Fabio mp19: Thanks for the feedback, I'll be sure to work more on the flow of the larger-scale battles. Despite that I am so glad you enjoyed it. :D
Azumus: ADSouto certainly did a good job. Actually, Siegfried and Sigurd are the same figure in myth. Sigurd is the older Norse while Siegfried is the more modern German. Sigurd would have been closer to the source, however I wanted to stress how Freed was a clone and felt that SiegFRIED was more fitting to get that across.
DJDrake: I wish I could get 2 out that quickly lol. My story would me much further along XD
naruto: A bit late for me, but happy holidays to you as well :D
Slayer Cross: Happy New Year to you! Your words mean so much.
fanficcyberman: I hope to not disappoint for the new year. Thank you again. :)
FenrisFiltiarn: That is a good point, I guess they feel they have to in order to keep the supernatural secrecy from the real world. At least it doesn't have any long-term effects.
And with that...ONTO THE SHOW!
"The school has been covered with a large barrier," Saji reported as Rias and the others finally arrived on the scene. Dorian almost wondered if he had taken injury in the last fight as he appeared to be shifting his weight uncomfortably. The young Einherjar had no way of knowing about the one hundred spankings the devil had received as punishment for running off with Issei's group. "As long as Kokabiel doesn't focus on us specifically, we can keep the battle contained in the school."
Those who could fight were gathered at the park located before the entrance to Kuoh Academy. The bespectacled woman from before, Sona Sitri, was the student council president and younger sister of the current Leviathan ruling as a Satan in Hell, one of Kokabiel's targets. Her peerage members were currently focused on erecting the barrier to both prevent collateral damage and ensure the people of Kuoh Town did not hear or see any of the battle that was to come.
"We shall do what we can," Sona advised, fully aware of the power disparity between them. "But if Kokabiel goes all out then the entire town could be destroyed. He also seems to be up to something inside, Tsubaki can elaborate."
Another woman with black hair that went down to her knees stepped forward. She wore glasses similar to her master which drew attention to her heterochromia, one violet eye and one brown. She was the Queen of Sona's peerage, Tsubaki Shinra.
"After arriving, Kokabiel and his followers started siphoning demonic energy that had accumulated in the area. We don't know what he plans to do with it but whatever it is could be enormous." She turned towards the blonde knight of Gremory, her expression softening slightly. "I am glad to see you well Mr. Yuuto."
"I am, thanks to him," he remarked towards Dorian. "I can't die just yet." Tsubaki's lips widened the barest of amounts which could have been construed as a smile.
"Could your Hrotti use such energy?" Sona turned to Dorian, having already been briefed on his presence.
"Kokabiel may be attempting to widen the gateway," the Einherjar theorized. "If so, he could summon as many of the clay giants as he wishes. The exact size of the hoard has never been catalogued but at the very least it spans hundreds of miles. He would have an army."
"To replace the one lost during the war, he once commanded legions yet lost them all fighting God and the four Satans. And Kuoh Town would be his first target."
Issei looked livid, Dorian could understand his rage, it was his home after all. Rias was clearly restraining anger of her own.
They care about their town and this school a great deal, yet with Kokabiel's plans keeping it from being damaged will be nigh impossible.
"What can we expect of your people?" The Gremory heiress turned to Dorian, her demeanor and aura one of a leader rather than high school student.
"Hecuba and I will fight at your side; unfortunately my means of contact with Asgard have been severed. I could traverse the Roads Between Realms but even with the time dilation that will take too long and the battle will likely be over before I returned. Skilja would have taken flight back to Asgard once he became separated from us, but even if they came here as quickly as they could it'd be at least an hour."
"What luck, that's about when our reinforcements will get here," the cheerful tone of Akeno Himejima interrupted, appearing behind the group.
"What reinforcements?" Rias turned to her Queen, eyebrow raised.
"I already sent a message to Lord Sirzechs."
Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the four rulers of Hell and Rias' older brother.
"Akeno!" Rias' calm features snapped at those words. "I never said to…"
For the first time, Dorian saw Akeno's features darken, like a sister angry at her sibling for making a decision they both knew deep down was foolish.
"I know you want to handle this yourself, it happened in your territory in your base to your servants…but this is beyond us and you know it. Even all of us working together may not be strong enough to stop him. We have borrowed power from another mythology, why not a Satan too?"
Rias' mouth dropped open as if she wanted to say something, but quickly closed it. She knew Akeno was right, finally acquiescing with a nod to her long-time friend. The dark-haired beauty's original comforting smile returned along with the nod.
"One hour then," Rias repeated. "We have that long to hold out. Sona, if your servants can keep the barriers in place then mine can go on the offensive to draw his attention and delay any attack of his own on the town."
"I singed him, albeit barely," Dorian explained once the topic of an offensive strike came up. "He is far stronger, but if we can hit him with our combined best we may be able to bring him down. At the very least perhaps wound him until the reinforcements make it."
Our power withers when used too long, your body is still unfit for protracted use. Save your best for the opportune moment.
