I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Ichiei Ishibumi*
M for mature topics. No children allowed. *
The Broken Boosted Gear
By Try Another Time
After six days in the harsh desert with no sight of civilization, the team finally arrived at their trip's first stop. The city was a small one when compared to Lilith or even Grigory in terms of size, but its location near the Grand Nile and its closeness to the realm's gate made it a crucial stop for any that dared to enter the realm.
As the group made its way inside after tightly securing the sand surfer to the so-called "docking area," they were met by packed streets full of merchants who sold items ranging from food to weapons and hunting items.
"Welcome to Waset Bazaar, my friends. Anything that you might need, you can find here. As we previously discussed, we'll stay here until tomorrow afternoon, so take the time to explore and enjoy the place. Be careful not to get in trouble. My team will take care of the laundry and refill our water supply. See you around." Rogier said as he walked off with his team.
"Well, where should we go first?" Ddraig asked the group.
"I feel that taking a bath should come first for us since we have been trapped in the desert for six days," Yasaka said as she looked around. "Does anyone know how to get to one since Rogier walked away without telling us?"
"Let's just ask one of the locals," Rossweisse said before approaching one of the vendors sitting in the street. "Excuse us, how do we get to the public baths?"
The vendor looked human at first sight, but upon closer view, one could see weird scales covering his arms and eyes resembling a snake's. "Visitors from the outside? Well, I'll be glad to help. Follow this street until you come to a major crossroad, where you will find the baths. There's a large sculpture outside which you can't miss. If you need to make any purchases, be sure to return them to me. I not only sell some of the rarest fruits but also provide the right information for a price. My name is Ahmose IV."
"I appreciate it. Here." Rossweisse took two golden coins from her bag and offered them to the vendor.
"Much appreciated, Miss," Ahmose said as he received the coins. "Asgardian Gold, not every day I see visitors with such coins. Be sure to return."
"We might. See you later." Rossweisse said before she returned her bag to its previous location. "Let's go."
The group began to walk as they tried to stay together. Each one made sure to keep an eye on their personal items as one couldn't be too careful with their surroundings.
"Sir Ddraig, have you ever visited this realm in the past?" Liv asked the dragon as she followed him. "I heard that you traveled to many realms in the past." Sieg was resting on her shoulder as he had shrunk in size. One would have called him cute in such a form.
"Sadly, no. It was one that I couldn't as they closed the gate due to the constant attacks of a certain evil dragon. As you might expect, it was best if I didn't add myself to the list." Ddraig admitted.
"Apo-" Liv was interrupted by Gabriel, who put her hand on her mouth.
"Don't mention that name in the open. Rogier sent us reports regarding the taboo surrounding that name. Is best not to attract attention to us." Gabriel explained to the girl. She was currently using her skills to hide her halo and appearance to avoid attracting unnecessary attention to them.
"My bad. I almost screwed up." Liv says as she apologizes.
"Is alright. Just be more careful. The evil dragons are not viewed with good eyes in this realm." Baraqiel said as he kept an eye on their surroundings.
"As to be expected. Anyways, what information do we have regarding the realm?" Ingvild asked with visible interest as her eyes wandered around.
"They trade a lot with other realms, especially peaceful ones. One could say that is their biggest thing. The constant trade of resources keeps the realm stable as they enjoy food items from other places." Serafall explains as she recalls the reports.
"The locals are called The Children of the Nile. They are a race of Promethean humanoids with hybrid bodies that hold characteristics of many species. Some have only two legs, and others can have lower bodies resembling scorpions; some have human heads, while others possess the heads of crocodilian creatures. Ra created them to be different and to welcome their unique bodies." Ereshkigal said as the group looked around and saw various combinations.
Most hybrids held characteristics of two species, while others held up to four species.
It was like a paradise of genetic variation with no end in sight.
"Doesn't it make it hard for some of them to reproduce?" Liv asks.
