FenrisFiltiarn: The required beach chapter of any anime lol. Thank you, he'll have to get clever in the days ahead.
Jwebb96: They really are, one can't be fighting all the time.
J0ker981: There has to be at least one XD
Hollowreaper 93: Are they now? *scratches chin* We'll soon find out what they have planned this chapter, I hope Rose and Dorian's interactions this chapter are to your liking :D
fanficcyberman: That means so much to hear you say that :D Prepare for Dorian and Rose's first awkward foray into growing closer...
Slayer Cross: LOL, I'll say, ripping a woman's swimsuit off...for shame XD Ratatoskr would have been proud.
Fbio: Thank you :)
naruto: Indeed it does, hopefully not too much trouble as Rose and Dorian are out together being tailed by a certain curious four lol
FireFox614: I'm not sure what you mean, what do you mean I slipped up? I admit I am considering Harem elements due to the fact it is DxD, but Rossweisse is the only one Dorian is looking at that way. Dorian will always be the antithesis of Issei, he certainly is no pervert. Actually in canon Issei is 17 as well, the youngest are Koneko, Ravel and Bennia at 16 and Rias/Akeno are 18 going by Japanese high school ages. I thought the same, Bennia felt like such a fun character but as NOT a love interest of Issei was relegated to the background in canon though was perfect for an Olympian representative considering she was formerly a reaper of Hades. Plenty of other mythologies...we'll have to wait and see ;)
FateBurn: I most certainly will, I hope to never disappoint :D
The flashy red sports car sped through the streets of Asgard, with the top down wind whipped past them, causing his braids and Rossweisse's long flowing locks to billow through the air. The young Einherjar seldom went out at night and it was a welcome change to see how different the city looked after hours.
The architecture was as foreign as ever though he had started learning what was what. By night, lights of all shapes and colors illuminated the area bathing it in an aurora borealis-like effect not dissimilar from the Bifrost itself. Dorian couldn't appreciate the beauty outside due to his focus on the beauty within.
Rossweisse was driving, both hands on the wheel looking as official as ever. She was wearing the same purple sweater dress beneath her overcoat as the festival. She would never admit it, but it was one of the few public semi-formal items in her wardrobe. Considering she was so driven towards her work, her outfits predominately included business suits and, on her occasional days off, very casual baggy comfortable clothes she wouldn't be caught dead wearing outside her home.
Dorian had selected his gold tunic, recalling it as the first outfit he wore upon waking in Asgard so it felt fitting though realized he should expand his own wardrobe. Thankfully, they had departed the dormitory before anyone could catch them and Iggy had withdrawn to give them privacy. He was on his own. After the initial greeting and compliment to her attire they had been nearly silent the entire way, both uncertain how to proceed with awkward smiles.
"I've never been to a place like this," Dorian admitted again.
"Nor I," Rossweisse answered without taking her eyes off the road. "How did you hear about it?"
"The elven attendant at the festival, the one who painted the shield recommended it. Since temperatures are very moderate, they don't have anything like it in Alfheim. I…am glad you could make it."
Rossweisse lowered her gaze a bit, trying in vain to hide the blush he only made worse.
"So am I."
They pulled up in front of an imposing building. At first glance it could have been mistaken for a Colosseum or arena with the rendition of a large Jotun racing across the roof trailing a banner with brightly colored lights.
"The Jotun's Breath."
Dorian exited the vehicle, a tad disappointed as he saw Rossweisse get out before he could offer to open the door for her. He marveled over the sleek red design of the chosen car, it clearly looked very extravagant which caused great confusion as he had seen the small accommodations of her house.
"This is impressive," he looked it up and down, sliding his hand over it gently for fear of damaging the paint. "Was it a gift for your service?"
Rossweisse suddenly looked VERY nervous, glancing away as she tugged at her gloves nonchalantly.
"Oh, that is a b-boring story," she turned towards the building, gloves now stuffed securely in her pockets. "We'd best make our way inside before it gets too busy."
I wasn't able to open the car door, no matter. I can just open the door to the building for her, I…OH COME ON!
The front door was an automatic, sliding open with a soft hiss at their approach, denying his second attempt to act the gentleman. His frustration was building faster multiplied by how nervous he already was.
Calm…down, she is in the same boat. You can stop sweating now.
Dorian pushed the oddly helpful thoughts out of his head; breathing deep he regained his composure as they approached the front desk. A young man was behind it wearing a formal suit but without the jacket.
"Two please," Dorian slipped in the appropriate amount for a few hours. The young man smiled back with a twiddle of his mustache still growing in.
"Ah, welcome Mr. Held, Ms. Rossweisse," the young Valkyrie smiled at the recognition. Just the previous evening Odin had forgotten her name while ordering drinks, a common occurrence which usually resulted in snapping his fingers repeatedly to summon her while barely putting in the effort to recall it. She thought back to her first day meeting Dorian back when he mispronounced her name, the similarity of something so simple pushing her to fighting him far more earnestly than she should have. "You are in luck; our special today is couples night, extra discounts." He handed back the difference with a wink before motioning towards the next in line.
