DISCLAIMER: DxD does not belong to me.
Hippolyta is my name.
At least, it used to be.
Because now, I'm dead.
I am not ashamed of that fact, however. I fought bravely against an invader, a young male who was as well a devil, and despite my best efforts, I was no match for his wits, his strength and supernatural powers. I was swiftly defeated even with my best arms, and faced with death, descending into Hades for my final destination.
I have no regrets, I accept my ultimate destiny, and the male... He was kind enough to hold me in my final moments, so filled with warmth and care. He was the better warrior, and to die by his hands... It is not bad. I leave so many dear people, but that's the end a warrior should receive; for my hubris, for my efforts, for my own strength and weakness.
Now, in the misty surface of river Styx, I take my way to the afterlife as the Ferryman Charon rows his boat to me. A silent, slow descend to Hades and to my final resting place. I can only imagine the fate that awaits me at the end. Might be the Elysian fields, or the deepest parts of Tartarus, it rests on the whims of Gods. Wether may be, I shall accept it wholeheartedly, and wait for my sisters, my mother... And him. 'See you by the other side', huh? I wish that was the case.
"Tun-tun-tun, turun-tun-tun-tun-tun~. Tururun~, tun-tun, turun-tun-tun-tun-tun~. And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust~. Hey! It just caught you too, another bites the dust~!" And the ferryman of the dead, Charon, chants this rather unusual tune as I can sense some glee even under his cloaked, dark form. Alongside me, a few other shades lament and wail for their death, but I can only sigh to myself, ready to face my destiny. One moment, and he awakens me from my trance with a boney finger, a joyful tune. "Aaaaaand you! Hippolyta, daughter of Queen Otrera, descendant of the Olympian Ares, related to my boss, Hades! It seems that you kicked the bucket, no?! No use trying to hide it; once you've been shat throw the massive toilet we call the world of the living, all the information falls onto my lap, same with boss's! Killed in combat? What a laaaaaameeeee~ way to die!"
"I... Apologize for my shameful demise, I admit. Lord Charon." I lower my head to his mocking, as a heartedly laugh crackles under his hooded form, echoing through the void that is the river Styx. It makes sense for him to know me, I am related to Lord Ares, our divine Founder, therefore share godly blood with the King of the Underworld. For me to die at the hands of a devil... At least, he gave me a proper warrior's death. I flinch feeling a dull pain on my back, and noticed that lord Charon heartedly slaps my back in a mischiveous way.
"Nah, don't sweat it, guwl! One more soul to the soul throne, down to Elysium or Tartarus, work is always bursting, y'know! Be humans, demigods like you, devils, angels, they just... Can't stop dying! Who am I to complain about a full house?" He continues his slaps on my back as if talking to an old friend, his tone and words making it hard to discern genuine empathy, something I doubt grim reapers have at all, to mockery. In the end. He ends his laughter with a brusque and rude retch, and turns his hooded gaze towards me, and from the darkness hiding his figure, two red dots stare deeply into my soul and make me freeze. "But... Y'know, even if you are, were, a living person, you're still related to boss Hades, you see, and he doesn't take too kindly of his own kin losing to those pesky, spoiled, literally godforsaken bats, specially those related to that Sirzechs brat. Believe me, he'll be livid knowing you, his grand-something-niece, got taken down by a Gremory of all things. I hope you abandoned all hope, for you won't need it by the time boss is done with you."
"..." Cold, malevolent, devoid of any life; his voice echoes inside my head and shiver run down my spine. I was prepared to face the results of my hubris, so why am I... Trembling? To face lord Hades, him knowing I've lost to a devil of all things, one particular race that he can't stand at all... I feel iron on my tongue, I then I notice I've bitten my tongue out of desperation. Why is that? My reactions draw another laughter from the ferryman, who stands up and resumes his rowing. "Lord Charon... I shall... I shall stand tall and face my death as an amazon."
"Hohohoh~, brave, all of them are before facing the big boss down below, you see. Oh, dear Hippolyta, no light awaits you in Tartarus once you face lord Hades. Sooooo~... Just enjoy this old man's songs, for they're the last thing you'll hear from now on." He chuckles once again, the oar at hand to move across the dead river. "Oh~, ferryman, take me by the hand, lead me to the land/ that you understand~. Ferryman, the voyage to the Underworld is a reap trip~."
