Valhalla Arena
Medical Wing
Nuada's Room
High above Ullr's Globe, and still stuck in his healing pod, Nuada watched the battle unfold on the monitor. Oya dashed across the screen, racing towards the three constructs.
When did this turn from a tournament into a horror story? He thought, floating. And I thought Balor and Bres were disgusting…
A knock came at the door.
"Decent, you old goat?" A woman's voice said from the other side.
"No, but when has that stopped you?" He said through the pod's speaker.
The door swung open, and an older Goddess in leather and green armor walked in. She wore her fading blonde hair in a ponytail, and her sharp green eyes scanned Nuada's burnt, dilapidated state. "Well, aren't you just in a pitiful state?" Macha said.
"Looking to kick me while I'm down?"
She walked over to the pod and shot him a coy look.
"You're more handsome when you're charred."
Nuada stared lazily at her.
She walked over to the other side of the pod and rested her forehead and left hand on the glass surface. "You had me worried for a second…"
Nuada gently floated over to her and put his right hand on the pod's interior and touched his forehead opposite hers.
"And that's one second too many…sorry."
"I'll forgive you this time." She leaned back. "Where's Lugh?"
"With Epona. Did Brigid come with you?"
She nodded. "She's heading over to Epona's room. Poor thing worried herself to near collapse after seeing her match."
"She's always had a soft spot for Epona."
"Unlike you."
"Yep, but Lugh likes her, and that matters more." He turned his attention to the monitor. "By All, Macha. When did this start getting complicated again?"
"When Set came to Tir Na Nog and asked you to fight in Ragnarök. Why'd you take him up on it?"
"…It was a chance to fix things after Winchester. His words."
"And you believed him?"
"Not then, but after today, I hate saying it, but I do. Seeing Oya down there, fighting for her life…"
"She was probably told the same thing." Macha pulled a chair from the corner next to Nuada's pod and sat down. "Feels like we failed her."
"Maybe we did, but that's for her to decide."
Ullr's Globe
Arena
"Huang, keep her busy!" Quetzalcoatl yelled. He jumped up, pulling his limbs and tail tight against his body. He shot them all straight down, stabbing the earth. He pulled himself down and leaned forward. "Itzac Tletzāhuīlōyān!"
"On it!" Huang rocketed ahead as Shango circled to the outside. It seems he can't generate heat like the real one can, and I am stuck with just my dao. Damn you, Pakkanen. Couldn't even bother with proper duplicates? Guess we have to make do!
Oya continued playing the exchanges in her mind as she closed in on the trio.
They're not changing their tactics…can they? Why isn't Huang using other weapons? The Gùn or Qiāng would work better for range!
Huang swung both swords.
Oya swatted the flats of both swords, parrying them. Need to feel for Quetz's attacks from and Shango from above. She thought.
Huang breathed deeply. Shui to Mu. Huang continued to swing. To Huo-Tu-Jin! A near dozen copies of each arm appeared mid swing. Tiān Yǔ Lóng Fú!
Oya fired her hands towards the blades, swatting away as many as she could.
Yet, it was not enough. More and more slashes came. She started missing, and the cold blades cut through her clothes. The pair could hear each blow clink and clang against her armor under her robes, but Oya could feel a few of the slashes tearing through her skin.
I…can't…keep up… Her eyes widened, and she jumped back as a pair of hands shot out of the ground. The moment she landed, she jumped again. A feathery tail shot out of the ground right where her foot was.
Far away, Quetzalcoatl's head flattened vertically, and his eyes started swimming across the surface. Moyōllotlachiyaliztli. You won't escape me this time! His limbs shot back in the dirt.
Oya dropped into a sprint. She could feel Quetzalcoatl's limbs digging through the earth below and Huang hot on her trail. Shango circled the perimeter, waiting for his moment to strike.
None of that mattered. The moment Oya needed finally arrived. The space between Metatron and her…was cleared.
"Let's go!" She roared. She picked up speed, widening the gap between her and Huang. I can reach him! I can get it–
Two clawed feet shot out of the ground right in front of Metatron and speared Oya in the chest. The wind flew out of her lungs, and she sailed away.
