Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth

by WeirdRaptor

A novelization of the original game. Follow Lenneth Valkyrie on her mission to gather the souls of the heroic slain in preparation for Ragnarök. Secrets, lies, and conspiracies mire her path. Will she succeed, or will all fall to darkness?

35. Chapter 34: Solde Catacombs II

Valkyrie Profile:

Lenneth Novelization AU:

Disclaimer: I do not own Valkyrie Profile or any other tri-Ace properties. Please support the official release.

Chapter Thirty-Four:

Solde Catacombs II

"Aw, hell," Arngrim muttered.

The scarred warrior's group had just entered a round chamber with many archways leading elsewhere into the underground catacombs after exiting from the natural tunnel. There were at least twenty possibly ways to go, from end to end.

"This is like not something you would see in a normal catacombs," Belenus muttered.

Janus ran his hand over the brickwork of the walls, giving it a closer examination. It was a lot smoother and polished than the masonry they'd seen before entering.

"This architecture is newer than anything else we've seen down here," Janus exposited. "It would seem the Undead have made themselves more at home than we thought."

"Just how long have they had free-reign of this place?" he mentally added.

Belenus quirked a brow as he also scanned the room.

"They are well-connected if they could have this place constructed," he murmured. "Plenty of raw materials in the surrounding woods and mountains to work with as well. As isolated as this place is, they could easily have it constructed beneath the notice of Crell Monferaigne."

Beside him, Jelanda looked around almost hopelessly.

"But where do we go?" she asked with an air of exasperation.

She peered down each archway, seeing nothing but darkness down each one. Some curved down while others had ascending stairs. Others still turned corners or just kept going. A look of unease adorned Belenus's features, and he turned to Arngrim.

"Perhaps we should call on the others before we explore any further," the noble suggested. "If nothing else, Lady Valkyrie's intuition will point us in the right direction."

"Can we afford to take the time, though?" Jelanda asked. "They might even try to bar us from returning."

Belenus shrugged, "With the gate mangled and off its hinges, 'tis not as though they could."

"Hmm. You gotta a point about that, Belenus," Arngrim admitted. He gave the circular room of many doors one more look before deciding. "I gotta a feeling Valkyrie would catch up to us before we find the witch just by lookin', anyway."

He turned back to the natural tunnel.

"Come on," he waved for the others to follow him. "Let's head back. Belenus is right, Valkyrie's sixth sense will sniff the witch out."

"If only it were that easy."

Everyone froze at the sound of the unfamiliar woman's voice. The group looked around as they backed up to instinctively take up a four-way back-to-back formation. They slowly walked around in a full rotation scanning the different passages for their new attacker. Arngrim loosened Dáinsleif from its sheath as he looked around, growling challengingly. Jelanda nervously held up her scepter, quietly welling up magical energy.

"See anything?" Belenus asked as his eyes moved from one passage to the next.

"Nothing," Janus answered.

"Up here, boys and child."

"Hey!" Jelanda offendedly cried as they looked up.

Above them, the transparent image of a woman with red curly hair and brown robes appeared, smiling predatorily down at them.

"You are not Genevieve," Janus muttered.

"Very astute," she answered sarcastically. "Welcome to my parlor, said Scarlet to the einherjar. Not prepare for oblivion!"

Then dark power crackled in her hands. Jelanda was the first to notice and pointed the Elemental Scepter at their attacker.

"Dark Spear!" Scarlet chanted.

Scarlet fired a dozen dark violet projectiles from the ends of her robes' sleeves, which spread out, flying around to the sides of the Arngrim's crew, and then sharply turning inward to skewer them from the sides. Arngrim mentally cursed and held Dáinsleif in front of himself and Janus as best he could while Belenus jumped protectively between Jelanda the dark spears.

"Sacred Javelin!" Jelanda shouted.

Artolia's former princess retaliated by firing the six sacred javelins of her spell, but not at Scarlet. Jelanda mentally aimed each holy javelin at the incoming dark spears. The javelins intercepted half of the dark spears, causing them to explode and prematurely set off the other six dark projectiles as well. Arngrim's group covered their faces as the mix of holy and dark energies misted around them. Scarlet was taken aback by the Jelanda's maneuver, finding herself impressed even. Arngrim, Janus, and Belenus lowered their arms and looked around, realizing Jelanda had successfully blocked their enemy's attack.

"Heh. Not bad, little one," Arngrim congratulated.

Jelanda didn't response. She was too focused on Scarlet, who stared down at her with a scowl. The three men turned and stood in front of their mage defensively as the vampiress hovered lower, closer to them.

"So, I see the Valkyrie chose you all well," she conceded. "Very well. If you will not bend to magic, then perhaps you will break under might."

"Not this time!" Arngrim shouted.

He roared and swung Dáinsleif, but it passed right through Scarlet's body. She smirked at him, and laughed at Janus when his shots were met with the same results.

"This woman before us is illusionary," Belenus rasped. "Save your strength, everyone!"

"But she cast magic at us!" Arngrim said.

"Magicians can cast through their astral projections," Jelanda said.

"Quite right," Scarlet chimed.

Then the vampiress spread her arms as she became surrounded by an eerie glow while she chanted. Jelanda had just finished prepping for her next spell and was ready to unleash it.

"Dispel Magic!" Jelanda recited.

Scarlet gasped and flew away as a wave of green spell-breaking energy spread out and chased her towards the ceiling. Jelanda's spell caught up to Scarlet's extension and the vampiress screamed in fury as her image warbled before vanishing.

"Now is our chance! Run for it!" Belenus urged.

"Go!" Arngrim shouted.

Belenus took Jelanda by the hand and began to lead her at full sprint back towards the tunnel. He tried to be mindful of Jelanda's inability to run as fast he could, but they were also in a hurry. Arngrim backed up at almost running speed while he covered their retreat. He knew they had only a moment before this Scarlet would be on them again.

"And if the kid is the only one that can hit her, we're sunk if she corners us," Arngrim thought.

"That was a mistake, little girl!" Scarlet's disembodied voice filled the halls of the underground.

She was heard even in the natural tunnel where Belenus, Jelanda, and Janus had retreated to.

"She's already cast another projection?" Belenus gasped.

"It's easier to project just your voice," Jelanda breathlessly told him.

"Listen, she chants again!" Janus warned.

"…And come forth, my dark servants!" Scarlet intoned.

Then something rumbled within the underground.

"Shit!" Arngrim swore.

The instant things began shaking, he turned to catch up the others, not knowing what that unholy witch had just conjured into the catacombs with them. Before he could catch up with the others, a large hole in reality tore open in front of Arngrim, effectively cutting him off.

"What the…?" Arngrim was brought to a halt by this new anomaly in front of him.

The eldritch chasm was a gaping hole of black, and Arngrim found himself unable to look away. Something moved from within. Arngrim jumped and took Dáinsleif in both hands in preparation to fight as two Dragon Servants emerged. The tear snapped shut behind them. They both bellowed at Arngrim as they prepared their attack. Arngrim found himself sweating a little, not knowing if he could take two of them at the same time. They had essentially cut him off from the others, too. However, instead of showing his concern…

"Aw, for me?" Arngrim called up towards the ceiling sarcastically. "You shouldn't 'ave!"

Ahead of in the tunnel, Jelanda glanced back and saw Arngrim on the other side of two draconian enemies.

"Wait!" She pulled against Belenus, pointing frantically to Arngrim. "We can't leave yet!"

Belenus and Janus both looked, and then stopped when they saw what had happened.

"By the gods!" Belenus exclaimed.

"Come on!" Janus motioned.

The three of them started back, but hadn't taken ten steps before a dimensional tear opened in front of them. Both men stopped quickly and grabbed Jelanda's shoulders to halt her as well, but she fought against them.

"Let me go! We have to get to Arngrim!" Jelanda wailed as she struggled against the noble and assassin. Tears were in her eyes as she shouted, "The big lummox will get himself killed!"

Not even the sight of two more Dragon Servants passing out from the dark of the hole could stop her. For the first time in her existence, the former princess of Artolia bared her teeth and growled at an opponent. She pulled free of the men's grips and held up her scepter.

"Get. Out. Of. MY. WAY!" she commanded the reptilians creatures as power flowed into her.

Belenus and Janus were both a little surprised by the princess's tenacity in the moment.

---

"Aw for me? You shouldn't 'ave!" the sarcasm in Arngrim's voice was not lost on Scarlet.

He held his ground, refusing to back up to even gauge his two new enemies. Instead, he dug the heels of his boots in. He eyed them both up and down. The one of the right seemed smaller and was even missing its left eye. With that observation, Arngrim made his decision, and shot forwards like a piece of artillery. He ran straight for the bigger, healthier dragon on the left, roaring in attempt to intimidate. His battle cry was met with the dragons' own as they stepped forward to meet him.

As Arngrim neared, the alpha Dragon Servant raised its blade to meet his while the weaker beast prepared to spew fire. Having mere seconds to act, Arngrim raced in, and then at the last possible opportunity, he sharply leapt right, toward the weaker draconian. The greater dragon's sword came down and bashed against the stone floor, sending uncomfortable vibrations through its master. The weaker dragon hurriedly raised its sword to block Arngrim's attack, but with one powerful blow, the scarred einherjar disarmed the beast, causing it prematurely to spit out its flame breath into the air as it retreated.

Arngrim grinned wickedly and kept in pace with the weaker draconian as it fled from him. In a last-ditch effort to save itself, it lashed out with its tail. The mercenary hopped over the attack, landing right next to it with Dáinsleif drawn high to the side and ready to lob its head off. Behind him, Arngrim heard the other Dragon Servant briskly sucking in a big breath and knew what was coming. In the split second he had, Arngrim decided to follow to through with beheading the one beside him, but the alpha Dragon Servant was quicker. The warrior saw the ignition and then turret of flame barrel towards him in the corner of his eye.

