He Saves Gods as a Man II
The Millennium Medusa
Two years ago
"Beta squad. Report." I whispered into my coms unit.
"..."
"Beta squad!" I repeated myself.
"B- Beta squad... acknowledged." Bryce grumbled.
"Gamma squad! Gamma squad! Move in!" I said.
"Gamma squad, moving in. Assassinating all lifeforms irrelevant to mission objectives." Sigurd replied.
"Gamma squad. No killing people. Also, go get your CPU checked with Master Jun after this." I replied.
"Charlie squad. Move in. Move in."
X8 nodded.
"Acknowledged."
BOOF.
I peeked from behind my cover.
"Charlie squad reporting. Charlie squad stuck. I repeat. Charlie squad is too big to fit."
"You... don't have to repeat yourself." I muttered.
Charlie Squad was now incapacitated.
This mission was going to go haywire soon.
I had to do it.
"Delta Squad! It's all up to you! Delta Squad!"
No reply.
"Delta Squad! Acknowledge!"
No reply.
I got up from behind my cover and approached Sarah, who was standing in the corner, her arms crossed.
"What are you doing, Delta Squad?!" I squeaked.
Sarah glared at me.
"I am not Delta Squad. I am Sarah Ultear!"
"Why aren't you in position?!"
Sarah threw her coms unit, a walkie talkie, on the ground.
"Because I look stupid!" She said, her face bright red in embarrassment.
"Come on.... Sarah. Don't be like that. The fate of Team Aaron rests on this mission!"
Sarah raised an eyebrow, turning towards the bowl of candy that was sitting in Outer Shadow Ernest Wang's room.
"Does it really?"
A vein popped on my forehead.
"Yes! Yes it does! After all... once we steal his precious limited edition Cherry Coke flavoured Jawbreakers, we can hold it for ransom. I'll have Outer Shadow Gjallarhorn in the palm of my hand to control! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Sarah gave me an extremely disappointed expression.
"Aaron! Aaron! Jubilee Squad has secured the loot!" June said happily in my coms unit.
"June!!!" I gushed.
"I knew I could always count on you!"
I ran to June's position, as Sarah rolled her eyes.
"June!!! My favourite Auxiliary Shad-"
Ernest gave me an annoyed look, as June popped a jawbreaker in her mouth, her eyes lit up happily.
"Mmm! Yummy! Thank you, Outer Shadow Gjallarhorn!"
Ernest patted June's head.
"No prob. But next time Outer Shadow Dainsleif drags you into his antics, you can always say no."
June shook her head.
"It's okay. I really like spending time with him. It's always so much fun!"
"Fun you say..." Ernest glared at me, as he pulled out his pole arm.
"Wanna see a trick, kid?"
June's eyes lit up.
"Mmhm!"
"Fantastic. For this trick, I'm going to turn this red eyed asshole into a shish kebab in 0.00001 seconds."
I staggered back.
"Ehhhh heheheheh.... Now Ernest... there's no reason to resort to violence! Hahaha.... Auxiliary Shadows! Retreat! Re- eh?"
I turned around to see Sarah leading the rest back to the Shadow Minions.
"Thanks for the candy, Ernest."
"Thank you, Gjallarhorn."
"Be sure to kill- er I mean take care of Bossman for us. Gonna hit up some 2K."
"Always an honour to be blessed with the Master of Da Sheng Men." Sigurd bowed, as everybody left me alone.
I laughed nervously at Ernest, who's body began emitting tremendous pressure.
"Um... this is probably a bad time to say this... but I also accidentally set your slice of life manga collection on fire."
"Which one?" Ernest's eyes somehow flashed even more dangerously.
"Um... would you believe me if I said... all of them? Ha. Ha. Hahaha..."
Da Sheng Men - NIMBUS STRIKE
"Wait... wha... that's not where a pole arm is supposed to go! YAAAAAAH!!!!" I screamed.
That day, June had to drag my barely conscious ass out of Gjallarhorn's barracks.
"Congratulations, Aaron! Mission success! We acquired the jaw breakers!" June said, enthusiastically.
"M- Mission... success...." I muttered.
I sat down gazing at the distance of Master Jun's realm.
