Hello my dearest readers and welcome back! Well, we've completed four fights and are onto the fifth of the Evilus War. Friends have fought, families battled, and lovers nearly lost, but now it's time for sworn enemies to tear each other apart for the right to claim the heart of our missing protagonist. It's time, for Ais Wallenstein to conquer Revis and reclaim her lover…or die in the attempt. So let's get started.
I do not own Danmachi
The moment the battle began and the two sides rushed to destroy each other, Revis's eyes turned to her foe.
Ais ran straight towards the crimson tamer, her golden eyes shining with determination and the desire to strike down the bitter enemy who had stolen away her lover.
Revis, however, simply turned and shot off away from both the battlefield and Ais.
The Sword Princess stopped for a moment in shock, before her eyes narrowed and she began to chase the Evilus commander in earnest.
The two flew further and further away from the battle until it became but a dull echo in the distance.
Where are you going? Ais wondered as she glared at the spot of scarlet in the distance.
After what felt like hours of chasing her enemy, but in reality had been only a few minutes, Ais spotted a wall of stone and a pair of large metallic doors. It was there that Revis finally stopped, landing some paces away from the doors and turning to face the golden swordsman.
Ais landed and immediately took a ready position, but Revis seemed utterly undisturbed by this.
"I don't want anyone to interfere with our last battle," the bloody woman stated, her voice like ice.
"Where is Bell?" Ais demanded.
Revis gestured behind her.
"In there," she answered, "and if you can get past me, you can save him," her eyes suddenly dropped and a sadness so profound suddenly radiated off her, startling Ais, "...before it's too late."
Never had Ais even dreamed that the woman she'd come to hate – the one who had attempted to end her life multiple times, had hurt her familia, and stolen her lover – could sound so melancholy and…
Regretful.
"What is Bell to you?" Ais asked before she even realized it.
Suddenly, a fierceness filled Revis's eyes that so startled Ais that she took a step back.
"He is the only one who made me think I could be more than just a tool, a weapon, or a monster. The only person who made me wonder…to believe, that I could have more to my future than just death, destruction, and servitude. He is my match. Like me, yet different."
"He is nothing like you!" Ais roared, raising her sword as if prepared to strike down Revis's very words.
"But he is, Ais Waldstein. Now more than ever." Something about that instantly cooled Ais's wrath and sent an fearful tingle down her spine. "His fierceness. The power that flows through his veins. It's very much like me, and makes me a better fit for him than you ever could be." Ais growled as her rage awoke again and she stepped forward, yet Revis was unperturbed, if anything, the fire in her eyes seemed to grow in response to her enemy's challenge. "He is my mate, Ais Waldstein. The man I chose. No one can or ever will match me as well as he does, while also giving me a peace that I never thought I'd find. Something that precious is not simply discarded because someone stands in your way. I will fight to the death for him, daughter of wind. And I know you will fight just as hard. So it's time for us to decide whose death it will be. Mine. Or yours."
A moment later, their battle began.
Attacking simultaneously, the women of war clashed with such tremendous force that it sounded as if an earthquake had erupted from the very spot of their collision. Indeed, so terrible was their power, that the stone around them cracked and shattered around their feet.
Sparks flew from their blue and red blades as green and gold eyes bore into the other with soul-freezing ferocity.
With a snarl, Ais twisted her blade to turn Revis's sword away and open up the creature woman to a lunge towards the eye.
Revis easily dodged out of Desperate's path before swinging her great sword towards Ais's head, forcing the Sword Princess to do a backwards somersault to avoid.
Bell's beloved wasn't on the backfoot for long and quickly launched herself at her opponent once more, aiming to rip out her enemy's throat with the tip of her blade.
Revis had other ideas, however, and quickly sent up a spray of stones and dirt using her sword, stopping Ais's attack and allowing the monster tamer to quickly move to flank her.
Jumping into the air towards Ais's left, Revis raised her sword high above her head, her eyes aflame with the desire for destruction and the annihilation of her foe.
"RAAAAA!" she bellowed as she swung down with thunderous might.
