Sins of the Past

The vacant halls of Loegres castle were under deathly silence. Qingu, the leader of the first Seraphim, walked between the broken chairs and shattered shields scattered all around the castle's corridor. With an all-knowing smile, he navigated toward the king's chamber and stopped in front of the empty throne.

Qingu paused, pondering the violent events of human history, as he witnessed it thousand years ago before he was sealed deep. "Those vermins haven't changed. They wage war for a passing chance of sitting on this wooden chair," He sat carefree on the throne, crossing a leg over the other and putting a hand under his chin. He snickered under the scarlet moon. "Pathetic creatures."

Footsteps broke the silence as someone ambled toward him. Qingu looked at the female seraph that entered the chamber with a smile of recognition; Kayda, the seraph of fire and his second-in-command. Her crimson longhair blended naturally with the scarlet moon and her exposing dress flowed between her legs as she ambled calmly and stopped in front of Qingu.

"The assault on the Empyrean's Throne was a success," Kayda reported. " Maotelus has been stripped of his connection to the main earthpulse. He was forced to sacrifice his true form to close the earthpulse and his silver flame is no threat to our armies. But…" Her voice hardened alarmingly in displeasure. "Velvet Crowe devoured Ethniu. The assassin failed at killing her children, and Avernus cut down Goll in the city. Balor also fell in the battle against Maotelus."

Qingu was calm and dismissed her concern. "The Fomorian casualties are of no concern. Their efforts were not in vain. My plan was a success."

Kayda shook her head slightly in distraught at Qingu's uncaring answer. " Vassan has been injured by Zenrus," Kayda continued. "But Eclipse is tending to his wounds. She is reverting him into his normal form with the Tablet of Destinies you gave her to seal the earthpulse." Kayda waited for Qingu's reaction to the news. Instead, he chuckled in amusement.

"So, Maotelus forced Vassan into his dragon form. That is impressive for a fledgling, but Vassan will be fine. The Tablet holds power to death and life. Eclipse knows our mother's gift better than any of us. I have full faith in her as I did with our mother."

Kayda raised her hand and clawed her fingers. Her long and pointy nails glowed in the colour of blood. "What about Zenrus? I suggest we send Raijin and deal with him immediately before he becomes a serious threat to our plans."

"I need Raijin to devour Amenoch and capture the Water temple. Zenrus is not stupid but he is a coward to directly challenge us. We will deal with him after our seraphim brethren retake their domains from the Empyreans."

Watching the inconsiderate reaction from Qingu, Kayda's bent horns glittered above her crimson hair as she stepped closer in protest and further frustration. "Why is Avernus still alive? You could've finished him off easily, but you're dragging it on as if it's a game to you." Kayda suspected Qingu of an untold plan. "Tell me, brother, how he was able to kill Goll when he had no power from the Empyreans?"

Qingu smiled intently. " That's why I decided against killing him."

Kayda bared her teeth slightly in anger. "Why?"

"Avernus managed to awaken the power of the Eternal Blade and combined both Caliburn and Excalibur without any prior knowledge of the arte. This is the reason I know I can bring him back or… any part of him that lingers in that human body," Qingu said.

Kayda growled. "There is nothing left of him. Susanoo is long gone, Qingu."

Qingu smiled in confidence. "How much do you know about the human Claudin Asgard?"

"Avernus' father, the head of exorcists and the previous king that lived for three hundred years? What about him?" Kayda asked.

Qingu turned his attention to a large painting of king Claudin that was partially illuminated by the scarlet moon, near the throne on the wall. "Do you know why he extended his life with an oath to never kill anyone?"

"No," Kayda said, placing a hand on her hip, looking impatient.

Qingu rose from the throne and walked closer to the painting, locking his hands behind his back and looking up at Claudin's portrait. "Because he was scared."

"Scared of what?"

Qingu turned to Kayda with a sideways smile. "His blood. Being a Shepherd is a double-edged sword. The power he and his ancestor carried can be a curse or a gift; the power to surpass even god and devil," Qingu paused as his voice growled, "Susanoo gave it to humanity to deal with the Innominat and the empty hope that they can understand Seraphim. Claudin's great grandfather, Meliodas, waged wars and fell to the temptation of the unlimited power of our blood, but he was weak and couldn't use it to its full potential. Claudin killed a lot of people too when he was busy reuniting the kingdoms, but his soul had no capacity for more malevolence. He made an oath not to kill any living creature to avoid falling."

