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
Day 20 since the start of the trip.
"Alright, Liv, take it slow and don't push your body too hard. Your injuries haven't fully recovered, so don't try to break the sound barrier with Sieg. Be mindful about our location as well." Rossweisse told her cousin.
"I know. I won't do anything stupid." Liv says as she settles on top of the horse. "Are you ready to go?" She asks Sieg as she grabs the reins.
Sieg huffs excitedly before he jumps out of the ship and into the sand below. The legendary horse runs towards the open desert as Liv cheers him on.
Rossweisse shakes her head as she gives up on her cousin and her shenanigans. "That idiot. Hopefully, she doesn't open up her injuries."
It had been a relatively peaceful set of days since the fight against Sekhmet, and they had reached the next city on their path to Ra. Some crew members were visiting the town while others, like Rossweisse, stayed on the ship until their return.
"She must have been waiting patiently for this."
As Rossweisse turned around, her eyes met Ddraig. The Welsh Dragon looked better than a few days back, and many bandages that once covered his body were gone, but it didn't mean he would run a marathon so soon.
"She does enjoy riding Sieg around. Are you feeling better, Sir?" Rossweiss asks as the dragon approaches her.
"I am, and please let go of the titles; just use either of my names."
"I'll try. How are your injuries?" Rossweisse says.
"Good, but I'll feel even better after a bath. It will allow me to clean all the dirt and feel refreshed. Serafall and the others are also waiting patiently for the others to return so we can get a bath. I expected more for a so-called private bath. Having to wait for turns and having a limit on how many people can go in is annoying." Ddraig says.
Rossweisse nods. "I also find it stupid, but we don't make the rules. We just have to let Rogier and the others have their turn. They deserved this since they have done a great job until now. They know how to manage their ship and have kept us away from the most troublesome creatures in the desert. The only thing that could have improved this whole trip-"
"An in-house shower or bath. Everyone knows, and Serafall said she won't visit again if we don't prepare a better ship next time. I appreciate the experience since it confirmed where I could take her for a vacation. Deserts are out of the question." The dragon jokes.
"I doubt any girl besides Tiamat-sama would enjoy such a place."
"Don't count your eggs before they hatch. Tiamat prefers places filled with lava or places to swim and cool off. She prefers seafood above most food types, so the desert is out of the question for any of my brides."
Rossweise smirks at his response. "Lava baths, you said; why, I'm not even surprised. If I were immune to flames and lava, I would love to try it, but luck is not on my side. Tell me, how does lava taste?"
"Don't make me explain it. If I can give anyone any advice, it is to spit any lava that gets in your mouth. It is not an enjoyable experience. Even if I can breathe fire, lava is not something I'd like to ingest ever again. It suits your scales like a mud bath but is disgusting when ingested."
Rossweisse nods as she holds her laugh back. "I appreciate your sincerity. Next time I want to punish somebody, I'll use some lava."
Ddraig shakes his head. "If I didn't know that you were joking, I would have been scared after hearing such a comment. We haven't had time to chat alone in a while. Maybe since the end of the mission on Asgard?"
"We have been both busy. You and your family while I and the rest settled down on Grigori for now. My other team members will likely move out with Thor's sons once they settle in Shangri-La."
"Wait, are they in a relationship?"
"Sort of. Thor's sons have harbored feelings for them for a while, and it wasn't until now that the girls gave them a chance. They played hard to get with them. They said living together for a while would prove they could be together. It seems as if Lady Sif was the one who proposed the idea to them, meaning "Mommy" plays cupid with her sons. I wish them the best."
"So that means that the team is technically disbanded?"
"No, it just means that Liv and I are the only ones single. They might live with them, but we're still a team. Not having them in our apartment only means we have far more freedom to change things around."
"Is good to hear that you remained united after leaving Asgard. By the way, how are you handling not seeing your homeland anymore?"
Rossweisse looks into the distance. "... I do feel a bit sad sometimes. I mean, I don't get to see my parents anymore, and Liv doesn't see her mother either, but we're managing the pain. We had to do what was best for us and Asgard as a whole. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if Odin had forced more Valkyries to have their bodies altered. We might be seen as traitors now, but sacrifices must be made for the greater good. Ymir-sama didn't deserve that torture either, so we killed two birds with one stone."
"And I respect all of your commitment. Few can claim to have done things like any of you did. Keep your head always high, Ross. None of you should ever doubt your actions. Keep looking forward to the future. You and Liv could move into Shangri-La and get a small house, maybe study other cultures within the Alliance, or get a side job; all the opportunities are open to you and everyone else. Look forward to the future."
