Chapter 30: Angrboda & Ayala?
Chapter 30: Angrboda & Ayala?
As I stood amidst the fading remnants of the chaotic hall, Shehuang vanished into thin air, retreating back into the ether to ready herself. Before her presence dissolved entirely, a final, sharp fragment of thought flickered across our shared Summoner link.
Summon me when you are ready, Loki. I will prepare Taki Tsuki and Yin Meng to fight alongside me. Beloved Master… fight, and win.
I exhaled slowly, turning my attention back to the lethal Amazon standing before me. "I will only agree to this duel under one condition," I said, keeping my voice steady. "We fight in absolute privacy. No witnesses, no onlookers. No one else must ever know what transpires within those walls. Do you agree to my privacy clause?"
Ayala’s lips peeled back into a fierce, predatory grin. "Then it is a settled pact! You truly possess the cunning of a Devil. Let us make haste to my personal arena—it is already prepared. Just activate your privacy magic once we are inside, hahahahaha!"
Turning on her heel, Ayala strode toward the exit. I followed closely behind, but our departure was abruptly cut short as a pair of figures rushed forward to block our path.
"Aunt Ayala, stop this madness!" Princess Lana cried out, her hands clasped in desperate entreaty. "If my father catches wind of this, he won't be able to placate the Sky Duchy! What you are doing right now will drag the entire Western Balder Kingdom into bloody civil strife!"
Ayala didn’t even bother to look back at the begging princess. Her voice remained cold and unyielding. "Even Queen Leandra Breeze cannot halt the turning of these gears now, Princess. Go back to your classes. And tell your instructor that Count Loki won't be attending anymore."
A few paces back, Vali leaned against the wall, a smug, self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips. He was thoroughly enjoying this chaotic turn of events, silently congratulating himself for having the foresight to invite this volatile woman to lunch.
Teacher Lisa Swallow stepped forward, her mouth opening to protest Ayala's reckless decree. But the moment her eyes met Vali’s, she froze. The smug glint in his gaze was a silent, venomous reminder of the blackmail he still held over her head. Defeated, she lowered her eyes and stepped back.
Suddenly, a heavy hand clamped onto my arm. Thorin rushed to my side, his grip tight. He didn't try to physically drag me back, but he kept pace with me, his face a turbulent mask of worry and utter confusion.
"Loki, why the hell are you doing this?" Thorin hissed, his voice dropping to a frantic whisper. "She is a monster, brother. She’s a 7th Circle Full Knight, and she’s mastered dual-ability combat techniques. She commands all three Paths. If you go through with this, she will literally kill you!"
Pat, pat.
I gently tapped his forearm, offering him a calm, reassuring smile. "Thorin, you’ve always been a good brother to me. Thank you. But you know me better than anyone else. Do I ever dive into things without a plan? At least, when it comes to the important things? Look at it this way—if I don't face her now, she’ll just ambush me in the dark later, and that will be a hundred times worse."
I glanced toward the heavy arena doors ahead. "Besides, you know I’m full of tricks and mischief. That’s exactly why we’re fighting in private, so the rest of the world can’t pry into my secrets. But… on the off chance that I do lose…" I paused, letting the smile fade slightly. "Take care of Mom for me."
Thorin’s breath hitched.
"Tell Sylvia and Shade that I’m deeply sorry, and that I'll wait for them in the next life. Oh, and one last thing—I’m truly sorry for blaming you when we were kids for blowing up Father’s toilet. I was the one who did it."
Thorin’s grip tightened so hard my bones popped. He glared at me with sudden, comical fury before a ragged laugh broke through his anger, and he smiled.
"Fine. I’ll look after your Mom," Thorin muttered, shaking his head. "But if you walk out of there alive, you’re buying the drinks until I pass out cold. I need enough alcohol to finally erase the memory of being launched into the sky by a exploding toilet, you bastard!"
