Chapter 37: Pyramids Undone
"So…" Cipactli's gaze rested on his agent, currently enjoying a Demigod's skin. "...the Ibis has indeed learned much. The time he bought with his "Neutrality" was well-spent."
The Skinwalker nodded.
While Carmilla held up the mirror, The Morrigan didn't say a word.
"And what of the present forces?" Cipactli inquired.
"Hmm," the abomination closed its eyes briefly. "Of your Majesty's forces," it nodded at the Celtic Goddess, "your Olympian, the Quincy, the Nen-user, and a third of the Half-Bloods are left fighting."
A distant 'Cra-boom!'
"Make that one less," the Skinwalker smirked. "Oh! And your Goblins and Fishman…they're very dead. Deader than a doornail. Had no chance!"
It could just make out a trace of pulsing veins on the nearby vampire's forehead.
"The rest could still be useful," Bell-mere's face licked its lips. "If you get to them in time, which your forces are very quickly running out of."
Carmilla began to retort.
"And no, I'm not talking about those sharks and their hanger-ons," the Skinwalker brushed the centuries-old Vampire off.
"Your latest recruit's more talented sister is approaching, Madam."
The Morrigan finally showed annoyance, the mere allusion to the rival War Goddess enough for a bad mood.
"Honestly, that Hollow, Ninja, and Pirate accompanying her merely put the final nail in the coffin…even if Ares manages to beat the two Espada before the others arrive."
"Unless, your aid is given…" Morrigan finished, having already had a good idea of where this conversation was going.
"Ah…but I already have orders…Master." The Skinwalker stepped back, allowing Cipactli's eye to gaze at Carmilla and her Chieftess of Night.
"Great Lady of Phantoms," Cipactli's voice deepened, the entire chamber reverberating. "Will you state the purpose of your forces?"
"To unbind those Thoth imprisoned," Morrigan's reply matched the Aztec abomination's in resonance.
"Name them."
The Celtic deity smirked. "The accursed master of the undead,"
BOOM! BOOM!
Cipactli's eye seemed to quirk. "So I hear."
"The devourer of souls; the Lord of the Nile; the child of Ra's wrath; and the Usurper," Morrigan's voice resonated, the mere titles of the deities carrying power.
"And the final?" Cipactli couldn't help but be sucked in by Morrigan being dramatic.
"...Chaos itself."
The Aztec monster inhaled sharply. "You're completely serious, aren't you?"
"Oh yes!"
"You will have no way to control this being. If he comes to blows with you, drawing on this Underworld's power will be the only thing keeping you alive, let alone beat him," Cipactli warned her.
"Oh I'm sure there's something from these 'new worlds' that will give me the edge then. Besides, he'll be focused on Ra and his progeny, who'll devote all efforts against him."
"...and you believe this will prevent all of Egypt's powers from marshaling against you?"
"Of course. And I know you want that bloc of Gods dealt with, just as much as I do."
Cipactli's eye narrowed, considering. He briefly flicked his gaze towards his subordinate.
The Skinwalker subtly shook its head.
Cipactli's eyes seemed to bear down on Carmilla, who trembled holding up her Transmission Mirror.
"Do you formally request my aid, Queen of Night?"
For a solid minute, the Morrigan was absolutely still, not a sound made.
"What compensation do you seek, Lord of the Void?"
Her presence instantly matched Cipactli's, making even the Skinwalker sweat.
"A fair trade. My greatest subordinate's service today, for your greatest subordinate's another day."
Within the Mirror's image, Dracula scowled.
"Yes," Morrigan closed her eyes. "For the price you've given, I request your aid."
Cipactli's eye flashed a much brighter sickly green. "It is done. Yee Naaldlooshii, do your utmost to release the deities present, and drive Morrigan's enemies from this island. When it is done, seize the Medallion's holder and return to Miquiztli."
"And the rest of their crew?" the Skinwalker licked its lips.
"Kill them."
The Navajo creature frowned at that, before adopting a thoughtful expression.
"My dear Count, the day that Lord Cipactli requests aid, you will answer it," the Morrigan moved to break the connection. "With the exception of Tiamat's war, of course. Can't go breaking our word to 'Lord Poseidon'."
"Of course," Dracula bowed, unable to subdue his scowl. "I await your return, Carmilla."
The light went out of the Transmission Mirror.
"I expect your report once you've left the island." With that, Cipactli ended the Snail call. Said Transponder Snail shivered before dissolving back into the Skinwalker's palm.
"Now…shall we begin?"
Carmilla couldn't help but feel a shiver down her spine at the sheer anticipation from her newfound 'ally'.
OoOoOoO
By the entrance, Brook began to stir from the electric shock, getting a grip on Soul Solid again. Briefly, he wondered if this was what he'd missed out on at Skypeia. Apacci and Mirajane weren't far behind him, groaning as the last of the sparks fizzled out. At the edge of their vision, two blurry figures stood before a trembling door.
SHING!
The three's vision became crystal-clear again with a brightly glowing hieroglyph illuminating the hall. It was a horizontal line with two dots in the middle, symbolizing the locked door. A pale hand slashed across it.
CRACK!
The door split in half!
"BBWWWOOOOOHHHHH!"