"They are called Children of the Nile, so their reproduction is deeply connected to the Grand Nile. It seems that children within the realm are mostly born through a ritual that takes place in certain areas of the Nile. They can try to procreate through normal reproduction methods but mostly use ritual sites for such needs." Ereshkigal continued. "Few of their deceased ever reach my grasp as Anubis and Osiris hold ownership over their souls, but the ones that do allow me to learn many things."
As the group continued forward, the presence of Ereshkigal had a direct effect on those around them as many locals made way for them. Some even bow to her as their respect for the gods that ruled over the deceased was crucial within their society.
"It seems they know who you are even if the glasses and the turban are hiding your face," Yasaka said.
"I'm trying to hide my presence, but they feel even the tiniest of my divinity. Death plays a major part in the realm. We'll be alright since they won't try something like offering gifts to me or something like that." The goddess said.
"I'm the lucky one. I don't see any of the locals turning their eyes to me ." Eury said as she looked around.
"Maybe that's for the best. I heard that Hathor, the goddess of love in this realm, despises other gods in her field. I don't know the details, but it is best not to draw her anger to us unless we want Horus to appear." Ddraig said.
"... Horus, you said? Uncle, what do you think of the god? The famous golden falcon." Eury asks the dragon.
Ddraigs remains silent for a moment before he speaks. "To tell you the truth, I have nothing to say besides that he's a god with lots of patience. He's sort of destined to take over for Ra, but he has waited for a long time for Ra to pass the throne to him. He might be the most prepared heir I ever heard of when the time comes." Ddraig says.
"Maybe one of the few gods that wait so long for such a position," Yasaka adds.
"Not everyone that takes such a position is up for the task. Leading a faction takes a lot as you not only need to worry for the day after but also think about each step for 100 years after. You're not leading just a nation; you're leading a realm, the safety of each being that sees you as their leader. You will make choices that affect even the most minor aspects of your followers' daily lives. Being the head of a realm is not an easy job." Baraqiel says as he remembers his creator and the harsh initial stages of Grigori once they abandoned heaven.
"This brings us back to the Alliance. Do you feel that it is easier now? Yasaka? Gabriel? Serafall? Baraqiel?" Liv asks the group, especially those with experience leading factions.
"For me, it was a bit easier since I have my siblings and Michael is the "de facto" leader, but with the Alliance, it has been a bit more complicated as the choices affect Heaven and the others. I said that is better now since we're no longer enemies with Grigori or the devils." Gabriel admits.
"For me, it was complicated from day one. My parents raised me to be the leader of our faction from my very first steps. It was a tedious process which I don't wish on anyone. Kunou has an easier time since I didn't use the same training as my parents. With the Alliance, I'm still getting used to some things, but I said it is not as complicated as it was in the past. I have more freedom now than I did before." Yasaka says.
"I prefer it now than in the past. You can't imagine how hard it was to be a field commander constantly on missions. Grigori didn't start as it is today, and you wouldn't imagine the problems we have faced since day one. I hated it, especially because we weren't fully united back then. I take the present status every day of the week." Baraqiel says after he remembers the old days.
"I support Baraqiel and Gabriel's claims. You don't understand how manageable it becomes once you don't have to worry about past enemies. Is a bit more complicated, but at least there's more of us to make the decisions and plans." Serafall says. "We have been lucky until now because we have also agreed on what to do, but we're bound to have some disagreements in the future. Regardless, we'll figure things out as we move forward."
"Right," Ddraig said as the team came to the crossroad.
True to the merchant's words, a giant statue stood in front of the largest building in the area. The figure resembled Khnum, the god related to water within the realm, but offerings of many kinds surrounded this statue. Some locals even kneel before it as they pay tribute to the statue.
"Seems a bit excessive," Ingvild said.
"Is not. We have yet to talk about it, but like other realms, this one also lost some of its deities, and Khnum was one of them. They are praying for their god to return in a new form. The realm believes in reincarnation as gods can return in a new form." Ereshkigal said.
"Will it happen?" Ingvild asked.