"Th-thank you," Dorian averted his eyes in one direction as Rossweisse did the same in the other. Handing a wristband to his companion, they made their way to the locker rooms unaware of the four familiar shapes subtly slipping into the back of the line.
An Undisclosed Establishment...
"You sure know how to throw a party!" Azazel asserted upon downing another beer.
"It's the least I could do," Odin released a quick laugh as their empty mugs were collected by a waitress wearing a purposefully low-cut skimpy jumpsuit that was little more than a glorified swimsuit. She threw the two VIPs a wink before trotting off for refills, making sure to walk in such a way to accentuate her curves.
"If only Michael and the other Satans thought the same as us ya old bastard, our 'deliberations' would be far more interesting."
"One day you young pup," the Allfather to the Norse gods asserted. "Oh, especially that Serafall of theirs...is everything moving forward?"
Azazel glanced to the side, becoming more serious than he had acted all evening and noticing a similar look in Odin.
"With that holy sword business resolved, Sirzechs was more than willing to reopen talks at last. Apparently he received a request from his little sister that coincided with our hopes. Can't imagine what gave her that idea."
Odin gave an absolutely smug grin in response to his old friend's statement.
"Speaking of whom, I noticed your bodyguard was different," he motioned to the emerald-haired Valkyrie currently watching the entrance trying her best to not look at the women of questionable attires around her. "Plus your means of transportation was a little less...flashy than I have come to expect."
"I lent the car out for the evening per request for a...'noble' cause."
"A noble cause?" Azazel could not hold back his devilish smile. "Helping a certain young man get lucky?"
"If he has half a brain in that head of his, that car has some of my fondest memories with my beloved Frigga," he sighed back with a puff of smoke remembering simpler times. "I informed my prude of a bodyguard that the backseat is especially roomy for..."
The Allfather and Grigori Governor-General paused, eyes darting to their sides so subtly no one would have questioned they had seen anything. A small shape darted into the shadows of the stage, they watched him while also enjoying the show that had just started. One of the girls was a favorite of Odin yet even her exquisite performance only held part of his attention as she let her clothes drop to the floor one by one in a tantalizingly slow fashion..
"Did you see that?"
"I did, it seems we may get a chance to whip some runts into shape after all, perhaps Mr. Held won't be the only person laying into someone tonight."
The Jotun's Breath…
"Dorian…I'm not going to make it."
"It's okay Rose, I'm almost there. Just hold on a little longer."
"I…can't!" She called out loudly, gripping Dorian's arms as he did the same to hers.
The couple finally stumbled onto the ice, having barely balanced on their rented skates for the treacherous few feet required to reach the rink. Dorian took the final step, pulling Rossweisse gripping his arm onto the smooth ice; neither had skated before and clearly underestimated the difficulty of staying upright in their unfamiliar footwear. Their plans for the evening included an hour or two free-skating before going to a respectable restaurant for dinner.
"See," Dorian exhaled with a sigh of relief as they drifted forward. "Made it."
"I am beginning to think this was a mistake," the young Valkyrie asserted, shuffling her feet to keep in motion. Dorian was faring little better, relying on momentum to keep going hoping that finding a way to stop was a far-off requirement.
It was currently free-skating time and the area was packed. Dozens of men, women and children were gliding across the frozen surface with the most apparent of ease. And then there was Lady Freyja's retainer and the Allfather's bodyguard, meandering from one side to the other at a snail's pace. Their hands were interlocked, though the tenderness was lost by the strong grip to ensure the other did not fall or lose their footing. Somehow they survived several laps with this strategy though were considerably slower than most other patrons.
"Not…so bad," Dorian remarked while leaning back to avoid wobbling. "If we just follow the side and go in a straight line this isn't so bad."
"These calculations should be simple," Rossweisse asserted despite her skates continuing to quiver. "To maintain balance on metal sheets so thin on a hard surface will require…"
Come on, think. Dorian started contemplating as Rossweisse struggled to right herself. This is supposed to be fun, a chance for us to talk and…see if this is something we both want.
"Maybe if we take our minds off it our reflexes can do the work," Dorian theorized. He was happy beyond words at spending time with Rossweisse alone and didn't want to give up from their lack of experience.
His partner nodded along, her eyes still transfixed on her feet, mind obviously racing a mile a second trying to master the seemingly simplistic technique.
"Um, did you know that the first skates were actually made out of bones bound with leather straps?" He picked the first thing that popped into his head, immediately punching himself internally at such a stupid choice.
"I…didn't?" Rossweisse replied with a pause, her face contorting in confusion at his choice of topic. "That sounds...interesting."
This is getting painful to watch.
