"The Leviathan-Class Archdemon should be in range soon! Visual contact expected in five minutes! Prepare to fire! "
Lotte's plan was set in motion. The Archdemon was slowly but steadily being led out into a more open area, not too far away from the Order's headquarters, upon the roof of which Sucy and Akko were positioned. As Lotte was done helping Jasminka and Constanze lead the civilians out into a relatively safer area, she was currently busy observing how the other part of the operation went by, making sure that everything was going according to the presumed plan. If it was all done correctly, Sucy and Akko would have enough time to line up a clear shot on Apollyon, and finish the damn thing off in one well-timed shot to the head.
"Are you ready for this?" – Sucy asked, them both now holding Chariot's prized rifle in their left and right hand respectively – Akko's index finger was right on the trigger, whereas Sucy was busy holding the ivory weapon by it's fore-end.
"I sure am, Sucy. If we're in this together, then I'm as ready as I can be." – The determined look in Akko's eyes was more than enough to back her words up.
And with that, the two girls began channeling their spiritual energy into the weapon. As Sucy's demonic and Akko's angelic energies flowed into the Shiny Flare, it began slowly but steadily changing in appearance. The formerly ivory stock of the weapon now appeared to be made of equal parts dark ebony and pure white ivory, with the etching in it's side changing into an odd helix shape of sorts, made out of two unknown purple and yellow crystalline materials. The bent sight once again straightened back up, yet it also changed in it's composition, becoming an unknown purple metal, like a few other parts of the weapon, yet the parts of it that remained the same pristine gold appeared to almost… Shine, somehow.
Not only that, but an aura of similar golden and purple colors began enveloping the divine weapon. From it's stock to the fore-end, the weapon was soon entangled in thorn-covered purple vines as well as the golden ones, with nondescript white flowers blossoming on the latter ones.
Akko recognized the flowers as what they really were.
Lilies.
"I guess it does accept us as it's new wielders after all." – Sucy remarked, smirking.
In the meantime, Diana and Amanda were currently busy at the entrance to the Order's building, fighting off dozens upon dozens of lesser demons. That being said, the feral monstrosities seemed to rely far more on numbers than any real strength, let alone wits, so it was little wonder that Diana was pumping those creatures full of lead incredibly quickly, maneuvering swiftly around the battlefield despite the snow and any potential obstacles.
As for Amanda, her weapon of choice was a bit unorthodox compared to Diana's – specifically, a blessed shotgunblade that not only allowed her to shoot hellhounds down at point-blank range, leading them to either get themselves killed incredibly quickly or end up injured and run away whimpering, but to also swat off any oncoming imps.
"You know, we do make for quite the battle partners." – The redhead remarked as she practically pried some random dead imp off her gunblade – poor bastard jumped at Amanda, attempting to bite her, and ended up eating a shotgun instead. Diana didn't even bother replying as she continued shooting one demon down after another.
It was one of those few times when Diana would enter some sort of battle trance, and hardly cared about anything around her, so long as there were demons that needed to be killed. True, it never happened to her during the occasional sorties that she and Akko embarked on, given that the enemies were far less numerous and much weaker, but right now was quite the exception, and so she had to give it her all and concentrate, as dozens of lesser demons were still coming her way.
However, there was one… Other thought occupying Diana's mind during the battle.
One that wasn't too disruptive, but one that gave her further determination and hope.
Even if Diana knew she couldn't be with Akko, even if she knew that the brunette loved someone else entirely, she still had to fight for the other girl's sake.
After all, she still wanted her former crush to be happy and succeed in her endeavors, no matter what else happened.
And killing off a small army's worth of lesser demons – so that Akko would finish the Archdemon invading this city off once and for all – was the least she could do.
"The demon should be within close vicinity soon enough. Most buildings in this area are barely even half the demon's height, so with nothing obstructing your vision of him, there shouldn't be anything to prevent you two from getting a clear shot on him. Get ready."
All the ginger got for a reply was an affirmative nod from the duo. Sucy didn't even pay any attention to her bangs slipping off to the side and revealing her demonic eye, as she was about as fixated on the incoming Archdemon as a predator on their prey.
