Occult Lineage: Satanael

Disclaimer: I own nothing except the author created characters and concepts. Thanks to Ranger Red 2.3, Mistycharming, SA June and Sir Perfluous for their OC's used in this fic.

Having followed the pulsating ring to their destination, where Virin's heir was waiting to be found. Unlike earlier that day, the village was booming with activity. Night had fallen in the Underworld when the five rangers arrived in Verdentar; villagers, merchants, mercenaries and more stood in the streets gulping down wine and dancing along to the street performers playing outside an Inn.

"Hard to believe that the future King of House Satan is someone in this Village." Max said as they scoped the area out to determine where the heir could possibly be.

"The ring looks to be pointing to that Inn, can't hurt to head on in." Joe suggested as the other rangers followed his lead.

When they entered the spacious establishment however, they were greeted with the pleasant words of a young man yelling. "No pants backflip!" as he pulled his trousers down around his ankles and attempted to backflip off of the bar, only to end up crashing into a table and spilling the drinks set on it onto the patrons sat at it. A group of big, brutish tough looking Demons stood up and looked at the drunken mess of the red headed man, their faces starting to boil over with anger.

"Please tell me that guy isn't who we're looking for." Ellie groaned looking at the drunken mess.

Unfortunately the young man's Demonic birthmark was on full display and Saya identified it as the mark of House Satan quickly and shook her head in disappointment. "I'm afraid the future of House Satan doesn't look very bright."

As the demons the heir had antagonised stood him up, Nyssa sighed. "I was hoping this would be an easy mission but looks like we'll have to deal with these guys first."

"Could be worse. But let's try not getting in a fight straight away for once." Joe said as he stepped between the Demons and the swaying drunk of a future King the rangers had to protect. "Listen, fellas. Sorry for my friend here, he's had a little too much to drink, so if you'll excuse us." He explained, trying to turn away and leave with Virin's heir in tow.

Unfortunately for him, one of the Demons brought his fist around in a swift roundhouse, hitting Joe squared in the face. Unphased by the punch, the red ranger gave a defeated sigh, Nyssa was right after all. Returning the favour he slammed his fist into the attacker and knocked him back several feet with the blow. Unexpectedly, the Demon staggered and crashed onto the table behind him, which began a chain reaction of the mishaps as revely quickly turned into an all our bar brawl, to which Joe was surprised he had caused all by himself. Unfortunately with all the chaos, he was separated from the heir who stumbled drunkenly through the fighting.

"Great, now we've lost the heir too." Ellie groaned as she ducked under the blows of a Demon before landing an uppercut on the foe's jaw and knocking her opponent several feet into the air with her Vampiric strength, the Demon quickly fell onto a pair of unsuspecting brawlers.

"Guess we'll just have to fight our way through this rabble." Saya suggested as she picked up a nearby chair and crashed it into the last of the initial Demon foes, the piece of furniture breaking apart, leaving her with two broken chair legs to fight with.

"One step ahead of you." Nyssa said as she hopped over the bar and dug through the cutlery hidden below and emerging again with a mound of metal forks in hand.

Without warning, Nyssa began throwing the eating utensils through the air like darts, piercing the skin of the patrons she struck as they let out cries of pain, while she did this, Saya stood in the centre of the Inn with her makeshift clubs, beating down anyone who came near her within an inch of their lives. Amidst the chaos, Max could see the drunken heir stood drinking from a flagon and pumping his fist into the air, egging on the patrons to keep fighting. Pointing him out, the three rangers not fully engaged in the brawl began to run over, ducking and diving as they avoided, Nyssa's fork dart barrage.

Panting, Max looked over to see the Fallen Angel's supply of ammunition being nowhere near empty. "Just how many forks does she have?" He asked as he struggled to avoid the barrage he could only compare to that of a machine gun.

"Let's just hope she runs out of forks before she runs out of targets, she's so focused that she might aim for us next." Joe said as he lead the three over, getting closer as the brawl's participants began to get thinner and thinner.