And the sound of lord Charon's voice grows louder than the wails and laments of all the other shades around me, and a tired, defeated sigh escapes my lips. This is my final resting place, under the whims of the God of the Underworld, who undoubtly will throw me at the darkest, furtherest depths of Tartarus for losing at the hands of a devil, a kin he absolutely despises.
Not a favourable end, but I shall receive it with a head on high, my position as a warrior and the princess of Themiskyra refusing to back down despite those odds. I try to feel content for my destination, and I hope, one day, I can face my sisters and mother again, even in the unlikeness of that.
At least, for the first and last time, a male embraced me so sweetly and caringly. It was warm, comfortable... Soothing. Not a bad memory to have as a last as a living, not at all.
And with a bitter smile, I bid my life goodbye.
*PIPIPIPIPI!*
"Hm~? A call from the above? What now~?" And admist the cloudy surface of the Styx, Lord Charon pulls from his cloak a strange, glowing device no bigger than his skeleton palm. Sliding and poking a finger on it, he puts it next to his cloaked head and starts... Talking to it? "Hey, it's Charon, what's popping? Huh? Yeah, she's still here, why? Wut? Huuuuuuh~? Really? Seriously? Dude, that's, like, the second just this month! No, I don't mind, but your brother might end up a bit angry about it. Yes, I remember Asclepius, and no, that is not the same. Oh man, I can't wait to see boss's face when he discovers this one! C-Can... Can I use 'that', just this once? Yes? Fuck yeah!"
"Hm?" I intone a curious tone for the sudden excitement in Lord Charon's voice, his jumping almost turning the boat around, the change of tone and shift in mood being almost impossible to ignore. I tried to mind my own affairs and have him deal with his godly duties in peace, but a shadow lurks over me, and lifting my head, I face lord Charon's hidden face, a chuckle cold as rain blowing on me. "Lord Charon...?"
"Hey~, Hippolyta~! Guess what~?!" He singsongs, much for my confusion. Out of the sudden, from the front pocket of his cloak, he pulls a black box with a big red button etched on it with the drawing of wings a halo. He lifts his hands and points a finger at it. "Your free trial for living has been extended! Strap on, dear! By the power given to me and by the whims of the Gods, you shall be reborn anew! Now, off you go! Just remember, next time, it's straight to Tartarus!"
"Wait, wh-...?"
*CLICK!*
*ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM~!*
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH~...!"
"FUCK YEAH, I ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT SHIT!"
And Lord Charon didn't even give me the courtesy to end my sentence: pressing the red button on the black box, a sound akin to a blowing horn ressonated, and from my seat, much more like snakes, leather belts strapped and bondaged me on my seat, and in an instant less than a second, I was ejected up into the dark skies of the Underworld, flying as fast as a shooting star across the black scenario.
I scream as loud as I could, being muted by the loud engines of my seat, and little by little I start to lose sight of the boat, and then of myself, falling into a rather pleasant sensation of numbness, as if falling asleep. Sounds are muted, colours turn dull and then black, and I feel myself dulled by all senses. In the end, I find myself shrouded in shadows, uncertain of my fate from now on. What happened? What will happen? And why?
...
My eyelids feel heavy...
My body is still numb...
But it feels like forever since I've taken a deep breath. Filling my lungs with air, exhaling through my mouth, it's a very pleasant feeling...
...
Huh...?
"Hmm...?" I try to peek one eye out, but my vision is blocked by a piece of gold. What? My body is still numb, but I slow but steadily put myself sat on a soft surface, which I soon discovered that is a bed, my bed, and my sight is unblocked, two golden coins rolling down my face to my lap. One, two blinks, and once I got used to the brightness, I see myself in my room, of all places.
I flinch, I gasp in pain, a sudden sting on my brain, making me wince. A few seconds to recompose myself, and I notice... My arm... My eye... They're... Moving. I can grip tightly, I can see with my eye. I look down to my form, and I see that, despite the bandages around my arms and ribcage, I am pristine and healthy. No holes nor destroyed body parts. I was... Whole.
Wait, huh? My memory is hazed, but wasn't I dead? Memories that flood this mind; mother announcing that a male was found and he wanted to prove being able to free himself from the amazonian ultimatum regarding his gender, I offering myself to test and ultimately kill him for our traditions to make sure he wasn't going to escape, only to have the tables turned to me and be destroyed by his overwhelming power, which was devilish by nature, hugging him on my last moments, and he was so warm and soothing...
