runelt99: Hahaha sorry, I really should add more context to my replies to comments since some are weeks before I post. Power up for Issei, yes, but alas the future children can't really interfere in a normal timeline. The only reason they could step in before was that Dorian was out of his own. Here, everyone is from where they were born in a way.
Divine Blizzard: Poor Issei, definitely his lowest point physically in the series so it's only fair he comes back stronger than ever even if he doesn't receive the power of Infinity like canon. And yes, thank goodness that genderbend ray is temporary, I think even Dorian would have gone after Azazel if that was permanent. XD Maybe they can do something about that Underworld situation...
Okaze: Midgard's power, one of my little series-long mysteries ;) One step closer to understanding truly what it does :D thank you so much!
Dasgun: F?
avenger3576: It's funny how longer chapters can feel that way, I hope it means it's going well, but will have to make sure future ones feel long enough ;) And as for that snake...what indeed I wonder? :D
7: Yea, that blood is some pretty terrifying stuff, in canon Samael is one of if not the only opponent Issei and Co. never truly defeated so it filled me with ideas of how his presence could still be felt when not directly fighting. I am sure most hope they can detain Hades without an all-out fight. Not only is he a top 10 being, but also is the only one who can reliably keep the Land of the Dead organized. And you hit the nail on the head EXACTLY. The series was vague on it but mentioned how difficult using the system was for a Seraph, so I thought "What if God had a plan for it to require both his favored children (humans and angels) to make it work in his absence?" ;)
fanficcyberman: Haha, maybe not God himself, but this is certainly a step to her being a true leader someday rather than a follower in Heaven. And I love seeing you know the Nagalfr of Norse myth...can you imagine if it was actually made of dead toenails? Ew lol. And thank you! Considering these creatures were described as a big enough threat that the entire devil society, minus the Satans, couldn't deal with them, I wanted it to come across as terrifying. I have never served either, and can't imagine the kinds of decisions those who do sometimes have to make. I am doing very well, and as always hope the same is true for you and your loved ones my friend. :)
Ragna126: Thanks so much! You may be happy on that front after the battle settles, Dorian was fully aware of how genuinely she cared for him during the two days he was unconscious.
Guest1: Oh yea, I've been spotting that more and more, no idea what "sensitive content" they're referring to unless they are getting super strict as I noticed a bunch of them involved drinking or flirting. I heard rumors it may be due to some test they're doing, but nothing concrete I've seen. It seems unnecessarily restrictive and hope it stops, whatever the reason they're doing it.
Fedbax25: Thank you! I never imagined getting so many and the vast majority are positive which is what matters most imo over quantity :D I hope you've been enjoying the story too! :)
Hollowreaper 93: Well, something is happening in the Gap *glances left and right suspiciously* Not long now before the tide shifts ;)
And with that…ONTO THE SHOW!
The collected elites of the differing powers materialized deep within the lower strata of the Land of the Dead where souls of the departed were sorted. The goddess Freyja led the way with Azazel alongside marching towards an impressive shrine in the distance. Hades may hold sway there, but with aid from Zeus and a collection of other gods, the united forces were able to bypass many of the normal defenses preventing entry. Indra marched alongside them in full confidence with his vanguard.
A wasteland, Freyja glanced from side to side, the eerie silence reminding her of Helheim far too much though even that frozen realm held some aspects of life albeit passive ones. The Land of the Dead, a place where no life is meant to exist in any form. And ahead…Hades' Shrine.
"That's the place," Bennia informed, having accompanied them after providing the data of her recording with Pluto. "Don't think I've ever seen him out of there except when leaving the realm."
"A veritable fortress," Zepar agreed. While the pair were far weaker than the others, they would not be left behind. Knowing the God of the Dead's part in the Tower attack, they wanted some payback.
"You can leave the fighting to us," Indra pushed up his sunglasses with a crack of his neck. "He'll be itching for one no doubt, don't expect my men to be protecting you."
Such arrogance, Freyja couldn't stand his type, the Hindu god doing nothing to help prepare their force despite his foresight abilities. Just what is his goal here? He showed no interest in aiding us until hearing that Dorian was gone.
"Knock Knock," Azazel answered cheekily as the front entrance was blown open revealing a small army of Grim Reapers waiting. They were instantly filled with hostility, weapons ready to repel the intruders. "Sorry we came without calling ahead, we're here to file a complaint against your boss, HR was a pain to find."
He aided the Hero Faction, supplied them with Samael and even sent a force of reapers to attack Dorian's home. Freyja was already arrayed in her golden armor and twinblades drawn hoping they would attack. He can't be allowed to do whatever he pleases, no doubt he's even planning to use this assault on the Underworld in his schemes while the powers are distracted defending an ally's home.
The shrine room they were in looked something like a ritual area with a gaudy interior that completely contrasted to the barren field outside. Carvings of the gods of Olympus covered the walls, mostly centering on the main trinity of Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. At the far end stood a skeletal man wearing ornate robes, his aura fuming at the unwanted intruders.
"I do not have time for this," even as he surveyed those standing before him, the God of the Land of the Dead looked to be working diligently on his papers. "It will be quite aggravating to repair this place should a fight ensue." It was obvious those around him were the strongest of reapers all counted among top tier and even ultimate-class. There was no sign of Pluto, drawing Freyja to assume he was still licking his wounds from Bennia and Kuroka's assault. His commander Thanatos, the strongest reaper ever born, on the other hand was standing ready to lead the attack.
"We won't be the ones stuck with the bill," Bennia fired back, her courage before his stare bolstered by the allies with her.
"Let us hope it does not come to a fight, God of the Dead Hades." An armored man with red-hair stepped forward with an ever-serious tone to his voice. "My apologies as well for the suddenness of our visit."
Having heard the plight of his sister and her peerage in Dimension Lost, Sirzechs made it a point to accompany the team while it was too dangerous to fight in Lilith. Azazel was certain that the Satan would blame him for the attack on Rias and the others considering he set up Ophis staying with them but, to his confusion, Sirzechs acknowledged the report without batting an eye. Instead, he'd only replied with on statement 'I'm going to the land of the dead, and you will come with me.'
If Hades made a move now, we'd be hard-pressed to stop him, Freyja knew that Sirzechs felt the same. I may not trust Indra, but he should be stronger than Hades. Hearing that the powerful Satan had even started searching the Dimensional Gap for Issei and Dorian along with their own people made the goddess of life ever grateful and more than willing to back him in the endeavor to deal with Hades. Even with them all together, his power was legendary and not wholly known.
"So many have come to my halls," Hades mused. "So much rabble, a flock of crows, a half-blood traitor, upjumped bastards of giants, even the Zenith Tempest user," he spotted Dulio Gesualdo in the back with his blonde hair and priest robe blowing in the breeze created by his ten angel wings. "That is quite the guardsman."
"Guilty as charged," Dulio replied with a shrug acting aloof even with the atmosphere around them. "Seeing this place for myself has me feeling so melancholic, almost makes me want to use my gear here and now just to bring some nice weather. I'm not the only one, Slash Dog himself is outside too yet you barely seem worried."
"I would not be the Lord of this realm is such assorted…guests shook me easily. I did not expect to see you here," he focused on Indra. "Did you not see Cao Cao as a beloved pupil? So much he has today is all thanks to your assistance."
"I may have shown him the ropes as a young punk, and he would make an amazing vanguard," he admitted without hesitation, having seen somewhat how the moment could play out as Hades tried to turn the others against him. "But he manipulated me as much as I tried to do to him. Don't try pinning his vain scheme of fighting Great Red at any cost on me."
"You know why we are here," Sirzechs interrupted, going over the recent attack of the Hero Faction with Grim Reaper support. "We have the recordings that Ms. Bennia made, they are quite damning. Can you explain this?"
