Chapter 34: The Priestess, Swordswoman, Arrogant Duke, Half-Elf and Determined Dwarf: Part 1 of 2
Reina clashed swords with one of Valeria's troops. She was informed of the situation that Ladius was set up by the kingdom of Grugund and accused of treason. She wants to help her new friends by fighting Grugund since she too is cursed with immortality by the evil Summerill's cursed trinkets.
Reina shouted "Dragon Tail!" She slams her sword down on the ground and spun around, knocking some Valeria soldiers to the ground.
Takashi, Meia, Kohta and Alice D. were firing bullets at Valeria's soldiers, killing one and injuring a dozen. Meanwhile, Ladius and Valeria were clashing, both don't want to hurt the other.
Renee and Neptune double teamed on some Valeria troops, knocking them out and killing two. Ladius's men were doing their best not to get killed. They believed Ladius's story about being innocent and have abandoned their kingdom to help their noble leader. The rebels also helped Ladius because he is fighting to restore peace to the kingdom they once lived in.
Noire in HDD form shouted "Infinite Slash!" Her fast sword skill made short work on five of Valeria's troops.
Borgnine and Ellis took out five Valeria soldiers to their left.
Yuri shouted "Cerberus Strike!" He kicked a Valeria soldier two times before decapitating him with his sword. Yuri sighed and muttered "Not even a challenge..."
Tokai and Tachibana stood side by side, Tokai still doesn't like girls, but he has to respect Leo's wishes to respect women because deep down, he respected Leo after seeing him respect girls and men in his party before he was sealed into Lucrellia's pillar. Tokai doesn't know why, but he's starting to respect women a little bit. Tokai got his Vanguard Sword out and slashed five Valeria troops to death. Tachibana in Sympnogear form punched and kicked four more Valeria troops.
Zerva's scythe glowed red. He shouted "Flame Mist!" He heats the surrounding air around 2 Valeria troops and a fire pillar appeared below them, incinerating them. Zerva turned his back and smiled and said "For Leo."
Ling punched and kicked five more Valeria troops. Cecilia got out her gun and fired at a Valeria troop in the head, killing him.
Ladius managed to slash Valeria across the chest, filled with regret.
Sooner or later, the battle was over with Ladius's soldiers still alive. Valeria kneed down, clutching her wound, it was bleeding slightly.
"Are you alright?!" Ladius gasped as he ran up to his childhood friend to check for injuries. But Valeria slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch me!" Valeria snapped, still clutching her wound. "I assume you realize the gravity of wielding a sword against me, a general." She warned.
Ladius frowned for awhile before sighing and told her "I must fulfill my destiny, as my father did before me. I cannot allow myself to be captured here. Please, Valeria, try to understand."
"Who cares about your destiny?! I will never forgive you!"" Valeria screamed out in fury, tears begin to flow out of her eyes.
Ladius was silent for a moment as he looked down a bit despondently.
"We must go..." Ellis walked to Ladius and told him that. Ladius remained silent as he nodded.
When he and his friends were about to leave, Valeria screeched out "Ladius!" Ladius turned his head to face her before he followed his friends. "Why...!" Valeria choked as she weeps bitterly. While still weeping, she ordered some troops to follow Ladius and the gang after they gain reinforcements from Grugund. She continued to weep in sorrow.
(Back with Ladius and the gang)
Winfield frowned as he sees a swamp in their way. "Damn! We have the swamp to our front and Grugund's army at our back." He swore.
"If we stay here, Grugund's army will surround us. We should head to Alzai Fen." Ladius suggested.
"Are you crazy?!" Daxter protested. "Crossing over the swamplands is a suicide attempt!"
"Even if we do intend to retreat to Fensarrill, we will be forced to cross the Rizel River. Our destination is to the west, whatever dangers that may present . Let us try and shake our pursuers first." Ladius reassured the ottsel. "I will stay here with a small force to stall our enemy. Dyshana, will you lead the rest through the swamp?" He asked the mysterious woman.
"Of course." Dyshana nodded silently.
"Tis time for you to make use of your superhuman strength, Borgnine!" Winfield moaned.
"My mission is to protect my master." Borgnine stated, arms crossed.
"Ah, what would I give for a godlike protector of my own... Something more... feminine, perhaps..." Winfield closed his eyes and smiled nervously.
"Cease your rambling. Battle is no time for daydreaming, so keep your foolish mouth closed." Vira-Lorr warned.
"Alright, we fight the first wave! After they regroup, we make for the swamplands!" Renee ordered. She turned to Ladius and told him "Time to use your powers as a Spirit Vessel, Ladius." She smiled at him.
