Number 9!
REVIEWS:
Anonymous: Welcome back, man, and thx for the review. I was trying to create a reason for Jaune to truly want to save the girls for a while now and I finally got it. Saving Lucifer is going to be a big step in the story as we near the end of the Hell Arc. Lucifer does know about the Brother Gods, and she will in time explain the whole shebang. But on another note...Loads Gun I am afraid we won't be having any Goat Lucy here, man. None of that.
Nerdy: Knightspark - oh don't worry man, it's only going to get more hectic from here. Especially when we get to Beacon.
Wolfang: Thanks, man. No, Luna won't pop up. I do agree with your character relations. And no, I don't think we will make a crossover like that.
Midnight: Shade will return one day! He is bigger than you guys think.
Nerdy: Zathol - gonna have to agree that having such a strict age limit on the defenders of humanity is messed up. It reminds me of a lot of this anime called strike witches where the main cast had to be in that similar age group. It's some weird fetish I guess. Also, thank you for the compliment regarding Lucifer's backstory and such. It took a while to think of it which is why this chapter took longer than usual to release. I also want to ask, would you guys be interested in seeing this story in visual form eventually? This question is for everyone.
Lucifer was stressed and it was not the usual stress brought by her everyday life. No, this was brought by as a certain someone has chosen to defy death itself and rise again from somewhere NO ONE was supposed to ever escape from. Tartarus was supposed to be a perfect prison, and more to that, a pit of damn lava and the bottom floor of the blazing Hell! Yet, as she held her eyes closed, looking over Hell, seeing what that boy had done, she couldn't help but curse her own luck and the one who, to what she could gather, borrowed him some gal to use against her.
Ignium.
The accursed demon who plaques her nightmares even to this day has never stopped being a thorn in her side. Why she didn't kill him back then she doesn't know, but she regrets that decision now. Deeply so. Even Ryan, who was supposed to guard him, sold his soul just to score some later. "Pathetic…" She muttered, opening her eyes. She had watched him fight off the Hawk, Hellhounds, and Ghouls. Normally, a capable demon might be able to take on a normal ghoul - those pests being an issue only when in groups. Hawks? Some devils could either fly or had some kind of long-range magic. But what got her attention, however, was the Hellhound fight.
Of all Hellhounds to encounter him and fight him, Shade was someone she did not expect. She felt a bit of hope when he encountered that foolish boy, thinking Shade might be able to finish him. But that glow he had...That accursed glow seemed to make him superhuman in raw might had her irked. That glow seemed almost divine to her, powerful and dangerous. But from what she has seen from his fight with Shade she was not worried. Shade went easy on the boy all things considered.
But he was drawing ever so close to her palace once again, and nothing she threw at him seemed to slow him by any considerable amount. The ghouls already proved useless, the hounds weren't much better, and the hawks would perish all the same. She didn't want to send other demons yet, but she still had the skeletons to hunt him. In the end, it didn't matter how powerful he might be able to become; she had an army at her command, he didn't.
"Is that boy getting closer?" Judgement asked, leaning with her back on Lucifer's throne, arms crossed. "I can tell from your unusual silence that he is not dead, that much is clear."
"So what if he is?" Lucifer asked back, holding the glass of wine in her hand. "That boy won't get out of Hell alive, Judgement. We have to make sure of that." Lucifer then got up, walking to the edge of her throne room, in front of the window, looking up at the levels of Hell. She looked up with spite, imagining that she was looking back at her father, God. If only he would look back at her at times.
"What about the others?" Judgement asked. "Even though the boy is alive we can change things for his Harem-"
"No." Lucifer replied, allowing Judgement to breathe easy knowing she won't have to kill them. High Prosecutor or not, she really didn't want to kill her own kin, no matter their crime. Even the angel was seeming like a little much. "Instead we will keep them locked up in that room, and, if need be, use them as leverage to make him surrender. Then, once he is dead and his body burns, I will personally burn his soul"
"Hmm" Judgement looked at Lucifer with a skeptical look, having noticed something in the reflection of the window. Was that a smile? "Has he proven himself?"
"What?" Lucifer asked, turning back to Judgement.
"Did he pass your little trials? I remember when you told me about them; stuff you look for in your slaves. Has that boy caught your eye, Lucifer?" Judgement asked again, pressing the matter. Lucifer, to her credit, simply scoffed and gave Judgement an unamused look.
"He is far from completing them, Judgement!" Lucifer declared, then she turned around. "The foes he has faced were either weak, mindless beasts. Or a useless mutt."
"Then send the skeletons after him!" The prosecutor argued. "He won't be able of fighting all of them at once! It is also clear he doesn't really control that glowy stuff of his, meaning that he is relatively weak."
"Not yet, Judgement. Let him tire himself more. He had been fighting all night, without rest, and I am positive that the toll has been consuming his stamina" She stated, slowly walking back to her throne. "Jaune Arc CANNOT escape!"
"I will escape Hell and I will be taking the girls with me. An Arc doesn't go back on their promises" Jaune thought as he tracked Hell's landscape. He was drawing near Lucifer's palace, he could see it. But he was weary. Very much so. The adrenaline washed away a while ago and his body ached all over from the brawl he had with Shade. He was tired, but the thoughts in his head kept him going. The soft glow of his Aura told him that as well.
It was strange, being so powerful all of a sudden. Before Ignium, he had no skill. Before his uncle, he had no Aura or semblance. Yet thanks to them he was everything he wanted to be right. Beel gave him the armor, his family had the weapon, and with him, they were being put to good use. He did wonder what his ancestor currently thought about him using Crocea Mors against the demons and monsters of Hell to save his forced Harem from the literal Queen of Hell.
On one hand, he was confident some of them were twisting in their graves about now. But he was confident some, namely his uncle, was sporting a large grin right about now with whatever Arc that also agreed with this. Jaune shook his head. He had to be focused. He couldn't let himself get distracted again, else he risked joining those ancestors. The question would be which ones because he is sure some are down here.
