Hey! So that road trip I mentioned last time finally ended. It certainly had its perks, but I'm absolutely exhausted! I got to see my cousins, at least, so that was nice. Now I can really get back to writing this! I'm really itching to get to it! Before I let you get to the new chapter, though, I've got to say one thing. This happens almost every, if not every, story I post. Someone posts a comment that's sort of long, and then apologizes for the length at the end. I just want to say that I love long comments. I love any and all comments, really, but I particularly love long ones. They give me better insight into your guys' thoughts and lets me get to know you guys more, so in return I can let you guys know more about me and the story that I'm weaving. Now, this has been a long intro, so I'm gonna let you get to the story. Enjoy.

The days drifted by like the grey, smokey clouds that began to block out the sky. Uriel could no longer see all of the moons at night when the sun set, and when it rose, it was almost always blurred behind the screen of grey. The world resided in shadows.

From the spacious windows of Ryo's apartment, Uriel was granted a majestic view of the burning world. Sometimes, it was quite literally on fire. Every now and again, a bonfire would run out of control, raging until either panicked survivors or acid rain extinguished it. When it wasn't flaming fire, it was gunfire. It wasn't rare that a tank could be spotted trampling down a street, blasting away at a gruesome creature of hell.

Uriel spent her time quietly. Sometimes she would observe the world below and simply think, the desire to save those suffering below diluted in her mind. Other times she would borrow Ryo's computer and binge on mindless movies, or play rote games. She carefully made herself every meal just to pass the time. On occasion, she would practice swordplay with an imaginary blade, mimicking motions she'd performed with her fiery sword all those years ago. She shared only the briefest of exchanges with Ryo.

This went on until, one day, Ryo told her, "We're heading out."

She paused, mid swing with her invisible sword. "Hm? Why?"

"One of my generals is revolting." He swung open the closet near the apartment entrance, grabbing out a small machine gun before rummaging for something else. "I think he'll act soon, and he'll be striking here. It would be unpleasant if we were still here when he did."

"Unpleasant?" Uriel marveled at his utter lack of care. "We could die."

Ryo glanced her way, eying her for a second before finally pulling a hefty looking pistol out of the closet. "Is that what you think?"

"What?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he held the pistol by the barrel, waiting for her to take it. When she didn't, he sighed, "We may not die from normal means, but if you don't have any way of protecting yourself, I think you know how painful humans can make it."

She was still cautious, but skeptically, she reached out and took the gun. "I've never used a gun before." She turned it over in her hand, only briefly scanning it over before returning her gaze to Ryo. "What do you mean, 'we may not die'?"

"You really haven't noticed?"

She grimaced. "You're avoiding my questions again."

He smirked. "Forgive me, oh miss angel. Your ignorance amuses me."

Briefly, just briefly, she pondered putting a bullet in him. "I told you I want to help you, right? Is it really so hard to answer me when I ask you something?"

"Help. You may feel obligated to do so, out of pity, maybe, but I don't need your help, Uriel. I don't want it, so stop pushing it."

He didn't want it? But she could stop this! All he had to do was tell her he had just a sliver of a desire to repent, and her job would be done. If only he would admit such a thing, all of this could end! She wanted nothing more than to understand where he was coming from, and use that knowledge to goad him to end it. Maybe he wasn't aware of exactly how she wanted to help, but why was he so resistant? Even if he hated her, even if he saw her as an enemy, he had given her shelter in his home! Maybe that was because he was afraid of what God would do if he allowed something to happen to her, but he still saw to her needs. He still tolerated her. Why couldn't he tolerate her help?

Ryo now stood by the exit, machine gun hanging casually in his hand as he waited for her. She shoved her feet into her shoes as he asked, "Do you want my coat? It's started getting colder."

"Hm?" She blinked, straightening. "No, not really."

"Don't complain if you get cold." Without another word to check if she was ready, he swung open the door and started for the elevator. Uriel found herself standing in the doorway, her eyes flickering nervously down the empty hall. She'd done her utmost to push away the memories of the last time she'd gone outside, but they still slithered in the back of her mind. When she saw Ryo waiting, expression impatient, by the open elevator doors, she forced down the lump in her throat and went to follow him, feeling as if she'd just stepped out into a bloody colosseum to be slaughtered. She comforted herself with, of all things, Ryo's vague words. Maybe she was still unsure of what they meant, but she was confident he wasn't just making things up. He had to have some basis for what he said.

Jenny was waiting down in the lobby, unsettlingly alone. Chills ran through Uriel's veins when the creepy woman began silently following behind them. It felt like they were the squadron of an army when they left the building: a terrifying demon woman worth a hundred guns, an angel with a pistol, and their leader armed with a sub-automatic machine gun.

