"Time is ticking, little hero… Soon, all women will become succubi and will start bringing pleasure to this world… Are you waiting for it to happen? I know that you want it... Don't deny yourself."
Luka slowly inhaled and exhaled. He had to remain focused against the Ancestor of succubi, as the latter kept attacking him from every possible direction. He knew that he had to take her down, but rushing head first into the thick fog would only make him a prey. Luckily, she didn't use a magic spell yet again to attack him. Maybe she couldn't? Was that fog actually inconveniencing her as much as him?
Deciding that he could no longer afford to wait, the hero slowly stepped away from the wall and started slowly and silently making progress through the room. Deep down, he felt panic starting to rise. No matter what he was trying, the succubus had him on the ropes on this one. When he heard some movement behind him, he reflexively threw his sword. Another noise echoed on his side, and he raised his sword in anticipation.
As he progressed, he started to feel lonely. If only he had support right now… The fog was becoming more oppressive, he felt more and more isolated from the world, and felt his breath accelerating.
"Calm down Luka. I'm here for you."
Luka looked behind him to see Alice, her arms crossed under her chest.
"Alice? What are you doing here? You should be safe in the castle."
She smiled. "Don't worry, I can handle myself. I'm behind you."
"Right…" Luka turned his back, and Alice started smiling as her right hand was engulfed in a pinkish aura. However, the hero didn't react in the slightest. The Monster Lord looked at her hand in surprise, until she heard Luka mutter something.
"My mother is the Star of Morning, the child of dawn. The star thrown to the Earth shall obtain victory!"
"Alice" attempted to move back, but it was too late: She was hit with the full brunt of the comet, and was kicked away from Luka across the room. The illusion dispelled and revealed Minagi, while the fog filling the chapel also cleared.
Luka groaned. "Nice copy… But you already tried that one in the past. Now, do you actually have other tricks or are we done?"
Minagi giggled. She didn't seem particularly wounded as she got up. "I guess you prefer your partners even more dominating and violent… I can be as much as you desire."
This time, Luka only had the time to raise his sword as Minagi dashed at him with her fist at the ready. The violence of the shock echoed through his arm, and he nearly dropped his weapon. She pushed forward with an extremely violent kick in his side, and the hero felt his ribs shatter under the impact as he was propelled across the room. She then casted a large fireball, and Luka felt Salamander's power surge as the projectile hit him, mitigating most of its damages.
"It's been a loooong time since I had to play that rough with my partner. But I won't hesitate to break every one of your limb to get you. I'm sure consoling you afterward will make up for it."
Luka spat a small clot of blood. He attempted to meditate to heal his wounds, but was unsuccessful. His energy had simply completely left his body for the moment.
Minagi slowly walked toward her apparently defenseless prey. "Come to think of it… I think it was your mother Lucifina!" She exaggeratedly sighed… "I still remember our first encounter like it was yesterday. We got quite… personal."
Luka chuckled, making the succubus stop in her track in surprise.
"Are you amused by this idea, boy? ….Or maybe you are aroused by the idea of me and your dear mother going at it like animals?"
"Not exactly…"
"It's for the best, because I should tell you that your mother was quite the violent one. She was more into breaking and tearing than rubbing and caressing..."
While Minagi talked, Luka focused and finally successfully meditated, healing back most of his wounds and allowing him to stand up.
"Thank you for letting me the time to get up. But that's enough dirty-talking for now." The hero glared at Minagi.
The succubus once again charged him at lightning speed, her fist ready to strike him down.
"Ninefold Rakshasa!"
Both opponents exchanged blows at an impossible rate. Luka's blade met alternatively a fist, an elbow and a foot while Minagi was trying to push her assault. Just after her series of attacks, she casted an ice spell at the hero to freeze him. Luka imbued his blade with the power of fire and only felt a cold wave instead of freezing instantly. She then cast a pleasure spell, but Luka simply powered through and charged. In a last ditch effort, she directed her ribbon straight at the hero's crotch, but the latter stepped on the side to avoid the furious snake-like cloth charging at him and finally reached his target.