"Death was preferable to falling to malevolence," Kayda mumbled, then her eyes flashed, widening. "Avernus carries the same blood too, but it doesn't mean that's still Susanoo lingering somewhere in his soul."

"Correct, however," Qingu said, turning fully to Kayda. "Avernus had a bottomless capacity to hold malevolence at bay when he travelled with mother. She was sure that the time had come for her to retake what was hers; Susanoo's soul. The Innominat was going to be taken care of. There was no need for Shepherds to exist."

"Then why didn't the mother do it herself?"

"Mother Tiamat hid it from Avernus and instead, presented it to him as an offer. She waited for him to become complete and wanted him to accept it willingly, but she underestimated the bond Avernus shared with Velvet Crowe. But I'll use that bond against them."

Kayda's draconic eyes glittered in surprise. "You intend to turn Avernus into a daemon?! But he already proved to be resistant to malevolence."

"The term 'daemon' is very basic. He will be much more." Qingu looked at the scarlet moon, grinning malevolently. "He was resilient, but little did they know, helping Velvet Crowe harbouring that ocean of malevolence will birth to the true Lord of Destruction, the one and only who has the power to bring an end to humanity and their wretched existence."

Kayda levelled a skeptical gaze. "How can you be sure that he will turn tonight? If what you say about him is true being complete, then there is no way his soul would surrender to malevolence."

"The arte that I used didn't kill him, but it will amplify the malevolence he takes from sharing Velvet Crowe's bond to an infinite. Don't worry, sister, he will be ours soon enough."

Kayda joined him near the balcony, looking at the moon. "What about the human Lancelot?"

"He will continue to serve his purpose. As of now, he is waiting to face Avernus in one-on-one combat. The trap is set."

"Lancelot has no chance against Avernus. He will get killed ."

"A necessary sacrifice of my pawn. This is my king's gambit as I granted him the power of the Berserker."

Kayda turned fully to Qingu. "You did what?!"

Qingu grinned ear to ear in satisfaction. "Lancelot had a hidden insurmountable rage inside of him. He is strong, yet, not strong enough to beat Avernus. I simply presented him with a "boost" so can last long enough for Avernus to break his limit and succumb to the power out of desperation."

Qingu left for the castle's interior and disappeared into the darkness as his voice became a whisper. "I have a new order for you; take Eclipse and Vassan to Titania and make preparations to activate the island."

Kayda turned to the darkness behind her. "Do you think we will be that desperate?"

"With Velvet Crowe still alive, nothing is certain. But in any case, I want to make sure Eclipse is far away. She is not to meet Avernus under any circumstances. Do you understand?"

Kayda bowed slightly as her body disappeared into shining pearls of crimson dust, trailing far away into the scarlet night.

Behind the gates, Avernus and Max sneaked past the unguarded towers of the castle, moving silently in the shadows.

Avernus sized up the castle defences' strength. There were none. "Something doesn't feel right."

Max placed his lute back into his bag and kneeled beside Avernus. "They even left the gate open as if they were waiting for someone."

"It's a trap, obviously," Avernus turned to Max. "Turn around and get away from here."

Max felt the weight of his gaze. Avernus knew the fear of death in Max's heart. Max gulped and corrected his hat before letting out a pent-up breath, fighting his urge to run away. "I promised to see this through. Trap or not, it's a part of history and I want to witness it. No more running away."

Avernus recognized his determination and dropped the subject. "As you wish. But avoid being seen and leave the fighting to me." He stood up and continued toward the enormous opened gate, with Caliburn on his shoulder and holding Artorius' sword by its sheath in his left hand.

"Before you go," Max said and Avernus stopped. "From that determination, I guess you know the reason Dragonia house is doing this, and it has ties to your fiance, doesn't it?"

"The 'cycle' ends tonight," Avernus replied vaguely. "Humanity must be better than this."

"What cycle? Better than what-"

"Revenge." Avernus cut Max and continued toward the gate.