Thanks Iggy and don't worry about it. I'd like to hope I learned SOMETHING from Thrud and Rossweisse without relying on your power for the entire fight.
You have, never doubt that. But I have sensed the conflict ever since the winged one revealed his involvement in your death. Your time among the gods, you do not regret it…do you?
Dorian knew exactly to what she was referring, Iggy was in his very soul and could hear everything. That included his match against Kokabiel. The what-if scenario raced through his mind, what if Kokabiel hadn't killed him? What would his life be like; would he be in school right now? Iggy would still be bound to his soul yet he would not have heard her voice. In that moment he had only one answer for her.
I don't know…I…
[Yggdrasil, is that you?]
Who is this? Dorian overheard as a new consciousness entered their mental landscape.
[No, not her, but close. The name is Ddraig, I thought I sensed you back at the clubroom. I had no idea Yggdrasil had become a mother, how is she doing?]
She is well; she heard of your sealing into the Boosted Gear and sends her condolences.
[It could be worse, even stuck on the arm of an unrepentant pervert as I am. I doubt I want to know how you got inside a Sacred Gear.]
I wish I could tell you.
The great dragon sighed heavily so that even Dorian could hear it. [And your host is an up and coming warrior of Asgard, what I would have given to be partnered with one of them. He isn't obsessed with breasts is he?]
I'm right here…
I do not believe so; I have caught him glancing to admire their beauty every now and again but no more than a healthy interest in the fairer…
IGGY! Dorian could almost hear the dragon's voice growl in jealousy. How bad is Issei to make a nigh-immortal being act this way?
[I suppose I might as well enjoy this, I haven't had to worry about facing Albion yet. Though I'd feel a lot more at ease in a stronger host, the kid has potential I will give him that.]
As does Dorian, he unlocked his balance breaker to save the life of a woman he cares deeply for.
Iggy, you don't have to tell him everything.
[Don't worry boy; I can dish out just as many stories about Issei as she can about you.]
Please don't make this a contest.
There was the time Dorian witnessed his entire class in a state of undress due to the actions of Ratatoskr.
[Please, Issei tried to break up a wedding by claiming that the Gremory girl's virginity belonged to him.]
That can't possibly be true!
He once engaged in a protracted melee fight against Thrud in the baths of Olympus. He held his composure despite her state of undress until he saw Rossweisse bathing and his gaze lingered for...
IGGY!
"Thank you Dorian."
The voice snapped Dorian from his hellish prison, realizing that Akeno was standing before him, bowing politely.
"I thank you for assisting our wayward knight," she looked up, her violet eyes locking onto his. "It seems like you got to see more of our personal matter and I apo…"
"You don't need to," Dorian quickly interrupted before she apologized again. Devil servants going rogue or running away even temporarily was frowned upon in most circles. "The battle was quite boisterous. I do not believe I recall hearing any command from Lady Gremory that Mr. Yuuto shouldn't have been present."
The smile on the Queen's face spelled out that she understood his meaning; no one would hear that Rias' knight had disobeyed orders from him.
"That is…excellent to hear, if you are ever in need of a home, there is a position of knight open among the President's servants. I am sure you'd make an excellent candidate."
"One hour everyone!" Rias called out to her assembled peerage before Dorian could respond. One hour we must be on the offensive inside the barrier, one hour to keep Kokabiel's attention on us! This isn't like the fight against Phenex, this is a matter of life and death and know this…I will NEVER forgive anyone if you allow yourself to die. We will all survive and meet up in school next class, is that clear!?"
She is so sure of herself, she's younger than Rose but you'd never guess it by how she acts.
The assembled devils cried out a powerful affirmative, everyone sounding as if they truly believed their assertions. As the perverted dragon Issei Hyoudou turned to bid his friend Saji farewell and good luck maintaining the barrier, Hecuba approached Dorian.
"Are you well?" She was too keen, noticing the man's trepidation despite his best efforts at hiding it.
"Just…wondering if history will repeat itself," he admitted to her confused expression. He quickly covered how he learned the two involved had been responsible for his death.
"Then they have even more to answer for than I suspected," Hecuba interjected as he finished, gripping his arm to let him know she would be there. "The past is behind us, don't forget it yet don't let it tarnish your present."
"Do you have advice for everything?"
"Only when it's needed most," she answered vaguely. "You'd be surprised how many came to me for such guidance while serving Olympus…it became a requirement."
Dorian smiled with a nod, standing up a little taller as their united front approached the school. Regardless of his external feelings, he could not shake the scenarios running through his head, how things could have been different. It was not the time for such thoughts, he was well aware of this, yet not matter how hard he tried he couldn't shake them from his mind.
What if I had never died?