"That is simple, I heard word that Lord Azazel was trying to get in touch with our mutual foe, the leader of the Khaos Brigade Ophis. Of course, it was my duty to have them investigated, our precious alliance could crumble from such an act which looked quite treasonous to me. And to be done by the one speaking the most of peace, more than anyone else I wanted to know what was going on. Thus, I left it to my underlings to look into it and I told them to give me warning of such treason. It seems this was a simple misunderstanding that Pluto took too far."
"A misunderstanding!?" Azazel almost broke his cool, only held back by Freyja though she was on the verge of joining him with the condescending tone of the God making it obvious just how much he looked down on them all. "He must be doing that on purpose," he whispered to her. "He hasn't been this cordial in his life."
"No doubt, he is wishing for a fight, and may yet get it," it was obvious to the group that an ominous aura was leaking out from the Crimson Satan who normally could contain his power so flawlessly. One of the rulers of the Underworld only nodded as Hades finished his reply.
"A misunderstanding then? That seems quite counter to what I have heard," with that final syllable, his tone changed to a harsh, stern one. "That you assisted the fallen angel Forcas in his previous assault on your ancestral home, even the reaper attack on Kuoh Town to acquire nekoshou specimens. Included in that, the use of Samael by Cao Cao is clear treason on your part at worst, or the utmost incompetence at best," that last line caused Hades' cool to slip, somehow a scowl forming on his ageless skull-face. "Your views on the alliances are well known, but that does not grant you leave to work against what we have been building. If your innocence is true, then let us view the seals of Samael. I hear Ms. Bennia and Rossweisse added a few additions to it to repel him from the tower, if this is not true then it is easily verifiable. That and how long ago the restraints were last loosened."
"I can point them out PERSONALLY," Bennia crossed her arms. "I put particularly good seals in place after I mopped the floor with Pluto that couldn't have been removed so quickly."
At last, Hades only sighed, turning as if the conversation was no longer interesting to him.
"I do not have time to be accused of such foolish things. There is much to do, too much."
"I see, you are a busy man after all. That being said, these are very serious charges and as such you must remain here during the investigation until the monster attacks in the Underworld are settled."
Not even Hades would be able to sneak around under the surveillance of the Satans, gods of Asgard, and the better part of the greater alliance. Azazel knew this, even offering to try and seal Hades' Shrine until the monsters are dealt with, but the Crimson Satan had insisted talking to him first no doubt thinking of the battle that would ensue trying to break out. That was Sirzechs' personality, seeking the path that risked the fewest lives as possible, that is what had drawn the new era of devils to him. With that command, Hades stopped leaving and turned around.
"You say something interesting young lad. Hmmm, how is this then, I won't mind accepting that…suggestion, if you do a few things for me."
"Such as?"
"First, show me your true form here and now, no holding back. I heard rumors that you took the name Lucifer through strength, but I do not see that as you are. Show me the reason why you were supposed to have surpassed what it means to be a devil, the power that your sister caught a glimpse of within herself against the Bael pup."
The strike team went utterly silent until Sirzechs finally nodded his head with a polite motion.
"Very well, if that will keep you here, that is a cheap request. I would suggest you have the other reapers leave the room or they may not survive."
"You don't say? Despite each of these being among my upper echelons, I sense no lies in your words. Thanatos, take the others away."
"Yes, Lord Hades," the largest of the reapers nodded, within a matter of seconds the room was emptied. Bennia took special pride in seeing those who had looked down on her for years slinking away while she remained.
"You don't have to show him your trump card," Freyja remarked as Sirzechs removed his armor and stepped forward. Even before he replied, she could feel the power within him rising sending out reverberations that shook the shrine. Black waves of destruction began coalescing on his skin as his body turned red.
Sirzechs did not reply, prompting Freyja to expand her aura to protect their own team with Indra doing the same though limiting his shield to his own men. It was clear with his rising power that she was one of the few who could contain it. Cracks formed in the walls, statues fell and the ground shook revealing it was not just the building that was rumbling, but the entire region of the Land of the Dead. In a flash, everything in the immediate vicinity to the Satan disintegrated without even dust left behind from the power of Destruction.
So, this is his true form, how is he not counted among the Top Ten if he has that within him!? Zepar's glasses slid down his face at the show of might before him. None of my kind have any capable of such. It is fortunate Kokabiel was defeated, if we went to war with devilkind now, I do not see how we could emerge victorious.
The shaking stopped as the power stabilized, what was left where Sirzechs once stood was instead the power of destruction itself in the shape of a man. Despite the similar traits, it was like night and day to the form Rias had unlocked against Sairaorg, for if she had such power then not even his anti-destruction punches could have prevented him from being utterly annihilated. His eyes stared pupilless towards the Lord of the Dead, his echoing voice reverberating through what was left of the halls.
"In this form, the power spreads without my command unhindered by any barrier or field. Anything it touches will be reduced to nothingness, were it not for the impressive architecture, your shrine would have been shaken to pieces and even then, it seems it will collapse at any moment.
This is fucking insane! Azazel could no longer keep his cool. He'd fought in the Great War and witnessed the original Satans firsthand. Even their monumental power that barely managed to slay an exhausted God was nothing compared to what they saw before them. Is he ten times stronger than them, or even more!? It reminded him of words Zeoticus had once said while the Governor-General was visiting not long ago.
"I am not sure my son can even be classified as a devil; he is so much more. If our kind could become gods themselves, surely, he is the closest to that." At the time, he'd had no idea what the older Gremory meant. At least, not until that moment.
No wonder they wanted to get Riser and Rias together. If combining Bael and Gremory made this, imagine what BOTH of them mixed with the Phenex Clan would do! Hell, with our other alliances, what kind of monster could mixing bloodlines with them create? And they say Ajuka is another Super Devil? We fallen angels are getting outclassed left and right! Didn't they say there were three Super Devils…?
"So, this is the power that ended your civil war?" Freyja asked of Sirzechs though he could not hear her. "An ace in every meaning of the word, if my sons found out of such a thing, they'd want to fight you again and again even if it meant their deaths. Our numbers here may have been unnecessary if he'd done this from the start."
"Forget even needing a force," Dulio remarked with a sarcastic laugh. "Having any guard would be completely pointless!"
"Does this satisfy your requirement, Lord Hades?" The Lord of the Dead joined Dulio's laughter.
"You are a monster indeed; the former Lucifer couldn't hold a candle to you. You shine far too brightly, Sirzechs Lucifer, even worse than I ever considered. You just may be able to slay other gods, myself included if I were caught unaware. If we fight for real, this realm will be lost. Just what are you?"
"I was the future of my kind, now I make sure the next generation can flourish as mine did. Do you yield?"
"Yield to bats and crows flying together with doves and worse?" He eyed Freyja with his empty sockets. "Seeing your form was indeed a boon, but there is only one other requirement for me to sweat to stay put…give me Dorian Held."
"What?" Zepar and Bennia stood mouths agape at the request. "You…
"…Bastard," Freyja swung her swords, a blast of energy missing Hades by the smallest margin possible. All the same, he did not even flinch. "He is not yours to claim."
"We don't even know where he is now," Zepar stepped forward, his mind and logic his greatest strength even against a god.
"He set foot in Elysium, ALL there are mine to claim, witch. You have shielded him from me all this time, but if you wish my cooperation then that ends today. He may be lost, but should he be found; alive or dead, you WILL hand him over to me. Do not act so sure of your current position, did you think I was unaware of your other allies sneaking in?"
An explosion erupted outside, causing the assembled fighters to look out the window. It was absolute chaos in the plains below as thousands of Grim Reapers were gathered battling against a familiar giant golem.
"Face my rod! How many can withstand its might!?" Bikou howled like a madman spinning his weapon and clearing out enemies by the dozens even as more surged forward.
Gogmagog swung left and right clearing great swaths of foes, their life-draining scythes completely ineffectual against its mechanical limbs. Le Fay was noticeably absent which seemed to enrage the construct even more. Instead, Arthur was present at the frontlines wielding his blade, Caliburn. Atop the golem, a wounded but still standing Vali could be seen with a redheaded bodyguard in shining bronze armor that allowed none to get near him. The Vali Team had arrived.
