- Xiao, Lina, Sig -
(Before the Grim squad arrived in Han'ei)
Xiao, Lina, and Sig were walking next to a moving cart while holding open notebooks. Xiao took his smoke out of his mouth as his eyes scanned the pages of his notebook.
"Izanagi: known powers, water affinity, future-sight, the 'Ame-no-nuhoko' spear that grants the wielder use of all basic affinities."
Lina's voice was deep with a slight clacking sound to it, "We're to assume that the spear's full capabilities are yet to be revealed. It has been noted that Izanami can activate the spear's powers but that there's a noticeable delay between affinity switches."
Sig scanned her notebook's pages at a rapid pace. She was flipping through the notebook as she added to the discussion.
"Izanami: wind affinity, some have called her 'The Breaker' but there's not enough information to know what the title is in specific reference to. Rank three in hand-to-hand."
Xiao blew smoke out of the side of his mouth. "Main forces in order of threat: Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, current Enenra clan leader Fu Kazuya."
Lina turned the pages of her notebook and read. "Susanoo, lightning affinity with anti-gravity chaos magic, rank ten in weapons, head commander of Han'ei's army. Tsukuyomi, 'mirrors' chaos magic and ability to transform into a wolf, highly protective of Amaterasu."
"Explanation on 'mirrors'," Xiao asked.
Sig responded, "Mirror of reflection, mirror of destruction, mirror of absorption. No changes from previous recordings, still no information on the destruction's capabilities."
Xiao scowled. "Fucking classist piece of shit," he took a long drag off his smoke. "Amaterasu."
"Fire affinity, ability to transform into a wolf, 'rings' chaos magic,'" Lina answered.
"'Ring' explanation," Xiao asked.
"Amplification and...flamethrower turrets?" Sig responded. "Information has noted that only her magic will be amplified as it passes through her rings; rings can shoot fire out of the center but require Amaterasu's manual input."
"Something wrong?" Xiao raised an eyebrow.
Sig scratched her head. "Someone must have changed the wording on Amaterasu's abilities since I last read it," She sighed. "Regardless, no changes in abilities. Capable of flying by riding one of the rings. It's safe to assume that Tsukuyomi is capable of the same despite a lack of recorded data of him doing such."
Xiao started reading out loud, "Enenra clan leader, Fu Kazuya, 'anchor' teleportation, fire affinity, longest reigning Enenra clan leader after making an alliance with Izanagi and Izanami."
"Explanation of 'anchor' teleportation," Lina mimicked Xiao's voice.
Xiao grinned, "Two-way teleportation where the users can put down two 'anchors' that are intangible/invisible until activated, at which point they look like shadowy puddles. The users are able to travel from one 'anchor' to the other. The 'anchors' must be placed on level surfaces. Users rise out of the 'anchors' or sink through them. Users are ABLE to teleport others, but there appears to be a size limitation. Distance limitations are unknown but are speculated to be around four kilometers."
"Hellspawn-demon mana-sight is capable of seeing the anchors," Sig added. "Maybe we should have brought one of the demon recruits with us?"
Xiao shook his head in disagreement. "None of them are close to having the necessary training," he grimaced. "We'll just ask one of the Han'ei demons to make us a map of the 'anchors' when we get the chance. The locations could change but something is better than nothing," he put out his smoke in his hand.
Lina's voice was deep and clacky again, "I still find it difficult to believe that Amaterasu would dare challenge Naalzheehí."
Sig and Xiao both stared at Lina. Sig chuckled.
Lina looked at the two and realized what she said. "I mean Lord Death, sorry. You two know how the origin words tend to slip out when I'm using my voice."
- Xiao, Lina, Sig, Shiri -
Shiri arrived back at the group's camp. He climbed into Lucifer's cart and hoisted a large rectangular box over his shoulder. He jump out of the cart and landed with a loud thud.
"What's in there?" Xiao asked with a curious look in his eye.
Shiri placed the heavy box down. "Maul," he opened the box and lifted the silver maul out, propping it over his shoulder.
Xiao shook his head and pulled out a tiny box from his pocket. "Y'know, I really wish Lucifer had let us in on these little signals of his," He opened the box and pulled out a match. "Getting really, really, fucking tired of being in the dark on things," He pulled out a smoke and placed it in his mouth. "Then again," he struck the match and lit his smoke. "Can't blame the paranoia, given his circumstances."
