"Damn it!"
Freya's angered shout echoed through the halls of the colosseum, her fist slamming onto the wall of their oval preparation and meeting room.
"She could've won! Kālī was at her weakest, but what did Mulan do?! She helped the same damn goddess to heal and find a new source for her dance!" She said with beads of tears streaking out of her blue eyes. "Mulan could've won. Randgriz would've been alive!"
"I d-didn't even g-get the chance to s-say goodbye to s-sister Randgriz," Göll stuttered out, face planted on her palms as she sobbed.
"This is all my fault," Freya forces out, leaning on the wall with her forehead pressed against it. "I didn't put more thought into Mulan. I didn't anticipate her risking everything just to follow her moral code. W-what a fucking failure this first round was."
"While I agree that it was partially your fault," Brunhilde chimes from beside Göll, sitting beside the youngest on the sofa, "I do apologize for not making you aware of Mulan's strict moral code. Maybe knowing that earlier on would've made you choose another fighter."
"No, it won't, I'm stubborn," Freya responds with a groan, leaning back on the wall before letting her back scrape against it as she slowly lowers herself to the cold stone floor. "Her strength and expertise would've still blinded me."
"It would've made you less guilty," Brunhilde said with a matter-of-factly tone.
"I don't know about that," the leader says, planting her face on her palms. "I would prefer if I were wise enough back then to actually include their personality and beliefs when I picked the fighters. The only fighters that I know that will kill their opponents without a doubt are Pandora, Vlad Dracula, and Lapu-Lapu," feeling a strange feeling in her gut, Freya stood up with a sigh. "And of course-"
"Sister Reginleif!"
Freya's words were cut off when Göll shot up from her seat and launched herself towards the person who just entered their meeting room.
Reginleif, a Valkyrie who dresses like a medieval scholar, looks down and catches Göll's sobbing figure, the cape draping from her shoulder being blown back due to the force of her younger sister's hug. After fixing the position of her medieval scholar's hat and straightening the strands of her black bobcut hair, she began patting Göll's head in an attempt to calm her down.
"There, there, let it all out, sister," Reginleif said with a voice laced with calmness and gentleness. "I know it's a harsh reality to swallow, but it is what it is. We must do everything to fight the deities," she said with understanding, guiding Göll back to her seat before sitting beside her.
Now, Göll sits between Brunhilde and Reginleif, her face now buried onto the latter's shoulder.
Although Reginleif can get annoyed with her sister's anxiousness, she is still her sister and she must serve as someone that Göll can lean on. The older sister merely let Göll sob on her shoulder before gesturing for Freya to come closer.
"Sister Freya, while I am saddened by sister Randgriz's fate, I am still willing and ready to forfeit my life for humanity's betterment," Reginleif spoke with loyalty, causing Göll to grip Reginleif's sleeves tighter, prompting the latter to pat the younger one's hand.
"I know you won't change your mind even if the deities offer everything," Freya said with a sad smile. "But I believe that you didn't come here just to say that. You specifically said that you will only come out of the training room when he's ready or broken. So, which one happened to Vincent van Gogh?"
"He has broken..." Reginleif started, looking down with a dark expression.
Hearing this, Freya took a step back before steadying herself. She took a deep breath in before opening her eyes and speaking.
"Okay, we can still find new fighters-"
"...every possible expectation that we've set for him!" Reginleif cuts off Freya who was flabbergasted. "I must say, sister Freya, Mr. Vincent is quite a tough one to crack. His imagination is impeccable and his will to fight the challenges that he faces is nothing to scoff at-"
The sound of Freya's fist making contact with Reginleif's head startled Göll who immediately lets go of Reginleif's sleeves.
The youngest had to lean back on Brunhilde who giggled at Reginleif's demise from Freya's knuckles. Göll looked at Freya with a startled gaze, her eyes wide and her mouth agape as she is aware of how hard Freya struck Reginleif.
"Then why in Hell did you start with a damn solemn expression like he died or something?!" Freya roared, her fist smoking from hitting Reginleif who clutched her head with a whimper. "I am so stressed right now! Don't joke like that!"
"Ouch, ouch, ouch!" Reginleif groans in pain whilst caressing her head with her eyes closed, fixing her square glasses after a few moments. "Affirmative, sister Freya! I believe I've learned my lesson quite well!" She went on, making Brunhilde giggle even more at the development in the room. "Yeah, sure, laugh at me all you want, sister Brunhilde. Let's see how you handle sister Freya's fist when it's your turn."