"I, the one to awaken, am the White Dragon Emperor who will take the law down to the darkness!" Vali called out as armor wrapped around him, his wings emitting both dragon and demonic powers.
"Be careful!" Hecuba insisted as she withstood the buffeting torrents around her, an image that made her all the more enchanting to Vali. "You aren't at full strength!"
"I don't need to be, this is a new form of the Juggernaut Drive. Issei gained mastery over his from the past users departing then he subjugated their shadows. Here, I have completely sealed off the thoughts of past users and gained that same clarity. Mine were not filled with hatred, merely a pure overwhelming fighting spirit! This is a form only I can use, not even Issei could imitate this!"
Hecuba looked on, still concerned but now intent on seeing this new power inspired by his greatest rival.
"I walk the road of domination with infinite destruction and by piercing through the imaginary dream, I shall become a pure Emperor of all dragons! I shall have you obey the silver-white illusions and the perfect evil ways…EMPERIO JUGGERNAUT DRIVE!"
The silver-white armor of his Juggernaut Drive shined bright enough to bring light into even the Land of the Dead like a beacon. All the assembled reapers looked up as white blasts of energy rained down over the field like power from another world. It was impressive, but still subdued from his persisting injuries. The sheer numbers of reapers were threatening to surround them on all sides.
"An impressive display, but I gathered all my forces here young bat," Hades stood tall and confident before the humanoid mass of destruction energy above the battlefield in his fortress. His own aura was rising to match all those around him. "This is MY realm with more forces and power here than you realize."
"Like this newcomer Moloch?" Bennia spoke up this time with her scythe ready to go. "You tried to kill me, my friends and team you bag of bones; I don't care if you throw even Samael at us, I'm my own boss now and will punch you in the jaw myself!"
"I do not know where this Moloch came from, only that he was a tool who overstepped himself and will die by my hand next we meet."
"Cause he double crossed you and snatched all that infinity power you were trying to get your hands on?" Azazel spoke what he had seen of Hades' machinations. Nekoshou DNA, infinity itself, and killing powerful beings who grow up too fast…just what did you think you were doing?" Hades scowled at him for that.
"If we are to continue, then let's…" He stopped as something new happened, the ceiling above them shattered into a thousand pieces flying up into the air. The same ceiling that withstood Sirzechs' release of power had just been obliterated. "What was that?!"
"My Lord, a fissure is opening above us!" Thanatos shouted from the frontlines embroiled with the Vali Team's revenge. "Our protection seals are doing nothing to stop it!"
Sure enough, above the collected gods and beings representing some of the strongest among the pantheons looked up to see a swirling vortex. It was massive, almost covering the entirety of the sky with a cascade of colors and lights within that was recognized by those who had seen it, the vortexes of the Dimensional Gap.
"What is that thing?" Azazel asked, even Sirzechs looked uncertain having never seen its like before.
"The power needed to generate it is unfathomable, something enormous is coming through!"
True to the reaper's words, a shape emerged with its shadow covering the army having ceased their assault to look upwards. The atmosphere among friends and foes was at first terror turning to amazement and awe, it was only Lady Freyja whose look of confusion turned to absolute joy as she realized who had come moments before war and chaos would have overtaken them. It did not take long for the others to realize what she could see. Indra gritted his teeth in anger, his fury at the turn of events occurring without him foreseeing it growing by the moment.
"Fashionably late," Bennia smirked with a loud smack of joy to Zepar's back. "I think that is becoming a pattern with him."
The Underworld, Lilith…
"Get those fires out!" Sona Sitri directed her peerage as they cleared debris from a portion of the street that had been blocked. "Tsubaki, are you alright?"
"I am fine," her Queen emerged from a building covered in burns and bruises. The fire had been of small concern; however, they had been waylaid by several pawns that switched sides due to the cruelty of their masters now dead. Fortunately, their lack of power allowed the team to come out on top at the cost of the building.
"I know that one," another stray devil called out. His body had become engorged, limbs oversized with muscles and power stolen since turning on his peerage. "She is of the Sitri House, kill her and…" He did not finish his sentence as a gold-armored strawberry blonde warrior of Asgard smashed onto his head leaving him within a smoking crater. The devil did not get back up.
"How many were coerced to his side?" Thrud groaned as she threw the man towards a small pile of similarly defeated devils. "Didn't he think they had enough monsters to…" she was interrupted as a smaller anti-monster pounced for her. She was faster, cleaving the creature in two with a single swing before narrowing towards another half dozen.
"It can't be helped," Rossweisse blasted another group. "The larger Bandersnatch are already in the city and the Jabberwocky will be here soon if Lord Diehasuer, Lady Grayfia and the others cannot stop it."
"That…is…not…very…nice!" Ratatoskr grunted as he repeatedly slammed a group of anti-monsters into the ground with a giant hammer. Such battles were ongoing across the city, sheer chaos with the respawning smaller monsters. Evacuations were proceeding, but slowed.
"What do you mean she's still there!?" Sona's voice groaned in a rare moment of frustration while talking to someone over long-range communications. "My team are scattered all around, we can't make it, Rossweisse!" She called out to the Valkyrie floating down to meet her. "My sister is at our main hospital not far; she is refusing to leave. Can you and the Crossroads go help her?"
"Will you be safe here?"
"As safe as we can be, Ruruko and Yura are still off fighting somewhere and I don't know where Momo is, it'll take too long for me to gather them and head over. Rias and her peerage aren't far, we can cover each other."
"If it's okay," Ratatoskr raised a hand. "I'd rather stay here, I'm on a high score and whack-a mole is my game!" For emphasis, he clocked a stray devil in the face with his weapon, sending the malformed woman into a wall and through it.
"Does Lady Serafall have her own entourage?"
"Her peerage is on the frontlines helping slow down the Jabberwocky, she SHOULD have a backup defense team but they aren't responding."
Cao Cao was targeting those tied to the Satans, if they aren't there, he must have already intercepted them. If he finds out Lady Serafall is in the field, things will go badly. He is not as strong as a Satan, but the True Longinus could kill them in one shot of a sneak attack.
"We will keep your sister safe and be back as soon as we can," the Valkyrie started alerting the Crossroad members near her of their new mission. "Did she say why she is at the hospital?"
"It's the damn Old Leviathan woman," Saji called out panting from a recent scuffle having overheard the magical communication. "She's having her contractions already!"
Sitri Hospital…
"You are all FOOLS!" Katerea Leviathan screamed out causing the staff that hadn't evacuated the building to shudder. The burst of devil powers caused lights to explode and glass to shatter, pregnancy having elevated her powers to new heights. "If those things don't kill you, I WILL!"
"We are not leaving you Kat-chan," Serafall insisted while using her own powers to contain her childhood friend's until she could regain control. "We'll be here to welcome the new life! Just think, a new naturally born devil child, there are too few nowadays."
"Can't we open a portal?" A devil guard that had accompanied his mistress to the city inquired while keeping a safe distance. "Teleport her elsewhere?"
"I'm sorry, did YOU study medicine for three centuries?" The old doctor whom the Leviathan Satan had saved weeks prior grumbled as he checked Katerea's condition again. "You try opening ANY type of portal with the energy she's putting out at this stage of her pregnancy and I cannot guarantee what'll happen, newborn bodies are very susceptible to powerful magics. Taking into account how damned early this is, and you have a recipe for complications. It's happening here or not at all! Sela, get that syringe to help with the pain."
"Don't you want a more natural birth?" Serafall asked only to have her collar seized by Katera and dragged in point blank.
"I…want…the drugs!" Even the strongest woman devil could only nod along with Katerea's insistence.
"This is going to be a while. There is no way the child can survive on its own this early, but we can have some support set up when we get it out of there," the doctor told truthfully, the long life and grizzled nature making him immune to the former Satan's intimidating roars as she withstood the pain of another contraction. "Damnit, if only I had more staff and where the Hell is security?"
