Divine Blizzard: I know what you mean, Cao Cao's wording was very suspect as to his intentions lol. He wants to defeat the supernatural to protect humanity and yet constantly talks about just wanting to prove he can grow stronger and lets opponents go several time in canon just so they can get stronger for next time. Thank you as always and it's great to hear you are recovering! :D
Okaze: Good question, in canon Samael is like the one enemy they fought who was never truly beaten. He got desummoned after his job was done after helping wreck everyone in the room. I loved his concept and it's too bad he was never shown again in canon after this one Volume...I have a few ideas for that personally ;)
Hollowreaper 93: Dang, never thought I'd see someone who hates the Hero Faction so much XD
Just a reader now a writer: Hecuba agrees with you 100%, the idea of a Hero Faction is a good idea...but Cao Cao's execution is awful with such a narrow view of the world. As for what may happen later...well, I hope you quite like my plan after the arc :D
xXwolfsterXx644: Hahaha, well then sit back and enjoy. Jeanne is down, so now they just need to handle the rest. ;)
TheLycan2026: Thank you so much! :D Such a small present before that Dorian saw more for the sentiment behind it forgetting the power woven into it. And that really means a lot, I must admit Hecuba and Vali is far more adorable than I imagined before writing them XD And thank you for the concern, I have been pacing myself, nothing worse than burnout when it comes to writing.
avenger3576: I mean, he'd probably look like one with all that power and gold lol, though beyond aesthetics I don't think he'd be very super saiyan-like.
fanficcyberman: We never really got to see Vali's type so far in canon, but I'd like to imagine a tough as nails Spartan woman who takes no crap from anyone...even him, would be a good guess lol. Hmmm Queen Irina, that has a nice ring to it :D Maybe she can work her way up to Seraph and rival even Gabriel's beauty. And you put it so well, getting to see everyone's perspective both good and evil while giving the other characters time to breathe is one of my favorite storytelling styles. Dorian may be the focus and the reason so many are together and are put into the situations where their potential can be unlocked, but he isn't the only one who can have good moments. And you as well man! I am still going strong and I hope the same is true for you and your loved ones!
Guest 1&2: Well, the Trihexa is a ways off, won't be fighting that thing just yet. And I'm afraid I don't know anything about a Freezing Manga, but I'd imagine any series with more than 1 romance for the MC would be categorized as a harem.
ahsoei: Maybe, but he can curse in a bunch of different languages XD
Talking Pumpkin: Hahaha, she's good for now. Cao Cao's ability can only remove special abilities from women...does nothing to their natural attributes XD
7: Irina with holy sword birth...dang that would have been great for Heaven if she'd gotten it over Jeanne. A harem for Vali you say? I wonder what Hecuba would think of that XD You are right on that, Ophis should have taken him more seriously, but thousands of years of being untouchable and not knowing about Samael left her complacent. I hope you like the post today as always ;)
And with that…ONTO THE SHOW!
Scythes collided as Pluto and Bennia crossed blades still surrounded by the miasma created by Kuroka. The younger half-reaper was clearly beleaguered trying to hold off her former superior but was fighting tooth and nail. Having set up circles ahead of time, she was bouncing all around him not staying in a single spot for more than a few moments. Having been so used to being in an upper echelon of power, Pluto was accustomed to facing his opponents head on and thus refused to use such tactics. Other reapers had followed, but were as susceptible to Kuroka's mist and either succumbed to it or could not advance. Siegfried was nowhere to be seen, she didn't know or care in that moment where he'd scurried off to with the reapers' arrival.
"That's a Cocytus seal," Bennia remarked during a new clash spotting the fading magic circle upon the back of his hand. "No one but the big man can give those out, can't lie your way out of that."
"The truth can be spun however we wish," he countered as he slashed quickly, the blade missing but a line of energy coating the edge catching Bennia and shearing off some of her cloak cutting into flesh. If it weren't for her resistance to the scythes of her people, her life expectancy would have suffered each blow. "Lord Hades can release as little or as much of each of our prisoners as he wishes to serve our purposes. Such is his domain."
"I remember a few rules against that, but then again, I actually tried to be good at my job." Her quips were getting quicker trying to throw her opponent off-balance but did not seem to be unsettling him in the slightest. She was outmatched in pure strength and knew it. "That must be quite the plan you have to just throw subtlety to the wind."
Keep him focused on me, then Kuroka can stay safe, maybe even wake up. Don't let him get a chance to consider using her as a hostage, this guy is a right enough bastard he'd do it in a heartbeat.
"We have a plan for the dragon eater, one enough to claim infinity for ourselves."
"The dragon eater…? Oh, you short-sighted prick!" She blurted out at remembering the title of a prisoner her father had been commanded to oversee on many occasions. "You're letting out Samael?!"
"Tis the perfect one to combat Ophis, do you not agree?" He smashed the end of his staff into her gut, drawing a gasp of blood from Bennia before she could clear some distance. "Had their plan in Kyoto succeeded, it would have been pitted against even Great Red."
"Well sure, if you are the type to use a nuke to clean out your fridge! You know he was sealed away so deep for a FRIGGIN good reason right!? Even if you restrain him, the angels and fallen are going to flip their shit when they hear you let it out!"
"The other factions need never know, with your death here that will be assured. What…what are you laughing at!?" He roared as Bennia flipped immediately like a switch from frustrated and horrified to giggling hysterically."
"You pretty much, were you so happy seeing me scared you just couldn't help blabbing everything?" She held up a cellular phone that had been hidden away in her cloak with a cheeky grin while wiping away a bit of blood from her wounds. "Thanks for the confession, I'm sure alllll the other factions will love to hear this." Pluto's eyes went wide, his grip on the scythe tightening in rage.
"Give me that recording device you little BRAT!" He swung for the phone, only for Bennia to drop it atop a teleportation circle causing it to vanish into thin air.
"Awwww, too late. Now you'll have no idea where it is even if you kill me."
"You sent it several floors up into a room on the habitation floor, yours I presume?" Bennia shirked back with a blow to her pride that he could follow her teleport path so easily. "No matter, once you are dead, I'll easily dispose of it. Zeno must have been exaggerating when he claimed how powerful you had become. Your human half is too soft, that is why Lord Hades never favored you despite the accomplishments of your father. Why he chose to mate with that woman is beyond us."
A vortex of black swirled around the Ultimate-Class Reaper, hitting Bennia and passing through her. She dropped her scythe, falling to her knees feeling like she was going to be sick, it was enough to render her almost unable to move. With that opening, Pluto moved in seizing her by the throat with his decaying hand, hoisting the woman high into the air showing the height difference between them.
"You have no stomach for our work," a painful cracking sound could be heard as he tightened his grip. "Once Cao Cao incapacitates Ophis, Samael will take what we need and with infinity, we'll save the world. None have sensed what our lord has what awaits in the dark."
"S….the….orld?" Bennia gasped, confused by his words but was losing consciousness.
"You don't have the foresight of my Lord, none of them do in any myth. The unknown lurking in the dark...anything is justified to keep us from their prying eyes."
"I…on't…."
"What was that?" Pluto pulled her closer so he could hear better while feeling the life drain out of her.
"I SAID, I don't think the world wants to be saved by your methods."
With that final word, Bennia slipped through his fingers like the mist around them, the same dark smog surrounding Pluto now beginning to envelop her. Her dark blue cloak turned jet black, even her mask started to grow until it totally covered her face becoming more and more skull-like. Retrieving her fallen scythe, the weapon ballooned in size until it was bigger than she was, yet Bennia continued to hold it one-handed as if it was as light as a feather.
