Hey guys, I'm surprised by the positive response I got with the conversation with Slaanesh. So the decision with Issei has been made, you'll have to wait and see what it is.
Question time:
RockingtonThe3rd: Glad to hear it mate.
edboy4926: Considering that Chaos Gods are known to be able to capture souls that's entirely likely and probably outcome.
mj4wzpw: You will love this chapter.
Nero Angelo Sparda: I'm looking forward to when they confront him as well, it will be really interesting.
Commissar Carl: Thank you for the heads up about Magnus.
Herpes69: That's definitely true, Issei isn't exactly suited to fight Chaos.
TheMysteriousOtaku: That is one of the likely ideas that I will use, he could create ships with his Sacred Gear. But Alex still hasn't realized this, as he doesn't consider starships to be added as equipment of the crew. He's not quite understanding how much potential Annihilation Maker has right now.
Azrael-Von-Gruber: Glad you liked the talk with Slaanesh mate.
"Alright so everyone, we need to deal with this… 'other' realm so does anyone have an idea?" asked Yasaka as the last of the Priests of Amaterasu sat in the temple.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked, upon getting nothing but silence in response.
"Head Priestess, are you sure Kunou should be here? The topics we are going to discuss are…not suitable for a child," asked one of them, causing everyone to turn to look at her daughter sitting beside her.
Yasaka paused in confusion as a frown crossed her face, why had she brought Kunou? She usually kept her out of these meetings and they were right, these were not subjects to be taken lightly. So why had she decided to bring her here now of all times?
Because she's is the next Head Priestess of Amaterasu, her chosen instrument. She needs to learn how to deal with these situations for the future.
The Head Priestess nodded slightly as she remembered her reasoning and replied, "Kunou isn't a child anymore. It's time she starts learning just what it means to leader the Youkai faction."
There were some low mutterings but no one objected to this decision and Kunou puffed her chest out in pride at the words of her mother. However, everyone flinched as they saw Yasaka grab the Sorcerer's staff and place it on her lap, even Kunou looked at it in horror.
"Head Priestess! What are you thinking bringing something that wrong into this sacred temple!" growled an angry Kappa.
"This weapon has some form of connection to the 'other' realm, surely you can all feel it? This could be the key to shielding ourselves from that realm's presence in our minds. I've had it for over a day now and I haven't felt any influence from that place," informed the Kitsune to her shocked audience.
"The voices are quiet?" asked a Monkey Youkai in hope.
"For now," retorted the Kappa from earlier. "With all due respect Head Priestess, how do you know that the other realm hasn't been influencing you to an even greater extent than before? These whispers we keep hearing aren't mindless, they are cunning and they are patient. We should destroy this weapon."
He is afraid, he doesn't understand. Sure, the risk is great but if I'm right then it could save our people.
Frowning Yasaka was about to argue further when a loud explosion sounded throughout the usually quiet temple. 'It's too late for fireworks, and this temple is nowhere near the major cities or roads. What's going on?' wondered the Kitsune.
Suddenly a group of temple guards ran into their room and barricaded the door behind them as their leader knelt before Yasaka. "Milady, we're under attack! We have to get you and the rest of the Order out of here," he informed the surprised priests.
"Attack? Who's attacking us? Is it those cultists?" frowned Yasaka in confusion, the cultists had never shown organized behaviour to the level of mounting an attack on the heart of their territory before…so what changed?
The guard nodded, "yes ma'am…but this time they have a leader. The Fallen Angel Kokabiel."
"What?" muttered the Head Priestess, voicing the thoughts of everyone in the room.
"The Grigori are responsible for this?" questioned the Monkey Youkai in shock.
As if to reinforce this point the barricaded door was suddenly blown open with a massive force of crimson light which knocked them back down to the ground. As she got up Yasaka saw Kokabiel walk into the room as the sounds of fighting from outside grew louder.
However, she noted that he looked much different from what she'd remembered from the last time the Youkai had seen him. His fingers ended in talon like claws and his once white light weapons were now stained a crimson red, the corrupt wrongness emanating off his weapons. But worst of all was the bloody symbol carved into his bare chest and glowing with a soft crimson colour.
"Hello there, looks like I found you," said the former Fallen Angel as he gave them a toothy smirk, revealing his teeth to now be sharp canines.
Faster than any of them could blink Kokabiel disappeared in a blur of movement and just as quickly one of the priests decapitated corpse fell to the floor. "BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" he shouted, lifting up the severed head as a trophy.
"All of you get out of here, you're no match for him!" ordered Yasaka, not noticing her hand instinctively going for the Sorcerer's staff.
