Hel placed a drop of liquid from each vial onto a Lunatic in a glass cage. "According to what I learn by listening to Chibi when she spoke to Father, blood of those exceptionally strong can be manipulated into objects. This manipulation can either allow or deny. Like a Guardian in a castle. To be used in a doppelganger, blood can create an almost perfect fighter known as a Valkyrie. But the chances of creating an actual Valkyrie are slim so you get hybrids. The look of them are the same but there can be imperfections such as low stamina or small wings. It's the roll of the dice what imperfection is created from mixing different bloods."
"I understood none of that," Contra said feeling dizzy. "Do I need to understand?"
"Not really," Hel replied watching the Lunatic sprout dark wings. "All you need to know is that I'll create a formidable force to trample everyone in our path."
"I'm not enough?" he asked. The Lunatic grew sharp fangs. Contra shivered at it's transformation.
"You're not enough," Hel confirmed stroking the Lunatics still soft fur. "Not with your current strength anyway. Even with a brand from myself and Father, you aren't strong enough."
"Then what do you want me to do?" he asked watching her repeat the experiment on the numerous cages of Lunatics that lined the walls.
"Finish what I told you to do," Hel replied. "Bring me Lack's head for my collection."
~~~
Chibi sat in her room. Her chest still stinging from her previous battle with Lack. I always get caught with Palm Strike. She touched her chest and sighed. He really didn't need to lock me in here. She flopped onto her side and closed her eyes. Nothing to do but actually rest.
Sitting bolt upright again, her ears pricked hearing a distant sound. Getting up, she pulled at the door trying to force it open. I hope that sound isn't what I think it is.
~~~
Phenomenon swung his Mjolnir causing a Lunatic to fly way from him. "What the heck are these?" The Lunatic bounced off the wall and flew at him again.
Lack ducked and threw spheres and one attacking him. "Whatever they are they're annoying!"
Tadakono cast Storm Gust over the entire room catching numerous Lunatics and freezing them on the spot. "They look like Lunatics but aren't."
"You can say that again," Syaoran called slicing one in half. "Last I remember, Lunatics don't have fangs and wings." He spun and caught another with the flat part of the blade and sent it flying.
Tadakono shook, his anger rising. "I've had enough." He cast Lord of Vermillion multiple times bringing a rain of fire and lightning down on the entire room. With barely any time to react, Syaoran, Lack and Phenomenon ran out of the room.
"I think he's lost it," Phenomenon said peeking in at the door and watching the Lunatics being burned to a crisp."Didn't think he had that much power either."
"Anger brings out powers deeper than you know consciously," Lack mused with amazement. "He must have been still hurt from getting a royal beating from me." Tadakono sat heavily onto the ground out of breath. "I think it's safe now."
"You almost burnt us to a crisp too!" Syaoran cried giving Tadakono a slap on the back. "What got you so fired up?"
"I got tired of little furry things trying to bite me," Tadakono replied with a sigh. His ears twitched. "Did you hear that?" They all fell quiet and listened carefully. A scream sounded from down the hall. Tadakono's eyes widened and they ran together towards the scream.
~~~
"Go… A-way!" Kakaxi screamed casting Meteor Assault to force the Lunatics away from herself. FerrariSin spun using himself like a human shuriken to slice through Lunatics that were flying at him. Furama cast Lord of Vermillion to burn those near him.
"It's an invasion…" Lack said stunned as he and the others reached the room. He took a closer look at the Lunatics in the room. "They look different…"
Tadakono ran to help Furama. They stood back to back casting Storm Gust and Lord of Vermillion. Syaoran and Phenomenon darted in as well to take care of more Lunatics. Lack just stared feeling weird. Lunatics… Why hybridize Lunatics? A Lunatic with giant claws leapt at him. He brought his Mjolnir down and crushed it. I'm going loony from just watching all this… He turned into a Stalker and waited. Lunatics leapt at him, latching onto his clothing. That's it, come to me… More gathered clawing and scratching at him. Lack raised his daggers to his chest and cast Sightless Raid.
