Act.31 100 Pipers & The Groose: Hellscape of Eternity pt.2

13th September, Dark Citadel, Darkverse Kuoh, Kuoh City, 14:41 pm

Serafall entered the mirrored side of the city while her invisibility was applied. Her demeanor was not very pleasant at this moment for she was quite peeved, enraged and worried for the most part. The point she appeared within was the center of the city where the Dark Citadel stood proud with it's immaculate luster.

The Dark Citadel was in the place of the city administration in the outside world, overlapping completely with it as the hub for both activities on each side. It was a dark building covered with thick vines and demonic flowers were blooming from each angle of the street while black tiles marked the entry hall. It was rather complex on the inside and the oddly spiralling structure that was literally hovering was another point of interest.

Aside from the building being fragmented into various sections since it was actually the location of where this pocket hell plane initially began. From that very spot till it grew and encased the entire city as it anchored itself in the folds of reality.

Which meant if anyone tried to steal the core Serafall and Sirzechs built it would have to be found here in the very center. The city was bustling with activity at this point. Devils of all sizes were walking around and doing whatever they liked. Human convicts and criminals were there too selling various products on the market, ranging from goods to fleshy goods for consumption or work. They did not have much time there, anyway. Some Devils were processing a hunted Stray Devil to present to Rias or Sona once the delivery was done but at this point Serafall merely mussed and ignored it.

She had to extract the core so she became visible again and walked towards the front gates of the Dark Citadel where she entered the premises where some of the residents bowed down to her and respectfully showed their gratitude to the owner of this plane.

Serafall was inspecting the premises, supervising through all the city where she found the distortions and noticed a part of the city was set on fire alongside some corpses being sprawled and mutilated in that corner. She assumed it might have been an internal squabble when in reality she missed catching Ravel for just twenty seconds as she escaped from there. The black haired girl closed off the tears in reality rather forcefully to prevent outside entry after she felt the wave pass through the entire planet before she entered her domain.

The fires she remotely extinguished and restored the damage to the streets while minding her own business. She was cautious to the extreme, she had to do this right and then snatch Gasper from the Gremory mansion as the lockdown of the city was taking place. Sona was fine, she knew that if she were with Issei so she only had to investigate and murder any intruders here. She was notified that Katerea withdrew from the city immediately and then she sighed in relief.

"Status report.", the Sitri woman turned to the nearest Devil at her side. Her expression was cold and motionless like a marble statue where nothing remotely human could be felt. Her cheerful, emotional mask was taken off to reveal the cold and icy nature of her's as a Demon. Her true self was nothing like the image she presented as the difference was like the earth and the sky itself.

A handsome man at the rough age of twenty eight appeared at her command. He wasn't very tall but he had a lean build with broad shoulders and muscular arms, thick legs and a wide back of a professional athlete. His face was manly with a strong jawline and good features. Caucasian in looks with dark brown hair with the sides trimmed, he bore dark green eyes with an intelligent shine to them. His neatly styled beard was maintained and his ears were pierced with spiked earrings to complete the look. For his apparel he wore his usual uniform at his own salon as he immediately appeared upon her request while he took a break in waiting for the next client.

"The city is under attack. The school was the target of an assault by a group of Devils. The students remaining there were only a few classes as my cousin told me. It appears no humans were harmed but the damage to the gym and the backyard were substantial but the problem is already taken care of. I had contact with the leader of a Gremory Squad and Rias is leaving the city as we speak.", he answered precisely after receiving the information from the school grounds.

The man was a High Class Devil, the third one that lived here in Kuoh and helped maintain order per the business relations with the two heiresses while he himself owned a beauty salon in the other side. He had authority rivaling that of Rias or Sona's but he did answer to Serafall as his superior. He was a Reincarnated Devil as well, the king of his own peerage and he was the personal stylist of Serafall. This man was none other than Jerry, Asia's stylist and the first acquaintance she made from outside the group she was in. They became good friends and it was no secret that he fancied the blonde Italian so he gave her access to the dark side of Kuoh without telling his boss about it.

"Were they Khaos Brigade members?", Serafall gave Jerry a sideways glance. She merely processed the information as she snuck her hands into the very foundation of the building and had her own blood flow after she slashed herself. She was using the backdoor extraction procedure to take out the core of the dimension and close it off.

"Or was it a different group? If they found the exact timing of our visits then we have an information leak which I don't intend to tolerate. A full sweep is to be put in order. Whole city and media alteration so fabricate some plausible explanation for the smears of flesh."

"As you wish, my liege. Every spot will be checked with utmost care so do not worry." Jerry answered with a shiver when he saw how the Leviathan was leaking out her taint. It made him nauseous and well aware of who she was and what she could do so he always did his best to please her. "I'm having our group dismantle the lockdown barrier as we speak and shall i report on the status of the Gremory estate?",

Serafall methodically began to twist her fingers and hit various combinations, controlling her blood to act as a master key for the backdoor extraction. She had specifically made it to respond to only her taint or to Sirzechs so it meant nothing if her blood was used or a relative was forced to extract it. She was taking her time with it so she probed for more information.

"Do so. My only concern is Gasper so the rest are trivial. Rias can handle herself so it doesn't matter.", she responded coldly. "Next time i want you to be prepared because there's something in our domain that does not belong here. I won't tolerate failure nor excuses. Do not forget who helped you gain your own peerage and position."

Serafall had chosen Jerry as her own Bishop eight years ago to act as her operative on the mortal planes. She imported him from Britain and had him located here to act as her extension and in time she raised him to be a proper regent in aiding her sister manage things. After the death of Kuroka's owner she personally ripped out the King Connector piece and placed it in him, adding the remaining peerage members of the former King under his command sans the runaways Sylvia and Kuroka.

She used it as a deterrent to make sure the bakeneko Devil would not set foot in her domain and cause problems for her significant other's sister. All information was suppressed with Sirzechs on the roster, ensuring Kuroka would not reach Koneko and meddle with Rias.

Another reason was that the deceased King was one of her business partners and a very good friend. She wanted revenge for his death, of course.

"I'm well aware, my liege. No such blunder would occur ever again. We cannot let any uncontrollable variables affect your plans so any obstacles would be removed.", Jerry suppressed a sigh as he placed his hands on his chest to show his respect. He did not dare speak out of tact as he valued his life dearly and his whole operation depended on it.

His boss was as cold as the vastness of space, her unpredictability and famed delusions were not to be underestimated. Thus he dutifully stepped back and observed the surroundings for her sake.

The Sitri girl unlocked the mechanism of the hell dimension and began to remove the defense mechanisms. When she built this pocket dimension with Sirzechs she initially intended it to be a garden for their son and daughter but she changed her mind and made it a business hub as a second Hell to rule upon. With no one to answer to or comply with. Thus this plane was shaped around the two lovers, gaining it's current shape as a reflection of their nature and Identity.

Building an empire meant that they could not be picky with the bricks they used so plenty of resources were scrounged up and a lot of blood was sacrificed. It was built upon the sacrifice of humans, after all.

"I'm just feeling worried. Someone is trying to kill us and it annoys me so much that i hold no control over it.", she responded with a pleasant tone after she slipped back to her cheery facade. Warmth filled her visage when she turned around to gawk at her Bishop with eyes full of life. "The capital is messed up, we got a lot of corpses which isn't a problem but I hate being caught off guard. I hate such opposition and it turns out my former friend is alive and kicking. Next time I'll kill her since i felt generous today for some reason."

Jerry nodded in understanding to a degree. "We can assume the others are alive as well. If you say the capital was badly damaged then we can surely conclude that another one of our domains was attacked. This was a diversion but for what? Should we relocate, perhaps?", he said the obvious solution to one problem.

Serafall considered the question. Instead of replying immediately an entire room was surrounding them, furnished with a coffee table and chairs. It was empty and bleak, pale white walls stretched where the eye could see. The black haired girl simply sat down on the chair and crossed her legs with her eyes twitching ever so slightly.

She began to talk in a high pitched, annoying voice at first. "It's obvious but I'm writing off multiple possibilities in my head just as we speak. Relocation would be a hassle but it can't be helped if we want to maintain the Devil Slum undisturbed. The chances of it being invaded or attacked or used as a gateway are not low, so to speak."

"That's precisely my point, liege.", Jerry himself took a seat to discuss matters properly. This entire place was created for their own privacy. "It has been standing tall for decades if i remember correctly. However, relocation to a different city would not be easy since you would have to anchor the foundations there and we might experience a problem in dealing with other Devils. I also have another matter to discuss if i may?", his green eyes darted to the ceiling above their heads and the walls produced a map of various possible locations to choose from.

"If you have to get rid of some obstacles then you have my full support.", Serafall popped her head up after picking up a cup of warm coffee with a lot of sugar. "We could always leave a gateway for entry here since I don't want my sister to have to move. She apparently likes it here and i dare say...", the Sitri girl wiped her lips with her sleeve since she didn't care for decorum at this point. "Sona would not wish to part ways with Hyou-tan. I find it a bit odd how she apparently feels love towards that human but even i find him quite charming and we get along so nicely~"

She knew how her sister really felt and for the first time ever had her trust in someone else to assist Sona in her endeavours. Plus they shared interests together, got along fine and she had a strong impression of him so much as to do business fair and square which was rare for her. Far better than letting her choose that Genshirou kid whom was disliked by Serafall by a lot. He was dead anyways so it was one problem less for Serafall otherwise she would have planned things out to have him killed in some freak accident.

"So that would be a problem because it's not safe here anymore. Especially not for her or Rias.", Jerry nodded in understanding but felt the explanation lacking in some aspects. Thus he offered his own thoughts on the matter as elegantly as possible. "If we relocate we risk the same thing happening again. It doesn't matter where we go when they could chase us as easily as possible. For example, Katerea sure did a number on us so I'm thinking of expansion instead. Or reforming it into a sanctuary solely for your sister. We'll fortify the domain, seal it up and maybe cut down on business if we have to."

With a raised eyebrow did Serafall show her interest. Her lackadaisical smile returned for a moment and she twirled a lock of her hair by habit. "By expansion you mean bringing in a ton of meat shields and a body double, no? Or by swallowing more cities to connect to the Devil Slum? If it's that we can arrange something but we can always use some psycho to stir trouble and kill here and there to use as the bricks for our expansion. I'm thinking of doing something on my own so it could help since i care about the safety of my people the most. The rest are of no consequence as long as Sirzechs and Rias survive. I don't like Venelana Bael, really. They say she's a log in the bed so papa Gremory sure as hell needs something better. We might go shopping for a new wife into another reality if there's the need."

"As you wish...", Jerry wanted to say something but immediately ceased his attempts to continue when he considered sharing the other matter to discuss. What he would say wouldn't be to her liking at all but he had no choice as the walls painted a scenery of the local cemetery.

Unmarked graves were unveiled from his mind since Serafall's real Sorcery Trait was at play. Just like her father she made the information from his head flow out freely into the surroundings, forming visions and direct images of what he was thinking. It made sharing knowledge a lot easier for both sides, bypassing any limits or personal sentiment to rip information out of anyone she wanted to.

The images changed to show what was inside the caskets - they were completely empty as if there was nothing to be buried in there. It was odd since there were bodies in there, burried a month ago. Serafall checked from time to time out of curiosity and amusement to see if they were still there but now she pursed her eyelashes and altered her posture. Sinking in the comfy chair she took a sip of her coffee and shot a cold look of disinterest at this occasion.

"I get it, i get it. We picked out the Evil Pieces from them but their bodies aren't in those caskets for a week or two now.", she was indifferent and no emotion flared on her pretty face as it was locked in a poker face that was unflinching. "Sona doesn't know about it but those corpses were stolen so I've already prepared in case we have to deal with revenants or any other undead. She might be upset if she found out Tsubaki isn't laid to rest but keep looking. If you gotta kill her revived corpse do it for me. In case you see the beta fag walking around when he should be dead leave him for me. Aside from the glasses girl they were honestly a bunch of greedy, simple-minded sacks of flesh so we should make a different Peerage for my adorable sister."

Those unmarked graves belonged to Sona's deceased peerage. Every memory and information about them in this city was erased, no one ever knew they existed in the first place as each resident had their memories altered and modified to avoid any questioning or cause distress. It was a perfect sweep with all of their relatives forgetting about them to the point where no one could ascertain those people were real and lived here. However, someone had stolen their corpses after the Evil Pieces were pried out of their lifeless cadavers.

Many ideas had crossed her mind and she was prepared if that occasion arose.

Jerry suppressed a shudder in trying not to voice out any sentiment of his as he knew how she would have reacted. He was a human so he did feel bad about those kids even if he was already passing the threshold of changing more and more into what his superior truly was. He of course initially reacted badly to the changes in his own cognition but with time he totally did not felt bothered at all with such trivialities except for the fact of becoming a different person. He no longer was able to tell the difference and whatever morality he had was already fading away as more and more time passed.

What Katerea Leviathan had said about the Evil Pieces was the complete truth that was omitted upon conversion. Those things were shrouded in a lot of secrets but he always had an inkling about why they hunted Stray Devils. Perhaps it wasn't only to punish their traitorous kin but to make more Evil Pieces out of them to distribute. There were those who did various experiments with the Astaroth creation but the deepest secrets had not been cracked yet. Unless anyone wanted their skull cracked by Ajuka Belzeebub.

After a moment of tranquility the room vanished completely from view. They were back in the square where the Dark Citadel was located but when Jerry looked around they were already standing in front of the gates of the Gremory mansion. It was a complete rollercoaster in using the Devil Slum to appear in various locations of the city; it was faster than anything else and was quite the experience aside from the sudden rush of adrenaline and slight case of nausea and dizziness.

Serafall had extracted the core of the dark mirrored side of Kuoh City and the anchor resided within her chest, having been fused with her as a result. In this state one could have likened her to a very loosely based Legion without being one or having a host to house multiple demonic entities within. The entire mirrored city was stashed in her very body, existing as a pocket dimension with her chest as the foundation. Everyone in there was peacefully doing whatever they wanted in knowing their master was protecting them from any harm.

Jerry was left out for the sake of accompanying the violet eyed monster for a casual stroll to retrieve Gasper. Someone had to be the porter in case he needed carrying as Serafall did not want to induce any discomfort for her student at this point.

"So much better, isn't it?", Serafall propped one hand on the gates and tore them out of the concrete with a little push of her middle finger. Said gates were tossed aside as she walked upon the path with a spring in her step, overjoyed of seeing her fellow student again. She had questions to ask for today, those she did not manage to present the previous days since she visited daily.

"It is hardly fine but whatever...", the British man couldn't help but roll his eyes in disappointment when he expected the front gates to be blown apart in a flashy manner. "Also before i forget Makiha has prepared a new batch of those sticker crests that you wanted. We've tried some interesting combinations that would sell well on the black market. They'll be ready in two days tops."

One of his relatives married a Japanese woman here and Makiha was born as a result. He added her to his Peerage not so long ago.

"Your cousin is a valuable asset. Who knew there was a spellcrafter in your family?",
Serafall casually strolled without a care in the world as she beheld the sight of the smoke rising up from the mansion. It wasn't as bad as her house burning down so she merely picked up the pace out of curiosity. "I remembered something. Do you remember that kid Lawrence Bishop that Rias used to have around?"

Jerry's brows knited down in a moment of confusion. He was caught off guard by that question. "I remember him, alright. Decent chap. Too bad he kicked the bucket so soon otherwise we could've been best friends. Why do you ask?" the moment of confusion only lasted a breath or two until he had to clench his nose from the stench of burnt wood. He had an extremely sensitive nose that could help him distinguish people with ease and track them.

He picked up Gasper's unique scent, deeply saturated with the smell of blood that emanated from him wherever he went. Normal people couldn't tell the difference but he could.

Serafall wagged a finger and made a lax expression about that inquiry. "It just made me think if this attack was coordinated by someone who knew him or wanted revenge for his death. As far as i remember he didn't have any living relatives but he did have friends. So I'm saying if Rias were to be attacked like this then it means someone must have slipped information about the place, her habits and modicum of operations. Or maybe they're connected to this Culling and wanted to balance things out by murdering her and her peerage since my sunshine's groupies were killed by association with her. Know what I'm saying?"

Jerry did contemplate on many variables and he did consider this a few times but had no solid lead to solving this problem. Despite this whole debacle it was handled acceptably more or less even if it weren't ideal and could have been done far better.

Yet, to cause so many distractions merely for the sake of killing two girls didn't quite sit right with him since if he were to be honest there were far better ways to do it if he were tasked with the job.

"I do but I'm still trying to wrap things together. Whatever killed Lawrence that night six years ago probably came back with a bloody vengeance against her but why?", he tried to reason as he walked forward and indulged his master with this mental exercise.

She was not above relying on the intellectual might of others to gain a different perspective or insight since she didn't always need to pry open their minds to get everything in a second. She found it more fun to make them reveal it themselves for various reasons, one being for her amusement.

The Sitri woman cocked a brow and thought for a second. "Maybe when we first claimed this place after it was built by the humans someone probably keeled? From what our dear ginger Lord of Darkness has told me he needed a cutesy home for his sister to reside on and the mansion was bought out or maybe he just terminated the previous owner. I think there were some people from Europe who used to own the Gremory mansion before she settled in. No idea what happened with them since it was a pretty boring story.", she was adjusting her facial expressions with her hands in trying to make a proper smile but it was to massage her face from all those cheerful and happy acts she put on.

Serafall quickly moved to the side to avoid a corpse from crashing into them and dirtying their clothes as she moved Jerry to the side with a pull. She jumped over the half eaten cadaver as if stepping over trash and continued on her merry way. She did step into some blood that greatly displeased her as her shoes had traces of the red liquid and sooth on the soles.

"Goddamn... what the hell did you teach that kid?!", scoffed Jerry. His eyes squinted in puzzlement when he saw limbs sprawled around and some guts here and there. The blood staining the marble tiles was mixed in teeth and some bone fragments.

The sight of it wasn't something he enjoyed very much despite having to act as the mediator and distributor for delivering Stray Devil packages after processing. Plenty of times they were in a horrible shape after being hunted down so he always had to pack them up tightly to prevent the corpses from falling apart.

"That's my boy! Good job, Gasper! I'm so proud of you that i could sing the Ode of Joy all day long.", exclaimed Serafall upon witnessing the scenery before her. That was a genuine act of happiness despite her face not moving at all to make the appropriate grimace. She was akin to the coldness of space in comparison to her sister.

Speeding up she came closer to inspect and grade his performance after teaching him so much and cultivating him in order to use his Gear and abilities. Her teachings were cruel and harsh but also had warmth and comfort mixed with them.

However, her mother Semira Gaap was the epitome of inhuman where she resided strictly in the uncanny valley. Hence Serafall was in the middle of that spectrum while Sona was called Sunshine in an ironic twist of being the one who could resemble anything remotely hospitable and human regarding emotions. That by itself was nothing to speak about since she was cold and austere to the point of seemingly impossible to see her smile or show any feeling.

From what she could see with her eyes she recognised Gasper perching out of a disgusting mass of shadowy tendrils coiled together. Tightly wound together like ligaments they were armored like a battlesuit of old with barbaric spikes and fur. There were mouths gnawing upon corpses, feasting on them with needle teeth and jagged tendrils to absorb into the hideous mass of pitch black. It was broad and standing over five meters tall in stature where multiple eyes opened up in alarm of the incoming woman. It was misaligned in shape and blackened veins were all around the boy's face as he turned his face to gawk at her.

On the boyish face were the marks of blood across his mouth as he held an arm with his teeth. He was stained from head to toe with blood and carcass meat. But his eyes were empty and blackened with the third eye of Balor, commander of the Fomorians perched upon his forehead.

