{The Palace of Crescent Lake, the Elven Kingdom…}
The Elvenking, Decem Hougan, sighed in contentment as he donned his trousers. When he had finished, he moved to look out from an open terrace connected to his harem chamber. He had just finished extracting his usual pleasure from one of the younger members of that ill-fated gathering of elven women. His most recent mate did not move, fearing what the king might do if she even twitched, but she covered her face in utter shame, weeping silently at the sordid ordeal she had just been subjected to. The other women cowered in the corner of the chamber, equally afraid to move, some burying their heads in their hands and knees as they wept in utter silence. The war with the Theocracy was closing in around them, and their king seemed to have nothing better to do than to force himself upon them one by one. Decem ignored them for now, looking instead at the calamitous assault taking place on the city below from the terrace.
Pitiful. Not even an hour, and the defenses are already collapsing. I must be getting soft of heart, letting such weaklings call themselves my subjects. They insult me and my father by calling themselves 'elves.' Any moment, they'll come begging for me to save them from the humans. Ah, but that's how it is. The strong can do anything they want to the weak, and they are weaker than even those Theocracy humans.
Loud explosions thundered outside, and smoke rose into view through the dense trees.
So the humans have brought up their magic casters, have they? No matter. I will have to leave at some point. It would be inconvenient to remain here for much longer, although I could hold the castle using my elemental summon indefinitely. Behemoth has never let me down before, and there shouldn't be any problem fighting my way out from this human army.
A soft, anguished sob broke the quiet inside the room. Decem wheeled around, and the harem members huddled closer together in fear at the movement. "Enough."
No verbal answer was given, only silent and contrite prostration. That was the only response that did not result in further pain or indignity. Hands clasped behind him, Decem strode out of the harem chamber, and into the palace corridors. "Remain here until I return," he ordered.
'Return.' Ha! I'm not wasting another second of my time on those useless walking wombs. None of them have given me a child even half-worthy of my name. None of their offspring have so much as hinted at any of the powers of my bloodline. I'm leaving this place for good. I'll stop by the Theocracy's main city first, to retrieve that child of mine those humans stole away from me... Was it a male or female, I wonder? It'd be much easier if it was a female, since males can't bear children and such. The child must be in puberty by now, yes, so I won't have to wait. Although it would be a half-elf… maybe it has already matured. I'll want my father's bow from the vaults, as well. Not that I'll truly need it. Behemoth will do all the fighting I need. It would simply be uncouth for those humans to take the bow for themselves when they capture this place. Treating the weapon of my illustrious father as some mantlepiece trophy… or an offering to the very 'gods' he helped snuff out. The thought of that is unacceptable. It will see far better use in my hands. As will the food and other valuables for the road.
Passing through a secured door, Decem stood inside his treasury. Some hoarse-voiced bird croaked and fluttered away. Odd…
{A short ways away…}
One of Havi's twin ravens croaked at him as it returned to him, perching on a nearby strut in the winding corridors of the palace. The old man nodded slowly. "Muninn's found him. Just head left at the next turn, go down the hall, then on the left. You can't miss it. A vault of some sort."
Zesshi felt butterflies in her stomach at the news. "Good."
"Yeah. Well, I have my own family matter to attend to. Just came up. Here. I'll lend you a few things you might find handy when things get violent. Now… where was…" Havi began rummaging through the pockets of the great coat draped over his shoulders, muttering to himself as he did. "I had them… just somewhere… Aha! Here, catch!" The old man tossed some small, shiny trinkets through the air. Zesshi saw the metallic glint of these just in time to catch them. Holding them in her palm, she looked at them. A necklace, a ring, and a bracelet?
"What… are these?"
"Magic items. They're a gift, so no need to return them when you're done. Oh, and uh, you don't want to go into a fight without these as well." Havi waved his hand about slightly. "【Bardagavernd,】【Blessi Stríðsmenn.】 There you go. Now go knock his pointy-eared socks off, okay?
