Talking Pumpkin: Well, the thing about that is... *statement redacted for spoilers*
Hollowreaper 93: At long last! A stranger with a trident...nope, can't recall anyone like that... XD
Royalrain20xx: Imo such moments are needed even in the midst of turmoil in the main plot. Naahhh, don't be paranoid, I'm sure they'll all get through this without aaaaanything bad happening or secrets of the enemy revealed XD. With the battle coming up, I didn't want to go fully into what a Kuroka x Irina drinking session would be...but you better believe that's in the cards for side story content ;) Yea, Azazel is in for a rough time since Rizevim is one of the top strongest natural pure devils in canon. Kirby'd their powers XD I love that term LOL. Moloch knows enough of the future to turn things to his side without going too far...though there is a reason he doesn't go all out that is a far-off explanation I hope you like. Now I want an image of Evil Kirby's as Broly calls out Dorian's name XD You'll get more of who that is next time :D I am so glad you liked it! That devastation is coming soon...wishing you all the best man!
fanficcyberman: I am so glad you agree, even with the battles looming, they deserve their calm happy moments. Kuroka and Irina have been roommates since she moved into the tower, makes sense they'd grow closer...that and Kuroka can tell she fancies Dorian. She has to tease XD Hmmm, I can see that with Azazel XD. Here, Issei isn't his only honorary child since he met Yasaka. Seeing the worst of parenthood (Vali's), makes him all the more determined to be a good one himself. Exactly, Qlippoth is as high up as it gets and the last major group of the Khaos Brigade left. They were dangerous enough alone, but with Moloch they have a few heads up on future events like Crom.
You hit the nail on the head. Where I can, I want to show those aspects so that their growth/changes have a place where they started to not feel completely out of left field. As you said, it gives his actions meaning when we can't completely see what he's thinking. I am! And I pray the same for you and your loved ones, my friend. It's always great hearing from you! :D
avenger3576: Hmmm, a trident...a trident...nope, not ringing any bells... XD . Right now, the Trihexa is the ultimate end-goal of Dorian and Roots. If I go past that, it may be mostly to show the result of the character developments and relationships unless inspiration hits hard.
Ragna126: Definitely one of the best ;)
Observer01: Two of the worst of the worst XD The upper leaders of the Khaos Brigade finally reveal themselves!
Okaze: Precisely, 1on1 he's more than a match for Euclid or the Boosted Gear...but the Gear by its very nature just keeps getting stronger and stronger until it's too much.
silverhawk88: Yea, unfortunately no easy win when most of the enemy leaders are together showcasing just how bad it was in Romania for them to be so entrenched. I can't speak 100% towards your theory as to who gave Euclid the Road-traversing abilities...but it's a good one ;) . Considering he supposedly choked to death on her roots, he would have quite the grudge indeed.
7: It was a super fun form to make, I have a full image of it on my deviantart account if you want to see the full appearance of Bennia's form. :D Yea, Rizevim is like the definition of having to get off his butt to fight XD Canonically he retired because he didn't want to do anything but then got new motivation haha. Right, they cannot mix random powers into beings that can't use them. He merged the ability of 2 Sacred Gears using research specific to them and made an artificial one out of it that he is wielding like a weapon. He didn't take one person's powers and put it into another. As for where the other evil dragons are, Grendel is still recuperating and as for the others...let's just say it took a lot of power to deal with their wayward brother, Crom. :D
And with that...ONTO THE SHOW!
"Valerie!" Gasper yelled out as the rest of Team Gremory descended the stairs deeper down with him at the lead. "I'll be there!" An ornamental stone door blocked their path, but could not withstand him. "Get out of my way!"
In an impressive show of strength, Gasper cast the doors open shattering one clean off its hinges. The inside was obviously a place of worship or study, reminding Issei of a ritual chamber in a church that seemed to look familiar. Bookshelves of eerie statues dotted the room and it did not take long for them to spot the bed positioned atop a magic-circle near the center.
"Gas…per?" Valerie weakly called out lying upon the bed. The glow of the circle already worked to envelop her; it was then that Asia recognized the scene before the others.
"I…it's just like back then," she trembled while recalling the church where she died. "Isn't it?"
"It is," Issei agreed, gripping her hand to calm her nerves as only he could do. "It's the same ritual that bi…that Raynare had."
"They've stolen much knowledge from the Grigori," Rias postulated quickly. "We must stop it before they finish."
"Valerie!" Gasper screamed as he pounded on the barrier keeping them from getting closer. Before he could bring his full anger down upon it, a dark shape could be seen manipulating the spell at the center of the circle. "Marius, STOP NOW! Don't hurt her anymore!"
"The pain will be done soon," his disgusting smile never faded as he worked his spell. "She'll be released and I'll take possession of the Grail that has been eating her mind and soul. I doubt she could have used it much more without breaking entirely anyway."
Valerie let out a blood curdling scream as Marius shoved a hand into her chest as if searching for something. Kiba and Catherine rushed forward, their respective swords clashing with the barrier that almost seemed to work, but only opened by a sliver before they were forced back. Issei pounded on the shield with his power which seemed to only elicit amusement from the traitorous vampire.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you, who knows what will happen to her if you break my concentration. I don't see that former Governor with you, only he might have been smart enough to find a way around this. Don't worry, I've studied the Grail within her for years, this won't take long."
"This barrier…it is of Holy origin," Catherine looked truly terrified. "This, is this a protection prayer developed by God himself. How can you have this?!"
"Having access to a holy relic granted us many boons, this one was extracted by Rizevim himself. Such uncouth creations of your God were needed to stabilize the Grail within Valerie. It was thanks to these that she started being able to revive the Evil Dragons…among others. But where the girl truly excelled at was removing living weaknesses in creatures. Perhaps she has that inborn nature to want to help others grow."
"She does," Gasper confirmed with a scowl. "If anything happens to her…"
"Like this?" Marius pulled back his hand, revealing a small glowing gold cup that had been within Valerie's body. The embodiment of the Holy Grail itself. "Such a work of art, the Sephiroth Grail itself. Why, it even has the Balance Breaker unlocked without me doing a thing."
The barrier fell as the spell ended. Almost in tandem, Valerie's body grew quiet, slumping down upon the bed weakly. Gasper bolted to her side as Marius stepped back eyeing his prize. Holding Valerie in his arms, Gasper called out to her.
"Valerie!" Amazingly, she opened her eyes at the sound of his voice, raising a hand weakly to stroke his face.
"You still cry," she smiled softly. "Ever since you were little, but you're so much stronger now, aren't you?" Gasper clasped her hand with his own.
"Don't talk, we can still save you! Asia, she can use Twilight Healing!" Asia quickly knelt by her side, a green glow appearing between them. After several seconds, her lip began to quiver as nothing seemed to happen.