Lagging behind, the crimson ranger yelped as she was tugged back and to her surprised was pinned by a big wilderbeast of a man between him and the bar, giving her a rotten toothy grin as he spoke to her. Clearly by his breath, he had been drinking a lot. "Gizzus a kiss luv!" He laughed and puckered up.

Needless to say, Ellie was repulsed as she searched the bar with her hand for something she could use to get the slob off of her. She soon put her hand around something, it felt scaley and she was a little grossed out but it'd have to do. "Sure, how about…" She started as she picked up the object and swung it around to strike the man's face. " This!" She called out as she slapped the man hard around the face with what she found to be a huge fish.

The strike incapacitated the man as he went crashing to the ground like a log and Ellie could only watch, stunned to see what she managed to pull off.

As the fight wore down Joe and Max walked over the hopefully unconscious bodies of the patrons and up to Virin's heir, where the latter of the two took the heir's flagon and tipped it out onto the floor.

"Hey, that's mine!" The heir cried out as he ran his fingers through his red hair in distress.

"Well we're cutting you off. Listen, me and my friends need you to come with us. But mind pulling your pants up first?" Joe asked him as he pointed to the Demon's bare legs, the fact he wasn't wearing a shirt was one thing, but no pants was just too much.

"Hey who stole my *hic* pants!?" He asked, completely oblivious to the fact that they were around his ankles.

"They're still around your ankles." The Amber ranger sighed as he and Joe shook their heads in complete disappointment.

"Oh yeah!" The heir exclaimed in excitement as he pulled them back up around his waist. "Hey why's everyone taking a nap?" He pointed out as the two rangers looked out to see the devastation.

Forks stuck in walls, furniture all over was destroyed and the fish Ellie had used to defend herself with earlier was now stuck halfway down one man's throat… The two trembled thinking how she accomplished that. Then a voice came from behind the counter where the Innkeeper had been hiding.

"Oi, you lot better get outta here now or I'll call the guards!" He threatened.

"Pretty sure I beat some guards up but I can't be sure from the pile of bodies around me." Saya said as the other looked to see the large pile up around her as she dropped the battered chair legs she had used as clubs and walked over to her friends as Nyssa and Ellie did the same.

"I think we better stop coming to bars in future." Max suggested.

"Yeah, we're two for two on getting kicked out now." Joe agreed. "Let's just get Mr. future King here sobered up for now."

"I can handle that." Nyssa said as she and the others guided the drunken Prince to a nearby water trough.

"What's your plan Nyssa?" Saya asked.

"Simple." Nyssa said as she took him by the head and dunked it into the trough, waited a few seconds. "Though it might take some time." She explained as the others looked on in shock at her methods.

As she did So, Max's ears pricked up as he picked up the almost inaudible sound of daggers being unsheathed. He quickly looked up to the building and pointed as a group of six figures in crimson leather armour and wearing cowls of the same colour wielding daggers made of a crimson coloured metal.

"Clearly these guys like that colour." Ellie mocked them as they leapt from the roof of the Inn and landed near the other rangers.

"Nyssa, you get him sober, we'll deal with these creeps. Ready guys?" Joe ordered as he and the others brandished their rings.

"Occult Breakout!"

[Occult Circle]

Meanwhile, in the City of Embernis, Xander walked alone on the streets. Like Verdentar, this place was also packed with people celebrating the life of King Virin by partaking in the consumption of his passion. As he walked with his hood up, another person bumped into him.

"Sorry pal, too busy looking at my shoes." A simple but odd apology was given as the person left.

An odd but simple indicator of another Acumen agent out on the street. While bumping into him, the other agent had given him a packet of documents. Quickly ducking into the nearest back alley, he opened the packet and read the contents as his eyes narrowed.

"So, the Crimson Daggers are the ones behind this, should've known. Can't believe they're back in Satan lands, especially after what happened to them. I've gotta warn the others though… They're in big trouble if these guys come after them." He closed the packet up and went to leave, only a figure in crimson leather armour and cowl blocked his path. "Guess I'll have to deal with you first." He said as he struck with his twin wrist blades. Taking down the Assassin instantly.

