by Tj Dixon
“Is that how you changed your body into its current form?” Grunti asks.
“Yes.” I answer.
“This fire state is intriguing. I’ll have to research it when I have a chance.” Grunti says.
“I hope you get the chance, but I don’t see how you can replicate the effect without being a fire angel.” I tell Grunti.
“Would you help me by demonstrating when I’m ready to research it?” Grunti asks.
“If we get the chance I’ll be happy to help.” I tell Grunti.
“We will. Even if we have to retreat we can just open a new celestial gate.” Grunti tells me.
“That’s impossible.” Sor tells him.
“Nonsense. I have just the invention for that. Wait, wait, it’s not here! I must have left it in Nirvali.” Grunti says, desperately searching the pockets in his armour.
“You can’t expect me to believe that you actually managed to create something capable of opening a celestial gate.” Sor tells him with a furious scowl.
“It doesn’t matter if you believe me. I left it behind. I just can’t believe it.” Grunti says despairingly.
“I’m the one who can’t believe it. If I can’t create a celestial gate even now I’m a god then there’s no way you can.” Sor says.
“At least I remembered a manga.” Grunti says and his eyes light up as he pulls out a book. He then sits down and proceeds to read it. Sor scowls at him even more. I’m worried she might do something stupid, such as attacking him with soul stealer lightning.
“Sor, let Grunti read. He’d only get in the way whilst we work.” I tell her before she can act.
“That’s true.” Sor agrees. “So what work do we need to do?”
“I’d like you to take something from me and keep it safe.” I tell Sor.
“What?” Sor asks curiously.
“A soul. Two souls actually, but they’re joined together.” I tell Sor.
“Why are you carrying around a pair of souls?” Sor asks.
“I found them here. One of them is Kai’s soul.” I tell Sor.
“Kai’s dead?!” Rin exclaims.
“She was killed.” I tell Rin.
“I was sure Kai had survived the war. It wasn’t that long ago that Elucia and Dairon saw her in Utopia Camerona. How was she killed?” Rin asks.
“Kai was assassinated right after Dairon and Elucia left her.” I tell Rin.
“So there was more than one assassin.” Rin says shaking her head sadly. I don’t correct Rin, because she might tell Elucia and I don’t want to burden Elucia with the knowledge that she killed an innocent person.
“Who was the other soul? Did she have a twin?” Cherry asks.
“No, it wasn’t a twin. She had a close bond with the assassin who killed her. They killed each other at the same time. The bond in life and death joined their souls. If they reincarnate naturally they’ll be twins.” I explain.
“How do twins normally form?” Cherry asks nervously.
“Most twins are born from souls that have been joined together for many reincarnations. New twins are formed when there is a strong enough connection in both life and death, but that doesn’t normally mean killing each other. Most newly formed twins have their souls joined together because they struggled together against something. Dying together on the battlefield is a very common cause. It also requires a great deal of luck to become twins no matter how strong your connection.” I tell Cherry.
“So Sherry and I probably didn’t kill each other in a previous life.” Cherry says sounding relieved.
“Even if you had, it wouldn’t have been the same you. It’s pointless worrying about past lives. Most people have been both good and bad people in past lives regardless of what they’re like now. The important thing is to be the best person you can be now in this life.” I tell Cherry.
“I’ll try.” Cherry says.
“I think you’re doing a very good job already.” I tell Cherry who blushes.
Chapter 25 (Multiple)
(Maou Ferdinand)
Until not long ago my realm was still an unsullied paradise. The only mortals that came here were the dead and they were welcomed as snacks. As for the gods and angels, they never ventured into my realm.
Everything started to change when I got that message from the pesky human emperor. ‘Heaven will soon be vulnerable. If you are ready to act when the time comes, vengeance will be yours.’ That is what it said. To even get a message to me was impressive. So I waited and watched.