Rossweisse smiles. "Do I look like the studious type?"
"I admit that you do seem like the type of girl one could find in a library reading ancient texts and trying to achieve new heights. You could try being a teacher at Kuoh Academy if you wanted."
"Me a teacher? I don't think I have the credentials or talent." Rossweisse says. "Liv has higher chances of becoming a sports teacher, and we both know she might enjoy it a bit too much."
The loud idea of a crazy teacher chasing her students around while riding a horse made them laugh.
"She would totally scar them for life! Sieg would kick one of the kids straight in the face if they got too close."
"I can see that, but kids like Tosca would enjoy having a teacher who drains out all of their energy due to her lessons. It might not seem possible at first, but with some dedication, either of you can achieve anything. Try things and see where it goes."
Rossweisse couldn't help but feel deeply touched by his words. "... Why are you so friendly with us? No, why are you so proactive in trying to support others? Are you trying to be some kind of goody two shoes?"
Ddraig shakes his head. "I'm far from that. I'm just offering some advice to ensure you don't feel isolated within the Alliance. Fighting, missions, war, none of it should be the only priority of our members. We should all have other things to focus on, be it a side job, a pastime, a relationship, or a family; all of it can help us continue our activities as Alliance members. Every time you go on the battlefield, you should never forget for what things you are fighting for. What are you protecting? What or who awaits you back home? Your will to survive will always be driven by the things you hold dear. The stronger your attachments are, the harder you'll fight to survive."
"So you mean you want us to find things to continue fighting for? To make connections, to build a home within the Alliance. To be more active and try new things."
"Exactly. If Issei had been here, he'd likely have said something similar, so I try to advise others if needed."
"So is because of him, the other "you." I heard he was mostly in control and worked hard to ensure the other Alliance members accepted the Welsh Dragon. Be it by helping angels with their affairs on earth or capturing stray devils, he, well, you two have improved the way the public sees the Welsh Dragon. I expected more antagonism against you, but I have seen none of it, and trust me, I know people who care not about how powerful you might be before they tell you how much they hate you."
Ddraig scratches the sides of his face. "I mean, it is hard for any of them to point fingers at each other or me. Past grudges won't bring back the dead; everyone knows that, so nobody brings it up, and my work within the Alliance might have swayed public opinion my way."
"I guess that makes sense. Nonetheless, regardless of public opinion or what others might say in the future, I appreciate your help and support until now. You fought Odin and helped us achieve our goals while also taking the lead to protect Asgard from certain destruction at the hands of Surtr. Liv and I will do our best to make it up to you and the Alliance."
Ddraig shakes his head. "I don't need repayment. Fighting Odin and keeping him away from the capital was my mission; it was part of my job as the enforcer. Defeating Surtr is something I had to do as the present-day Welsh Dragon. If we haven't acted, we both know that the survival of Asgard was close to none. I don't need any payment."
"But what if we can't just ignore it? What if we feel indebted to you? Come on, Sir. My parents would have been slain alongside all of Asgard if you had not taken a step forward."
"You shouldn't; neither of you should. There's no debt you or your cousin owe me. It is enough as long as you two are part of the Alliance. I didn't do all that, expecting to gain something from it. Not everything involves a payment."
"But all good actions deserve a reward." She grabs his hand and looks at him with admirable determination.
Ddraig scratches the side of his head. "You're determined to do this even if I continue to reject your gifts or rewards?"
Rossweisse nods. "Just give us a chance to show you our thanks. Nothing devious but just sincere appreciation."
Ddraig sighs as he sees the unwavering determination of the girl. "Just invite me for a drink or dinner with your cousin, and it would be enough for me."
"Really? Would you be alright with my coming over for dinner at our place?" Rossweisse eyes brighten up with excitement.
"I meant going to a bar or a restaurant, but home cooking does sound good. I'll look forward to tasting your food. Show me the best that your talents have to offer. I have no allergies. I also enjoy meat and seafood more than salads. Surprise me." His tone was smooth, and it hoped to incite Rossweisse to do her best.
It was doing much more as Rossweisse's face heated up in seconds.
Rossweisse releases his hand and turns around as she tries to hide her joy. "Liv, he's coming to visit our home."
"I know. I clearly heard your conversation with Sir Welsh. We're going to have to prepare for it. This is a big moment for us. We can't offer him porridge or a simple recipe; it has to be food worthy of a dragon."
