Buff waifus hit different, I swear.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My vision was black and it felt almost like I was dead. From the sound of things however, I was clearly not. The roars of explosions and steel clashing together all but let me know I was still in it. The Azazel Cup. Gilfest was still in progress.

Urgh..

I look up to see myself on the ground, almost incapable of moving.

How long was I out for?..

I find some strength to clench my first while feeling the pain of a thousand slashes. It was a bit unbearable but as I attempted to rise up, the pain slowly began to subside.

All I can do right now is breath and rise up, but even then I'm struggling to perform either task..

I kneel down as the wounds forced me to yield to the pain once more.

And here I thought it was fading away?..

I move my armor over, which had a slash across the chest, to find my injuries patched up.

What? When did I-?

??: "You're up now? That's good atleast"

I realize now that I wasn't alone.

Heracles: "I didn't think you'd survive an attack like that point blank? Color me surprised Caenis"

Caenis: "Urgh, what's up with you? The hell happened? I don't even remember seeing that bastard move"

I sit by a tree and look at the child of Zeus who was sitting down infront of me.

Heracles: "I couldn't tell myself. All I can recall was being hit by so many attacks in a split second. If it weren't for my God Hand kicking in, I probably would of been eliminated"

Caenis: "So, how many lives you got now out of your 9? I suppose maybe 7 or 6-"

Heracles: "2"

Caenis: "He took 7-?!"

I clutch my stomach from the pain I caused myself from my reaction.

Caenis: "OW!!"

Heracles: "You still aren't 100%. I suggest you take it easy. The item I borrowed will be healing your body slowly-"

Caenis: "With enemies around? Hell no!! I'll probably end up getting ambushed or something-"

Heracles: "Then I'll protect you"

I look at Heracles who seemed genuinely about his aid.

Caenis: "Psh, I doubt your word. As soon as a powerful opponent shows up, you'll hurry along and-"

Heracles: "Caenis, when have I lied?"

I pause for a minute, thinking about all of the memories we had shared. Whether it be aboard the Argo, when we were in combat to keep peace at the Olympus, or simply when we met.

Caenis: "I guess.. you have a point"

Heracles: "I also patched up your wounds, knowing you were the enemy"

Caenis: "Yeah, Yeah!! I know!!"

I sigh while being annoyed at this big idiot's annoying self. It's truly annoying if I haven't made it clear!!!

Heracles: ".. I'm happy your okay. A warrior of your caliber shouldn't be eliminated this early"

Caenis: "There's some pretty strong heavyweights in this competition"

Heracles: "I know. I deem you worthy of that title. You just happened to come across someone who's of the highest tier"

I sulk into my knees as I'm getting more annoyed by his constant compliments.

Caenis: "Can you just shut up already?"

Heracles: "Did I tell you something wrong?"

Caenis: "Your voice is annoying that's all"

Heracles: "Fine. I'll stay quiet then"

Caenis: "Finally"

..

The two stay in silence besides the sounds of Heracles writing in a notebook. Caenis was a little curious and lifted her head up.

Caenis: "What's that about?"

Heracles: "I've caught up with who are still in this tournament and have been writing strategies on how to beat them. Along with that, people I can count on to take down others"

Caenis sluggishly got up and made her way to Heracles, sitting down next to the strong warrior.

Caenis: "Might as well see what's new.. So Orion is the only one besides me who remains from the Greek Pantheon's team?"

Heracles: "Unfortunately. I think having someone like Medusa would of been pretty useful with handling Kartikeya if she could catch him with her eyes"

Caenis: "I'm sure that son of Shiva would of found a loop hole around it somehow"

Heracles: "You all mentioned fighting him before stumbling upon us. Can you tell me anything about him?"

Caenis: "He.. He's very fast. Even Achilles couldn't keep up with him"

Heracles: "What?!.. That.. makes sense considering he basically got rid of all of us in that fraction of time. We had no idea what happened until it did"

Caenis: "Not even a chance to react"

The two sat around while Heracles continued to write.

Caenis: "That Ally chart. The hell makes you think you can add my name?"

Heracles: "I'm sure you want to take a third crack at him, Kartikeya"

Caenis: "Of course I do"

Heracles: "Then our goals align"

Caenis: "My beef with him has nothing to do with you or your peerage-"

Heracles: "But all goals lead to the same outcome. To eliminate him"

He put to notebook down as he pulls out a piece of metal from his pocket.

Caenis: "Looks like it belongs to a piece of armor"

Heracles clenched it tightly as a feeling of anger boils inside him.

Heracles: "He has someone very important to my master. I tasked myself with protecting her and I.. I couldn't do it. I couldn't protect someone else again"

"Again?"

Caenis was puzzled with to whom he was referring too but Heracles placed the armor plate back into his pocket before rising up.

