Unmei Force Shattered Heroes: Faded Divinity
Chapter 6: Allies to the Cause
As the next morning rolled into Tokyo, with Kaguya checking on Tao, who was still in slumber, before heading to Bethel HQ, to find that Ichiro and Yuzuru arrived there, with Koshimizu waiting alongside them.
"Ah, good timing, Houraisen." Koshimizu stated. "Good morning, everyone. We've just received word from Bethel's inner council. It falls to me to relay their message. You did us a great service in destroying Lahmu. However, our superiors are taking the demonic incursion very seriously. To leave such audacity unpunished would only invite further demonic offense. They aim to hit the forces of chaos with everything they have."
"They want a full-on assault!?" Yuzuru exclaimed with shock in his expression.
"More specifically, an attack driven by our finest agents from across Bethel's international reach. That said… as Bethel Japan, we are not assigned to this operation." Koshimizu answered back.
"What? Why not!?" Ichiro exclaimed.
"The last operation took quite a toll on our forces. Enough that we now have to rely on, no offence meant, amateurs and juveniles." Koshimizu declared. "To put it bluntly, HQ has judged our remaining strength, and found us wanting."
"Pft, so we're just going to sit there and twiddle our thumbs?" Kaguya scoffed, as Koshimizu turned to her. "I say screw the orders. If the battlefield is that terrible out there, then it's fine to hold back Yuzuru and Ichiro, but I'm going out there, and I'm helping to put an end to this, even if it means I have to deal with Ms Holier-than-Thou to do so."
"No, you won't fight alone." Yuzuru declared. "It's true that we aren't the most powerful. But we should be on the frontlines in the fight against chaos. Tokyo is our city, and it's our duty to protect it!"
"Yeah, I… I think he's right!" Ichiro agreed.
"Frankly, so do I. Which is why our current plan is to join the operation, despite our orders, or lack thereof." Koshimizu nodded.
"Awesome!" Ichiro passionately shouted, pumping a fist in victory.
"Houraisen and Dazai, your assignment is to cover the Tokyo Diet Building in the netherworld. There's an underground passage nearby, connected to Chuo City. You will infiltrate by way of that passage, and defeat the Demon King."
"Yes, sir." Ichio saluted.
"On it." Kaguya answered with a slight nod.
"Yuzuru Atsuta, I have something a little different in mind for you. Stay after the meeting, and I'll explain." Koshimizu said.
"Of… Of course, sir." Yuzuru responded back.
"Guess we're splitting up for this one. But let's give it all we've got!" Ichiro exclaimed.
"As of now, consider yourselves deployed. Head to your mission." Koshimizu told Kaguya and Ichiro.
The two of them left the office, as Ichiro was the first to eagerly use the transportation system, while Kaguya followed behind, as Omoikane manifested himself.
"Kaguya… you seem to be accepting of the circumstances. I would have thought that you would have been more aggravated after the events." Omoikane remarked.
"...I know. I would have, but shouting in faces changes nothing." Kaguya responded back. "I'll keep it to heart, and if that bitch of an archangel states that I'm an impurity to her lord's 'perfect world', I'll remind her that the lives I have saved is by my own hand, and that she did diddly-squat to help us when Lahmu was about to become Nahobino. Some guardian angel."
"I… see. Your anger is justified from a common perspective of logic." Omoikane answered back. "It seems that despite being created by Bethel, I am beginning to understand the detriments that it brings, after the encounter with the Lilim… and the ensuing events that do not speak well of Bethel."
"Oh look, you're already beginning to have second thoughts." Kaguya smirked. "That rebellious spirit is beginning to show within you."
"...Perhaps whoever I was created from… he possessed it before." Omoikane answered back. "Kaguya Houraisen, I will inform you, that I will not judge you for your actions, after what you have done for the sake of others. No matter how you may feel, you have my ear and my understanding."
"Thanks, that's more than enough for me." Kaguya nodded, before they began to teleport back to the Shinagawa Ward, where they explored during the hunt for Lahmu. "Now, I just need to return back to Idun. I have a favor to ask her."
"A favor?" Omoikane asked back.
"She seems to be quite helpful for what is to come. If we can find her and enlist her aid like we could with Anahita, she could prove to be a great addition to the team… That is, if she is willing to come along." Kaguya answered back. "But first, I should scour the area for Essences. Once we head down to the Demon King's castle, it's likely we won't have the time to back-track around here."
"Hm." Omoikane responded back, as the teleportation finished up, and they found themselves back in the Shinagawa ward.
The group began to explore, taking out any hostile demons that remained, even after Lahmu's eviction had caused most of them to leave the area, either due to the need to seek a new master, or the fact that they become disinterested in wandering the area without a master to serve. The experience of battling managed to help the group grow yet stronger and more experienced for the battles to come, as High Pixie began to notice that her strength was reaching the point that demons that would not be normally defeated by her fellow kind would be an easy challenge for her to defeat.