Max bafflingly followed Avernus as he stepped into the courtyard. He understood a great deal of fear behind Avernus' sturdy and composed look.

Avernus spotted a lonesome figure, standing on top of the stairs in a full clad armour. No other soldiers were insight.

"Lancelot."

Max observed the two warriors. Lancelot's intimidating presence cast a glooming doubt on Max's soul and turned to Avernus, watching him fearlessly moving up the stairs.

"The traitor is finally here," Lancelot glared at him, feeding his hate as the red moon cast his shadow long down the stairway.

Lancelot unsheathed a ceremonial sword and raised it. "As the last surviving member of Dragonia family, I shall cast your judgement" He pointed the sword at Avernus, "For the crimes of murdering house Dragonia's youngest heirs, treason to the empire of Midgand and conspiring with daemons, I sentence you and your family, including your children, to death!"

Max raised his arms and yelled as he stepped closer in anger, "The audacity! You are the one who's trying to usurp the throne! You're the one who's murdering innocent people! I will make sure your name goes down in history as a spineless crazed man! You're an idiot by sentencing a man who spent the last year mending what Artorius Collbrande reduced to nothingness based on empty accusations!"

Lancelot's eyes turned to Max. "A foreign man, you say. You're sure quick to take his side when you don't even know him. Then you have no idea whose's side you're taking. He is not a foreign man, he is a bastard son of a failed king. Isn't that right… Avernus Asgard?!"

Max frowned upon hearing the name of Asgard instead of Diphda. "Asgard?!" He turned to Avernus to see his reaction but he didn't show any signs of denying it. " Then the rumours were true. He is truly an Asgard!" Max surprisingly felt a boost of motivation and disappointment for Avernus hiding his true identity at the same time.

Lancelot shifted his eyes back at Avernus, pinning him under a furious gaze, "I will let the world know that you cowered behind Diphda's name to mask your wretched intentions, murderer," Lancelot walked down, throwing away the ceremonial sword and picking up a large hammer with his two hands that were laid against a column. "For this new world to be reborn, I will destroy the Asgardian bloodline and your family. I will purge those black stains from this world, as Oscar and Teresa would've wanted!"

Max struggled with his emotions. Was it fate to meet a true descendant of an Asgard? But what did it serve when they were at the death's door? Max thought that Avernus was going to give Lancelot a heroic speech. Of how his accusations were wrong and how he was going to stop Lancelot and bring peace as Claudin would do.

Max was dead wrong.

Avernus gazed murderously at Lancelot. "I'm going to destroy you…"

Lancelot stopped and Max's eyes widened at Avernus' new and heavy tone of voice.

"And the world you are about to bring into a piece.' Max saw Avernus' blond hair glittered in a faint silver light as it was losing its colour. "You can beg with me, plead with me to stop, cry out that's all you hold dear or how your brother and sister were innocent…"

Lancelot gritted his teeth in anger. "What did you say-"

"I'd just love to see you reduced to wailing in tears. Whimper to me how much you suffered because of Oscar and Teresa's deaths, or how this world is going to be destroyed." Avernus paused and smirked. "Go ahead and try."

Lancelot jumped high and raised his battle hammer above his head, losing all his composure. "Shut up!"

Avernus sidestepped easily as the Lancelot hammer smashed the empty ground. The force of the impact shattered the stairs and a big crack stretched down toward Max's feet as he lost control and fell on his back.

Lancelot quickly turned on his heels and threw his arm and his hammer. Avernus with a quick whip of his hand unsheathed Artorius' sword and stopped Lancelot's enormous battle hammer in mid-air by raising it at the last second, as their weapons locked against each other with a loud bang.

Avernus glared into Lancelot's eyes. "I'm going to look down on you when you're snivelling and weak after you threatened my family."

Max observed the two men fighting with great interest and tried to come up with the reason behind the whole ordeal. " Avernus is doing all this for his wife and kids, and Lancelot is for his brother and sister … revenge. It's like, Avernus is trying to burden that woman… Velvet's sins of the past all by himself."

Lancelot pushed further against Avernus' guard. "I will not show mercy to the monster and her offsprings that killed my little brother! Especially not to you, son of Asgard!"