He was so cautious though, that it almost drove me mad. He sent monsters into Contractia and waited and waited and sent more monsters into Contractia and waited and waited and sent spies and waited and waited and waited until finally he attacked. Even then he only attacked Contractia. It was days later when he finally attacked the angels.
Of course I was ready. I was bored stiff waiting. So finally I got to attack those stupid fire angels. And what happened next? I hear of intruders invading my realm. So I have to come right back and deal with them. My only comfort was when I discovered that the Sky Lord was one of the intruders.
So I got to fight the Sky Lord in my own realm with the clear advantage. His allies managed to retreat, but I don’t care about some petty angel or that lesser cat god. All that matters is the Sky Lord. That cursed arch angel who humiliated me so badly when we first fought. That is the angel above all others that I must defeat.
When he hid I was ready to tear my hair out. Not that I still have any. Remembering how he melted my beautiful long silver hair fills my soul with rage. It makes it seem like only yesterday that we first fought, even though it was when we were still young. It wouldn’t be too bad if the wound hadn’t been cursed to prevent my hair reforming.
Finally the Sky Lord emerged from hiding and we fought again. He seemed weak compared to when we first fought, but he still managed to melt my steed. Unlike the first time we fought he doesn’t seem to have control over curses, so my steed managed to reform. By that time though the Sky Lord had fled.
Of course I pursued the Sky Lord atop my trusty steed again, but now I find myself confronted by a wretched fire shield inside my icy paradise. Not only is my paradise sullied by fire but the angels that had been brought down from heaven have now recovered from the humans’ attacks. With reinforcements and my absence the angels are turning the tide of the battle against my demons.
Perhaps soon they will invade my paradise. I suppose that is unlikely, because my demons will be far stronger fighting here. Even knowing how unlikely it is I cannot suppress the thought of those angels dirtying my realm still further.
“Maou Ferdinand.” An annoying voice whispers. Right now she may have a use though, so I don’t kill her. I could. Even though she is hiding, I have enough of an idea of where she is to kill her if I need to.
“Ling, how is your brother doing?” I ask forcing myself to sound polite.
“Maou Fang is doing just fine.” Ling says cheerfully.
“So what brings you here?” I ask.
“My brother proposes an alliance.” Ling says.
“He has not forgotten the fate of his father, has he?” I ask.
“No. He proposes the alliance precisely because he has not forgotten.” Ling says.
“You know who is in there, then?” I ask gesturing towards the filthy flames.
“The former Sky Lord. It is time for his death and the death of his father.” Ling says.
“And how do you plan to kill Ikarus?” I ask dubiously.
“My brother will kill the Fire God Ikarus if you agree to our alliance. I can’t tell you how he will do it, but he will definitely succeed. So let’s kill the Sky Lord first.” Ling says.
“What do you want from me?” I ask her, no longer willing to even pretend to be respectful.
“Keep the Sky Lord busy. I’ll kill him when he least expects it.” Ling tells me.
“I have a better idea. You keep him busy and I’ll kill him.” I tell Ling.
/> “That’s not going to work.” Ling says trying to hide her panic.
“Fighting against the Sky Lord isn’t really much of an alliance. I can kill him with or without your help. As for Ikarus, I don’t believe for a moment that your brother can kill him. So tell me quickly why I shouldn’t just kill you.” I tell Ling.
“Your army is having a hard time against the fire angels. We can tip the balance in your favour again.” Ling says.
“With your army?” I ask.
“Yes.” Ling says.
“Fine, but if you go back on your word I will kill both you and your brother. Then I will make your realm part of mine.” I tell Ling.
“We will honour our word.” Ling says.
“Then I will keep the Sky Lord busy whilst you wait for your moment, but if you take too long I may have killed him already.” I tell her.
“I won’t wait too long. I want revenge.” Ling says and for once I have no reason to doubt her words.
With a mana signal I order the other four ice dragons to follow me. Then I urge my own steed on. Having been melted once he now wants vengeance of his own. Even if he didn’t though, he would still enter these wretched flames on my orders.