Arngrim dove out of the way as the stream of flame barreled through. The weaker Dragon Servant also yelped and jumped back. The alpha dragon turned its head to chase after Arngrim with the stream of flame. The scarred mercenary rolled up on one knee at the end of his dive. He saw the streaming fire coming and held up Dáinsleif to defend himself.

"Shit!" Arngrim cursed as the hot current hit his sword and nearly knocked him over.

Arngrim had to reposition himself to push against the force of the fire. The flames split upon impact with Dáinsleif, practically forming a half-dome around Arngrim. The heat made the mercenary feel like he was in a furnace, and it was only getting hotter. Just as it felt as though he was about to boil in his own armor and the heat spread to his gauntlets, it weakened as the Dragon Servant ran out of breath.

Arngrim looked around Dáinsleif's side.

"Now's my chance, I can…" He stopped when he saw the swelling of the weaker dragon's belly. Arngrim scowled when he realized he hadn't the time to run up and interrupt it this time. He had only enough to utter, "Shit."

Then the weaker dragon spewed its own stream of fire, Arngrim tried to block with Dáinsleif. The blade already red hot and its master already feeling like a boiled egg. Arngrim's strength began to give out under this second attack. Sweat dripped down his face as he began to overheat, and his hands trembled. Then the stronger Dragon got its second wind and spat out another stream.

"RRRK!" Arngrim began surrounded by flame and could barely hold onto his sword now.

"…N… not like this!" he thought.

Then the flames stopped. The pressure suddenly stopped and threw Arngrim off-balance. He fell onto his behind. Dáinsleif with a bright red blade laid next to him. Arngrim sat and beheld the two Dragon Servants backing away from each other with bright crimson cuts in their sides, which they clutched to stop the flow of blood. Arngrim was momentarily confused until he saw they weren't backing away from each other, but from Lenneth, who had dropped to the floor between them, slicing into them both on her way down.

The Valkyrie then bolted over to him and held out her palm, sending out a wave of refreshing energy which washed over him. Arngrim felt the boiling heat fade and his strength return. Even Dáinsleif's blade dimmed as it was cooled by Lenneth's influence. Then, the Valkyrie offered her hand.

"Need some assistance?" she asked.

Arngrim smirked and shrugged.

"Sure, but only because you insist," he answered.

"Of course," Lenneth drily replied.

He took her hand and let the goddess assist him to his feet. He uttered his thanks as he picked up Dáinsleif. He was relieved to find it no longer hot enough to burn through his gloves and gauntlets. Then they faced the Dragon Servants as dark power washed over them, healing their wounds.

Scarlet appeared, this time in physical form, but still hovered in the air over her draconian underlings.

"Ah, the Silver Valkyrie," she greeted with all the warmth of winter. "So good of you to join the surprise party I've thrown your einherjar."

"Indeed. 'Tis a good thing I have decided to chaperone, however last minute," Lenneth answered. "This soiree has become far too wild for my liking."

"Oh, I do apologize," Scarlet quipped. "But once things have gotten out of control, they are so difficult to stop."

Then she looked down at her Dragon Servants.

"Gentlemen, show them the door," she ordered. "These rude guests don't appreciate my efforts as hostess."

Then both dragons hissed and advanced on Lenneth and Arngrim. The Valkyrie and her warrior were ready for them. Lenneth did a quick salute, first holding her sword upright in front of her body and face and then raised it horizontal level to her eyes, before holding it in a front upper guard.

"Charge!" Lenneth commanded.

Then she and Arngrim dashed forward to meet their reptilian opponents.

---

"Get. Out. Of. MY. WAY!" Jelanda commanded the Dragon Servants.

Power flowed into Jelanda as she prepared to cast a spell. Belenus and Janus were both a little surprised by the princess's tenacity in the moment, but neither could dwell on it. There were enemies to deal with.

One of the draconians preapred its breath weapon while the other backed off. Janus jumped in front of Belenus and Jelanda with both twin crossbows ready. In the same moment the assassin fired all four shots at the dragon, his target unleashed a fireball. The arrows and flaming orb collided and prematurely burst in the middle of the natural tunnel.

Janus and Belenus covered their faces as the energy rebounded. It left them with light cuts, but neither moved, determined to stay in front of Jelanda and take it for her. Both Dragon Servants covered their eyes. As soon as the backlash was over, both dragons prepared to charge the einherjar. They only paused because some dust and clumps of dirt fell from the ceiling. The dragons looked up and a moment passed as both sides waited to see if the ceiling would collapse. When it didn't, the Dragon Servants set their eyes on their prey again and charged, roaring. Belenus raised his sword, holding it with its blade upright and parallel to his head while Janus aimed his crossbows again.

"Not so fast, villains!" a familiar voice called from above.

All looked up in surprise as Lawfer and Nanami materialized some feet in the air and landed in front of them. Nanami had her wand raised and power already swirling through it. Lawfer hit the ground running towards the Dragon Servants.

"Have at thee!" he bellowed.

Belenus stepped forward to join him, but Nanami blocked him with one of her arms. He looked at her questioningly, but instead of answering, she aimed her Holy Wand.

"MIGHT REINFORCE!" Nanami cast the spell upon Lawfer.

The knight felt himself energized as his strength was augmented substantially by the buff.

"Ya!" he shouted as he swung his halberd at them.

The draconians snarled and raised their swords to cut him down. Janus saw an opening, and took it. He fired twin shots towards the one on the right, hitting it in the chest and under its left arm. The beast yelped and dropped its blade as it fell off-balance into the wall. Lawfer was in the clear to battle the other, unimpeded. The dragon swung at Lawfer, who managed to block the attack. Then the knight hooked the underside of ax-blade around the draconian's curved blade and parried away. The dragon opened its mouth to bite him, but the knight drove the butt end of his halberd up into his teeth, breaking two of them.

The Dragon Servant let out a screeching wail and backed up while the other recovered and breathed in to spark its fire. Lawfer both saw the swelling of its chest and belly, and reflexively retreated. A stream of flame crossed the breadth of the chamber behind him. It cut out before the dragon could whip it around because it was still nursing that chest wound inflicted by Janus.

"Well met, Sir Lawfer," Belenus said as the knight rejoined them. "Not a moment too soon."

"Thank you," Lawfer said as he slid into position at the front beside the noble, Nanami, and Janus. Then he looked at Nanami, grinning, "Not bad for two-against-one, eh?"

"Hey, now, you can't take all the credit for that!" Nanami chided between giggles.

"Take this seriously!" Janus reprimanded them. "Arngrim is facing two more of these beasts alone. We need to inform Lady Valkyrie."

"Worry not, Lady Valkyrie has gone to Arngrim's aid, herself," Lawfer informed him. "And sent us to yours'."

"Still, we must push past these brigands and regroup," Belenus said.

"Couldn't have said it better. Excuse me, everyone," Jelanda said.

Then the former princess pushed her way in front of the men with an ambitious smile.

"My turn," Jelanda announced.

She raised the Elemental Scepter with its crown straight up.

"Icicle Edge!"

The air around them became chilly as four spears made of ice appeared above them. Jelanda fired them like ballistae towards the Dragon Servants. Both reptilian beasts raised their swords, and indeed, their massive, curved blades took the brunt of Jelanda's attacks, but both creatures were born to the ground by the force of ice spears' blows.

On her side of the cave, Jelanda smirked deviously, having only sent out a partial charge of the spell. She began rebuilding the energy right away. Nanami felt a tremendous amount of power well up in Jelanda and the scepter. The shrine girl gave her companion a worried look. Belenus noticed Jelanda's cocky look and found himself troubled by it.

"Jelanda, what are you planning to do?" he asked.

"Jelanda…" Nanami echoed that troubled sentiment.

The air grew frosty again, but doubly so this time as Jelanda prepared to unleash another Great Magic spell. She practically leered in triumphant at the Dragon Servants as they prepared to charge. The spell's energy plateaued and flowed out into a swirling icy aura around Jelanda. The other einherjar all took startled steps away from her.

Jelanda began the incantation, "Surely, thou canst feel it! Thy days are numbered! Thy death is at hand!"

Nanami's eyes widened. She looked around, noting how narrow and low the tunnel was.

"Wait, not in here!" the shrine girl cried frantically.

"What is she doing?" Janus demanded, backing up in alarm.

"CRYSTAL STRIKE!" Jelanda yelled.

They faintly heard Lenneth shouting something from the chamber behind the two dragons, but she was too distant and it was too late. None of them had any time to discern the Valkyrie's words before Jelanda fired off her spell.

The Great Magic was already leaving Jelanda's scepter as Nanami futilely reached for her. A powerful triad of icy blasts barreled through the chamber, striking the duo of draconians. Both beasts screeched as they were hit with cold so intense it burned. Then ice rapidly began growing on their bodies, expanding first around their torsos before thickening until it engulfed their limbs and heads. Nanami was already backing away as the forming ice continued to build on itself. The ice masses then joined when they touched and began to take on the form of a pyramid and just kept growing.

Dread filled Lawfer as he realized what was about to happen and against all rules of propriety, he grabbed Jelanda by the shoulder, pointing at the expanding ice chunk frantically.

"Jelanda, you have to make it stop!" he commanded.

"What? Why?" Jelanda was genuinely puzzled.

Then the ice pyramid's pointed top punched hard into the ceiling and its sides rammed against the bases of the tunnel walls. The einherjar all watched in horror as innumerable large clumps of dirt were knocked free, even half filling parts of the tunnel ahead of them. The group retreated several steps, stopping only to avoid getting too far away from Lenneth and Arngrim if they could help it. Jelanda gulped as she felt a chill that wasn't from the spell as it dawned on her that she might have relished in figuring out how to cast Great Magic a bit too much.

"Oh… Oh, no…" the Artolian princess uttered.

Belenus shot Jelanda an agitated look.

"Blasted foolhardy girl!" he rasped. "Of all the ways you could have solved this, Great Magic in a cramped tunnel?! Really?!"