You were smart to aim for the gap, Oya. Huang thought. But not if we gave it to you. Quetz had been waiting since he first started that attack!
Oya crashed to the ground and rolled onto her back.
Now you're done.
Oya looked up and saw Shango's massive frame dropping towards her.
Oya rolled up onto her hands and shot up into a handstand. Shango's feet smashed flat into Oya's, and her arms were nailed into the ground. She grit her teeth and shot him back in the air.
Suddenly, she felt something grip her arms.
Oh n—
She vanished into the ground.
"I GOT HER!" Quetzalcoatl yelled. A worm trail raced through the snow all across the field. "And now…" Quetzalcoatl's arms whipped out of the earth, pulling Oya high in the air. "You're done!" He slammed Oya down, creating a massive crater. He released his grip, and his arms slithered back underground.
Jarl, flying overhead, stood frozen.
I…I don't know what the hell's going on! She thought. *Wait! Crap! "*Oya's down! Oya's down! The unrelenting undead onslaught finally brought Oya down!"
The onlookers across the Globe felt a wave of dread overwhelm them. The Yoruba Pantheon sat in silence, save for Oshumare, who continued his listless stare.
"You're not done, Oya!" Shango roared. "Let everyone know the wife of Shango has no equal! This is nothing compared to the hells we've fought through!" Please don't die…Please!
From the crater's center, Oya snapped awake. Pain surged through her body, demanding her to stay down. Ignoring its demands, she rose to her hands and knees and stood, struggling all the way. Pain refused to release its grip, causing her to shudder, but the Adrenaline pushed her to her feet.
You can do it, Baby! He thought. Please don't fall!
Oya breathed deeply and looked ahead. Metatron stood dozens of meters away, lazily eyeing the machete. Between them, Shango, Quetzalcoatl, and Yu Huang waited.
"What a half-baked effort," Yu Huang said. "Were you really trying, you'd see through such a basic trap. Are you trying to die?"
"Huang, not helping!" Quetzalcoatl yelled.
"Am I supposed to? We already gave her enough to work with. The fact that she's doing this poorly means she's content with dying. Aren't you, Oya?"
Her face scrunched up.
"That's what I thought. Petty soul. Your husband dies without you, and now you make his ghost suffer as he kills you." He twirled his dao. "Shango! I'll kill her so you don't have to suffer that burden in the afterlife."
"We're kind of already dead, but I get what you're saying…" Shango said.
Oya dropped to her knees, slowing her breath.
"So you acknowledge it?" Yu Huang continued. "You'd rather die here than continue?!"
"Huang—"
"You are a Goddess! Much is expected of you! Is the tragedy of one death enough to break you?! I left my people knowing death was possible!"
Lu Ban, Lao Zi, Huanglong, Zhu Rong, and the rest of their Pantheon watched on in silence. "We may be Gods, but we are cogs! If we break, we are replaced, and everyone must move on! But this?! You spit on everything with this pitiable state—"
"Do you ever stop talking?" Oya asked.
Yu Huang froze.
"I'm not giving up." She brought her right arm across his body, resting both of her hands on her left side.
Valhalla Arena
Gods' Barracks
Takemikazuchi and Futsunushi's Room
Susano'o, watching the fight on his tablet, felt a surge rush through his spine. His left foot twitched as a smirk grew on his face. "Yes…," He whispered. "Come on…" He pictured a young, dark-haired God in a kimono sitting next to her, copying her move for move.
Ullr's Globe
Arena
"You're right, Huang," Oya said. "But I'm not the type to forget the dead."
Izumo
Inasa Beach
Centuries Earlier
Long before Apocalypse, Oya stood on a familiar beach as the sun loomed overhead. Futsunushi was kneeling just a few meters from her, his heavy, dull black armor holding firm beneath his dark gunmetal-blue kimono.
"Okay," Futsunushi said, smiling. "So first, the concept of Soyokaze is striking from a position with the intent of receiving an attack and responding before the opponent attacks." He burst forward, vanishing and reappearing several meters away.
"Futsu, that sounds like every other counter," Oya said, smirking.
