea of adoration.
"Why did you flinch when you looked at me, Terrance-san?"
Bassaym winced at the Nekoshou's question, briefly debating whether to part with knowledge of one of his Authorities to her...and decided it was fine, he sincerely doubted she had any intention of using that info as leverage, call it a hunch.
"Death Perception allows me to 'see' the fabric of demise unique to each person just by looking at them, affording me information on the myriad of ways death can reach said person. In battle it let's me see whether my actions will lead to such an outcome, or opportunities that I can follow. It acts more or less as a highly advanced and specific form of future-sight."
The snow-haired Yokai just tilted her head in confusion, curiously asking, "So how come you averted your eyes when you looked at me, Terrance-san?"
Bassaym's eyes took on a briefly haunted look, his voice dry as he explained, "My Authority doesn't discriminate between friend or foe. Seeing all the ways people I like might die isn't...pleasant."
Miyo instantly understood what he was implying...even if she was rather flattered that he so openly considered her a friend.
"Hey, Bassaym-kun, can I become your personal Emissary of Death?"
Two sets of eyes turned to meet an uncharacteristically serious Bennia.
"...Sorry, could you repeat that one?"
The blue-haired girl calmly repeated her request with, "I want to become your personal Emissary of Death."
Bassaym blinked once.
Then twice.
"...I'm almost afraid to ask, but what does 'becoming my personal Emissary of Death' mean?"
"Well, not too much...mostly just that I'll publicly acknowledge you as a master of death and everyone else will know it too. I'll be able to reap souls in your name and recruit other Reapers to the cause! I can create an entire army of the dead for you! I'll be in charge, sure, but-"
Bassaym interrupted with a shout of, "That sounds like the exact opposite of not too much! You might as well send up a signal flare that reads, 'hey, 8th Campione building undead army this way! All potential challengers need only apply for a justified reason to kill me'! And you do know that I'm not actually a Death God, right? I'm just borrowing a fragment of Aqen's legend, I'm not him in a literal sense."
Bennia just patiently met the Godslayer's gaze.
"Course I know that. And those few seconds of you using that Authority were more incredible than anything I felt while working for that bony asshole. You're the real deal, Bassaym-kun!"
The Campione released a tired sigh, eyes staring resignedly at the ceiling.
"And since, at first, I'll be your one and only loyal retainer, that means I can be your main mistress! Heh heh, it'll be my duty to slake your Godly urges, Terance-sama~!"
Bassaym's palm met his face, an aggravated groan slipping past his lips.
"...You're not going to let this go, are you?"
"Nope~!"
Bassaym eventually met Bennia's cheerful gaze, tiredly asking, "Can I take a raincheck on this conversation, Bennia-chan? It's been a long day and I'm in no mindset to decide if I want to begin my accidental quest of world domination."
The Grim Reaper just cackled, giving the young man a tight hug before cheerfully flying off, shouting, "I'll hold you to that~! See you tomorrow, Bassaym-kun, Miyo-chan!"
The room fell largely silent after the Reaper left, the Campione grumbling to himself while Miyo giggled.
"What's so damn funny, Miyo-san?"
Her tails and ears twitched with unrestrained amusement, the catgirl innocently replying, "Oh, nothing at all, Terrance-san...just thinking that it's rather amusing that-despite your claims to the contrary-less than two days after you began attending Kuoh Academy you're already building an army and taking mistresses~."
Bassaym's stare couldn't be more dry than a desert in the middle of a drought.
"Very funny, Miyo-san."
"Who said I was joking~?"
"...Please don't joke about that."
The Nekoshou chuckled one last time to herself, giving a brief bow of her head.
"I'll see you tomorrow at the club, Terrance-san. Have a good night."
"...Sure. We'll continue our conversation then, Miyo-chan."
Her mismatched eyes briefly widened at the casual address-
-before a legitimately happy expression lit up the girl's features, her tails waving excitedly as she cheerily stated, "Of course, Bassaym-kun~!"
"Ugh, what a day...and I still need to make dinner, get what few clothes I have squared away, put the sheets on my...bed...ah shit."
Letting his head hit the wall with a loud *THUMP* Bassaym groaned to himself, realizing he'd made a rather critical error without realizing it.
He'd gotten all of his home's furniture, sure...but not the toiletries, silverware, blankets and other crap that he'd taken for granted at all the homes and motels he'd stayed at over the years.
"Godou, you are one cruel Son of a Bitch. Change of plans, I need to plot more revenge once I-"
*GROWLLLL*
"...Once I get something to eat, apparently. Crap, where am I even gonna sleep tonight?! I don't like the idea of resting on the floor and I only got a few chairs, not sofas..."
The Godslayer sighed to himself before wryly thinking to himself, "Guess I gotta ask Ephemera-san if I can borrow some blankets or something...Christ, what a start to my stay in this town. I somehow laid the foundations for a cult of death without meaning to...all while I can't even sleep in my own home. What a world."