I chuckled. To this day, that remained my absolute favorite prank. I had simply been dying to know what would happen if you swapped a volatile Air Core into the precise Time Core slot of a standard toilet-flushing magic circle. The results had been entirely unexpected, to say the least.
We arrived at our destination. Surprisingly, Ayala’s personal arena office was built in the grand, imposing style of Earth's Roman Colosseum. The only major departure from the ancient architecture was a massive, reinforced magical dome sweeping overhead, sealing the entire structure off from the sky.
The moment I followed her into the sandy center of the combat floor, Ayala turned to the trailing crowd of students and faculty, her voice booming through the stone arches. "No one is permitted entry until our duel is concluded. I am barring the gates. Disperse."
Bang! Click!
With a heavy, echoing thud, she threw the massive reinforced lock, dropping a thick wooden crossbar into place that looked sturdy enough to withstand a military battering ram. She turned back to me, casually gesturing to the vast, open sand. "Since you demanded privacy, lay down whatever spells you have. We are entirely alone. We fight when you are ready."
I didn’t waste time trying to bargain with her, nor did I bother asking why her hatred of Devils demanded a duel to the death. I knew better. To the fierce warriors of the Amazon tribes, a battle of this nature was treated as a sacred, religious sacrament. Words were entirely useless now.
Buzz!
I pulled a thick stack of paper talismans from my robes, preparing to layout a complex Eastern Array. Before I could drop the first anchor, a sudden flash of blinding golden light erupted in the center of the arena. When it cleared, the breathtakingly elegant form of the Elf Queen, Leandra Breeze, stood before us.
"This is a private matter, Leandra," Ayala warned, her eyes narrowing as she shifted her stance. "Leave us."
The Queen looked at her stubborn, hot-headed friend, her expression filled with a deep, sorrowful sigh. She then turned her piercing gaze toward me.
"The King was alerted to this madness and sent me to verify the situation. Count Loki, are you truly aware of who you are facing? Ayala successfully slew Gondul in a sanctioned one-on-one duel. Gondul was an 8th Circle Death Healer and a Full Knight. Knowing this, do you still enter this arena willingly?"
I realized instantly that Princess Lana must have begged her mother to intervene, hoping the Queen’s staggering 9th Circle Mage strength would force a peaceful resolution. But I had already crossed the Rubicon.
"I agree to the terms," I replied, meeting the Queen's gaze evenly. "I won't back down from a fair fight. To her credit, this stubborn woman didn't target the innocent people around me to get my attention, unlike the others. She is merely following the dictates of her own heart—even if that heart tells her to blindly hunt down Devils. But I appreciate the concern, Principal Breeze. Tell whoever sent you that I said thank you."
I fanned out the talismans in my hands, a wry smirk tugging at my lips. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to finish setting up this Eastern Array. I'd hate for any nosey Mages to keep peeking in. It was truly a pleasure seeing you again."
Leandra stared at the bizarre paper talismans, an unsettling sensation creeping into her chest. Recognizing that both of our resolves were absolute, she sighed and began chanting the ten-second incantation for her departure.
"You are both utter fools," the Queen whispered, her voice laced with profound grief. "No matter who stands and who falls today, the kingdom, those who love you, and I will be left to weep. <Long Range Teleport>!"
Pop! Flutter!
As the Queen dissolved into particles of golden light, I threw my arms wide, scattering dozens of array talismans into the air. They locked into the invisible ley lines of the arena, creating a heavy, absolute barrier. The space was instantly sealed against any outside viewing, time-scrying, or external teleportation. Only internal Summons would be able to bypass the ward.
Ayala watched the magical barrier solidify, her voice echoing in the enclosed space. "The secrets you unveiled to me are far too dangerous to ignore, Loki. For you to ever live a peaceful life without the Amazon Queen hunting you to the ends of the Myst continent, you have only one choice. You must kill me."
