...An equally sudden blast of frigid air flash-froze the oncoming inferno, which shattered with a crisp, crystalline sound. The frozen shards crumbled to dust, fluttering down between them…
"..."
The table that had stood between Brynhildr—who had unleashed the flames—and Serafall—who had frozen them solid—collapsed in ruins, one half charred black, the other half coated in ice.
Brynhildr stood glaring with a gaze like searing fire, while Serafall returned it without flinching, her eyes cold as arctic frost. In that suffocating, gut-twisting tension, it was Brynhildr who broke first.
Plunking herself back down onto the sofa, Brynhildr let out a massive, exhausted sigh and raked a hand roughly through her hair in irritation.
"Two corrections. Yes, I do despise your lot—the Biblical Factions—but that's my personal view. I can separate private feelings from official business. I am a member of the 'Open Faction.'"
"Oh? My apologies, then. And the other?"
"Odin-sama's movements this time were top secret. We couldn't send an overtly large escort. Above all, we're short on manpower. Assigning Rossweisse was the absolute best we could do."
"Short on manpower? Surely the Norse realm has plenty of capable individuals?"
When Serafall asked, Brynhildr let out a self-deprecating smirk.
"You're aware the Norse realm is split three ways right now, yes? Of those, the 'Open Faction' has the smallest numbers and the weakest power. It's practically held together by Odin-sama alone."
'What the fuck.' Kazuki had sensed something like that, but to think they were leaning that heavily on Odin.
"I see... But if you can draw the 'Neutral Faction' to your side, the balance of power would flip completely, wouldn't it?"
"True... The so-called 'Neutral Faction' is mostly opportunists sitting on the fence. Once they realize siding with us, the 'Open Faction' gives them the winning hand, they'll fall in line."
"The problem is how to make them understand that... Think we can persuade them through words?"
"Impossible. And more to the point, there's no time."
"You're right. In that case..."
"…"
Kazuki and everyone else around him could only stare blankly, completely left behind by the back-and-forth between Serafall and Brynhildr.
One moment, it had looked like they'd tear each other apart with a murderous exchange of magic; the next, they were in the middle of an impassioned debate. Not just Artoria and Rossweisse—even the other Nine Sisters were dumbfounded. Helmwige had even started nodding off.
"In that case, the most effective approach is…"
"Yeah. Show them strength. If they believe siding with us, the 'Open Faction,' means victory, they're as good as ours."
"Then the key is..."
Serafall's gaze shifted to Kazuki. 'What?'
"I'm counting on you, Kazu-kun."
"Wait, for what?"
A horrible, gut-wrenching premonition made him ask.
"In short," Brynhildr said bluntly, "we want you to storm the 'Neutral Faction' and raise absolute hell."
"Eeeeeeeehhhhhh!?"
As everyone else reeled in shock, Kazuki could only look up to the heavens.
"Serafall, mind giving me an explanation I can actually follow?"
"Mm, well, basically: to bring the 'Neutral Faction' over to our side, we need to show off the power of us, the 'Biblical Factions.'"
"In that case, shouldn't Serafall-dono—a Satan herself—go together with Kazuki...?"
"I can't do it, Artoria-chan. I am, for better or worse, one of the leaders of the Biblical Factions. Even if I fought, they wouldn't give us any credit for it."
'Right. Of course. Serafall was a Satan; people would just say, "Well, of course, she's strong."' Which meant Kazuki really was the only one who could do this.
"Our Norse realm has held a warrior's spirit in high esteem since ancient times. If you demonstrate valor worthy of that, the 'Neutral Faction' just might agree to join hands with you, Biblical types. So go ahead and make as big a fucking spectacle as you can. Even if you fail, Grimgerde, who's already infiltrated, will extract Eir."
Bound by the decision of the two highest authorities in the room—Serafall and Brynhildr—Kazuki found himself set on a collision course to raid the "Neutral Faction."
