"Follow me." Freja turned around, flicking her blonde hair back. Opening up a blood portal, Freja walked straight through and everyone else followed.
Appearing on top of a gate that was on the edge of the Freya forest, they all looked down to see a bunch of armed soldiers that resembled all the races Shaman and her group killed on their assasination mission.
"Uhh did we cause this?" Shaman instantly noticed this detail and could not help but suspect it was her fault for an army appearing at Freja's doorstep.
"Yes it was, but I wanted this to happen." Freja wore a sadistic smile, looking as if she was about to jump in and murder the army herself.
"Empress Freja! We have come to your forest to seek vengeance for our leaders. You dared have them killed and you shall face the consequences!" A half bear in rather extravagant armour was leading the marching army.
"Ara~ is that so, well I'm afraid I was not the one to murder them, but it was actually these 4 I have with me." Freja looked at Shaman who had a shocked face.
"Huh?" Shaman had no idea what Freja was thinking, throwing them under the bus like this. Suddenly a voice echoed through each of their heads.
'Do not worry I will make sure you don't get hurt, but I want you to beat their leader so I can take control over their army for myself.' Freja explained the plan to them and Shaman instantly felt relief that they were not being betrayed.
'Hang, how did they even get here, aren't there high tier beasts?' Clara interjects as she remembers that the forest is guarded by wild powerful beats.
'I actually have control over the beasts so I let them through on purpose.' Freja's explanation had caused Shaman and the rest to feel a little annoyed as they were rather terrified when coming into the forest with Kiruya.
'Haha, I know what you are thinking, but I do not have full control, they just listen to me whenever I offer them a good meal, so realistically they could have been wiped out before they got here despite me shooing the beasts away.' Freja went into more detail, better explaining the circumstances of the Freya forest.
The half-bear leader, hearing Freja's declaration, signalled his commanders over and soon the murmuring of a heated discussion could be heard.
The leader then turned back towards the gate and exclaimed "If you are willing to let us have their heads, we shall leave. But if not we will take it as if you participated as well." The half-bear was rather happy about the outcome as he did not want to fight Freja, but due to a contract he and the other commanders are forced by oath to get revenge on whoever killed their masters.
"You sure can, but you are going to have to fight for it." Freja opened a portal beneath each of their feet and transported them in front of the commanders.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Tch a simple duel will be no problem." The half-bear was okay with fighting for their heads.
Shaman quickly looked at each of the commanders and leader's status so she knew who was the strongest.
[Jorn]
Half-bear
Tier 7
[Perry]
Prey mantis
Tier 6
[Skald]
Eagle
Tier 6
[Ralpeal]
Crocodile
Tier 6
After examining each of their status, Shaman instantly knew who should be fighting who. Sending a message to each of them, Shaman wanted to make sure the fight was advantageous to them as much as possible.
Elysia was given the eagle, Clara the prey mantis and Silver the crocodile. Shaman was particularly worried about Silver, but she had made sure to say in her message to just hide if the fight was too much.
"Now who shall I take on." The half bear raised his mace, scanning each of the 4 opponents in front of him.
"It will be me." Shaman was unsure if she could win, but with her newfound element she believed that she stood a chance.
"The rest will fight your commanders." Shaman saw that Elysia, Clara and Silver got into position, each facing the commander Shaman assigned to them.
"You know what to do." Jorn turned to the rest of the commanders and each of them nodded. Perry had mantis claws, Skald had a bow and Repeal had claws. Each of them took a stance, ready to face their opponents.
"I hope you are ready to meet your end, you low-life scum." Jorn gripped his mace and was prepared to begin the duel.
***
<Somewhere unknown>
The purple tipped 12 tail fox sat on her couch watching the scene unfold.
"It's a shame my little height gag fell apart because of my own blessing." The 12 tailed fox rested her chin on her hand while eating some fruit.
"Akrone, I know you wanted to tease the poor girl, but she clearly has a complex about it." A woman who was over 2 metres tall stood over Akrone with a rather exhausted look.
"You have to admit it was rather funny, but I can't use my powers anymore to help since this damn seal is taking all my energy to break." Akorne sat up and looked up at the extremely tall woman.
"You are not wrong, but just because you can imitate my powers does not mean you should. It's hard enough getting here to pay you a visit as is." The woman sighed as she already felt the connection getting weaker.
"At least you are only a projection! I am already stuck here, so I do what I can not to go insane from the lack of social interaction."
"Indeed, but I have to say you have chosen quite a unique one to follow." The tall woman took a look at the screen that showed Shaman and her group.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Mhm. That old man transported her a few months ago and she is making great progress. It's also the reason why he sealed me since he didn't want me interfering, but I did anyway." Akrone giggled to herself, finding the situation rather funny.
"Well it's for a good reason, if you help her too much you will make her go insane." The woman rolled her eyes as if this had happened before.
"Yes, yes I know what I'm doing, I don't need to be constantly reminded. Besides, he knows I will break out soon and hasn't even bothered to stop me, so clearly he wants me to do something when I'm out." Akrone felt excited as she was itching to help Shaman and it was only a matter of time.
"There is no stopping you." The woman facepalmed as she knew it was pretty much a taboo for gods to help people.
"Hehe~ I already know she will be meeting us in a couple years so why not?" Akrone smirked as she was rather confident in Shaman's ability.
"I would not go too ahead of yourself, she still needs to beat that pope who has made a deal with an underworld god." The woman's face got serious as the mention of the underworld made the atmosphere tense.
*Sigh* "I am aware, I don't know how he was able to get in contact with one, but that tells me whoever it is must be strong." Akrone did not like that thought, but it was the main driving factor for her interference in Shaman's life.
"Well, hopefully Freja will be able to inherit the throne soon and become the new Lucifer, but I'm afraid she is refusing to go any further until she saves her best friend." The woman changed the view on the screen to Freja who was watching the fight down below.
"She acts as guardian for Shaman and her group at the moment, so I think it is good she hasn't gone yet, as they need a place where they can go back to. Just tell that withering husk to hold on for a bit longer." Akrone was rather glad for Freja's presence as it meant Shaman and her group would generally be safe.
"If he heard you say that, he would have dragged you down to the underworld." The woman sighed as Akrone just insulted one of the most powerful gods.
"He isn't here so no need to worry about the devil himself." Akrone's seal had also given her freedom to speak her mind without having to worry about being overheard by other gods.
"To think you're the next god to get the title of supreme god."
"Hard work is what gets you there, I am sure it's a surprise to those old fogeys that love only giving family members this title."
"I'm glad for that since it's been quite some time since someone who hasn't had a family connection obtained the title."
"Well they had to once I beat them in a duel in a mere few seconds. To think they use such outdated divine magic." Akrone's face had a look of disgust, thinking back to the duel as the people she fought had to use incantations.
"They don't like change, so what did you expect?"
Akrone shrugged as it only made it easier for her to rise.
"Ooo the fights are starting!" Akrone quickly switched the screen back to Shaman who had finally started her fight with the bear.