"Oh, Terrance-san! Is there anything I may, erm...aid you with?"
"Hey, Ephemera-san...sorry for bothering you again after you were super nice to me last night, but you wouldn't happen to have a spare futon or anything like that in your house, would you? Or just a few spare blankets? I got all my furniture but then, like an idiot, I forgot to get everything else that makes a home a home..."
The Angel had seemed somewhat nervous at his sudden appearance but as he finished his explanation she suddenly giggled, shyness forgotten as she happily replied, "I do happen to have a few spare blankets, Terrance-san. It might not be the most comfortable thing to sleep on a bare mattress but at least you won't be cold."
"...Mattress?"
Ephemera blinked at the Godslayer's curious tone.
"Did you not purchase a mattress, Terrance-san?"
Bassaym awkwardly scratched the back of his head, replying, "Yeah...that was kinda sorta one of the things I forgot..."
The Angel gave a small sigh alongside an equally slight smile, stating to the God King, "Well, you're welcome to sleep on my couch tonight, Terrance-san. No movies, unfortunately, I have work I need to accomplish."
Bassaym blinked before hesitantly asking, "Not that I'm complaining-in fact I'm downright grateful-but is this, well...ok with you? You seemed a little awkward at school today, I figured you were a bit uncomfortable..."
The blonde-haired woman gave a dainty and embarrassed cough, sheepishly explaining, "Well, you see...I behaved a tad unprofessionally both in the morning and during classes, letting my inexperience get the best of me. For that you have my apologies, Terrance-san."
The Angel gave a small bow of her head, leaving Bassaym at something of a loss for words.
"Dammit woman you can't go saying things like 'shy' and 'inexperienced' so casually, you'll give a virile young man like myself the wrong impression!"
Hiding his inner turmoil behind a polite smile the Campione genially responded, "It's no trouble at all, Ephemera-san. Have you already eaten?"
"No, why?"
"Well like a truly intelligent person, silverware and food are two other things that I didn't purchase so I was just going to go out and grab something easy. Want me to get some for you as well?"
Putting one immaculate finger on her chin Ephemera appeared to be lost in thought for a moment...before a bright smile dominated her expression.
"Would you mind waiting a moment, Terrance-san? Let me get my shoes on and I'll show you to a lovely little restaurant that I frequent!"
"...Err, you'll what? I mean, again, I'm not about to complain, but won't that cut into your work ti-"
"Excellent, I'll be right back!"
Bassaym was left blinking as the door shut in his face.
"...Am I about to go on a dinner date with an older woman?"
It took a rapid shake of his head to dispel that particular thought.
"Ok, we can go now, Terrance-san!"
The Campione had to take a moment to refocus his thoughts as he took in Ephemera's choice of casual clothing.
A simple white jacket with jeans, plain blue flats adorning her small feet and a golden crucifix necklace dangling between her...voluptuousness.
"Is incredible beauty just a normal thing for the Supernatural races to have? Because I'm pretty sure my heart skips a beat or two whenever I lay eyes on you."
The Angel's cheeks reddened even as Bassaym inwardly panicked at the horribly blunt and obvious choice of words that spilled from his mouth.
"Discretion, dammit! Why is that such a friggin' hard concept for me to grasp?!"
Shyly shuffling from foot to foot Ephemera's tone was embarrassed and pleased in equal parts.
"W-why thank you, Terrance-san...but you really should be careful of what you say, I might just misinterpret your intentions one day..."
"Er, right! Sorry, I wasn't thinking when I said that."
If anything the Angel blushed even harder, deciding to instead link her arm with Bassaym's and steer them on their way, quickly responding, "I heard that Godking's were dangerous to members of their opposite sex, I see now that such a claim is most true! If you're quite done attempting to woo me, Terrance-san, let us be on our way!"
Doing his best to ignore the way his arm melted into the side of Ephemera's soft and ample cleavage Bassaym glanced to her face-
-and couldn't help but slyly smile as he saw her avert her eyes and yet again blush.
"As you command, Ephemera-sama."
The pout she wore was the both the cutest and most alluring thing he'd seen in a long time.
200 kilometers from the outskirts of Kuoh, in a wildlife preserve that was already cast in darkness and shadows from the setting sun, three figures sat.
And, rather strangely, no wildlife dared to get closer than 20 meters.
"They're late. Who do they think they are to keep us late?"
"Peace, Virabhadra. It has been a scant few minutes since our agreed upon meeting time. They will show."
"Easy for you to say, oh great King with fifty-damned names. Even my progenitor did not have as many faces!"
"That would be his loss, then, for even your greatest idol's lips would not be able to speak of my greatness with any less than ten sentences."
Virabhadra, a tall, dark-skinned Demon with three flaming eyes and four arms scowled at his opposite, another man with beaded dreadlocks, tan skin and a kingly air surrounding him.
"Mind your tongue, Spawner of Man, else I take it."