"It was the most readily available material they had that could be fashioned to traverse frozen lakes when the need called for it," he was talking faster and faster as his mind raced. "I can only imagine how difficult skating would be on animal bones."
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
The intercom's explosion of sound and feedback caused them to jump, Dorian the first to lose his balance and begin falling backwards.
"Dorian!" Rossweisse called, throwing her weight back to counterbalance.
She succeeded in stopping him before he collided though now lost her footing as her legs slipped out from under her. Dorian performed the same maneuver, steadying her at the expense of his own stability. The two pulled up simultaneously, nearly crashing into each other were it not for their arms embracing as they came together. The two just stood there, faces mere centimeters away completely still, clinging to each other fearful that a single wrong move from either would send both tumbling to the ground.
AT THIS TIME OUR COUPLES SKATING NIGHT WILL BEGIN, SO IF ALL THOSE NOT HERE WITH THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE COULD PLEASE LEAVE THE RINK. WE WILL BE HAVING THE REMAINDER OF FREE-SKATING IN ARENA THREE. THANK YOU AND TO ALL YOU LOVEBIRDS…ENJOY.
The lights dimmed around them as many of the skaters vacated the area, leaving a few dozen remaining all separated into pairs. Multi-colored lights snapped on one by one and danced across the area, an especially bright yellow fixture by chance centering squarely on the young Einherjar and Valkyrie. Soft music indicative of Asgard began to play over the loud speakers, a melody to the tale of Frithiof.
Frithiof, a young warrior who fell in love with the maiden Ingeborg and she him yet were separated by the machinations of her older brothers to wed Ingeborg to an elder king and banish Frithiof. Against all odds, the man rose to fame and fortune overseas, returning to become a champion of the very king she had wed. In thanks for his service, Ingeborg was freed to wed Frithiof upon his death with vengeance against her brothers soon to follow. A story reinforcing the indomitable power of love most true.
Despite the music choice, they remained fixed on each other's eyes, the small talk and worry of looking foolish in front of the other having fallen away. With the awkward hand placement holding them together and standing, the two could have been mistaken for attempting to slow dance upon the frozen ground. As the other couples skated across the rink, they remained still save for the occasional shuffling to remain upright.
"You gave yourself another braid," Rossweisse pointed out, the evidence now too close to miss. He had improved though it was still painfully obvious which she had given and which he'd done himself.
"I-I thought it was fitting, after getting Hrotti back and..."
"It suits you," she interrupted before he misunderstood. "May you find cause to make many more."
"I hope this won't cause any problems for you," he whispered after a moment of silence while brushing a strand of long silver hair from her face.
"Wh-why would it ever be a problem?" Rossweisse stuttered, flustered at the situation they found themselves in.
"I mean, I am an Einherjar…and you are a Valkyrie. I seem to recall a legend or two where that was frowned upon."
"N-no longer," she attempted to hide her joy at the words. "It is true they say in the days of the previous Allfather Borr that such…couplings were forbidden. However when Odin took the throne the restrictions were lifted on the condition it did not interfere with our…I mean their respective duties."
"Do I," he asked hesitantly gazing into her ocean blue eyes, "Interfere?"
Not far…
"I can't hear a thing!" Bennia complained as the four tagalongs looked around the corner from within the locker room. She was currently sitting atop the Spartan's shoulders trying to peer over the arena wall.
"Based on their interactions, I suppose this was an inevitable outcome," Hecuba asserted, ignoring the Grim Reaper using her as a ladder while squinting to see closer.
"So a skating excursion is an acceptable form of recreation on rendezvous of a romantic nature?" Xenovia muttered to herself as she jotted down her observations into a small notebook she carried making sure no one could see the other information contained within.
"They are so cute together," Bennia gushed. "Can we go congratulate them?"
"How do we know it's going well?"
"I think the situation speaks for itself." Hecuba smiled serenely, none of the three paying attention to Thrud in the rear tall enough to see over their heads.
Too slow I suppose.
The four women were crouched down, remaining out of view of the skaters. Unfortunately, they were completely visible to everyone in the locker and café area behind them, trying to ignore the four clearly spying on the two.
"We should leave them be," Thrud pulled the others back with a somber smile followed by a yawn. "I think we've been out long enough."
"We can't leave yet!" Bennia moaned as Hecuba let her down. "We just got here."
As if on cue, a young woman in a suit minus the jacket, the uniform of the Jotun's Breath, approached carrying a tray of four steaming mugs.
"Four for a Ms. Bennia?"
"That's me!" She waved her hands back and forth, accepting the first cup as the other three tentatively took the remaining.
"You ordered drinks?" Xenovia raised an eyebrow while taking a quick sip.
"Not just any drinks, coffee!" The exuberant girl announced before downing half of hers in one gulp.
"Is that wise?" Thrud took a step back at the sight of their already hyperactive teammate drinking what she was sure coursed through her veins 24/7. Her words were too late.
