Among mighty Achilles’s many names and epithets was one fragment of the story nearly lost to the sands of time. In a similar vein to his infamous baptism in the River Styx, the Goddess Thetis had attempted to place her baby into a fire so that his mortal parts may burn away. Whether this ritual was done out of compassion or callous disregard is unclear, but it was most assuredly fatal. Before he could be burnt to ash however, the young boy’s father, King Peleus, hurriedly saved his life by snatching him away from the flames. Thus, Achilles earned his first name: Pyrisous. The one saved from the fire.  

Oh how Magnolia envied him so. 

She had no father to save her from the flames. Only her mother, a woman who had never given her own child a spark of warmth throughout the cold nights. Instead of the flames of love, she had burned upon her the flames of duty. Of her family’s history. Before she could even read, Magnolia had learned about the once great and mighty Hales. One of the families chosen to administer and govern over one of Yggdrasil’s realms. They were the elite, and they carried out their responsibility with zeal even as the centuries of time began to take its toll on the rest of Asgard. 

And that mighty family had now fallen. Her mother never told her the exact cause, but Magnolia learned through the hushed whispers by the servants that filled her home's halls. Too much change, always trying to rebuild the realm from the ground up every few decades. Enacting policy after policy in the name of improvement. They acted with good intentions, but their near obsession with their realm saw tem labeled them tyrants by their enemies. 

“A Hale is never satisfied until they tear it all down.” was the phrase slung about, though now those words had taken on a new meaning. A few short months before Magnolia was born, everything had changed. The fall of their realm, now known as the frost infested Jotunheim, had demolished their family’s once great reputation. An uncountable number of lives were lost, and the root cause was traced solely back to her family. Magnolia of course, didn’t realize what this had meant for her until she had grown aware enough to interact with others. 

Asgard was a realm founded on history and pride. Even if she was just a child, even if she had nothing to do with it, the blood that she had inherited passed the sin down to her. Both children and adults crucified her, any protest of denial was quickly shut down by scorn and hatred. Most zealously of all by her own mother. 

She remembered so clearly the day that her mother took her to see the survivors of Jotunheim. The ones who were lucky enough to get away before the branch of Yggdrrasil was severed from the trunk. Asgard had naturally accommodated them, and the danger had long since passed, but for some that was not enough. They had lost everything in the fall of Jotunheim, and were now nothing more than empty husks merely surviving to the next day. No matter how much they were cleaned and groomed on the outside, when she met their gaze, Magnolia saw the truth. Hollow eyes, the window of their soul broken as they forever stared into the past they could not reach. The despair, the numbness, a young child such as her had no choice but to drown in those emotions. 

Yet—

“Do not turn your gaze away,” her mother had commanded her coldly, forcing Magnolia to continue looking. “Sear this image into your mind. This is the burden all those who share our blood must bear. To look away is to forsake our duty, never forget that.”

And so, Magnolia remembered. All of Jotunheim, all of its consequences. She remembered every painful truth that her mother forced her to confront, forced her to bear the responsibility for. Only after she had done so did her mother give her the only words of comfort that Magnolia could recall. If they could even be called that. 

“Jotunheim was our sin, but it will not be our end,” the one now called the Matriarch of Ruin had declared. “We must not just accept our punishment, but repent and make up for the wrongs. You, my daughter, will be the one who will lead the Hales into the future and restore our glory once more.” 

It was not a promise. It was an order.  

After that, her real hell had begun. Her mother brought in the finest teachers that she could recruit, and Magnolia was trained every day to her absolute limits. There was no other way to describe it other then pure torture. Everything from general education, the art of fighting, politics, and even the fine arts were drilled into her body. She had to get perfect grades, perfect scores, perfect results. She was given no time to relax or be herself. Not when there was always something more that she had to learn. Slowly, before she had even realized it, Magnolia’s childhood had begun to burn away. But still, carrying the sins of the past and the hopes of the future, Magnolia carried on. 

Day in and day out.

Day in and day out. 

Day in and day out. 

