C198: Finality
Alt Title teaser: Choice of What Comes After
Date published: 3/13/2025.
I've changed my mind from last chapter's message, I will still hurry up the ragnarok stuff but I'm not able to do it all this chapter so the finale will be next chapter. Enjoy
*************************
As Qin Shi Huang is taken away, Axel has a moment of inspiration and he looks to Brunhilde, he brings up something that he had mentioned before, to which, after a few moments she agrees to. With a nod, Axel takes his leave towards the Infirmary, this is where he finds that the emperor as well as his Valkyrie partner are set up to help them recover.
As the doctors take their leave, they scurry away from Axel who approaches the king of Qin's recovery tube. With a light wave of magic, the emperor's eyes stir open. He seems to appear drowsy but through Axel's magic, he gains enough clarity to identify Axel and asks,
"Is this king not privy to some privacy after retaining his title as the greatest King?"
"You are, but I felt that you are also the type of person that wants to proudly talk after such a hard fought battle" Axel offers a brief retort and the recovering human tries to chuckle but his pain sensors flair up, making him growl a bit.
"Speak, what do you wish to ask of me, oh noble teacher of mine"
"Not much of a teacher as we have only really known each other for a single day's worth. But I wanted to ask what you feel is going to happen once the Ragnarok is done and what you plan to do?"
"Hmm, well, with my victory, the score has risen to 5 points now for the human side. As long as we get at least one more victory then even if the gods win every other round, they are doomed to fall at your official fight. I do hope I recover in time to witness it."
"As for myself, I truly have no clue, I am linked with a lovely valkyrie now and the case where I would simply return to my original time and die there is unlikely. In truth, I have no clue what I would wanna do and where I would wanna go"
"Then why not join my world alongside your little bride. I can assure you that in a few years time it will be quite chaotic, multiple races, grudges, power hungry people and instruments of destruction would wander onto my world. By the rules I have agreed to with a select few powerful beings, they are not allowed to directly fight but there are different rules for the ones under my employment to 'keep the peace'. Think about it ". Axel extends his invitation and then returns the king to his REM sleep. Though before he leaves, he links the valkyries' dreams with the emperors with a teasing smile on his face.
Leaving the room, he spends some time thinking about his next actions while his clone meets with Brunhilde for what they had just discussed. While this is going on, the arena is fixed once again but much faster this time around as compared to Buddha's fight.
The next fight occurs between Nicolas Tesla who had tried to pester Axel during the previous party to no effect as Axel has very little clue about Science that the famous inventor hasnt already thought of. His opponent is Beelzebub who is slightly distracted as he gazes at Axel with a look of Annoyance.
The slime man can only assume that the 'Lord of the Flies' had somehow learned Axel had interfered with Hajun's arrival during the previous round against Buddha. This distraction causes a weird situation in the arena as during his fight against Tesla, he would occasionally be entwined with thorny vines but they don't restrict him enough that he would give an opening to the inventor.
The fight progresses just like canon with Tesla inside his highly advanced tech suit created by the Volundr with Grondul. His tesla stations allowing the inventor short range teleportation and highly energized mech punches but few of his attacks were able to get through Beelzebubs [Sorah Semkh], a barrier that the demon lord uses through his Staff of Apomyius. Yet even without the staff, his own power of vibrations can nullify Tesla's mech suit.
The match soon ends shortly after Beelzebub loses his staff and resorts to his own special technique, [Sorah Resh (Satan's Horns)]. Using this technique, and with two fingers he pierces right through Gondul's transformation as well as the Inventor's chest. He gives a few final blows but soon dies of blood loss.
Axel moves to the arena in a flick, Beelzebub watching his actions but seeing Axel is walking over to Tesla's slowly shattering body. A time bubble takes form just like during the 4th round and the 9th Valkyrie, Gondul is reformed.
"I know I have agreed to serve you as lord should my partner fall this round. Yet may I make a simple request to also bring back the inventor. After seeing his memories and his potential. I'm sure he would accept serving you if he can continue to pursue his own dream" The cleric styled valkyrie begs Axel who begins to ponder for a bit before accepting. He accepted mostly because Gondul herself lacks combat power and would have just been Hiokks assistant anyways. He might as well accept and allow a research station to be built.
With a nod, he uses the time bubble to also resurrect the inventory who he awakens and describes the situation. While he seems to abhor the idea at first as Axel would not be able to appreciate his inventions. Learning that there Axel would allow other humans to settle down in his world, bringing together the greatest minds of various worlds that he could lead. He accepts and the two receive new bodies as Axel had already promised that she would get a new body.
Cough Axel once again faces the backlash of going against time and fate but he just as quickly heals and sends the duo away to make their goodbyes.
Axel then returns to his side's observatory, Brunhilde gives her thanks again and would ask that Axel speak to the next sister that is meant to fight.
"Haa, Geirolul is so prideful, I'm unlikely to bring her back unless I also revive her host. And even then, she is unlikely to just 'serve' me like the others." Axel offers a dreary outlook as his own body seems to sag in his seat.
"....ill try to talk to her." Brunhilde states and takes her leave as she must prepare Leonidas for the next round as the Arena is fixed.