"Ihavenoideawhatyouaretalkingabout. Thisstuffisfantastic,reallykeepsyougoingandgoing. Wecankeepaneyeonthem ALLLLLLL nightwiththese,areyougoingtofinishyours?" She was practically jittering, lips peeled back in a wide grin.
"Bennia…put down the coffee…"
Hecuba and Thrud could only stare in disbelief along with the rest of the crowd as Xenovia chased Bennia around the area. The youngest member of The Crossroads had no need for her teleports as she kept ahead of the exasperated swordswoman who always came up short. Passing patrons kept their heads down, ignoring the commotion. The redhead glanced over to her friend, seeing a bit more than she let on as she patted her on the back.
"Would it cheer you up to restrain our friend? I know it would perk me right up."
"I…don't know what you mean. There is nothing to…"
Thrud halted mid-sentence, both she and Hecuba glancing to the far end of the lobby beyond the lockers. They spotted what at first glance looked like an overly bundled patron slip past quickly into the shadows, disappearing into a door marked for staff only.
"Did you sense that?" Thrud whispered.
"I did," Hecuba confirmed, "Heavily suppressed, but an aura nonetheless."
Even Bennia and Xenovia stopped as she had hoisted the Grim Reaper into the air, noticing the stranger who failed to hide his presence well enough for their trained senses. Xenovia especially recognized the familiar tingling up her back honed over years of hunting such beings for the church.
"Devils…"
Back in the Rink…
"Do I," Dorian asked hesitantly, gazing into Rossweisse's ocean blue eyes, "Interfere?"
The music and sound of other couples was drowned out and all became silent around them as the meaning of his question struck home in the young Valkyrie. It seemed like such a simple inquiry, yet both knew it was far beyond that.
"It's…not so simple," she replied, clearly torn on her answer. "You know nothing about me."
"What are you talking about? We've known each other for months, not as long as I'd like admittedly but considering all we've been through…"
"You don't know everything," every shortcoming she perceived as the reason such encounters did not happen more often ran through her mind. "I've never been in a situation like this, for so long I only focused on my studies after failing to become the head of my family, you haven't even met most of them." Dorian still had no idea the old woman who helped him before his fight with Modi had been her grandmother.
Wanting to know more about your dreams of the Trihexa, despite how horrible they sound. If I was the woman you think I am I wouldn't focus on that…I shouldn't.
"Isn't that what this is for?" He pointed out, "To get to know each other better? I haven't exactly told you about myself in great detail other than a few stories."
"It's not the same; the Allfather briefed me on your history before you awoke." She suddenly looked very guilty. "Your time abroad, the various institutions you studied at including your grades, what happened to your parents in that car wreck…"
Dorian's face flattened as his grip tightened around her somewhat. It had been a long time since he thought about that day in detail…the day that had claimed his parent's lives yet spared his own. She knew about it, he guessed it was obvious they would have looked into him before allowing his inclusion as Lady Freyja's retainer. Even still, thinking about it again caused his mind to go blank; he couldn't think what to say, not at first.
"It might not be simple," he whispered after several seconds of silence as his mind calmed enough to think. "But I want to try; tonight wasn't a very good first impression. I tried talking about skates made of animal bones for gods sakes!"
To his relief, Rossweisse let out a quick chuckle she couldn't contain. It was only then each noticed their faces had drifted closer together, heads turned and lips parting as they both worked towards a mutual desire.
LOOK OUT!
Dorian looked up at the shouted warning, only then noticing a large lightning fixture hurtling towards them from the far above ceiling. Tightening his grip on Rossweisse, he tilted and rolled, sending the pair hurtling to the hard ground. Dorian twisted so he took the brunt of the fall and somehow managed to avoid the falling light as it crashed through the ice where they had just been standing.
"Dorian! Are you alright?" Rossweisse asked, breathing a sigh of relief as he nodded.
The two looked in horror as they realized theirs had not been the only one as the lights and other devices suspended from the ceiling had plummeted. Thankfully, due to the relative emptiness of the rink for the couples skating, there were few enough that all missed their mark. The Valkyrie and Einherjar pair quickly unlatched their skates, considering the situation enough to warrant a bit of flight to rise above the slippery surface as they went to check on the various patrons
Their concern for the nearby civilians was short lived as a cruel cackling laugh spread throughout the area, drawing their attention upward. High above towards the maintenance tubes hovered a dark figure draped in black clearly responsible for clipping the connected electrical wires. It was a man with dark brown spiked hair, hands were on his hips as he looked over the room like he was superior to all simply for the sake of his existence. Their eyes fell on the shape of his wings, Dorian's face red and fuming with frustration at how close he and Rossweisse had become.
Devil wings? Just like Rias and Akeno's back in Kuoh. What are they doing here; Asgard has no active quarrel with Hell. We were so close...