"You're the one who lost it now," Phenomenon said with a laugh. Lack let out a sigh and changed back to a Champion to cast Heal on himself. "I wonder if there's more around."
~~~
Chibi sat on the floor of her room listening to the sound. I heard a scream a while ago. I wonder if they found it. Looking around the room she wondered how she could get out. I'm going to murder Lack next time we spar. "He knows how to keep me locked up well."
"But not perfectly," a voice said near her. Chibi looked around. "You can't see me. I've only come for a greeting. When you see me, we'll battle."
"Who are you?" she called laying back until she was lying down.
"You know me well," the voice said sounding closer to her ear. "We met at Father's castle."
"Why did you come to greet me then… Hel," Chibi said knowing she was in a very vulnerable position with nothing to protect herself with. "We both know that talking to me won't give you any new information."
"Which is why I want to strike a deal with you," Hel replied her voice full of false cheer. "I want to know the possible combinations to create a Valkyrie."
"And what do I get in return," Chibi replied entertaining the idea hoping that Lack came to get her soon. "It better be something really good because the information you want is something I discovered myself. I'd be breaking the Alchemist Code not to mention my own moral code."
"I will spare Fight Club and it's allies from being destroyed by Contra," Hel replied. Chibi's ears twitched. "I'll also make certain that Lack will survive…"
Shit. Chibi laid still not giving away her thoughts. She knows… "And if I refuse?"
"I'll make sure that Fight Club is first to die off starting with Lack and those you hold dear." Hel replied. "Ah! And if you tell me false combinations will have the same effect as well."
"Do I have time to think about this?" Chibi asked closing her eyes and hoping for footsteps to come near to her room. "It's a very big decision to make."
"You have until sunset tomorrow," Hel replied her voice fading. "You cannot tell anyone what we just spoke about. Or I will void this deal."
Chibi laid waiting to hear her voice again. I'm in deep trouble now… Lack…
~~~
"They're like vampires now!" Lack called as a Lunatic bit into his arm drawing blood. Something in his chest twinges painfully. Chibi? He threw spheres at the Lunatics near him and snapped to Phenomenon. "Would you all be alright here?"
"They're vampire Lunatics," Phenomenon replied. "We should be alright for now." Noticing Lack's concerned expression, he added "Go. It'll be alright."
Lack nodded and snapped down the hall towards Chibi's room. A strong breeze blew past him much like Eir had at the Alchemist Society. Unlocking Chibi's door, he looked in. "You alright?" he asked seeing her lying on the floor.
"If you had to make a decision," Chibi said not looking at him. "Where you had little choice in what you had to choose, and you can't trust the person who is making you choose, what would you do?" Lack sat down next to her and saw her cheeks were wet. "I'll tell you now that I can't tell you what I'm going on about. So you'll have to bare with my abstractness."
Lack blinked and sighed. "You're question is difficult to answer without knowing specifics. I guess if you have little choice then you go for the choice you have to make." He glanced at Chibi, who still wasn't making eye contact with him. "It isn't as simple as that is it?" Chibi nodded. Lack looked worriedly at her. "Then I suppose you've been given a do this or they die choice. Saying that you don’t' trust the person means that if you don't do it that they might break the deal anyway after getting the information they want…" It's got to be Hel. Who else could try and get information from Chibi while she's in a locked room. "I'd refuse. Basically it comes down to how much you trust the person making you choose. And if you can't trust them, then you can't trust them to keep their end of the deal."
Chibi touched his hand. Lack felt faint, falling mentally into his own Spiritual Power. Standing on the circle of light, he noticed Chibi lying in the same position in the centre of the circle. "Hel can't read minds. When I stalled for time and entertained her idea, she didn't seem to know I was only stalling."
Lack sat down near her, his eyes narrowed. "You forced me into my Spiritual Power. This is serious isn't it?"