Jelanda looked away, visibly shocked and shamed. Before she could apologize, the pyramid cracked and burst, crushing and slicing the Dragon Servants within into mulch. Chunks of ice pounded the walls and ceiling of the tunnel. A rumble resounded throughout the natural passage as it became completely destabilized. Dust, rock, and more clusters of earth began to fall from the ceiling and walls. Belenus, Jelanda, and the others began moving away.

"A cave in! Run for it!" Belenus shouted.

Lawfer grabbed Nanami by the hand and began leading her away while Janus grabbed Jelanda and practically carried her with him in their headlong retreat. The light from the chamber ahead vanished as the tunnel became completely choked behind them. Now, the five einherjar just hoped their mad dash would be enough to get them out before the whole tunnel came down.

---

"Charge!" Lenneth commanded.

Then she and Arngrim dashed forward to meet their reptilian opponents.

"Dibs on the big one!" Arngrim declared.

The Valkyrie just sighed out of consternated amusement, before slowing to let him pass and have his choice of opponent. Then Lenneth swerved right, towards the weaker of the dragons.

Arngrim smirked as he closed in on the alpha dragon, which readjusted its grip on its sword.

"I just bagged one of you a little bit ago," Arngrim dragged as he ran the final distance. "Now to see how you do in a proper fight!"

Their blades crossed, but the alpha dragon knew to anticipate his strength after their initial entanglement. So, this time when Arngrim was able to stop its blow, it was not surprised. Instead of trying to push him down, the dragon immediately broke off contact, raising its sword above its head to bring it back down as hard it could. Arngrim's grin just broadened as he raised Dáinsleif levelly to block, already knowing exactly how he was going to kill this stupid monster.

The Dragon Servant's stroke was powerful, but Arngrim was able to angle Dáinsleif to lessen the effect. He was forced downward standing with legs bent as the creature brought its sword down again, and again, bearing the mercenary lower to the ground each time. Arngrim managed to take each blow, letting the creature think it had the upper hand. Then as soon as it raised its again once it had him down on a knee, Arngrim swiftly swung Dáinsleif around, slicing the creature's belly from end to end. The draconian howled in agony it dropped its sword, reaching to stuff its guts back into its slit stomach.

Arngrim gave the creature no quarter, immediately following up his first swing with a second one, this slicing off the creature's lower jaw when he just missed its throat. This time, the bipedal dragon just about doubled over as it screamed, but its pain did not last long. The scarred mercenary's Claymore came down once more, splitting its skulls and ending its misery in swift succession.

"Heh," Arngrim chuckled as he stepped away.

He raised a clenched fist with a triumphant flare.

"I woulda never been able to fight one of these things by myself when I was alive," Arngrim said to himself. "Being one of gods' Chosen Slain ain't so bad if you get to do this."

He heard Lenneth sign. When he looked over at her, she was standing over the remains of the weaker Dragon Servant, its body incased in one of her crystals and missing its head. She was looking at Arngrim while leaning against her crystalized, dead foe with some resignation.

"What's that sigh about?" Arngrim asked.

"I suppose we'll never get you to stop relishing in battle above all else?" Lenneth asked.

He smirked. "I wouldn't count on it."

Lenneth decided to drop the matter, and instead looked into the natural tunnel. Lawfer had just knocked one of the Dragon Servants down, but was driven off by the flame breath of its partner.

"Arngrim. Assist them," Lenneth ordered.

"Right," Arngrim began marching towards them, intending to kill the Dragon Servants from behind.

Lenneth meanwhile began seeking out Scarlet with her senses.

"Now, where did she go?" The Valkyrie thought.

She focused her senses. Lenneth had just picked up on a familiar aura when she felt a spike of magical energy behind her, back in the natural tunnel Arngrim was heading for. The Valkyrie's eyes widened as she whirled around.

"Great Magic?" she uttered in surprise and unease.

She saw Arngrim was almost on the Dragon Servants in the natural tunnel.

"Arngrim, wait!" Lenneth shouted.

"Huh?" Arngrim stopped just out the tunnel, looking at her to see what the problem was.

"CRYSTAL STRIKE!" Jelanda shouted.

Arngrim turned again and witnessed the Dragon Servants get hit by a trinity of ice magic projectiles, followed by ice instantly forming around them and then just expanding into a large structure.

"The fu…!" Arngrim shouted as he was forced to turn tail and run, or else become entrapped with the dragon men.

He sped back to Lenneth's side. From the middle of that nexus, the Valkyrie and warrior watched the ice pyramid punch into the walls and ceiling of the tunnel and bring it down, utterly clogging that route through the Solde Catacombs. Lenneth and Arngrim covered their faces with their forearms as dust and bits of debris were thrown at them by the collapse of the tunnel. After a moment, Lenneth lowered her interlocked arms and stared at the pile of rocks.

"That little idiot," Arngrim growled.

He palmed his face before running it down to his chin as he continued to give the blocked tunnel a disbelieving look. This prompted Lenneth to turn to Arngrim with her hands on her hips and a frown on her face.

"When did Jelanda master Great Magic?" she demanded. "And why was I not informed she had made this breakthrough in her training? I could have guided her to use it more wisely."

"Since splitting up today," Arngrim answered.

Lenneth gave him an astonished stare back.

"She did?" she asked.

"Yeah, but we got more important things to worry about here," Arngrim pointed at the blocked tunnel. "They could be anywhere depending on how far they had to run."

Lenneth closed her eyes, and focused, "They are alright. I can sense their spirits have not fallen."

"Great. Now, why don't ya just call 'em back, so we can keep goin'," Arngrim prompted.

"That might be difficult from this range," Lenneth answered. She held out her hand in the direction of the other einherjar. "But I shall see if I can."

She hesitated, considering that she might have to pull the group back towards her in halves at this range. Having half the group just disappear without warning would be cause for alarm for the other half. So, she thought better of the notion, and lowered her hand.

"It might be better if we just go fetch them, actually," Lenneth said.

Then, she felt the arrival of a new presence was neither that Scarlet woman nor Genevieve. This was an aura unfamiliar to the Valkyrie altogether.

"Valkyrie," Arngrim warned, right on cue.

Lenneth grabbed her sword, turning around. Three vampires had appeared behind them. The leader was a woman with sandy blonde long hair in a black hooded cloak. Beliza glared at the Divine intruder upon her dwelling. Beliza chanced a quick glance down the hall to the room where Orlok was still recovering.

"Have to hold them off long enough for it to be safe to move Orlok," she thought.

Beliza then snapped her fingers, and the two vampiresses at her sides stepped forward, taking up positions in front of her. Her two underlings both had darker hair. One was a brunette and the other was raven haired. They wore knee-length tunics with plated armor of a dark bronze color. Broad swords swung from their belts, and they wore shields on their arms.

Lenneth and Arngrim sized up the warrior vampiresses before focusing on their leader again. The Valkyrie could not suppress the disappointment in seeing she was not Genevieve.

"You are the reigning dark presence in this labyrinth of the dead?" Lenneth ventured.

"I am," Beliza answered.

"I see," Lenneth replied. "What do they call you, beast?"

"I am none other than the Lady Beliza," the blonde vampiress answered with a curtsy.

"Beliza?" Lenneth repeated.

Then she recalled the familiar aura she sensed.

"That must have been Orlok," she realized.

Lenneth pointed her sword at Beliza standing behind her two bodyguards.

"Take me to Genevieve and Orlok, and I will give you the mercy of a quick death," Lenneth commanded.

Both of Beliza's guards loosened their swords from their sheaths as their lady scowled back at Lenneth.

"You will not harm Lady Beliza so long as we stand here!" the raven headed guard shouted.

Beliza raised her arm in a halting fashion. The guards looked at her and stood down, but they did not remove their hands from the hilts of their swords.

"You should have come an hour ago," Beliza said. "You just missed her by about that much. Now, if you have no business with me, personally, I must insist you leave."

Arngrim glanced at Lenneth, awaiting her response. Lenneth wore a deep frown of her own.

"A shame," the Valkyrie said. "No matter. I do have business with you and Orlok. Your wicked dealings end this day, Devil. Prepare for oblivion!"

Arngrim grinned, eager for another fight.

"Are you certain I am the one you should be worrying about?" Beliza coyly spoke. "What of your poor, isolated einherjar who were in the tunnel?"

"They are well, I can sense it," Lenneth answered. "And I know they have the strength and wits to survive on their own until I fetch them."

Beliza detected a smug glint in the Valkyrie's eyes.

"The same cannot be said for you and your minions," Lenneth taunted.

Beliza growled, raising her shoulders as anger boiled to the top.

"Ladies," Beliza commanded her two guards.

"Yes, Lady Beliza," they both answered, drawing their swords.

Then both armored vampires leapt into the air, sailing towards Lenneth and Arngrim.

---

Belenus, Jelanda, Lawfer, Janus, and Nanami burst from the mouth of the natural tunnel into the large chamber with the center pillar. The earth tunnel completely collapsed and filled in, throwing a cloud of dust into the catacombs. The einherjar were sent into coughing fits. Belenus tried batting away the dust, but it was no use. The stuff was just everywhere.

"Hang on," Nanami said, and focused. After a moment, she cast, "Wind's Breath."

A gentler variation of the spell blew out the dust, clearing the chamber up considerably, but everyone was still coughing out dust particles. Belenus looked at Jelanda angrily between whooping coughs before pointing a chastising finger at her. Janus also looked furious with her but chose to simply turn away.

"Well, congratulations. You've certainly done it this time, Your Majesty," Belenus angrily reprimanded Jelanda.

"Sorry," Jelanda quietly said.

"Sorry does not even begin to cover it this time," Belenus snapped.

Jelanda shrank away, muttering more apologies.

"What even was that spell?" Lawfer demanded. "You never cast it at any of our morning drills or runs through the obstacle courses."

"That was Great Magic," Nanami answered.

Lawfer looked at her, astonished.

"…Certainly lives up to the 'Great'," he muttered.

"Ay," Janus concurred, facing the group again. "Of great use in a pinch, like the Dragon Bolt spell the lass used to fell the Ghast sorcerer in this very room, but not against mere Dragon Servants."