As ridiculous as it was the Gremory staff were moping the blood away and dusting the place while some were putting out the fire. Serafall did intrude upon their barrier but they were not hostile towards her.

Jerry was in a daze. "What the fuck, Gasper?! Haven't you been eating properly, boy?"

The blonde daywalker did not respond immediately as the black mass was receding within his eyes and skin, turning it obsidian as a rudimentary shape resembling Balor. It turned compact to make it easier on the eyes. When he opened his mouth the voice that came out was thunderous and throaty, deep and heavy with a gravitas befitting that of a commander.

"Pay your proper respect to me, you foolish oaf.", Balor spoke through his lips as he licked the blood off his fingers. The shadows were dancing and snaked towards Jerry like hungered beasts in search for prey. He had the full intention of turning the British man into Gasper's next meal for such a slight against him.

Serafall intervened and walked towards the cycling shadows without any fear or reservation. She merely looked the Fomorian in his pitch black eyes and established contact.

For the briefest of moments did her eyes turn to their true form, becoming bloody red and slitted like her father's before they turned back to their usual violet colour.

Balor was halted and retracted Gasper's shadows beneath his feet and changed the tune completely. He recognised the true presence of the Lord of Darkness as one of the seven but did not bow or offer courtesy. Until Serafall sharpened her gaze and forced the boy to kneel before her with a second gawk in a battle of minds. She closed the distance and embraced Gasper with her hands on his back.

"I do not have time for you, Fomorian. I want to speak with my boy so switch, you two. I decree this."

"As you wish... We were having a fun time but you denied us a proper chance to finish... Not even my king was as impertinent as you are, daughter of the devil.", Balor spoke with annoyance but complied as Gasper's skin turned back into his natural state and his eyes reverted to their red colour.

Thankfully he was not an albino and he could change his eye colour to pass perfectly as a human. The eye of Balor was closed and sunk back into his skull with no traces left.

Gasper resumed his usual appearance and hugged back his mentor with a bear hug. His course of action was to ask first and compile the information he knew. "The estate was attacked. We ate most of the assailants and I'm sure Rias is on her way out of the city. Highway perhaps? Can you confirm that?", his gaze was colder and bore a darkness to it after having endured so much and toughened up. His presence emanated manliness and mettle despite his diminutive stature and after he cut his hair short he felt better about himself.

Valerie Tepes was the one who made him act as a girl and be timid in order not to stand out and he was dismissed with a light hand. All of it to survive but his pride and masculinity had been damaged until Serafall chose to break his shell, train him and make him stronger instead of leaving him to the honestly ridiculous choice of being locked up because Rias wasn't competent to help him. She personally took it upon herself to prevent his incarceration and prevented such a dubious choice from happening in the first place.

One could say he was more her peerage member than that of his master.

Serafall stiffened slightly with her brows creasing before she glanced Jerry with a silent command. "Very good. She is fine and following protocol as intended. She's leaving as we speak so we have to catch up with her and then we leave for now. We'll plan what to do next but teleportation is not available so you'll have to be our venerable bus driver."

Jerry hummed for a bit and straightened his posture. Yet, he definitely did not want to have the boy be the bus driver since he hated the way he traveled through the darkness. It could be described as mildly unpleasant.

"Ah hell no! Last time we ended up frozen in a time and having to repeat that fucking brawl at Lawson. I say we just run with our own feet and not do any shadow jumping, okay?", his voice was full of protest and a hint of dejection.

Another reason was due to traveling in his shadow he had to experience the act of Gasper having devoured his mother upon birth, directly eating his way out of her uterus and then eating the doctors nearby as he first took his breath and Balor manifested. Coupled with the unusual awareness he gained as a baby his birth was anything but normal in the least.

Part of it had to do with the Advent of the Gods as certain humans were marked as incarnations. That is why he was able to manifest him as Balor chose him by exerting some influence over the Sacred Gear system and nested directly into the boy.

"It's gonna be okay! This time I'm perfectly ready!", the daywalker retorted back with confidence. He was assured this time there won't be any mistakes or accidentally using the eye of Balor to freeze time. Knowing how to flee was the most important part of survival to him and he was trained to be an excellent infiltrator. He didn't need to use his Gear to do the heavy lifting as reliance upon it was nothing but a crutch as he soon realized.

Not when he had some wonderful abilities of his own and a Fairy Chess Piece beating within his heart. He cut his pinkie and darkness flowed out of his vessel on the ground, forming a cesspool of taint as it spread and enveloped the three of them despite Jerry's heavy protests. The green eyed man flailed in terror while the Leviathan simply laughed to her heart's contents as the darkness swallowed them whole and began to jump from shadow to shadow to shorten the distance.

That way they would be able to confirm the right path and get out. But there was something that Serafall forgot to take account of when she was dismantling the Devil Slum.

A medallion of sorts had fallen off moments before the pocket dimension was closed temporarily, letting the unassuming pendant roll to the nearest corner.

Carmine made it to the upper plane and was already on the move.

XXX

Azazel was cycling in the air to craft an entire barrier that would contain the harbingers of doom and prevent the outside world from being damaged. Pentacles of varying sizes were creating an entire dome, spanning kilometres and blanketing the whole area as he flew higher and higher.

The fierce battle had already begun upon the signal of the two Archangels leading the defensive battle for the sanctity of the human world. Archangel Michael commanded the earth from the platform he made for the summit expand and transform into massive hands that snaked towards the thirty meter long Crom Cruach while Gabriel used her Divine Armament, Deus Caritas to unleash a barrage of light infused arrows of ice into the legs of the God of Iron.

Said constructs grasped the dragon's maw to prevent it from firing it's Iron Blaze Breath while the arrows were bouncing off it's dense legs and crashing into the spiked areas of it's knees. Despite the heat the dragon endured it and used it's arms to throw several punches against the hands holding down it's mouth, expelling some of the Breath in a slanted manner that shredded the earthen arms despite new ones appearing to take their place and restrain it. Every hit from the arrows was spreading a layer of ice upon it's flesh and adding weight to prevent it from flying. Gabriel flew over the dragon, avoiding it's humongous limbs with such agility to get atop of it and shot multiple arrows with Deus Caritas into the base of it's three sets of wings.

Said wings did move and curl the fingers on each to swipe sideways and crush the arrows despite frost spreading already on the membranes. The trident tail end with a spade thrashed upon the base of the platform, chipping away at the foundation to sink this gathering post into the Pacific Ocean with such vigor that the platform was already shaking violently and was going to collapse if Michael did not reinforce it and hammer him with a pike that pushed away the dragon several meters away due to a kinetic spell amplifying it's striking power.

However Crom Cruach was not alone when the Lindworm aided it's brethren and slammed it's horn into the place where the dragon slaying Angel resided, shooting forward like a piston after it clenched all it's muscles to lock and it's insanely durable plates clicked together to prevent any gaps from being exposed. It's four sabertooth fangs bore down their weight upon the Angel who erected a barrier to endure the onslaught of several tons.

The rumbling was tremendous, the platform was shaking like mad and crumbling as the Angel was being pinned down into the earth structure while the draconian tail was swung and broke the foundation to have the makeshift circle fall apart.

Shemhazai rained thousands of light spears from every angle to slow down the rampaging beast and practically used carpet bombing to stun it by targeting it's legs and crushing the ice wings into oblivion. The beast did respond by shooting out all the ice fragments it had on it's stumps in a wide area to shoot down any airborne enemy from getting closer as it focused on the Angels to keep them divided from the rest.

Ice rain was pelting the Pacific Ocean with rapid fire to the point where the combatants had to erect barriers to endure the heavy slabs of frozen water. Waves after waves followed with ripples in the water following each hit of the icicles and the winds were blowing with a menacing whisper of doom.

"If this is my final stand then so be it. I just have to do it.", Domenico emerged and did his best to avoid being pierced by the falling icy rain. He was the sole human but his value was not to be underestimated.

Cardinal Giovanni bravely grasped his former armament Ascalon like in his younger days and sprinted as fast as he could to execute a dangerous leap into the air and bring down the dragon slayer at the second Nidhoggr's jaws unlocked and revealed the exposed gums and two sections of teeth!

He was returned to his prime in his thirties, he was young again for this very moment so he pushed himself further and the soles of his shoes lit up with sticker crests to use the Blessings of the Wind to propel himself ahead - The Cardinal swung Ascalon while the dragon was retracting it's head and he came dangerously close to it's teeth as they were opening for a second attack.

Without any hesitation he grinded the sword of Saint George into the first spot it landed on, namely the gums on the upper left side of the massive juggernaut. The slash was not deep but it damaged the dragon immensely as the wound opened further and began to bleed. Even if it were nothing more than a tiny prick with a needle it had a effect as the properties of the weapon halted the Lindworm for a few seconds and enraged it.

It's head swiveled to the side in pain as it punched upwards and uprooted the platform with it's titanic fist, sending debris flying everywhere from the heavy impact. Domenico was about to be struck by a flying piece of earth until he was snatched by Malina von Astaroth and seated on the Steed of Abigor as the snake eyed woman smiled ever so gracefully and her sinister yellow eyes glowed.

The infernal horse was dodging the projectiles and it's rider aimed her Chiappa Rhino firearms at the swinging hand of the forty five meter dragon with two bullets crossing the distance and clashing against it's bladed forearm where they exploded in a timely fashion.

"Impressive. The reputation of the Dragon Impaler is not lost upon me.", she uttered as she aimed her firearms at the armored juggernaut.

Each bullet was a catalyst; a linked spell that stored and multiplied the velocity and acceleration of the bullets was applied to it to the point of actually hammering onto one of the blades and cracking a part of it alongside the dent it made upon impact on the fused scale plates that were far sturdier than Fafnir's very own. At a temporary lull of the battle did Sirzechs charge multiple orbs of Destruction and shot them straight at the draconian skull like a machine gun.

Some of those projectiles were actually aimed at where the beast was holding onto to deny it from it's foothold. The wingless dragon was still latching on the broken foundation but Michael was given a moment to resume his counterattack by crafting an expanding hammer of light to bash it's skull just as it crafted ice to take on the orbs of Destruction.

The ice formation was eaten away while the Archangel took a step to the side and rapidly changed the angle of it's swing and swatted it's head from the right with utmost effort, allowing Gabriel herself to pounce on it's face with a third swing from above that knocked it down. Both were coordinating perfectly as thousands of battles they had led together so fighting this oversized beast was nothing surprising as they had slayed far bigger enemies than this harbinger of the end.

Despite the struggle the bigger titan mercilessly expelled it's Ice Breath at its opposition despite losing the footing it had gained. It's crystaline wings of ice were scattered across the ocean and began to create ice upon touch to make a new playing field for it to step on. Rapidly expanding ice pillars were knitted as Grayfia dove in to shield her husband from harm by countering the wave with several barriers that were cracking and reforming as fast as possible to prevent them from freezing to death.

Sirzechs ignored her and called forth a fifteen meter javelin of Destruction to cleave the iced shell they were trapped in as Grayfia prepared a lance of ice spanning twenty meters to impale Nidhoggr but it was not the lindworm that roared out a deafeaning screech of madness.

Crom Cruach threw a fist at the couple before Grayfia's spear could be unleashed. The titanic strength of the God of Iron was applied and cracked the ice hard enough to bulldoze it as it unfurled it's index finger and ran it across the frozen field, leaving a deep gash that forced Sirzechs to skid to the side and separate from his atrocious wife just to save his own skin. The dragon did not roar out as it spun it's tail in a deadly swipe and hurtled the red haired Lord of Darkness at least over a hundred meters away from the initial tail flick to push him back as a sign of dominance.

It did however feel that it lost some of it's scales on the tail when Destruction had touched a spot and left the skin marred and singed. It would have normally disrupted the molecular bonds and destroy it's cells if there was no divine protection applied.

As a god Crom Cruach controlled metal and enjoyed sacrifices so it used one such offering to it as a substitute to repair the damage to it's tail.

The crowned dragon was struck hard by Gabriel and Michael but it did not flinch that much, regaining it's footing and trashing it's tail against them to split them in half. It's tail met the two Angels in a defeaning clash of forces while lady Astaroth used that split second to rain down bullets upon it's stomach after her steed dove beneath the dragon.

Each hit with a bullet was the equivalent of a three ton punch as pentacles manifested on the bullets and darted it with kinetic force like a jackhammer to rattle it's bones. The vibrations reverberated through it's tough scales and shook the beast enough for Domenico to trash Ascalon in the tiniest dent possible as Malina literally lifted him with her hand and supported his advance.

Ascalon penetrated the dense stomach plating barely but it left a mark that denied the dragon it's sacrificial tribute of offering up lives to heal. That spot was not going to heal so easily but they had to pile a lot more damage to effectively render it immobile or destroy the god's physical shape.

Reeling back from the sudden surge of pain Crom Cruach sidestepped and twisted it's frame to take flight and took to the skies where it was about to rain down it's Iron Blaze Breath and decimate those beneath it. However all this time in wait was Barakiel who brought down his hand and lighting struck the beast. An entire thunderstorm was brewing while rain was falling down to let Gabriel conserve her strength. Bolt after bolt hit the dragon with thousands of watts permeating it's black scales to the point of smouldering fumes being released after each deadly strike. He did not stop for a second because he knew the power it possessed so he kept at it with tenacity.

Crom Cruach let out a small snarl as it twisted and snapped it's jaws at the Fallen Angel, ready to swallow him. However Shemhazai swung a massive chain of light and wrapped it around it's throat and pulled backwards to divert the jaws from splitting Barakiel in two. It was only a second that delayed the worst outcome but the beast was already prepared for it spewed out it's Iron Blaze Breath beneath.

Iron bits and darkness were dropped upon the remains of the platform like a whirlwind, shredding everything in their path and tearing off the ice blocks with no consideration for what was going to happen.

Michael and Gabriel raised a hexagonal barrier to withstand the raging whirlwind of metallic bits and darkness, bearing the malice of the God of Iron. Fists of earth were raised in retaliation to halt the blast for a bit longer until Gabriel raised her hand and commanded the water to rise up and multiple blades of highly pressurised water swarmed the dragon by slashing at it's black hide, then turning into ice to encase it as a cocoon was forming around it. Without any second to waste Barakiel rained lightning atop it's head while Shemhazai was making chains sprout to entangle it.

The droplets of water conducted the electrical charge and spread out all over Crom's body, frying it's nerves or that was supposed to be the case since the dragon had insulated scales and felt nothing but a tingle. It was trashing around to break free and swerved it's head to bash Gabriel again with tremendous strength. But it used it's lower arm and grasped the chains, simultaneously delivering a jab with its other arm after tugging on them. It was enduring admirably and spread out it's wings to break the chains binding it. It was durable and mighty enough to rival them plus it had tricks of it's own...

Iron coalesced around it's hands and two cleavers were formed to match it's size as it brought down both blades in a flurry of strikes that bore such pressure as to raise waves and demolish the foundation or what remained of it. Bolts of darkness honed in on the Fallen and scattered across the ocean to divert their attention.

It's focus was upon Michael who brought his light hammer and exchanged blow after blow with the thirty meter long dragon. Gabriel was shooting arrows repeatedly to make a gap for Grayfia to slip in front of the dragon and release a surge of ice near it's mouth in the form of a fist, throwing a haymaker punch into it's three rows of teeth while Lady Astaroth jumped off the Steed of Abigor and pressed both firearms onto a spot of it's skull and pressed the trigger.

Crom Cruach let loose a pained growl after feeling several tons of kinetic force being applied to it's head. It tried to shake off the woman but it's arms were being frozen by Grayfia's intervention where she made ice constructs puncture it's chin horns and smaller ones on it's face.

It was finally Azazel's turn to shine. The Fallen Angel commanded thousands of swords to fall all over the beast as if tactical nukes were being dispatched. In a flurry of metal being illuminated by the rays of the sun did Gabriel travel through each ray reflected on the shining swords and dealt cut after cut with searing heat permeating it's tough exterior. Swords were clanging against the metallic scales of black, striking and bouncing off but some were hammering themselves and allowed Barakiel to use a spark and have it travel upon the conductive material to send jolts of electricity inside it's flesh.

Sirzechs came back with a bloody vengeance after transversing the distance - his choice was to destabilise enough molecules and hold them in a Dyson Sphere that he launched directly into the dragon's maw when it opened and he canceled the containment construct. All the destabilised matter blew up and meat splattered in a hail of flesh and blood spreading from the explosion. He dealt the decisive blow after the dragon was paralyzed long enough to let it guard's down. But he knew better than to that so he fired off a volley of Destruction orbs to eradicate the god.

Nidhoggr swam up and lunged from behind to cripple the Crimson Lucifer. The Lindworm was enraged that it's comrade was deprived of it's head so he came to enact vengeance upon it's killer.

Until it was pierced by light javelins that locked themselves in it's exposed points and pinned it on the ice.

Gabriel picked up the Cardinal and flew over to the bound drake to have Ascalon impale the creature and end it right there.

However no one believed it was over. It never worked that way.

From the headless carcass of Crom Cruach a corona of darkness and iron blazed to life with tendrils shooting out like snakes to ensnare the assumed victors. The motionless corpse began to move as it's head was recreated anew in the second it pounced and brought it's claw onto Gabriel to smash her. Crom was rejuvenated and sacrificed a bit of his tributes to regain it's strength, bathing Nidhoggr with it's horrendous breath to melt the Archangel who defensively hugged the human to shield him from harm.

The Iron Blaze Breath darkened the spot while the ice dragon broke free of it's restraints and clasped both arms to flatten the unfortunate beings that were already being ravaged by the other's Breath. The titan could easily tank such an attack so it proceeded to crush what it held akin to smashing a walnut but it felt resistance when searing heat and light were escaping from it's clawed fingers. Gabriel was pushing them apart with her own fists that sent shockwave after shockwave with each punch while Domenico supported her by stabbing Ascalon left and right in the palms and dug out bloody grooves to weaken it's grip on them.

Lady Astaroth rode over one of the arms and secretly used Vectors to release the direction of the grip to make an opening for the Archangel to warp with the human cardinal to safety. As she rode on the Steed of Abigor did she use her Numbers to mark the limb's fused plates and compromise their durability as the hooves of her steed became heavier and heavier with each gallop to the point where cracks were forming already after the deed was done. She was actually feeling thrilled, she had a weapon just in case this ever happened in order to hide what she could do. A special bullet she was loading already to weaken the wingless dragon of Nifleheim with a poison so potent it could not fight it unassisted.

"Let's see how you like poison, laddie!", she aimed at it's gums in the precise spot Ascalon had left a mark and shot a custom bullet within the cavity. A bullet containing poison punctured the existing wound and deformed to release the contents within the dragon's bloodstream.

She always carried a few of those on her personal since it was a good poison and worked on almost everything.

Nidhoggr felt the invasion of the poison coursing through it's glowing red arteries and chose to act or lest it would die. Namely it ran it's claw over the entry point and tore the chunk of infected flesh mercilessly at the cost of taking out two of it's smaller teeth from the second row and a chunk of meat that left a breach into it's otherwise impregnable defense. It did so to save it's life and rise again as it was to survive Ragnarok and live again and again perpetually.

One could have said it was immortal and that was no exaggeration.

It did not speak at all. It only looked at the woman who dared to defy him and bore it's bloody red eyes on her's.

Malina von Astaroth smirked and focused on staring back at the wretched beast. This was easier than expected. What she wanted to accomplish was already playing out as intended.

XXX

The battle was rough and chaotic. For every attack used the two titans of draconian blood rose to the challenge. No matter how much damage piled up they ignored it, healed it or persevered with incredible tenacity in their bid to kill everyone present. Such was their reputation that struck fear in the hearts of many but not everyone had feared them.

To fight a force of nature one must be a force of nature or beyond that.