The sensation left High Pixie with a feeling that Kaguya had indeed broadened her understanding of the world, partaking in the current affairs that had so many dramatic developments. As she continued, she began to wonder if there would be a time where the two of them would have to part, since Kaguya was evidently not someone of this world, and that she was brought here as a side effect of the crisis at hand.
Shoving aside the disappointment of losing her source of strength, she felt a twinge of anxiety at that very fact, since Kaguya and she were getting closer more than a demon like her would admit, in just the few eventful days that occurred.
Eventually, Kaguya managed to find another of Omoikane's essences, as the god did not need to be prompted to infuse the essence within himself, as his curiosity to understand the being that he was derived from, burned brightly within.
"Hey Kaguya, no hard feelings, right?"
"I find it hard to have hard feelings when I lost to you fair and square, even after I pulled my trump card to even the odds at the final moments."
"Please, don't be humble. You deserve to be proud of how hard you fought. I'm sure that everyone in Eientei would be proud that their princess had fought so hard for them."
"You always intrigue me with your oddities. I never stop wondering what exactly kept you in my attention, when you are merely a man within the thousands that I come to visit."
"Because I'm something special to you. And I'm sure that you'll find out why soon enough. To be fair, the reason why I'm used to calling you Kaguya nowadays, because I prefer to look at the woman under the title. Don't get me wrong. You're the Lunarian Princess, and I bow to that title, but I want to get to know you as Kaguya Houraisen, the mistress of Eientei."
"Are you… saying that you want to court a relationship with me?"
"Woah, woah, don't make that sour expression. I know that's a sore spot for you. No, I wouldn't dare demand such a thing from you. If it were to occur, I much sooner let you decide the pace of it. If you'll put in the friendzone for eternity, pun intended, then I'll settle for being a close one. You don't need to love me unless you're ready to love me. And I will not do anything to force it along."
"...Funny, that's the first time I had a potential suitor say such a thing. But your consideration is noted."
"Thank you very much, princess. I hope that I can get to know you a bit more from this day forth. After all, I find that you have a few common hobbies with me. In fact, Eirin told me a little secret about you."
"Oh?"
"You're a bit of a gamer, aren't you? Reisen mentions that she hears the sounds of gaming, even though she didn't have much of a clue about it, but Eirin knows it well."
"Hweh!? W-Where are you going with that?"
"Relax, relax. I find that the games that you play are pretty interesting ones. You got an acquired taste for the retro genres, and a bit of the heroic setting, as I can tell. I kinda appreciate that. You got a set theme, and you stick to it well."
"Well… I…"
"I never thought that the princess would be squeamish about such a topic, haha… Don't be. I met a certain shrine maiden who owns a NES, and she's a gaming manic with it. So you wouldn't be the first to be taken in the console craze. Hell, I can admit I've been through it too. In fact, I'm just the kind of person who would play anything, so long it's got good gameplay and/or a fair story. Completed a few games, and have a few memorable favorites. But otherwise, game finished, onto the next."
"...If that's the case… I… I have a game that I want to play with others. Would you?"
"Who could say no to such a cute face? Of course! I'll even give you some tips if I know something about it."
"RICHARD!"
"You're smiling." Kaguya noted, as Omoikane took the moment to notice that his lips were placed in a gentle smile.
"...That's because it's quite a pleasant memory." Omoikane answered back. "...I'm beginning to get the picture of it. The moment that he met you after your battle… you two began to get to know each other, and found a common hobby."
"Oh? And what's that?" Kaguya asked back.
"Gaming." Omoikane stated bluntly.
"Damn right." Kaguya grinned back. "And I didn't regret the moment that I invited him to play games with me. In fact, for a moment, I was so engrossed with playing with him that I forgot my regal duties for quite a while, because he kept on making each and every session great for me. He's a good companion, a friendly rival, and an eager player. Every time he came, he often talked about a few new games, and even brought some over for me to try, brought from Rinnosuke, or even gifted from Yukari for his efforts. Gaming was a part of the reason we got together, because it was a favorite hobby that we loved to share between each other."
"Such love…" Omoikane answered back, moved by Kaguya's feelings. "...He was a precious person to you, wasn't he?"
"Yeah, he was." Kaguya remarked, before her joy turned into melancholy. "...He was. And I miss him dearly."
Omoikane immediately stopped the conversation, knowing that there is no point in continuing it without prodding Kaguya's feelings which are sensitive after Omoikane's words affected her to her heart.
As the group headed back to where Idun was, they found that the Norse Goddess was gone, as Kaguya was left baffled.
"...What the hell happened here?" Kaguya remarked. "...I don't think that she would have moved far from here, and we checked the entire area already, searching for Omoikane's essences… something must point to where she is…"
Kaguya began to look around, before finding a distraught Jack Frost, who was clutching his face with his stubby hands.
"Hee-ho! Not good, ho! Idun's gone missing! She's nowhere to be see-hee-n!" The Jack Frost lamented.