Despite the empty streets, it wasn't long before the three of them were approached. It was a dark pink...bat thing. It had scales instead of fur and ridges running along its forehead to the tips of its wings, and it spoke with a slithering tone because of the fangs that protruded from its mouth.

"Ssatan," it hissed, coming to hover a few feet in front of out group, "have you come to help uss?"

While Ryo conversed with the creature, Uriel silently contemplated shooting it. It was a demon, one that was attacking humanity...but what was the point? Shooting it wasn't going to change anything. It wouldn't save Miki, or Akira, or anyone. If it wasn't going to do anything, there was no point in killing it, demon or not.

Akira. It had been awhile since she'd let herself think about him. She hadn't heard a word from him since she'd come to live with Ryo. She didn't want to think about it. What was going on with the family he lived with wasn't something she felt she could handle right then.

"Who is the human?"

"Her name is Eunice, and you are not to harm her."

The scaly bat eyed her for a minute, then conceded, "If that is your order, sssir," although he didn't seem to happy about it. Then, with a flap of his wings that snapped as if they were rubber bands, the demon was off. To Uriel's surprise, a hint of a smile was left on Ryo's face. She rolled her shoulders uncomfortably, commenting,

"They must be getting pretty common, if we met one this quickly."

"They are," he confirmed, his attention elsewhere. "The world is returning to the way it was before He came. Survival of the fittest, dramatic evolutions, blood staining the ground...everything doing what they please…"

Something flashed past his eyes, something dark, but it was gone by the time Uriel could register it. His far off look was gone, though, as he directed, "Jenny, go get things ready."

Uriel blinked. "What are you…" Her stomach sank. Still, since she technically wasn't supposed to know what he was planning, she choked out the rest of her question. "What're you planning on doing?"

He sighed, beginning to head forward again. "You'll see when we arrive where we're going. Stop asking questions and get moving."

She swallowed her words and complied, just glad that the woman was gone. They didn't meet any humans, but a number of demons approached Ryo to report, or ask questions. More than once, they wondered who she was, and were told she was just some human they weren't allowed to touch. That was comforting, but what wasn't was that some of them didn't leave. They would join them to wherever they were walking, and soon, the two of them were accompanied by a full band of demons. Uriel kept her teeth gritted and tried to ignore the taunts they cast her way.

The first human they came across they saw from a distance, and immediately, the demons began to rally. It didn't take long for the human to notice the horde. As the creatures began to rush him, the young man drew two long-barreled guns and began to fire. Before either side could do any damage to the other, however, a third party came barreling out of the building on the left of the road.

The suited man shot out of the front door, tripping as he went and ending up on the ground, still scrambling away as if some monster was chasing him. Blood spotted his grey suit. His eyes flew in every direction, barely taking in the demons as his eyes flew over them. Without a moment to pause and think, he leapt to his feet and raised some sort of rod over his head, rushing towards-

-the other human.

In an instant Uriel realized what was happening. The man in the suit was in a panic, couldn't tell enemy from ally, and the young man with the guns was too startled to react.

Heart leaping up into her throat, she lurched forward with a shout.

"STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!"

The man froze as if time was stopped, the young man's muscles seizing as he froze as well. Both of their eyes were peeled wide in shock. Uriel blinked, jaw ajar, before she locked her mouth shut and gulped hard. This...is what happened back at her apartment. When that man had broken in, and Father Gabriel had tried to prevent her from going in. When she'd nearly raised a hand in action against a terrified human.

She pulled back with a shudder.

As if the clock had resumed ticking, the two men broke from their stance, the one with the guns turning and fleeing without a second thought. The one that had the rod dropped his weapon, forgotten, and crouched down with his arms around his head. The sounds he made resembled that of a pig cornered by a predator that already had it wounded.

The demonic horde descended on the remaining man. His last screech ripped through the heavens as Ryo turned to Uriel. She didn't realize his motion until he spoke.

"You realize what you're doing, don't you?"

She twitched, throat tight. Her voice came out small.

"...yes."

"You realize what it means."

Although it hadn't been a question, she shook her head. What it meant...she had an idea. It didn't sit well with her, though.

"You may be wearing human skin, but you're the same as me. Underneath, you're still an angel. That's what I meant when I said you wouldn't die. If I wanted you dead, I would have to kill you myself."

"But…" She shook her head again, chest constricted. "...but why? I've always thought I'd been made purely human, so why...why didn't I know? Why is it only showing now?"