The skies were turned cloudy and dark. Light did escape from some of the clouds which was a blessing.

Michael did not lose his composure; he cast aside his light hammer and switched to a long spear of twenty meters and earthen constructs rose from the ocean to eclipse the two dragons. As tall as seventy meters the golems pried off the black dragon and hurled it into the ice pillars while the leader of Celestial brandished his spear against the scales of the dragon.

"Do not falter for it is not over. Let us show them what we can do.", he uttered as light rays pierced the dark skies and shot down like missiles on the God of Iron while the golems were exchanging blows with him.

Crom ripped the head of one golem with his talons and horn protrusions acting as offense and defense at the same time. For a wretched beast it used it's arms with finesse and intellectual prowess to block, deflect and hit back with the hardened knuckles on it's fists while simultaneously taking on haymakers and jabs on it's face. It's trident tail pierced another golem in the chest but it tugged on it and another one began to choke the dragon in a sleeper hold. A third was trying to crack open the chest plates on it's breasts to reach the vulnerable heart and squash it.

Shemhazai and Barakiel focused together to aid the Archangel with projectiles, elements and debris from the broken platform via metal pillars that sank into it's thighs and slowed it down while Azazel produced more elemental blades.

Azazel was War itself. He was the second of the Fallen to follow after Shemhazai who was the true leader of the Watchers. Every weapon he could think of was created in the air - missiles, grenades, firearms, swords, bombs, cannon shells, mortars and surrounding it were hovering orbital cannons and railguns. A master of weapons of mass destruction.

All three Watchers banded together to keep the monster at bay and assist their brother who was dealing grievous cuts upon the beast and every punch of his was a literal dragon slayer just like when he battled the First of the Fallen and cast him down into the pits of Hell.

Every weapon was unleashed against this force of nature. Mortars fired, hydrogen bombs were set off, shells were shattered in contact with the god's skin but they endured and kept on fighting. Hammers that shattered the earth dealt blows to the metalic hide. Wings that defied the laws left gashes full of sunlight radiation as the Archangel warped via the light and constantly moved to pile wounds upon wounds. Each of them was fighting in their own way to make sure no damage would have occurred to the faraway lands so they had to hold back in this disadvantageous fight. It was all to minimise the damage that could be dealt if they used their true strength.

Crom Cruach merely snarled what would have been the equivalent of a laugh. Undaunted he burst through the golems and shattered their heads with his fists and tail. Every weapon that had been dropped at him was nothing more than a pinprick with a needle if he had to describe it. Lightning rained on top of him, the winds were turbolent and pelted his scales with debris and weapons carried on by the storm. Taking them all on with nothing but his body was a testament to it's reputation that even Fafnir would contend for the position of the strongest shield. Alas, the difference between them was as stark as the earth and the sky.

"Is that all you can do, little insects? I expected a challenge, not a one sided bug slaughter!"

It met the challenge that was issued in a most unexpected manner when frost was spat out on it's back and a hulking mass of flesh and scales was pouncing on it with heavy talons pressing against it's wings.

The difference in size and weight made the force of impact much more evident when it was eclipsed by the forty five meter Nidhoggr who bit the neck of Crom Cruach with it's sabertooth fangs and fresh blood trickled. The three sets of wings were locked under the paws of the ice drake that shook it's short muzzled head sideway in an attempt to rip off it's companion's throat.

Grayfia was amazed. Her eyes widened in shock for such a betrayal to happen at this instance. She was grateful obviously and took it upon herself to build a whole defense, several walls of ice to surround the raging dragons and then have them sink to the bottom of the ocean. Sirzechs looked around and spotted the Steed of Abigor hovering while it's rider was motionless and showed no signs of life.

"You dare strike at me, worm?!", Crom Cruach bellowed in outrage as he rose up on his hind legs and tumbled backwards to shake off Nidhoggr who did not let go of his throat. Thrashing around and shaking it swayed from the bear hug the bigger dragon locked it in.

In a moment of respite Sirzechs formed tendrils of Destruction into a gigantic pike and dropped it on the stomach of the beast. Crom instinctively rolled to the side and the pike damaged Nidhoggr instead by searing the stumps on it's back alongside the flank. A howl of agony escaped the frost dragon and it regained consciousness as it expelled Malina from it's body. But it was already too late when Gabriel herself lifted one of the metal pillars and began to bash the draconian menace with it, striking with it akin to a hammer weighting tons!

Azazel screamed at the top of his lungs. "Now! Quickly while they're trapped!"

Barakiel and Shemhazai dropped a ninth tier Composition Magic with the scapegoat himself acting as the center. They were trying to use a seal to banish them to another dimension but needed a bit of time. Thus Grayfia commanded the ice to encase them while Sirzechs produced over twenty orbs that facilitated his superb casting ability by binding the air molecules to create a dome that was expelling the oxygen and leaving hydrogen only. It was wide enough to fit both inside and he pulled the trigger to detonate all of it inside.

His calm eyes sharpened in anticipation as the hydrogen was detonated and the makeshift Dyson Sphere contained it safely. He did think of trying radiation but he wasn't sure how effective it would have been on such creatures.

Domenico watched the aftermath with horror. He could never be able to match these creatures and to think he had to fight alongside Fallen and Devils was one of the unexpected mysteries in his life but he did not question it. As far as he saw it should have been effective but his experience told him to brace himself and he steeled his mind for the next bout.

Ascalon was acting up in his arms for he knew this was not over.

"Be ready... Any minute now...", he scrunched his brows and was preparing a decent barrier around himself and used the scriptures he remembered to enhance his physical parameters. He still remembered every trick up his sleeve and his old wounds had faded when he became young again. Sticker crests lit up underneath the cassock he wore.

Azazel formed the seal and was about to bind them until the air dome was burst like a balloon and the titanic hands of Nidhoggr emerged to shred it in half. Perforations, claw marks, bruises and singed flesh was what was revealed. Yet, it was in a shape that did not make it seem like it had braved through a whole hydrogen bomb. Intact and pristine more or less was what could be said about it.

Crom Cruach shook his head upon escaping the prison and the first thing it did was to cast aside a single tooth of it's own in the air and struck the seal above their heads. It's tainted fang pierced the ritual and disrupted it while forcing Barakiel to scatter as some of his wings were damaged and broken from the hit that broke his barrier.

If they were truly organised this would have never happened but they were merely a rag tag team of enemies huddled together against a bigger threat. Shemhazai was struck by a pillar of ice that destroyed his barrier and pierced his stomach as he fell downwards like a shooting star.

Sirzechs began to charge up his Destruction to grow and expand into a miniature sun, gaining momentum and seals sprang upon it to combine it with a ninth tier spell that would have demolished half the ocean and turned it to salt if it hit. He was willing to cause a cataclysm since in the end he would still win from the situation if they escaped alive. His eyes were full of anger and malice, he would not be challenged by these abominations and denied. He decided who would be damned and who would not be.

Due to the elements being unbalanced, the distortions in reality were present so fixing it would be a simple task to mend whatever was erased. However, that also applied to the opposition. The dark god closed his golden eyes with red slits and the tossed fang spread over darkness as it anchored a reality onto the distorted one by imposing his authority and might. The skies were those of the night time, the moon was shining upon the contents of this reality of it's own making as blackened earth and stone was erected and covered the Pacific Ocean with a different world. The sinister reddish glow of the blood moon illuminated the sanctum of his rule.

A sacrificial altar was erected and a whole ritual ground perched underneath their feet. Pillars of iron bearing the mark of Crom Diubne rised from the bloodied ground and the air was stifled with the smell of freshly spilled blood. The altar was lined with the bones of sacrificial offerings with a throne of skulls standing tall. It was levitating in the air with a whole set of draconian skeletons encasing it with their bones lined in odd forms that resembled wings and a facsimile of the ritual of Crom Diubne could be seen within those carved remains.

Upon it was where the God of Iron sat upon.

Black scales covered the humanoid shape of Crom from head to toe, resembling more a dragon than the seemingly human shape he took on despite his preference for his true form. It was a mere downsized version of his form that stood five meters tall and clad in darkness like a robe with an iron crown that rested between his horns.

He chose to separate the groups by trapping Sirzechs, Azazel and Malina alongside Michael in his realm while Barakiel, Shemhazai and Gabriel were left to Nidhoggr. Grayfia was sent to the lindworm as she was deemed an inconvenient threat to the black dragon while the Cardinal hid behind the Archangel.

"The time for the rise of our kind has come. We shall end this fragile illusion of peace that you hold dear. Be honoured to face the God of Iron himself.", Crom Cruach rose up from his throne as light emanated from the skulls of his throne. This was his own reality and here he would reign supreme as he tramples upon their insignificant lives but in a way that befitted his vision. "A worthy sacrifice, do you not agree? There is nowhere to hide anymore."

"Laddie, you talk too much. Here's a riddle for you i prepared from my bag of fucks i do not give.", Malina von Astaroth quirked a brow while she made a sickening smile that was dyed red by the blood of Glaysia-Labolas. The sinister glow of her eyes and her unmatched beauty were burning themselves into Crom's eyes as he could not look away from her in awe.

Crom wanted her. He was drawn towards her beauty on the scale of near perfection, his gestures and poise communicated his wish to take her for his own possession but he humoured her silly request in the same way as the first time. "I shall spare only you as a consort so entertain me with your childish riddles. You will be the last of your kind to fall as the skies are littered with dragons of old.", he uttered with a deep baritone that pierced the air with it's terrifying pitch.

Malina tapped a few fingers on her derriere out of habit and the Steed of Abigor was halted in it's tracks. The dirty blonde haired woman curled a ghost of a smile and said. "What begins but has no end and is the ending of all that begins?"

Sirzechs answered before the dark god could have. "It's only death. His own demise is what begins and ends with me so fuck off with your riddles!"

Upon them was the humanoid beast who transversed the distance from his throne to them instantaneously, warping to appear before the Crimson Lucifer and swept his claws with two drastically different strikes aimed at his head and kidneys. The red haired Demon reacted by blocking the blow to his kidney with his hand in a guard while he bent backwards to avoid the head stab and dematerialized. His form appeared once more behind the dragon with a charged orb of Destruction being shot at point blank range in his back.

To protect himself Crom altered his arm into it's gigantic proportion and took the brunt of the attack directly, sacrificing some of his scales to preserve his form and would have smacked Sirzechs if Michael did not intervene. The earth rose up into fists that blocked the draconian arm in it's path, halting his strike for a second while Azazel dove into the fight with a monstrous rush that tackled the dark god and slammed him into the throne. They weren't going to let him take a moment of rest when earthen hands lashed out at the black dragonoid while he warped within the darkness.

From above he emerged with a charged Iron Blaze Breath to carpet bomb the entire area but was intercepted by Malina who flew by her two sets of wings and landed a kick. Crom crossed his arms to block it and flipped her over as he launched his Breath at the woman. However the vector of his attack was reversed and he was bathed in his own whirlwind of iron particles and darkness, allowing Michael to utilise four pentacles for fists to emerge and bash him from each side with titanic force that should have crushed him. The dragon used his limbs to halt the hands but left his front open - Azazel rained elemental swords upon him, each laced with light to tear his dark shroud and detonated them upon reaching the earthen fists.

From the explosion of elements did it start moving it's stilled eyes, breaking free from the tackle as it's six wings unfurled and released tendrils to pierce whatever swords had remained. It was a decent defense maneuver to encase the flying bolts of Destruction and send them back at their source while he was bombarded by spears and bullets. Sirzechs crouched and tapped the dirt with his fingers, binding together the iron particles into a massive shield that he used to protect himself from the redirected attack while he decided to forgo ordinary means and began to manifest his genuine nature.

Tapping onto the ground he began to bind together matter into several spirals that surrounded the humanoid dragon enclosed together. Within them he had sent multiple Destruction orbs that merged together and tried to actually fuse the wretched being onto the spiralling prison but the beast was faster. It climbed out of the closing prison and scaled the top in mere seconds where it was greeted by a light spear in the skull by Azazel who brought his knee into Crom's stomach and forced a light talon to pierce his abdomen. The dragon took the spear despite it's skull splitting and laughed in joy as it was being sliced apart by the dark Angel's wings.

Michael had already used his photonic warp and instantly appeared to grab the ankle of his foe, slamming him into the spiralling prison with his hands permeating the dragon slaying authority he held with a single touch. Even the prison itself became laced with the same properties and literally shredded Crom's face and front while impaling the beast with several spears.

Crom was going for a war of attrition.

He would tire them out and force them to use their greatest assets while he would hide his own abilities and strike them when they least expected it. Their coordination wasn't the best so he was done playing around with his prey. He was waiting for this very moment to have the teeth of his actual form spring forth from his pierced skull and literally bit into the light spear with darkness staining it's jaws. It's tail swerved in one fluid motion and forced Michael to warp away, swapping with Malina von Astaroth to grasp the appendage and crush it with her mighty hands.

Despite the pain Crom Cruach flung Azazel into the air and tore into his side, grinding it's teeth against his stomach and pressed hard to split him in two. The Watcher spread out his light through his torso that was being severed in half, forming a two pronged lance that locked the jaws together in a seemingly sacrificial tactic. Sirzechs and Malina started pulling the jaws in the opposite directions to free the Fallen while Michael called forth his light hammer of several tons and bashed the dragon in the humongous head multiple times while Sirzechs leapt into the air and extended a blade of Destruction to cut his eyes out. Both hammer and sword were deflected by blades of darkness in a clash of elements, tendrils with spikes burst in all directions to devour whatever they touched as the dragon was expanding in size and reverting to it's true, magnificent form of sheer terror.

Malina aimed at the sole moment of chaos where she shot two bullets with poison entering the dragon's body during it's transformation. The splendorous poison coursed through it's veins and arteries and began to weaken him as he released his grip on Azazel's torso. She was carefully observing the battle to gain the advantage even if it meant leaving the others to sustain damage and tire him out. Multiple pentacles formed around the growing beast and increased the gravity in that spot as Crom Cruach was brought down to the ground and was being pinned to prevent him from moving.

The true entity behind Azazel's visage was already moving above the jaws as it prepared to finish it in a way that would not reveal it's identity. The Original Being that became Azazel by murdering the one in this reality and using it's body as a vessel to exist within the main dimension, without razing it from existence on top, took out a feather from the black wings that had been perforated and singed. The Professor as it was called decided to tap into the body's full scope of abilities.

The Azazel of this world had been dead for 18 years now after he was located and freed from Dudael where he was bound by Raphael for eternity. The Professor became the Watcher and anchored himself here, assuming everything the derivative offered. One such thing was the blurred line between light and darkness - it was simple because Azazel was not only a Watcher but regarded as one of the Demons of the Cardinal Directions and a lord of Demons.

The Scapegoat, the God of the deserts was one of the many names of the Fallen Angel.

From the tips of his feathers ran demonic taint that transformed into hideous vipers that latched onto the pinned God of Iron and sank their teeth in every inch of his body as gravity was crushing his organs. Each one was accelerating the flow of poison and leeching from his strength while lacing it with taint and light to pass through the bloodstream and damage the avatar of the God. In no time would it end the fight if the helpless dragon did not snarl and wag a finger.

"Is this all you have to offer? Where are the fabled observers of light and darkness?"

It spoke with it's thunderous voice an used it's authority to separate the poison from it's body as it nullified the gravitational field around it. It removed the law from his realm and was set free to move forward towards the one who had caused it to experience such a delightful sensation. The vipers it shunted sideways, it thumped forward a few steps before it chose to attack Lady Astaroth. He was testing the limits of their control and he always kept an eye on her specifically because of how inactive she seemed.

"Very frightful, yes?", Malina was already in front of him and responded with unnatural speed that surpassed his. She used her Numbers on herself to increase the weight of her punches and used Vectors on her fists to clock him in the neck. Tons of kinetic force shook his body as the direction of the attack swerved in the last second and returned to her fist to produce seismic waves after having hit him a second time. But the biggest surprise was how each punch she exchanged with him was redirected towards his body and altering it's foundation upon each touch.

Crom was suffering damage that should have killed him but his Avatar held on. He was reverting every alteration as fast as it was done to his body at the cost of tiring out. Michael and Azazel were switching between landing blows and teleporting, slashing the dragon at every opportunity that the Astaroth woman made for them to keep it occupied. Damage and bloodied gashes were already marking it's Avatar with each blow crippling it and actually attacked the true form by synchronisation with the Avatar. Michael's dragon slaying power was deadly, he was thrashing him with such ferocity despite his hesitation to fight. Each strike was chipping at the divinity of Crom because the Angel was rendering him docile and was killing him.

Archangel Michael was the one who would slay the Beast of End Times and end the Apocalypse. He was the one who would kill 666 all by his own might so this dark god felt the terror creeping within his mind from the perception of the Angel etching into his psyche and mentally attacking him.

To defend himself did Crom shrink his size and enlarge in the very second as a feint. His expanded size pushed the Fallen away while he called forth blades of iron from the ground and blocked Michael's fist. With his other hand he managed to grasp Malina's fist and his trident tail unearthed more blades and propelled then at Sirzechs in a heavy onslaught. Despite bleeding he was enjoying this challenge as he made the whole field grow swords and transform his realm further.

Malina was blocking, breaking and changing each sword that would have reached her. Some of them she had to block with barriers to focus her Numbers on one aspect because it required her attention. She was stalling for time.

Sirzechs was morphing the blades into lumps of metal to render them useless. Every surge of Destruction made them fall apart and blow up. He dematerialized to have the blades pass through him and regained corporeal form above the god while he was struggling with the female Devil and the Archangel. However he turned invisible and rammed his hand through Crom's chest, forming spikes of Destruction to poke out of the thorax and rupture blood vessels, fuse them in a different way and severed the aorta.

Instead of dying the master of the realm melted into the shadows and undid the damage to his chest. The pain he received from Michael did not go away as it would kill him in time. From within the shades did he strike at the Crimson Lucifer within his blind spot and had his swords impale the red haired Devil into the shoulder and kidney.

Sirzechs endured the pain because he had a plan so he was buying time, he had taken some of the metal lumps and fused them to his body by mixing their atoms with his own flesh and offered a surprise for the wretched abomination since his swords did pierce him but they did not damage his organs due to the hardened surface covering them. To buy more time Gremory finally sprouted his spider limbs from his back and gripped his foe with them as he expanded his hand to his feline form with claws and grabbed the dragon by the face and pressed the claws on his skull.

Destruction was searing his face and digging deeper as it was forming a bubble in the layer between the hand of Sirzechs and his skin. His very face was being ravaged by the unstable molecules eating it clean. His tail snaked and tried to tear out his enemy's jugular vein but was caught in time and clenched.

"Do it now!"

Michael and Malina appeared from both sides of the man and threw a fist each while Sirzechs dematerialized and actually turned into a small black kitten to fall on the ground. That allowed the Devil and Angel to simultaneously strike the dragon in the same spot from the front and back, each fist meeting and touching after they punctured his chest and squashed his heart. The light that escaped set him ablaze completely and stripped him of his shadowy robe but his existence did not wish to cease to exist.

Crom Cruach had regrown his heart to survive and enlarged his leg in a fit of rage, kicking the woman into the stairs of the trone so fast that she didn't have time to gasp for air. She spat blood as the creature found a chink in her defense and exploited it. He actually crushed her barriers that were defending her while she had to use her Numbers as it required focus and targeted his whole body but not his darkness. Michael had to phase out to make walls rise up and gain a few seconds more.

Crom Cruach had the walls recede and his yellow eyes were ravenous and monstrous with their look of hunger. He was having fun and tiring them out, for as long as he had his realm he couldn't die no matter what they used because he had the territorial boost here. His domain was his own transcendental proof of power and he warped to his throne to stop Azazel from claiming it.