"I know about your Gear," Marius explained without taking his eyes off the Grail. "It can heal physical injuries without compare…but I'm afraid it has no bearing on matters of the soul."
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't tear your head off!" Issei growled as he angled the Boosted Gear at him preparing a Dragon Shot. "Fix her now or else I swear I'll…"
"Fire if you wish for all the good it will do," the vampire said without a care as the Grail started to glow, disappearing within his flesh until it couldn't be seen. "You are all beneath me even more than you were a moment ago. I command her Grail now."
"Then I'll just have to rip it out of you," Issei fired a blast of his Dragon Shot at the same time as Rias released a dazzling star of Destruction energy. Both collided with Marius, obliterating his top half in an instant. Almost comically, his torso and legs fell over with nothing left above them.
"Well, that was easy…"
"I am glad…I got to see you before…" Valerie whispered softly, unable to muster louder than that. "You were my best friend…"
"And you were my first," Gasper noticed she was looking up at the ceiling past him. "What is it?"
"The sun would have been nice to see again, maybe a picnic with you."
"We will," Gasper held her closer as tight as he could. "There are so many you have to meet. Issei, Koneko, Rias…Mr. Dorian who gave me these clothes!"
"I…I want to talk to the other you," Valerie put a finger onto Gasper's chest as if she could see something no one else could. "The one that so many were scared of, I could see him from the beginning…but didn't think he was scary even when everyone else did."
The other Gasper? Does she mean that shadowy-version King Tepes and his father talked about? Perhaps he exists in a plane where her access to the principle of life makes it visible.
"Regardless of what some say, you are Gasper as well," she continued. "Where Gasper is welcomed, you should be too and get to talk to everyone. They will acknowledge you; I know it. I just want you…to get along with everyone." With that last word, her hand dropped down, utterly spent.
She was gone.
Gasper shook her gently, trying to get a reaction, even just her eyes opening a little would have been enough. Nothing happened. Asia was crying on Issei's arm, the scene far too close to the day she died at the hands of the fallen angel, Raynare. Issei knew the feeling, having been in almost the same position as Gasper not too long ago. It made his blood boil that he couldn't kill Marius a second time. That wish was soon to be rectified as a clapping sound on the stones behind could be heard.
"Holy shit!" Issei called out as Marius' legs stood back up, the Holy Grail floating just above them. In the blink of an eye, his upper half reformed from bones to muscle to flesh, clothes and all, as if nothing had happened. He smiled while clapping with enthusiasm acting as if Rias and Issei's blasts hadn't mattered in the slightest.
"True effective immortality," he moaned with joy sending shivers down their spines. "With the Grail in my possession, I have full access to its powers. Simply reforming my body doesn't seem to have the mental detriments that it did on the girl. I suppose that happens if I try reviving the dead, but why should I care about any but myself now? As long as my soul remains, my body will reconstitute itself!"
"That is what Grendel meant by getting a new body!" Issei realized, knowing for sure now he hadn't seen the last of the dragon. "You're just giving them a new one every time they take serious injury!"
"Rias…" Catherine muttered, Kiba spotting it too. All around them, dark shapes emerged from side passages and rooms until they were surrounded.
"Magnificent my king!"
"Perfect regeneration!"
"Surely, we can drive back the Carmilla attack with you leading the way! We need not fear even this Grand Alliance Crossroads, House of Gremory or Red Dragon Emperor!"
All around them, middle-aged men dressed in regal clothing flocked to Marius singing his praises. They were the Tepes nobility that had sided against their king, pureblood vampires to the last. Marius raised his arms high reveling in the praise thrown his way.
"Dear Uncle, magistrate, chancellor," he nodded to each in turn. "Do you wish me to strengthen you further? You are all such pillars of our kind now, are you not? Those many weaknesses purged from your bodies with none able to touch you. In time, even humans will not be able to touch us despite their numbers. The other myths will not last long either, all to become our livestock."
Geez, how much nonsense and ego can one guy have? Issei analyzed the situation while Marius played off his own arrogance.
"Do as you will. Kill the Carmillas, the Tepes loyalists, it doesn't matter. I just wish to continue my Sacred Gear research and the Holy Grail itself. It is a masterpiece worth more than family or station. I am sure I can find a way to learn about the principle of life without succumbing to the madness of hearing those voices, even endless knowledge must surely be containable…and it will all be mine. Anything the Grail knows, so too shall I."
"You are nuts!" Issei finally proclaimed with absolute certainty. "You brought these creeps into your country, betrayed everyone, tried to kill your own dad…just for research!?"
He's like if Azazel had lost all sense of what is important in life. We can NOT let him have this information, there's no telling what he'll do!
"You go so far to get one up on those around you that you do not control," Rias shook her head disappointed. "You never even thought of trying to understand one another through the differences in our cultures? Return Valerie's Holy Grail NOW."
The entire Occult Research Club under her command advanced prepared to contend with both the vampires and Marius himself despite the seemingly perfect regeneration he now commanded. Catherine's holy-devil form shined brightly, Kiba's holy-devil blades ready to cut down any that advanced. Even without a command from Rias, they knew what was needed. Retrieve the Holy Grail from Marius at all costs. Tension filled the air as the foreign stranger and Marius' trump card emerged with the other vampiric traitors.
"Issei Hyoudou, Red Dragon Emperor and this ridiculous Oppai Dragon. I was quite surprised to hear from Grendel all the trouble you gave him…shall you contend with me next?"
The floors above…
"Honda, are you okay?" Koneko showed concern as a blade left a deep gash in the Dullahan's bracer. After decking the vampire through the wall with a single punch, the suit of armor turned to her before signing that all was good.
Sis is more talented at Sage Arts, but I'm a Rook, that means that brute strength is more my talent. With that in mind…
Koneko dashed forward, hands glowing with energy angled towards the dozen remaining augmented vampires who had formed an admittedly impressive wall similar to a phalanx relying on each to support the others. Since taking on this formation, she and Honda had been unable to pierce their defensive magic. Thinking something new, Koneko her fists not at them, but at the ground. The arrogant warriors realized too late what she was planning as all the power in her hands disappeared within the stone. The nekoshou Rook smiled as the ground exploded upward violently. With all their focus at the front, they had no defense from below and were catapulted into the air.
Just like the Kyūdō club, she thought as she fired bolts of kasha wheels at each of the temporarily suspended vampires, each causes them to burst into flames bypassing even the powerful augmentations bestowed upon them by the Grail. Honda was not idle either, picking up enormous boulders and hurtling them at their foes, flattening several against the stonework. Some of them may heal and get back up, but it was clearly slower from being in the presence of Koneko's powers.
