Bab 19: CHAPTER 18
Even Otorine and Ira weren't even familiar with the statement that Aily had said a while ago. There was a deafening silence afterwards. Aily felt that she had embarrassed herself by presenting an amazing pose out of the blue. Thereon, she had stopped posing and replied to Yumine's statement from before,
"Ahem, no...you're wrong about that, lady Yumine. It simply means, any of you should fight Exceediel. Whether you like it or not.".
Then, Exceediel said complacently,
"Well, that's that.".
As Otorine, Yumine, and Ira heard Aily's elaborate explanation, the three of them were widely surprised such as they couldn't believe it,
"EHHHHHHHHHHH?!".
Exceediel didn't mind their flabbergasted expressions,
"So anyone wants to fight me before I go?".
He looked at Ira. Ira told him,
"I'm tired.".
Next, he turned to look at Yumine. Yumine disagreed,
"Me nots.".
Then, he took his last glance at Otorine. It wasn't only Exceediel who stared straight at Otorine but also, Yumine, Ira, and Aily as well. Otorine was feeling sweaty and uncomfortable, as their seedy glares were directed at her. Sooner or later, she expressed like an irritated little girl,
"Eh? Why me again?".
After a while, Aily gave them sunglasses. Aily doesn't want yet the people to notice that she had awakened, so she cast out a magical spell that transferred them to another sky island in an instant. They were now in a vast secluded area that didn't have much trees, even though the place was wholly green. The whole land was the perfect place for a proper battle to take place. The four Goddesses were wearing sunglasses, since they all knew what Exceediel's special wings were capable of. Yumine and Ira were sitting on a rock while, they were observing the participants from afar. Yumine doesn't look pleased, since her sunglasses looked plain and dull and Ira was the one who got the heart-shaped ones that she desired. Otorine was inside the fighting ring that had white marks and lines. She was at the right-side and at the opposite side was Exceediel who was cracking his neck. Aily was in-between the gap, as she had to announce some things first. She said with a loud voice,
"As you all know, the WEAVING OF THE WINGS meant that those who shall depart for their journeys will have to fight with their all first. Since, it's one of our customs here in Amakiel.".
Exceediel brought out his 7-pronged shining golden wings. His wings were emanating particles of the sun and sparkling gold. Afterwards, Aily flung the two silver hand-axes to her eager husband. Exceediel caught them and he was now armed for battle. While for Otorine, she released the fanblades that were attached from her hair ornament and silver sash in a stylish but, elegant manner. Ira was a bit impressed of how Otorine brought out her weapons,
"Cool!".
Otorine shut her eyes and calmed her nerves for a moment. Her glass sapphire butterfly wings of the stars were revealed, arching from her sexy back. Her wings looked-like they were crafted from the divine heavens and celestial bodies, as they looked stellar and beautiful. Soon, she opened her determined eyes. Thereupon, Otorine was now ready for battle as well. The vibe in the air was growing intense, as the flames of battle was about to commence. Aily noticed that the two fighters were ready so she said aided by her forceful gesture,
"As per the LAWS OF HEAVENLY BATTLE, LET THE DUEL COMMENCE!".
The next moment, the whole island was encased in a magical neon-blue barrier. Then, Aily shouted to start the battle,
"And...BEGIN!".
Exceediel lunged straightforward such as he was a jet-plane. Then, he wrought out a lot of fast axe swings to Otorine. Otorine deflected all of them and countered them left and right. As Otorine was gaining the upper-hand, she cast a magical spell,
"RAGING COCYUTUS!".
Giant icicles were emerging from the ground. Exceediel tried to dodge them by flying but, those giant icicles were also thrusting through the skies, such as they were cannons from the hard ground. Exceediel was having a hard time dodging them, so he cast out immediately,
"DIVINE BARRIER!".
There was a thin translucent golden sheet that blocked the bursting icicles from reaching him. Not only that, Exceediel followed it up by casting with his hand reaching out,
"AURA SPHERE!".
Afterwards, his hand released a magical sphere filled with immense energy that was heading towards Otorine. Due to the fast moving projectile, Otorine seemed that she took a direct hit, as the sphere exploded and let out a thick black smoke around her. She was nowhere to be seen, as the smoke had covered the whole area. It even reached the safe zone where Yumine, Aily and Ira were spectating at. In turn they were coughing and Yumine was annoyed,
"Geez!".
Exceediel wore a grin, as he could feel that he had already won but, Otorine appeared behind him in a snap. She dished out fast moving lunges and furies at him with her swinging fanblades, such as she was dancing in mid-air. Exceediel was taken by surprise and his parries weren't linking Otorine's unpredictable attacks, turning Exceediel to get scars and cuts around his body. He felt that he can't win in aerial and close combat so he cast out immediately, directing at Otorine,
"AERO TURBINE!".
His hand let out a powerful gush of wind but, he was also being pushed away by its forceful burst. In turn, he was descending down. There after, he had reached the ground in an impractical manner. Otorine followed him like she was a fast-speed aircract but, Exceediel knew she'd follow him on the ground, so he cast out and threw the two hand axes,
"GRAN PULSE!".