"Ah man... if only his realm didn't literally look like Cybertron, it would be a nice place to settle down."
June sat in front of me, her big round eyes full of curiosity.
"Settle down? What do you mean by that?"
I scratched my chin, taking a sip from my water bottle.
"Ermmm... it sorta means choosing to just spend the rest of your days with someone you love. All day. Every day."
And have kids.
Of course I wouldn't tell a literal fourteen year old girl that.
June blinked.
"Wouldn't that mean you've settled down with me?"
PFOOOO.
I spat all my water onto the ground, still trying to process what this little girl just said.
"Ah. No this is different."
June handed me a paper towel, as always, whenever I spilled my drinks.
I took it, wiping my face.
"How so? Why won't you settle down with me?"
"D-Don't worry about it." I got up nervously, stretching my arms.
June's facial expression...
The subtle facial cues...
Was she disappointed?
I really didn't wanna verify it, but...
"Besides... settling down also means having kids. Wouldn't that seem wei-"
"I don't mind."
"Heh?"
June looked at me adamantly, pressing her hands to her chest.
"I... I don't mind. As long as you don't mind being with me! I'll do my best!"
I desperately tried to change the subject.
No no no.
This was beyond messed up.
She's fourteen... no. Technically she's thirteen dude. The legal age for marriage and... um.. the "naughty naughty" in Amerada was sixteen. But even then it felt wrong being with someone four years younger than me.
I got on one knee and patted her head.
"Come on, June. We both know you're too young. I'm seventeen and you're thirteen."
"I'm fourteen! I turn fourteen in two weeks!"
June pouted, and my heart felt warm.
Was this...
Sort of how Will and Nora felt whenever they dealt with my tantrums?
I chuckled.
"You're doing more than enough as it is."
June looked away, before putting a hand to her mouth and smiling.
"Of course I would... No matter what they say. I'll do my best to make sure you're the best Outer Shadow in the Black Legion. So please continue taking care of me!"
Present Day
"Aaron! Hey Aaron!"
My eyes fluttered awake, and to my disbelief, a familiar little girl appeared before me. Her smile radiating with kindness and light.
"June...? You're... you're alive..." I gasped, when suddenly, the little girl frowned.
"Oh." I muttered.
"Why did you call me 'June', Aaron?" Sakura asked.
She had somehow climbed onto my bed and was pummelling my chest with those tiny hands of hers like some messed up mutant spidermonkey.
"Nothing." I grumbled, getting out of the bed and leaving the room Diana had provided me in Andropol.
Sakura skipped alongside me. She had undergone another growth spurt. I was told by Diana that deities tended to age a lot faster in childhood, this aging would slow as they matured over time.
"Today, Diana taught me how to count. She's been teaching me lots of things while you were gone. I made you a bracelet while you were with your Auxiliary Shadows on mission."
"That's nice, Sakura."
Sakura stopped walking as I found myself walking alone.
"Aaron. Do you not like me?"
I paused, my heart racing.
"Ah. No. It's not like that."
"Then... why are you always leaving me on my own?"
I turned my head to see Sakura gripping a small homemade bracelet in her hands. My mind momentarily flashed to June standing there with her stuffed bear backpack.
I breathed deeply.
"It's... it's not your fault. I'm just not ready to take care of you."
"But Lord Bishamonten told me-"
My anger flared.
"Bishamonten didn't know what the HELL he was talking about. He was the reason I ended up like this!" I snapped, causing Saki to put a hand to her mouth. She was trying hard not to cry, and I knew.
But there was just too much history between me and Bishamonten and Avara... and June...
Of course Sakura had nothing to do with it.
I knew that more than anyone!
But...
I breathed heavily, trying to stabilize myself in the dark hallway. The lights that were illuminating it were only the candles that lined the sides.
"I'm too FUCKED UP to look after someone. To be a parent. You're better off staying here with Diana and being protected by the army of Andropol. It's for your sake, Sakura. That you don't end up in my world."
"But... that's not true! My predecessor's memories... I knew. And Lord Bishamonten told me about your past! You were just like me. You were on the run! We both lost someone important to us... we... you're just like me, you know how I feel!"