"Oh, my turn? Please, I'm not as insufferable-"
Brunhilde, a few seconds later, is now clutching her head as well after Freya brought her fist down on her.
"Alright, what happened really, Reginleif?" Freya asked as calmly as she could, rubbing her smoking fist.
Fixing her hat once again and wincing after that, Reginleif cleared her throat before speaking. "Well, Mr. Vincent was quite the mighty specimen. It didn't take long for us to perform Völundr. Given that we've been with each other for more than half a day, I can safely say that we're a great match. He is quite the nice guy to be with, sister Freya."
Hearing this, Freya gave a giggle at Reginleif who adopted a confused expression, head tilting to the side whilst Göll began giggling as well.
"Did I say anything unsatisfactory?" Reginleif asked, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly as the eldest sister bursts out laughing. "Sister Freya?! I have no idea what I said that caused this!"
Calming down, Freya lets out a relieved sigh, glad that there still could be times like this amidst such a crucial event. With a smile, Freya pats the confused sister on the head before sighing softly.
"Yeah, I'd say that you two are a great match. Thank you for your efforts, Reginleif," Freya said, her eyes closing as tears drop occasionally. "But can I trouble you and bring me to Vincent van Gogh? I believe that I need to talk to him, possibly find something that he can use."
Hearing this, Reginleif stands up after a nod, prompting Göll to follow before the three of them leave the room, leaving Brunhilde on the floor with a smoking head.
"Ugh... Sister Freya really struck me harder," Brunhilde groans as she rises from her floor, lightly touching the lump on her head before wincing at the sensation. "Well, might as well check on the other fighters while they are going to Vincent van Gogh. Maybe I'll check on Mesopotamia's First King to see if he is still going to offer to fight in the next round."
With a pained hum, Brunhilde strolled out of the room, wobbling as she does so.
...
Kālī walks in the large stone halls of the colosseum, her smile as bright as the gleaming sun as skips made into her steps. Right now, her third eye is closed and only two sets of arms are with her, the other three being retracted back into her body.
"My lovely daughter~!" Kālī squeals as she launches herself forward, tackling Bhadrakali across the hallway and onto the carpeted floor. "Miss me, didn't you? Momma is so touched that you cheered for her! It really gave me the strength to go on and survive!" The goddess cooed as she rolled across the floor with her daughter trapped between her two sets of arms.
"Mom! Not here, damn it!" The daughter shouts, her dark complexion mixing with a shade of red, steam rising from her body as the thought of someone seeing them like this brought a slight feeling of embarrassment. "Stop it! Someone might see us!"
"So?" Kālī's simple question made Bhadrakali panic even more. "I don't care, they can watch all they want. I'm having a moment with my daughter, so I don't care about others right now."
"Ouch, even for me?"
Kālī grins widely upon hearing the voice of Shiva. Not letting go of Bhadrakali, Kālī rolls over with her back on the floor and sees Shiva coming from the direction she came from. She deduced that Shiva got out of the deities' platform after her battle with Mulan.
"Possibly," Kālī said with a teasing grin, standing up with a squirming daughter in her arms. "Missed me as well, eh?"
"I mean, you almost died there, so I think that's a given," Shiva chuckled before using his upper right arm to lean on the wall. His expression then shifted to a much more serious one, his eyes narrowing slightly with a frown finding its way to his face. "What you did was risky, Kālī. You should've said something about your rage and power. If I had known that you were not in a fighting condition-"
"Shut your mouth, Shiva," Kālī growled, her expression getting darker as her grin was replaced by a sneer, her eyes narrowing at her husband who stared at her. "I'm always in a fighting condition when my family is on the line. I don't care if I die there making sure that none of you do."
"I care," Shiva said with a gruff voice. "Bhadrakali cares as well, deities will care," Shiva went on, gesturing with his upper and lower left arms. "A lot will care if you die there, Kālī. Stop acting like you wouldn't matter-"
"I know I matter, Shiva," Kālī said with a warm smile. "Why do you think I'm not angry enough to use Rudra Tandava?" Kālī pauses, looking at the embarrassed expression of her lovely daughter who is still trying to break out of Kālī's hug. "I feel loved, Shiva, something I never experienced way back then. How can I get angry after all of that? After Bhadrakali? After you?"
