AN:
Well, it's that time again. Let's see how the outnumbered garrison of Angels and Souls (a Soul, by the way, is someone who was a warrior in life, and has volunteered to help protect Heaven in death.) fares against Sebastian's mighty host of lesser Demons... Who knows, maybe the Bible-bashers will have to call on some other denominations for help... or maybe not, seeing as Kuro canon has Christianity down as the "one true religion" (or as I like to call it "Brainwashers Inc. C.33 AD - 2012 AD"). Anyway, enough with my hatred for religion. On with the show! (Keep those reviews coming in. Just don't end them with "Update." or I'll cry.)

The plains of Cyllembar were black with Demons. Close to a million unholy warriors threw themselves at the walls of Heaven in a tidal wave of pure hatred, so intense it manifested itself in the mortal world as a rash of killing sprees and suicides. The four thousand Souls of Captain Caldair's Eighth Brigade, well-supplied and dug in atop the walls, poured fire down into the horde. Beautifully crafted rifles cracked constantly, sending out a hail of blessed silver bullets that burned demonic flesh, with the heavier chug-chank chug-chank of wall-mounted light cannon providing a bass tone to the symphony of destruction.

The Angels that made up the Eighth's officer corps walked the walls behind the firing lines, calling out encouragement to their squads, occasionally rising up above the smoke on their beautiful wings to survey the battle from on high. What they saw chilled even their noble hearts.

In the first twenty minutes of what later became known in the annals of the Immortals as the Battle for Heaven's Gate, the Eighth Brigade was estimated to have destroyed over forty-five thousand lesser Demonic entities, suffering no casualties in return. The fire discipline of the Souls, combined with their elevation on the walls, turned the approach to Heaven's Gate into an enormous killing field. However, with so many bodies at his disposal, it was inevitable that Sebastian's forces would reach the walls. When that happened, the tide of battle turned abruptly.

Sebastian smiled as he saw the first of his demonic legion reach the base of the towering wall separating Heaven from the outside world. The warriors were quickly scythed down by the defenders' lethal fire, but even as they fell, dozens more arrived, then hundreds, then thousands. Soon, the foot of the wall was awash with Demons.

From atop a howdah perched on the back of the largest of the thirteen Grand Demons he had summoned to his cause, Sebastian ordered his forces to press the attack, merely thinking the command, and watching as the lesser Demons below him redoubled their efforts. Those already at the wall began to climb, scaling the vertical stones with diamond-hard claws and sheer brute strength.

Within minutes, hundreds of Demons began reaching the top of the wall. The withering storm of fire from the ramparts slowed as the defenders leaned over the battlements to fire on the climbers, or stab at hands and heads with swords and bayonets. The respite from the storm of gunfire allowed more of the army to reach the wall, and almost immediately the wall was all but covered with climbing Demons.

As the first warrior gained the battlements, grabbing a Soul by the leg and throwing him to the waiting horde below, Sebastian's face split over in a predatory grin. This would be over quickly...

Captain Caldair swept his sword through a howling Demon's torso and kicked the limp remains off the wall, before turning and shooting another between the eyes at point-blank range with his pistol. Black blood and brain matter splattered out from the back of the creature's shattered skull, as it collapsed to the cold stone of the battlements.

He heard a scream off to his left, and spun in time to see a pair of Demons leap onto an Angel, tearing at his pristine flesh with their claws and teeth. Caldair raised his pistol, snapping off several shots, but they went wide as the three combatants tumbled over the battlements, into the chaos below.

Suddenly, he found himself in a pocket of calm amongst the fighting. Looking around, he could see that his troops were in trouble. The enemy had gained several footholds along the wall, and more Demons were arriving at the top every second. With the exception of the Angels, the Army of Heaven was no match for the Demons at close quarters, and the Souls fighting so desperately on the walls were in serious danger of being overrun. They would not break, their unwavering faith making them all but fearless, but they would be cut down just the same.

With enough space to unfurl his wings, Caldair launched himself into the air, turning to see the remaining five hundred Souls of his Brigade that were held in reserve behind the walls. He swooped down towards them, making the transition from flying to walking the instant he landed. As he walked towards them, he could see the desperation etched on every face. Many of these men and women had already died once in circumstances similar to these, and now it seemed that fate had doomed them to repeat their ordeal. To all intents and purposes, an Immortal was just that: Immortal. However, they could still be killed in battle, and death in the afterlife was final, the total obliteration of the soul. Even Angels feared that fate.