"Just because I know how you feel doesn't make me any more suitable to look after you than someone who is qualified to be a parent." I shot her down, not realizing the impact of my words.
Sakura gripped the bracelet, tears running down the side of her face.
"Why did you save me that day... when I was hunted by those wolves... why did you save me in the snow. YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME TO DIE!" She screamed, hurling the bracelet at my chest.
"I HATE YOU! I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT BRACELET BUT YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!"
I watched as Sakura ran off, sobbing. I stood in the darkness, unable to process anything.
I couldn't even say anything back...
Or even discern whether or not saying anything was a good idea.
I knelt down and picked up the bracelet, gritting my teeth.
The illustrations on it...
Were the same illustrations of the drawings and artwork of the walls in my old orphanage. Memories that I had spent with Will and Nora.
Sakura really went through Avara's memories... trying to turn dark memories into something light.
I summoned a red magic circle, putting the bracelet into it.
"She really sees you as her guardian. You know. Even when you spend so much time neglecting her. She refuses to see it that way. That's how much you mean to her, Aaron."
I got to my feet, turning to Diana Eustansia Avarice, who's Queen robes dragged elegantly across the ground. The glint of her crown shining, reflecting the light off the candles.
"I can't. I just... can't..." I muttered.
"I know."
Diana walked by me.
"But as someone who was neglected by her family. I understand how painful it is. The pain of desperately trying to cling onto the love of a parent, when everything is against you. The weight of being the one to end the legendary bloodline of Avalon."
"Your circumstances are different. Being born a girl wasn't in your control."
"And what of Sakura? Do you think she wanted to be a reincarnation of Avara? The Goddess who would forever be known as the one who mercilessly slaughtered a group of orphaned children? If she really embraced her circumstances, then why would she change her name to Sakura Hope?"
I clenched my fist.
"I won't tell you how to proceed with Sakura. I just wanted to tell you how it is. You sure like your facts, don't you? God-Eater?"
Diana smirked.
"You're the least queen-like queen I've ever seen in my life!" I snapped.
"A queen's gotta relax once in a while! Anyway. I can't dilly daddle for too long. I have to look over a heap of reports.... UGH!"
Diana left the hallway.
I left the castle and walked across the city of Andropol.
Adventurer squads were entering and leaving the city borders.
Ever since Nyx was defeated, citizens of Andropol had pleaded to Diana for the opportunity to use magic to grow stronger, becoming adventurers to ensure she alone would not be the only one to defend the city.
Though reluctant, as she cherished her people, she eventually obliged.
Now we had groups of adventurer teams forming all over the place, even an adventurer's guild too.
"HA! HA! HA!"
I glanced over at a group of recruits who were practicing their sword strikes.
A part of me got excited. After all (don't tell anyone this), MMO's still held a special place in my heart.
I actually have been playing them in secret whenever Annelise was at school, and everybody else was asleep.
Seeing Andropol like this was definitely a treat for my nerdy eyes.
"Yo."
I turned to the voice, to see a young man wearing a familiar Eagle's jacket. A black coat was draped over his jacket, crimson accents similar to the Victorian era, the sleeves running down his sides.
"Bryce! Shouldn't you be back at Philly?" I asked.
"Just taking a break. You know them shorties were missing me." Bryce laughed.
Sure they did.
Bryce looked over at the recruits who were training.
"Andropol really stepping up their military huh."
"Yeah." I said, glancing over at him.
It was hard to imagine this was the same kid who used to coop up in his room all day playing 2K, ignoring missions and being a loser.
Ever since the ordeal with his mom in Philadelphia, Bryce had glowed up.
He had a new sense of self and identity.
From the Eagles Varsity Jacket, to the bat with all the names of the residents in Philly written on it, to his father, Tevin "The Machine Gun" Jones' bandanna draped around his neck like a scarf...
Bryce "Hellsing" Jones was setting new records in life, rather than in video games.
I HATE YOU! I WORKED SO HARD FOR THAT BRACELET BUT YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!
I sighed.
"Bossman. You don't look too hot."
"How could you tell? Please don't tell me you learned how to read people from me too."