But in the end, she was just a child. Still a human being. While the other children around her could enjoy their lives and their families, she was busy trying to live up to the expectations of her mother. Despite what she had been taught, Magnolia could not deny the embers of hatred and resentment towards the life she must live. Why did she have to go through this? Why was she not given a semblance of happiness? Why must she have been born a Hale? In the end, as naturally as one breathes air, Magnolia Hale burnt out. Her days were smothered into an ashen grey haze.

And then it happened. 

“Your mother’s as stuck up as always. Nothing like your father, now there’s someone who knows how to live! If only you lived with him now, eh?”

Magnolia couldn’t remember who or where she had heard it from, perhaps it was just a comment made in passing. She never knew much about her father growing up, the man had left their household shortly after Magnolia had been born. All traces of him in records had been removed, and the picture her mother had painted of him was a man who had run away from his responsibilities despite being the main perpetrator. An example of what not to follow. And yet, Magnolia’s nerves had been singed away, and now she could only feel the cold of the night. So at the thought of escaping this monotone life, she finally felt a spark of hope. 

...No, thinking back it couldn’t have been called hope. A wish yes, but one tainted in human greed and sin. Once the idea had taken root, it had ensnared her heart in a devilish desire. A frenzied madness born of hatred and desperation. For the first time, Magnolia acted behind her mother’s back and began a desperate hunt for any trace of her father. That was how she had met Anemone. Or perhaps that was the reason why she was approached by the girl, Magnolia could no longer say who was the one who acted first. Regardless, it wouldn’t have changed the outcome.

“Your father? Yes, I know him.” The daughter of the decadence faction’s biggest family waved her hand as if it were little concern. “Of course I can bring you to meet him. Though, not for free of course. Don’t worry, it’s just a few tiny favors...”

Magnolia didn’t care, she was already burnt out on life as it was. Even as those ‘favors’ of Anemone’s started to pile up, every one of them worse than the last. Even as she rampaged throughout the society of Asgard. Even when she eventually denounced her own mother in front of everyone, publicly throwing away her responsibility and duty in favor of her own hedonism. Magnolia didn’t care, because she was still holding out hope that eventually she’d find happiness. Because anything had to be better compared to living with her mother again, right?

In those days, Anemone showed Magnolia the seedy underbelly that lurked beneath Asgards shiny surfaces. The gluttons who fattened themselves up, the men who only lived to satisfy their lustful desires on those they saw as prey, all while giving their colleagues looks of greed and envy as they fought for scraps of power. She saw lives being destroyed, people being hurt, unable to do anything about it due to the power Asgard had given to simply who was born to who. Even in her mental state, Magnolia couldn’t help but be disgusted by it. That was the only thing she could thank Anemone for, for showing her the truth that her mother’s words failed to convey.

Though they prided themselves on being descendents of Gods, the saviors of mankind, in the end history was just history. All of it was in the past. If one didn’t act upon it in the present, then it wasn’t worth anything. Three hundred years after the construction of Yggdrasil, all that was left of those brave men and women couldn’t even be called human anymore. They were no more than pigs, rotting away in their decadent filth. Just by being in their presence, Magnolia could feel herself being stained by it. Perhaps she too would’ve become just like them, if it wasn’t for what happened next. 

Anemone must’ve gotten bored of her. At some point, the two had ceased to be equals and Magnolia had found herself swept up in her flow, dancing to her tune. But now it was time to face the music. One day, the favors had stopped. The decadent girl told her to follow, and Magnolia did. It was only when they reached a certain building did she realize that Anemone was finally going to make good on her promise. That her hope was about to be answered, and she could finally be herself, live for herself. 

That hope died the minute she stepped inside. 

She could still remember the smell in the air that tickled her nose. The stains of alcohol spilt on the scarlet velvet. The sounds of raspy voices and lustful nudity as the ‘people’ there continued to forget the world around them by partaking in the pleasure of the flesh. Every single square inch of the building was oozing with decadence, a filth that sent her skin crawling and her heart pound with every passing moment. Step by step, the bile in her gut grew stronger and stronger until eventually, Magnolia found him.   