The flunged hand axes that were heading towards Otorine suddenly stopped and created another enchanted wall, preventing her from going near Exceediel. Otorine was getting frustrated of how Exceediel was just delaying his utter defeat,
"Tsk!".
Sooner or later, the magic curtain was gone and Exceediel wielded his weapons once again. Otorine dashed straight through. A cloud of dust burst out as Otorine landed on the ground. As expected, Aily, Yumine, and Ira were annoyed again. Even though, they can't see through the cloud of dust, they could still hear the crazy battle going on, since the clashing of metals and fast steps on the ground were heard. The next moment, Exceediel released himself from the dust cloud. Then, he cast out again,
"DIVINE BARRIER!".
Otorine followed him and tried to slice him from his upper torso. Though, her attack was blocked by the annoying barrier again. As Exceediel was noticing that Otorine was trying to lash out more and more strikes that were being blocked by the barrier, he smirked a smile. Then, he was engrossed in his thoughts,
"I never knew that this barrier which the DISTORTED GODDESS taught me would be this handy!".
As Otorine kept on doing everything to penetrate the wall, she was deep in her thoughts,
"This is so annoying!".
Exceediel sighed and cast out,
"AURA SPHERE!".
The fast moving projectile hit Otorine this time, as it was just a few meters away and the divine barrier was gone fast. In turn, Otorine was thrown away for a few distances. Otorine tried to lunge at him again but, Exceediel just threw his axes again and cast out,
"GRAN PULSE!".
Thereupon, the impervious curtain was set once again by the axes, making Otorine to feel like the fight was a joke. Exceediel seemed to be plotting something as he was grinning. As the barrier was gone, Exceediel dashed as well, confronting Otorine. Exceediel appeared to be faster, as he was now able to dodge and parry all of Otorine's unpredictable fanblade strikes. As Otorine noticed that her attacks weren't working, she leap back for a few distances. Exceediel didn't want to waste anytime doing nothing, so he asked her,
"How are my shields?".
Otorine replied,
"They're annoying.".
Exceediel cracked a smile, as he saw that Otorine was frustrated over his underhanded tactics. A few moments passed, the barrier was gone. Thereon, Otorine rushed her way to get near Exceediel. She swung her fanblade yet, Exceediel just vanished, turning her to be quite shocked. Then, he appeared behind her and slashed her backside with his trusty axe. Otorine felt a direct hit, making her to lose her balance. The next moment, Exceediel had vanished in a blink of an eye again and he did a roundhouse kick to her right hip. Otorine felt the intense impact, making her to cough out crimson blood. It seemed Exceediel's movements were quicker than ever before. Otorine stood up and cast out,
"HYDREA L—."
Sadly, Exceediel emerged in front of her and jabbed her stomach, turning Otorine's cast to be interrupted. Otorine changed her tactics and she took a defensive pose. Exceediel grinned, since his opponent changed her fighting style. In a blink of an eye, Exceediel was gone. Otorine looked around the area, so she could know where Exceediel would strike next. Though, Exceediel appeared above her, making Otorine to be surprised. Exceediel swung his hand axes but, Otorine was able to block them with her fanblades. Exceediel had vanished once more. Otorine tried to sense where he could strike next again. The next moment, Otorine was already feeling lots of severe strikes and cuts from Exceediel from almost all directions. Due to Exceediel's light speed attacks and crazy reflexes now, Otorine wasn't able to withstand his fast swings, furies, kicks, strikes, and punches. In turn, Otorine turned into a punching bag for a long period of time. Sooner or later, Otorine looked very much battered. Her clothes was tattered and had cuts as well. The series of attacks by Exceediel had ceased later on. Exceediel appeared in front of her. Otorine may had the opportunity yet, she was no longer capable of countering back due to her weakened state. Thereon, Exceediel made a grin, as he cast out directly,
"AURA SPHERE!".
Afterwards, Otorine was blown away by the direct hit of the powerful and magical projectile. She was down on the ground later on. She tried to get up but, she was already exhausted, due to the constant strikes of Exceediel. Aily noticed that Otorine can no longer continue so she stopped the battle,
"THAT'S ENOUGH! THE DIVINE BATTLE IS OVER.".
The mysterious blue force field that sealed all of them inside the island had dispersed. Strangely enough, the tatters and damages on Otorine's clothes were gone. It's as if her clothes weren't even destroyed to begin with. Otorine's energy had returned and the severe wounds all over her body were all gone. It was also the same case for Exceediel as well. It appeared the barrier that Aily had placed before was a way to instantly restore everyone's state before the battle. Aily explained the result,
"The winner is Exceediel...".
Yumine and Ira couldn't believe what just happened, since their Goddess friend was defeated by a mere Fallen, who doesn't have divine capabilities. Yumine tried to recall on what Mara had said to them before, about one of Exceediel's capabilities,
"I guess he had beaten her through his accelerated speed that boosts over time.".