I calmly shed my heavy outer robes, leaving my chest bare and unencumbered as I unslung my Elven Longbow. "Don't lecture me about your lofty, self-righteous reasons for this bloodsport," I said coldly. "When the dust settles, it all boils down to whose fists are bigger. Ayala, you are about to become the first soul on Myst to witness what I have been hiding in the dark. Rejoice, for I, Loki Sky—the future strongest Summoner—call forth my first vanguard. Shehuang… <Call Summons>!"
Buzz!
A column of pale green erupted beside me. Emerging from the light was Shehuang, clad in her sleek, black leather snakeskin battle dress.
Her lower half shifted, lengthening into her true, terrifying Snake Lamia form. She curled her tail beneath her, tilting her head back to laugh with the cold, arrogant amusement of a villainous noblewoman.
"Come forth, Taki Tsuki and Yin Meng!" Shehuang hissed, her voice dripping with venomous delight. "Arise to shatter the foes of your Massssssster! <Call Sssssssummons>!"
Buzz! Buzz!
Ayala’s jaw tightened, her mind momentarily short-circuiting as she stared at the unfolding spectacle. Her battle-trained senses could clearly identify the magical signatures: I had summoned Shehuang, but Shehuang had just shattered the fundamental laws of magic by summoning two entirely distinct entities of her own.
Neither Shehuang nor I wasted a single second of her paralysis. We immediately began layering our combat buffs.
"Massssster! Grow strong for your faithful sssservant," Shehuang hissed, pointing a clawed finger at me. <Buff Summons>!
The surge of power flooded my veins, temporarily elevating my strength to the 3rd and 4th Circle thresholds for the next seven minutes. The moment her spell concluded, I threw my hand forward to return the favor. "Shehuang, hold nothing back! Hide absolutely nothing! <Buff Summons>!"
Fueled by my mana, Shehuang’s aura exploded as she crested into the formidable power of the 8th Circle. Moving with blinding speed, she immediately chain-buffed her own thralls while I spoke.
Yin Meng’s presence surged, anchoring firmly at the 6th Circle, while Taki Tsuki’s mana flared violently, matching her commander at the 8th Circle.
Taki smoothly drew her gleaming Ninjato Defender blade from its sheath.
"Before the blood flows," I said, leveling my gaze at the stunned Amazon, "this is your absolute last chance to stand down."
Shehuang ignored the posturing, her palm remaining leveled toward me as she spoke a binding incantation. "Yin and Yang, bound in life and locked in death. <Share Injuries>! <Shield Summons>!"
A pale, ethereal cord of light briefly linked Shehuang to Yin Meng, ensuring that half of any damage dealt to the Lamia commander would be automatically transferred to her reinforced summon for the next eight minutes. Simultaneously, a shimmering, translucent barrier of pure magical energy enveloped her—a shield easily rivaling a high-tier Mage's <Element Shield>.
Beside her, Taki Tsuki was moving like a blur, casting a rapid succession of defensive spells while her eyes snapped wide open. The terrifying, pure glowing milk-white of her Cursed Eyes unlocked.
Her <Foresight> and <True Sight> were fully unleashed upon the battlefield. Ayala recoiled instinctively, her eyes widening in sheer terror as she realized the kunoichi possessed not one, but two of the legendary King’s Cursed Eyes.
"I have already looked into the immediate future, and I can see your utter defeat," Taki whispered, her voice sounding detached and ethereal. <Liquefy Self>! <Radiate Fog>! <Water Shield>!
Swish!
Like a true mythic kunoichi, Taki’s physical form dissolved into a dense, freezing mist that rapidly billowed outward in a ten-foot radius, blinding anyone caught within it while leaving her own vision perfectly clear. Within the swirling white shroud, her body took on a fluid, water-like state, allowing solid matter to pass through her with heavily mitigated harm, all while a rotating, tower-shield disk of pressurized water materialized to orbit her form.
Opposite them, Yin Meng possessed far fewer magical augments. She quietly activated her <Fleet Movement>, instantly doubling her ground speed.