"Just what did you think you were doing, Jelanda?" Belenus demanded, crossing his arms.

Jelanda ashamedly looked down.

"I was excited about being able to cast Great Magic, and… I wanted to be useful…" she murmured.

"You wanted to show off," Belenus harshly stated. "It is clear you still need to be directed by a party leader."

"But Lady Valkyrie and Arngrim aren't here," Jelanda said.

"Well…" Belenus glanced at Lawfer.

"Hmm?" Lawfer uttered as all eyes turned to him.

"Until Lady Valkyrie and Sir Arngrim return, you are now the most seasoned combat leader here, Lawfer," Belenus said.

"Oh, right," Lawfer muttered.

"That puts you in charge by any measure that matters," Belenus said.

"I'll follow your orders," Nanami chimed in.

"Indeed," Janus said.

"Very well, if you'll have me as temporary leader," Lawfer said.

The knight cleared his throat and first looked at the blocked tunnel they had just fled out of and then the two side passages of the chamber.

"When you came through here, did you explore these two passages off to the sides?" Lawfer asked.

"Nay, once the lass blasted the gate off its hinges, Arngrim wanted to explore the tunnel right away," Janus answered. "He did not think they would wield any worthwhile findings."

"Moreover, the enemies that attacked us in this room tried to lure us down one of these passages," Belenus explained. "When we didn't take the bait, they entered from both sides. Arngrim suspected it might just be a loop."

"Not a bad call…" Lawfer admitted.

The knight looked between their two possible routes.

"However, that intersection of pathways ahead must have had at least twenty or so doors all leading to different parts of the catacombs," Lawfer said. "We have to explore at least one of these passages, but first…"

The knight turned to Jelanda, still looking shamed and dejected.

"No more Great Magic unless told otherwise, alright," he ordered.

Jelanda bowed her head in a light bow.

"Yes, of course," she said.

With that settled, Lawfer looked between the two paths as he made a decision. He pointed to the right passage.

"Well, going right is as good as any direction, I suppose," he said. "Belenus, beside me. Jelanda, Nanami, behind us. Janus, bring up the rear."

"Ay," Janus answered.

They took formation as they started towards the catacomb hallway. Janus raised both crossbows as he occasionally turned in full rotations while on rear guard. The passage actually turned away from the way they needed to go, but there were plenty of interconnecting halls along the way. Lawfer paused in the hall, bringing the whole group to a stop.

"It really is a maze," he thought.

There were at least six connecting corridors in either direction, and they could go anywhere. It could take forever to find the way to that nexus room. Janus had to lean to the side to peer around the others.

"Oh, my," Nanami mumbled.

"Yeah," Jelanda quietly agreed.

"We could easily get lost trying to find our way there," Belenus noted, stroking his chin.

"Ay, we don't just want to go wandering the halls with no heading," Janus concurred.

Lawfer just answered with a frustrated hum.

"Maybe Nanami and I can use Levitation to clear the tunnel?" Jelanda volunteered.

Lawfer looked back at her doubtfully. He hung his mouth open as he first thought to speak, but hesitated.

Then they felt something dark approach as the hall's already chilly temperature dropped further. The einherjar all tightened formation as they looked around, but saw nothing.

"Well, well, I could not have framed this better if I tried," Scarlet's voice rang out over them, around them, under them. It came from everywhere.

The einherjar looked around and closed ranks to watch each other's backs, but they could not tell from where she spoke to them.

"'Tis that Scarlet woman!" Nanami whispered.

"Oh, blast it," Belenus muttered in alarm.

"Look out!" Janus shouted.

Lawfer and Belenus heard the flutter of fabric in the air above them, quickly falling closer. Both men dove out of the way as a figure in brown slammed into the ground beside them. They all saw long claws protruding from the ends of long, brown sleeves, which raked deep marks into the floor. Jelanda and Nanami let out screams as they backed up and nearly bumped into Janus. The assassin pushed through the two girls to get a shot at their attacker.

The figure leapt from the floor and tackled the magi and Janus down and with unholy strength, pinning all three down. Janus grunted as he was squished into the hard stone floor under Jelanda, Nanami, and their attacker.

One of his crossbows was knocked from his hands and clattered away. He'd managed to hold onto the other, but that arm was at his side, trapped under Nanami. Now that they all had a good look at their attacker, they could see it was Scarlet.

Scarlet raised a clawed hand to slice up the girls and assassin. Jelanda and Nanami both screamed as they began to struggle to get loose while Janus fought to get his arm out from under the shrine girl. Lawfer roared as he took a swing at their Undead attacker. Scarlet managed to catch the blow, gripping the Holy Halberd around its middle. It burned her hand to grip a holy weapon, but she bore it enough to pull Lawfer closer and before casting him against the wall with enough force to daze him. At her other side, Belenus had drawn the bottle of Holy Water from his pocket and dipped his fingers inside. Scarlet instinctively turned to counter his move and received several drops of blessed water flicked in her face for it.

Scarlet shrieked in agony as she clutched at her face, and in a blur of movement, she leapt back up to the ceiling where she clung like an insect. Her beautiful face was now covered in nasty burns as she hissed at Belenus like a cougar.

Janus pushed the two magi off him and raised his twin crossbow, gripping it with both hands. His trigger fingers twitched, but he just stopped himself from wasting any shots. Jelanda rolled over closer to his other bow and grabbed it for him. Belenus dripped holy water onto his sword and stepped up in beside Janus, brandishing the weapon. The noble could barely believe that they had somehow managed to get out of that one. Lawfer stirred beside them. Rubbing the back of his head, the knight climbed to his feet. Nanami and Jelanda shakily got up on their knees as well, flanking Janus. The princess offered the assassin bow, which he took back without looking away from Scarlet.

"Nanami! Barrier!" Lawfer ordered.

"R-right!" the shrine girl answered.

She began the chant to form the barrier, muttering under her breath as she welled up the holy power to do so.

"I think not!" Scarlet shouted, casting off from the ceiling in another dive for them.

Janus fired a single shot at Scarlet. She held up her right forearm, which took the hit instead of her heart. She ignored the pain and extended her clawed hands to tear into Belenus. Lawfer jumped in, swinging. Just as he was an inch from hitting her, Scarlet seemed to bounce off of something invisible, completely and instantly changing her trajectory to backflip onto the wall to their right.

The vampiress then zipped around, running towards them in a spiral, effortlessly skittering up and down the walls and across the ceiling and floor to reach them and avoid the fire of the magi and Janus. The assassin followed her, and waited for his chance to shoot her again while the both the magi prepared their spells. Lawfer and Belenus guarded their front.

When Scarlet touched down in front of them, the knight and noble were ready. Then, instead of attacking, Scarlet just ran up the other wall before passing directly over them. Lawfer and Belenus ran around the others' sides to get between her and their ranged units. Scarlet then jumped down from the ceiling. She pivoted in midway, landing on her haunches like a wild animal. She snarled as she felt the shrine girl's power spike.

"Holy Barrier!" Nanami shouted the spell.

In a last, desperate bid to stop the girl, Scarlet raised her fist, channeling dark energy into it before slamming it into the floor, shooting power into the floor, which erupted back out between the brickwork, blasting it all loose and pelting the einherjar with the stonework. Jelanda, Belenus, Nanami, and Janus grunted and cried out in as they were relentlessly pelted either head-on by bricks or were cut by the edges. Only Lawfer was protected at all with his heavy armor. The knight was blinded by all the debris and still taking hits in unprotected places. Thinking fast, the knight grabbed the nearest person, he didn't know who, and tried to take as many hits from the barrage of ancient bricks for them as he could. Belenus let out a startled gasp when he was suddenly grabbed by the knight, but did not struggle.

None of them could see or hear Scarlet coming this time. She first kicked Lawfer and Belenus, sending them rolling and bouncing over uneven piles of ruined cobblestones. Then she went straight for Nanami, who lied half-buried under some bricks, floating at the edge of unconsciousness. The girl barely perceived the red-haired vampire standing over her before the claws came down and raked them through her body. Nanami's scream was garbled and full of pain as her body began to scatter into wisps and mist.

---

"Lady Valkyrie!"

Nanami's anguished plea reached Lenneth all the way in the chamber of doorsThe sensation hit the Valkyrie deep in her core, sending a near static shock through the goddess's body. She almost missed the quick-footed vampiric warrior speedily step up beside her, ready to stab her in the slit between her chest and back plates. Lenneth's attacker was close, too close for her to use her sword's blade to fend the vampire off. So, the Valkyrie instinctively rammed her sword's hilt against her assailant's blade, parrying it away. Then Lenneth leapt backwards across the chamber towards the blocked tunnel. Beliza's bodyguard pursued her and unleashed a jolly of strikes, slashes, and jabs, all of which Lenneth flawlessly caught and countered in her backward flight before landing in front of the rock and dirt clogging the natural passage.

"No time! There's no time!" Lenneth thought frantically.

Beliza noticed the change in the Valkyrie's posture, and cocked her head wondering what was going on. Then, Lenneth recalled Arngrim into herself. The warrior vanished in a flurry of mist and sparkles mid-swing, surprising the other vampiric guard, who was maneuvering to block his latest attack.

"Huh?" Arngrim's opponent uttered in confusion from with Lenneth's consciousness.

Lenneth could feel Arngrim's confusion and surprise, but she had not the time to communicate. So, with no fanfare, Lenneth leapt for the blocked tunnel, phasing through it. The two vampiric swordswomen exchanged looks and hovered into the air to follow.

"No," Beliza ordered.

The two warrior vampires obediently stopped but looked on their mistress inquiringly.

"Milady?" the brunette guard asked.

"Do not pursue them," Beliza ordered. "I will need you to help me move Orlok. Come."

"Yes, Milady!" their bowed and floated back to their master's side.

---

Nanami's garbled, pained scream reached Lawfer. He let go of Belenus and bolted upright into a sitting position among the rubble and saw Nanami's spiritual body dissolving from the fatal strike Scarlet had given her.

"No!" Lawfer cried frantically as he scrambled to his feet.