"The time of humans is ending." Ryo turned his face to the clouded sky, an expression of excitement in his eyes. "Why are you showing your true colors now? It's because you won't be able to survive, otherwise! Humans are weak! But you have it in you to be strong! You can survive!" The glimmer in his eyes faded, though, and the smile fell from his lips. "If only you would truly forsake Him. If only you would allow yourself to evolve, to stand where you could. Then you would be truly magnificent."

Uriel didn't understand. It didn't matter though. The next second, Jenny emerged from the same building the demons' victim had emerged from, holding out an arm to invite them inside. It must've been her the man had been running from.

The interior of the building was...haunting. Death was everywhere, but it looked nothing like the scene Uriel had witnessed back in her apartment. Instead of blood cascading over the floor like carpet, it was limited to small blotches near freshly dead bodies. Every wound was inflicted, it seemed, by human hand. It was all either gunfire or blunt force trauma that killed them all. Recalling Psycho Jenny's horrific power made Uriel's blood run cold.

When they arrived at their final destination, she finally received the confirmation she dreaded. It was a studio. A news studio. The time had come for Ryo's final push to break humanity's fraying ties of civilization.

As the scene was set up, demons continued to arrive. Low level demons that had difficulty holding human form lingered in the shadows of the studio, but more prominent were the generals that arrived in human form.

The particular demon that caught her eye, unfortunately, also seemed interested in her. The young man with dark hair was accompanied by a white haired man and a frog-like young woman, but the two of them hung back when the young man approached Uriel. Her heart accelerated at the prospect of danger, but she didn't flinch away. She knew this demon. He was ruthless, he was cruel, and he was powerful, but she knew to what extent. She knew Akira could take him, and with an angelic nature, she could crush him. Still, that didn't stop the human in her from shrinking back from the demon lord.

"You aren't a demon, are you?" he began, unnervingly civil. He spoke pleasantly, his handsome face smiling.

"You aren't allowed to touch me, though," she informed him. Her voice was steady, confident, which was the opposite of how she felt. Part of her was terrified of Zenon. But then, part of her didn't care. It was a strange feeling, and she didn't know what to think about it.

"I figured as much, considering where you are. Tell me, are you another 'devilman' that our leader has grown fond of?"

"I'm not."

Zenon's smile twisted into a jeer. "Really. You mean to tell me you're human?"

"I mean to tell you to leave me alone. You really should listen to Ryo. You may not be scared of him, but you should be."

"Are you telling me what to do?" His amiable facade had vanished as he snarled those words, and she could help but flinch. She broke eye contact.

"Of course not. I'm just saying this out of concern for you." She couldn't believe her own ears. What was she saying? Concern for a demon? Even worse, those words were a lie. She just didn't want him to hurt her. Worst of all, she didn't even feel dirty for doing it. Ryo's words earlier seemed to indicate she hadn't entirely fallen yet in his eyes, but then, how much farther would she have to go to be considered fallen? Wasn't she already horrible?

"Ah, Zenon!"

Uriel stood straighter when Ryo walked over to join them. The smile on his face was even more disturbing to her than the demon lord's.

"It's good to have you back," the demon greeted, head bowed.

Ryo laughed. "Don't lie to me. We both know you would've prefered it if I'd never returned. You think I'm weak, don't you? You think that I'm not worthy to be followed."

Although he showed no indication of the sort, Uriel felt that Zenon was disturbed. "Of course not. Where did you ever get that idea?"

Laughing again, and causing the hair on the back of Uriel's neck to stand on end, Ryo suggested, "Probably from your plan to betray me."

Zenon finally began to show the smallest signs of his discomfort. A twitch of an eyebrow, the spaz of his lip...it was hardly there, but no one could miss it. "I would never betray you!"

"Mmm, I don't trust you."

Every living thing in the room froze.

Smile still on his face, Ryo jabbed his hand through Zenon's chest. As the demon lord began to cough blood, his shocked eyes raised to meet the crazed, cruel expression on Ryo's face.

"Let this be an example," the devil snarled, twisting his hand to make his victim scream. "If any of you ever betray me, I'll make your hell burn hot enough to cook you slowly from the inside, and I'll be sure that you feel every ounce of agony that comes with it before you die."

He continued to jerk his hand around inside on the demon's body, eliciting mounting cries and screams until, after an ear-splitting banshee's screech, Zenon fell silent, his face forever frozen with the look of unimaginable pain.

Wow, this one breached 3,000 words. It's not often that happens. Frankly, I didn't quite know where this chapter was going when I started it. It's always really interesting to just write and see where the story leads you. I may be the author, but at times like these it's almost as if I'm a reader right alongside you guys. Anyway, since the note before the chapter was so long, I'm gonna wrap this up. I can't wait for the next chapter!

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!