Eldritch 45

Rossweisse had run as fast as she could, glancing up routinely at the canopy to try and guess how much time she had left until the bunny women began to hunt her.

In retrospect, she didn't need to guess.

The instant the final rays of the sun vanished over the horizon, she felt her hairs stick up as some crawled up her spine. She knew this feeling, the sensation of being hunted. They were coming, and fast.

"I still haven't even found the pools," Rossewise murmured to herself as he continued to jump over roots and around rocks. In this hunt, most humans would be unable to survive. Only the most athletic or crafty would avoid being caught and taken down by these huntresses.

Her mind came out of this as she nearly fell down a steep hill, catching herself to slide down it. And at the bottom, she saw the pool, small circles of water that were just big enough to dive into and arranged like a dotted line. 

Rossweisse raced towards them and squinted as she saw something in them. An obstacle or a beast? She leapt over the pool, but when she looked down into them, she swore she saw a figure reflected in the one to her right and a second in one to her left.

"Lady Frigg? Lady Titania?" Rossewisse whispered, glancing back but not stopping. She wouldn't be surprised if they were both watching her progress.

She ran through to the next tree line, certain that she had no time to spare. If she stopped for even a second, those bunnies might be upon her.

Meanwhile

"So, I assume the mall is out?" Akeno asked playfully. "I mean, I wouldn't be opposed to two Isseis at once~"

Issei laughed briefly before answering. "Yeah, let's avoid paradoxes for now. Does the amusement park sound good to you?"

"Yes, I just wish I got something a bit cuter to wear," Akeno mock lamented as she leaned forward and posed in her uniform..

"Akeno, you can do sexy and beautiful, but I don't think you can pull off cute," Issei teased lightly.

"What a mean thing to say to a girl~" Akeno said as she pouted.

"....Yeah, no, that face is still just sexy," Issei confirmed cheekily.

"Well, I guess I have a personal mission now- finding a way to make you think I'm cute," Akeno decided with a daring expression.

"I look forward to that," Issei remarked in amusement.

They soon reached the park, and Issei paid for their entrance ticket.

"So, how much does it pay to be King of the Eldritch?" Akeno asked with a head tilt.

"Ummmm," Issei looked a bit sheepish at that. "You want the honest answer?"

"Well, now I certainly do?" Akeno answered with a raised eyebrow.

"Apparently, Yidrah set up an account for me where she dumps all money that was donated and sacrificed in my name, along with a one percent tax on all cult funds from... everywhere?" Issei explained, scratching the side of his face. "And some of the cults get their hands on a lot of funds."

"Hmm. Well, at least you don't have to worry about golddiggers, given the company you keep," Akeno mused.

"Yes, but then there are the ones with power fetishes," Issei said knowingly. "So, bumper cars?"

"Just don't be upset when I win~" Akeno said with a giggle.

The two continued their impromptu date, going through various rides, funhouses, game stalls, and more.

"Okay, what were the odds that they had a Cthulhu plushy as a prize?" Issei asked with a laugh.

"I'm not surprised. Besides, I'm assuming there are a handful of lesser eldritch in any given amusement park," Akeno said.

"You're not wrong," Issei said, glancing over to some animatronic display for kids. One of the machines winked at him discreetly. "Pretty sure we are part of the reason the FNAF franchise exists."

"I always thought some of them seemed a little possessed when I was younger," Akeno mused as she held the doll and wondered what Issei's eldritch form would look like in the future. "...Are they dangerous for humans?"

"Oh no, they're just lurking around for one reason or another. Some of them are blending in, others are feeding on whatever emotion they eat, and probably a few are cursed. Honestly, it's a bit crazy how many Eldritch are on Earth sometimes," Issei rambled. "Anyway, enough about work. How's life going for you, Rias, and the others?"

"Fairly normal, for us anyway," Akeno answered neutrally.

"Pretty sure that is a lie," Issei mused, noticing how she didn't add more. "Want to talk about it?"

"It's nothing new or serious, and I'd rather not spoil the mood," Akeno waved off as she looked off to the sun as it headed for the horizon.

He decided to accept that for now. "Any place you'd like to go, or should I walk you home?"

Akeno smiled suggestively. "Actually, there is some place I'd like to go."

Issei looked at her. "My place? Or a love hotel?"

"Either works for me~"

Meanwhile

"She was here, very recently," one of the bunny women said, inspecting a footprint in the ground. "Looks like she took a nasty fall."

Another was looking up at a tree of vibrant fruits. "She didn't eat the fruit, we would have known if we got a new member. She's actually going for the Lost One."