"They evacuated with the rest mostly, the strongest were sent to help with the monsters outside. We've barricaded the lower levels that were completely empty and moved the patients that cannot leave to this floor." The devil guard reported. "I could hear those things clawing at the doors but didn't trust moving higher or else fliers on the roof could be a concern."
"If anything breaks through, I'll deal with them," Serafall promised. "Keep up your watch, Malakai, you will be our first warning. Were you able to reach my sister?"
"Lady Sona said her team was scattered and could not aid us, but they are sending who they can to reinforce our position. They fear that Cao Cao is targeting the Satans, we cannot allow him to know you are here."
The room froze as a nearby desk rustled as if someone had just bumped into it. In an instant, Serafall and her guard had hands trained on the location ready to fire.
"SHOW YOURSELF!" Malakai called out. "Or else we shall…!"
"P-please don't." a sheepish voice called out as a pair of hands went into the air. "I didn't want to bother anyone." Stepping out from behind the desk, they realized how the intruder had hidden so well as he was a small child wearing a pristine red suit denoting his higher status among devilkind. The guard instantly lowered his hand as did Serafall at the realization of who they were talking to.
"Lord Millicas! What are you doing here!? This is a warzone!"
"Mom and dad went to fight," he answered weakly while shifting in his spot as Malakai rushed to usher him closer to the others where it was safer. "She looked worried, but didn't show it…so I followed after they left."
"How?!" Serafall spoke up this time. "You are one of our few treasured children, what happened to the defensive measures monitoring you back at Gremory Castle?"
"I…may have created a clone of myself and teleported away when they weren't looking," he lowered his head guiltily. "I snuck out before Grandma came by to visit."
Venelana is going to kill everyone in that castle if anything happens to him.
"You aren't up to that higher level magic yet, where did you learn to…?" Serafall started to ask but stopped as Millicas averted his gaze. She didn't need to finish her question to realize the answer.
Bennia Orcus, just how much did you show him while you two were playing together?
Lilith…
They were fighting hard through the streets against fewer and fewer traitors but the monsters made up for that in spades. The collected defenders were barely driving them back knowing that the larger ones were not far. All the same, the peerages of the young devils fought together; Gremory, Bael, Agares and Sitri. Even Glasya-Labolas was not far with the Phenex siblings fighting. Together, despite being in other parts of the city from one another, the situation was looking up. And that was something the Hero Faction would not allow.
"SONA!" Saji called out, diving in front of a blast of magic aimed squarely at the Sitri heiress.
Holding up his gear, his absorption line managed to catch the tail end of the attack, weakening it enough so that when it impacted him, his own defenses held though still hurt to his core. Standing above them, a pair of silhouettes descended, Siegfried and Georg working together to eliminate defenders of the city as they had been doing block by block.
"Get away from him!" Tomoe, Sona's lone Knight clashed with Siegfried but couldn't hold him even a moment before being pushed back. Despite Bishop assistance from Reya and Momo, it was clear that they were far outclassed by the swordsman.
"Yura, Ruruko, go for the mage!"
Sona sent her melee fighters to take on Georg whom she had hoped would be an easier target. To her dismay, the skilled caster unleashed a barrage of magic they were not prepared for. It was only thanks to the arrival of Tsubaki reflecting a portion of the attack back at him that they were not decimated. Yura stood up despite her injuries, roaring to continue. Ruruko on the other hand, while still breathing, was not getting back up.
"More, send in more," Siegfried called out, his face growing twisted and sinister as he slashed. Tomoe's blade could not withstand the sword in his hand and shattered. Before she could retreat, he slashed again drawing blood from her stomach.
"You're mine, you bastard!" Saji leapt in giving an opening for Sona to retrieve Tomoe. His absorption line wrapped around Siegfried's leg, energy drawing into him that the Hero Faction commander felt instantly.
Saji grunted as the line was cut with ease, Vritra's durability no match for the legendary sword. He dove, launching a pulse of black flames that were not easily extinguished managing to catch the tail end of Siegfried's coat on fire only for it to be discarded without causing the damage he'd hoped for. The devil Pawn hated to admit it, but the Hero Faction fighter was strong and worst of all, fast.
"Damnit, time to pull out the big guns. VRITRA PROMO….!"
Before Saji could transform, Siegfried was upon him, a third arm appearing where he didn't expect with a new sword already in hand. It pierced his gut, causing Saji to freeze where he stood trembling at the metal piercing his flesh.
"Well, I may not have been able to fight the Red Dragon Emperor, but the Black King will do," the white-blonde haired man boasted. "Your team is next."
"Not…HAPPENING!" Saji roared, black flames exploding from his entire body. Thinking fast, Siegfried withdrew his sword and leapt back a safe distance from the last-ditch effort. Saji stood strong, the flames wrapping around his belly to seal the wound and prevent blood loss. "I'm not dropping while even one of my teammates are in danger, DO YOU HEAR ME!?"
"Saji…" Sona muttered while trying to tend to her wounded servants. Looking over, she noticed Momo had uttered the same. "I ordered you not to die."
"You haven't even obtained Balance Breaker," Siegfried pointed out. "There is no one among your team who would even last a moment against me."
"Good thing we aren't from your team!"
Siegfried jumped again as an armory of blades exploded from the ground. As he was in mid-jump, a powerful projectile struck him in the chest knocking him backwards into a building. Picking himself up, he eyed the 'bullet' that had hit him with a look of confusion.
"An acorn?!"
"WOLVERINES!" Ratatoskr called out with a miniature gatling gun in hand and red bandana wrapped around his head. A hail of acorn-based gunfire did its job leaving Siegfried covered in painful welts and even a few that imbedded themselves in his skin painfully, driving the swordsman right into the path of another.
"Tsubaki, tend to your team!" Kiba called out as he slashed at Siegfried scoring a gash across his chest before three swords came down to challenge his Holy-Demonic one. "I'll deal with him for Kyoto, what his fellows did at our tower and here. They will need your help against Georg."
"R-right," Tsubaki nodded with a blush at how Kiba was looking clashing with one of the few Hero Faction leaders. "Don't let him kill you."
"He won't let me, but I'll do it anyway," Siegfried leveled his primary sword, Gram, towards the Gremory Knight. "Why, why does it tremble only when you're around? You are not overly strong, though better than you were in Kyoto, and yet…"
On cue, more arms exploded from his body, permitting a usage of all six swords aimed squarely at the blonde knight. Kiba closed the distance slashing though his lone blade was easily blocked. Despite the defense, Siegfried hesitated, allowing Kiba to fall back.
"A flawless defense," he complimented. "I could easily kill you, but if I'd struck then, your counterattack would have assured a mutual death. You truly want me dead now, don't you? It is a pity I wasn't able to reach you at the Tower. How pathetic of Jeanne to allow herself to be captured, she won't be laughing at me anymore after today."
"If you use Gram against me, you'll die anyway," Kiba narrowed his vision having learned more of the Norse-sword since their last encounter. "It drains your energy in exchange for the sharpness to cut almost anything."
"Watching your friends from the North helped us find a way around it, though it's hard to pull off so I wanted to save it just for you," Siegfried stepped back revealing a small army of anti-monster dragons that had been hiding in the shadows. "All I need to do, is shunt the life drain to someone willing."
The aura in all six of his Nordic-Devil swords exploded causing Kiba's eyes to grow wide. Surely, such a display should have caused considerable damage to his body. Instead, one of the monsters behind him fell over dead, its body decaying from the inside out. Despite the terrifying sight, the others remained in place unmoving.
They don't know any better or are indoctrinated, they'll really let him drain them all dry to feed his powers!
"Now then, shall we?" The swordsman of the Hero Faction leveled his blades towards Kiba, the full power of each unleashed for the first time. Their fight had begun at last in earnest.
Sitri Hospital…
"Blast, the little bastard has started early but doesn't want to meet the world!" The doctor vented as despite the condition of Katerea's aura, the contractions were too far apart. "If only things weren't going on outside, we could just wait it out like a normal birth. We get few enough as it is!"