Drawing her elegant, double-edged Jian sword, she slipped into the shadows of the flanking arena walls, flawlessly executing the silent mental commands filtering down from Shehuang.
Ayala stood alone against the small army, listening to my final offer of surrender. The initial shock of seeing my true, rule-breaking capabilities washed over her, but it did not break her spirit. Instead, a terrifying, manic fire ignited in her eyes as she began chanting her own vanguard buffs, accepting the grim reality of the duel.
"You hid your true self far too deeply, Loki Sky," Ayala murmured, her voice beginning to vibrate with intense heat. "You are no mere Devil… You are the Devil of Devils. And I mean that as the highest compliment a warrior can bestow. But an Amazon will break into pieces before she ever yields. We fight to the end. My death will not be in vain today, and neither will yours! My body is a blazing inferno!"
Active Combat Status
Loki Sky (4th Circle): <Harden Flesh>, Elven Longbow, Eastern Array active.
Shehuang (8th Circle): <Share Injuries> (Linked to Yin Meng), <Shield Summons>.
Taki Tsuki (8th Circle): <Foresight>, <True Sight>, <Liquefy Self>, <Radiate Fog>, <Water Shield>.
Yin Meng (6th Circle): <Fleet Movement>, Jian Sword.
Ayala (7th Circle Full Knight): <Fleet Movement>, <Elusive Movements>, <Heighten Awareness>, <Harden Flesh>, <Fast Healing>.
"<Fleet Movement>! <Elusive Movements>! <Heighten Awareness>! <Harden Flesh>! <Fast Healing>!" Ayala bellowed.
Like a primordial goddess of war, her aura erupted into roaring, crimson flames that licked at her skin and turned her eyes into glowing coals. The sheer heat of her mana scorched the sand beneath her boots, and when she spoke again, her voice sounded like the crackling roar of a raging forest fire.
"Loki Sky! Show me the full extent of your terrifying power! Fight me with the dignity of a true warrior!"
Buzz!
A heavy, stone-like layer of <Harden Flesh> coated my own skin, and I let out a slow, heavy sigh. It seemed a peaceful resolution was entirely off the table.
Watching her stand there, wreathed in roaring, shroud-like energy that looked unnervingly like a tailed-beast chakra cloak from an old Earth anime, a genuine spike of fear shot through my chest. Desperate to shake her rigid, unshakable resolve, I decided to deploy one final, desperate tactic—mixing a heavy dose of absolute truth with a layer of deceit.
"Ayala!" I shouted over the roaring flames, softening my expression. "The very first moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I loved you! I don't want to kill you! Please… reconsider this madness!"
In truth, what I had actually felt back then was a profound, overwhelming wave of lust-at-first-sight. What I hadn't anticipated, however, was that Ayala had secretly harbored genuine, unadulterated love-at-first-sight for me. My sudden, desperate confession struck her like a physical blow, forcing her to violently confront the forbidden, terrifying emotion swelling in her own chest.
Thump! Thump!
Her heart hammered against her ribs, the sound loud enough to echo in her ears. She grit her teeth so hard a trickle of blood ran down her chin, her eyes burning with absolute, tragic conviction.
"If that is the truth… then to utterly crush this forbidden feeling of love I hold for you, Loki Sky… I must kill you no matter the cost! DIE!"
Whoosh!
Ayala vanished. She closed the distance in a blinding, explosive blur that completely bypassed my perception. The sheer speed of her advance paralyzed my mind, leaving me mentally suffocated as the realization washed over me too late.
Wait… what? She… she actually loved me?!
A pair of fierce, beautiful emerald-green eyes was the last thing I saw as the world dissolved into a flurry of motion.
Clang!
Out of nowhere, the brutal, heavy edge of her Greataxe and the gleaming steel of her Longsword appeared simultaneously at my throat, the cold metal biting into my skin.
Review, Comment, and light up Favorite Buttons...