Although she had never seen his face before, Magnolia knew it was her father. She could see the traces of her features in what remained of his sickening form. Instead of joy, all she could feel was disgust at what the man had become. For he had wasted away, nearly skin and bones. Hollow eyes that were clearly unfocused on the reality in front of him, blitzed out on who knows what. Her father fit in perfectly with the hedonistic surroundings, simply swirling his alcohol and occasionally reciprocating when one of the harlots wandered by. 

It was at that moment did she realize the fate of humans in Asgard. They wallowed in pleasure, but they never wanted for anything. Instead they simply rotted away in a half-baked sense of satisfaction, and at their worst they could be called no more than a living corpse. This was what she had thrown everything away for? This was where she thought she could find love and happiness for once in her life? That was impossible. As she looked into her father’s eyes, Magnolia realized that there was no future here for her. No one to save her from the flames. Just rot. Just the chill of winter. 

 Magnolia woke up from her deluded daze. Without even saying a word to him or Anemone, she ran straight out of the establishment. She couldn’t see the world in front of her, hot tears blurring away her vision. But still her feet moved, to a destination she didn’t know until somehow, she managed to find her way back to her home. Back to where her mother waited for the runaway daughter who had returned home. Magnolia thought everything was over for her, but instead the matriarch of ruin had welcomed her back anyways. 

“I’m disappointed in you Magnolia. Because of you, all my efforts in repenting for our sin have gone to waste.” The woman fanned herself, her gaze frosty. Whatever trust her mother had in her was gone. That was something that could never be restored. “But I must ask, do you remember the sight I showed you? Of the Jotunheim survivors?”

“....I do.” Magnolia hadn’t thought about it since she had burnt out, but the memories of what she had seen hardened her heart after it had just been shattered. “I remember all of it Mother, and now I see what really lies at the heart of Asgard.”

“Then I suppose something good has come from your tantrum.” Her mother nodded. ”Despite forsaking your duty, I’ll permit you to take up the name Hale once more as long as you understand and continue to carry out your responsibilities.”

Was it really that easy? No, for anyone else the consequences of following that responsibility couldn’t have been called ‘easy’. It was just that for Magnolia, the choice was simple to make. In Asgard, the human heart would be swallowed up by temptation and pleasure. They called it the Realm of Gods, because only a God could live without drowning in it’s depths. A human had desires. A human had flaws. A human was imperfect. She could not afford to- No she refused to live her life like those rotting scum. Fires of duty forged her resolve and she nodded, willing to bear the burden of whatever came next. 

“Good.” The woman snapped her fan shut, facing her daughter in full as she took out a card and placed it on the table. Engraved onto it was a lone warrior surrounded by spears, bulging muscles on full display. It would’ve looked like a majestic statue, if wrath hadn’t contorted his face into the countenance of a demon. The card read ‘Achilles’. “This is a personal Einherjar, one I will permit you to have as long as you prove yourself worthy of it. Know that being the ‘Best’ is no longer good enough. Magnolia, you will become someone Great. Become the wings of Asgard and lead us all into the future. Only then will we show Yggdrasil the repentance for our sins.”

“I will, mother.” Magnolia nodded, clenching her fits. “I solemnly swear on our family name that I will carry out this mission.”

And such was the birth of the Invincible Warrior. 

---

Silence fell upon the two as Magnolia finished relaying her story. Well in truth, they had both sat in a supposed silence. It was the telepathic connection of the Valkyrie Gear that allowed the blonde to pour her heart out so plainly. Thus the moment her story came to a close, Magnolia had shut her eyes and embraced herself in the quiet wait. It was agonizing. She knew that it was coming at any moment now. The curses, the disgust, the answer, the disappointment. It was just a matter of time— Or so she thought. 

“Are you an idiot?” Ash spoke in a blunt tone she would’ve expected more from that rowdy partner of his than her charge. The words caused her eyes to snap wide open, sending her brain reeling. They were insulting, yes, but not in the way that Magnolia had been expecting. Instead of hatred, there was just incredulous bewilderment written plain as day across the white haired girl’s face. “What does that have anything to do with me?” 

“Weren’t you listening?!” She found herself shouting before she even realized it. With one hand pressed against her chest, she pulled herself onto her feet. “I’m a Hale! The ones who destroyed your home, your future! I’m the one who caused you to become a Vintrkind in the first place! Anemone was right! If you trace back all your suffering, it really does come back to me!”

