Erickitty Autumn]
[60 Minutes into the Game]
[Hestia: 140 Points (+20 Capture, 120 Minute Points).]
[Apollo: 55 Points (+10 Capture; 45 Minute Points).]
A group of Apollo members had managed to slip the net; they were a small group of just four, and considering their fairly heavy breathing they had opted to blow through the forest instead of proceeding carefully. Reckless, but it was the right decision to make as the Wild Roses and the Royal Rats were patrolling the left and right flanks and were either removing the opposition from the board entirely or contesting them.
He supposed it was inevitable, considering the sheer force of nature that the Apollo familia was up against they really had no other choice; their God made that promise under the misguided assumption that Hestia had only one Child in Bell Cranel, and when he learned that she had managed to pick up some more he thought that they were all Level 1s snatched up in a desperate attempt to pad her numbers.
Which wasn't wrong, per se, but despite being Level 1s again, the Royal Rats, Wild Roses, and Erickitty himself were all quite experienced- not only in fighting in the Dungeon but at fighting their fellow mortals; before Loki's ascendency, before his crippling, the cat-kin had participated in dozens of War Games as his Goddess challenged anyone she thought she had a reasonable chance of defeating for coin and other resources.
"I thought the point was supposed to be empty?" One of the humans in the group muttered to his companions as they walked out of the forest and approached the clearing.
"Well obviously that isn't the case," A grizzled cat-kin missing an ear growled back, and much to Erickitty's surprise, this man, in particular, was quite recognizable.
Erickitty smiled and slowly stood up, the man using the Whisperwood quarterstaff in his hand as an aid. "Balon Summer. It has been a long time since I last saw your face."
The Hume Bunny member of the group looked from Erickitty to the cat-kin in his group. "You know this guy, Balon?"
The grizzled cat-kun grunted as he drew his blade, "Yes, we grew up in the same village together; last I heard you had been crippled, Shadow Paw, what changed?"
Erickitty smiled wanly as he brought a hand back to squeeze the base of his tail, the man enjoying the way the muscle twitched and tensed under his grasp. "My Captain saw fit to have me healed, and thus I have returned in her service; it wouldn't do just take her generosity when she gave me back my very life."
The other cat-kin huffed and smiled. "It's nice to see you again, Erickitty, but unfortunately I'm going to need you to leave the point so that we can capture it. I'm well aware of the handicap that Apollo-sama gave, but it appears that devil of a young woman is more than that prick Hyakinthos can handle."
The man dropped low into a stance with his sword held behind him, "As much as I dislike the thought of cutting you down, I will do so. I'm only a Level 1 and after having been beaten into compliance more times than I can count I am not too keen on being on the receiving end of that pole-smoker's fists."
"Very well then, however I do hope that you will at least do me the honor of facing me in single combat for the point then?" The cat-kin of the Hestia familia posited.
"You're a Level 3, don't make me laugh." The gruff feline chuckled.
"I was a Level 3. Now I am only a Level 1." He sighed, "I zeroed myself out to follow Tanya-sama."
The cat-kin's eyebrows raised towards his hairline, "No foolin? Heh, you always were the type. Very well then, let us see if you can knock the rust off."
Bolin Summer strode forward and entered the space and allowed Erickitty to settle himself, however, it appeared that upon hearing that the quarterstaff wielding cat-kin was no longer a Level 3, the three men that accompanied the grizzled Balon strode into the 'C' point to make it a four-on-one fight.
A trio of poison powdered arrows impacting their bodies disabused them of that notion, and they collapsed onto their knees, coughing and sputtering as they wretched onto the grass of the clearing.
"What was that? Harold has Abnormal Resist, so that shouldn't have affected him." Bolin mused as he watched his comrades cough and writhe before falling into unconsciousness, he turned his gaze back to Erickitty, "Nothing fatal I hope?"
"No, it would be fatal if I didn't administer the antidotes," Liliruca Arde revealed herself and stepped out onto a thick tree branch, "It's Poison Vermis poison, so unless he had D-Rank in his Abnormal Resist he wasn't going to shrug that off. I'm just waiting on the winds to clear the air before I head on over; I'd be a rank amateur if I let myself be caught up in my own trap."