Ira agreed,
"Yeah...".
The searing fires of battle had ceased, as the battle had concluded. Exceediel walked near to Otorine. He gave out his hand. Otorine took his hand but then, he whispered something eerie to her left ear, that was quite unnoticeable to the others,
"This was just your first duel. The NEXT ONES won't be so forgiving do you hear.".
Then, he wore a menacing smile of a beast,
"With a BEAUTIFUL FACE like that, I'm sure their requests for you would be something quite UNUSUAL. I don't even want to think on what they'll even do to your DELICIOUS BODY! You're lucky, since I still prefer Aily than any Goddess.".
Otorine gulped, as she heard Exceediel's warnings for her. She felt a cold shoulder as well. Back in a snap, the demonic look masked on Exceediel's face was gone. He had stopped getting near to her ear too. Somehow, Aily noticed that Exceediel told something to Otorine, although she didn't mind it that much. Sooner or later, the five of them returned to Goddess Aily's home by teleporting the same method once again. As they were back to Goddess Aily's haven, Exceediel sighed and said, while he was raising his hands like a caught-in the-act criminal,
"I guess that's that but, their brainwashing still needs to be cleared off.".
Aily and the others agreed to Exceediel's suggestion. Though, they were cautious of his actions. He brought out another scroll that the hooded Goddess gave to him before. Then, he cast out, while he was holding out the scroll,
"DISTORT RELEASIEL!".
That sudden moment, the unfavorable tensions of Amakiel people were gone. Not only that, their faith and belief had returned to normal. Their hatred and confusions for one another had disappeared as well. They had forgotten that they have worshipped Exceediel as a God. Instead, they've remembered their true religion of praising and worshipping their Goddess Aily. There after, Exceediel said to the four Goddesses,
"With that, the people had forgotten about worshipping me and they'll go back to their normal lives.".
Aily sensed that the people's faith for her had returned, so she was relieved for what her husband had done. A little while later, Exceediel was now shackled in golden chains that would never break. Otorine was holding his golden leash such as he was bad dog. Aily waved goodbye, as Otorine, Ira, and Yumine vanished magically along with the Fallen Exceediel in chains. Afterwards, the tension in the atmosphere was gone, as Aily's place wasn't crowded anymore. Soon, her daughter came back to her place. Then, the teenage girl asked her mother,
"Mom? Will we be able to see father again?".
Goddess Aily went near her daughter and caressed her head. Then, Aily said aided with a blissful smile,
"Yes, honey...we'll be able to see your dad soon enough.".
The blonde-haired girl smiled. Later on, she looked at her mother with apologetic eyes,
"Also ummm mom...I'm sorry for teaming up with Draggy in letting you fall asleep.".
Goddess Aily witnessed that her daughter was truly sincere in apologizing. Thereon, Aily was relieved. She didn't reprimand her daughter, instead she told her daughter in a soft tone,
"It's alright. Also, do you want that dragon figure they're displaying in Celestia Heavenly mall?".
The girl looked shocked, as she couldn't believe those words were coming from her mother's mouth. Though, soon enough, her smile was brimming like the morning sunshine. Then, she nodded like the happiest little girl alive. Aily held her daughter's head with her angelic touch,
On another note, Aily was engrossed in her thoughts,
"But first I need to have a race with Draggy. I guess I've been too serious. Time to loosen up a bit.".
For some reason, she had alarming doubts for a second, as she recalled what her daughter wanted. In turn, she looked worried while she was absorbed in her thoughts,
"Wait...she likes dragon guy figurines? D-don't tell me?!".
Sooner or later, her teenage daughter was blushing. The girl looked-like she was a secretive perverted little girl who wanted some passionate feeling. The little girl told her mother, while she wasn't looking at her directly,
"Oh yeah and mom...I'll have to meet Draggy now, since we'll be err...playing...so see ya.".
The young maiden left, as if she was in a hurry, while her cheeks were blushing like a red beet. Not only that, her eyes were filled with strange hearts. That sudden moment, she dropped some kind of headband that had dragon horns attached to it. Aily looked doubtful, as her daughter suddenly left. She took notice of the headband that was on the floor. Aily grabbed the headband and she was engrossed in her thoughts, recalling the past,
"I remember she bought this when we were shopping at one of the shops at Celestia Heavenly mall. She said she likes cosplaying. Now I know why...".
Aily made a depressing facepalm,
"I still don't want to believe it.".
She just can't imagine that her daughter would have some kind of intimate affection for Draggy, their pet dragon. Sooner or later, she went out of her haven and the villagers were all awestruck, as their Goddess was back on her feet. Aily's attention was caught over the silly-looking rockstar statue of her criminal husband. Moreover, the people looked intrigued over the statue, even though they were ones who built it before. Sooner or later, she laughed the hardest as she kept on staring at the strange statue,
"Pfffftt...Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha! You really love to make me laugh huh, Exceediel?".
On another note, she was absorbed deep in her sea of thoughts,
"I wonder how do the other Fallens fare, especially the ones who are stronger than my husband?".
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone