Zion was getting worn out by her fight against Morrigan. The support from the angels had initially allowed her to gain an advantage against the succubus, but the deployment of the Barrier of Babylon had crippled her partners and reduced them to ecstatic, bumbling husks.

Besides, Zion hadn't fully recovered from her skirmish with Luka's forces while Morrigan was apparently getting regenerated by the effect of the barrier. The succubus was grinning maniacally, enjoying the torment of the seraph who was leaning on her mechanical fist, breathing heavily as her outfit was halfway torn and covered in blood.

"Come on! Where's all that spirit you always had?" Morrigan shook her head left and right as she talked in an almost growling voice. "Kill all succubi! Kill all those whores! I'm an old girl who's just jealous and use my mechanical fist for-"

She was interrupted by the seraph who lunged at her with a war cry, her weapon raised. Morrigan nonchalantly dodged it and struck Zion's mechanical arm with all her might, making sparks fly into every direction. The succubus kept slashing at the mechanical appendage until a few parts fell off. Zion reached into her ultimate reserves to raise her fist and punch the succubus, throwing her across the cave. The latter recovered extremely fast, and haughtily dusted herself, barely inconvenienced.

In the meantime, Zion received a mental communication asking her to come support Uriela at Snow Heaven. During a split second, she was torn between her duty to obey and the one to kill Morrigan. Or, more exactly, she wanted to disobey to prevent Morrigan from doing as she pleased with the weakened angels. There was only one way out.

"Time for you to die, bitch."

Zion wordlessly pointed the palm of her mechanical fist toward the succubus, and started charging an ultimate attack.

"Really? You go for a heroic last stand? I'm sure your partners will appreciate that you killed yourself like that."

The seraph unleashed a blinding beam of holy energy toward the succubus, who once again effortlessly stepped aside. However, upon hitting the wall, the beam exploded and knocked the succubus forward. Zion teleported back in Snow Heaven as the cavern started crumbling. Maybe she'd take a second to recover back at the Vampire Castle, but she felt something blocking her.

"Oh, shit, shit, SHIT!"

Instead she dashed through the cavern to reach the exit. She snarled as she saw the angels getting smashes by the collapsing caves. So many resources wasted… Once outside, she saw the visible barrier that seemed to surround the continent.

"Huh. Good plan Tamamo."

Upon closer examination, she realized that the barrier couldn't be born from the kitsune's magic. Its nature was closer to something generated by an apoptosis.

"What the fuuuuck…"

She kept examining the barrier for a minute and couldn't find any flaw. Eventually, she lifted off and started flying toward Snow Heaven. Lilith and Tamamo might be in need of a hand, even if she doubted it.

Uriela was getting more and more enraged by the second. She was completely and utterly losing this fight against those lowly monsters, and she hated it. If at least it was an honorable duel, she could come to terms with the situation, but instead, there were several monsters ganging up on her, and she was slightly weakened by the barrier in place while her opponents were slightly reinforced. Besides, she was also forced to defend her troops who were getting overwhelmed by the succubi and vampires her opponents had summoned. Each time she broke from the fight away, Lilith rushed her and held her attention, allowing Tamamo No Mae to jump back in with her baleful spells.

"I'm sure Minagi would gladly play with you once I'm done testing you… Ufufu…" Uriela shivered reflexively upon hearing the kitsune's words. Lilith attempted to exploit that moment of confusion by rushing at the Archangel, but stopped her assault as she barely managed to dodge one of the angel's flying blade. Uriela tried to push forward as the succubus was desperately avoiding attacks and grinned as the succubus somehow lost her footing. She prepared a finishing blow…

…And jumped back several meters in front of the apparently defenseless succubus while desperately looking around her. She lifted herself from the ground, and was intercepted mid ascent by the succubus that appeared from behind her as the projection disappeared. A sharp pain hit Uriela as a talisman connected and darkness clawed at her exposed flesh. She instantly healed and managed to throw down the succubus who twirled mid air before landing on both feet. She was still smirking, and the Archangel remained wary as the kitsune disappeared once more.