He turned around as another Crimson Dagger Assassin tried to cut his down with their dagger, only for it to phase straight through Xander as he grinned. "You'll have to do better than that."

That's when he heard an ear splitting high pitched tone ring through the alley. As he tried to cover his ears, he noticed the Crimson Dagger was unaffected. "Great, a frequency that only affects Spirits." He said through gritted teeth as he tried to phase shift again as the Assassin came in with a punch to the face.

Unfortunately whatever was piercing his hearing was also keeping him trapped in the physical realm,meaning he couldn't phase out and took the force of the blow, knocking his off his feet. As he lay with his stomach on the ground, he heard several more footsteps coming toward him as the Crimson Dagger that had got the upper hand crouched over him with their dagger in hand. It was blurry but he saw several more of the Assassins along with another, more regal looking young man holding a glowing spherical object he assumed was the reason he was phase-locked at the moment.

"He'll do nicely." The regal young man spoke, his voice familiar to Xander as the figure crouched down, showing his face to the ranger.

"Wait you're!" The grey ranger realised as the Assassin at his side knocked him halfway unconscious with another punch before he could finish his sentence.

Unfortunately, he would have to leave the rangers to dealing with this threat, hopefully they were having better luck and managed to stop the Crimson Daggers and their mysterious benefactor before it was too late. Hopefully he could contact them when he had the chance and they could regroup to take on the enemy, but only time would tell what fate had in store for the ranger.

[Occult Circle]

In Verdantar, the battle between the rangers and the Crimson Daggers was heating up whilst Nyssa kept her efforts to sober up, or from what it looked like, drown King Virin's heir.

Exchanging blows with the red ranger was an Assassin sporting black accents to his crimson armour. "Give the heir up already! We have you outnumbered." The lead Assassin snarled as Joe parried his opponent's dagger with his Infinity Saber.

"You clearly don't know me and my friends." Joe said as he lashed at the Crimson Dagger's hand with his rapier, knocking the dagger from his hand. "Infinite Slash!" He followed up as a red aura formed around his blade and he drew an infinity loop in front of his foe, leaving traces of energy behind as he did so. Completing it, he pulled back his weapon and lunged at his foe, unleashing a burst of energy from the attack, knocking the lead Assassin to the ground.

Dunking the heir's head back into the water trough, Nyssa groaned as she waited a moment. "Get sober already will you?" She growled, kicking his behind before pulling him out again where the young man gasped.

"Woah where am I?" He asked as Nyssa pulled him to his feet.

"Welcome back to the land of the sober." She said, resisting the urge to laugh at the sorry sight of House Satan's future King.

The soaked heir let out a groan. "Wait I was drunk? Why'd you have to pull me out of that? It's the only good break from this crappy place I can get."

Nyssa shook her head and muttered under her breath. "Looks like the whole 'keeping Satan Kings humble' thing is deeply flawed. Now their next one is a drunkard… Considering their last King though, not a big leap."

"Huh, did you say something?" He asked as Nyssa put a hand to his mouth.

"Keep quiet and let my friends dispose of these Assassins, then we can have a nice long talk. And if you think about talking… I'm going to shove this arrow somewhere you won't like." She threatened him whilst holding one of her arrows up to his face, he nodded quickly.

Back in the fighting, Ellie was in a duel of daggers with one of the Assassins, clashing her vampiric dagger against her opponent's again and again, slowly but surely her opponent's guard broke. With one final downward blow, her weapon cut through both the Crimson Dagger's weapon and seared through their armour. The crimson ranger's foe collapsed to the ground as Ellie lowered her own dagger. "Hah, amateur."

Max wasn't faring as well as his other teammates. His big axe was built for power, not speed. The Assassin swiftly dodged any attacks the amber ranger made, slicing Max with their dagger any chance they got. As sparks flew both left and right from his suit, the Lycanthrope growled at his foe. Tossing his axe to his side, Max called on his beastly abilities and picked the Assassin up effortlessly and threw them into the second story in, leaving a humanoid shaped hole in the wall. Howling in victory, he pumped a fist up in the air. "How do you like that huh?"

