"This next job will be cold...ice cold. Didn't want to make that joke but...anyway, we're here. Frostia, the Ice Country." Jack said, arriving at a frozen land. "This shouldn't be too difficult. The Frostian's mostly keep to themselves."
"So where is their jewel?" Joker asked.
"Sitting on top of that pole!" Jack said pointing at it. "Though this has gotta be quick. It'll be down below zero once the sun sets."
"If speed is what you want, then I'll use my Persona to nab the jewel as quick as we can!" Mona said. "Come forth, Mercurius!" he said, summoning forth the Roman God of Merchants, commerce, and speed.
Mercurius then zipped towards the top of the pole to snag the Ice Quartz. He zipped towards the gem and reached out to grab it.
"Good job there." Jack said as Mercurius managed to grab the jewel. "Huh...didn't even need to waste time here. Kinda disappointing. Well, guess we better go."
"Yeah, the sun is about to set." Joker said they dashed off as a coating of ice began to cover the entire nation. Five down, three left.
Meanwhile, with Ira…
The angel was still sitting when black buildings began to rise all around him, the white pedestal behind him turning black, with a white stone appearing on top of it. Ira gave it no heed as people began to appear.
"So this is Shroud, the country of darkness…" Ira mused to himself as he watched the people walk around, going about their business. "Huh… seems like a nice place, actually."
It was then that several of the citizens surrounded him, each wearing a dark black cloak.
"Hey, how's it going?" Ira nonchalantly asked the group. "Don't mind me, just your average everyday angel of wrath, waiting for thieves."
"Oh we know of them. And we know of your intention to steal the Moon Stone." one of them said.
"Eh, that sounds about right." Ira waved off. "Hope you guys don't mind."
"As a matter of fact… we do." the man said as he pulled out a scimitar. "We peg you as an enemy of Shroud."
"Is that right?" Ira asked as he got up, staring the man in the eyes. "So… what do you plan to do about it?"
"They won't do a thing." a voice called as emerging from the darkness was a large shadowy creature. "Enemy of Shroud, you are not welcome here. Leave now or lose your life."
"Oh yeah, threaten an angel of wrath. Because that's always a smart idea." Ira chuckled as he approached the shadow creature. "Let me guess… you're the leader here?"
"I am known as Nyx. I am the captain of the Shadow Guard." it said.
"Oh, hey, sorry, I'm getting a call from '555 - I don't give a damn'." Ira said. "Look buddy, since I'm in a good mood right now, I'll give you one shot to turn around and go home. Nobody has to get hurt here."
"I shall not back down." Nyx declared, pulling out shadowy chains. "I fight for my nation!" they said as the chains wrapped around Ira.
"Oh no, you've discovered my only weakness!" Ira said in mock panic. "Chains made of shadows!"
"Mock me all you wish, angel, it makes no difference." Nyx said. "I will not kill you. Rather, you shall be tossed into the sea as an example of what happens to...what?" Nyx said as the chains began to break. "Run! He is not trapped!"
"...An example…?" Ira said before his expression morphed into one of pure fury. "Example!?" he roared as he broke the chains and lunged as Nyx, knocking the Shadow Guard leader to the ground. "I'll show you an effing example!"
Ira then wailed on Nyx, causing blood and teeth to fly away. After a fell minute, Ira growled as he plunged a hand into Nyx's chest, then pulled away, holding a black mass.
"Well, what do you know?" Ira said, holding the mass in front of Nyx's eyes. "You people of Shroud… are actually black-hearted." he said before he crushed the mass in his hands.
"How astute...except...we don't have hearts." Nyx said as tentacles grabbed him.
"The hell is - you bitch!" Ira raged as he broke off some of the tentacles, before grabbing Nyx's throat.
"Try all you want...we can't be killed." Nyx said, passing through his hand. "You know nothing of the elements. The only two elements that can never be touched by physical means are light and darkness. Meaning...we are beings who will always exist no matter what." she said as the Shroudians surrounded Ira.
"You - you…!" Ira grew angier as he tried in vain to squeeze Nyx's throat…
"...you goddamn, savage, cruel piece of crap!" Ira raged as he held down a different man's throat over a blood soaked altar. "She didn't do a damn thing to you! Why?!"
"The ritual called for a pure maiden." the man said calmly. "An example of how to perform the ritual had to be made."
"An example?!" Ira raged. "She died for an effing example!? I'll kill you, bastard, you hear me? I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Do what you like." the man said calmly. "The bell can not be unrung. The return is near."
"You won't be there to see it!" Ira roared before he tore the man's head off. "...No…"
Ira then let go of Nyx's neck, falling back in tears. It seems as if he was lost in a memory, not even knowing where he was. "...Why her… why her…?"
"I see..you are angry with yourself." Nyx said as the citizens of Shroud backed off.
"Yeah… how embarrassing is that?" Ira said. "I represent the Sin of Wrath, but the one person I'm more angry at, than anything in the Multiverse… is me. I… I had all that power, but I… I couldn't do a damn thing…"
"...So, you do know darkness." Nyx said. "I see…" she said. "Leave him be." he ordered as the Shroudians sunk into the ground as she followed. "We have no right to interfere with someone who is trying to heal."
And so, the Shroudians were gone, leaving Ira alone. Once again, the tears came. "...I'm so sorry…"