Both cousins continued to share their excitement, thanks to their connection. While this happened, Ddraig moved past Rossweisse and looked into the city.
"Far smaller than the previous city and not so close to the Grand Nile; I just hope the food is good. It would be good if I could find a restaurant to take Serafall on a date, maybe Gabriel as well, if I plan it right." The dragon told himself as he checked the streets.
Children of the Nile came and went from one direction to the next with few merchants of other races around. Although the day was slowly approaching its end, many people were outside.
It didn't seem as if nighttime would slow down the affairs of those around, even if the temperatures drastically dropped.
"I hope we get no surprises tonight," Ddraig told himself as his eyes wandered around until he saw a particular black cat watching him from the ceiling of one of the buildings.
Its sharp golden eyes were focused on him, which concerned him. It was weird for an animal to stare so intensely in his direction, and it didn't help that he had already experienced something similar with Sekhmet's avatar.
"Where a Lioness appears, a cat follows suit. It must be Bastet; no other deities we know about use cats. Is she going to try to communicate with us peacefully?" The dragon waved his hand as he tried to look friendly.
The cat remained motionless for a moment until it walked away.
"Great, if she's around, we'll have to be more careful until we confirm her intentions. For Gaia's sake, let it be a peaceful meeting if it does happen. I prefer not putting the team at risk unless it is indispensable."
As he prepared himself mentally for a new possible confrontation, his ears detected the voice of his approaching allies. He looks for them amongst the masses until he sees Rogier, Baraqiel, Ereshkigal, Yasaka, Eury, and other team members.
The crew seemed calm and relaxed as they returned to the ship, which meant that the wait would be worth it.
"A nice bath to clean all this sweat from my body. It's going to be a nice bath by myself." Ddraig told himself, but a certain devil had other plans for him.
Some minutes later, in the private baths.
"Come on, Ddraig. It is just sharing a bath with us. You need help with those injuries." Serafall said as she held his arm.
"No, we paid for two private baths to make sure there was no need for males and females to share. I can enjoy my bath all alone, and the five of you can enjoy yours." Ddraig said as he tried to escape the grasp of his girlfriend.
Gabriel and the remaining girls in the team tried to hide their blushing faces as Serafall attempted to create a pretty steamy situation by having Ddraig come alongside them into their bath.
The devilish expression on Serafall's face told everyone that she was planning for this all along when she divided the teams.
"Look at them, Serafall. Why should I invade their private time? I'm not going to be a part of this." Ddraig said as he continued to fight the grasp of his beloved.
"Is either you come with us, or I will join you in the bath. Just the two of us, sharing a wonderful time by ourselves." Serafall jokes.
Her joke visibly affects everyone present as their faces blush even harder than before.
Ingvild was already having a nosebleed as she tried not to imagine her friend and her boyfriend in a compromising situation. "Sera-chan, please let him go, and let's go into our bath. We don't have time to waste around."
Gabriel nods. "Although I understand the relationship you both hold, I believe that Ddraig would enjoy his shower without our interference, and it is best not to leave you with him."
"Gabriel, come on. We know that we must remain at least in pairs. Ddraig is still healing after that fight, and if we leave him alone, who knows if he'll be safe by himself? Another god could show up and attack him while he's alone. So, it makes sense that I stay with him." Serafall said as she tried to make her case.
"You're just trying to have a bath with him, aren't you, Lady Leviathan?" Rossweisse asks the satan.
"No, I'm just trying to protect him from danger," Serafall says, although everyone could clearly see her intentions as clear as day.
"Liar." Every other girl felt the same after hearing her words.
Ddraig sights. "Sera, I'll be fine by myself. There's no need for us to share a bath. Although not impossible, I doubt that Bastet will show up and attack me or any of you."
His words draw the attention of everyone present.
"Why are you mentioning her, Sir Welsh?" Liv asks the dragon with a concerned expression.
"..." Ddraig remains silent.
"Ddraig, are you trying to hide something from us?" Serafall's expression changes as the goddess's name raises all the alarms in her head.
"... I might have seen one of her avatars in one of the buildings within the city, but I doubt there is any reason to be concerned. Now, if you-"
He didn't even get to finish as every girl grabbed a part of his body before they began to drag him into the bath with them.
"Hey, let me go," Ddraig told the group. He held his voice back as the girls grabbed parts of his body that were still in pain.
"Safety comes first, Sir Welsh. One bloodthirsty goddess is already enough, so we'll take no chances with Bastet." Liv says as she helps everyone drag him into the private bath.