"Elemental Spica!"
An elemental explosion reached Minagi the moment Luka's sword touched her, sending her flying backward. She still landed on her feet, her composure still intact, and cast a blade of wind while using her free hand to use magic to stimulate him. While he shivered in pleasure, he still ducked under the projectile that crashed in the wall behind him. She assumed a martial artist pose as the hero got closer. However, in the blink of an eye, the hero was behind her and slashed at her throat and chest twice in rapid succession. Minagi attempted to grab him with her ribbon, but he threw her back with the power of Gnome. She used this opportunity to fly away and land on the altar, still as calm as ever. Luka kept his eyes on her, his sword still at the ready.
Both fighters were still looking at each other when the door of the chapel was blown inward, revealing a passably angry Alma Elma.
"Sorry for being late, someone placed seals in the way."
"Usually when I deal with two people at the same time, we convened this before…"
"Tell that to your daughter. I'm sure she will appreciate hearing this."
"Well, in that case… I guess you leave me no choice." Minagi stretched while moaning excessively sensuously once again.
"I didn't want to come down to this, but you forced my hand…" She then raised both of her arms.
"I surrender."
Luka and Alma Elma both blinked repeatedly for a few seconds before asking in unison.
"What?"
Minagi descended from the altar.
"I said I surrender. Isn't this expression still used to say that we will stop fighting and submit to our opponent's whim? Or would you prefer me to take a more submissive posture by lying on my back in front of you to make clear that I'm offering myself?"
Her two opponents looked at each other, but nodded. Alma Elma glared at the Ancestor.
"Very well… But if you try anything, you might not be lucky enough to end up sealed."
"I swear I won't try anything! …Unless you attempt to restrain me, in which case I will rip your throat with my teeth." Minagi smiled, revealing two fangs that made Luka cover his vulnerable neck reflexively. "Now, let me clean the playground before I go."
She started walking through the castle at a brisk pace with Luka and Alma Elma closely walking behind her, and whistled upon seeing Lilith restrained with seals lying in the hallway.
"And here I come once again to take care of you…" She effortlessly lifted her daughter over her shoulder with one hand without stopping, and pushed open the castle's door with her free one, apparently not more inconvenienced than that by her load.
Once outside, she snapped her fingers and the symbols in the sky disappeared. "I would stay here a bit longer, but people might ask too many questions if they see me with you… Would you kindly fetch what I left in that small necromancer's store? I will reward you appropriately…"
Luka nodded, more by reflex than by a desire to obey.
"Also, there are two of them."
"What?"
"I'm off to the Monster Lord Castle then!" She turned toward Luka and licked her lips again. "I hope I will get to enjoy your company not before long..."
"Wait…"
She disappeared into a blink of light with her load. Luka raised an eyebrow.
"Did she just…"
"I have to warn Tamamo first." Alma Elma raised her hand to her head. "Tamamo, it's… She's already there… Yes… Sorry, he did it less than one minute ago… Yes, she cleared the spell. We're going to check it… You want me to also see what? Okay, I will do it right after… Great idea, thank you."
The Succubus Queen sighed. "Apparently, Alice didn't appreciate that surprise. Tamamo had to restrain her, and has decided to send a few of her kitsunes to help repair the damages. We'll check Chrome's store and I'll have to check another place before we pass trial for those two."
"Let's not lose any time then…"
Luka briskly walked through the streets, followed by Alma Elma. The duo soon reached Chrome's shop, and as soon as he opened the door, the hero saw two unconscious valkyries.
"Lilith had turned them into pawns. They're free from her influence now."
At the same time, Luka could see some movement at the other end of the store. He recognized Chrome's silhouette sitting up on a luxurious bed, and the small necromancer was emerging from her supernatural sleep.
"Ah… Luka…"
She clicked her tongue a few times while looking at her feet. Luka could swear that he saw the necromancer's eyes widen in surprise before she started talking again.
"Wait. LUKA?! WHAT'S HAPPENING?! WHY AM I IN A BED ON THE SHOPPING FLOOR?!"