Scarlet saw the knight approaching, roaring as he swung to take her out. With a hurt leg, he stumbled over the now uneven floor of haphazardly piled bricks to get at her. Belenus and Janus also sat up as they got their bearings from that blow. Janus held an only half-conscious Jelanda close, prepared to just pick her up and run if he had to.

"Lawfer, no!" Belenus cried.

He tried to stand but just fell over again, unable to get good footing with all the floor brickwork now loose. He grunted in pain as he landed on his side.

The vampiress just smiled with wicked glee at Lawfer. Then, she flew around to his side almost faster than he could follow to strike him down, too. To Lawfer, she vanished and then reappeared right next to him. He turned his head as her claws raked forward, knowing she was too fast for him to dodge. It was over. Then Scarlet 's head and limbs snapped to the side as something rammed into her. It took Lawfer a moment to comprehend what, but as soon as Arngrim's large frame replaced her in his view, he realized Scarlet had been skewered by Dáinsleif.

Scarlet gave Arngrim a hateful hiss even as her body began to crumble to dust, he returned it with an enraged growl of his own. The large warrior then adjusted the angle of his Dáinsleif, raising it and lifting the vampiress into the air, further goring her on its blade.

"Damn you! Damn you!" Scarlet cursed him right before she became falling particles in the air.

Arngrim stood there, glaring a moment.

Lawfer stared in astonishment, wondering where Arngrim had come from. He hadn't heard him coming, so…

"Nanami!" he suddenly remembered and turned toward her.

Lenneth stood over where the girl had lied, holding an orb which she then pressed into her chest and absorbed. The Valkyrie let out a relieved sigh.

"Just in time…" Lenneth muttered.

Lawfer untensed. From the sidelines, Janus let out a "Whew" and adjusted how he was holding Jelanda to better pick her up.

"Hey, you gonna help me with this?" Arngrim asked.

Lawfer turned again and saw Arngrim helping Belenus to his feet. The scarred mercenary pointed over to Janus and Jelanda.

"Yes, of course," Lawfer obliged.

He replaced his halberd in its holder strapped to his back and then climbed over the debris to assist Janus in getting himself and Jelanda to their feet. She was now shaking off the daze from the attack and blinking to clear her vision. Lawfer reached them and squatted on the girl's other side. He hooked his hand under Jelanda's other arm. Then, both men stood up, lifting her as they did. They let go, but remained close, since Jelanda wobbled once on her feet.

"Ugh…" the princess clutched one side of her head painfully.

She looked around once she had better footing. She saw the whole group in various states of injury.

"You need First Aid," Jelanda said.

"Rrg…" Belenus grunted as pain shot through one of his knees.

She was about to approach Belenus, who needed Arngrim's help to stand when it hit her.

"Wait, someone's missing," she realized.

Jelanda scanned the area again, becoming worried.

"Where's Nanami?" she asked.

"Be at peace, she is recovering within me," Lenneth answered, placing a hand over her chest.

The Valkyrie began carefully stepping over the ruined floor as she approached her team.

"You are fortunate I felt her anguish and was able to come," Lenneth told them. "I see Scarlet was a bit more than you could handle."

"Nay, Milady, the mistake was mine," Lawfer spoke up.

He stepped forward and stood in front of the others. Lenneth intently listened, resting one hand on her hip as she did.

"This ruined floorwork is the result of Scarlet becoming desperate to prevent Nanami from raising one of her Holy Barriers," Lawfer explained. "I failed to properly coordinate us to keep the witch on the defensive."

Belenus looked up with a stern air.

"With due respects, Sir Lawfer," Belenus said, and then looked right at Jelanda. "The error which authored our state of affairs was hers'."

"Yeah, saw that," Arngrim flatly muttered. "You really made up for saving our asses earlier with that last stunt, Little One."

Jelanda looked away guiltily, but she could feel all eyes on her.

"…I know," she quietly spoke. "If I hadn't been so excited to cast Great Magic on purpose, we wouldn't have been cut off from you, Lady Valkyrie. I just…"

"No excuses," Lenneth sternly told her.

The Valkyrie jumped across the corridor, passing over a large expanse of ruined floor before landing in front of Jelanda. The former princess of Artolia reluctantly looked up, shamed and disappointed in herself. Lenneth put her hands on her hips, giving no pity in her own gaze.

"From now on, no Great Magic unless told otherwise," Lenneth told her.

"Of course, Lady Valkyrie," Jelanda bowed.

"Additionally, you of course realize that it will take a while for Nanami to fully recover?" Lenneth pressed. "We are down a member of our party now. It will be an hour before I can manifest her in physical form again."

Jelanda's breath hitched.

"Yes, Lady Valkyrie," Jelanda mumbled, still bowed low. "I…"

She trailed off, deciding it was useless to try to apologize again. Lenneth reached out and cupped the girl's chin under her head, lifting her head.

"I suppose it is easy to forget you are the youngest of my einherjar sometimes," The Valkyrie said. "You still require some tempering, but we will worry about that later. We still have a mission to complete."

Lenneth looked in the general direction of the chamber of doors. "Now I just hope they've not fled this place yet. We need to get back there. Jelanda, a round of First Aid for everyone. On the Double."

"Of course, Lady Valkyrie," the princess answered and then raced over to Belenus.

Lenneth stared toward the origin point of Beliza's aura.

"She's not left the underground yet. Good," Lenneth thought. "To what purpose does she linger when she knows I will return shortly with my einherjar? And more importantly…"

Lenneth shifted her focus, quickly finding the weak traces of Orlok's aura.

"Why was Orlok was not with her?" she wondered.

---

"Move him onto the table. I'm beginning the spell."

The vampire warriors carefully laid the unconscious Orlok on the stone long table in the meeting room. Then they stepped back, taking their places at Beliza's sides again. Orlok lied there, still out cold. His wounds had closed, but were far from fully healed. The dead man's blood had done him as much good as it was going to.

Beliza turned to her warrior vampires, "You will have to protect us should Odin's battle maiden and her chosen slain find us before I have completed the spell."

"Yes, Milady," the armored Undeads bowed, crossing their right arms over their chest-plates.

"Might we call for some backup, though, Milady?" the raven head one asked.

"Yes. Call in two more guards and have Ramapithicus brought up from his cage as well," Beliza answered.

"Yes, Milady," the black-haired guard answered.

While her two bodyguards began their summoning incantations, Beliza commenced with intoning her own spell quietly to teleport multiple individuals.

"By the eldritch mists of time and dimension…" Beliza mumbled, deep in meditation.

The air began to stir as the magic gathered to the Vampire Lady. The magic circle formed on the ground around her. Though, the eight points of the spell had not ignited yet.

---

"Which way, Lady Valkyrie?" Jelanda asked.

Lenneth and her team had returned to the chamber of doors. The Valkyrie let her senses take over, but it wasn't hard this time. She felt the presence of Beliza and the other vampires through the fourth door from the right immediately. She also detected the weak aura of Orlok.

"There," Lenneth muttered, gesturing to the entrance with her sword.

Her eyes narrowed icily before she added, "Do not forget that Nanami cannot aid us right now. There will be no room for error. Come!"

Arngrim turned to Jelanda, handing out a hand.

"Jelanda, hand me one of your Poison Gems," he said.

"Poison Gem?" she asked with a raised brow.

Instead of arguing the point, she drew a sickly green crystal from one of the pouches on her belt and handed it to him.

"That just casts Stone Torch," she said, making sure this was what he wanted. "Not the most useful spell against Undead."

"It just needs to stun 'em," Arngrim said. He pocketed it. "We'll save the more potent ones if we really need 'em."

Lenneth called over her shoulder, "Janus, to me! Belenus, Lawfer, watch our flanks! Jelanda, Mystic Cross! Arngrim, guard our rear!"

They quickly got into formation. None in the group knew what was waiting for them. However, Lenneth sensed something powerful brewing in the room ahead. She sheathed her sword and drew out her new bow from her hyperspace pocket before drawing back its string. Janus unholstered both crossbows.

"We will have to act swiftly," she told them.

Lenneth and her einherjar marched into the meeting chamber, rounding a corner as they did. There were now four armor-clad vampiric bodyguards standing between them and Beliza. Lenneth saw Orlok lying on the table behind the armor guards, Beliza with her back to them standing over him preparing a spell, and lastly, one of the guards had just finished a summoning spell. Lenneth and Janus both aimed at the warrior vampires, but the rift was already opening. A large black void filled in the middle of the floor. Something large and roaring leapt from it. The rift snapped shut and the beast landed. It was a giant ape, at least double the size of normal pongos and yetis. It had dark purple fur stood up at least twelve feet. It pounded its chest and bellowed at them again.

"Hlin preserve us!" was Belenus's shaky response.

Janus fired two shots into Ramapithicus's face, hitting the beast in the cheek. The ape reeled back, roaring again before stomping forward and raising both fists to smash these intruders who had just pricked him with little needles.

"Tch!" Lenneth practically hissed when she felt Beliza's teleportation spell begin to go off.

She saw something begin to shine behind the ape beast in front of them, but that did not distract her from the ape monster's incoming fists. Lenneth leapt straight up while her einherjar dodged to the side to avoid the first blow. When Ramapithicus's fists smashed against the floor beside them, Jelanda trained the crown of her scepter at the giant hairy thing.

"Fire Lance!" she shouted.

Their simian enemy screamed and backed up, covering his now burned face, giving them just enough room to act. Arngrim and Lawfer shot forward, backed up by Janus while Belenus set himself in front of Jelanda protectively as she readied her next attack. One of Beliza's guards appeared behind the noble beside Jelanda. The vampiress had her sword pulled back and ready to run the young mage straight through. Jelanda saw her and froze up.

Her salvation came when Belenus spun around, bellowing as he swung his sword overhead and then down at their Undead attacker. The guard met his strike with her blade and tried to parry it away, but Belenus stepped closer, angling his sword to prevent it from being pushed away. Jelanda backed away from the tangling fighters, quietly chanting and calling magic to her.

