"All right...we're gonna get through this." Simon said.
"Yeah...hard to believe that...when we're sitting inside of a prison cell on their ship." Ajna said.
"Just like old times." Simon said, trying to lighten the mood. "*Sigh* Nero, are you and the girls alright?"
"Fan-freakin-tastic." Nero said. "Can't believe that Superbia bastard caught us."
"And took us out single handedly." Baohzai said.
"We fought as hard as we could but...GODAMMIT!" Simon said, punching the wall and denting it.
"Hey, quit punching the walls, half breed.' one of the soldiers said.
"Piss off, religious nut." Simon said.
"Oh you wanna see a friend die, cause I can arrange it." he said pointing a gun at Kampan's head.
"Tch." Simon said.
"That's what I thought. Heh...stupid half breed. Afraid of being shot in the head." the soldier said.
"What about a hit to the head?" a voice said as the soldier was hit with a baseball bat as Skull stood behind him.
"Skull?!" Simon asked.
"Sup. You look like hell." Skull said. "Though, given the new digs, I can understand. How about we see about getting you out?"
"We would greatly appreciate that." Thorani said.
Skull busted everyone loose as they headed down the prison halls.
"So, what brings the Phantom Thieves to our rescue?" Nero asked.
"Oh, we're just playin' a game...with the so called angel Superbia." Skull said. "And Jack's the one leading it."
"Same old Jack." Simon smirked.
"Yeah. Though to be honest, so far all is going according to his plan." Skull said. "Superbia's going nuts trying to find him as his fleets being blown up one ship at a time."
"Guess that explains the low number of ships when we were brought here." Ajna said.
"You can thank the Demon Lords for that." Skull said.
"So that's what Madama sensed, but then they blinked out." Simon noted.
"They're dead." Fox said standing by the entrance. "Come. We'll put you on a ship and get you out of here."
"I figured that was the case." Simon said. "But we can help you guys. Then again we'd just get in the way considering what happened."
"Besides, Jack has this planned methodically. Plus it's personal this time." Skull said. "As it turns out, Superbia's the bastard responsible for destroying our old world."
"You're kidding!" Simon said in shock.
"He said it himself. And angels rarely lie." Fox said. "But that is only one of the merits: revenge for our destroyed world."
"But for it to work, we need to keep him busy for as long as we can. Besides, we have a job for you guys. We're still getting children off that world before us and sending them to the rendezvous point in the Beast Universe since it's the closest. Meet up with Queen and try and get them all out as quickly as possible. Can you do that?" Skull asked.
"You bet." Simon smirked. "Besides, these guys should learn not to fuck with a Warlock."
"Wait, what about you guys?" Ginseng asked.
"We still got work to do here." Skull said.
"But rest assured, if all goes well, the Crusade will fall and we all will escape alive." Fox said.
"You guys are the Phantom Thieves of Heart after all." Simon said. "Well, we'll be passing the baton to you then." he said, hi-fiving with Skull.
"Don't let us down, man." Skull said as Spirit Force got onto the ship and went right for the world below. "Now then...let's get to work freeing the rest of his prisoners."
Meanwhile outside…
"Lord Superbia...our security detail just called. All of the prisoners have escaped!" a soldier said.
"It seems the Thieves have been busy." Superbia mused. "No matter, they will all fall soon enough. Desist in attempting recapture and attempt to track them. I wish to know where the prisoners are going."
"As you wish, Lord Superbia." the soldier said.
Superbia looked to the sky as he mused. "(It's no matter… they have yet to answer the most obvious question: how my crusade can destroy worlds. By the time they figure it out… it will be too late.)"
"Sir...we've just got intel on Jack. He's...on your command ship." a soldier said.
"Is that so?" Superbia asked. "Hmm… attempting to confront him at this point would be fruitless. Therefore…" the angel of Pride said as he turned to the knight. "Order all our ships to leave this world. I will rejoin you shortly."