“You’re the one who should be listening to me!” Ash shouted back, hand moving to her neckline, where she traced the visible marking upon her skin. “I don’t remember much about who gave me this scar, but I definitely know that it wasn’t you or your family. I’ve told you before, I don’t even remember Jotunheim. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a footnote that has nothing to do with me. If we’re tracing history in order to pin blame, then I might as well curse out Odin herself for creating Yggdrasil in the first place.”

Magnolia hissed at the near blasphemous words. The worst part was she knew that this wasn’t just some bravado to hide the pain. Ash had told her before his Valkyrie form was his impulsive thoughts without any filter, words spoken directly from the Vintrkind’s heart. The Invincible Warrior could tell just from his face that he honestly didn’t car- No! That couldn’t be the case! Frustration boiled through the blonde’s veins as she found her wrath growing at this insufferable buffoon who just didn’t get it! “I’m responsible for everyth-”

Under any other circumstances, Magnolia would have reacted to what happened next just fine. But in the middle of plea, Ash suddenly deactivated her valkyrie gear, returning to his male form once more. The next thing she knew, there was a hard blow slamming right into Magnolia’s cheek as Ash’s voice tore through the air with an angry shout. “I’m not your responsibility!”

There was hardly any pain, but the shock still rattled her, knocking her back onto the ground. Her hands shook, slowly drifting to touch the spot where she could still feel the sensation of the blow. Words refused to come to her lips, dying on the tip of her tongue as she stared up at Ash. A frosty gaze stared back, sending shivers throughout her body.

“Is this why you were so upset when we first met? Why you’re so focused on my performance? Because you think it’s your duty to take responsibility for my failings?” Beyond just being handed the duty of his handler, having to take responsibility for everything that Ash does. That was the way of the Hale that Magnolia had been taught. The Vintrkind scoffed, spitting not on her failure, but on her repentance itself. “In the end, isn’t that just arrogance? If you really think just who you were born to matters… I’m underqualified to say this but I guess on behalf of all those affected by the fall of Jotunheim—”

And then, with an awkward look on her face but sincerity nonetheless, Ash pushed through the cold and stretched out a hand. One of salvation, one to reach out and rescue her from the fire. “Magnolia, it wasn’t your fault.”

“Ah… Ah!” Something hot dripped down onto her hands. Magnolia couldn’t help it, what soon was a simple droplet began to turn into a raging flood of tears. The Asgardian Wing candidate knew that she was in front of all of Valhalla right now, but at that moment she no longer cared about how she appeared. No longer needed to put on a display of strength. Those were the words she had wanted to hear for oh so long, but at the same time, she couldn’t stop the sense of emptiness she was feeling. “E-Even if that is the case! Without this guilt, without this duty- hck! What am I supposed to live for?!”

“How am I supposed to know that?” Ash replied, denying her the answer she was looking for. He turned away, awkwardly fidgeting his hands now that he had lost the frankness of valkyrie self. “...Magnolia, I get what happened to you in the past, but at the same time you’ll never be happy if you’re simply trying to complete a responsibility someone else gave you. You’re so concerned with what others think of you that you’ve stopped trying to live for yourself.”

“But that would mean-”

“It’s not just about hedonism. If you want purpose in your life, then make your own duty and responsibility. And if that’s helping others? Then go ahead and help them, regardless of what people say,” Ash Whitelund declared. “The reason why I want to become a Wing is because of my own selfish desires, but at least I know it’s because of what I want to do. Do you get it?”

She didn’t, not fully. It would take a long time for the idea to fully sink in, and perhaps it never would. The memory of her father who had drowned in Hedonism haunted her whenever she thought of living for herself. But… Magnolia still didn’t get it, but the little she did understand was enough to spark just the tiniest of flames inside of her. Not just a wish, but actual genuine hope this time. Slowly, with puffy red eyes, the blonde began to wipe her tears away. “I… do.”

“Then take my hand,” Ash said. “Stand up, and stand strong.”