"That's quite a grip you got; I think you took me as close to death as I've ever been. Thankfully, that's just the place Hela said I needed to be for this next part to work."
She winked as the contours of her mask shifted again, her eyes disappearing with the gesture to be replaced by gold spheres of light. It was becoming apparent that the cover was no longer a mask, but her actual face now with a dark hood made of shadows. The skin along her hands vanished revealing the bone beneath, her robe billowed further making her stand towering compared to her previous height. If anyone from the Crossroads could see her, they would scarcely believe how terrifying the spunky reaper had become, transforming into an almost literal embodiment of death. She lashed forward with her scythe, barely being stopped by Pluto, though a shadow-duplicate of her weapon passed through his, slicing open his gut causing wisps of black to pour out as he glided back unprepared for the sudden bust in strength.
"How did you obtain this form?" he grimaced though still did not look overly worried.
"I guess everyone here just brought out the best in me," she looked over her new skeletal state. "Is this the 'power' that working for Hades would have brought? Somehow, I feel like it would have been less fulfilling going his way. I'd never have gotten to make everyone smile every day, protect Dorian from the pervy cat or drive Hecuba up the walls so she learns how to loosen up. Everyone here is wonderful and I'd choose them over you any time. I earned this power, do you have ANY idea how grueling it was training in Helheim, learning how to be dead and alive at the same time…and survive those movie marathons of Hela!?" For a moment, the last one seemed to bring a twitch to her eye. "Who knew the goddess of death could be such a hopeless romantic. Her future boyfriend will need the patience of a saint!"
That, and did Dorian's Shield piece help? I couldn't go this far in training even when Hela pushed me into a dead state, maybe that was the last oomph I needed. It feels like he is here with me.
"You could never match centuries of experience," Pluto countered as he half-turned into mist and closed the gap, he and Bennia clashing scythes once more only this time prepared for the soul-rend that her weapon had manifested. "That form is an imitation of what we become at our apex, nothing more!"
The pair swirled together clashing again and again, Bennia starting to use more diverse magics to make up for the sheer power behind Pluto once he was prepared for her level of strength. She split herself into a dozen copies zigzagging around him to try and keep the senior reaper off-balance. The walls decayed around them aged into dust, even the mist that drew to close was swallowed up. Those who witnessed the confrontation could get an idea of what a battle between true reapers was like. After a few moments moving faster than most outside eyes could see, it was Bennia who lost out and was thrown from the battle, slamming into the wall denting it.
"You are powerful, I will admit that beyond a doubt, but your tactics are still those of a novice playing at real strength, take that as the only tutelage I shall ever give you," Pluto advanced on her trying to hide the strain in his voice at how fast she had become. The clown-like skull-face was cracked and his scythe was hanging low at his hip while darkness leaked from many wounds like blood.
"Well, I am a simple girl," she replied while staggering to her feet. "Brute power was never my thing; I usually go for death by a thousand cuts. That, and I hate facing down bad guys alone."
Pluto reeled in pain as a blast of energy struck him in the back driving him to a knee. In the distance, Kuroka stood in all her glory having donned the form she acquired in Kyoto and had become quite skilled in wielding. Bennia was forced to admit that she looked wiser, if she did not know completely how the nekoshou acted, she may have thought her a respectable matron. The former SS-rank criminal threw another pair of kasha wheels that struck Pluto again and again, the reaper reeling with each impact.
"How do you like my Kuroka mode?" She boasted as she continued firing without rest. "This is how I shall look when bearing Dorian's children, I just know it!"
"I…I can't move my scythe," he looked down, realizing his arms would not respond. "What did you do to me!?"
"Thinking outside the box-nya," she grinned coyly as her more mature side when transformed took hold like a lecturing mother. "If Sage Arts manipulates the energy in a living being, then surely with a little tweaking it can do the same in an unliving one. Thank you for letting me practice with you Bennia."
"A-anytime," she gave a thumbs up while slumping backwards, her void-armor robe disappearing and returning her to normal as her stamina ran out. Her skull-mask fell to the ground revealing her living sweat-covered face once more. "Thank goodness it turns off; I don't think I want to be all bones all the time. Hearts would be broken at the loss of this face."
This is DISGRACEFUL! Pluto roared internally as the attacks from Kuroka rained down on him without end with his limbs failing to respond. Lord Hades commanded me to take the infinite power PERSONALLY. To be stopped here by mere brats are…
"REAPERS, TO ME!"
Pluto called out to his troops still trapped behind the mist commanding them to use any means to reach him. He was well aware that several could sacrifice themselves to create an opening, no doubt they were too cowardly to do so before. However, with a direct order from the Ultimate-Class Reaper commanding them, none would hesitate…which is what made Hades' Lieutenant start to worry when no help came.
"What are you doing!?" He called out down the hall. "I SAID TO…!" A rainbow beam interrupted him and split the air and mist missing Pluto by an inch, taking part of his cloak as it rocketed past and impacted the barrier to the Hyoudou Residence, utterly shattering it. He could see a shape adorned in armor barely visible through the debris, the clear bodies of many reapers scattered at his feet.
My reputation will forever be tarnished, but I cannot afford to fall here!
His limbs would not listen to him, but his inborn magic was unaffected by Kuroka's barrage of Sage Arts. With a glow of his eyes, a portal back to the Underworld opened beneath him, dropping Pluto through and closing before any could give chase. With him gone, the hallway fell eerily silent.
"You did good little kitten," Kuroka praised Bennia as she started administering healing, the young woman clearly unable to lift her head. "Can you move at all?"
"K-Kuroka Mode? Really?" Bennia found the strength to glare at her criticizing the apparent name chosen for her new form. "That's the best you could come up with?"
"What? As if there is a more wonderful sound than my name called out every time I use it. Take a breather, you've earned it."
"I'll pick a better name later. C-can't rest yet, hey…!" She saw who was approaching down the hall believing at first he had gone berserk again but realized that wasn't the case after seeing what was in his hands. "Oh dang, they fucked up. Give them Hel for me too! B-boss man, we are in BIG trouble, if we don't lock up the thing they're bringing out then this whole area is getting leveled!"
"I know, but you can give them Hel yourself. You've worked in the Land of the Dead, right? If anyone can do this next part, it's you..."
First Floor…
"Get those healing charms, no, the ones on the left!" Marsilio called out as the wounded poured down from the upper floor. Not long after they'd headed up to continue the fight, the haggard group had stumbled back down wounded barely making any sense. It didn't take long for him to find out what happened.
There was a reason Lord Cao Cao didn't lead with those things. Without him or Leonardo present there is just no controlling them. Dumb bastard who gave the order is probably dead upstairs by now.
"Okay, that's all we can do for them. Whoever can still stand, take up positions near the spheres," he pointed to the still-imprisoned Grigori agents. "We can't hope to take the tower now, but we can still delay…"
A bolt of green energy nailed the closest Hero Faction agent not wounded by the battle upstairs sending him slamming into the wall. Turning towards the stairwell, Seekvaira had her wings unveiled and was laying into them with a hail of blasts. They didn't have many left and those previously standing had no will to continue after seeing what the anti-dragon did to their own troops. Around her, Rossweisse supported with suppressing fire. Despite outnumbering the two women, they had nothing in them to continue.
