"Scans show only one presence inside."

"So," Upsilon said. "How do you want to approach this?"

They were all assembled in front of the arcade's doors, alone in the pitch black night. They were fully prepared for a fight, not only with their armor and weapons, but also with various other items: Nero had a holster carrying the Caster Carbine and three clips, Omega had affixed his two heat sinks to his gauntlets, Epsilon's necklace, Upsilon's Advanced Archive, and even Helen had brought a oversized key with her. They also wore helmets from the far future; the pinnacle of human technology. They were ready for whatever was on the other side, but with Psyche's readings they didn't quite know how to start.

"Kicking down the door would work." Helen advised, running low on patience.

"Good, but we don't know who's in there." Omega pointed out. "I could pass through the wall and check."

Nero got an idea. "No, you'll pass us all through; everyone hold hands." They did so without question, with Omega in front. "Now you can go, Omega."

Omega walked through and one at a time, they all went from one side to the other, keeping themselves hidden. The place was dark, and empty except for one cabinet; its lights flashing and the sounds echoing in the silence. There was also the complaints coming from the other side of the aisle.

"Come on, come on…yes! Today's the day I finally beat this thing!"

Upsilon recognized the voice. "Mara."

"This is how she must pass the time." Rho deduced.

"Let's surprise her." Gamma said. "These cabinets are linked back to back."

"I'll handle this part." Upsilon went over to the game across from her. When the challenge was issued, Mara was initially confused, looking over to see who it was interrupting her. Turning down the opacity to his helmet, Mara saw Upsilon's red eyes, a familiar sight to her for some time.

"Please don't get up." Upsilon half threatened. "I want to see how good you are at this."

"What do you want?" Mara asked. She knew to expect him, but even so, she was wary. "Hild's location no doubt?"

"I'll put that answer on the game's outcome." Upsilon was rather playful as the game started. A fighting game, Upsilon was a little slow to start, never having played before, but his brute force methods did eventually produce results. Slow and methodical was his way, and soon enough he won. Mara was at her wit's end but her attempt at attacking was thwarted when the rest of Upsilon's friends were right behind him.

"So, will you tell us where your boss is?" Nero said. Mara clenched her teeth, only to smile as she remembered where Hild was.

"Home."

Gamma gave a frustrated sigh. "Figures."

Rho's brow furrowed. "So what, she's in Nilflheim?"

"You didn't think she'd wait for you here?" Mara grinned, showing her fangs. "If you thought it was hard now, you don't even know the half of it!"

"Is that true?" Helen said, not in fear, but in excitement.

"Hild holds back the lion's share of her power when she comes to Earth. She'll be too much for you to handle, and that's assuming her team isn't there."

Omega wasn't afraid. "We'll take 'em all, just show us the way."

Figuring out that they weren't taking no for an answer, Mara lead them to the door leading to the basement. It was similar to the doors used to travel the infinite realities that make up the multiverse. When Gamma tried to turn the doorknob it wouldn't budge; the lock glowing with strange symbols.

"Looks like it's my turn." Helen stepped forward with her giant key, pointing it at the lock. A beam connected the two, and the lock clicked open. The door swung open and they went down the stairs, Mara slamming the door behind them. "Should we had let her go?"

"She's not an issue." Nero said.

"The team she talked about, Upsilon brought them up too., Who are they?" Epsilon asked, the end of his halberd making an audible tap-tap-tap on each step. A faint wind flowed around him, and he could feel that something had changed about their location.

"Hild's chosen; the ones most loyal to her." Gamma explained to take his mind off of the change he felt. "Hagall, Eihwaz, Mokkurkalfi, 'Invincible' Thrym, and 'Ebony' Halval. All of them are average spellcasters, but they each have one mastered skill that makes them dangerous."

"I've met Thrym in Tosa." Rho said. "If each of their skills is as well trained as her raw strength, were in for a rough time."

Helen still didn't like how little information they had even as they approached the end. "What of the two we haven't seen: Halval and Hagall?"

Gamma noticed it getting darker, and wreathed his left hand in fire. "The eyes of Ebony Halval can see sound waves like we see photons, and wields sound and darkness as a weapon. Hagall is second in command of all demons, and can create illusions simply by making eye contact with the victim. Either they've been holding back, or they've been spying on us, using their powers to render themselves unnoticeable to us."

"Well that's why we packed the helmets; no eye contact, no illusions." Nero said.

"And if that fails, she can't trick a machine." Psyche added. "Leave Hagall to me."