"A little bit more" Jaune muttered, dragging his armored feet across the ground, his sword sheathed into his shield which he kept on his arm. His armor, regardless of how many times he de-summoned it, seemed to retain the filth and some damage which he found fair. Even magic is not that perfect, especially with his luck.
And his luck said his luck once more as he looked before him, seeing his next opponent. But this was no monster or anything of the sort. No, this was a demon. A large demon, with black horns laid back on its head and a solemn expression on his face. His skin was grey, but his left eye was charred over, leaving a nasty scar. It wore a white, tight tank top and black cargo pants with military-grade boots on his feet. Two bandanas were also tied on his arms. He opened his eyes, seeing Jaune draw his sword at him.
"My name is Behemoth" The demon introduced himself, his arms crossed over his chest. "I take it you are Jaune Arc? The kid Lucifer wants dead?"
"So what if I am?" Jaune replied, preparing himself to fight the giant hulk before him. But to his surprise, the demon sidestepped. "What?"
"Lucifer sent me to kill you. But, I've asked who you faced before and how you had the capability." Behemoth replied, tracing a hand to his scar. The eye could still see, luckily for him, but the mark was eternal. "You received Ignium's skill and you also won against Shade, regardless of means. For that alone, I will let you pass"
Jaune was processing the words of the demon as put his sword away, then he took notice of a change in the demon's tone when he spoke of Ignium. He walked towards Behemoth, almost walking past him, but then he stopped. "Not to pry, but...Did Ignium give you that scar? It looks like a burn and I thought demons are generally immune to fire"
Behemoth inhaled, then exhaled. "Yes. His fire is not normal, it's pure destruction. I got off easy. But in all honesty, I never held a grudge against him. Our fight was fair and square, and that is all that matters in the end, not who comes on top"
"You know that if I fail then Lucifer is likely going to-"
"I know!" Behemoth cut him off, replying to him. "But in all honesty, I couldn't care less. Now go! And take this!" Behemoth said, throwing Jaune a strange fruit. It was almost like an orange, but the outside was rough and wrinkly, having a red color to it. "Eat the peel, throw the rest. That is a blood-eye fruit. The insides carry a potent toxin that causes the system to overclock and self-destruct, but the peel has a lesser amount. It's a safe amount bound to put you back into shape, but after that be ready to sleep for some time"
Jaune nodded and walked off, slowly taking the peel of the fruit. As Behemoth said, he threw away the rest of it and ate the peel, which in all honesty, tasted sour as heck. It took Jaune a lot of willpower not to spit it out, eventually swallowing it. It did its job, however, as he felt his body become rejuvenated. But he knew that won't last, so he broke into a sprint towards Lucifer's castle. Unknown to him and Behemoth, or maybe just to Jaune, Lucifer has had enough.
As Jaune neared the castle he saw a dozen of skeletons in formation, three of them per line, making a thick formation. They left no alternative route other than through them, the size of the skeletons making their formation more than big enough to block the bridge. But at that moment the tattoo burned again and his Aura flared. It was the moment for battle.
The skeletons saw him and prepared to meet the boy head-on, then deliver his head to Lucifer. But they were confused when they saw him charge it recklessly with his shield up and his sword sheathed in it. He held his shield before his face, almost as if he was planning to ram into them. No one is that stupid, right? Wrong. What Jaune was at that moment was not stupid, but reckless.
The first skeleton tried to swing its blade from above at Jaune, but the size and speed difference allowed him to crash into the skeleton's stomach and through most of the formation. Three skeletons fell over the edge of the bridge, falling into Tartarus where they met their end. But the rest were still there, and Jaune drew his sword. "Come on!" He shouted, feeling a strange confidence wash over him as they charged towards him. Nine versus one. Not really a fair fight, but a fight nonetheless.
The first skeletons charged at him, trying to swing all manner of weapons at him. Swords, axes, spears, hammers, maces, and more were present. Jaune dodged the first strike which came from above in the form of a hammer, sliding to the side and slashing at the skeletons' side, then he brought his shield up to block a mace strike from another one, feeling his legs dig into the concrete more as the force was sending him through it. He pushed his shield up, throwing the skeleton off-balance which allowed him to thrust Crocea Mors into its abdomen, where he thought the heart was.
But the skeleton smirked at him before kicking Jaune back, the boy rolling down the bridge until he stopped himself. Looking up he saw the skeletons he had slashed and stabbed. It was clear they were feeling pain, but not like normal. They didn't even bleed normally. The husk that was covered in those bones were empty and dry, with no trace of organs within them. "How do I kill one then?" Jaune asked in his head as the skeletons charged again, this time using his Aura to enhance his speed in order to dodge. He thought about simply making them go off the edge of the bridge, but that was not likely. So instead he tried something else.
He waited until another heavy-hitter with a big battleax struck down, then he jumped on their weapon, preventing them from pulling it up in time, and slashed at their neck. Jaune landed and looked back, seeing the body being motionless as the head hung by a weak string of flesh that eventually came undone, allowing for the head to fall and the body to fall. "Going for the head then."
The remaining eight were not fazed by their comrade dying, but they simply charged in again. The ones Jaune had harmed previously in the non-effective areas came up to him again, trying to land a double strike with their hammer and mace respectively, but Jaune was still faster. He jumped back, allowing for their weapons to strike the bridge, then he swung Crocea Mors as he focused as much Aura as he could into the blade, trying to recall what happened to the ghouls last night.
He slashed horizontally, so when they lifted their head they lost them. The Aura slash cut their heads at eye-level, splitting them in half. They collapsed as well after that, allowing Jaune to take care of the remaining six. The only ones left had three demons using swords, one using a chain connected to a sickle, and two of them using gauntlets. The ones with the blades charged in first and Jaune fought back.