I shake my head to get rid of those thoughts, standing up from my resting place and walking towards the nearby mirror. I see myself reflected, and truly, I had no signs of struggle, violence or destruction in my body. A few patches to cover wounds typical of training, but that aside... No eyes missing, no holes or crippling damage. I touch my face, i feel warmth; I pinch a cheek, I feel pain; so I'm not dead, not yet at least. I am alive.
Was it... A dream, mayhap? A hallucination caused by fatigue or a bad supper? Bad it felt so real: the excitement, the struggle, the pride, the fall, and then pain and finally death. I hear a dull sound coming from a near place, and then notice that I was gritting my teeth, making them hit each other and produce that. The void after death, the seeping warmth and life from my body, then colourless Underworld... To think I could dream of something this terrifying. The only thing worse than fear, however, is the shame of it, to be unable to face it like a warrior... Mayhap I need to train more, meditate more, come in peace with the idea, as not only an amazon, but their future ruler as well.
I take a deep breath, regain my mental strength, and force myself out of those reveries unbecoming of yours truly. I take a look outside, and notice that is possibly already midday. The nightmare that came last night haunted me to this hour, what a disgrace to lose one second of a beautiful day such as this. I discard my robes, change my bandages and head to the main hall, ready for another day in Themiskyra...
I won't allow a simple nightmare, a fabrication of my tired mind, halt my day even for a second. But... Mayhap my sleep was worse than anticipated, just feeling the sun under my head, I have an unusual, heavy sense of pain and fatigue, as if seeping me of some of my strength...
"Sister...?"
"Hm...?" And then I went to the main hall of the royal palace, and once there, I see all of my younger sisters, black marks around their eyes indicating that they didn't have a good night of sleep either. A tired and disappointed sigh escapes my lips, they probably skipped practice because of that, but I guess they're just not ready for the harshest ones yet. I turn to my youngest, Penthesilea, the one who noticed me first. "Sisters, it seems that we have shamed ourselves by skipping practice again, I dread. For that, we should double our efforts by tomorrow to compensate today's laziness. I hope mother can excuse that gaffe, as even..."
*TUG!*
"S-Sister Hippolyta, you're alive! You truly are alive!" But as always, I couldn't finish my sentence: my youngest came and tackled me in a vicious hug, screaming nonsense at me. My senses are usually better than this, but the surprise and shock of her statements made me numb and defenseless. I feel something warm and moist, and I notice my youngest crying on my chest as the others, Antiope and Melanippe, came closer to look at me, shocked and with eyes brimming with tears. "No... You're back from the dead! Yes, that is the correct one!"
"W-What? What is this nonsense, my youngest, I question? Have the instructor hit you too hard on the cranium, I dread?" I ask, and between sobs and rude moans, my youngest has no words, continuing to cry. I turn to the twins for assistance and answers, but they exchange confused stares again. "Antiope, Melanippe, sisters, what is this commotion? Have you been plagued by bad dreams, I assume?"
"Eldest... Uh... Have you forgotten the campaign that took place, I ask?" One of the twins asks me, and I let out a curious hum. The other calls for our attention.
"Melanippe, remember what the male said: after the ressurection, some residual memories might be lost, or end up as simple dreams." The other twin, Antiope, points out with a quick slip of her glasses. She turns around, but I notice a small tear escaping her eye. "But to think she'll truly come back... I'm... S-Surprised, truly."
"'Campaign'? 'Male'? 'Ressurection'? What is this nonsense, I accuse! Have you all been hallucination, I declare!" I push my youngest away to have some space and recollect myself from their attention and suffocating affection. My brain goes awry, and a million thoughts yet naught invades my thoughts. What is this?
"Sister...?" They try to come closer, but I dismiss them with a slapping motion, a flinch and a step back.
"I need explanations, I demand! Please, sisters, do not make harm you, I warn!"
"Hippolyta...?"
"Mother...?" And my eyes now turn to the direction of that voice, and truly, wearing her training gear, mother Otrera appears from the front door and wides her gaze once landing it on me. My sisters present me with splendor, claiming I was alive and well. Dismissing those, I came closer to the Queen, our mother, to try to explain all of this commotion. "Mother Otrera, something is wrong with my dear sisters, I'm afraid! Have you been slipping wine into their drinks again, I question?! Please, until we're true warriors, we shall not fall to those vices and...!"