The stairwell finally ended into light, and they were emptied out into a arena. It was rather large, made to seat thousands, but it was empty but for them. There was no sky, as a dome ceiling was above them, the patterns sharp and jagged, having only the semblance of order. Gamma and the others could see that this was to be a battlefield, and that there was no way out but to win.

They spread out; Gamma, Rho, and Nero in the center, Epsilon and Omega on the left, and Upsilon and Helen on the right. searching for the enemy. From the distance they heard a grunt from seemingly nowhere and as they searched for it, what they found was a massive pillar hurdling towards them. Rho moved first, throwing a punch that broke the stone column into rubble, clouding their sight.

A voice called out through the gray smoke, vague shadows shifting from where the pillar was thrown. "You've been training Rho! Good; I didn't want this to be a walkover."

The dust settled, exposing the demons. Thrym was in front, showing no fatigue despite the pillar's size. To her left was Eihwaz and Mokkurkalfi, just as anxious at the giant to settle this feud. On the right was Hagall and Halval, calculating and careful. Hagall was worried about the fact that she couldn't see their faces, but that's why she had help. The two groups stared at each other, waiting for each other to make the first move.

Hagall stepped out in front. "So it's come to this. Even Hagall can be wrong about something so trivial as a few ambitious humans."

"You're in the way." Epsilon voice had a hard edge to it, unfamiliar to even himself. " Move aside and show us our real target."

"Could you at least say please?" From behind Thrym, an adult Hild elegantly strode out into view. Even without trying, Gamma and the others could feel that she was much more powerful than before, which suited her plans just fine. "I think I've earned that much. I'm getting off topic; it's wonderful to see you here! With a new face as well; how are you, Helen?"

Helen blinked a few times, incredulous at the elation these demons had at the aggressors at their doorstep. "I had heard of you, but I hadn't expected what I see now."

"I'm not what anyone expects when the first see me." Hild admitted, crossing her arms. "It makes my job easier, and more fun."

"I guess I thought someone with your standing wouldn't need help."

"I don't, but when I told them about you, they just had to come."

"They threatened your life!" Hagall emphasized. "We won't let that stand!"

"I threatened her life." Gamma confessed. "Take your complaints up with me."

Hild turned to Gamma. "Speaking of help, why didn't you ask? Considering the type of people you've met, let alone the happy couple that you just left without even telling them, they would have came in a instant."

He took her mocking close to his heart, but his mind was made up. Gamma's skin was warm from the light from the dome, sensitive to the slight wind around him, and the shifting of the friends beside him. For a second he could swear that he could even feel Psyche.

"They've already been through enough. Their peace was earned, and they deserve every moment of it. We, every single one of us, passed up the chance when it came our way." He spread his hands out. "I picked a fight that brought us as close to hell as you can possible get!"

"And we'll end it here, now!" Omega shouted, bounding forward between the two groups and with a sweep of his hand, a stream of red plasma lashed out at the demons.

"Too easy." Halval in turn twirled, sending one shadow that swallowed the attack, and while Omega was in awe, the second one swallowed up him, Epsilon, and a fair amount of the arena, missing Rho by a hair's breath. She then slipped into the shadow herself with a faint cackle.

Rho was also stunned by the sudden darkness, which he only had broken out of he heard the stomping of Thrym. Caught off guard, he had just enough time to brace himself, but he was still caught up by her arms. As he was carried away he landed blow after blow with his fists, and was only met with her wild grin.

"Course of action?" Upsilon asked, understanding that the fight was in danger falling out of control.

"Nero and I can take Hagall; you focus on the rest with Helen!" Gamma charged, trusting that Rho, their best martial artist, could defeat Thrym, and that Epsilon and Omega would escape the darkness.


There were a lot of things Omega had to learn about his new blood-infused body, but it had a few things he could understand, one of which was his low-light vision. He could see everything clearly in places that others would find pitch black, but here even he could not find his way. He slid his feet across the ground, making sure he didn't fall into any holes that might be around.

"Epsilon! Epsilon!" He got no response from Epsilon, but he was brutally smashed in the back by Halval for his trouble. As hard of a hit as he had taken, it took him a while to get up to his feet. Soon he figured out that the HUD in his helmet had went out as well, and knew that this was not normal darkness he was in.

Epsilon had come to the same conclusion when none of his illumination spells worked. "This zone…eats light…" He deduced, taking off his helmet. "This must be why they call her 'Ebony'."

"Not bad at all, for the one once called the Champion of Light." Epsilon could sense Halval close by, but she was always out of sight, and her energy was spread out across the zone, effectively making her invisible even more than she already was. "I never got a chance to meet you before, but swallowing you up now will be suitable."