"No. Your scent."
I irked, shifting away from him.
"My what now?!"
Bryce raised his hands.
"Wait! It ain't how it sounds. Ever since my vampire powers manifested all my senses have been dialled to eleven. Your blood, it just gave off the scent that you looked kinda... down."
"Yeah. Just a little down in the dumps is all. Whatever."
"I won't ask. As long as you don't wanna share, bossman." Bryce said, adamantly.
"Thanks man. I appreciate it."
Bryce put a hand on my shoulder.
"I know a thing that can cheer you up. I actually came here to deliver you the good news."
"Good news? What are you talking about?"
Bryce smiled evilly, his eyes flashed a vampire red momentarily.
"Shhh... Sarah don't know..."
What exactly was this moron getting me into?
Bryce and I sat through a training session with several recruits.
"Listen, Bryce. I appreciate the sentiment. But how lame of a boss do you think I am? Watching newbies learn to fight is about as fun as listening to Sigurd giving her neuroscience presentations."
"Just wait, homie. You gotta be patient."
"HA! HA! HA!"
My eye twitched in annoyance.
"Is this because I invited you out to cheesesteaks? You know I don't roll this way. There's nothing I find attractive watching sweaty ass dudes learning how to handle sticks, man."
"Spread your legs out more. Your center of gravity is completely off!" A woman's voice said, sternly.
Heh?
A woman?
I slowly turned my head, as my jaw dropped.
A tall, curvaceous woman walked past the recruits, inspecting their form.
Her blonde hair dancing with her strides.
"No way... no friggn way!!!!" I squealed.
"Heheheheheh.... now you know why I didn't wanna get Sarah involved. Loyce's former shawty is a guest instructor today!"
I gave Bryce a grim and serious expression.
"Extremely well done. Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing. You have been promoted to my First Lieutenant."
Hellsing nodded, giving me a salute.
"With pleasure, Outer Shadow Dainsleif."
"Indeed."
We continued watching Vicki giving out the class. The way she would lean to one side, exposing her curves...
"Um... please forgive me... but I do believe this is considered... immoral. Outer Shadow Dainsleif. Auxiliary Shadow Hellsing." A young boy whimpered.
"ZIP IT, ROBBIE." Bryce and I snarled.
"SORRY!" Robbie cowered in fear.
Bryce grabbed X8's human form by the collar.
"Oy. You tryna SNITCH on yo own boys? We got a tradition we like carrying out to SNITCHES in the hood. Want a crash course?" Bryce bared his fangs at Robbie Fernandez, who looked like he was about to piss himself.
"Yeah! Tell em, Bryce!" I cheered him on, when suddenly, my danger signals spiked.
The three of us froze.
What was that menacing chakra?
It was on the level of John Crass-
"Aaron... I turn my back for a few hours, and here you are laying eyes on another woman." Sarah growled, murderously.
"AAAH!" I screamed, falling flat on my ass before Sarah Ultear, who's hand was hovering over the hilt of her legendary Hero sword, Ygviil.
"You scum... just because a woman shows skin does not give you an excuse to lay your lecherous eyes on her! What is so appealing of a belly shirt anyway!"
"I mean... you're technically wearing a belly shirt right now..." Bryce muttered.
"HUH?!" Sarah snarled at Bryce, her face like a rabid animal. Her straight, silky purple hair fluttered wildly in response to her new rage fuelled chakra aura.
"Eek!" Bryce whimpered, hiding behind Robbie, who quickly materialized into his robot form and going into Armadillo Mode, curling up into a steel ball.
Sarah grabbed me by the collar, lifting me up with monstrous strength and bringing her face close to mine.
"Am I not good enough for you..."
"N- No! I mean! I have preferences is all..."
Smooth... Aaron! You SS Ranked Dumbass!
Sarah clenched her teeth, as Bryce and Robbie had completely buried themselves into the dirt.
Real helpful, you guys!
Suddenly Sarah looked away.
"I... I can do it too, you know. I can show skin." She muttered.
"Wha-"
Sarah put me down, as she undid the zipper to her belly shirt, revealing her black sports bra.