It took about a minute for the poison cloud to be dispersed, and the Pallum hopped down and began dousing their bodies with a large waterskin before she opened up their mouths and poured the antidotes in. Once their lives were secured she dragged them one by one off to the side of the clearing and put them in the recovery position; if they happened to vomit while they were unconscious it at least wouldn't block their airways.
"S'a lot of money to throw away on three Level 1s like that, but I guess if you have the money to do so, why not?" The man grumbled to himself before settling down into his stance again, "We ready to do this?"
Erickitty legs were feeling very weak, but he was confident he could be victorious, even with his disability; his Indomitable skill would activate and hopefully give him the edge he needed. If not, Liliruca should be more than capable of handling him.
The man looked towards the sky. "Watch me, Analisa."
With that, he spun the quarterstaff in his hands and stalked forward towards his opponent.
[Tanya von Degurechaff]
[70 Minutes into the Game]
[Hestia: 150 Points (+20 Capture, 130 Minute Points).]
[Apollo: 55 Points (+10 Capture; 45 Minute Points).]
"Wow, folks! Looks like Point 'C' has been re-taken by the Hestia familia! Man, what a show!"
Tanya frowned and ducked under the swipe from a Level 2 Pallum, a middle-aged man named Seymour Vils; she really could have gone without receiving updates from the announcers, even if it was feeding her valuable information. They'd lost 10 points due to the point being contested, but she didn't consider that a huge loss; they would have to take two points in order to make up the delta, and even then they would only squeak by with a 25-point margin. Not that Tanya would allow that to happen of course, but their window of victory was getting smaller and smaller each passing minute.
"Wait! What's this!? The Apollo familia's Point 'A' has been taken! Plus 10 Points to the Hestia familia! All points are now controlled by the Hestia familia! Wow! What an upset so far! Can Hyakinthos turn this around before it's too late!?"
Ah, so Bell Cranel and his party finally made their move then? A little late, but she supposed that they were waiting for the right opportunity.
Tanya spun her staff and deflected a precise cut aiming towards her throat and used the momentum from the spin to smack the Pallum's instep, staggering him long enough for her to rotate and thrust; the point of the wooden weapon driving into his chest and sending him tumbling back head over heels. "Acceptable, Vils-san. You aren't overly confident, nor are you pompous. You are aware of your abilities and did not over-extend thinking that your Level Advantage would be enough to overcome me. Expect an offer to come through once this War Game is concluded."
The bearded Pallum, and boy was that a weird thing to see, grinned even as he struggled to get air back into his lungs. Once he was able to breathe again he stood up and bowed to Tanya before moving over to the 'CCP' that had been set up on the far end of the clearing. The place was now home to over thirty members of the familia who had tried to charge her down, and she responded by lancing them with Refracted Beams until they wised up and accepted that the only chance they had of beating her was to play by her rules and accept the one-on-one duels.
Hyakinthos was absolutely livid, but the man had stormed off to deal with the 'pissants that dared to take their 'A' point', which meant that he was now Bell Cranel's problem.
There were only thirty members left to be 'tested' as the Apollo familia Captain had been sending them out in chunks to take the Hestia familia's 'Charlie' point instead of doing the smart thing and sending them all out except for a small contingent to watch his back. By taking a piece-meal approach he gave up his most vital asset- his numbers- and allowed her Hunter-Killer teams to take them out; with even or slightly disadvantageous numbers, she would bet on her the Wild Roses and her Royal Rats ten times out of ten.
Yes, even if he was a Level 3, Hyakinthos Clio would find no home within the Hestia familia; let Apollo keep him.
"Come now, who is next?"
A frightened Humme Bunny girl shivered as she stepped forward, the young woman clutching her staff like a lifeline. "Aren't you one of the healers?"
"Y-yes, T-tanya-sama." She trembled and Tanya felt her will to fight leave her almost entirely; the young blond just wanted to wrap this tiny, cute creature up in a blanket and smother her with hugs. Thankfully, the Salaryman was willing and able to take up the arduous task of seeing if she was capable.