"Like I'll let you touch me!" Epsilon rapidly swung out with his halberd, using a combat form that covered every part of himself: forward, sides, and above. He knew it wasn't a permanent solution, but it would buy him time.

"Who said anything about touching you?" A deep, reverberating sound enveloped Epsilon and his breath hitched as bile rose in his throat. He dropped his polearm as his sense of balance was lost. Under the noise's constant assault, he could only hold his hand over his mouth as he vomited, falling to his knees. Retching without stopping, he began to suffocate, not even having the time to breathe as Halval watched him, his last few gasps making him appear dim to her own sight.

"Hey!" Halval turned to nearly get run over by Omega. She dodged him easily, but the break in concentration spared Epsilon who Omega lifted up.

"This place absorbs light." Epsilon moaned. "Our electronics don't work here; even my Amplifier."

"Yeah, I kinda picked up on that." Omega said hurriedly, trying to hear as much as possible. "That noise was from her as well?"

"You heard it? Are you okay?"

"Slightly queasy, but if these bones can handle space I'll be fine." Omega came up with a plan. "Can you create a high pitch whine?"

"Wouldn't work. Halval doesn't use echolocation; she sees sounds, that's not the same as blindness."

Understanding, Omega let Epsilon go and began to focus, his power increasing as well as the temperature. Wobbly but still lucid, Epsilon noticed the sweat pouring down his face and the metal heating up. "What are you doing?"

"I generate heat as well as light as I power up. With my heat sinks inactive, I'll burn this darkness away with her flesh."

"And us as well?"

"Listen to your friend." Halval beckoned, reaching the limit of her tolerance to the heat. "Do you really want to die Epsilon?"

"No, I don't." His head turned to the direction of the demon's voice, Unknowingly looking right at her.

"Holy Wind Press!" He spread his arms wide, and the sound from his clap might have well have been thunder. It deafened Epsilon and Omega, but blinded Halval. It kept her stunned long enough for both of them to land one solid punch on her, breaking the spell.

The lights were harsh on everyone, but the as the spots left Halval's eyes she noticed herself being held down by Omega, or what she thought was Omega.

"The name's Mark." He preemptively answered her. "Don't do anything funny; you don't want to make them madder."

She looked ahead and saw Epsilon and Omega, both brimming with energy; Epsilon's aura was a billowing white, Omega's a chaotic black. between them was a angel of white and black as well.

"Light and darkness don't mix well." Epsilon declared. "But what happens when they do?"

"I'd rather just show her." Omega replied. "Ready?"

Epsilon nodded and they both fired their energy blasts. Mark let her go and got out of the way, and Halval created another shadow to consume the attack, but before it got there it exploded, the shockwave knocking her back and knocking her out. Mark came up to Epsilon with a smile on his face. "Your ear's bleeding."

Epsilon wiped it off and Mark went back into Omega before he had a chance to thank him. "That was a trial, don't you think Omega?" He was shocked as Omega was doubled over, clutching his chestplate.

"Ngh, looks like the light isn't kind to me anymore." He strained to speak. Seeing how worried Epsilon was, he gave him a thumbs up. "I'll be alright, let's get to the others; they need your help more than I do."

"You're not dying on me again! We'll go together!" And they picked up their helmets and went off to where the others were fighting.


A loud crack was made when Rho hit the far wall of the arena. Slumping to the ground he got up where Thrym was standing over him, still with that grin.

"Shall we get started?" She said, getting into her fighting stance.

So full of pride, these demons are. Rho thought as he got into position as well. Even with her showing of strength, he was certain of victory. "Do your worst."

Thrym's movements were faster than Rho was used to, her fists blurs as they came in at every angle, and Rho was moving as fast as he could just to avoid them. The rare hits they exchanged with each other didn't harm Thrym, but Rho could feel his bones give way under the blows, his armor the only reason they hadn't yet broken. As Rho stumbled back, she laughed at him; a deep booming laugh.

"Do you give up?"

Rho's aggression peaked and he summoned his right Pile Bunker, driving any feeling of pain away. He moved in again, deflecting the first jab, slipping the following cross and landed a blow at her kidney. The two-stage explosion rocked his arm and shattered the ground. Even with all of his power, the demon only took one step back with that same grin. "Did you create that just for me? I'm touched."

He was dumbfounded at her resilience for a brief moment, and Thrym flexed her muscles, stretching out each one as the manner as a bodybuilder. "It feels good, doesn't it?"

"What?"

"Going blow for blow with an enemy equal in strength? You can't say you don't feel a pleasure in it with every punch and every kick. The ever present desire for power through martial skill…" She sighed wistfully. "I could use a rival like you; what do you say?"