"Hold up, she's missing? We're just looking for her." Kaguya stated. "What happened?"
"I'm always hanging out around here for some of that swee-hee-t apple syrup, but I can't find Idun anywhere, ho…" Jack Frost answered back. "I bet that Loki guy's behind it, ho! He's been cooking up some sche-hee-me to make it rich with those apples for a while now, ho! But I'm also willing to bet that wasn't hee-nough, so he kidnapped Idun while he was at it, ho! I'd go give him a taste of his own medicine, but we-hee-'re no match for him, ho…"
"That'll be a different case when I go and confront him." Kaguya declared. "Point us to where he is, and the job's good as done."
"Hee-ho! I knew I could count on you, ho!" Jack Frost answered back, before pointing to a cave in the distance. "I'll bet that's where his hideout is! I'm going to wait here for Idun's safe re-hee-turn, ho. It's all in your hands now, ho!"
Kaguya nodded, as she began to trek through the area to find a way to reach the cave, as she did so, entering it with her entire team alert, as they found Loki, who was a humanoid demon with long blonde hair, and a half-blue and half-purple body, with the colors split vertically on him, and a black suit that covered his entire body from head to shoulders, with a pair of large devilish wings behind him, staring at the make-shift prison, which was made of spikes, as Idun was on the other side, with a distressed expression on her face.
As soon as Idun looked towards the party, Loki noticed the change in her expression as he turned around to face the party.
"Huh? What do you want? You know you're talking to the great Tyrant Loki, right?" Loki remarked, sizing up the party, who didn't react. "Ohh… You're after Little Miss Apples, is that it? Look, I don't know who sent you… But Idun's been given the very important job of making golden apples… For the humans, I mean. You see, I want to give eternal youth to mankind. As long as the gods and goddesses hold a monopoly over such a great blessing, humans will always be unhappy… Wouldn't you agree? I'm what the humans call 'part culture hero, all god', heh heh."
"Pft, and make a tidy profit out of it." Kaguya scoffed. "You don't give a rat's ass about worship, so long as the dough rakes in nice and smooth. Those apples aren't going to be tossed from the skies. You'll give it only to the highest bidder. And the highest bidders are almost guaranteed to be the scumbags. You get money, the scumbags become immortal, for small stock."
"My, you said it first, not me." Loki chuckled. "So, you'll have to understand why I can't have you getting in the way of my business, lady. Hate to say it, but I'm afraid you'll just have to die. Unless you prove worthy, in which case, I think that I'll take you along with Little Miss Apples. I can smell the divinity off you."
"Good point, but consider the following…" Kaguya remarked, as she brandished her blade. "You just gave me a reason to not simply beat you, but to outright slit your throat here and now. I'm not having you give these apples away like Rare Candy to scum like that. So I return the same sentiment. You die right here and now."
"Woah, now that's some bloodlust!" Loki remarked, as the group prepared for battle. "Come on then, show me what you got, lady!"
"Gladly!" Kaguya remarked, before she then bombarded Loki with light arrows, which pelted the Norse tyrant, damaging him hard, and causing him to be staggered momentarily.
"I'll claim your head, vile opportunist, in the name of the people!" Yoshitsune growled, before he then did a over-head blow that cleaved into Loki's suit, exposing the dual-coloured skin underneath it.
"Oh come on, that was my only suit!" Loki complained.
"I would be more worried about us, than your possessions." Anahita remarked, before she then fired a Hamaon spell which blasted the demon tyrant back, while High Pixie weakened him with Sukunda.
"That's right, you'll have more than your suit to worry about when I'm done here!" Kaguya exclaimed, as she then rushed forward, before landing a horizontal slash that hit both of Loki's arms, cutting into them and crippling them slightly.
Yoshitsune then charged down Loki, as he continuously blink-striked through Loki, cutting deep into him, as Anahita charged another Hamaon spell to keep Loki occupied, while High Pixie continued to wear down on his speed.
"Now, you're just getting on my nerves! Here!" Loki remarked, before firing a Bufudyne spell, as the ice attack summoned a large mass of ice spikes that hit Yoshitsune, hitting him fairly hard, before he then did the same, only for Anahita to absorb the attack. "Oh, you're kidding me!"
"Should have picked your targets better, pretty boy!" Kaguya remarked, before she then hit him with another barrage of light arrows, while Yoshitsune landed another crushing blow onto Loki, reducing his defenses further, and Anahita gathered her power to keep Loki down with another Hamaon, and High Pixie began to charge. "Say your prayers now, because I'm going to crush you soon!"
Kaguya then began to gather her energy and channel it through her mystic dance, while Yoshitsune jumped up, and landed a powerful blow that staggered Loki a bit, followed by Anahita delaying her attack for Pixie to launch a powerful Zionga spell, causing the Norse tyrant to curse, even more when it was followed up by Anahita's light spell.
