“YOU PROMISED!!!” Goku yelled at Persephone, his golden eyes gleaming in anger.
“Oh, but I didn’t touch her. Babylon tower did.” A dark mist flew out of Esmeralda’s mouth and into Persephone’s hand.
Loki stood up and walked away from Odin who was crying as he clutched Esmeralda’s lifeless body towards his chest. Nataku was thinking of anything to say but Loki gestured for her to be quiet.
“BITCH!” Goku yelled again and motioned to hit Persephone when all of a sudden, dark lightning electrocuted him and he released a loud scream. By the time the electrocution was over, Goku was in shock and he fell off Cerberus, hitting the hard pavement below.
“Retaliation is useless, monkey.” Persephone laughed, looking down at Goku from Cerberus’ head.
Nataku felt bad and useless just standing there. She looked at Goku lying motionless on the street. So Persephone put a seal on him so that he could not disobey her.
“Loki.” It was Odin from behind. Esmeralda’s body wasn’t there anymore and Nataku wondered where it went. Odin stood slowly and when he turned, Nataku could see the seriousness in his face and in his eyes was the symbol of light and it swirled in a mysterious way. But what caught her attention was the strange gold mark coiled on Odin’s right arm.
“I need your help.” Odin said. Loki nodded and the symbol of darkness began swirling in his eyes. Nataku blinked at the exchange then Odin turned to her and she nodded. Whatever it was they had to do, she had no idea. But it was clear now that it was something very consequential and she should see to it that they finish what it is they will be doing.
Nataku stood in battle stance and behind her, the brothers stood face to face, looking at each other eye to eye. The right hand was touching the forehead of the other and their left palms were in contact with each other’s.
“Huh?” Persephone saw Odin and Loki in formation but before she could say anything, the brothers began chanting.
Soul of Darkness
A dark aura came up from under Loki.
“No! I won’t let you!” Persephone took hold of her flute and began a barrage of Silent Melody. Nataku grunted and she spread her arms, palms away from her and an invisible wall was formed that blocked one attack after the other.
“It won’t work. I’ve had it once and I know how to deal with it now.” Nataku said lowly.
Spirit of Light
A white aura descended upon Odin.
Persephone shrieked and Cerberus roared. The three-headed beast’s heads breathed in heavily before releasing its fire breath. Nataku blocked the fire but as it cleared out, she saw Cerberus charging towards her. The symbol of Gaea traced itself in Nataku’s eyes, lending the battle goddess strength. She dodged, blocked and counter attacked with her rings of light before sending Cerberus meters and meters away with a ball of lightning.
You who claims silence
You to whom the stars align
The aura surrounding the brothers intensified and they swirled around them faster and faster. And as they continue, the two forces come in contact with each other and from there, sparks came out from collision.
Halfway done. Nataku thought. It was then that she looked up and saw Persephone flying as swiftly as she could towards the brothers and gathering dark energy to blast them both.
“Bastard!” Nataku shouted and leapt up. She grabbed Persephone by the foot and whirled her before sending her flying off after Cerberus. She crashed towards a house and crashed open its wall.
By the testament sealed in blood
In your name to command
The brothers’ aura continued to heighten and everyone in the area could feel the intensity it brought but nobody had time to bother.
Nataku landed and stood in stance. Her eyes scanned the area for a while. Goku wasn’t moving an inch. Perhaps he had lost consciousness and that maybe she should find out if he’s all right. But even before Nataku could move, Cerberus began charging. Nataku drew a glyph in mid-air and commanded it towards Cerberus. The glyph widened and entwined itself around the giant body of Cerberus and the three-headed beast was caught in a capture circle, seizing its movement.
Diminish our weakness
And strength do harness
“Nataku…!” Persephone arose in anger. The house she had hit exploded and a great force pushed out from her. Wind swept coldly but it was nothing that Nataku should worry about. Then all of a sudden, Nataku felt something coming and all of a sudden, she sensed Babylon Tower about to come out from Persephone. She had to do something and she had to do it fast.
To you who clash
To you who differ
The symbol of darkness swirled within Nataku’s eyes and in a short while, she combined the rings of light and its center glowed as if forming a small vortex towards another domain. Nataku put her hand in and drew out a short sword. And even before Persephone could release Babylon Tower, Nataku swept with the sword and Silent Melody came charging towards Persephone.
Set aside the variance
And lend us your power
The two forces around Odin and Loki turned into two distinct forms… And the auras that used to be formless were now roaring dragons of light and darkness. And from each of the brother’s chest out came a sphere… A sphere of blood as offering to seal the testament…
“I told you!” Nataku continued with her barrage of Silent Melody, which Persephone blocked in apparent agitation, “First time is fine. Second is enough but third…” Nataku raised the sword and struck one last time.
“I don’t think so!”
The ground shook and Babylon Tower struck Persephone. Whether or not she was able to block it didn’t seem to matter. Cerberus had freed itself from the capture circle and was now running towards Son Goku.
“Goku!” Nataku screamed. She extended her arms and surrounded Goku with a barrier just in time before Cerberus’ fangs hit him. The beast was knocked back and turned his attention to the Battle Aesir.