The rest of the group frowned but nodded nonetheless as they turned to face the remaining forces still engaging their enemies around the huge temple palace. Kunou moved to follow them but as she was about to leave the young Kitsune saw Kokabiel instantly appear beside her mother and stab his corrupt weapon into her leg.
The Head Priestess was completely caught off guard by his sudden attack and cried out in pain as she was quickly forced to the floor. The Youkai then felt a foot press down on her throat as she turned to look up and saw Kokabiel raising his sword for a decapitating strike.
"Mother!" cried Kunou in horror as she rushed towards the two combatants and wrapped herself around Kokabiel's arm before using her meager fox fire to burn his face.
Kokabiel cried out in pain has the flames burnt his face before throwing the younger Kitsune into a wall headfirst, a loud crack resounding throughout the room. Yasaka watched as the body of Kunou was then picked up by the Fallen Angel again and thrown across the room before slamming through one of the wooden support pillars, the temple giving a loud groan as the sounds of battle grew fainter. Kokabiel just glanced at the body of her daughter before nodding in apparent respect as he began walking over to Kunou's still form.
Why? Why wasn't her lady helping her? Couldn't she see the horror being inflicted on her followers? Why won't she save us? After years of being her faithful servant this is how she's treating us!
'No, she has been helping us! Hasn't she? The charms-' questioned the wounded head priestess.
Are broken, just look at our amulet! We have been abandoned by her! She never really cared about any of us!
Hearing this Yasaka blinked as she looked down at her amulet given to the chosen of Amaterasu and sure enough found it now with a large crack though its surface. 'No, that's not possible! She's abandoned me?' despaired the Youkai as she noted the rest of the symbols of her God were having no effect on the monster before her.
The Head Priestess was snapped out of her internal struggle as she saw a bright light form in Kokabiel's hand, the battlefield growing deathly quiet as the remaining cultists and priests were pushed to different areas of the complex.
"That was brave of you girl, too bad it doesn't run in the family," sighed the former Fallen Angel as he conjured another sword in his hand.
"Kunou!" cried Yasaka in fear as she Kokabiel readying the killing blow before her cry died in her throat as she saw the weapon cut deep into Kunou's body.
"Kunou…" muttered the mother softly as she saw the blood spill out from the corpse before turning to Kokabiel with hatred. "I'll kill you!"
Suddenly the heat in the room skyrocketed and wisps of blue flames began to surround the Youkai as Yasaka stood up from the ground. Immediately Kokabiel paused and spun around to face her with an eager smile on his face.
"Much better, this righteous anger…truly impressive. Come, show me your true strength. Khorne does not care where blood flows merely that it flows! Let us sing his praise in his temple that is the battlefield!" cheered the champion of Khorne.
"Get away from her!" hissed Yasaka in response as the blue wisps around her grew into a raging fiery inferno, her eyes seeming to glow with power as she gripped the staff in her hands tightly.
The former Fallen Angel blinked in surprise as where there was once a beautiful blonde woman now a gigantic nine tailed fox stood in her place. The fox growled menacingly at the former Fallen Angel before it rushed towards him, its teeth bared before it.
Kokabiel dived to the side as the space he had been standing seconds earlier was crushed by the gigantic flaming paw of his attacker, making the Fallen laugh with glee. Flying to the top of the building Kokabiel used his greater maneuverability to circle around behind the enraged beast before swooping towards its back.
The gigantic fox howled in pain as the light weapons cut deep into its flesh, blood covering Kokabiel as the Fallen Angel continuously stabbed it. In response to this the fox rolled onto its back as it tried to crush its prey beneath its weight, but Kokabiel merely leapt off its back before pelting it with his feathers.
Not relenting from his assault Kokabiel then conjured a massive light spear in his hand before throwing it at the fox, completely destroying the majority of the temple and bathing the world in a bright crimson light. As the light died down the remaining defenders felt despair in their hearts as they felt the immense power held in that one attack.
For her part, Yasaka was forced to return to her human form as the last of her energy was spent and she felt darkness begin to claim her.
She couldn't go down like this! Not like this! If Amaterasu had abandoned her then so what? She would deal with this monster herself! With her own power! The Leylines or even the 'other' realm! She had no choice!
Then Yasaka heard it…the promises of power once again whispering in her mind…
For the first time Yasaka found herself reaching out to the 'other' realm, trying to channel it into the staff she held in the same way the Sorcerer had earlier. At the same time the Head Priestess began accessing the Leylines of Kyoto, adding its power to her own as well. As she did so the Youkai felt power begin to return to her, rejuvenating her body as black and azure flames surrounded her body.