Likewise, Akko was practically tunnel-visioning down the Shiny Flare's sights, ready to direct the weapon at it's target and pull the trigger.
"Ten seconds till visual contact! Charge it up!"
Both girls took a deep breath. In. Out. Practically in perfect synchronization.
Their consciousnesses may have remained in their bodies, but their souls were united as one in the sacred weapon.
"Apollyon is in range! Fire the Shiny Flare now!"
Akko and Sucy took a deep breath each. Their energies, now directed into the Shiny Flare, began to slowly but steadily concentrate in the one single aura-infused bullet within the rifle, ready to be released as soon as it was fired.
It was then that Sucy and Akko cast each other a quick glance, and Akko spoke up:
"Spawn of the Abyss, heard our words!"
"And see our actions!" – Sucy continued despite herself.
"I am Kagari Atsuko, half-angel fighter of the Human Order!"
"And I am Sucy Manbavaran, fighting only for my own life and for Akko's sake!"
"Your time has come, so accept death with dignity!"
"It will be much easier for you to accept your end than to try and evade it!"
"Convergence Flare!" – both maidens shouted out, and Akko pulled the trigger.
What was released from the weapon was far from an ordinary shot, as the bullet was followed by two trails of energy – one a pristine golden, the other a dark purple – intertwined in a helix.
Before Apollyon could even comprehend just what was about to hit him, the bullet connected, hitting the creature square into it's serpentine head, right between the eyes. The resulting purple and golden blast of energy soon reformed itself into a more complex shape - two pairs of wings, one above the other. Golden angelic wings, and purple bat wings.
As soon as the energy trail dissipated, Apollyon's scales began to outright crack at certain points, with the Archdemon having just now comprehended what was happening to him.
"No! This is impossible! I couldn't have been bested by some deserter and sub-human filth!" – The creature hissed out while it still could. – "I am the strongest Archdemon there is! I am Apollyon!"
"I am Apollyooooon!" – the demon shouted out one last time before his voice just trailed off into an odd mix between a snake's hiss and a death rattle.
And with that, the creature soon exploded, with any remains that might've been left of it dissipating into dust even before they could land on the ground.
Looking at the end result of their cooperative efforts, Sucy and Akko soon lowered the Shiny Flare and practically slumped to the snow-covered "floor", standing on their knees, with Lotte flying over to the duo to check up on them. Sucy gave Akko a silent smirk just as the other half-angel approached them, with the brunette replying the same way.
"You two did great. The demon wasn't simply killed, but practically erased from existence. That's one less Archdemon in Lilithia's ranks." – The ginger reassured the duo, but either of them hardly bothered with Lotte's words, more concerned about catching their breaths.
"Hey, Akko…" – Sucy asked, pulling her bangs back over her eye.
"What is it?" – Akko asked back, breathing heavily.
"I still can't believe you roped me into your corny speech. Did you watch too much anime or what?" – Sucy deadpanned, elbowing Akko in the side with one hand whilst still leaning upon brunette's shoulder with the other. The tired half-angel giggled and replied: "I am quite surprised you followed my speech so well. Was it our aura connection talking back there?"
"Even I don't know what it was. Not that I care much. I'm just glad that we pulled this off together." – The half-demoness remarked, rubbing her cheek against Akko's.
"Hey, Lotts, care to help us get over to the infirmary? I don't think either of us got hurt, but Sucy and I definitely need to lie down on some bed or something."
The way over to the infirmary went by with Akko and Sucy practically leaning on each other's shoulders for support, with Lotte trailing just behind them to make sure that if one of them falls, then at least they won't bring the other one down and leave themselves both unable to get up.
Neither Sucy nor Akko were too picky in choosing a bed when they reached the infirmary, and they practically fell into the nearest available infirmary bed upon entering the area, soon falling asleep in each other's embrace.
Lotte just sighed contently as she left the duo, muttering something along the lines of: "Their bond is truly the strongest I've seen."
Not that Sucy or Akko cared that much about what the other girl had to say at this point.
Right now, all that concerned them was getting a well-deserved nap together.