"Enough of this! I will not be toyed with by some woman and her petty demons!" Loki remarked, before he then fired a Agidyne spell, the large pyre hitting Anahita squarely, and stunning her, while he tried to attack Kaguya with a raised claw, only for Kaguya to dodge it.
"You done messed up." Kaguya smirked, before she then unleashed the Magatsuhi, as she started with a powerful Ochitsuki, which hit Loki hard, before the group wailed on him with light-based attacks from Kaguya and Anahita, while Yoshitsune continued to cut through him, and High Pixie zapped with Zionga spells over and over.
By the time the group took a moment to recover their strength, the Norse tyrant was already on his knees, smoking from the immense beating he took from the attacks, with the damage to his body and clothing to make it evident.
"Ah jeez… this is not my day." Loki growled. "You really are fighting for the wrong side here. What's wrong with some profit here and there? I doubt that you actually care that much about Little Miss Apples, if she turned down your offer for apples as your reward."
"I didn't come here for her apples. I came here for her." Kaguya answered back. "Now, here's a deal: You release her, and I promise I won't make mince-meat of you."
"Tch, and you call me greedy. Fine, take your win. But this ain't over." Loki grumbled, before he snapped his fingers, as Idun's prison disappeared, while Loki evaporated away, likely through some personal magic to escape.
Kaguya then noticed the golden apple at her feet, before she then picked it up, and examined it. When she looked at it, she couldn't help but want to taste it to see what it truly would do. However, her honesty won over her curiosity, as she turned to Idun, who slowly rose up.
"You missed an apple." Kaguya remarked, as she tossed it over for the Norse goddess to catch. "Here it is. Back in your hand."
"Not only did you not bite the apple, you also decided to return it to me." Idun remarked, as she had a proud smile. "I'm proud that the world still has people like you. Thank you for rescuing me. I'm going to head on back. I want to thank you properly."
"How about I escort you?" Kaguya offered. "After all, we went with all the trouble of breaking you out. What's protecting you from the big bad demons out there."
"I… If it'll please you." Idun remarked, before she fell silent, with an embarrassed look on her face.
The group made their way back to the forest where Idun once stood, as the Jack Frost noticed their arrival.
"Hee-ho! Idun's back safe and sound, ho! I couldn't be happ-hee-er!" Jack Frost remarked with glee. "You came back so quick, that I thought that you might have flee-hee-d against him! But instead, you be-hee-at him hard, ho! You took him down, ho! That's amazing, ho!"
"It really was something. I couldn't believe how well you carried yourself and your team against him." Idun remarked. "I don't know any warriors of Asgard who could've done what you did so easily. And as for thanks for the help… Well, I like you, and want to help, but…"
"You can't leave your responsibilities?" Kaguya offered. "That's fine. I'll find a way to make a way to summon you back and forth. I did the same with Anahita here, and she's fine with the arrangements. I hope that I'll be able to find a way to soon summon you through the art of fusion that a fellow acquaintance offers me."
"That's great. I'll keep it a secret from King Odin, and come to the rescue at your time of need." Idun responded back, before she then disappeared.
"Idun has been rescued, and all's right with the world, ho. Now I can head home re-hee-lieved. Thank you, prin-hee-cess, ho!" Jack Frost remarked, before he then toddled away.
"And that's the last thread of requests that are important here." Kaguya remarked. "Let's…"
"Hold, there seems to be a divine presence nearby." Omoikane remarked. "I do believe that it would be our interest to investigate it."
"Yeah, on second thoughts, I might stay a little longer. Need to see if this is friend or foe." Kaguya remarked.
She then began to follow Omoikane's direction to the divine being in question, before finding herself face to face with a young goddess with braided blonde hair, that was tied into a short tail on the back of her head, red eyes, a green flower crown, and a flowing green grass-like dress, and a pair of golden roman sandals, that go up to her knees, and golden armbands, with a stone cornucopia filled with a bounty of food in one hand, and a handful of wheat stems in the other.
"Huh…" Kaguya remarked with a neutral tone.
"...You seem to be ambivalent. You know this goddess, but you don't seem to be happy or angry." Omoikane noted.
"Let's just say that I do know her, and I sincerely hope that I'm wrong from what I hear about her. But I'm not getting my hopes high if they'll turn against me. Still, it wouldn't hurt to hear her out." Kaguya remarked, as she approached the goddess.
"Hey." Kaguya remarked. "You seem to not be a part of the local residents here, aren't you?"
"That's right. I am the goddess of the harvest, Demeter…" The goddess remarked with a cheery voice. "Right now, Tokyo is a barren wasteland, but one day, I shall turn it into a land of harvest in abundance. And to that end, I have a favor to ask of you. I know what you are. You are not only a figure of divine myths, but someone who recently stepped towards becoming a Nahobino, one of the true gods sealed away long ago."
"What of it?' Kaguya asked back.
"Well, I'm sure you know of an area called Tennozu, yes?" Demeter answered back. "A Tyrant has appeared there, dwelling at the peak of a mountain. Once a ruthless god, now a ruthless demon. Demanding tribute, and sacrifice from the weak… Were his dark reign to be restored, the fertile future I envision will be forever beyond my grasp. So, then? Will you slay the Tyrant for me?"