Ais brought Desperate up, using her armguard to try and better prepare for the blow, but even that wasn't enough to stop the monstrous strike to come.
Stone shattered and Ais barely managed to grunt before she was soaring across the battlefield, her skeleton groaning in pain.
She tried to stabilize herself, but despite her skill and strength, she still tumbled backwards for a couple of spins before she managed to correct herself and stop herself.
Revis, naturally, was not about to let up and was already rushing towards the Sword Princess with murder in her eyes. Seeing this, the golden swordswoman's eyes narrowed and she raised her sword.
"Tempest."
Wind surrounded her just as Revis was about to reach her, allowing the wind warrior to charge forward and meet the unprepared foe.
Revis raised her scarlet blade to block Ais's strike, grunting under the force, but holding back the sword with her own great strength.
Growling, Revis used all her strength to force Ais's sword down before backfisting the Sword Princess across the face.
Ais spun from the force of the hit, and Revis, with a roar, rushed forward, grabbing the back of her rival's head before throwing her across the floor, sending Ais face first into a hill of stone.
Ais groaned as she pulled herself from the stone, a bead of blood dripping down her forehead. Suddenly, Revis's hand returned and slammed her head right back into the stone, before pulling it back, then slamming it once more.
"You!" Revis roared as she slammed Ais's skull. "Don't!" SLAM! "Deserve!" SLAM!" "HIM!"
SLAM!
The hill of stone collapsed and Revis twirled her sword around, preparing to finish her enemy and rival and finally claim the space in Bell's now free heart.
"DIE AIS WALDSTEIN!"
She plunged…and then Desperate shot straight for her head.
Revis barely managed to pull back before the blade pierced her skull, but could not save herself from the sword cutting across her face between her eyes, nearly taking the right one.
"Gah!" Revis hissed as she jumped back, eyes bloody and filled with even more wrath than before she freezes as an oppressive air fell over the area.
"I don't deserve him?" a dark voice asked.
Rubble crumbled around the ominous form as it slowly picked itself up and turned.
The eyes of Aria and Albert's daughter were nothing like they normally were. Where before there was calmness, curiosity, and affection, now there was only wrath, bloodlust, and darkness. Darkness that matched the black winds now whipping around her.
"Bell is mine. My beloved. It is you who don't deserve him, Revis," Ais stated darkly as she stepped towards her foe, blood pouring down her forehead without any indication that the swordswoman noticed or cared. "And now I'm going to beat that into your mind, Revis," she said the name like a vile curse. "I'm going to break you into pieces for all that you've done and only when you are completely destroyed before me will I finally kill you. And then…I will rescue MY BELL! TEMPEST AVENGER!"
A burst of dark magic blasted through the air, forcing Revis to cover her eyes. However, knowing how vulnerable this made her, Revis shot her eyes back to Ais, but it didn't matter in the least. Before Revis could even blink, Ais was upon her and had opened up her side in a flurry of vengeful skill and blood.
"AAHH!" Revis cried.
She was given no respite as Ais continued her onslaught, slashing Revis across her back, then the stomach, then slicing open the muscle at the base of her neck, before Ais cracked the pommel of her sword against the monster woman's temple, sending her bloody form flying.
Revis crashed, her body collapsing under the weight of her wounds.
She'll make good on her words at this rate. I need to tip the odds back in my favor, she thought, before quickly pulling out her taming equipment.
Ais was rushing back towards Revis, intent on finishing the Evilus woman off, when violas suddenly burst from the ground all around her.
She halted and eyed the creatures that all stared down at her with drooling mouths. Her eyes narrowed.
They won't hold her for l-
Before the creature woman could even finish that thought, Ais disappeared into a black blur, and within two seconds, every viola, numbering more than two dozen in number, was obliterated.
What?!
Ais turned her shadowy eyes back to Revis, who barely had enough time to raise her crimson blade up to block the Sword Princess's renewed attack.
"Grrr!" Revis groaned as her teeth gnashed before, with a flick of her arm, Ais sent her flying again.