"A-alright. Well then," Tanya coughed into her fist, "How about we... start off slow a-and I'll see if you can learn then?"
Tanya's disappointment in the Salaryman's resolve was immeasurable.
[Bell Cranel]
[80 Minutes into the Game]
[Hestia: 190 Points (+30 Capture, 160 Minute Points).]
[Apollo: 55 Points (+10 Capture; 45 Minute Points).]
Bell looked at the flag that flapped in the wind with a small smile on his face; the moment they had captured the point, he was treated to the sight of the Apollo familia's crest fading away on the white cloth only to be replaced by his Kami-sama's mark. He hadn't been keeping close track, but they had something like... 200 hundred points now? Maybe 60 for the Apollo familia?
With all of the Control Points covered and half of the game time already through, only losing all three points would secure the Apollo familia victory now!
"Heh, smiling real big there, Bell." Welf chuckled as he leaned against the flagpole with his arms crossed.
Bell flushed, "A-ah, yeah well... it almost doesn't feel real, you know?"
The blacksmith grunted as he pushed off the pole and removed his sword from its sheath on his back- the man had long ago followed Tanya's advice and changed his primary blade; it was a long, thick sword in the styling of a 1.30 meter Odachi. With the funds he had, he managed to make it out of Damascus and got his hands on three Fire Shadow Cat claws from Tsubaki from her expedition with the Loki familia to make it incredibly durable and lubricious. The Damascus itself cost him almost a Million valis, but the claws had been a gift from his smithing senpai; Bell didn't know exactly how much they were worth, but he estimated that the claws were worth many times more than the sword itself.
"Nah, I feel you, Bell. Seems like only yesterday we were leaving our familias and preparing ourselves to make a last stand and yet... here we are lounging around like we don't have a care in the world," He swung his blade a few times, and Bell watched his friend enjoy the sounds it made.
"Yes, I agree with you as well, Cranel-dono." Mikoto blushed as she moved to stand right next to him, "With Tanya-sama by our side, our victory is assured."
"You worms seem to be quite confident," An angry voice snarled out, his words carrying across the clearing, "First I'm going to deal with you fools, then I'm going to capture your other point. Then I'm going to handle your precious Tanya-sama personally."
Hyakinthos Clio strode out of the woodline with five others at his back. "Daphne, handle the trash, I'll handle the white-haired runt."
Bell drew his knives and rushed forward to meet the man who had beaten him black and blue on two occasions while Welf made a beeline for the woman and Mikoto moved to engage the other three men.
Hyakinthos swung his sword and Bell realized... just how much slower the man felt. Back in the tavern and in the alleyways of the abandoned district the man had been so much faster than Bell was- which really dug into the boy deeply because his outstanding agility had been one of the things he actually prided himself on the most. The Apollo Captain's blows were just so damn fast and hard to see back then that they appeared to be little more than a blur, but now? Now he could see them. If he could see them, he could react to them.
If he could react to them then he could attack himself.
The man's Minotaur steel longsword scraped along Bell's minotaur knife as the boy parried the strike and swung the Hestia knife at the other man's face. Hyakinthos managed to lean back to avoid all but the tip of the blade, a small, neat line being drawn on his cheek as the man's eyes widened in shock. "Wha-?!"
Tanya and Aiz had beaten into him the idea that talking was not a free action; if you were talking then you weren't fighting hard enough.
"You weren't this fast before!" The Apollo Captain ground out as he was forced to evade, his own strikes slowly abating in favor of merely doing his best to keep up with Bell's flurry of blows; his longsword turning away one knife only to receive a cut from another. "How!? How!? How!?"
Bell felt a small tingle on his neck right as his boot slipped on the thick grass, and a blade cut through the air right here his neck had been a split second before. The Apollo familia member that had managed to disengage from Mikoto looked dumbly at Bell for a moment before he swung again, although Hyakinthos was able to capitalize on Bell's positioning and dragged the red sword along Bell's ribs. The steel skittered across the Goliath Hide Cuirass, unable to do more than score the surface, but the young teen felt one of the straps on his vest get cut.