A third smirked. "Good! It's been a while since we got to eat someone. I wonder what we'll do with her. Stew? Cooked over a fire?"

More of them chattered in hungry agreement.

"Hey!" the lead one snapped as she stood up. "There's no eating for any of us if we don't catch up with her! Now come on! Hop to it!"

The squad of huntresses leaped forward at inhumane speed and lengths, heading further into the forest.

The area was silent for a moment before Rossewweise moved a rock out of the way that covered her hiding hole below the roots of a tree.

Her powers and abilities may be gone, but she was, for the most part, peak human. And as a Valkyrie, she had plenty of experience in the wild.

She sighed heavily to herself. "I just wish it hadn't taken me tripping on a tree branch to find that hole," she muttered to herself, whipping some mud from her face. She was gambling now, she knew. If her pursuers turned around at the wrong time, they'd swarm her. Or worse, be guarding the area just before the end. But just purely out running them had been a losing venture.

She had to outsmart and outmaneuver them to get the rest of the way.

And if worse came to worst, she would pray.

She certainly hoped it didn't come to that.

Meanwhile

"Today was wonderful, Issei," Asia said with a small blush, holding his arm as they left the mall.

"The pleasure was all mine," Issie said with overdramatic smoothness. "So, anyplace you want to stop at before we head home? Movie, ice cream, anything?"

"Actually?" Asia said hesitantly. "There's an abandoned church in town, right? I've been meaning to visit it."

"That place?" Issei asked. His surprise was only brief, remembering how much Asia's faith had meant to her. In a way, it still did, despite knowing the God of the Bible was dead. "Sure, though.....just don't go into the basement."

"Hmm?" Asia tilted her head as they continued their walk.

Soon, they were heading to the outskirts of town, to the more forested area that led to the old church. As they walked, Asia was acutely aware of the shift in the air. The eldritch were at work here, she was sure.

"...Issei, did a cult take over this church?" Asia asked in concern.

"No. Well, yes, but also no?" Issei answered sheepishly as he brushed the back of his head as they drew near the church. "It's kind of complicated."

"Not to correct you, Kungur, but it really isn't."

Asia looked over in surprise, but Issei only had a look of dry amusement as he saw the familiar face. "Hey, Aika."

"Great to see you too, Lord Issei," Aika said as she approached. Asia noticed that she was in a thin white robe that she wore loosely with little or nothing underneath. Aika came before Issei and dropped to one knee, spreading her arms and bowing her head. “Might I explain it to this mortal for you, My Infinite King?"

"Have at it," Issei waved on while Asia watched curiously.

Aika remained kneeling and bowed as she told the story. "This place was taken over by a cabal of rogue exorcists and fallen angels. Those who tried to slay our dear Kungur were members of this group before the sultana removed them. Some of the local eldritch helped us.....deal with the rot that remained in his house." Aika said with a dark and twisted delight. "But do not lose heart. Only the basement was defiled, for they had already defiled it."

"Oh. Thank you. I know....most of you do not care for a place like this," Asia said softly before looking up at Issei. "Would it be alright if I had a moment by myself inside?"

"Sure. I needed to talk with Aika anyway," Issei said, giving her a brief hug before she departed. He waited until she was in the building before looking down at AIka. "Alright, what are you all really waiting for? I know you've been using the basement as a meeting place, but I half expected this place to have been turned into a full-blown Eldritch church."

Aika giggled. "Oh, that is also very simple, Master of All Things. I know that Asia will one day fully turn her faith from her dead god... to you. When she does, I thought this would be the perfect place to begin your first cult, with her as your first true convert."

"And you, as the high priestess I ravage on the altar?" Issei asked in amusement.

"I was thinking that might be the initiation for this cult, actually," Aika said with a giggle. "This one specifically. I'm sure your male worshippers will have their own traditions in other cults dedicated to you."

"You've been thinking about it a lot," Issei mused before frowning. "I'm going to head in, so you can get off your knees."

"What, the sight of me kneeling here in a bathrobe not doing anything for you, Lord?" Aika teased lightly as she rose.

Issei ignored her, however, and entered the church.

There, down the aisle, Asia stood with her hands held together in prayer. She couldn't see it, but a dozen entities were creeping towards her.

Or they had been, before he entered.

With one simple scowl, the unseen eldritch fled before they invoked the wrath of their king.

Asia blinked as she felt a shift in the air, turning to smile. "Issei."

He was already smiling for her. "Asia. Sorry, did I interrupt?"