"Ah! Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah. Buuuuuut, the intent is that this is done from what the opponent thinks is a vulnerable stance, like sitting or kneeling. If you get it right, no one can get near you, even if you're sitting!"
"Uh-huh."
"Futsu!" Susano'o yelled in the distance. Take's back from fishing! Go help him bring in the haul!"
He sighed. "Guess we'll continue later." He vanished. Oya looked where Susano'o's voice came from, seeing a tall, scraggly-bearded God in a worn kimono walking her way.
"Having fun with your newest teacher?" Susano'o yelled.
Oya chuckled and started walking to him. "He's too excited to do it properly. Am I a test-dummy for him?"
"Maaaaybe." Susano'o smiled widely. "He's finally getting the makings of his own style down. I think Take teaching that 'Sumo' stuff to Humanity lit a fire under him." Susano'o blinked and shook his head. "Ah! Sorry about that. Didn't mean to—"
"It's okay. I know you well enough. Your body moves faster than your mind sometimes, right?"
Susano'o rubbed his neck. "Yeah…but I'm glad you came to visit. How was your time in Eire?"
"Nuada and Macha were sweet, but they're still dealing with their own issues from Winchester. The Human Extermination Army dropping down on their territory in Midgard left a mark on their reputation."
"That and the Old Man was Nuada's mentor," Susano'o added. "He's not the type to show his hand, but there's some personal stuff there, too."
"What about you?" Oya asked. "He was close friends with your father, right?"
"I try not to think about it. Every time I do, it makes me worry about Take and Futsu, and if I'm doing right by them. They're trusting me with their futures, and I'm used to going things alone." Susano'o looked out to the ocean. "But you're not."
Oya nodded. "I'm still half-expecting him. It was worse back home, and I couldn't take it."
"So you're traveling."
"So I'm traveling. Everyone back home was just…suffocating. They all mourned his death, but it only happened because everyone put everything on him as the Yoruba Supreme God. That and Oshumare."
"Is he trying to find you?"
She shook her head. "He expects me to return eventually, but I'm going to take my time."
"Well, you're more than welcome to spend it here. Futsu and Take may try to teach you stuff, but—"
"I'd like that. I need something to focus on. Nuada taught me a few things, too."
"Him? Really? If it wasn't you, I'd think you were joking!"
Oya shot him a joking leer. "What's that supposed to mean? Anyways, maybe he felt pity for me. We both came away from Winchester worse for wear. We can't go back to how things were."
"But changing things up can help."
"Exactly. And I think being here will be a nice change of pace."
Ullr's Globe
Arena
Futsu. Oya thought. Thank you for teaching me. "I learned this from one of the fighters who died today, and he was thrilled beyond measure to show me this!"
"Quetz!" Shango roared. "Go wild!"
"What?!" Quetzalcoatl yelled.
"She's about to dash past—"
She took in a sharp breath, feeling her blood race through her veins down to her legs. Futsu-ryū Ichi no Kata; Soyokaze.
The snow beneath her feet exploded, and she vanished.
Quetzalcoatl grit his teeth. "I'll catch you agaaaaaaaaain!" His limbs and tail fired out and retreated underground like a turret. The field tore away as all five fired out at random all over the area. His wings folded in and launched lightning-fast blows into the gaps between his tail and limbs.
"ITZAC TŌNATIUHCOĀTL TLĀLXELOA!!!!!"
The world around Quetzalcoatl was flooded with blows as his eyes continued to scan. "YOU WILL NOT GET PAST—!"
Something smashed into him, pulverizing his body. His limbs froze in place, and his wings crashed to the ground.
"QUETZ!" Metatron roared. Something smashed into and pulverized him as well, sending the machete flying. Oya snatched it out of the air and landed back on her feet. She spun around and fell back into a kneel, resting the machete, edge-up, next to her left hip.
Metatron and Quetzalcoatl both reformed in time to see her aiming for them.
That technique?! Metatron thought.
Futsu, this technique is spectacular! She thought. I gotta take these guys out now, and it's the perfect tool for the job! "Futsu-ryū Ichi no Kata; Soyokaze!"