"Your petty tricks are not very amusing.", he enclosed the bony structures of the throne and trapped himself with the Fallen Angel in a detachment of his realm, preventing the others from coming here so fast. If he had to estimate it would take them a few seconds to arrive but he would kill Azazel first and then the rest.

"You stupid overgrown lizard... It's a good thing you miss out what you consider insignificant.", Domenico who had been hiding so far emerged with Ascalon that was fully prepared after he adjusted to his prime form. He needed time to get a grip on his renewed youth and accustomed to wielding his former might.

Michael had made him invisible and left him to deal the blow that could secure victory as he had faith in the man. Because he was the best candidate as the God of Iron viewed the human as a mere ant and got absorbed into his battle that he forgot about the Cardinal.

With a fine stroke he split the throne in half before his eyes with a vicious smirk plastered on his face. He defaced the Iron Idol that represented Crom Cruach and the Ritual of Crom Diubhne was denied as the reality of the dark god was fading from view. Ascalon had denied the realm and thus the blood moon was disappearing along with the altar as the accursed dragon snarled in outrage.

Azazel unfurled his wings and swatted him away before he used his feathers to further dismantle the throne by sending out his vipers to crumble it.

"Let's see how tough you are without your filthy ritual, you wretched abomination.", Domenico brandished Ascalon against the ground and for the first time since quite so long he felt his pride and dignity restored. Even if it meant going against whatever orders he was given and had to comply.

His heart was pounding and his will could not be stilled. "You've had enough sacrifices given to you but not this time. It's your turn to be sacrificed for once."

XXX

Gabriel retracted Deus Caritas and switched to a different a tool. Nidhoggr's complete immunity to frost and water was to their disadvantage since Grayfia was an ice elementalist caster and Barakiel and Shemhazai were wounded. The wingless monstrosity was threading upon the ice it was making and terraforming the Pacific Ocean for it's own use while Crom Cruach was busy with the rest inside his realm. That meant she had to take on the majority of offensive and defensive actions and somehow make sure everyone came out alive. Even if Shemhazai deserved a fate worse than death for his second betrayal.

He and Azazel were the only Fallen who had been returned to Heaven, trying to mend the broken trust and regain their place in the vast universe for they had lost their meaning and purpose. Gabriel never forgave the scapegoat for his actions towards Hadraniel and that betrayal that resulted in the death of the Angel of Love by her weeping for more than a hundred days crying over the loss of her companion.

And as anticipated the Second and Third of the Fallen had once again raised another rebellion that broke any chance for forgiveness and acceptance. Raphael cast both of them into Dudael and bound them for eternity in darkness. Gabriel would have enacted justice but this was a sole consolation that she understood very well.

Nidhoggr was already on the move, breaking down the iced walls Grayfia had made. It's titanic frame was bulldozing the defenses she had put up and it's mighty claws tore chunks out and began to toss them at the Devil and the rest. Grayfia raised more walls to halt the ice chunks, switching her casting style to a fire based one as she was a superb caster despite her brutal personality flaws.

Two fireballs spun and hovered within her palms as the gray haired Queen clasped them together and expelled a stream like a flamethrower to melt the incoming ice pikes and used the vapor to quickly change it back into water and then to ice spears that intercepted more of the flying blocks of ice.

So far she had been defending and tried to attack from time to time but with no concrete results. Nidhoggr was bathed in the soil of Yggdrasil, ate the dead falling from Niffleheim and became stronger the more he endured burrowing in the roots of the tree. It had a protective layer over his adapted scales and the white and blue marks on his chest were from sleeping upon the roots and gaining ice abilities to compete against Hraesvelgr at the dawn of Ragnarok. He was immune to frost and darkness, no death curses or taint could damage him for he had been to the land of the dead. Even physical attacks were not the best solution due to it's insane durability and natural defenses but they did work somewhat.

Gabriel chose a different tactic and began to hurl the shards of the earth platform at the dragon. She applied kinetic pentacles to accelerate their flight and threw one after another in a series of volleys to try and damage the armoured dragon. Each chunk of earth rained like meteorites atop the ice drake's head while Grayfia's ice spears were embedded into them, triggering the kinetic force spells woven within the chunks and set them off to release a wave of kinetic force that struck the dragon.

The sound of rubble clashing against the plated hide of Nidhoggr was strong enough to send back waves that cracked the ice around them but it was no problem since they could fly. The dragon's tail was swung and crushed some of the debris after ice covered them to lessen the blow. It's iced shard wings were fanned out and created a dome that began to absorb the shock of impact but cracked under the heavy pressure.

Grayfia was fast enough to grab Shemhazai and Barakiel and dodged the following swing of the lindworm's deadly tail, sliding on the ice and she made a small platform rise from the ice to hit her back on and halt her movement. She did slip down and fell with her face planted on the ice but that was what she was planning to do. Her hard skull dented the ice layer and she dove into the ice cold waters where her clothes began to vanish.

The silver haired Lucifuge was swimming under the ice with tremendous speed, crossing the distance to reach the spot where the drake threaded upon. She did not use styles like Overlaying, Shorthand Chant or Speedcast but directly fueled her taint and mana into spells like how those who directly used their Affinities did. Despite ice being her Sub-Affinity she was pretty good at the other elements and she resorted to using something she had been forbidden or rather forgotten due to the restrictions placed on everyone in the Underworld.

Despite being the aide of Lucifer as intended she really did not know the true history of things and only accepted the false narrative built by the rest. She had forgotten who she was and did not remember her past. That's what she had been fed all this time because she had no choice but it was no excuse of her's for she was horrible and truly despicable.

Her naked form cracked the ice beneath the dragon's stomach and she crawled out of the hole she made to latch onto the first limb she saw. Instead of the human shape she used a roughly humanoid looking wretch emerged. Her entire torso was marred by her leaking taint into forming black script of infernal origin in odd patterns and lettering like scorch mark tattoos on her skin. Her limbs were segmented and clad into dark metallic plates with fused glowing veins akin to tendrils, each bearing seven digits with sharp tips and clawed legs full of spiked protrusions.

Her skin was pale as death and flaked by black script. The spine was serrated and semi-hunched with two wings full of empty eye sockets and arms composing them on the shoulders. A sleek tail bearing the mark of Chaos at the tip stretched out and contained a chaos core within the center of the hardened flesh with burn marks. Grayfia's chest was marked by an empty hole where her heart should have been as black veins crept upon her pitch black neck while curved and ridged horns like those of Nidhoggr were perched from her forehead. Her entire face was hidden by a dark veil that revealed nothing of what it became but only showed fiery tuffs of black flame from her horns.

She had become what she truly was. Lucifuge Rofocle of the old was her true nature as the limiters placed on her forcefully were loosened. She was not herself anymore and had no control or intention to follow the rules.

With both hands Grayfia touched the ice under the Dragon of Ragnarok and her taint oozed out of her fingertips, blackening the spot with disgusting ichor and expanded the cracks to try and submerge the beast into the cold waters. Chaos magic was directly laced within her blood and taint, distorting the waters to corrupt them and set off chains of ice to ensnare the legs of Nidhoggr that made her invisible when standing next to them. Each link crawled fast and wrapped together till the first chain was fully formed on the limb. In a simple flick of her fingers did the taint consolidate and began to draw in the ice drake towards the expanding hole by using it's heavy weight to drag it down into the waters.

Gabriel herself saw that opportunity and vehemently offered assistance by directly plunging into the dragon's chest where she punched it with such ferocity that it was being pushed away towards the hole. Her physical might was unmatched and her fists were world breakers as one would expect, shoving the surprised lindworm bit by bit with each strike.

The armor wasn't giving in, however. Nidhoggr clawed at the ice and slumped down on purpose, rapidly dropping his heavy torso atop Gabriel despite slipping into the water.

The Archangel warped via the light rays by directly using photons to instantly reappear in the skies and snapped her fingers for ice to expand and cover the hole that Nidhoggr fell into. Grayfia levitated away from the closing hole and quickly began to draw a sealing spell that was of the ninth tier. Her Chaos magic was drawing the sigil of Baphomet via her taint and she relied upon the ocean as a conduit by draining the life of the passing creatures of the sea to fuel her spell. She could have used her own mana but she cared little and thus began to shape the overlays for her ritual.

Taint formed sigils and hexagrams within the five layer pentacle that was integrated within a reverse pentagram. She did not speak as her mind was directly crafting the foundations for the seal because the drake could not be underestimated. It was already reaching a kilometrein lenght but it seemed awfully wrong because the space actually did cover the Archangel and the wounded Fallen on the ice.

"Bloody hell. Can't trust a Demon for nothing in the world.", Shemhazai finally recovered and popped up from the ice pillar he had been left on. His chartreuse green eyes hardened as he easily understood what Lucifuge was doing and how it would actually seal all of them.

His torn abdomen showed no sign of there ever having been a wound that split him in halves as the being used the Miracle of Rejection to overwrite the state of his body. It was in the same way when Azazel expelled multiple Excalibur copies from his shredded thorax. The Original Being behind the visage of the Second of the Fallen repaired the vessel it had claimed after the Professor killed the Shemhazai and Barakiel of the main dimension and helped his own to use those bodies as an anchor to exist. Thus it was using the corpse of the Fallen and became him, assimilated everything Shemhazai had and made sure no one would have noticed the differences as they adjusted.

He expanded his wings and threw a light spear at Grayfia's side or lest she would have banished all of them from reality. The female Devil caught the sizzling spear with her palm being impaled but it stopped from going deeper. The light was burning her scarred flesh and distracted her for a split second to allow Barakiel to sneak upon her and lift her by her tail, flinging her downwards into the center of the seal as he stomped his leg on her back.

"Gabriel... finish this. You are better than the both of us and we can only rely upon your grace to forgive us for what we've done.", the bearded Watcher threw a glance at Gabriel with a look of remorse, seeking forgiveness for what the derivative shell had done because it was his deeds now as the user of the body. Light claws dug from his toes into Grayfia's wings and threshed her bladed shoulders to force her to alter the seal or face death!

The seal cracked as Grayfia rolled in trying to shake off Barakiel, her Chaos magic spiralling out of control as intended and a drop of her blood was the catalyst needed to distort the encompassed space and mangle, seal and banish everything within it aside from the caster. However, that would not be allowed as Nidhoggr's tail stabbed through the ice after it had waited a little to recover, uplifting the block with the drop of blood before it could reach the overlay formation. Wide cracks spread further and the defeaning roar of ice breaking and falling echoed everywhere.

It snapped it's jaws at the motionless Grayfia and would have eaten her whole if she did not erect a barrier of taint, distorting it via Chaos magic and redirected all of the seals to close in on the dragon as she was falling freely. Barakiel she shook off with her tail and spread her blood all over her tail, firing the chaos core the precise moment her barrier was torn apart - the chaos core exploded before Nidhoggr's face and the world was bathed into the light of a spell that blinded everything for a few good seconds.

XXX

"Quickly! If that thing hits the coast the casualties would number millions!", Barakiel shouted with everything he had to the two Angels before the chaos core would have detonated and caused tsunamis and floods. The sheer impact of such a weapon would have devastated the cities in the coast if the wave traveled further than expected.

Gabriel clasped her hands together and created an eight tier overlay barrier on the go. She used her own light and water to craft the core of the spell while Shemhazai imitated her and made a second version to overlap from the other side. Barakiel added his own mastery to the mix and strengthened the already forming honeycomb wall as fast as he could or lest millions would die. The skies were dark and so was this moment when the wretched Lucifuge swatted her tail and released her natural weapon at the other monstrosity.

The defense was erected and was nearly complete until the chaos core set off a few seconds earlier than expected and the clash occurred. Blinding light escaped from the source and Gabriel steeled herself to redirect some of it towards the stratosphere in order to minimise the collateral damage. Yet, it was burning and chaotic as it name implied and found it's way over the nearly closing barrier, expelling some of it's contents to the outside world where the three Angels had to stand together and took the waves head on with their bodies.

"I didn't think i would die for humanity. Such a fickle thing to do.", the blonde Fallen perched his arms before the wave and began to absorb it despite it's volatile nature and started to process it through his black wings. His chartreuse green eyes did not falter nor show hesitation. Only regret filled them with a sense of longing for the others he would leave behind if his vessel was eradicated.

The blonde Archangel nodded in agreement. She was the most human of Celestial and felt fear in the face of this calamity but she did not run away. Perhaps she understood the Watchers in their obsessive love for humankind, thus expanding her light to act as a conduit.

Not a word she offered to him. Only silence was her answer because her actions would speak on her behalf.

The light died out as fast as it appeared. The stray photons were scattered while Chaos subsided to an acceptable level.

Gabriel was bleeding already as two of her wings she had unfurled were completely burned off and her clothes were nonexistent. Her skin was charred and blackened, cracking and pulsing with blood flowing out of the wounds. She did not have time to react as best as she could, only minimizing the insane amount of damage to survive instead of outright escaping due to the distortions in reality. She was missing an arm and parts of her ribcage were exposed as the flesh was completely torn off to expose her left lung. Her body was ruined by the chaos core aftermath and she was going to die. Her legs were blown off and were broken with the right one being nothing more than a bleeding stump.

Barakiel was wheezing for air as his legs were missing from the knees below. All of his skin was peeled off and he had holes and burned off areas on his body while his face was melted and his eyes were not there anymore. His lungs were seared and he was coughing blood profusely. He had lost four of his wings that were turned to molten stumps with the feathers falling off with blood and skin slipping away.

Shemhazai was the one who suffered less than the others in merely losing his palms and his right arm completely, his whole back was covered in blood and half of his face was wrecked and missing parts of his jaw while one of his eyes was blinded. His side was ravaged and fried like he had been thrown into a furnace since there was smouldering and smoke rising from his burnt half. His hip was straight up demolished and hanging meat was held by strings of muscle fiber barely.

The aftermath cracked the defenses of the Angels, both light and dark and dealt damage to them. They sacrificed themselves to protect the upper planes because they were Celestials through and through. If they had time or were allowed to use their higher abilities safely it would have been averted. This was a case where their intervention was mandated because it was of no human making.

They did not intervene in human matters as it was a intrusion over free will, no matter how harsh or cruel it could have been. It was their own choice so they had no place to interfere even if it were a man-made end of the world. Choices and responsibilities were of their own but Gabriel did intervene whenever she could by her role as the intermediary.

But Grayfia?

She was gladly prepared to decimate her enemies no matter the cost. Casualties, collateral damage, suffering. Those were trivial concepts to her. Those who appeared to care about such were only doing so out of a business sense because it meant more humans would be of use to them for various reasons.

She actively tried to have the others killed aside from her husband. Deep down she felt resentment and hatred for him as he spurred her attempts to grow closer because he hated her and their marriage was only for the sake of uniting their two factions under his rule. To be accepted by the older ones and to appeal to the young was the decision made by both sides to show reconcilation. Thus, she tried to love him over the centuries but only met cold indifference and hatred in return. Therefore if Sirzechs died it would inconvenience her so she did wish to spare him as much as possible.

The silver haired demoness readied two compound pentacles for Triplet Caster Magic with her blood flowing into them to taint all five individual spells merged into sets while the sixth one acted as a multiplier. Pressurised air blades and fists of earth mixed together, napalm was spewed out with shadow tendrils and the last one was a barrier that encased all of these spells together, multiplied to a whole barrage of destructive orbs that rained on the black lindworm.

Nidhoggr emerged as the light receded - his horns were damaged and chipped while his hardened scale plates were cracked and some were missing. There was blood trickling down his muzzle and segments of his armor were already missing but he did maintain his eyes and fangs by having closed the jaws in time and covered his eyes with one of his massive hands. Still, he suffered devastating damage. At the very least there were blisters on the exposed gums at the sides and some of the teeth were cracked and missing bits. The heat and ravaging energies of Chaos had actually punctured his armour's integrity. It let loose a growl in challenge of the Lucifuge spawn, growing ice scales to cover it's wounds so to prepare it's new ones that were growing into it's infamous scale plates.

With both hands it curled itself and locked all of it's exposed gaps with it's plates, becoming a nigh-impenetrable wall that met the destructive combination of spells that were showering him with sheer malice. The hits were not as brutal as Gabriel's very fists but they did crack it's ice shell repeatedly in dealing a moderate amount of scrapes and dents in the natural shield of it's own. All while it was charging it's Ice Breath undisturbed in wait for a gap between the enclosed orb bombardment.

It had survived such a great amount of damage and could still offer a fight. It was the World Devouring Jaws that would survive and live past Ragnarok and it's hide would push away the gods that would come to slay it. So what was this woman thinking in challenging him to a battle to the death?

Grayfia flew ahead towards the dragon. She had prepared several pentacles on her arms in case it tried anything funny. To propel herself further she casted a stepping seal under one leg and pounced, gliding to press her feet on the next stepping seal and was shot like a bullet with accelerated speed. All her script and burn marks blazed to life to enhance her durability further, stretching her hands to become a spear as she created a sonic boom with her speed that made her reach Nidhoggr in a flash.

In response the serpent rolled backwards into the water to avoid the collision, exploiting the berserk nature of his enemy who did not seem to be able to control herself at all. With it's back pressed on the water surface it unlocked it's joints and moved it's jaws to shoot out it's Ice Breath directly underneath Grayfia's stomach!

The hail of frost was immense that glaciers were formed from the moisture in the air and rapidly dropped the temperature as the burst of crystalline particles quickly met the Devil in blasting with such force that she only had time to raise her veil in a last ditch effort to reveal blackened teeth and tainted flames like napalm struck the glaciers.

Ice versus fire battled in a war of dominance. Her own breath started melting the chilling frost at her center but it was extremely fast to the point where her limbs were already covered by the substance and rendered as mere ice blocks. The wings were freezing from the cold air despite her trying to divert the continuous stream of ice from encasing her alive in an iceberg. Steam rose from their mere contact in a forgone conclusion of melting her freezing body, leaving the dragon to lunge at her with it's right fist and nailed her into the waters as she began to sink, dragged down by the heavy ice that was on her immobile limbs.

A chortling gnarl came afterwards. Domineering, throathy and cantankerous was it's roar after assuring it's supremacy over the others. Not wasting time it began to freeze the moisture in the air to create a dome and slapped it over the sinking Devil's body. A deadly swing of it's tail underneath clapped Grayfia upwards to push her on the spikes of the dome where she was skewered and began to bleed. Stuck between two layers of ice where her very blood was freezing, she was trying to melt it with her breath in order to make a hole and get air as a reflex. Instead of letting it be Nidhoggr lifted the small dome and threw it into the forming icebergs, then bashed it with it's fists and send it flying with a tail flick.

"PATHETIC."

Diverting it's attention from the dome when it sank into the waters the short muzzled head was turned towards the dying Angels. Dealing with Grayfia was bothersome for she did put up a good fight and actually made it's job much easier. It was staring at the struggling Celestials with it's bloody red eyes as the pure white pupils thinned further. Some of the keeled scales on the nose were repaired. Stalactite-like layers formed anew over the chinks in the armour to regain the missing second layer of defense.

Thus the World Devouring Serpent began to thread with the ice shell falling off to reveal fresh scale plating after having replaced the cracked ones. Said pieces it took out and cast aside, adjusting it's jaws to test how the fresh ones felt. Growing or fixing the damaged teeth required more time but it was good enough for now.

For a creature of it's size it was quite nimble and fast. With sharp reflexes and swiftness to compensate for it's forty five meter frame and heavier build it learned some tricks to react faster and easier by tilting or locking plates to fall to one side or delay movement by partially clasping them together. To walk safely it made more ice spread to thicken the already existing one and began to charge another blast of it's freezing Breath to end things swiftly from a safe distance.