We weren't ready. Lord Cao Cao, Jeanne or even Siegfried could have supported us, but alone we just didn't have the power. No matter, I can lock the Balance Breaker, that way even if they kill me, it will keep it going until…
Marsilio gasped with a spurt of blood from his mouth, this time it wasn't from overuse of his powers. He fell forward out cold before he could do anything with the handle of a sword slammed into his spine. Hecuba sighed, having kept her breathing to a minimum to prevent the chance of being heard until she was upon him. While Rossweisse and Seekvaira attacked from the upper floor, she entered the gaping hole made between Dorian and Cao Cao then the one by Jeanne to the basement. After ensuring Irina and Xenovia would be fine, she crept up from below where they had not thought to watch. After a few more moments, none remained standing but the three women.
"Can we get them out?" Hecuba asked Rossweisse while Seekvaira ensured all remaining Hero Faction troops were secured. "I had hoped it would shut down when he was incapacitated." The mature Valkyrie was crafting formula after formula of magic circles with the sole purpose of analyzing the make and composition of the spheres searching for any insight as to their powers.
"Likely he'd have to be dead to just cancel its powers," she theorized while studying the formation around each fallen angel. "A self-contained bubble allowing manipulation within, him being able to maintain so many at once is impressive."
"I'll let him know you find it fascinating; do we have a way of shutting it down?"
"Easily I should think," Rossweisse flexed her fingers as a seal shimmered upon them warping into a new configuration. "Since the world within is maintained by focusing on the mind of the occupant, it would be nigh unbreakable similar to someone trying to wake themselves up from a dream. From the outside, however with the proper calculations…"
Rossweisse delivered a hard right hook into the surface, runes transferring onto its surface popping it and causing the occupant, an angel they did not recognize, to fall to the floor unconscious.
"…that easy?"
"Just like popping a bubble or waking someone up," Rossweisse snapped her fingers in triumph before generating duplicate seals on the hands of the others. "Sturdy on the inside, very weak on the outside with enough power or once you know what it's made of. Hurry, we need to find Lord Azazel." With the number of pocket dimensions, it took a bit of time to locate the one with the Grigori Governor-General inside, at last their search bore fruit as the latest spilled him out onto the ground.
"Lord Azazel?" Hecuba knelt down and turned him over. At first, he was not moving, looking to be unconscious or sleeping, however she soon realized he was awake but for the moment was refusing to move.
"Five more minutes, would that have been so hard for five more minutes? We were just about to turn in for the night." He muttered so low that only Hecuba heard him, Rossweisse already freeing the closest agents. "Kunou looked adorable in the Kuoh Academy uniform, Yasaka and I were going to celebrate our anniversary after…"
"Lord Azazel!" Hecuba repeated with a smack to his face, this time snapping him out of his stupor. He sat up, stretching wide with an unnecessarily loud yawn. Glancing around, he finally seemed to spot Hecuba and realize where he was.
"Oh, yes of course, thank you for freeing us," he accepted her hand and got to his feet. "It, uh…ahem, was quite an effective Sacred Gear. There was utterly no way out of that dream world from within. I can see why Cao Cao brought him, very efficient."
"Are you alright?" She whispered, noticing he was still shaking a little as if he was itching to turn his attention elsewhere but couldn't. "What did it do to you?"
"Torment of the fairest kind," He admitted but would say no more. "I am guessing things aren't going well?"
"Well enough," she fell into her comfort zone supplying a situation report. "We have retaken the tower, all of the Hero Faction's extended forces are dead, incapacitated, or in custody including Jeanne. Unfortunately, there has been no word from Dorian since Cao Cao engaged him nor anything from the Hyoudou Residence."
"Then I think it's time for the cavalry to help!" Azazel pumped his fists before reaching into his coat and checking to see if something was there, giving a grin seeing it was. "I came up with a little something that will even the odds against Cao Cao, though am sure Issei won't like it."
"A trump card?" Hecuba tried looking over into his coat to see what the object was. "What could have such terrifying power?"
Hyoudou Residence…
Kiba was thrown into the far wall, another holy-demonic sword broken as his bruises were mounting. All the same, he stood back up again realizing he was now on the distant end of the room away from Cao Cao. Issei rushed forward only to be forced to dodge to avoid the spear that could end his existence with a solid blow. The fight had dragged on yet even with all of Team Gremory and Vali fighting, they'd been unable to gain an advantage against Cao Cao or Samael. Ophis was still totally wrapped up in the fallen angel-dragon's tongue and had since stopped thrashing as powerfully as before. Not a good sign.
What is happening? Shortly after being captured, smaller snakes, like those given to the Old Satans to make them stronger, had started splitting off from Ophis scattering in all directions. The ancient monster of God's wrath was quick, however, scooping up many before they could get far. Is she trying to counter his attack somehow?
"Let her go!" Issei fired a dragon shot while swinging for Cao Cao yet again, grunting in frustration as he parried the blow once more. With Ascalon broken, he fell back into hand-to-hand combat which was admittedly his preference if only so he could get more satisfaction punching Cao Cao's smug face. Missing his latest attack, he was struck in the gut by the shaft of the True Longinus, sending him flying into the waiting arms of Honda. "Promotion, QUEEN! Launch me!"
Honda complied, lifting the Red Dragon Emperor with one hand easily, hurtling him towards the waiting Hero Faction Leader. Mid-flight, his upgraded Balance Breaker armor wrapped around his body, the initial burst of power turning him almost into a comet of energy. Surely not even Cao Cao could wholly negate such an attack if it struck.
"Assaratana," he muttered as a new sphere floated around his torso. Issei tried to stop but it was too late, the Red Dragon Emperor disappearing inside. The next he realized, he was now hurtling straight for Catherine, Rias and all the women who had lost their powers with absolutely no protection from the devastating attack coming right at them.
No no no no no! He changed while trying to stop his momentum with his wings. STOP! THAT WILL KILL THEM FOR SURE, STOP!
"DIVIDE!" Vali momentarily halted his assault on Samael, turning his power on Issei halving his momentum. It was not enough before he impacted the women, an explosion leveling the walls around them.
"Thanks Vali, if you hadn't slowed him down, that would have hurt way more."
"Goldie!?"
Dorian had appeared between the depowered fighters and Issei, catching the blow on his shield. Despite being covered in Rider's Regalia and reinforcing his shield with every defensive rune he could, the metal was crumbling into shards before them. It had done its work as Dorian lamented his bulwark's destruction. In the chaos of the sudden arrival, none noticed a fleeing snake disappear within the azure Roads portal before it closed. What they did notice was how utterly pissed off the Einherjar appeared.
"Thanks for the save, where have you been? What happened?"
"A great loss," he whispered low; his voice full of sadness and restrained anger. "I tried to fix it, but…"
"Dorian," Issei risked inching closer. "Where…?" He looked down spotting a series of silvery fragments cradled in his frenemy's hands.
"You were petrified," Cao Cao looked unamused at his return. "I was not aware you had such counter spell to free yourself."
"I don't," the Crossroad leader spat out each word as his eyes were twitching. "But Rossweisse did. You…you…YOU DESTROYED HER FIRST GIFT TO ME, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
Even Cao Cao's eyes went wide as power surged from the Einherjar, shaking the room threatening to destabilize the dimension. Those around him realized the destroyed item was none other than the enneagram charm the silver Valkyrie had made for him at their first festival together so many months before. The young man was both saddened at its destruction, but also overjoyed that the anti-petrification wards she worked into it were strong enough to free him even from Medusa's gaze, albeit only with the destruction of the charm itself. That at least would make her happy knowing the tome Zeus gave her was useful.