That we do, Katerea glanced over to Millicas standing at her bedside. He was terrified clearly, yet did not hide or huddle in a corner as she expected, a testament no doubt to being raised by the strongest Satan ever born and the strongest Queen. Me having this child may have been a political move, but… She felt her belly, teeth clenched through the pain. Even Shalba was surprised when I was pregnant so soon, one chance in a million…
"Is that why?" She suddenly grunted aloud at Serafall, breathing heavily and cursing life with every breath. "You want another brat born to keep our species from slipping into the void?" Serafall looked back to her still smiling that sickeningly sweet way that drove her insane.
"I'd want to make sure any child was born who did nothing wrong, but that's not why I'm here Kat-chan. It's because it's YOUR child. When we were little girls, I said I'd be the best aunt ever, right?"
"We were just stupid kids," she huffed back, hand squeezing Serafall's as tight as she could yet the Leviathan Satan wasn't even flinching at the pain.
"You can make it through this, and I'll be here every step of the way."
"I-I heard about your condition," Millicas spoke up from the other side. "I am glad you turned the Old Satan Faction away from the Khaos Brigade. Not all of our ancestors were so cruel, right?"
"That's a matter of perspective you little bra…kid," she controlled her rage at seeing Serafall raise an eyebrow silently insisting to temper her abrasive personality around one so young. "I'm no saint."
"But you did the right thing before the end," he smiled in a way that confused the Old Satan. "It may take time, but I know our sides can reconcile, I just know it. We are one people after all."
"Trying to get ready to fill your father's shoes someday?" She couldn't help but notice how he was already thinking of their people as a whole beyond the usual divided factions and families. "I didn't expect the son of Sirzechs to be so soft."
"I've had some good friends show me that it isn't so bad. Mr. Issei and Ms. Bennia…"
"The Red Dragon Emperor and a Reaper? Great," Katerea leaned back with a groan. "Is it time YET!?"
"Probably still a couple of hours," the doctor advised again. "Sela, if you need to leave…"
"My family got out already," she cut him off. "My place is here and with Malakai guarding outside…wait."
"Malakai?" Serafall called out over their shared link, suddenly realizing he hadn't checked in regularly as commanded. "Malakai, come in! Oh no, KAT, MIL-!"
Serafall Leviathan summoned all her power, creating a barrier around each of those nearby one after the other as she sensed a sudden massive buildup of power from outside. A burst of light surpassing anything she'd ever fought personally roared into the delivery room filling it with the might of Heaven. The power covered everything for several seconds leaving everyone unable to open their eyes or risk blindness. As the divine radiance abated, a single man stepped through the door, the charred remains of Malakai slumped to the ground behind him.
"You truly are the strongest female devil, aren't you?" Cao Cao complimented as he looked upon Serafall Leviathan. She was barely moving, her barriers holding on the others at the expense of her own. Her skin was burned with a gaping wound blown through her chest. "I was assured that blast would have vaporized any of the older Satans, but your generation is something extraordinary even by their standards, aren't you?"
"You bastard!" The physician rushed him with a scalpel seeing Sela had also been incapacitated by the attack. He did not get far, being struck in the face with the butt end of the staff and flung over several tables all the while Katerea could only look on with growing anger, her condition preventing her from moving.
"In a head on fight, she would have obliterated you," the Old Satan spat at him, the hero glancing at her without a care.
"Hence my reason for not fighting her head on, my body is frail but the offensive power of the True Longinus is unmatched. Perhaps finishing her off will lure out the other three. I had originally planned to go after Diehasuer first and..."
Cao Cao flinched, feeling a sting on his back. Spinning, he spotted Millicas who'd completely eluded his senses due to his lack of power. The child had actually managed to muster a puff of destruction energy and lob it at him. With how weak it was, unfortunately Cao Cao was not wholly consumed, but it managed to weaken the defensive seal on his back and leave a minor burn.
"G-get away from her!" The boy tried to sound strong firing another plume of energy that was now easily parried.
"The heir to the Gremory family and son of the Crimson Satan?" Cao Cao turned to Millicas advancing on him threateningly. "With you, your father will surely have to face me."
"Leave…him…ALOOOOONNEEE!" Katerea roared out as a new contraction hit. The unstable demonic energy mixed with her voice creating a sonic boom of pure power. The wave hit Cao Cao, knocking him through a wall even with his defenses and allowing the son of Sirzechs to retreat to her bedside. The Old Satan collapsed backwards, her effort expending what energy she could spare from the birth. "Damnit, now would have been a great time to use the fucking serpent," she grumbled at the ultimate ability of the Leviathans, the Sea Serpent of the End, not having been inherited by herself but there was nothing she could do. "J-just leave."
"I won't!" Millicas raised his hand, clearly having trouble creating another attack of destruction. "If I do, you and Ms. Serafall will be…"
"We're dead anyway, at least you can get away." Katerea tried to sit up, but she failed once more as Cao Cao emerged from the wall bruised but otherwise unharmed. Raising the True Longinus, he aimed right at them giving no chance for any further strategies. The beam of pure light fired, Millicas couldn't keep his eyes open as Katerea wrapped him up in her elongated limbs and solidifying her skin as best she could.
A barrier emerged from the ground directly in front of Cao Cao, causing his own attack to blow back in his face and send him reeling again. The window nearest to the wounded devils exploded inward with Rossweisse leading the way followed by the others of the Crossroads by her side. Magic was firing as soon as they appeared, but Cao Cao had already prepared his Balance Breaker, the orbs redirecting it right back at them.
"Get down!" Le Fay called out, using her powers to deflect them away safely giving an opening for Thrud and Seekvaira to land inside.
"Nothing but women," Cao Cao activated another sphere. "If this is all you can muster, then…" He leapt back as he noticed a familiar weapon in the Agares heiress' hand, the same that had cost him back at the tower. "Damn that invention of Azazel."
"Go ahead and try," she threatened while aiming the gun at him. "It took you time to seal their powers before and I am sure no small amount of stamina. I'd love to see you waste more or even what you'd look like as a woman. Maybe we could even redirect that power right back at you in that situation, care to risk it?" The Hero Faction leader scowled before withdrawing the orb.
"No matter, you could not defeat me at your precious tower and you will not do so here. I know they can't move the old Leviathan; the advantage is mine." The Crossroad women looked to Katerea and back to him uncertain what to do.
"You can't move me," she informed them, hoping the group would get her meaning. "Everyone else in this hospital are elsewhere on this floor. There is no one above or below us."
"I'll protect them!" Le Fay soared out of the room, barely avoiding a swipe from Cao Cao.
"Really?" Thrud grinned from ear to ear as she hefted Gullbjorn onto her back, covering her body with a thick layer of Sage Art energy in the shape of glowing tattoo-like runic marks across it. "Then how about we bring the outside to us? I wish dad was here to see me try this. This is for Dorian!"
Raising her hands, lightning began to gather over her fingers now protected by the magics practiced in secret with Akeno and Koneko. Rumbling could be heard outside, a storm brewing that was not there a moment ago. Before the Hero Faction commander could take another step, a bolt so massive that it leveled the room struck the very spot upon which they were standing. Only Rossweisse's quick thinking prevented them from ending up exactly how they hoped Cao Cao would be once the dust settled. The display could be seen for miles off, the entire upper portion of the Sitri hospital simply ceasing to exist…
Lilith streets…
Kiba dashed to the side, Siegfried keeping up as pillars of ice exploded all around trying to trap the devil knight in a cold embrace. Without the worry for the life-draining attributes, the cloned heir to Fafnir's slayer could unleash the full might of all his weapons, a truly terrifying sight. The fight had dragged on for some time, Ratatoskr resting above panting heavily nearly out of energy, not that his ranged attacks would do anything to their opponent at this point.