"I should have known the vampires weren't up to the task," a voice from the side muttered in a disappointed tone. "Never send a man to do a woman's job."
Koneko backflipped at the last second, avoiding the enormous javelin of light as it sailed just beneath her so closely that her skin felt hot at the energy detrimental to devils. She landed as the projectile impacted the back wall, exploding it utterly and causing the room to buckle with a load-bearing pillar destroyed.
"Honda, we have to get out of here!" She pointed to the stairs but staggered, not realizing that the javelin had grazed her leg making movement painful. Honda did not hesitate, scooping her up under an arm like a bale of hay and sprinting for the way downward. "H-hey! I can run, you don't need to…look out!"
The Dullahan dove as a section of ceiling came down, narrowly rolling down the stairs all the while protecting Koneko seconds before their only means of escape was sealed. The damage was done, the room collapsing leaving only the lone woman who had fired the bolt remaining. Despite the chaos and damage, debris bounced off a barrier surrounding her body completely unable to harm her. Black-feathered wings fluttered in annoyance that she had missed, but it passed as she exhaled slowly.
"She is stronger than she was before, I suppose they all are by now. I wonder just how my darling Issei will think I look after so long. I did my hair and everything just for him."
Within Castle Tepes…
Explosions rocked the ritual chamber as Catherine slammed her sword into the ground creating a shockwave of holy energy. Simultaneously, Kiba maneuvered around the remaining vampire leaders that had chosen Marius over their own people. Asia kept them safe healing any great injury as Rias protected her while using her power of destruction that not even the Holy Grail augmentations could easily defend against. Gasper remained at Valerie's side, none dared to venture near her body with his eyes starting to glow.
"I do not often face one so straight-forward as you," Apophis commented to Issei as the two stood across from each other further from the rest. "This power you used to best Grendel; I wish to see it. Take all the time you need to bring it out."
"I won't need even a second!" Issei fired blasts from his twin barrels into the Evil Dragon, forcing Apophis to shield his face and back up. He wasn't a fan of how almost cordially the Qlippoth ally was acting, it unnerved him to no end.
I prefer when they are just plain bad, then I don't have to think about punching them in the face! This guy, Apophis, was the one who nearly killed the King that Rias took a hit for, that alone gives a reason to kick his ass!
"Why do you fight against us, sister of Lucifer?" Marius asked while casually walking through the battlefield, any injury taken healing instantly. "Your kind is just like us, nobility standing above others whose purpose is only to follow and serve. That is how things are supposed to be. We use humans as food, and you use them as a means to survive. Without using them, your kind would not have repopulated so quickly. You would have been left to extinction to wither and…"
Marius stopped his debate as a creepy laughter started to echo throughout the ritual chamber, even the vampire leaders and Apophis stopped at the unsettling tone it was making. Looking back to Valerie's body, they realized who it was as their gazes all met at a single point.
"Not again…"
It was Gasper. Just as what had happened at Lilith and recently at his ancestral home, a dark aura was gathering around him expanding to engulf the room. The half-vampire stood, eyes glowing with an otherworldly menace sending shivers down the spine of his friends and inflicting great fear into those that considered him an enemy. He turned, focusing all his gaze and ire on Marius along with the vampire leaders.
"D-don't just stand there!" One of Marius' supporters called out to Apophis. "Protect us you fool!"
"I know that look," the Evil Dragon remarked without directly responding to his pleas for help. "The gaze of Balor, woe unto all whom it falls upon. I don't believe any of you can hope to withstand it. Was the curse of those eyes what killed so many when he was born?"
The texture of the walls, floor and ceiling vanished as if enveloped by a blanket of shadows swallowing all it touched. Not a glimpse of light could be seen, though, somehow, they could still see each other, Gasper controlling them to such a precise extent.
"He's not out of control this time," Issei assured the others, knowing his friend so well since first meeting. "He is unleashing this willingly."
Gasper's human shape fell away, taking on that of a creature with thick, long arms and sharp claws emerging from each fingertip. The joints in his legs reversed, horns grew from his heads and teeth sharpened to fangs. Feline-like ears appeared as wings pushed out of his back, eyes glowing red in the darkness.
He's like…what? A dragon cat? Is he pooling together the effects of all the blood he's ever drank and mixing it with his darker half? What will he become?
Issei's guesses were shattered by the bestial howl echoing from his friend that shook the very foundations of the room. Gasper had grown to over five meters tall being nigh-unrecognizable from the friendly Bishop they'd known. While they trusted him as a brother and comrade, the entire Gremory group shivered seeing what he had become.
"This is…?"
"The True Form of Gasper Vladi," Marius finished for them. "Lord Rizevim and Euclid warned us about this, but there is naught to fear. With the might of the Grail, we would be laughing stocks should we lose to a god-possessed half-blood." The other higher-ups nodded along, but were clearly hesitant at the might radiating from Gasper.
"Indeed, my nephew! We have transcended all thanks to your Holy Grail and gone to a new stage of evolution for our people. This upstart's tantrums are nothing more than…"
He did not get off another word as a massive mouth resembling a crocodile opened within the darkness beneath him. A loud gulping sound was the last he was ever seen of again all the while Gasper's laughter continued and only intensified. From the corners of the room, black creatures emerged encircling the Vampires. They were seemingly at random, some looking like multi-headed dragons, others as simple as small lizards or butterflies, but all shared the terrifying eyes of Gasper.
They aren't moving on us, Rias noticed, the monsters ignoring Team Gremory and Valerie's body. Issei was right, he's in full control. Did he get the idea of making his own personal army from fighting Leonardo?
Chaos erupted at that attack, the various higher-ups ignoring their current opponents to focus solely on Gasper. They unleashed every unique power of theirs from summoning their own blood-red shadows to bugs and constructs from his own body. Each one was as inconsequential as the last, the creations of Gasper overwhelming them with one being snatched off the ground by a winged monstrosity.
"To me, everyone," Rias urged her team to gather around her, having sheltered next to Valerie while watching everything unfold. Asia had created a barrier out of instinct, though it was not needed against their friend. All the same, she covered her ears and closed her eyes, Catherine gently caressing her head to calm her. Only Apophis managed to stave off the attacks, though realized his allies were dropping one by one.
"It seems we were not meant to fight yet, I much preferred to focus on just each other," Apophis locked eyes with Issei as he crushed a pair of shadow-monsters in each hand with ease. "Let us find one another on the battlefield next we meet, I want to test my strength against this generation's Heavenly Dragons.
As the other vampires died around him, Apophis took flight upon massive dragon wings. With a surge of strength, he burst through the wall briefly revealing rays of light before it was again consumed by the darkness. He had escaped to leave his allies behind. No matter how many of Gasper's phantoms were defeated, more appeared.