"Be careful, that last power allows him to teleport others and objects wherever he wishes within a certain radius. And where is Azazel?" Vali asked upon landing, Samael more focused on Thrud for the moment.
"Don't worry, Hecuba is mounting the rescue," he assured him. "I'm sure they'll be here any moment."
"I expected better of you," Cao Cao groaned at those words before looking to Vali. "The Governor-General was the one who found you after being abandoned by your father, was he not? You and Issei are so disgustingly similar, if you fret over every wounded ally then you'll never advance past where you are now. I heard of how you halved Azazel against the Old Satans at the Peace Summit, intent on playing the villain yet so clearly holding back to not kill him. You are like an open book." Vali's fists tightened, despite standing with his team and protecting them at every turn even as they left his own, it was evident he found such assertions of himself uncomfortable. "But I suppose, this will make do for now."
His right eye started to glow, the same effect that had claimed Dorian. Moving fast, the Einherjar put himself between Cao Cao and the incoming burst of energy holding aloft the broken shards of Rossweisse's gift. The energy of the curse dissipated and died, leaving the three unharmed.
"Thankfully, it seems to have a lingering protection effect," he explained. "Cao Cao had Medusa's eye implanted in him since the one Issei took out. Be careful, I don't know how long this will negate it."
"Seven powers, the strongest Sacred Gear, that Samael thing and now Medusa's eye? How much cheating can one rat bastard do?" Issei vented his frustration at the ridiculous number of powers weighed against them.
He can depower women, fly, teleport, redirect attacks, and destroy weapons. That's five, what are the other two?
"Dorian, we'll leave Samael to you, it's dangerous for dragons to face it but is not as powerful against others. This is a matter between Cao Cao and Heavenly Dragons, he looked to Issei who nodded as both powered up, crimson and silver armor forming around both.
"Cao…!" George started to protest only for his leader to raise a hand for silence.
"They are far stronger than I, this is true, but those forms of theirs are too dramatic. Their aura gives away every movement they'll make. All I need to do is focus on where they coalesce their powers and I can easily predict what they'll do."
In a moment that would make it into history, the red and white dragon emperors took off towards him almost as one. As Dorian turned to battle the monster of God's wrath, he was awed not just by their willingness to work together, but also Cao Cao's ability to dodge even hyper speed attacks just as he had promised. Each missed blow only served to frustrate the teenage men fighting him while only growing the smug look on his face. George seemed to be the only one taking it truly seriously, controlling the movements of Samael.
"Ophis is in there!" Thrud quickly appraised Dorian of the situation as she dropped to her lover's side. "Damn thing is tough to crack, Gullbjorn isn't making a dent."
"We need to get her out," he shouted loudly before lowering his voice. "Whatever you do, keep them focused on us." Thrud didn't quite understand but nodded, trusting his judgement after so long. If there was one thing Thrud could do well, it was make quite the spectacle as she fought.
"Take this!" Issei charged the cannons on his back, the same that could have hurt even Sairaorg, unleashing them at Cao Cao. Vali would not be outdone, releasing a massive whirlwind of demonic energy following in the beams' wake. The human fighter did not even blink as an orb whirled around in front of the attacks, both disappearing within.
"Mani Ratana," he tilted his head. "I can make it go wherever I wish. After all, if I get hit with that I'll die instantly and dodging or blocking can be such a bother. This way, I can turn my opponents' own overwhelming power against their friends."
He could redirect that too!? That was the power of two Heavenly Dragons!
"Go wherever…THRUD MOVE!"
"Wha…!?" The goddess leapt up high as a portal appeared directly beside her, the attacks of two Heavenly Dragons bursting forth. She dodged the worst, but the shockwave was beyond even what she could handle with her defensive runes depowered. The daughter of Thor slammed into the back wall covered in burns and bruises leaving an indentation, falling to the floor with Gullbjorn sliding from her grasp. Dorian turned, intent on rushing to her side regardless of leaving the match with Samael, only to be waved off.
"I'll keep her safe," Kiba deflected a lashing strike of energy from Samael. "Keep fighting, my swords cannot touch Cao Cao, the least I can do is keep the others from harm."
"Thank you," Dorian whispered, not sure if he was heard at all before racing off with his gaze lingering on the wounded Thrud a few moments longer.
"We can't get to Georg without going through Cao Cao, and Samael's sheer force is insurmountable," Rias started analyzing the situation, not needing powers to utilize her mind. Even if we got our abilities back, being able to redirect attacks cannot be countered at a distance. That, and the orbs all look the same, we cannot predict which one he'll use next. Vali and Issei at melee range with him is our best hope, but Ophis…"
"I'll get it to spit her up!" Dorian promised, lunging back towards Samael, his mind racing as he contemplated his next tactics.
This creature, this is the thing whose blood can kill even the Flame of Olympus and Baldur. Cao Cao was able to shatter weapons, so I need to stick to something disposable.
Thinking fast, he reached into the roads, depositing Twilight Star and instead drawing forth the rapier he had acquired from Jeanne she left in his back in Kyoto. Not wanting to even risk Mjolnir, he slashed across the body of the beast, leaving a mark but not breaking its powerful skin. The Einherjar could hear the disgusting slurping sounds within, the infinite dragon still utterly consumed within. He struck the monster of God over and over, its resilience unchallenged with brute force. The tentacle holding Ophis stood firm unaffected even by his strongest blows.
I can feel Ophis growing weaker, Iggy warned. She's fighting, but nothing is working against it! We could try our Breakdown.
We'd need to tap into Midgardsormr's power to stabilize it, and that would leave us vulnerable to that thing's anti-dragon qualities. The ultimate anti-dragon creature, if we can't break its tentacle off, then we need to force it to let go! Samael, the curse of God, a power even infinity can't defeat. Zepar was firing what he could from a distance, but were being ignored by the creature. God hated him so much despite being one of his children…wait, maybe…
"EVERYONE! Do NOT breathe this in!" Dorian flipped his gear to an icy blue color and leapt back releasing a wave of Helheim ice to freeze the tentacle. As expected, it did absolutely nothing to deter it. However, as a follow-up, he shot a plume of fire, evaporating it into a mist instantly.
"What are you doing?" Georg asked, Cao Cao distracted by the combined Heavenly Dragon assault he still aptly avoided. Dorian ignored his question, lashing branches and roots straight from the Roads themselves around the tentacle and pulling hard with all the strength he could muster glowing gold.
"This thing was a fallen angel or dragon snake cursed by God to bear his malice and negative aspects that he shouldn't even have, right? The angels were his children, imagine the pain of not just the parent to have to do that…but the child knowing they had done such to make their parent see them as such a disappointment."
Like Modi's insecurities with Thor, but a million times over.
At first, his struggles were utterly in vain, the strength of the creature beyond even his power augmented by his time in the dark future that still haunted the back of his mind. However, as the mists of Helheim seeped into the fallen angel dragon's nose, it started to blink, head snapping back and forth as if seeing something no one else could. After several moments, its hold on Ophis started to weaken, allowing Dorian to pry it open with great effort. At the same time, Rias could see the abomination shedding bloody tears that fell to the floor burning all they touched.
"Damnit!" Dorian leapt back as several drops fell upon Jeanne's rapier causing it to sizzle and yet did not melt. Sealing the blade in a barrier to stop the spread of the poison, he deposited the sword into his secure armory within the Roads leaving him weaponless once more.
"Elohim," the beast gurgled in a way that could barely be recognized as words, finally dropping Ophis to the ground. "Abba? Abba?"