Rho wasn't to be tempted. "You're strong I'll give you that much, but you're just business." Rho ran back into the fray, but at the last second he got rid of his armor, the resulting burst of energy giving him the momentum. Thrym was on her heels, teeth clenched as she wondered how this human had somehow tripled his power. He practically glowed to her as his limbs moved faster and faster, and nothing seemed to hold him back.

"How are you doing that?" Thrym's frustration made her sloppy, even as

"You haven't been paying attention have you?" Rho joked as he grabbed her arm and with all his strength twisted and threw her to the ground, leaving her in her own personal crater. She stared up a him, his face stern and focused.

"I am a child of Israel!" He declared. "The man who struggled with God and won! What demon can be a match for me?"

Thrym roared, springing up and striking twice with punches that that sounded like whipcracks. He caught the first one in his palm, and the second one hit him in the chest. He didn't budge, or even feel the impact.

"My spirit is a armor that can't be broken."

"I understand." She sat down, legs crossed, and buried a hand in her cheek. "Get going, I know when I'm beat."

Rho took a few steps back, and when he was sure that Thrym wasn't going to try anything, he set off. As he moved, a grimaced spread as he felt his ribs shift poorly. He figured that they must have broken in the fight, but he had to keep going. "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small…" This was the fight he was born for after all!

I've never found a object I couldn't break. Thrym's mind recalled a broken door she smashed a hole through by mistake, and the person she was trying to hit then. And yet…the human spirit is something else entirely.


They were a team, unrivalled among all of humanity. Unfortunately the two demon sisters they had confronted weren't so easily intimidated. The oldest one took the first move, eager to get started.

"I'm not going to let you show me up again, Mok!" Eihwaz goaded, creating a last second spell circle. Before stepping in Mokkurkalfi pulled out a cube of intricate design from her red robe.

"So you want to know what the true strength of steel is? Now that you're here, I can show you!" Upon her mental command, the cube expanded and wrapped around her, creating a hulking, hunchbacked, and headless exoskeleton, the blocky exterior a parody of Gamma's own.

"You can deal with that, right Johann?" Helen asked.

"I should-" His voice stopped as he felt his power drain from him, only a small flicker of it remaining. His awareness was just enough to backstep away from Mokkurkalfi's attempt to grab him. "This might take a while."

"One of Eihwaz's traps, no doubt." Helen grumbled. Their energy might be nearly unusable, but they still had their full physical strength to draw on. She chased Eihwaz down as she somehow flung darts of elemental magic at her, scoring her armor black.

"I forgot to thank you!" Helen said.

Eihwaz was surprised. "For what?"

"If it wasn't for you demons, I would have never reunited with Johann! Even with that however," She flashed her teeth and brought her sword to bear. "I did tell you that I'd rip you apart if you got between us."

Eihwaz growled and shot even more blasts of energy that Helen dodged as she got into range to use Kralle, striking quickly. They were close to each other close enough for Eihwaz to see Helen's wild red eyes. Helen was overjoyed at her opponent's tenacity as her own skin burned, relishing the pain and pressing on. She managed to grab her dress and toss her farther away

Away from them, it was Upsilon trying to dodge the various explosions coming from Mokkurkalfi's shoulder rockets. Chunks of rock and metal shrapnel peppered his face, causing cuts which welled with blood after a short time. The armor was thick and although he was able to make some marks on it, he couldn't reach any critical systems. He changed tactics, targeting the pilot directly, but even that proved ineffective against the impact-absorbing cockpit.

"Behold, the perfection of machinery!" Her voice was made harsh through the synthesizer. "You've never believed in flesh, and you know better than anyone how it can be twisted and torn. Why do you rely on your flesh?"

"The pure machine is insufficient, it's inflexibility intolerable." Upsilon stated. "In the little time I have been here, my power has increased exponentially! And this flesh, although torn, has become stronger in turn. The weakness of the flesh is in the belief that it can not be like the machine." He focused on the center of the mech, where Mokkurkalfi was. "I will show you."

Her response was a cannon shot from the left arm that Upsilon charged past as he crashed into the center of the machine with all the force he could muster. The two arms came in and grabbed him, squeezing his ribs, but Upsilon kept coming, eventually forcing her on her back. On top, he stabbed and punched with his giant shield hand, trying to break through the armor. Panicked, Mokkurkalfi opened up sections around her cockpit letting loose with a set of flares. Blinded, Upsilon was off guard as a drill slashed his leg. Forced off and helpless the whirring drill prepared to run him through. He felt the warm splatter of blood on his face, but when his vision cleared, it was Helen standing over him with a hole in the left side of her chest.