One down, Kiba panted as sweat soaked his brow mixed with blood from an attack that had connected. He'd successfully shattered the sword of light in one of Siegfried's hands, but the other five were unique swords all their own and could not be destroyed so easily. They had traversed several city blocks, the buildings unable to withstand the destructive aura emanating from so many legendary weapons brought together. But my body can't keep this up, I have to…
"How are you still standing?!" Siegfried was growing frustrated as he swung all five of his Nordic-devil swords towards him. Kiba parried three, creating a demonic blade from his foot to block the following two. Following through, it impacted the cloned hero's shoulder, shattering on impact.
His body is that hard while in his Balance Breaker?! Even if I can hit him, what do I have that can pierce it?
"The aura of Gram is rending your body without touching." He gripped Kiba's foot as it failed to pierce his skin and threw him through another wall. Kiba could taste blood with pain wracking his chest, everything hurt as he picked himself up. "Your bones should all be broken!"
"Quite a few," Kiba admitted as his body shivered from the injuries. "But the way I see it, as long as even one remains intact, that's all I need to end someone like you."
"He's beginning to believe," Ratatoskr murmured to himself. "Believe that annoying your opponent can be the greatest tactic. Really get under his skin like that fly you just can't quite swat!" Siegfried's face had already begun to contort in frustration and anger.
Forming his swords into the shape of a cross, Siegfried caught Kiba's new follow-up, barely noticing an army of armored women appearing from the ground to leap upon him. Still with strength to spare, Kiba had summoned his Xenovia-constructs to prevent him from bringing all of his remaining swords to bare against him. Even with just two against him, Rias' Knight could feel his legs begin to wobble. He could not move fast enough as Gram came crashing down upon him.
Kiba managed to move but not before the cursed sword had nearly cut his entire arm completely off hanging on by only a thin flap of skin and muscle. Siegfried gave him no quarter, freezing his legs as he sped forward at near god-like speeds to finish the job.
"What?" Kiba asked as blood splattered his body, it was not his own.
"I thought…I might be able to block that," Tsubaki gasped as she dove in front of the attack with her Sacred Gear, Mirror Alice, prepared to defend. Instead, its ability to reflect damage had been ineffective against the unbeatable cutting power with Gram piercing through her chest and out her back.
"Tsuba…NO!" Converting his Holy-Devil sword into one of fire, he cauterized his wound and unleashed a torrent of flames that not even Siegfried could take, forced back as he sought to put himself out. The devil Queen fell into Kiba's arms, he ignored the pain as even his nearly-dismembered one helped to hold her. "I'm sorry, this will hurt." Tsubaki screamed as he burned both sides of her injuries to stop the flow of blood. "Why did you do that!?"
"I told you…not to die," she gasped, laying a hand on his cheek. "Y…you haven't even called me by my first name yet Yuuto."
"How touching," Siegfried cracked his neck. "Look at you both covered in blood and wounds, it's a pity you no doubt already used your healing tear. I, on the other hand…" he reached into his pockets for something, his face twisting in confusion as he came up with nothing. "Where is it!?"
"Looking for this, asshole?" Ratatoskr leapt down holding a pilfered vial of Phenex Tears in his hand and flipping him off with every hand he could spare. "Sappy love wins out over assholery any day!" With that, he broke the vial over Kiba and Tsubaki's heads. The effect was instantaneous, their numerous injuries starting to fade, the wound on Kiba's arm closing so it was fully attached leaving the blood stains and shredded clothing as the only sign they had been hurt at all. The two devils stared at each other and blinked noticing how close they now were.
"This is the first time you've held me in your arms," she admitted before they got to their feet, Kiba helping her up. "You've spent so much time with Xenovia, I worried that I may have fallen behind."
"You haven't, Shinra," he kissed her hand before stepping between her and Siegfried. "Please step back, I feel better but we've both lost a lot of blood. The Phenex Tears can't heal that."
"Oho, there is that killing intent," Siegfried looked almost happy at the glare of anger focused his way. "Is that all it takes, to almost kill your side piec…" He nearly failed to dodge the blast of holy and devil energy from Kiba's sword thrown his way without hesitation.
I can barely stand; my limits are coming up but I can't fall yet. If I do, he'll kill Tsubaki and then start picking off the others one by one. Like Cao Cao, his attacks can be devastating if they get a first strike. One more push, that's what I need. I can't give up to…
"I will NOT kneel to you again," Kiba brought his sword to bear against Siegfried who put his own up more defensively now uncertain just how much more his opponent could take. "I was born with this power to create swords, swords that will be used to protect my King, my friends…and those I love," he glanced to Tsubaki once more, creating a new force of Xenovia knights behind him. He took another step closer to him, then another. "I can still fight!" His voice rang out strong despite his exhausted body.
"Y-you're an idiot!" Siegfried's demeanor was starting to fray. "Despite my injuries, you still have your limits. I am a recreation of one of history's greatest heroes, you are just a reincarnated devil nobody!"
"If there's one thing I've learned since being found by Rias, it's that willpower can be a powerful thing whether it's for the betterment of others, love, pain, even breasts." Tsubaki deadpanned at his last remark referencing his dear friend still lost to them.
"How, HOW can you still stand, and why, why does Gram feel so heavy!?" Siegfried glanced down at the strongest of his swords, an unbelievable radiance shining from it. It was not a light of hostility as it had been before, but rather one of acceptance focused solely on Yuuto Kiba. "NO! Stop it! I am your wielder, only one descended from Siegfried himself is worthy enough! Why!?"
"Ohoho, I believe you just answered your own question," Ratatoskr bounded closer with a giddy expression. "I KNEW you smelled familiar when we first met kid; I almost didn't recognize the features behind that devil odor."
"Recognized me?" Kiba stared in awe as the handle burned Siegfried's hand causing the powerful Nordic-Devil sword to fly through the air buried into the ground at his own feet. "I don't understand."
"Go on, pick it up," the squirrel motioned to the sword.
"But the curse will kill me."
"I don't think so, if it does anything I'll take the hit for you like those dragon flunkies of his. Trust me." Hesitantly, yet with confidence, Kiba gripped the handle feeling an enormous power welling within it flow into him. Unlike Siegfried, it did not seek to sap his life force from him, instead reinforcing him with its own energy. "I think Gram likes you better."
"Me? But why, I am not…"
"Yer smell," Ratatoskr interrupted. I TOLD you that you smelled good, tell me kid, do you know anything of your pappy?"
"No," he admitted. "I was an orphan found by the church; I never knew my parents."
"I don't know who yer daddy was, but I know who yer great great great great, etc. grandpappy was." He motioned to the sword in his hand. "It's been so many centuries since I got to hang with the guy, I must be getting rusty not realizing it sooner. YOU are an heir to the original Siegfried and Gram knew it, probably was just looking for a reason to ditch the bad copy over there. That determination in yer voice must have finally made up its mind. Siegfried had so many issues with his love life, maybe seeing you willing to defend yours sparked something in it."
I'm…descended from a hero?
"I am the true descendent!" Siegfried roared as if he could make it not so. "Not Freed, not Lint and certainly not YOU!"
"Tell it to the sword," the rodent pointed to the blade with a shit-eating grin. "When you think about it, after so many centuries it stands to reason there'd be more than a few tykes running around with SOME relation to him. Are those other four swords of yours together even close to Gram? I guess we'll find out, what was it you were saying about it being able to cut anything…even that tough skin of yours?"
I need to hurry before I pass out from blood loss, just one opening I can see.
"You won't get a chance!" Siegfried started summoning pillars of ice beneath Kiba hoping to slow him down once more, his speed still an ongoing threat.
"Sword Birth! Everyone…protect my advance!" Kiba proclaimed as a new platoon of armored women emerged between him and Siegfried. Ratatoskr couldn't help but notice the features of half the troop now resembled Tsubaki. A fact that the young Queen herself didn't miss, hiding a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Get…out…of my way!" Siegfried roared cutting down each knight, a task that felt harder as if they were stronger than ever before.