The first one brought their sword down on the boy, Jaune retaliating by swinging Crocea Mors so their blades met. He could feel the pressure and knew the others were coming, so he let one hand let go of Crocea Mors and grabbed his shield, throwing it at the leg of the skeleton and forcing them to kneel just in time for Jaune to jump away as the second one tried to hit him. His Aura was rising again, meaning he had to wait before he could use Aura Slash again. He also decided on the name for that move, which is nice.
But back on the fight, Jaune gripped Crocea Mors tightly and changed his grip on it, then he threw it like a spear into the skull of the first skeleton, making the other one look back to see the blade, missing how Jaune ran up to it and then kicked it in the face to force the skeleton to the side. He recovered his shield and tried to get his blade, but found the third skeleton wielding a sword a nuisance. He blocked with his shield, but he was still sent skipping backward again, this time almost over the edge of the bridge.
"They're powerful. Not that fast, but powerful. I must be careful not to get hit directly or else it could spell trouble for me" Jaune thought as he dodged a charge by one of the unarmed skeletons, sliding to the side then striking back with a good kick that sent the skeleton over the edge. "Four more" He thought then ran to get Crocea Mors, sliding on his knees to avoid a strike from the first skeleton then jumping up to avoid the second one, allowing him to get Crocea Mors, yanking it out of the deceased skeleton's skull and landing, turning around just in time to deflect a sword strike from behind, then slashing from down to up, cutting the skeleton's head in half from the middle.
The last skeleton armed with a sword watched its comrade fall, but still charged in, trying to land a decisive strike on Jaune. But the boy was back in full again. Jaune tried to swing Crocea Mors to hit the skeleton with an Aura Slash again, but the swords collided, sending the slash out before he could fully slash. "Damn it!" He swore aloud, but then he saw the demon look strangely at him. Its head then showed a quick white light on its left eye before it blew up, a good chunk of its head spraying to the side as the skeleton fell. The slash got it, albeit barely.
The last two demons charged with a smarter approach, the one using a chain and sickle throwing its chain and wrapping around Jaune's hand which held his sword as the other one went in to deal the punishment, Jaune having to put his shield up.
"Jaune is in trouble!" Azazel shouted, then she ran to the window of their room, looking down to the bridge she gasped at what she saw. "Look down, everyone!"
The demon girls all gathered around the window, stunned at what they were seeing. Well, except for Justice who couldn't see. "Holy shit! Look at the carnage down there!" Zdrada shouted, smoke blowing out of her mouth like crazy.
"He is here! He is here! He is here!" Cerberus cheered.
"He must have fought an entire skeleton interception force." Monica stated, looking at the number of demons around." Some must have been sent over the bridge, but I can see the damage."
"This is so hot…" Modeus muttered, watching with interest as Jaune fought. "His armor is so good-looking too. Maybe he can wear it for some more kinky stuff?"
"He looks just like some characters from my games…" Malina muttered quietly, feeling herself growing more interested in Jaune. "You better not die, asshole"
"You guys are making me anxious!" Justice chimed in. "There is a cool fight down there and I cannot see! Come on, at least someone describes the action!"
"I will!" Azazel offered, going to Justice to describe what she was seeing.
"Shit!" Jaune swore again, feeling the weight and force behind that fist. It was pressing on his shield and his arm was starting to hurt from how much he had to push it so he doesn't get squashed. The other skeleton kept tugging at the chain as well, most likely trying to get him off-balance. But Jaune was not letting them.
He pumped his Aura into all sections of his body, like he did against Shade, and began to feel his eyes emit Aura as well. The tattoo was burning. He gave a loud battle cry as he pushed off the skeleton trying to squash him, then he grabbed the chain and, to the surprise of the undead being, Jaune pulled the skeleton along with the chain towards him, getting Crocea Mors free in the process.
When the skeleton wielding the sickle and chain combo crashed into its comrade, Jaune stabbed Crocea Mors through both their abdomens, his sword skewering them both. Then he grabbed the chain, having taken the skeleton's weapon to use. He wrapped the chain around their necks, holding the sickle tightly in hand. He didn't know how he could use this weapon so well, but he didn't ponder on it. He used the sickle and reinforced it with Aura, the white glow extending to the chain as well, allowing him to pull the skeletons on their back, followed by him jumping on top of the pile. He grabbed Crocea Mors, sticking the sickle into the skeletons, then he slashed off the head of the one on top, leaving the last one stuck under the body of its previous comrade. But Jaune had other plans. He sheathed Crocea Mors back then grabbed a chain piece that was sticking out, using it along with some strength enhancement from his Aura to lift and throw both bodies into the gates of Lucifer's palace, crashing them open. The last skeleton died from the impact.
"Pandemonica, Modeus, Cerberus, Malina, Zdrada, Azazel, Justice, and even you, Lucifer, and Judgement. Hold on, for I am coming right now. I promise I will take you all up to the human realm" Jaune thought as he finally set foot inside the palace once more.
"I cannot believe this." Lucifer sighed, slumping on her chair. She could see Jaune walking through her palace, fighting off more skeletons and demons as he made his way to her office once more. She underestimated him, sending the low-ranked troops and some demons were not enough. "Judgement, dear, please stay here. I will go deal with him myself"
"Very well." Judgement said. "But if he gets too hard for you to deal with, do call"
"Oh please, as if that mortal can impress me"
Jaune slashed down Crocea Mors on another skeleton that tried to jump him, cutting its head down the middle. The hulking creature collapsed on the ground, life draining from it. Jaune's armor was all beat up now, having to receive multiple punishments from the skeletons as he advanced. They didn't let up, becoming more and more desperate to take him out each time. His arms and legs were sore, and the armor showed some dents from when he would kick, punch, or block using them. His chest plate was also in a rough shape, having dents and cut marks on it. He will need to praise Beel once he is back because she made good armor.