The one to face two Assassins at once was Saya, yet as always she was unphased by her attackers. Wanting to end it quickly, she unfurled her demonic wings and took to the sky above her as she channeled her power into her now flaming blue cutlass. Bringing in her wings she fell back toward the ground where the two Assassin's lay below. Extending her leg, she prepared for her signature feint attack, though to her surprise, one of them actually jumped out of the way before she could execute it. She would have to settle for one for now.

"Leviafang Kick!" The blue ranger announced as she quickly switched her leg for her cutlass and slashed through the Assassin, dropping them instantly.

The other Assassin looked on in shock as she turned to face them. "How is using a sword a kick?" They asked as to Saya's surprise, an arrow zipped through the air and struck them in the head, dropping the last of the Assassins to the ground.

Saya looked over at the black ranger, a little annoyed she hadn't been able to finish them off herself. "Hey you know the rule, they ask what part of that's a kick, they die. I just got there first this time." Nyssa shrugged with her hands.

"Lucky." Saya said as the rangers regrouped.

"Alright, great work guys. I bet these are the ones behind Virin's death too. Let's search them before we go for anything useful." Joe said as he came up to Nyssa and the heir. "He sober yet?"

"Yeah, he doesn't smell like it though." She added as she went to help her friends rifle through the defeated Assassin's clothes for proof of who they were after.

Powering down, Joe looked to the young man they were sent to find. His hair was as soaked as his face but he looked to have strong features. The lights from the street illuminated his face and Joe could make out the strong features similar to Virin's and the blue eyes were unmistakable too. "Mind telling me what just happened?" The heir asked, completely oblivious as to what was in store for him.

"Now's not really the time but I'm Joe, these are my friends and the guys we were just fighting. They're Assassins sent here probably to kill us but mostly you. All caught up?" He nonchalantly explained.

"All I got from that was your name… Why exactly do Assassins want to kill me? I mean I'm just a plain old farmhand named Satanael, nothing special about me." He explained to the red ranger as the other rangers came up to the two.

"I think I can explain that." Saya said as she handed Joe a note.

Taking it, he read its contents. The writ detailed a contract that incriminated the Crimson Daggers in the Assassination of those who would get in the way of a particular individual's ascension to the Satan throne. The targets listed each ranger's names and the primary target, Satan's heir. Though it was fortunate they didn't have his name, otherwise Joe and the other might not have made it in time.

"And this one." Max handed off a letter this time.

Reading it, it detailed everything they needed. It appeared that the Crimson Daggers were contracted by none other than Virin's nephew Azzaros to kill his uncle and his subordinates. In return, they would be once more allowed to operate in Satan lands again, along with a hefty sum as thanks from the new King for assisting in his ascension. The icing on the cake was that both write and letter were penned and signed by Azzaros, even bearing his Seal of Nobility. Either the Crimson Daggers were too stupid or overconfident in their abilities to keep this evidence on them. Either way, it seemed that the rangers had all they needed to arrest the one responsible. Now they just needed to keep Satanael safe and return to Valeflame Palace with him in tow.

"Nice work everyone." He said before turning his attention to Satanael. "Listen, we'll catch you up but we should find somewhere to hide out until tomorrow. Know anywhere like that?"

"Okay, but keep the girl who nearly drowned me and threatened me with an arrow as far away as you can please." He requested as he glanced at Nyssa, with a worried look.

Joe sighed. "Okay, Nyssa, please play nice would you?" He added, only receiving a shrug in return from the Fallen Angel. Honestly, after everything that happened that night, from the bar fight, to the Crimson Daggers and Nyssa almost drowning the future King, he was done, a shrug would have to do for now.