Zesshi put out her hand to stop Havi, but she was too late. The flurry of ravens had come and gone, and Havi with them. The half-elf girl breathed deeply in frustration.
Odd. Nothing has changed. I feel no different. Even if that was all nothing, I can't retreat now. I'd never forgive myself for backing down from a chance to avenge myself. I've got misgivings about these trinkets, but I would be better off wearing them rather than not, given Havi's actual strength in combat. Although it'd have been nice if he told me what they did so I could fight better. It's too late for that, though. Father awaits.
{The Elven Kingdom's Royal Treasury…}
Decem had slung his father's bow on his shoulder, along with a quiver full of elven arrows. His business in the treasury concluded, he turned to leave. As he drew near the door, Decem halted. There was a lone person, clad in white and gold armor with a golden four-pointed star on the breastplate and one on each pauldron, wielding a scythe made of a inky-black metal. Decem scoured his brain for a moment. That armor… it rings a bell. Where…? Who wore such a thing? He could not see the wearer's face, obscured behind a closed visor. Neither of them moved for a moment.
The armored stranger raised their helmet's visor. It was definitely a female, and there was something distinctly familiar but un-elvish about her facial features. Decem saw a pair of mismatched eyes like his own, one black, and one white. The Elvenking nodded in growing understanding. I doubt much will come of this, but if the girl shows promise I might just bring her along to the Theocracy. "You're one of mine, then. I don't recognize you by sight, though I suppose that's to be expected, given just how many of 'mine' there are... Let's see, can you withstand this?" He focused himself, all his ability and willingness to destroy made tangible, and directed right at the newcomer. The stranger did not even flinch, and continued to silently glare at him. Decem's grin turned into full-blown laughter. "Ohhho! Most impressive! No one has ever been able to withstand that before. Where have you been all this time? You've got real promise! I can test you more thoroughly for suitability later, but you give me a good enough impression for now. Come. The human army will be here soon."
Decem began to make his way out the vault door, before the armored girl brandished her scythe at him, pointing a spear-like blade at its top at his neck. He stopped short of the blade, and furrowed his brows. "Ah, I see it now." He dissipated into dust, reappearing some ways away from the armored girl. "How inconvenient. I knew I'd seen a face like that before. Yes, I see it, now. You're from that Theocracy woman, aren't you? Oh, how polite your country is! I was just going to go fetch you myself, as a matter of fact, but they've spared me the trouble and delivered you to me in a nice armored package. I should thank them before I destroy them." [Silent Magic - Mercy of Shorea Robusta].
Zesshi angrily slammed her visor shut. "THAT'S ENOUGH!" She furiously charged straight for Decem, scythe in hand. He didn't move, only rolling his eyes. With a resounding crash, Zesshi's world turned blurry, and blunt pain coursed through her body. Something vast and heavy had just struck at her. The armor absorbed most of the blow's impetus, but the remaining force still sent her flying backwards, rolling and skidding some way along the floor.
She rolled herself further along, up onto her knees and propping herself up with her weapon. Decem had done nothing the whole time. Zesshi looked at what had struck her. Rising out of the earthen floor, was a monstrous, towering being of rock and ore, standing like an impenetrable wall between Zesshi and the Elvenking. This must be the elemental summon of his I've heard about. I've still got my two aces in the hole, however. If things get really rough, I can still use them.
The Elvenking laughed, derisively, wagging a finger at Zesshi. "Ah-ah-ah! To be worthy of continuing my bloodline, you'll need some education. We'll start with the basics. Lesson One: Obedience." Decem gestured to the giant earthen summon. "Behemoth, instruct her."
"What?" Zesshi semi-laughed in shock at the sheer ridiculousness of his words. "Your bloodline? In what world would I ever–"
The stone monster sprang forward with unexpected speed, its fist high in the air, ready to rush down and crush its prey. Zesshi barely had a moment to react.