"Hippolyta, my eldest; hold your hand high, I demand."
"Huh?" She cuts me off unexpectedly, but for a demand from mother, as simple as lifting a hand, I shall comply, and so I did so. "Mother, what...?"
*TSSSST~!*
"...!" A stinging pain, as if touching white-hot iron, made me flinch and for a moment not let out a weak whimpering moan. Out of reflex, I slap mother's hand away and hear a metal ring falling on the floor. Holding my now bleeding hand, I turn to the Queen. "Have you lost your mind, I shout?! Mother, not you too! What's the reason to why burn your own daughter?! And to do so with... With something like a...!"
I point at the direction where her weapon lays, and turning there to further my observation, I double take once I saw what was lying there: not a weapon, nor a brazen metal, but... A cross? A golden crucifix adorned with jewels, a treasure from a religion of the mainlands. For a moment, I try to rationalize the reason as to why it harmed me, but under closer inspection, there was no signs that it was burning or even that heated. It was a simple golden cross.
My mouth went gape seeing it, and turning to mother, no words but mumbles of confusion, as she comes closer to cup my face and touch her forehead to mine.
"Hippolyta, my eldest daughter... Please, remain calm and composed and allow me to explain, I beg." Her voice is solemn and quiet, almost like a whisper, and I blink in confusion and horror. All the clashing ideas and mysteries surrounding my current predicaments, I can't help myself but to stay quiet and paralyzed. For a moment, silence, but I see what her gaze scans me much more like an eagle's, and once we met pupils, her hands start to tremble in their grasp on me, a smile. "So, you are truly alive... Back for us, my dear eldest... Hippolyta..."
"M-Mother...? H-How... Why...?" I reach a hand for her grasp on me, lips contorting in a mix of terror and haze. "The male... Death... Wasn't... Wasn't it all a dream?"
"No, my dear eldest, it was not a dream, I say." She declares, and I lose the ground below my feet with such revelation. My lower half gets weaker, and my legs fail me, making me feel on the floor, only not crumbling down because mother helped me remain dignified. "Hippolyta, my dear eldest... The male, your campaign against him, your... Death. It was all real, and you truly have died, I mourn. You would be already across the Styx if it wasn't for a devilish device he used in you, allowing you to reincarnate as a devil and come back to life."
"W-What...?" I lift my downed gaze to mother, who nodded. Is this another dream, another hallucination? I feel a presence coming closer, and now I glare at my sisters bringing my weapons back, the girdle of war resting on Penthesilea's arms and being partly destroyed and scorched. The divine robe, constructed by the gods and given by Ares, damaged. Only an ability short of total annihilation could destroy it to such extend, I turn back to mother. "Mother... You said that I... That I am now..."
"Yes, my dear eldest, I admit." She lowers her head and nods to me. "The male devil brought you back as something different. You are a devil now, I observe, as seem by your now rejection for the divine."
Me, a devil? The beings who reject the divine? My reaction to that cross... No doubt about it. I died by the hands of that male devil... And brought back by those same hands. It wasn't a dream, it wasn't a hallucination. Hippolyta, the amazonian princess, have truly died... Only to be ressurected... As a devil?
...
...
Kill.
Kill...
Kill, kill, kill...
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill Kill KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL KILL...!
I'M GOING TO KILL THAT MALE!
"UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH...!" A roar that was more animal than human leaves my mouth, making the entire palace tremble and shake as in an earthquake. Mother, who pulled me so lovingly in an embrace, backs away while my younger sisters are blown away by the sonic explosion. Kill, kill, I will kill that male devil for shaming my honour as a warrior! I leap towards the exit, a path of destruction in my wake. "KILLLLLL...!"
Fast a lightning, and just as destructive, my senses try to find any remaining imprints of the male around, my hands reaching for the closest thing that resembled a weapon for me to use, the chosen arm being a nearby marble column in the Themiskyra plaza! Now armed properly, my eyes meticulously search for a sign of red among my sisters of the amazonian island, and finally, on the closest beach to the palace, I see the male laughing and dancing alongside other amazons, completely ignorant to my presence. Target found and locked-on! My grip got so tight it cracked by a bit the column in my grasp, and in a jump, I lift my weapon towards him.