"Alright, follow me." Satanael waved them on as they trailed behind him, unaware that elsewhere, their friend was in grave trouble…

[Occult Circle]

Elsewhere, Xander lay slumped in the corner of what to him was a familiar dungeon. He was imprisoned in a special cell inside Valeflame Palace. As he lay helpless, unable to phase thanks to the magic reinforcing the walls of his prison, he stare hopelessly at his hand as he fiddled with the old silver Denarius between his fingers. It helped to calm his nerves in such a tight space as he reflected on the events leading up to his incarceration here.

Once he was beaten, he had been hauled before Valeflame Palace by Azzaros and thrown before everyone where the High Demon had declared him Virin's assassin and presented the poison used to kill Virin for all to see. It didn't take long for everyone present to see the scapegoat and take Azzaros' words as truth. That was it then, no fair trial, just a declaration. Xander was to be executed tomorrow at noon for all to see. Since he was a Spirit, he was to be killed with a soul harvester. A type of scythe weapon that decimates the very soul, the process was said to be agonising and painful.

"I'm sorry Dad, Mom. I'm going to die a criminal… I'll bring shame one our family. I failed you both." He muttered. He didn't have much hope of getting out of this, any if the rangers didn't make it against the Crimson Daggers.

That's when it hit him. In all the haste, his accusers had forgot to remove his Occult ring. Looking at the unassuming object on his finger her remembered the day, only a short while ago that he had joined the Occult rangers in their mission. Joe gave him an Orbal communication stone. Perfect for contacting the others in a situation like this.

Raising it close to his mouth, he spoke into it and activated it. "Hey, is anyone listening. It's Xander… I'm in serious trouble."

[Occult Circle]

Back in Verdentar, the ranger's had settled into Satanael's hut and had just finished catching the soon to be King up with everything, even showing him the letter Joe had received as proof.

"Woah, so you're all telling me that I'm King Virin's son?" Satanael asked. They all nodded. "As in, recently dead meaning I'd be taking the Throne, King Virin?" They all nodded again. "Woah this is a lot to take in."

As he sat back in his chair at the table, Saya came over with worrying news. "Everyone. Xander just contacted me. He's been captured and they're holding him responsible for Virin's death. He's scheduled to be executed tomorrow at noon."

"What? Who'd accuse him like that!?" Max growled, slamming his hand on the wooden table.

"One guess. Azzaros." Joe determined. "Only a snake like him would gain from framing someone else like that. We've gotta get there and stop this before that bastard gets away with this." He said before turning to Satanael. "Look, I know how you might feel right now. You don't look the responsible type. Honestly after one night, I doubt anyone here, including yourself would trust you to run a business, let alone a country. Sorry, maybe that was a little uncalled for but listen, Satanael. You're our only hope at saving our friend. You might like to live a carefree life but everyone's gotta grow up at some point. You're responsible for your people now though. Right now, that includes Xander." He told the future King as he tossed Virin's crystal and tossed it to him. "When you're responsible for something, that's the sign that you've gotta start acting like an adult. But you've gotta make this decision yourself."

Satanael sat awed with the red ranger, surprised someone his aged could talk down to him with that kind of wisdom. It stirred something inside of him, confusing, conflicting feelings about what he should do. "I- Sorry, I'm just not sure yet. Let me think on it, I'll answer you soon. Just let me have some time." He apologised as he left to him room for the evening.

"I guess that's it then. If we can't count on him, we'll have to deal with Azzaros ourselves." Nyssa said, clearly having little faith in Satanael.

"I'm not worried." Joe said firmly. "I think that little speech I gave got him thinking. I know he'll do the right thing in the end."

"As stupid as it sounds coming from a Demon in the Underworld, I suppose we should have the same faith in him that you do Joe. If you think he can pull through for us, then we'll believe so too. Hopefully it won't be in vain." Saya said, offering some comforting words.

Unknown to the rangers, Satanael had heard everything as he peered from a crack in his door.

[Occult Circle]

Today, Valeflame Palace's parade ground had become an execution ground as Xander had been led there from his cell. Countless people looked at him, ashamed and angered by him as others called out for blood. He hoped that his friends would make it and resolve this before it was too things seemed to breeze by quickly as he was led to a chopping block where a headsman waited with a soul harvester in hand. Despite the advancement in weapons and punishment. Execution of some species like Xanders were still brutal and medieval in comparison. Unfortunately it was the only way for them to be executed.