Schoolyard…
The collected fighters entered as one, going straight through the main gate without opposition. Once inside, everyone readied themselves, Kiba summoned his blades; Koneko took up a combat stance while Issei promoted himself to Queen though it was far inferior to Akeno's. Dorian and Hecuba were already back to back as were Irina and Xenovia though the blue-haired Church agent's sword remained dim, the runes unlocking its true power refusing to activate for the follower of another faith. Rias led the way with Akeno by her side, both ready for anything as they beheld the odd sight ahead.
The entire front concourse was glowing as an enormous magic circle had been drawn into the surface reminding Dorian of Rossweisse's lessons. There was no doubt it was incredibly advance. Standing in the center was the stout man Valper Galielei holding Hrotti in his hands. Surrounding them circling at even intervals were the five stolen Excaliburs.
"What…is going on?" Issei asked, unable to contain his question as waves of magic buffeted the assorted students and fighters.
The old man glanced over to them, that infuriatingly smug smile as if everything he did was completely justified.
"Why, I am going to make these Excaliburs one with the Asgardian blade. They will complement each other quite nicely."
"How much longer Valper?"
The booming question had come from high above, only then did they notice the floating throne with the moon looming overhead menacingly. Had he angled it that way on purpose? The fallen angel leader was just lounging on the imposing seat, head resting lazily on a hand with his legs crossed very confidently.
"No more than five minutes," Valper replied with utter certainty.
"Excellent, then proceed. I leave the rest of the ritual up to you."
Kokabiel turned his attention to the group, specifically Rias. "So, is Sirzechs coming, or maybe Serafall?" Dorian recognized the name of a second Satan of Hell, Sona's older sister. "Perhaps you got a little distress signal back to Asgard? Should I be quivering at Thor's arrival? Or maybe Baldur?"
Dorian scowled but Rias was the one to answer.
"Our esteemed siblings won't be here," she announced clearly and with defiance. "Instead, we will…"
Kokabiel groaned in apparent disappointment, with a snap of his finger the largest spear of light any of them had ever seen materialized in his hand dwarfing even the most powerful of Forcas. Seemingly without effort he directed the spear, which could almost have been mistaken for a pillar, down upon a nearby building. The explosion was enormous, forcing everyone to ground themselves to resist the backlash as the wind tore through them following the blast. When Dorian raised his eyes he realized the true power of their foe.
"The gymnasium…you've gotta be kidding me!" Issei could not help remark. For indeed, the entire building that the light had struck was just gone without any debris or evidence that it had once occupied that spot remaining save a deep crater.
Forcas' best shot had been maybe the size of a large car or truck, without even trying that one was the size of a house! Just how much of a power gap can two additional wings make? Dorian doubted even the power of Nedavellir could cancel an attack of that magnitude and did not feel like testing that theory.
"How unbearably boring," he refused to even stand from the throne as he snapped his fingers. "You will do for now at least I suppose, you can play with my pets I acquired from Hell during the last war."
The team stepped back as a black void opened beneath their feat, a great inferno bubbling up from the depths. Three great pillars of fire erupted into being before twisting and taking the shape of an immense beast with three enormous heads from which two glowing blood-red eyes stared through them from each.
"Cerberus," Hecuba identified though most save Issei and Asia were familiar with the identity of the guard dog of Hell.
Unlike the pups she had faced in Olympus, the one towering over them appeared to have matured, standing over thirty-feet in height. It resembled a large hound covered in heavy fur and legs thicker than tree trunks. Talons that could rend the strongest armor protruded from each toe and its fangs were worse. Even if she had her troops at her command, Hecuba doubted their javelins would have even scratched its hide. The ground shook from its deafening roar.
"I can't believe he'd actually bring this to the human world," Rias stepped forward. "We'll have to deal with it first!"
"Weak points behind each knee, skin moderately thinner at the throat, avoid the body due to dense muscle," Hecuba started reciting from memory the tactics for such a beast. "Though I surmise this one has matured enough to be resistant to those. Throat and eyes for injury but will require substantial power to bring down, possibly its own if we can manage it."
The group stared flatly at the Olympian Spartan, her expertise on the creatures of her land instrumental in such a battle.
"It is quite resistant to magic; I suggest the melee fighters deal with the hound while the others continue on to Kokabiel."
"Can you manage it?" Issei asked, glancing to the others who all gave smiles of confidence.
"We must, with God's protection, please bless every..." Irina started before glancing to Kiba and Koneko who were counted among those who would stay and gripped their heads in pain. Such blessings did not agree with devils. "We must, trust us in this," she corrected.
"Issei, come with us," Rias commanded her pawn. "We will need your ability to charge our powers; you have been practicing haven't you?"
"Yes President!" He held up his Boosted Gear. "I have; I can transfer three times for sure when charging to full power, though I may pass out at a fourth."
BOOST!
"Then we cannot waste one, buildup as much power as you can for Akeno and I. Asia will stay back to provide support for everyone while we make for Kokabiel." The small squirrel hopped atop the blonde former saint's shoulders, offering moral support with a thumbs up.
"I shall accompany you," Dorian asserted, not leaving room for debate. "I have faced fallen angels before…and I have a score to settle with this Kokabiel."