Kokabiel only watched as the blue inferno surrounding Yasaka instantly grew to a massive size, the pillar of blue flames blasting through the remains of the temple, destroying any remaining symbols of Shinto faith and lighting up the night sky. All throughout the battlefield everyone briefly stopped to turn and look at the temple remains in awe as the pillar of azure fire continued to grow.
"The Head Priestess is still fighting! Don't let them get to her! Keep fighting!" ordered the head of the guard.
A shout of happy affirmatives replied the leader as the defenders rallied around the rubble of the temple entrance, forming a wall of bodies between the cultists and their leader. It was a glorious sight, the outnumbered defenders holding off waves of insane cultists as the pillar of fire grew behind them and bathing everything in a deceptively calming blue glow.
Back in the temple Yasaka and Kokabiel stood at opposite ends of the now in flames building, the former Fallen Angel summoning his second sword as the Youkai gripped her staff in a quarterstaff stance.
The Head Priestess moved first as she swung her staff in a downwards sweep, the fox fire traveling along the weapon and rushing towards Kokabiel in a wave of blue flames. The former Fallen Angel then stretched out his wings as he leapt into the air to dodge the massive azure flames and instead launched his own steel-like feathers from his wings in retaliation.
Growling in frustration Yasaka incinerated the incoming projectiles with her fox fire, only for her eyes to widen as she brought her staff up to block the two swords attempting to brain her, the Fallen Angel having used her own attack to slip into her blind spot. Straining to push Kokabiel back, Yasaka slammed the staff into his stomach, using her pillar of fire to burn the Fallen Angel.
However, instead of recoiling in fear or pain like she'd hoped, Kokabiel instead had his grin grow wider and increased the pressure, seemingly uncaring for the layers of skin on his hand being burnt away. The former Fallen Angel then managed to carve a shallow cut above Yasaka's eye before being forced to back off as she cried in pain and tried to return the favour with her flaming staff.
Not giving the Youkai any respite, Kokabiel quickly rushed back towards her as the flames surrounding Yasaka's body died down. The Youkai slammed the staff into his left hand, breaking the Fallen's arm and knocking his weapon away from his grasp before using the other end of the staff to block the right sword.
Kokabiel frowned as he saw his light weapon bounce of the staff and a crack formed in the sword, the former Fallen then had to bend backwards as roaring blue flames passed inches above his head, setting strands of his hair alight with flames.
In response he immediately summoned a light spear in his free hand before, in one smooth movement, he pushed himself upright and jabbed the longer reaching weapon towards Yasaka's gut at a phenomenal speed. The Youkai dodged by deflecting the spear with her staff before back flipping away from the Fallen Angel to gain some distance.
Reaching into the 'other' realm Yasaka felt saw the staff in her hand begin glowing a myriad of colours before everyone heard the piercing wail of the damned from the weapon. Suddenly, for the first time, Kokabiel cried out in pain as eldritch lightning erupted from the Youkai's fingertips as her eyes glowed with a deep purple colour.
"A Psyker…ha! So that's why you Youkai are so effected by it! Careful there Priestess, you're gazing into the abyss, and I don't think you'll like what's gazing back at you," grinned the former Fallen Angel as his flesh began repairing itself and the mark of Khorne started glowing again.
"SHUT UP! I'LL KILL YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"snarled the Kitsune as she began levitating in the air as azure and black flames surrounded her.
Kokabiel watched as her nine tails spread out from her body and the glow from her flames and eyes intensified, her fiery inferno bloating out the moon and making it as bright as day. All the remaining Youkai shuddered as the felt the power gathering within their Head Priestess, the nearby houses spontaneously catching alight as the heat increased further.
"Head Priestess STOP! You'll destroy Kyoto! Damn it! Everyone TAKE COVER!" ordered the acting commander of the guard as everyone ran for the nearest cover.
Faster than Kokabiel could blink, Yasaka sent a massive fire pillar directly at the Fallen Angel, incinerating anything in its path to its target. As the attack finally calmed down everyone saw a massive path of destruction leading into the city centre, not even a single brick remained intact as a charred and barren path cut through the city. There were even charred remains of a news helicopter that had apparently been flying close nearby before it was caught in the crossfire.
'That wasn't supposed to happen! I didn't think it would be that powerful!' thought the Youkai in fear as she realized the implications of what she had just done. There was no way they could cover up what had happened now, she had to get her people out of the city! And worse her own people had no one to blame for this except her, they would lose all respect for her as a leader.
Or she could just blame it on the Grigori. After all, Kokabiel lead the attack…Even Amaterasu could be blamed for letting this happen to them.