Kiba rushed closer as blades exploded around him like a road leading to his foe. One by one, his armored soldiers took up the various swords from the most recent birth making them all the more dangerous. The Hero Faction fighter remained focused on Kiba, but could not land a blow with the women taking the hits for him. He was getting closer and closer, Siegfried roaring as he unleashed a combined attack from all four of his remaining swords. He coughed up blood realizing that the last of his dragon specimens had succumbed to the curse of his swords. To his eternal glee, the combined assault stopped Kiba in his tracks blasting him to the floor and annihilating all his remaining armored constructs.
"HA! In the end, I wi…!"
"SWORD BIRTH!"
Kiba's words seemed to stop Siegfried in his tracks, more blood flowed from the artificial human's mouth as he paused. Looking down, he realized the sword Gram was protruding from his back and out the front despite no opponents being there. "You," he only then noticed Kiba was not holding Gram, a fact obscured by the many troops protecting him and the Holy Demonic sword he had swapped it for. "How did you…?"
"You tactical son of a bitch!" Ratatoskr cheered at the final blow struck. "You handed the sword off to your battle harem and snuck it behind him while he was stuck on you, using Sword Birth to propel it into his back? Ha!" He slapped his knee. "I'd be surprised if even Cao Cao himself could have come up with that one on the fly!"
"So, this is how it ends?" Siegfried gently patted the blade of Gram despite still burning him, the sword that had now quite literally stabbed him in the back. "So, the life drain was a punishment for me being of Siegfried's blood but not worthy? Is that why you stirred so much near the devil knight? You could tell the entire time and just wanted to see if he was a better match?" He started to laugh.
Kiba staggered to his feet with help from Tsubaki, limping over to the paralyzed Siegfried. With a stern expression, he seized the hilt and pulled it free from the smoking body. With the weapon removed, Siegfried slumped to his knees as his fingers started to crumble.
"A hero in blood and name, but not actions," Siegfried muttered an insult levied at him long spoken since the days of his youth at the church. "Some things just can't be cloned."
"There is no time to find a healer and you forced usage of the only Phenex Tears," Kiba remarked with an emotionless voice. "Tell us where Cao Cao is, your attack can't succeed."
"I have lost in arms and power; my loyalty will not be next. If any of your Satans show themselves, it will mean their death. Yet if they do not, then it is the death of your city and Leonardo will move onto the next. A devil hero, how utterly…" he could not finish the sentence as he fell forward, his body shattering into a thousand grains of sand to be blown away in the wind upon impact. Kiba could not stand after that and collapsed again, Tsubaki catching him as he started to lose consciousness.
"Yuuto! Hold on," Tsubaki insisted as she tried what she could to stabilize him.
"Yea! Can't have the new Siegfried kicking the bucket after that epic display!" Ratatoskr started slapping him in the face clearly meant to keep him awake. "I am sure Asia will be here any moment!"
"…iah…"
"What was that?" Tsubaki leaned closer to hear him better.
"Isaiah," Kiba repeated softly, stealing a soft kiss on her cheek and a weak grin. "My birth name before Rias found me, Shinra…was Isaiah."
Lilith Hospital…
"Well, that was close," Le Fay remarked with a pep in her step. "You couldn't have waited two more minutes so I didn't almost miss a few!?"
"What can I say?" Thrud panted as she caught her breath, hair frizzled outward like a lion's mane still crackling with energy. "I've always wanted to do that."
Rossweisse's own hair whipped in the wind blowing through the destroyed building, the roof having been completely destroyed and opening them to the outside. Thankfully, between Le Fay having gathered all the others scattered in the hospital together to shield them and the Valkyrie's own fast thinking to stabilize Serafall's injuries, they were all alive and accounted for. Cao Cao had disappeared beneath the rubble, giving them a moment as they hoped with little success that it may have been the end of him.
"Sh-she can't be moved via magic," the doctor nursed an open wound on his head as he helped Sela back to her feet. "We need to keep her safe, if we move her at all, I cannot guarantee the child's safety."
"Then I'll walk myself!" Katerea tried to get up only to collapse back in the bed with aggravation burning in her eyes.
"Being confident won't help here," he educated her as she failed to get up again. "You aren't standing again until this little one is born! Sela, can you…?"
"Here doctor," she handed him a fresh pair of gloves and a new syringe despite the bruises covering her face. "You aren't leaving and neither am I." In that moment, he'd never been so proud of her.
"Ugh," the grumbling could be heard as a patch of rubble was thrown up revealing the Hero Faction leader. He was bruised and battered, but with a quick pop of a bottle from beneath his robe and suddenly he was fully healed. "That was close."
"Your reliance on the stolen tears is getting annoying," Seekvaira stepped forward. As a devil heiress, she felt the desire to speak as there were none of the Phenex family present. "Hecuba was right, your group is utterly detestable to your chosen name. Your forces are being dealt with; you will NOT destroy our home."
"Your forces can't stop the Jabberwocky even if the Bandersnatch all fall; it is Leonardo's pride and joy. Only your leaders might have a chance and they cower in fear of this spear." He motioned to the unconscious Serafall still on the floor. "I need not even kill you; it will do that soon enough."
He pointed out behind them as a terrifying roar filled their ears. To Rossweisse's dismay, the grand anti-monster dragon could be seen soaring towards them. Lights and explosions surrounded it as they could tell dozens of devils, none beneath ultimate class, could be seen battling it with Diehauser and Grayfia among them. Despite heroic efforts and their best abilities honed over centuries of life, none of their assaults could stick with every bit of damage dealt healing in a matter of seconds with no lingering effects. They were too late; it had reached the city. Before their very eyes, the devils merged their powers into a singular grand attack that slammed into the creature…the damage as inconsequential as all the rest.
"I-it's impossible," Rossweisse gasped in absolute despair. The combined assault that had stopped several Bandersnatch seemed totally pointless against the Jabberwocky flying high above. Her mind raced, the only strategies remaining being those of desperation.
"You cannot leave this building," he glanced to Katerea, "and neither can you stop it. Your alliance counts for nothing against the army we can field. First it will be Lilith, but once the capital of the Underworld is burned, we will march on Olympus, Asgard, not even those outside of your alliance will be safe."
"Not Asgard, not Olympus, nowhere else!" Rossweisse stepped forward after a moment, her body glowing silver from head to toe. "You may succeed in killing us here, but that doesn't matter. Our alliance stands despite all you've done to try driving them apart. I won't back down, not even to…"
"Rose," Thrud whispered before she could continue. "You're glowing…LITERALLY!"
Rossweisse looked down at her hands finally seeing the soft silver shimmer. Turning her fingers over again and again, she could feel the warmth within her, a feeling that was as familiar as it was unmistakable.
It's my High Queen piece reacting, but that can only mean…Dorian!? Looking over, Seekvaira was similarly glowing a gentle purple, her Shield piece also reacting.
"That must mean he's near!"
In tandem with their realization, the Jabberwocky swopped low, twin maws opening to unleash a renewed burst of its destructive power. The surge of energy erupted forth only to disappear within a raging vortex that exploded into existence between the defenders and the anti-monster behemoth. The winged abomination veered away, unwilling to challenge the portal that had appeared so large it threatened to put the Hero Faction's creation to shame. One by one, the devil, emergency and elite teams alike, looked up at one more thing to threaten their homes that day.
"What now!?" Diehauser Belial groaned, the frustration at his team's ineffectiveness multiplying at the idea of yet another threat emerging. The strongest Queen, Grayfia, hovered beside him eyeing the object in the sky.
"It does not feel like more foes," she muttered low using the moment to catch her breath. "Look!"
A shape emerged so large it took much of the enormous portal to accommodate it. It was massive and metallic looming high above the others that took several seconds to clear the event horizon. Behind it, they could see the silhouette of a red dragon. Rossweisse couldn't have been sure, but it almost looked like the strongest being in their world was winking at them with a thumbs up.