Revis soared over the Dungeon again, watching as Ais continued her relentless assault, her black wind creating a tempest around the monster woman.
Desperate, Revis summoned forth more monsters. Violas. Virgas. Exploding goblins. Anything she could, only to watch as all of them were cut through with ease.
At this rate it really is over for me, she thought, that realization filling every corner of her soul as Ais drew closer and closer and closer.
Just then, Revis's short life flashed before her eyes. Everything she'd done since waking up in the darkness below the world. Every crime. Every cruelty. Every single horrible thing.
I guess this is what I deserve.
Just then, a face, unlike all the others, appeared before her. This one wasn't in pain, nor dead, nor masked. Instead, it was a bright, adorable face, smiling at her.
Bell.
SQUELCH!
Revis had barely enough time to move to the side to prevent Desperate from plunging into her heart, but that did not spare her the pain as the sword pierced all the way through her body.
She spat up blood as Ais's golden orbs glared down upon her as if she was filth.
Doesn't matter. None of it does. Not her. Not this wound, Revis echoed in her mind as her eyes turned hard. Only Bell. And for him, she grabbed a whistle, black as night and in the shape of a snarling dragon's head, I'll do whatever I have to.
Before Ais could stop her, Revis brought the whistle to her lips and blew.
REEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAA!
A piercing sound like the scream of death filled Ais's ears. So agonizing was it that she pulled back from Revis and put distance between them while desperately covering her ears.
Once the chilling noise ceased, Ais slowly lowered her arms and turned back to Revis, finding her enemy had taken the time to down a pair of potions.
"What was that?" the golden warrior demanded as her black wind began to flick again.
"The signal of your end," Revis answered darkly.
Suddenly, from both sides of Revis, two giant figures burst from the ground and landed on either side of the Evilus tamer.
Fear replaced rage as Ais stared at the two towering figures.
"W-What are those?"
The beasts before her were all too familiar in their appearance. Though greatly smaller and wyverns instead of a full-fledged dragon, the beasts before her had far too much in common with the Dragon of Armageddon, from their dread-inspiring scales, to their soul-stealing red eyes. They were monsters of despair and ruin.
"Prototypes," Revis answered simply as she slowly began to back away, "of a much greater beast. But they should be more than enough for you."
Their patience expended, the black wyverns roared simultaneously, their bellows like the scream of a dying city, before they charged Ais.
Snapping back to reality, Ais managed to dodge the first swipe of one of the wyverns, but was soon struck by the tail of the second, causing her to spit up a fountain of blood before she was sent crashing through several hills of stone and rock.
The wyverns roared and raced after their prey as Revis watched anxiously.
Good, their focus is on her, she thought with relief. Unbeknownst to Ais, the black wyverns were a last resort for the tamer for, though she could summon them, she could not actually control them. Once unleashed, they would destroy and consume everything until they were destroyed.
This is your end, Ais Waldstein. My only hope is you make things easier for me by killing at least one of them before your death. A death I will greatly enjoy watching.
Ais crashed against the Dungeon, coughing up more blood before falling to her knees.
They're…so strong.
"RAAAAAA!"
She looked up and found the two beasts rushing for her again, fangs and claws posed for the kill.
Ais growled as she took in their hungry maws and eyes.
"TEMPEST AVENGER!" she roared, creating a new hurricane of wrath.
The wyverns paused for just a moment at the sudden rejuvenation of their prey, which was enough for Ais, who charged the one on her right, crashing into its chest and dragging it away from its comrade.
"RAAAA!" the monster roared as she pierced its scales and flesh, plunging Desperate into its chest while forcing it to crash into one of the Dungeon's columns of stone.
The first wyvern crumpled to the ground as blood leaked from its chest and Ais turned her dark eyes to the second beast, which roared in intensified rage and rushed to attack her.
Ais met the great lizard in the middle, its claw meeting her sword, sending a shockwave through the Dungeon. The creature attempted to impale her with its other limb, but Ais gracefully ducked under it and then cut along the entirety of its outstretched limb, covering herself and the ground with its boiling blood.