"But sir-" the soldier started.
"I understand that the bet still stands. However… this is something he will not suspect." Superbia said. "Now, give the order."
"Yes sir." the soldier said as he gave the order over the comms, getting teleported out as Superbia raised his war hammer.
"And so, as the Lord struck against Sodom and Gomorrah, let this blow deliver justice against this unclean world." Superbia said as he struck his hammer on the ground, however, he was surprised as nothing happened. "Hm… interesting."
"You seem to be having some problems." a voice said as Joker stood there.
"Ah, the faithful wild card appears." Superbia said. "I assume you have something to do with this?"
"Not quite. Though our fearless leader might, seeing as how he was just standing next to you." Joker said. "He heard you're quite the romanticist."
"Romanticist?" Superbia pondered before realizing. "So that's it. He can steal abilities… and he just stole my favorite one."
"You really shouldn't have looked down on your foot soldiers. Just slap on some armor and you could barely tell us apart from the real ones." Joker said. "Of course, the real credit for the steal goes to your buddy Ira."
"Ira?" Superbia asked, his calm demeanor being betrayed at the mention of that name. "What do you mean, thief?"
"There are two conditions for Jack to steal someone's ability. He needs to know the person's true name as well as either the name of the ability or have seen it in action." Joker said. "The latter and the former were given thanks to Ira after he told us you had Norman."
"You…" Superbia trailed off before his expression darkened. "...you turned him against me!" he roared as he dashed towards Joker, hammer raised in preparation to crush him.
"Arsene!" Joker called out, summoning his Persona as it blocked the hammer with ease.
"You will all die SCREAMING!" Superbia yelled as he pulled the hammer away and slammed it into Arsene's chest with surprising speed, causing both Persona and Phantom Thief to be blown back and tumble across the ground.
"You know, the more time you waste on me, the further away he's going to get." Joker said as he got up.
"Then I will throw him your severed head when I find him!" Superbia roared as he dashed towards Joker.
"Change! Satanael!" Joker said changing his persona. "Go!" he said as Satanael loaded its gun and fired at Superbia, knocking him right into a cliff. "You know how the triad works for you guys? Angels are strong against spirits, spirits are strong against demons, and demons are strong against angels. You may be an angel, but your power came from that ability of yours. Without it, you're just like every other ordinary angel with a god complex."
"Be silent, child!" Superbia hissed.
"So...what's it gonna be? Continue fighting a battle you can't win, or go after Jack for even a chance to keep your crusade going?" Joker asked.
Superbia growled as he flew up and away from the field. "I will slaughter you all!" the angel called back.
"Jack...did you get that?" Joker asked on the comm.
"Yeah, he sounds real pissed. Guess I really got under his skin." Jack chuckled.
"You sure you'll be okay?" Joker asked.
"Who knows? All of this is based on how he handles the situation." Jack said. "But no worries...the crusade isn't getting out of this unscathed." he added looking out the window to see the Galaxy King fast approaching. "I was wondering when they showed." he said before he approached a few figures in the shadows. "Okay, kids...it's showtime." he said looking at Emma, Ray and Norman.
With the Galaxy King…
"There's the crusade...looks like they really were decimated a bit." Tails said.
"Wow...your brother is nuts." Catra said.
"I know." Hope said.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same." Ace said.
"Alright, guess we gotta find Jack." Mark said, stretching. "Now, knowing Jack, he's probably gone full on troll and is hiding on the biggest ship in the fleet."
"Yup, that's probably what he'd do." Hope said. "By now Superbia is at the end of his rope."
"Don't forget he's not the only Archangel in the crusade." Avaritia said.
"Y-Yeah, Maesus is…*yawn* still on his side." Acedia said.
"So we gotta deal with two angels. That shouldn't be a problem with people like us." Jexi said.
"It's whoopass time!" Al said.
