I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
The group of females continued to advance through the cave system while following the small goddess. The paths became narrower, darker, colder, and dangerous as the floor itself seemed to be falling apart.
"Don't look back and do not look under you. We need to continue forward and reach her." Ereshkigal said.
"Easy for you to say. You're already used to this. There's an endless void below us. I don't think that our wings can help us escape if we were to fall in there." Serafall said after looking at the void for a second.
"…. I'm sorry. This whole place is unstable and I try to put all of my attention on keeping the souls safe instead of worrying about the other parts of the realm. They are my responsibility and even if my power inside this place is incomplete I can't overlook their safety." Ereshkigal admits.
Gabriel stays silent for a few moments before she talks. "You've been dealing with this problem for all of this time. Why didn't you ask the other dead gods for help?"
"Gabriel, us death gods might work in the same field but we are not friends. Hades, Osiris, Anubis, Hel, Yama, Mot, and the rest only worry about the task at hand. Each one keeps their own problems to themselves and separate their personal affairs from work. We don't share anything. Heck, not even Orcus is that close to me and we have been practically partners since the beginning of the cycle of souls…. Since the fall of my pantheon, I have been alone most of the time. Alone with my thoughts, feelings, and regrets. Enkidu is here with me and the rest of the souls but he is a muscle head most of the time. He is not the greatest listener either." Ereshkigal admits. "I just keep everything in and slowly but surely that led to my other two selves creation."
"…. I'm sorry, Ereshkigal. You had to endure all of this because of our war. I-" Gabriel is stopped by Ereshkigal.
The girl turns around and holds her hand up. "The war happened. All of us lost something but we need to continue to move on. I need your help if I want to continue on. You don't need to apologize for the deaths of Ishtar and the rest. Hachiman was the one that killed my grandchild and daughter in law but he's already dead… Ddraig is alive now but we're going to figure that out after we take care of my other-selves. Understood?"
Her eyes showed no emotion but there was complete sincerity behind them. The sincerity of a child that was trying to continue to move towards the future and needed help.
The girls could see that and Tiamat was the one to put it into words.
"Alright, let's continue on Ereshkigal. My mate is waiting for us." Tiamat says with a smile. "But tell me something, what's the place that we are trying to reach?"
Ereshkigal turns around. "A place that was once filled with happiness and memories. The house in which I raised my son. The old family home within my realm."
The group continued to walk for a few more moments before they reached the exit of the cave system.
The eyes of the girls were focused on the view before them. A spacious field that had a few trees with black leaves, black grass, a twilight sky that was cracked like some kind of mirror.
And in the middle of all that a small home stood up. The color was drained from its walls. The plants that used to decorate its walls were dead. The windows were broken as well. An old chimney that was barely standing up was still letting some smoke out.
"Ereshkigal is this really it?" Serafall asks.
"I was never one for luxury and Gugalanna didn't have a say. It has seen better days but is still a special place to me. The space was enough for us. We were able to raise our child into a respectable and caring god but even that couldn't prevent him from dying." Ereshkigal looks at the doll in her arm for a moment before she starts walking towards her old home. "Come, she's inside like always."
The others follow soon after her without saying a word.
It doesn't take long for them to reach the front door. Ereshkigal pushes the door before they enter.
The outside was bad but the inside was even worse. No person could live in those conditions but the girls knew better than to badmouth the home of Ereshkigal.
A few photos hung from the walls. Some showed a happy family of three. Others, a child that keeps growing up over the ages. From his early years to his adulthood. Ereshkigal looked so happy in those photos but compared to now she seemed like a completely different goddess.
"Ddraig, we better make it up to her somehow. I don't think that she can continue on her own for much more." Tiamat told herself.
The group ignored the stairs and most of the rooms on the first floor as they followed Ereshkigal into the living room of the house.
The floor was filled with pages that repeated the same word over and over.
Ninazu.
There were also many dolls that were similar to that of child Ereshkigal.
But the eyes of each of the ladies present were quickly drawn to the figure that sat in front of the fireplace. A long old black dress that had seen better days adorned her body. She had her back turned to them but her long wild hair told everyone who she was.
Child Ereshkigal began to approach the figure without saying a word. The floor creaked with each step. After a few moments, the much younger goddess reached her other self and sat down next to her.
"Hi, older me. I came to visit and brought a few visitors with me." Child Ereshkigal said.
The much older Ereshkigal didn't reply. Her hands were softly caressing a Ninazu doll.
Child Ereshkigal turns her face towards the trio. "Try your best. I can't reach her."