"Rejoice and be glad," he announced loudly, his voice magnified through magical means. "For your deaths will be but the first among your people to wash Asgard's streets red with the blood of the innocent. Truly, this will be a day from which future generations shall revel in the superiority of all devil ki…"
The mysterious hellish resident did not finish his sentence, having thrown his arms out and head back gleefully to deliver his speech. Upon returning his look downward he was too late to react as a green steel-barked gauntlet squeezed around his head. In an instant Dorian had summoned Laerad Ragnarok, fueled by absolute frustration he cleared the distance between them, his hand closing tightly around the devil's skull.
"We were in the middle of something; couldn't you have waited five more minutes?"
With that final word he plummeted earthbound, slamming his opponent into the ice with such force it shattered, not stopping until he reached the hardwood surface beneath. Harnessing Musphelheim, he released an explosion and silenced the monologuing attacker. He had no time to rest as three more dark-robed devils drifted down ready for combat.
"ROSE! Get the others out!"
Rossweisse did not question, quickly ushering the other skaters off the ice towards the lockers as the rink fractured beneath the attack.
"This way! She called out. "Get to the main lobby and…"
Her commands ceased as orbs of blackened red energy emerged from above. In a flash she had magic seals of defense generated, deflecting them and providing time for the last of the innocent couples to escape the rink. Glancing upward, Rossweisse materialized her armor, ready to fight.
"The Valkyries weren't supposed to get here so fast!" She heard a frantic muttering, spotting two additional devils flying above each dressed identically to the first. One had messy blonde hair while the other's was dark, almost black purple.
"There's only one of them, we can handle this little girl easily," his partner sneered while creating a new bolt of demonic energy unaware of the power building within her.
"We…WERE BUSY!" The silver Valkyrie roared, her hair standing on end and aura flaring as anti-siege bombardment runes formed over her shoulders each easily twice the size of their own attacks. Their nefarious, overconfident smiles drooped in shock seconds before the savage counterattack not suitable for children under 13 began.
Not Far…
A squad of guardsman advanced, cutting a bolt of demonic energy in half before rushing the ominous woman standing across the way. The mysterious devil with black and white hair had descended, attacking the patrons of Arena 3 before they arrived unaware of the coordinated attacks throughout the building.
"Surround her!" He called out, extending their weapons menacingly. "Surrender or else…"
"Or else your hidden friend will jump into the fray?" She muttered dryly as she took a single step to the left.
A bolt of energy missed her by the thinnest of margins, catching the head guardsman in the chest and sending him flying into the wall behind, crumpling unconscious. A hidden sniper had fired yet the powerful devil saw it coming, stepping, and avoiding it with no effort.
"One from the left overhand swing, right straight on as your ally awaits an opening…how uninspired."
Sure enough, the assailant's predictions of their actions were accurate, leaning back to dodge both simultaneously. Thrown off balance by the miss, she easily rammed a blast of energy into the first's chest as the second was uppercut by a high-kick from her sharp boots breaking something with a crunch. Stretching her remaining hand out as if completing a gymnast routine, she fired at the far-off sniper, the sound of a body slumping to the floor giving away she had found her mark.
Ona Barbatos, the one directed to lead the assault had hoped her assignment would have been more interesting but held out few expectations. The movements of those around her were obvious not due to how slow they were in her eyes, but rather she could see their moves before they were made. Such was her family's skill honed over the centuries, the furthest abilities of short-term premonitions that any family had advanced with such accuracy. As they moved she saw it, not an afterimage, but a future image. She could see the next actions they would take over the next few seconds, coupled with their slow speed she had all the time in the world to avoid and counter with ease. The power was unique to her as one of the few remaining of the Barbatos line, but as a side-effect it made existence quite boring being fully aware how others will act around her before they do.
A few more minutes, that should give time for further reinforcements to be called here and leaving our other locations vulnerable. We need only draw them out here before…
The door to the adjacent arena burst outward across the rink from her, drawing the devil commander's attention. To her mild surprise, one of her men flew through the entrance, crashing into the ground battered and bleeding, he was clearly unconscious or worse.
"How pathetic to have allowed himself to be beaten by a lowly guardsma…"
The one responsible for the damage leapt through, ramming a second of her assault force into the ice, the Beleth runt if memory served though it was hard to tell as he was being pummeled by the Asgardian warrior. He had served under Valac leading the second team who was a bit over the top with the melodramatic speeches but she had overlooked it considering the show they were supposed to put on while slaughtering the innocent civilians of the Jotun's Breath.
"You're no guardsman," she pointed out as she spun with a pop of her hip, eyeing her opponent up and down. "Whatever brings an Einherjar to this establishment so far from Valhalla?"
She was surprised as the man seemed to be little more than a boy with sets of braids on either side of his hair that barely reached his shoulders. He was arrayed in shimmering armor worthy of the heroes of Asgard, other than that he appeared quite uninteresting.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded, anger and frustration in his eyes clearly unsated from beating the two behind him. "Why would Hell be attacking a skating rink full of innocents?"
Time for the performance.
"All from lesser mythologies are our enemy regardless of their standing! Do you question each and of their positions in the colony before you drown them all? You may bite a few of us, but in the end all will drown. Glory be to the four Satans."
He's not doing anything? She thought as she could see him standing beneath her yet no future image shimmered from his body. He is honestly just listening?
"Reinforcements will be here any moment," her opponent glared her down, drawing a rather unique looking crystal sword from a gauntlet that appeared on his arm for a split second. "You will pay for what you did to those men," his eyes passed over the guardsman at her feet. Despite his words she was relatively certain they were still alive, wasting time on them would have slowed her down.
"They were but the appetizers, however…"
Ona squinted in confusion as a fuzzy copy almost like static appeared beside the Einherjar. It might have been a future image, yet she had never seen one so unclear. She could not tell if it was lunging her way, falling back for a better vantage point or something else.
He may be conflicted on what to do, though that has never affected my sight before, what could he be…
She blinked and that was enough, the golden-haired fighter pushed off the ground hard and was in her face. Bringing her hands up, black talons like daggers protruded from each of her fingers, barely parrying the exquisite weapon at the last moment though she lost the claw on her left ring finger. In a flash, a magic seal appeared between them as a blast struck her point blank range sending the devil flying through the wall. The young man pressed his attack, barely giving time to dislodge herself from the rubble and dodge.
I couldn't see him? There was that image before, but he didn't follow it. How is he avoiding my future sight? Was it a fluke?
Ona ducked beneath his follow-up swing, bringing her talons up to gut him but was parried as he spared a single hand from his weapon to block her attempt with a collapsible shield hidden within his bracer. Once again, she saw an unclear image akin to static as if there were ten future images and only one was selected.
"What is your name?" She demanded, kicking off the ground and floating high to distance herself from his reach. A grin of obsessive joy was spreading across her face, it had been so long since anyone had managed to surprise her not once but twice, and it was more thrilling than she ever imagined.
"It is customary to introduce oneself before asking another's identity," he countered as he took flight as well to give chase.
Ona formed points of dark purple energy from each of her razor-sharp fingers, firing them though they did little more than force him to protect himself once more. Once the dark rain had subsided she stood up tall, bowing low in a polite dignified manner.
"If it leads to your name I gladly give it. Ona Barbatos stands before you, now…who do I have the pleasure of battling this day?"
"Dorian Held," he announced as promised while readying his weapon for a renewed assault, a surprise as she fully expected him to continue withholding the information.
"Dorian Held," she muttered to herself, mind awash with theories and ideas on what could make this random warrior in a far-off mythology unable to be sensed by her previously flawless ability. She was so engrossed in this unexpected fight that she had completely overlooked signaling the coordinated attack to begin. This was more important to her, a seemingly once in a lifetime moment as not even Gods were exempt from her sight. "You seem to be a something of an anomaly in time, before our attack elsewhere in your realm begins please try to entertain me further. I haven't looked forward to what another person will do next in YEARS!"
Main Lobby…
A pair of devils screamed in pain as beams of light burst from their chest, having been cleaved through by Durandal burning them to their very being. Xenovia duel wielded the holy blade with Angurvadal she had been permitted to retain command of as it had bonded with her back in Kuoh. The group surmised the plan was to assault the lobby once the people had been driven from the arenas. The attackers had been ill-prepared for the four women's presence.
"Mid-tier, no higher," Xenovia asserted to Hecuba as they stood back to back, judging their strength.
"But why here? It's not like there's much of a tactical advantage to a skating rink."
"It doesn't matter, for the time being we fight."
Bennia clashed with one of her own and Thrud found herself surrounded, though that did little to aid them. Within a matter of seconds, she was tanking their best shots while hurtling them through the air. Even weaponless, she was more than a match for the devils. The four stood their ground to await reinforcements.
"This way!" The familiar voice of Rossweisse ushered a group of wounded survivors fleeing their way. Having dealt with the two devils quite handily, she had escorted whoever she could to safety. The number taking refuge in the lobby had grown quite high as more devils had poured in from outside to cut off their retreat.
"Rossweisse!" Hecuba greeted as Thrud slammed the heads of two assailants together, they did not get back up.
"Everyone?" She asked, suddenly realizing they were all present. "What are you doing here?"
"Th-that doesn't matter now," Thrud coughed several times as the others glanced about suspiciously. "Where is Dorian?"
"He stayed behind to face several of their numbers," she tried not to think on how they knew Dorian was present. "I'm going back in, perhaps he may need…"
The wall adjacent from the girls exploded, a dark-robed woman crashed through it, sliding across the floor followed quickly by the young Einherjar. He was scuffed but otherwise whole and hale. The same could not be said of his opponent who was battered, bleeding and panting heavily, overwhelmed by his powers. Despite the numerous injuries, she was grinning ear to ear as if she was having the time of her life. A few of her followers attempted to help her up but were quickly shoved away.
"They have attacks planned elsewhere in the city," he informed the girls without missing a beat. "She wants to fight me especially for some reason, I'll keep her busy. Bennia," he snapped towards the young Reaper. "Can you get these people out of here?"
"I…I can take a few at a time a couple of blocks," she stuttered as the focus of attention fell upon her. "But it'll take several trips."
"Do it," he barely realized what he was saying as he turned to the others. "Rossweisse, Thrud, can you cover them while Hecuba, Xenovia and I go on the offensive?"
He's being so…direct; Thrud internally complimented him with a grin, noting he had even called her Rossweisse for a more official capacity.
"Do whatever you want with the rest!" The Barbatos commander ordered the remains of her troops, completely uncaring how they were clearly losing. "But he is mine!"
"Let's go!" Xenovia slashed forward with Durandal, catching a single devil in its blast before the rest scattered and charged. She expertly parried the follow-up with her duel swords. Hecuba fought by her side, deflecting incoming blows while responding in kind, taking the wings clean off the first to try.
Rossweisse created defensive barriers as Thrud annihilated any who were cowardly enough to attempt to target the retreating civilians first. Bennia was quick to widen her teleportation field, ushering through entire groups at a time.
"What's a holy sword doing here?" She heard one cry out in fear of Durandal as his own weapon shattered beneath Monster's Bane. With a spin the gold-armored Spartan drove her dagger into the hand of a second, the expert blade doing its work.
"What a bunch of cravens," she spat as she smashed one in the face that tried to rush past her shield. "They are aiming for the civilians first!"
"That looks to be their goals," Xenovia pressed forward, completely certain the people could get out safely with Rossweisse shielding them and Thrud crushing any who came near. "We shall deny them even the smallest of victories, amen…"
She said the last part without thinking and had to remind herself, she wasn't in the church any longer. She felt an odd tingling in her head anytime she used the lord's name or prayers. Despite that, she just couldn't end the habit. She had believed in God all her life and despite her parting words to Irina and shaking of her faith, those words and many more rang in her head. Hecuba and the others had made her feel at home since arriving in Asgard, yet the old belief was still there.
Does the inclusion in one myth deny the remaining faith in another? She pondered as she collided with the few remaining devils. She had no answers to that question yet, but plenty of volunteers to vent her frustration out upon.
"This group are nearly through!" Rossweisse alerted Thrud, raising a seal to aptly deflect an incoming bolt of energy.
Her rune did its job, redirecting the attempted strike away and through a hole in the wall...careening towards a familiar parked red sports car that exploded into a magnificent display of shrapnel and parts that caused the Valkyrie's face to contort in horror before screaming to the heavens.
"THE ALLFATHER'S CAR!"
In the adjoining room…
Ona Barbatos clashed with Dorian, pushing him backwards as his defense held. She was learning how strong he was, able to take her best blows and counter with his own. She attacked, defended and otherwise tried to draw out an entire range of responses from the Asgardian warrior. And through every single one of them she could see hints of possible movements, yet nothing clear or concise. His future actions were a complete mystery and she was not fast enough to get ahead of more than two or three of the possible movements at once.
"How about this?" She generated a large mass of demonic energy, targeting Dorian who had jumped clear.
Dorian's eyes widened, he could dodge the blast, but behind him were several large pillars clearly load bearing for the main lobby. He couldn't guarantee his shield or seals would stop it entirely and if the blast destroyed them…his eyes fell towards the groups of patrons still retreating through Bennia's portals. The devil woman released the attack directly towards him.
Treat each opponent as if they were the strongest I've ever faced. Thrud's words rang in his head. Dorian refused to move, a green light encompassing his right hand as the attack struck him in the center of mass, engulfing him in smoke from the explosion.
Even Ona looked on surprised; having been completely sure he would dodge, parry or otherwise avoid her attack.
"And just when I thought you were so strong, enough to…"
Her words died in her mouth as the mist billowed past, revealing the Einherjar shining brightly adorned in new armor from head to toe. Green bark-steel matching the former gauntlet now covered him entirely, gems scattered throughout lighting up one by one. He was completely unharmed by the attack and had taken the blast leaving the pillars undamaged. The overwhelmed devil had heard the stories enough to know what stood before her.
"I didn't want to rely on this," he replied with a stern voice. "But you will not hurt anyone else!"
Ona attempted to float away, fully aware the difference in power now beyond ridiculous between them. She found herself trapped as tendrils emerged from the ground to ensnare her, snaking up her body to trap her in place. The dark wings were the first things to be covered, a creeping cold working up the branches causing her breath to become visible. The roots of Jotunheim and ice of Hel intertwined. As a stronger-than average, yet still mid-tier devil, she was completely unable to break the bindings.
"Where are your other attacks planned?" Dorian leaned his horned visage right in her face. "WHERE?"