Lord Father? Zepar was one of the few in that room who understood the ancient language used by the oldest followers of Heaven. Just what are the mists showing you? A dreaded reunion that will never come?
"I got you!" Catherine shot out from the sidelines, grabbing the falling girl still in her small humanoid form. Rolling to avoid the lashing tendril, she immediately bolted behind Honda with the other non-combatants on the far end of the room. "She's alive!" She called out loud enough for Issei to hear, filling his heart with joy only realizing then how much like a little sister he had started seeing the immortal dragon as despite their short time together.
"My…power," Ophis muttered weakly. "So, that is what you wanted but to what purpose?"
"You…" Cao Cao's expression darkened as he saw Ophis free, Samael thrashing wildly as it battled the images assailing him that not even it was immune to. "Georg, how much did we get?"
"Barely half, less than that," he grimaced at the failure. "Samael is rebelling, his mind is a sea of fire, I can force specific commands through your seal, but his instinct is no longer focused on slaying dragons. It's like he's facing something more important!"
"There should be nothing more important to him if Hades was to be believed," Cao Cao turned and pointed directly at the pair assailing him. "In that case, command him to…"
Georg understood and issued the order through his seal. In a flash, a new tentacle shot past Dorian that he barely avoided. He realized too late it was not aiming for him and latched onto Vali's back. With a disgusting slurp, it wrapped about him just as it had to Ophis a moment ago. Unlike the Ouroboros dragon, it did not hold on, but burst in an instant. The group looked on terrified as Vali, despite being covered for only a moment fell backwards, his armor shattered and body covered in blood.
Good lord! Issei was shaken at the sight before him. Vali was my rival, he always seemed above me but it took him down in an instant just like that!?
"Are you curious to taste God's poison?" Cao Cao tapped his staff to draw Issei's attention back to him. "Facing you both in those forms of yours was getting riskier so I targeted your weak points. Seeing how it crippled Ophis, no dragon can hope to contend with it. We'll have her recaptured in due course despite your northern friends. With Vali down, Azazel sealed, the Crossroads being overrun and that would-be God soon to fall to Samael, you are the last real threat, Issei Hyoudou. Come forward and…"
"You underestimate the rest of us!" Kiba blurted out as dozens of soldiers lined up between Issei and Cao Cao, the first line taking the blast he'd been charging. More poured in, Kiba's armored warriors shaped like Xenovia moved to protect Issei and help against the Hero Faction leader. To their frustration, he started laughing.
"Yes, very good, keep fighting. It just gives me more data." Cao Cao swung again and again, cleaving through the knights with ease. Despite Kiba's training and practice, they came across as so fragile against the first Longinus. Orbs swirled around him, teleporting away or outright destroying any that his spear could not reach. Issei wanted to help, but knew any long-range attack would just be redirected at someone in the room and he was not willing to hurt another friend. "And you, Dorian Held," he looked over to the Einherjar trying to distract the enraged flailing of the monster. "You fight against the inevitable, no weapon you possess can even hope to scratch him."
"My name is Tyr Odinson to you, and not every creature can be beaten with force, I know that more than ever," his eyes locked with Cao Cao. "All I need to beat him is time."
"Time?" Cao Cao's genius mind went racing at those words, breath catching in his throat as he saw the plan. "NO!"
Releasing a new shockwave of holy light from the spear, the ripple passed over Samael revealing two shapes floating overhead he hadn't seen before. The Valkyrie Rossweisse and Grim Reaper Bennia Orcus were floating high above in the process of meticulously designing a magic circle. The silver-haired beauty looked up in fear as their deception was discovered.
"Please hurry Bennia, the invisibility veil is broken, we are out of time!"
"I'm working on it! The Old Bone's seals are VERY complicated, even just reinforcing the ones in place is tricky business! ESPECIALLY when Cocytus is involved."
"THAT is how the Einherjar's magic could affect Samael's mind so!" Georg called out, knowing their plan immediately. Samael, while under their command, was still on a leash from Hades to prevent it from wholly escaping. "They're using Grim Reaper knowledge to strengthen Samael's bindings to the Underworld. They must have restored enough to weaken its magical resistance. If they succeed, it will draw him back to Cocytus!"
"I was hoping to let you live to grow stronger," Cao Cao slammed his spear down, vaporizing the last of Kiba's knights and blasting away all around him. "But you force my hand. Your troops are weak and depowered, I wanted to face you first, but I won't hesitate to target them instead once more."
"Is that so?" A familiar suave voice drew their gaze to the door. "Well, if you aren't against distasteful tactics, then I suppose I must respond in kind."
"Mr. Azazel!" Issei called out overjoyed to see his mentor and teacher enter the room. Fifteen elite fallen angels were with him along with Hecuba, without a word she rushed forward seeing Vali covered in blood on the floor. With all the strength she could muster despite her exhaust, she pulled him further to safety, looking up into Cao Cao's eyes.
"Have you come to get that vengeance on the name of heroes?" He narrowed the spear towards her.
"Soon," she swore. "But right now, I have more important matters."
Without giving him another look, she focused her attention on Vali tearing open his shirt to reveal the multitude of wounds from Samael. A blob of sludge was stuck to his chest pulsing with a disgusting squish no doubt feeding off him as the larger mass had done to Ophis. Quickly, she drew Monster's Bane and stabbed at the mound to no effect.
"Sorry about this," she apologized, cutting the layer of skin the parasitic flesh had attached to and removing it completely. The White Dragon Emperor held back the screams of pain as much as he could, understanding her quick thinking knowing he'd have done the same in her position. Sweat poured from his brow, teeth clenching so hard she feared he may hurt himself. All the same, the Spartan held him in her arms, his hands gripping her so tightly it hurt yet she said nothing.
Several drops of the creature's blood fell upon her blade from the removal, prompting her to quickly slide it within the sheath of Echidna's flesh to contain it. After realizing the skin of the mother of monsters seemed to be holding, she started shredding her shirt and cloth portion of her armored skirt, bandaging him, the red of his blood and her own outfit colors blending together.
"Y-you should be helping fight him," Vali managed to gasp out through the pain. "Th-there's nothing you can…"
"Shut up," she cut him off, raising a finger to his face. "Only you would start ordering someone around while half-dead. I'm not leaving you; these will slow the bleeding until we get you to Kuroka and Thrud, they both had some experience dealing with this poison. All you need to do is trust us, do you?" Vali didn't answer, he couldn't with the redhead's emerald eyes so close to his face looking at him with such intensity, he merely turned away silently approving her to continue her first aid.
"I got it!" Bennia called out, the distraction just the time she needed. "Go back to your cell and tell Hades to keep you there on a shorter leash this time!"
With a last surge of power from Rossweisse, her High Queen Piece empowering her more than she'd ever felt as did Bennia's Shield, the magic circle above the monster's head was finished. Like an industrial press, it lowered down atop Samael who pushed against it but to no avail as chains appeared across all its arms and wings. With a final terrifying wail that would be remembered by everyone till their dying days, it was pushed through the floor and vanished from sight.
"That'll do it," Bennia wiped sweat from her brow, nearly falling from the sky still exhausted despite Kuroka's quickie heal until Rossweisse caught her. "I'll bill you for it later…"
"That's it then!" Issei rounded on Cao Cao. "Your trump card is gone, it's just you against ALL of us!"