"Our…our regeneration is not working, why!?"
"Valerie could remove the weaknesses of people, that is how much she loved others," Gasper answered in a dark voice not entirely his own. "I merely negated the augmentations by devouring them. No matter how much you were strengthened, I can return it to zero by consuming you." The older Vampire who had seen countless centuries had no time to question this before he too was consumed leaving only one left.
"Simply astounding," Marius kept his confidence despite the horror around him. "You are indeed a half-blood above half-bloods, exceptional even without your Sacred Gear. "If you were to join my research…"
"He's nuts," Issei whispered to the others, Kiba nodding wholeheartedly in agreement. "After what he's done and he just expects him to switch!?"
"Like how you had Valerie join you?" The rage was evident in the dhampir's voice.
"I know you must be angry," at last his confidence seemed to waver. "But if you hear me out, the Holy Grail is too important to…" Marius didn't flinch, so quick was the attack as Gasper lashed out with his talons completely taking off his arm. "Oh…that was fast, but this is nothing compared to before, I can merely…" At last, his face paled more than ever before realizing his arm was not regenerating as he had before. "What? But, where did my power go? This wasn't supposed to happen, I still have the Grail!"
Gasper swung again, this time the traitorous Vampire did not trust to his powers and tried to dodge but rows of dark teeth seized his leg, consuming it utterly. Marius collapsed, once more the attack did not heal and the injury remained. He flopped on the ground slightly like he was trying to jump, yet did nothing. At last, he started weakly crawling away as if that would allow him to escape his fate.
"I-it's not just my healing, but my powers! Why can I not change into a bat, beast or bug!? Can you truly just shut down my abilities as easily as you did to them? But I have the Grail in my body! That should have shielded me, this cannot be happening!"
"You thought that a Sacred fragment was beyond a fragment of me?" The sinister voice speaking from Gasper retorted. "If so, then just regenerate as you claim you can, it will give me more to eat when it comes back." He stepped towards him slowly one foot after another toying with how slowly Marius was attempted to escape.
"W-wait, we can talk about this, I have the Holy Grail, remember! I know! I will make a clone of Valerie for you; her soul must be at the principle of life by now. With that, I'll bring her back to you and put her in a new body, is it a deal!? Take the clone with you to Japan, then you can leave me be and be satisfied…RIGHT!?"
His words only served to enrage Gasper.
"Don't speak again, Valerie's life and yours should never be linked. Just die here and be silent."
"N-no! Get away!" He reached into himself, holding out the Grail either as a peace offering or hoping it could still somehow save him. "YOU DISGUSTING HALF-BREE…!"
Gasper's constructs merged together before looming over the defeated Vampire like a great tidal wave. Before his last breath could be uttered, it crashed down upon him cutting off his bloodcurdling scream just as it began. The mass thrashed about as if the one within was still holding out for a slim hope of success, however, as the seconds passed, the resistance grew less and less. Finally, at the end of it all, all became still, the room returning to as it had been before with no sign that the Vampires had been there at all.
"The Grail is quite potent," Gasper admitted with a look of rage even as tears continued to fall down his face. "I can't leave any trace of you…hopefully, Valerie won't have to worry about running into you in the afterlife. I can do that much for her at least."
Near the Entrance…
The wall exploded as Azazel was thrown through it, his wings unfurled but battered from constant battle against the Old Satan. His suit was charred and tattered, bruises marring his face and yet the former Governor-General kept smiling. Gripping his arm, he looked over that his prosthetic was missing.
"I was expecting you to don that golden armor of yours," Rizevim admitted as he brushed off dirt that had covered his arms from the tackle through the wall. "It has served you well in the past, has it not?"
"Why do you play dumb?" Azazel asked as he stood back up trying to hide just how much pain each step brought him. "We both know it wouldn't have mattered, not with your little trick."
"You knew about that? More's the pity, it might have brought me some enjoyment to see your best ability rendered useless. That, and it was quite pathetic you thought this toy could do anything to me." Rizevim held up Azazel's left arm still flailing around trying to hit him. The fallen angel had fired it like a rocket punch that, while landing a blow, had done little to him. "All you succeeded in doing was handicapping yourself."
"Only to someone who isn't as clever as he thinks," Azazel winked before diving to the side.
At the push of a button, his hand opened up revealing a cross-shaped indentation within. The symbol causing aggravation to Rizevim, but it wasn't the true weapon. The palm contained a small pellet that fell out from between the fingers, exploding upon making contact with the air. Within, a pocket dimension released an Olympic-sized swimming pool's worth of water to consume the Old Satan, his screams of agony echoing as smoke rose from every part of his body it touched.
You saved my ass here kid, Azazel smirked as his trap bore fruit, recalling the arm to fly back into place on his body. Planning for any contingency, possibly even needing to fight Sirzechs one day, he had filled the pellet with as much holy water boosted by Issei ahead of time as he could. If boosted holy water could put a dent in Riser's regeneration during your fight, I knew your current levels would be exponentially better.
"That…hurt."
Azazel didn't have time to react as a mass of concentrated bullet-shaped demonic power struck him in the chest. He blasted backwards; energy drained from his body. Rizevim emerged from an exhalation of mist, all of the holy water being evaporated by his very aura. His hair flickering brown for a moment, Azazel sighed as he tried to get up but his body would not move.
"Leeching power from an external partner, so much for your assertions of not needing anyone else."
"Moloch could be very persuasive with his knowledge; this power is mutual."
"So, he's not dead then if he's still able to share. I knew it, thanks for blowing his cover…almost had us all fooled. So where is the bastard hiding out?"
"It doesn't matter, you won't be leaving here to warn anyone." Rizevim raised a hand, nine more bullets identical to the first aimed straight at the incapacitated Azazel. Without another word, he fired them.
"Whooooo! Just in the nick of time!" Bikou shouted as he spun his Ruyi Jingu Bang staff at incredible speeds, deflecting the bullets into various directions shredding the castle walls surrounding them. "Arthur, he's all yours!"
Grabbing Azazel and jumping away, Bikou left an opening for the swordsman, Arthur Pendragon, to drop from above with Caliburn looking to decapitate Rizevim in an instant. Instead, the ancient devil had a dark blade waiting, deflecting the assassination attempt. Before he could make a move, Arthur spun back to put distance between them with a single bead of sweat on his brow.
"Very well done, Pendragon," Rizevim complimented. "Had any other human gotten that close, their head would be mine now." Years of experience told Arthur that the statement was true, the killing intent so strong that his instinct had ordered a retreat lest he be cut down in an instant. "If you both are here, then that must mean…"
Raising a hand, Rizevim blocked a powerful attack of pure devil energy that tore apart the entire hallway they were standing within. Vali's fist pushed against the barrier erected by his grandfather, his expression of pure rage at his foe being so close and yet his best efforts being unable to touch him. After a few moments as his attack's power died down, he leapt away to a safe distance.