Ingvild nods as she continues to blush. "Sacrifices need to be made for our allies."
"Now, let's take off all that clothes. We'll be safe together." Gabriel said with a cold expression.
"Not you, too, Gabriel. Girls, let me go!" Ddraig screamed, but it was useless as he was taken inside the girl's private bath.
Several moments afterward.
Ddraig was resting in a warm water pool as his eyes remained covered by one of the towels. "I feel violated. This wasn't how this bath was supposed to go." His body was clean of any dirt he once had, and his past injuries seemed much better.
"Don't say something like that; you could have escaped if you wanted, but you didn't. I practically did all the work, and although the girls get to see you naked, there's nothing to fear. You aren't seeing them, so there's no problem. Their purity remains intact." Serafall said as she rested her head on his shoulder. She starts to slide her finger across his bare chest. "I will never get tired of your muscular, toned body. The dragon tattoos and scars do make you more attractive."
"It doesn't help the situation. Do you think that I'm enjoying this? The seraphs will kill me for this." Ddraig says. He did his best not to react to Serafall's blatant teasing.
"Sir Welsh, we promise to remain quiet about this. There's no need to be scared." Liv said as she tried her best not to admire his body. "Are they normally this big?"
"I'm not sure, Liv. I doubt any books explain the anatomy of a male dragon in depth. Just don't look at it." Rossweisse replied as she tried to look at anything besides the naked dragon across her. "We're doing this for the sake of safety, so even if the others learned about it, nobody would blame any of us for it."
Gabriel nods as her face remains calm and unaffected. She cleared her mind as she ignored what lay before her. She had to do so as not to fall victim to lust. "This is nothing more than a method to secure the safety of our team. Rest assured that there will be no problems due to this."
….. "So this is your appearance without clothes." Yet it was still hard not to look and admire his body.
"It won't be the end of the world, Ddraig-san. It is just a group of allies sharing a bath. Nothing improper going on in here. We're all adults, after all." Ingvild said, but inside, it was a whole different affair. "My first time seeing a male naked….. My Lilith! I never expected to see a male nude besides my significant other. I didn't expect it to be the Welsh dragon either."
It was a tight spot for almost everyone present except for Serafall, who was enjoying every second of it. The expressions on their faces, the apparent tension between the group; it was hard for her instincts not to enjoy it, especially when it involved her beloved dragon. It was like a primordial need for her race to tease others when the situation presented itself, but all the fun had to end as other things took priority.
She knew better than playing around for too long and ignoring the main issue.
"So Bastet is the next one of this realm's deities to "visit" us. Are you sure that it was her avatar you saw?" Serafall asks.
"I might not consider myself an expert on mythology, but I know what I saw. I doubt there's any other live deity in this realm connected to cats. Ingvild and I saw Sekhmet's lioness in the desert before she appeared before us. Based on what Sobek said, it makes sense that she's the next to appear." Ddraig says.
"So the question becomes if she will attack or approach us with friendly intentions. We fought her fellow goddess." Liv says.
"No, our team beat her sister, complicating the situation even more. Both are daughters of Ra." Rossweisse explains.
"Is never that easy for the Alliance, isn't it?" Ingvild asks the team.
"If luck smiled at us at every turn, it wouldn't be real life," Gabriel replies as she looks at the team. "We must remain positive and hope for the best. Our team did not seek to fight Sekhmet; she came to us, and we defeated her somewhat fairly, considering that Ddraig is not at full power and Sekhmet is far from an easy opponent. She was more than ready to continue to fight; even if we all fought her together, it was bound to be a hard fight. We did not kill her; we defeated her, so they have no reason to attack us so openly."
"Right, and if we're to trust some of the legends, she might be much easier to approach than Sekhmet, but we must remain alert even then. Even if the chances are low, there's always a tiny possibility of being attacked by her. This is not our home territory; we have no army to call upon unless we want a full-scale war with Ra and limited resources that could get easily depleted if everything takes a turn for the worse." Rossweisse continues.
Everyone seems to agree with her, as nobody objects to the possibility. Even Ingvild, who lacks the training or the experience as an agent of the Alliance, acknowledges the Rossweisse claims.
"We must remain at least in pairs until we return home. We'll discuss this with the rest once we're back. For now, let's finish with our bath. I don't know about all of you, but I'm feeling a bit hungry. I could go for a large dinner after this." Ddraig says.
His words lighten the mood as the girls chuckle and smile.
"All right, we'll go first. Lady Leviathan, you and Sir Welsh can come out after us." Liv is the first one to stand up.
The others follow suit, but as they get out, they take one last look at the dragon before leaving. He had left an impression on all of them, and it would be hard for them all to forget it.
As soon as the last one of the girls left the room, Serafall moved and sat on his lap.
"Finally, only you and me." The devilish general said as she removed the towel.
"You planned for this?"
Serafall shakes her head. "I planned to play the card of the helpful nurse helping you to take a bath. I hoped they would accept it and let me go with you, but you, my dear dragon, dug your tomb. Mentioning Bastet put everyone on high alert; I was even surprised to see Ingvild joining the rest in securing you. Are you using your charms with her?"
Ddraig shakes his head. "I'm just helping someone to find their path in life. She could be your next star singer if you help her. Heck, if you partner her with Le Fay, you could have a pretty amazing singing duo once they're ready."
"Look at you trying to find new talents for me to shape into diamonds. I must have done a great job. A singing idol duo, I could give it a try, but Le Fay is too young, so that would take time. I'll think about it for now; let's focus on us. You found yourself in a pretty steamy situation, yet you remained calm. Your friend down there didn't seem to react." Serafall said as she licked her lips.
Ddraig smirks. "You think I'm a horny teenager that would fall victim to such a thing?"
"No, I'm just a girlfriend who enjoys seeing her boyfriend in a tight spot." Serafall approaches his right ear. "Tell me, having Gabriel naked and so close didn't excite you even a little? Didn't you want to remove the towel to take a look? Maybe you wanted to see the bodies of the others? Tell me your deepest desires, my beloved dragon."
Her horns showed up as the darkest part that had remained dormant for a long time came to the surface. It had always been there, but it only needed a trigger, and Ddraig had become the said trigger.
"..." Ddraig says nothing as he places his hands on her hips before he licks her neck.
Serafall moans in joyful bliss.
"I don't know who's more dangerous, the proactive Tiamat who tries to dominate me or the seductress before me who's trying to incite my lust. Both of you strive to make me over the edge." His hands slide down until they reach a particular place in her body.
Serafall bites her lips as she feels his touch. "I might be a seductress, but you're my only objective. I will only act like this with you, my Welsh Dragon. I am yours alone. No other man will get to see this. No other man will get to touch my body this way."
Her eyes show the deepness of the lust that had been dormant for so long.
Ddraig feels the raging need to dominate her. Like a raging fire, his instincts screamed at him to take her and do as a dragon should, but he stopped himself from crossing the line. "Two years are not over, and Issei is not back. I can't fall victim to my instincts for now, but until then, I have other ways to take care of you, Serafall."
The dragon approaches Serafall's lips and begins to kiss her as he plays with her lower area.
"Mo…re," Serafall asked him in the middle of the kisses.
Ddraig increased the intensity as he knew there was no way back until he drained her lust.
Outside the bathroom, adjacent changing room.
Everyone was left speechless as they heard the moans of Serafall.
"Are they really doing it now while we're just a few meters away?" Rossweisse asks Liv.
"Let's just give them some space. It is none of our business what they do in their private time….. Is it normal that it was so big?" Liv asks her cousin.
"Stop bringing that up, and let's get out of here. Seeing his body naked was the last thing I expected on this trip."
The cousins could barely keep it together as they awakened to a new stage of their lives, but they weren't the only ones dealing with the effects of the bath with the Welsh Dragon.
Everyone will never forget this event, even years after it occurred.
After the bath, General POV.
The group made their way back to the ship. They were hungry and still needed to speak about what they would do with Bastet.
But as they got closer to their ship, they found a group of unexpected visitors outside.
A group of royal guards stood tall at each side of the dock.
"Go inside. Our leader awaits you." The guards said in unison.
"I hate my luck," Ddraig told himself before looking at the other team members. "I take full responsibility for jinxing our night."
"Stop being a fool. You don't have that kind of power, but your luck does seem to go in both extremes of the balance. Either you win big, or you lose exceptionally badly. Anyways, let's just see what their "leader" has to say." Serafall takes the lead with a calm expression.
She felt too refreshed to get angry after her little session with Ddraig.
The group followed after her while remaining alert to the possible confrontation.
As they climbed onto the ship's deck, they were met by the confused expressions of Rogier's crew.
"Where are they?" Gabriel asks them.
"Downstairs. She just appeared and asked to speak with all of you." One of the devils said.
"Very well. Remain calm but alert. If needed, abandon the ship. Let's see what Bastet wants." Ddraig says as he makes his way to the stairs with the rest.