Feeling overwhelmed, the hero recoiled. Luckily, Alma Elma stepped in.
"Greetings Chrome, I came here on the Monster Lord order to investigate what happened."
Luka could feel a soothing aura flow from the Succubus Queen, and Chrome instantly calmed down and recovered her composure.
"I… Don't remember much. There were those two strange customers discussing… Then…" Her purple face became almost red. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Very well then…" Alma Elma leaned closer. "But you know… You can tell everything to your big sis."
Chrome shook her head negatively. "I don't remember anything else! Really! I don't!"
"…Very well then. You won't mind if we check your room?"
"Heurgh, do as you want… I don't really care, you'll probably find nothing there."
Luka could already tell the opposite. His senses warned him that two angels were occupying it, including one that was bathed in Minagi's scent. The Ancestor had definitively broken someone…
"Thank you! Now… Can you check that noise outside please?" That racket is getting annoying.
Chrome nodded and left, still acting more on instinct than consciously.
Right afterward, the hero and the Succubus Queen carefully got upstairs, where Chrome's bedroom was located. When they reached it, they could indeed see two angels. The first was a valkyrie sleeping on the floor. She would look like any other war angel if it wasn't for the fact that her hair was tied into a braid. The second was sleeping in a purple tent that the hero remembered and recognized.
"What's Dominion Endiel doing here?"
The one who was called the Angel Whore opened her eyes at that precise moment. Luka remained wary, but Angel Halo was still on his hip. The angel yawned as she sat up.
"Where's Minagi?"
"She's been arrested. You're safe now."
"Oh." The angel pouted, apparently disappointed. "Well, I guess our project will be for later then. I'm going to get some food if you don't mind." Her tent disappeared to form a purple outfit on her that revealed as much skin as it covered. She then walked past Luka and Alma Elma to leave the building. The former was too dumbfounded to intercept her, and the latter simply stared at her. After a second, Luka turned toward Alma Elma.
"I… She… What…" He shook his head and focused.
"She's still brainwashed?"
Alma Elma shook her head negatively. "She's just sleepy. Minagi hasn't influenced her mind in that way, although I can tell that they got very close and personal." Alma Elma pointed at the valkyrie, who was still sleeping. "I can also tell that it's the same for her."
"Are you telling me that they would willingly cooperate with her? Why?"
"I don't know. I will try catching up to her and see what I can get while you search around."
Alma Elma left the hero alone. Luka felt a tinge of remorse for searching through Chrome's stuff, but his keen senses informed him that the large pile of sheets and parchments covering the desk was the work of Minagi. After a few seconds, he pulled out a particular large parchment from under the pile that attracted his attention more than the others. The hero went wide-eyed as his gaze passed over the drawings.
"What. The. F-"
A powerful explosion tore apart the building, knocking the hero down and burying him in rubbles.
Mariel woke up feeling groggy and particularly cranky as the sun was already quite high in the sky. Her night hadn't been particularly restoring, and her dreams had been… Unusually vivid. Her face flushed. She didn't know how to feel about them. She didn't know what she could do about it. And she didn't know if she wanted them to actually happen to her or to forget them. Simply thinking about it made her feel unusually nervous, which didn't escape her subordinates.
The ambiance around the castle was downright strange. Several angels were awkwardly looking at each others, some of them apparently had alike, disturbing dreams, and several rooms were locked close. Her concern grew by the second as she saw some angels rush around frantically, and a few others were moving around as if they were sick. Eventually, she started understanding better why: The main door was open, the chapel's entrance had been destroyed, and the smell there could best be described as a brothel as perfumes mixed. The large statue of Ilias gifted by the Goddess of Light had been vandalized, and was covered with aphrodisiac fluids. She couldn't see the king of San Ilia, but several priests were moving around in a panic as well. She tried to ask questions to anyone moving around, but she was either ignored by the busy passerbys, or got a confused, nonsensical answer.
Tiring of the chaos, Mariel flew slightly above everyone's head in the entrance and started glowing with power while emitting a divine sound. She stopped a few seconds later, once she was sure that she got everyone's attention.