"No way!" Quetzalcoatl yelled. He shuddered as both eyes turned back towards Oya, seeing Metatron jump to the side. "HUANG! She's faster now! She—"
He heard something drop on the ground, and his left eye looked back towards the source.
His right arm, cut clean in two, fell to the snow. Green cracks erupted all over it, and it melted. A few meters past it stood Oya.
"No way…"
His left arm, both legs, and his tail all fell to the ground and melted into green liquid.
Suddenly, he started sliding to the right and dropped to the ground. He looked up, seeing his immobilized lower body covered in cracks and melting away. He looked down at his disconnected torso, seeing the cracks race up to his face.
I die first…again?! He thought as the light vanished from his eyes, and his frozen form melted into a large green puddle.
Yu Huang's eyes widened. She got it back! Damn that machete! He thought as Oya rose and turned to him.
He turned his attention to her, seeing her horns growing. Wait…Silver eyes…and a transformation? He snarled. "You stupid child! You saw into Niflheim?!"
"Nuada and Yama did it," She said, leering at him.
Yu Huang sprinted towards her. "And look what it got them!"
Oya nodded. "Speaking of Nuada…" She stretched her arm back. "He showed me a few things!"
She threw the machete in a perfect spin.
Yu Huang side-stepped it, hearing the blade cut through the air as it passed him, and raced towards her.
Oya crouched down, placing her right and left hands together as if holding a sheathed sword.
"I thought better of you!" He yelled.
Oya stepped her right foot forward and started unsheathing her imaginary blade. "Futsu-ryū Ichi no Kata; Soyokaze…."
A familiar sound whirred through Yu Huang's ears. He stopped and turned around in time to side-step away from the spinning machete.
It came back?! He thought.
It smacked Oya's empty palm as she continued her slash, her blade making its second, and successful, attempt through Yu Huang.
"and Fragarach…"
Oya swiped her sword, throwing off the slush.
Yu Huang let out a soft huff. He looked down as a perfect diagonal cut appeared across his torso, and the separated pieces crashed to the ground. Did she… use the wind to call it back mid-throw? Why didn't she use it earlier?! Was she hiding it? That dash and now that technique! Were we played?! He grew a manic smile. I couldn't counter it! What an amazing play! I got outplayed AGAIN! Cracks raced across both halves. But she is far more graceful than you were…Peredur…
His body melted, swords and all.
Shango raced across the field, each furious stomp decimating the earth beneath him as he closed the distance. She took them both down too damn fast! What the hell were those moves?! She never used them before!
The dome shook under Oya's feet, and she stumbled.
Now! Shango fired into the sky.
"GBIGBÁ ILẸ̀!"
He dropped down as if a bolt of solid lightning were smashing against the earth.
Oya regained her balance, looked up….and stepped back and stabbed her machete into the ground.
Shango crashed down, shaking the dome and kicking up snow. A wave of snow and air surged across the field, forming a chilled fog.
Shango popped up and scanned the area.
I can't see anything. He thought. He looked down at his feet. I missed her…but that attack is meant to crush someone and displace entire armies. There's no way—
"Hey," Oya's voice spoke from the fog. He turned to his left and saw her standing a meter in front of him, with her machete held high.
She dodged it…so easily! Shango thought. And withstood the shockwave?!
"You weren't swinging at me earlier."
Their brief exchange replayed in their minds.
"That archer never gave you a chance to do anything other than those big surprise attacks, did he?"
Hope dying again doesn't hurt like last time… Shango smiled and sighed. "Yep."
Oya swung down, her machete gliding straight down the middle of Shango's massive frame. A blast of air fired out behind him, kicking up snow in a violent gale.
Oya stood back up, locking eyes with him. He saw the tears forming.
Man… Shango thought, seeing the world split in two. When did you get so damn strong? His right eye locked on Oya's face as he split apart, and he saw her slitted silver eyes. Oh…that's how…Guess I should have paid…
Both halves dropped into the snow. Green cracks spread from where the machete cleaved him in two.