Ladius smiled back and just as he was about to use the powerful move his father did, a voice shouted "Now's my chance!"
Suddenly a young girl wearing a pink puffy dress, with puffy white and blue stripes. She has a white bra covering the area where the dress ends, and on her right arm has both a plate gauntlet and boots. Underneath the boots she has white folded cuffs with pink ends, and underneath that she has white thigh-highs. She also wore a red bracelet with a ruby embedded in it and her weapon is a large red axe with a symbol of a eye. She leaped out of nowhere, catching both Ladius and Renee off guard by her sudden appearance.
"Where did you-" Ladius started to say but the girl interrupted him by saying "Shut up! I'm trying to advertise my dwarfen weapons, so stay where you are and-" Ladius ignored what she is saying and glows with holy energy.
"W-What the...?" A Grugund soldier stammered as he and his allies stepped back a little. With a courageous yell, Ladius slams his sword down and a powerful shockwave similar to Leo's, but a bit bigger and powerful was heading towards the Grugund soldiers, killing all but one. The last remaining Grugund soldier for now screamed in panic as he fled the scene. The dwarfen girl's jaw dropped to the ground in shock before she recovered and glared at Ladius.
"What is the big idea showing me off like that?! And what the heck is that weird power you used on those humans?!" She pointed her finger at Ladius in frustration.
"Hey kid, this is no time for a argument. We need to leave, now!" Renee scolded the girl as she and Ladius ran back to the others.
That got the dwarfen girl upset and she shouted in fury "I'm 78!" She followed the two heroes, not wanting that insult to stay.
(Meanwhile, with Valeria...)
The surviving soldier of a Grugund vanguard was explaining to Valeria about what happened to her men and Ladius's mysterious but god like powers.
"Are you positive that Ladius used some sort of unknown power to wipe out your men and escaped?" Valeria asked, her wound was bandaged up. 'Ladius couldn't be this powerful... What are you, Ladius?' She thought to herself.
"I-I'm positive, General Valeria! Ladifour's power... It was near godlike..." The surviving soldier whimpered. "He used it to kill all my men..."
"Where did they go?" Valeria asked the general.
"T-They went to Aizel Fen... T-There's no way we can reach them through there..." The soldier said between words.
Valeria sighed and muttered "They have entered the marshes in a desperate attempt to shake us off. We shall head south and attack them once they emerge from the fen. Head back to Grugund and ready a strike team to attack them post haste." She ordered.
"Y-Yes, General Valeria!" The surviving soldier nodded hesitatingly as he rushed back to Grugund to gather more men.
One of Valeria's troops walked up to her in concern. "Are you sure that is wise? The swamps are perpetually covered in mist. It would be folly to attempt passage without a guide. We will remain here and look for a guide who knows the lay of the land before pursuing them. General Valeria, you should return with that soldier and mend your wounds and report on Ladifour's strange godlike powers."
"Very well. I shall leave you in charge here." Valeria nodded. "Be wary of Ladius. If what that soldier said is true, then he could be considered a threat to Grugund." The soldier nodded as he head to find a guide.
Valeria looked at the sky with a worried expression and thought to herself 'Please, don't die, Ladius...'
(A few minutes later...)
"D-Did we lose them?" Dizzy stammered as she sat down on a rock.
"For now. Looks like Ladius used the power of the Spirit Vessel to back them off a bit." Duelo smiled as he went to check on Ladius's men's wounds.
"That's a relief. There's no way in hell we can fight an entire Grugund army with our current soldiers." Mai sat on the ground and sighed in exhaustion.
"I hope Ladius is okay..." Cecilia said in worry.
"Don't worry, he and Renee can take care of themselves." Tsubasa reassured the British IS pilot..
Just then, Ladius, Renee and their mysterious dwarfen companion came out of the brushes to meet up with Ladius's group.
"Ladius! Renee-chan! You're okay!" Tachibana gasped happily as she went up to hug Ladius.
"It's okay, Tachibana. I made it okay." Ladius chuckled. Then he turned to the dwarf girl and asked "Who might you be? I haven't gotten your name since you appeared out of nowhere."
Jean and Reina gasped as they recognized the dwarf girl and both of them shouted "Ymir!"
"Eh?" Ymir blinked as she sees some familiar faces. "Reina? Jean? You're here too?" Then she eyed the trinkets they have on and face faulted "Let me guess... You have a strange trinket that won't come off after you put it on and some voice in your head told you to put it on..."
"Looks like we have another cursed one who is wearing Summerill's trinkets." Yuri joked as he smirked at his own comeback.
"Summerill? Who is that?" Ymir asked, eyebrows raised.