Was it really that simple? Such a question filled the heart whose iron duty had been stripped away with fear and uncertainty. But soon something else took its place as she found the courage to grab a hold of Ash’s hand. Shockingly, it was warm. In fact, there was a heat filling her body, blazing brighter and brighter as she pushed herself off the ground. Standing next to Ash’s side, she felt as light as a feather and she couldn’t help but give an unrestrained laugh as a thought struck her. “There’s not really much difference between you and your Valkyrie form, is there?”

“...What’s that supposed to mean?” Her charge- No, the man who had saved her replied. The cool air that began to flood the atmosphere only caused her to laugh more as Ash glanced away in poorly hidden (for her) embarrassment. “No, nevermind. We’ve still got a match to win. Liesa, what’s the current situation?”

“Nothing within desirable parameters,” their operator, who Magnolia had completely forgotten about and- oh Odin that girl had been listening to their entire conversation! In fact wasn’t the entirety of that last part out loud?! Her mother was watching this oh nonono! The heat within Magnolia quickly turned into flushed embarrassment as Liesa continued anyways. “There’s about ten minutes and twenty seven seconds before the timer runs out. Anemone’s clones have been spread out through the entire field, blocking access to all the ones on the Red Team’s side of the field… but she hasn’t made any move to reclaim any other node than the middle one again. The score is currently at 3-4 in her favor.”

Focus Magnolia! You’re an Asgard Wing Candidate! Even if you just poured your heart out, you had to get a grip on yourself! “Even after she’s been called out on it, Montageue still wants to add ‘risk’ to her strategy huh? Hmph, how typical. She probably doesn’t even see as a threat anymore”

“In fairness, both of your shields are in critical condition. If her clones were to mob you then it wouldn’t take much for her to eliminate the both of you. Especially if she were to focus on one of you exclusively.” Liessa sighed in resignation, “While things look to be in our favor, I’m afraid to say there’s not much we can actually do.”

“So in the end, it’s like she’s taunting us…” The Vintrkind sighed, only to pause as Liesa suddenly let out an exclamation on the other end. 

“Oh Miss Kyouko you’re back- Ah! No wait! Don’t just take the headse-”

“Yo, Vargr! I saw you having a bit of trouble there and that got me thinking.” A dangerous thing, if Magnolia knew that Midgardian girl well enough. “Oi let me have the mic Liessa! We’re a team, not that Anemone is aware of that. She probably still thinks that Magnolia is still moping. If you were to just play on that assumption a little...” 

...They could pull one over her. A true trickster’s prank, though she probably wouldn’t have seen it that way. They needed to hide the fact that Magnolia was still in the game, though. 

“But how to do that?” Ash asked, clenching his fist before pausing to look at the body suit that covered his skin. “...Liesa-”

The Alfheim girl began to speak before he could even finish. “There’s more than one mic to use- Ah! Um, yes! I’m not sure if it was still storing energy within your Valkyrie form, but according to the readout there’s still enough charge in there for you to transform.”

“That so?” The wolf of winter sent Magnolia a look, one that set her heart aflame. “Well, what do you say? Why don’t we make Anemone experience a true gamble?”

The Invincible Warrior gave a wide grin. After everything she had been through, the thought alone delighted her. “You have the floor, Ash.”

His suit began to give off a white glow. Chilly winds whipped through the air as the Vintrkind raised his hand to the sky. For a moment, Magnolia shivered in the cold, but with her Valkyrie Gear she stood strong. In an instant, an explosion of frost blasted upwards towards the arena ceiling. It was small, but the blonde could see Ash’s lips twitch upwards as he pulled out his Valkyrie Card again before transforming. That action was all it took after all. It wasn’t long before snow began to fall from the sky and a blanket of frosty mist covered the world around them in a thick layer. 

Winter had descended upon them, and now it was time to bring the heat. 

---

As a wing candidate, it was only natural that Anemone had seen footage of the world outside Yggdrasil’s walls. Whiteout, she’d heard it was called, where the snow was so thick that all visibility disappeared. The red team leader couldn’t help but be reminded of it as the thick snow began to obscure the entirety of the arena. It was like the entire world had vanished, and it was just her now. Not that it truly mattered, the match would be over and done soon enough. 

