Ch35: Heavenly Turmoil
Once we all returned back via Town Portal, minus Adria, we told Tyrael, mom, Cydaea, and the angel trio about what had happened while we were in the Blood Marsh... as well as having to explain the reasoning behind Hael's sudden appearance out of nowhere. "So, what you're trying to say is that Adria removed Diablo's essence from Leah and it transformed itself into Hael?" Tyrael asked. "In a sense, yes... and it doesn't seem like she's really anything like Diablo at all now," Serena frowned as she sniffed Hael around a bit, which made her sigh a bit.
"Would you please stop sniffing me for demon scent?... It's really annoying..." Hael frowned as she took Serena by the arm and tossed her over at me. "Well, I will admit that Hael's presence is... unique... but she seems to be the complete opposite of Leah in every single way," mom said. "Well, there is one thing that we share in common," Leah frowned. "You both hate Adria, right?" Cydaea asked. "How can you tell?" I asked. "I can smell it on them... hate is a powerful scent to us Succubi," Cydaea frowned.
"Either way, we have some more news," I said to Tyrael and the angels. "According to what we could decipher, it seems that Adria was trying to locate Malthael herself. And the area, according to Serena, is the Pandemonium Fortress. That's where we'll find Malthael," I said. "I know of that place! It was once the resting place of the Worldstone before an angel by the name of Inarius and the demoness Lilith, daughter of Mephisto, took the stone to create this world, Sanctuary," Kirara explained, making Lilith confused. "D-Did I really have a hand in this world's creation?" Lilith asked. "Yes, and the only way to reach Pandemonium is through Heaven," Tyrael said.
"I have already talked to the Angiris Counsel while you were busy with saving the city from Urzael and your trip to find Adria, so they know that we will have some friendly demons along for the ride. So no worries about you guys being killed by Angel spears today," Kirara said. "Whew... that's a relief," Serena smiled. "Okay, come with me into this portal. It will lead us to Heaven," Tyrael said as he opened a rift portal out of nowhere and I could see the world of Heaven beyond. "Let's go," I said as I led myself, Lilith, Serena, mom, Hael, Leah, and even the angel trio into the rift.
Upon reaching the other side, we were gobsmacked to see that the area in front of us was actually full of dead Angels and that more were rushing forward at the same time. "What is this madness?!" Tyrael exclaimed as we rushed forward and we saw that Malthael was already onto us. He was plotting to use his Reapers to close the Pandemonium portal! "Destroy the portal, minions!" I heard another Death Maiden say. "I-It's Grail! The Angel of Peace has been reduced to a Death Maiden!" Felarya exclaimed, making the Reapers all look at our group. "Kill the demon scum!" Grail exclaimed before I rushed up and sliced her head off, which, in turn, made all the other followers around her turn from their Reaper states back into Angels.
As for Grail herself, she respawned just like Tyrael, Felarya, Celeste, and Kirara did. She was completely mortal and, after touching her golden bow, she gasped loudly as her memories came flooding back. And also at this time, a certain face showed up to crash the party. A giant flash of light came crashing down and nearly knocked me off my feet from his entrance alone. "HE DARES TO ATTACK US?!" he exclaimed loudly as he looked at the portal with a frown. "Imperius, Aspect of Valor, I presume?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't try to kill me or my friends.
Imperius looked at our group with a scoff and looked a little ticked off. "Demons and humans are not allowed within the confines of Heaven, but right now, I shall forgive it. Follow me to Pandemonium. My brother is sick and needs to be put down," Imperius frowned as he turned around and flew into the portal, healing it all up in a snap. "Well, he seems... a little eccentric," Hael frowned. "We should go after him... me and my sisters will stay behind with the other Angels in case Malthael tries to pull another stunt like that again. Your group should continue on. You're about to enter a world never before seen by human eyes, so be careful," Celeste said to us as she tended to Grail's wounds. "Thanks, Celeste. We'll be careful. Come on, ladies," I smiled as I led the way into the portal of Pandemonium.