"Azazel and his troops are of no concern; I've fought him before and know how to take him down now. As for the others, they are almost all women, all I need to do is…"
"Hold that thought," Azazel interrupted, reaching into his coat. "Issei, remember that I do this for all of you and your future. I'm sorry."
"Mr. Azazel? What…!?" His question was cut off as the Governor-General produced a strange-looking gun and aimed it at Rias, shooting her directly in the chest and causing her to fall backwards. Before anyone could ask, he turned it on Catherine, Thrud, Asia, Akeno, Rossweisse, Bennia, Le Fay…every woman in the room including those among his own troops. Only Hecuba was exempt behind him. As they hit the ground, each started glowing bright forcing the men to look away.
"Wh-why?" Dorian asked as he turned to Azazel. "Did Cao Cao mind-control you too!?"
"I wish he had," only then did they spot a tear fall from his eyes tilted upward as if to hide that fact from everyone. "Maybe then Issei would be able to forgive me for taking away what he loves most."
"Forgive you!?" The Red Dragon was inconsolable as he rushed to Asia, lifting up her still-glowing body. "You killed…! Asia!"
"Uh, Issei, my head, what happened?" The devil nun's eyes shot open as the light dispersed and she realized both that she was unharmed by the shot and the voice coming from her was suddenly very deep. "Issei! M-my…my…!
"Your breasts are gone! What HAVE YOU DONE MR. AZAZEL!?" Before him, the formerly petite and innocent Asia had been replaced by a young man. She was still wearing her clothes, the confused Bishop trying to pull her skirt down to cover any new additions but her body was stouter, arms having more muscle mass than Issei and her chest was noticeably flat. "Then that means…Oh no, Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Cat!"
Sure enough, the Gremory heiress and fallen angel staggered to their feet, both similarly transformed by Azazel's weapon. Rias was tall and slender, almost looking like her brother with much longer hair while Akeno had actually ballooned in size, being like a brawler as her ponytail was now far thicker. Koneko reminded him of a buff cat, her unamused eyes glaring through trying not to acknowledge her appearance, thankful that her sister was nowhere in sight. All of them were awkwardly fidgeting with their clothes not made for the bodies they now possessed.
"This is not something I ever wanted to experience," Catherine groaned in embarrassment realizing her body had changed, Issei's jaw dropped as she came across like a pretty boy from a shojo manga like Kiba.
She stayed cute in both forms?! I mean…what is going on?
Dorian was equally shocked by Thrud struggling to stand from her injuries, nearly the spitting image of her father save the hair color and feminine armor. Rossweisse brushed hair from her face, having become a fair-skinned young man, eyes not having changed through the transformation. She covered up with her hands instinctively, her Valkyrie armor now empty in the breastplate with nothing to fill it. Le Fay and Bennia could not be seen, both having wrapped themselves up in their cloaks wholly out of embarrassment.
"Rose…" Dorian had no words as his jaw hit the floor. He realized the reason for Azazel's actions now, but that did not alleviate his confusion.
Please tell me this is only temporary!
"Th-they're all gone," Issei collapsed to his knees looking as if they had lost the battle utterly and all hope was gone. "Every breast great and small, just erased like that! Why Mr. Azazel, what is that horrific contraption!?"
"Indeed, I wish to know that too." Cao Cao tilted his head confused. "Are you mocking me?"
"Hardly," the fallen angel blew on the tip of the gun as if he'd just fired a six-shooter. "This is a little something I whipped up after our run-in at Kyoto. Poor Yasaka, one of the strongest women in the world and you managed to seal her powers with that annoying Balance Breaker of yours, Suzaku too." Cao Cao's eyes widened as the connotations became clear that the change was not just cosmetic. "So, I figured if you can only seal women…"
Cao Cao leapt back as a double strike of holy and Nordic lightning hit him. At the same time, Rias was once again wreathed in pure destruction, her new form fully restored as black energy exploded behind Georg to cut off any retreat. In the back, Asia had already started healing the wounded starting by stabilizing Vali still cradled in Hecuba's arms looking oddly relieved she had not been among those shot with the weapon. Le Fay and Bennia, both of similar statures and ambiance to Gasper, had risked showing themselves to generate magic attacks prepared to support their friends. On the frontlines, Issei stood with Kiba and his new army of Xenovia-knights and Catherine's blazing holy-devil form. Along with Azazel spreading his twelve wings and his genderbent troops ready to fight, the Hero Faction duo realized their situation, they were utterly outnumbered.
"For forcing him to turn them into men…" Dorian was covered in Musphelheim fire looking utterly terrifying, the swirling magics just waiting for an excuse to unleash it upon him. "I will break that spear in two!"
"Georg, the others?"
"I am not receiving updates from anyone in the Crossroads Tower," he grimaced, now able to focus all his powers to help Cao Cao with Samael's sealed. "Not even Jeanne or Marsilio. Siegfried is the last one and he had to withdraw when the Crossroads advanced on the bridge in force, but otherwise…"
"Damn them all," he tightened his grip on the True Longinus plotting his tactics to come out on top. "We will have to make due, only a sliver of her power was needed for what we plan."
"What would you want with the infinite?" Dorian asked, stepping forward ready to fight. "Was that your reason for working with her all this time?" Cao Cao pointed his spear to the sky as he answered.
"It is true that we originally wanted to subjugate Ophis to serve our needs, but that was beyond us. Even our allies were not capable of such, so instead we intended to create our own Ouroboros."
"Your own Ophis? Like a copy?"
"It would be simple enough with her power stored, Siegfried and his siblings were the proof we needed that this was possible. Imagine, an Ophis controlled by us, her infinite power replicated again and again. Our movements against Great Red were just to keep her near, he is in fact of very low importance to us beyond removing all that is supernatural in time. Imagine it, humanity with the power of the infinite."
"Well, that's not happening," Azazel remarked at the room of fighters focused on the two remaining Hero Faction members. "The rest of your men are down for the count and in custody, Samael is sealed and your impressive Balance Breaker can't redirect this many attacks from so many angles. I will admit, you are far too human to want to use the supernatural simply to wipe it out. You wanted to build your powerbase first and Ophis was a good propaganda tool to bring in more for your group but it ends here. Stand down." To his surprise, Cao Cao smiled.
"I am honored by what you say, indeed, I am human. That is what matters most. Your winning here is a setback for the Hero Faction, but we still acquired enough of Ophis' power which has been sent back to our new hidden base. Hades' men can take the weakened Ophis, we need her no longer. Once we make it back…"
"Open fire!" Dorian called out, utterly tired of his constant condescending speeches. Firing his Bifrost Barrage, Issei followed suit from a different angle unleashing his twin cannons. Rias launched an orb of pure destruction while Thrud, now recovered and bristling with Sage Art energy, locked fingers with Akeno as their lightning merged together into one came down from above. Le Fay and Bennia did not delay, releasing barrages of every magic spell in their repertoire. Cao Cao raised his spear, but the attacks were from so many directions. Not even his power could stop them all.
"Tsk tsk, making me step in. Is this not a blemish on your bravado of humanity?"
Every attack leveled at Cao Cao was stopped cold as an immense barrier with a magic crest they didn't recognize materialized. The combined assault was enough to blow away the walls and ceiling yet did nothing to scratch the protection leveled on him. Georg standing behind was not so lucky, the barrier not extended to him. Under the colossal strike, his defenses failed, blasting him into what remained of the back wall. Cao Cao leapt to attend to his ally, cradling his barely breathing body. The one who now stood before the Crossroad/Gremory alliance was a tall man in a ragged coat and hat, twelve devil wings bristling behind him.