His helmet was not any better either. In fact, it was already uncomfortable to wear. The back section of it was rubbing against his head and the creaking of the metal was driving him insane. But he had to pray it would last until he arrived at his destination. Crocea Mors never seemed to lose its edge or the shield to dent, but he could tell the weapon was getting weary from the fighting as well.
Not to mention Ignium's tattoo has been burning him all the way to this place. Each time it happened he noticed a rush of adrenaline, allowing him to use the hybrid semblance within him. But he also noticed how his usual anxiety and fear, nervousness, and clumsiness were gone. What Ignium did eluded him, but he could at least see that it was affecting his mind to some degree as well. Granted, he found out he can make himself stronger and do a really cool attack with his Aura, which he found really amazing.
"A bit more…" He muttered, his voice slightly altered by his helmet. He saw the stairs leading up to Lucifer's throne room and made his way to them. But he never reached them as an unseen force knocked him back into the wall, keeping him trapped on it. Jaune struggled to get free, but the force itself was too great for him to even move.
"You are one persistent mortal, Jaune Arc, I'll give you that." Lucifer herself said as she descended the stairs, her crimson eyes fixing on Jaune. Namely, his armor. She recognized the work of Beelzebub, making her frown. "To think you are here, having the gall to wear that armor made by the Exiled One AND use borrowed power from the Chained One. You really are hopeless."
"Lu...cifer." He struggled to talk, slowly moving his head to look down at the demoness before him. His Aura tried to flare up, but each time he felt that he was making progress the invisible force pushed him down again against the stone wall. He could swear he was hearing cracks as well form.
"Do not dare call me by name!" She said, then she lowered him from the wall, crashing him into the ground at high-speed. The boy made a small crater on the floor as he landed, but Lucifer sneered seeing the white light envelop him, preventing him from getting hurt. But he was still kept in place. "How persistent. So this is Aura, the force left behind by the Brother Gods. I must say, it is certainly unique." She stated, then she looked down in the crater to find -NOTHING?! "How-"
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHH" Lucifer barely had time to react as Jaune appeared from her side, crashing into her and landing on top of her. Lucifer hit her head a bit on the floor, her crown falling off her head and sliding on the floor. This was the weakness of her Omniscience. Whenever she looks around she closes her eyes. She has to search for what she must know, she doesn't know everything instantly. It had limits.
She recovered quickly, stretching her hand and launching Jaune away once more through one of the pillars. She got up, slowly, a few strands of hair following down her face. "You insolent, impudent, worthless human being!" She shouted, grabbing Jaune with her power and tossing him around more. "Just die already!" She shouted again, trying to throw Jaune through the window and back down into Tartarus, but Jaune was stubborn. He grabbed onto a pillar, using his sword as a means to grab on.
"Stubbornness and bravado won't get you anywhere!" She shouted again, this time pulling him towards her and sidestepping, allowing Jaune to fly right past her and back into the wall. "What is driving you?!" She asked, walking to him. When she was right in his face she grabbed his helmet. "Your Aura is not breaking, no matter how hard I am pushing you! I know this is something finite, so why!"
"Because…" He tried to talk, but his chest hurt from the damage. In that slight pause, Lucifer's anger grew more. He had the gall to touch her in that tackle, and her crown even fell on the floor. He insulted her greatly. "Because I have to get you out…"
"What?" She chimed, feeling confused at his words for a moment before she processed his words more. "Get me out? Of what?"
"Of Hell" Jaune added, feeling his helmet get tighter on his skull. "I know what happened in Heaven, Ignium told me...I'm...I'm sorry."
"YOU are sorry?" Lucifer snarled, looking at him with eyes of rage. "Why would you even be sorry? You weren't there when Ophirius and Micheal cut me with their swords, cast me down here to become the embodiment of all that is unholy. You were not even born! In fact, humanity was not even born back then!"
"I am not sorry about that…" Jaune replied again, wincing from the pain. "I am sorry because I looked at you like The Devil instead of who you really were." Lucifer widened her eyes a little at him. "When I came here I still thought of you as the being everyone knows, but now I see something else." He traced his hand up, grabbing her wrist. Lucifer took notice of that and wanted to yank her hand away, but she knew she'd be releasing him from her grip if she did. "You are like me-"
"Fool!" She shouted, cutting him off and began to use her power on his helmet, trying to crush his head. "We are not alike one bit! What could you know about how it is to fall from grace as I did? How can someone like you even understand the divine concepts that lie beyond your understanding!"
"I understand when someone is at the bottom and alone!" He shouted through the pain, reaching his hands to his helmet to try and pry it away. "I might be at the bottom, even now, and I am lonely because of it, but I also know you are lonely being here at the top!"
"Nonsense!" Lucifer shouted.
"Is nonsense the fact Ignium sparred you that time as well?!" Lucifer was stunned about that, letting go of his helmet and taking a few steps back.
"So he told you…" She muttered lowly, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Ignium didn't want to kill you, Lucifer." Jaune said, slowly getting up and trying to remove his helmet. "He never did. He wanted to save you from this place, from your loneliness. But he failed. This is why I am here!" He yanked off his helmet, dropping the destroyed piece of armor on the ground. Slight drops of blood dropped on the floor from Jaune's head, but the most eye-catching detail was his eyes. Never in her eyes has Lucifer seen a more brilliant gold. Even Ignium's weren't this golden. "I want to get you out of here! I know I am not much, maybe even the worst, but what is it that I can do now?! I won't give up! I made a promise, and an Arc never - NEVER back down from their promise!"