Gabriel knew what was incoming and did her best to react as much as she could. She was not a Virtue so she did not use Miracles but she had something else up her sleeve - with her singular hand remaining she materialised Deus Caritas in it's full glory and slid it across the ice towards Barakiel. She relinquished her Divine Armament to the Watcher who crawled using his hands to reach it.

He might have not had legs but he was the only one with two arms intact to pull the bow. His blood was leaving a trail behind his severed legs and every push was sheer agony but his mind was so focused on this one task he had to do. Blind and broken he moved towards the bow, tracking it by the light signature it emanated towards him.

Nidhoggr instantly recognized what he was trying to do so it commanded all the glaciers on it's back to compound and line together as a spear. It's lowered head and posture stabilised it's placement and the serpent would not let them have any futile displays of heroism or tenderness. To make matters worse the draconian juggernaut extended one of the talons on his left arm and cracked the ice that was surrounding the blind Watcher in order to make it a soul crushing blow before they would all die.

Barakiel heard the ice behind him cracking and hurried himself to reach it before he would plunge into the ocean. If he used his remaining wings he would be shredded or frozen by the looming beast nearby. The only thing he could do was unfurl them slightly and push himself with a gust of air - that effort cost him immeasurable pain and he nearly passed out from his bloodied cough. The cold air was freezing his lungs with each breath but he did not give up. His fingers tapped the ice and the Divine Armament was attracted to his arms where he rolled over and railed the majestic longbow into the ice, pulled the bowstring and fired a single arrow...

The calamity of frost shot it's whirling of glaciers and ice at them precisely before the arrow would have hit him. Not that it could have changed anything when it proved ineffective before. Yet, it did not account for the slightest mistake it made. The arrow that was created by pulling the bowstring did was not aimed at him at all. It followed it's master's trail and pierced Gabriel in her exposed chest...

Barakiel's hand slumped down and he spat blood before the attack would blanket all of them. He wasn't giving up no matter what happened to his vessel. He wanted to be the Fallen Angel because he had sired a child that was a unique existence. This body and identity were the only way she would recognise him and he did not wish to stop being her father. He released the tiniest bit possible of his true nature at the risk of being rejected by the multiverse, at the risk of ceasing to exist within this reality and being unable to ever re-enter it. All because he was touched by that Celestial's kindness and unwavering faith in the face of peril. All for the sake of a being so precious as to define his desire to exist within these planes.

An Original Being had been born within the shell of a Nephillim body in an unprecedented deviation from the plan. No such being had ever been born until 18 years ago when Shuri Himejima gave birth to her daughter.

His very own daughter.

"...d-daddy... Is com...i...ng... home!"

A beautiful illumination tore through the glacial madness as the rays of the sun pierced the dark clouds. A corona of light was spreading with such intensity as the light waves accelerated - time flowed slowly as if the world had been stilled. A being of pure light so immaculate and beyond description walked and was parting the waves of ice by it's sheer presence. Tendrils of photons were gathering together into the two Fallen and melding inside their broken vessels. Power unstoppable. Power without limits. Strength personified.

"Arise.", a command was uttered with a voice that belonged to no mortal existence. A reminder of what was before the physical multiverse had began. The Calling of a higher purpose.

It could only be used by the selfless sacrifice for the sake of another. Deus Caritas was precisely that. One of the virtues that were present in nearly everything. Something that could not be torn out or denied for as long as there was life then there was hope.

At the center of the light was the unflinching Gabriel. The veil of restriction was lifted off to unleash her divine nature and Identity. Her form was glowing and restored as her limbs and organs were repaired and bore their true might like in the days of old. The same way she had been on the day of the first Eternal War. Within her arms she held Deus Caritas and looked down at the beast as the doomsday clock was ticking. Peerless and unblemished she had returned to remind them who they really were.

She became the sole beacon of light in these dark skies where she cast aside the darkness and spread out all twelve wings of splendor. Her light healed her as proportional to the sacrifices they had made, enabling her to use her power as intended by that act of fortitude and hope. With her azure eyes she looked at her left and then to her right with a serene smile and the fires of justice lit up within her whole existence.

Barakiel and Shemhazai were at her sides, standing together in remembrance of the days when they had been mighty Celestials with pride and dignity. The Lighting of God was reminded of his former might as his ten wings were freed and spread out with thunder and lightning raining from the skies to mark his arrival. He was once a judge, the Angel of the Stars as his eyes glowed violet with the depths of the cosmos peering from them. A lance of lightning formed within his hand to strike down at his enemies.

Shemhazai raised his head high as he revealed his twelve wings of tainted splendor, stained black forever as the Second of the Fallen. The Dark Angel's blonde locks were brushed by the wind that was produced by his jet black wings and stared at the horizon with nostalgia. For the briefest of moments white feathers were flickering in-between the black ones in the blink of an eye. He was once of the Seraphim and never forgot that even when he fell and was regarded as a sovereign of demonkind. An executioner sword of light appeared in his hand and was pointed at the beast of Ragnarok.

"COME AND MEET YOUR DESTINY.", Nidhoggr growled with fury and aggression in what could be said to be primal fear. It's victory shan't be denied as it readied itself for the kill. It was denied it's glory so it had to rectify that slight against it's unbound pride. At all means necessary without any care for what it would cost it.

No words were exchanged.

Barakiel flapped his wings to fly in the air, drawing as much mana as he could into the multiplication of his lance. Hundreds of lightning lances were knitted behind him as he dashed forward against the dragon. Each one expanded in size to become a dragon killer, following their master's trail when he hurled his first lance towards the dragon's head. Each one traveled after the first copy and spread thin links of electricity like a net to connect them.

Glaciers came to meet the lances head on in repeated fire alongside Ice Breath being released to quell the incoming wave of light weapons. Walls of frost stood before the juggernaut in taking the lances like a shield while it began to curl and lock it's plates together and move forward under heavy fire. Each lance struck the ice and released a chain reaction for an electromagnetic field to form with each link acting as a conduit for electricity to surge and fry the dragon's nerves as some of them touched water. Glaciers collided with the lances in a futile display, being cleaved and hammering the Lindworm with each hit it took.

Rattled and spasming despite it's plating enduring the heavy fire Nidhoggr resorted to using a tactic it had not yet revealed. With it's fingers it drew Ormr runes to cast a veil of shade on it's frame, swallowing the spears with darkness and casting shade around it. From there emerged the dead souls it had devoured and used them as a catalyst for magic it was normally unable to cast. The formation of a spell resembling Cocytus etched it's contents on the makeshift spear it fired from it's spine.

Shemhazai intercepted the spear by throwing his sword at it, forming a blazing inferno of hellfire to counteract the cursed weapon. Multiple copies emerged from the wall of fire like harpoons and darted at the ice drake's fingers. Nidhoggr curled it's fists and sent them in a haymaker punch to have his shade cover and envelop the swords while enduring and dodging as many of Barakiel's lances as possible. It had to use it's tail to release a wave of darkness as a smokescreen for it pounced in the air and snapped it's jaws at him.

Gabriel was waiting for this moment. What met the vast jaws was a water copy of her that solidified into ice and grinded on it's teeth, stacked with kinetic force spells that nailed it's maw repeatedly and pushed it down with a loud crash following afterwards. Several tons were pressed on it's head and made it land on it's back where two water copies were used in the same vein to crush it from both sides.

Pained snarls and grunts escaped it's throat and it's limbs trashed around. Breaking the ice allowed it to dive into the waters where it started sinking due to it's heavy weight but it was what it needed to escape the Celestials.

But Gabriel had already seen that trick before - arrows from Deus Caritas parted the ice and froze in place as pillars to trap the wingless monstrosity in a cage. Each one rubbed against it's stalactite second layer and chipped it off, allowing for the chinks to be revealed. Nidhoggr could not stay still so it used it's horns to penetrate a pillar and tore it out by sheer neck strength. Flexing both arms it severed the ones that were pinning it's shoulders and had the chest horns act as an anchor to latch onto another pillar and ram it's head through the field of ice.

Ice Breath bathed the skies with it's horrendous frost and began freezing the moisture to cut off all the oxygen in the area.

Shemhazai used his wings to shoot out feathers as a protective ward; each one resonated with taint to expand and create a warding field that denied the attack from reaching them. In that second Barakiel landed several lances with a curse laced within the light, encroaching on the field and binding elements together to launch a hexagonal formation with spikes to thresh on the dragon's skull. In response to that Nidhoggr quickly pulled it's head under the water and submerged deeper as a means to avoid getting hit.

The real Gabriel was already under the ice and sneaked upon it with a jab to it's left upper sabertooth, leaving a bloody mark on it's gums and a crack within the muzzle's plating. The hexagonal construct landed on top of the ice and collapsed to open a metaphysical plane that swallowed both Archangel and Lindworm into a space where the physical laws were not as rigid as on the upper planes.

The electromagnetic field was used for another reason. To attract the construct and act as a beacon to mark the serpent to have it encased within that confined space. It wasn't a standard sealing spell but an elaborate temporary entrance into the various layers of reality where she could don her true form and send it to oblivion. It had been done due to the fear of damaging reality with her true form and to lessen the burden on her shoulders.

Gabriel was floating within the dimension and faced the accursed dragon with no holds barred. From her lips escaped only the name of her true, immaterial form that she had not used since thousands of years. Something in her very being stirred. Escaping from the tears of her clothing was a shine that wasn't there before.

EL Fortitudo

From her back emerged pinions of light, tendrils that expanded and shone so bright as to illuminate this small plane with her splendor. Twelve tendrils of energy cycled with water surrounding them to form her wings with a layer of ice marking them on the tips as they turned cyan blue with secondary tendrils of ice solidifying between each set.

A golden circular band that bore a representation of the rays of the sun and the divine throne formed on her back, connected by thin segments to frame her wings and shield her spine. It was a facsimile of the throne of the Demiurge that glistened with a deeply saturated gold illumination that could not be matched by any standards of beauty.

Unlike her brethren her form did not change much as she was designed to be the closest to humanity in spirit and form. Heavily ornamented pauldrons of golden colour formed on her shoulders with two spiked protrusions adorned with dull red fullers. Each pauldron was segmented and had fullers cut into them with a row of metal bands that resembled a thorny crown solidified on the piece of armor as golden sharp feathers grew out of the spikes.

The armor on the hands completely encased her flesh and was highly decorated with a brownish trim of fabric between each segment that made up the gauntlets with two sharp protrusions that swirled over the wrist with a bangle. Each elongated gauntlet was incrusted with two green jades and ended in black gloves with metal braces around the wrists that rested on the bangles with red fullers.

Her neck and shoulders were connected by an open chest piece of gold with black accents and an intricate carved inlay of designs with three red rubies acting as a part of the necklace that linked to two gold crescent pieces of metal. Those were stitched on top of a revealing ensemble of a black and brown bustier bodice with delicate lace trim and accessories bearing rubies on the stomach section, two exposed thigh plates that revealed the hips at the sides of the bodice and ended with two golden triangular plates with black inlays in stripes. The fabric that covered her torso was spotted with an elaborate pattern that exuded nothing but elegance.

Her legs were adorned predominantly by black leather with brownish triangular tips, held by thin straps of leather to her thigh plates. The oval plating was perched on her knees and the sides of her legs with sharp edges that did not portray aggression but rather a work of art if one could call them such. And the legs were studded with segmented sabatons and boots in one piece with the same design as her pauldrons and gauntlets.

A simple half-mask covered her eyes with golden trim at the edges as two small white wings appeared where her ears used to be. Two more of those wings were perched from her temples like a crown as a part of her mask while a circular band of metal with four spikes that ended with the last one split rested on her golden locks of hair, right before the brilliant halo that resides between the feathered wings that were her crown. Her azure eyes were hidden by the mask and her hair was styled in a ponytail.

In comparison to the other Celestials her form was clad with a lesser amount of armour and exposed her skin as she was the midway between divine and mortal, encased in the shape of a human woman unlike the other Angels who were fully furnished with armor from head to toe that contained their immaterial forms. Gabriel bore flesh and blood instead. She was as physical as any other human but that did not make her inferior at all in comparison to Uriel or Raphael. It was how she was intended to be as one of the Celestials acting as the messenger between man and the divine.

She was perfect. She was beyond description in her perfect shape of beauty that was unmatched by anything in reality sans a few who came close to it's sheer brilliance. And thus she ascended and took on her role as the Messenger once more to deliver justice and victory.

Nidhoggr was blinded by her appearance that was the epitome of true perfection. It's mind was calmed and it felt peace like never before, seeking tranquility and rest from it's arduous path as a destroyer and unfortunate end bringer. It basked in her light and was awed, it cowered in fear for it's life for the first time ever but it did everything to close it's eyes so it would not be burned by her presence or stilled to the point of wishing to die.

Gabriel materialised Deus Caritas in it's full shape and pulled the bowstring with her delicate fingers. Her face showed no rage neither hatred, only tranquility and acceptance were revealed as her full lips formed a magnanimous smile with grace.

"I shall grant you peace, Nidhoggr. The World Devouring Serpent of the North."

She released the bow and sent a single arrow towards Nidhoggr's skull.

XXX

The dark dimension's connection was severed upon the destruction of it's seemingly inconspicuous anchor within the idol that represented the scaled draconian God of Iron. Domenico kicked the statue and throne and the entire veil that had placed it within a fold of reality was torn asunder by Ascalon's deadly ability. The entire place was falling apart as the altar was fading from view and the familiar scenery of the Pacific Ocean greeted the frazzled beast with it's deep blue colour.

Crom Cruach slipped into the receding shadows and hundreds of blades were brought to life from within the crevasse between dimensions. A single swing he did and each iron broadsword flew straight for the Fallen and Human who had dared to mock his pride. The lingering dimension was already at the point of vanishing but the blades he called for were just as real as the danger they possessed so Azazel had to grab the Cardinal and call forth his own blades to counteract the hail of cursed metal.

Swords met with swords and clanged with mana detonating them on each side in a vicious war of dominance. However Crom's blades only began to eat the ones of Azazel after they transformed into small draconian copies of the god, chewing and snapping the various elemental swords and razing them from existence.

The metallic dragon copies also began to devour the barriers erected by the Watcher, eating through six layers already. Despite it's advanced nature of repelling physical attacks and magic based ones this was not strictly magic but rather an effect of the dark being's divinity forcing it's way through the latter.

Domenico spotted the firearms of Malina von Astaroth who was near them, picked up one of them and fired a few shots after touching the gun with Ascalon. Each bullet he sent was laced with Ascalon's dragon killer ability and dispersed in tiny pellets, pelting the iron constructs outside the barrier and denied it's divinity by ripping the swarm of constructs apart by opening a path.

Azazel took the opportunity to lift up Lady Astaroth on her feet and crossed his fingers to call forth several demonic pentagrams to release hideous snakes from his own taint that lunged at Crom from all sides.

In the blink of an eye the dragon regained it's true form and grasped the snakes of taint with it's hands and used It's biggest wings for the fingers there to crush the constructs of taint while it's tail decapitated some of them. Instead of fumbling back, Crom began to use his own brand of magic by the application of the repulsive catalyst being a blood sacrifice. It's own blood flowed out from it's vast jaws and manipulated the iron particles from the ocean bed to rise to surface like a swirling tornado.

Millions of particles that were from within the planet's crust had been torn out and cycled around the dragon's thirty meter frame, darkening the skies once again as they truly returned to the ocean.

Such a spell of this magnitude was closer to the eleventh tier. The very metal particles were rising and circulating in the air, binding together from the crust of the Earth and the bottom of the ocean. His reach began to extend to other metals as wrecked ships and submarine parts escaped the waters and were hovering in the air surrounding the dragon. The needed energy for such an act was supplied by the dark god's divinity and manipulation of the electromagnetic field of the planet to make this happen.

Various forms began to take shape by the will of the blood sacrifice. Spiralls of metal particles were circling together and forming a makeshift pentagram for the Ritual of Crom Diubhne. The five points of the enclosed spell were aligning into place while the beast was protected by the vast fog of shining bits of various metals. This power was enough to cause cataclysms that would devastate a part of the planet. Such activity could cause earthquakes and reawaken sleeping volcanoes if it continued on. Now it had taken the fight seriously, prepared to kill a portion of the planet and millions as a sacrifice to feed it's own conceited ego.

It was crafting a spell it had received from the knowledge it had gained after joining under the Khaos Brigade casters who taught it new ways to extend it's influence and reach. While prideful and beyond mortal description it was not so foolish to deny any means of furthering it's own strength through knowledge.

That was the Doomsday Clock as Shalba Belzeebub named it.

"Now you face the might of a God. You have earned this honour so feel proud of yourselves, you fools.", it's disgusting monstrous voice echoed from within the overlay of particles with a wicked tinge to each word it pronounced. There was true malice now as it let loose a loud roar of decadent laughter upon eyeing the feeble resistance with it's own eyes.

Shemhazai aided Sirzechs from below after Gabriel dove into the metaphysical plane to crush Nidhoggr. The blonde Watcher began to craft several barriers of the eight tier and permeated each with taint and light to induce a collision of forms that ripped apart a piece of the spell to delay it.

He was healed but it wouldn't last long as he had to be treated further and he couldn't risk using his real nature to avert this or he would be erased from existence. He did however use only a tiny bit like Barakiel to loosen the causality and sever it's effects to keep himself and the red haired Devil alive by rendering the attacks useless.

Barakiel commanded lightning to fall upon the dragon but it was deflected by a lightning rod made from the metal pieces. He did not stop forming lances and halberds of photons and electricity to ensue bombardment and take out already forming layers of metal bits despite a barrier of the tenth tier denying each attack.

Crom Cruach only had a seventh tier Magical Resistance so he had to use high tier spells to protect himself from any magic he could not handle or survive from. Together they could halt it and occupy the caster while someone else had to land the killing blow.

"That thing is gonna fuck up the planet sideways. We have to stop it before it's too late!", Sirzechs was already shooting down any stray particles coming their way with his orbs of Destruction eradicating them before they could be reached.

It mattered to him because he wouldn't let anyone threaten his rule nor gain more influence than he would. All this despite never having wanted to become Lucifer but within time he did grow to appreciate most of what it entailed but he still wanted to run away.

That did not change. Even now the ginger Devil wished to run but he could not let this happen as the smear on his reputation would be tremendous.

Orbs of Destruction the size of a wrecking ball were being thrown at the spell construct continuously while acting as a defense and filter to lessen the magnifying number of metal particles flying towards the spell. The Gremory Devil was pushing himself further to utilise his Trait to the max by sporadically making more and more orbs that shapeshifted into mortars and were attracting the particles to themselves via electromagnetic reactions to siphon off the spell even if a little. He was building an overlay himself with the Sigil of Baphomet etching onto thin air.

Resistance was met in the face of Crom's Iron Blaze Breath raining over at Sirzechs who was holding the line admirably. Constructs of metal flew from the Doomsday Clock and began to intercept the volleys of Destruction and sacrifice themselves to slow down the barrage. He was defending himself with a shield of Destruction coating his arm and several barriers to endure the Iron Blaze Breath that was shredding everything in it's path. There were some stray shots that cut and pelted his face but he did not stop for a second or lest he would risk the death of his adapted form. Shemhazai was making new and new barriers every time the previous layers were cracked and ruined.

His siphoning spell was working and lessened the load by absorbing the stray mana from the eleventh tier one.

"Maybe this is the best course of action. Over and over again have i seen destruction and decay. Nations toppled, rivers of blood born from the free will of humans and the greed of gods.", Michael had grown fatalistic over the centuries. His dark mood and despair had been reaching new heights recently and this was enough to make him lose hope over again. His voice grew harrowing and darker with each second. "Angels continue to fall and humans to be led astray. Slaughter upon slaughter, crisis after crisis. It never ends. There is nothing perfect but i do not wish to do anymore of this. Nothing would change anymore so let it end in a cataclysm instead of the Apocalypse. Perhaps that would lessen the suffering."