The trio looks at each other but Gabriel takes the initiative. "Let me try first."
"All yours." Serafall and Tiamat reply.
The seraph approaches the two goddesses and sits next to the oldest one.
Gabriel's eyes are then shocked by what they saw. The face of the older Ereshkigal lacked eyes. Scars around her eye sockets told her what happened to her.
"She did it one day ago. Her eyes always come back since she's not the original me. After they come back some time passes before the cycle repeats itself." Child Ereshkigal explains.
"Father, this is true insanity." Gabriel was pretty shocked but she kept her calm attitude. "Ereshkigal, I'm Gabriel. One of the children of the Bible god. I'm here to try to help you."
The older Ereshkigal doesn't react and just continues to caress the doll.
"Ereshkigal, I can tell that you're in pain. The war took him away from you. Just like it took our father and many of my fellow angels." Gabriel looks into the fireplace. "I can still remember it clearly. The blood of my fellow angels stained each battlefield I went into. I was sad, angry, and losing my strength to continue…. The war was a mistake that we can't take back, I can say that now after a long time. We lost too much and gained nothing except for pain and regrets."
Gabriel looks into the flames of the fireplace. "After father died, we didn't know what to do. We were children without a leader, children without guidance. Heaven was close to crumbling but in the most crucial moment Michael, Raphael, Uriel, and I decided to act before it was too late. We couldn't wait and our other siblings, the humans, were going to need us even if father had created plans to keep them safe."
Gabriel reaches out and touches the shoulder of the older Ereshkigal. "I can understand that you want him to come back. He was your child. The most important being in your life. He was born from you. You watched him grow and care for him. That's a connection that I can't understand completely since I'm not a mother but I can understand the feelings that you symbolized. We want to bring the past back, to regain our past happiness, to laugh and enjoy the time alongside our dearest ones but we can't."
Gabriel watches as the older Ereshkigal's hands stop caressing the doll.
"We can keep them in our hearts and remember them for as long as we're alive but we can't stop living. For the sake of those that are no longer with us, we must continue and maybe try to regain that same connection once more. You are still alive Ereshkigal, you can still offer that same love to a new child but this time we'll make sure that the child lives for as long as you do. I'll put my life on the line to make sure of it so please come with us. Allow yourself to be a mother once more. Ninazu would be happy if you find happiness once more."
As soon as Gabriel stops talking her senses react to the imminent danger. Her hands moved to catch a pair of levitating scissors that tried to pierce her neck. "This strength. Is this due to us being inside her realm?"
The older Ereshkigal uses her powers to increase the strength behind the levitating scissors. She pushes them much closer to the neck of the seraph. The silent rage of the goddess was incredible. "Don't you ever say try to claim that you know what he wanted!"
"Ereshkigal stop!" Serafall calls out. She tries to move but Tiamat stops.
The dragon king shakes her head. She had only one card at her disposal at this time and she hoped that it worked. "Ereshkigal, Ddraig told me the truth regarding his death. His last words." Tiamat calls out to her.
Both goddesses turn their faces towards her.
"I can tell you what I know right now but both of us know you wouldn't believe them. If you come with us, you can ask Ddraig himself. So please stop this and come with us. Ninazu's last words might free you from this pain. Please listen to us and stop. We're not your enemies." Tiamat says.
Time seems to stop for a few moments. Nobody can say anything for some time.
The eyeless goddess remains motionless for a few moments before she makes the scissors disappear. "Ninazu words….. my child…."
The eyeless goddess begins to stand up. Her hair covers her face and eye sockets. "I need to reach Ddraig. Lead me to him."
The trio sights in relief while the younger Ereshkigal seems a bit more relaxed with the outcome. "Give me your hand, older me. We need to reach the other us if we want answers."
The older Ereshkigal relents. Like a pair of sisters, both goddesses are ready for departure.
Gabriel stands up and approaches the other two.
"Are you alright?" Serafall asks.
"I am. Getting almost stabbed by scissors is new to me. We must move. Ddraig is waiting for us." Gabriel replies.
"Right. Ereshkigal, we follow you once more." Tiamat says.
"Let's go then." And with those words, the group departs once more with a new member with them.
Meanwhile, Ddraig.
The Welsh Dragon was trying his best to find the best way out of this situation but the last Ereshkigal wasn't making it easier.
"Ereshkigal, stop this madness. I won't let you kill me but I won't attack you!" The Welsh Dragon calls out to her to see reason.
