Death is like the winter chill,
No door can keep it from us.
And summer yet may bloom again,
Though ice be all upon us.
~Oblast Fireside Song
Several days ago, GFS Ryujin…
Alarms blared across the ship as a man ran through the halls, a large war hammer in his left hand. He looked ahead to see the path forward being closed by a blast door. This did nothing to stop him as he burst through it, entering a hangar bay that opened up into the vacuum of space.
"This is nowhere near the world I was in before. Could this truly be a trick of that dog, Samael? Or another demon?" The man thought as he noticed the collection of personnel, yokai or otherwise, staring at him. "I have no time to deal with them. I must escape and reunite with the others."
In a swift motion the man leapt into the air, holding his hammer with both hands, and slammed it into the center of the floor, creating a shockwave that blew everyone back to the walls. The man picked himself up and made to escape into space.
"Superbia!"
The Vice-Angel of Pride looked back towards the entrance to see Richard, accompanied by Gus and Kaguya, and from the sound of a multitude of footsteps, there were more coming.
"Superbia!" Richard shouted. "What is the meaning of this!?"
"Was this not your doing, heretic?" Superbia asked. "Was your master not satisfied with taking Ira's life, that he would attempt this?"
"Superbia, you have to explain this to us." Gus gently stated, as if trying to convince the Vice-Angel. "We have no feud after what happened with the Crusades. Why would we be intent on causing further complications with you?"
"The Crusades? What are you…?" The angel asked in genuine confusion before he stopped. "No. I will not allow you to trick me."
"Wait… Wait wait wait." Kaguya remarked, as she noticed a discrepancy from how Superbia reacted, before turning to Richard. "You told me that-"
Richard then realized what was going on, as he felt silent.
"...Superbia." Richard remarked evenly. "...I don't know what the hell has happened to you, to have either regressed to a past self… or lost your memories to the same effect… But I was not there to take Ira's life… That event happened long before I came here. If you would just let me-"
"I will not listen to the empty words of those who consort with demons." Superbia said, turning his back to them. "Were it not for the presence of young life aboard this vessel, yours would be forfeit. For now, I take my leave; Ira shall be avenged."
With that, the Vice-Angel of Pride leapt out into the vacuum and flew off out of sight.
As soon as he did, Elma and Flora appeared.
"Was that…" Elma remarked. "...But that can't be right. His soul was used to revive the world Rias came from. It should be impossible for him to return."
"Were it not for the fact that there is a disturbance within the leylines…" Flora remarked. "...I would have believed that this high angel must have been driven mad."
"What do you mean, Flora?" Richard asked, before turning to her. "What could you have possibly found from what you have glanced?"
"...Darkness follows that Vice-Angel." Flora simply stated. "...I'm sorry, that's all that I can tell. The astral realm is muddled."
Richard was silent for a moment, before he then looked up. "Erika."
Erika then manifested in her human form, materialized in a shower of pixels.
"Richard?" Erika asked.
"Relay the information of what had happened to the rest of the Hero Alliance." Richard answered back. "...And get everyone on standby. We might have a new incident on our hands… and I have a feeling that we're going to need to pull some work to keep things together until we can gather forces."
"Will that require-" Erika asked.
"Yes. Contact Shirli. Contact anyone in the Future Seekers." Richard declared firmly. "We need as much help as we can get. Shelve the entire HABIT conflict for the time being. HABIT is not an active threat unless his rules are broken… and I doubt this is one such clause."
"I understand." Erika stated. "Just do what you can."
Erika then disappeared, before Richard contemplated opening a line to Mark, only to stop.
"...Were you going to do something?" Gus asked Richard.
"...I have a feeling that I could be calling at the wrong time to break the news." Richard grimaced.
"Well, last I heard from the rumor mills, they've been working with someone who wants to be elected as the Demon Lord of Pride for the Demon Universe." Kaguya scoffed, crossing her arms. "The last contact was with some of the Seeker-verse wanderers, along with Rimuru from their realm."
"And the Future Seekers have been tight-lipped about what happened with him." Gus remarked. "They say that he's been given a lot to think about… but we don't know what."
Richard then considered the situation, before he then gapped in a PDA device, before fiddling with it, until he was able to open up a map of the reality, with all universes in view, as he made it track any notable power sources, as he noticed one such entity heading towards a world within the border of both the Demon Universe and Magic Universe.
"How many of us will be needed?" Elma asked. "...I hope that we can prevent a terrible incident from occurring…"
"We'll need all of the notable leaders. Old-guard is a must." Richard stated. "...And I might need some Gensokyian residents for this. Keine might actually have a good reason to shift her teaching duties for the up-and-coming members to partake in active assessment. She was a leader for a good reason…"
"Richard…?" Kaguya asked, seeing that Richard was beginning to ramble.