"No, I was just...." Asia paused and looked up at one of the cracked windows.

Issei leaned against one of the rows of seats near Asia. "You okay?"

Asia smiled nostalgically. "I was just thinking about the Church I used to live in. Before I was excommunicated. It was my home for the longest time."

"That must have been hard. Especially since all you did was heal someone," Issei mused.

Asia nodded as she looked down. "When they...cast me out, I wondered what I did wrong? He might have been a devil, but surely God wouldn't have wanted me to leave an injured soul like that. Knowing that he is.....dead....."

Asia fell silent, and Issei walked over to her and wrapped an arm around her. Asia buried her face into his chest.

"Asia? Ignore everything else. I'm not...some asshole god that just wants you to worship me or anything for an ego trip," Issei said firmly. "I just want to give you a new home. And I promise, you won't lose this one."

Asia smiled into his chest, silent tears of joy leaking from her eyes. "Thank you, Issei. For everything."

Issei smiled as he rested his head against hers. "Let's go home, okay?"

Asia smiled wider at that most precious word. 

Home.

Meanwhile

Rosseweisse gritted her teeth as she struck a bunnywoman in the throat to keep her from screaming. No doubt they had heard it, but the quieter she kept this, the harder it would be for them to pinpoint.

She had gotten lucky. She had slipped and fallen, but this one wanted her all to herself.  Rossewisse managed to take advantage of that, knowing she was a goner if she wasn't careful.

She headbutted her foe hard enough to make both of them bleed. When the bunny woman collapsed, the valkyrie took off running again.

She was close. She knew she was. She had seen some of the bunny women double back before she had been discovered.

It was either luck or some unknown blessing that kept her clumsy feet from faltering again until, at last, she could see the village through the trees.

"She's coming! She's almost made it!" She heard someone yell in the distance.

She gritted her teeth as she knew what that meant. Some were waiting for her near the end to ambush her.

So close, yet so far away.

She saw one swing down, smirking at her tauntingly.

No choice but to commit now.

The bunnywoman was taken off guard as Rosseweise dived at her, grabbing to slam her into a tree. She could hear them all around, getting close.

With her nearest enemy stunned, she continued to run.

She made it past the tree line.

But that wasn't the end, she knew.

She had to reach the village, and there was a wide open field between there and the forest.

Rossewie could see the leader, Tully, waiting at the village with a smirk of dark and hungry confidence.

Rossweise knew that didn't bode well.

She didn't even make it halfway before one blitzed her from the side and kicked her legs out. Rossweise grunted as she tumbled, trying to roll into it so she could try and recover to keep running. But another one was upon her, and pulled her by the hair to yank her back.

Rossewie glared up and found herself surrounded by the huntresses.

Tully stepped forward as the group parted. "Impressive. Any of us are rarely injured in these hunts," Tully mused, observing several bunnywomen with various wounds. "But the harder the hunt, the better the meal."

Several of them chuckled at that.

"Who gets to put her down?"

"I think Mell should- she might not be able to eat with that bruised throat."

"Hey, I'm the one who stopped her!"

Rosswiese tuned them out as she realized that there was no way out.

'And if you find yourself hopelessly in danger? Pray....'

No, it was better to say there was no chance to begin with.

Lady Frigg knew she would lose this contest. That was why she gave her those instructions.

Rossewise lowered her head and began to pray. "I know I'm not one of your people or, or anyone you know...."

"Huh? What's she mumbling about?" one of them asked.

"Begging for mercy?"

"She's probably praying to her gods."

Tully narrowed her eyes.

'But don't pray to us, Rossewise.'

"But I would appreciate some help with this....," Rossweise continued, the final word on her tongue.

All at once, the hairs on the back of every neck stood at attention.

Tully inhaled as she realized Rossewie was not praying to anything terrestrial. "Stop her!"

Some jumped to silence the valkyrie, to cover her mouth or rip out her throat.

But it was too.

'Pray To Him.'

"Issei."

Meanwhile

"Hmm?"

Aza looked up from where she sat and gazed at the Earth.

The vacant expanse of the moon was utterly silent as her eyes shone with surprise and adoration as she saw reality itself shifting around the planet that her lover called home.

"Oh, Issei, what are you up to?" Aza said wistfully. "You shouldn't tease Yog and Yad like this."

A breeze churned around her on the windless satellite, making her giggle. She wrapped her arms around herself, her smile so wide her face might split in half. 

"Ah, my beloved. I can't wait to behold you in your final form. And yet, I wouldn't dare skip one moment of this journey, this long engagement and eternal honeymoon of ours."