Slaughter the Gods
As Qrow was sinking into the inky blackness, Raven closed her eyes and hummed before nodding in acknowledgement. She could feel he was changing but this particular change would only heighten his more selfish aspects. Though she knew he'd likely be more annoying too. Turning to Artoria and Tearwyn, Omen hummed before a mass of living darkness with eyes spilled out of the sword. It grunted in Raven's voice before taking the form it had before, Raven's. That is, a Raven who was as naked as the day she was born. She stretched her body while making a pleasant sounding moan of approval.
"Ahh.. better. I was confined for a little while so it's good to stretch. Hello there, Artoria, Raven and Tearwyn. I, am Pride" She formally introduced herself with a small smile.
"Why are you naked..?" Raven immediately asked, showing a considerable amount of embarrassment at her own body being shown so brazenly.
"Because you and I have an amazing figure? Anyhow, nice to finally talk to someone" Pride remarked with a glint in her eye.
"You're not doing yourselves justice, Pride. Amazing is to tame of a word for you" A sharp whistle could be heard from Artoria before she complimented.
"Yes! You're very pretty" Tearwyn nodded her head and said.
"Ahh... I can hardly wait until I naturally look this old. Wait, did I age up again, even in this form?" Artoria's figure seemed to shimmer for a split second before her armour vanished and she was left in her beautiful dress.
Tearwyn looked at her sister and hummed for a second before nodding and saying, "I think so! You look more mature, a bit "Thiccer" as Neo would say. As well as your bust, it's much larger now!"
"I do enjoy the compliments, thank you. You should take pride in yours too. Raven certainly 'noticed'. Ah, right.. Before we go charging in though, I do need to let you know a few things of importance" Pride then sat on a solidified mass of darkness she exuded and crossed her legs, winking at Artoria as Raven dragged her palm down her face.
~Stop outing me.. And why is she so damn frivolous?~ Raven sighed and fixed her gaze on Pride.
A sly smile appeared on Artoria's face as she nodded her head and subtly indicated she was very much enjoying the show. A smoll pop was heard as Tearwyn appeared hovering over Raven's head, and she started to give her some head pats with her tails while giggling. Raven just accepted them with a wry smile as she listened.
"First off. Though we have a far better chance against the Gods, now that you have all but one sin, it will be a rather damaging fight. Though the thing you plundered is being processed by Envy and Greed. That is, the Gate of Babylon you devoured from Gilgamesh. The chains of Enkidu can hold off the Light one while you kill the Dark one. Get them away from the Castle before you use that, though. It'll likely obliterate Salem if she's nearby. Apart from that, bathe in their blood. We're a step away from Ascension and only need the blood of a Dark and Light God to make that step. Any particular questions?" Pride asked, looking at the three, plus Qrow, who was crawling out with a grunt.
"I guess Kimblee knew that was necessary to Ascend huh.." Raven clicked her tongue while Tearwyn pat her silky black hair.
"Augh.. Rae come on.. I- My eyes!!" Qrow covered his eyes at the sight of Pride, earning a roll of Raven's eyes.
"Don't be a wuss. We're twins, who cares?" Raven responded to Qrow's groans, seeing his physical changes.
His skin was paler and smoother, hair a darker color while his eyes were a brighter shade of ruby. Seeing him check himself over, he nodded with a grateful sigh. Artoria glanced at Qrow for a second and lightly snickers as Tearwyn was gently patting him on the back.
"Well.. I'm a little confused here but that can be explained after you do what you gotta do" Qrow said before sitting back and listening
"You are that close to Ascension, huh? How enviable..." Artoria commented.
"Then you don't want me to fight the gods. I tend to erase what I fight" She said wth a slight disappointed sigh.
"No. But those two slaves of theirs are all yours. For your help, we can offer you one of the fruits that will come about thanks to the Ascension" Pride offered, turning over to Raven, who nodded.
"Color me interested" Artoria replied.