The blue eyes were resigned and bore no will to struggle or fight like he once used to. He did not wish to try and battle for he had led too many battles and doubted his own purpose and meaning. He felt lost at times but held on for the sake of others and for those whom he watched over, only to grow disappointed and weary after billions of years of activity.

If the strongest one amongst this group did not wish to do something then who could?

In comparison to the forming structure they were ants when it came about size. That did not mean it always had to be the case. Some despite small were titans in spirit and courage. In that was the willingness to do something, the right person at the right time for the right job as once it had been said.

"Then so be it. If you cannot bring yourself to fight for what is right then step aside.", the sole mortal voice amongst them yelled out with a heart of full of passion and dedication. Cardinal Giovanni, who was being held by Azazel in the air, did not waver nor wish to give up.

The most insignificant and fragile one between all of them spoke up.

"Time and time again i have questioned everything. Myself, my faith, what is right or wrong but never have i lost hope. Even when the time of my departure from this world grows ever closer i did not lose sight of what my purpose and meaning is. At the end of my days here i stand amongst friends and foes for one last battle. But one thing i know is to never give up in the face of adversity. No matter what trials come our way we always rise from the ashes. Whether it be me or the next generation or those after them we won't give up till our final breath is drawn. Have some faith, will you?"

The Cardinal took his eyes off the Archangel and looked towards the forming pentacle with fiery eyes, full of fear but also with determination. If he was to die here then so be it. He lifted Ascalon before his face and used the sticker crests on his shoes to craft stepping seals to walk upon. To give himself some space he shredded his cassock and remodeled it in an old Executor uniform, altering the shoes into boots.

Domenico took the first step and then a second followed. And a third and a fourth until it became a sprint as more and more stepping seals were being made by him. Ascalon was raised and readied to deflect as many projectiles as physically possible but despite knowing he wouldn't last long the man took more steps forward with courage as he was hit by stray particles and his forehead bled. He did not stop despite that.

Azazel nodded down with a whimsical smirk plastered on his face out of fear and anxiety. "He can't do it alone. He'll die."

"Humans like you inspire me. My husband would have been proud to witness your selfless act of sacrifice.", Malina slipped out of Azazel's hand and called the Steed of Abigor to her side. She jumped on the infernal steed and rode over thin air membranes to reach Giovanni. The snake eyed woman extended her hand towards him and her eyes shone brightly as much as her beautiful smile.

"Allow me the honour of riding together with you. Hop on, laddie!~", she did not mock him as her tone was respectful and filled with adulation.

"Just this once... I'll accept it.", Domenico did not protest against that and was lifted by the female as both rode together as one. He sat on the saddle in front of the snake eyed woman and grabbed the reins of the horse.

The Steed of Abigor's flaming hooves left marks in the air as if reality had been burning itself. Domenico crashed Ascalon against an incoming construct and decapitated it with one clean strike of his blade. Malina used her Chiappa Rhino to expell cartridges with Numbers engraved on them to make them eight tier gravity spells, bouncing off any pillar or draconian construct that was obstructing the path. Both man and Devil slashed and shot at the mass Crom Cruach tossed at them as they were making their way through.

Ascalon had an effect that rendered every dragon copy into a mere slab of metal, reverting it back to it's original shape. If Durandal had the Miracle of Separation and being modelled after Deus Solaris then Ascalon held that of a Dragon Slayer, a Relic modelled after Archangel Michael's own Divine Armament.

The hull of a warship was tossed at their direction at such a speed that it was hard to avoid or turn around. Malina smirked with a sinister grin and jumped off her steed to execute a somersault in the air, kicking the hunk of metal with her leg back at it's source with sheer muscle strength making it change directions and slam into the incoming iron idols.

That action was also followed by a few gravity bullets that had been dropped at the precise moment when her toes tapped the hull and redirected it. With such force it struck them that it practically crushed them to bits and kept flying into the Doomsday Clock, being caught into it's electromagnetic field.

There was always a trick up her sleeve. A bullet with a hydrogen spell clanged into the dent and made the entire hull explode via hydrogen bombing that disrupted the field and blew off solid chunks out of it.

To reach her steed Malina used a stepping seal to launch herself and flew to the side where Domenico grabbed her hand and helped her sit on the Steed of Abigor. Their maneuver did damage but wasn't enough to penetrate the dragon's electromagnetic field and the circling formations that acted as a defense. The Cardinal began to tap Ascalon and crafted a dragon slaying field that rendered every projectile mute since it was powered by draconian mana.

"I always bring the good stuff with me!", Malina tapped the saddle and an array of missiles were expanded from the infernal horse. She had done some modifications to stash weapons in it's frame. With a press she released all sixteen missiles towards the hovering structures of the Doomsday Clock, setting them for a course of collision while she changed the direction and the horse flew upwards higher and higher.

Crom used his peripheral vision, spotting the incoming missiles at his side really fast as it only had a moment to shoot it's Iron Blaze Breath at them. White light emanated from the spot where the Breath struck the construct missiles and the area was bathed in a remarkable series of explosions, casting the darkness away for a few good moments.

Some of the constructs did suffer damage but were being repaired just as fast by drawing more metal particles from the planet. Their speed was increasing and the stacking was even faster as the spell itself was flowing into the second stage, producing specific patterns and sigils with the god's own divinity bringing them to life.

"Didn't leave a scratch... We need to get closer and kill it.", Domenico murmured as he decapitated two iron dragons with a successive strike. No matter how much they killed there would pop out more and more to replace them and stall.

Getting closer was hard as the field itself and the defenses were sturdy and did not allow them the chance. The missiles and hydrogen bomb did do damage but it wasn't enough to tear an opening for them to enter.

It seemed hopeless but he did not give up. They turned to heavy bombardment to try and make a dent. More missiles were shot from the launchers stacked on the sides of the horse, each filled with anti-magic warheads.

To prevent it's defense being stripped Crom hurled the sunken hulls and parts of warships at the missiles, rapidly painting the skies with the sight of explosions. It did shake the construction of the spell but it was good enough as stray shrapnel returned to the platforms and spirals of the planet buster spell.

Sirzechs was still shooting down as many as possible. He and the two Watchers were occupied but gradually getting closer despite time running out. To shred the tenth tier barrier he coated his whole body with Destruction and formed tendrils, razors and cleavers from various parts on his frame and limbs. "Here goes nothing. Cover me!", he yelled out to Barakiel while Shemhazai lowered the barrier for a brief moment.

Sirzechs used the building up potential energy from destabilised matter, sacrificing some of his own skin to make enough fuel for himself to turn into a living bomb. Using the explosive force he reached such speed to directly ram into the field encasing the Doomsday clock and scatter all his energy to make a dent.

Destruction swarmed and created a crevasse, an opening to let him enter but despite suppressive fire being offered by the two Watchers, Crom had already been anticipating this - Sentinels bearing it's likeness emerged from the hovering constructs as a wave, forming from the million bits of various metals and binding together via electromagnetic forces.

The red haired Devil tried to stab his tendrils into the first Sentinel's torso, burning through it but more and more ganged upon him. Despite losing mass and exploding from within more and more replaced them. He was being trashed and stabbed to no avail, his layer of destabilised molecules was working but his physical form was being marked by chemical burns and losing skin and flesh. Tendrils latched on the platform of sorts, hacking into the frame and dismantling it.

He had no choice but to resort to detonation, releasing all the stored energy within him in a wide range blast that took out everything in it's path. It was similar to any thermal bomb by practically melting the surrounding metal near him and having opened a hole wide enough to slip in.

He could have tried to use radiation but it would have spread across the ocean so it was not viable. Since he forcefully internalised his own Sorcery Trait there were drawbacks and damage unlike with those who themselves were walking Internalised Sorcery Traits from birth.

The detonation released waves that shook the eleventh tier spell's components, blasting some to smithereens while others were torn out of the magnetic field with immense force and rained over the ocean. Yet, it wasn't enough. Crom used the deadly tail flick from inside the pillars of metal bits and it's trident tail hacked into Sirzechs, actually cutting his stomach despite it being chipped and melted at some points from grinding against his Destruction coating. It did blow off at some parts but it was negligible as it reversed it's direction and pricked the Gremory male again downwards.

To prevent his fall Sirzechs used one of his alternative forms by altering his arm into it's feline form with hideous claws growing and expanding to reach the full size of his monstrous shape. With his other one he practically focused the coating of Destruction to flow to his fingers and punched the space near him, ramming his normal sized fist as a ten meter Destruction broadsword cleaved everything it came in contact with. Sentinels were ruptured and bifurcated as the Devil clung with his legs springing claws and spider limbs bursting from his back helped him climb up despite the bleeding wound on his stomach.

He fused the tissue around it and bound his own flesh with iron molecules to temporarily mend it. That also allowed him to cling more because it was infused with Crom's own divinity. He wouldn't fall because he was attracted in the electromagnetic field. Binding metal bits around his body he donned an armor of the same kind like his sister's but far more refined and elegant. Sirzechs already made his way through the first layer where he was assaulted by Sentinels and flying storms of metal particles.

Braving through the storm, blasting as much as possible he wove a another broadsword of Destruction and pushed it ahead like a nuclear warhead into the closest pillar array.

"I don't see my wife anywhere... I should thank you for that, really.", he whispered after he drove the secondary blade into another pillar and prepared for another detonation from within.

This time he was multiplying the potential of his explosion to take out all of the Doomsday Clock in one go.

If only he did not have to dodge Crom's hideous jaws lunging to crush him. Twin swords of iron bearing the weight of a hundred kilogrammes each clashed with the Destruction broadsword to alter it's trajectory. Sirzechs had to unwind all the pulsing tendrils from his makeshift armor to disintegrate one of the swords and survive. With nothing more than his will he moved all pulsing tendrils from the metal shell and punctured the blades and the mainframe of the spell, sending out his destabilised energy to spiral out of control and blast this damned lizard.

Crom had expected that so it responded by shrouding the hulls with his own darkness to take the brunt of the attack. It interfered with the detonation and contained it.

XXX

Michael watched as they were being pushed back and overrun by flying Sentinels and iron dragons in swarms. The spell was damaging the Earth's crust and causing waves to rise but he only watched in desperation. He was tired of this to the point where he did not wish to spectate this futile struggle. His eyes watched as Sirzechs was being grinded and slashed by Crom Cruach's talons and teeth despite dealing severe blows to it's hide and plating. His form was being mangled and overpowered despite his strength being formidable. His armor was being chipped and repaired slower than before.

Barakiel was already burning his arms from crafting so many of his infamous lighting lances and tiring out because he did not have his true Celestial form anymore as a Fallen Angel. They might have retained their power over light and other related abilities but not their true might nor Divine Armaments. Not even the usual Celestial protection they once enjoyed.

Michael did not wish to watch. He closed his eyes and covered himself with two wings while he was hearing screams being ripped out of Shemhazai.

"It's futile. It's meaningless... Why struggle so much?"

Domenico could not deflect a stray bit from ripping into his arm and blood trickled when he had to use Ascalon to cleave an iron dragon after it slashed his shoulder. He was pushed off the Steed of Abigor and rolled onto a metal platform where he immediately had to fend off the wretched automatons of the Dark God. Drops of blood were sprinkled on his face but he did not give up.

The gun he used from Malina recoiled and nearly blew off his arm but despite his screams he did not falter. Enraged and bleeding he put more vigor in making a path towards the dragon as if it were the last thing he would do. Body of Beryllious could handle only so much before it was negated.Despite shaking from the recoil he was doing his best to attack even if he received a slash that cut into his side.

Azazel had already joined the battle with his thousands of weapons being knit in reality. Each one was becoming a spell itself by lining together into a pentacle and spewed hellfire in violent waves. All this time he was preparing this to match the spell of the dragon so he needed time to charge it after the first similar use.

"There is no hope. Not anymore."

The spell was already advancing to it's third stage in causing maelstroms to appear in the ocean. The weather was further distorting and the clock was ticking away before the signal of doomsday would ring. Crom was fighting with gigantic iron swords from within the core of the spell, swinging the blades with it's monstrous arms and using whips of darkness with the first set of it's flaring wings.

It was thrashing and countering every force thrown at it despite losing iron mass or weapons. It's own blood dropped at a few places and further accelerated the finalisation of the spell as it was a sacrifice.

He did not wish to look but a scream pierced his ears. Domenico who fought side by side with the Steed of Abigor suffered a slash on his back and his left knee was giving out. Ascalon was pushed out of his hand so he resorted to punching through the constructs with his fists while the infernal horse stomped and chewed up anything in it's path.

He looked at the distance towards the Archangel and his eyes were sincere. His face despite being bathed in his own blood was proud and showed no signs of compromising in the face of adversity. Cardinal Giovanni was scared but he could not stop moving forward. Even when he suffered, even when he was knocked down he still took another step. A tiny speck of time in the grand face of the multiverse, nothing more than a miniscule blink of the eye in comparison to the vastness of existence. Yet, it shone so brightly despite reaching it's limit like the final blaze of a dying flame that refused to be extinguished.

"Do not lose hope.", those words echoed in his ears with a fading light.

His wavering hand instinctively clenched. Light was gathering in his palm without him thinking about it. In that despair he saw it - that small beacon of light that called for his aid. Michael looked at his hands and then stared at the distance with tears strolling on his cheeks as he grit his teeth hard. Something in him refused to give into despair and struggled to get out on the surface.

His body moved instinctively with his hand grasping onto a majestic sword with Celestial scripture running down the cold metal. The language of the Angels was engraved onto it's very edge as a testament to the beginning of the multiverse. A tribute, a humble reminder to it's owner of who he was and who he had to become once again in the face of the apocalypse.

That he was reminded by the words of a mere man of flesh and blood, a transient and fragile life that sparked awe and admiration in the immortal existence of the most ancient watcher of the universe.

"Enough is enough... No more.", Michael spoke with his booming voice filling the air when he raised his Divine Armament to the skies. He no longer hesitated for he was reminded of what he was and who he should become. His eyes glowed with righteous fury and his twelve wings were unfurled as light gathered onto the tip of the sword.

"Thank you, old friend. For reminding me that hope is not lost."

Seven pentacles of celestial origin were created above the world shattering spell when his own divine nature emerged from the physical constraints of the body. Tendrils of light emerged as the descent of the one they called Michael Demiurgos was marked by the world halting and it's laws being overwritten by his sheer presence.

Swords of light spread on each layer of the pentacles with their own celestial engravings shimmering in power. Elohim Tzabaoth, the Host of Heavens was commanded by it's fearsome leader who focused that power into channeling his own divine spark to permeate space and time. Each one was as big as a city and rivaling the spell of Crom Cruach in it's intensity.

"Seventh Heaven."

Archangel Michael zipped like lightning striking the very earth when he warped on top of the seven pentacles. He was going to use his own seither upon taping on the surface of the first one, diving downwards as he turned into pure light and assumed his true form without the armor to contain it. His descent rewrote the laws of mass and conservation, gaining friction and weight to burn through this abominable existence.

It flashed and happened in less than a second.

Passing through each pentacle he directly struck the Doomsday Clock with his Divine Armament Deus Eternia. To anyone who could have seen his real form it would have broken them completely but the physical representation felt as if a kilometric titan had struck the malevolent spell with it's fists. Warping to the second one he repeated the action with thousands of copies of his strike being applied within the next second as he moved from pentacle to pentacle.

Like a bullet he shot at the enemy, creating a distortion in space-time and locking the magic outside reality where it was separated from it's physical form and dispelled.

His own copies repeated that motion with the swords on the pentacles lending him their aid in crushing the wicked beast and it's dream.

Deus Eternia severed the boundaries between existence and sealed the world destroyer by crushing it's individual components and negating it's built up momentum. It reversed reality to the intended shape it was meant to be, causing time to speed up and then to decelerate after Michael severed the link between the caster and the spell.

It restored the damage done to the planet's surface and the ocean bed. Time was reversed for it to the state it had been before if not a bit better.

Unable to support itself it began to fall apart with everyone who was standing on it's surface. Michael made sure not to hurt any of them but if it were not for Malina's genuine strength they would have been decimated from his presence merely by him passing by.

"Now! Hurry!", Malina materialised in front of Crom Cruach's vast jaws in the nick of time before his Breath would have turned Sirzechs into a crisp. She had to use her Trait because the situation demanded it. Altering the direction of the Breath she turned it backwards with her hand stopping the iron tornado and redirected it to it's source, filling the maw with it's very own jagged whirlwind of razor sharp fragments! Numbers were recreating reality and holding the blown off platform from ceasing to exist as long as she had her feet planted on it.

It was at that moment when Azazel dropped down with a twenty meter spear of light and jammed it into it's muzzle, blocking the jaws from opening and pushing it to fall from the descending platform. All of his weapons had been fused into the spear bearing his own spell that marked Crom as the sacrifice in place of those who would have died. It further severed him from his own divinity and blocked the connection so it would finally die.

The dragon did not let go since it dug it's claws to hold on and thrashed it's big head to crush them. Malina used her gun to shoot it's thick fingers with gravity bullets that began to tear off the platform on which they rested. Slipping due to it's weight it struggled. However Crom Cruach used it's tail underneath to pierce the surface and it's trident tip tore into the arm of Sirzechs.

His arm had already been mangled bad and muscle and skin were missing but this act shredded it all from the biceps downwards. Sirzechs screamed in agony and his own torn limb was supercharged, latching onto the tail and turning into a Destruction bomb to travel on the scaled appendage and blew off it's hide and lower back while damaging it's legs brutally. Opening as much as possible it's wounded muzzle it breathed out a gust of flammable gas and prepared to scrape it's talon to make a spark in retribution. It wanted to take out a few of them, at the very least.

"Move now!", Domenico grabbed both of them and jumped into the air in the last second as Crom caused a spark and an explosion followed. He tossed the woman in the air as she called her stallion and headed for the atmosphere. Sirzechs used his own wingless flight to keep them hovering.

The spell was falling apart with each of it's million pieces of metal plopping into the ocean and the dragon ascended with the wings on it's back.

Michael was already atop the dragon and spun with Deus Eternia and a light sword akin to a buzzsaw and left two bloody gashes on it's neck. A third one he landed across it's sternum to crack the bony protrusions and dug into the chest. Stomping it with his feet he nailed Crom with a devastating kick from his true form, dealing a wound that was cauterized on contact where the scales had been melted and a light sword penetrated the fried flesh deep into it's muscle fibers and traveled till it expanded and grew spines that stabbed it from the inside. The heart was bombarded with light that made the blood boil and seared every organ that it touched.

That's where Azazel's scapegoat spell came into play, denying it's divinity and making it sacrifice parts of it to burn up further. It instead flowed into the Fallen Angel who took parts of it's power to mend his physical form and siphon off as much as possible from the offered feast.

Michael's very own form was distorting reality at an alarming pace so he resumed his usual appearance of flesh and blood as if nothing had ever happened.

With a final stroke he brandished his sword of the filthy taint that fueled the cursed metal and bore his eyes, vast as a window towards the infinite, he was looking at the skies. He used a Miracle to defy the end of the world as it was not what he desired anymore. Each stroke bore the dragon slaying power that destroyed that perverted spell from taking out the planet.

Domenico jumped down and had Ascalon impale the draconian eye Ascalon with a mighty thrust. It was weakened it and was killing it, sapping it's strength but it also had a failsafe. While riding on the Steed of Abigor he was given a bullet containing Samael's poisonous blood that he sprayed on the edge of the sword to enhance it's effects since the Dark Angel's blood was one of the greatest poisons to nearly all things. The dragon shook violently and threw him off as it used the Iron Blaze Breath upon the man.

But the final blow was just about to drop the beast into a watery grave.