"Your peripherals are excellent," the vampiric guard congratulated Belenus. "For a human."

For once, Belenus had no polite response, and just grunted as he applied more pressure.

---

Lenneth flew up towards the ceiling where she could see over Ramapithicus's head. Beliza's teleportation spell was half-completed and set to whisk Beliza and Orlok far away. She saw Jelanda had belted Ramapithicus with a spell, so she focused on preventing Beliza and Orlok's escape.

"Oh, no, you don't!" The Valkyrie thought.

She aimed and loosed her arrow, which sailed over the ape-beast's head towards Beliza's back. When one of the guards jumped up and blocked it with their shield, Lenneth grimaced angrily. The Valkyrie wasn't really surprised, just very vexed when Beliza looked over her shoulder at her with a smug grin.

"Fare thee well, battle maiden of Odin," she called. "'Twas fun, but I cannot die here. I trust my pet and subordinates will keep you company enough."

Then she, Orlok, and two of her guards faded away as they were teleported out, leaving one to assist Ramapithicus and the other vampiric warrior fighting Belenus. Before they went, Lenneth got a quick but good look at Orlok's injured state, and recognized the remnants of Genevieve's handiwork upon his body.

"…There really is division among the ranks of the Undead, then," she realized.

She did not have the luxury of being able to dwell on it. Her eyes stayed down to Ramapithicus below her. She drew the bowstring back again, deciding on how to best injure the ape monster.

---

"Lawfer," Arngrim commanded.

"Right," the knight answered.

As soon as they dodged Ramapithicus's initial fist pound and Lenneth took the air, the mercenary and the knight split up, running around to approach Ramapithicus from both sides. Janus slowed to a stop, taking aim to back them up. By now, the pain inflicted by Jelanda's spell was under control enough that the ape beast was focused on them again, but could only see out of his left eye now. The other had been burned and was squeezed shut. Despite the pain, Ramapithicus pounded his chest again before smashing his knuckles again the floor as he roared at all three of his current opponents.

"Get 'em, Rama!" Beliza's guard goaded the ape giant from behind. "Smash 'em!"

Ramapithicus whipped his head back and forth to see both Arngrim and Lawfer closing in from the sides, barely noticing Janus. The beast could clearly see Arngrim coming in from the left, but Lawfer was a complete blind spot unless he turned his whole head to look at him, which took his gaze off Arngrim. Both men noticed the beast's wounded eye as they crossed the final distance to get within striking range of their target.

Ramapithicus lashed out with a blind backhanded swipe at Lawfer, judging the knight's location based on sound. Lawfer stopped short, letting the ape's swing come just shy. The knight raised his halberd, anticipating that missing him would vex the beast into pouncing at him, but instead Ramapithicus used the precious few seconds his swing had bought to swipe his hand back around in a wild punch aimed at Arngrim.

The scarred mercenary saw the windup and waited until the last movement before sharply banking out of the way of half-blinded creature's right hook. Ramapithicus then whipped his extended arm out. With no other recourse, Arngrim threw himself to the floor, landing flat on his back to avoid being clotheslined by the massive trunk of a limb. The beast's momentum carried the backhanded swing clear around towards Lawfer, who dove and rolled under it.

The two men got onto their knees as the massive ape stared down at them. Now they were closer together in front of him and within his striking range. Ramapithicus's hand snapped out, reaching with open fingers for Lawfer. The knight pressed against the floor with his legs, standing up and throwing himself back a step. The paw still came for him, reaching to grab the knight around his head. Lawfer stabbed the ape giant's palm with the spear's head.

Ramapithicus cried out, withdrawing his hand before charging Lawfer in a blind rage, completely forgetting about Arngrim.

"I don't think so!" the mercenary shouted.

He practically flew over the whetstones and sliced a deep cut into the ape's side. Ramapithicus bellowed and batted at him wildly. Arngrim ducked the attack while Lawfer took his opportunity to strike, swinging overhead and sinking the ax blade deep into Ramapithicus's arm. The ape giant shrieked, backing up and clutching the wound in its bicep before stomping forward to reassert dominance. Arngrim and Lawfer both roared back, swinging, and making the violet-furred ape back off.

From the back, Janus considered several pressure points he could aim at, but he having difficulty with Ramapithicus and the two warriors rushing about so much. The assassin also noticed something creeping up beside him. It was the fourth and final warrior vampiress who had stayed behind the ape giant. She darted in from the side to take him out to prevent him from supporting Arngrim and Lawfer.

Janus turned his crossbows on her. He knew he had to gamble on which way she'd dodge to, so he fired the first shot straight at her. The vampiress disappeared before the arrow could reach her. Janus followed that up the first raising his aim by about 30o straight up and pulling the second trigger.

Clunk! The bolt hit the vampiric warrior dead in her stomach. She screamed from the pain as she was thrown off-course by the blow. Janus backstepped to avoid collision with her. She landed unceremoniously on the floor in front of him. Recovering quickly, the vampiress got up and pounced for Janus, who clobbered her in the face with the stock of his crossbow, knocking her out.

Bam! A loud noise made Janus look up from his downed opponent. Something had caused the ape to fall over.

---

"By Freya! He's going to jump!" Lawfer cried.

He and Arngrim braced to dodge. Arngrim reached into his pocket, grabbing the Poison Gem he had gotten from Jelanda. The time to use it had come. Then, something glowing streaked down from above, striking Ramapithicus in the leg. The beast shrieked as his leg gave out and he fell over, towards them.

"Wha… Damn it!" Arngrim shouted.

He and Lawfer bolted, not stopping even when the entire room rumbled and shook. When they turned, Ramapithicus had fallen onto the floor behind them, first on his side breaking the stone meeting table before rolling onto his back. Arngrim's eyes quickly scanned the ape's body, and he just managed to notice the last remnants of an energy arrow dissipating from the ape's left ankle, leaving a blackened hole seared into the simian's leg joint.

"Forget me, monster?" Lenneth called from above.

Both warriors and Janus looked up at her as she triumphantly floated down from the ceiling. Arngrim reached down and felt the Poison Gem in his pocket to sure it was still there. When his hands grabbed around it, he was relieved. He still had his secret weapon.

Lenneth sent her new bow into her spatial pocket and drew out her sword, deciding it was the better tool for killing the ape giant. The Valkyrie zipped across the meeting room, aiming to kill the beast by striking at its head. One of Ramapithicus's hands swiped at her, but the Valkyrie banked around in a loop. Lenneth then dove, passing low over the ape giant's body, ready to slash his throat she passed. His other hand clapped down, and she was forced to pull up sharply.

---

"Lightning Bolt!" Jelanda shouted.

The spell struck the vampiress guard square in the chest and slammed her into the ground. The next thing she knew, Belenus had jumped back in and stabbed her through the chest. She hissed up at him as she was reduced to dust.

"There…" Belenus muttered as he backed towards Jelanda.

Not far off, Janus had finished off his vampiric opponent, too.

Now, all eyes turned on Lady Beliza's pet as the noble and princess raced to rejoin the others. Ramapithicus looked at them balefully as he rolled over. Lenneth had landed not far from him with her einherjar lined up behind her. They were ready to finish the beast off. Ramapithicus growled as he picked himself up, favoring his leg and stood before Lenneth's party. Jelanda looked at the ape. Despite his size and horrid appearance, she felt sorry for the wounded creature. After taking a breath, she still raised her scepter.

"They left him to die by our hands," the princess thought. "He wouldn't survive long with those wounds without treatment. He's too big for any natural habitat to support him without devastating it, anyway. Sorry, big fellow."

Ramapithicus stood painfully before them, bellowing at them and thumbing his chest again, just managing to stand on his injured ankle as part of the bluff. It did not work. The ape giant saw right away that the woman in blue armor and her warriors were not intimidated as they approached him.

"Follow my lead," Lenneth ordered. "Arngrim, use the Poison Gem at the earliest opportunity. I will get you an opening."

She did not wait for her einherjar to answer. Lenneth ran straight for Ramapithicus, like a blue and white blur, sword held low. Arngrim, Lawfer, and Belenus tore off as well, trying to follow, but their Valkyrie had sped far ahead of them. Jelanda as always hung back, focusing on her next spell while Janus darted off to the side.

Ramapithicus snarled at Lenneth and raised a tight fist. He drove one of his fists straight down to smash her with his knuckles. The Valkyrie turned sharply and ran around the ape's side almost faster than he could follow. He reflexively swiped at her, but Lenneth jumped up and landed on his raised bicep before running towards his face. With his other hand, he moved to swat her with his palm. Lenneth hopped off his arm. The loud clap of his palm echoed above her.

Lenneth landed on his upper back and stabbed him right between the shoulder blades. Ramapithicus howled reached around to grab her, turning himself partially around as he did. The Valkyrie smirked as she pulled her blade out before dropping to the floor. He again clapped only his own hide trying to get at her. Then he turned his good eye on her and let out a sound which was somewhere between a hiss and growl. Lenneth just smiled back.

"Yes, you great stupid thing. Keep being so easily distracted," she thought.

He would have lunged at her, teeth-first, but even in his rage, he had not forgotten her einherjar. He could still hear them coming and knew they were close. In fact, one of them had come within his striking range before the others. The ape giant sharply turned to face them, seeing Lawfer charging in first. Arngrim and Belenus flanked him a few paces behind.

"Have at thee!" Lawfer shouted.

He leapt up, aiming the spearhead high to stab the ape's stomach. Ramapithicus lunged down, mouth open to bite the knight's head off. Lawfer raised his halberd, aiming to wedge the beast's mouth open, silently praying Arngrim's move would come quickly enough. With just one good eye, the ap giant missed Arngrim's pitch, which sent the Poison Gem low through the air, where it hit the floor at the ape's feet. It broke open against the floor, unleashing black cloud of smoke.

The erupting dark cloud hit the ape beast's stomach and chest like a great big fist. Ramapithicus wheezed as the wind was knocked out of him and was launched straight up towards the ceiling. Lawfer and the others all about-faced and fled. Lenneth sidestepped and then bolted along the wall of the chamber to avoid the ascending ape's inevitable return to the floor.