(POV shift)
Brunhilde meets with her younger sister, Geirolul before meeting with her 'destined warrior'. "Geez Relax already nee-san. Ill be fine, afterall, im the best and the Spartan will crush anyone he faces" She lifts her toothpick like arm, and attempts to flex to no avail, which is normally hidden within her thick dress.
Sigh Brunhilde let's out a turbid breath as she approaches her younger sister who almost takes a step back from being so close to the oldest valkyrie.
Brunhilde hugs Geirolul as she rests her head on the younger sister's shoulder, "we already lost Randgriz and Thrud. We nearly lost Hiokk and Gondul. The rest are already bonded with their heroes and most likely will join Axel on his world… . I've also offered my services to him in exchange for Goll's safety. Please Geirolul. Please stay safe or accept the insurance. I don't want to lose any more of my sisters"
The younger Valkyrie has a shell shocked expression on her face as she hears the words and feels the tears on her shoulder. Realizing that her pride is getting in the way of their family, she finally relents and decides to accept the offer. Brunhilde plants a kiss on the sister's face as she wipes away her own tears. She takes her leave to invite Axel and Leonidas to undergo the Volundr process as their match should be starting soon.
'Haa, Geez, and I'm supposed to be the 5th oldest." She complains before she realizes something.
"Wait a minute, if she already offered her services to Axel then doesnt this mean she is already trying to offer up her own sisters for that man!!" Her pride takes full swing, and begins to vent against all possibilities yet she soon calms down as she knows that what the eldest said was true about what happened to their sisters. She truly pities everyone involved in these fights. Except Axel of course, he can eat rocks for all she cares.
The next series of events occurred just like Canon, The valkyrie merged with Leonidas who both accepted to work for Axel should they lose. The valkyrie would get a new body to use. Leonidas and the Valkyrie face off against Hermes who looks like Poseidon and Hades the most with his vibrant blond hair. Though he is quite annoying with his exaggerated exclamation of Beauty and whatnot.
The valkyrie had transformed into a thick round shield but it is soon revealed that she can partially transform, giving both Hammer and Saw forms. Though they arent complete transformations, it's mostly the shield minimally thinning while a chain connects the saw and hammer to the shield.
This all gives Leonidas hefty power along with versatility but Apollo is simply too fast for the mortal as he suffers many wounds. Leonidas shield soon undergoes a transformation to it's 'true' state, [Aletheia Sparta (Shield of Truth) ]. This painted the Lambda symbol on the shield as it loses nearly 3/4th of it's bulk in exchange for higher defense due to all the actual essence of the shield being compressed in this thinner shield.
The match soon ends as Leonidas attempted to use [Phalanx Lambda] to charge at Apollo with the full force behind his shield. Yet Apollo, who has been wounded enough to not be able to wield his bow anymore instead becomes the arrow itself through the statue known as Moonlight of Artemis
[Argyrotoxos(Soul piercing Silver Arrow)]
Apollo's fist pierces through the shield and Leonidas both and is thus proclaimed the winner of the Ninth round, bringing the score to 5-5. The gods need to win one of the next 3 rounds but with the current score, it is unlikely for Axel himself to actually fight at the 13th round due to his killing of Shiva in the first preliminary match.
Axel moves to the arena to resurrect the duo of man and valkyrie. He gives them new bodies or simply revives them, then sends them away. He then looks to the vip section of the gods side, he sees Ares in the head seat with Hermes next to him. Loki is also there, the ever present observer. Apollo who is still on the field doesnt shy away from Axel as the god compliments Axel on a multitude of factors: his power, his looks and his attention to the narrative even as he fights.
Axel doesnt really know what to do with the god and just shoos him away to rest and recover from his hard fought victory. His attention is then brought back to the vip section as he speaks up.
"It's gotten quite exciting huh? Neck and neck in score. I know i'm supposed to fight now but i am a bit curious, how about we delay it for one more round to see what the score will turn up. Depending on the result, ill make an offer to spice things up or compensate for wasting your time"
Axel delivers his statement and Ares who is now the head of the gods assembly has to properly ponder this but he doesnt take much time as from all logic, there is no fault in waiting one more round as it would just be the 2nd of three rounds due to still following the new 3v1 rule set.
"I accept, let the next humans fight once the arena is repaired" Axel gives a small bow in respect as he departs from the arena. Brunhilde steps up to him as her curiosity is sparked.
"Why delay your own fight?"
"I'm bored of these fights already so I wanted to speed things up a bit. I think my proposal once the next round ends will be accepted. Have to end the Ragnarok with a proper bang" Brunhilde is still curious about what his proposal actually ends up being but she doesnt believe that it will end up bad.
An hour later the arena is fixed up once again after Apollo's rain of arrows. The short man with two swords who had been sparing against Axels hand this whole time takes the stage.
"From the human side we have a man who bears great renown, from childhood to their short adulthood. The 'man' bears a dignified title of Sword Demon, as well as 'Shinsengumi First Division Captain'. SOJI OKITA"
"From the gods side, we have an exile who has devoted his very life to swords, revolutionizing it's very concept for the humans and gaining the title of Sword God. It is the one and only, GOD SLAYER, SUSANO'O NO MIKOTO."