Lancelot's hammer broke Avernus' guard. Avernus jumped back, dodging the strike as the hammer crashed into the ground with force.

Lancelot swung the weapon with great power at Avernus instantly. Avernus evaded the attack as the hammer demolished the wall near him. They reached the top side and another swing brought down a stone column.

As Lancelot raised his hammer, Avernus' eyes predicted the path of the strike and slashed at the weapon. The hammer was sliced off from the handle and it hurled against a stone wall, crushing and bringing it down.

Lancelot threw the broken rod as Avernus jumped high, raising both swords to finish him. Lancelot guarded his face with his gauntlets as Avernus' blades hit the metal, nearly cutting the iron.

Max was awestruck by Lancelot's power as he stood his ground against Avernus' attack.

"I trained my little brother since he was ten! I healed his wounds whenever he was careless! I stayed all night when he fell ill!" Lancelot's furious eyes teared up, "And that woman took him from me! My noble Oscar!"

"Your brother enslaved innocent people and turned them into experimental subjects for the Abbey! Tell me," Avernus gazed into Lancelot's eyes, speaking in a composed and low voice. "What noble soul would agree to see people suffer?"

Lancelot's gauntlets flared up like burning lava. He howled in anger and released a heat blast that pushed Avernus away with a strong push. Lancelot raised his burning hands and clawed his melting gauntlet. Avernus recognized the demonic arte that imbued Lancelot's arms with otherworldly flames.

"A dark arte. So, you had a deal with the devil…"

Lancelot extended his open hand to the side and a long sword obeyed his command and flew to his hand. The blade immediately lit up in a blaze and he held it in a battle stance as the metal began to melt and drip on the ground, burning spots on the tiles with sizzling sounds. "I don't care what will happen to me as long as I kill you all. The thought of you standing by my side and acting that you were my friend disgusts me. All this time, you knew about the murder of my brother and pretend as nothing happened. All to have the Empire to yourself."

Lancelot pounded at Avernus and slashed his flaming sword left and right. Avernus dodged the flurry of his attacks while the blades cut and burned the bushes, trees and walls around them. Max ran up the stairs and took cover behind a ruined pillar. He could see the flames rising out of Lancelot's hands and spotted smokes of malevolence trailing from his back. "Lancelot is turning into a daemon!"

Avernus trapped the final strike between his swords, but Lancelot used all his power to push him down and Avernus' boot dug into the ground as if a mountain was weighing down his body.

"I wanted to kill Velvet Crowe and your children with my own hands. I went to Baskerville's rat hole and ended her treacherous life and her crew. But that wasn't as satisfying as I wanted!"

Smokes scattered from each corner of Lancelot's mouth and his eyes began to darken.

As Max focused on Lancelot's slow transformation, another wave of new malevolence triggered his senses. His eyes shifted to Avernus and spotted his hair losing all of its colours, leaving just the tips. "You'll be dead before I let you approach Velvet!"

A wave of dreaded feeling washed Max's heart as he saw Avernus' eyes begin to emit a blue hue. Max shook his head. "No, no, no!"

Avernus' voice turned to growl as his double swords began to crush Lancelot's flaming sword and suddenly, the blade shattered into molten pieces.

Avernus raised his swords and prepared to enact his newfound arte. "Star Beast Strike-!"

But the swords didn't obey him and they remained docile. Avernus looked in disbelief at his swords, getting distracted.

Max suddenly spotted Lancelot's breath turning into a growl as his muscles began to grow and pieces of his broken armour began falling off, revealing pumped muscles and dark veins popping under his skin.

"Watch out!"

Lancelot used the distraction and picked off a fallen stone column from the ground with ease. "You are solely responsible for all death and misery when you took her side." Lancelot's voice began to turn demonic, losing nearly all signs of being human as he brought down the column.

Avernus raised a guard with his swords but the weight of the column smashed him against the ground, disappearing beneath the rubble.

Lancelot walked to a nearby cracked wall and with an inhuman pull, brought it down on top of where Avernus was entombed.

"I will bury you completely, Avernus, the earth will turn over a thousand times before your body is dug up!"