"And what makes you think I will willingly go with you?" She shouted back, the palace suddenly showing cracks in all of its walls that sprouted from where Lucifer was standing. "I am the Queen of Hell, the Ruler of this Realm, the sword enemy to God, and-"
"I can promise pancakes?" Jaune sheepishly said, trying on what Ignium told him. Lucifer stopped her monologue, eyeing him for a moment before she facepalmed, groaning in her palm. "Well, it was worth a shot. Sorry for failing you,everyone." But as Jaune expected Lucifer to strike him again, he instead heard a snort coming from her, then a low chuckle which eventually turned into a laugh from her. She was laughing hard, clutching her stomach.
"Pancakes?" She asked through her laughs. "He told you that as well!" She said again, then she calmed herself, staring at Jaune. "Although you are an insolent human being, I cannot say I am not impressed by the size of your courage. So how about I make you my favorite slave instead and see about that Harem of yours? Granted you know how to make some good, chocolate pancakes."
"I have seven sisters back home, so I think I can make some pretty good pancakes." Jaune said again, feeling somewhat relieved that Lucifer was joining him. However, his moment of peace was quickly cut off as he felt a sharp pain strike his side. A quick glance to the left revealed Judgement, her gauntlet trying to pierce through his armor. It went through, but it didn't go deep, only leading to Jaune being knocked down on the floor, falling unconscious.
"IS THAT IT?!" Judgement shouted. "You dare show up here AGAIN and try to leave with the QUEEN OF HELL HERSELF?! As High Prosecutor I WILL NOT ALLOW THAT!" She shouted, then multiple chains wrapped around Jaune.
"Judgement, stand down!" Lucifer ordered, but Judgement did not stop herself. "Judgement, as Queen of Hell, I command you to stand down!"
"I DO NOT NEED TO LISTEN TO A QUEEN WHO SURRENDERS!" Judgement replied back, defying Lucifer. "No authority is above punishment! And now, yours counts as one of them, completely obsolete! Meaning this can only lead to one place; The Sin Machine. I will break him in front of his entire harem."
"Judgement, this is absurd, you cannot-" Before Lucifer could finish multiple chains wrapped around her. "JUDGEMENT!"
"I said in front of his entire Harem, the ranks of which you joined. Now…" She cracked her neck. "IGNITE THE SIN MACHINE! SUFFERING MUST BE MADE!"
Jaune felt his body scream at him as he slowly recovered his conscience, but as his eyes opened, having recovered their blue hue, he wished he didn't. What he found himself in was not something one could call a pleasant place. "I see you woke up!" Judgement shouted from above, and Jaune immediately noticed the others as well around, all looking down with chains acting as a barrier to keep them away.
"What is going on-" Jaune tried to ask, but then he felt his wrist being bound. White chains were keeping him tied to two pillars placed on either side of him, his arms stretched out. He still had Crocea Mors with him, that being the reason for his armor still being intact as well. But he could feel a pain in his side, having just recovered thanks to his Aura.
"This is the Sin Machine!" Judgement declared, spreading her arms to show the entire place Jaune was in. At first glance, it looked like a colosseum of sorts, but he could see multiple wheels and mechanisms around, all of them making a subtle sound of ticking. "Here is where I take care of the more troublesome people and souls of Hell! This machine was created with the sole purpose of breaking your soul, making you feel unending pain and plunging you down into your own madness and despair!"
"Judgement, stop" Lucifer shouted again. "This is going too far!"
"Keep going, Judgement, you are on a roll!" Justice said from the sidelines, cheering Judgment on.
"Oh man, there goes blondie." Zdrada said. "Knew he wouldn't last much."
"And there goes the only other person I could enjoy a good game with, just great!" Malina said.
"Silence!" Judgement shouted. "His punishment will be carried out at once! His own sins will break him!" She shouted, then she launched a chain at Jaune, watching it bury itself into him, burrowing into his soul. "Huh?" Then Judgement's expression morphed with confusion.
"I cannot watch! But this is one-of-a-kind research material" Azazel said, trying to cover her eyes with her palms, but peeked through her fingers.
"Awww. We won't get to the human world now." Cerberus said.
"Well, I guess there goes all my kinky knight fantasies." Modeus sighed.
"Wait, everyone, someone is off." Monica said, getting everyone's attention. Judgement's chain, which was supposed to feed off Jaune's sins and dark desire to grow and expand, to give life to the sin machine, was not growing in any way.
"What is the meaning of this?" Judgement shouted out, pulling back her chain.
"Judgement, stop already! It is clear that the boy is pure enough so your chains and Sin machine cannot affect him!" Lucifer shouted.
"Silence!"
"Silence- But I am supposed to be the fucking Queen of Hell!" Lucifer said, her face becoming red as she shouted out in frustration.
"What is happening?" Judgement muttered, looking down at Jaune. She sneered looking at him then jumped down at him, grabbing his throat and forcing him to look at her white, pearly eyes. "How are you doing it? No one is supposed to be immune to punishment! NO ONE!" She shouted, shaking him.
"I don't know?" Jaune said.
"You do not know?!" Judgement echoed, throwing his head back. "This is not possible! This is impossible! What kind of ungodly force are you wielding that allows you to stop my punishment! Are you hiding it under the armor?!" She shouted, grabbing his armor and yanking it off him, but what was released was a horrible smell as everyone was disgusted and awed at what they saw.
Ignium's tattoo, the snake, coiling around Jaune's body and leaving deep burns on him. They had been healed with the Aura he was producing, but the scarring and the marks left by the burns were horrible. This is where Jaune's little sins went, burned away, and hurt him over time. Blood Binder traveled along Jaune's abdomen, then it went up to his neck, coiling around it. Its tongue came out, and a low hiss was heard all over as well. "This is...His weapon…" Judgement took a few steps back, feeling her fear, something she has not felt in a long time, swell. "That is what he used to fight Lucifer and Behemoth…" She eventually tripped, falling on her butt whilst she stared at it. Everyone was staring, even Justice as she could feel Blood Binder.
"Ignium's weapon…" Lucifer muttered in horror. "How…?"