"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...!"
"Oh, Hippolyta! I see that you really woke up from your SWEET MOTHER OF ABOMINATIONS!"
"DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...!" And I brought down the wrath of the amazonian princess upon him, smashing the marble column on him, the impact causing an explosion that lifted a massive curtain of sand that blocked the blessings of Helios for a few seconds and changed the tides of the beach. Of course, my improvised arm crumbled and exploded alongside it, and once I could land, I saw myself on a crater caused by rage. All the adrenaline left me breathless, and so I stop for a few seconds to recompose myself. After that one, he's surely dead, no matter what kind of devil he is. "This... The cycle... Ends here."
"Y-Yeah. If that hit, it'd be a goner by now..." I flinch hearing that deep voice calling, and my eyes gaze downwards, seeing that male with red hair laying on the ground, a shocked expression on his face, but none worse for wear, taking deep breaths. A few seconds of surprise and shock, and my blood starts boiling once again just by the sight of him. We exchange glances, and a forced smile spreads across his lips. "I assume... Negotiations are out of the question? I truly like this mechanic from megaten, Unbelievable..."
"MALE...!" I crush the remains of marbles on my grip and use no my fists to try to hit him on the floor, burying my hands deep into the sand as he dodges my assault twice before crawling backwards and jump away from the hole. I roar, also leaping to the skies off the hole I myself made, and facing him on the beach. My vision is read, and my teeth can't stop skimming. I feel like poison is spreading across my body by every second I see him... Alive. "Male... Male...!"
"Sister...!" And I hear steps coming closer, and alongside them comes my sisters and mother Otrera, unusually exasperated and shocked. My youngest come the closest to try to hug me out of my rage, but I stop her with a hand on her face, pushing her away. "Please, I beg! It's not what you think...! The male... He didn't...!"
"Hey! Tsk, tsk! No spoilers!" But my sister was cut by the male with a lifted finger, a cheeky grin on him as he turns from her to me. My youngest shuts herself up and crawls back to mother and the others. How dare order my sister around! "H-Hey, Hyppolita... It seems that you're alright, already. Of course, the Evil Pieces are capable of healing some really nasty damage when used, but man, to think you're back in one piece... I guess you can move pretty well, no? As expected of my newest [EVIL PIECE] , as expected of my [QUEEN] piece!"
"So... There is no mistake, you truly... Reincarnated me as a devil..." I clench my teeth and form fists with my hands. My vision is all red now, and the bloodlust and wish to tear him apart limb from limb boils to the point I feel like tearing my own skin off just to quell some of my wrath. He denied me a warrior's death... He shamelessly brought me back to life... He soiled my honour as the amazonian princess. Unforgivable, I say. UNFORGIVABLE! "Dweller of the Underworld... Seed of discord... I shall destroy you for bringing shame for the name of the amazon Hippolyta! FACE YOUR DESTINY AGAINST ME, AND BE CONSUMED BY MY WRATH UNTIL NOTHING REMAINS OF YOUR UNHOLY EXISTENCE!"
"Hm... Uh... You're... Beautiful...?"
"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE...!"
"Option selected: Flee from combat!" And with one final growl of anger, I chased after the devil male, him being none the wiser to turn around and start fleeing from me! And so started our marathon, him running all over the island being tailed by yours truly and being the target of all the weapons I could get my hands on! The rest of the amazons following us as they could!
For five days and five nights, I chased him all over Themiskyra, from top to bottom, too close for him to attempt to hide or flee, but not enough for me to punish his hubris. During nights, we would run the fastest across the island on our pursue; and during the day, my body would become unexplicably weaker when under direct sunlight and making me be a few steps behind, enough for him to catch his breath and more often than not eat and drink something given by my amazonian sisters. Is this symptoms of my new nature, or something else completely? No need for answers, I want him dead, and I'll get it no matter the cost!
But for all of my rage, my body started to crumble. Bleeding kneels, sore soles, my lungs felt that they could explode at any moment, and the dehydration and hunger started to affect me, my wrath not being able to quell my bodily needs anymore. By the time the Sun rose for the sixth day, at the beach, my body collapsed on the sandy fields, tainting it with blood and sweat and bile, as it gives up entirely, weak, denied of any pride. The male, pretty exhausted himself, stops on his tracks by hearing me hitting the floor, and almost falling on his front like me, he turns to me and approaches me, also breathless and unable to even talk right...