"Hey, I guess we match now." She grimaced.

Upsilon held up a shaky hand to caress the wound. "I-I don't know how to beat these two."

"The same way we beat everyone else before; together."

Without a word he reached out and held her hand, surprised at the surge of energy, but sure at his course of action. Bringing Panzerfaust to bear, he put all of his power into one punch, the spiral path that Mokkurkalfi saw it take left no defense. The fist tore through the armor on the right arm severing it completely. Crippled, Mokkurkalfi had to leave the machine. Even limping out she was still defiant.

"Damn!" She pulled off the parts of the broken interface that clung to her as Eihwaz came to her side, running instead of flying.

"How did you manage to let them beat you this time?" Eihwaz asked.

"You couldn't do much better on your end."

Upsilon inspected the mech while they bickered. Only then did he notice how the energy coursed from it to Eihwaz. "Steel! It's the metal that channels energy; the more metal you have, the more power that can be used. Mokkurkalfi just gave it all to Eihwaz!"

"Keeping them around was a bad idea!" Eihwaz complained.

"Too bad." Helen interrupted. The two demons turned to the Selbstmord Masters, their eyes burning red and walking steadily despite their injuries.

"Do you see how flesh can be like steel?" Upsilon asked as they got closer. "Or do you want a better example?"


Nero and Gamma didn't stop running towards Hild, but with Hagall the only thing in their way they had to let her slip away. The helmets they wore kept them safe from her illusions, but she wouldn't go down easily. Gamma came at her with a flashing sword, Nero close behind, keeping her on the defensive.

"You…will not…get the better of me!" She released a burst of energy to keep them at bay. Nero countered by drawing his carbine, charged with magic, and fired a bolt of raw magic. It made contact with Hagall's burst, dispelling it. Gamma and Nero came in at both sides, attacking viciously. Their slashes weren't able to hit the nimble demon, constantly mocking them by letting them get close and then sidestepped their strikes.

"Hagall, on the other hand, will make sure you regret opening that door!" She attacked in an instant, fire burning everything in front of her. As it subsided, she was confronted with a wedge of obsidian, glowing orange at the edges. Instinct got her to dash out of the way when the wedge fractures, the shards flying out with enough force to shatter against the far wall. The path she took was cut off by Gamma, who was able to grab her in the confusion.

"Unhand me!" Hagall screamed, unable to break his grip.

"Nero!" At Gamma's word, Nero rose from Gamma's shadow firing the carbine into her chest. The shell did a high amount of damage to her, sending her flying back. The adrenaline wearing off left Gamma weak-kneed.

"Well that could have gone worse." Nero commented.

"I don't think that's the last of her." He felt a breeze on his face, and noticed the display in his helmet was cracked. His concern would have to wait, as Hagall staggered up to her feet, her Gothic dress burnt in places.

"Can't lose to you…" She stared at the two of them with rage, and then she saw the gash in Gamma's faceless helmet, showing a single eye. A wicked smile spread on her face, and Gamma knew it was too late.

"Psyche," He said. "You're going to have to be my eyes on this one, okay?"

"No problem."

He chose every step carefully, waiting for Psyche to tell him what was real. Nero pressed on, fighting Hagall with his own swords. The two went at it for quite some time, but Hagall's stamina won out, and she started to toss Nero around. Blow after blow landed on him, and soon he was on the ground, struggling to get up. Pressing her foot on his chest, Hagall raised one of Nero's own swords against him.

"Hmph, to think that Hagall would be tested by such meager creatures. An example must be made of you."

Gamma ran up to stop her, but she snapped around and cut him at the neck. His mouth opened breathlessly, his hands reaching up to stem the tide of blood. He collapsed as life faded from him and his vision dimmed.

"This isn't real!" Psyche shouted desperately, sounding hazy to Gamma's dying ears. "You can still get up!"

"She's right," He said in his mind. "But even my body thinks it's dying."

"Focus on me! I'm right here, all around you! Trust me, dammit, or do you like being useless?"

Gamma swallowedand concentrated all of his will on Psyche's voice. First he felt the communicator, then the helmet, and finally the rest of his armor, and he got up to find the Epsilon kneeling over him and the rest of the team fighting Hagall.

"Are you going to be alright?" Epsilon asked.

"Yes, just finish her off."

Epsilon flew into the fray, his added strength overwhelming Hagall. Hagall's counterattacks were deflected off of Rho's and Upsilon's shields, and they cycled out to let Nero, Epsilon, and Helen fight.