Bell used the shock to regain his stance and folded the other man over his knee before unleashing with a spinning heel kick that lifted the Apollo member off of his feet; the man's body tumbling out of the control point while no small number of his teeth flew through the air. Such a blow removed a threat from the fight, but it also left him unable to counter the Apollo Captain's avenging strike.
Red steel smacked into the inside of his knee, and while the weapon couldn't cut through the Goliath Hide, the force of the blow was not insignificant. A thrill of pain lanced up Bell's leg and he bit back a grunt of pain as he did his best to backpedal with a wounded leg; he wouldn't be able to make enough space to drink a potion, so he would have to make due as he was.
"Fall! Fall, damn you!" Hyakinthos roared as his blade clashed with the Damascus of Bell's forearm guard before he reared back and struck again more wildly, this blow being pushed off to the side by both of Bell's blades, "You trash! Why would Apollo-sama want you!? I have been by his side since the beginning! I'm his lover! His closest friend! Why would he spend so much to chase after some fool like you!"
"Fall! Fall! Fall! Fall! Fall!" The man shouted as he became a flurry of steel that battered Bell's guard at every turn, his rage seemingly focusing his mind as each strike flowed into the next, his strength growing with every swing.
It was unfortunate that his blade couldn't stand up to Bell's as the when the boy blocked- Minotaur infused High-Steel met Draw Forged Minotaur horn, and the steel faltered; the end of the sword snapping off as the point where the two blades made contact shattered. Bell capitalized on the opening, his Mithril knife scoring a deep cut along the man's chest; the black of his uniform grew wet with blood as the man took several hops back to make the distance. Bell made to pursue but he was diverted when another man from Mikoto's fight managed to peel away; he was badly hurt, but determined to buy his Captain time.
Hykinthos raised his arm above his head and began to chant.
"My name is Love, Beloved Child of Light!"
"I offer my body to my Son!"
A glowing ring manifested itself above his hand, the form was wavy but it solidified and became stable as he continued to chant.
"I unleash a ring of fire!"
The ring began to spin, its rotation growing quickly in speed. Bell grimaced as his knee protested, but the juke from left to right caused the Apollo member to fall; the sounding of ankles snapping filled the air as Bell raised the hand containing his Mithril blade. "As if I'd let you!"
"Let the Cardinal Winds-"
"FIREBOLT!"
The Super Short Chant Spell solidified on the Hestia knife before shooting out towards Hyakinthos. The man had only a split second to look surprised before Bell's spell smacked into his chest, engulfing him in electricity and flames before his own spell destabilized and exploded. Black smoke filled the air as a sizeable shockwave buffeted Bell's body, the force of the combined explosion sending him head over heels a few times before he managed to catch himself.
His head snapped up and he caught sight of Hyakinthos' battered body sailing out of the cloud, only to hit the grass and roll to a stop a few dozen meters away.
The Apollo Captain did not get up, or even move for that matter.
Is he? Bell shot up to his feet but a hand placed itself on his shoulder, and he jerked to see that it was Welf. "Don't worry, Bell. Save your potions, I'll heal him."
Welf walked over and placed a hand against the downed, still smoking man's neck before he began chanting.
"- the rains quench the thirst of the earth, and the third season brings life to all!"
"Spring Vitality!"
A warm green glow encapsulated Hyakinthos' body and slowly limbs began to untwist themselves, bones and cartilage snapping as they popped back into place; the cuts Bell had inflicted on him sealed over, the scorched flesh fizzling as what was too damaged sloughed off onto the ground and healthy, pink flesh regrew in its place. Thankfully the man did not regain consciousness, and Bell felt a loud sigh of relief escape his lips as he squatted down on his heels.
"Oh my goodness! Hyakinthos of the Apollo familia was soundly defeated and his victor opted to have him healed! What a kind soul! The Hestia familia has regained control over the 'A' Point, and with that I think we can call this War Game a wrap! Even if the twenty-seven remaining members somehow manage to magically defeat the Hestia familia, there is no way they could recover! However, I'll send it over to Ganesha-sama for his take!"