"Ever heard of the biblical story of the forbidden fruit? That, is the Original Sin. The mortal discovery of the God's Malice. In those fruits is the concentrated power of evil, you could say. Further on, in your very own path to Ascension, once you're close to it, the fruit can help you push past that final hurdle. Or, you can give it to a Dark aligned God or Mortal and they'll grow in power" Pride explained, watching Artoria and Tearwyn.
Artoria was about to speak when Tearwyn interrupted her. "No. You will not be giving me that fruit, Sister. You need it. And remember, when you Ascend our powers will be linked. I do not need any 'power ups'"
"I assume you don't have this fabled fruit on you. Need to grow it?" Artoria nodded her head in understanding and said.
"Yes. It'll use the blood of the Gods to grow a fruit. Which can be planted here, with your permission. I suspect with the influences here, it'll grow into quite a large and unique tree" Pride hummed, looking at the scenery with a smile.
"Yes, I would think someone of your standing would appreciate my Abyss Water and everyone loves Tearwyn's forest" With a smile Artoria said.
Artoria then created a small flow of Abyss Water and had it flow around her hand for a few moments before dismissing it.
"Hm? Others come here? I suppose I'll meet them after. I'm ready" Raven spoke up, prompting a smile of bloodlust from Pride.
"Yes, it's time we go and take care of your little god infestation. Tearwyn? Any pointers?" Artoria asked.
"Yes, just one. I assume they are both in mortal shells, since you said they attacked you personally?" Tearwyn responded with her own question.
As the three nodded, Tearwyn said, "Then before you fight the two Raven, you have to say 'I challenge you two in Divine Combat. Upheld by the rules of Divine Law.' This will lock them in the mortal shells, soul and all. And when you kill them, they will suffer True Death" Tearwyn instructed seriously.
"But make sure you also do not lose. Because True Death would also be your reward" Tearwyn then smiled wryly and added.
"Understood. We'll be back.." Raven replied as Pride once again entered Omen via its living shadow.
"See you soon, Tearwyn~" Artoria cooed.
Raven held Omen to the side and cut open a rift to Salem. Looking into the rift, her chest marking glowed. She exhaled sharply before going through quickly. Right in time to see the Brother Gods in front of Salem, seeing the Light Brother in Ozpin's body and the Dark Brother in one she didn't recognize. Beside them were their champions, Vali and Jeanne Alter. Salem fell back with a grimace, biting back the cry of pain in her throat as the presence of Light shone in her chest. Her body was breaking down, yet she still glared at them both mockingly.
"You returned-" The Light brother was cut off by a wave of intense hatred that washed over him and his brother, though Raven kept calm and spoke.
"I challenge you to Divine Combat, upheld by the rules of Divine Law" Raven uttered, seeing a distinct glow in both brother's bodies, signifying acceptance as they watched Raven and the rift.
As Raven was issuing her challenge, Artoria stepped out of the Rift. Looking around, she quickly took stock of the situation. Glancing at the "gods" she only scoffed, before she looked down at Salem.
"Raven. Your lover is being re-written by the light. May I?" Artoria asked.
"Yes.. please" Raven replied while looking back at Salem.
"A-Ah.. Another woman? You're popular, Raven" Salem joked, hiding the agony of her body crumbling.
Raven responded with a wry smile and nodded to Artoria as the Gods came closer, only to have their faces grabbed by a still furious Raven, who jumped into the sky, still holding onto their faces. Seeing Raven quickly moving away while shaking the entirety of the Castle with her jump, Salem looked at Artoria with a grateful smile.
"She's going to get all the fun. These two are so weak... oh well. First thing's first. Now, Salem. This is going to hurt. A lot more than what you are dealing with. Remember Raven, and you'll survive. Maybe" Artoria sighed and said.
Before anyone that was left could react, Shadowy Water like substance rocked out and consumed Salem in less time it takes an excited heart to beat once. Salem was submerged in a world of agony, even worse yet because of the water's fight against the corrupting Light. It was like being shredded within a wood chipper and reassembling at the same time. The agony continued like that as Jeanne Alter and Vali disregarded their Patrons' fight and focused on Artoria.
