~
I looked at myself in the mirror and just stared at myself. I looked at my now red hair, golden eyes and a scar on my left eye. I had on a black shirt, pants, a black steel chest plate with Tyr's Symbol on the left side, black greaves and steel boots, and wore a black cloak with white fur. I had on gauntlets and my Tyr, Freyja, and Freyr Seals shined on them.
"My love! Are you ready?" Freyja asked.
"I'll be out in a moment." I responded.
It's been a year since everything transpired. In Isorian Terms...one year here is three years in Isoria. I knew Atalia was still alive because I could still sense her emotions. My main focus was saving Atalia, but if I could find a few Valkyries along the way that would be even better.
I walked outside of the house and looked at Freyja. "I'm ready."
Freyja smiled at me and snapped her fingers then Nightmare galloped toward us. She held my hand. "You've trained hard since that day. Now it's time for us to reclaim what is ours.."
I nodded and looked at Nightmare. "I will get them back...Organization X can never get away with this.."
Freyja made me look at her then she kissed my lips gently. I kissed back then pulled away. Freyja rubbed my hair and placed her forehead against mine.
"I love you..." Freyja whispered.
"I love you too.." I said.
Freyja let me go and watched me walk to Nightmare and mount on her back. "Be safe out there! As always if you need help, you know I'm always a call away!"
I nodded then clicked my teeth and Nightmare galloped off. I held my hand out then a portal opened.
——————
"What are these stupid creatures?! I can't even purify them!" A woman said and her chains wrapped around her arm.
"My cross isn't even shining so I know they aren't demons...These might be spirits." A man said and his sword turned back into a cross necklace.
They walked forward then the woman pushed the man out the way of a fist made from energy. They looked up and noticed a giant in front of them. The giant went for an attack, but groaned when his arm was sliced off. The arm fell to the ground and dispersed into magic particles. Golden slash effects began to appear on the giant then began to fall apart.
The man and the woman watched in awe and noticed me land in front of them. I looked at the two and grunted lightly.
The man had white hair, light blue eyes, and crosses for pupils. His skin was clear and he had a muscular build. He wore a white top, brown pants with chains on the pants, white shoes, and carried a cross shaped sword with a golden hilt.
The woman was a beautiful woman, a tall woman with a voluptuous body and large breasts. She has fair skin, long brunette hair, and blue eyes. She wore a sleeveless corset dress with slits on both sides going up to her thigh. She also wore blue fingerless bridal gauntlets with a gold ring on her middle fingers. She had black shakles on her wrists with golden chains attached to them.
"Xander..? Estella..?" I said in awe.
Xander looked at me and was on guard. "Your energy feels just like that giant. Who are you and how do you know our names..?"
"You don't remember me? The kid you saved from a burning neighborhood?" I asked.
Estella looked at Xander. "Burning neighborhood?"
"I have no idea what he's talking about. We saved no one from a burning neighborhood." Xander said.
"What about Slenderman? And your daughter Candy?" I asked.
"You must be confusing us with someone else." Estella said.
Xander had the Sword of Saint Michael in his hands and other Heavenly Necklaces around his neck...but he doesn't have the memories of the Xander I knew, meaning this Xander is the Xander from this dimension. Estella was the same...but I didn't know if she was also the Nun from the Underworld.
"My name is Dante. Are you two the Warrior Angel and the Warrior Nun?" I asked.
"We are. We work for the Hidden World of Light of Yggdrasil, Heven. If that's what you're wondering, that's your answer." Xander said.
I noticed Xander becoming more on the defense and knew a battle was headed my way. I summoned my True Folkvangr and readied my sword.
{Acquiring opponent's stats...}
{Stats Acquired!}
[Xander's Stats]
[Strength: X]
[Defense: S+]
[Stamina: S+]
[Intelligence: X]
[Speed: SS+]
'He's a powerhouse, but I didn't spend that year in Folkvangr doing nothing. Even if I lose this battle, I need to calm him down..' I thought to myself.
Xander readied his sword. "Estella, stand by. I'll handle him."
"Alright, my love." Estella said and stepped away from the battle zone.
Xander's angelic aura surrounded his body then his angel wings emerged from his back. He lowered his posture then launched himself at me. He used a burst of speed to appear behind me.
I looked back then dodged his slash then elbowed his stomach. He grunted and stumbled back. I kicked him away then launched an invisible strike at him. Xander groaned as he was hit then grunted when a barrage of invisible attacks struck his body. He stumbled backwards and chuckled..
"Heh...you're pretty good. However, this battle is only just starting." Xander said and his body glowed.
'Combat Empowerment..?' I thought to myself.
Xander dashed toward me and his body flickered. Five slashes struck my body, blowing me away. I grunted as I rolled backwards on the ground. Xander appeared behind me and went for another slash. My aura surged and pushed him backwards. My hair turned gold and my eyes shined red. I stood up and looked back.