The Galaxy King blocked off the Crusade's retreat as several of the people onboard invaded the ships and started battling the soldiers inside one by one.
"Lady Maesus, were under attack! We need you!" a crusader communicated to the Vice angel of Melancholy. "Where are you?!"
"Oh, whatever. Guess I have to do something about this." Maesus said as she stepped into the area. "Authority."
Then, the attacking prisoners were levitated off the ground, several of them flailing around.
"What's the point in doing all this?" the angel of Melancholy asked as she positioned all the prisoners to an open area. "Well, maybe killing people will make me feel something."
With a wave of her hand, Maesus threw the prisoners out of the ship, the impromptu flight causing them to yell in panic as they continued to fall towards the ground.
"I'd better take care of the alliance too… not that I could beat them." Maesus sighed as she walked out of the ship and towards the Galaxy King, seemingly walking on air.
"Hey, there's someone walking on air towards us!" Frosta said.
"Oh great, it's Maesus." Panty said.
"That's her? She doesn't seem like much." Zenitsu said.
"True, Maesus is a little light when it comes to emotions. In fact, the fight with Ira caused her to lose the ability to feel at all." Avaritia said. "However, she is very dangerous. She mostly uses the abilities of the Warlock of Melancholy… and Yasha, the one person equal in strength to Asura."
"Oh… that isn't good." Mark realized.'
"But...she can't do anything to us...right?" Lucy asked as Maesus waved her hand as the ship was sent spinning around.
"AAAAHHH!" Emo yelled. "WORST TEACUP RIDE EVER!"
"We need to stabilize!" Adora called.
"Got it." Jet said, stabilizing the ship. "Damn."
"There's got to be a way we can convince her to defect from Superbia." Hope said.
Before Maesus could continue again, suddenly Elma revealed herself, as she was fairly sullen, although she tried to put a strong front up.
"...Elma?" Gus remarked. "What are you…?"
"You're… the Vice Angel of Melancholy?" Elma asked back with a soft voice. "...Do you believe that all of this is right?"
Maesus simply stared at her emotionless before she spoke. "What's the point in believing if this is right or wrong? I just joined so I could feel something. I honestly can't care either way."
"Then did you?" Elma asked back. "Did you feel any pride in fighting for a cause? Did you feel any joy in finding a purpose? If you really can't feel… then sometimes, it's right to understand that you don't always need emotions to understand people. Sometimes, it's their desires and intentions that tell about a person…"
"Why do you care so much?" Maesus asked. "I'm the enemy. Why don't you just attack me?"
"Because… despite what Rias Gremory taught me a long time ago… I can't just kill someone like you. As the demon and angel counterpart of the same sin… while you suffer apathy… I suffer from a lack of malice and hostility." Elma responded back. "Just thinking about harming another who has hopes and dreams like all of us here, it twists my heart. Rias taught me that it's alright to fight for what you believe in, so long as you don't betray your personal morals. Even if she may be gone… I still believe in her words. So tell me, Maesus, have you always been without emotion? Or was there a time that you could be happy, sad, angry, or feel any emotion?"
Maesus' expression didn't change as she answered. "Yeah, there was. Before Ira went crazy and we had to kill him. Seeing three of my friends die, I guess it just made me shut down. I can't even cry about it anymore. I wish I could." the angel answered. "I just want to feel again."
"Then please… stop this." Elma pleaded gently. "You can find your emotions again, if you have the will to understand others. There is always someone who will be able to help you, no matter how deep your problem is. If you continued with this… that way could potentially be lost to you forever. Just let us stop all of this, and all of us can promise that we'll find that way for you… no matter what it takes, and how long it takes…"
"...Eh, why not?" Maesus said. "Okay, I'll join you."
"...Well. That was… easy, oddly enough." SE said. "Good job, Elma."
Elma was only silent, before she looked towards Maesus for a moment, before shifting to the back end of the group.
"That only means that there's only a bit further until Superbia is here…" Richard remarked, as his expression tensed.
