บท 30: Chapter 29: Stormfront Part 1

"I'll handle the Divine Ancestor on the right," volunteered Sakura.

"I'll handle the Divine Ancestor on the left," mirrored Illya.

"I'll aid Sakura," Rider spoke, "as for the rest of you, keep the queen and knight busy and send someone to finish off Asherah. If she falls before the seal is opened, they will not have a way to open the seal."

Godou and his court, plus Annie and Yuri, focused on the Queen of Divine Ancestors and the irregular Heretic God that served her, as the others split off to fight their own battles. Both the remaining groups faced off, neither willing to make the first move.

With Illya

Both the Divine Ancestor and the homunculus faced the other without moving. The silence was broken by Illya. "Before we begin, I have a question to ask."

The fallen goddess paused before replying. "What would it be, mortal?"

"Just what could be offered to draw the incredibly cautious Andromeda into the open? I've been thinking, but nothing makes sense."

Andromeda's grin was that of a shark's, full of teeth. She wore as simple gown and had long black hair. "That which motivates all Divine Ancestors, save for her."

Illya understood instantly. The goal of all Divine Ancestors, save for Guinevere, was the same, recover their status as mother earth goddesses. From what Shirou had researched, the only way to truly achieve this is to die and return to the legend that they were originally from. But no Divine Ancestor would just give up and commit suicide. They all sought out other ways. Shirou's research showed that no method that has ever been tried would be a permanent solution. They would have a brief boost of power lasting a month at most before destabilizing and exploding from being unable to control the power.

Andromeda had been alive for a long time, with the first possible sighting of her being the year 1293 in China. All other sightings were few and far between. Almost no information about her existed, with Illya's statement of her name being mostly guesswork. She had been present for other Divine Ancestors "reclaiming" their divine status. She knew that to die was the only way. So why was she there?

"All attempted solutions have one issue in common, the power gained was not the power lost, it merely resembled the lost power. The proof is that it destabilizes no matter what is done. The methods, if used on a much smaller scale, act as temporary boosts of power. The increased length of stable time is due to the sheer size of power gained. In order to return to godhood, Divine Ancestors must be reconnected with their legend. The question then becomes why are Divine Ancestors unable to do so. It should happen automatically due to the linked myths. But it doesn't. So what power is it that prevents that?"

Illya's eyes' widened, "the Heretic Gods of Steel that slew the Mother Earth Goddesses and married the priestesses, right?"

Andromeda nodded, "indeed. The power of Mother Earth Goddesses fuel the Gods of Steel, thus the power is merely linked closer to the Gods of Steel than the Divine Ancestors. In simple terms, the power of the God of Steel that slew the Mother Earth Goddess should be able to act like a key to return the power to the created Divine Ancestor."

Illya grimaced, "and in your case, the slayer was Perseus, the one my brother slew several years ago. Due to the authority my brother received, that means that he now acts as the key."

"And you are the key to your brother's cooperation. Surrender and you will not suffer."

Illya burst out laughing, "you actually think that you can achieve that, Mother of Monsters? I admit that I am no match for your true form, but as you are now, you cannot defeat me. I would not be able to miss the presence of a divine beast, even with everyone present. Without your children, your abilities are pathetic. The only power you truly had as a goddess was to bring forth monsters, Echidna!"

The Divine Ancestor growled, her weaknesses pointed out by Illya, as well as the facts that irritated her the most. Illya was correct about her lack of power while being a goddess and her fall from grace did little to improve that, her survival due to her being lucky enough to calming down before anyone paid any real interest in her existence. She hated being reminded of that fact.

"I've changed my mind, I'll torture you until your brother arrives and kill you both after I regain my power! DIE!" roared Andromeda before charging at Illya.

With Sakura and Rider

Rider stood between Sakura and the Divine Ancestor, weapon in hand. She looked for any sign of attack from the Divine Ancestor while trying to puzzle out her identity. There was one fact that confused her.

She could tell that the one in front of her had a strong affinity for snakes and serpents, but no affinity for dragons. The fact made no sense given that for gods snake = serpent = dragon. To lack an affinity for one while possessing the other two made no sense.

The clothes worn by the Divine Ancestor were north African in origin, she had dark hair, and her skin was lightly tanned. As the standoff continued, the silence was broken by Sakura, "Rider, whatever you do, don't let her get something from your body. Not blood or hair, and above else not spit."

The Divine Ancestor's expression changed into a predatory grin, "oh, have you figured out who I am?"

Sakura matched her gaze without blinking, "I've got a pretty good guess."