Yet she received no answer as Ereshkigal walked forward before she summoned a white flower and placed it before the statue. "May your memory never be forgotten, lost soul."
Her action told the group what they needed to know. Some locals even reacted as Ereshkigal was a deity from another realm paying tribute to one of their own, but it also saddened some who knew the truth.
Some souls can't return, for they no longer exist.
Without saying another word, the group moved past the statue and entered the building behind it. The structure resembled a temple from the outside, but once inside, a watery breeze told its visitor precisely what to expect inside.
"Welcome to our baths. How can I help you?" A bird hybrid said as she approached the group. She possessed legs like those of a bird of prey, and her hair was an endless flow of colorful feathers.
"We came to take showers and cool off. Can you guide us through the process?" Ddraig told the female.
"With pleasure. The public baths are the cheapest option we can offer. We take any type of coin. Just tell us how you'll pay. The private baths are more expensive, but we also offer to clean your clothes and have them ready when you come out. Other services such as massages require an extra fee." The female says.
"I like two private baths for my team," Ddraig said.
"Vey well. Come with me to make your payment." The bird hybrid said.
Ddraig followed, and the group watched as he calmly took out a bag to pay.
"So he's paying for all of us?" Liv asks.
"He is the "de facto" leader for the mission and the one in charge of our finances. He won't lose a single coin that is under his care, and our most prized possession will remain safe with him. If any of us need more money, he will provide it. It is best this way since he's not someone who might go off on his own to waste all of our money." Serafall says.
The others seemed to agree with her as they nodded.
Not long after, Ddraig returned to them with the female from before.
"Follow me, and I'll guide you to your baths." The female said.
"So what is it going to be? You and I are all alone?" Serafall asked as she approached Ddraig.
The dragon crosses his arms with a smirk on his face. "Baraqiel, Sieg, is just us three; the girls get their own."
The steed quickly jumps off Liv's shoulder before he hops on Baraqiel's shoulder.
"Traitor." Liv jokes.
Ddraig shakes his head. "He knows better." The dragon gazes at the tiny steed. "No male gets to watch the nakedness of my women."
The steed turns to him—the tiny horse neighs. "Bastard, I know. You better stay away from my rider."
Curious, the crew saw the exchange between them, although only Yasaka knew precisely what it was about.
"Talk about being possessive," Yasaka told herself as she read their minds.
After this, the group followed the bird hybrid to the baths. All looked excited about finally cleaning their bodies from the sweat and dirt they had accumulated for days in the desert.
Several minutes later. Male private bath.
Ddraig, Baraqiel, and Sieg were now resting in the cold waters of the large bath pool. None could help but relax in the waters as the sensation of being clean of the dirt from the desert brought an undeniable sense of joy to them.
Even Sieg had a good time as it slowly swam across the pool.
"If we got to rest like this every day, it would be a fantastic place to visit with my family," Baraqiel said. His body was filled with the scars of the past, each one from the many fights he had to face across centuries of endless fighting for survival.
"Bringing Akeno and Shuri here? No way in hell, Baraqiel. They would pass out from just the unbearable temperatures. You'll need far more preparation for such a trip. But if it is you, it might be possible." Ddraig said.
"You think I can make miracles happen?"
"No, I just know you're the type of father and husband that is willing to do anything for his family. We both know you care more for them than your own life."
Baraqiel smirks. "Is it that obvious?"
"Pretty obvious. Whenever Akeno visits my home, I hear her speaking about how you always try to come home at the same time each night to have dinner with them. She says that you seem exhausted on many occasions, yet you put up a smile."
Baraqiel chuckles. "Quite the investigator I have for a daughter. I might need to let my team take on more tasks for me. I'm not the young fallen angel I once was."
"You have lived for quite a long time, so it makes sense. Pay attention to your health, and don't make those two worries. Akeno would be deeply affected if you were to disappear one day. She's smart and sharp but still a child in the end."
"The smartest and cutest of all. I want to see Akeno shine even more once she becomes an adult. Shuri says she will make an amazing Alliance agent when she grows up. I would prefer if she became a housewife."
"Wanting to keep her safe that way won't work. We both know that we can do little about what our children choose. We can try, but they ultimately have the last choice."
"Right, but I really wanna see her on her wedding day. I want her to find someone that cares as much for her as I do for her mother. I want to walk her down the aisle as a proud father. Shuri never got to that, but I want Akeno to have that opportunity."
"It must have been hard early in the relationship. You had to fight so many assassins day and night."
"You don't even know the beginning. It got so bad that I couldn't let Shuri go shopping alone. There was a constant target on her. It didn't help that she was pregnant around the time she became a target. If I had planned things back then, I could have taken her away to another place in secret to make the pregnancy more manageable for her. Fighting assassins and exorcists while your wife is giving birth in the other room is not appealing." The fallen angel said as he remembered that tedious night.
"You won't have to worry about that with the next. There is going to be one, isn't it?"
Baraqiel smirks. "Give it time, and Akeno will go around telling everyone all about it. That girl can't keep a secret. A second child is viable now, but even then, it scares me. I'm still trying my best with Akeno, and sometimes I feel that is not enough."
"Hey, if anyone can raise a child in a loving home, it is you. Give yourself some praise. You survive long enough to settle down and join an unusual group seeking to slay a giant planet eater." The dragon jokes.
"... Are you feeling prepared for it?"
"... To tell you the truth, I fear not being enough and screwing up at the last moment. As we speak, Issei is endlessly fighting in Gautama's dream, and I got a glimpse of what it feels when you fight it alone. It is horrible, but I don't fear the beast; I fear what it can do if we mess up. One mistake and everything we cherish will disappear."
Baraqiel nods. "Then you're the right one for the job. I couldn't see myself in your position. That thing scares me more than anything else, yet you don't fear or pride yourself in being stronger than it. Look, you and Issei are the only fools I can see doing something like this. We trust you with this task, not because you're some kind of messiah but because we believe you can do it. You keep proving our expectations right each time you join a battlefield. Regardless of the past, the "you" sitting next to me has what it takes to achieve the impossible, so don't stop now. We're walking a path, all of us together, and you're one of many at the front leading those behind. Stopping is not a choice you can allow yourself, not now or ever. Push on, and those behind will continue to support you in any way possible."
"... I see….. Thanks."
"Not a problem. Now, regarding something curious that I have meant to ask you."
"What is it?"
"Gabriel. You two have lived together for quite a while now. I was surprised from the very beginning since our brothers would never allow such a thing under normal circumstances. Gabriel is our most precious sister, the goofball everyone has protected since the early days. I remember when we were just infants who were let around heaven by Father as he taught us about life and our purpose; she was always a bit of a distracted one." Baraqiel smiles as he remembers those early days. "I might be a fallen angel now, but Gabriel is still my sister, and I want to know about you two."
Ddraig remains calm and shows no surprise even though he is internally screaming. "What do you want to know?"
"How is daily life inside your home? Do you two have a good relationship or hate each other?"
Ddraig chuckles. "Gabriel and me hating each other? That will never happen. We have a rather positive relationship in which we talk over coffee and support each other in any necessary way. She's someone that I care for and appreciate having around. Someone I can't see myself parting with."
"Oh, that's a rather curious sentence. Is the Welsh Dragon interested in my sister?" Baraqiel asks as he cracks his knuckles.
Ddraig smirks. "Maybe, would that be a problem?"
The fallen angel and dragon glared at each other for several moments until Baraqiel began to laugh.
"Ddraig, you're playing with fire, my friend. Holy fire, too specific. You must have experienced Gabriel's unusual allure that affects those of the opposite gender. It is a deadly trap meant to bring idiots to their doom. Anyone who dares to touch her with impure thoughts has a direct ticket to hell; that golem will not only attack the person but also inform all of heaven about Gabriel's situation. Imagine all of heaven attacking you just because you touch Gabriel's boobs."
Ddraig gulps as he imagines the situation.