The commander of his reserves was another Angel, Janizar Palpek. A tall, noble man with black hair, wielding a long spear, Palpek stepped out of the front rank to meet his commanding officer.

"Sir" he began in a low voice "what are we to do. The walls are all but lost, and we cannot hope to hold the Portal with a Half-Battalion. Are we to make a stand?"

There was a clear edge to his voice that suggested that a final stand in defence of the Golden Portal that marked the transition from Cyllembar to the realm of Heaven would be the most honourable course of action. Caldair sighed.

"Janizar" he said "we cannot afford to make a stand here. The Saints must be warned of this attack, before the enemy breaks through these walls. I need you to take your Souls through the Portal immediately. I will seal it behind you, and the rest of the Brigade and I will hold them off for as long as we can."

Palpek visibly coloured. "Retreat, sir?" he said, incredulously. "We are the Army of Heaven. We do not retreat. We should seal the Portal now and then stand and fight to the last. How can you even begin to conscience abandoning the wall, that has stood for..."

He was cut off as Caldair rounded on him. "Janizar Palpek" he said, clearly emphasising the other Angel's junior rank "I am your superior officer, and I have given you an order. We may be the Army of Heaven, but the Saints need to be warned. Am I going to have to repeat myself?"

Palpek sighed. "No, honoured Captain" he said. "But I will make one request. I wish to stay behind, and seal the Portal myself. You are a Captain, I am merely a Janizar. Protocol dictates that in times like these, the safety of as much of the command structure of the unit as possible is paramount. You must go."

Realising that Palpek was right, Caldair nodded. The Janizar was quoting Army regulations at him, and he had no argument in return, save for selfish notions of honour. Behind him came roars of triumph, as the last few Souls on the walls were butchered.

"Very well." He said. "Go with God, Janizar."

"And you also" replied Palpek, hefting his spear. "Now go. GO!"

Caldair set off towards the glowing portal at a run, the remaining Souls close behind him. As the cyclopean entrance to Heaven grew larger, he saw Palpek soar overhead, to land by the edge of the paved area in front of the Portal.

"Go!" Caldair urged his men, who sprinted through the Portal and vanished from sight. As Caldair himself reached the entrance, he stopped short and saluted Palpek with his bloodied sword. The Janizar returned the motion, and Caldair dived headlong into the golden glow. As he felt the warmth of Heaven surround him, he saw Palpek drive his spear into the portal, cutting off the link between Heaven and Cyllembar until the magic keeping the gates open was restored.

Janizar Palpek screamed with exertion as he recited the Litany of Unbinding, feeling the connection with Heaven come apart under the combined onslaught of his weapon and his prayers. Suddenly, it was done. With a decompressive boom, the Portal imploded, throwing Palpek to the ground.

Leaping to his feet, Palpek smiled. He had done his duty. All that remained now was a glorious death in battle. What more could any warrior ask for? With a roar of hatred spilling from his lips, Janizar Palpek charged the Demons spilling from the exits at the base of the wall and flooding into the small encampment of Heaven's Gate.

He hit the Demon battleline like a thunderbolt, striking left and right with his spear, impaling torsos and severing limbs. Enemies crowded around him, and he swung his weapon in a wide arc, opening a circle around himself. A screeching Demon with ice-white eyes leapt at him, and he swung the butt of his spear around in a lethal arc, crushing his assailant's skull. Swift as a snake, he reversed the blow, lashing out with the tip to transfix another opponent's chest.

Shaking the corpse off his blade, Palpek reached inside his uniform jacket with his free hand for his pistol. He drew it, and emptied the eight-shot cylinder into the packed mass of foes. Throwing the drained weapon into the crowd, he sent himself aloft with two beats of his wings. Angling himself downwards, he rocketed towards the centre of the host inside the walls like the embodiment of divine wrath that he was.

Hitting the ground with shocking force, Palpek blasted a crater several metres wide in the sea of flesh, landing on one knee amidst pulped corpses and pools of gore. His battle-honed instincts suddenly screamed a warning to him, and he rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the sword which slammed down where he had been just heartbeats before.