"Moloch!" Rias called out, grimacing at the man who had attempted to kill her and her family. "You are their benefactor?"
"Indeed, I am good Gremory," he bowed in an exaggerated, mocking tone as he seemed to prefer. "And to you Mr. Held, oh don't look angry. Do you prefer I call you Tyr?"
"Georg!" Cao Cao looked over him, thankful he was breathing. "You should have protected him as well!"
"Everyone is so upset," he continued his calm demeanor in the face of so many opponents. "I give you and your underlings so much and this is how you act? And after I also did the hard work for you." He stepped to the side, revealing an unconscious Ophis unmoving behind him previously concealed by shadows.
"You…BASTARD!" Issei called out, a cold wave passing through them realizing that Catherine had been incapacitated from her defensive position behind them and none had realized until now. "What did you do to her!?"
"Just a little something to help her sleep. You may have the stolen power, little Cao Cao, however I shall take the real thing. Before then, I wanted to see you first," he leveled a finger at Dorian. "Until now, it was quite risky to try seeing you, but my arrival is now locked in time."
Locked in? That's the same thing Kassaegtha said about your meeting her, Despoina noticed the particular choice of words.
I…I don't know him; Dorian could feel Iggy's mind racing. So why, why does he seem so familiar?
"First my men, now Georg, damn all of you. Leonardo, it's time!" Cao Cao picked him up, proceeding through the portal Moloch had left open and disappearing from the tower. The aperture closed behind leaving the team to face the monumentally powerful devil.
"The way is open for your little armies," Moloch remarked after it had closed with a tip of his hat. "Have fun. Now then, to you Mr. Dorian Tyr Held, a pleasure."
"How do you know me?" Dorian was on full guard, drawing Twilight Star again now that the threat of a weapon-shattering power was removed from the field.
He is like you, Kassaegtha's voice was heard on the wind. Not sure how I missed him, but there it is…another anomaly.
"We wouldn't be here without the other, but that connection is over. Now that Cao Cao's mage friend is down for the count, what do you think is holding this realm together?" As he spoke, the building started to shake, portions falling off all around them into nothingness. "I just wanted to see the look on your face before I go, ta ta."
"Oh no you don't!" Issei went first, leaping for Ophis but was barred by half of Moloch's wings. He didn't care, punching into them and bending two, surprising the devil. "Ophis! I'll get you out of there, I promise!"
"Get everyone out!" Dorian called to Le Fay. "Can you break through the mist?"
"Much easier now!" The male-transformed mage saluted. "Without Georg, the Dimension Lost's barriers are much weaker."
"Then get everyone out, are the others in the Tower?" Rossweisse and Hecuba nodded. "Send word to evacuate IMMEDIATELY."
"And the Hero Faction prisoners," Hecuba added as she hefted Vali onto her back with Asia trying in vain to cleanse Samael's poison. "We can't let them die in this place." Dorian nodded in agreement.
"You will have to move faster," Moloch said almost melodiously. "I am afraid Cao Cao and that young prodigy of his left a little souvenir behind. He pointed out the window with glee.
They felt the tremors before seeing it, far in the distance a great lumbering shape was moving towards them at a quickening pace. It was huge, easily over two-hundred meters tall dwarfing Great Red with a pair of heads focused on the tower. It was made of the same dark substance as the anti-monsters that had attacked them in Kyoto, but had clear dragon-traits and a foul aura that hadn't been there before.
"It's like the monster they summoned in the Tower," Rossweisse informed quickly. "But, how is it so large! It's moving straight for us!"
"The beast that will end the Underworld and beyond," Moloch promised. "Leonardo was so talented, all he needed was a little push to unlock his potential. Just wait until you see what else he could make."
"Begin the evacuation, quickly, before that thing gets here!" That was his last command before The Crossroad Leader blasted forward to join Issei in rescuing Ophis.
"D-don't die here, Issei," Vali spat blood, his voice barely loud enough for him to hear. "We still have our rivalry to settle, neither of us can die in a place like this!"
He was the first one through with Hecuba and Asia, the wounded being carried by everyone else as Thrud looked on worried for Dorian but knowing they had no time to spare. She wanted to join the fight, but taking blasts from both Heavenly Dragons had taken their toll. Even so, it took Zepar, Kiba, Ravel and a half dozen of Azazel's men to drag her off as she struggled to jump into the fray. Rossweisse took off flying through the holes in the building towards the Tower to quickly inform the others of their need to evacuate, communication still not working from so far. Fortunately, Kuroka would be able to open portals just like Le Fay with the barriers crumbling.
Be safe Dorian, you can enter the Roads. Once you get Ophis, make it back to us. Make it back to me…
"Evacuate everyone!" Rossweisse called out as soon as she was in range to those who had remained in the Tower as the seconds ticked on. She would not depart until everyone was out, their prisoners included.
"Who is this?" Seekvaira called out confused by her unexpectedly masculine voice. "What happened? Where is Dorian and the others?"
"Rossweisse, sorry, no time to explain, Dimension Lost is collapsing and something huge is coming, you and Kuroka need to open portals for EVERYONE!"
"Agares Island can accommodate everyone and we have security forces for the prisoners," she heard the heiress reply. "Kuroka, get Irina and Xenovia in first!" Rossweisse could sense the portal from where she was nearly reaching the floor they were stationed on.
The monster was just about upon them, hoping to buy some time, she opened fire with a salvo of long-distance magic. To her dismay, it barely even scratched its skin, not even drawing its attention. Knowing the futility of it after even more attempts, she dove for the floor where Seekvaira awaited.
"You have to close it now!" The silver Valkyrie called out, worried she would not make it in time.
"I'm not going without you!" Seekvaira promised, having kicked the still-injured Kuroka inside as she tried to protest as well. "I will wait!"
"But the creature…"
"I WILL WAIT!" Her stoic demeanor suddenly broke as she denied her request again. "I will not be the one to tell Dorian I left you behind. Fly…FASTER!"
Rossweisse pushed herself to speeds past what she thought she was capable of, able to see the portal before her. As she reached it, slowing down in order to enter, she heard the roar that nearly shattered her eardrums as a massive blast of energy erupted from the creature's twin mouths and slamming into the fake Crossroad's Tower.
"Rossweisse!" She looked on shocked at seeing a man wearing silver Valkyrie armor flying towards her. "What...?"
"No time!" Rossweisse pushed herself again, colliding with Seekvaira in the gut and driving both of them into the awaiting portal just as the nearest load-bearing pillar fell atop them.
Even from a single attack, the supports could not hold and the entire building caved in upon itself crushing anything within beneath several hundred tons of scrap and rubble. With the destruction seemingly complete, the monster looked down at a magic circle beneath it, whisking it away to new parts where it may continue the destruction directed by its creator.
Back inside, several moments earlier…
Moloch expertly bobbed and weaved to avoid Issei's punches, using his steel-hard wings to deflect Twilight Star once Dorian had joined them. The Einherjar was groaning, his armor bent and twisted where Samael had struck him during their bout and he was still exhausted from the long night. Catching Dorian's blow, the sneering devil spun delivering a kick into Issei's gut that even Sairaorg could barely have pulled off. The pair leapt back to avoid the follow-up and catch their breath.
"You two are far from your prime," he grinned wider, his face almost seeming to contort unnaturally. "Cao Cao was kind enough to soften you up, you have no idea how it has torn me up not being able to face you like this."
His face, Dorian…he was there in the future! Iggy sent him an image of the devil leading the troops beneath Ajuka when the fire giants turned on the rest. He's from there too!