Then suddenly, a large chunk of stone was picked off and hurled instantly from where Avernus was and the stone hit Lancelot, shattering into hundred pieces as he was thrown to the back.

"What?!"

Max gulped in fear as he witnessed Avernus rising with his eyes completely in bright blue. Max then spotted a series of tribalistic tattoos appearing from his waist up underneath his vest and stretched beside both sides of his neck.

Lancelot clenched his black fists as his eyes sank into a deep black and broke into a frenzied sprint. "Why won't you die!"

Avernus took off with a breakneck speed and after a quick dash, they met and locked their fists. The ground shook beneath their feet and waves of malevolence energy swept the area.

The two men wrestled, each pushing on against another. Lancelot's hatred and fury fueled the bulging dark veins in his body and he was seemingly triumphant. "I am going to kill you, and then I will use your corpse to plunge Velvet Crowe once more into the depth of despair!"

Max clenched his chest. The malevolence radiating from Lancelot was too much for anyone to bear. But then, he felt another force, even thicker and stronger than Lancelot's corruption, begin to push away against it. The air was filled with electricity. Max discovered the source to be Avernus' body, with his eyes, hair, and tattoos began to even brighten up in blue colour.

"I won't let Velvet… to be sad… ever, again."

Lancelot's burning arms failed him and struggled against Avernus' hold as they started to shake uncontrollably. Avernus pulled Lancelot's arms down and brought his head back before headbutting Lancelot.

Lancelot grabbed his forehead with a cry of pain, stumbling back.

"How you-!"

Avernus stepped forward and with each step, the ground cracked underneath. "I will burn all my life, Lancelot! To kill you!" Avernus' fist thundered as he smacked Lancelot's face in a quick punch, breaking his bones.

Blood splattered across the ground and it streaked from Lancelot's nose and mouth. Before Lancelot could recover, Avernus landed another strong and vicious punch directly into the other side. Avernus' fist glowed in blue and his knuckles left everlasting marks as they crushed Lancelot's face, followed by a fast punch to his guts.

Lancelot bent over his fist and vomited blood, struggling to keep the balance of his hulking body.

"I-I will-"

His muffled voice cut short as a heavy blow from Avernus smacked his jaw and Lancelot was thrown like a ragdoll before hitting and sliding on the ground. Avernus stalked toward him and placed his knee on Lancelot's broken chest and pulled his bloodied fist, with another hand gripping Lancelot's neck.

"Have a taste of your judgment."

The strike hit Lancelot's bruised and bloodied face right in the middle, and another one quickly followed, turning into a flurry of blows after blows.

Max's eyes began to widen in shock and dismay. Avernus' cruelty got to him and he stepped forward. Then, he noticed the aura around Avernus was changed. It turned into something terrifying.

The sound of a man's laughter of satisfaction caught his attention. Max raised his head to see a seraph, standing on the roof, arms crossed and enjoying the brutal scene.

Max sensed the growing new power overtaking all the malevolence in the area. He knew what was waiting for Avernus when he landed the killing blow.

"Stop it." Max pleaded, but Avernus didn't listen or didn't care.

Max suddenly and instinctively broke into a sprint.

"STOP!"

A ball of light stretched between Max and Avernus. He lost his balance and fell to the ground, covering his eyes as the orb stretched and then, a group of people jumped out of it.

"We are in the castle's courtyard," A red-haired girl said.

Another raven-haired girl turned to a young seraph standing beside her. "Good job, Laphicet."

They ignored Max as they all spotted Avernus, standing above Lancelot's beaten body.

"Avernus!"

Velvet's hopeful eyes dimmed, as she noticed his white hair.

Avernus slowly turned to her and she gasped in terror, eyes widening.

Dark gray skin, with shining white eyes and small cracks around his eyes. He showed no emotion and no recognition as he gazed over the team.

Velvet's therion senses were hit by an ocean of malevolence all at once, but this feeling was different from all the malevolence she devoured.

"What happened to you?" Her voice shook in disbelief and shock coming low at first but then raised in desperation, turning to a shout. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!"

Rokurou sized him up and saw a translucent, single horn on the left of his head. "Has he… Is he turning into a daemon?!"

Eleanor's eyes teared up, feeling the worst has finally come. "Why? What happened here?"