Malina began to gain altitude by riding the Steed of Abigor beyond the clouds towards the stratosphere where the increase in altitude proportionally equaled the decrease in temperature. She crossed the distance in seconds with frostbite forming on her till she reached the threshold with the temperature decreasing towards the coldest point of -51 degrees. The cold air filled her lungs and she was suffering from frostbite despite warming herself with the flames of her infernal stallion.

No one here would see what she was able to do. All her preparations were completed after having marked the air molecules with a specific spell of the third tier. Small pentacles formed all the way down to her starting point and multiplied to enhance her main one. A hexagram sprang into existence beneath her familiar with four individual pentagrams and two layers merging the overlay into one big circle.

The Astaroth woman freely used her Trait to increase her weight five times, her durability at least by ten and friction resistance by six times. Each parameter she altered to suit her needs by twisting the physical laws of reality by changing their numerical expressions. Manipulating the foundations of reality was child's play to her.

"Let's see how you like gravity, lad?", with a twitch the familiar overlapped on her body and encased her in it's infernal shell as if a suit of armor.

The frontal legs turned into gauntlets with propulsion ports and fused on her fists with sparks flying everywhere and ionised the air nearby. It's spine and sides became a harness that locked tight on the front and back. The hind legs turned into thrusters on her shoulders with ports rising to act as sub-thrusters. Greenish flames escaped the thrusters as she clenched her fists and coiled all her muscles, flipping into the air with her four sets of wings and passed through the formed layers of Vector and Numbers infused pentacles.

For the task to be possible she had treated the demonic stallion with special silicate tiles for heat redistribution.

She was propelled downwards like a thermonuclear missile, gaining speed and leaving the rest to gravity to re-enter the atmosphere by freely falling. She was dealing with the atmospheric drag just fine. The extra mass was for that reason. With each kilometre descending she was burning up and getting faster as her friction coefficient rised to the point where anything in her path would have been turned to cinders. Numbers added more speed and mass to her with each pentacle she moved through.

To increase the speed she was using her Numbers to craft an expanding tunnel as she was falling through it.

She steeled herself and grit her teeth, folding her wings to become more aerodynamic as she reached the clouds and swept past them with tremendous speed. Gravity pulled her towards the planet where she further controlled her free fall with Vectors by focusing on her legs and adding weight to make the impact harder. Her compact streamlined form with thrusters increased the output to the max over piercing the clouds and stretching her hands as a makeshift spear where the gauntlets clicked together.

Through her free fall and enhancements she reached the hypersonic regime at Mach 8 speed!

Crom Cruach turned towards the source of the light instinctively to see what crap they'd throw at it. Having been occupied long enough it did not have time to run away or move.

"Who are you, Devil?", it hissed at the incoming human shaped projectile with fear lacing it's words. It was drawing a final breath as it watched her with tranquil eyes, devoid of any will to fight.

Collision was inescapable nor was running away!

Slowing down to hyposonic speed due to increasing the friction she yelled out, "I'm a Demon of Inferno."

It only saw the flaming silhouette of the accursed woman pierce it's spine with all the speed and mass she gained to topple it and the point of collision pushed the God of Iron into the Pacific Ocean. She continued to push down towards the Marianas Trench to kill the beast and let it fall into the biggest oceanic trench as the prison seal had been completed.

What followed afterwards was the water producing waves and a huge splash marked the air. All that mechanical stress and heat made steam rise from the surface while the woman was pushing the giant to plummet towards the bottom of the ocean where the pressure would do it's job in cracking it to pieces. The seal had been completed.

To halt the possible tsunamis and earthquakes Michael applied his creative spark as a Demiurge, altering causality and safely averting the crisis from happening when he recreated the state of the ocean from before the summit had happened. He could create in the same capacity as he could destroy realities.

Sirzechs was caught by Azazel and they watched the God of Iron descend towards the bottom of the ocean. He did not see the human who dealt the decisive blow. "We did it... But at what cost..."

He tried to smile but it didn't happen. He tried to find any remains as he scanned through the falling debris, yet, he found none that indicated a corpse or any bones. A pained expression of lament and grief twisted was seen. There was no need for him to aid them despite being enemies. Still, he did it knowing he would pay the ultimate price for it.

"An enemy saved us... Do we really deserve such a gesture of goodwill?", Sirzechs pondered on the nature of man with all of it's flaws and virtues. "I guess human nature still has the same qualities of old times. "

"You don't say? We're still enemies so make no mistake, Demon.", a feeble voice greeted their ears with a sarcastic tonality marking it's usual harshness.

"You're alive?! How the hell...", Sirzechs exclaimed after he heard that voice. He was puzzled since he saw Domenico burn in the explosion.

The Cardinal himself was descending on a stepping seal. Most of his clothing was ruined and he still had his wounds but he was barely alive. "You're not the only one who can use magic, you know? Elemental Resistance is a wonderful spell, isn't it? Redirected the attack back at the damned lizard, i tell you. Fried it in it's own bloody gunk as they say.", he snapped back with a stern look on his face.

"Where is Astaroth?", Shemhazai asked as he looked at the icy waters.

Fifteen minutes elapsed with nothing happening.

XXX

The dome on which Grayfia had been caged bumped into the remaining glacial platform where the Lucifuge clawed her way with her fiery breath making a hole to breathe and escape. Her veiled appearance was not a good sign but somehow she stayed put and did not seem to be berserk anymore. Barakiel and Shemhazai felt the urge to smite her where she stood but held back out of respect towards Michael who stilled them with his hand.

Azazel was the first to raise his voice after the long silence. "Do you...do you think she's dead?"

After five more minutes a ripple effect followed the emergence of a body. Malina von Astaroth raised her head from the waves and spat water, being drenched to the bones and shivering from the cold having turned her skin bluish.

"... I need a blanket and i want to go home... Shall we wrap this summit and go on our merry way?", her clicking teeth glistened in her attempt to form a dazzling smile.

She was hypothermic and numb so she waved frantically for help in what appeared to be the most pitiful display of helplessness. Michael pulled her out of the waters and stepped away.

"Where is Archangel Gabriel then?"

In response to that a tear in the fabric of space was opened from which the Archangel crawled out dragging the corpse of Nidhoggr. She was holding it's horn and slugged the beast with a thud onto the ice blocks. As the only source of illumination in this horrible weather she was nothing less than a sun in her true form.

Blindingly bright, in fact. Perfection graced the world and it felt like paradise came on Earth with the presence of Gabriel defying everything and garnering all attention towards her. Her arrows were pointing towards Grayfia.

It was so uncomfortable for Sirzechs so he pleaded. "Can you tone down that brightness a tad? You're killing us and spare my stupid wife just this time.", he did chuckle despite being burned in her presence.

He had not fought against either of them but he knew he shouldn't provoke them or it would be his end. He witnessed true perfection and wished to die to give her his most valuable if he could. It wouldn't have been enough despite him trying to remove his gaze from her magnificent form. He only tried to save Grayfia to save face and negotiate.

Gabriel did not comply. She only hovered a bit further away without losing the horned Devil from sight. Behind her featureless face mask she was seeing everything in multiple spectrums in order to avoid missing out any minute changes after she slayed the dragon.

"It still lives. Ready yourselves for the impact!"

With a shriek she pointed at the corpse moving a finger. Deus Caritas was prepped on short notice adminst the chaos and three light arrows were woven simultaneously.

It wasn't over yet...

XXX

Nidhoggr's lifeless corpse began to move it's fingers and the shine in it's red eyes returned as the pure white pupils rolled and locked on Gabriel. The sinister glow of it's veins was renewed as blood pumped once again and a heartbeat was heard. Warmth filled the heavily built body with the muscles twitching in response to that heat.

Not standing still, Gabriel replied with her arrows launching at the reviving wretch but it caught them with two hands and it's jaws. While not a Regenerator it was healing as if something atrocious lurked within it's chest marked by blue and white tinted scales of ice and ash. It would survive after Ragnarok and it had already began with it's release from Yggdrasil's roots. Thus it was a conditional immortality that allowed it to rise from the dead and keep on fighting. A faint glow that belonged to the Nameless One briefly lit up in it's eyes before it died out. It too had learned some magic and had precautions in case this happened.

Ophis as others called her had found them worthy of her gifts and granted them a miniscule portion of her power in acknowledgement of their might and combat prowess. She did not care what they would do with it since she was more of a figurehead than anything of an actual leader. All this she did out of curiosity to see how these beings would adapt to a fragment of her actual nature.

It was the Nameless One. First among the three firstborn of Original Beings who found her way into the main reality without having to kill any derivatives or lesser versions of her unfathomable existence. All of it being because her derivatives were closer to the point where each one was nothing short of an extension, a sensory detachment that became independent until she used one such Ophis as it's vessel without having to fear being rejected from the main dimension.

And it had given these slayers a fragment of itself for those reasons and true meaning unknown.

"Next time will be your last. Mark my words."

Nidhoggr was no fool for it dove into the waters and started swimming while freezing the water behind it to act as wall from being tailed. It's secondary task had been achieved in secret and eight deaths were enough for it for today. Using a sacrifice as a catalyst it opened a tear into space and quickly escaped before Gabriel's next arrows could kill it. It did suffer one humongous arrow in the spine before it fully vanished into the tear.

One could surmise it was fleeing after it's pride was dealt an humiliating blow but it simply did not wish to die a another time. Failing to kill them would not be punishable, only a minor setback when the end result was sublime.

Sirzechs was already too tired to fight and needed treatment. "Can we continue the negotiations then? "

"We're done. There can be no peace. The Fallen can attest to my words. Whatever arrangement you made with my brother i do not accept and will not share any of our Divine Armaments or Miracles.", Gabriel shattered the cozy atmosphere with her bluntness. "Your kind cannot stop toying with the lives of others and even if you did try to stop them how can you enforce it on those behind the Veil, i wonder? Or was that something i shouldn't have mentioned?"

Sirzechs forced a smile. He only controlled the few thousand Devils in the Underworld. He could do nothing about those beyond the Veil that barred the way to Hell. He had no answer to give her. Then so be it if trickery and appearances wouldn't work. It was destined to fail from the start.

"Not to mention your wife tried to kill us. Some of us cannot work together and I object.", Barakiel scoffed and made his decision despite Azazel trying to change his mind.

Shemhazai too rejected the notion because he did not wish to bother with more talk today. "Let us leave it for another day then?"

Archangel Michael interjected. "That is true but the non-interference proposal we had agreed upon and i acknowledge. Some of the suggestions will be discussed. It is up to your judgement to follow it. If not we will act accordingly to that."

Gabriel added something else as she and Michael took Domenico and were departing. "The Twilight Maiden needs to return to her family where she belongs. She is not a tool for you to use so tell her the truth and set her free. She deserves a choice or is this not fair given what your kind likes to do?"

Only silence followed. The summit had ended up in a complete failure.

XXX

The Traveler ran as fast he could to get there in time. He knew how she looked like and where she lived and crossing the seven minute walk was easy for him when he sprinted forward and took a turn to the left. Sayaka's house was already in clear view just as it was described. It was a favour to return so he dashed and jumped over the fence without a care in the world since there was nobody watching him.

"Nothing bad would happen. Nothing bad would happen.", Aslatiel repeated himself as he felt something amiss in the house. His red eyes sharpened in sensing the atrocious sensation of demonic taint lurking and seeping through the very walls, rejecting everything that would have tried to enter. His face darkened as he had assumed the worst happened and was locked in contemplation on how to explain this to Ise.

He still did not deny it and would have checked just to make sure. He didn't know her but she was important to his companion so he had to put some effort and if nothing worked at least he could have tried. With the most rudimentary spell that didn't reach second tier he made a key to unlock the door really slowly and entered the premises of the house.

The corridor had signs of infestation as it looked like it was rotting with dirt and mold spreading everywhere. He felt a cold chill run down his spine in the direction of the living room. The air was stale and stagnant with the stench of demonic energy decaying the walls and he noticed the presence of maggots crawling at some places and multiplying. This had become a den and he just entered the domain uninvited. Aly, as he was called by others, pulled out a pocket knife and it shapeshifted into the usual form of Estus as he crept through the corridor quietly not to make a single sound.

He already knew he was noticed. It wasn't a matter of hiding himself but rather it was the signature of his own taint that resonated within the corridor that let slip his presence. Breaking through the wall was a good tactic but not for the residents of this house so he slowly crept towards the door and slightly peered from the small opening that was left since it was unlocked.

The living room seemed fine despite the rotting surfaces and walls being stained with mold. It did feel as if this place had been abandoned for years and no one lived here anymore but he obviously knew better than that. It was deathly silent and it unnerved him to no ends. To have a better look Aly changed his angle and moved closer with Estus readied in his hand for what was to come.

His eyes grew distant as his face turned to shock and confusion. He saw the thrashing and shaking female legs trying to lift up the fallen table in a helpless throe for help. Those specific chaotic swings were nothing more than the useless struggle of a suicide victim who reconsidered at the last moment while they were dying from a lack of air.

"…Ah, hell no! Not on my watch!", he said after looking at the door and kicked it without thinking about anything else. Frazzled and panicked, Aslatiel burst into the room the door swung wide open as his eyes froze in horror.
What he saw was Sayaka's futile attempt to free herself from the noose she had around her neck as her body was going limp from the hanging.

He had to look away. Such a sight hurt him. He couldn't bear to see such an act as he was a survivor. He had lived through the death of his entire family and could not overlook the possibility of someone else grieving for her so he did not think twice. Everything be damned if he was to be hated for that.

He immediately rushed after the initial shock and grabbed her legs, lifting her up with one hand to support her and used Estus to cut the rope while Saya nearly tumbled backwards, struggling to breathe and gasping for air while her reddened neck didn't seem to be broken from the noose.

Tears were strolling down her distorted face from the struggle. She was bawling and breathing heavily as she had not yet lost consciousness since it hadn't even been a whole minute since she slugged the noose around her neck. She was lucky because the noose was pretty bad and he came just in the right time before she would have died from suffocation and a broken neck. It was extremely important in the first minute to prevent it from happening and he truly was lucky to arrive just on time...

Aslatiel hugged her instinctively despite noticing the similarities and overall vibe matching those of his own ponytail girl back at his world. It was as if Haruna had tried to die in front of him so he wrapped his hands around Sayaka's back and tried to let her breathe. She was pale and shaking from the struggle, crying and gasping from the shock.

"It's gonna be okay. I'm with Ise so we need to get out now.", he responded to her odd look while minding his surroundings. To show her proof he pulled out his own scale medallion and nodded down as he picked her up from the floor. She was going to need to go to a hospital but there was no way it would have been safe so he would have to rely on Asia's kindness to mend the situation.

Saya did not protest and seemed really docile which he did not overlook at all. He was a Devil and surprisingly he was really sentimental and quite emotional but he had to suppress any emotions from rising to the surface due to the similarities.

The albino Devil tapped on Estus to extend it's blade like a serpent behind him and broke a vase that fell on the carpet. The thin blade curled and twisted like a snake in retracting back to it's pommel as the white haired man's features sharpened and turned cold. He was already on edge after the whole debacle at the hotel. Everything was enough to spring him into action and he was vigillant to the point of paranoid.

The vase had just been shaken and fell on it's own. There was nothing unusual in that but he reacted in the way he had been trained so he broke it by accident. It wasn't important when he was simply glad he had made it in time and had no regrets to weight on his mind. How he would have explained it if she had died? The emotional rollercoaster would have been most unpleasant and horrid when he would regret his own inability to have prevented it.

He turned towards Saya who seemed to have calmed a little bit and tried to comfort her as much as possible. Aslatiel patted her back and took the first step towards the door when he felt her hand limp down and her breathing was shallow. His mouth was agape and his blood froze over by the mere thought of failing just when he was able to save her. He shook her to prevent her from falling unconscious. The brown haired girl's head swiveled to the side and her eyes showed no signs of consciousness. Her heartbeat was slowing down with each second passing as she was faint and weak.

Aslatiel shook her again in worry and panic. He didn't have a lot of time so he went straight for the door. A situation like this usually didn't occur so he was a bit at a loss and he was terrible in casting ability so he didn't have much to go with. There was something he could do when a random thought appeared in his mind. Of course! He traced his fingers around her neck to find the silver chain with a black scale medallion on it and grasped it with his index and pointer fingers to press it.

Knowing his companion it was given to her for a reason and surely had some healing spell etched on it in times like these. A healthy sense of paranoia was one of his stronger suits so he relied on that.

Without any sign of alarm Saya grabbed his hand out of the blue and clenched it, exerting tremendous strength for a human female and stopped his effort to touch her. Her fingers pressed hard on his hand and her head bobbed upwards where she casted a thin smile that grew sinister and mocking. Opening her eyes in a snap she smirked further and hollow black pits greeted him in ridicule when she grabbed his neck with her other hand and stepped on the floor, lifting him up and swaying her neck in an odd rhythm as she hummed with a childish tune.

Her eyes flicked up towards him and offered a look of amusement. All the coldness in the room focused solely on her being and warmth escaped completely as the rot and decay were spreading from beneath her feet. Bringing him closer to her chest she whispered in his ear with a sultry voice, bearing a hissing sound and a coarse voice escaped from her palid lips.

"I know who you are. I know everything there is to know about you, Marchosias", she seductively licked his ear after her voice grew deep and cantankerous.

She flung him into the wall and groaned in a despicable roar that belonged to no living being, followed by a wink from the black pits that were her eyes. Aslatiel hit into the wall and cracked the latex coating as he dropped Estus and slumped down with his face planting into the carpet. Sayaka shook her head and began to touch her face as if aligning and kneading it into place, throwing a single glance of ridicule at the red eyed man.

With a hurried pace she placed her hands on the door in order to escape. She didn't wish to stay in this place any longer but found herself unable to move. Estus had elongated and wrapped itself around her legs as Aslatiel rose on his feet with a murderous glare directed at her.

"You shouldn't have been so hasty or i might have not made you slip.", he tugged on the hilt of the sword and tripped her on the floor. His eyes knew the signs of demonic infestation since he was one himself. With both of his hands he grasped her arms and pressed them on her back. "Let the girl go while I'm asking politely."

Sayaka snickered with her needle thin teeth glistening and whispered softly with her inhuman voice. It did not bother to keep up the charade any longer. "I would have to refuse. You are no one to command me.", she bent backwards and struck his face with her head to free one of her arms and grab his wrist as she slunk him to the side.

Black veins rose from her face when she craned her neck to the side, smiling as wide as possible upon pouncing on him. She began to throw punches at him with her nails growing into razor sharp talons. The talons began to make holes into the flooring as Aly dodged the blows to his head and sucker punched her with enough control not to blow off her head. He then brought his other hand and jabbed her cheek with brutal hook, followed by a direct haymaker punch into her forehead.

However the thing infesting her did not halt. She shook her head and with a jump started to crawl on the ceiling while hissing at him like a cornered rat. Aslatiel swung Estus to nick her but Saya was pretty fast, dodging the blade and latching onto the wall where she lunged at him with a predatory step. The albino Devil knelt and let her freely latch on his back just so he could clench her wrists and slam her into the sofa with enough force to flip it over upon landing.

Gripping her face with both hands he landed a knee to her stomach and proceeded to grab her neck into a sleeper hold to knock her out. Driving out the Demon inside wasn't going to be easy but he had to exert his dominance over it to make that happen. He had never had to deal with such a situation but he was told about it. Sayaka's talons tried to pry off his hold but he used his legs around her stomach and started to apply pressure. Knocking out the host was important since he did need something useful to render them docile. Cocaine or heroin would have been wonderful to have at hand but he didn't have the luxury so he resorted to violence.