Back in the flagship of the Prideful Crusade, Superbia managed to get in as he started searching the halls.
"That thief...when I find him…" Superbia growled.
"Are you angry?" a voice asked as he turned around to see Emma. "Cause you look really mad, mister."
"...Child, you have one second to leave before I take your head AND CRUSH IT INTO PASTE!" Superbia roared.
"Wow...that's some pretty harsh words to say towards a little girl, huh?" Ray said coming out of hiding.
"Don't mind him. He's just not thinking straight. He did get outsmarted by a human after all." Norman said coming out of the shadows.
"So, you choose to abandon our mission, Norman?" Superbia gritted out. "Side with those that protect demons?"
"These two are not just those that side with demons...they're my family. There's no way I'd turn against them." Norman said. "Which makes the Phantom Thieves my family too."
"Then you can die with them!" Superbia growled as he raised his hammer.
"Activate defense measure alpha!" Norman said as turrets popped out of the walls and fired on Superbia. "I think you forgot who designed the weapons and security for your ships. Run!" Norman said as the three of them took off quickly as Superbia slowly recovered.
"NORMAN!" Superbia yelled after them. "I will find you if I have to chase you from one end of our reality to the beginning of the next!"
"You won't hurt him." Emma said standing in the next alcove as she fired a gun right into his leg as she jumped up into the ducts.
"We've spent our childhood playing in that bit of forest on that farm. We're pretty much pros at this." Ray said standing in the next alcove and firing into Superbia's side as she jumped into the darkness.
"And the games we're best at...are tag and hide and seek." Norman said, firing at Superbia's back as he ducked into an air vent.
"Tricky little things, aren't you?" Superbia said before he got an idea. "Well, I may not be able to destroy a world without a Romanticist… but I can destroy a ship!" he declared as he slammed his hammer into the floor, causing the ship to rattle and groan.
"Wow...that's pretty smart. Though...I don't think you've fought it through quite well." Norman said through the intercom. "You forget...you're standing over the core of the engine room."
Superbia only looked down as the floor beneath exploded as it engulfed him in it as the ship fell apart as he roared in pain before looking to the side to see Mona in ship form with the kids inside.
"DAMN YOU!" Superbia yelled, reaching for them before the flames blocked him from view.
"So...did that kill him?" Mona asked.
"Very unlikely." Norman said. "But I don't get it. What is the point in all of this?"
"Jack's plan. We're stealing something from Superbia that normally can't be stolen." Ray said.
"So the ability wasn't the real target?" Norman asked.
"No. Just as there are seven deadly sins, there's seven heavenly virtues. Temperance, Charity, Chastity, Kindness, Patience, Diligence...and Humility." Emma said. "See...we were never planning to steal his ability for good. No...we're stealing his pride. And he has failed to even realize it."
"Rar!" Superbia roared as the flames cleared, leaving parts of him burned. "Thieves!"
"Wow...you've really gone and destroyed your flagship." a voice said as he turned to see the heroes. "Gotta give them credit, they really did put on a hell of a show." Jexi said.
"And now, your time is up." Ace said to Superbia. "Your Genocidal Slaughter on demonkind stops here."
"Hope you made peace with yourself." Richard remarked, before drawing his blades. "Because for what you did, and how it affected a dear companion of mine, you're on my shit-list, and those on it… don't live long."
"Hope you're prepared to repent." Hope said.
"Repent?!" Superbia yelled as he turned to face the group. "You may have destroyed my fleet, taken me power, turned my fellow Vice Angels against me, but there's one thing you cannot deny: the Lord is on MY side! I WILL destroy you, all demons! They all deserve to suffer!"
"Enough of this high-and-mighty bullshit! You're pissing me off!" Crow said.
"Same. Let's get this over with!" Panty said.
"Rah!" Superbia said, raising his warhammer as he went to battle against them.