"Give me a rope!" Helen said, and Epsilon summoned Gorgeous Rose, a vine shooting from the angel to Helen, who whipped it at Hagall. The vine wrapped around her waist and she hurled Hagall into Rho and Upsilon, the two of them laying her out with haymakers. Nero following up with an another shot, leaving her in a crater out of commission.


Rho looked down at the defeated demon commander. "D-did we just do that?"

"Yes you did." Gamma walked up to him, grabbing his shoulder.

"Did you have any doubt?" Omega said. "I did say that we're the greatest team in any universe!"

"I'm inclined to agree." They all turned to see Hild beside the crater. "You seven keep surprising me." Her eye swept across their wounded bodies, each one of them taking off their helmets and casting them on the ground. "I hope you can keep it up."

Epsilon held his necklace, the rush of power making his eyes a translucent blue. "We've still got plenty of gas to deal with you!"

"Well, darn; what am I to do now?" She scoffed, summoning a chair to sit on, yet she still stood up. "Upsilon, what do you say? Do you want to be free? Or just Helen's tool for the rest of your life?"

While everyone stared at Upsilon, Upsilon stared at the chair. It was deathly silent in the arena, waiting for his decision. He put away his sword, and extended his hand to Hild. She smiled softly, and as she took her first step towards him the chair exploded. Hild stopped, but she didn't show any shock.

"I will be free," Upsilon said. "And I'll do it on my own."

Hild kept that smile on her face, but her voice became heavy and forceful. "Stubborn, that's a good trait to have. At least you are sure of your course." Her eyes turned from violet to red, the power coming off of her rattling their very bones. "Now it is time to see the results of your decisions."

Gamma swung first, in the blink of an eye he was in front of Hild and came down with his katana. She blocked it with her forearm, breaking it in two, sparks flying from the point of impact. He dropped it and grabbed his kodachi in a swift motion, slashing upwards. Hild turned to the side and caught his wrist, redirecting the blade into the gap of the shoulder, cutting Gamma deep and forcing him to drop it.

"Come now, you're not going to kill me like that."

Screaming in pain, he summoned his obsidian claw, bursting into flames as he did so. allowing him to get out of the way. Epsilon came in as well, shining a bright light above all of them. This had the effect of casting the shadows across even the ceiling. Gamma saw the opportunity and hopped back, Nero again jumping out of Gamma's shadow, flipping over Hild's head, and hooking her arms with his sickles. Hild allowed herself to be carried off of the ground, and then halfway through she sped up, pulling Nero to the ground, knocking the breath out of his lungs.

While he laid there gasping, Epsilon flew in as a white streak, smashing into Hild, who struck back as a similar red streak, the two exchanging blow after blow in the sky. They materialized above Nero, tumbling as they fought over the halberd.

"Not bad…" Hild said, right before pulling the weapon out of Epsilon's hands, swinging it at him. It hit him in the chest, breaking a few ribs. "But you'll need more than Lind's help."

"You're right." Epsilon spat out some blood. "Maybe your daughter would be more useful." He collected all of the cosmic energy he could and blasted it at Hild. She was pushed aside, but otherwise unharmed. Epsilon fell, spent.

"Better, much better." Hild was slightly proud that Urd pitched in to help him after what happened. It was naive of her to think that they wouldn't be here. Her attention was diverted when Omega came up to her. He was brave, but the damage he took against Halval took it toll. A slow, wide swing with his sabers left him open for Hild to send a knee into his gut. He sank back into the ground, dry heaving.

The Daimakaicho was becoming bored, landing none the worse for thought crossed her mind that maybe letting Hagall and the others have their fun was a bad idea. She glanced over to see her loyal team standing on the sidelines, waiting for the fight's conclusion.

"Are the rest of you still spry?" Hild tilted her head to Gamma, Rho, Helen, and Upsilon. "I don't wand this to end yet."

Helen and Upsilon took the next shot. Helen lead with a whipcrack from her vine. Hild caught it, pulling her in, Helen cutting herself loose with her three sided claymore. Her movement were still precise even as the wound at her side reopened. She stepped aside to allow Upsilon to join, trapping Hild in their pattern, honed over a century of working as a team. Hild was challenged by the planet's strongest humans, but she had the edge in experience, and held her own. Her hand batted away Upsilon's heavy blade, shooting lightning from the palm. Upsilon blocked some of it with his shield, but the rest shocked his sword from his hand. He rushed in, deciding to be aggressive, Helen circling around for another opening.

That was Hild's moment. She dragged Upsilon's sword to her hand, shoving him out of the way and bore down on Helen. She quickly got the better of Helen slowly feeling the effects of blood loss. Hild fiercely hammered Helen to the ground with the pommel.