"A transformation...I can sense you grow stronger the longer our fight goes on. You're probably one of my toughest opponents yet." Xander said then spun his sword around in a circle then got into his battle stance.
"What you're looking at...is my Demigod Form. It's mastered as well. We shall start our true battle now." I said and felt my adrenaline rushing. I was fighting against one of my biggest inspirations even if he wasn't the same one I knew.
Xander smirked and his eyes shined. "Let's see then!"
He appeared in front of me at lightspeeds then struck me with a roundhouse kick, knocking me in the air. I recovered in the sky and sensed Xander appear behind me. I dodged each of his slashes then blocked his last slice. I pushed him back and dodged his next attack then struck his stomach.
I kicked him away and summoned my four daggers and shot them at Xander. I warped to each one, going for an attack for each one, but Xander dodged each attack then clashed with me, entering a blade lock.
"We're evenly matched...I'm quite shocked.." Xander chuckled as he tried to overpower me.
"Underestimating me is a fatal flaw...I'm more than just your average fighter.." I said.
We pushed each other away then descended to the ground. Estella watched us and held her arms. She tilted her head and looked at me.
Xander stared at me and reached for his gun holster. He unholstered his gun then quickly fired a bullet. The bullet zipped past me and hit a Shadow that snuck behind me.
I looked back then noticed a horde of Shadow Giants raising from the ground. I looked around and smirked. "So they finally appear.."
"What are they?" Xander asked.
"Shadows. These fuckers are everywhere. They are the product of an evil organization I'm trying to stop. These guys are strong.." I said.
"Shadows. We've fought a few and they aren't as strong as they think they are." Xander said.
"Let's test that theory!" I said and launched myself toward a Shadow Giant.
I parried her punch then flipped onto her arm. I began to run across her arm then used a burst of speed to slice the giant swiftly. The giant began to fall apart and I was onto my second Shadow Giant.
Xander swiftly dodged the Giant's attack then summoned his Shield of Truth then threw it at the Giant. The giant groaned as the shield hit his neck. Xander bellowed and fired a beam of light at the shield, making the shield decapitate the Giant.
Estella watched as Xander and I fought the giants. We took down the giants and Imperial Shadows began to show up. Xander and I went back to back then watched the Shadows.
"There are quite a lot of them.." Xander said.
"Yeah...but we can handle them." I said.
Xander nodded and watched as the Shadows charged at us. "Let's go."
We transformed into our God Forms and our auras produced a bright light, blinding the Shadows. We rushed toward the horde of Shadows and commenced battle against them.
Xander fired multiple bullets at the Shadow then dodged another attack. He grabbed her arm then tossed her over to me. I sliced the Shadow's head off then vaulted over Xander and unholstered his gun, firing bullets and landing headshots on the Shadows. Xander cast a shield around me, protecting me from hidden attacks then I bumped Xander, making the shield go on him. The shield began blocking the Shadows' attacks.
"Let's end this." Xander said.
"Already ahead of you!" I said.
"Heavenly.." Xander started.
"Victory..."
"Shine!" Xander bellowed and fired a massive beam of white energy at the Shadows.
"Flash!" I bellowed and fired a beam of black and gold energy at the Shadows.
The beams struck the Shadows and caused a massive explosion. Estella watched in awe and her eyes shined. She watched the smoke clear and noticed me and Xander still standing.
Xander panted and looked at the sky. "We make a nice team..."
I looked at the ground and my hair covered my left eye. "Yeah.."
After the battle was over, Xander walked back over to Estella. I walked over to them and my sword disappeared.
"Sorry for getting upset at you earlier. You honestly caught us by surprise when you showed up. Your energy felt just like those Shadows.." Xander said.
"I get it. Those Shadows used to be people like me. I'm an Einherjar which is kinda equal to a Valkyrie in this dimension. Those Shadows are dead Valkyries...Spirits being controlled by Organization X." I explained.
"Organization X. We're definitely heard of them." Estella said.
"Really? Do you happen to know of their hideout? They have my daughter captured." I said.
"They've kidnapped your daughter..? Hmm..I can't say for sure we know where they are, but I'm willing to think that we can use those Shadows as help." Xander said.
I never thought of using these Shadows for help, but mostly because I never thought it was a reliable option. However, I didn't have anything else to go off of at the moment.
"Alright. Would you mind helping me rescue my daughter?" I asked.
"Sure! We will help you. Besides we have our own little bone to pick with them." Estella said.
I nodded and smiled. "Alright, let's go."
Xander, Estella, and I went out to look for clues and Shadows that would help us find the hideout of Organization X. Working together with Xander and Estella gave me the boost I needed...a boost that would give me the hope I needed to save Atalia.
~