"...In either case, I'll get the people needed." Richard declared, before gesturing for the group to follow. "Come with me, we need to prepare."
During this moment, in a vacation resort somewhere in the Color-Verse…
"Ohhhh man this is perfect." SoF!Siege said with a relaxed smile as after the events with Mark and the Underverse as well as the entirety of an adventure within the realms of Earthrealm and Outworld in the Future Seekers realm, the Soldiers of Fortune variant of Siege was chilling out with many returned allies back under his wing, having been blessed to be reincarnated by the side of many Earthrealm and Outworld characters, as the result was a squad that, while nowhere near the usual size it was, was still considerably powerful in its own right. However, SoF!Siege suddenly got a message, as he groaned.
"I swear to God, Arceus, every deity that exists, if that is a fucking mission request…" SoF!Siege groaned as he saw it was a dire message from UF!Richard. "...I don't like that… damnit…!" SoF!Siege snarled as he sat up, opening the message to hear it or read it, as it was a simple relay of intel as SoF!Siege groaned. "Son of a…" He seethed before getting up from his lounge chair. "Alright, people, sorry to spoil this but vacation time is over! Gather round!"
"Awww, for real!? We just got started!" Neila Sukui, Siege's adopted daughter who was reincarnated as well, pouted as those who partook of the vacation approached.
"What's the situation?" Líf asked with folded arms as he looked at SoF!Siege.
"An angel named Superbia just wreaked havoc over at the GFS Ryujin. Great damn timing to be caught with our pants down." SoF!Siege snarled.
"What for!? What was the reasoning for it!?" SoF!Allison exclaimed.
"All I know is that intel is being given to be about a Demon Election, and that it could be tied to that…. And heaven knows that means the Rimuru over on my counterpart's side could be likely in the crosshairs." SoF!Siege stated.
"But I thought we-" Leora was about to question.
"Yeah, yeah, we were gonna leave it be and play out but it's out of our hands now if Richard thinks that we need to suit up. Pack your bags and grab your gear once we get back, it's go time." SoF!Siege told everyone as he contacted the GFS Ryujin for a portal back, as SoF!Siege noticed that Mark wasn't on the contact list of people that were notified, causing his eyebrow to raise.
"...Odd. Why would they leave Mark out…?" SoF!Siege wondered as they headed back to the GFS Ryujin, all re-suited up as they made their way to UF!Richard. "Well, can't even finish a two month vacation without being called in, eh!?" SoF!Siege said in annoyance.
"I figured that you would be the first to answer to call." UF!Richard smiled slightly, before the smile faded. "I'm sorry that things had to happen so suddenly. But I need as much help as I can get for this."
"I hear you, I hear you…" SoF!Siege sighed. "Just what the hell is going on. And more importantly, WHY are we not telling MARK of all people!?"
"There are two parts to that reason." UF!Richard stated. "The logical part of the reason is that the Hero Alliance could be possibly dealing with their own situation, and causing them to split their attention could be disastrous. There is proof in the Hero Review recounting, and the latest information that we have gleaned."
"And the second part?" SoF!Siege remarked.
"...I feel like Mark has had enough on his shoulders." UF!Richard stated, with a hint of solemnity on his expression. "...After having to do all of the work of bringing me back from the brink, and then having to deal with situation after situation that hammers his buttons… If I contribute to that… he'll likely end up no different to me… and if I'm part of the reason. I cannot forgive myself. I may not be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them as their heroic ally… but I am their ally regardless, and I refuse to burden them."
"...Agh, fair enough." SoF!Siege grumbled. "So… sorry for being out of the loop but you knew how I felt about this whole Demon Election, how all of us felt, and it's exactly the damn reason you just messaged me about… So I have to ask, is our other counterpart's Rimuru… is he in any danger? Man just got all of his family back, he doesn't need an immediate threat bearing down on his ogre clan." SoF!Siege stated.
"That…. From all I have heard…" UF!Richard remarked. "With allies among the other worlds, especially Nazarick, he and his own kingdom should be safe for the time being, barring any malicious threats that intentionally have set their sights on them."
"What's the deal with all of this suddenly blowing up anyways?" Juri asked with a tilt of her head in questioning.
"That, I will need Siege to help me explain." UF!Richard remarked, before turning to him. "Do you remember Superbia?"
"Agh… vacation brain still hasn't kicked in fully so, remind me?" SoF!Siege asked.