"[Evasion]!"
In a blur, Behemoth's fist smashed into the ground, sending the whole vault room shuddering, disturbing all of its contents. Mountains of gold coins were thrown into the air, along with armor, weapons, and other priceless treasures. But the blow had struck no one. Zesshi rushed to the side, her speed heightened by the Martial Art she had just called upon. She struck Behemoth with her scythe, the dark blade cutting into its stony hide. The slash left a shallow mark, as Behemoth wheeled around to counterattack with its massive fists. With another resounding crash, it punched the empty ground where Zesshi was. She dodged again, darting to her left, getting herself in between Behemoth and Decem. No sooner had she slowed down that her vision was sent spinning again by yet another attack.
She had dodged Behemoth's downward blow, but failed to see the summon's other arm sweeping around on her right hand side. Not enough time. The monster grabbed her by the legs, its vice-like grip threatening to buckle the cuisses and greaves of her armor, and crush the bones within. Zesshi gasped and winced from the pain. Winding its arm back, Behemoth hurled Zesshi out of the vault chamber like one might throw a small stone. She crashed into the wall of the corridor just outside, tumbling onto the ground with a thud. The impact had broken her grip on her weapon, and it clattered just beside her as she groaned and struggled to stand up again. Decem shook his head as he watched, repressing the urge to laugh.
Zesshi's mind began racing. Try as she might, her body refused to cooperate and stand up.
I think my legs are… broken. That… the pain… it… I need to… heal… Wait… what… is this? The pain in Zesshi's body, and most notably, her legs, began melting away automatically. She had cast no healing spells on herself. That meant– Havi's gifts! But which one of these is doing the healing?! The bracelet caught her eye, a soft green glow emanating from it. So the bracelet applies automatic healing? After a few moments, she managed to scramble to her feet as Behemoth tore through the vault entryway, Decem tailing close behind. Zesshi took up her scythe again, this noticing a faint purple light on its blade. Acting on a hunch of what was causing this, she looked at her hand, at the ring Havi had given her. Once a plain gold color, the trinket now sported slowly undulating runes, glowing a similar purple light. Alright… so the ring does something to weapons… but what? And what does the necklace do?
There was no time to theorize however, not with Behemoth pressing the attack, nimble beyond its monstrous size. Another downward blow to the ground came. Zesshi just barely dashed to safety, stabbing the spearpoint of her weapon into Behemoth's fist, and following up with a horizontal slash.
Decem burst out in laughter again. "I give you very poor marks so far! Once Behemoth squashes every ounce of stubbornness out of you, we'll move on to Lesson Two." She's quite fast. I should be careful of her trying to get between me and Behemoth. [Silent Magic - Aspect of Elemental]. A green aura surrounded Decem for a moment, before vanishing.
"Shut up!"
"That's no way to talk to your father. Show her, Behemoth!"
The palace shuddered again as Behemoth leapt into the air, hurling blow after blow against Zesshi when it landed, swinging slowly at first, but bringing its fists down rapidly to maximize the impact. Whether by her natural agility or more of her Martial Arts, Zesshi would dodge, counter the attack with one of her own, before Behemoth's retaliation forced her to retreat further and further back. Behemoth and its summoner continued to advance. After some time, the battle had moved away from the treasury altogether, and into the great throne room of the palace. Behind the throne was a massive balcony, overlooking the Elven city and the columns of smoke that rose from it. Zesshi fell back into the hall, with Behemoth and the Elvenking following.
Decem covered his growing irritation with a smile. He began pondering his options. This battle is going nowhere. The girl is extremely durable as well as fast. I haven't joined the fight properly, but I may not be able to do much. I've spent a good deal of my mana on controlling Behemoth and on the spells to protect myself… this is a game of attrition. Behemoth has to beat her down, and fast. She's used so many of those Martial Arts though… it can't be much longer before she is forced to retreat, or collapses from exhaustion, if she's stupid enough to keep using them. I could use my father's bow to divide her focus. There's also the matter of the invading army. The weaklings defending the city are probably dead or fled, useless either way. Actually, this girl is proving more trouble than she is worth. I'll just kill her and leave. What's this glow around Behemoth, anyway? Am I awakening more powers from my father's bloodline? At 343 years of age?