Hearing this, Shiva runs the lower arm's palm down his face while the upper left hand brushes his hair. The head deity then sighs heavily, looking at Kālī with a disappointed gaze.
"Still, you could've died there, Kālī. If your opponent was not a fool, it could've gone differently. I'm just going to let you know that my daughter and I would cause more destruction if that happens," Shiva said with a chuckle.
Kālī rolls her eyes at that, trapping Bhadrakali even more when the daughter gets one arm out, causing the younger deity to protest loudly.
"Better me than any of you and it's a selfish desire of mine to die before any of you. I'd rather go out before I see any of you die because I know I won't be able to take it. That would fuel Rudra Tandava or something even scarier within me. Would it be sadness or despair? I wouldn't know because it sure ain't the ones fueling my dance now," Kālī admits with a small laugh as she swings Bhadrakali from side to side, much to Bhadrakali's annoyance. "And it's all a reality because of the same human you're calling a fool. If I'm being honest, she could mess you up with one touch. She worked her way into the very fabric of my soul within seconds and reworked it, she could've done something worse."
"While I am kinda thankful that she did whatever she did."
"You should be," Kālī said with a giggle, enjoying Bhadrakali's struggle. The goddess then turns around and begins walking.
"Can I know what's the source of your power now?" Shiva asks, now walking beside his wife. "I felt the sudden influx of firepower but I'm not really the most proficient with soul-related things. One moment you were flickering, the other you are a supernova."
"Can you guess?"
"I have my guess, but I want to hear it from you."
"Hmm, meh, guess first," Kālī looks to her left and stares at Shiva's face before sticking her tongue out.
"You're awfully more positive after the fight, I just noticed," Shiva said with a chuckle, smiling a little at Kali's behavior.
"It's because of what Mulan did, I think. She released some of my stress and sadness, I think. She's a great help," Kālī admits with a happy nod, her hug tightening around Bhadrakali who began striking Kali's back in a desperate attempt to escape.
"Dad... help me!" Bhadrakali wheezes out, only to see Shiva smirking at her, making the younger deity glare at her father. "Traitor! Damn you, dad!"
"Aww, don't be like that, sweetie," Kālī hums, adjusting Bhadrakali's position into a much more comfortable one, akin to a princess carry. "And you're not guessing, Shiva," Kālī reminds her husband who shrugs helplessly.
"Fine, are you fueled by happiness now?" Shiva asks, his upper right arm snaking around Kālī's shoulders.
"Close, but that's not it. It's actually love and affection, something that I've been feeling lately," Kālī reveals with a toothy grin. "I can't really say that I don't appreciate what that mortal did. She was helpful, and it's just too bad she is not a deity. I would've made her Bhadrakali's aunt."
Hearing those words, Bhadrakali choked in disbelief, eyes going wide as she narrows her eyes at her mother who did not even look at her.
"Hey! I'm not accepting a human as my family, mom!" Bhadrakali announces with a huff but it quickly falters when Kālī laughs loudly. "W-what is so funny, mom?!" The daughter shouts, annoyance lacing her voice.
"Sweetie, trust me, I know you only accept strong individuals and Mulan could beat your little ass all week and all year round without stopping!" Kālī cackles, amusement present in her joyful laughter.
"I don't believe you," Bhadrakali pouts, arms crossing with each other. "Back me up, dad," Bhadrakali called for Shiva who still had the smirk present on his face.
"Yeah, right, listen to your mother," Shiva said with a laugh that made Bhadrakali fume even more. "I felt the pressure in Mulan's attacks and you interfering with your cheers is the only reason your mother is here with us," Shiva admits with a nod.
"I hate you both," Bhadrakali said with a grunt, earning her a laugh from the couple.
Although Bhadrakali said those words, she pretends to look at the floor to avoid showing her face. Soon, a small smile bloomed on her face.
"You're smiling," Kālī said matter-of-factly.
Bhadrakali's head snaps and faces Kālī who has her third eye open, the eye looking directly at Bhadrakali whose cheeks turned reddish.
"I wasn't!" The younger deity tried to jump out in embarrassment.
"You're staying with us," Kālī says with a simple hum as her arms trap her daughter once again in a tight bear hug.
Shiva merely watched with a small smile, glad that he can still have moments like this with his family.
'Damn, I guess I do owe that mortal woman a favor,' Shiva thinks as they go on with their walk.