"He's the Vice Angel of Pride. You know, sort of like Zeabolos's Overlords for each sin?" UF!Richard reminded. "We sort of helped Mark purge him from the world, never to return?"
"...Okay, okay. It's clicking now." SoF!Siege nodded. "But why is- ….Oh…. Holy shit…."
"He's back. And he's raving about his own past." Kaguya remarked, walking up to the group, as she was accompanied by both Amanozako, and Fionn. "It seems that whatever incident is occurring, has brought him from whatever past he came from. That, or he was amnesiac, which is a likely alternative."
"Tch. So you mean to say he just shows up, screams about his past, then thrashes about?" Akuma asked distastefully.
"That is the gist of it." Gus nodded back.
"So…. What. We track this guy down, smack him in the head, kill him if we have to and job's done, right?" Juri asked.
"I don't think it's that simple." UF!Richard answered back, shaking his head. "Call it shaky intuition from my guts… but I believe that he is key to whatever threat is plaguing this reality right now."
"Ugh… always with the damn caveats!" Juri shouted angrily.
"It is a common occurrence for places like these." Patchouli remarked, walking up, tome ready.
"So where do we come in?" Ryu asked firmly.
"We'll need to head down, in order to track Superbia." UF!Richard stated. "And for the sake of being able to detect him or whatever threat followed him. We'll need to split up. But not too much."
"How do you intend us to split?" Thrasir asked.
"One of us will take to the northern parts of the land." UF!Richard declared. "And another will follow along the southern side. If we are fortunate, one group will be able to follow the trail, and contact the other to regroup for the sake of handling matters."
"So I assume you've got one of these paths covered already?" Elaine asked.
"I have a good hunch about where they could be." Erika remarked. "There's been a disturbance in the icy North of the world that we're going to. Somehow, it seems to be… empty of a certain something."
"Before I just send ANYONE willy nilly and cause potential distress from appearances… where… exactly are we heading?" SoF!Siege asked.
"Well, does Warhammer Fantasy explain things to you?" Kaguya remarked, with a tilt of her head. "Be glad it's not 40K, but I would be clenching your buttcheeks."
"...Holy shhhhit…." SoF!Siege's eyes widened. "Yeah, yeah, Warhammer in itself is bad enough, we don't need 40K. Okay, so keep things in the Fantasy end of things. I'll have Líf and Thrasir lead a force, and I'll let you decide who goes with them, good buddy Richard." SoF!Siege remarked.
"Take the children." UF!Richard remarked, before whistling, as Kilver, Titania, Delia, Lucelina, Wicke, and Klara rushed over. "I've geared them up accordingly for what is to come."
"Wow…. Been a heck of a long time since I've seen you little scamps." SoF!Siege laughed. "How is the training?"
"I've been doing well." Titania answered back. "Some of us have been training our leadership skills, in case we are needed to lead."
"It has not been a fully suitable experience." Kilver sighed. "...But it will suffice."
"And in case you are worried for us…" Wicke remarked, before tipping her hat. "...We volunteered for this. Richard gave us an option to back out, with reasonable justifications. But if we did not do what we could… we would have no face."
"After all… As I am the daughter of the Empress of the Adrestian Empire…" Klara declared firmly, as there was steel in her voice and face. "...I will not cower in the face of danger. Come what may, I will stand strong."
"I've also heard that there's a surmountable number of threats down there." Lucelina stated. "...So perhaps, Richard's suggestion holds water. It would not do well to allow any danger to threaten the world while we are in pursuit."
"It's a good thing I've not slacked since you've been away, Siege." Della admitted. "While it has been hard, at times… my blade blessed by the Black Knight himself should serve well." She stated, holding Alondite proudly.
"So, with all that said. Are you prepared, Siege?" UF!Richard asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be… I'll head down with Líf and Thrasir then. Let's move." SoF!Siege declared.
Present day…
Kislev, our Motherland, is dying. A dark winter devours her fairer seasons.
It has been custom for our god, Ursun, the Great Bear, to break each winter with his roar. Yet, for seven long years, he has fallen into silence… And so the ice thickens. Our prayers go unanswered… The people suffer.
The Queen has sent me to investigate, to lead an expedition in search of Ursun. I am to make contact with our northernmost outpost, Dervingard. It was there, at the edge of the Chaos Wastes, that our god's voice was last heard.
Our journey has been long and perilous. The dead outnumber the living. We are lost. We are alone.