"Everyone, calm down. Panic will not bring us answers. Find the pope. Contact the Monster Lord and her allies. Cleanse the chapel of this miasma."
People started dilligently following her orders, and Mariel's shoulders untensed as she sighed in relief. She didn't think she had the courage to stand up… Until now. She was surprised by her reaction, considering how nervous she also felt… Maybe it actually helped her focus?"
After gathering her bearings, she left the castle by the entrance and was greeted by the sight of chaos. Several buildings in the city had been damaged and a few craters were adorning the street. Several confused civilians were looking at the damages, wondering how they could have slept through that. A crowd was gathered in front of someone wearing a white, elaborate dress and a golden mask. At the bottom of the crowd, she could see Chrome trying to peek over what was happening. She started flying toward the small doll maker when she noticed Alma Elma speaking with Endiel. The conversation was quite vigorous, but not hostile, and the Succubus Queen was apparently genuinely surprised by whatever the Angel Whore was telling her. At least, the Monster Lord had sent someone, even if it was that succubus… Could she actually be the one responsible for this mess?
Mariel shook her head. It didn't make that much sense to suspect her, and even less to accuse her. If she came here, it certainly was on order of the Monster Lord and the hero. As she got closer, her attention fully focused on the man dressed in robes and what he was saying.
"For I am telling you, brothers and sisters, that this destruction has been sown by monsters! I know it! Ilias showed me the truth! It had been brought by that damnable necromancer whore that lives in our city!"
Mariel frowned. She had taken a liking to Chrome, and so had the king. Sure, her interests were creepy, but she was good-natured, supportive, and very skilled in medicine.
"And I can tell that she's close! Right among us!"
People looked around and split themselves, letting the mysterious orator have a direct sight on the small succubus who started shuffling awkwardly. Mariel didn't feel any animosity in the people, but she still decided to come to Chrome's side to support her.
"She's an ally and a friend to me and the pope."
"Liar! You look like an angel, but I know that you have the heart of a monster! You are protecting her! I can only fear what that abomination is planning! But I know that she will strike very soon!"
An explosion suddenly rocked the street, and people started crying in a panic. The orator had his hands raised dramatically, but Mariel could feel his confusion as he turned toward the source of the explosion.
It came from right outside Chrome's shop.
The orator started running at an impressive speed in the middle of the crowd. Mariel started chasing him while readying a spell. She could use several to incapacitate her target, but she could tell that his dress would reflect all her holy attacks save for the most powerful ones, and using those would harm the population.
It was out of question.
Before she could catch him, the man jumped into a dark street and threw a small orb that generated an intense energy field. It was enough to disorientate Mariel, who completely lost track of her quarry. She attempted to find anything that could make for a trail, but soon abandoned, completely disheartened.
She would catch him later. Time to learn what happened this night first.
Luka woke up to find himself surrounded by Alma Elma, Mariel, Chrome and a priest he didn't recognize. He winced in pain as he sat up, but instantly recovered when he meditated.
"Hurgh, what happened?"
"First…" Mariel bowed. "Thank you. The Succubus Queen explained me what happened, and I have no reason to doubt the veracity of her words given the circumstances. From the bottom of the heart of every angel that lives in San Ilia, we give you our most sincere thanks, and will offer you everything you want." She gulped. "We did endure some disagreement from this attack, but…" She shivered. "I DON'T want to imagine what those damn succubi would have done with us if you didn't step in."
"It's… It's natural." Luka awkwardly looked around as everybody expectantly looked at him. "Sooo… What happened?"
"Someone was giving out a speech on the evils of Chrome when a bomb exploded in front of her shop. Two humans and one of the dazed valkyrie died, and the shop and several houses around collapsed." Alma Elma sighed. "I was so surprised I focused in digging everyone out, and that orator escaped."
Luka gasped in shock.
"We're already taking care of the wounded… Between the explosion and the dreams given by the Ancestor, everybody is quite confused."
"Right, Minagi…" Luka got up from his bed. "How many people did she kill?"