"Zoom Zoom, nyaaaan!" The phrase from the Oppai dragon show echoed before being silenced. She wasn't sure if she preferred that it was actually said, or if she was just going mad. The vortex sealed behind them, cutting off any chance of confirming the insane observation. At last, they saw what had come through.
"Boss man!" Ratatoskr called out above with a booming voice. "What the fuck have you brought me when it's not even Christmas!?"
Sure enough, in the skies high above Lilith stood Dorian at the bow of the largest battleship anyone had ever seen. Bigger than most buildings, it held the vague shape of sea vessels used by the Norse people ages ago but far larger with clear augmentations to the design straight out of science fiction. It was made of a silvery metal no one could place at first glance; sails blew in the wind though clearly could fly without them. Powerful engines propelled it forward, segmented ports on either side threatening what may lie within.
"It looks like someone smashed together Vikings and Star Trek!" Ratatoskr blurted out in a not inaccurate statement. "Why isn't he doing anything?" As the seconds ticked on, it became somewhat awkward as the machine of destruction just hovered above. Even the Jabberwocky's courage returned, its confusion at the new threat lessening at the lack of any action.
"I-I don't know what that ship is capable of," Rossweisse tried to theorize. "But surely Dorian has a plan…right?"
High Above…
"We're clear! Issei, GO, and give Cao Cao our regards."
"Don't need to tell me twice!"
The Red Dragon Emperor leapt over the side of the ship, great wings erupting into being as he soared down towards the hospital where they knew the Hero Faction leader was held up. He wouldn't let them win again. Cao Cao's eyes went wide as the devil Pawn came at him like a falling comet. The two collided with an explosion that drove them from the hospital, the look of rage in the young man's eyes would have made Sairaorg proud.
"Everyone else, you're clear to disembark! Iggy, put us between the Jabberwocky and the hospital!"
"I'll pay you for the taxi later!"
Azazel took flight alongside Freyja, Dulio and all those who had been sent to deal with Hades except for Indra and his Vanguard guarding his movements. Zepar, Hecuba and Irina directed a contingent of angels backing them up, even the Valkyrie trio with dozens of their sisters at their side poured from the main deck. But most surprising of all, legions of fire Jotun of Musphelheim surged over the side swarming towards the lesser monsters and forming battle lines to prepare for the oncoming larger Bandersnatch. In an instant, the tide had turned for the first time that day. Once the gathered reinforcements were emptied, Dorian looked down at the controls with an awkward expression.
"Um, Vaetta," he whispered hesitantly. "I think we used up our dramatic entrance, please tell me you figured out how to fire the guns."
"That should do it!" Iggy shouted in an elated tone as she turned the pages of a book they had discovered within the ship that was essentially a manual for its use. The Sacred Gear spirit was currently at the controls shaped like an old sailing ship steering wheel. From beneath her dress, root tendrils snaked down into the floorboards reaching into every nook and cranny of the ship she could find making up for the lack of a crew. Atop her head, she wore a hastily made, wide-brimmed admiral hat that fit her new role perfectly. "I think I understand the energy requirements and firing solutions. We are set to fire on your command!"
"Target the Jabberwocky," his voice boomed as he gave a warning to the allied forces still fighting near it. "I suggest ALL friendlies move AWAY from the creature! Nagalfr guns…aim!"
The shining battleship of Nordic design turned in such a way as to show its side to the incoming anti-monster dragon. Once they were in position, the segmented ports slid open to reveal dozens of cannon muzzles all with a bright rainbow light building to an apex at the tip of each. The Jabberwocky did not understand the threat and continued its advance. Dorian held onto the side, Vaetta's Waltz armor shining brightly as the gems of all Nine Realms fed energy into the vessel.
"Full broadside, FIRE!"
The resulting hail of magic was so bright it lit up the area like a flash of lightning. Rossweisse couldn't even determine what the weapons were firing, almost seeming to be a mixture of various magical energies strengthened to unimaginable proportions. The devils who had been fighting the Jabberwocky moved away just in time as entire swathes of its body were torn from it with every shot. The volleys that missed collided into the ground vaporizing masses of creatures that had gathered including a pair of Bandersnatch.
"It's not enough, the monster is still regenerating!" Diehauser called out seeing the wounds healing as they had done before.
"That may be so, but it can feel pain," Grayfia pointed upwards as the creature had a look of clear fear, banking away from the impressive warship to hide across the city where it had already leveled buildings on the outskirts. "We have a moment to breathe!"
"Dorian!" Rossweisse was first forward as the ship pulled up alongside the hospital remains, the Einherjar disembarking while Iggy continued to control it, the cannons clearing out any monsters that tried to approach.
She was embracing him before another word was said, Dorian running his hands through her hair. Their moment alone did not last as Thrud's powerful arms claimed them both in a bear hug, Kuroka glomping him from behind, even Bennia leapt into the air around the group. Hecuba and Zepar drew close, unable to resist smiles at the reunion. Herja, Brynda and Misty joined the pile, Xenovia and Irina jumping for joy at seeing each other again. Aika pushed up her glasses grinning from ear to ear bringing up the rear. She was not strong enough to fight, but eager to help with relief efforts.
It was only then, crushed from all sides, that Dorian realized the truth of the situation. The Crossroads were back together, every single one of them. The smile on his face could not be contained in that moment, but they were not in the clear yet.
"Lady Leviathan, we can take you aboard to safety."
"She cannot be moved son!" The doctor insisted once more with growing frustration at having to repeat himself over and over. "She has to stay right here or we risk further complications to the baby." Dorian thought for a moment before answering.
"So, she just has to remain stationary?" The doctor nodded. "Well then, here you go."
Flipping Laerad Ragnarök to an azure gem, a portal to the Roads opened around the Old Satan Leviathan. Without moving, the table, medical equipment and all the other hospital survivors, including Serafall, found themselves within the Road Between Realms nestled safely within a secure glade surrounded on all sides by large trees.
"Is this everything you need?" Dorian asked making sure the necessary machinery and supplies were brought in to help with the birthing. He nodded with a look of relief on his face, clearly the strain of worrying for his life and that of the mother and child adding a few years to his visage. "Yggdrasil, is this okay?"
"I would gladly welcome the birth of new life into this world. You may leave them here Dorian, I will protect them until your battle is done."
"Thank you, High King!" Millicas bowed politely. "You and the Oppai Dragon, Issei, will protect us, right?" Dorian nodded assuredly. "Then I'm staying."
"It is very dangerous," Dorian tried to explain. "Your father…"
"Is a leader of our kind, I-I may not be big like him, but he and mother always said how important I was to our people. I w-want to be seen so they know my family are fighting for them to the end! I am not backing down." The worry in his voice despite his words caused Dorian to smile.
He is trying to start being a leader so young, I'll have some competition.
"You stay safe Ms. Leviathan," the red-haired boy turned to Katerea. "I am sorry I could not help you more, in a few years I'll do my best to protect all the women around me."
"Yea, th-thanks," Katerea begrudgingly muttered before switching gears, screaming once more now at Yggdrasil. "Help her first!" She pointed towards the wounded Serafall as the portal started closing. "If you don't, so help me I'll tear your boughs limb from…!" With that last word the portal closed leaving the entire Crossroad Team together in the blasted hospital.
"This ship, your arrival, all these reinforcements," Rossweisse finally caught her breath to speak. "How, how did all of this come to be? Last we saw, you were falling into a portal with Moloch at the tower!"
"That," Dorian started. "Is a bit of a story…"
Dorian returns to the battle atop the Nagalfr with Issei, those who had journeyed to the Land of the Dead and an army through unknown means. He'll regale the others with how it occurred before moving to test the new vessel of power against the strongest anti-monster ever conceived. I wanted to thank everyone again, passing the 2000 review mark, another milestone that seemed impossible when I first started. I probably sound like a broken record, but from those who read regularly to those who occasionally read it, it is truly appreciated from the bottom of my heart. Until next time, I hope everyone stays safe, Reads and Reviews, but most of all Enjoys! :D