"Are... Are you done...?! Cough, cough! Can I finally... Gulp!... Can we stop and... Cough, bleh... Can we stop and be civilized for once?!" He screams, not being able to finish a sentence without coughing or retching, even a bit of bile drooling off his lips in a rude display. He kneels on the ground, takes a deep breath, and crosses his arms, a bit off-balance but standing tall. "C'mon... Hippolyta... We're better than this... Let's... Talk..."
"..."
"..."
"Damned be you... DAMNED BE YOOOOOOOOU...!" And with my remaining strength, I lift a fist and hammer the ground with all of it, causing a small quake that made him fall on his derriere. After that, alas, my body loses all of its power, and I'm again rended useless and weakened. Blood comes out of my mouth, and the sand below me darkens with drips of iron and salt coming from me. The shame, the displays of weakness, the weight of my hubris, it's just... Too much. I'm suppose to be the strongest... I'm suppose to be a warrior... Yet... Why am I... Why am I...
... So happy to be alive?
"How dare you... How dare you make me relieved to escape death's grasps? How dare you make me aware of mortality, and then save me from it?" I declare, tears that won't stop coming, the gravity around me making it seem that something or someone wants to me drag me back to the Underworld by force, something I can welcome right now. "To die in combat, a fitting end for a warrior... Yet, why, why? Why do I feel joy in being able to feel my family's warmth, the taste of blood, the graces of the Sun and beauty of the moon once again?! If you didn't bring me back to life... I wouldn't be facing the shame, the disgrace of knowing I am... Happy to be alive... To have survived... "
"..."
"Chuif, chuif... Haaaaah~... Haaaah~..."
"Life is brief/Fall in love, maiden... Before the crimson bloom/fades from your lips. Before the passionate tides froze within you/For there is no such thing as tomorrow, after all..." And I hear... A melodious, melancholic song. A shadow lurks above me, but I have no strength to defend myself. Doubtlessly, it is the male, who comes closer to pick my hand and start drawing something on my palm... No, he just holds my hand. "Life is brief/Fall in love, maiden... Before his hands take up the boat/Before the flush of his cheeks fade./ For there is not a person who comes hither./ Fall in love, maiden... For today, once passed/is never to come again..."
"What are you doing, male, I inquire?" I ask, still sapped of my power. Nothing left on me to stand against me but to hear his song. He rubs a thumb on my hand, and a small chuckle is heard.
"Do you like this song? It's an old one, from a distant land that I'm not very fond of, but I'll be lying to say that is a bad song." Another mysterious, frivolous sentence, and with some strength, I grip his hand on mine, feeling his warmth, his gentle touch. "Have you calmed down now, princess?"
"Why? Why did you save me, I beg?" I inquire him, the question of the hour plaguing me as of now, since I am now unable to exact my revenge on him. Since I'm fatigued, I have no other way to convey my current state. For now, just this once, I wish for some peace of mind. I feel him lightly rub his thumb on my hand again, and a chuckle.
"Because... Hm... You're a great warrior, I guess. Strong, independent, versatile, pretty and quite nimble and intelligent, the whole package. To have one less in the world because I was careless and stupid, I wouldn't be able to withstand the weight of my actions. Plus, now I have a beautiful [QUEEN] for myself, and I can assume those are my spoils after all I've been through as well." He laughs with a bit of hesitation in his voice. This makes me... conflicted. As before, he showers me with sweet hollow words, so why do I feel elated in hearing them? Another sign of my arrogance, it seems. "Besides... You got yourself a family. Mother and sisters, plus all your subjects as their princess. I think they're glad to have you back regardless of your race now, their adored, precious princess."
"Such a vain thought, male..." I point out, a bitter smile for his ignorance towards amazonian culture. "We, amazons, are not blinded by the likes of grief, sadness or death, I state. There is no bigger honour than to die as a warrior, specially against a formidable opponent, I declare. You think they'd mind my demise, but surely, my sisters and mother Otrera must've felt proud for my honourable end... And disgrace for my return."