I wince as we enter the flames. The pain is intense but it isn’t quite agony and it will soon be over. Sure enough we pass through the flames and behind us all four of the other dragons emerge, but their tails are each starting to melt. I can’t stand the sight of water dripping from the mighty ice dragons’ tails, but at least my mount was strong enough to emerge intact.
I sense the Sky Lord dart up from the ground at us. He attempts to spear my mount with his tail again, but my dragon fends the Sky Lord off with an indignant swing of its own tail. I let my dragon focus on evading and fending off the Sky Lord’s attacks, whilst I form soul stealer orbs and send them at the Sky Lord.
He easily evades my attacks, but then the other ice dragons hurl ice shards and lightning at him. He mostly ignores their attacks but they are still a distraction. He never knows when the dragons may close in on him and attack directly with their claws, fangs and tails. Surely this must be busy enough for Ling.
(Angelika)
Five ice dragons emerge from the roof of the dome of fire. I think there are five, but they move so fast it is hard to be sure. Some of the time I can’t see any of them. Peter is engaging them though and he is moving even faster than they are. It makes me wonder how we thought we could support him. We can’t even keep track of the enemy, let alone attack them. I feel a sense of dread that has nothing to do with the enemy above us.
“Attack! Enemy attack!” I yell as I realise that nobody else seems to be awake. I put up my dimensional bubble in the hope it might protect me if I get hit by a stray attack.
“I know, so no need to be so noisy.” Sor says from behind me. Ok, perhaps not everyone was asleep. Everyone else is waking too, but naturally they’re in a panic.
“What do we do?” Yusa asks as she emerges from her makeshift home a little calmer than most of our friends.
“I hate to admit it, but there’s not much we can do against enemies we can’t even keep track of.” Sor says unhappily.
“I think there’s something else here.” I tell Sor who frowns.
“What?” Sor asks.
“I don’t know. It’s just that I have a very bad feeling. Something familiar and scary.” I tell Sor.
“You’re right.” Sor says with a frown.
“I sense it too. It feels dangerous.” Grunti says appearing beside me.
“Peter must have sensed it too then, right?” I ask.
“He may be too distracted to have sensed it.” Sor says.
“Can you do something about it?” I ask.
“I’ll slow it down enough that the rest of you should be able to fight it. Make sure you’re ready.” Sor tells us. By now everyone is awake and listening, with their dimensional bubbles up.
“We’re ready.” Rin says and nobody disagrees.
“Now.” Sor says and as she says it a little red imp appears in the air a little above us. It seems startled but recovers almost instantly and hurls a torrent of fireballs at us. They bounce off our dimensional bubbles but I don’t want to just wait and see if our bubbles can hold.
We jump up into the air, staying well below Peter’s battle with the ice dragons, and surround the imp to prevent it fleeing. It’s odd how we just do it without having planned or coordinated it. I suppose it shows how well we’ve gotten used to working with each other.
Now it’s our turn to attack. I shower the imp with ice shards and so do Rin, Asuna, Yusa, Water Lily and Aventurine. The fire mages are draining the imp’s mana. The wind mages attack with wind slices and the earth mages use a hail of metal shards. Some of our attacks end up hitting each other’s dimensional bubbles but the bubbles easily hold.
Sor and Juliet don’t attack, perhaps because their attacks might not be shielded by our bubbles. The enemy seems to struggle as they are forced to shield against the vast majority of our attacks. Thanks to the angel stones our attacks are also much stronger than they would normally have been.
“Damn brats!” The imp yells and to my horror I recognise the voice. It fills me with dread and for a moment I’m unable to attack. That slight pause is all the enemy needs to charge at me with a barrage of fireballs all directed my way. She collides with my bubble and presses into it with her fireballs even though their explosions cover her. Many of my friends’ attacks are hitting my bubble too now that she’s in contact with it.