The mortal and his godly pupil face off in the arena. Skalmond is the valkyrie who merges with Okita. Her power is the time of swords. She compresses Okita's past, present and future skills and power. Yet ever since she had laid eyes upon Axel and witnessed Okita facing off against Axel's arm, his future was deemed hidden from her and so she can only gather meagre fragments from Okita's original future.
The valkyrie also works to reduce the stress on Okita's body as he uses his demon child release state to fight against Susanoo. Throughout their fight, it is hard to describe the god as a god due to being in exile for thousands of years and living amongst humans, specifically Soji Okita himself. The god and gods teacher share the same maniacal and fiendish grin of battle hunger. Their swords constantly clash while Skalmond is confused on the state of things.
Her confusion stems from the fact that Okita's future is constantly elevating beyond it's original state, constantly increasing it's own power until both fighters reach a state where under extreme focus Susanoo unleashes the [Mousoken], a technique where through his own willpower, he creates a sword of nothingness and slashes out through Okitas body, wounding his leg and part of his hand yet the injury is not seen outward but only inflicted inward.
Okita himself doesnt notice the injury due to his current state and demon child release. Yet even as his aura should weaken and he himself should fall due to his prominent leg not working anymore, he continues standing.
[Demon Child Finality-One]
Soji Okita sheathes his sword and enters an Iai stance, still ignoring his injured hand and leg. It's overall a strange stance that Okita uses as he holds the sword hilt with both hands, one correct and the other reverse grip.
Susanoo who is about to unleash a second Mousoken is forced to pause as his vision shifts in a fraction of a second. It's as if all light in the arena vanishes due to fear of the pure sword intent Soji Okita is releasing. Even the valkyrie in sword form trembles as she too, now lays witness to the future of Okita's swordsmanship due to Axels interference. If the human was her opponent then she would have prayed to any god to directly kill him as there was….no hope.
[Demon Child Release/World breaker Art: Two-Destruction of Hope]
What happened next is hard to describe as only Axel could actually act as a witness to the event. In the simplest description: Okita Soji had simply walked up to Susanoo and then cut off his legs and then began to MTG: Revengeance split Susanoo apart into meat slabs until it reached the next and just cut it vertically in half.
Yet throughout this entire process, the god was not aware that he was exposed to an actual meat grinder, his body couldn't keep up as light itself was afraid to approach. Okita essentially moved faster than light to kill his own student as it was the greatest possible respect he could have given the Sword God.
As light finally returns to the stage, they find Susanoo already beginning to shatter, his body still seemingly in one piece but as the cracks spread, they find the bloody cuts flowing through the open wounds. "Hehe, you really held back nothing teacher…thank" Susanoo gives his thanks but cant finish as his anguish and pain overrides any of his senses and he dies. His soul was sent to Miflheim. Of course Okita Soji is not well either. He has pushed his demon child state far beyond it's mortal limits that even the valkyries sword body begins to crack and break but Axel appears in time to help them heal from the near death state.
"Not bad kid, lots of potential in you" Axel compliments as he gives the bare minimum care until the medics arrive to hook him up and take him away.
Axel turns his attention to the gods. Spreading his arms wide he has a slightly mocking expression on his face as he speaks up. "The score is now 5-6 in favor of humans as there are at least 2 more matches left at the very least. Yet is everyone truly satisfied with such an end?"
His words elicit cries of no, some gods say it becuase they hold grudges against Axel for killing their friends and familes while the humans all shout no as they wish to see Axel fight even more.
"Then I propose to everyone here, one last battle, winner takes all. Me and the final two humans against ANY and ALL gods who want to take the stage. Of course the rules will also have to be different. Should me or any single one of the humans fall then that is a point to the gods side. Yet should all the gods the three of us face, then we win and the Ragnarok is completed. As such, The gods only need to kill the two humans to win the Ragnarok and exterminate humanity, or they can succeed in killing me and win both versions." His words and details elicit cries of bloodlust from all gods but for various reasons.
Half the gods are against this as the rules state the Ragnarok is a sacred 1v1, man versus creator. But this rule is rebuked as they bring up that Axel should not have participated in the first place and even then it's been broken multiple times: the intermediary matches as well as the later 3v1's made a mockery of the Ragnarok.
It's the same as axel saying that there can be up to 8 fighters. One for each human and then the remaining 6 are for Axel alone due to the intermediary match and his own official match being mixed together. The arena is big enough to house all this. As the humans, they cheer for Axel as they believe that he wouldnt allow them to perish at this stage of the matches after all he has done for them. They would have also never reached this stage if Axel hadnt killed Shiva.
As Soji Okitas match was the last for the day due to Axel delaying his 3v1 after the 9th round, all gods retreat to hold a council that would determine the final day of Ragnarok.
**********************************
Alt Title: Fast fight, Canon fates, World Breaker Series
Word count: 3335
Drop a comment if you wanna judge my writing or the story. I'll try to respond, especially if you're confused or anything.