"So close," Rizevim brushed out the wrinkles in his cloak. "And you did all that without even calling upon your Gear, I'm so proud."
"Y-your timing is impeccable," Azazel coughed through the pain as Vali stood over him.
"Blame his men, they were quite strong and several of the passages down here were collapsed," the White Dragon Emperor admitted while dropping a Phenex Tear bottle in his coat upon the older fallen. "Keep going, this is my fight."
"Don't want more backup?" Azazel sprung back to his feet feeling back to 100%. "He's cheating in terms of his strength."
"I have all the backup I need, just get in there before I change my mind. The Holy Grail is in there, they'll need an expert." Azazel nodded, rushing to the corridor the others had raced through before he'd stayed behind. Rizevim did not move to stop him, now totally focused on his grandson. "I had to fight through your augmented vampires and more of that Hexennacht. But I finally made it here. I thought you had gone into hiding, revealing yourself now was stupid."
"Stupid? No, this was the perfect time!" Rizevim threw his hands out dramatically. "Oh, I retreated from the world for a time, there was nothing left that was interesting. But now…NOW there is so much to see we never knew about!"
"What are you talking about?" Bikou wrinkled his face at how bombastic and borderline manic the Old Satan was acting.
"We know all about the Einherjar's jaunt to the future. Time travel, something thought to be impossible yet it is a fact now. Not only that, but my good friend Moloch is from there as well. He told me what is to come, even beings that exist in worlds beyond our own I would quite like to meet that he'll extend an invitation to. I like it, if this world needs destroyed so that I can find these others, who am I to argue? The only true obstacle now that Ophis has been dethroned is Great Red."
"I think your mental faculties are undone," Arthur asserted with absolute confidence. "You can't hope to think you could contend with Great Red?"
"Among everyone left here, I'd say I'm the only one making any sense. You cling to a stagnant world merely because it is all you know," Rizevim retorted. "And no, I know full well that Great Red would slay me for sure should I face him directly. That is why our faction is looking for that means to bring about the Apocalypse."
Vali gritted his teeth in rage. "You're referring to…!"
"That is right, I mean…"
Outside Castle Tepes…
"The cursed number, 666, the Trihexa. A figure I know you are QUITE familiar with," Euclid unveiled to Dorian proudly. "Do you still have those dreadful nightmares?"
Dorian didn't give him the satisfaction of an answer, instead landing an Asgard-strength empowered blow on the devil. Layering multiple seals of Norse, Heaven, Devil and Shinto magics overtop one another, the attack succeeded in shattering even his barriers. Musphelheim flames lashed at Euclid only to be driven aside by ones of his own. Every move Dorian had was matched by the stray Lucifuge and strengthened with continuous boosts. Even with the disadvantage, the Einherjar could tell that his opponent was not fond of close quarters combat. Twilight Star clanged against a new of his weapons, the heavy sound denoting the sheer power being exchanged.
"If you know about my trip to the future, you know how monumentally stupid trying to wake the Trihexa up is. You'll die like everyone else."
"You have grown so comfortable with that layering talent of yours," his opponent complimented. "Loki was shortsighted to teach you that and leave you alive. As to our fate with the Trihexa freed, only if we're still on this world when it destroys it. Our army and those we command will be well on our way to another one. Or perhaps to another timeline altogether following the great beast as our herald. The options will be limitless. Don't worry, I'll be sure to save your silver flower, maybe even…!"
Dorian could take no more, channeling all the energy he had, he wrapped Twilight Star in dozens of seals and hurled it towards Euclid, the devil catching it with a shockwave that just barely deflected it at great effort. Dorian was upon him before he could recover having followed in the swordspear's wake, unable to hold his composure at such words being thrown his way and landed the blow square in Euclid's face. The devil remained standing, only sliding back several feet, the strength boosted so great to tank the hit with only a slight bruise. He looked over the augmented Gear on his arm quizzically, reanalyzing the potential.
"If I hadn't boosted as much as I had, that would surely have done more damage, so you can do that as well with it? Good to know, how about this?" The gauntlet disappeared from his hand to instead materialize as horns atop his head similar to how Dorian had done so in the past. The design was different, however, being more twisted and devil-like with dark green and red flames burning at their tips. "Does this make me look more fitting as the villain?"
As the devil gloated, the gem on his horns suddenly dimmed, going out entirely. He noticed immediately, reaching for something within his coat. No matter how swiftly Euclid moved, however, Dorian realized the situation first.
He duplicated the Gears, but he couldn't possibly have replicated Ddraig or Vaetta. That means he has to be supplementing something else for the power source, something finite. All those boosts probably drained it faster than he expected, I just have to strike before he recharges it!
Dorian advanced, recalling his weapon to his hand with a flick of the wrist, Euclid's eyes widened as it was clear he could not complete his process in time. Before Twilight Star could connect, a black trident intercepted it, twisting to redirect his blow into the ground harmlessly. A woman in dark-purple robes with a crimson hood had blocked his attack, her weapon holding even the legendary sword at bay.
"Go," she uttered with a word, Euclid nodding in response with a loud swallow.
"I-I need more time to perfect this amalgamation, it would seem. If I'd had this much only the other day, your Valkyrie would already be at my side so the next we meet I will have the strength to best you utterly."
"Damn it," Dorian's frustration peaked as the Lucifuge traitor disappeared within his own Roads portal, the Einherjar's new foe preventing pursuit. "Who are you now!?"
Dorian, that's… Despoina started, but her words were unnecessary as the biting Romanian wind blew the hood of his new foe down to show blue-purple hair cascade past her shoulders. Dull gold eyes looked menacingly into his own grey ones with a fury he had seen before...at Olympus.
"Despoina…?" His jaw dropped open as he recognized the woman who now threatened him. Even her obsidian trident greatly resembled Twilight before its shattering. "…how?"
She did not answer, instead hooking his blade between her trident points and very nearly tearing it from his hands. The Einherjar managed to hold on, rushing forward to body her in an attempt to disarm. He failed as she spun with his attack, ducking low and pirouetting beneath his outreached gauntlet. Dark lightning with a sinister aura erupted from her weapon to impact Dorian's wrist-shield, scorching it. Sliding back, the pair stared each other down with several feet of safety between.
"Despoina, what are you doing here?!"
Dorian, that's not me! I mean, it's my body…but it doesn't feel right, like…
Like she hasn't changed since wanting to bring about the Twilight of the Gods! Iggy finished the thought. Don't let your guard down!