"How is he still alive?" Justice asked aloud. "Ignium's body, Blood Binder, the two are made for each other because Ignium cannot burn...But him?"
"Look at his body.." Zdrada said, having dropped her cigar. "No human could have survived that and lived so easily!"
"Oh my God…" Azazel said, covering her mouth. It was her duty as his guardian angel to keep him away from harm, yet he had put himself in harm's way to save them.
"I...I cannot stop until I fulfill my promise. Arc's never back down from them" Jaune said again, feeling his sensible skin hurt at the sudden exposure. "I know this is reckless, but I-" He was stopped when Judgement jumped at him again, holding his shoulders. She was tightening her grip, then, slowly, she placed her hand on Blood Binder, watching it go from him to her instead. The snake didn't dare to even fight back and traveled willingly. It rested itself on her stomach and chest, then she leaned in, hugging him tightly.
"You suffered this much because of my father's own weapon…" she whispered. "No one except Lucifer knows this. But I see now that you are pure-hearted and you didn't come here out of impure reasons...If you can endure Blood Binder's heat, then can you endure me as well?"
"I…" Jaune was at a loss of words, except for one. "Sure." He replied, earning Judgement's smile before she put it away and took a step back, taking on her HP persona again.
"VERY WELL! I WILL JOIN YOUR HAREM, I WILL WAIT FOR A SIN TO DRAW POWER FROM FOR MY CHAINS!" She shouted, unchaining him.
"Finally…" Jaune sighed. "Now...I need to sleep...A lot." He collapsed right there on the ground, no one reaching in time to catch him. Everyone rushed to him, trying to make sure he was ok, but Lucifer took quick control of the situation once again and had him moved to her private infirmary to get treatment for his burned body and rest. God knows he needed it. But she also had other things she had to do now as well, namely contacting an old teacher.
Jaune doesn't know for how long he was asleep for, only that he had the craziest dream of his life. After his father rejected him, again, he had found a strange book left by his uncle, Leon Arc, that allowed him to, unknowingly, summon an actual demon! Let alone expect said demon to be a sophisticated, good looking demon girl who, to his further shock, told him he had to get an entire harem of 10 demon girls as part of a contract passed down from his deceased uncle!
And that is not where his dream stopped. Crocea Mors could summon armor, his uncle both unlocked his Aura and gave him his semblance, then he met a tired, secretary-like demoness, a lustful one that was shy and couldn't even hold hands, a demoness with three bodies and one soul that had dog-like features and acted the part, an alcoholic gamer girl, a demoness who smokes more than a chimney, an angel who became his guardian angel, and he even wooed Lucifer and her second-in-command! With promises of pancakes! Not to mention meeting other badass-looking demons like Shade and Behemoth, and Ignium, and he supposed Ryan was cool with that spear of his as well. He fought ghouls, wolves, and a giant fucking hawk got himself burned for it, did things he never knew he was able, and all of this was just absolutely, unbelievably crazy!
Groaning a bit feeling how hot it was, Jaune shuffled around in his bed, but he couldn't turn even if he tried to. He felt a weight on his chest, and now that he focused more, he could also feel something wrapped around his chest as well. His eyes opened slowly to reveal that, to his utter disbelief, he didn't dream. None of that was a dream. Sitting in his bed, bandages wrapped around his chest, Jaune was in what he assumed to be a room in Lucifer's palace. But something scared him.
Namely, a strange-looking demon that resembled him to some degree. How did he know they were a demon? They had a tail, horns, and wings. How did it resemble him? Blonde hair, blue eyes, albeit a few shades darker, and a lanky build. Said demon was dressed only in a pair of ripped jeans, and to the boy's further distress, it was squatting on his chest like a slav, but weighed nearly nothing. He almost mistook him for Modeus.
"You crazy son-of-a-bitch…" The demon muttered "You actually went through with it and done something no Arc has ever done; conquered Hell. My sincerest praise for you" he spoke, even sounding like Jaune, but with a smoother, deeper tone. "Don't bother talking. You are not awake, you are still asleep. This semblance only allows you to see your surrounding area" Jaune tried to speak, but found himself unable to. But then the demon said 'semblance'. How was that possible? He thought demons were like Grimm, incapable of using Aura and by extension incapable of having a semblance. Not to mention the way he referred to it was strange. "My name, Jaune Daedalus Arc, is Artorias Kronos Arc. I am your great-great-great-great-GREAT!" Artorious inhaled deeply "A lot of 'greats' later - grandfather. Call me Art for short."
Another Arc ancestor? But how? And why was he in Hell? "I know you have some basic questions, so I will answer them at once; first, I am in Hell because of how I lived my life. Before your era, I was a warmonger who liked nothing more than to slaughter. My own family even erased my name from the family records." He sighed. "I am the only Arc in here, you know? Your uncle, Leon, is in Heaven by now, or at least the purgatory. But let's not get off-track. I do not have a lot of time before your Harem notices my presence in your head. I will be frank"
Art clapped his hands, showing a smile. "I want to die again!" He cheerfully said, but then his face turned into a frown. "I cannot stand Hell anymore, Jaune. I want to destroy my soul - to fade from existence! And I know just how; the true Arc family semblance. You see, our family used to be greater once. Back when semblances were discovered, it was an Arc who got one first. Origin. A semblance that can take a fragment - a small, harmless fragment of another person's soul - and enable you to use a lesser version of their semblance. You can also mix and give, I don't give a fuck what you do with it. It isn't like what Leon did, since taking an entire semblance will kill someone. However, Origin died with me. I couldn't use its power to pass it down further to one of my sons before I died in battle. Only an Arc can take it, you see?" Suddenly, the world around Jaune started to shift, blurry images starting to appear. Art clicked his tongue. "They figured me out. Oh well, they were faster than anticipated. Listen to me, Jaune" Art placed his hand on Jaune's face, then his golden Aura flared as cracks appeared on him. "The home you live in right now has a secret; buried under a tree, overlooking the manor, lies my journal. You better find it. You will need it" after Art's body broke into dust, leaving Jaune utterly stunned.