Heracles: "Caenis. We're going to need more help to bring down that God of War"

He extends his hand to the recovering warrior on the ground.

Heracles: "I'd like to ask you for help"

She looked at his hand and turned away.

Caenis: "So daddy's boy needs help to handle his problems now? I thought you strong?"

Heracles: "I am, but even I can recognize when I'm out of my league. If there's someone I can't beat, I will use everything I can to give those around me the best chance to capitalize on my sacrifice"

Caenis looked back at the demigod beside her with a bit of annoyance as she thought about what to do.

Caenis: "You really are an idiot, you know that? What kind of warrior sacrifices himself like that?"

Heracles: "One who values the comrades around him. *chuckles* After all, we were allies in the Argonauts after all"

Caenis: "Urgh.. Fine"

She extends her arm and takes his hand.

Caenis: "But I land the finishing blow"

Heracles: "If that's what gets you on board"

Caenis: "Hold on, you mentioned we and you also said borrowed item. Who else is with you?"

At the moment, an individual landed besides them.

Heracles: "Looks like you came back in time"

Ahri: "Looks like her healing went well. Alchemy is quite the fun thing to use by the way. It's helpful with eliminating people rather easily"

Heracles: "I take it that Lord Beelzebub also taught you some other aces up your sleeve?"

Ahri: "He did. I even modified a little Formula he taught me along the way"

Heracles: "Care to speak more on that?"

Ahri: "I think it's better to show you it when we come across that Kartikeya guy. He's gonna get a beating for kidnapping our precious Eucliwood!!"

She was choking the Hindu God in her head while the two observered the fox.

Ahri: "Anyways. We are heading off now.. Is she joining us?"

Caenis: "Yeah, I am"

Heracles noticed an odd looking Caenis when Ahri arrived but didn't want to ask what it was.

Ahri: "Alright. Hey, big guy, let's get moving then. I'm sure Master is waiting for us"

Ahri smiled while taking the lead.

Heracles: "You heard the boss lady"

Caenis: "Yeah"

The trio marched on from their little hut of trees towards the middle of the arena where everything was going down.

Ahri: "So who do you personally take as the 5 strongest in the tournament Heracles?"

Heracles: "Lord Y/n, Kartikeya, Arjuna, Karna, and that Belial"

Ahri: "3 Hindu representatives huh? Quite the show from them"

Heracles: "Shiva knew Y/n wanted a match and he definitely delivered. I wonder how they all fair in this battle?"

Ahri: "I'm always going to believe in my master. What about you?"

She glanced back at Caenis who reacted very unlike her usual self.

Caenis: "H-Huh? Oh, me. I guess I'll go with Y/n too.."

She jumped a little when spoken to and seemed uncomfortable while answering.

Ahri: "You feeling alright? I wouldn't mind spending some of my mana on a more stronger healing spell to-"

Caenis: "I'm fine.."

Ahri: "If you say so"

The group remained quiet until the sound of swords clashing was heard up ahead.

Ahri: "Should we avoid it?"

Caenis: "I-"

Heracles: "I'll take a look. You two remain here until I come back"

He put a hand on Caenis' head which irritated her but ignored him. After Heracles went to scout, the two girls waited underneath a group of trees.

Ahri: "Let's hope it's reinforcements atleast"

Caenis: "Yeah.."

Ahri looked over to see the uncomfortable Caenis not even looking her way.

Ahri: "Something the matter?"

Caenis: ".. Probably"

Ahri: "Wanna talk about it?"

Caenis: "Not really"

She sat back against the tree while keeping her spear beside her.

Ahri: ".. Well, unlike that gentle giant, I'm not like that"

She straddled Caenis, causing her to explode flustered in the face.

Caenis: "H-Hey-?!"

Ahri put her arms against the tree to make sure that Caenis had no choice but to look at her.

Ahri: "Tell me what's wrong"

Caenis: "What?! Why do-?"

Ahri: "There can't be teamwork in a group without trust, much less a chance at victory against a strong opponent. I trust you Caenis"

Caenis: ".. Why?.. How can you trust me when I'm your enemy?"

Ahri: "I got good friends that I believe in. If Heracles vouched for you this much, I guess I have no choice but to trust in his word"

Caenis: "I.."

She covered her face with her hand while letting out some frustrated grunts.

Caenis: "I don't understand?.."

Ahri wouldn't take her eyes off the strong Greek warrior while the other glared instead.

Caenis: "HOW THE HELL CAN YOU TRUST ME SO EASILY?!"