The Head Priestess frowned at this thought but before she could even question it the Youkai felt something kick her in the middle of her stomach and send her flying across the ruined temple. Struggling to look up, rage once again replaced the despair she had been feeling seconds ago.
"That was good attack, if I hadn't of been blessed by my new master it definitely would have killed me," smirked the singed Kokabiel.
"Damn you!" she hissed in anger, struggling in vain to get her exhausted body to its feet.
Was she just going to stand there and let this happen? Was she just going to let this monster kill her? Was she just going to let him get way with murdering her child?
'No, I will stop him!' raged the Head Priestess.
How? Amaterasu abandoned her and even using the Leylines she wasn't powerful enough to stop him.
'I'll find a way! I just need more power!' cried Yasaka, not noticing the staff in her hand now beginning to glow with a familiar eldritch power, upon seeing this Kokabiel froze in shock.
You want power? Very well but what are you willing to pay for it? What is the vengeance for your child worth to you?
'Everything!' spat the Youkai, for the first time noticing the voice in her head wasn't her own but not caring in her rage.
I see, at first you had my curiosity little mortal…but now you have my attention. I will help you but in return you will renounce that Sun God. You will be bound to us as our Avatar, that is the payment. Do you accept?
There was a deep silence throughout the battlefield as if the world itself was hanging on the weight of Yasaka's answer. The mother looked at the dead body of her daughter with tears in her eyes before she turned back to Kokabiel and her eyes hardened.
"I do!" she snarled at the former Fallen Angel despite the bad feeling that had been growing within her.
Suddenly Yasaka had the feeling of an immensely powerful alien presence intrude on her mind before she saw the darkness growing in her vision. And in that moment she realized she had made a huge mistake as her mind was slowly imprisoned.
Everyone watched as Yasaka's body got up from the ground before the staff in her hand released a demonic scream, blue flames surrounding her body as her eyes glowed with eldritch power. All the Youkai present flinched as they felt the barrier between the 'other' world and Kyoto grow even thinner as their Head Priestess began channeling massive amounts of power from both the Leylines and the 'other' world.
Yasaka then turned to the still stunned Kokabiel before snarling as she released the power she had been channeling into her fox fire, creating a maelstrom of heat and energy as azure and black flames erupted from her body and rushed towards him.
"I see, ha! That was my purpose here! IT MATTERS NOT THIS IS THE GLORIOUS DEATH I HAVE BEEN SEEKING! BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!" roared Kokabiel as he met the oncoming flames with a charge of his own.
There was silence as they watched the former Fallen Angel charge through the flames to reach his prey, the symbol of Khorne burning brightly on his chest as layer after layer of skin was burnt away. The expression on Yasaka's face grew surprised as she was forced to back up slightly from the still charging Kokabiel.
Finally, the flames died down to reveal the burnt husk of Kokabiel kneeling in front of Yasaka before he collapsed to the ground. "Well done Champion of Khorne, you have exceeded all our expectations," congratulated 'Yasaka' in a whisper as she looked down to the light sword embedded in her gut.
The Youkai then pulled it out before her flesh quickly repaired itself and 'Yasaka' nodded in satisfaction as she began examining her body, seemingly oblivious to her fellow Youkai staring at her in shock. "It looks like I was right, this host's body was designed to hold immense amount of Divine power. Perhaps it was even meant to be an Avatar of the Sun God…it should be able to hold my essence in short bursts," mused 'Yasaka' quietly to herself.
That thought brought a smile to her face, for the first time in history it had its full power available to it in the material realm. If only it could find more Avatars like this, the others would be able to interact with the material realm like it could. Perhaps it could examine this host's body in order to find out how it was made. They would need to have more power in the material realm if they were to protect the Creator from their enemies, plus it would help keep them under the radar of the rest of the Gods until they were ready to strike.
"Milady are you alright?" questioned one of the surviving guards.
'Yasaka' smiled at him, making the Youkai shiver involuntarily as it was caught in her glowing eyes that now had an eight pointed star within their iris. "Believe me I've never felt better," replied 'Yasaka' in a happy tone.
"What should we do with him?" asked the guard, pointing to the charred but still breathing body of Kokabiel.
"I'll take care of him personally, the rest of you search for survivors," she ordered, getting a nod from her guards whom ran off.
Now alone 'Yasaka' gazed down at Kokabiel with a smile before picking him up over her shoulder and carrying him off. "Don't die yet Champion of Khorne, your master will want to reward you. And we still have use for you."
Tzeentch was unable to keep the eager smile off 'Yasaka's' face, after all thanks to that fool Amaterasu it now had an Avatar of its own. For the first time in history the Chaos Gods were free to act outside the Warp as well as within it.