"Oh, so I'm a formidable warrior? Good to know." He muses. A careless hum not unnoticed by me, and another grab from his hand to mine. "But you are the vain one, princess. Even as an amazon, even as a warrior, they're still people. Of course they'd miss you, of course..."
"You truly are ignorant of our culture, I point. What makes you say that with such conviction..."
"..."
'Male... Please, bring my dear eldest back, I implore!'
'Eh?'
'You possess one of those magical items, the [EVIL PIECES, no? I've heard from our gods that they're capable of bringing back those who have died by turning them into devils, I state! Please, use one of them to bring dear Hippolyta back, I beg!'
'H-Hey. I-I know you're right, and I do have them, but, uh... She died a warrior's death, no? To bring her back after all that fuzz, I mean... She'll probably hate me if I do it, and I honestly think that's the end she'd...'
'I'll do anything! I will beg, I'll cry, I'll steal, sin, whore, kill, die, but I beg of you, bring Hippolyta back! I'm not asking this as a queen, nor as a warrior... But as a mother. Bring my daughter back, by any means possible.'
'Haaaah. That's a difficult one... Even if I bring her back, I dunno how she'll react...'
'PLEASE, BRING OUR PRINCESS BACK, MALE~! WE ALL IMPLORE!'
'Geez~, with all of you begging... It makes me feel bad for refusing... Okay, fine. Give my stuff back, and I'll reincarnate her. Unlike me, she has people who'll miss her...'
"Let's... Call it a hunch." He chuckles to himself as if remembering a good joke, the levity being quite contagious, and I do not feel as murderous as before, at least for now. "But at least now, we have something we can bond over: I do know the feeling of dying, only to wake up as a devil. I guess we can work up from there."
"What in Ares' name was that suppose to mean, I beg?" I inquire his nonsensical statement, and nothing but a jesting laugh comes from him, and I couldn't help but to also chuckle at the absurd of the situation.
"Have you calmed down yet, Princess Hippolyta?" He asks me yet again, and once again, I don't answer. I guess he understands what I tried to say, and puts himself sit next to me, looking at the rising sun at the beach's brims, but still kindly holding me by the hand. "Don't worry, a devil's life can be as chaotic and unpredictable as any warrior's, specially for what's to come. You'll have plenty of opportunities to die a warrior's death. But for now, how about living a warrior's and devil's life? Doesn't sound so bad, right?"
"..." What is this nonsense he is spouting out of the sudden? I wonder if all males are like that, or he's one of those. But he does have a point: I need to be far more humble from now on, and when the time of my second death comes, I'll be... I'll be truly, wholeheartedly ready. But for now... "Huh... To fight alongside a devil, being turned into one... Never imagined myself like that, even in my wildest dreams."
"Well... How about fighting alongside a companion, a friend, mayhap?"
"..." Huh... Maybe I can live with that. This male, seriously. "Hey, male...?"
"Huh...?"
"Could you... Could you sing that song for me, again, I humbly request?"
"Of course!"
And so he resumes his song, the pleas and wishes of a fleeing youth, as the sun rises for my new birth, Themiskyra and its warriors waking up for another day. Soon enough, all of my sisters and mother Otrera came to aid both of us, but not before binding me to something so that I wouldn't try to hurt the male anymore for now. No need for that, his songs already soothed my heart enough...
Indeed, I can die a warrior's death another time, not now, not today. For now, I should instead live as a warrior... And as a devil, I suppose.
ACHIEVEMENTS UNLOCKED:
-[MEGATEN DID IT FIRST: Recruit your first [EVIL PIECE].
-[ALL WOMEN ARE...!: Recruit your [QUEEN] piece.
The princess of the warriorwomen island of Themiskyra, [HIPPOLYTA, has joined the party!(-1 [QUEEN] EVIL PIECE)
[PARTY(EVIL PIECES)]
- King: Garith Gremory
- Queen: Hippolyta
- Bishop 1: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Bishop 2: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Knight 1: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Knight 2: [EMPTY SLOT]
-Rook 1: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Rook 2: [EMPTY SLOT]
- Pawn(x8): [EMPTY SLOT]
BOSS COMPENDIUM: UPDATED!