“Valkyrie approaching from straight ahead.” Her operators informed her as she adjusted her gaze. There, she could see it, or rather it was the only thing she could see. “Only one enemy detected.”

“Thank you,” She replied with none of the sincerity. They were just doing the job she hired them for, when money was on the line thanks were unnecessary. That was how business transactions worked, after all. Even if they were just stating what Anemone could just see for herself. The figure was obscured, and they were holding a spear, but if Ash was trying to imitate Magnolia then he (she?) was completely lacking considering the visible wings sprouting from behind her back. With a flick of her thoughts, the messy blonde connected herself to her target’s Valkyrie Gear. “So you’ve come, have you Ash? I’m not entirely sure what you plan to do with this storm of yours, but just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I can’t fight you off. You’ll be mine soon enough.”

Anemone paused, taking note of the speed her opponent was moving. It was too slow for an Einherjar’s top speed, not slow enough that it was particularly noticeable but it was going at a rather leisurely pace for the situation. Curious, especially considering the timer that was slowly ticking down. “What’s the matter? If you really want to make your bets for freedom, then give it your all.”

“...Why are you still keeping this gambler thing up?” Ash rudely sighed. “We both know that this will come down to anything but chance.”

“Perhaps. Fortune doesn’t seem to be in your favor tonight.” For instance, the chance she would give him the victory out of pity was quite low. “But you can’t deny that luck has played a huge role in your life. I mean, you had quite the poor luck to be stuck with a Hale of all people. And one who hid the truth from you at that. Speaking of, where is Magnolia anyways?”

The decadent faction daughter sent a quick query to her operators. Was she perhaps skulking around in this blizzard or- “No sign of her approaching any of the nodes ma’am.”

“Oh dear. Did the Hale abandon you again?” Anemone chuckled to herself. Of course Magnolia did. After the blow that she had received, both mentally and physically, it wasn’t that much of a stretch to conclude she was probably crying her eyes out if she hadn’t forfeited the match entirely. That so-called Invincible Warrior was so fragile if you managed to just hit the right spot… Andemone supposed that was why her synch rate with Achillies was so high. “A pity, but I can’t say I’m surprised.” 

“I’m not giving up until the match is over.” Ash’s voice came back in a near snarl. “So come and face me before I get over there and tear into you myself.”

“So hostile. Where’s that surgery tone you use with the other girls?” Anemone faked a pout as she mulled over what to do. Theoretically she could just sit here and wait it out but… Hm, that would be a bit too boring. With a wave of her hands she summoned two clones to guard the node, just in case. It wasn’t like she was actually risking anything after all, Ash knew how to work a Valkyrie Gear but was far from the level of a Wing. “But very well. I suppose in order to tame a dog you need to show it some discipline first!”

If one knew how to control a fire, then no matter how much they played with it they would never get burnt. That’s why Anemone had no fear as she pushed her Einherjar at top speed, readying her weapons. Getting closer and closer to her newest toy. And yet, so blinded was she by her greed and excitement that she didn’t notice something was wrong until it was too late. In the white snow it was hard to see, but once she was in-range she was greeted by the unmistakable sight of Ash, clinging tightly to none other than Magnolia Hale. 

“Hello, Anemone,” the blonde she had thought was done for said with a slightly feral grin. “Are you feeling lucky today?”

Outwardly she tried to keep calm but she quickly sent a shout towards her Operators. “I thought you said he was alone?!”

“T-That’s what we thought!” They replied in a flustered panic. “But the snow-”

Confused their sensors. Ugh! Without even bothering to hear them out, Anemone shut down the line. Inwardly she tried to suppress her frustration at this twist of events while giving her usual smile. “Magnolia. So you still have the gall to stick around. I never knew you were this shameless.”  

“Well, I’ll leave this to you, sweetie.” Ash gave the daughter of the Hales a quick peck on the cheek before darting away with a cheeky wave at Anemone. Within seconds, the Valkyrie had flown off behind her, and when Anemone moved to give chase, Magnolia blocked her path with her spear. 

“There’s something I have to say to you Anemone,” her fellow Wing candidate declared. “And you’re going to listen.” 

