While the battle was ongoing, Loki invited the 'guests' in to watch with them, "So that guy even managed to fool you all that you're dead?"
Ottar, the rest of the executives, Mia, and Anya walked in while still checking the 'wounds' they had suffered, "Was that... Just a bad dream?"
As for the members of the Loki Familia, they are glad that they are alive for one reason or another but they still can't wrap their heads around what just happened. They almost had a heart attack when the headless people started standing up before the scene returned to normal, "Loki, when did you notice?" asked Finn.
Loki sat down on the couch and pinned her eyes on the floating monitor, "I was shocked and angry too at first, of course. But that's what I thought he wanted so my thoughts immediately deviated when he sealed my movements and speech. Though 'till the end, I only had a suspicion because adding to the fact that I can't imagine him starting a useless massacre, the town itself was unnaturally quiet. Even if he was able to set up a barrier to isolate the noise, people should have started gathering around when they saw the top of Babel destroyed."
Riveria took a peek at the untouched Tower of Babel and said, "Now that you mentioned it... It was extremely strange, but I only noticed it when everything was already done."
"There are other little details that supported my suspicion but I won't mention those. And don't really have to be hard on yourself since Freya fell for it too, spectacularly at that."
"But shouldn't Freya-sama already know that no one's actually dead? We have her blessing, after all.", Mia interjected with confusion.
"Although what happened on the Tower of Babel was fake, that didn't mean that he really doesn't have the ability to erase someone's soul. In fact, I'm more inclined to believe that he could because that would explain how he was able to sever, or at least block your connection to Freya.", Loki explained briefly, 'Though what concerns me the most was that illusion ability. It's so well made that even Freya who released her Divinity couldn't tell it apart from reality. Even now, I'm still wondering when we fell for it.'
"Anyway, just watch. It isn't every day you all get to see how a God fights."
.
.
.
Freya hurriedly took back her hand and dodged the blade that was coming after her by jumping back. But even then, she wasn't able to get away as the sword emitted a crimson light and released a whistling arc.
"Tch!" Without much choice, Freya released more of her Divine Power and caught the arc with her bare hands, crushing it.
But before she noticed it, her body was already entangled with a blood-red net that extended from Kisuke's feet.
Freya hurriedly tried to break away but the net was too stretchy to cut, 'It wasn't meant to entangle me?', Freya thought to herself. Nevertheless, the bad feeling that was coming from the net didn't decrease instead, the threat only seemed to increase with its unknown use.
Unfortunately for Freya, the time that she used to ineffectively break away from the net was enough for Kisuke to gather his power. Stabbing the net at his feet, Kisuke poured a considerable amount of energy into Benihime, "Hiasobi, Benihime, Juzutsunagi."
Orbs of fire started sprouting on each corner of the net until it reached Freya.
Freya was horrified at what she's seeing and hastily gathered all the Divine Power she could to protect herself.
A second later, an explosion so loud and so bright it shook the entire lake. The explosion was so strong that those within the Twilight Manor saw a second sun. If not for the barrier that was protecting the region, no building would be left standing in Melen and some parts of Orario would have been destroyed from the shockwave.
"Freya-sama!!!", the members of the Freya Familia couldn't help but shout simultaneously with some of them leaving the Twilight Manor to see what's going on the lake with their own eyes. Since the devastation was covered by thick steam made from the nasty water of the lake, they couldn't see the result of the explosion. However, they are sure enough that Freya couldn't take that without being injured.
Kisuke, although he already knew Freya's situation without looking at her, waved his hand to produce a strong gust of wind that blew the steam away, revealing Freya's scorched and falling figure.
Ottar and the rest shuddered at this sight and were about to rush to the location like everybody else but Loki spoke out to stop them, "There's nothing you can do even if you go there. You'll just be wasting time."
"That doesn't matter. If Freya-sama were going to die, then I'll accompany her to the grave."
Loki peeked at Ottar who refused to back down and was followed by others, "That's incredibly foolish, but if I were Freya, I'd be happy to hear your sentiment, however, don't put a Deity at the same level as you, mortals." The moment she finished her sentence, the air within the entire room became so heavy that it actually became hard to breathe for some.
Ottar turned around and directly looked at Loki, "...So this is a Deity's pride."
Loki didn't say anything back and just returned her attention to the screen.
Ottar became silent for a few moments while looking at the ripple that Freya created when she disappeared on the lake before saying, "None will go. Let's wait here for our Goddess' victory."
At that moment, the sky lit up as Divine Aura covered the area before a golden chariot pulled by two giant gray tabby cats.
Editors:
28th00: Ah, the big fiery explosion implosion. Yeah, that's a nasty one.
Kisuke immediately looked up as soon as he felt a strange presence appearing on top of his head, 'So even the manifestation of the legend is the same? Then I'm more inclined to believe that the names aren't a coincidence.'
Kisuke dodged the angry cats and they went on to continue their journey to the bottom of the lake where Freya is.
But instead of an explosion of power like Kisuke was expecting, only a flash of bright light occurred. Soon after the gigantic Magic Circle that continuously cast 'Death Magic' on the region disappeared, 'Well, it isn't really effective against me so it's just a waste of effort for her. Though the clean-up afterward is going to suck. Do I have a purification tool? I would also have to accelerate the repopulation of marine life.'