Ona struggled yet remained silent, smiling back despite her injuries and immobilized state. What few troops she had left were being dealt with by the others and were clearly no match. They were supposed to be facing defenseless civilians and should have been long gone before any true fighters showed up. Their assault force had not been chosen for their raw power.
"Oh? And what if I don't tell you, what will you do to me next?" Her smile unsettled Dorian most of all. She looked at Twilight Star held up to her throat, an obvious hesitation and barely noticeable shaking. "Oho, never tortured someone for information before have you? You need to get a bit grittier than that if you want me to talk. Just where did you come from? I might be willing to part with it if you tell me how you do that!"
"Do what?" He had no knowledge of her power and her strange fascination with him was a mystery.
"There is no need to dirty your hands Mr. Held."
Dorian glanced over before she could answer as a familiar raven landed on his shoulder, Skilja staring back at him with a single eye.
"Allfather?"
"Indeed, and this little one's assaults have been quashed. Apparently they were awaiting a command from her to begin that never came."
Ona's face warped in rage, fully aware she had wasted too much time from her curiosity surrounding the young man.
"HOW?" She demanded, they had split their forces to small-time establishments across the realm. To even catch one before it began should have been nigh-impossible to say nothing of all of them, even the skating rink had been sheer bad luck that The Crossroads had been present.
"My dear, selecting certain venues of an adult nature as other points of attack was a poor choice on your part. They very nearly interrupted a rather delightful outing between myself and Azazel. I almost missed them due to the rather sizable assets of this delightful…well that isn't important right now."
Dorian facepalmed at the words.
Are you telling me the Allfather's antics actually saved us in this case?
"Well done on apprehending her, we divined the various points of attack easily once we knew to look for low power devils, however the remainder of her associates committed suicide rather than give away who they serve."
Dorian recovered at those words, head spinning towards Ona who had opened her jaw wide as he realized her intent.
"NO!" In a flash, his right gauntlet shimmered out of existence so his hand would be small enough to fit. Before she could bite down, the Einherjar rammed it into her mouth, preventing the fatal crunch on the poison capsule hidden within a tooth.
Ona grunted, trying to bite past his hand as blood seeped from his fingers but Dorian held strong. Despite the burning as her teeth serrated his skin, he refused to remove his hand lest she finish the task and follow the others to the grave.
"So that's it, just kill yourself and be done with it?" He asked fully aware she could not respond with his hand inside, yet he pushed through the pain, watering eyes locked with the haunting woman as he desperately thought how to stop her. "I thought you were interested in learning more about me! I was born on Midgard, that can't be enough information I imagine."
I…still had no idea he was going to do this to stop me. How is he so unreadable? As if this pointless attack really mattered, but this was commanded if we failed, she'll do far worse if I do not. Of course, she might find such an anomaly interesting and be more forgiving…
Her resistance noticeably lessened, blood-red eyes staring back into his grey ones, focused on the barely-visible gold flecks within. In a flash her body exploded into a cloud of black bats, flying out through the thin openings and cracks in the vines holding her. She billowed around him, causing Skilja to screech in terror despite the lack of any true attack. After a matter of seconds, the vines were empty and Dorian could see her swarm's silhouette reformed into her in the night sky. He blinked as for a moment it appeared she had four devil wings protruding from her lower back instead of two.
"We will meet again Dorian Held," her voice echoed in the air. "And when we do, we will have a VERY in-depth conversation. Until then, ta-ta."
Dorian took to the skies; soaring high above the Jotun's Breath but by then it was too late. Despite her being there just a moment ago, the mysterious devil was nowhere to be found, even her aura was gone. The young man could only glance about confused before returning to ensure the remainder of her invasion was contained. He had a feeling this was far from over.
Further in the night...
I actually had to use my full power to escape, if she learns they might have been seen it will not end well for me.
Ona had split into bats that emitted no trace of her demonic heritage, an ability that required a considerable portion of her power. She'd even been forced to reveal her additional wings, but the worry was swiftly passing. The attack had failed to cause the despair and panic they intended yet so long as no one spotted her outburst of wings, their benefactors would remain anonymous.
I'll take that Jotun-in denial's hidden paths back home and report in. She groaned, gripping her sides in pain. This Dorian Held had been stronger than her, much stronger. If she was to face him again she would need some help, if her mistress was not too displeased perhaps she could oblige. Though of course, I'll be taking a bit of him home with me to study. Ona licked her lips, savoring the new copper taste that the young Einherjar had been so kind to leave behind before her departure. Now to find out what I can about him, this young man where time itself doesn't seem to know what to do with.
The skirmish is won, innocents protect and The Crossroads working as one towards a mutual goal. Yet why would devils assault such locales, places of gathering where only those wishing to live in peace would frequent? Dorian and his team meet with the gods to discuss such questions and to ponder what this will mean for future dealings with Hell itself…
As always, I hope everyone Reads and Reviews…but most of all Enjoys! :D