"Hel asked me for the combinations of creating Valkyries from blood," Chibi said knowing he didn't understand a word she was saying. "Because I'm the only one who knows this information, she wanted to make a deal. Either I give the information and everyone but our guild and our allies die. Or I refuse and everyone dies starting from you. If she finds out that I've told you, it's the same as me refusing her." She began to cry. "I have until sunset tomorrow to decide. I don't know how she plans on trying to kill you but she was confident when she said it."
Lack sat her up and gave her a hug. "Refuse her. Don't worry about me. If we all pool together, there's nothing Hel can throw at us."
"I hope so," Chibi sensed someone sit her physical body up. "Someone's in my room."
Lack nodded and they pulled out into their physical bodies. Lack was first to open his eyes. Tadakono was shaking him gently. "Nothing to worry about. I was assessing her Spiritual Power."
Tadakono got the hint and asked "How is she?"
"Tired," Lack got up and pulled back the blankets on Chibi's bed so Phenomenon and Syaoran could put her there. Chibi pretended to be asleep, keeping up with Lack's lie. "I'll leave her door unlocked." He leaned down and whispered to her. "Your sword and pouch are in my room. When you're ready, go get them."
~~~
Chibi sat on her bed waiting for Hel. "I can feel you here." Chibi called, her sword sitting on her lap. "You won't get the information you seek from me." A breeze blew around her room pushing her until Hel appeared before her.
"No matter what?" Hel asked with a nasty smile playing on her face. "No matter what I say or do, you won't change your mind?"
"No matter what." Chibi replied standing, her sword ready in her hand. Hel leaped at her, Chibi dodged, Hel's sword sliced into Chibi's blankets.
Chibi ran down the hall with Hel directly behind her. I need to get to the Dining Room. Hel grabbed a hold of Chibi's cape and pulled her back. Spinning, Chibi brought her sword out to block Hel's before she fell onto her back. Lack… Chibi kicked upwards catching Hel in the stomach and darted off again.
"Come back here," Hel called angrily. She flew and grabbed Chibi's arm. Dropping her sword, she closed her hand around Chibi's neck and lifted her off the ground. "Want to know why I'm the Goddess of the Underworld?" Chibi's eyes watered in pain. "Because I take pleasure in torturing humans to death." She moved her hand off Chibi's arm and pressed it against Chibi's chest.
Chibi cried out as her whole body became burning hot. No… She kicked out at Hel again forcing her back towards the opposite wall. Chibi crouched down coughing, trying to catch her breath before Hel recovered. Looking up, she saw Hel smiling. No!
"It's not possible that you don't know what I just did," Hel said with a laugh. "Yet you still fight. Most in your position would of cried, run away in fear, deny they're going to die." She leaned down and took a hold of Chibi's neck again. "But you… You fight. I wonder why." Chibi brought her sword across Hel's chest before her hand around her neck could tighten.
Lack… Chibi took off down the hall and ran as fast as she could towards the Dining Room door. Fear gripping her tightly as the knowledge of what Hel had done took hold. Deal with fear later. Get to the Dining Room.
~~~
Lack, Tadakono, Phenomenon and Syaoran sat in the Dining Room. Chibi's chair remained empty. Lack glanced at it before looking over the room at the rest of the guild. It's sunset… Chibi will tell me her answer soon. A twinge in his chest told him something was wrong. He touched his chest wondering what to do. If I go to Chibi's room, Hel will know she told me. But if she's refused Hel…
The door to the Dining Room flew open and Chibi leaped in and stood near Lack's chair. Hel stepped into the room with a smile on her face. "How long are you going to be able to move like that?" She looked around the Dining Room noticing everyone had their weapons out and ready. Looking back to Chibi, she added before disappearing. "Your days are numbered."
Chibi fell to her knees then sat onto the ground. Lack turned around in his chair. "What did she mean 'your days are numbered'?" Chibi didn't look up at him, her body shaking from battling Hel. "Chibi?"
"Nothing to worry about," Chibi said looking up with a forced smile. "Nothing to worry about right? All choices come with their problems." Lack could see her shaking. "Nothing to worry about…."
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