"Through the power of the Grail, I am made whole again," the dark-rendition of Despoina muttered ominously. "Not only Olympus will face their twilight now, but every pantheon."
"This isn't you anymore," Dorian tried to talk, but her weapon angled towards him threatening if he took another step closer. "What did they do to you?"
"Dorian…" She muttered, blinking quickly before shaking her head. "Euclid has fled, my task is done. It's time for Carmilla's faction to fall."
"You're not leaving, I'm not letting you go again!"
"What is more important to your Crossroads…stopping me, or saving your allies?" She snapped her fingers and then stood there staring down Dorian's advance.
"To any allies who are out there!" Elmenhilde's voice crackled over the magical communication between them being restored temporarily by Despoina's actions. "We need reinforcements! The Tepes and Khaos Brigade traitors, they…they changed! We cannot hold them, we can't…!"
"Elmen? ELMEN!" Dorian called out, but there was no response. The new Despoina just gazed on emotionlessly without blinking all the while backing towards the portal behind her.
"You can chase me, possibly even catch me, but it will take time. I'll see to that. Farewell Dorian." With that, she was gone through the same portal as Euclid. The young man hesitated, very nearly opening a path to give chase. In the end, he unleashed a flurry of curses under his breath while turning to his team.
"Everyone! Gather close!" Slamming his hands into the ground, he created a thick bramble defensive wall around them giving the scattered Crossroad team members time to regroup. "We're getting into the Roads and making for Elmenhilde's location. Something is happening!"
"What about Rias and Vali's team?" Hecuba called out, thankful for the chance to breathe as they had started getting overwhelmed. "We can't get through to warn them, whatever cut off the Carmilla's group is interfering with us too." Dorian paused before answering, mind racing with potential outcomes of each decision.
"They'll have to hold out until we can return, if something is smashing Elmenhilde's army, it's serious. We'll help them out then swing back for the others"
Dorian considered their friends inside more important than the vampire attack at the fringes of Tepes territory, even with the thought of wanting to build bridges, but he also trusted them more. In any other situation, he would have rushed within the castle to warn the others or chased after Euclid and this new version of Despoina…but the tone of sheer terror and confusion in Elmenhilde's voice told a tale that something terrible was happening. That same voice which had remained so cold and confident through all that came before. No matter what awaited them, he had to see what could stop an entire vampire army assault cold.
But Euclid…that portal he made to escape was one to the Roads without a doubt. When we're done here, I'll help Yggdrasil hunt him down no matter where he tries to run. He won't lay another finger on Rossweisse, THAT is a promise. Despoina, you said the Grail brought you back too. Why would they do that, did Hades help on that…and what did they do to make your eyes look like they did at Olympus?
Tepes Castle…
The darkness had receded, the vampire conspirators dead with their Evil Dragon ally having run from the wrath of an angry god. All that remained of the event was Gasper standing alone still looking to be in his monster form. With slow, solemn movements, he walked to Valerie on all fours and sat beside her almost like a dog mourning their fallen owner.
"I'm sorry Valerie," he growled. "I'm…"
"Azazel?" Issei blurted out as the former Governor-General staggered through the door looking out of breath. Despite appearing to be fine, his clothes were tattered, making him worry what had happened. The Red Dragon smiled more as Honda and Koneko followed behind looking equally as weary. "Everyone, are you okay!?"
"I'm fine," he patted him on the head with a grin to put his mind at ease. "Surprisingly, you can thank Vali for that."
"No major injuries," Koneko was already using Sage Arts on herself as Honda signed that his injuries were not serious. It was only then she saw the scene before them. "Oh no, Gaspy…"
"…shit, did it take me that long to get here? May I?" Azazel approached Valerie cautiously, waiting until he was certain Gasper did not mind before looking her over. "There was something that was bugging me, let me look."
"What are you doing?" Catherine asked while approaching with Asia, the pair looking for anyway they could help. The fallen angel had produced his Sacred Gear scanning device and was running it along the half-vampire's body, finally stopping just below her breasts where Marius had initially reached into her body.
"So that's the case here," he motioned towards her for the team to watch. "Her Holy Grail is actually a Sub-species Balance Breaker, looks like it was from the beginning. He already extracted the Grail, right?"
Rias nodded, Gasper gently picked up the Grail that had been exposed by Marius' death, dark tendrils quivering as he held it. To his surprise, Koneko added her hands to the cup without a care for how he looked. Acting as one, the pair passed it over to the former Governor-General.
"That shouldn't have been possible so quickly, to pull a Longinus out of someone would require WAY more time and energy. He only got part of her Gear, there is another Grail inside her. Look, clear as day." He showed the readout on his scanner flashing wildly despite no one truly understanding it.
"There are two of them!?" Gasper asked, his original voice returning slightly. "But I thought there could never be two of the same one!"
"No two separate of the same Longinus, that is true but this is different. Elmenhilde told us they suspected the Grail was a fragmented Sacred Gear, well it seems they were half right. It is fragmented, but all of the fragments were within her. Not so much two identical, but two pieces that make up the whole. She's not dead, but damned near close."
"She's…not…?" The team couldn't help but shed tears, even Kiba and Issei who tried to act tough in front of the others. "Can you help her!?"
"I'll sure do my best, let me try this," he raised the cup over Valerie's chest while muttering words for a spell the others did not recognize. "For it to have fragmented like this, could that be why her mental state deteriorated so quickly?"
The team had gathered around them both as support and protection gazing upon the scene as Azazel worked to heal her. All the while, Gasper still in his dark shadow form watched on without the slightest hint of anger. It was Rias who asked the question everyone was thinking.
"You're not Gasper, are you?"
"I am," the shadow answered. "I have been Gasper since being born, a fragment of a God's consciousness broken from the whole. His name was Balor."
"The Evil God of Irish Mythology?" Gasper nodded at the clarification. "That explains the Gear's name."
"There is a relationship between them?" Issei asked, utterly perplexed by the situation. "Ona's people called Gasper 'Balor's Vessel' when they nabbed him at the Peace Summit too."
"I thought that was more a title based on the Gear," Azazel explained as he continued to work. "Balor was most infamous for having Evil Eyes, even managing to control an Evil Dragon or two. I knew the Gear was named for him, but to think he was actually hiding in there…"
"I am not Balor, not truly. A fragment within a greater whole where I consider myself part of that new being. The actual Balor was killed by Lugh, I am Gasper Vladi…I will always be Gasper Vladi."
Dragons, Gods, lions, tree-women, is there anything Sacred Gears CAN'T seal? Issei couldn't help but imagine as he looked upon the terrifying visage of his friend.