Kisuke's worries, however, were proven to be useless because another flash of light emerged from within the lake and this time, the light caused him to feel the warmth of life, a stark contrast to the overwhelming aura of death from earlier. The lake's water returned to its former shine and the marine life was instantly restored to its healthy state. But it didn't just stop at that as the downed trees and vegetation have begun wriggling and fixed themselves.
The restoration didn't stop until the region flourished more than before their battle, 'What a wonderful sight. The 'miracle' of a Deity, huh? How interesting.' Kisuke thought to himself as he watched Freya serenely emerge from the lake without a drop of injury, grime, or water on her body.
But more than her flawless body, what caught Kisuke's attention was the white and gold armor set she's wearing and the lustrous silver kite shield and a short sword that matched her hair. Kisuke thought that the Freya right now, along with her demeanor, was truly a Goddess of War and Beauty that he had imagined. After thinking for a few moments, he concluded that her current equipment right now was the chariot and cats that had just descended.
Kisuke got ready because he knew that this is where the real fight would start, however, his opponent didn't have the same idea and turned her head towards Orario.
Kisuke hastily checked the surrounding barrier and found them to be working as intended, 'She was able to see through it?'
Nevertheless, instead of being disappointed, Kisuke was happy to have found this problem this early on. All in all, he just needed a few more pieces of information from Freya to make the necessary adjustments. He's just worried that the latter won't be cooperating anymore, 'How should I piss her off this time? Should I call her ugly?'
Before he knew it, Freya's shining purple eyes were already locked on him, "Aren't you thinking of something very rude?"
And without hesitation, Kisuke replied, "Yeah. I'm thinking of saying how ugly you are inside and out."
With a response that she was not expecting, Freya almost tripped over nothing. The corner of Freya's eyes twitched before she could say back with a slightly forced smile, "M-my~ So nothing changed for you, huh. You're really pulling my confidence down here."
Freya thought that Kisuke was taking back what he just said when he suddenly gave her a thumbs up and a wink when he actually said, "Don't worry~ I can assure you that you're still ugly on the inside~!"
Freya felt the veins on her forehead pop out but she took a deep breath to calm herself down. She has a feeling that only now that she met the 'true' Kisuke. Having a hunch that she would just further be infuriated, Freya changed the topic, "Why did you do this?"
"You're not going to ask how I did this?"
"I want to know that too since it's an ultimate game changer for us Deities if we can use our powers within the Lower World, however, I doubt I could hear an answer from you so at least, I wish to know your intent behind this," Freya recalled the last instance they exchanged words. It was a very memorable day for her because it's also the day that she started doubting her eyes, ultimately pushing her to do the extreme just to validate her already shaking beliefs, "Is it because you're against what I want to happen?"
Kisuke immediately shook his head, "Don't get it wrong. What you're doing was, at most, kidnapping and I'm no hero or law enforcer that would go after you. As for ultimately what your goal is, I have a vague idea though it still isn't my right to step in. As I've mentioned before, I won't force my beliefs on you and just suggest something universal, look through another lens."
"Let's see... As for the main reason I'm doing this, let's say you're standing dangerously close to a line that shouldn't, by any means, be crossed right now so I'm here to stop you and make sure not to do anything similar in the future."
"I see.", Freya nodded in understanding, "I must say, it was really threatening and I have no intention of doing something similar in the future if it incurs your wrath. You had undoubtedly already achieved your goal, but what else do you want? You didn't have to let it reach this point."
"I'm a man of curiosity. I wanted to know what a God can actually do. You could also say that I wanted to test my skills by challenging a Deity since it isn't every day that I could. But I guess this is where the fun ends." Since she didn't have any further reason to continue this fight Kisuke prepared to take down the barrier once Freya severed her connection to her real body, 'It's a shame but it looks like I won't be able to coax her by just pissing her off.'
However, Freya became silent and Kisuke wondered what she's thinking about.
After a few seconds of staring at each other, Freya proposed, "Today is really such a unique day so ending it here would be unfortunate. How about this, if you can defeat me, I would do any one thing you ask as long as it's within my ability."
It was Kisuke's turn to be silent and gave her a stare full of suspicion.
"And when I said anything, I meant it. Whether it's lending you my children or having fun with me for a month or two."
Without pause, Kisuke replied while raising his hand, "I'm sorry but I'm neither interested in either of the two."
"Guh..." Freya staggered, 'He could have at least pretended to hesitate a little.' But what made it worse was the fact that right now, Kisuke is making a face that as if he would even pay her not to do any of those, 'Am I that bad in his eyes?' Freya could feel her confidence plummet.
Among those who are watching, everyone was speechless with each of them having a differing impression of the conversation, except for Loki, who's laughing her ass out loud, "Fuhahahaha! I've never thought Freya could make a face like that! Way to go, Ki-tan~! It's an achievement never before seen even in Heaven!"
"Though I'll admit that it's a very appealing proposal.", Kisuke continued, "But what price do you want from me?"
"Your experience."
Editors:
28th00: Kisuke really has no reason to even want to sleep with Freya. He’s not really lustful either though. Freya just ain’t that special. And man, does that have to BURN!
Peter onwuasoanya