Sayaka screeched and gnarled like mad, roaring like an animal in her attempts to free herself from his bear hug. With a lot of effort she lifted him by rising on her feet and slammed him in the wall. She attempted the same a few times with her ferocity increasing while struggling to breathe. Yet, the white haired Baal did not let her have her way. He firmly held his grip on her and pressed his legs harder on her stomach to make her bend. Using the wall he planted his feet and forced her on her knees as he utilised his weight on her to have her hit the floor.

"Bloody hell. I should have brought some backup! Stay still, damn it!", he said as he tried to keep his rampaging heart under control. It was beating so fast he could hear it.

"Such a naughty boy, ain't we?" she purred with eyes full of delight. She was only ridiculing him by rubbing her derriere on him, using the body to distract him for a little. Scrapping the floor she dragged herself across the room and the first thing she grabbed she smashed over his head. The leg of the table she snapped off and shanked into his shoulder but it was way too shallow to leave a mark.

Aslatiel increased the strength of his sleeper hold and despite the struggle rendered her unconscious. He tore the curtains and used them as a rope to bind her arms and legs. Zip ties would have been better but improvisation had to do. Just to be certain he wrapped a piece of it to gag her as to avoid the thing cursing him. He had heard tales from Issei about how some of the things had tried to curse him so to avoid that mistake his habit of slashing the jugular vein was born due to that.

Aslatiel dusted himself off from the whole debacle and looked around twice. When he considered it was fine he moved closer to the bound girl and kicked her directly into her rear with a merciless kick. Estus was back into his hand as he called for the blade to return to him. "He was right about it. She got one hell of a bouncy ass."

Saya's eyes opened in regaining consciousness and she started to gnaw through the gag at an alarming speed. Her arms bent into unnatural angles that the human body did not allow and slashed the curtain she was tied up with her growing black talons. Contorting her limbs she tried to run but felt only the heavy boot of the red eyed man press her back into submission.

The Traveler bore his boot on her spine and did not allow her to run away. His patience was running thin with all the things that happened so there was no guarantee he would hold back for the sake of the girl. Estus was raised above her nape and he brought down the cold steel with no other option at this point. He prepared to kill her with one clean blow so the girl could have peace at long last.

Saya thrashed and screamed as if she was being skinned. Lashing out at him with her talons she tried to block the sword from cleaving her nape but was not able to stop it from reaching her neck and it pierced through her throat. The shock was immense, fear was inevitable to the point where her body shook in a final ditch effort to save itself from harm. Just when it had finally gained a wonderful body to use the opportunity was to be short lived. Fear drove it to these lengths after the effort it had put into finding the right moment to influence the girl into taking that decision. It had goaded her to commit suicide.

Estus struck her nape but in the last second distorted it's tip and circled around her neck where it tapped the scale medallion. A honeycomb pattern barrier enveloped her with multiple layers weaving over the first one for protection. Sometimes, the silliest tricks worked best. He tricked the host to fight back against the foreign presence by triggering their survival instinct to distract the entity that infested her.

Sayaka crouched and hurled what appeared to be black misty mass from her mouth, spewing taint violently with blood and phlegm mixed in the ichor substance. The noise she made was utterly disgusting and horrid as the entity began to leave from her body and she creaked and groaned while her body was hovering within the spherical barrier.

The dark mass glued itself to the surface of the barrier and tried to phase through it but the layers prevented it from escaping. It was trapped inside with nowhere to go but the host while it was weakened. It began to cycle around Sayaka and aimed at her orifices to inhabit her once again but such an effort was thwarted - the girl held her medallion and released the barrier seconds after deployment. Despite being shaky and numb she bit her lips to feel the pain that drove her to these lengths and burst the sphere.

Afraid she was to death. Tears strolled down her cheeks from the pain and fear she experienced as she covered her eyes, crawling away from the mist that followed after her. Aslatiel threw Estus into the dark mass and pinned it to the wall before it could have reached the girl. With his bare hands he bashed it viciously with fists coated in Destruction, layering his taint on each knuckle to burn it's mass with every hit he landed. Estus kept it in one place despite it's futile attempts to disperse while he mercilessly landed blow after blow to weaken it further.

The mass formed a hand from the shadows and pulled off the sword from it's mist body, tossing it aside while it reformed in it's true appearance. Destruction was handy for matter but it didn't do well against immaterial forms if the practitioner wasn't advanced enough. With a sinewy thin limb composed of black mass of fibres it stopped the gruesome fist before another blow could be dealt, forcefully binding it's own matter to resemble a sleek clawed hand that threw the aggressor away.

It's hunched back was thin and skeletal in appearance while it's overall body seemed to be composed of stitched together arms and faces like a patchwork. The head was small and baby-like with the familiar visage of black pits for eyes and needle teeth glowing with a tongue full of eyes. It was full with thorny growths all over the arms and cancerous tissue was growing like blisters from it's humanoid faces. It looked like several human babies had been stitched together onto a hideous frame with their tiny fingers interlocked around a motionless face with it's eyes covered.

From within it's hand it held an orb of Destruction it had copied after being slammed with fists coated with it. The arms on it's torso extended and held similar orbs it prepared to hurl at him. It moved on the prowl, clashing against Aly's sword. The albino had to resort to using dark mass in the shape of tendrils to combat the multiple limbs trying to hold him down. Exchanging blows simultaneously he tossed Estus in the air and had the tendrils wrap on his fingers and plunged them into it's abdomen, piercing the face and expanding hooks within it. The next second Estus flew down in the shape of a stileto and he jammed it in it's head!

It's faces contorted and extended multiple sharp tongues that shot at point blank. Aslatiel had to use his own Destruction to counter it by burning through them but it's repeated strikes and speed was tremendous and didn't leave an opening for him to retaliate. That was until a wooden cross was stabbed directly into it's back - in a moment of confusion Aly pulled Estus and changed it into a Khopesh and decapitated the creature with Destruction burning the fleshy stump to cauterize the wound.

Saya held the cross she found from the kitchen and repeatedly stabbed the creature with extreme prejudice. Again and again she jammed the cross in it's back till blood was flowing out. She was thrown into the wall while the cross remained in it's back. Aslatiel jumped and cleaved the beast with a single strike down to it's groin. He extended his wings and used them as a pair of scissors, snapping the entity in two and he razed the head with a surge of Destruction. It's tainted mass turned into black mist at some points but it couldn't escape as the crucifix held it down from escaping. Saya fearfully rose on her feet and grabbed the nearest vase and crashed it over the cross to nail it further!

Aslatiel quickly slapped his hands on the split torso and channeled Destruction to eradicate the creature at long last. It was over. The rot and decay were receding as the cold air slowly escaped through the corridor. The signs of struggle were there but it was over at last when the last bit of demonic taint was no more present in this house. Sayaka broke down into tears and yelped in pain, shivering and clutching her knees in sheer terror. Everything else seemed distant to her until Aly lifted her up and tried his best to calm her down to a point where she could react properly.

"I'm with Ise. It's not safe here so I was sent to retrieve you. You're the ponytail girl as he said.", the red eyed man held her tight and closed the door and headed towards the exit. He tried to soothe her pain and carried her outside the house. "We're going to his house. It's the safest place right now. What's your name?"

The girl's lips twitched. She leaned into his chest while being carried away, still shivering and trying to figure out everything that happened to her. It was horrifying seeing how Issei was being influenced by the Shadow and this sight reminded her of that event. Except she had met face to face with the entity and experienced everything that happened to her as she was cognitively active. The punches and kick she felt and rubbed her rear in remembrance of the pain.

Feebly she uttered her own name. "Sayaka... Takeyama... I-i don't...", she broke into tears again and couldn't finish her sentence. She didn't have the strength to talk anymore.

"It's gonna be okay. Don't push yourself. I'm a friend of his so you don't have to worry. Let's go, Saya.", he answered and rubbed her cheek in a moment of compassion. She reminded him of Haruna way too much to the point where he ascertained they were more or less the same person, corresponding to each other as alternative versions if he had to say it.

The windows of the nearby houses were shattered completely by a strange wavelength that crossed through the entire city. He didn't have time to bother with that, he simply moved away further from the house.

He handed her his phone to write a message that she was going to be home late. And after she typed down what she needed to the best of her abilities he dashed forward, running through the streets while carrying her on his arms like a princess. He was very careful while handling her because she was as fragile as the glass that shattered. Mentally and physically.

XXX

In the outskirts of the city was rather peaceful. Despite everything going on the masses weren't aware of anything special because it was being taken care of. There were fire trucks rushing through the streets but overall it wasn't that much of a big deal as the park was rather deserted for some reason. There weren't many people nearby and the playing ground had some kids here and there with their mothers doing what they always did.

The park had some benches and gazebos sprawled across the trees where various people played around, had a smoke or just sat down with their kids. In one of these gazebos closer to the thick trees was a man having a smoke while he enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.

He was clad in a fine pressed suit of black with a violet shirt and a striped tie. He had the form of a man around the age of sixteen with jet black hair in a short cut, relaxed brown eyes and pleasant features that had the tinge of youth. The face was rather nice with well defined cheekbones and a sharp jawline. He didn't look like the locals as he was a foreigner. There was a small scar across his right eyebrow and his ears were pierced with spiked half-ring earrings. His build was rather slim with no excessive muscle mass, contrary to appearances.

He was leaning against the edge of the built-in bench while looking at his expensive watch as if waiting for someone. He seemed to be there for at least fifteen minutes and did the same thing. He lit up a new cigarette and crossed his legs out of boredom. The man was playing some game on his phone to pass the time without turning around despite the rustling noise coming from behind.

"You took your sweet time arriving here, didn't you?", he said firmly without looking back since he was absorbed in his game. If he made a mistake it was easily corrigible but his tone pertained certainty of it being the one he was waiting for.

From behind the gazebo closed in a tall man with a cloak covering his body. It was tattered and ragged with some tears in the edges. His towering height forced him to lower his head to peer at the other man's phone and he placed a gloved hand on his shoulder.

"I told you to only frighten her, not outright try to kill her.", he groaned. "Things could go bad for my contacts if she flees the city. You do realize that, Bishop?"

"Oh, come on. A little bit of a tease won't hurt the ginger broad. Wait, that's precisely what i want.", Bishop said as he stopped playing and locked his phone. He talked with a hint of joy when thinking about it. "All i want is for her to experience the fear and paranoia i did. It's only fair after what i had to go through because of these blasted Devils. Or should i say Demons since that whole rebranding and image cleaning operation ain't fooling no one."

The tall man glowered at him. It was how their partnership went: they would bicker a little and then delve straight into business after a pleasant round of friendly banter. That would be the case if he could see his face properly. Bishop did know how risky it was to be sitting here. In the end he could always hide in plain sight so it didn't amount to any panic for him if he were to be seen. For six years it was how he hid himself and gathered information down to the intimate details of those he was sworn to kill or drive insane.

Regarding that he stirred the conversation directly to the important bits.

"Any luck with your new friend? Surprisingly i didn't think you'd help the other one as well. What was her name?" he asked. "The black haired one with the glasses! Yes, that one i mean."

"I had to intervene or the Red Dragon would have died.", he huffed sourly. "He is valuable and I can't help but bet everything on him. Regrettably, I can't interfere too much or they'll notice me so giving him the clues to what we know is the best course of action for now. Besides, the female Demon is extremely perceptive so she would be of use. They're bound together so they have to fight together as well. It's the least i could do for someone who shares our goal of unraveling this horrid atrocity."

Bishop kept his mouth shut. He already knew what his companion meant by that. What happened to them tied them together with an unbreakable oath they swore to uphold. Even if they would die for their cause as long as they could hand it over to someone else to complete their work it would have been enough.

"We would need that Shidou girl soon. She's a part of this as well. An arrangement to have them meet is mandatory and the clues to that sword in France might help her regain the memories she lost that night about what killed the Hyoudou family.", Bishop added suddenly.

"It has been given to them. Same for the present at Road 666 in the States. We just have to wait till Halloween for them to get it.", the other man added as he tilted his head in agreement. "They have to be ready to face Them. If they are not ready they won't be able to offer a pitiful resistance as they stand now. Toughening him and giving him the means to fight back is what I'm counting on."

"I know what it's like to lose your family.", Bishop muttered darkly as he finished his cigarette. His tone turned colder and distant as he went for another smoke. "Your friend lost his parents and everything that night. I don't want anyone else to go through that. I still remember how that bastard ripped out my mother's very life and soul and fed them to his hideous sister. My life was ruined, my home taken over and i nearly died that day but...", he wiped his eyes upon remembering how it all happened until his fist clenched and shapeshifted into a claw.

"I survived to make their lives a living hell just like how they made mine. So if you're asking if I'm game you know I'd help the dude stick it up to them. Anyone who can help in bringing them down is a friend of mine."

"You're right." he said as he forced all those memories back. "It's what we have to do in this crazy world. My time here is extremely limited so i would have to depart otherwise i would be noticed. This short window is the best chance to plan our next move while they are not watching us. They might be watching us as we speak."

"You're in a bad mood, ain't that right?", the shapeshifter muttered darkly as he continued to smoke. "You seem like you went through a scuffle too if we go by your messed up looks. It probably sucks that your existence is holding on a thin strand of barely existing here, right? I can't even imagine how you're still alive if it weren't for that Avatar skill you got."

The hooded man loomed over and adjusted his cowl. He was pretty much invisible to the naked eye so only Bishop was able to perceive him. But one thing was certain - he shouldn't exist anymore but he still lingered on. In a state that wasn't like that of a ghost but more as a remnant of some forgotten time that refused to be extinguished. A very physical remnant sustained and held together by the use of the Avatar ability to maintain his own existence.

"Of course i am slightly peeved.", he said as he went around the gazebo and sat on the bench. His face was ever so unreadable and couldn't be seen aside from the thin outline that was to help ascertain he was a man in fact. "That surprise attack was not within my calculations and i had to exert myself a tad but it wasn't enough. How much longer are you going to use that face, Bishop?"

The reason he couldn't help more was because the damage he had sustained against Katerea's forces pushed him to begrudgingly escape from the battle since his state would be jeopardized if he stayed any longer.

"I at times forget my own face. This one is pleasant and what's not to like about giving a scare to the things i hate?", he said, paused, and considered something. "Lawrence Bishop is no more. Just think about how much Gremory would doubt her own friends when she saw me shapeshift into her closest companions? Without any doubt she would be paranoid because she doesn't know who's real or not. It's why i studied them carefully and at times pretended to be them just to test how close i could get."

He stopped to look at him. "True. Doesn't mean i enjoy staring at a dead man's face. What are your plans for tonight?"

"Ah, no. I'm busy cause i got a date with some German blondie." he shrugged. He fell quiet as he thought to himself. His smirk returned after a few seconds when he elaborated. "She seems a bit crazy but overall not so bad. I'm just gonna check how it goes and if she's bonkers I'll leave right away. I think her name was Walburga Dressler, real charming and sexy. Though she might look better with longer hair, you know what i mean?"

"Need i remind you of last time when you thought it was a good idea to try and mess around with a mentally ill person?", the other man waved his hand. "They say don't stick it in crazy. I told you last time but do you even listen? Rather, avoid them and focus on your purpose. At times i wonder why are we companions.", he let out a deep sigh out of frustration and disappointment.

"Yeah, you're right.", Bishop waved it off. "I still have to get there on time. Gotta catch a plane or some teleport to be on time. And why haven't you offered the Red Dragon an Outer God Covenant yet? Is it too early or you aren't feeling curious enough to see what would happen if he completed one of your requests? Might wanna change your name to something better than a single letter."

"All in due time, my friend.", he went back to a firm voice that felt more human. "Signing an Outer God Covenant might endanger him or an unknown variable might prevent his return since you know what lurks inside him. If they simply decided to snatch some other Issei and planted him here our mate won't be able to return since he's already become the Original Being due to breaking the prison that is called the Boosted Gear and devouring it. They are one and the same now, more or less. If he hadn't experienced that then signing that pact could have made it easier."

"Fuck... I forgot about that. If some schmuck replaced him here we'd have to kill the derivative or alternative version so he could exist here.", Bishop said as she pulled out a new cigarette. He nearly forgot the reason why they would not try to propose that specific contract. "There's also the failsafe of the Evil Piece so two weeks top is the limit for him being away from Gremory. Can't have him turning into a Stray."

"Precisely. Removing that atrocious chain around his neck won't be easy but it's not impossible."

Bishop offered him a smoke and lit it up for him. X took it and enjoyed the taste of tobacco for what appeared to be the first time ever.

"Such a great plan we're making in secret, sort of.", Bishop exclaimed and slipped into his casual tone. "The one crawling in the chaos. He who plots in secret, hidden in the shadows. Might as well call you the Great Plotter, king of the Outer Gods. Or would it be better to go with secretive?"

"I have no preference. Call me as you wish but i do fancy the sound of the Plotter myself.", the one called X muttered to himself in liking that moniker his friend had coined. It fit him perfectly but he did not enjoy being likened to an Outer God. To change the topic while there was still time he casually slipped into a question he had on his mind. "I wonder what do we do about the Twilight Maiden? I can't seem to observe her at specific times and when i do i only see mundane actions. Nothing special so it's why it scares me. It's like something is shielding her from my eyes and she plays a big part in this?"

"You think she's involved with the Keys? As far as i know there is no information on what happened to the one the Demons held after that case. She could be marked as a vessel by Them or maybe holds a Key in her? So many questions to be answered but my time here is running out. I got a date to catch up with so I'll see you in the Outer World Forest, i guess?", Bishop finished his last cigarette and tossed it in the trash bin after having properly extinguished it.

"Don't do anything stupid. I'll try to piece things together about how the girl fits into this.", the Plotter told him with a commanding presence and meant all of it. "We'll learn more by helping them with what we got. Sooner or later we would meet again and do not speak of that name ever again. It gives me a headache every time someone calls the place that way... Such shame and horror."

"It's tacky, for sure. But it is what it is, old friend. Might bring you some cheer pretty soon. I think things are about to turn pretty interesting with how the world will change in a few minutes.", Bishop nodded down and stood up as he exited the gazebo. To anyone else it appeared to be nothing more than the man leaving when it had been a gathering of sorts.

Behind the Plotter or X as he was known were the shades of erased realities, entities that surrounded him to lessen the burden of his existence being exhausted after the fight. He was not clad in the dark robe anymore if anyone who was able to perceive him looked at his way.

The Great Plotter was a human shaped three dimensional shadow covered by a veil, best described as an endless pit of darkness where light escaped from the thin gaps in the veil of multiple layers wrapped on him. His obsidian gauntlets with claws were nowhere to be seen as his arms were hidden within the strange cloth. The individual cracked pieces of his body were also not visible because of his altered appearance. He took off his mask and it vanished to reveal the blackened eyes with violet rings in them. The cracks with pitch blackness could be barely noticed behind the veil but his eyes were glowing in stark contrast to his rather magnanimous shape.

He waved back at Bishop who was already leaving the premises as if saying goodbye. The man shapeshifted into a cute girl with braids and a frilly dress before anyone would have paid attention to him.

The Plotter's eyes lingered on him. They bore a deep sadness if one would judge by the way those bright orbs averted their gaze after a few moments in acceptance. It might have been acceptance of their fruitless struggle or perhaps it was out of compassion.

"We're going to fight, old friend.", Bishop whispered to himself in a girly voice while he sped up the pace. There was a deep fire of hatred blazing in his eyes directed towards the world. It was a declaration only he would make to himself to remind him of the task at hand. "Farewell, King of a Kingless World. No... the crawling darkness of the past. Nothing can run away from their past and neither can we.", he brushed the golden locks with a light hand and cast down his gaze towards his feet.

"I just hope we can survive long enough to see the fruits of our labour. Let's fuck up some bitches, shall we?"

He soon departed from the park and blended in with the crowd by changing his appearance once again.

XXX