"But you have not fallen victim to it, which is good. You must remain devoid of such thoughts when in close contact with Gabriel. If you care for her, you must give up on her because we both know it won't end well, but if you have the guts to declare your affection for her, and she reciprocates your feelings, your relationship must remain pure and a secret. Gabriel is not an average female with whom you can just have a normal relationship. Every action has to be carefully planned, as one wrong move could lead to her falling from grace. You might even need to have some sort of wedding for any close approach with her. Father always said that those who care for each other should be willing to present their relationship before him and agree to share their lives under his blessing. I don't even know if it is possible for you since you're a dragon and someone with a growing harem."
Baraqiel turned to Ddraig and saw the dragon deep in thought.
"Wait, you're actually thinking about this? You do know that this is insane and will likely lead to pure chaos."
"I'm just thinking about it. I haven't done anything outrageous. But if I did, if I truly did ask Gabriel to be my bride and I asked her to marry me, would you support it? Would Azazel and Shemhazai agree with it?"
Baraqiel is taken by surprise as he hears such words. "... If you love her and are brave enough, I might be willing to support it and even be present during the wedding. I will only help if you are willing to participate in such a weird ceremony. It would be a wedding that is nothing like a human wedding; we would require sacred scriptures that are located in heaven, a safe holy location that is not visible from heaven but not so far that the ceremony can't be acknowledged. You'll also need a pair of rings which are to be blessed in heaven before their usage. You'll have to convince Azazel and Shemhazai to participate."
"Is a lot of things to prepare," Ddraig said.
"If you want the holiest of maidens in heaven, you have to be willing to go the extra mile. Look, if this ever becomes real, you have to be the one to convince Azazel and Shemhazai. Gabriel could safely secure the scriptures and get the rings blessed, and I could easily prepare the location for the wedding within Grigori. There are parts of Grigori that few know about. But the most important is Azazel and Shemhazai's support; you'll need it for such a dangerous event."
Ddraig holds his hair as he understands the severity and complexity of the task. "Is not something one can't prepare that easily."
"Did you expect it any other way? As I said, it will be hard, and even if we get everything going, nobody can know if the ceremony will be acknowledged. The system that watches over marriages records the couples' names and blesses the union, which would lead to all of heaven knowing that you two tied the knot. Still, by using the scriptures, we might be able to hide your names while also getting the marriage to be acknowledged."
"How do you know such things?"
"I was part of Father's left hand; I know things that the right hand didn't know. Azazel, Shemhazai, and I were tasked with things not even Michael knew about. Even Father kept secrets from most of his children to protect them."
"Talk about unexpected things." Ddraig takes a deep breath. "Look, I won't admit nor deny anything about Gabriel and me, but I'll say this; I might begin to prepare for such an insane event, and I would appreciate it if you could offer me your support."
Baraqiel grins as he stretches his hand. "It would be my pleasure if it goes your way. I could use those same scriptures to have a blessed ceremony with Shuri after so long, so you'll have my support. We'll be associates from now on."
Ddraig grabs Baraqiel's hand. "You have my support as well."
The pair could only laugh as they agreed on this insane plan.
Then their joyful celebration was suddenly interrupted as the pair felt an unknown presence entering the room.
The pair stood up naked and began to look around for the mysterious presence until they saw how the bath's water began to rise and take the shape of a humanoid figure with the head of a crocodile.
"Sobek, what are you doing here?" Ddraig asked as he pointed his trident tail at the water figure.
"Good to know that my name is known, but is this how you meet someone for the first time?" Sobek asks with a deep masculine voice.
"I don't know about you, but neither of us enjoys it when someone invades their time in the bath. We're naked if you couldn't tell." Baraqiel says as he forms a holy lighting spear in his hands.
"Would you have preferred if I visited the females?" Sobek asks.
"I'll kill you if you do something like that," Ddraig says.
Sieg, who was peacefully swimming, quickly returns to his standard form and glares at the god with visible anger.