Helen sighed, knowing her fate.. "Damn, Johann was right; you are incredible…"

Hild raised the sword to stab her. "Why does he let you command him?"

Helen shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure myself anymore. Maybe he loves me or something."

The demon hesitated for a moment, just long enough Upsilon to get back on his feet and throw his shield at her. It hit the small of her back, causing her to lurch forward. Upsilon, whose mind was set only on protecting Helen, lunged at Hild. She tossed the sword in her hands at him, running him straight through the armor. Upsilon gasped, taking one shaky step after another to reach her.

"I-I…must…winnnnn…" He moaned.

"You won't." Hild shuffled to the side and watched him fall over top of Helen. Rho stepped in between them, ready to fight as Gamma and Epsilon gathered everyone up and did their best to stabilize them.

"How's the armor treating you? You don't mind that I gave you that, I know how you feel about me."

"Fear not: for am I in the place of God?" Rho recited calmly, a radiance pouring from him. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. You have allowed me to use my faith as a weapon, as you should, but that will not keep you from defeat."

"We'll see." Hild advanced, and Rho met her with vigor. His fists were a blur as his mind, body and soul were focused on beating her. Hild had no trouble moving at his pace and slipped a right cross, counter-punching with a uppercut to the chest the broke his already fractured ribs. Doubled over, Rho couldn't stop Hild from grabbing his neck, raising him off the ground.

"Any last words of faith you have to say to me?" Hild said.

"You exist only to be destroyed." Rho gagged, holding onto Hild's outstretched arm. "Keiichi was the first; soon the entire universe, every universe, will be rid of you forever."

Hild said nothing back, instead she channeled lightning from her body and into Rho until he was limp, the occasional twitch the only sign of life.


"Wha-" Rho was suspended in darkness, his movement heavy as if he was underwater. "What's going on? Is…is this death?"

A light shone behind his head, drawing his eyes to it. It was a glorious star, it's six rays warming Rho soul. He could fell himself rising, entering the light, and he felt peace unlike anything he ever knew. Then suddenly a multitude of arms held him back. Rho struggled for a few seconds before the he saw that the arms belonged to the people he had met: Garnet, Kyoko, Makoto, and Ashley.

"So that's it?" Kyoko said. "A few hits and you just give up?"

"I thought I trained you better than that!" Makoto berated.

"I know," Rho said. "But even still, the Lord guides me to him, and I must join him. Ashley, Kyoko…you know how important this is."

"It's not your time yet." Ashley told him. "As long as your friends need your faith, you need to be there to show them what that means."

His heart was touched by her words. He turned to Garnet, her stoic face taking note of his plight. She pointed up at the star, it turning a bright red. Rho focused upon it, and was certain that he had to return. He reached up to the star, and held it in his hand.


Gamma was astounded as he saw Rho lift a trembling arm and grabbed Hild's head, the palm of his hand over the star on her forehead. Constructing his Pile Bunker, he pulled the piston back.

"Only in death, does duty end!" He cried as the piston slammed home once, twice, three times. Hild was stunned, letting him fall to his knees as she collapsed. Gamma and the others walked up to him as he managed to stand.

Gamma spoke first. "Rho-"

"I did what was needed, that's all." Rho preemptively answered. They looked down at Hild, who had slowly vanished from sight.

"I didn't think that a demon would die that way." Helen said.

Gamma was confused as well, and then his eyes widened as the area darkened. "Rho! Make a platform! We have to get above her!"

Rho rose them up on a stone pillar, but by then it was too late. A black…shape twisted and spiraled around them. It wasn't like Halval's shadow, there were figures within: beasts from unknown places drifted in and out, their numerous fangs impossibly sharp and claws grasping at the prey they soon enveloped. A claw swiped at Epsilon's arm, ripping through the armor and into flesh with no resistance, leaving jagged lines. Then the dark mass spoke in a language that overlapped on each other, creating a din that made everyone cover their ears.

"What is this madness?" Epsilon shouted over the noise.

"It's Hild!" Gamma shouted back.

"Another spell?"

"No this presence, this voice, this is what Hild truly is! She doesn't exist only in three dimensions, she exists in eleven! This is the only way we can interpret her true form!"

Omega walked over to them. "So how in the hell do we beat it?"

"A burst of energy in all directions; everyone power up, give it all you got!"

"Are you crazy? None of us have that much energy left, that would kill us all!"

"Then if you've have any last words, say them now or forever hold your peace!"


