Soon came the crunch of boots against ash and scorched leaves; Koji was the first to notice, his tired eyes narrowing as he slowly pushed himself off the tree.
"...We've got company."
Hinata looked up from where she sat, Asterion
resting across her lap.
Itsuki stiffened up, visibly anxious.
"Other people, or the undead?"
From beyond the smoke, silhouettes emerged; they were unmistakably human, and they looked to be warriors. Wearing bronze armor, and having red cloaks flutter behind them, torn at the edges but worn with pride—these men carried long spears and shields strapped to their arms.
It was none other than the Spartans.
They fanned out, encircling the ruined battlefield of the forest as not a single one looked panicked by the destruction around them.
One man in particular stepped forward. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and his armor was etched with symbols of rank. There was even a crimson plume cresting his helmet.
"...This entire horde." He said with a deep voice. "Was here." His gaze lifted to Hinata's blade. "And now it is gone."
Koji scratched the back of his head, a bit confused about what to say
"Uh... yeah? They jumped us first, so we took them out."
The Spartan's eyes alternated to him briefly, then back to the battlefield.
"We were dispatched to contain a necromantic outbreak from the likes of Malgrith." The Spartan warrior muttered. "Thousands of undead were reported advancing through this forest." He paused, staring at them. "What we found instead... was you three."
Several Spartans exchanged looks before the leader's voice hardened.
"Tell me, strangers, were you responsible for slaying the undead here?"
Itsuki swallowed pretty hard, enough for one to hear it.
Hinata stood quietly before rising to her feet with confidence; having the posture of a noble, despite not being one herself.
"Yes." She said, holding onto Asterion. "We fought them. All of them."
Every Spartan warrior looked baffled by her comment as they lifted their brows.
"Wait, you guys were coming to fight that? Seriously?" Asked Koji, visibly stunned.
The leader glanced at Hinata more closely, noticing the lingering divine aura clinging to all three of them.
He came to a revelation almost immediately.
"...So that explains it! You three are Otherworlders sent here by Zeus. You must be the heroes that the Sisters of Fate talked about in prophecy."
All three of them glanced at each other, not denying his claim—if anything—they seemed uncomfortable at the mention of Zeus.
The Spartan leader soon straightened his posture, planting the butt of his spear into the ground.
"Ah, so it is true. There is no doubt."
He brought his fist to his chest in a sharp, respectful salute.
"On behalf of Sparta, I thank you."
Koji froze, unable to muster any words for a second.
"Oh, uh, no problem?"
Itsuki rapidly blinked at the display of events.
"S-Sparta...?"
The Spartans moved as one, kneeling in recognition of the three brave heroes.
"Only Heroes leave battlefields like this behind." The leader said. "And only fools leave Heroes wandering alone in a world like Axis Mundi."
He gestured behind him, toward the distant horizon outside the smoky forest.
"Our city is not far. You will come with us."
Hinata raised an eyebrow, holding onto Asterion.
"And if we refuse?"
A slight smile tugged at the corner of the man's mouth.
"Then we would still escort you." He said honestly. "But with more arguing."
Koji laughed weakly.
"Yeah, no, let's just... go with them. I'm tired. Aren't you tired Itsuki?"
Itsuki stole a glance at Koji, nodding his head.
"Y-Yeah… I'm pretty much all out of energy, I guess."
Hinata furrowed her brows at the two of them before giving a little 'hmph.'
"So be it."
The Spartans soon fell into formation around them in a protective manner as they began to move, though Hinata didn't look too pleased. Soon, the ruined forest slowly gave way to stone roads and open terrain.
As they walked, one of the warriors glanced at Hinata's blade again.
"That sword." He said in awe. "It is no ordinary weapon."
Hinata looked down at Asterion hanging low in her hand.
"...No, I suppose not."
After a long walk through the wilderness, the gates of Sparta soon rose before them; it was massive and imposing, carved from stone.
Crimson banners fluttered overhead as Koji let out a low whistle.
"...Holy shit!" He shouted. "I think we just leveled up socially."
Itsuki hugged himself nervously.
"I-I hope they're friendly..."
Hinata stepped forward with her eyes fixed on the city ahead, Sparta.
"Hmph, now this is a city fitting for someone like me." She turned around, facing the Spartans. "If you know of our status as heroes, I suggest that this city treat us with great care. Manicures, tailors, and many… men to satisfy my desires."
The Spartans all froze at once. Several warriors blinked as one slowly turned his head toward another, as if silently asking whether he'd heard her correctly. A younger soldier nearly choked, coughing into his fist before straightening up in a panic.