And it had many plans yet to come to fruition, least of all the plan for the Creator…after all what better reward for the one who unified Chaos. But first it had to remove Amaterasu and her priests from the equation…
Still even with a body designed to hold a God's essence Tzeentch could already feel its new mortal body struggling to contain its power. Realizing that it couldn't stay in here for an extended period without damaging its new container the Chaos God prepared to leave. The God then reluctantly released its control over its new Avatar, least it damages its new container, and Yasaka slowly felt her mind begin to return to her.
As promised he has been dealt with, but remember Yasaka, your soul belongs to us now. You are an Avatar of the Ruinous Powers, Priestess. You worship us now.
'Kunou, my daughter. Please if you're this powerful then bring her back! I beg you, do this and I'll devote myself heart and soul to you,' begged the Kitsune, as tears began rolling down her face.
We already own you Priestess. Why should we help you further? What can you offer us?
'Whatever you ask I will give it!' she promised, before feeling the alien presence seem to split into four within her mind.
Power demands sacrifice, Priestess. You want us to return your daughter's soul to you, then give us something of equal value in exchange. A life for a life. Sacrifice them in our name.
A cold feeling spread across Yasaka's mind as she looked over at the still body of Kunou and suddenly she heard a soft gasp beneath her. Looking down the Youkai saw Kokabiel still at her feet, and Yasaka had her eyes widen as she stared at him.
'A sacrifice? Huh?' thought the Youkai as the staff in her hands started glowing again and Yasaka felt the other realm gently caress her mind with whispers.
"Head Priestess, those of us that survived and are still sane have been gathered," informed a guard as the Youkai turned to see the crowd before her.
You need to evacuate the city, the humans will shoot your kind on sight. And that's not counting what the Supernatural World will do to you. Use the chaos right now to get out of the city, the others will keep the humans busy.
Upon hearing the order Yasaka nodded as she directed her people out of the city, making sure to take the bodies of Kunou and Kokabiel with them. The survivors managed to escape their former home with only minimal engagements with the humans, using their skills at illusions to hide themselves from sight until they had left Kyoto far behind them.
Alex just stared at the TV screen in horror as it turned to static, the rush of blue flames engulfing the helicopter before the show switched back to the news studio. 'That…that was Kokabiel…but he was…taken by Khorne…' realized the human as his eyes widened as he recognized the marking on the Fallen Angel's chest.
'Which means that the entire world just found out that Chaos is real, this is not good. Plus, thanks to that fox creature, the secret about the Supernatural world was just revealed as well,' frowned Alex as he tried to picture the consequences of this new turn of events.
'Once people know that Chaos exists they will convert in droves…' blinked Alex as this realization crossed his mind. 'Khorne isn't cunning enough to plan this…so either Tzeentch interfered with the slaughter or this is the work off all four of them,' thought the human as he turned to face the Changeling with a low frown.
"What is going on here Changeling? I was under the assumption that your masters were loyal to me," he growled as cracks started appearing in the glass doors and windows.
The Changeling froze as it felt the sheer psychic power beginning to flow into the human, his eyes radiating eldritch energy as the mark of Chaos Undivided glowed fiercely on his hand. "Of course we are, Creator. Our job is to serve and protect you," it replied in its whispery tone.
"BULLSHIT! I NEVER TOLD YOU TO MURDER AND BURN DOWN HALF OF KYOTO!" roared Alex in fury as power started flowing into him.
The Changeling found itself being pinned against the wall by an unseen force as the Chaos tattoo grew even brighter, pain erupting around the daemon's body. "Creator I understand that you are mad but it was necessary to protect you," it choked out.
"Protect me from what? You're Chaos! What can possibly challenge you?!" growled the human.
"You already know what we must protect you from. Until the plan is complete you are vulnerable," it replied, making Alex blink in confusion.
"What plan?" he demanded.
"I don't know Creator, my master did not inform me of it," answered the Changeling.
Alex silently looked down at the daemon before he let it go and turned to see the Eldar Spirit Stone in his hand. 'Do I risk making the situation even worse? At the very least the Eldar forces should help dealing with the poor insane victims,' decided the human.
As Alex headed off into the forest he thought about what he was going to do with the Chaos Gods, 'they're beginning to make power plays. But Tzeentch said they can't hurt me, so theoretically if I order them to stop then they will obey.' But he needed an adviser, someone who had an idea of how Chaos Gods make decisions, Lorgar or Magnus might be able to help. While he was on that thought creating Alpharius and Omegon to act as spies and bodyguards wasn't a bad idea either. As he put these thoughts to the back of his mind, Alex felt the eldritch glow in his eyes die down and headed for the wilderness outside of Kuoh.