Ahri: "I already told you-"

Caenis: "NO!! Haven't you forgotten what I did to you?! What me and Erebus did to you in that Rating Game?! How the hell can you just put your trust in the culprit who put you in the pain?!.. Why are you-"

Ahri: "Have I forgotten you say? Not really. It was a pretty brutal thing-"

Caenis: "Exactly!!! You shouldn't of just healed because that idiot told you to. I'm the person who tortured you!! I'm-!!"

Ahri put a hand on Caenis head, shutting up the angry spearlady.

Ahri: "I'm not saying I've forgotten, but I have to remember that it was in combat. I have no ill will against you Caenis. Do I hate you?.. maybe a little, but not for the reasons you think"

She suddenly thought to herself how this is something Y/n would probably do and simply smiled to herself.

Ahri: "I hate that you're so strong. I could only imagine myself being as physically strong like you. I'm jealous really.. maybe if I was as strong as you, my master wouldn't have to have suffered as much as he has"

The list of people he lost cross her mind, causing that smile to fade.

Ahri: "I guess if I had anything to say to you about what happened that day in the Rating Game, it would be.. Hi there Caenis, I'm Ahri. I am a servant of my Lord Y/n Gilgamesh L/n. I'm impressed by your strength and would like to know if you'd be willing to help me? Let bygones be bygones"

She put her hand infront of her while showing a happy smile to the frozen Caenis. She was speechless. The woman she put through so much pain.. was currently extending a hand to her. Knowing who she was, she pushed through that image to extend an olive branch.

Caenis: ".. You all are just.. so weird"

She dropped her head as Ahri chuckled a bit.

Ahri: "Maybe so. Even my master has made his enemies his allies. I don't see why us, his servants, can't do the same"

Caenis: ".. I can't shake off these feelings of regret still"

Ahri: "Then do me a favor, you can consider this atonement"

Caenis lifted her head up, showing a more calm expression.

Ahri: "Help us. I'm sure Master had other motives to this tournament besides just assembling the strongest young warriors from around. Perhaps he was seeing if we could all find a way to work together with others when those situations arrived?"

Caenis stayed quiet for a few seconds. After having collected herself, she lifted Ahri from her lap and kneeled down infront of the fox.

Caenis: "Ahri.."

She took her hand and kissed it before looking up to the L/n Bishop.

Caenis: "I can't begin to apologize enough for what I did. I can't hope that you may forgive me now, but in the future.. I hope to redeem myself. Not just with words, but with my actions"

Caenis: "On my pride as a warrior, I swear to be your spear. Whatever it takes, I'll swear to protect you and those you wish me to. Until I repay the damage I did.."

Ahri smiled cheerfully as she helped the warrior up.

Ahri: "Then, I believe I can count on your help with getting our Eucliwood back?"

Caenis nodded, showing her commitment to the cause.

Heracles: "Well, isn't that just great?"

Caenis: "Huh?!"

Heracles was up on the tree, eating an apple.

Caenis: "Were you here the whole time?!"

Heracles: "Of course I was~"

Caenis gritted her teeth in embarrassment and anger as Ahri sighed a bit.

Ahri: "Did you even scout ahead?"

Heracles: "I did, I need you two to come with me"

He jumped down and the group raced over to the location.

..

Upon arriving, their eyes widened as they saw a massive boulder about 2 stories high, with two individuals thrown into it.

Ahri: "I-Is that?!"

The two slowly began to crawl out of it while venting out angrily.

Y/n: "Well that was just rude, wouldn't you agree?"

Taira: "Yeah *coughs* We were in the middle of something"

A throne is summoned as Y/n sits down on it with Taira stands next to him.

Y/n: "I suppose they wouldn't like to talk it out?"

Taira: "It's a competition idiot. What warrior talks in battle?"

Y/n: "Weren't we doing that?"

Taira: "I-I don't recall it"

She looked away while the king chuckled.

Ahri: "MASTER!!"

Ahri jumped onto his lap and immediately began to administer healing magic.

Y/n: "Ahri? Well, isn't this a coincidence?"

Heracles: "Lord Y/n"

Y/n: "Heracles?.. I see you have company with you?"

He looked over to Caenis who stood besides the Greek demigod.

Ahri: "She's on our side"

Y/n: "Good.. Ahri, heal and buff Taira"

Ahri: "Oh. Alright"

She did as the King asked before Taira rushed infront of the two and cut down a beam attack.

Taira: "Dammit!! Seems they caught up"

Y/n: "I had a feeling they would"

Heracles: "Lord Y/n, who's the enemy?"

The King of Kuoh rested his chin on his hand while pointing forward with the other.

Y/n: "Them"

2 figures arrived, surprising the warriors.

Arjuna: "So this is.. where you ran off to?"

Karna: "King of Kuoh, we are not finished"

Y/n: "*chuckles* Neither was I"

I open my eyes as my mother's was glowing.

Y/n: "I was just about to get serious again~"