Sand burst out, flooding the halls in a millisecond. Thankfully, that's more than enough time for a Straw Hat. The skeleton grabbed both his friends and booked it!
"The hell?!" Apacci shook out the last bit of grogginess from her head. "WHOA, MAMA!" She added the speed of Sonido to their retreat. Mirajane did likewise, furiously flapping her wings.
Before they knew it, they were back in the main library.
"RUN!" Brook hollered, voice echoing with subconscious Devil Fruit use. The three barely even registered the ongoing fight against Uvogin.
Apacci yanked Uncle Chan and Levy, while Mirajane hauled Nami out the building.
"Mira?! Where's my mom?!" the navigator began frantically turning her head.
"We'll find her, Nami," the Wizard spoke in a soothing, yet firm voice as she grabbed Brook to ascend. "But right now, we need to survive."
"What even was that?!" Apacci slowed down, now that all six were safely in the air.
Below, Uvogin acted quickly. "Everyone grab onto me!," he commanded the Demigods. "Leave the fallen!"
A human chain of over a dozen Phalanxmen complied, with the Nen-User putting everything into his legs. Just in time, they outran the growing tide of sand, which burst forth from the entrance.
A solitary figure remained, stepping out into the artificial night. 4000 year old desiccated skin clung onto cracking bones, stretched to the point of breaking into enough holes to completely see through the creature. Eyeless sockets darted around.
Then, he bowed his head, clapped his hands together, and prayed.
"Oh great and noble warriors long past," High Priest Imhotep's inhumanly low voice echoed throughout the island. "Come forth, and remind the world of Egypt's might! Your master lives again!"
The whole island began to rumble. Dust began to coalesce into over a dozen mummified warriors, distinct from their headwear, spears, scimitars, and shields. Elsewhere, all the buried dead of Khemenu reached out from within the earth.
Then the screaming started.
"Oh God," Levy said in a near-state of shock. "The evacuation!"
"KILL THEM ALL!" With Imhotep's command, the undead surged towards the living.
"CERO!" Apacci shot her cannon at the quintessential mummy. With a 'CRUNCH', Imhotep's spine was bent backwards, his head and torso now parallel to the ground.
"Hell yeah!"
"Umm…" Brook aimed his blade.
Sure enough, Imhotep had grabbed his pelvis, and pulled his spine back in alignment, immediately ready to go.
"BBBWWWWOOOHHHH!" the mummy's jaw distended with the roar as he raised his arms. A wall of sand pushed its way towards the crew.
"Franky Radical BEAM!"
The wall was blasted apart, continuing unimpeded towards Imhotep's chest. The mummy hurtled back from the attack.
"Diable Jambe! Flambage Shot!"
The fiery kick nailed Imhotep from the opposite side, forcing the mummy to take the full brunt of both attacks. The creature split in two.
"Sorry we're late," Sanji adjusted his tie. "Had some trash to take out."
"Whoa…that guy's putting himself back together," Franky braced himself in a boxing stance. "Not super at all!" Sure enough, their foe had grabbed his legs, shoving them back on.
"Excellent," Brook mused as he took position besides the reinforcements, "let's focus our strength on this undead fiend."
Mirajane opened her mouth, looked at Brook, and shut it again. She turned her attention to an increasingly irritated Nami.
"Hey," she put a hand on said pirate's shoulder. "We'll find Bell-mere. Let's just get rid of this guy first."
Breathing in, Nami nodded, Perfect Clima-Tact back out.
"Aiii-YAAH!" their compatriot shrieked. "Mummies attacking our people! Get cracking!"
With that, Uncle Chan ran to protect them.
"Be careful, Mira!" Levy called out as she joined him.
"Alright," Mira decided. "Apacci, the second we can, we're going to fly past him and figure out what's going on."
"Yeah," Apacci smirked. "Need to finish the job with that Vampire. Oh, and find Nami's mom too, I guess."
"Satan Sphere!" Mira quickly blasted the charging mummy soldiers, blocking their path to the civilians. Their eyeless sockets glared at the witch. "Well…we've got them focused." She and Apacci resumed flight.
Sanji, Franky, Brook, and Nami formed up. Imhotep tilted his head, not sure what to make of them.
"Such strange mortals," he mused in that echoing basso profundo. "Tell me, what year is it?"
"Umm…" Franky paused, putting fingers to his chin. "That's actually a good question. Y'all know?"
The present Straw Hats all collectively shrugged.
"Am I still in Osiris's kingdom?" Imhotep wondered, looking at his hands. "No, and yet, this is no mortal realm. Nevertheless, this does not change the plan."
Sanji leapt forward, fiery heel hurtling at the mummy's skull.
WHOOSH!
Before contact, Imhotep parted into a tornado of sand, swirling around a fallen Demigod. Before the Half-Blood could even stir, it was over. Half the Straw Hats cringed as the grunt was utterly desiccated, uncomfortable memories coming to the forefront. When the tornado subsided, Imhotep had changed, having marginally more skin on the paler end of the spectrum. One eyelid had repaired itself, the other had clearly not.
"Oh HELL no!" Nami raised her Clima-Tact. "Thunder Tempo!"
The monster howled! Some of the skin fried off, but sand rushed in to take its place.
"Brook, let's ramp up the pressure up-close!" Sanji decided. "Nami-swan, keep it up! Franky, you've got long and short range, wherever you see an opening."
"Right!"
OoOoOoO
Carmilla kept the book open, turning to the next door, chanting all the while, an eye still on that monster beside her. Once again, the Hieroglyph seal began to glow.
"GUH!" 'Why are the walls moving?'
The Vampire had been slapped down the hallway before she even realized what happened.
CRISH! The skinwalker's right arm had transformed into a certain white triangular blade, and was held in place by an old feather quill.
"Abomination, get thee hence!" Thoth proclaimed as his other hand wrote Hieroglyphs in the air. The first was 'Copy', from which a second Thoth of golden light manifested. The next was 'Lock'. The clone knelt, clapped the Hieroglyph between its palms, and shot five beams of light at the intact doors.
"Oh…the scribe is going to fight me?" the Skinwalker sneered, inhuman teeth peeking from Bell-mere's face. "Ra's great pencil-pusher, the bit player in the Pharaohs' stories."
"Better a bit player than someone whose only strength is stolen," Thoth pushed the Navajo creature back. "I've no intention of letting Morrigan or Cipactli win this day!" An English 'Quicksand' was kicked out from the god's foot.
In an instant, the Skinwalker grew black feathered wings, along with a perpetual flame between them on its back. It flew up right as the 'word' impacted the floor and transformed it.
"Aww…though if you're here…your little shield is going down. Don't you care if your weak little subjects get hit by the Olympian's collateral damage? I guess gods really will put themselves first when the chips are down" the monster's cheeks swelled, before a torrent of water flooded the room.
The god's copy remained undisturbed by the water, unflinching in its task. The original wrote 'Freeze' in Norse and hurled it at the stream. It was fast enough to freeze the Naaldlooshii's mouth to said stream.
"UMPH!" The flesh of Bell-mere's mouth was undone when the creature pulled itself free, revealing bone and ruined muscle. The flesh regrew in an instant, the new mouth resembling a primate's.
"YYAAAHHHH!" The roar echoed, shattering the ice.
'Headphones' were written, the Kanji covering the god's ears. "I suppose Cipactli found a Quincy to his liking. Hado #63: Raikoho!"
"Urk!" While the lightning struck the Skinwalker's throat, a scorpion's tail materialized and slashed Thoth across his side, earning a cry of pain. "Oh, I show off for our latest Sternritter," the creature's ruined throat made the words barely a rasp as it healed, "and you throw Soul Reaper parlor tricks at me. How original!"
Using Sonido combined with his copied wings, the Skinwalker rushed forward. The hand-turned-blade glowed gold, before shooting a massive Cero.
'Play-Doh' flew from Thoth's free hand…and the attack instantly became a child's plaything, its golden color the only thing unchanged as it plopped onto the ground.
Smirking, the Skinwalker's free hand turned blue, and made a sign. A dozen Skinwalkers took shape from the scattered water.
"You really are a greedy creature," Thoth mused while writing 'Evaporate'. "Are you sure Cipactli would approve you keeping his enemies alive for your kleptomania's sake?"
"My Lord never said 'when'," all the clones said as one, their extended hands becoming larger and webbed. "Rest assured, they'll die when I've had my fun."
'Evaporate' sped around the circle, but not before a good half of the clones sent out their intended shockwaves, driving the god to his knees.
"Gah!" the 'Evaporate' had found the real Skinwalker, making the hit skin, well, evaporate.
"Leaving them alive will be your downfall," Thoth proclaimed, a 'Mend' slapped onto his chest.
"HA! You honestly think those mortals will surpass their betters?" the Navajo monstrosity grew a second head from the ruined skin, blue hair with pink streaks surrounding a very prominent forehead and horns. Sure enough, it was launched forward. "Really, you should have more faith in your 'godly' status."
'Rebound' shimmered into existence, forcing the Pachycephalosaurus head to come back full speed, ramming the Skinwalker's belly. "They will have their time, Fallen One."
"We'll see!" it sneered as the extra head was absorbed back into itself.
OoOoOoO
"Urk!" Sasori crashed into a temple, the pillars crumbling as his 3rd Kazekage ascended.
"Get up little man!" Driscoll practically bounced in the air, readying another volley of arrows.
"Damn it," the Ninja brushed the debris off. "This is not going well."
OoOoOoO
"This is going so well!" Usopp cheered as the Wrath of Sparta broke away, there only being enough Demigods to operate the ship and care for the wounded. Said ship was now patrolling the shore.
"Fall back!" the sniper spots that big, burly man from before, with a dozen Demigods clinging to him as he charges to shore. "The gods are waking up!"
Needing no more encouragement, the Half-Bloods surrounding Hanataro broke off, the Soul Reaper seeing no need to interrupt. Within the blink of an eye, the healer was back on the Cutty Sark.
"You all right, Usopp?"
"Yeah, just a bit winded," Hanataro assured his friend.
"Good to hear, ribbit."
The two men turned to see Juvia lifting Tsuyu on deck, her feet limp.
"Holy…What'd you DO?!" The Soul Reaper shrieked as he got to work on the shattered bones.
Juvia shook her head. "Her body wasn't quite ready for that level of Fishman Karate. Anyway, have the others sent word?"
"Haven't had the chance, I bet," Usopp put a finger to his chin. "Got that Quincy tangling with Sasori. And people are evacuating on the other side of the bay."
Sure enough, ships were shifting from added weight, and anchors were being hoisted.
"We should help Sasori," Tsu groaned through her mending feet. "End the fight, then focus on covering civilians."
"All right," Usopp turned the ship just so, raising Black Kabuto at the back of Driscoll's head. Juvia readied for long-range support.
"Wait, what?!" Hanataro looked up, a glowing shard falling next to him.
Thoth's barrier was collapsing.
OoOoOoO
"Well…seems that Vampire is doing her job," Ares mused, his blade struggling against Grimmjow's claws.
And there's that Hollow Queen bearing down on him.
The Olympian tilted, forcing Grimmjow off-balance just long enough to counter Halibel's downward strike.
He flew back, before noticing shards of light falling from the corner of his eye. "Ah…back to the original target, I suppose." Ares manifested an absolutely massive wave of fire. "YAH!"
To the Arrancars' shock, the fire missed them by a mile. Its course, the Cutty Sark and Port of Khemenu, with thousands of frantic souls.
In the split-second of realization, Halibel had moved with Sonido.
Grimmjow ignored her, speeding forward and ramming Ares in the gut, his claws drawing blood.
"You've admirable focus," Ares smirked at the self-proclaimed King of Hueco Mundo. "Her…not so much."
Grimmjow snarled as he crashed the god into the sea.
Up above, Halibel raised the ocean, afraid she wouldn't make it in time.
"TIA!"
"Cascada!"
The ocean stalemated the god's fire, but the inferno did not shrink. The ex-Espada was sweating just to replace the water being evaporated.
Suddenly, a flash of blue.
The fire had gotten smaller, allowing Halibel to smother it.
Looking around, she grabbed the newcomer by the waist.
"Chi-chi-chi!"
"I know, I know, you hate Fire chakra, or mageia or whatever," Kisame shrugged off Samehada's complaints. "But it was an emergency."
"Well," Halibel couldn't keep the amusement out of her voice as she descended. "How many times has Jinbe thrown you now?"
"Only three," the Ninja shrugged, the pair's feet back on the water. "Speaking of…"
To the side, Ares burst from the sea, kicking Grimmjow into the distance, shattering yet more of Thoth's barrier.
"Now," the god pointed his sword at Halibel. "I really must wrap thi…WHA?!"
Two Haki-encased hands wrapped around Ares' ankles and began dragging him forward, too fast for the god to get his balance again.
"RAH!" Jinbe roared in exertion, pushing his speed to the max.
Halibel aimed Tiburon's tip right at the god's heart. Kisame was ready to shave off the Olympian's flank.
"HUH!" Ares managed to block both blades with his gladius, though it required all his strength.
Then, Grimmjow returned. His glowing claws bore down at the god's face. Having nothing to block it, Ares could only crane his neck as far as he could.
"AAAHHH!" the Olympian howled as the claws did their work on the left side of his face, from forehead to jaw.
"Impudence!" Ares wrenched a foot free from Jinbe's grip, nailing Grimmjow in the kidney.
Before he could do anything else though, the god saw a tanned finger in his face.
"Cero."
VWOOM!
OoOoOoO
Slowly but surely, Apacci and Mirajane were working their way past the undead. Not their friendly singing undead, the other kind. The mean, curse-bearing kind. Although, the argument could be made that Devil Fruits were a sort of curse…anywho, back on topic. Girls vs. mummies was going exceedingly well.
Pirates vs. THE mummy was rather more even. Imhotep was barraged by flaming kicks, icy slashes, thunderbolts, and lasers, but he just would not stay down. Imhotep hit back just as hard with blasts of sand.
"Ahh! We're not getting anywhere!" Apacci complained.
BOOM!
"And the stars align!" the Hollow sneered as Carmilla burst from the library's wall. Not wasting a second, Apacci grabbed the vampire by the throat, arresting her momentum, and slammed her to the ground.
"The hell'd you do to Bell-mere?" Apacci snarled.
To her surprise, Carmilla actually started to chuckle. "You really are a dumb little girl, aren't you?"
"Tch!" Apacci hurtled back towards the library, vampire as her battering ram.
"YAH!" Carmilla stabbed a hand through her foe's stomach, but the Hollow didn't even slow down, barreling them both back in the tunnels.
"Apacci, wait!" Mirajane hollered, tearing the closest mummy limb from limb.
OoOoOoO
"Hmm…Lunarian, Quincy, Soul Reaper, Hollow, Demons, and Gods alike," Thoth remarked, an 'Analyze' in front of his glasses. "You've certainly been busy."
"Well," the Skinwalker slammed a hand to the ground, the stone responding to his command to surge forward. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."
"More like laziness," Egypt's Scribe conjured an English "ROAD-ROLLER", with the words literally flattening the stone on its way to the enemy.
Scoffing, the shapeshifter grew a leg from the stomach, slashing it horizontally to create a 'Tempest Kick', pulverizing the spell.
The Skinwalker flapped its Lunarian wings, instantly appearing in front of Thoth, claws raised.
Before it could strike, Kanji glowed in the God's open palms. The creature had just enough time to translate it…Shinra Tensei.
"Oh"
WHOOM! "GAH!" Yee Naaldlooshii slammed into the wall, cratering from the force.
Thoth clapped his hands together, and every single stone glowed with a Hieroglyph. Chains shot out, binding the Skinwalker in place.
"Clever," the creature sneered, not able to budge an inch.
"No Magic. No Chakra. No Reishi." were all rapid-fired onto the Skinwalker's chains, each in their native language. Thoth just kept going through every single system of energy to come to mind. A "No Haki" in English slammed into the chain closest to Skinwalker's face.
"Hehehehe…shouldn't you take me out to dinner first?" The Skinwalker sneered with Bell-mere's fanged face.
Thoth didn't bother dignifying that. With one hand, he conjured a Hieroglyph for 'Truth', and thrust it at the abomination.
"What's Cipactli getting out of this attack?"
"...the ultimate Edgelord," Yee Naaldlooshii, giving an answer he 'believed' to be 'Truth'.
Thoth fought the urge to snarl. "So your service, in exchange for one of Morrigan's underlings for Cipactli. Very well, how did Morrigan know of the residents?"
"Eh…I dunno," the Skinwalker would've shrugged if it could move. "Could be a crystal ball for all I know."
"Very well," Thoth curled his hand into a fist, tightening the restraints.
"AAHHHH!" The creature reverted to purely Bell-mere's image, shrieking in agony.
"How can you still change?!" Thoth exclaimed, tightening the restraints.
"It's just a natural bodily function," 'Bell-mere' winked, before going right back to screaming.
Thoth prepared a "No Changing" Hieroglyph.
BOOM!
"AAAHHHH!"
From the floor, Carmilla snarled, Apacci with a hand around the vampire's throat. The Hollow quickly punched her foe in the face, then paused.
Bell-mere was screaming bloody murder, the restraints cutting skin.
"HOLD IT!" Apacci aimed a Bala at Thoth, but didn't fire it off. "The fuck's going on here?" The god's eyes widened, Hieroglyph still in hand.
That tiny break in concentration was just enough for everything to go wrong.
Before anyone could react, Bell-mere surged forward, letting the bindings slice through.
"AHH!" For a brief moment, dozens of pieces of flesh flopped on the ground. Then, they all instantly turned to water. "Should've hit me instead of the chains! WATER SLICER!"
The attack wasn't anywhere near Thoth. Instead, the closest door was nailed, with the Hieroglyph lock split in half.
"Huh?! Whozzat?!" A slurred voice groggily called out from the room.
The slab fell apart, revealing a room that could only be described as something akin to a stereotypical after-party mess. Sure, there was luxurious mattress and garments, but they were in a state of haphazard disarray. The odor of spilt booze wafted into the air. Used condoms had been carelessly dropped on the floor. Bras, panties, tanktops, and boxers had been flung about.
In the middle of all this, stood possibly the most beautiful woman that Apacci had ever seen, and that was saying something. The figure was only a few inches taller than the Arrancar, but far more curvy with a dark tan. Her sizable hips swayed back and forth, accentuating her posterior. Above her bare plus-sized chest, a soft, full face looked about with concern, dark wavy hair cascading to the small of her back. Frankly, the only unusual feature were her ears, which were those of a dairy cow.
"Thoth, what's going on?" she asked. "Are you alright?"
Thoth, grappling with the reformed Skinwalker, hands glowing with the words 'Haki', briefly turned. "Oh, everything's fine, Hathor. Just…" the god headbutted his foe. "Please stay back, no need to worry. I'll fetch some more wine for you in a bit!"
Hathor, the Sky Goddess who reigned over Pleasure and Plenty (which included such things as Cattle, Drink, Music, Wealth, Love, Beauty, and Sex), had a look of innocent confusion at the violence before her.
"Excuse me, the fuck?!" Apacci moved her Bala-primed arm back and forth between the gods. She felt movement from her foe.
"And STAY DOWN!" the Hollow struck Carmilla right in the chest. The blow was severe enough for the vampire to cough up blood.
"NO!" Thoth reached out, a 'Vanish' Hieroglyph forming in an open palm.
"CERO!" the Skinwalker blasted red from its mouth, point-blank at the god, forcing Thoth to use the spell on the Hollow's signature move instead, letting the blood take its course.
It landed on Hathor's chest. Bewildered, she ran her fingers across the droplet, bringing the crimson liquid eye-level. Then…she caught its scent.
"It's," Hathor's eyes widened. "Nononono…BLOOD! RRREEEEEYYAAAAHHHH!"
Instantly, pressure emanated from the goddess. Clutching her head, she howled and thrashed in time with the waves of light bursting forth.
Apacci was driven to her hands and knees, Carmilla not faring much better. Thoth and the Skinwalker had pushed themselves apart, both bracing themselves against what was to come.
Then, Hathor spoke, but it wasn't her voice ringing throughout the catacombs.
"Oh, dear Scribe," a much-lower female voice, radiating with the sort of power born of sheer savagery, echoed in their ears. "Did you really think you could keep me away?"
What was once Hathor grinned, showing off newly-sharpened teeth. "This is a world at war now…and I…am…war!"