Hope dodged a swing from Superbia as he kicked him in the face, followed by tandem offense from Panty and Stocking, shooting and slicing him.
"Let's dance!" Violet said as Cendrillon manifested. "Sword Dance!" she called as multiple swords floated and circled above Superbia before striking all at once.
"Obliterate him, Hereward!" Crow said as Hereward appeared. "Rebellion Blade!" he called as Hereward dealt colossal almighty damage to Superbia.
"Ed, sic him!" Eddy said as he powered up to Kaio-ken x5 and dashed up to Superbia, punching him in the face. With all the damage the angel had taken, he stumbled back into Ed, who landed a headbutt on him, stunning the Angel of Pride.
"Let's go!" Sora, Riku and Kairi said as the three of them joined into a three fold slash on the angel.
"Zan!" Ace called, Brave Shifting and summoning Batootha in it's melee form as it appeared as an Axe.
"I'm on it!" Zan said, raising her spear. "Though we aren't on the same team anymore...glad we're still allies!" she said as the two of them struck Superbia with lightning damage.
"Yeah, I missed us fighting side by side like this." Ace said.
"Wow...they're really putting you through the wringer." Jack said as Superbia saw him standing on some rubble. "To be fair, you did bring this down on yourself."
"Ginova!" Superbia growled as he tried to get over to him, but was halted by Goku and Vegeta and their Super Saiyan Blue forms, holding him down.
"You destroyed the world of the Phantom Thieves, you destroyed a number of demons and humans, even tried to murder my friends. Now I'm not angry but this does deserve some vengeance." Jack said, drawing a knife as he slashed an inverted cross on Superbia's chest.
"AGH!" Superbia said. "You...YOU..!"
"Oh...and FYI….about your ability...I actually returned it to you as soon as this little fight began. The reason it never activated is cause you ended up losing the thing that activates it." Jack said. "You lost your pride."
'How...how dare you!" Superbia said, raising his war hammer as Hope intercepted and smashed it to bits with a light ray. "Wh-What?!"
"The game's up, Superbia." Mark said as he appeared besides Jack. "Jexi, Ace, Richard, Siege, join up!"
"Gladly." Ace said, drawing Breidablik as he activated Celestial Force.
"I already have my attack ready. I'll be sure to leave the finishing blow to you.." Richard answered back.
"Let's end this once and for all." Siege declared, as he immediately drew his own blade and prepared himself in a familiar posture.
"As if we'd sit out of this." Jexi said entering Golden God Mode: The Elemental.
"Y'know, I just got an idea." Mark smiled as he charged up. "Follow my lead, fellas: Our Weapons Are… Faith in others!"
"Justice for the powerless!" Jexi said.
"Resolve to face tyranny!" Richard roared.
"Belief for the benevolent cause!" Siege added.
"Friendship and Strength for all species!" Ace said.
"Battling against evil!" Hope said.
"Snatching all the treasure!" Jack said.
"That's how we fight evil!" Mark said, smirking. "...Revelation."
All seven heroes fired, all seven attacks striking Superbia at once, the Vice Angel of Pride vanishing in a flash of light. The light faded, the group taking in the sight of Superbia, still on his feet, but not moving.
"...Is he…?" ZS asked in apprehension.
Mark walked up to Superbia, looking him in the eye.
"...I wish it didn't have to end this way." Mark said sadly.
"...Do it." Superbia said.
Mark nodded once, grabbed Superbia's head, and with one sharp twist, broke the angel of Pride's neck. Superbia fell to the ground, dead.
"...It's over." Mark said.
"...We won." Eddy said, grinning. "WE WON!" he whooped, cheering.
"Yeah...the Prideful Crusade is finished but...at what cost?" Jexi said.
"The world of DXD.." Richard stated grimly. "Not to mention that there are many worlds that are scarred by this crusade."
"Man… the Occult Research Club…" ZS said. "...we didn't even visit their world."