The dark cloud dissipated when Ramapithicus was about halfway up to the ceiling, but it was immediately replaced by a second which pounded him in the same place. Ramapithicus nearly doubled over as his entire torso burned with pain right before he was slammed not the ceiling. Pain shot all through his body as the uneven, jagged stones cut into his skin and concussed him. Then, the third and final puff of solid dark smoke pummeled into his body, digging him deep into the ceiling. Cracks spread around him like spiderwebs, and everything began to rumble. Then, the third solid cloud vanished and Ramapithicus began to fall as he lost his hold on consciousness.

Lenneth and her einherjar had just reached the exit. No one needed to be told to retreat. They just fled from of the room right before the massive simian hit the floor, causing the entire underground to shake for the third or fourth time that afternoon. Lenneth and her einherjar did not look back as the initial CRASH! of Ramapithicus's landing seemed to cause more rumbles and a second crash. They just darted back out into the chamber of entryways and dashed through an archway directly across the way. It wasn't until they were in that corridor they stopped and finally looked back.

A bunch of dust billowed out from the meeting room. At the present, it was too thick for them to see through. They could only guess what the current condition of the room was.

"Woo," Belenus clutched his chest as he leaned against the wall. He tilted his head back, resting it against the cool stones of the wall. "That just may be the second cave-in caused by us today."

Jelanda kept her mouth shut, but did note with some annoyance that Arngrim was not receiving the same harsh treatment he had given her before.

"Yeah," Arngrim concurred with the noble. "These rickety old catacombs are just about fall apart, huh?"

"'Tis not as though it could be helped," Lawfer spoke up breathlessly. "That great beast had to be brought down. If we had left just because the Undeads evaded us, that would have left the mongrel free to get loose on the surface and wreak untold havoc."

"If the beast is dead, that is," Janus pointed out.

"Indeed," Lenneth agreed.

She tore herself away from the drifting dust in the air to address her team.

"Come, we must go check on the welfare of our new furry acquaintance," she said. "He cannot be allowed to leave this place."

"And perhaps we may still find something of value by searching that room," Belenus suggested.

Lenneth thought about it.

"Perhaps…" she said with some doubt. "Beliza and her ilk all left in a great hurry. It would be a long shot to think fortune smiles on us so much that they will have left something behind in their haste."

"It may still be worth trying," Janus suggested.

Lenneth looked at him, and after another moment of consideration, she nodded.

"Come, then," she said.

"But be careful?" Arngrim asked, with amusing inquisition.

"Always," Lenneth flatly answered.

They returned to the nexus chamber. The room itself seemed to still be structurally stable despite two very recent cave ins directly adjacent to it. The hall to the meeting room wasn't blocked.

"Whew, small mercies," the Valkyrie thought.

She could not see into the room, itself, but it looked like there was a still form filling the middle of the room. Lenneth could not tell if it was the ape giant or a pile of rubble, but she supposed they were about to find out. Jelanda looked around at the various corridors, along with Janus.

"Won't the Undead be along shortly?" the princess asked. "The whole underground had to have heard that."

Lenneth stopped, but only to address the girl's concerns.

"With Beliza and Orlok having fled, they will be far less inclined to confront us for the time being," she answered.

"What if they return?" Jelanda asked.

"There is no 'if'. They will," Arngrim's rumble filled the air. "But not for a while. We found one of their clubhouses. So, they won't be in a real hurry to come back before they can be real sure Mighty Thor won't just drop the whole roof on 'em."

"Yes, it will be some time before this is a functioning lair for them again," Lenneth concurred. "And I will be informing Lord Thor of this place's existence upon return to Asgard."

"…Good to know, I suppose," Jelanda murmured.

Lenneth pressed on, entering the short corridor. When they entered, the floor had given out under the ape giant's weight when he fell from the high ceiling. Moreover, it seemed the ceiling came down with him. The room no longer resembled a room. Everything built by the Undead had fallen into another underground space below and then buried under several tons of rock.

"Shit, guess we kinda overdid it with that Poison Gem," Arngrim muttered.

"Indeed," Belenus breathlessly answered.

Jelanda looked away guiltily.

"So, we've disturbed this resting place for the dead pretty bad?" she ventured.

"It was already disturbed. The Undead infested this place and altered as they saw fit for some time," Lawfer answered. "They did not care whose graves they disturbed."

The knight then looked on the piled chunks of underground, which was high enough to not only fill the hole below, completely bury their simian foe, and was also stacked high enough that its peak was halfway up to its new, higher ceiling. When he looked up, he saw dirt and roots among the jagged rocks.

Lawfer raised his halberd, pointing at the ceiling, "I would not recommend we enter. More is likely to come down. That is loose soil up there, so there will not be much left separating the surface from these dreary halls. I would wager when it comes down, the city of Solde will have itself a new hole."

"Good eye," Lenneth answered.

The Valkyrie glanced at the brown earth and roots above them before looking around the destroyed room one more time. Lenneth backed up a couple of steps before turning away.

The Valkyrie almost unconsciously muttered, "There is nothing of value to be found here still. We're leaving."

Belenus slowly turned around.

"So that's it, then? This entire excursion was a waste?" he unhappily asked.

Arngrim gave the nobleman a firm look.

"That's how it goes sometimes," the mercenary said. "Sometimes you hit paydirt. Other times, you come up empty. At least we made their lives a little harder. That's better than how some missions I've been on have gone."

As he spoke, Lenneth remembered something. The image of Orlok on the table, covered in wounds inflicted by what had to be another Undead flashed in her mind.

"Arngrim is quite correct," Lenneth answered and looked back at Belenus. "We have rendered one of their strongholds utterly unusable, slew several of them, killed one of their great beasts, and…"

Her mood lifted as the last part passed her lips, "…We have confirmed that there is division among the Undead. They are not a united enemy."

"One of the Undead, themselves, told us that," Lawfer said.

"Yes, but he had nothing to prove it," Lenneth answered. "Today, we have tangible evidence I can actually share with the All-Father. This intel will surely factor into his war council's strategies going forward."

"I suppose 'tis not a complete waste, then," Belenus admitted.

"We should go," Lenneth told them.

---

"Nnnn…. Rr… Ugh… What happun?" Orlok slurred he breached the final hurdle to consciousness.

He opened his eyes, and it was dark enough his night vision kicked in. He blinked as his eyes wandered unfocused. He saw a mess of infrared shapes moving around him as the sounds of civilization rang in his ears. Orlok squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears with his palms. He took several deep breaths to try calming down. His nose took in the coppery smell of blood and cooked food. He eyelids flicked open again. He was again assaulted by an overload of visual stimulate in his groggy state.

The ginger vampire growled and released his ears to slap himself. As the light stinging ignited his fire, he mind came out of its fog and he was able to focus. He looked at a wind chime by an open window in… wherever on Midgard he was, and used that as his landmark to block out the rest. The red shapes vanished and he saw only the room. He listened only to chimes as the breeze gently moved them about, clinking them against each other. The sounds of world outside became mooted.

Orlok's relief was immeasurably.

"I've not had to do that in ages," he thought. "Why were my senses so unfiltered now, like a freshly turned vampire's?"

Count Orlok sat, throwing off the covers. He looked around, and wondered why everything seemed so high up.

"Wait, I'm on a futon, and that's a sliding door," he realized. "I am in… Yamato?"

The Vampire Lord got to his feet, finding his body surprisingly heavy.

"Now, why am I so weak?" he wandered.

He shuffled to the door while he tried to clear his mine. It wasn't until he grabbed the door handle that he looked down at himself and realized he was no longer wearing his formal robes, but just a pair of plain white cotton pants. The door then slid open, and Orlok was suddenly having an impromptu stare down with Beliza.

"Uh… um…" Orlok stuttered.

Beliza's eyes trailed up and down his form, making Orlok uncomfortable before her gaze worked its way up to his eyes again.

"Good, you have fully healed. Took you long enough," she said with a sharpness of tone he did not appreciate.

"Took me long enough?!" Orlok protested.

"Glad you agree," Beliza said. "If you had bothered to look around a bit more, you would have found your fresh change of clothes waiting for you on the nightstand. Get dressed and come down. We have much to discuss."

Then she began to slide the door shut, but was stopped by Orlok grabbing it with a grip most firm.

"Wait," he firmly said.

"What is it?" Beliza sounded tired.

Orlok nearly asked her what the matter was, but he made himself stay on topic.

"Just… what happened to me?" he rasped, scratching his head. "I remember starting to fight Genevieve, and I was knocked back, and then…"

His eyes narrowed as he tried to recall what happened next, but in truth, his memory was just a haze of red and pain after the Elde Vampiress witch pounced on him.

"I don't remember," he repeated, and looked at Beliza. "I was knocked back, and then I wake up here, in… Yamato?"

Beliza sighed, and relented. She let go of the door, allowing Orlok to open it wider and lean his arms against the top and side of the frame.

"We are in Yamato, yes?" he repeated.

"Correct," Beliza answered. She took a breath, and gave him a brief summary of the events.

As she described the events, Orloks' face started as an indignant frown as she went over the ease of his defeat at Genevieve's dark claws. It then went through a cycle of guilt for being useless while Odin's battle maiden and her einherjar were in their lair, to befuddlement at the wanton destruction the Valkyrie's chosen slain caused to the catacombs, and back to guilt when he realized prioritizing his safety was part of the reason they had just lost a good stronghold. When she was done, Orlok was gaping.

"That… It sounds like you had quite a day," he managed.

"Quite," Beliza deadpanned.

"I really was taken down by her that easily," Orlok growled with embarrassed anger. "Just like that?"

"I told you to not to trifle with her," Beliza firmly said. She kept her voice lowered, and continued, "You underestimated her, and Genevieve left you a nearly dead bloody mess. It was a miracle that we were able to bring you back from the brink. Mayhap you will use your head next time."