With no sign of the other rangers, his hope was quickly deteriorating once more as he was held over the chopping block by House Satan guards as the people cried for blood and Azzaros stood opposite him with a malicious grin. He thought he had won.

Azzarod raised his hand, gesturing for the headsman to raise the soul harvester, who did so instantly. Once this nuisance was taken care of, he could announce himself as the heir and new King of House he had to do was lower his hand and then-

"Stop!" a powerful, commanding voice spoke as to Azzaros' shock, several figures were moving quickly alongside a squadron of House Satan guards.

"What is the meaning of this!?" Azzaros demanded to know as he saw the figures in full view as they came near.

Jasper, the Occult rangers and another man, unkown to him, Satanael himself. The latter of which pointed to him. "There, arrest that guy!" He ordered the guards, who complied without question, grabbing hold of Azzaros. "I pointed to the right guy didn't I?" He whispered to Joe who gave him a thumbs up.

"Hey, let go of me, do you know who I am!?" The noble struggled.

Jasper stepped forward, the manservant looking content as he addressed his Master's killer. "Azzaros of House Satan. It is my pleasure to formally place you under arrest for the crime of High Treason against not only our beloved King Virin but for the conspiracy to assassinate his heir, Satanael Satan."

"Wow, I just got that." Ellie commented. "I bet his dad liked puns way too much to come up with that one." She sniggered.

"Take him away." Jasper added, as the guards took Azzaros away kicking and screaming.

"No! Unhand me! I'm supposed to be King damn you! I'll be back!" He cried as he was carried off into the distance.

Satanael chuckled. "I doubt it." He said as he gestured to Jasper an 'off with his head' motion.

Joe was a little disturbed by how easily he ordered that, he hoped it was a joke but if it wasn't he knew it would make others question crossing Satanael in future at the least. He and the others helped Xander to his feet as the headsman lowered his weapon and left with the now dispersing crowd. With no blood to be shed, the populace soon lost interest.

"Thanks guys. Cut it a little close though." He said, relieved that justice had prevailed and thankful that he could count on the others if he ever got in a pinch again.

"Well we would've come sooner but Satanael wanted to make an entrance." Ellie joked with him.

"I'm just glad this whole thing's over now." Xander said, giving a big relieved sigh maybe a little too over the top as his friends laughed.

"You and me both, After the few days we've had, I'm ready to go back to Earth."

"About that Joe." Satanael interrupted them. "I was wondering if you'd all stay a little longer, I'd like to keep the people responsible for getting me this far here till my coronation at least. I owe you big after all."

"Maybe he could help out with our Cult problem, it helps to have friends in high places after all." Saya said to them as the group started to head back to the Palace.

"I guess we could stay a little longer." The red ranger decided, after all what else could possibly happen?

[Occult Circle]

After a few days, The coronation of King Satanael Satan finally took place, with the rangers taking a front row seat at the main event. The rangers found it a dull and long event consisting of a lot of traditions as Regent that Satanael had to properly execute.

Eventually however, Jasper placed the brilliant red crown upon Satanael's head and addressed the congregation in the Throne room. "Presenting, King Satanael Satan, Head of House Satan and your Leige. Hail King Satan!"

"Hail!" The crowd exclaimed as a rumble of applause came from throughout the hall.

"Now my King." Jasper said as he turned to the newly crowned Monarch. "Address your people however you wish."

"Okay." He nodded. Standing up Satanael looked among the crowd, a little nervous but then saw Joe and the others in the front seat, wearing supporting smiles. "I want to thank my new friends, the Occult rangers for bringing my father's killers to Justice and finding me to take his place. I know nothing about being a King but as a favour to them... My first act as King is to offer a formal alliance to House Leviathan!"

He watched as applause turned to shocked gasps and then a completely silent room. "Was it something I said?" He asked, completely oblivious to what he had just declared.