"What... what do you think...?" Sarah asked, quietly, giving me a shy glance. Her blush deepened.
My nose trickled with blood as she glared at me, shocked.
"You- you pervert! Why do you have a nosebleed?!"
"Me?! Why did you undo your zipper like that! You have your knockers wide open for me to see!"
"B- Because... because...! UGH! I HATE YOU."
Sarah swung her fist, as it completely demolished a nearby training dummy, reducing it into ashes.
My jaw hung open.
Normally an angry punch in cartoons would just send a training dummy flying.
Sarah hit the training dummy so hard it completely decimated the thing into oblivion, leaving behind a burn mark on the ground as if a F-22 Raptor launched an artillery blast at it.
Sarah breathed heavily, as we all stood there awkwardly.
"Outer Shadow Dainsleif." Vicki interrupted us.
Sarah yelped, fumbling with her zipper as she hid behind me.
"Outer Shadow Onyx. To what do I owe this boner- I mean pleasure."
Vicki regarded us.
"I... I apologize for taking refuge here. It... it wasn't something I would imagine myself doing. Please excuse me burdening on Queen Avarice's kingdom."
"Hey. Don't beat yourself up over it. No one would have expected Loyce to do something like that. And you trying to protect Yeling. Honestly, I get it. He means that much to you, right?" I asked.
"Bro... your girl is right over there... you can't act like no simp in front of Lady Vicki man." Bryce whispered.
Sarah clenched her fists, but took a deep breath, calming herself and approached Vicki.
"Outer Shadow Onyx. With the admonishment of Inner Shadow Loyce Hal from The Black Legion, what has become of his Outer Shadows?"
Vicki looked away.
"They've disbanded. We're... we're split. Some of us still believe in the ideals of The Black Legion. But most of Master Loyce's followers have sided with him. And I know full well why. Master Loyce meant so much to each and every one of us. Just as Inner Shadow Jun Gasket means a lot to you all. It is the same with Loyce. To know he had been against the organization this entire time... it hurt. A lot."
"But it's all for Yeling though. He's fine, right?"
Vicki managed a weak smile.
"Y- Yes. Hakah and Yeling are training together. I... I never knew Yeling could smile like that before. Perhaps I was never meant to be."
"Vicki..."
Vicki was really good at hiding her emotions.
But not this time.
It looked like her entire world had been ripped from under her feet.
She really was in love with Yeling.
I never expected something like this from the feared Millennium Medusa.
"So... what's your plan, Vicki?"
"I must support Yeling. With whatever I have, of course. I won't stop until I get Kon Larum and his wife, Rya the Celestial on our side. He is our trump card, alongside you, Dainsleif, in fighting against Master Loyce. As much as I hate it, I cannot agree with what he is doing. All of this... all of this was for his benefit. That alone I don't have a problem with, but his end goal... his end goal is what I cannot accept."
I looked at my Auxiliaries, who were ready for battle.
"Well. For the time being. Why not stay with us for a bit?" I said, grinning.
Vicki's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You heard me." I walked up to my Auxiliaries, putting my arms around them.
"Right here. These guys have already been putting in the work to get stronger for the sake of taking on Loyce. I can confidentially say Sarah and Bryce here have surpassed even you!"
Vicki blinked.
"That's... that's not possible... how can an Auxiliary Shadow reach the rating of S Rank?"
Bryce chuckled.
"Shorty, you ain't seen nothing yet. We gon keep gettin stronger for Aaron's sake. No matter what. That's what it means to support a bossman as incredible as he. If ya wanna get stronger, ya gotta get stronger together."
Vicki gazed at the distance.
"Together..."
I reached out my hand.
"Vicki. Let me guess, this entire time, you've been trying to get stronger all on your own. Since Fenrir, Tourmentus, and the Demon Lords chose to be on Loyce's side. You've been alone. Am I right?"
Vicki looked away.
"So what about it? In a battle, it is your strength that gets added to the team. Your strength. Independence is just as important as-"
"And just how well did that work for you?" I asked.
Vicki clenched her teeth.
"I... I cannot... join forces with another faction..."
"But you're not even part of Loyce's gang anymore." I retorted.