Rias saw the determination and restrained anger behind his eyes, nodding and approval to accompany her to the true villain looming overhead. Without another word exchanged, the leaders of their respective groups plus Issei ran ahead, getting as close as they could to the throne above made in mockery of the one upon which his God sat in Heaven…
Against the Cerberus…
Hecuba watched Dorian run off with Rias, Akeno and Issei, tightening her grip on Monster's Bane. Echidna was credited as the mother of the original Cerberus watching the very gates of the Underworld itself. She let out a silent thanks to Zeus they did not have to face that monstrosity, as surely even all of them combined could not challenge the forebear of that monstrous race.
The hound of Hades reared back, great pits of light building up within each of its mouths, preparing to attack.
"Split the focus!" Hecuba shouted as she, Irina and Xenovia darted to the left while Kiba and Koneko rushed the other way.
The Cerberus unleashed its torrent of flame, the left and right heads turning to chase each group as the third decided to pursue Hecuba and the Church agents. Not even a Cerberus could maintain its accuracy of attack when diverting focus in multiple directions. Hecuba held her shield high, splitting what flames licked them aside harmlessly, after several seconds, the firestorm subsided without harming them.
The creature turned to focus on the three, but soon learned that was a mistake. From behind, Kiba grabbed Koneko's arm as comrades who fully trusted one another. With a mighty heave he threw the petite girl forward who extended her fists. She impacted the far left head with a sickening crack, breaking a tooth and causing it to stagger. Irina and Hecuba darted in, slashing the same leg on either side and causing the beast to fall to the ground. Despite the combined attacks with Kiba lodging his own in its back haunches, the Cerberus refused to give in.
"Have you grown accustomed to your new sword?" Hecuba asked the blue haired swordswoman of the Church as she leapt back to avoid a powerful paw swing. A smug grin was her response as she raised Angurvadal high in the air.
"It does not respond to me, yet is magnificent nonetheless; I can still fight with an adequate distraction." Hecuba nodded as she tightened the hold on her bronze shield, rushing forward blade in hand.
Monster's Bane sang through the air, biting into the beast's torso and drawing black bubbling blood. A head snapped in her direction, forcing the Spartan to raise the impressive aegis and catch its attempted attack. A trio of fang marks slashed down its polished surface with a painful screech like nails on a chalkboard. Somehow the bulwark held as the Cerberus stood its ground, had such a specimen been at the siege of Olympus far more of her men would have fallen.
"Go back to the pit from whence you spawned! Amen!" Irina shouted as she delivered a powerful slash to the head while it was distracted by Hecuba. In a flash, it was separated from the body, the wound cauterizing from the strength of her swing. Her blade may not have been of the holy element, yet Runic weapons were in no way inferior to their might.
Unexpectedly, a gush of the blood splashed onto the orange-haired girl's arm. The flesh began to sizzle as the properties against the living took effect acting like a powerful acid. She fell back with a scream of pain, forcing Asia to rush forward, hands outstretched.
"I-It's okay," she assured Irina with shaky hands. "I got you!"
The blonde girl's hands started to glow a pale green as her Twilight Healing Sacred Gear did its job. The blood had burned through Irina's sleeve and was in the process of stripping flesh from bone, however as the light engulfed her the degradation slowed and stopped. As the seconds stretched on, the skin began to collect and reform, it would not be long before she was whole again.
A renewed roar ended that hope; Asia looked up in terror as a second Cerberus emerged from a new portal focused solely on snuffing out their healer. With a swipe of its paw it batted the two across the field though Irina moved to take the brunt of it over the gentler Asia.
That same paw slumped to the ground followed by a roar of pain as Xenovia vaulted past her opponent.
"You bastard," she glared towards him as she brought the weapon in her hands to bear. "With this weapon I shall strike you down!" She followed up, slashing downward and bisecting the entire Cerberus in a single swing at the torso.
Hecuba could sense the sleeping power from her weapon, despite not being active she had cut the creature in half, just how powerful was such a sword that it managed to kill a Cerberus hound while still refusing to awaken for the holder.
Despite being a holy sword wielder, she can hold a runic blade so easily, is there a joint-requirement or perhaps a commonality between them? Dorian may not have been so far off saying how similar we all are regardless of roots…
Hecuba bounded over the central head of her own Cerberus, kicking it into the ground with a crunch. Extending her sword arm, she cartwheeled down the length, finally kicking off the rump to land several feet away. Indeed, not even a matured hound could withstand the skin and bones of its ancestral mother. The two half fell to either side, putting an end to the foe.
"Ah, finally complete."
Irina and Asia struggled to their feet as the remaining three faced Valper at his words. The five swords surrounding Hrotti flashed brightly, forcing everyone to cover their eyes as they spun inward, slamming together with the stolen Asgardian weapon at the center. The light dimmed after only a few seconds, revealing the new blasphemous creation.