Bell chuckled lightly as he grabbed the familia Captain by the shoulders and dragged him to a seated position against the trunk of the nearest tree before he strode back over to Mikoto with Welf by his side. The blacksmith's magical training showed its worth as he healed the two of them with little issue before he moved over towards the defeated Apollo familia members and healing the most injured.
"As much as I would like to agree with you Achaa-kun, there is still enough time left that if the Apollo-familia managed to take all three points then they could still win, however, at this point it is doubtful. Still, let's give them the last twenty minutes and we'll call it then! I AM GANESHA!"
Bell almost fell over when Welf's arm wrapped around his neck and tugged both him and Mikoto into a side hug. "Hahaha! We did it! All of that training wasn't for nothing!"
The young teen couldn't help but laugh along in their celebration.
[Tanya von Degurechaff]
[120 Minutes into the Game]
[Hestia: 310 Points (+30 Capture, 280 Minute Points).]
[Apollo: 55 Points (+10 Capture; 45 Minute Points).]
"I think that is it, folks! Even if the Apollo familia secured all three points, there is no way they could make up the delta! The results are in, and the Hestia familia is has been declared the winner in a stunning upset!"
Tanya let herself relax as the gong rang out across the battlefield and people began to trickle into the 'B' point clearing. The remaining Apollo familia members had been defeated except for one, wherever this last person was she wouldn't begin to know, but she hoped that they were okay. They should be found when both familias were gathered up to be transported back to the city.
"Yes indeed, my dear Achaa-kun! Today has been a most stupendous day! Congratulations to the Hestia familia for their amazing triumph! I AM GANESHA!"
The blonde shook her head at the God's antics and she walked over to the groups and began healing them with her area of effect healing spells. Out of the 60 or so that she faced, in her eyes, only about 20 of them were worth picking up; half of the Archers, a few of the Level 2s, and all of the Mages and Healers. She could train the incompetence out of them, make the weak strong, but she couldn't fix stupid- nor could she train a better attitude.
She would listen to her familia's input on the members that she hadn't fought when they got back to the Church.
Within ten minutes all members of her familia had arrived in the clearing and they were all in an incredibly celebratory mood. What should she do?
Turning her gaze across everyone present she arched an eyebrow. "Hostess? I'm paying."
Special thanks to Artillery, Dinero1121, Xodarap4, LMC 9389, DrkShadow, AuraofCalm, Markus, Zerak, R.Bulut, Chair Connoisseur, Omar, Zath, Splended, D. Wongsonegoro, AjiTae, Darkarma, Pope Yoda I, Acrimonious, R. Randall, T. Balewood, Dominyx Black, Cybercrisis, Blue for being Patrons!
You guys rock!
Yes, MC Ibiri Achaa is a canon character, and yes, his alias "Fire Inferno Flame".
Yes, that is his real alias, but he seems to think its pretty darn cool.
(Seriously, look at how fucked up the future Hestia district is... in the opening seconds of the episode 4, Season 2)
Also, I toyed with the idea of having Tanya intervene in the Melen plot by happenstance, and... it always ended up with Tanya killing off everyone. She wasn't Level 2 and couldn't contend with a Level 6 Amazon without going lethal, so she always just killed everyone off, no matter how many ways I tried to formulate the different insertion points into the plot... all the Amazons died. Which was no good for the Ishtar plot since that is something I really looked forward to writing, even if it will be a slight rehash.
Seriously, Tanya at the beginning of the Melen arc? The Amazons die when they fuck up Melen in their attempt to kill Tiona and Tione.
Tanya in the middle of the Melen arc? They all die when they capture Lefiya.
Tanya at the end of the Melen arc? They all die when they attempt to attack the city, although this time its the entire Kali familia along with the majority of the Ishtar familia as well. Which would be a shame because I actually like some of the Ishtar familia Amazons, and it would be a total shame to destroy all of that tanned skinned beauty.
So yeah, I just had Tanya sit that Oratoria arc out by having Loki keep mum over the fact that Tanya would have fucked it all up, and possibly captured the maiden hearts of all the Amazons in the process.
"She doesn't have a dick, but did you see her in that suit!?"
LOL