"Even so... we parted ways on relatively respectful terms. The last thing they would want is to see me team up with-"
"With Dainsleif, right?"
We spun around, as Sarah shoved Vicki out of the way, deflecting the strike of a cleaver.
Thunder and lightning sparked outwards violently.
"Oy. What the fuck? Another Hero just like me?" A man smiled crazily from within the bangs of his wild hair.
Sarah gritted her teeth, shaking from the tremendous effort of keeping up the clash with the mystery man.
Only he wasn't much of a mystery.
The rune of Vala was implanted on each of his cleavers, and that wild expression... I recognized it from the rumours.
A man who got stronger from getting more and more damaged.
The very definition of guts and glory.
"I will not let you harm Onyx. Even if you are a Hero just like me." Sarah seethed.
"Just like you? Bitch. We are nothing alike. I am the Legendary Hero of the Dual Cleavers, Tourmentus. Unlike you, I defeated my world's Demon Queen. You needed the help of your SS Ranked boyfriend! Don't EVER think we're alike!"
Sarah hesitated, the shot clearly affecting her, as Outer Shadow Andrew Tengen slammed his knee into her chin, then kicked her in the chest, sending my Auxiliary away.
Tengen dropped to the ground, as I had already summoned my Draugr, about to fire, but black tendrils surrounded me, which manifested the shape of wolves.
"You're protecting Harriet. That means you are Master Loyce's enemy. After all, Harriet betrayed us for Despair."
My eyes widened as a wolf leapt at me in close range within the shadows, snarling, its fangs in full view, but Bryce grabbed the monster with one hand, baring his own fangs and roaring a vampiric roar, chomping down on the side of Outer Shadow Tommy Riordan.
Riordan growled, trying to fight back Bryce, as the two tumbled out of the way.
Vicki was frozen.
"No... everyone... I didn't mean to..."
"Invaders spotted at the gate! It's an entire legion of Furies!" The scouts shouted, as Andropol rallied their troops.
"They've breached the wall! They've taken to the skies."
A mass legion of furies filled the skies, their wings outstretched and in full view.
From the center, the horde parted for a Fury who's wings were much larger than the rest.
On her head was a silver crown, and her unitard was decorated with silver shining accents.
Demon Lord Freya Althuum.
Freya glared at Vicki from the distance.
"How could you go against Master Loyce, Harriet. After everything he has done for our sake, you still have such little faith in our Inner Shadow?" She said.
Vicki stood frozen.
"Frey... I never meant to betray you all. This is all for the sake of-"
"For him. Right?" A man with two shining angel wings appeared before us, his sword outstretched.
I slipped out of the way, but the man managed to catch Vicki in the side, as her eyes widened. Completely taken off guard.
"Look at you. The Millennium Medusa. Your concentration has been broken. Look what Yeling Mah has done to you! This isn't love. This is corruption. He's ruined one of Master Loyce's most Complete Outer Shadows!" Demon Lord Erafil snarled.
I summoned my MP7 and fired a clip of bullets at Erafil, who deflected it off of one of his wings.
"Vicki. Fall back. You need to regain your bearings, otherwise you'll be dead weight!" I said, shielding Vicki from Freya and Erafil.
I aimed my Draugr at Erafil, who brought his wing up again to shield himself, but I fired right through the crevice, the bullet bouncing and deflecting off of the wall of the city, the reflected trajectory slamming into the Fallen Angel's back.
Erafil sputtered blood, stumbling forward, as I shot inwards.
Convocatio and Augmentus - Fast Casting
Convocatio - Grenade Summoning: Electrocution Disks, Binding Webs
I pressed the disks against Erafil, as the Angel shuddered from the enormous current.
I pushed myself back, flipping in the air.
Convocatio - Ultimate Ironsight 55XHPS Version 5
I reached into my magic circle, while flipping and setting the switch to "PIERCE MODE".
I took aim, focusing on the weak spot I had identified when firing at Erafil with my SMG earlier.
I pressed the trigger, as a red streak Destreum bullet shattered Erafil's feathers, piercing him right through the shoulder..
"GAH!"
Erafil glared at Freya, who flapped her wings, shooting to my direction with ridiculous speed.
