The dark, sinister building loomed over me and I couldn't help but tremble. I had upon many occasions imagined what it would be like, but nothing could have prepared me for the air of seclusion and morbidity it secreted. It seemed kinda ironic to me that the Exorcist Headquarters, the fortress of good in the world, was so dark and desolate. Hell, even the chunk of rock that it was placed upon was obscenely balanced on the verge of emptiness. I swallowed hard.

The door was several stories high and impassable. Squaring my shoulders, I hitched up my rucksack and reached out to tentatively grasp the brass knocker.

In that moment, everything changed.

A high, keening screech pierced the relative silence of the area. It reverberated through my brain and around my body and made my eyes water and burn. No doubt about it, this hellish sound was coming from inside. A blast resonated through the building, shaking it, making it tremble like my knees were. This could not be a good sign.

A hole was suddenly blasted through the side of the building – I rolled out of the way, landing on the hard ground with a huff. Darnit. Several panicked people clambered through, and, hot on their trail, a level 2 akuma slithered out on multiple centipedal legs.

It was a hideous thing, seven feet long and ugly with it. Its face grinned ridiculously and its pink tongue lapped up the humans' trail as if tasting their fear. Disgusting creature. Shrugging off my pack, I stood up and whistled.

"Hey! Hey Yeah, you over there with the ugly mutt! Hell, yeah, I mean you! Come on, prissy boy! I did your mother and she was one dry hump!"

It screamed at me and clumsily changed course. I doubted it understood me, but it's the thought that counts, right? Anyhow, it seemed to have caught my drift and was now heading in my direction. Good.

The Innocence that infused my body wriggled with anticipation. I didn't let it down. The akuma didn't even have time to blink before it was sliced lengthways down its middle. I grinned. Boy, that was just too easy.

Looking around, I saw the surviving humans gape at me. I winked and gave them my most hellish grin. They flinched back and I laughed. I kicked my pack out of sight into a bush and vaulted through the recently made hole and into Exorcist HQ.

The chaos that greeted me was really something. Akuma were being shot at here and there, and fleeing personnel wove through the entropy. All that delightful chaos energy was firing me up quite nicely and as I made my way to the epicentre of destruction, killing all akuma in my path, I could feel the Innocence tingling.

Rounding the corner, I perceived two giant akuma surrounding a group of scientists. They were going bravely, of course, but they were no match. One, seemingly the leader, wearing a misshapen beret, was standing tall and defiant with their last ammunition in the front, protecting his colleagues as he could. The akuma needed to do nothing but wait as they spent their rounds – rounds that bounced off the demons' sturdy hide. They were in a no-win situation. I decided to help.

Coming up behind the monsters, I quietly invoked my Innocence. It hummed through my flesh, rejoicing in the sensation of power and sheer chaos. I grinned manically. This was going to be more fun.

I launched myself noiselessly into the air. Not that anyone would have been able to hear me anyway, that with all the racket and other preoccupations, but it was good to stay in practice. I unsheathed my claws and landed on the akuma's neck. Wasting no time, I tore off its ugly head, somersaulted backwards onto the other and ripped through its back. Their dying screams were short-lived.

I mock saluted the scientists, and the leader looked both relieved and weary at my appearance. Finally, he stepped forward and bowed slightly.

"Our thanks." He said stiffly, "My name is Komui. May I ask who you are?"

I bowed in reply, "Name's Vin. I, uh, actually came to apply to the order." I scratched my head sheepishly, "and well, there was a hole, and I invited myself in. Sort of."

"Consider yourself accepted." Komui hastened to reply, "Now, if you don't mind me sending you to immediate danger, Miss Vin…"

"Just Vin. And I don't mind."

"The other exorcists may need assistance, through the door of the ark, behind this one."

"Sure thing, guv'nor."

I mock saluted the bedraggled party and opened the door. The sight very nearly shocked me speechless.

Very nearly.

"Holy hell!" I yelped, stunned by the enormity of the thing in front of me. I gasped more obscenities as I ran towards it. The explosions indicated that this was not a time for speechlessness.

Before me hung a huge mosaic that seemed to be made out of light, and in thin air. The digits 03 hung above it…also in thin air. It glowed and hummed and hung there, mesmerisingly beautiful and terrible. I leaped through it into absolute madness.

The floor, walls, ceiling, everything was crumbling and groaning from the pressure and the energy being given out from a point in the room. The point was a humanoid figure… I squinted – akuma! But never before had I seen one so… elegant. It moved unlike any other I had encountered before and its delicate wings shimmered. It was looking down upon a young man, maybe sixteen, who was desperately trying to stay on his feet.

"Destroying is my speciality!" It said, its voice sounding polyphonic and monotonous at the same time, "And now, exorcist, I shall destroy you!"

It was at about this time that I flung myself against it, springing away from its porcelain-like body as soon as I felt it hit the floor. I grabbed the boy and ran, jumping from piece to crumbling piece. He was lifeless. He must have passed out, poor thing.

A sudden whooshing sound behind me made me swing around. A large energy blast was coming my way, and fast. I hurled the boy to the side, skidding him across the floor, and braced myself for the impact, calling upon my Innocence.

Ka-baaam!

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