The Changeling just watched him leave with the Spirit Stone before a feeling of relief washed over it, the Creator didn't kill him which was more than it could hope for. Deciding to continue with the original plan the Changeling transformed into a bird and headed towards Rias Gremory's house, observing her behaviour to even the most minute detail.
After walking into the woods for about an hour Alex finally stopped as he gave the area another quick search before his eyes stared glowing. Suddenly massive shadows the size of two full football fields spread out from his body, consuming everything in its path. Alex watched as tress and other plant life fell into the abyss before hundreds of shapes began erupting from within.
Alex had his jaw drop as he saw all manner of Eldar forces, both infantry and vehicles, spew forth from the void and turn to face him. It was like a never ending tide as more and more poured from the shadows, surrounding him and suddenly Alex felt like this was a very bad idea as an Eldar Farseer approached him.
"Farseer Taldeer, that is my name if you chose to us it," she replied in a musical voice before dropping down to one knee as her fellows did likewise.
"Taldeer? As in that Taldeer?" questioned Alex in shock, getting a nod from the Farseer.
"We are here to serve you Ynnead," spoke the Farseer as she and the rest of the Eldar bowed their heads before him.
"Ynnead? What are you talking about? I'm not Ynnead," he asked with a shake of his head.
Taldeer just looked up at him before replying in an almost reverent tone, "you saved our souls from She Who Thirsts. Just as the prophecies foretold, you are Ynnead."
"Well I guess that is partially true…BUT I'M A HUMAN! A MON-KEIGH! How can I be Ynnead!?" shouted an exasperated Alex, his eyes still glowing with eldritch energy.
Soft melodious laughter erupted from the Farseer at his outburst, "you are no more a Mon-keigh, than the Ruinous Gods are. Even if you do not seem to realize it yet."
"You know what forget it, I don't have time to argue with you. I want you all to go to Kyoto and help them deal with the Chaos forces. Protect whatever civilians are left and assist the local troops in containing the madmen," he ordered, getting a nod from the Farseer.
"What of the Mon-keigh forces? What should we tell them after we arrive?" she asked, making a frown cross Alex's face.
"At this point…I don't think it even matters. Make something up, that you were scouting for a possible artifact or something. We might be able to fool them into thinking you're aliens rather than creations from the Sacred Gear," informed the human.
"Understood, what of those of us who have not taken the Path of the Warrior? The Bonesingers and the Guardians?" questioned the Eldar leader.
Alex briefly gazed up at the sky and smiled, "have them begin construction of a Starship and Base of Operations. That should help reinforce our lie."
"Our music shall shape the Wraithbone," sung a chorus of voices as a group of Bonesingers and Guardians split off from the main group, a white substance forming around them as soft music began to echo throughout the forest.
Farseer Taldeer and the rest of her forces than boarded their transports as a sea of Eldar vehicles rose from the ground before soaring off into the distance. As Alex looked at the base beginning to be constructed around him, he frowned upon noticing that the shadows from his body had yet to close as more and more Eldar poured forth from the void.
'Jesus just how many Eldar souls were stored in that Spirit Stone of yours Slaanesh?' gasped Alex as the numbers of Eldar, both military and civilian, continued to rise. He hoped these Eldar were fast workers…because there was no way they were going stay undetected for long in these numbers. Especially so close to Kuoh…
With that thought in mind the eldritch glow from Alex's eyes finally died as he collapsed to the ground in exhaustion, his growing power struggling to maintain the rate at which the Eldar were being created. The human's unconscious body was then picked up by an Eldar in a Ranger's armour, whom reverently cradled his body before placing it down on her lap. If any human had seen the almost fanatical devotion that was in the eyes of the Eldar present…they would have immediately shuddered.
To the Eldar this was common logic, they had been tortured by She Who Thirsts for millennia after their Spirit Stones were broken. But then Ynnead freed them…saved them from their millennia of suffering, just as it was foretold. For a normal human this would inspire love, loyalty and devotion to their savior…but the Eldar were not human. Every emotion they felt was intensified to the point that this devotion…was turned into a fanatical obsession. Ynnead had freed them and now they would serve him with the joy, devotion and loyalty he deserved.
"Praise Ynnead," whispered the Ranger as she gently ran her fingers through his hair, her whisper being repeated by the other Eldar present.
For a brief moment a small flash of light could be seen coming from the human's back and as the light died down, if anyone had taken the time they would have noticed Alex's ears beginning to become sharp and pointed.