Uriela felt a small tingling sensation as she felt a scanning wave, and a salvo of missile exploded on a precise spot. Tamamo cleared the smoke generated by the explosion with a swing of her tails and glared at Gnosis. The latter was now flanking Uriela, looking at the monster duo with cold, calculating eyes. Right afterwards, a wounded Zion appeared, and emitted a horrified cry as she saw the horde of succubi and vampires relentlessly attacking and feeding on the angels. Just as she managed to reach her allies, Morrigan had rejoined Lilith and Tamamo, still grinning heavily.

"Eden has been evacuated. Situation critical. We must fall back."

Uriela cried in rage. Gnosis was right. That fight was lost. Uriela prepared a scathing speech when she felt something break. She focused her sense toward the ruins of Ilias Temple, and felt her heart tighten when she realized what had happened.

They had failed. Ilias was now dead.

With a rage-filled flap from her wing, she flew back, soon followed by the two remaining seraph. They had another job to do… Avenge the Goddess of Light.

Behind them, none of the monsters immediately gave chase.

"Should we follow them? If Uriela manages to kill Luka…"

"Pfff, we have time. They can't escape with that barrier, after all! I admit, It's a nice set up."

Tamamo's expression of self-contentment turned into a frown, which didn't escape Morrigan. The kistune hadn't taken the time to analyze the barrier that appeared during her fight with Uriela. The Archangel had been a serious threat, after all.

"It's… not your?"

"No."

Morrigan gulped loudly. She was afraid of Tamamo as much as she was afraid of what the kitsune's declaration meant.

"Weee are going to have a problem, aren't we?"

"Yes. You are right. Although we have more time than we thought to capture the hero, so let's eat a little morsel or two before following them. I want to be fresh for that one."

The trio of angels stopped themselves only when they reached the entrance of the Hall of Creation. Uriela realized they needed to regroup before striking back those that killed the Goddess: She was exhausted, Zion was also in a pitiful state, and the local higher mana concentration would help them regenerate.

"Eden Two unable to restart the barrier. Suggestion. Have Eden replace her and create a barrier."

"She's dead. She's been killed by Tamamo to fuel that damnable spell." Uriela punched the wall in frustration, leaving a large hole in the stone as Zion's mouth was agap. The Archangel turned toward her subordinate. "Heal yourself. We'll avenge her afterwards. I'll see Eden myself."

Uriela stepped in deeper inside the temple. Thankfully, the natural mana present in this place protected the angels that took refuge inside it, and there was still a large number of angels ready to fight. But she could feel their will waver in front of the threat of the monsters. And news of the death of the Goddess had spread like wildfire, further breaking their morale down.

She reached the place where "Eden Two" was resting. The nubile seraph was barely conscious, her head slowly rocking left and right. Apparently, holding that barrier had put a huge strain on her, and the recent chaos outburst had completely finished her.

"You failed the goddess. She's dead."

Eden didn't answer, and instead collapsed pathetically. Uriela couldn't even hear sobbing. Eden has just completely run out of energy. It didn't matter any longer anyway, they now had to destroy that horrible spell, and kill the hero to avenge the Goddess. If he killed one, it meant he was ready to kill another. And she shall not suffer that idea, it was an abomination, an apostasy in its purest form.

Without a care for the seraph, Uriela stepped away to prepare her assault on the hero. That teleportation-blocking barrier was a boon in that regard, as it meant he wouldn't be able to flee without facing monsters. She considered letting both groups face each other and swooping in, but the risk that they were allied was too high.

When she saw Zion, the seraph still looked battle-weary, with her outfit torn in several places. The mechanical arm of the seraph had lost a lot of its bulk, her flag had fallen from its pole, and she looked more frustrated than eager to fight.

"You got beaten by Morrigan."

Zion groaned. "I. Didn't. That bitch was lucky that those sea monsters attacked me beforehand." She clenched her mechanical fist in a loud whirring noise. "I'll make them pay!"

"First, we'll kill the hero. Then we'll fight those monsters. And keep your calm, this is what cost you so much."

Zion silently conceded the point and readied herself. Uriela turned toward Gnosis to see if the third seraph was ready, and Gnosis nodded back in acknowledgement. A second later, the trio took to the sky and started flying at great speed toward Ilias Temple, a grim ambiance surrounding them.