But this Ereshkigal was driven by an impressive amount of anger. Anger that was all directed at him.
"Never forgive. Never let the sins of the past be forgotten. Ignited the flames of judgment. The mark that symbolizes your end. The sinful torn that will pass judgment until the sinners. Stigmata of endless punishment, ignite once more." As soon as the chanting ends, the needle on her hands starts to change.
Several eyes pop up throughout the hole needle alongside crimson symbols. The eyes turn towards their target which in this case is the Welsh Dragon. A sinister aura starts to emanate from the needle as it tries to pass Ddraig's defenses.
"This is bad. I need to find a way out." The instincts of the dragon react to the needle.
"I won't let you escape. I won't forgive you. Face the consequences of your actions!" The skeletal goddess tries her hardest to pierce the chest of the dragon.
Ddraig can feel the hands tightening the grip around his souls.
"Sinner. Monster. You only know how to cause pain."
"I know."
"My child didn't do anything to you."
"I know."
"You don't deserve a second life. You should've been destroyed alongside all of the other victims of the war."
The mind of the Welsh Dragon is filled with all the deaths he has caused over the years. Some were his enemies, others were his victims, many were killed due to his influence, so many deaths. But even with all that he knew that he couldn't let himself die, not anymore. He needed to do something drastic, something that could end this so his mind came up with the only solution. "Your anger, your desire for revenge, I can understand all of it, Ereshkigal. I'll apologize as many times as needed. I killed your child not because I had something against him but because he asked me to put an end to his life. He couldn't face his actions and that made me feel irritated."
"Lies! Ninazu would never-" Ereshkigal tries to speak but Ddraig interrupts her.
"If you promise me that you're going to stop attacking this body and give my souls back, I'm willing to face your judgment. Ophis don't try to stop me and please don't attack her. Everything will be alright." The dragon calls out to the gothic lolita as a way of preventing more violence.
Ophis appears shortly after next to the dragon.
Ereshkigal is surprised, to say the least.
"Just kill her and let's get out of here," Ophis says.
"Not everything should be fixed through violence Ophis. I promise that I'll be back so just wait a bit longer. You can trust me."
Ophis grows silent and her eyes show a bit of anger. "You better come back to me or I'll kill her."
Ddraig nods and turns his sight back to Ereshkigal. "Take my soul and judge me based on my memories. See everything there's to see. I trust you with it." Ddraig gives up. The armor disappears alongside all of his power giving the needle a clear path to his souls.
Ereshkigal doesn't waste the opportunity and pierces his chest while screaming her heart out.
The pain is unbearable. Tears escape from his eyes as the needle reaches deep and pierces both souls before it starts to extract them.
After a few moments, a soulless body is left in the chair while the skeletal goddess holds two souls on the tip of her needle.
"…" Ereshkigal shows no joy or happiness. She waited so long for this and yet she felt that something was wrong.
"Don't keep me waiting, skeletal idiot. Ddraig is my sword and I want him back so do what you have to do." Ophis says while she checks Ddraig's body for any injuries. The needle left no injuries and his body seemed to be breathing just fine but his eyes lacked any sense of life. Dead like those of a corpse. "…. Idiot." Ophis quickly takes a seat on his knees and rests her head on his chest. She then closes her eyes as she awaits his return.
Ereshkigal watches the actions of Ophis for a few moments before turning her attention back towards her task. "… Why?" Ereshkigal looks at the souls and in her weapon. She could see how much pain they were suffering due to the abilities of the needle.
Each of their sins, regrets, and the pain that they inflicted onto others was now being used against them without a way out for them to escape from it.
"Do you really think that I'll forgive you after passing judgment upon you? Or is there something else that you're hiding?" The skeletal goddess thinks for a few more moments before deciding to look into their memories.
Her free hand reaches deep into the inside of the brightest of the two souls. When she reaches what she was looking for, her body goes completely stiff. Her eyes don't move or react nor does a single sound escape her body. She becomes frozen due to some unknown reason.
With this new development, the field of flowers grows silent once more as Ophis awaits the return of her sword and provider.
Some moments later.
The group had finally reached the field of flowers.
"This is a really beautiful place if you take the time to take it in," Serafall says as they walk through the field.
"I appreciate the comment. it Is a place for the dead to rest after all." Child Ereshkigal replies as she leads the group. "But we have no time to waste around, I fear that my other self might have done something stupid. it Is too quiet for my taste."
"I can detect his scent around and there's no blood. He has to be safe." Tiamat says with confidence.