More attention…
Both halves melted away, forming another large green bubbling puddle. Oya rolled her neck as the puddle spread. She cleared her throat and shook her head. He wasn't real…he wasn't… She thought.
As the puddle grew, Metatron started clapping to her right.
"Bravo," Metatron said. "Since when have you started picking up tricks outside Ilé-Ifẹ̀?"
"When it quit being home. I travelled all over the Heavens, bothering a bunch of old friends to fill time and find peace."
"Any luck with finding your peace?"
"Why do you care?"
"I am a copy. That means my heart is a copy of someone who cared about you."
"If you cared, you wouldn't have abandoned your children, waged war against them, or involved Shango."
Metatron leered at her. "I told him to go back. I told him to find you and get out of Ilé-Ifẹ̀. Like Set and Vidarr escaped Manu and Asgard. But he didn't, and now he's gone. However, do not lay his choices at my feet." Metatron stepped forward. "I know the sins I bear, and will not humor you casting stones from your glass house."
Oya pursed her lips. "There's no point arguing with a construct…"
Metatron nodded. "Hard not to, but time is of the essence. Do you think fancy tricks Nuada and Susano'o taught you will work against me?" He asked, his hands dropping to his sides.
Of course you'd know…paranoid old man. She rolled her eyes. "Actually, Futsu taught me, not Sano'o. He begged me to let him teach me. Never seen someone so happy to share!" Oya smirked as she walked toward him.
"Sano'o found good students. It is a shame Futsu passed."
"We're all feeling it, but don't need you acting as if you care."
The construct sighed. "You are right. After all, I am nothing but memory and ice. However, is that why you tried to cut me down first?"
Oya stopped.
KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER….
Bastard is regaining control and using my words. Metatron nodded. "It is a parlor trick. Nothing more. Sentiment is his weapon. You understand that now, so hurry it up." Metatron crouched down, and his right foot stepped back. His right hand rose to his head while his left hung parallel to the ground in front. "For what it is worth, I have not fought in a while. But do not think that will make this easy for you." I am running out of time.
KIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER!
The voice deafened his thoughts. The seal won't hold him off forever!
Oya brought the machete, edge up, by her left side and rested it on the base of her thumb. Futsu, get ready to watch my fastest draw.
Metatron smiled. "Show me what you learned, OYA!"
"Oludumare said you're a handful!" I wanted this earlier, but why does this feel wrong now?Why are you—
"Oya!"
She snapped out of her thoughts.
The smile faded from his eyes, and she saw the truth. The one he hid so well, but could never admit to for fear of the consequences.
"Please don't make my kids suffer any longer."
Her face scrunched up. Please forgive me, everyone. She crouched down. "Futsu-ryū Ichi no Kata; Soyokaze!"
She vanished.
A few seconds stretched into eternity. The briefest tone of metal flying through the air before being muffled by the soft crunch of snow.
In the blink of an eye, she appeared behind Metatron. She rose and turned back to him.
He was looking up at the artificial sky and smiled.
Cam is probably out there with Uri, causing problems. He thought.
A large cut ran from his right hip up to his left shoulder.
Gabe, I bet, is doing his best to hold it all together. Mike, too.
Green cracks spread out from the cut and raced across his body.
Raph is likely fretting over everything. Hope he is not driving Hilde and Geir up a wall again…
The two halves crashed to the ground.
Everyone…if I could come home…would you all…forgive me?
He melted away, forming another green puddle.
Her gaze shifted from one puddle to the next, the green liquid melting the surrounding snow and grass underneath.
Her lip quivered. Her breathing hitched, tripping out of her nose. "I didn't do that for you…I did that for the kids you left." She bit her lip. "They deserved better."
She breathed a few times deeply, collecting herself. Her left hand clenched, popping her knuckles.
"They're dead, coward," Oya said, her voice dripping with vitriol. "Show yourself."
Something rustled behind her. She turned, seeing a familiar spirit.
"You survived?" Pakkanen spoke. The words struggled to leave his featureless face.
"This is…unexpected."
Oya leered at him. "When you throw half-baked copies like that at someone like me, were you expecting it to work?"
"Yes."
