Saga of the Last Valkyrie (On Hold)

Chapter 16: First Contact

Looking at herself through a mirror in the temple that the Lesser Valkyries had built for her, Alicia made sure that she had changed out of her white dress and was once again in her armor. With her true-silver head-band that circled the back of her head and protected her ears while leaving the top of her head and face exposed, small metal wings were sticking out of the sides of it, matching miniature versions on both her boots and gauntlets. Her chest-piece also had similar designs before the metal ended in another white dress made from heavy enchanted fabric that hugged her body tightly enough to show the indent of her belly button. The dress itself had more bits of true-silver on it's sides with the bottom of the dress ending in a flexible ring of the metal, weighing down the edges so that they would stay down during both flight and combat.

Stomping once on the floor to make sure that her true-silver grieves wouldn't fall off from the movement, Alicia sighed in relief that her armor had the same functions in this new world as they'd had in the game. And that also ment that all of her other cosmetic, gravity-defying clothing would work as well. However, such thoughts were ment for another time as Becky knocked on her door and drew Alicia's attention.

"My lady, the forces you asked for are ready." Becky stated, and Alicia smiled at her warmly in reply.

"Thank you." Alicia replied, pulling once on her long sword's sheath to make sure that it was secure before she followed Becky out of the temple and down the first set of stairs outside where a large area in the mountain had been flattened out to make a gathering area. And that area was partially full now as fifty Lesser Valkyries all stood in rows and at attention, waiting for her word to move. In fact, to Alicia, it almost seemed as if they were awaiting some kind of speech. However, seeing as she still wasn't comfortable around so many people, she decided just to play out her character and only explain what they were going into. Which was to say, she didn't know what they were heading towards at all.

"I apologize for calling you all out here on such short notice." Alicia walked in front of everyone and apologized, figuring that it would be as good of place as any to start. "I don't know what we'll be going into, but I've heard a cry for help beneath us in a town known as Marshvale. They seem to be having trouble with 'minions of evil', and I'm worried that if I go help them alone, then I won't be able to protect all of the citizens. Therefore, please, help me in this."

"M-my lady, you need not ask!" The nearest Valkyries started panicking. "The people of Everath have been on their own for a thousand years! If anything, this should be a glorious occasion that marks your return! We're all honored to be a part of it!"

Hearing nothing but agreement from the women, Alicia wondered just what she'd done before to be awarded such blind loyalty. Though she didn't dwell on the matter for long, thinking that they wouldn't want to hear her thoughts on the matter.

"Everyone, thank you." Alicia thanked them before opening her map menu and placing an indicator on the town of Marshvale. And as soon as she did, an icon thankful appeared on the horizon just like it did in the game, indicating the direction of the town. "When we get to the settlement, our first priority is to protect the citizens! Let's go!"

Finishing her explanation, Alicia creating wings for herself and started flying in the direction of Marshvale. And while the Lesser Valkyries had followed her, Alicia made sure to slow down enough so that they could keep pace with her as the flew out to her sides, apparently making a formation behind her similar to how birds would. Though as her gaze was set in front of her, Alicia began to wonder just what she was flying into as she could already see what looked like a storm in the distance, though it was unlike any storm that she'd ever come across before. Either in the game or real life.

Almost like an upside-down thunderstorm, black mist swarmed up from the ground, making the sky above it dark as it looked similar to distant rain. And what was more, red bolts of lightning seemed to course through the mist, lighting up particular sections of the ground before some wildly flew off into the air. Though while the lightning seemed unpredictable, it didn't seem to be drawn to anything in the sky as Alicia and the Lesser Valkyries started flowing over it. And she was also thankful that the dark haze above the mist wasn't rain either, but rather ash that seemed to be floating up from beneath her before it vanished in the sky.

"The town is completely covered by the black mist!" Becky called out as soon as they flew over Alicia's indicator, though none of the buildings were visible through whichever substance this black mist was. And while she couldn't see through it, she could apparently hear through it without problems as the howling of monsters, sounds of battle and cries of people could be heard from below.

"Go down and defend the citizens!" Alicia ordered, watching as the Lesser Valkyries immediately followed her orders before he held out her hand and poured a small amount off MP into her flare spell in hopes that it would cast away the black mist. And thankfully, as soon as the miniature sun launched above her, the spell seemed to work as the black mist covering the town was suddenly blasted away revealing the chaos below. Monsters and the bodies of people littered the streets, several black lizard-wolf hybrids that Alicia had never seen before were currently trying to enter several of the more fortified buildings to get at the survivors inside and the last of the town's garrison were making their last stand in the town's central square. Though what capture's Alicia's attention the most was a large dark-purple portal that suddenly appeared as soon as the mist vanished, making a deep roaring sound as the edge of the portal vibrated violently when the light from Alicia's spell hit it. And while the appearance of the portal was alarming, what was even more concerning was the creatures that seemed to be trying to come out of it.

Each seeming to be a long, sucker-less tentacle with the bald dog heads snarling at the end of each one, over twenty of the creatures seemed to be trying to get through the portal all at the same time.  And while she was shocked at first, Alicia became horrified as the creatures all appeared to have only one body as a massive claw started coming through the edge of the portal, apparently pushing on it's sides to make the portal bigger as it struggled to get the rest of it's body through. And while Alicia had fought alongside her sisters against monsters before, she froze as the beast let out a massive roar that made the air tremble around her, blasting the area with wind as Alicia shielded her eyes. And when that happened, Alicia managed to smell the creature's breath as well, reminding her once again that she was no longer in a game and this this creature was completely real.

With the sounds of battle being renewed beneath her as her Lesser Valkyries joined the garrison in their desperate battle, Alicia snapped out of her moment of shock as she remembered that she had the power to defeat such creatures. And with that realization, she flew towards the portal, though she stopped before she reached it as she had no desire to even get close to such a disgusting and terrifying monster. So, rather than engaging it with her sword, Alicia used the only offensive spell that she knew.

"Purge all evil before me! Smite!" Alicia yelled while pouring ten times the required amount of MP into the spell as she focused on the portal. And as soon as it activated, everything was enveloped in a blinding white light while the monster coming through the portal cried out in agony.