"REAAAAA!" it cried in agony as Ais, uncaring of the blood, moved under its stomach and kicked it into the air.
The wyvern flew away and Ais crouched, prepared to shoot straight for its neck and cut off its head, only for something to wrap around her legs.
She had only enough time to turn to find the first wyvern's tail around her before she was pulled through the air at ludicrous speed only to be slammed into the Dungeon, creating a massive crater.
Ais's black wind dissipated the moment she crashed into the ground, leaving her wide open for the wyvern's tale to come down for a second helping and slam into her, obliterating her armor, and shattering many of her bones.
M-My body, she internally groaned as she tried to pick herself up.
Her suffering was far from over though, as the second wyvern reappeared above her, jaws wide open and mouth drooling.
She only just managed to bring her sword up to block the monster from devouring her, but she could not stop its teeth from plunging into her stomach and back.
"AAAAH!" she screamed as the dagger-like teeth pierced her flesh and bone, its stinking breath nearly made her vomit, and its saliva burned her flesh.
The wyvern growled as it attempted to clamp down and take its meal, uncaring of the sword plunging deeper into its maw.
Its teeth sunk further, making Ais groan again as her strength poured out her open wounds.
I'm about to…I'm about to…!
Just like Revis, Ais's life flashed before her, however it was a bit different for her. Not only was it less gruesome, but it seemed to play in reverse. From this moment all the way back. Athens, the tournament, the Xenos, and everything before, replayed before her. She saw all her times with her friends. All their attempts to cheer her up. Every time they saved her. She saw Riveria brushing her hair and Finn scolding her. And yes, she saw Bell, smiling at her so brightly. Hugging her. Kissing her. Looking down at her as he made love to her. All of it. She saw it all.
Is this punishment? She asked herself as she closed her eyes, tears pouring from the hidden golden orbs. For my failure? To see everything I'm about to lose?
"Ais."
Her eyes shot open as she suddenly found herself in a very familiar scene from a very long time ago.
"Mother?" she asked, looking up at the woman who looked so much like her.
Aria smiled at her as if she didn't see the shocked look or terrible state of her daughter.
"You've asked me where your father's strength comes from, but would you like to hear where mine does?"
Ais didn't respond. How could she? It felt as if she was back all those years ago.
But that's impossible.
"It's actually quite similar to where your father's strength comes from in all honesty," Aria continued, still smiling lovingly. "It comes from my bonds. But whereas your father's bonds are his companions, you, and I, my bonds are all my friends, your father, and, of course, you. So very similar, but not quite the same," Aria laughed.
"I…don't understand."
Aria turned to her daughter.
"My strength comes from my bonds. So does your fathers. So does yours. So summon those bonds, Ais. Call upon those bonds and let their strength become yours."
"How do I do that?"
Aria, still smiling, gently pulled her daughter into her arms and began stroking her hair.
"Close your eyes and think of everyone who matters to you. Think about all those precious people and all those precious times. The words will come to you."
Ais, playing the obedient daughter, closed her eyes and began to summon forth her memories.
Once more the past played before her, but now it was not filled with dread or a crushing sense of defeat. It was as if she was redoing all those wonderful moments. All those friendly spars, shopping trips, moments in her room, hugs, kisses, and wonderful moments in the dark. Finally, she heard the words echoing from her heart.
"Venti de Familia et Amor."
An explosion of white gold wind tore the black wyvern apart and turned it into mush in an instant.
"What?!" Revis cried.
She stared down at the scene below and her eyes widened as she found that, not only was Ais not dead, but she changed.
The Sword Princess's wounds had healed and she stood before the second wyvern unafraid. All around her body, a sheen of white gold glowed with warm power, making her appear well and truly divine.
She's…she's summoned the power of the spirit, Revis realized.
The black wyvern, not understanding this or what it meant, roared in rage at Ais's survival and attempted to strike her down, only for Ais to casually turn to the beast and flick her sword.
The wyvern was cut in two instantly and split on either side of Ais, its blood falling harmlessly around her before the monster burst into smoke.