The stronghold of the "Neutral Faction" Vingólf.
Grimgerde—eighth of the Nine Sisters—had been infiltrating this place under Brynhildr's covert orders. Vingólf was a majestic palace rivaling Valhalla itself, distinguished by the colossal colosseum attached to its grounds. Inside this palace, now occupied by the "Neutral Faction," she had been searching for an opening to rescue the captive Eir.
'I've finally pinpointed Eir's location, but... as long as that bastard is here, escaping with her is going to be damn near impossible... So, what now?'
She was, after all, one of the "Nine Sisters"—the pinnacle of the Valkyries. She had confidence in her martial prowess. But against the Thunder God Thor, that was a different story.
The only ones who could face the god who held unrivaled claim to the title of "Strongest in Norse Mythology" in single combat were likely Odin with Gungnir in hand, or Brynhildr in a fully armed state. At any rate, Thor was way beyond her ability to handle.
'Maybe I should call for the full mobilization of all Nine Sisters...'
Just as Grimgerde was racking her brain in all seriousness—
Booooooom!!
A sudden, cataclysmic crash and the accompanying shockwave rattled the entire palace.
"The—what the hell is going on!?"
Flustered, she thrust her head out the nearest window—only to find the impossibly massive castle gate utterly demolished.
"Huh?"
'Wait just a minute.' That gate was forged from orichalcum and sealed by Odin's own magic. It couldn't be opened from the outside, no matter what.
Destroying it should have been flat-out impossible... 'What in the world...?'
Just then, from within the thick, swirling cloud of dust and debris, three figures emerged. One of them raised a sword high, and a ferocious gale erupted, blasting the dust cloud away. Revealed were a black-haired man, a blonde woman, and a silver-haired woman. That silver-haired woman was a face Grimgerde knew.
"Rossweisse!?"
Her little sister, who was supposed to be on duty as Odin's bodyguard. 'What in the blazing hell was she doing here,' striding right through the front door of the Neutral Faction's stronghold like she owned the place.
As the God Warriors on guard duty surrounded them, the black-haired man stepped forward and raised his voice.
"I am Fuwa Kazuki, a High-Class Devil of the Biblical Factions! I request an audience with the leader of the Neutral Faction, the Thunder God Thor!!"
'So this man is the rumored Fuwa Kazuki, Guyver!? Wait, what is someone from the Biblical Factions doing here!?'
"A mere devil dares speak such ridiculous things! All of you! Drive out these fools!!"
At the command of the man who appeared to be their captain, the surrounding God Warriors lunged to attack in unison. Leaving Rossweisse where she stood, Fuwa Kazuki and the blonde female knight surged forward to meet them head-on, and the clash erupted.
"Oho, not bad."
Kazuki and the female knight mowed through the swarm of God Warriors, dropping them one after another like dominoes.
The God Warriors were warriors of Asgard clad in divine armor called God Robes. Their combat ability was on par with a Mid-Class Devil of the Biblical Factions—no, their captains could even rival a High-Class Devil. And yet, the two of them showed not the slightest sign of struggle, systematically disabling God Warrior after God Warrior.
'Impressive... The God Warriors can't even touch them. And on top of that, they haven't killed a single one...'
A feat like this could only be pulled off with an overwhelming gap in ability. But this was a golden opportunity.
Their attack was almost certainly the handiwork of Brynhildr. Which had to mean she was telling Grimgerde to use this chaos to rescue Eir. Having made that judgment, Grimgerde turned to head to where Eir was being held.
"You worthless sacks of shit! What the fuck is this pathetic display!!"
A bellow like a thunderclap froze Grimgerde's feet mid-step.
"There he is..."
From the depths of the palace, a towering, bare-chested man with wild golden hair and a bearded face appeared, accompanied by three others.
The Thunder God Thor.
The war god, hailed as the mightiest in Norse Mythology, swept his gaze over the intruders, and his lips curled into a fearless, savage grin.