Zesshi looked on at her foe, drinking in the situation. She noticed the same thing Decem had. What is that… purple energy surrounding the monster? Havi had the same thing around him when we fought… That was not there previously… is it somehow… She looked at the blade of her scythe, and the ring on her finger, both glowing a similar purple hue, and then back to Behemoth's chest. The same purple light glowed through the cracks in the stone. It's connected to the ring somehow, I'm certain of it. But how? How can I use that? I'd need to get in close to that thing to find out, but it's too quick and too strong to use brute force. I'll need a diversion, use something to open up its defenses so I can get in and attack its core or heart. I wish Havi had told me! I'll have to use-
"Feeling tired, are we? You're making a very poor showing of it." The Elvenking forced a grin as he taunted her. "You could always give up, I'll be merciful."
"Like you were to my mother?"
"Ohhho!" exclaimed Decem haughtily. "I see now! This is your little revenge saga! How quaint!"
Zesshi ignored the threat, repressing a smirk. What a piece of shit! Just the provocation I'm looking for!
"YOU BASTARD!"
The Elvenking scoffed at the insult. "The saying goes that when you point, three fingers point back at you. I'll have you know my illustrious parents were very happily married."
The half-elf screamed in feigned rage, charging right at Decem, whose smile widened further. Behemoth readied itself to attack again.
Zesshi repressed another satisfied grin. He's bought it! Now, swing at me with all you got!
"[Greater Reinforce Defense], [Greater Wind Stride], [Greater Evasion], [Greater Ability Boost], [Greater Ability Sense]!"
Come on, ATTACK ME!
In a rapid swing, Behemoth attacked, to force the charging Zesshi back. In the sheer moment before the blow was to connect–
"[Einherjar]!"
She hurled herself to one side, as the Einheri appeared in front of her and absorbed the full force of Behemoth's attack, being thrown back by it. Zesshi's heart pounded rapidly, sweat poured down her brow, her peripheral vision blurring, her body drawing closer and closer to its limits with the stress of five simultaneous Martial Arts.
Still riding off of the activated Martial Arts, Zesshi ducked as Behemoth's other fist whooshed over her head to seize her again, and she jumped forward. Her Einheri, injured by the previous attack, but still in the fight, rushed to attack Behemoth again, only to be flung away by the mighty elemental. Zesshi used the spearpoint of her scythe to try and stab where the purple aura shone strongest, Behemoth's chest. She knew there were but moments before the Martial Arts wore off entirely.
With a resounding blow, Behemoth struck her with its other arm before she could successfully land the attack, sending her hurtling back.
Zesshi felt herself hit the ground once, twice, and then thrice. She saw the throne at the far end of the hallway rush past her, the open end of the hallway passing overhead. At last, near the balcony railings, she stopped. Her body was racked with pain, but thanks to the gift from Havi, it was slowly fading. She hobbled to her feet, heaving for breath.
Behemoth downed the Einheri once again with its fist. It stayed down this time, unmoving. The towering earthen monster lumbered forward, closing in on Zesshi, with Decem close behind. He unshouldered the great elven bow, wielded once by his father, from the Treasury, nocked an arrow, and loosed it.
With a loud clang, Zesshi felt a strong, narrow force strike one of her pauldrons. She saw in the corner of her eye the splintered shaft of an arrow, broken near the tip, as it shot over her shoulder and clatter on the ground. Her armor had turned the arrow, but she couldn't rely on it entirely. Not to mention she also had to watch out for the closing Behemoth.
