In the next chamber, they stood in a place inside the fake Paradiso where the winds seemed to fluctuate randomly.
"So these self proclaimed major angels...they have the powers of the elements, I assume." Uriel said.
"Yes, and the one who controls wind is the Cardinal of Temperance, Temperantia, also known as the Manipulator of Winds." Simon said. "Though for an angel, he is more mechanical in appearance." he said as they soon found themselves at an airbase.
"Then he is not really an angel. Just some mechanized contraption." Uriel said. "Either way, it is getting destroyed. Besides, it's just a corpse of something that should be dead anyway."
"Wow… she does not mince words, does she?" Hope asked Sheer.
"The angels who protect the Sky Universe take their jobs very seriously." Sheer said. "While you call them angels where you come from, they have no traits of real angels here. So you can see why they are considered false."
"Oh, so she just doesn't know, and refuses to hear anything otherwise." Mark said. "...I don't think I like her."
"On that we agree." Simon said.
"I don't mind you talking trash about me, but you could wait till I'm out of earshot." Uriel said.
"Please don't push this anymore than it…" Sheer said. "Get ready to fight. I think it's near."
Multiple miniature cyclones soon swirled around each other before forming into a figure similar to Fortitudo except there was no face on his chest as he now sported large gauntlets.
"Tempermentia, or at least a cheap imitation of you." Simon said.
"Ahhh...the Umbra Warlock, Simon Neptune." Temperantia spoke. "Such beautiful eyes… despite being of the opposite gender, you bear a great deal of resemblance towards Bayonetta, don't you?"
"Should I feel flattered or creeped out? But yes, it's because I've inherited her powers as an Enhanced." Simon said.
"You seem a bit more friendly than your buddy." Hope said. "Listen, I know you believe we're in Paradiso right now. But something weird is going on in this place. It's like you guys are here, but you've actually been dead for thousands of years."
"So tell us, who is pulling yours and your buddies strings?" Simon asked.
"While my comrades and I were spending our eternity banishined in Inferno because of the Umbra Witch, one day something unusual happened. A being not of light nor darkness came before each of us, and offered us a second chance. He had asked us to be this place's guardians, in exchange for viewing this sanctum as how we view our realm." Temperantia said.
"So...you're aware that…" Jexi said.
"Yes...however...we cannot see the bodies of our comrades. It...does not feel right. Wait...is...anything I'm saying right?" Temperantia pondered. "No matter...you all...must...perish."
"Seems the puppetmaster has decided talking time is over." Simon said as he pulled out Onyx Roses. "Let's finish this quickly then."
"Come on!" Temperantia called before charging in and separating the group with one of his giant gauntlets punching. He then formed one of the knuckles into a revolving cannon and fired at the group all around.
"Take out his arms!" Hope called.
"AFFA TADAAG NAPTA!" Simon chanted as he danced and summoned Hekatoncheir as two of his many hands proceeded to pull one of the revolving gauntlets off.
"I see...so he can summon demons. Interesting." Uriel said as she watched Simon tear the large angel apart piece by piece.
Once Temperantia lost both his gauntlets, it was believed that he had no means of attack. However, that assumption was proven false. He suddenly grew two human arms from the stumps on his shoulders as if they almost were hidden inside his body.
"Egh!" Ristarte groaned. "That's disgusting!"
"Did you know he could do that, Simon?" Ethox asked.
"No, I saw nothing in Bayonetta's memories of him that could do that." Simon said, slightly shocked. "Seems this being gave him an upgrade."
"Fat lot of good it'll do him, though." Mark said. "Listen, guys, do you mind if I get the final blow? There's something I want to try."
"By all means, feel free." Simon said.
"Thanks." Mark said before he started flying towards Temperantia. "(I only got one shot, so make it count!)"
The group saw Mark's eyes turn pure white as he got closer and closer to the angel.
"Well, he's in Angel Form." Eddy said. "What's he doin'...?"
"(Here goes nothing!)" Mark said. "Angel Form, plus…!"
The group then witnessed Mark's arms glowing, before they were covered with a gold-colored metal.
"...Vajra Form! Get ready to hurt!" Mark said as he reached striking distance of the angel, attacking with a flurry of blows, all aimed at Temperantia's face.
For five seconds, the assault continued, hitting the Auditio at blinding speed until he reared his right arm back and, with a clenched fist, punched with all his might, knocking Temperantia to the ground, his face now cracked, close to breaking.
"You've...done well….but...you must listen...your enemy is…" he spoke before a large skeletal arm rose from the ground. "No...my time has come. Understand...the enemy here...is paradise." he spoke before the arm dragged him deep under the ground.
"The enemy is paradise…" Hope said.
"I dunno about you guys, but that definitely sounds like a clue for us to figure out this dungeon's true master." Grantz said.
"He also mentioned that the being that brought them back is not of light nor darkness." Simon added.
"But that arm belongs to a skeleton, which is clearly an undead, a dark monster." G. Aqua mentioned.
"We can't fully know that for sure until we confront the two remaining Auditio." Simon said. "Hopefully they have more pieces to this puzzle."
"Yes...we're halfway through with only two left." Uriel said.