"I'm so glad," Asia wiped away a tear, acting how she would as if Gasper had not changed at all. "With how you were looking, I was worried. "If you are Gasper, why did you not come out fully before?"
"I didn't see a reason to. I stirred in Lilith seeing that nekoshou harmed…your Gasper's conflict was so strong I could do naught else. And yet, this girl…" He stroked Valerie's cheek tenderly. "I felt the overpowering need to save her, both for who she is and for holding the Holy Grail. Gasper was so strongly indebted to her, and yet so was I. It was something I only felt once before…"
"The day Gasper was born?" Rias asked suddenly, the story told by Lord Vladi echoing in her mind. "Valerie was in the castle even then, wasn't she?" He nodded. "You becoming part of Gasper at his birth was not by happenstance, the Grail summoned you!"
"What!?" Koneko's eyes went wide as she understood. "Balor was dead and the Grail can return the dead from the Principle of Life. Are you telling me even Gods can be called?"
"Not wholly," Gasper continued. "Only a fragment was pulled to this world at the moment of his birth, and not a moment too soon. The son of Lord Vladi and his wife was not right, he would not have survived the day. Valerie was only a little girl at the time, but I think she could sense it through her Gear. She wanted him to survive so badly, so badly in fact that her Gear activated unconsciously for the first time all to summon me. His Forbidden Balor View was drawn with me like a moth to the flame."
"So, she not only befriended you living in the castle…but actually helped you to be born," Koneko's desire to speak to Valerie soared to new heights, looking on this girl with a new admiration. She squeezed together to her grip on Gasper's shadowy limbs.
"This is way beyond the Forbidden Balor View on its own," Azazel blurted out, his voice full of excitement learning all he was. "It's FAR into the Longinus category at this point."
"Perhaps this should be considered a new Balance Breaker of sorts," Gasper put a hand on his chin in thought. "A fusion of the original Gear and Balor's consciousness… Forbidden Invade Balor the Beast, that sounds fitting."
"You earned this one man," Issei slapped him on the back, the dark Gasper taking on a more humanoid shape at the impact. "A new Longinus and Valerie still being alive, Rias is racking up the trump cards and you just turned into a bigger one!" It did the 2nd-year student's heart good to see Gasper shirk back a bit shyly as he did when hiding in his cardboard box.
"I am quite tired," he groaned. "I will rest and let your Gasper return; he has been aware the whole time. Perhaps in time we can coexist at once always. Issei, Koneko, Rias, do know that I will never harm you or anyone you care for despite tainting what I touch in darkness. I will watch over you and my other self, farewell." At last, the darkness fully dispersed leaving him standing there as if nothing had happened.
"A-and I'll protect you all," the Gasper they all knew had fully returned just as Azazel stood, his ministrations on Valerie finished at last. "Everyone; Rias, Issei, Asia, Cat, Honda, Akeno, Honda…Koneko." Rias embraced Gasper and Koneko quickly followed by Akeno, Issei and everyone else present.
"I know Gasper, you are my servant after all. Will she make it?"
"Right as rain," Azazel wiped a bead of sweat from his head. "I wouldn't be surprised if she woke up any…huh," he paused as he realized Valerie was not stirring though her breathing had grown stronger. "Now that is odd, she's not waking up. Did I do something wrong? Unless…"
"Unless…?" Everyone leaned in closer, eyes wide awaiting his answer as he looked over the readings on his scanner once more.
"Unless…she is still incomplete, what if the Grail was fractured more than we thought? That's gotta be it, it's the only thing that makes sense…there is a third Grail out there and it was taken before we got here!"
Up above…
"Releasing 666, what could that possibly lead to that would benefit you?" Arthur asked as Rizevim explained Qlippoth's goal. "All that will result in is destruction."
"Destruction is what benefits me, not for malice but merely to bring me to something new. With this world gone, I can traverse to the next following the beast. As there is nothing left that interests me here any longer, surely the next will and if not then I'll look for another. Did you not say you wished to slay Great Red for your great goal? You could do it for me, if you think yourself capable."
"Or I can kill you first," Vali countered while his mind raced for a strategy to win without using his Sacred Gear knowing his grandfather's powers all too well. "If the Trihexa is as strong as you say, slaying the Apocalypse sounds like a feat worthy of the White Dragon Emperor as well."
"You, kill the Trihexa?" Rizevim started laughing almost uncontrollably before recomposing himself. "Here I thought you knew how the God of the Bible was slain, do you think yourself above him?"
"He died mutually against the Four Satans, that is well-known to me now."
"And you never found that odd? A God that led to the creation of the Three Factions in one way or another losing to Satans who couldn't even defeat one of the modern-day ones?" Vali's resolve seemed to waver as he considered it when put into those terms. "He did a good job hiding it, but that did not matter in the end. He died facing them because he was exhausted."
"Exhausted…from what?"
"From encountering the Trihexa on his own," Rizevim explained to Bikou. "The good Lord Father encountered it and locked the beast away using tens of thousands of magic circles, seals, and runes from every myth this world has ever seen and more than a few forbidden ones lost to time. He was quite the genius, but using that many was taxing. Unfortunately for him, he could not delay heading into battle…and fell."
Vali's wings glowed behind him. Rizevim's words, if true, would paint the end of the Great War in an entirely different light.
We know God faced the Four Satans in the final battle. Did they know about the Trihexa, did God try to warn them of what he sealed in that city? Maybe they didn't believe him which led to the final clash, it's more likely they did and attacked him so they could claim it for themselves. Whatever happened doesn't matter now. He talks as if he knows so much about the creature, yet does not seem to know where it is…
"Such creases on your face, dear grandson. You'll get…"
"Shut the FUCK up," Bikou slammed his staff in to the ground, sending a shockwave in his direction that was easily avoided by the older Satan. "To be honest, I don't care in the slightest what you're after or want. Someone who convinces his son to torment his own kid is a piece of shit regardless of where you come from."
"Ah, so you know the details of my relationship with that disappointing son of mine? He was spineless even when trying to prove himself otherwise. Such a fragile ego, seeing the White Dragon Emperor born to him and all he could think about was how weak he knew you'd make him look one day. I may have…nudged him to be as wicked as our race is meant to be, but everything he did to you and your mother, that was all from his mind. I am so glad you were able to run away and Uncle Azazel helped you grow up strong."
"That doesn't matter now," Vali asserted, yet his fist was clenched so hard that it drew blood dripping to the floor. "I am surprised he is not here with you, what happened to him?"
"Your papa? Oh…I killed him of course, years ago," Rizevim chuckled as if he'd just told a clever joke. "He never grew up or stopped acting like a little wuss, so I killed him. He was talented, comparatively to most, but all that is pointless if you don't have the brains to back it up. You're not angry, are you? Going to proclaim some oath of vengeance for it? No doubt your little dragon rival and that Viking punk would do the same."