Sobek shakes his head as he feels the rising tension. "Look, I apologize, but I came here to speak. I'll be waiting for your group near the Grand Nile. You'll find my boat in there." The water figure then dissolves back into normal water.
The trio looks at each other for a moment before they start making their way outside. None felt secure in the bath after such a visit.
Some minutes after. Girl's POV.
The girls looked relaxed and rather cheerful as they exited the bath.
"That was a wonderful experience. My tails feel so nice after getting cleaned and brushed." Yasaka said.
"You never know how much you might miss taking a shower until you are forced to travel through a whole desert. If only we were able to fly." Eury said as she let the group back to the main hall.
As they arrived, the group was met by the concerned faces of the males in the group.
"Uncle? What happened?" Eury asked the dragon.
"... We had an unexpected visit from Sobek. He's waiting for us by the river." Ddraig says.
"Wait, he entered your bath?" Rossweisse asked.
"He did, at least as a water copy of himself. It wasn't enjoyable." Baraqiel says before he stands up.
The girls looked horrified at the idea of someone casually walking on them while naked. After days of no showers, the bath was supposed to be their saved heaven.
"I'm going to kill him," Serafall said as she took the lead.
Ddraig quickly grabbed her hand to stop her. "Look, as much as I want to cut his head with Ascalon; we can't have any drama. We'll meet Sobek and figure out what he wants."
"But our privacy? What's next? They invade our rooms while we sleep?" Serafall asks.
"... I'll take care of that by tonight. I wasn't expecting to need to use some of my creations this soon." Eury says.
"Do you have something prepared for this?" Rossweisse asks the goddess.
"I wasn't expecting to use it, but yes. We're on a diplomatic mission, not a spy mission. I expected better from these gods." Eury admits.
"We'll leave for you in that case. Let's go and meet Sobek for now." Ereshkigal says.
The group departs in search of the boat.
At least 10 minutes after.
After getting some directions and following the large crowd of locals, which seemed to be carrying offerings, the group finally reached the shore leading to the Grand Nile.
A large blueish boat decorated with jewels sat near the shore, surrounded by a small group of warriors. Each warrior was at least 7 feet tall, and their muscles could put any human bodybuilder to shame. Each one held a double-headed ax or scythe, which seemed to weigh more than a full-grown human.
"Welsh Dragon and friends?" The leader of the warriors asked.
"Yes, we're here to talk to your deity," Ddraig says.
"Please come aboard. We ask that you restrain from any violent actions against our god." The hybrid said as he looked at the group.
"We'll try, but hopefully, your god doesn't mess up like he did before. Doesn't he know about sending messages or an envoy to get us after we're done with our bath?" Serafall was still as mad as before.
The warrior shakes his head. "I apologize, my lady. I keep reminding him that nobody enjoys getting a sudden visit by water clones. I sincerely ask for your forgiveness. Lord Sobek is a bit of an idiot when respecting boundaries. He's not the best at that, but the fact that he has come in person shows his interest in speaking with all of you, so I ask that you stay calm."
The warrior kneeled alongside his peers as they showed apologetic expressions.
Ddraig takes a deep breath. "I accept your apology, but please inform all of your other gods, do not try something similar. If you want to meet us, send a messenger of some kind. Do not try our patience; we're already traveling in a massive desert with extreme temperatures. Patience dwindles under such conditions."
"I'll let everyone know. Please go ahead." The warrior leader says.
Ddraig nods, and his group advance through a wooden path that rises towards the boat's deck.
As they reached the deck, they met many masked servants clothed in silk attires who bowed to them and seemed to lead the group to their seats. The whole deck is a luxurious extravaganza, as each corner is adorned with jewels. Even the plants that adorned the place seemed made of some expensive mineral.
The group sat on the chairs provided to them, and as they waited for Sobek, the servants offered them drinks and food.
"Just water," Ddraig said.
The rest of the group followed his decision as they felt no confidence in the food being provided.