The remaining Youkai collapsed to the ground in exhaustion as they found themselves hidden deep within the heavily forested area. "Come on we have to keep moving, we're still too close to Kyoto, we don't want to be here when the Leylines overload!" ordered Yasaka, feeling the power within Kyoto almost ready to burst.
"Why bother? What do we even have left? Even Amaterasu has abandoned us," muttered a Monkey Youkai Priest.
They are beaten, they are hopeless. They need guidance, give them hope, give them a reason to believe in a better tomorrow and they will follow you to hell and back. After all, they are your people are they not? Isn't it your job to give them hope when there is none?
'But I don't know how…how am I supposed to give them hope in this situation?' questioned the Priestess, in an equally broken tone.
Just repeat after me, mortal. There is no one better at giving Hope than I.
"You're right, what will be left of us after this? You could say that our world has ended. You could say that we've given up hope," muttered Yasaka, a silence descending over her people as they stared at their priestess.
No one spoke a word as the survivors turned to look at the ground and tears began flowing from their eyes as they realized how much they had just lost. The Youkai faction had been abandoned by their Shinto deities, Amaterasu had chosen her human followers over them. The human's government would imprison and experiment on them now that they were revealed. Assuming the other factions of the Supernatural world didn't kill them for exposing themselves to the humans, truly it was the end for them and they all knew it.
"Or, you could say...something else," began Yasaka, as a hopeful tone began to appear in her voice and everyone looked up to her. "Where we stand is not destroyed. We are not in ruins but in something waiting to be built - waiting to begin again. From these ashes we can rise and create beauty. The crumbling walls are not a representation of our failures, but a reminder of the lessons we have learned."
To the Youkai it seemed that Yasaka had begun radiating an almost unnatural charisma as her eyes started glowing with eldritch light, the eight pointed star returning in her iris', and the sun beginning to rise in the distance, seeming to bathe the Kitsune with it light. What few blue flames that remained in the distance of Kyoto seemed to slowly fade away with the morning light as the Kitsune smiled at her people, the once horrifying symbol on her staff now seeming to fill the observers with a hopeful feeling.
"So we continue on. Not because we want to, but because we have to," informed the Kitsune a she turned to the Monkey Youkai from earlier. "You asked what we have left? The answer is each other, each of us, everyone one of you have lost someone from this tragedy, either to insanity or death."
"We are united in this pain! We will survive! And we will regain what we have lost! I swear it to you now, we will not let ourselves be tossed aside by the world!" shouted Yasaka, as low mutterings spread throughout the survivors.
"But we don't have Amaterasu's favour," muttered one of the clergymen as he fingered his talisman of Amaterasu.
"We were Youkai long before we were followers of Amaterasu! We were powerful without her and we can be powerful again! We are now of one mind, one purpose, we are one organism. And we need to realize that an organism at war with itself is doomed! So I ask you my fellow Youkai, my people…" shouted Yasaka as she grabbed her talisman of Amaterasu in her hand.
"Will you follow me once again?! The Shinto deities have abandoned us so let us return the favour!" she screamed as the talisman in her hands erupted in blue and black fire. "Our new Gods will never abandon us; they will help us grow strong once more! So let me ask you, will you follow me once more!"
The response was numerous symbols of the Shinto faith being torched as the group of survivors began cheering as they stared at their leader. "YASAKA! YASAKA! YASAKA!" they chanted with a roaring of voices.
The Kitsune felt a grateful smile cross her face as she beckoned for them to stop their chanting, "you have truly made me proud today. Now bear witness to the power of our new Gods!"
With that declaration Yasaka motioned for the body of Kokabiel and Kunou to be brought over to her, and watched as they were laid out before her. None of the Youkai said anything as they watched the staff in the Kitsune's hand glow with light.
Suddenly what was left of Kokabiel's body shuddered as Yasaka thrust her staff into it and started carving an eight pointed star into the ground with his blood. Following her new God's instructions, she placed Kunou's body in the centre of the star alongside Kokabiel.
Everyone watched with baited breath as the symbol glowed, plants withering and dying or being twisted into something new around them. The connection to the 'other' realm got stronger as the barrier once again weakened, and the Head Priestess continued growing in power as the ritual continued.
The Youkai stood in stunned silence as they saw a pale white wispy like light flow out of Kokabiel and into Kunou, and in the silence they all heard a soft gasp escape the young Kitsune. No one said a word as they saw Kunou's eyes open and she slowly staggered up to the ground, as if not used to her own body.
As promised life has returned to Kunou's body. Always remember Priestess, power demands sacrifice.