Lailah cupped her hands over her mouth and her voice stuttered in denial. "A-Avernus…Y-You…"

Magilou moved beside them, looking furious and annoyed, she yelled. "Look what you did! Didn't I say playing heroics will finally get you into trouble? Didn't I? You idiot!"

Maotelus remained composed and didn't waste a moment, extending his open palm at Avernus, aiming his cleansing arte. "In that case, there is no time to waste… Silver Flame!"

The arte was fired like a massive meteor at Avernus, swirling around its path widely as it was the strongest cleansing arte Maotelus has ever created.

The whirling magic hit Avernus like an ocean wave and turned into a bubble, circling him. But after a few moments, it heaved outward and shattered into specks of spark violently with Avernus heaving and growling in annoyance like a wounded beast.

Maotelus suddenly pulled his hand as he frowned. "It's not working. The malevolence… it is different."

A voice interrupted their efforts.

"Because you are too late."

Everyone whipped their heads at the source.

A tall man levitated down to the ground gracefully. He fashioned slim black and gray pants, with a slim wide-opened coat, wearing nothing beneath. His skin was covered with tribal tattoos. The texture of his outfit was woven into spikes around his shoulders and collar with his pants following the same pattern on the sides.

"It is a great feeling to finally meet you under these dire circumstances."

Eizen tried to grasp the situation, studying the domain that stretched all around them. "That's a seraph. Like the one we fought."

"I'm Qingu," He grinned, his eyes liting up. "The eldest son of Tiamat and I'm here to take him…" He stood beside Avernus and placed a kind hand over his shoulder. "Back where he belongs."

Velvet suddenly came back to his senses and gripped her fists. "Get your filthy hands off of him!"

Qingu tilted his head to the side and looked pitifully at Velvet. "Of whom? My brother?"

"He is not your brother!" Lailah screamed in protest.

Magilou locked her hand behind her head while moving a lollipop nervously in her mouth in boredom. "This seraph is more talkative and what a surprise! He is in delusion. Quiet a colourful bunch, I say."

"It's not Avernus I'm talking about," Qingu turned to Avernus' whitened eyes that stared blankly. "I'm talking about Susanoo."

"The ancient thunder seraph?!" Eizen turned to Maotelus and he nodded.

"This is nonsense," Maotelus rebuked him. "Despite sacrificing his soul for shepherds to be born, Susanoo is long gone, and he wasn't part of Tiamat's tribe."

Qingu chuckled in amusement. "Is that what you think? Then your knowledge about the dawn of time is much more basic than I thought."

The team paused.

"Know this, little ones: Susanoo and Zenrus were part of us. Susanoo was the one who made sure that we were survived after the great war. When the world was on the brink of destruction by Innominat, he purposefully conversed with mother Tiamat to stop the Innominat, not because he was desperate-"

"I don't care!" Velvet's strident shout interrupted Qingu. "I don't care who the hell Susanoo was or what happened several millennia ago to your bunch or that damned Tiamat." Velvet raised her clenched docile therion hand and the jewel on the ring glowed. "Let Avernus go, or I will tear you apart limb from limb, as I did to countless daemons and seraphs before."

Velvet's emotional outburst bravely in the face of an ancient force of extinction was refreshing and entertaining to Qingu.

"Very well," Qingu left Avernus' side and walked back. Come and take him, if you can.

Without hesitation, Velvet walked toward Avernus in confidence. Suddenly, she was stopped by Eizen holding his arm in front of her. Velvet turned and glared at Eizen.

"Wait, Velvet. Don't get any closer."

Qingu grinned devilishly at Eizen's wit. "I'm eager to see how you can deal with an… Oni."

"An Oni?!" Eizen repeated and gritted his teeth. "Just as I feared."

"Why are you stopping me?!" Velvet demanded in her rough voice.

Rokurou joined them, his hands going near his swords. "If he is an Oni, that means it will be impossible to turn him back."

Eizen's fist glowed with earth magic. "It is best to kill him before he completely turns. That's the safest bet."

Rokurou grabbed both of his swords and started to pull them from their sheathes, emanating metallic noises as his demonic eye turned crimson. "That's fine with me."