The group continues advancing for a few more moments until they reach their destination but their eyes can't believe what they are seeing.
"…. Dear?" Tiamat watches in disbelief as the souls of her mate find themselves pierce by the needle of the skeletal goddess. Her body shook in fear at the sight of her mate in that state.
His lifeless body. His dead eyes. His souls outside of their home.
It was a sight she didn't want to see and yet she couldn't turn away from it.
"…. We're late. She got to them." Child Ereshkigal says. "This is bad. We need to remove those souls from the needle right now." The child releases the hand of his other self and rushes to grab the needle.
"Ereshkigal! What is that damn needle?" Serafall asks while moving alongside the child and her allies.
"Is one of my tools for rebellious and sinful souls. Is meant to work as an endless cycle of torment. No soul has been the same after being subjected to that needle. We need to act now. Grab their souls and pull them out of the needle." The younger goddess explains.
The trio nods and goes to grab the souls.
"I wouldn't do that if I was you," Ophis says from within her seat.
Everyone stops in their tracks after hearing her voice. Her eyes are filled with anger.
"Idiot Loli, why did you allow something like this to happen?" Tiamat asks.
"Because he promised to come back. I have been waiting and you should as well. If he takes much longer I'll kill her myself and put him back to where he belongs." Ophis explains with an anxious face.
"Wait, you're saying that he was the one that allowed this to happen?" Gabriel asks.
"You think that someone like that skeleton would ever match the strength of my sword. He's the Welsh Dragon, the one who was blessed with my power. There's no way for him to lose in a fight against that pile of bone. But it seems he has a plan to take care of this without the need for violence. So let go of the needle and let's see what happens. Will he come back on time or will I add Ereshkigal into the list of my kills? We'll see what happens first." Ophis says with a serious tone.
The tension was at its highest and nobody, not even Tiamat, was brave enough to start a fight with Ophis in this place.
"But the needle will be too much for them. Is too much for even the strongest of souls." Child Ereshkigal says.
"This is the Welsh Dragon we're talking about. He died once, he was locked inside a tool for 2000+ years, he knows his sins and I know that he won't be stopped by them. I choose him for a reason. He tends to exceed expectations. The word impossible doesn't exist in his dictionary." Ophis says with a calm and seemingly joyful tone that only lasts a few seconds.
Those words reach the deepest core of the trio.
This was the dragon that broke free from the boosted gear. The one that had drawn three factions into uniting under one banner. The sinful beast that was still growing and changing.
Trusting him is the one thing that they should always keep in mind even if it means having to endure a few difficult situations such as this one.
With nothing left to say, the wait started for the group with the remainder that Ophis was a time bomb close to blowing up.
Sometime later.
The skeletal goddess began to move once more. Her hands pulled away from the soul and let go of the needle before she fell to her knees. Serafall wasted no time before she rushed to catch the needle.
"This better be the only time in which you let yourself be taken out of your body." Serafall backs away from the goddess and goes back to the body of her ally.
"Why? Why Ninazu?" The skeletal Ereshkigal starts to cry while saying those words.
The blind Ereshkigal starts to follow the cries before she reaches her. The blind Ereshkigal grabs the skeletal hands. "What did you see? What did you hear? I must know."
"My child, he asked to be killed. He couldn't face us. He asked Ddraig to kill him. My child couldn't live on with himself. I failed as a mother." The skeletal Ereshkigal breaks down into more tears.
Before the blind one can ask her more questions, the skeletal one begins to disintegrate into golden lights which are slowly absorbed by the blind Ereshkigal. The memories of the skeletal goddess start to invade her mind.
"Her anger has no more purpose. If her anger against Ddraig was misplaced then she has no need to exist in this world anymore. Am I right, Ereshkigal?" Gabriel asks the younger Ereshkigal.
"..." Ereshkigal wasn't able to respond. Her mind was in distress after hearing her other self speak about Ninazu's last moments. The child approaches her remaining self in silence.
While this is happening, Serafall and Tiamat focus on putting the souls back to where they belong.
Serafall removes the one that belongs to Issei from the needle. The soul is small when compared to its partner but is light is one that won't be put down easily. "You're so small and yet so strong for a young human soul. You keep surprising us."
Tiamat then picks up the one that belongs to Ddraig. "Both of you are idiots for even allowing yourselves to be in this situation."
"Put them back where they belong. They have been outside for far too long." Ophis says after leaving her seat.
With extreme care, Tiamat and Serafall put both souls back into their home at the same time.