It was the size of a claymore, a middle ground between Hrotti and the Excaliburs. The blade glowed the same pale moonlit hue of Hrotti yet had expanded in width without hindering wielding it in any way. Fragments and other points jutted across its length, each one reminding them of the various Excaliburs that now were held within. Most unsettling to them, the blade seemed to be rippling and shifting almost as if it were still in the process of changing into something new and unnatural.
"Ex-Hrotti," Valper announced with pride. He stepped back as a familiar insane white-haired swordsman emerged from the shadows nearby, gripping the newly forged blade tightly in his hands with a smile that could unnerve the gods themselves. His face was covered in blood-stained bandages, hiding his missing eye, the addition only adding to his unstable manic appearance.
"Freed," Hecuba and Xenovia growled as Kiba tightened his hold on the newly created demonic sword in his hands. The three prepared themselves to face a weapon surpassing both Holy Swords and Runic Blades.
Across the Concourse…
"Do it Issei!"
TRANSFER!
Issei tapped both Akeno and Rias on their shoulders, passing the power built up in his Boosted Gear to them. He had realized it was possible to transfer power to multiple individuals but the total amount each received would be less. Even split two ways the total charge was only 70-80% of normal at maximum. The two women gasped as the incredible power caused a wave of euphoria to course through them, augmenting their abilities far above their normal limits; such was the capacity of the Red Dragon Emperor.
Laerad Ragnarok rotated to the molten fires of Musphelheim. Going a step farther to make Rossweisse proud, for the first time he succeeded in layering a rune overtop his Sacred Gear and then another. Combined the twin glyphs formed a unique seal that would both augment the black fire but also direct its path, reducing the potential for injuries to his allies. Dorian had been practicing with it in training and only now saw a chance to use it.
The two devil-women held their hands aloft, gigantic spheres of lightning and pure destructive energy forming between them. They were so perfectly in sync that their attack merged into a single orb that rocketed towards Kokabiel. Dorian followed suit, releasing a blast of fire condensed into a concentrated beam behind their own, adding to the attack.
"It's huge!" Issei called out in shock at just how much his power had added to Rias and Akeno's. He couldn't help but imagine what Dorian's would have been like if he had extra to spare. The merged attack rocketed towards the fallen angel leader.
Horrifically, Kokabiel did not move, instead extending both arms and all ten wings, catching the colossal attack. For half a heartbeat Dorian thought the attack may push through as a single trickle of sweat appeared on his brow, but it was for naught. With a single grunt, Kokabiel rotated his wings, redirecting the attack back towards the women floating across from him with no time to avoid it.
"President, look out!" Akeno cried, positioning herself before her master with a defensive barrier generated like the one she had created the previous day. It could not possibly withstand the attack directed at it.
Dorian flew as close as he could, generating layer upon layer of defensive runes overlapping her own comparatively simpler barrier design. He barely had time for a third set before the attack impacted it, the devil and Einherjar struggling together to withstand the blast. The energy dissipated little by little, too slowly for their crumbling seals. At last the mass of unstable power exploded, shattering their defenses as the shockwave collided with them. Akeno took the worst of it as she was shot from the sky, plummeting towards the ground below barely conscious.
"Akeno…!" Issei started as he rushed to catch her, though it was unnecessary. Before she neared the ground, Dorian dove low and caught her, easing the young woman the rest of the way and assessing her injuries.
"I-I'm alright," she assured him, yet Dorian was unappeased. Rias Gremory's Queen, whom had been nothing but kind since their first meeting, was scuffed from the blast and part of her skin was scorched which would require healing. From the moment the young man saw the attack rebound back towards them, only one thing was running through his mind.
Not another Despoina, not someone else I couldn't save…
"Such power your Red Dragon Emperor can grant you," he sneered smugly despite the effort that required him to reflect the attack. "This is very interesting…can you do it again?" He started to laugh, fully aware of Issei's stamina limitations. "Or perhaps your little balance breaker might make a reappearance?"
He's toying with us! That attack could have killed him had it connected, yet he treated it like nothing. All those centuries of experience fighting gods has ingrained what he can and can't accomplish.
BOOST!
Issei was already building towards his next transfer eagerly awaited by Kokabiel. They had nothing larger to throw at him…and he knew it.
"The others at your base…and now her, you won't harm another!" Dorian cried, extending Twilight Star to its maximum length and taking off towards the airborne opponent while missing Akeno's somber grin of admiration charging towards an opponent so vastly superior.
Kokabiel held aloft a hand, materializing a new greatsword of light within it to intercept the blow. In an instant, Dorian retracted the grip to bring him in closer, riposting below Kokabiel's sword, yet a pair of black wings was waiting to parry him once more.
Just like Forcas, now I know where he learned it from. His memory at that conflict allowed Dorian to predict his movements somewhat and stay ahead.
Dark fire engulfed the blade, passing onto the Grigori General's wings and setting them ablaze. He groaned in pain as his feathers were unprepared for the conflagration though it only took a single flap to put them out.