The messy blonde glanced behind her before biting the inside of her cheeks. The pain stung, but she knew that her clones could probably handle whatever Ash tried to do. “And what would that be? Here to apologize for hiding your sins-”

“-I don’t care about that anymore.” What? But that was… “No, saying that would be a lie. I just no longer feel like I need to repent for what I thought were my sins. Even without the guilt, I know now that I will never fall into the world that you showed me. That I will never become like my father.”

The Invincible Warrior brandished her spear, battle ready. “If you were to ask me what my duty is now, I wouldn’t be able to answer. Maybe in the future I will, but that answer will be one I make of my own desire. And I know what I want right now! To pay back everything you’ve given me tenfold!”

“So what?!” Anemone hissed as the flow of events began to flood in a new direction. “You really think that you can defeat me with that? Even with Achillies as your Einherjar, what remains of your shield can barely even be called that! A few hits from me and you’re done!”

“Then I’ll sacrifice it. Burn it away, exposing my weakness for all to see.” Magnolia Hale’s body began to glow, blue-white flames crawling up her body as she lifted her spear. “Behold Anemone Montague! This is the fire of the Gods! PYRISOUS MODE: FULL BURN!” 

The blonde was set ablaze, her hair taking on a golden hue as she began to burn away her shield. From the neck down, the Invincible Warrior looked to be made from flame itself, only a few scraps of her bodysuit remaining to preserve her modesty.

Anemone could only understand what was happening intellectually. Mode Changing was to attune oneself to a different part of the Einherjar’s legend. The more well known and stronger the Einherjar, the harder it was to achieve. In that sense, it was a testament to Magnolia’s skill that she could achieve not one, but two additional modes for Achilles in such a short amount of time. And this was the culmination of her ultimate mode, the real Pyrisous. But the rising synch rate could only have been achieved by a mental change, a change in the girl’s heart. And there was no way… 

“There’s no way that the Magnolia I know could’ve achieved such a thing!” Anemone snarled, pulling out her entire arenseal. Clones and missiles, everything that she could throw at the impossible variable, wanting for it to just disappear! “That’s impossible!” 

“That’s right. If I just remained on my own I never would’ve been saved from the fire.” Anemone couldn’t even see the movement, only trace the glowing trail that appeared when Magnolia struck down every obstacle in an instant. “But I’m not on my own anymore! I… There’s one man who saved me from that hell! Whose side I want to stand by no matter what!”

“So there’s only one last thing to say to you!” The heat was rising, and Anemone felt like she was boiling in Magnolia’s presence. Her plans and calculations all fried in her brain. Just looking at the one who was supposed to be her equal, and at times her lesser, made her eyes water. Everything felt dry and barren. For some reason, Anemone recalled a phenomenon that used to occur in the old world, before the Jotun. One that seemed impossible now, but aptly described the girl in front of her: Summer.

The girl of burning summer had been partnered with the boy of frigid winter. Something that was laughable to call mere luck. Perhaps it really was fate. 

“Anemone Montague!” Magnolia cried as she thrust her spear forward, becoming a burning streak fire which cut through the snowy skies without any hesitation. “FAREWELL!”

With a single blow, Anemone’s shield was shattered and the decadent girl’s world was consumed in blinding flames. 

---

Ash could tell that Magnollia had done her job, both by the sight behind her and the sudden disappearance of Anemone’s clones, leaving the node in front of her empty. The white haired girl couldn’t stop herself from smiling as she looked back at the sight behind her. 

“Hey! Vargr!” Kyouko shouted in her head. “The clock is still ticking!”

The white haired girl rolled her eyes before dropping to the ground and staring at the red pillar. The battlefield around them was very different from the first time she had arrived here, but she couldn’t help but grow annoyed with this node in particular. “Third time’s the charm!”

Confidently, she placed her hand on the node. For a few moments it flashed before once again, and for hopefully the final time, the node turned blue. 

Suddenly a field of energy swept through the arena, taking with it her frosty snow and the devastation they had caused. A loud horn cut through it all, before once more she was greeted to a deafening roar of cheers and applause of the audience throughout the stadium as lights began to flash from overhead. Of course, Ash didn’t even bother to read it. She already knew what it said. 

Victory was theirs.