Rho readied himself for the end. He was right where he was supposed to be, next to his friends at the very end. All the people he met along the way, he owed them so much. His only regret was that he wouldn't be able to make it up to them now. What was left to him was his faith, the one thing

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus's sake, the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So that death worketh in us, but life in you…"


Helen had Upsilon's arm draped over her shoulder, and her arm was draped over his. They were struggling to hold each other up, unwilling to look weak in the eyes of the other. They were master and student, equal partners, and lovers, but this was how the Selbstmord Masters would die; right next to each other.

"Figures." Helen scoffed.

"What figures?" Upsilon said.

"That you'd find a way to get me killed."

Upsilon chuckled. "Zusammen in den Tod."

"Wie wir im Leben sind." Helen finished. Death followed them wherever they went, now it was time for them to meet it head on.


"You were right Mark." Omega said to the voice in his head. "Dying sucks."

"If it's any consolation," Mark Lore replied. "You've done better than I did at this point."

"That…means a lot. Thanks, for everything."

"Don't mention it."

"Hey Omega!" Epsilon came up to him. "Too bad we can't give our gifts back, huh?"

"Yeah it's a shame." Omega said. "Do you wanna get back at Hild for keeping us from them?"

"Of course."


"I was certain I would outlive you Victor! I should be angrier."

Gamma cocked his head to the side. "But?"

Psyche sighed. "At least I get to see you off."

"Your still my greatest mistake Psyche, but I've learned to live with some of my mistakes."

"Victor!" Nero shuffled over. "Are we doing this or what?"

"Everyone, on my count! Three…Two…One…NOW!"


A rumble could be heard and felt throughout the entire arena. The ceiling cracked under the stress of the released power, letting natural light in, a stark contrast to Hild's form. From the center of Hild a light burst out, repelling her away from the column. At the top, seven figures shone, their armor shining bright and their combined shout carrying over the entire demon realm. When it was all over they passed out, the pillar collapsing beneath them, leaving them strewn about the rubble.

Hild coalesced into her humanoid form, her eyes violet once more, standing over Gamma. He was breathing, and woke up coughing up dust. He got to one knee before seeing her, and tried to crawl to her, but she casually drifted away. She raised her hand, beckoning her team to stand with her.

"You know, that light show back there was equivalent to about five thousandths of my power." Hild grinned at his continued resistance. "That's the spirit! I can see how you managed to survive for so long. See Hagall? They were no real threat."

Hagall grit her teeth. "Even so, they came farther than last time. That makes them dangerous, too dangerous to live."

"No, this is perfect, they're right where they're supposed to be."

Gamma glanced back at his friends, who were beginning to stir. "They'll be fine." Hild assured him. "But I'm still at a loss for why you came this far. It wasn't just the curse was it? Did you want to be a hero like the ones you read about?"

"At first I kind of did." Gamma stood up, hands limp at his sides. "I understand that I cannot follow them. They are true heroes, their compassion inspiring others to become better. We are merely soldiers, expendable. As long as you're hitting us, you're not hitting anything important. We'll stand in your way, no matter what, while they save the world."

"And they live happily ever after, I know the story. You don't deserve to be happy?" Hild countered.

Gamma looked back to his friends again. "Maybe they do. But I don't!" He broke into a dead sprint, catching everyone off guard. Bringing his shoulder down he slammed into Hild, the two of them falling to the ground. They got up at the same time, Gamma's jet black arm burning with blue flame.

"Guys! I will get us back home no matter what happens!"

"Then come and take your freedom." Hild said.

He threw the hardest punch he could, he knew it was the last attack he would get off before he was swarmed. Hild met it with a fist of her own the two running into one another. The buildup of energy caused the obsidian to crack and then shatter, releasing a light that encompassed everything around Gamma.

The world became dark to Gamma, and he was alone but for his friends. "Psyche, are you there?"

"That blast shorted me out for a second there, what did I miss?"

"I'm not sure yet." He watched Rho and the others limp to his side, each of them confused at the darkness. It receded, leaving them on a rooftop overlooking the ocean. They saw the sunset glittering off of the water and it brought tears to Gamma's eyes.

"We're home."

"What?" Epsilon whispered, unable to believe what Gamma said.

"He is right." Upsilon said, an arm around Helen's hip. "This is our Earth, our universe. We have returned."

Rho scooped Gamma up and gave him the biggest hug he could. "We did it, we won!" After letting him down, he tried to retract his armor, but he failed the armor physical and not spiritual. "And we've broken the curse as well!"

"Well I've gotta hand it to you Victor," Nero said. "You did the impossible."

Gamma shook his head. "We all pitched in on this one. I can't thank you enough for your sacrifices." He turned away and walked towards the city. "Come with me, I want you to see something."