"Such insolence!" He snapped, batting Dorian with his remaining wings and forcing him back. The young man's runes of flight kept him aloft and in the battle as Rias flew to his side. Issei was still drained of his energy and grounded until he boosted more along with Akeno. "Ah, finally complete," Kokabiel regained his composure upon noticing Ex-Hrotti's creation below. "Freed, do use that sword to your heart's content. Think of it as some final entertainment before this town is reduced to rubble."
Dorian advanced again but stopped, whether it was by design or a cruel coincidence, Kokabiel had positioned himself in such a way that identically mirrored his silhouette in the fire that had claimed the new Einherjar's life. His body trembled against his wishes though everything in him commanded it to stop.
"Hesitating already?" He continued to mock their lack of power. "Trying to buy time for something? I am afraid you do not have that luxury. That circle on the ground did more than merge the Excaliburs together; it harnessed all that energy into a new spell that will level this entire town!"
"WHAT? You bastard!" Issei cried as he thought of his friends and family not involved in the fight. "You're lying!"
"If you think so, then by all means take your time, I'd say the preparations will be complete within twenty minutes. The only way to stop it is to kill me…"
On the Ground…
"You got it boss," Freed acknowledged his master's commands. "A runic holy weapon like this, little Ex-Hrotti is such a baby to wield," he started cackling with his crazed smile made all the more macabre by his fresh injury courtesy of Ratatoskr which appeared to have started bleeding again. "Who gets to be sliced by it first?"
"That is no holy weapon!" Irina called out, bringing her weapon to bear. "Even if the core wasn't of a pagan blade, weapons change to fit the wielder. Nothing held by someone as twisted as you could ever be considered holy!"
Despite her biting words, Freed couldn't stop laughing.
"Knight of Gremory, you've shown your honor since our meeting," Xenovia started. "And Warrior of Olympus, your wisdom extends past ideological boundaries. Let us conquer that blasphemous blade together."
"Of course," Kiba asserted. "It contains the greater part of the Excaliburs, I have no qualms against shattering it to bits. Koneko, please keep Asia safe."
"Understood," the small brawler stepped between their healer and the enemy, prepared to stop any harm from reaching her. "Don't you dare die here."
"We were deemed to return Hrotti," Hecuba answered hesitantly. "Though I am certain they would prefer its destruction over misuse."
A calm chuckling caught their attention; it was none other than the former head of the monstrous Holy Sword Project Valper Galilei.
"I never expected to see you again Kiba, especially in such a far-off country as this, such a twist of fate. How exactly did you survive the project?"
"I didn't," Kiba answered, Hecuba spotting the fire behind his seemingly calm words. "You did indeed kill me, but I was found by Rias Gremory to whom I owe everything! I was reborn as a devil through her."
"Your Sword Birth was so unique," Valper continued, Freed apparently content to allow the old man to wax about his past. "I was quite envious; you see, I adored holy swords ever since I was a little boy, Excalibur in particular, and was devastated upon learning I lacked the capacity to hold one. It is quite rare to find those that can beyond a few legends and their descendants."
"So you sought to raise yourself above your limitations?" Hecuba asked, all the while pondering that Monster's Bane would be fitting to end him as well.
"Far from it, I knew full well I could never hold one and felt GREAT respect for those that could. So much so that I started the Holy Sword Project as a way of preventing others from losing hope as I had. I couldn't believe when I finished it…thanks to you and your 'comrades."
"Finished?" Kiba's calm started to chip away. "You had us all killed…discarded us because it was a failure!"
To his utter confusion, Valper shook his head back and forth.
"During my time studying you and the others, I realized a certain element is required to wield a holy sword and over time calculated the amount needed. None of you alone had sufficient quantities…"
"So you took what you needed...to collect it for others?"
Xenovia and Irina scowled in disgust, before a holy sword wielder was given their weapon; they were provided a blessing from God. Was it possible that blessing was nothing more than…?
"Right you are dear girl," he answered, producing a strange glowing gem he had been keeping in his robe. "Gather enough and it can be coalesced into a crystal like this."
He and his friends were experimented on, treated like animals so that others could reap the benefits?" Hecuba squeezed her fists tight; she had desired to hold her own family's weapon so greatly. It sickened her that this far-flung wish of hers would be similar to a man like him. And then discarded when of no further use to cover his tracks…
"This is what allows unnaturals like yourself to hold holy blades," Valper directed towards Irina who looked disturbed by his words. "Clearly my research is still in use, yet Michael deemed to excommunicate me and paint me the criminal…ME?"
"No one has done such terrible tests!" Irina called out. "Not since you were banished, we don't…"
"Oh I am sure he doesn't kill the subjects," Valper interrupted, his pompous nature unshaken with a chuckle. "He would spare them after removing the element, I guess in that way he is more human than I ever could be."
"That…was the point of my friend's deaths?" Kiba asked calmly, his teeth gritting together so hard the others could hear scraping.