"Sure, why not." Kaguya responded back. "We don't need another Lahmu running around in the Netherworld."
"A fruitful partnership, indeed! Thank you kindly!" Demeter remarked with cheer in her voice.
Kaguya began to head towards the mountain in question, as it was fairly sparse for demons, as if the tyrant made sure that the mountain was solely their domain alone, before she reached the top of the mountain, where she saw that there was a large red-eyed demon with purple skin, a hunched figure, and a pair of large horns, and a noose tied to its neck. It also had a short white beard, golden metal gloves and leggings, and sitting upon a floating porcelain toilet bowl.
"Mmm, yes. This one's a good mountain. Good shape and all." The demon muttered to itself in a rumbling male voice. "A fine place for a sacrifice. Yes, I'll take this land, and it will be a second Peor!"
"Unfortunately, land's not for sale, demon." Kaguya remarked, as the demon looked down towards Kaguya's party, as she changed the demons around once again, expecting a whole different fight to come.
"Now, who stands before the demon lord Belphegor? I do not recognise you…" The demon remarked. "Never mind. Your name doesn't matter. You're here to be the first blood sacrifice in my new domain! Who am I to turn you away? Come, and let your death fill me with power!"
"Sorry, but this soul is already owned by one person and one person only!" Kaguya remarked, before hitting him with a barrage of light arrows, which caused the seated demon to be spun around with a cry of pain.
"Burn." Alice simply declared, before she fired the Agilao spell right into Belphegor's face, causing the demon to claw at his face to get the flames off it, while Anahita piled on a blast of Hamaon to stagger the demon further, while Pixie slowed the demon down with her magic.
Kaguya took the chance that the repeated attacks had dealt to keep Belphegor occupied to bolster her own strength with her signature dance, as Alice and Anahita continued to fire spells onto him, and Pixie managed to slow Belphegor down even further.
"Enough of this, I'll grind your flesh from your bones!" Belphegor roared, before he then tackled Alice in a spinning motion, as the little girl-like demon was knocked down by the spinning, before doing the same to Kaguya, who managed to endure the attack.
"That's all the great demon got? Spinning on me!?" Kaguya taunted, before she fired more light arrows to stagger Belphegor even more. "I killed a damn Sumerian God who split earth with his beams, a far tougher challenge than you!"
"I'll make you regret that." Alice declared with a cold tone, before she then fired a fire spell right into the crotch of the demon lord, who howled in agony, as the attack hit him somewhere sensitive, which unnerved High Pixie and Anahita, while Kaguya sweatdropped at the act of cruelty that Alice returned back onto Belphegor.
"It seems that she truly did not enjoy that…" Anahita remarked, as she blasted Belphegor with more Hamaon spells. '...That is one spiteful child. But her strength is indeed formidable, as Kaguya says."
"I'm just going to charge up my power." High Pixie remarked. "You got this handled, right, princess?"
"Sure do." Kaguya remarked, before she increased her strength once again, while Alice and Anahita blasted Belphegor with their magic, keeping the demon lord from recovering quick enough to interrupt their attempts to buff themselves.
"Freeze away, harlots!" Belphegor remarked, before he then fired a mass-attack of ice on the group, as High Pixie were hurt badly by the ice, while Anahita absorbed the attack, and Alice and Kaguya defended against the attack, before he then began to gather Magatsuhi for an attack.
"I don't need Magatsuhi to end you!" Kaguya remarked, before she then began to charge her magical energy, as her body began to glow blue. "Anahita! Alice! Hit him with everything!"
"Gladly." Alice said, before she then swiped her hand down, as a blast of fire pushed Belphegor down, and Anahita channeled the Hamaon spell into a massive beam of light that hit Belphegor dead-center in his mass.
"Eat this!" High Pixie roared, before she then used her charged magic to fire a massive wind spell right into Belphegor's body, cutting into him, and leaving gashes that bleed purple blood onto the ground.
"How… can this be, I am-" Belphegor remarked, before seeing Kaguya raise her naginata, that glowed golden. "...What is this?"
"Your demise." Kaguya remarked, before a massive salvo of light arrows materialized above her, from expending her charged magic power. "That's what."
Kaguya then flicked the naginata down, as the attack managed to hit Belphegor multiple times over, as the demon lord screamed, with smoke rising from the attacks that hit him, until it ended, with him defeated.
"How… could I be defeated? And by some nameless being… and her demons?" Belphegor remarked, before he then looked towards Kaguya. "No, wait, you're… Could it be…?"
Belphegor began to chuckle slowly, as Kaguya took offense to it.
"What's so funny, Tyrant?" Kaguya growled.
"Hahaha… Yes, this is a good mountain, indeed. You are a fascinating creature indeed, and it was here, in this lofty place, that our paths crossed. Fight, girl, and survive until we meet again… I will be the one to claim your soul…" Belphegor smirked, before he then faded away into Magatsuhi.