"They...didn't deserve this." Jexi said.
"No...they were our friends." Aelita said.
"Then...would you like it back?" a voice said as a man with demon horns stood there.
"Indigo…" Madoka said. "Why are you…"
"I could not ignore what that monster was doing. How pain driven I felt because of this." Indigo said. "So...I will revive that world that was lost. It will be part of my own repentance." he said as he looked to the body of Superbia. "And his soul will be used as the sacrificial cost."
"So...we'll…" Ace said.
"However...there is a catch. While the world and its lives will be reborn, none will have memories or knowledge of the worlds beyond. It would be as if they never even met any of you." Indigo said.
"So… we won't be able to just pick up where we left off…" Mark said. "...It's fine. I gotta feeling we'll see them again someday."
"Besides, knowing they'll be alive will give us relief." Jexi said.
"Very well. Then I will do so." Indigo said as he removed Superbia's soul as it faded in his grasp. "It is done. The world has been reborn and this angel's soul was erased from existence. He can never return, even through reincarnation."
"...*sigh* I guess that's the only way it could end." Mark said. "After everything that happened, it was what he deserved."
"Indeed. Hopefully no angel like him ever rises up again." Avaritia said.
"That's the way it has to be." Ace said.
"Well...looks like our business here is done." Jack said jumping from rubble to rubble towards Mona.
"So...all of the children…" Hope said.
"Don't worry. Before he came here, I was already transporting the children to Emi and her little Jump Force as well as Barry and his coalition. They'll see about sending them to worlds where they'll never be some demons next meal. This is the decision we came to. Demons have their world and humans have theirs. No more farms...no more cattle children." Jack said.
"Jack…" Ace said.
"Geez, if you're gonna criticize me about being a thief again, get in…" Jack said before Ace went and hugged him.
"Thank you." Ace said.
"Uh...yeah." Jack said not sure how to react as he slipped out. "Anyway, be seeing ya." he said walking off.
"Jack...you really aren't that bad a guy." Hope smirked.
"So...what about these guys? Going to go back to your real lives?" Jexi asked the angels.
"I suppose so." Avaritia said. "Thank you for taking care of Superbia. We won't forget this."
"Y-Yes." Acedia said. "You are all…*yawn* welcome back to the library anytime. Especially you, J-Jexi." they smiled.
"Oh...oh boy." Jexi said.
"For me, I won't go back to being some attraction. I think maybe it's time I found my own love story." Invidia said.
"And I'll just keep trying to find a way to get my emotions back." Maesus said. "Not that it matters, but what about you all?"
"Heh...back to what we always do. Going around and helping others in need." Jexi said.
"It's what we do best." Ace added.
"Yeah…" Mark said, looking up at the sky, smiling. "It's a beautiful day, everyone. Let's go be heroes!"
Richard smiled at Mark, before it slowly faded as he thought about the promise that he made with Ira.
And so, the Prideful Crusade has come to an end. Mark Anarchy has been rescued, and Superbia has been defeated.
Though the Demon Universe had suffered a number of casualties, including the loss of two demon lords, it was slowly being rebuilt thanks to their successors: Lilith and Belial. With luck, the Demon Universe may slowly enter a new era where it can start having some good relations with other universes.
Of course, due to the chaos, the wanted list for demon hunters had to be permanently removed until restructuring was complete. Although Jack still remains an outlaw for his scheme which got two demon lords killed as well as defiling the grave of a past demon lord.
As for the Phantom Thieves, with the one who destroyed their world gone, they felt at ease without any weight tying them down as they continued to make plans with Jack, especially with the help of junior thieves like Emma, Ray and Norman, who as a response to the events, had to surrender his employment with ASG in order to avoid a scandal.
And that about covers it. The Prideful Crusaders had been vanquished and a new era is set to begin for the Demon Universe. But what will come in the future? Well...hard to say really. Guess you'll just have to wait and see.