Oya huffed. "You should have paid more attention to that trick. Kind of a drawback if it actively works against you."
Pakkanen blinked rapidly.
This was the first time I tried using Metatron. He thought. The others are typically sufficient. Is she this powerful? What happened while I slept?
"Oh? Guess that's news for you. If you were actually trying to learn your powers like a God would—"
"Don't prattle at me. Like aGod? Acting as if you're anything special. You are all nothing more than cattle filled with undeserved arrogance, fragile egos, and deep-rooted fear that something may be stronger than you. When you see the dead, your kind always falter. Why?"
"Getting real tired of your attitude, especially since 'what I forced you to do' turned out so petty and 'beneath' you." Oya stretched out her right arm.
Pakkanen returned her leer. "You still don't see the truth: that nothing about your species protects you from your mediocrity or weakness when faced with reality. Ragnarök and Winchester are irrefutable truths." He tilted his head. "Humans can kill Gods. Then and now, that's a total of seven. And what do you all do in response to Humanity fighting back, Oya?"
She leered at him.
"How's Arthur, by the way? Do you think he knows what you and your Pantheon did to Camelot? Yu Huang's? Quetzalcoatl's? Have you visited him recently? Tried to kill him to avenge Shango?"
Her body froze, and she struggled to keep her machete aloft.
Pakkanen shuddered, chuckling a little. He looked up at the windows of the box seats, eyeing the Gods looking their way.
"You all speak of Humanity's sins and depravity, but hypocrisy looks ugly on anyone. Even Gods."
A loud boom echoed out of the forest far behind Oya. She looked back, seeing a cloud of fresh snow fill the air as something soared through the sky. It descended in an arch, down towards the pair. It flew over Oya's head and horns, and Pakkanen snatched it out of the air.
A piece of something…rotten…encased in a jagged piece of ice.
"However, despite the pathetic truth, I cannot deny it. You are no longer prey."
The ice sank into his palm and slithered through his arm down to his chest.
"You are now a predator liiiiiike meeeeeee…" His voice dropped into a guttural echo as jagged ice erupted from his feet. More shards burst from his body and grew, forming a massive tower of jagged ice. "Thiiiiiiis is nooooot a huuuuunt anymoooooooore…." His voice echoed out of the spire, shaking it.
Oya stomped forward and swung the machete down, sending a sharp blast of air. The blast hit the spikes, but dissipated around the surface.
What the hell was that thing? She thought. Was it here the whole time? Did he drop it earlier?! How did I miss it?!
Cracks raced from the base and covered the spire's surface. The spire…exploded, sending ice everywhere.
Oya looked up, eyeing a floating piece of ice, and felt the urge to run. Shit…
Valhalla Arena
Medical Wing
Nuada's Room
"No…" Nuada whispered through the speaker. "It…it's not possible."
"By Eire," Macha said, looking at the monitor. "Why does he look like that?"
On the monitor standing atop the ice was a monster. Covered in snow-white armor, Pakkanen's paws were replaced by two-toed feet. His long, wide arms shrank and were covered in wraps under clawed gauntlets. Slim armor covered his chest and shoulders, while his head turned into a wolf-shaped helmet. Eight horns adorned his head like an organic crown. A reptilian, finned tail swished and twitched behind him.
He looked down at Oya with empty cyan eyes.
"It's the Old Man's armor," Nuada said. "How?"
Ullr's Globe
Arena
Alkukuningas Pakkanen: Iku-Turson Ahmija
"This power proves my superiority over my kin," Pakkanen spoke, his voice still reverberating. "Do you know what happens when two predators exist in the same territory?"
Oya breathed deeply, and her right foot stepped back. Just as her foot touched down, she felt something, for a brief second, touch her back.
Let everyone know the wife of Shango has no equal! Shango's voice cried out in her mind.
Her heart fluttered. The air kicked up around her.
I will. "They fight!" Oya yelled.
Pakkanen nodded. "Exactly. So…Oya…the hunt is over. Now we fight for dominance."
Oya cut the air with a flourish of her machete and crouched down. "And you will know why we Gods sit at the top."