“Ling.” I gasp, but my shock soon turns to rage. No longer content with ice shards I summon my entire power, dropping the dimensional bubble and forming ice all around Ling. The ice acts as a wall, shielding me from my friends’ attacks, whilst trapping Ling’s fireballs inside with her. My friends stop their attacks, but my fellow water mages add their ice to my own and help me crush Ling. I can’t hear her scream, but I can see the agony on her face. It may be the face of an imp, but the expression is human.
“She’s dead.” Sor tells me having ported behind me.
“That was reckless!” Rin yells at me.
“It worked and nobody died.” Sor tells her.
“That’s sheer luck. Angelika could easily have been killed.” Rin tells her.
“There’s no point worrying about that now. Vengeance isn’t always logical. I know there’s no way I can compete against Ferdinand, but that doesn’t stop my thirst for vengeance.” Sor says and Rin’s attention is instantly diverted from me.
“You’re not actually planning to fight against that monster up there, are you?” Rin asks nervously.
“I’m still thinking about how I can help kill him.” Sor says.
“If only he’d stop darting around all over the place maybe it would be possible for us to help. Of course if that happened Peter could probably kill him without any trouble.” I say.
“Why don’t you try to trap him?” Grunti suggests.
“Trap him?” Sor asks.
“Can you open dimensional gates?” Grunti asks.
“Normally I could, but even if this place wasn’t cutting off my connections I don’t see why I would want to open up a gate. That would let him escape instead of trapping him.” Sor tells him.
“The dome should only prevent connections that pass through the dome wall. If you opened six square gates forming a perfect cube that each link to each other you should be able to keep him inside the cube. If the gates are set up correctly we could still attack from the outside.” Grunti says.
“That’s very clever, but when he’s moving so fast how am I meant to surround him with six gates all at once? It would take at least ten, no nine, seconds to open them all if they need to open at the same time.” Sor tells Grunti.
“Then don’t open them around him.” Grunti says.
“Then what possible point is there in opening them!?” Sor asks.
“Open them where he will be at the precise moment he gets there.” Grunti
says.
“Even if I am a genius and a god I can’t predict the future!” Sor protests.
“You don’t need to. Peter’s miko should have a mental connection to him. She can have Peter guide the enemy into the trap and tell you exactly where and when it needs to be activated.” Grunti says.
“Can you do that?” Sor asks Yu Kii.
“I can try, but I don’t know whether Peter will be able to spare the focus to talk to me.” Yu Kii says hesitantly.
“Try.” Sor says with a look that could kill.
“I’ll try!” Yu Kii says, taking a quick step back under Sor’s gaze.
We wait whilst Yu Kii’s eyes glaze over. Her conversation is purely mental so we have no way of knowing what was said. After a few moments Yu Kii’s eyes return to normal.
“Peter said to share the information mentally.” Yu Kii says.
“That makes sense. It would be difficult to describe it precisely enough with just words.” Sor says and places her forehead against Yu Kii’s. A moment later Sor removes her forehead from Yu Kii’s.
“Will that be ok?” Yu Kii asks.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Sor says.
“Please be careful.” Yu Kii says.
“Don’t worry. I won’t trap Peter by mistake.” Sor says.
“Please don’t.” Yu Kii says.
“Yes, please don’t.” Rin says nervously.
“Just don’t distract me. Also, everyone needs to be ready to attack when Ferdinand is trapped. Don’t hesitate for even one second.” Sor tells us.
“Don’t worry, we’ll be ready.” Rin says and we all nod in agreement.
I sense Sor begin to channel mana into a spell. It’s far too complex for me to understand the spell, but it must be the gate cube. I prepare to move my dimensional bubble wherever I need to and ready my ice magic too.
The cube of gates, each like a red window frame containing a purple swirling mist, appears right in front of Sor only a few feet from me. I send a hail of ice shards into the gate that is directly facing me. Lightning and fireballs bombard the gates from all around me as everyone else attacks too.