A few minutes passed until the group felt the presence of the god. A tall figure began to appear from the stairs leading to the lower area. Ram's horns, a gray crocodile's head, and a matching muscular humanoid body that was only covered from the waist down by a silky piece of cloth; jewels adorned many parts of his body, yet the group saw no visible weapons.
"Welcome Alliance members to my abode. Please don't be too self-conscious and enjoy the food and the alcohol." Sobek said.
"No thanks. Water is okay." The group said in unison.
"But why? My servants worked hard on the plates." Sobek asked.
"... We can't trust you," Rossweisse says.
"... Is it because of the water clone?" Sobek asks.
"Who invades someone's bath? Sorry for the question, but are you some kind of pervert?" Liv asks.
"No! I'm a proud warrior and protector of my people." Sobek says.
"Then why invade someone's private time? What if Uncle was alone with Serafall in that bath? Do you understand how bad that could have turned out?" Eury asks.
Sobek drops to the floor in shame. "I'm sorry. Please, forgive me. I know I was an idiot!"
The servants started shaking their heads as they bowed to Ddraig's team as a sign of shame.
"Get up, Sobek. We'll forget about your mistake. You said it yourself; you came to talk, so let's do that." Ddraig said.
Sobek stood up and dashed towards his seat. "Thanks, now can you enjoy the food-"
"Cool it down. We're talking." Ereshkigal said.
"Right. First, thank you for coming to our realm. I know it is not the best realm to traverse, but many of my fellow gods objected to allowing the Alliance the right to use the sky. Set and Horus were two of many members who rejected letting your people fly through our realm. They claimed it was too much freedom for a group of visitors and that everyone else is forced to travel by land." Sobek explains.
"We already accepted that, but can we ask why the temperature is so damn high? Anyone would die without water out there. We took six days to get here." Serafall asks.
"That's… because it is the dry season. You came at the worst time on our calendar, so the temperatures are like this around this time. I'll only say this about this visit. Osiris was the primary driving force in asking you to visit us this season. He likely wanted to make it impossible for all of you to reach Ra's temple." Sobek said.
"Just wait until I get my hands on that stupid walking corpse." Ereshkigal crushed the metal cup in her hand due to her anger.
"Does it have to do with her?" Gabriel asked as she signaled the goddess.
Sobek nods. "Osiris is still angry about Ereshkigal abandoning the realm of death. Like other gods, they feel that she should have stayed neutral and remained in the lower levels of the underworld."
"I won't return so they can suck it up. I'm needed within the Alliance, and they are not affected by my departure." Ereshkigal says.
"Trust me, everyone knows. They are just acting like children, with Hades leading their tantrums. The fact that Hel also disappeared, yet they made no effort to find her, shows that they are hypocrites. By the way, do you know-" Sobek is interrupted.
"I'm sorry, but that's classified information. We can't deny nor confirm any claims concerning Hel." Baraqiel explains to the god.
Sobek raises his hands. "Understandable. Moving on, I'd like to know the Alliance's goals by asking us to join all of you. Are there things we need to know that can affect the decision of Ra and the others?"
Rossweisse takes a deep breath before she speaks. "The Alliance hopes to secure as many allies as possible not only for short-term goals but long-term goals as well. By agreeing to the terms of the Elysium treaty, we hope to secure peace amongst the realms and prevent any major conflicts from arising. We hope to establish economic relations that benefit everyone involved while securing safer trade routes between realms. We don't seek to conquer but to make allies while respecting each realm's powers. There won't be changes in the command chains of those that join the alliance as the leaders of the said realm will remain in power and offer the same status as the heads of the alliance."
"I see, but I feel that there's something more. Are you keeping a secret from us?" Sobek asks.
"We cannot deny nor confirm such claims, but we'll say this. We have Shiva on our side; he has seen things that we cannot face alone. We need to unite and face what is coming." Rossweisse continues.