"Only the king apparently… And we're not even sure. His apartments are locked with a magic seal, and everyone that tried to open it get shocked with a wave of pleasure magic. I'm starting to think some people try on purpose."
The hero's mouth was agape. "Are you serious?"
Mariel looked down in shame. "Even some angels enjoy it apparently."
"No… I mean yes… I mean that the Ancestor of all succubi only killed the king?"
The small archangel nodded. "Save for Vaerna who died in the explosion, everyone is accounted for."
"Huh… I mean it's good news, but… I'm surprised… Oh, right, Tamamo will probably want to know why her protections failed."
Mariel's eyes narrowed. "We already found out the answer. And I apologize, it is my fault." She turned toward a valkyrie that was on a bed across Luka, and the hero recognized the one he saw in the shop. "You see, when I was given the commands to manage the protections of the castle, I decided that I could get my fellow angel's trust by giving them access to the room where she had placed it." She sighed. "I don't know what she did to her, but Vale here present managed to sneak in and deactivated everything for her. She apparently wasn't contaminated by the succubus enough to trigger anything, so I wanted to interrogate her. There's something… Strange about her."
"How much an angel has to be contaminated to activate the barrier?"
"Not much. When we restarted the spell, one of them activated it, and one of my wings had barely brushed against her earlier."
Luka remained silent, lost in thoughts. What did it mean? Was it connected to Endiel? Did a few angels betray their kin for the promise of pleasure?
The priest cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt you, but the king wanted this message to be brought to the hero Luka. And since you are here…" He held out a sealed envelope. "He wrote it yesterday evening."
Luka took the letter, and after opening it, he delicately unfolded the paper inside. Everybody attempted to peek over his shoulder. Not a single monster, human or angel present considered that it could be a private matter.
Dear hero Luka.
By the time you read this, I have no doubt my time will have come. I want to apologize to everyone, but I clumsily attempted to hide the obvious truth from all those that care for me: I am deathly ill. Apparently, my health had become quite fragile because of my age as well as the stress from the war with Ilias at the time, and the recent events didn't make it any better. Even advanced healing magic can only delay the inevitable, and I feel my body growing weaker each time I cough. My breathing grows more erratic, and even if, against all odd, nobody attack San Ilia, I do not think I will see the end of this month.
I wanted to thank you for saving me even when I was still blindly worshipping Ilias. Since this war, I observed a positive shift in the commandments everybody follow, and I like to think we are both responsible for this. I'm proud to see humans, monsters and angels living side by side, even if minor conflicts and troublemakers like that True Faith group keep popping up. I apologize for heaping the responsibility of dealing with them to my successor. May he show them the error of their way without shedding a drop of blood. May our work to spread peace and coexistence continue uninterrupted.
Should I die this night by the hand of the Ancestor of succubi, Minagi, just as your projections predicted I want you to know that it will be on my own volition. I do understand the implications of those words, and I would lie if I said that my motivations to do so were purely selfless. A part of me hope that my words, or, barring that, my sacrifice will hold her from feasting on the others inhabitants of this castle and take their lives, but a darker part of me that I ignored my whole life wants to enjoy this moment to its fullest for its nature as it lasts as long as possible. In any case, forgive a foolish old man for his actions, and I ask you to be lenient on her should my death be the only harm to come from her hand.
Once again, please send my best regards to the Monster Lord and everyone else. I appreciated that peace between all species for as long as I experienced it, and like you, I wish for nothing more than its lasting.
John X, pope and king of San Ilia.
Once he finished reading, Luka looked at everyone's expression. Chrome was confused, Mariel and the priest were both red-faced, and Alma Elma was nodding approvingly.
"…I think it is better if that third paragraph remains between us."
"Agreed."
"Awwww…"
Mariel cleared her throat loudly. "Let us try opening his room to see if the life of his highness has been extinguished… Although I am slightly less enthusiastic and a little more apprehensive about the nature of what we will find there now."