[NAME: Hyppolita]
[LVL.: 85]
[RACE: Reincarnated devil]
[ALIGNMENT: Neutral Evil]
[TITLES: The strongest warrior woman of the amazonian island; Themiskyra princess]
[CLASS: Saber-Brawler-Spearman-Archer-Rider]
(SKILLS)
- PANKRATION(ACTIVE): Martial arts from ancient Greece, it relies on powerful and precise blows by using the whole body to completely destroy the opponent, the only limitation being to hit only above the waist. (Lvl. MAX)
- THEMISKYRA ROYALTY(ACTIVE): The leader of the amazons, uses a compelling voice and high charisma to boost strength, resolve and determination of allies, extra boost for the amazon [RACE] individuals. (Lvl. 11)
- SPARTAN FORMATION(ACTIVE): battle skills using shield and spear, a powerful combination of defence and offense which has little to no weakness in a broad battlefield. The uses optimizes also their skills on both weapons. (lvl. 28)
- BLESSING OF THE WAR GOD(PASSIVE): A skill of those who inherited the blood of the war god Ares, the user will have completely mastery of [BASIC] skills regarding weapons of any sorts, from rudimentary ones up to firearms. However, it won't fuction past [MEDIUM]-level arm skills, requiring the warrior to train to further improve them. (Lvl. MAX)
- BLESSING OF THE WAR GOD -MID-(PASSIVE): An improved version of [BLESSING OF THE WAR GOD, the user can now possess complete master of [MEDIUM] skills regarding , it won't fuction past [HIGH]-level arm skills, requiring the warrior to train to further improve them. (Lvl. 50)
- - A WARRIOR IS NEVER EMPTY-HANDED(PASSIVE): A sub-skill of [BLESSING OF THE WAR GOD], the user is capable of coating any object with semi-divine aura to increase damage and durability by a slight margin, effectively turning anything on reach into a weapon. (lvl. 47)
-QUEEN(PASSIVE): A passive skill inherited as a [QUEEN] evil piece. It changes the person's race to [REINCARNATED DEVIL] and boosts physical,magical affinities such as [SPD, [STR] and [LUK, but it becomes weak against [DIVINE] related skills. (lvl. 1)
- DIVINE PROTECTION(PASSIVE): The user takes less damage from magic-related offensive skills except [annihilation]-based ones. (Lvl. 71)
(STATS)
-STR: 707
-DEF: 252
-DEX: 601
-SPD: 188(discounting the [GODSPEED] skill)
-END: 555
-INT: 153
-WIS: 48
-CHA: 454
-LUK: 40
[EQUIPMENTS]
- THE GIRDLE OF WAR(EQUIPPED): A crimson sash with a golden belt, a heirloom of Themiskyra's royalty given by Ares, the god of War. It's as light as silk yet almost indestructible, boosting STR and DEF stats while also serving as armour. It is suppose to be wrapped around the waist and over the shoulder to protect an amazon's heart and uterus.
- ACHILLES(EQUIPPED): A magical spear wielded by Hippolyta, named after the slayer of Queen Penthesilea during the Trojan war. It gives the user the skill [GODSPEED, the ability to switch places with the spear on quick successions on certain distances.
- ALCIDES(EQUIPPED): A black sword wielded by Hippolyta, named after the greatest greek hero. A sword made from a mineral only found in Themiskyra, it is extremely dense and usually used for harsh trainings, forged into a blade which weights approximitely 210kg that is sharp as any sword while packing a mean blunt force.
And that's a wrap I guess. For the first chapter from me since the start of the year, I guess it was nice enough to wrap around Hippolyta's ultimate fate and now awakening as a devil. I had fun writing it, so it all works out, I hope.
Greetings from Houki Minami, everyone. A few days after the fair, but happy new year. A bit of rest for the festivities, and here I am bringing a new chapter for GxG, this time for the point of view of the princess of the amazonian island. Proud and arrogant, as all warriors should be, she's now Garith's first evil piece, her queen no less, and compared to my other... Queen one, this one took a while to adapt. But eh, it might not be today, but they can work out eventually. Since most points were wrapped in this chapter, I guess what is left to do is to write an epilogue for this arc and then plan what goes from there. As said, Garith's profile will be updated next time by the end of the arc. Let's see how the second son fairs ultimately.
BTW, if anyone is wondering, the song Garith sings during the chapter is "Gondola no uta", or "song of gondola", which is a japanese ballad song from the Taishou period. No reason, he just really likes this song.
with that said, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and until next time. Greetings from Houki Minami.
