Naoki screamed.
The three angels lay defeated on the stony floor. He had won his fight, but not fast enough.
Futomimi was dead, having been no mach for Chiaki's overwhelming power. He had died fighting for his people and his Reason, but it had all gone to waste.
Naoki's legs gave out from exhaustion and he crumpled to the ground, hands twitching and slicked with his own blood. He barely heard his once-friend speak, and he watched with blurry eyes as the Manikins' stored Magatsuhi formed around her, exploding into a brilliant bright light. He threw his arms up over his eyes to shield the blast, looking up just in time to see the summoning of the Baal Avatar. There was another explosion, and then both the demon and Chiaki disappeared.
Naoki stayed on the ground for a while, choking and coughing on the upturned dust. It made his eyes water and he wiped them blindly, smearing blood onto his face. Only when the coughing subsided but the tears did not did he realized he was crying. The tears fell down his face and clogged up his nose, ugly sobs started to attack his chest. Futomimi's body had been thrown towards him in the explosion, and now lay in a twisted heap only a few feet away. Pulling himself up on all fours Naoki crawled over to the body of the once-dignified Manikin leader, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him into an embrace. He was limp, like doll. "A mud doll." His mind whispered, making him feel sick.
This was all there was for the Manikins it seemed. They had suffered, they had suffered so much and worked so hard for their goal. This was their reward, a bloody, hellish had wanted to help them. Ever since he had met them in the sewers he had wanted to help ease their pain, end their suffering. They had trusted him, and he let them down.
The tears had stopped now, simply unable to cry. He didn't deserve the comfort of tears.
Naoki lay Futomimi back on the ground, arranging him in a more dignified position than he had been. There was no point in taking his body to the surface, he didn't wish to speak to the people he had failed. He stood up, and stumbled back out of the cavern. Naoki no longer had a Reason he believed in, Chiaki had destroyed it.
But he would return the favour.