"...Like we'll meet again." Kaguya scoffed, before she then turned away and returned to Demeter.
"I can sense it, the Tyrant is defeated! You brought blessings of all kinds to this land!" Demeter remarked with triumph. "This has brought me one step closer to a rich, beautiful Tokyo! I must commend you, as well. That Tyrant was once a king among his kind, yet you dispatched him with such ease. Truly, of all this world's yields, the Nahobino is one of the most vibrant with life, with strength, with potential, even more so when it comes from a living legend. Do you understand? You are but one ear of rice in a precious, sparse crop. Stand tall, and do not let this world break you. I want to see you grow big, healthy and strong. As such, a time will come when we meet again. I, the goddess Demeter, declare it so. Until then, may your soul's bud bloom unmarred by cruel claw or frost's bite…"
Kaguya then noticed Demeter's expression shift a little into a more melancholic one. "...Or my own deceit…" She muttered softly under her breath, not intended to be heard, with a tone of remorse in it.
Kaguya didn't say anything, as Demeter's expression turned back to being beaming with joy and gratitude.
"I cannot thank you enough for your help. Now then, until we meet again." Demeter smiled, before she then teleported away.
"...That's definitely not how she would have acted." Kaguya remarked, as Omoikane manifested himself. "...You noticed that, right?"
"Her change in expression, or the words she muttered under her breath?" Omoikane asked back. "I noticed both."
"So did I, but I didn't hear clearly what she was saying under it." Kaguya remarked. "...I decided not to press it."
"Would you like to know?" Omoikane asked back.
"...No. I think I won't." Kaguya shook her head. "Whatever it is, it's a product of guilt… and I believe that she had no reason to fake it. She didn't want us to notice that at all. That proves that my worries were for nothing… but that begs another question… what happened to cause her to become like this?"
"...Only she knows." Omoikane shook his head. "...There are no more notable presences here."
"Good, then we march for the Demon Lord's Castle." Kaguya nodded.
Kaguya then used the leyline fount network to head back to the first area she went to, the Minato Ward, as she first teleported to the same street where she first met High Pixie before her transformation, as the group began to explore the area for any side-routes that would take them towards the Demon King's castle.
However, Kaguya found herself with an interesting encounter, as there was a female demon who was no less human-like as Kaguya was, with flowing short blonde hair, a blue metallic hair-band with a crescent moon on the top of it, blue eyes, and a short white greek dress, with blue highlights, and blue breast armor, with light-blue metal greaves and gauntlets, and a cross-bow attached to one gauntlet, complete with a flowing blue cape behind her. The same female demon was practicing fighting moves, kicking up sands with each kick she threw, and shaking the winds with each punch she threw, and even somersaulting through the air.
"...The hell? This kind of demon reminds me of something… but I can't exactly put my finger on it." Kaguya remarked. "...Wouldn't hurt to see what's that about."
She then approached, as the demon stopped practicing, and turned to face Kaguya.
"Who are you?" The female demon asked Kaguya, but before Kaguya could respond, the demon continued. "...Ah, wait, I should give my own name first before asking for another's. I am Artemis. I am the goddess of the moon and the hunt, and the daughter of the almighty Zeus. I came here because I heard someone has slain the Hydra. I assume it must have been done by the demigod Hercules, but I don't know where he is. Might you have an idea of his whereabouts?"
"Artemis, Hercules didn't slay the Hydra this time." Kaguya remarked, before she then crossed her arms with a smug look on her face. "I was the one who beat him. Was a tough bastard to fight, but I beat him moments after I was here."
"What? You say that it was you?" Artemis remarked. "But you look nothing like an Amazon, or like Hercules! You're so thin: your body isn't even close to that of Hercules! I find it hard to believe you."
"Excuse me, you what?" Kaguya remarked, as her expression turned blank out of anger, as Artemis noticed the killing intent emanating from the lunar princess, as it took her by surprise.
"Actually, my apologies. It seems that you are a demigod in a sense. I suppose looks can be deceiving. You look like court royalty from the eastern lands." Artemis remarked. "I can see that spear-blade in your possession. You must have fought the Hydra with it, with such skill. I am looking to gain strength enough to unite this world and end its suffering. Naturally, that calls for a strong partner to train with. If you are a warrior, then you should also have the eyes to gauge the strength of your opponent. Therefore, I have a request for you, Hercules of Japan! I want you to find me a powerful foe that will serve me in my training. Fear not, I don't-"
"No need." Kaguya merely remarked. "I'll be it."
"Huh? But there is a demon that I've heard about that could-" Artemis remarked, completely flustered at the sudden declaration.
"Screw that demon. Whatever demon you have in mind, it doesn't compare to me." Kaguya answered back. "I have an almost-unbeaten win record against demons from this sector to another. And if the demon you're thinking of is that rock-head, that's way out of your league, since he's an old-timer with more power in his pinkie than the rest of the demons combined here. You're better off fighting me."