"Indeed, our good friend Freed was created from the organic material of your allies' people, Siegfried his name was...or was is Sigurd? He could not wield holy swords but was exceptional nonetheless, it only took three of such crystals to bring him up to speed, this is the last one, but I realized he was a natural at a different element."
"Runic magic," Ratatoskr spoke up from the back. Freed locked a murderous gaze on the small rodent, pain throbbing behind his lid.
"And thus could wield the mightiest blades of another myth, though I knew naught of their own processes, such information was unneeded against his natural aptitude. Hrotti was the prime choice."
"You should have seen the other candidates," Freed finally interjected. "They didn't handle the process so well…they all perished to the last but me. I'm not the easiest bastard to kill."
"Few not related in some way to the original wielders can withstand the power of legendary weapons," Hecuba agreed. "It is fortunate those of Asgard are not present to see how you drag the name of their hero through the mud."
"I can be insulted enough for them all thank you!" Ratatoskr called out again.
"I'm going to enjoy cutting out your tiny gerbil guts especially," Freed directed his rage towards the small rodent. "See how you like losing an eye!"
"Oh yea? You and what army!?" The denizen of Yggdrasil's boughs regretted his words the moment they left his mouth.
"SO GLAD YOU ASKED!"
Freed raised Ex-Hrotti aloft, opening the largest portal they had ever seen spanning the field from end to end, the hoard of Fafnir wide open. One by one, lines of clay golems filed out marching in organized rows many times the number they had faced before. Only once twenty rows of twenty had emerged did the portal close with a sputter, Freed leaping to the head of the columns.
"Now now," Kokabiel smirked high above while extending a hand. "We can do better than that." The clay giant's forms molded and warped, each one growing wings in imitation of angels from their backs. After several terrifying seconds, each one resembled a golem of Heaven. "Much better, my army restored in small part.
"Ms. Akeno!" Dorian called out below. "Please assist the others!"
"But…" She started, fully aware that Kokabiel was the larger threat.
"The clay giants are held together by magic and physical components!" He explained as quickly as he could, having gone over the specifics of Hrotti in great detail before heading out. They are not only predominately made of clay, but also silica sand!"
Akeno replied with a positively devilish smile, she understood exactly what he was implying. With a nod of understanding she picked herself up, floating over to the opposite of the field.
Freed flew ahead of his army, clashing with Xenovia and Angurvadal. Somehow, her blade withstood the augmented weapon though groaned beneath the pressure. It was powerful but insufficient to clash with such a fusion of strength. Kicking backwards, she gained some distance.
"I suppose there would be no shame in releasing it," the azure-haired fighter switched her Asgardian sword to the left hand, raising her right high in the air. "Saint Peter, Saint Basil the Great, Saint Denis and holy-mother Mary. Please hear my voice!" A portal not dissimilar from that leading to the hoard or Road Between Realms shimmered above her. Stretching high, Xenovia reached within, drawing forth a sword radiating a holy aura. "In the names of the saints whom reside within this blade, I will release it. Durandal!"
In her hands she held a uniquely shaped single-edged broadsword with a half circle handguard. The entirety of the blade was a deep blue with the edges shining gold along with the guard. The power coming from it was undeniable.
"I-impossible!" Valper exclaimed, recognizing the blade. "How can you even hold Durandal? Weren't you an Excalibur wielder?"
Hecuba's head snapped back, locking eyes onto the unfamiliar sword at mention of its name. Her gaze was just as shocked as Valper's, the name…yet it looked nothing like it.
Why…why would she call that sword Durandal?
"No," Xenovia proclaimed with pride. "I was ever originally the current wielder of Durandal yet was given an Excalibur for this task." Despite the size of her weapons, she held each one with a single hand. Unknown to all save Irina, it was her preferred style to dual-wield, she would be even more dangerous.
"Xenovia!" Dorian shouted from high above in an exasperated fashion. "Why didn't you tell me you already had a weapon?"
"You never asked," was her only flat retort.
"My research never even touched upon how to allow others to wield Durandal!" Valper was losing his cool at last in the face of something he had thought beyond him for so long.
"Unlike Freed and Irina, I am a natural-born wielder; the blessing to use such weapons was my very birth! Durandal can cut anything it touches, even I can barely control it, the dimensional pocket is its sheath. Freed! We shall have our decisive battle! Irina, Hecuba, I am sorry but please delay his army as best you can. I am going to…"
"Not alone!" Kiba stepped forward beside his temporary comrade as did Hecuba. "To fight this…THING that the Holy Sword Project spawned, even if my strength is lacking I will NOT give up!" His hands shook with every breath, his demonic aura was spiking higher than any of his friends had ever seen.
"How can you hope to win in the time remaining?" Valper laughed. "Once this town is destroyed we can create as many of these crystals as we like. Just picture it! An army of holy sword wielding golems to storm the Vatican and eventually Heaven itself! Finally, revenge against Michael who banished me and all his blind followers!"
The reason for the unlikely alliance became clear, Valper's desire for vengeance, Freed's for blood and Kokabiel's for endless war. Valper tossed the remaining holy-element crystal in his hands towards Kiba without a care in the world, with how many he could make that one in particular was worth nothing to him.