The five of them slowly made their way to the king's apartment. Indeed, the door was covered by an occult circle, and several priests were staying at a distance from the obstacle. Mariel whistled disapprovingly when she saw a priest and a cupid slumped on the floor with salacious smiles on their faces.
"For once I won't have to blow the door open…" Alma Elma made a few circling gestures with her hand, making the door open. "Aaaand… There!"
Luka steadied himself as he prepared to turn the handle. If Minagi indeed had her way with the king for several hours, what would be waiting on the other side could likely be compared to a vision of hell. The hero finally pushed the door… And was completely dumbfounded by what he saw.
The room was bathed in a crepuscular light thanks to a crystal placed at the other end of the place. Luka could see a silhouette lying on a bed right under. When he got closer, he could see that the man was still wearing his royal robe, and had his hands joined on his chest. The hero could also see the extremely emaciated body of the pope, confirming that he was certainly dead. His face was adorned with a small, enigmatic smile.
"Strange… I thought the smell would be more pronounced."
It's only when Alma Elma told him that the hero noticed. A soft incense smell was floating in the air, a far cry from the nose-burning odor of unexplored pleasure the succubus usually carried with her.
"Did Minagi actually do all of this?"
"Nobody could enter that room since yesterday, sooo…"
Chrome looked at the kings's still face. "I could autopsy him to determine the cause of his death… But I don't think it's necessary." Her voice was slightly trembling. "What will happen now?"
The priest sighed. "I will make sure his body is buried with the past kings and inform everyone that he passed away… Peacefully. We will organize a conclave next week to choose a new pope, and afterward… I think things will return as they just were. If we receive even the smallest token effort from the Monster Lord to help us, the True Faith movement shouldn't attract more people."
"We already have plans to help rebuild the city."
"Then co-existence will survive those fiends. I will personally make sure of it."
The priest walked away to make preparations for the burial, accompanied by Chrome.
Mariel sighed.
"Well… I guess I should return to take care of the angels…"
"Oh, I apologize but we nearly forgot. Archangel Ariel reappeared in the castle and attacked people. We had to imprison her temporarily. She's treated well, but-"
Mariel's eyes widened. "I'll personally come to deal with her!"
Luka and Alma Elma were caught off-guard by the sudden decisiveness of the angel. Noticing that she scared her interlocutors, the small archangel calmed herself. "I mean… If it's okay with the Monster Lord… It's just that I don't know if Ariel would listen to anyone else and…" Nervousness returned in her voice. "We could also bring Endiel and that valkyrie! I think you have better tools to examine them than we have!"
Alma Elma and Luka awkwardly looked at each other. "Sure, but aren't you afraid to leave angels alone in San Ilia?"
"I trust a few of them to keep things in order in my absence. There shouldn't be any issue if I tell them!" Mariel's wings were flapping nervously while her eyes darted around.
"This won't cause any problem for us."
"Perfect!"
Mariel zoomed away in the blink of an eye, leaving the hero and the succubus dumbfounded. "She's hiding something."
"She's disturbed." Alma Elma closed her eyes. "I'm not sure, but I think that the perspective of being a toy for Minagi affected her."
Luka remained silent. Having experienced the same, he couldn't contest that.
"I don't know if there will be enough place to bring everyone on the Garuda Girl though…"
Alma Elma giggled. "Did you forget angels and myself can fly? And besides, the teleportation spell should be active again."
"Oh, right…" Luka sighed. "Sorry… It's been… A disturbing experience. And I don't think it will be over anytime soon. I am NOT looking forward to her trial."
The Succubus Queen simply nodded. Luka felt grateful to her for not actually teasing him more. He definitively wasn't in the mood.
A few minutes later, Mariel was back with Endiel and the braided valkyrie. All three angels were carefully attempting to avoid looking at each other as Mariel guided them. She silently invited the duo to follow her, and they soon made their way to the magic circle that should have been used to send reinforcement. Luka was surprised to see that said circle was placed in the laundry room, until he realized it would definitively be the last place someone would expect an attack from.
In the blink of an eye, the entire group had been teleported in the Monster Lord's Castle.