"Well…" Artemis remarked.
"And in fact, I don't think that I'll let that insult slide by." Kaguya remarked, as she cracked her knuckles. "Call me thin, won't you? I'll have you know that while I'm not as ripped as the damn Amazons, or your boy-crush… but I've cleaved harder demons with this naginata. So here's how it's going to go: I'm fighting you, and if I win, you're coming with me."
"Oh… Um…" Artemis stated, as she felt a bit guilty for mocking Kaguya, although it was overcome by her sense of passion momentarily after. "Right, then here goes!"
"Right, take to the sidelines, guys. I'm going to settle this myself." Kaguya remarked.
"Good luck, princess!" Alice cheered Kaguya on.
"Oh my, this will be quite the fight. Be sure not to chew more than you swallow, dear Kaguya." Anahita remarked.
"Do not underestimate this goddess, Kaguya. She is formidable indeed, even compared to that Tyrant and Lahmu." Yoshitsune warned Kaguya.
"Just… don't lose, you hear me!" High Pixie shouted.
"Alright then, let's do this." Kaguya remarked. "...But first, let me even the playing field."
Kaguya then took a deep breath, as she then gathered all of her power, both physical and magical, as she was put at the peak of her prowess, ready to face the goddess of the hunt in single combat.
"Now that it is done, let's begin the fight." Kaguya remarked, before she then immediately fired a Agilao spell, as it hit Artemis staggering her slightly, before she then followed up with a powerful blow to the legs, as the goddess yelped in pain, with the blow crippling her legs slightly.
"Not bad, but I can do even more back at you!" Artemis remarked, before she then leapt up, and grabbed Kaguya by the head with her legs, and smashed her into the ground with a spinning dive. "How's that!?"
"Hah, you think that'll put me away!?" Kaguya taunted, before she then leapt into the air, as she landed a devastating Ochitsuki on Artemis, before targeting her armor this time, as she smashed Artemis's armor with a powerful slash alike to that of Yoshitsune's, as it managed to damage her armor slightly, with cracks showing.
"Aieee! Not the armor! Oh, now you're asking for it!" Artemis grumbled, before she then landed a powerful somersault kick, like the one that Kaguya saw, as it landed on Kaguya, as it managed to break her guard significantly.
"Should have learned to keep your words to yourself then!" Kaguya remarked, before she then fired another Agilao spell, as she then landed a powerful shoulder-check that hit Artemis's face, as it managed to daze the demigod slightly, putting her aim off slightly.
Artemis then attempted to land a powerful kick combo on Kaguya, only to miss her attacks completely, due to Kaguya's agility, and the brief moment of blindness that Artemis ended up with.
"Ha! Got you now!" Kaguya exclaimed, before she then smashed Artemis with another Ochitsuki blow, and followed with a powerful chest blow with the pole of her naginata in the return motion, as the impact managed to dent Artemis's armor even further.
"Urk… not good…!" Artemis remarked, as she decided to gather her Magatsuhi, in an attempt to hit Kaguya with a powerful attack.
"Oh my, giving away your chance to attack? Sorry, but that's the wrong move!" Kaguya remarked, as she fired another Agilao to disorient Artemis once more, before she then further weakened Artemis's attacks, by hitting her with an arm slash that managed to leave nasty cuts on her upper arms.
"You're the one who's made the wrong move!" Artemis exclaimed, before she then fired a massive blast of ice at Kaguya, which managed to knock the princess back a few steps, and hurt her, due to Artemis damaging her guard considerably earlier.
"Good hit. But still not enough!" Kaguya exclaimed, before she then rushed towards Artemis, throwing her naginata up as a diversionary method in order to keep Artemis's attention split, as she then grabbed Artemis by the head and head-butted her hard, causing the goddess to reel back. As soon as Kaguya caught the naginata, she then landed a powerful slash that managed to finish the damage on Artemis's armor, revealing white silken bras in the holes that formed on her armor. "My, pure as white, as they say, eh?'
"S-Shut up! Take this! Astral Saintstrike!" Artemis declared, before she then adopted a pose, raising her weaponized arm, as the cross-bow began to nock itself back, before she then drew her fist back, as it turned blue, as she then threw it forward, creating a familiar rain of astral strike that hit Kaguya, dealing considerable damage to her.
"U-urgh… damn, so that's what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the Pegasus Meteor FIst…" Kaguya winced, as she temporarily took a knee, before pushing herself up. "But all you did was corner me slightly. I'm going to end this myself!"
Kaguya then managed to fire an Agilao spell which hit Artemis and staggered her again, before she then began to charge her own energy considerably, gripping the naginata until her knuckles turned white.
"I'll stop you before you even have the chance!" Artemis roared, before she then landed a body blow with her foot that managed to stun Kaguya, before then slamming Kaguya face-down into the sand, as Kaguya remained on the ground.