Jaune then saw the darkness before he opened his eyes again, finding everyone gathered around him. He jumped, letting the blanket fall and expose his abdomen, which was still bandaged, and hurt when he jumped, making him wince. "Easy there, Jaune," Azazel said, leaning towards him and holding him. "I tried to heal your body to the best of my abilities, but healing Hellfire is not easy, especially since your wounds kept forcing themselves to be healed"
"Azazel…" Jaune said, using his voice which made his throat ache. His throat felt dry, sore even.
"Don't talk," Azazel said again.
"Better listen to her," Lucifer said, holding a glass of water and giving it to him. "Once Judgement removed Blood Binder and you fell asleep your body caught up with the abuse you put it through. We had the best doctors of Hell and, as Azazel said, used even magic, but the damage will take a bit to heal." She said.
"Still though, you were absolutely badass!" Zdrada said, shouting aloud. "You literally ripped and tore until you faced Lucifer herself and came out on top!"
"Not to mention you endured Blood Binder for this long!" Justice said, being genuinely impressed. "Even I cannot touch that thing without it ruining my pretty face!"
"Bad snake! Bad snake! Bad snake!" Cerberus said.
"I can't believe you'd be as stupid as to have that on you," Malina said. "Had us worried sick!"
Jaune smiled hearing them, but then he saw Monica, looking at him with her tired eyes. "I thought Arcs never broke their promises? Yet, you went to Ignium again" she said, sounding a little disappointed. Jaune felt shame wash over him. "But" then he heard her. "You had no real choice in the matter, and you did what you had to do in the end. I guess I can forgive you this one time"
He drank the water given to him, then he smiled. "Thanks girls."
"Not to mention you've been out for two full days" Monica continued, making the Arc choke on his water and spit a bit out. "Something the matter?"
"Oh no, I have to get back to the human realm!" Jaune shouted, then he tried to move, only to once again wince in pain and get himself forced to lie down by Azazel who pushed him down gently.
"You can't!" Lucifer firmly said. "You are too hurt, you cannot even get out of bed! You need to rest for now."
"Don't worry." Modeus said, going to him. "I will be your nurse." Somehow, that put up more alarms in his head than the fact he has been gone for a full day in the human world. He prayed that Beel was able to cover up for him well enough. Thankfully, a certain somehow came into the room just in time to hit Modeus on the head lightly.
"Let him rest!" Judgement said, then she turned to him. She no longer had Blood Binder on her, meaning another demon now had it. "Ignium's weapon messed him up more than enough as it is, we do not need to add a broken pelvis to the list of injuries."
"Owww." Modeus whined.
"Hello there, kid!" And things got awkward as Ignium himself walked into the room. "I must say that I owe you big time!"
"Ignium?!" Jaune shouted, not expecting to see him out of all people to walk into the room. "What is it with you here?! I thought you were still trapped within the depths of Tartarus!"
"Correction!" Ignium said, then Jaune saw what he was wearing. Ignium was now dressed in a crimson suit with a fancy black tie around his neck. Black gloves decorated his hands, and unlike the girls, he looked fully human. "Was trapped in Tartarus! Tell him, Lucy!"
"I told you not to call me that!" Lucifer shouted at him, making Ignium shrug. She sighed, then she turned to Jaune to explain. "Since I will be leaving Hell I made Ignium the new ruler. This ensures that the place will not fall apart in our absence. I know what he is capable of, after all, so I have no doubt he might even improve some things next we visit."
"You can bet on that. I am also making Ryan the new High Prosecutor since Judgement is going with you as well" Ignium said. "However, he is busy with something else at the moment." Ignium snickered.
"Are you saying that you-?"
"Finally gave him some lady advice? The moment Lucifer broke my chains I also broke the dam on my mouth and told him everything he needed to know. I bet he is getting the lay of his life as we speak as well" The demon continued. "Anyway, kid, I wanted to apologize for not saying anything about Blood Binder. I thought you'd chicken out if I talked, so I kept my trap shut."
"It's ok." Jaune replied. "It was a very...thrilling experience, to say the least. The burning sensation was more of a stimulant than anything, I didn't really mind it that much. I never paid attention to the damage it did, which is on me."
"Fair" Ignium replied, earning a jab from Judgement to the ribs. "Ow. What was that for- Oh...OHHHHHH! Yeah, I guess I almost did forget about it, haven't I?"
"Forget about what?" Jaune asked, then he looked around, noticing how everyone was acting somewhat nervous. "Guys, you are scaring me."
"You see, I assume Pandemonica told you about the generations of demons, so I will be telling you about the others. You see, you have the first generation, which is us, angels who fell from grace and became demons. The second generation is the children of the first one, but also the children of anyone from the second generation."
"I see. I think I remember Monica telling me how she is a second generation demon, and I know you and Lucifer are first generation ones"
"Correct" Lucifer continued. "However, there are other generations as well, the next one being arguably the weakest. The third generation is made up of the human souls you have been seeing down there. If they do not break down and become ghouls, if they break and swear loyalty to the ruler, then they will turn into demons. Imps, to be more precise"
"Ok? And that affects me because?"
"Jaune, you have been in Hell for far too long now." Monica stated. "A week is just fine when you look at it, but you overstayed that limit for a bit. You are becoming a fourth generation demon, a living human who turned into a demon from exposure to Hell"
"WHAT?! Oh no, oh no. I was already worried about how I was going to explain my absence, maybe some wounds, but being a demon? My family is literally going to skin me alive!" Jaune panicked, holding the sides of his head. "PLease tell me there is a way to reverse this!"
"Thankfully, there is. And you have it!" Ignium said, then he pointed at Azazel. "Your little guardian angel and her magic can prevent the process from finishing and even reverse it. Having her around has kept you human."