Orlok snarled and turned away, pouting like an oversized child. Beliza scowled back at him.

"Fine. Be that way. Don't learn from your mistakes, ever," she said in rebuke. She turned away again, "Just hurry and get dressed. Albrecht is downstairs waiting for us."

"Albrecht?" Orlok gasped.

He looked on with worry as she moved away from him down the hall.

"You brought him here?" Orlok demanded. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that could be?"

"Yes," was all Beliza said as she turned a corner about a third of the way through the hallway.

Orlok was left alone. He shoulders slouched as he slowly pulled the door shut.

"Fine, then, I'll get dressed," he gave in. "Best see what this is all about, then."

After leaving him alone to change, Beliza allowed her guard to drop in the moment she was out of sight.

"Thank goodness, he's alright," she thought. It was like a weight had been shaken off. "But still… what Genevieve said about his fate…"

"Sparing him?" Genevieve had laughed when Beliza pled his case.

The Elder Vampire seemed to think that was the stupidest thing she had ever heard. Geneveive pointed at the sundered Orlok, lying almost in pieces before her.

"That one has made his own prison of torment and sealed his own fate so well that letting him perish right now would be the real mercy," she said. "Nay, child Beliza, I will enjoy watching Orlok struggle in hopeless futility until the Valkyrie brings down the gavel on him."

"What could she possibly mean by that? What could she possibly know of the future?" Beliza asked as if expecting an answer. "I have never heard of her being a seeress. Or, did she see something in Orlok I have not?"

She stopped mere steps from the double sliding doors at the end of the passage to allow herself a moment to ponder the foreboding prophecy of Genevieve.

"And what can I do about it?" Beliza asked herself.

A few minutes later, Orlok left the bedroom he had regained consciousness in, now properly garbed. He wore clothing similar to his usual flavor. Dressed in black from his boots, to his pants, shirt, and long coat, one would scarcely suspect he'd been on death's door mere hours earlier. Orlok turned the same corner to the right halfway down the hall to follow after Beliza. Ahead of him were the double sliding doors. He could see light and hear voices coming from the other side, along with the sound of silverware clinking.

"Silverware?" he pondered, and then chuckled. "Guess they couldn't get the hang of chopsticks."

Orlok came to the end of the hall and opened the door. Everyone looked up from their meal while he lingered in the threshold to read the room before entering or saying anything. Of course, Beliza was there at the head of the table across from where Orlok stood. With her were three male Greater Vampires, and Albrecht, all eating Yamato cuisine around a low Yamato-style table. Beliza and her underlings managed sitting on their knees well-enough, but the stoutly built dwarf, Albrecht, was crossed legged. Among the pale vampires, the olive-skinned dwarf with his large head and facial features was impossible to miss.

Orlok could still smell blood, and he quickly located the source in three wine bottles resting in large metallic bowls filled with ice. One of the Great Vampires grabbed one, uncorked it, and poured himself some of the crimson life essence in a wine glass. The Count also noted with further amusement that they were indeed eating with mainland silver utensils. Before he could say anything, the three Greater Vampires rose and bowed and him, sweeping their capes around themselves as they did.

"Ah, good evening, Count," the closest one said. "We are glad to see you recovered and able to join us."

"Of course," Orlok answered. "Please, sit. I understand Lady Beliza called this meeting."

"Indeed," Beliza added.

Then she gestured to a spot to her right. Orlok walked past Albrecht with the other underling Undeads without another glance despite the former turning to greet him. When the redheaded Vampire Lord ignored him, Albrecht scowled.

"Too special to greet your little project's chief mastermind?" he drawled.

"More like too weary to," Orlok muttered.

Beliza cleared her throat both loudly and unhappily at that. Orlok looked at her, having no idea what he did wrong.

"I believe Count Orlok was offended more than enough people this day," Beliza's tone made it sound like an order.

Orlok sighed, caving in, and turned to Albrecht.

"Milady is correct, of course," he said, looking the dwarf in the eyes. "Forgive my rudeness. 'Tis been a taxing last several hours."

"Ay, no guff," Albrecht waved it off.

"Thank you for your tolerance," Orlok lightly bowed.

Then the Count sat at Beliza's right side. He smirked lightly at he picked up the chopsticks, broke them apart, and then began using them as though it were second nature as he started on a bowl of Gyūdon. Orlok privately enjoyed the raised brow this got from Beliza and the mild surprise of their three underlings.

"Show off," Albrecht grumbled.

Orlok just grinned and continued eating.

Then, the table went silent as the pale blood drinkers and their dwarven co-conspirer finished their meal. Beliza was almost able to relax.

"Finally, some quiet," she thought as she sipped on her wine glass, enjoying the taste of virgin's blood.

"Now then…" Orlok set his bowl down. He met the gaze of everyone, one at a time. "I think 'tis time our host began the proceedings."

He glanced at Albrecht.

"Given Master Albrecht's presence, I assume it must concern our operations on Isle Wakoku," Orlok said.

"Ay," the dwarf burped at him.

Orlok tried to mask a disgusted sneer and turned away, directing his eyes on Beliza. She finished her glass of blood before bothering to return his stare. She picked up one of her forks before sitting up straight and poised.

"Very well," Beliza replied. The vampiress clinked her fork against the wine bottle, getting the attention of everyone else at the table. "Everyone, it is time to begin."

The three Greater Vampires set down their silverware and sat upright, even putting their napkins ahead. Only Albrecht continued to eat, but he watched Beliza, showing that he was listening.

"Today, we were humiliated and defeated," Beliza sharply began, just under a yell.

The rest of the table flinched.

"Not only did Genevieve laugh at us and dismiss our efforts in her rejection, but she also maimed our esteemed colleague, Count Orlok," Beliza explained.

Orlok looked down at his empty plate, his eyebrows twitching unhappily. The three underling vampires all nodded.

"Worse, we were discovered by The Silver Valkyrie," Beliza continued. Anger burned in her red eyes. "She and her chosen rabble completely laid waste to our base in under Solde. This indignity cannot be allowed to stand, it absolutely cannot."

"Harrumph!" the three Greater Vampires cheered.

A grin tugged at the edge of Albrecht's lips.

"By Yggdrasil's Roots, wish I hadn't missed that," the vanished dwarf thought.

The image of Beliza completely losing control as the Solde Catacombs crumbled around her nearly made him lose his composure. Nearly. Beliza had paused to let her words settle among the small gathering, so Albrecht hid his amusement by taking a sip of some sake and stopping himself from uttering a single word. Even one as irreverent as himself knew better than to rile five Undeads of at least Greater Vampire status. It was better to keep his private enjoyment of their inconveniences private.

Orlok decided to end the silence before it become uncomfortable.

"What do you propose we do?" the ginger vampire asked.

"This blow will have consequences regarding our standing both on Midgard and in the other realms," Beliza answered. "We cannot allow this loss of face to stand. We must move our timetable up."

"What?" Orlok and Albrecht both demanded.

"You heard me," Beliza answered. "We can no longer afford to pinch nuggets of Rheingold out from under the merfolk. Our Rheingold Golem army must be ready by the end of the month."

Albrecht slammed his sake glass against the tabletop as he gave her a hard look.

"Lassie, have you completely lost your senses?" he asked despite having already made up his mind on that matter.

"Lady Beliza, that will bring the Silver Battle Maiden right to us," one of the underlings protested.

"And you call me reckless?" Orlok dubiously stated. "As of the present, our operation is coming along as fast as it can without tipping off the merfolk in these waters. We would be mad to alter course when everything is proceeding right on schedule."

"How about we just uncover Genevieve and the Valkyrie's weaknesses?" one of the Greater Vampires suggested.

"We cannot divert any resources to move against Genevieve," Beliza said. "Especially not after today."

"You mean after you told her everything about our operation trying to get her on board?" Orlok asked almost mockingly.

Beliza grimaced angrily at him.

"It is Count Orlok has said, Milady," one of their subordinates spoke up. "As it stands, our operation is still moving along as planned despite the unfortunate circumstances of today. If we stay the course, we will have the last laugh when we take them all down."

"Ay, no point in letting pride bring it all down now," Albrecht said. "How do you think I lost control of the dwarven kingdoms in my moment of glory?"

Orlok raised a brow at him. "I thought that happened because Odin and Loki arrived in Nidavellir looking to collect on some money King Balin owed them to pay off that giant who built their wall and found you ruling, instead."

Albrecht shrunk down, shuddering as he recalled what happened.

"Ay, and in me arrogance, I tried to deny 'em the gold," the dwarf conferred. "And that day, I learned you never cross the gods unless you got somethin' to back it up. Once my Rheingold Golem army is complete, we'll have that somethin', but not before."

Albrecht turned to Beliza to continue, "Usin' my submarine ship to go to the far side of the merfolk's mines to pinch just enough Rheingold to make a few golems at a time, we've flown under their notice. If we get greedy now, you can kiss our project goodbye, seeing how we're based on an island."

"Not if we prepare the caves to become the tomb of our enemies," Beliza replied.

That gave the rest of the table a reason for pause. Orlok stared at her cautiously.

"What did you have in mind?" he asked again.

Beliza smiled.

"You are all quite right," she said. "If we hasten our operation now. It will draw unwanted attention. Or perhaps, that is exactly what we want as our first step to taking down the Valkyrie and moving on the Forest of Spirits."

She turned to Albrecht.

"What would you need to turn the caves of Wakoku island into a death trap?" she asked. "Money and resources will be no issue. Why not fight our enemies on our terms in a location where we have control? Lure them in, slay the merfolk, render the Valkyrie powerless and in our tender and loving care, and then move our golems on The Forest of Spirits all in the same day."

Albrecht began to smile for the first time.

"Milady, I think I just might like the way you think," he leered.

"Trap and keep a Valkyrie?" one of the Great Vampires asked doubtfully.

"Why not?" Orlok replied with a smile. "After all, if Brahms can catch a Valkyrie and keep her. So can we."

"To answer yer question, though, Lady Beliza…" Albrecht tilted his head back. "Let me think…"