The tension was at its highest, and when they finally opened the door that led to the living room, it reached its peak.
Ddraig grabbed the handle of the door. "Please let it be a calm conversation."
He opens the door and finds a black-haired cat hybrid girl dressed in royal dress. Golden artifacts such as earrings and bracelets adorned her body. Her hair was short, and compared to most denizens of the realm, she seemed more human than a beast. She lacked fur, yet she still possessed ears like a cat's.
If one met her without knowing her identity, one might even confuse her with a nekomata, but the truth couldn't be further.
A large red bag was resting in front of her on the table.
Her amethyst eyes seemed calm as she observed each one of them. "Come, take a seat. I was waiting for you, especially you Welsh Dragon." Bastet's voice was like royalty's, refined, yet it lacked any sign of a superiority complex one would expect from the daughter of the "pharaoh" of the realm.
Ddraig and the girls approached the table. Baraqiel and the others were already there with visible tension as they awaited their return.
The dragon takes a deep breath before he speaks. "Lady Bastet, might we know the reason behind your sudden visit?"
Bastet nods as she pushes the bag that was located before her on the table towards them. "Inside, you'll find several jewels and treasures. Please accept it as a sign of my apologies for my sister's actions. We were asked to surveil your actions, not incite a fight that has left some of you with scars. I genuinely apologize for her actions; as the older sister, I should have acted before it reached this point."
Bastet bows her head as a sign of her remorse.
"We can't accept such a payment. We didn't come here for money." Ddraig tries to reject the bag.
"Please don't. This is from me to your team as my form of making amends for her actions. Sekhmet is a rough goddess who ignores many norms, and without our intervention, she'll likely go rampant, but she's my sister, and I don't want any of you to hold a grudge against her. Please accept the payment and forgive her actions." Bastet bows her head.
The group is surprised by her words and determination. They expected a different reaction, yet Bastet was here to make amends for something she didn't even do.
Baraqiel grabs the bag and takes out a jewel. "You know, money goes a long way in many societies, and it usually buys many people, but today, that's not the case. If you want to make amends for Sekhmet's actions, help us to convince your fellow gods to join the Alliance. We didn't come to this realm just to gain coin and get ourselves injured." The fallen one says as he places the jewel in the bag before closing it and returning it to its owner.
"Not being able to fly." Gabriel begins.
"Enduring a harsh desert for twenty days." Yasaka follows.
"Fighting damn beasts that sought to devour us and the ship." Liv continues.
"We came to this land for one objective, and we hope to achieve it, Lady Bastet. We seek to gain the full support of your pantheon for the sake of the future. If your pantheon were to accept, we could even help you stop Apophis for one last time and put an end to the nemesis of your people. No more eclipses filled with carnage as the cities of this realm get attacked by the evil dragon and its accursed powers. You care about your sister; you likely care about your people as much; if you have a way to keep both safe, why won't you take it?" Rossweisse asks the goddess as she tries to bring her to their side.
"Apophis is impossible to bring down. That dragon resurrects every time we put him down." Bastet claims.
"He indeed resurrects, but we have a way to stop him. With the help of Ereshkigal, we could seal his soul away and prevent his resurrection. I'm more than willing to use my skills to hunt him down if he shows up." Ddraig adds.
Ereshkigal summons a lamp with one of the souls under her jurisdiction. "Nobody escapes these until I say so. I assure you that Apophis won't return to this realm ever again if you accept our conditions."
Bastet reached out to touch the lamb. She had heard about Ereshkigal and her curious abilities. It wasn't an ability that other gods possessed; it was hers and only hers, as she could easily lock anyone away until she felt like releasing them, but like any deity of the dead, she had remained neutral since her very birth.
Neutral, unreachable, untouchable, and so did her abilities, but now here she was.
"You're willing to do this for us? To actively help us?" Bastet asks the goddess.
"I am part of the Alliance; if you're willing to help us, I'll be willing to aid you," Ereshkigal says.
Bastet couldn't be any happier to hear those words. "Anubis, Osiris, none could achieve such a goal, but you're different and might be able to pull this off." Bastet bows her head to them. "I, Bastet, daughter of Ra, offered my support and aid to convince my pantheon to join the Alliance under the premise that you aid us with Apophis and the threat he presents to our home."
Ddraig and the rest bow their heads. "We, the Alliance, offer our aid in sealing Apophis and ending his threat under the premise of possible cooperation between our sides."
An agreement had been made as the team gained the unexpected support of Bastet. After twenty long days, the team finally felt much closer to their goal.