Yasaka said nothing as she just hugged Kunou, whom had a very confused expression on her face and refused to return the gesture. The Priestess then turned back to her stunned people, and a low cheer rose up within her.
The Youkai silently watched Kunou's living breathing body with uttermost shock as they turned back to their Head Priestess. Each remembering their own loves ones lost in this conflict and wanting to know just how the Priestess accomplished this miracle.
"Our new Gods rewards their followers, prove yourselves to them and you to might see you loved ones again," she shouted, filling her people with hope.
"And how do we prove ourselves to them?" asked someone from the crowd in an eager tone.
"Power demands sacrifice, remember these teachings well. Together we shall learn how to wield our new found powers but first we must pass our new God's trial," replied Yasaka.
Low whispers emerged from the crowd as they heard what the Head Priestess said before following after her towards where they would make their new home. After examining herself once more and glancing at Kokabiel's body, Kunou frowned before she too followed after the surviving Youkai, an unreadable expression on her face as her eyes briefly glowed with eldritch light.
The Apocalypse Dragon pondered on how different things were now, its home slowly changing as the four realms continued to influence the Dimensional Gap. If Ophis was mad at it for disturbing her home…then Great Red almost blanched at the thought of her seeing what had become of this place. Still at least it had made this place incredibly interesting, honestly it amazed him that others hadn't realized what was going on here. Ophis should have at least detected something wrong in her home and yet she was nowhere to be seen, maybe the Infinite Dragon God had detected it and just hadn't decided what to do yet?
Great Red then snorted in bemusement and continued flying though the now greatly changed Dimensional Gap when he felt something, deep within a fifth realm was forming. Remembering what happened last time he rushed towards this fifth area, only to stop in confusion. There was nothing there. No defining scent coming off this newest realm, in fact despite it being connected to the four other realms, Great Red could sense nothing within it except pure emotions.
Upon entering the now expanding 'nothingness' realm, the dragon saw it…the 'dreams' and fanatical devotion all beings directed at a single point. So strong was it that Great Red actually shuddered, he had seen the dreams of mortals for thousands of years and yet nothing compared to this. It was so alien, so…new.
The dragon of dreams felt a burning curiosity within it, what could cause such a thing to form in the Dimensional Gap? What could incite this much emotion within mortals? And so the Apocalypse Dragon began to descend into the 'nothingness,' pushing deeper into the new dimension, examining the new alien dreams along the way.
And as the dragon descended further into the depths of dreams and devotion, it felt the emotions grow stronger and stronger. Great Red felt the emotions press down on its mind the more it looked into these dreams, searching for the source of it.
'Why? Why was it here again?' echoed a small thought as it descended another level. Why indeed? Great Red found itself struggling to remember as the emotions of this 'nothingness' realm began sinking into its mind.
Love…Loyalty…Devotion…Savior…SERVE HIM!
'Serve? Was I serving someone?' questioned the dragon as another dream played itself out though its mind, the emotions nearly overpowering as it shook its head. 'NO! I AM NO MAN'S SERVANT! I AM THE APOCALYPSE DRAGON! I AM THE GREAT RED!'
The dragon then snarled and put the thoughts to the back of its mind as it continued on, it had to find the source! Great Red felt itself getting closer to the source of power in this realm, it could feel the growing power increasing as another way of emotions rocked the dragon.
Love…Loyalty…Devotion…Savior…SERVE HIM!
'Serve? Was I serving someone?' it wondered, even as a small unheard voice began to echo something in the back of its mind. 'No…I am not a servant. I am…I am…who am I?'
And so the dragon continued in its fruitless search as it descended into the bowls of the realm of 'nothingness' and yet filled to the brim with dreams. Battering the dragon with emotions the intensity of which it had never even comprehended before.
Love…Loyalty…Devotion…Savior…SERVE HIM!
Love…Loyalty…Devotion…Savior…SERVE HIM!
Love…Loyalty…Devotion…Savior…SERVE HIM!
Love…Loyalty…Devotion…Savior…SERVE HIM!
SERVE HIM! SERVE HIM! SERVE HIM! SERVE HIM!
So it looks like Great Red is finally being influenced by the Warp as he keeps entering it and now we know why Youkai are all struggling with the effects of the Warp. Next chapter will be the effects on the world as a whole about the Eldar and Chaos being 'real.' It will also show more bad things going on in Kuoh, more from Tyranids', Rias' and Alex's perspective, as well as the beginning of the end for the Kuoh arc.
Farseer Taldeer's Spirit Stone: In the Chaos timeline for Dark Crusade her stone is broken and sacrificed to Slaanesh, this is why she is included.