Combine in the name of the Aesirs of light and darkness!
Raeshtou nai hoitozu!
The spheres of blood attached itself on Odin’s and Loki’s right hand. The offering had been accepted. There was an angry roar from the two dragons and they flew upward and coiled together to form one. A blast of lightning struck and the dragon dived down, engulfing the brothers in its majesty.
Nataku felt a sting in her chest and she came to a pause and as she looked behind her, there stood the splendor she had never seen before. Even Cerberus stopped at the intensity. It was Raeshtou Nai Hoitozu, Two into One, a spell that only the Aesirs of Light and Darkness could pull off successfully. For a time, both of them held the power of light and darkness in full balance within them. And with that, their energy, their speed, their strength and full performance will be raised to more than full potential. She had heard of it but she had never been able to see it as far as she remembered. Then the ritual came to an end and the brothers stood glowing in an eerie light and a new symbol in their eyes
“Thank you, Nataku.” Odin said, “You have done enough. Let us handle this now.”
Saying nothing more, the brothers charged. Loki was going for Cerberus and Odin for Persephone who was recovering from being slightly hit by Nataku’s Babylon Tower. That was when Nataku remembered Son Goku and she ran towards him.
“Goku!” Nataku shook him, “Goku, please try to wake up!”
“Is he all right Nataku?” Loki asked, keeping up as he shot one white light after another towards Cerberus.
“I… I don’t know…” Nataku said, noticing how Loki used the element of light as much as possible.
The beast roared and shot fire, which Loki blocked with a shadow wall. Then Loki himself turned into shadow, disappearing as he seeped into the pavement below and appeared behind Cerberus. Loki hit the pavement with his sword and from that spot emanated a strong invisible force that hit Cerberus and made it roar.
Odin was not holding back as he hit Persephone with Laevatin again and again. The Queen of Hel retaliated helplessly and called for three harpies that came out of glyphs she formed.
“Pity you.” Odin told Persephone and one by one, he blew the harpies with Laevatin and beat them senseless. Persephone lunged at Odin and dug her nails into his right arm where a golden mark was coiled. Odin let out a shout of pain and shoved the Queen of Hel away. He grabbed his bleeding arm and began healing it.
Odin’s eyes were filled with anger as they focused on Persephone. She bit her finger and on the pavement dropped blood. Odin looked at it for a while before sending her flying off with a blow from Laevatin. Odin picked her up by the neck and dragged her away, beating her close to being senseless.
The blood that had dropped seeped in the ground quietly. And from there a glyph began to form and out of it merged a shadow. It was a shadow of a ghost…
“Master Odin…”
The moment Odin heard this voice, he came to a skidding pause and slowly turned to see. And as he did, surprise caught him and he stood looking at what else but a soul in beautiful black curls.
“Esmeralda!” Odin gasped turning towards her as he dropped Persephone. The Queen of Hel slowly propped herself up and blasted Odin with dark energy from behind. The Aesir of Light winced for a while and he sank on one knee. Persephone stood up, gathering back her composure and said, “Really, even the mightiest of men fall prey to the depiction of their love…”
“I do not…”
“Oh, tut! Odin, you do not have to deny the obvious.” She said, “Let me leave with my golden-eyed pet now.”
“You…!” Odin stood to strike angrily.
“Ah-ah-ah…! Do you really want her precious soul tormented forever?” Persephone crossed her arms and looked defiantly at Odin, a victorious look in her smile, “After all, I am the Queen of Hel.”
“What more do you want!” Odin yelled, force sweeping out of him.
“Calm down, your highness.” Persephone’s eyes glowed a grayish light. Odin squirmed in pain, feeling something seizing his chest. Then slowly he turned, looking up towards Persephone.
“I have your blood in my fingers, Odin…” Persephone smiled, “You turned Esmeralda’s body into that mark on your right arm. Tsk, tsk, tsk… Big mistake! Your blood is partly mixed with hers now and your body as well. I have her soul. I have her body. And partly… I have yours as well.” Persephone stooped down and in her hand appeared a whirling sphere of light just as large as a pebble. It was just a small portion of Odin’s soul that would eventually return to his body but for the queen of the underworld, it was enough to torment the God of Light to get to her short-term goal.
“I have my monkey… Now give me your Battle Goddess.” Persephone’s eyes narrowed.
“Nataku?” Odin’s eyes widened.
Nataku was still holding Goku as she looked seriously at Persephone. She was unsure of what she would say or do and if Odin chose to give her to Persephone, she had no say in it. But honestly, to hold a soul in captive was very low even for the Queen of Hel.
“Well, Nataku! What are you waiting for?” Persephone put her hand on her waist and turned to Nataku. She was looking at the small sphere hovering on Persephone’s hand. And deep inside, Nataku cursed. Why did Odin have to do such a thing? Nataku’s heart thumped. Goku still hasn’t woken up. Loki was dealing with Cerberus and Odin was squirming in pain. Esmeralda’s soul was helplessly captive and the only one left to make the decision at the moment was her…
Damn, do I hate doing this kind of stuff.