"You.. You killed Gil!" Vali screamed angrily at Artoria, who looked largely unbothered by their presence.
"Tch.. shut the fuck up and think for a sec. Did you see that fucking water she casually summoned?" Jeanne Alter scowled, remembering Artoria's words as she gripped her spear tightly.
"Gil...? Gil... Gil... OH! You mean that fake Gilgamesh? No no, my foolish usurper. I didn't kill that fake Gilgamesh" Artoria looked at the two reincarnators with extreme boredom apparent on her face as she responded.
This earned a confused expression from Vali as he too prepared to fight. Then, her next words sent him over the edge.
"I ripped out her system, and then tortured them for a few trillion years. Then, I erased them" A cruel smile showed on her face as she said.
Vali was instantly enraged, attacking Artoria with a fist full of Draconic might. His body wreathed in dragon flames as he launched himself at his target. Though his own system's cries to stop was left on deaf ears.
Artoria didn't even move when she took the punch to the face. He didn't even manage to wrinkle her skin. Seeing this, Vali felt a chill up his spine but before he could react, Artoria spoke.
"How horribly weak. And boring" With a light flick, she sent the boy rocketing away from her and straight into a Castle wall.
"Another fake, hm? Jeanne d'Arc Alter this time. Tell me, do you like dragons?" Artoria then looked at the other one and said.
"Considering who I currently am? Yes. But for you, I'll make an exception!" That's when Jeanne Alter acted. Planting her spear into the ground, she activated her Noble Phantasm. Waves of flame converged on Artoria and several pikes attempted to pierce her from underneath.
"How boring." A sigh escaped Artoria's lips as she replied. The flames simply washed over her, while the pikes shattered on contact.
"You both are not worth the effort. But, I have other ways to play with you" Artoria commented with a bored expression as Vali quickly returned.
Artoria then snapped her fingers, and her shadow then exploded out around her. Several seconds later, a massive Grimm Dragon rose out and released a large roar. The force blew off the rest of the roof of Salem's tower. Jeanne Alter broke out into a cold sweat as she saw the Dragon appear. Then, along with the Dragon, another Salem appeared, one not of this Remnant, who bowed to Artoria.
"My, how nostalgic. My old castle. My Goddess, you have called?" Salem asked with an eager to please tone.
"Hello, Salem. I have a few surprises for you. But first, please play with that little ant over there that fancies himself a dragon" Artoria replied as she created a throne of Abyss Water, and sat down while resting her chin on her right hand in boredom.
"And for you my cute pet. Kill her, and make it painful" She commanded the Dragon while pointing at Jeanne d'Arc Alter.
"Your will be done, My Goddess" The other Salem responded eagerly.
"Fuck.." Jeanne Alter cursed.
-Ten Kilometers away, Grimmlands-
Raven rocketed through the twilight-colored sky with both Gods in her impressive grip. The Dark Brother was the first to snap out of it and tried to break loose but it was useless. Raven's mark shone and she released them both, only to adjust in the air and violently smash her heel into the Dark Brother's face, blasting him into the ground. The Light Brother created a miniature star in his hand and swung it at Raven, who raised her arm and stopped it with her forearm before several black and crimson rifts opened around them. Widening his eyes at the hundred rifts, the God of Light tried to move away yet it was too late, as blackened chains of Enkidu surrounded and bound him in the air.
"Brother!!" The God of Darkness screamed up at his bound sibling.
Seeing he was bound in the sky, Raven nosedived to the ground, using her magic to turn into a giant black bird that briefly resembled a Nevermore. The God of Darkness quickly got up out of the large crater, only to see a giant beak about to impale him. Catching the beak just in time, he slid back several hundred meters from the force. Only to see Raven change back and score a flaming slash across his chest as she landed.
"AGH!! What the hell is that fire.." The God asked, holding his cut as it healed slowly.
"Hmph.. Good. It'd be a shame if you died so easy. I have so much pain in store for you both, after all. I intend to relish in it for as long as you still breathe" Raven declared, ignoring his question as her face broke out into a grin brimming with malice and bloodlust.