Turning, he found himself face-to-face with what must surely have been the leader of this demonic army. Unlike the footsoldiers that served it, the creature was dressed in a fine black suit, and from its unbloodied swords did not look to have taken part in the battle so far. Around him, Palpek was aware of the other Demons forming a circle around himself and their master. The message was simple: there was to be a duel to the death.

Inwardly, the Janizar rejoiced, seeing an opportunity to end the demonic threat with one swift strike. If he could kill the leader, the Demon army would be directionless and easy prey for a strong counterattack from Heaven. Readying his spear, he nodded to his opponent. With a roar, both warriors charged, and the duel was begun.

Sebastian grinned as he parried an overhead slash, before lashing out with a cut from each of his swords simultaneously. The Angel swayed out of the way of one, and caught the other on the haft of his spear, spinning the long blade effortlessly to thrust at Sebastian's stomach.
Without taking his eyes off his foe, the Demon turned the thrust aside with his left blade, sending a thrust of his own at the tall Angel's head.

Palpek ducked the blade as it lanced towards his head, then kicked at the Demon's left knee with his right boot. The blow connected well, and Sebastian was forced to stagger back a pace. The Janizar used the opening to leap into the air, unfurling his wings as he did so. Within seconds, he was out of his opponent's reach, poised for another diving attack. Readying his spear, he began to descend, rapidly gathering speed. Suddenly, he noticed that the Demon no longer held its swords...

As soon as the Angel took wing, Sebastian had known what it intended to do. Dropping his swords, he drew his pistols with a speed that put every gunslinger in the world to shame. As the Angel began his dive, he raised the weapons and opened fire.

Palpek saw the Demon open fire, and twisted in the air to avoid the bullets. However, Sebastian shifted his aim expertly, and continued to spray seemingly never-ending trails of fire into the air. Hundreds of rounds pumped into the sky in seconds, and it was inevitable that some would eventually find their target.

Janizar Palpek screamed in agony as the first shots hit him. Two clipped his right leg, sending him spinning out of control towards the ground, as three more rounds punched through his ribcage, embedding themselves in his right lung. A final bullet caught him directly in the stomach, tearing through his guts before blasting a fist-sized chunk of his spine out through the gaping exit wound in his back.

Suddenly paralyzed from the waist down, the Angel dropped like a stone, pulled by the deadweight of his useless legs. He smashed into the ground, and crumpled like a rag doll. Smiling at his handiwork, Sebastian holstered his smoking pistols, and knelt to pick up his blades. Sheathing them in one smooth motion, he walked over to where the fallen Angel lay.

Weakly, Palpek lifted his head as he heard Sebastian's footsteps draw near. Slowly, the Demon's smiling face drew nearer, until it seemed to fill his entire field of vision.

Sebastian crouched beside his defeated foe, and cradled the Angel's head in his hands.

"You see" he said "Your silly little cult cannot hope to withstand the evil that I have unleashed today." He gestured at the devastation all around him. "This is but a taste of the vengeance I will unleash against Heaven. Be thankful that you will not live to see the rape of your so-called Kingdom of Light. I have granted you that mercy, at least."

Sebastian stood, and gestured to his Demonic minions. As one, they turned, and began to march towards the collapsed Portal, taking up defensive positions around the plaza. He turned back towards the dying Palpek.

"Sleep, little Angel." He said, bringing a boot crashing down on Palpek's skull, extinguishing the flickering light of life that still lingered there. The last Angel in Heaven's Gate died broken, battered, and bleeding, beneath the boot of a Demonic Lord more powerful that any could imagine...

AN:
Well, that ran on for a little longer than expected. What can I say? I enjoy my battle scenes. All in all, I don't think this has come out too badly, considering as it's now 3am. In case you were wondering (you probably weren't), Caldair's title of "Captain" is roughly equivalent to a modern Colonel or Lieutenant Colonel, and Janizar Palpek is (was) more of a traditional "Line Captain". Now you know. Well, hopefully you enjoyed this injection of murder and mayhem into what was previously a perfectly normal crack bandfic. I think I may have either improved the story quite a bit with these last two chapters, or killed the fic entirely. Let me know, m'kay? Oh, and did any of you get the Devil May Cry reference? If not, I might have to start making them a little more obvious... Hope you enjoyed it, and I would appreciate you, yes, you airing your thoughts on whether the next chapter should go back to the band, stay with the war, or have a bit of both. You stay classy, FanFiction. (And if you didn't get that one, you should probably rethink your life somewhat...)