"... A future threat. I see. I knew something big was coming. My scales have felt the winds of an upcoming conflict for a while. I see no other reason for past enemies to unite under such terms so fast. I would have agreed already if the choice were up to me, but you must convince most of my fellow gods. Ra supports joining the Alliance but Horus, Set, and many others object to the idea. They focus on dealing with Apophis and securing the realm's safety, but they can't see past the threat of the evil dragon. Welsh Dragon, if Apophis were to show up tomorrow, would you be up to the challenge of finally eliminating the threat?" Sobek asks.
"We gave the idea some thought, and it is not just killing Apophis; we must seal his soul to prevent his return," Ddraig explains.
"I feared that would be the only method. Do you have a way of achieving such a goal? I fear Osiris and Anubis lack the powers needed for such a mission." Sobek explains.
"Luckily for you, the Alliance has me. Ddraig only needs to defeat the dragon, and I'll seal his soul. He's not the first prisoner I make with my powers." Ereshkigal says as she summons an empty lamp.
"The famous lamps. I hear that you still have Enkidu under your jurisdiction, and if that is the case, this is how we can achieve our goal. You have my support, and I shall inform Ra about this. I'll keep it a secret from the rest, as we can't be too careful about my fellow gods." Sobek stretches his palm forward, and a mysterious amulet appears on top. "I can't do anything about your transportation. The Grand Nile is a sacred river where only gods of this realm can travel, and it is best not to try flying either, but with this amulet, most wild animals will stay away from your ship, and any idiots that try to attack you will think twice about it."
Gabriel reaches out and grabs it with care. "We appreciate any help."
"We're not done yet. You must remember this as you continue to travel. Do not damage any cats; if you see a lioness in the desert, you must be ready to fight barehanded to secure your survival. Bastet and Sekhmet are already watching your every movement alongside Khonsu. Bastet and Khonsu won't attack you unless provoked, but Sekhmet will likely get bored at one point. If Sekhmet seeks a fight, you won't be able to escape her, so choose at least three fighters for the battle that will follow. Punch her until you bring her down." Sobek says.
"... Are you serious?" Yasaka asks.
"He's being serious about this," Rossweisse says. "I read that Sekhmet is the most restless of all the gods in this realm. Maybe the strongest in terms of fighting prowess. Can we try to make her drunk like in the legends?"
Sobek shakes his head. "That's a one-time trick that won't work again. Ddraig, get ready to face her if luck doesn't go your way."
"Well, it seems like we'll fight a lioness in the future. I offer myself for the fight." Liv says.
"You seem a bit excited. Why is that?" Baraqiel questions the former Valkyrie.
"I want to test my limits. Sobek mentioned three fighters so Ddraig, you, and I can face the goddess." Liv says.
"She just wants to punch the goddess into submission. Let her participate, Sir Welsh." Rossweisse says.
"I have no objections except for one. Don't die. We came together, and I want all of us to leave together, so don't fall." The dragon says as he turns to Liv.
Liv kneels before him. "I promise you that I won't fail you. I'll show you what I can do." Her eyes shine with excitement to prove herself.
Baraqiel shakes his head as he sees the girl. "Seems like someone is trying to show her talents to gain points."
Sobek smiles before he claps his hands. "With that said, can we all eat now? Please? My servants work hard on the plates."
"Fine." The group says in unison as they grow tired of Sobek's pleas.
Later that night.
Serafall continued to embrace Ddraig as the hot waters of the bath poured down on their bodies.
"Yes, Tiamat was right. Taking a bath together feels amazing." The devil told herself as she sank her teeth into his shoulder.
They had put barriers to ensure their privacy remained unbroken as Serafall set out to seal the deal that would affirm her status as Ddraig's bride.
Months had passed since they began a formal relationship, and she felt the need to affirm their union.
As the blood of Ddraig invaded her mouth, she patiently awaited him, and sure enough, she felt the sharp pain in her neck as the dragon buried his sharp teeth into her.
Tears of joy escaped her eyes as she had sealed her fate. Her wings and horns were released from their bounds as she felt a joy without words that could describe it. Nothing could separate them now besides death, but even that was on their side.
The third bride had been secured.
"Mea sponsa diabolica."