"No," Vali replied with a soft smile that almost had settled on his face. "That actually makes me really happy. He was on my list if I found him, though you were the whispers in his ears so I've wanted to kill you most of all. I don't care what blood runs in your veins, you don't deserve the title of a Lucifer."
Vali's Imperio armor exploded into existence glowing bright. Arthur and Bikou looked on shocked that he managed to call it without an incantation, so intense was his power and aura rising by the second.
"You're not the same kid who cried every day," Rizevim sneered while looking him up and down. "Azazel raised you right to instill such murderous intent in your heart. Even knowing I can shut that down with a single touch, you still waste the energy on that form."
"That's the thing," Vali growled. "You have to touch me."
Eight devil wings exploded from Vali's back as swords of energy materialized in each hand. Unlike the usual white appearance of his powers, these were pure black surging with power from both years of training and his lineage as a Lucifer. There was not a trace of Albion's power to be found.
I have to do this alone, if you used even a sliver of your power…
He would cancel it and all other power connected to it, I am well aware, partner. Albion understood having had years to hear and know all of Vali's grievances against his family. Do not hold back.
The first blade nearly reached Rizevim in the blink of an eye, Vali's incredible speed closing the gap. His grandfather sidestepped the blow, realizing that Bikou was coming from that angle and Arthur from the other. Wings appeared from his back, though not the full twelve they knew he had. Reaching out, he effortlessly grabbed Bikou and Arthur's arms with his hands, stopping their weapons before they could reach his throat. Simultaneously, his wings angled to block Vali's blade straining in vain failing to pierce them.
"You're stronger than my son ever was already," the Old Satan complimented. "If that malice behind your eyes was targeted at someone other than me, you'd be just as our kind should. Making a team without Sacred Gear users, you and Sirzechs had the same idea. Pain can be an important lesson; shall I break their wrists so you remember what fighting me entails?"
Arthur moved at those words managing to slip his thin arm from the vice-like grip, Caliburn whistling towards Rizevim's arms holding his teammate. It almost seemed to be what he had been waiting for as a new set of wings shot out angling for the Pendragon's neck. They were equally deflected by Bikou who had taken his chance for freedom the moment Rizevim's focus split. In the chaos, Vali leapt up planting his feet into his grandfather's face. The act freed him, using the force of his kick to spin. To his frustration, his sword swing was deflected by a barrier protecting Rizevim. With no openings in sight, Team Vali fell back once more without making a dent.
"Such an aggressive assault, are you not curious as to the rest of our plans? What was your father's last words? You truly had a killing intent in that attack." Vali gritted his teeth, frustrated that their tactics seemingly had barely annoyed him.
"Come on Vali," Bikou egged on his comrade who he trusted more than most. "This is the asshole you've been after, right? Let's just fight and kill him now then the rest is a moot point."
"Fight you? Our little spat was enough for me." Rizevim looked amused despite being surrounded now with Azazel back to full strength thanks to the tear. "To continue is far too much bother. I much prefer others to do that for me."
"You have no one left to help you that matters," Bikou and Arthur closed in around the Old Satan with Vali. "This is it, what I've been working towards…"
"Then you shall wait a bit longer," Rizevim stepped backwards as portals opened on either side of him. Through them, more vampires clearly augmented from the Grail stepped forward. Vali was not impressed.
"I've fought dozens to get here, what's a few more?"
"You would be right…if you were fighting vampires," the grin on Rizevim's face was terrifying in its confidence. Raising a hand, he performed the simplest of gestures and snapped his fingers.
A foul aura flared from the vampires standing before them that clearly was not natural nor vampiric. With looks of confusion on their faces, the bodies of the warriors warped and twisted painfully. Flesh became scales, pupils turned into reptilian slits and wings sprouted from their backs. After several horrifying seconds, the vampires had all been replaced with an army of sinister black dragons roaring like beasts.
"What…did you do to them?"
"A lovely side effect of those who went through Holy Grail augmentation," it was only then they realized the Old Satan had pulled a golden chalice from his robe, waving it around proudly. "We removed their weaknesses by altering their bodies. It was so shortsighted and, to be honest, just sheer insanity that NONE of them considered that the process could be pushed even further. I just planted a…" He snickered to himself before continuing. "…a seed of their own undoing. A perfectly obedient force, not like those Exorcist zealots Moloch felt could be a disposable army."
Bikou was quick to smash the nearest dragon in the face, vaulting over with a spin to take out more. Arthur and Vali were quick to defend themselves, grappling with the monsters preventing them from getting any closer to Rizevim.
"You already extracted Valerie's Sacred Gear?"
"Just this little fragment without Marius even knowing, one of three split within her. The rest I left behind, they weren't needed for my purposes and kept that blowhard busy. His ritual was inferior and took ages to finish, if it weren't for her effect on the Red Dragon Emperor, I would not have bothered with that fallen woman even with being an old groupie of Uncle Azazel. A relic of God…just what we need to have a glimpse into what he was capable of on his deathbed."
"You bastard…"
"Such unkind words, we almost had all of the relics, but Cao Cao got too big for himself and managed to get the True Longinus lost to your Crossroads. Now it's being handled by that fetching redheaded Spartan of theirs. I've seen you both fight together through the eyes of my minions…would you prefer to dance with her without weapons?" Vali threw his blade of demonic energy, something Rizevim did not expect and barely avoided.
"Were you afraid your barrier wouldn't stop that?" The White Dragon Emperor grinned at seeing him avoid his blow rather than take it head on.
"Oh, was that bad etiquette asking my dear grandson about his crush?" Rizevim turned to face the portal he had created for the vampire-turned dragon reinforcements. "I had no idea such was your concern; I'll leave you with your friends for privacy. Perhaps next we meet will be with the Trihexa looming over Great Red's corpse like that Einherjar saw. How I await the day it can slaughter every God on this planet, oooooooh, I am getting chills at the thought. We may get our own verse in the tale of the Apocalypse."
With only a single step, he was gone as the portal closed. Out of frustration, Vali beheaded the first evil dragon that drew too close. He was enraged, so angry that he was seeing red.
We were so close, we almost had him! Strengthening his Imperio form, he turned to aid Arthur and Bikou against the rabble that Rizevim had revealed. Turning vampires into these evil dragons, we failed to stop him from getting an army. Just how many of these things has he spawned?
Our heroes find themselves surrounded by the growing army of enemies even as their leadership makes a withdrawal to continue their plans. Each prepare to continue the fight as Dorian and the Crossroads approach the distress signal from Elmenhilde's forces... Until next time, I hope everyone stays safe, Reads and Reviews...but most of all Enjoys! :D