Rias, Issei, Rossweisse, and Artoria—those who had escaped injury—rushed over.
"Somehow."
"Hmm, it appears she has returned to normal. She should regain consciousness before long."
At Odin's pronouncement, Rias let out a deep sigh of relief. Kazuki withdrew Ascalon from Vali's body, sheathed it, then took out the vial of Phoenix Tears he carried and sprinkled it over her.
In that moment, Kazuki allowed his guard to drop for just an instant. Even though the battle was not over, even though the enemy still remained, he let himself relax on the battlefield.
And the result…
"You let your guard down, OLD MAN. Do it, Fenrir!!"
At Loki's command, Fenrir—the beast that should have been incapacitated—lunged and sank its fangs into Odin.
"Guwaaaaaahh!!"
Odin's blood sprayed through the air.
"Odin-sama...? N-No, nooooo—!!"
Rossweisse's scream echoed across the battlefield.
"Let him go, you damn mutt!!"
Driven by sheer fury, Kazuki swung his fist and smashed it into the side of Fenrir's head.
"Gyauun!!"
The impact forced Fenrir to spit Odin out.
"Old man!? Hey, stay with us!!"
Issei, having caught Odin, called out to him, but Odin's face was an ashen, sickly gray, his body limp. Issei frantically sprinkled the Phoenix Tears he carried onto the god's wounds.
The bleeding stopped, and the gashes sealed shut—yet his complexion remained that deathly hue, and Odin groaned in evident agony.
"What the hell is this!? Why isn't it healing!?"
Even the Phoenix Tears couldn't heal him... 'What's going on!?'
"Ufufufu... It's useless, you know. The reason Fenrir is called the 'God-Killing Beast' is because its fangs and claws bear a 'Curse' that slays gods. Right now, Odin is being ravaged by that god-killing Curse. It is already far too late."
'A god-killing Curse? Something like that existed...'
"My objective is accomplished. I shall take my leave now."
Loki offered a bow of insulting politeness. But at that moment…
"Gyauun!!"
A howl from Fenrir drew their attention, and there they saw Arthur's Collbrande piercing through the beast, while Bikou's talismans bound it tight.
"...I told you, didn't I? I would personally bury this thing."
Vali slowly rose to her feet.
"I owe you one, Fuwa Kazuki... My apologies, but we'll be taking our leave now. I leave the rest to you, Coriana!"
At Vali's signal, Coriana activated her teleportation magic circle. Amidst a blinding radiance, Vali's team vanished, taking Fenrir with them.
"Damn you, White Dragon Emperor! How dare you take my son! ...Tch, nothing to be done! Come, Sköll! Hati!!"
Loki turned on his heel, Sköll and Hati falling in behind him.
"Wait, Loki!!"
At Rias's command to halt, Loki turned only his head, a sneer twisting his lips.
"You've been spared, little sister of the Devil King. My business is finished, and I'm in a pleasant mood. So I shall refrain from taking your lives. Be as grateful as you like."
Laughing mockingly, Loki disappeared into the distorted space. Sköll and Hati followed suit, leaving behind only Kazuki, the Gremory peerage, and their allies upon the empty field.
"Guuh... Damn It!!"
Issei's howl echoed hollowly across the wasteland.
Utterly crushed by the weight of absolute defeat, Kazuki silently deactivated his Gigantic armor.
"Is that so... Damn it, what a fucking mess..."
Having searched everywhere for Odin and come to this battlefield on a hunch, Azazel found the old man transformed into a ghastly shell of his former self.
Receiving Rias's explanation of what had happened, Azazel couldn't help but look up to the heavens.
"I'm sorry, Azazel. I was right there with him and still..."
Baraqiel, his own treatment finished, muttered with a grim, pained expression.
"Ain't your fault. Who could have imagined two Fenrir pups showing up, and on top of that, Vali losing control of her Juggernaut Drive and going berserk?"
Azazel clapped Baraqiel on the shoulder as if to comfort him.
"That said, what the hell do we do now..."
Even Azazel had only just learned that the secret behind Fenrir's god-killing nature lay in the "Curse" dwelling in its fangs and claws. The Norse magic system was completely different from theirs, so they had no clue how to dispel such a "Curse."
Consulting Michael or Sirzechs would likely prove futile. If so, their only option was to ask a deity from Norse mythology directly... but still.
Leaving the old man as he, was wasn't an option. Azazel retrieved a certain device from a subspace pocket.
At first glance, it resembled a cylindrical plastic bottle. He pressed a button and aimed it at the old man; a beam of light irradiated him, and Odin's form vanished.
"Governor Azazel!? What have you done to Odin-sama!?"
Rossweisse cried out in terror, and he explained.
"Calm down. This is an emergency medical transport capsule I developed."
Originally, it had been designed to transport large numbers of fallen personnel from the battlefield. When aimed at a casualty and activated, it emitted a shrinking beam and contained them within the capsule.
The interior was configured so time flowed slower than normal space, allowing the injured to be preserved until a hospital or medical facility was ready to receive them—a rather brilliant piece of work. For their current situation, needing to slow the Curse's progression, it was the best possible measure they could take.
Just as Azazel finished his explanation, the communicator wrapped around Rossweisse's wrist emitted a shrill beep.
She pressed the switch, and a screen projected into the air, displaying a light blue-haired beauty.
"Brynhildr-neesama..."
'So this is Brynhildr...'
The eldest of the "Nine Sisters," hailed as the strongest Valkyrie. It was Azazel's first time meeting this generation's, and damn if she wasn't a fine woman. Even in this situation, he couldn't help but stare in admiration.
"I'll get straight to the point, Rossweisse. Is it true that Odin-sama has perished?"
"!!"
They hadn't even notified anyone yet. 'How did she already know?'
"What's the matter? Answer quickly."
At Brynhildr's prodding, Rossweisse opened her mouth with difficulty.
"He hasn't died yet. But he's in critical condition after taking Fenrir's fangs. Nee-sama, what in the world should we...!"
As Rossweisse cast a desperate, clinging look, Brynhildr let out an exasperated sigh.
"Honestly, pathetic for someone supposed to be his bodyguard... So, Odin-sama is on the verge of death from Fenrir's Curse. Do you have any leads over there on dispelling it?"
In response to Brynhildr's question, Rossweisse glanced at Azazel. Looked like he'd have to be the one to explain.
"Yeah, well, unfortunately, since your Norse magic system is completely different from ours, we don't have a clue what kind of Curse was used."
"And who the hell are you?"
Brynhildr shot an openly suspicious look at Azazel for intruding on the call.
"Azazel, Governor of the Grigori, the Watchers of God's Children." As soon as he introduced himself, Brynhildr snorted with contempt.
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