"[Greater… Evasion]," she panted. And she dashed aside, as Behemoth landed a thunderous blow on the balcony floor, making it shudder. Then again, and again, and for a fourth and fifth time. That last punch was followed by a loud cracking and groaning sound. The balcony, which protruded outward from the main trunk of the palace-tree, was about to give. A part of the balcony railing splintered as another of Decem's arrows struck it.
A desperate plan snuck its way into Zesshi's head, and she smiled as the parts quickly matched up together like the sides of a Rubik's cube. She positioned herself near the area where the balcony had been attached to the main structure. Like clockwork, Behemoth's rocky fist came crashing down in that area, as she dodged once again.
She felt a sharp stinging sensation in her lower abdomen, off to one side. Decem had loosed another arrow, and this time it lodged itself in a chink in the armor between her breastplate and tassets, piercing through mail, doublet, tunic, and skin underneath. She pulled the bloodied arrow out and tossed it aside. Havi's healing bracelet would be good for dealing with her exhaustion, but a wound like that would need a stronger cure, but nothing as extreme as her fifth-tier healing spells. Third-tier would suffice. "[Cure Moderate Wounds]." The pain eased greatly, and she left the rest to the magic item she had received. She dodged another of Behemoth's earth-shaking punches. That was all she needed. In a quick motion, she stabbed her scythe deep into the widened crack that had formed between the balcony and the throne room proper, and pushed it down like a lever.
It worked. The balcony gave out. Behemoth, partly standing upon it, lurched backwards, falling, lashing out with its vast fists of stone. The elemental's hand loomed over Zesshi like a shadow, and its fingers clawed into the floor behind her, dragging forward as its weight proved too much to hold on. And Zesshi went with it. They were over the edge. They fell.
{Elsewhere…}
"Have some faith in her, Huginn. You know, you're such a pessimist," sighed Odin.
Squark, squark, squawk.
"Ugh… Are you really questioning this whole thing now? You've had days to get those questions in. Either she kills him, and this little experiment proceeds, or she dies, and it's over."
Squawk!
"I wasn't finished, Huginn! I only gave her those three things; a Bifröst ring, a regeneration bracelet, and a Realm Shift amulet. If she's smart, she'll figure them out on her own. If not, we'll go get the items back."
{Crescent Lake…}
Decem rushed over to the ledge created by Zesshi and Behemoth falling, peering down into the wooded city. He ignored the little raven that flew out after those two and circled downwards. The palace shuddered as Behemoth's weight broke down entire branches of the vast palace, sending them tumbling into ruin. From below, there came a massive thud, and everything fell still for a moment. Behemoth had taken a modest amount of damage from the fall, but it had survived. I need to make sure the same can't be said for the Theocracy brat. Of course those humans would plant some little need for vengeance in her brain. What a waste. "[Fly]." He knocked another arrow as the third-tier spell lifted him off the ground.
He floated out of the former balcony opening, preparing to descend and rendezvous with his summon. Decem turned as he heard running footsteps from behind him. The Einheri. So it was playing dead since–
The snow-white construct leapt right at him, its own scythe swinging through the air. The Elvenking moved himself to catch the weapon by the shaft. He caught it. But he could not break the enemy's grip on the weapon. It pulled down, and the [Fly] spell broke down beneath both Decem's weight and the Einheri's. They plummeted downward.
Decem thought quickly, winding up his leg for a powerful kick to the Einheri's helmet. The force was strong enough to send the construct spinning backwards and crashing into the Palace's mighty tree trunk. The ground was growing closer and closer. "[Feather Fall]!" Decem hit the ground, but took no damage from the dampened impact. I need to be careful with my spells… I can fight with Behemoth for maybe another ten minutes, and still have mana enough to make an escape… it's just the girl I'm worried about. "Behemoth! Come!" Speaking of that girl… where is she?
"Y-Y-Your Majesty!"
"Great King!"
"Save us!"