Then, Ais turned to Revis.
The Evilus woman did not even attempt to flee, knowing there was no point and a moment later, Ais appeared before her and cut her down.
Revis fell, her open torso pumping out the remains of her life as she stared up at the Sword Princess.
"So…it appears you've won, Ais Waldstein."
"Yes I have. And now I will rescue Bell."
Revis nodded before spitting up blood.
"He loves you," she admitted.
Ais smiled, despite the situation.
"I know. And I love him."
Again, Revis nodded her head, but this time she kept her eyes closed.
"Then…may I make a request?"
"What?" Ais asked suspiciously.
"Never hurt him," Revis pleaded. "Never hurt him…like I did. He deserves that. Deserves someone who will love and protect him. Can you do that, Ais Waldstein?"
The Sword Princess's eyes softened.
"I will never hurt him. I promise."
For one final time, Revis nodded.
"Good, because if you do, I'll come back from the dead to punish you and take my mate," she joked, giving Ais a smile before she burst into dust.
Ais looked down at where her great foe once laid as Venti de Familia et Amor dissipated and her body relaxed. She quickly noticed Revis's magic stone and picked it up.
"I promise, Revis," she repeated, her hand tightening around the stone as she solidified her vow.
She put the stone into her pocket than shot around to the door that led into the Evilus's base.
"Bell! Bell!"
Ais ran through the base as quickly as she could, finding no sign of the Hestia captain and almost no sign of life.
"Bell!" she cried again, hoping to hear his sweet voice echo from the halls.
"Who's making all that noise?!"
Ais spun around and found a hooded Evilus member suddenly walk out into the hall, looking irritated. That irritation turned to terror in an instant, but before they could flee, Ais had them pinned to the wall.
"Where is Bell?!" the Sword Princess demanded.
"H-H-He's not here!" the Evilus cried.
"Then where is he?!"
"I-I don't know! None of us do! Not even Thanatos-sama! Enyo-sama took the boy away before any of us knew it. We asked where he took it." Ais growled. "HIM! Where Enyo-sama took him, but he only chuckled creepily and said, 'somewhere he'll be of the most use to me'. That's it! I swear!"
Ais growled before knocking out the Evilus member.
"Dionysus," she snarled.
Ais burst back into the openness of the Dungeon, intent of finding Dionysus and forcing him to bring her to Bell. However, her plans died the moment the Dungeon began to rumble once more.
CRAAAAAAAAAASH!
Ais spun around and her eyes widened as she saw a true replica of the One-Eyed Black Dragon burst into the 60th Floor from below.
"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAR!"
Not even Venti de Familia et Amor could resist the soul-obliterating force of the dread this terrible replica created within Ais's heart.
And there it is folks.
Well, this one was shorter than I imagined, but I liked it, hopefully you guys did too.
I know that some of you guys really didn't want me to kill Revis, and truth be told, I was having a hell of a back-and-forth deciding whether or not I should or not. However, I eventually decided I should for a variety of reasons. For one, no one has died since Line, and I wanted to remind you that there are still stakes here, even if it was through a villain death. Secondly, she has done some damn horrible things. So has Ein, admittedly, but we haven't seen as much of Filvis's terribly actions in this story, so it's easier to not condemn her. Lastly, I did the whole Revis X Bell interactions as a crowd pleasing thing, it was never planned, so I've never had a real plan for it. Killing her allows me to clear the slate a bit and get things more in my circle again. So, that's why I decided on this route. I also thought having her get a promise from Ais was a nice send off for a villain with some capacity for love and compassion, even if it was in a very twisted way. Plus it's a bit of foreshadowing for the future.
Anyway, explanation aside, what did you guys think? Did you like the fight? How about Ais's new power? I thought it was time to give her a new one and while it's a bit of a mouthful, I like it and it allows me to go a little bit more into Ais's origins and even give an Aria cameo.
With all that, it's time for me to sign off. I wish you all a fine day, week, and July, and I will see you all next time for Achilles's big fight. So, until then, bye for now.