Expedition Camp, 80 leagues from Dervingard…
In the harsh winter winds, the expedition had made camp in a canyon. A pastor of the Great Orthodoxy said a prayer over a gathering of graves, while soldiers, some of them wounded, did what they could to stave off the cold. Observing it all were three individuals: the Ungol Prince Yuri Barkov, his brother and chief advisor Gerik, and Yuri's second advisor.
"Your orders, Prince Yuri?" The second advisor asked.
"Fuel for the fire. Extra rations for the wounded." Yuri ordered.
"Sir, this expedition has failed. We must turn south, head back to Kislev." The advisor recommended.
"But we've come so far!" Gerik argued. "We push north, find Dervingard!"
"It's madness!" The other adviser stated. "We cannot survive wandering the Chaos Wastes like beggars."
"Yuri, brother, we must not abandon our duty. The people of Kislev depend on us." Gerik pleaded.
Yuri was silent for a moment before he spoke. "You'll have my decision by dawn."
Later that night, Yuri stood at the top of a cliff overlooking the canyon.
"Ursun, each day I pray, but you do not answer." Yuri said, kneeling on one knee. "This is our darkest night. Can you not see Kislev suffering? Help us!"
The prince's pleas were answered only by the winds.
"Show me a sign!"
Silence.
"…ANSWER ME!" Yuri yelled in desperation. His voice echoed across the canyon, that being the only response.
Yuri waited for something, anything, before he lowered his head in grief. "Then Kislev is lost."
Just then, The prince heard the sound of thunder, lifting his head to see storm clouds, shifting into the form of a large bear.
"Son of Kislev, I answer in my time of need."
"Ursun!"
"I wake in darkness, bound in shadow."
"Guide me. I can save you."
"I am weak, so you alone will hear my voice. I will lead you to Dervingard, your first step to finding me. Follow… my… voice…" The voice of the Great Bear finished as the storm clouds lost their form.
Yuri raised his head, Hope and determination renewed. "We move north."
"Yuri!" The expedition leader heard Gerik approaching quickly, his voice sounding urgent. "Back at camp…there is something you must see."
The two brothers returned to camp to see that Richard was waiting for them, as he had clad himself in winter robes, to give the appearance of a wanderer.
"So, it seems that I am graced with the face of the Ungol Prince." Richard remarked, before curtly bowing. "I thank you for your hospitality in receiving me."
"Who are you?" Yuri asked. "(He carries himself a wanderer, and yet…)" he thought.
"You may call me Richard." Richard answered back. "I come from lands not known to your kin. And I will state my intentions clear and simple: I seek an individual who has been wandering these lands. And most of our encounters here have not been… civil to say the least."
"You say such." Gerik remarked, before narrowing his eyes. "But I can tell that you are not some simple wanderer. The fact that you bring an enigmatic air amongst you proves that."
"I will not deny it." Richard closed his eyes. "I am both warrior and mage. In my own terms, I am a spell-blade, one who wields blade and magic side by side. While my power may be great… it would not do me well to fight an uphill battle against the horrors of this land alone. So the moment that you took me with civility… I hold hope that we can reach an accord."
Yuri considered this for a moment, before he spoke. "You claim to be looking for someone? I cannot promise you will find them by traveling with us; we have our own duty. If you will aid us in ours, then we will do what we can to aid you in yours."
"Then I shall hold you to that accord." Richard smiled back. "Tell me your name, Prince of Ungols. It is only fair that I call you by it."
"I am Prince Yuri Barkov." The man introduced himself, before placing a hand on Gerik's shoulder. "This is my brother, Gerik. We lead an expedition to save Ursun, the God Bear of Kislev."
"Ursun… Ah yes, I've heard of the benevolent deity who graced one of the nations here." Richard nodded. "A most noble cause. I will do my part to aid you. Give me a moment, I need to gather my people. As soon as we are together, we march on your order."
Richard then left the Kislev camp, as some time passed, before Richard returned with the rest of his group, as there were all properly dressed for the icy climate, and there was a small gathering of UGF volunteers from the more fantastical world, to act as a small band for the leading members to coordinate.
"I'm sorry if these men seem few, Prince Yuri." Richard told the prince. "But I assure you, my companions hold their weight in their individual specialities, and those under them are trained for their professions. Treat us as a multi-purpose band, if you would simplify matters. Combat, restoration, construction. Whatever your beck and call may be, we shall do what we can to help."
"And I assure you, we will not fall short." Keine added.
"Such few men, but the prospect of them benefitting us more than they will detract…" Gerik hummed, before turning to the Prince. "What is your opinion, Prince Yuri?"
"If they are willing to help save Ursun, then they are welcome." Yuri answered. "Tell our men to prepare. We move north."