"You're from that dark future?" The almost jubilant smile from their opponent as they continued fighting him answered for him. "How did you get here?"
"Spoilers," he tutted. "Suffice it to say, I wouldn't be here without you, well, at least without your weed of a girlfriend. But I see no reason to clear up your satisfying confusion. Ophis thought she was so smart scattering her power across snakes as Samael fed off her, but I was able to find them as they skittered away. She barely has enough energy to breathe at this point, but I will put her infinite power to good use, better than that short-sighted cloning idea of Cao Cao's. I must bid you adieu."
Dark spheres appeared over his head launching towards the pair. Issei intercepted his with Dragon Shots while Dorian deflected with Twilight Star, but their intentions as a distraction were clear. As they blocked and parried, Moloch turned and hefted Ophis atop his shoulder, preparing to enter a portal that had appeared.
"DRAGON BOOSTER!" Issei shouted as he blasted towards the devil who did not expect him to recover so quick. He slammed into him, tumbling both into the portal as Dorian leapt for it, barely making it inside.
"Get…off!" Moloch grappled with Dorian as Issei grabbed Ophis from his shoulder. They fell together, the area around them crackling with power as Moloch's strange portal was destabilized by too many entering at once.
After several seconds, the three slammed into the hard floor, the impact sending them flying in different directions. Moloch and Dorian recovered first, Issei sighing in relief that he had successfully held onto Ophis, freeing her from his grasp. Looking around, they realized they were within Dorian's office in the Crossroads Tower, but the lack of a purple miasma outside gave away they had fallen back into the real world.
The Dimension Lost realm…I hope the others made it out before it collapses. Dorian thought but wouldn't voice his concern lest the enemy before them twist it their advantage. Flipping Twilight Star over, he hurled it at Moloch with all his strength, catching him unprepared. The devil created a barrier that slowed the impossible weapon just as it had done for the attacks in the Tower. He didn't notice until it was too late the magic seal that Dorian had etched onto the tip, allowing it to break through and impaling itself through Moloch's chest pinning him to the wall having surely pierced his heart.
"Ophis, Ophis, are you okay!?" Issei shook her a bit back to consciousness. The former-strongest being in the world looked up at him weakly.
"Why, why did you come for me? I am your enemy; my followers have tried to kill you more than once."
"I could ask you something similar," he chuckled to try and keep her awake. "You saved Asia back there from Cao Cao's attack, right?"
"That was…she gave me tea and was kind during the days I was at your home. You all were."
"That's it?" Ophis nodded at his question. "You don't seem so bad; do you want to be my friend? I know my parents will love you if you can visit from the Gap. You're trying to get back home there, right? That's why you led the Brigade all this time."
"I…I can't. My snakes, he took almost all of them," Ophis wasn't certain how to answer his question, glancing to Moloch's body pinned to the wall. "I don't think I could live in the Dimensional Gap as I am now."
"That's okay," Issei promised, seeing her just like a little girl in that moment, one he should protect. "You can stay at my place until…"
"Can't survive in the Gap right now? What an intriguing detail," Moloch remarked as his head shot up suddenly as Dorian tried to recall his weapon. With disturbing ease, he wrenched it from his chest, keeping it from returning to its owner with a single hand.
"That went right through your heart," Dorian narrowed his eyes at him. "How did you survive that?"
"Oh indeed, that would have been quite deadly…if I were using this heart that is. This body is so flimsy even with the years of honing it. I have the power of infinity Cao Cao believes he stole from her all for my own use. At this point, fighting you for the original would be…an annoying hassle." Subtly, he rubbed his hand across the edge of Twilight Star, the blade now glistening with a sinister substance coating it. "I believe this is yours."
Hefting the swordspear high, he hurtled it towards Dorian at such incredible speeds, even his control of the weapon couldn't stop it in time. The fact he could hold it at all was a terrifying prospect. A grunt echoed as blood splattered Dorian's armor, blood that was not his own.
"Issei you MORON!" He called out, catching his friend who had leapt in the path, the spear skewering his right shoulder. "Why did you do that!?"
"A th-thank you would suffice G-Goldie. If I hadn't that thing would have hit you right in the..." he gasped as blood poured from his mouth. His body started twitching as Dorian removed the weapon, quickly sealing the wound. Despite that, the red dragon's complexion darkened by the second.
"Samael's poison," Ophis explained. "His covered your weapon in it for a single attack, Issei is infected by its curse." Dorian's visage paled, having seen its effects even diluted with Baldur and now how easily it had incapacitated both Vali and Ophis. "He will not survive long if it spreads, we must get him to help."
"About that," Moloch snapped his fingers. "It will be a long time before you are going anywhere. I know all about your little jaunt into the Dimensional Gap against that fool Diodora. You can't summon your precious Roads there. I learned this trick watching Shalba."
A tear in the very air opened suddenly behind them, Ophis being sucked in instantly without a chance to move. Dorian sunk Twilight Star into the ground and held onto Issei, grunting as the portal pulled in everything around them. He saw maps, documents, furniture, even his trophies from missions whip past him into the aperture. Finally, he was clocked in the head by a passing bottle, seeing the Nagalfr fly by and disappear.
"I couldn't do this before, or I'd never exist as I am," Moloch taunted as he waved farewell to disappear within another portal he had opened. "That didn't mean I couldn't dig in my roots elsewhere before now; I have many allies. But now, it doesn't matter, you are stronger than I ever thought you'd become, with this I need not risk myself. Maybe once you're dead, the last of the Old Ones will gravitate to me."
"You…you bastaaaarrrrr….!" Were the last words Dorian could form before Twilight Star was ripped from the ground, costing him the last anchor they had to safety. Within the blink of an eye, he had disappeared within along with Issei, the portal closing at last leaving the office of the leader of the Crossroads in utter silence. The battle now passed, any who came by may not have been certain there had ever been one at all were it not for the gaping hole in the side of the Tower…
Somewhere in the Dimensional Gap…
The great lumbering shape drifted around much as it had the many millennia since making the swirling dimension his home. He couldn't remember why he preferred that place as opposed to others where surely more was happening. In the last many years, the most interesting thing he could recall was creating an especially impressive wave with one of his rolls, or perhaps when catching a glimpse of some visitors only some time earlier. Had it been a few weeks? Months? Even Ophis had been among them for a brief moment in one of those pockets that devils like to make for their games. Still, such things were rare and the great red dragon had settled into the surety that it would be some time before anything else happened.
That is, until he sensed someone entering the Dimensional Gap. They were far away, several of them and it piqued his attention again. Many liked that delve into the secrets left in that place from the heir to Ddraig's rival or the incessant Wizards of Oz, but this was different. There were three of them, one feeling familiar but greatly diminished from what was expected. Without a sound beyond the winds pushing against the bulk that turned against them, the Dragon of Dragons turned to intercept and sate this curiosity that had happened twice in so short a time…
The battle for the tower is over with the Crossroads and Team Gremory edging out a slim but costly victory. Dorian and Issei adrift in the Dimensional Gap, Moloch escaped with Ophis' infinite power and an enormous monster let loose on the supernatural world. Our heroes retreat to lick their wounds and find their lost friends to prepare for a new battle ahead. I hope everyone has enjoyed this chapter.
While this is technically the end of a volume/arc in canon, I will be segueing right into the next one without a break so you get to see how the main confrontation plays out. Until next time, I hope you all stay safe, Reads and Reviews...but most of all Enjoys! :D