The leader, however, did not laugh, but only found her comment amusing.
"…You truly are an Otherworlder." He said at last.
Koji slapped a hand over his face.
"Yo, Hinata! You can't just say that out loud! Don't you understand where the hell we are?! This ain't the time for your antics!"
Itsuki's soul visibly left his body.
"P-Please pretend she didn't say that!"
Hinata scoffed.
"And who are you to question me? I'm merely stating expectations."
One of the Spartans muttered under his breath in disbelief.
"By Ares… Zeus sent us this one."
The leader raised a hand, silencing his men from behind.
"Sparta honors strength." He said out loud. "Not indulgence or arrogance. And certainly not… whatever that was."
Hinata narrowed her eyes.
"Careful. You are speaking to a hero."
"And you are speaking in Sparta." Said the leader.
The tension became thick before Koji burst out laughing.
"PFFT! Okay, yeah, no, she's just like that! Hinata can be a total bitch, but she doesn't mean it! Seriously!"
"What?!" Glaring at Koji, she scowled at his comment.
"But hey! She really did wipe out the undead! Like, a lot of them! More than I could count!"
Itsuki nodded rapidly.
"S-She did! We all did! Please don't, um… throw us in prison!"
The leader seemed to chuckle, albeit briefly.
"I apologize for my previous comment."
He bowed his head in respect.
"Sparta has had many heroes in the past, but most of them took advantage of our kindness and were wicked people to the core. However, I see goodness in you three. Hopefully, you can live up to our expectations."
"Hmph." Hinata became smug, crossing her arms. "Your apology is accepted."
He turned away, gesturing toward the gates.
"Now then… you will be given shelter. Food. Medical attention. And an audience with Sparta's elders."
Koji widened his eyes.
"Oh! That sounds important!"
"But do not mistake our hospitality for worship." He said firmly. "Sparta kneels only to the gods, and even then, reluctantly."
Hinata clicked her tongue but said nothing.
As they passed beneath the massive stone gates, the city opened before them.
All three heroes could see training yards with the clash of bronze and wood. Warriors sparred relentlessly under the sun with smithies roaring from the heat alongside hammer strikes echoing like thunder.
It was truly a city fitting for the Bronze Age.
Itsuki couldn't help but stare in awe.
"Whoa!"
Koji's eyes sparkled like a child in Disneyland.
"Now this place is awesome."
Hinata crossed her arms, lifting her chin.
"…Adequate, I suppose."
Their escort drew the attention of the city quickly as civilians and soldiers alike noticed the newcomers; three outsiders walking at the center of a Spartan formation, one carrying a glowing divine blade.
"…Those are them! They have to be if they're being escorted by the Spartans!"
"…Hopefully they aren't as cruel as the previous otherworlders."
"…Zeus' heroes…"
The leader stopped before a wide stone hall at the city's heart.
"This is where you will rest." He said with a slight smile. "Tomorrow, you will answer questions. About the undead, and about Malgrith."
His voice lowered ever so slightly.
"And about why Zeus has finally chosen to interfere again."
The name lingered uneasily in the air as Koji scratched his cheek.
"Yeah. About that guy. He kind of sucks."
Itsuki nodded with a silent laugh.
"I couldn't agree more."
Hinata tightened her grip on Asterion as she looked up at the towering hall in front of her, imagining all the luxuries she could achieve as one of the heroes of Axis Mundi, but there was a comment that seemed to catch her attention.
"And once that is done, you three will train and learn the Spartan way."
"Ehh?" Koji gazed at the leader as did Itsuki.
"Train under the Spartans?" Asked the healer.
"Mmm." He nodded his head. "In a few months from now, Malgrith will attack Sparta once more with an army of the undead. We've been planning for this war for years, and we need heroes; reliable enough to fight against his army. You three must lose your otherworldly ways, and become accustomed to this world and its Grand System. That is the only way we can survive."
+
"Nnnnghhhh… what the hell?"
With a loud obnoxious yawn, and waking up from a deep sleep, a small kitten could be shown nestled within a miniature sized straw bale house.
"Was that all a dream? Spartans… Koji, Itsuki, and Hinata? That's weird… I saw their entire history here in Axis Mundi, and them killing some weird spirit thing. Maybe I'm just coping by telling myself I'm not the only one here… " She slowly rose to her four paws, woozy as ever. "Just how long was I out for? And where am I?"
Keiko had finally returned after a week of sleep, proceeding to walk from the small hut above her head and into what appeared to be a massive, makeshift village surrounded by forest.
And to her surprise, there was other animals she had never seen until now.
"W-WHAT THE HELLLL!??????"