"Reina, Jean... Do you know this girl?" Ellis asked the two warriors from their world.
"Yes." Reina nodded. "Ymir is the daughter of a dwarf king whose business... sadly isn't doing well and she is a competitor of the Queen's Blade. She joined the tournament in order to save her race's business."
"Aw, you don't have to rub it in!" Ymir snapped before regaining her composure and stand tall and firm. "Anyway, my axes will be so popular by proving how powerful they are! Imagine a ten foot dragon attacking a village..."
Dita and Alice M. have thought bubbles as a badly drawn dragon appeared, breathing fire. "That is where I come in!" Next, a badly drawn Ymir appeared, ready for battle. "I knock the dragon out with one swipe of my axe!" The next scene in the thought bubble shows Ymir killing the dragon by bashing it on the head. "My accomplishments will be known world wide!" Next scene shows soldiers buying Ymir's axes who is selling them. "And dwarfen weapons will once again be popular!" Final scene of the thought bubbles shows Ymir laughing triumphantly as coins rain from the heavens, piling up behind Ymir. The thought bubbles disappeared.
"That... is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Swords are more popular than axes and Ladius is good at proving that swords are better than axes!" Ratchet complained.
"Ratchet, shush!" Ladius scolded the Lombax.
Ymir has an anger vein on her forehead and pointed her finger at Ladius and yelled in anger "If you're so great, then, I challenge you to a battle to prove that dwarfen weapons are better than swords!" The dwarfen girl got into a battle stance.
"If you insist..." Ladius sighed as he unsheathed his sword and got into a battle stance.
"Ahem!" Jura cleared her throat. "I will be the referee for this battle between honorable leader of Ragian's Army: Ladius von Busser Ragian and the newcomer, Ymir from Reina and Jean's world. Begin!" Ever since they ended the war on Lucrellia before Ladius was born, the females of the Vandread dimension now respect Ladius's father, Leonhardt since it was he who taught them that not all men are bad and how they and women produce children by other means other than machines or some weird thing on Mejeiru. Now the female space pirates are honoring Leo by helping raise his son along with the men.
Ymir leaped up into the air and slams her axe down on Ladius, but he dodged it with super human speed which caught the dwarf girl off guard, her axe stuck in the ground, she struggled to get it freed, but Ladius slashed his sword vertically and a wind based attack knocked Ymir to the ground.
"Ymir is unable to battle. Ladius is the winner!" Jura declared.
"Way to go, Ladius!" Barnette cheered as she and Dita jumped in the air for joy.
Reina walked over to Ymir and helped her up. "Ymir, please join our army. If we travel with Ladius, we might find a way to remove the Demon King's cursed trinkets off of us." She smiled slightly.
Ymir huffed and looked away, muttering "This isn't over... I want a rematch and I want to win my argument with Ladius..."
Ladius turned to Etna and he wanted to ask the demon fatale about the remaining Dark Generals of Summerill's army.
"Etna... Perhaps it is time you tell us more about the five remaining Dark Generals in Summerill's army..."
"..." Etna looked away, avoiding her commander's gaze. For about 30 seconds, she sighed and muttered "Alright... Here's what I know..."
Etna took a deep breath and began. "Before I was fired from the Dark Generals, there are six of us Dark Generals, brought from our worlds to Summerill. I was the only one who has lost my memories, the other five retain their memories of their worlds. Summerill sees the evil potential we Dark Generals have and enlist us in his quest to rule the universe. I don't know the names of three of the Dark Generals, but I know two of their names. One is from a world of tamable monsters named Master Moo, and the three idiotic demons we fought back in Lucrellia serve one of the Dark Generals, the Swamp Witch."
"The Swamp Witch has allied herself with this Summerill demon?" Ymir arched an eyebrow.
"I take it Jean is not the only one who knows who this Swamp Witch is." Vira-Lorr asked with a small frown.
"Yes." Reina nodded with a frown. "She is trying to disrupt the Queen's Blade tournament in our world. She is evil."
"Hmm... Sounds like we share a common enemy." Zerva nodded as he placed his hand on his chin in thought.
Ladius was silent as he looked at the sky. Ellis took notice and asked him "Are you worried about Valeria?"
"I have done her wrong. I may have a destiny to fulfill, but I was inconsiderate and wounded her." Ladius lamented.
"You had no choice. She's fine actually, you gave her just a few scratches." Renee reassured him.
"I'm sure she will understand if you only explain yourself the next time you see her." Ellis smiled warmly.
"Provided we ever do see her again..." Ladius sighed, feeling a bit down. Dyshana stepped forward.
"You shall have your chance." She told him calmly.