Artemis began to pant, as she crouched down slightly to gather her strength. Before she could call her victory, Kaguya slowly rose up, as the goddess was left shocked.
"N-No way! That should have finished you off!" Artemis exclaimed with shock.
"Sorry, but I'm too stubborn to stay down!" Kaguya smirked back, before she then unleashed the Magatsuhi within her, as her blade turned golden. "Now pay for it, in full!"
Kaguya then dashed forward, before she then swung Artemis right into the air, as the goddess couldn't react in time to avoid the attack. The princess then leapt into the air, and landed her Ochitsuki onto Artemis's center mass, sending them both crashing down towards the sandy ground, and kicking up a massive splash of sand, causing the spectating demons to cover their faces to avoid getting sand in their eyes, nose or mouth.
Kaguya then slowly stepped back, as Artemis was flat on the ground, before she then let out a howl of victory.
"Princess won!" Alice remarked with glee.
"Well fought, Kaguya!" Anahita exclaimed.
"I am truly proud to witness this sacred duel." Yoshitsune remarked, with a proud expression on his face. "She is indeed a being worthy of her myth, and more."
"Whoo! You rock, Kaguya!" High Pixie hollered with triumph.
Kaguya then sat down on the ground, before she then fell on her back on the sand, heaving breaths due to how exhausted she was.
"Fuuuuccckkk… That was one hard fight…" Kaguya remarked. "I was this close to losing it…"
"...I lost…?" Artemis remarked, as she was in disbelief, before she then brought her arm over her eyes, as she seemed sullen. "No… How can I ever bring peace like this…?"
"My dear daughter, Artemis. Why are you crying?" An intimidating male voice boomed through the area, which shocked the demons, as well as Kaguya, although Artemis was merely surprised.
"Father!? Aah, Father. I lost again!" Artemis remarked. "I'm so… so very torn! I killed my love, Orion, and I couldn't bring victory to the Trojans! I… I…"
"You are no stranger to pain, but that is why you strive to be better. Keep up your training, and don't stop." The voice declared. "Besides, that woman is a powerful one. She has a special kind of power, and she's got a lot of experience under her belt. And she'll whip you up to shape if you stick with her, and learn from her!"
"I understand, Father. I'll keep on training. And then, someday, I will surpass even you." Artemis answered back.
"That's the spirit, my daughter! Hahaha…" The voice remarked, before it then faded away as it came.
"...That was one scary person." High Pixie remarked. "...Artemis's father? Why can't I remember who it was for the life of me…"
"Well, talk about a pep talk from big daddy." Kaguya remarked, as she pulled herself up. "...Well, perhaps I did go a little too overboard, even with what you said. I'm-"
"No, I'm sorry. I should have refined my temperament, and never spoke such ill words. And I'm sorry you had to see such a pathetic side of me." Artemis answered back.
"No worries, you had a bad day. A lot of them, as your dad says." Kaguya answered back, before reaching a hand out. "What do you say? Since I beat you fair and square alone, and I vented all my anger away… let's have bygones be bygones and work together for something great, right? You want to protect people, and so do I."
"Verily." Artemis smiled, before taking Kaguya's hand. "I, Artemis, acknowledge your abilities, and would like to follow you and learn from your strength."
'And I, Kaguya Houraisen, accept your company." Kaguya answered back. "I ask for your hand in the battles to come."
"It's a pleasure to know you." Artemis nodded, before she joined the group.
"Now then, since we have finished all that needs to be done here… we should head down to Chuo City to face the Demon King." Kaguya remarked. "All agreed?"
The group all agreed as one, as Kaguya nodded, before they then began to head down the area, before managing to find that there was a underground subway passage that was clear of any demons, with a sign indicating its destination as Chuo City.
As soon as the group proceeded down the subway, they found themselves in the middle of a lively battlefield, with demons and angels fighting each other, both having a variety of beings fighting for them.
"Oh my…" Anahita remarked. "It seems that the battle has begun already."
As the group were about to advance, a Power landed right before them, as it was dying from the wounds inflicted upon it.
"Master Abdiel forbade you all from joining this operation…" The Power remarked with a rumbling voice.
"Well, we come to the conclusion that we have a plan to deal with the Demon King ourselves." Kaguya stated. "Besides, you all are locked in a stalemate, someone has to push the front."
"...If you truly wish to reach the castle… you can enter from a place called Tokyo Station. But know this, if you value your lives, you should turn back. The demons of this land are too great a threat for you." The Power answered back, before finally dissipating into Magatsuhi.
"Well, good thing we're no spring chickens then." Kaguya remarked, before the group then began to leap down the hill, right into the city, that the battle was occurring over.
Proto Omoikane (Full Moon)
Elemental Resistances: Ice, Light, Lightning, Force
Elemental Weaknesses: Fire, Dark
Notable Skills: Mazionga, Diarama, Fang Breaker, Yata-no-Kagami
Yata-no-Kagami: Reflects the next magical attack, and increase party defense