Interlude — Shieldmaiden Vs Discord

Somewhere within the world...

Eris walked down the large, white corridor. She contrasted with the interior around her. Her jet-black figure sauntered down the hall before turning the corner.

"Hm? Lady Eris, is it?"

"Great... The female shieldmaiden."

The goddess came into contact with a knight. A Valkyrie would be a more accurate description. A Caucasian woman in white armour. She had short grey hair and calm lilac eyes.

The knight—shieldmaiden rather—was Brynhildr, the daughter of Odin. Eris, the goddess of discord, had trouble dealing with someone like her.

What Eris was best with was causing discord, something that could disrupt another. However, the one thing she could not disrupt was those who held unyielding ideals. Simply, those who are either extremely conceited or true to their selves.

"What are you doing here in the Garden of Deities, Lady Eris?"

(Great, just the person to bump into...)

"I have my own reasons to come here. Reasons that you do not need to know."

Eris was not very good around people. As the goddess of discord, she was not liked by people causing her to feel uncomfortable when talking to others, specifically women. Eris felt more comfortable talking to men than women.

Brynhildr laid out her hand.

"If so, then might you have time to spare, my lady?"

"Pardon?"

"I may be a powerful shieldmaiden and the daughter of Odin, but de facto, my abilities as a Valkyrie have wilted. That is why I must ask for a mock duel with you?"

Eris stared blankly at her before smiling.

"Hm, okay, I don't mind entertaining you for a time, shieldmaiden."

·———·

The two ventured to the Hall of Action, where mock battles between gods and deities would take place. Currently, Brynhildr and Eris stood opposite each other.

Brynhildr summoned her shield and sword. She placed her sword in front of her while holding her shield at her side.

(That's a strange style. I guess I'll play with her.)

Eris said while licking her lips.

Among the gods, Eris was definitely among the thirty strongest. It would be difficult to give her an accurate rank since fighting prowess is not the only thing that determines strength among the gods and deities.

"Now, let us begi—"

As Eris spoke, Brynhildr rushed toward the black goddess. With her left hand, she sliced the air, attempting to score Eris.

"No mercy. I have to give you props for that."

Brynhildr's speed was spectacular for a shieldmaiden. Even with her heavy armour, she was able to attack Eris swiftly. Unfortunately, none of her attacks connected.

Suddenly, she feinted with her sword and bashed Eris with her shield.

"!"

"Oh..."

The goddess held the shield back with her fingers. She rewarded Brynhildr's shield bash with a roundhouse kick. The shieldmaiden was now wide open.

"I'll take that chance."

Eris clenched her fist and launched it at her open torso. It was a trap. Eris only realised it midway.

The shieldmaiden brought her shield down as it crackled with white flames.

"Svalinn!"

White flames burst from her shield, pushing Eris back. The goddess did not suffer any damage since she anticipated the attack.

She pulled back in the middle of her attack.

"That was nice bait. As a deity yourself, you have one of the strongest goddesses on the ropes."

"Please do not jest, Lady Eris. You're simply playing around, are you not?"

(I could say the same for you. She's holding something back that could hurt me but not defeat me.)

Eris analysed her.

(It's not just her shield which is an artifact but also that sword. Perhaps, both of them used together could injure me...)

The goddess turned around and stepped to the side, dodging the flames.

(I'll pressure her slightly. I want to see more.)

Eris dashed toward her, lightly battering her shield. It was enough to push Brynhildr back. While winding up her next attack, she took slightly longer to give Brynhildr an opening.

The Caucasian woman noticed it. The blade of her sword shone white. She stabbed at Eris' exposed side.

"Guess I was wrong."

There was a loud CLANG!

The goddess kicked the blade off of the sword. Brynhildr watched in awe. She inspected her sword, surprised.

"You're powerful when it comes to basic swordsmanship and physique but you're lacking in a lot of areas."

Eris said.

(That boy who called himself Death would be able to leave her with a scar...)

"Could you please advise me?"

"Firstly, you held back against me. This may be a mock duel but it is a duel all the same. Maybe it was because I'm a goddess. Do not hold back in a battle, no matter what it is."

The shieldmaiden nodded.

"Secondly, your moves seem to already be set in your head before you do them. They're stiff. As if you're using the same combination of skills from a video game."

"Video game?"

Brynhildr tilted her head. Eris shook her head, signalling to ignore her remark.

"Your moves are predetermined before use. Instead, you should implement the use of a sword style or use instinct to fight."

The Valkyrie was noting the goddess' advice in her head.

"Finally, you have no... finesse? No, that's not the right word. Finality. Finality. You don't have something that can be named a finishing. You only have that shield of yours, Svalinn, but it's not nearly the finishing attack you need. Something far more powerful."

"Something like?"

"Something decisive. Something destructive. Something that will win you the battle."

"Is that so? Then, I thank you for the lesson, Lady Eris."

(I thought we were having a legitimate duel.)

·———·

After the duel, Eris arrived at her destination. A room filled with gods. A meeting room, in other words.

"You've arrived, Eris."

A god with glasses spoke to the goddess donned in black.

"What's up, Argus?"

She asked, observing the troubled faces of the other gods.

"We've detected him."

"Him?"

The vagueness of the gods was something that Eris could never understand or get over.

"He's returned... The Godslayer..."

She realised.

"You mean...?!"

"Yes, War has returned."