They had to avenge the goddess and Eden if they wanted to even be able to look Micaela straight in her eyes. She wouldn't dare come back again and show her shame in front of the Goddess of Light herself.

It was better to die than to live in disgrace.

"Nobody can destroy this barrier."

"Kyu."

"I'll see what I can manage once we reach it."

Luka and his companions were warily looking around them as they move toward the coast, their weapons drawn. They expected to see one of Kagetsumugi's doll or Black Alice spawn in front of them. After what felt like an eternity, Tamamo pointed eastward.

"Be ready. We've got Uriela and two of her companions coming in a minute."

Luka was slightly relieved to know it wasn't Black Alice, although he knew that it wasn't likely the end of it. He summoned the Four Spirits and steadied himself.

"I suppose we can't call to their reason and join force to face Black Alice?"

"Good sense seems particularly lacking in those angels…" Ilias shook her head negatively.

"Me and Neris will take her, keep the seraphim from our back."

Nero twirled his scythe, standing in front of the party. "Now, how to separate them…"

"Easy. Prepare to intercept Uriela. Luka and Granberry, with me."

The trio separated itself and stepped a few meters away. Alma Elma steadied herself and kept her eyes focused eastwards, waiting patiently. Taking the hint, Tamamo, Ilias and Nuruko also placed some distance between them and the other groups. Ilias groaned all the while, but accepted none the less.

"If only there wasn't that stupid barrier, we could have reinforcement flowing in."

"If that barrier wasn't there, we would already be away."

Ilias nodded. "True." She readied her bow. "And I guess that we'd better save our energy for the second wave."

Tamamo shivered. "You're unfortunately right. With a little luck, they'll kill each other…"

She prepared a few barrier talismans as she had guessed Alma Elma's plan. As soon as the beam of light that made the trio of angels showed up, Alma Elma focused her aura on the one she managed to identify as Zion. Her guess proved right, and the furious seraph rushed ahead of her two partners to charge the succubus queen at high speed. The latter managed to dodge the assault, and Granberia got in the seraph's way while Luka attacked her from the back.

At the same moment, Neris and Nero started flying and intercepted Uriela. Scythe and swords clashed against each other in a dance of dazing blows. Gnosis tried focusing on the twins to support her superior, but took a large, explosive proton bullet straight on followed by a triple elemental arrows.

"Redirect primary target: Sealed ancestor."

"KILL HER ONCE AND FOR ALL!" Uriela dodged a series of rapid blows from Neris and a talisman from Nero while counterattacking with a salvo of beam from her flying blades. The heroes managed to dodge them before attacking her again.

The strange mechanical angel deployed several makinas from her body and started raining down projectile after projectile on the trio below her. The barrier deployed by Tamamo was barely enough to hold the first wave, and the trio scattered right afterwards. Gnosis focused on the kitsune, as she was the most monstrous of her opponent. However, another proton bullet from Nuruko's oversized weapon forced her to switch target.

She focused her attention on the small purplish form of Nuruko, but had to block a rain of arrows from Ilias. The small goddess was attacking furiously, shooting arrow after arrow at a supernatural speed at the mechanical angel. Gnosis focused her full fire on Nuruko in hope of taking her down, but the small being used a makina to create a barrier that blocked most of her attacks. She then tried the same on Ilias, but the latter dodged the assaults in an angelic dance, before counter-attacking with her bow.

"Artemis bow, I summon your power!"

The precise instant Ilias unleashed the string, the projectile hit a barrier protecting Gnosis and knocked her back. The mechanical angel could feel Tamamo summon a barrier, and decided to ignore the kitsune for the moment. She exploited a small second of tranquility to check if her allies could support her, but was soon forced to focus back on Tamamo who had thrown several talismans. Gnosis managed to dodged most of them, but still tanked a rain of rock shards, scratching her armor in the process. She counter attacked with all her makinas , raining death on the kitsune who was knocked back by the assault. The kitsune twirled mid air and disappeared, allowing Gnosis to focus again on her two other opponents. The moment she locked Ilias, a spinning fireball hit her from nowhere and knocked her to the ground while trying to pin her. She managed to twist around to free herself from Tamamo's grasp and lifted back to the sky, hoping that her partners would soon be able to support her.