"Everybody…" he gasped, kneeling to pick up the gem. He held in his hands an object that contained an essence of everyone he had known and perished in the Holy Sword Project. His face was awash in anger mixed with sadness and remembrance.
What happened next defied the knowledge of everyone present, suddenly the crystal started to glow and bright lights erupted from within its depths. The light expanded, eventually taking the shape of many people; they were all young men and women none of whom were older than fifteen. They stood there unmoving, each one looking at Kiba with innocent yet somber smiles.
"Has the presence of all these powers summoned the spirits from within the gem?" Akeno theorized. It must have been the case as Kiba looked on, his expression betraying that he recognized each and every face in front of him…the casualties of the Holy Sword Project.
"I…" the knight of Gremory gasped with tears in his eyes. "I wondered for so long why I was the one who was chosen to survive. I wasn't the strongest or the fastest or had any loftier dreams than others, not even the one who wanted to live most…"
"His fallen comrades," Hecuba muttered, alerting the others to their identities. Xenovia took a step forward but a gentle hand held her back. "Let him heal."
Among the small crowd, a young boy stepped forward, clearly speaking on behalf of the rest.
"Do not worry about us. You are alive at least, and not all of us are here."
Kiba glanced across the collected faces as if understanding whom he were talking about. A single name ran through his head yet he could not be certain.
Tosca?
A gentle tune rose on the air, a song none save those of the church recognized. One that was sung to hold onto peace when all hope seemed lost, the one that everyone who had partook of the Holy Sword Project believing they were doing the work of God had hummed.
Dorian could feel a tear well up in his eye though he didn't know why, the very essence of the song reaching his soul. He knew the pain of loss, yet to have been the sole survivor of all those he cared about, Dorian felt true sorrow as he pictured what it would be like if the same had happened to him. Thrud, Bennia, Hecuba, Freyja, Herja, Misty, Brynda, his entire class…Rose…
"Alone we weren't enough," the boy started as the collected souls began to glow, one by one the others continued his words.
"Alone not one of us could wield a holy sword."
"But together we can."
"Do not fear the holy swords, they are but instruments in the hands of others."
"Whether God is watching or not…"
"Are hearts are always one," they repeated altogether. On that note the spirits disappeared within Kiba, causing his body to glow a bright light.
Kiba held aloft his hand as a great power formed within, a power Dorian recognized. The aura, be it demonic or not had the same flare of intensity, that same drive to change a circumstance they could not abide. The growth in the young man was clear.
"He got it," Dorian muttered so Rias could hear him. "His Balance Breaker."
"Valper Galilei!" He cried as the light bloomed around his hand. "You will just keep doing this to more like my friends unless I kill you…and Freed, you consumed the crystals. The souls of my comrades are trapped within you, I will free them all!"
The light formed into a blade emanating with power, yet it was not as simple as his devil swords. The aura radiating was undeniably of both demonic and holy power, already it was nearly complete.
"Issei, Koneko, you both helped me. Even you Dorian, Hecuba, Irina…Xenovia." He mentioned them all in-turn without taking his eyes from his opponents. "Akeno…Rias, I have always been a sword, yet now I shall become one for all of you, my past comrades and new ones!"
"You are a sword!" Hecuba called out at his proclamation. "But you are a man as well! Find the balance between them to move forward!"
"As you wish!" Kiba called out. "My Sacred Gear, my feelings shall allow me to become both…SWORD REBIRTH!"
The light dimmed, revealing a new instrument in his hands, the basic shape appeared to be a simple longsword but was clearly more than that. The hilt was diamond shape without a recognizable handguard with a red gem resting within. Crimson runes no one recognized ran up the length of its black blade denoting a sense of great power from the relatively simple design.
"Balance-Breaker, Sword of the Betrayer!" A combination of the demonic power within me and the holy might of my comrades!"
"You've gotta be kidding me!" Freed screamed, gripping his eye that had begun to pain him again. "Durandal and an abomination of two powers?"
"Opposing forces need not always contradict," Dorian smiled up above, overjoyed that something akin to Twilight Star had been created right before his eyes. With determination he turned back to Kokabiel. "They are fighting below, so we can't hold back up here…get ready Kokabiel!"
Dorian, Issei and Rias faced down the general of the armies. Irina and Akeno focused on the advancing 400 clay giants as Koneko defended Asia to heal whoever would need it. Lastly, the sword trio of Xenovia, Hecuba and Kiba squared off against Freed, their legendary blades of Olympian, Holy and Devil makes prepared to clash. They had precious little time remaining to stop the ritual before all Kuoh Town would vanish in a flash of magic and death.
The final battle of the Holy Sword Arc reaches its apex. The battle lines are drawn to be concluded next time. I would like to once again thank all of my readers. You are the reason I love writing this story so much and it would be nothing without you. Until next time, Read and Review...but most of all Enjoy! :D