Sig's eyes narrowed and lost emotion. Lina leaned her head down slightly, breathing out one puff of white mist from her veil.
"Orders," Sig and Lina asked, with Lina's tone being deep.
Shiri was surprised by Lina's tone. The warm tone that had been relaxing to hear was gone. Lina's voice reminded him of stories he had heard from Satan about Death.
Xiao spoke in a frightfully casual tone, "Just keep things quiet for now."
"Understood," Sig and Lina nodded before quickly leaving.
Shiri spoke to Xiao once he saw the other two leave line-of-sight. "Careful. Our potential enemies will be more coordinated than what I think you're used to."
Xiao's looked from Shiri's maul to Shiri's face. "Stay away from Sig and Lina, you'll only draw attention," He took one deep, quick drag off his smoke and exhaled. "Go help Lucifer and leave the smaller details to us," He flicked the smoke onto the ground and walked away.
- Yamato, R'yaarj and Kija -
Kija was excitedly recanting her match with Xiao to the soldiers. "Felt as if he punched a hole clean through my side!"
Yamato was among the crowd. He was impatiently waiting for Kija to finish up so they could leave. He looked around at the soldiers, making sure there was no potential dissension for Kija's decision. From what he saw, there was a general acceptance among the crowd.
'This is going too well,' R'yaarj said in Yamato's mind.
'I'm aware,' Yamato responded. 'There should have been more verbal upset. Either she has the most loyal soldiers I've ever seen, or someone's planning something.'
"I almost forgot!" Kija shouted, turning around to the two jötunn behind her. "IF ANYONE HAS A PROBLEM WITH MY DECISION, YOU'RE WELCOME TO OPPOSE IT!"
'Does she notice something?' R'yaarj questioned.
'Difficult to say,' Yamato glanced around to gauge the potential danger of the situation. 'She would know her soldiers better than anyone else.'
"This is because of you!" one of the crowd members pointed at Yamato.
An eye opened up on Yamato's cheek as he stared down the crowd member. "Is it?"
The crowd member ran away, causing Kija to turn around and roar with laughter. While Kija was laughing, one of the jötunn behind her grabbed her. Kija continued laughing as her skin went blue.
"AS IT SHOULD BE!"
Kija dug her hands into the jötunn's arm and pulled them down so that she was face-to-face with them. She smiled into the jötunn's eyes and reared her head back. The cracking sound echoed throughout the crowd.
Kija's laughter continued as icy horns started to grow from her head. "ANYONE ELSE?!"
"KIJA!" a handful of crowd members began chanting. "KIJA! KIJA! KIJA!"
The uproar of support for Kija put a smile on Yamato's face. 'Loyalty it is, I guess.'
- Izanagi and Death -
Izanagi and Death were partway up the mountain path. Izanagi had his spear draped over his shoulders. Death was looking around at the landscape, noting all the floating pieces of rock and blobs of water that were suspended in the air next to them.
"Similar to your powers," Izanagi said. "The way Susanoo's magic lingers after its use. The boy hated it at first, thought he was "ruining" the land with it. I assured him it was okay, that it added a nice unique aesthetic to the surroundings."
"Hmm," Death hummed with interest. "I can't say the same for my magic. If you call this an 'aesthetic' then mine is more of a disease."
Izanagi laughed, "I suppose that explains why your other title used to be 'Plague' during Ragnarök," He sighed. "Personally, I think the gods that got angry with you were exaggerating the permanence of your ability. I know removing the blight isn't an easy solution but it is a solution nevertheless."
Death grinned. "I appreciate the kindness, but I don't blame any god who hates me because of that specific ability."
"Don't let it get to you, friend," Izanagi reassured. "We're here!"
Izanagi and Death arrived at a large open area on the mountain path. Floating trees surrounded a massive crater. Death conjured his scythe.
"Once again, are you sure?" Death asked as he entered his hunter form.
"I'm sure," Izanagi pointed his spear at the ground. "I only regret not having matches with you sooner."
"On your mark," Death said.
'Here we go,' Izanagi steeled himself. "START!"