The biggest burst of sheer energy yet erupted from the goddess. Then, she began to change. In an instant, her height was now equal to Jinbe's, the astonished Apacci realized. Her limbs had all doubled in size with sheer muscle, becoming much more defined. Her stomach now bore an 8-pack of visible abdominal muscles, before being covered by a blindingly golden armor that stretched from breasts to knees. A Khopesh was now clasped in her right hand. Her face was narrower, with old scars in place of the baby-fat that had once charmed so many. Her eyes were now golden with black round pupils. The ears that had once resembled a cow's, had become that of a lioness. None of this detracted from her unearthly beauty, but the sheer sense of danger pushed any notion of attraction into the deepest pits of the onlookers' minds.
"What…the hell…are you?" Apacci groaned out from her position of forced supplication.
"I am the Mistress of Dread. I am the Lady of Slaughter," the transformed goddess began advancing. "I am the Wrath of Ra." The very earth was trembling from the weight of her divinity. "I am Pestilence. I am Famine. I am War. I…am…Death."
Sekhmet, Goddess of the Sun's Wrath, had awoken.
In an instant, the War deity had Carmilla by the throat. Apacci hadn't even noticed when her pinned-down foe was taken. Razor-sharp nails were digging into the vampire's throat, releasing streams of blood.
Effortlessly holding Carmilla up, Sekhmet let the blood drip onto her extended tongue and gaping maw. "Oh, how I've missed this." Her nostrils flared as she closed her mouth, holding Carmilla away. "Still, I can only enjoy second-hand blood so much."
With a mere flick, Sekhmet hurled the Vampire through the wall and the earth itself, sonic booms emanating from Carmilla.
OoOoOoO
On the Wrath of Sparta, all the remaining battle-ready Demigods had returned to their father's vessel. Counting the wounded that were receiving aid, a little over 60 of the original 100 were accounted for. Driscoll's detachment watched from the deck as the Sternritter battled the Akatsuki amidst the flames. Uvogin had hauled up the dozen survivors from the library that he could carry.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-SPLOOSH! Something hit the bay with the force of a meteorite.
"Good Gods, what was THAT?!" one of Ares' daughters leaned over the rail. She saw Carmilla, utterly broken. Her wings were bent in all the wrong ways. Her eyes had whited out, with her mouth gaping in a silent scream as she sank beneath the waves.
OoOoOoO
"Now then, let me slip into something more…comfortable," Sekhmet leered. She opened her left hand, creating what looked like a miniature sun in the palm of her hand.
"Oh no," Thoth moved immediately! He grabbed Apacci and bolted back towards the library entrance, the words 'Jets' on his heels.
The Skinwalker sprouted Lunarian wings and flame once again, flying down the hole Carmilla had created on her forced exit.
Chuckling, Sekhmet hurled the ball of light back in her old quarters.
KRA-BOOM!
In an instant, one of the six pyramids surrounding Thoth's Obelisk was atomized. In its place, a second sun was slowly ascending to the heavens.
Morrigan's clouds were being burned away, replaced by merciless light. The remaining crops were drying out. Buildings of clay and stone both were cracking from the rising heat. The stream was evaporating completely.
Within the library, the underground passages were collapsing, Thoth barely outracing the destruction, still holding Apacci tight.
"Apacci, wha…" Mirajane came into view, having just split a mummy in half. Thoth instantly grabbed her as well. The remaining crowd of mummies were crushed by the debris.
Outside, Imhotep and the Straw Hats had paused their bout, with the mummy visibly backing away from the glowing ball of light.
"No," Imhotep trembled, a waver heard in his otherwise dominating voice. "Ra's Wrath made flesh again!" Utterly panicked, he transformed into a howling tornado of sand, completely ignoring the Pirates as he hurtled towards the shore and his escape.
"Guys," Brook shielded his eyes (or he would be if he had eyeballs…) as he gazed at the light.
At this point, Thoth finally came to a stop upon reaching his allies. With the word 'Bubble' formed, the god thrust it up, creating a protective sphere from the rising light and heat.
"I only have a little time, so please refrain from questions," Thoth conjured a 'Memory' Hieroglyph, and circled it through everyone else present. It might've been the fastest way to catch everyone up, but it was by no means gentle mentally. Eyes widened in shock and disbelief. The Straw-Hats in particular felt sick.
As for Nami, it was like watching a puppet's strings get cut. Her own mother's image, twisted and cruel, forever burned into her mind. She couldn't even bring herself to speak, words coming out as gasps and sobs.
"Please," Thoth used his softest voice. "Endure just a little longer, save your crew, and flee." The god raised a hand. "I'll get you back to your ship. Your job…is to survive. I must go and protect my people." He conjured a slip of papyrus, handing it to Mirajane. "Levy will contact you once we've all reached safety, this is our number."
His 'Teleport' nearing completion, Thoth paused, and knelt down, so as to be eye-level with Apacci. "I want you to know, no matter what happens in the days to come," he placed a hand on her shoulder, "none of this is your fault." The Arrancar gazed at the god, obviously still confused and overwhelmed, barely able to manage a nod.
"Now, let's try to make the most of an utterly horrid situation", the god gave a small smile before their 'Bubble' popped away from the library.
Floating beneath the rising sun, where her pyramid prison once stood, Sekhmet smiled. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, nostrils flaring. She turned to the shore, only one thing on her mind. "It smells fresh…and strong." In a literal flash, she was gone.
OoOoOoO
Ares roared in sheer rage, the Mageia blasting his four foes back. Clutching his bleeding face, the Olympian finally had a chance to realize what else was going on. His own 'Wrath of Sparta' was the only ship left under his command, the goblins having been annihilated along with Hody. All his surviving children were on board. Uvogin had been hauling up injured. Carmilla, Nnoitra, and Tesla were out for the count. Ezel and Muscular were still missing. Driscoll was the only subordinate left even fighting.
Then, the pyramid had vaporized, and the fighters beheld the rising second sun.
Knowing just what that meant, Ares realized that he was officially out of time.
"Behold," the Olympian proclaimed as an ethereal glow surrounded him. His very eyes burned with heavenly fire, his armor reformed and wounds healed. "Now, to get rid of distractions."
Faster than before, Ares slashed. The very air pressure forced Kisame and Jinbe back, with Halibel and Grimmjow barely staying in place. The Olympian repeated the slash. This time, Greek Fire rumbled forward.
"Ocean Current Shoulder Throw: Cascading Shark!" Halibel, Kisame, and Jinbe had all united their water. The Megalodon-sized construct rushed forward. Water met fire in a blast of steam and droplets.
Somehow, the fire completely evaporated the combined attack, still aiming at the four. It had shrunken down to be sure, but was still advancing.
"GRAN REY CERO!" With Grimmjow's blood added to the attack, there was finally enough 'oomph' to cancel out Ares' flames. Granted, the ex-Espada was blown back with more cuts, but it was worth it.
For some reason, the Olympian hadn't pressed his advantage, eyes locked behind the four.
Faster than any could react, Grimmjow's face was grabbed and slammed into the water's surface.
"Your blood…smells good," Sekhmet had one knee on the Arrancar's chest, while she licked the cut on his cheek.
Grimmjow had both hands wrapped around the goddess's arm. Aside from struggling for breath, the only thoughts running through his head were along the lines of 'Holy Shit, she's jacked!' Her very breath was hot enough to make him sweat. Her mere presence left the shark trio gasping.
"Fellow Deity of Slaughter," Ares proclaimed. "This is my prey."
Sekhmet purred in amusement. "Oh, Olympian runt. As if you could keep me from what I want."
Simultaneously, Ares launched another wave of fire, while Sekhmet's free hand began to glow.
Halibel dashed for her fellow Arrancar, while Jinbe and Kisame braced themselves. Fishman and Ninja combined their strength.
"Water Style: Water Sphere!" Combining the Water Prison and Fishman Karate, the duo encased themselves in a protective shell, praying it would be enough.
"WATER STYLE: WATER WALL!" Suddenly, all the water around them joined the shield.
"Luz de la Luna." A glowing green spear nailed Sekhmet's side, forcing her to release Grimmjow as she flew to the horizon.
BWOOOMM! The green energy was released all at once, with the goddess right in the middle of it.
"You!" Grimmjow stumbled to his feet, giving a look of utter hatred at his savior.
Already in his Resurreccion, Ulquiorra Cifer glanced down at his old rival. Without a word, he turned to his other old acquaintance.
"It's been a long time, Lady Halibel."
Off to the side, the Water Jutsu dissipated. Jinbe beheld the newcomer with a sense of trepidation. Short white hair rustled in the wind, along with his old-fashioned blue armor.
"Well, well, I suppose this is an honor to receive your aid, Lord 2nd Hokage," Kisame stayed on guard, but still gave a small bow.
"I'm not so sure the feeling is mutual, Akatsuki," Tobirama Senju narrowed his eyes. "Nevertheless, I'd feel bad about letting the Straw Hats flounder around, she'd be upset after all."
"Wait, 'she'?" Jinbe exclaimed before being cut off by two flashes.
The first was Sekhmet, having returned with only a bruise, giving an amused smirk at the Arrancar.
The second was a stranger, glaring at Ares with a look that could only be described as sheer disappointment. Clad in silver armor and a golden helm, she had the same ethereal glow and fiery eyes.
"Brother, what have you done?!"
Athena stood at the ready, spear and aegis raised.
OoOoOoO
At the Cutty Sark, there was a 'pop', and Thoth deposited the crewmates back on their ship. With another 'pop', he'd vanished before anyone could react.
"Holy crap! You guys!" Usopp clambered forward, looking them over for injuries.
"No time," Sanji got back to his feet and began helping the others up. "We need to get moving, now! Franky, get down below."
Nami and Apacci stayed on their knees, near-catatonic.
"Hold on, Red's still on the island!"
Sure enough, Sasori was doing his utmost to hold off Driscoll back ashore.
"Fine…but make it quick," Sanji pointed behind them. "We've got bigger problems." Given that he was looking at Ares and Sekhmet, that point was perfectly valid, to put it mildly.
"All right, aiming cannons!" Franky began adjusting.
"Don't worry," a new female voice called out to the crew. "I'll take care of it."
"Wha…that…is it?"
Onshore, Sasori was repeatedly pelting Driscoll with massive Iron Sand constructs, but to no avail.
"If that's it," the Sternritter snarled as he forced the attacks away, "then this is over!" Behind his bravado, Driscoll was doing very well not to panic at the power of the sun blossoming from the island's center. Nevertheless, it played into him wanting to end things and get out, his focus zeroing in on the Akatsuki.
"Voll…"
"Mil Fleur: Gigantesco Mano!"
Two massive arms sprouted between the fighters, aimed at the Sternritter before he could transform.
"Fish-Man Karate: Giganteum!"
After a quick covering of Haki, the arms slammed their palms into Driscoll, making an utter mess of his insides before hurling him out into the bay.
"Hehehehehe," Sasori turned to the stranger who landed beside him, wings made of arms dissipating. "I'm not sure what the story between you and Franky is, but I'm eager to hear it."
From the Cutty Sark, half the occupants cried out in sheer joy and relief.
"ROBIN!"
Nico Robin ran a hand through her luscious dark hair. "Oh, it's good to be back."
OoOoOoO
Omake: Well Wishes to those with family and friends far away.
From his sleigh, Santa Claus spotted two figures trudging through the snow and ice. "Whoa!" Pulling the reins, he directed the reindeer down.
One figure was slim with long red hair obscuring an eye. His visible eye was purple with black rings. He wore a black cloak with red clouds.
The other was absolutely gargantuan, with an extremely broad chest. He held a Bible in a gloved hand. He wore a black cloak for the cold, covering black and white shirt and jeans. Curly black hair wafted in the wind. A cap with bear ears served to shield his bespectacled face.
Nagato Uzumaki and Bartholomew Kuma had seen quite a lot in their travels, but a fat man being pulled by reindeer was a new one for both, which was the only reason a Shinra Tensei and Ursus Shock hadn't already been fired.
"Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas! Fear not Nagato, you've made the nice list this year!" Santa clapped the Uzumaki on the back faster than he could react.
"Bartholomew Kuma," Santa looked up. "Lord Almighty…you've been the top of the nice list for years!"
"...thank you?"
"Now…I'd like your help to make this a Merry Christmas for some special ladies who really need it." Santa conjured the images of said ladies to seal his argument.
The Ninja and Revolutionary were taken aback before giving inquisitive looks at the mighty Claus, scanning him with Haki and Chakra. Feeling a sense of utter trustworthiness from the figure, Nagato and Kuma got started.
OoOoOoO
Within the fortress, Konan was being roused by the morning light. On her nightstand, she noticed a small parcel. The wrapping paper was black, decorated with red clouds, topped with a blue bow the shade of her hair.
After the standard search for traps, she opened the box. Inside was a very familiar ring. She felt the material, realizing it could only have come from a Rinnegan-wielder. The jewel was orange like her eyes, with the Kanji for 'Rain' on top.
Teary-eyed, she slipped it on her left ring finger, and channeled her Chakra.
Her consciousness seemed teleported elsewhere. In a sealed room, an outline of Konan formed of fuzzy Chakra. On the other side of the room, another blurry image formed, but the Rinnegan were clear as day.
"Hey there, you," Konan could no longer stop her tears of joy.
"Hey."
OoOoOoO
Jewelry Bonney had just gotten comfortable at an Entrance Island, waking up after a massive Pizza Party was held for her. She'd saved the island from some monster or other, she couldn't quite remember.
Groggy, she noticed something on the table, so pristine that it was utterly out-of-place from the mess of dishes and drinks. The box was wrapped in pink paper and bow, decorated with pictures of teddy bears. A 'To Bonney' was on the side.
Cautious, she picked it up and opened it. Inside, a small pink bubble was floating. Instant recognition banished all traces of exhaustion from Bonney. She reached in.
"Hello Bonney. It's Daddy. I just wanted to let you know that I'm okay. I've made a very good friend and we're doing fine."
Bonney was balling in a mixture of relief and joy.
"Bonney, I'm so proud of you. I just wish I could've watched you grow into the strong woman I've heard so much about. I love you very much. I promise we'll see each other again soon."
The Paw-Paw Memory dissipated, allowing Bonney to see the bottom of the box. A Vivre Card lay flat, slowly inching towards the West.
"Papa! I'm on the way!"
A.N. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays!
So…I live! Lord almighty, this story arc has become my own personal Namek! Just a couple more chapters, and one more Grad School semester…then I'll be FREE! To those still reading, your patience and understanding are more than I deserve!
I was WAITING for the chance for the Skinwalker to fight! Hope it and Thoth truly lived up to their titles of 'Greatest Shapeshifter' and Egypt's 'God of Magic and Language'.
Now, I've finally made PLOT progression! Robin's here! YAY! Ulquiorra's here! YAY! Tobirama's here! YAY! Athena's here! YAY! Sekhmet's here! YAY…hold on. When it comes to Sekhmet…I admit I was drawn to the myths that had her and Hathor as the same being.
Will admit to having second thoughts on what I've cut. Originally, Imhotep vs. the Straw Hats was going to be much longer, but for the sake of brevity, I plowed through it.
As for the Omake…yeah, Kuma's story hit us all hard! I NEEDED a chance of a 'happy ending'.
Let's see if I can keep my inspiration going. Til Next Time…Stay Safe!