Voices crying out to him in the Elvish tongue distracted his thoughts for a moment. It was irritating. Several dozen elf warriors had seen him and were running towards the clearing he stood in, awed at the Elvenking's apparent arrival on the battlefield. Those who drew near threw themselves on the ground, weeping, to pay him homage.
"Mighty King, we beg of you! Lift but a finger of your hand and stop the invaders! Their main force is to the east and closing fast! If you aid us and we live, we will produce an army of offspring for you to–"
"Shut up." Pathetic… just as I expected…
"But, Great One! The city is nearly overrun! Our people are–"
"Your people are weak. Go die where I don't have to see you."
They hesitated.
Decem pointed angrily. "GO!"
The elf warriors fled, now more fearful of their king than all the spears, arrows, and spellcasting of the Theocracy put together.
The ground shuddered as Behemoth drew near, looming over the king. "We're heading northeast for the Theocracy. Keep your eyes peeled for that girl. That glow is still there…"
In just moments, a pale figure rushed at him from the forest, armed with a scythe. It was the girl. Decem dodged backwards as Behemoth imposed its rocky arm to protect him from the attacker.
Suddenly, the world stopped.
Zesshi stepped into the clearing, from the opposite direction, holding the amulet Havi had given her. This was her moment. She closed in on Behemoth, and without any Martial Arts, stabbed the elemental in its heart, where it glowed that odd purple color the strongest.
KABOOOOOM!
As the world resumed again, the force of the explosion tore up nearby trees, hurling them away into the main battle between the Theocracy and the Elven fighters and all around. Even the towering palace tree itself reeled from the explosion, its mighty roots lifting from the ground slightly, but not enough to fall over. It knocked Zesshi, Einheri, and Decem off of their feet.
Decem struggled to stand, shaking his head as the explosion left him disoriented. Of course, something like a little explosion could never harm the invincible–
Behemoth? Decem's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in absolute terror. Behemoth had been destroyed. Only one thought passed through his mind in that moment.
I have to escape.
The Elvenking turned to flee, running away at full tilt, no specific direction or destination. After a few moments, there came a sharp whish sound through the air behind him, and Decem felt his legs give out from under him, as a stinging pain set in the back of his knees.
"Face me, Father."
She was there, speaking calmly. The half-elf from the Theocracy, his own daughter. She had just slashed his legs with her scythe, cleaving the tendons and muscle, immobilizing him. The spell [Mercy of Shorea Robusta], which he had cast on himself before the battle had begun, began slowly regenerating the wounds. That was only one of its three effects. He just needed to keep her away long enough to regain mobility again, and he had just enough mana for a few more spells.
"[Green Chain]!"
Spectral shackles and chains erupted from the ground, binding Zesshi in place. Decem saw the Einheri summon charging right for him.
"[Shining Burst]!"
Zesshi had her own response to the spell before it took effect..
"[Sentence Heretic]!" It was not a spell, but a skill of hers. But whatever it did was unclear to Decem. It might have been a self-targeted buff.
[Shining Burst] caused an explosion of blinding light to subsume the entire area. Zesshi winced in pain, and for a moment, the Einheri reeled back from the attack. The [Green Chain] spell was destroyed as well. Even with Zesshi freed, that was all the time Decem needed to regain mobility. He clawed his way back to his feet again, and fled once more. He had enough mana for this one last spell.
"[Fly]!" The mana passed from him, and Decem's heart skipped a beat. He was still on the ground. "[FLY]!" Decem screamed the incantation again, as if it would somehow persuade the spell to take effect. It did not.
At last, it was Zesshi's turn to grin in earnest. Her [Sentence Heretic] skill had worked, increasing the failure rate of enemy spells. If his sweaty brow and panicked expression was any indicator, she had him. She pointed her scythe at him, and activated one of its innate spells.
"[Death]." Nothing happened, thanks to the second effect of [Mercy of Shorea Robusta]. Zesshi thought to herself. Immune to instant death magic, is he? So much the better.