"Oh you would be most welcome to try...but could you hope to prevail without your precious Bhadrakali to enable you to so much as lift a finger?"
A feral snarl left the Demon's mouth-
"Enough."
-and with a mild haze of pink the air seemed to shimmer for a moment, both males calming themselves as they turned to look at a stunningly beautiful woman clad only in a shimmering silk toga that flowed like water around her body, light brown hair cascading down her back as she leaned against a nearby boulder, her countenance and disposition making the crude stone seem as grand as a throne built of gold.
...Were it not for the ragged scar that ran across her face, hampering her left eye and cutting across cherry lips, she would have been perfect.
"This period of dullness is vexing enough without hearing you two claw at each other's throats. Either remain silent or at least attempt to be civil, if you would..."
Both men hypnotically replied, "As you command, My Lady", before sharing sharing one last glare and falling silent.
The woman resisted the urge to sigh.
It had taken no small amount of effort and time-as well as liberal applications of her body-to brainwash the two hotheads into following her every whim, but it was a necessary act, if her revenge was to be complete.
Immaculate fingers lightly traced the edges of her scar, hand shaking with barely repressed fury.
"That fucking ANIMAL...I'll take every damn thing he holds dear, defile it before his eyes and see him break before I put that savage Devil King down like the mutt he is...to mar MY face..."
"Quite the odd sight, seeing so many Heretic Gods in one place and not attempting to murder each other..."
The two male Deities immediately sprung to attention, eyes alert and scanning at the voice that had echoed from within the trees, the woman sighing in exasperation.
"You have taken more time than is advisable, Ambrogio. Rare is the creature bold enough to make me wait upon them."
From the trees emerged a hooded figure, no features present in the voluminous cloth.
...If the denizens of the preserve had avoided the Heretic Gods, they actively fled from the new arrival, even insects rapidly scuttling or buzzing away in shifting tides.
"You can't rush perfection, Goddess...and perfection is what you require, unless I am mistaken?"
Haughtily approaching the figure the woman replied, "You are not, but I was led to believe you were one of punctuality. No matter, have you come prepared to do what I requested?"
"Have you come with what I requested?"
Both male Gods bristled at the newcomer's dry and unimpressed tone until the Goddess held up a hand, swishing her hair and making an odd motion with her dress-
-and spilling out of seemingly nowhere came a young girl, likely no older than a teenager.
She was a stunning young woman of incredible grace and attractiveness, with shimmering aqua hair that came down to her thighs, elfin ears and gossamer fairy wings sprouting from her back, breath shallow and uneasy as she fitfully slept.
The hooded figure leaned forward slightly, the two male gods and Goddess ignoring the younger woman's nudity as she was scrutinized, evidently uncaring of her fate or privacy.
"She is...weak. Hardly the accord we reached, Goddess."
With a negligent flick of her hand the woman dismissively retorted, "I only summoned her yesterday and to do so I had to settle for a facet of Frigg, rather than the Goddess herself. And once I release her from her slumber she will rapidly gain power, reaching a Heretic God's level of strength in short order. So I have not dismissed our deal in any manner whatsoever, Reaper."
A rattling chuckle left the hooded figure, the cloak slipping only long enough to reveal a bare, skeletal face before the cloth slid forward once more.
"Very well, Goddess...you have a deal. When would you like for me to begin my assault on the academy?"
"As soon as possible. The less time we give that disgusting Devil King to prepare, the better. He knows we're nearby, our only advantage is that he does not know the extent of my newly acquired power."
The Grim Reaper shrugged, merely replying, "As you command. I expect that Goddess of yours afterwards, as agreed upon. She will make a unique experiment indeed...prepare yourself to begin in three to four days."
With that the being drifted off into the forest, the insect life only slowly returning to their hives and holes.
The four-armed God spat, glaring at where the other figure retreated.
"How can you stand to work with that fiend, My Lady?"
The woman shrugged, returning the slumbering Goddess to wherever she had hid her initially, explaining, "Our foe has sequestered himself away in the depths of a school housing many Supernatural. Assaulting him there would be tantamount to suicide, if the amount of gathered power is anything to judge by. Ambrogio will assault and occupy the schoolchildren and teachers while we draw out the fucking cretin that did this to me."
"You seem certain he will attempt to so openly attack us. My Lady, this Godslayer is both underhanded and vicious, expecting him to approach with the intent of a fair fight will be folly."
The Goddess scowled at the smaller male, testily replying, "I am not a fool. I know better than any other that he is a beast with no sense of propriety...which is why we will take something he holds dear to him and draw him out that way."
A cruel smile adored the woman's scarred face.
"I hear he has been spending time with a great many girls, despite being so new to this kingdom. Shall we see whom he is most attached too?"
Two malevolent grins split the God's mouths, the Goddess turning in the direction of the far off city of Kuoh, internally snarling, "Just you wait, Bassaym...I'll have your damned head under my foot soon enough."