"Wait... Could Valeria be..." Noire's eyes widen in shock.
"Could Valeria be one of the chosen three to become one of Ladius's bride? That sounds cool!" Colette beamed.
Dyshana nodded and told Ladius "Many choices lie ahead of you. One of those choices will lead you to her again."
"Leo's power..." Takashi whispered. Ladius remained silent when Takashi said that.
Vira-Lorr turned to Dyshana with a questionable look and asked her "So, you are a seer as well?"
The mysterious woman shook her head no and told her stoically "My power is not like yours. All I can see is what must be done and when it must be carried out. I can see the flow of time, and Ladius's part in it, but nothing else. It is that flow of time that people do not have the power to change."
"To see the flow of time is to be a seer." Vira-Lorr was skeptic about Dyshana. She added "Even if that sight is limited to a certain individual. In any case, it appears as if you have a special bond. Perhaps what you possess isn't the power to see the future." Vira-Lorr smirked as she commented "However, perhaps it would be better not being able to see the future. At the very least, it would be more exciting."
Dyshana shook her head no again and stated "This isn't destiny. It is an inevitability. Much like meeting her here."
"Her?" Vert raised an eyebrow.
Vashtor unsheathed his sword and got into a battle stance. "Who goes there?" He demanded. Out of the bushes came out a 18 year old girl with black hair, wearing pink and white priestess clothes with a pink headband on her head.
"I... I apologize. I heard voices... I wanted to see what was going on." She said shyly as she bowed her head lightly in apology.
"Our party is far from being an full army, but we do have enough companions to draw attention, it seems." Winfield smiled.
"If this girl is a native of the fen, she may be a blessing in disguise." Vira-Lorr added.
Vashtor stared coldly at the young girl which made her nervous as he asked her "Is there a clearing nearby large enough to set up an encampment?"
"Yes, near my home. I can take you there if you wish..." The girl nodded.
Zerva crossed his arms and said "I was told the marsh floods each year with the rising of the Rizel. How can it support your people?"
The girl looked away shyly and replied with "Our god protects us."
"Your... god?" Ellis arched an eyebrow.
"Yes. He protects our homeland. He keeps the floods from our homes and we live on the bounty provided by the river Rizel." The girl explained.
"If those idiots from Grugund caught wind of this place, disaster could happen to the people living in this fen." IF frowned, arms crossed.
The girl closed her eyes and smiled by saying "You needn't to worry. Our home is well hidden."
"I take it the path is difficult to navigate but only your people know the way?" Jak asked with a kind smile. The girl nodded.
"Then why bring us there?" Winfield smiled as he added "I'll grant you that Ladius, Daxter, Jean, Prinny and Me look respectable enough, but the rest of these riff-raff? Rather shady."
"You know the way, right? You could easily leave us here to rot." Jean smiled pervertedly.
The girl scratched her chin in thought and said "I suppose I could, but I feel you are good people." The girl smiled slightly.
Ellis frowned and muttered "She must, or one look at Winfield, Daxter, Jean and Prinny would have been enough to send her running."
"That hurts, Ellis. You were much more pleasant when you- Or... were you...?" Daxter grinned pervetedly.
"Exactly what are you four implying?" Ellis glared as she placed her hands on her hips.
"N-Nothing, dood! Ain't she a beaut, Ladius, dood?" Prinny panicked.
"Don't involve me in your blunders, you four. Sometimes, you need to learn to keep your mouths shut." Ladius warned.
"Come now! You as well? Am I not a man? Do I not feel, do I not hurt, as you do?" Winfield reasoned.
"Ladius... Winfield, Daxter, Prinny, Jean. Do you mind?" A red aura appeared around Ellis, indicating she is pissed.
"R-R-Ruuunnnnnn!" Daxter screamed in panic as he and his three fellow perverts fled for their lives with Ellis screaming "Do not think you four can escape me so easily!" She chased after them.
"Those four never learn..." Ladius sighed as he facepalmed.
"Enough fooling around." Renee sighed in exhaustion.
The girl giggled and said "You are funny."
Renee smiled at the girl and asked "Can you lead us to your village?"
"What about your five companions?" The girl asked in concern.
"Don't concern yourself with those four idiots. They will join us after Ellis gives them a pounding." Saeko reassured the girl with a smile.
"O-Okay. Stay close to me as we follow this path." The girl nodded hesitantly.
"By the way, we haven't gotten your name." Tachibana smiled warmly.
The girl closed her eyes and smiled by saying "My name is Yayoi."
To be continued...
Next chapter: The Priestess, Swordswoman, Arrogant Duke, Half-Elf and Determined Dwarf: Part 2 of 2