[Occult Circle]

That evening, after all had settled down, the new King stood at the foot of his Throne with the rangers stood opposite him.

"That was something King Satan, you really didn't realise what you said back then?" Ellie asked, finding the situation hilarious.

"He was a farm boy until a few days ago. I'm not surprised he didn't realise the situation. It's good of you to offer my father an alliance but please be careful with the power you wield. None of the Great Houses have ever made such an alliance before. To do so would tip the balance of power drastically. But we appreciate it, with the threat of the Abyssal Cult and the plan for invasion of the Underworld. When they do so maybe your actions today will help unite the other Houses to combat them, whenever they do surface."

"Well, looks like I didn't screw up too bad on my first dey, right?" He asked with a slight laugh. "There's one last thing I'd like to ask Joe, before the day's over." He said, unexpectedly grabbing the red ranger's hand and dropping down to one knee.

"Uh, guys what's going on?" Joe asked, worried as the others looked as the sight before them.

"I was told this was an Earth custom. Anyway, I don't know if I'm cut out for this. But you, you're pretty smart and you knew just what to say to get me to make the right choice. You're pretty easy on the eyes too." He added with a wink.

"Wait is he proposing to you!?" Max blurted out as the others took in the sight, not sure how to react to this.

"Wow you sure jinxed it with that 'what else could go wrong?' a few days ago Joe." Ellie grinned at him, the red ranger could only look at the King wide eyed.

"I agree, this is on you Joe, enjoy figuring this out." Nyssa said as she walked off leaving him to deal with this awkward situation.

"So, what's your answer Joe, I know what I want, do you want it too?" Satanael asked, but Joe's stunned silence wasn't what he expected.

Before any answer could be given, Saya came over and broke the King's hold on Joe's hand and pulled the red ranger away. "Sorry, but he's already taken." She said, getting between the two in case Satanael tried to make any more moves on Joe.

"Ah, my bad." Satanael apologised, brushing the back of his head as he stood up. "I didn't realise it was like that. If you ever change your mind though Joe, my door's always open." He said with a wink, Saya clenched her fists, almost ready to jump him at this point. "But please, you're welcome to stay here for a little while, a reward I guess for everything."

"I guess we could" Joe said. "I mean it isn't like the world's going to end if we take a week's vacation in the Underworld."

|Occult Circle|

Assassin's Guild - The Crimson Daggers - True to their namesake, these Assassins were once a prominent Guild in the employ of House Satan. However, a botched contract led to their disgrace and banishment from Satan lands, now they are travelling Assassins, dreaming of one day returning to employ end prestige within the courts of Demon nobility. Unfortunately due to their profession, they have become long time rivals of the secret organisation Acumen, who haven't been kind with their rivalry against these Assassins.

That's chapter 34. Now, I know I promised this and more last October and for those who haven't read by now, it was unfortunately out of my control. I'll be making up for it of course by giving you those chapters that were missed out on then which will almost finish the last major arc of this portion of the series.

So, to make up for recent filler chapters this one had a fair bit of action and I'm pretty sure I went a little crazy with it but I love it. The rangers got a powerful ally out of this too, who will no doubt be instrumental in lending his aid to the rangers as the Abyssal Cult begins to crawl out of the shadows. That last line from Joe was a nod to my friend Sir Perfluous and his series PR: Advent Horizon, since this chapter takes place around the time the world almost ended thanks to that series' villains. If you haven't checked it out, why are you still reading this? Oh, the synopsis, right. Okay, thanks for reading, later everyone!

Next Chapter: Occult Interval 3: Stormy Horizon

Synopsis: After returning to Earth, the rangers hear the news of the Advent rangers' success against their foe, only for Michael to arrive shortly with grave news as the Cult prepares to return and enact their plans against the Underworld and Earth. As the rangers prepare to leave for the heart of the rising conflict, they spend their last day of peace in different ways, some with their families and others gathering allies. However, they are also joined in this upcoming conflict by a very familiar face. And finally, the traitor reveals themselves. Next time on Power Rangers: Occult Circle.