"Thank God…" Jaune sighed, but Azazel was shaking a bit. "Azazel-"
"I didn't know that is how fourth generation demons are created!" She shouted, then she ran to Monica. "You have to tell me more! How does the last generation fare against the first? Are they stronger? Weaker? Do they possess demonic traits? Are they capable, like Jaune here, to have an Aura and Semblance?!"
"Easy there, Azazel." Monica said, putting her finger up to push Azazel's notebook down. "I will answer everything once we are all out of Hell, ok? The hardest part of our journey is long past now, so we can focus on actually walking out of Hell."
"Right!" Azazel said, returning to her seat.
"It feels surreal, you know?" Zdrada said, blowing some smoke. "We are all going to the human world to live with blondie here alongside, maybe, that Beelzebub chick as well."
"I just hope I can play some good games up there." Malina said. "And drink"
"And we can corrupt the humans!" Cerberus shouted in unison.
"I also want to check out what humanity calls romance. Sounds kinky." Modeus said, actually making Ignium chuckle.
"You got a lively harem, boy"
"Acknowledge" Jaune sighed. "So, what now?" He asked, making all of the girls look at each other, smiling one by one, then looked back at him.
"Now you rest. We will go tomorrow to the Gates of Hell and get out of here." Lucifer said.
The next day, Jaune had managed to recover and was now getting himself dressed. His shirt got ripped due to the adventure, but Ryan recovered it for him and Lucifer had it fixed. It is wonderful what a bit of magic can do. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said about his armor. It was pretty busted, and it seemed that only Beel could fix it. Which brought him to his next issue as he and the girls climbed the stairs back to where he first came in.
"So, Lucifer, Justice, I take it you are not going to try and murder Beel, right?" He asked, trying to make sure there won't be any bloodshed. He already has enough to worry about.
"We won't like her-"
"Speak for yourself, Lucy!" Justice said, buitting in. "I am willing to give her a chance. Never really was one for grudges."
"Justice! She took your sight!" Lucifer argued.
"So? I would've only had an issue if she took my voice, because then I wouldn't have been able to talk and make jokes all the time to lighten the mood!" She countered. "Now that would've been a bad case of silent treatment."
"I will never understand how you can be so forgiving at times." Lucifer sighed, then she turned to Jaune. "As I was trying to say, I won't like her, meaning you better not expect me to act well around her. If anything you better be grateful that I am not going to kill you and her."
"Duly noted." Jaune nervously replied, but then he remembered something. What had happened before waking up. "Uhm. Girls? Lucifer? Monica?" He called out to them
"Yes?" They replied.
"Can I talk with you once we are up at the gates? It might be important." And so they just kept walking until they reached the gates, the demon girls being somehow skeptic of him. Alas, they reached the gates, and everyone was excited to go through. But Jaune pulled Lucifer and Monica to the side, and then told them about the visitor.
"So that is who it was. I honestly believed it was just some common succubus." Lucifer said, sounding somewhat relieved. "Good to know I do not need to get on Asmodeus' bad side by conducting a genocide among them for touching my new slave."
"However, it is an issue. Jaune, you said that they forced yet ANOTHER semblance into you? This time one capable of taking and giving semblances?" Monica said as well.
"Yes. He also said he kept a journal and that it is buried under a tree close to my house. I do not know what he meant. I mean, the house I live in right now has been in the family since anyone can remember! So I do think it is possible he lived there as well at some point."
"Then he was indeed your ancestor as well...A very old one, too" Monica said. "If we do end up finding this journal, I think he must have mentioned the details of your new semblance in there. Only getting the journal will tell us more, really."
"Yeah, but what do I do now? Like, how does this work, exactly? Does it hurt others? Do I need to fulfill certain conditions? I just do not want to use it on my family by accident." He said, earning Lucifer's attention.
"You still care about them?" She asked. "Even after you admitted to yourself that you have hate for them? "
"Hey, they are my family. All families love and hate each other." Jaune replied.
Lucifer scoffed. "Fine. I am mostly looking forward to my pancakes. I haven't had any in eons"
"Don't worry, we are one step away from home."
Beelzebub was anxious and she had reason to be. Several hours ago she lost all manner of contact with Jaune, assuming that her fly was found and squashed, meaning she had zero ideas what was currently going on with him. She was worried she might get sent back into the Abyss at any moment due to this. She didn't want to return to that place, where only endless void and darkness exist.
He was running late, but luckily it was now the middle of the night, the sun just barely peeking over the horizon. Soon Jaune would've been in Hell for more than he should, but Beel had to remain calm. She could panic the moment she heard a portal open.
Which happened in the next moment, causing her to jump back and turn around, but she saw it not being the portal to the abyss, and instead she saw Jaune walk out of it with the girls in tow. "Home sweet home!"
At long last, it is done! Sorry for the long wait guys, but as usual, life has been giving me too many lemons to make lemonade out of. That and this chapter is pretty big, being the completion of the Hell Arc, adding the twist of Judgements' heritage, and - Wait did Jaune almost turn into a demon?! That is right! The generations are how some demons will be categorized. Most girls in the harem are the second generation, with Lucifer and Beel being the sole exceptions as they are from the first generation. Jaune woulda became a fourth-generation if not for Azazel, his guardian angel coming in clutch.
Also, I did say Jaune might become OP and there you have it! Let me know what you guys think about Origin, the idea is fairly new overall, but the semblance in itself is not as OP as it sounds.
Art: Bullshit!
Ah, that OC. Looks like he will join me and Nerdy in this little void. Also, whoever can point out where I pulled out Art will get a shoutout in the coming chapter. Hint: Check out Nerdy's stuff.
Nerdy: thanks for the shoutout. Art is a crazy dude. My fanfiction name is VideoGameNerds for anyone that doesn't know.