The twins themselves were putting in every effort to simply hold Uriela at bay. Neris's swords was clashing against Uriela's at a speed too fast to the eyes of most, simply leaving orphaned sparks where they clashed. Uriela tried to attack the succubus-like yoma with her additional flying blades, but they were often blocked by Nero's scythe or a few talismans the man used. She attempted to fly away to force them to separate, but both managed to keep up with her pace.

She charged Nero to get intercepted midway by a blade imbued with darkness from Neris. She managed to parry her attack and counter with her own, sending the yoma tumbling for a second. When she attempted to charge Nero, however, she was met with a barrier protecting the man. By the time she broke it, Neris was already on her back, forcing her once more to separate her attention between two opponents.

Zion's predicament wasn't better than hers. While she had healed, the seraph was still exhausted from her earlier fights and was paying her own recklessness dearly. Her mechanical fist barely managed to parry the Succubus Queen's own assaults, and she had to keep moving back to avoid being surrounded by Granberia and Luka. The hero was as determined as ever, and the dragonkin was an opponent she couldn't underestimate.

She sidestepped to avoid Granberia lunging at her and reflexively threw her flagpole backward, parrying an attack that shook through her whole arm. At the same time, she moved back to avoid a series of naturally flowing attack from the hero Luka, and was forced to take the full brunt of Alma Elma's assault. A fire imbued fist hit her on the side, bringing a pained cry from the seraph.

Zion created a blast of energy to kick her opponents back, and tried to use the second of reprieve to heal herself, but convulsed in spams of pleasure when Alma Elma used one of her spell on her. She gave back the succubus her full attention and recklessly attacked her, earning a large gash in her uniform and her flesh. She casted a focused blast from her mechanical arm as she flew further, knocking Alma Elma back to the ground, and finally allowing her to rest a little while assessing the situation.

As she breathed heavily, she suddenly felt something crash into her and knocking her away. She turned to face Morrigan who was grinning heavily.

"Sup' bitch, I'm back!"

Zion snarled at the succubus, but her senses screamed to stay away from her. She looked down to see the hero and his allies focusing on Uriela while Gnosis desperately attempted to move away from her own fight to support either of her allies. There was no sign of Lilith and Tamamo yet, but…

She looked at Morrigan, who was making lewd gestures while grinding herself on her sword. "Come on, give me your best shot!"

Zion groaned and pointed at Morrigan. "Dispel!"

"Wooops!" An aura surrounded the succubus as she was losing her stability, before she revealed herself as Tamamo No Mae. "An actually half-smart move." The kitsune managed to stabilized herself as the spell also revealed the two remaining Lilith Sisters behind her.

"Fuck, we're too slow!"

In a rage Uriela lifted herself from her fight and charged toward Tamamo No Mae, leaving Nero and Neris dumbfounded. In the meantime Gnosis disengaged herself from her own fight to support her leader.

The Archangel attempted to eliminate Morrigan with a barrage of attacks, but Tamamo No Mae stood in her way and tanked it with a barrier. Gnosis also reinforced the assault, but the mechanical angels was held back by Lilith who attempted to tear her apart with a storm of wind blades. In the meantime, Zion's and Morrigan's attacks clashed once again.

And once more, the world was torn in a battle between the interlopers from the two different dimensions.

Luka and his companions were dumbfounded by this turn of event, but they were all too happy to have the opportunity to recover. Neris and Alma Elma seemed disappointed though.

"They left just like that to fight the other ones… This is unreal."

Tamamo cleaned some blood on her outfit. "They're like that. They hate each other so much, they ignore everything and everyone else…" Her eyes narrowed. "This is so stupid… I wonder how I could even support them for any given amount of time."

Ilias pointed at a dot in the sky.

"Here's your answer."

The party looked up to see Black Alice, patiently hovering mid air in a sitting position, her head in her hand as if she was sitting comfortably in an armchair.

"For how long has she been here?"

"I can't tell." The twins prepared themselves. "And I feel like this is going to get worse…"