None dares to interrupt Kālī's and Shiva's laughter and Bhadrakali's protests. The three enjoy a walk with just the three of them, or at least the couple enjoyed it.
"Argh! Stop pinching my cheeks, mom!"
"Nah."
...
Brunhilde strolls down the long stone halls of the grand colosseum, her left hand holding her head still. The Valkyrie would caress her dome from time to time just to get rid of the lingering pain from Freya's fist.
"Sister Freya really had to hit me with that much force?" Brunhilde grumbles, her vision a little wobbly from the exchange with Freya.
As graceful and as strong as Brunhilde is, Freya is much more powerful and even a playful smack on the head is bound to have some effects. One of them is dizziness that lasts for a few minutes.
This caused Brunhilde to trip, making her yelp in surprise as her center of gravity shifted, causing her to fall forward with a swirling sight. Her face is about to meet the floor but she felt her collar getting grabbed from the back, stopping her from hitting the ground.
"You know, you should not be this careless, madam."
Brunhilde hears a baritone voice beside her as her entire body gets pulled up, placing her on her feet once again, letting herself recover. Her vision steadies itself as a wave of magic seems to course through her entire being, startling her for a second.
"Are you feeling better now, madam? Are you in need of more assistance?"
Brunhilde looks to her right and sees a man in brown long-sleeved tunic and dark blue trousers. Over his shoulders is a dark green mantle that is open, showing off his attire. His face bore sharp features and is clean shaven. The main thing that made Brunhilde realize the identity of this man is the crown of leaves on top of his head.
"I believe I am quite well now, Durante," Brunhilde said with a small smile, nodding at the Italian poet in front of her.
"Oh, Dante is satisfactory, madam. There is no need to be so formal with my name," Dante waves off his hand with a small chuckle. "And I am glad that you are well now, the fall might have been painful," he adds with a worried tone.
"Then, Dante, I am quite fine now, your magic helped a lot, I thank you for that," Brunhilde tips her head forward ever so slightly, making Dante smile. "But it is unusual for you to be roaming around here, are you the one in need of assistance?"
Hearing her curious tone, the poet laughs lightly, a hand placed on his chest.
"Madam, I am just trying to find Mr. Satan. He said that he will help me figure out more about the powers I have since I stole it from the depths of Hell itself," Dante reveals with an amused chuckle, pulling out a small book from the satchel strapped to his leather belt. "I believe you are aware of my accidental trip to Hell and back, almost everyone is aware of it, or that is what Mr. Satan has stated. It is such a shame that people believe that The Divine Comedy is a fantasy but I cannot blame them, for my work was simply out of our world and definitely ahead of its time."
Seeing the man tapping a finger on the book, Brunhilde shook her head, amused at the poet's action. "Well, The Divine Comedy was a detailed description of Hell and humanity usually wants to prove something wrong so I am not surprised if the entirety of the world went against your work," she chuckles with Dante who places the book back in his satchel. "And you are in search of Satan, right? Are you aware that you can actually use your powers to contact him?" Brunhilde asks with a slight laugh.
Her small laughs then evolves into full-blown laughter when Dante looks at her with his head tilted slightly, confused and surprised at the discovery.
"I was not aware of such information," Dante admits with an embarrassed laugh, a hand scratching the nape of his neck. Without a second thought, Dante bows in a gentle manner, right hand placed just over his heart's location as he speaks, "Madam, would you be so kind to show me how to use some of my powers? I am quite lost without proper directions and assistance."
Upon hearing Dante's words, Brunhilde's lips morphed into a sadistic smile, her eyes pressed closed, her entire aura shifting into something mischievous. The sudden change of the atmosphere around them made Dante shift for a moment, only to sigh with an amused smile.
"Why of course, Dante, I will make sure that you will not be forgetting every technique I will teach you," Brunhilde gave a giggle, a hand now over her lips.
"Yes," Dante sighs heavily, "I must thank you, then, madam," the man continues with a bow before feeling his left arm locked with Brunhilde's.
The Valkyrie then drags the poet around the halls, the man not even trying to resist the inevitable.
"Before anything starts, madam. May this man know your name?"
"You'll know soon enough."
{•===To Be Continued===•}
Yo! Thoughts? Decided to have a simpler and lighter chapter. The next chapter should introduce the next fighters so there's that! Any guesses?