She charged at him, using the shaft of her weapon to bludgeon him to the ground again. Decem writhed and struggled to escape, but she kept him in place. She gripped his throat with a firm armored hand, using the other to remove her helmet and reveal her face. Two trails of dried blood ran down from her nostrils, and her mismatched eyes were red and bloodshot, and a part of her head was caked in dried blood as well, but none of these wounds and their aftereffects shook her focus, or disturbed her manic, ear-to-ear smile.
"It is time to end this…" she muttered, more to herself than anyone.
Decem could take no more. "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?! WHAT DID I EVEN DO TO YOU?! I'VE NEVER EVEN KNOWN YOU BEFORE-"
"What's this, Father? Don't you believe that the strong can do what they want to the weak? Isn't this just the natural result of that view?"
"BUT THIS ISN'T FAIR, I JUST-"
Zesshi raised her helmet, and swung it like a club, without thinking. She saw a glob of blood and a few teeth fly out of his mouth from the blow to his face. She raised her arm again, helmet in hand. "Not fair?" Swing. "Was it fair that you forced yourself on Mama?" Swing. "She would beat me, every day, and she did so to death twice, all because I reminded her of you." Swing. "Was that fair?" Swing. "Don't you dare talk to me about 'fair.'" She threw the helmet onto his face, releasing it entirely. More of Decem's teeth, probably the last ones left, went with it, and another crack probably meant his nose gave out as well. He had been still for a few moments, likely suffocated by his own blood. Magic pulsed through his body in that moment, the third and final effect of [Mercy of Shorea Robusta]: one-time resurrection upon death, more limited first-aid against death than proper resurrection to full health. He gave out a piteous, wheezing gasp for air.
Zesshi released her grip on his throat, the thought of Decem crying out about the unfairness of it all, the hypocrisy of his words, making her forget herself entirely. She struck him with her right fist. She struck him with her left fist. Then with the right fist. Then with the left fist. Then the right. Then the left. The right. The left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left.
Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Kratos, straddling the bruised and bloodied Baldur, landed blow after blow on the Aesir god with his fists.
" 〔Frjósa〕!" came the incantation from Freya. The towering corpse of Thamur let out a great exhalation of frigid air, so strong in force that it knocked Kratos off of Baldur, and Atreus off of his feet. Moving quickly, Kratos caught his son before the force of the freezing wind could carry the boy away. The continuous blast of ice bit into Kratos and Atreus.
"Look! I have an idea!" called out Atreus, a strange white glow appearing in his eyes for a moment. "MOOOG-TAAAAY-OOOOOM!"
Kratos looked around for something to happen. "Boy?"
A rapidly moving shape swooped from the side. Jaws bared and fangs ready, Jörmungandr lashed out at the Jötunn corpse.
"Well done, boy!"
Jörmungandr's bite encompassed all of Thamur's head. The reanimated Jötunn writhed from the attack, its flailing hand destroying the entire area where Kratos, Atreus, and Baldur had clashed, sending all three of them hurtling down to the shore they had initially fought. Thamur's corpse fell, like a puppet whose strings were cut. The destruction hurled Freya to the shore as well.
Kratos looked, seeing Baldur attempting to get to his feet, feebly. Rushing to stop Baldur, Kratos grabbed him by the throat, pinning him down. The Aesir, heavily injured, wheezed audibly.
"C'mon… do it! DO IT!"
Author's Note: Yes, Decem Hougan, the Elf King, actually exists in the Overlord novels. What a sicko. It's only fitting he gets the Zeus Special™.
Also when I skip over the God of War parts, you can generally assume that things have generally adhered to canon. I'll out myself as somewhat lazy in not writing Kratos vs. Baldur entirely for that reason, since in the grand scheme of things I have no need to alter its course. Of course I won't skip over everything that happened in GOW4, as you may have already noticed. There will be more GOW canon divergence later on, so bear please bear with me unti then. I intend for it to be more than worth the wait.