Xenovia gasped in astonishment. "So many legendary monsters from the myths..."
"Most likely imitation Dragon Kings," Rossweisse explained grimly. Being from the same Norse pantheon, she understood Loki's abilities well. If there were another genuine legendary beast alongside Fenrir, the battle would already be over.
Sona Sitri's expression was heavy with resolve. "We're surrounded."
"If we shrink back, we've already lost," Rias said, her voice commanding. "For now, focus purely on stalling for time."
"Understood!" the six girls responded in unison. Their mission was to hold the line, and they wouldn't falter.
Loki sneered, directing his beasts to attack. He didn't even deign to move personally. "Regret your decision to oppose a god."
Facing the four beasts, Akeno and Rossweisse teamed up against the strongest—the Great Wolf Fenrir. The two smaller offspring of Fenrir were held back by Xenovia and Irina. Both girls were now just a step away from God-class power; with Durandal and angelic abilities respectively, they held the upper hand.
The imitation Midgard Serpent, massive and terrifying, was intercepted by Sona and Tsubaki. Tsubaki, whose power had reached Devil King levels thanks to Ethan's "assistance," was the primary vanguard.
The serpent's massive tail swept across the field, but Sona and Tsubaki, their slender black wings fluttering, dodged with ease. Seeing physical attacks fail, the serpent opened its maw, unleashing a torrent of searing dragon fire. The heat warped the air, and the sheer AOE made it impossible to evade.
But the two didn't panic. Tsubaki flew directly in front of the flames, spreading her hands.
"Reflect the flame—Mirror Alice!"
As the fire struck her barrier-like shield of light, it was reflected back with doubled intensity. The impact knocked the giant serpent back, its hideous head bursting into flames. The beast thrashed in agony, shaking the very earth.
"Mirror Alice... Tsubaki's mirror returns any impact with double the force," Sona explained calmly as the others looked on.
"A counter-type? It seems her compatibility with my family's brute-force style isn't great," Rias joked, despite the intensity of the fight.
Sona smiled back. "Don't expect us to go easy on you during the Rating Games."
"Is that so? Then let me show you my current strength." Rias unleashed a surge of Power of Destruction far exceeding the standard Devil King level. Black-red lightning erupted from her palm, slamming the serpent back down. Sona followed up with her own signature Sitri water-based magic.
Despite the onslaught, the serpent—being a replica of a Dragon King—took the hits and roared again, regaining its footing.
"Lias, stay cautious," Sona warned, adjusting her glasses after they had been dusted by the debris.
"Watch out for the fangs of Fenrir's children! One scratch and it's over," Rossweisse shouted to Xenovia and Irina. In Norse myth, Fenrir's teeth could crush gods. It was a conceptual ability; armor was like paper before them. If a Sacred Gear's core was bitten, it would be permanently destroyed.
Seeing his beasts being held off by "lowly" girls who were even joking with each other, Loki's face darkened. He wasn't deaf; he knew they were stalling for Mjölnir.
"You lot are quite capable for a bunch of trash... hmph."
"Lord Loki, it's not too late to turn back..." Rossweisse pleaded.
"You misunderstand. I am correcting your mistakes!" Loki roared, activating a wide-range spell. The barrier was filled with blinding blue lightning and a gale that threatened to rip the skin from their bones.
"He's trying to collapse space-time by releasing his raw divine power!" Rossweisse yelled over the storm.
"He wants Ragnarök to come early," she told Rias.
Once the storm subsided, the beasts attacked with renewed ferocity, and this time, Loki joined in. Three magic circles stacked in front of him, firing a beam of light into the sky. A split second later, thousands of identical beams rained down like pillars of light.
The girls, who had been unhurt until now, were devastated. A mere graze was enough to disable them. Sona, being the physically weakest, was hit almost directly and fell into a near-death state.
"Given your bravery, I grant you the honor of being the first sacrifices of Ragnarök," Loki boasted, looking at the wreckage. "Be grateful."
Akeno and Tsubaki were incapacitated. Rias rushed to Sona's side, pulling out a bottle of Phoenix Tears. A single drop restored Sona instantly, though her clothes remained shredded, revealing her pale skin and lace underwear beneath the ruins of her uniform.
"Two drops left..." Rias whispered. "Sona, if you get hit more than twice, you must retreat."
Sona gritted her teeth. She hated being the one holding them back, but her rational mind accepted the reality.
With Akeno and Tsubaki out of the fight, the pressure became immense. Especially Fenrir—every snap of its jaws was a death sentence.
"Rias... use the tears for Akeno and Tsubaki," Sona said after dodging another tail swipe. "I'll hold the serpent."
She knew the others were struggling. Without Akeno, Rossweisse was fighting Fenrir alone, and Irina was being pressured by both of Fenrir's sons.
"But if another attack comes, you'll..." Rias worried, but seeing Sona's eyes, she nodded. "Fine. I'll hold them off. Go heal them!"
Loki's arrogance was his downfall; he didn't stop the healing. Once Akeno and Tsubaki were back on their feet, the stalemate returned.
Just as Loki prepared another field-clearer, Rossweisse received word from Odin. "Everyone! It's here!"
A massive magic circle appeared in the sky, and the metallic, glowing Mjölnir was warped into the barrier.
"Using it requires immense physical power," Rossweisse noted. "Lord Odin said if no one here can use it, they will send reinforcements."
Loki laughed. "Even if that old fool sends Thor's hammer, who among you can lift it?"
As he gloated, Fenrir was suddenly bound by white magic chains appearing from the ground.
"Gleipnir?" Rossweisse gasped.
Nearby, Kuroka and a blonde man stepped out of a portal. "It's our turn now. I am Arthur of the Vali Team. Lord Loki, we'll be taking this Fenrir."
"The fangs that can kill gods... Vali wants them," Arthur said calmly. Kuroka remained strangely silent, her usual playful air replaced by a more subdued demeanor.
Loki fired at them in a rage, but Arthur flicked his wrist, dispersing the attack with his blue blade. "Holy King Sword Collbrande. Not even a god can scratch this blade."
Arthur plunged the sword into Fenrir's forehead. It didn't kill the beast but placed it under his absolute control. With a wave, Arthur, Kuroka, and the Great Wolf disappeared.
Outside the barrier, Ethan looked at the "sealed" space. It seemed suspiciously easy to get in and out of.
Loki, now furious at losing his "child," turned his full wrath back onto Rias and the others. Without Fenrir, he decided to end it himself. A combined assault from Loki and the remaining beasts smashed through the girls' defenses. Sona was once again critically injured, her body limp and bleeding.
"Sona!" Rias cried out.
"Old man Odin," Ethan said, his voice cold as he watched the monitor. "I can use the hammer, right? If I suppress him in one hit, there's no risk of starting a war."
Odin, the somewhat perverted but wise god, nodded. "You may, Red Dragon Emperor. But you have only one shot..."
"I won't need a second."
Ethan didn't wait. Seeing Sona on the brink of death, he ignored the rules.
[Boosted Gear!] [Balance Breaker!]
In a flash of crimson light, Ethan donned his Scale Mail. He didn't wait for a teleport. He flew straight at the barrier. To his current power—at the Sub-Dragon God level—Ajuka's green barrier was as fragile as glass.
Ethan became a streak of red lightning, shattering the seal from the outside and appearing directly in front of Loki. The barrier let out a final, crystalline shriek as it disintegrated into thousands of sparkling shards, leaving the battlefield open to the world.