A few moments go by before his eyes light up once more. He looks around for a few seconds before he's able to talk. "That was one of the worst experiences of my life. I won't try again."
"Idiot." Tiamat embraces him with all of her strength while Serafall and Gabriel sigh in relief.
"Are you alright? That needle was torturing you." Serafall asks.
"... It was a very painful experience but I'll be fine. I'm just going to need some time off after that." The dragon admits with a sincere smile. His souls were hurt and
Before anyone can continue, Ophis interferes. "Ddraig, that's the first and only time I'll allow something like that. You're my sword and provider, you don't get the right to die until you get me home."
The Welsh Dragon just smiles. "Thank you for trusting me. Once we get out of here I'll get you something sweet." The dragon appreciates a small smile on Ophis's face before his sight quickly turns towards the younger Ereshkigal and the blind one as well. "I'm missing something in here but I think I need to talk to both of you."
Both Ereshkigals are focused on him.
"I apologize once more for my actions. Ninazu, your child wasn't able to face his actions. At that time I could see the pain in his eyes and his regrets. I gave him those options because I hoped that he was able to stand up and face his demons…. but he couldn't nor could he face you. I killed him because he asked me to but even then I didn't have that right."
"I failed him. If I had tried harder." Blind Ereshkigal says.
The Welsh Dragon shakes his head. "You didn't fail anyone. We can't control the actions of anyone. We can try but sometimes even the best of our intentions are not enough. Accept the present even if it is painful. You're a goddess and I'm one of the deadliest beings around but even then we don't have the power to change the past. Accept it and take the first step towards the future Ereshkigal. Do it for yourself and him."
Child Ereshkigal is still silent but her hand reaches out and grabs the hand of her blind self.
"I…. have to. We need to. It hurts but one day it won't hurt as much as it does now." Child Ereshkigal tries to convince her.
A few seconds go by in which nobody can say anything.
Then both Ereshkigals start to fuse into one being. Their bodies disintegrate into dust before reforming into a complete Ereshkigal.
The complete goddess has her eyes focused on the group. "You have my gratitude and cooperation but the debt that the Welsh Dragon has with me won't disappear anytime soon. You better be ready to put your life on the line for me from now and on."
The Welsh Dragon lowers his head. "As long as I'm alive I'll protect you Ereshkigal, queen of the dead."
The deal was made.
Some moments after, back in the Himejima Residence.
The group exited the realm of Ereshkigal. After exiting the realm, the group found themselves back in the Himejima Residence.
"Took you long enough. I was already thinking about going in myself."
The group looks around and finds Yukime sitting on a chair nearby.
"Yukime? What are you doing here?" Tiamat asks.
"Your majesty, you should already know the answer to that. I always keep an eye on our dearest dragon. Also, it has been several days since all of you disappeared and someone needed to be here for when you came back. It has been a week since you disappeared. The children are fine, Raynare, Kuroka, and Shirone returned from their mission but we have other things to discuss." Yukime says while approaching the group.
"What other things?" Gabriel asks.
"Well, the other clans have betrayed the Himejima clan and they created a mess that requires our intervention. There's also the declaration of war from Hades and many of the gods of the death because of Ereshkigal's disappearance. They know that you have left them for the alliance and now they have declared their antagonistic stance towards the alliance and its members. But none of that comes close to the news I have for you." Yukime stops right before Issei.
"What happened?" Issei asks.
"Gaia has woken up from her slumber and she wants to meet the alliance. Is time for us to maybe gain one of our most important allies." Yukime caresses his face. "But all that can wait. You, my dear, need some food. You look a bit pale." She then gets closer to him. "I was going to kill her if you didn't come back. Stop attracting troublesome females into your life or I'll need to start cutting a few heads."
The killing aura around her was visible to him.
The Welsh Dragon sighs in resignation. "Come on, give me a break." Peace never lasts long for him.
*Notes from the author: And we're finally back. Ereshkigal joins the alliance but this also means that Hades and many of the gods of the dead are now serious enemies of the alliance. It won't be a problem for some time. The remaining clans under the Shinto gods have created a troublesome situation that is going to require the alliance's involvement. This is going to be the next arc and will take a few chapters to be completed. After that, we will visit Gaia in her dominion. I want to thank all of the readers of this story for their support and patience. It hasn't been easy but I was able to write again. I'll see you soon.*
*note from the beta: first i would like to say that I hope you all have had a good Christmas and are doing well and a friendly reminder that there could still be mistakes if you spot any let me know and I will work with the author to fix them you can private message me here under the username batmanuchiha*