Avernus' eyes quickly turned to Rokurou alarmingly, sensing his demonic aura rising.

Velvet's eyes shifted from Rokurou to Eizen and vice versa in anger. "What the hell are you talking about? Maybe I should kill you two instead?!"

Magilou picked her deck of guardian cards from her pocket, readying them for battle. "I think we need to smack some sense into him anyway. He might remember us."

Eleanor barred their way, raising her arms. "Let's not be hasty. Avernus seems confused and lost. Maybe-"

Rokurou suddenly pushed Eleanor and they all dived desperately on the ground as a big boulder passed above their heads and crashed behind them.

Everyone got up to see Avernus with flared-up eyes and a frown, glaring at them intensely.

"He is the enemy now," Eizen and Rokurou were eager to start the fight.

"I always wanted an excuse to fight Avernus. Guess I finally found one." Rokurou pulled his sword as he dashed instantly Toward Avernus along with Eizen.

Maotelus helped Velvet to her feet and they watched the three starting the battle.

"HERE I COME!" Rokurou slashed his sword away at Avernus. The flash of his swing cut the air but Avernus was fast and the sword missed him as he effortlessly dodged to the side.

Rokouru's face suddenly twisted and he spat blood. Avernus counterattacked with a quick kick into Rokurou's stomach and the swordsman was pulled from the ground and his body landed over the debris, hitting his back on broken stones violently.

Eizen threw a punch aimed at Avernus' face. "I'm doing this for your family's safety!"

Avernus whipped his head at Eizen as his clenched fist approached him.

Eizen's confident face paled as Avernus raised a hand and caught his fist. The pain cracked inside Eizen's arm and stretched all over his body as Avernus crushed and twitched his wrist with little effort.

Eizen resisted the pain and with his other free hand, hit Avernus' side to free himself to no avail. Magilou jumped on her enlarged guardian paper and flew near them. She raised her arm skyward and a tear above her opened in the sky. "This is my most potent arte. Time to know who are your allies and who are your enemies!" Bienfu appeared beside her and mimicked her venture. "It takes two of us!" The magical hole stretched open and a flood of miniature-sized Normin dolls rained down. "Forty-Nine Normins! Go!"

Avernus threw Eizen away and watched above with all the dolls overwhelming his position. A pillar of light rose and burst from underneath his feet.

Magilou opened her arms in victory, posing triumphantly over the white explosion. "Welcome to Magilou's show! Have a taste of my wrath!"

As Magilou ignorantly was basking in her glory, a figure darted out of the explosion and jumped right at Magilou.

"Bieeeeen! It was useless! We are dead!"

Bienfu's scream was joined by frightened Magilou's miserable shout as Avernus approached them with his fist burning in a blue flame. Magilou's raised her guardian paper and Avernus' arte impacted the underneath. The paper vaporized instantly by the azure flames and Magilou fell along with Bienfu trailing smoke.

Magilou opened her eyes, face all smeared with ashes and saw Max offering his hand.

"Get up, witch, before he decides to obliterate you instantly."

It took a while for Magilou to recognize him. Then she broke into a burst of painful laughter dramatically. "The loser Maximillian?! Oh, dear God, give me a break. What have I ever done to suffer humiliation by this man?!"

Max growled in annoyance watching Magilou's theatrics, but kept his cool and turned to Bienfu's passed-out out body with his tongue hanging from the corner of his mouth and eyes half-opened.

"I know you're an evil woman. I know you never showed fairness and mercy to others. But…" Max turned at Avernus in worry. "No one deserves to die like this."

Magilou struggled to get up but an excruciating pain enveloped her body and she fell on her back again before letting out a moan. "I-I shall never accept any help! Especially not yours!"

Max ignored her and immediately pulled her off the ground by her shoulder. "Stubborn woman! Your back is severely wounded and one of your legs is probably broken. With that attitude, no wonder you are alone and miserable."

"Miserable and alone?! I have everyone! I have lots of friends! You are the one who-"

"Enough! It's not the place for your pretentious lies or your dramatic stagecraft. It's tempting to leave you all alone, but it's against my code."

Having no choice, Magilou put her weight over Max's body. "Fine. Just this once I allow you, the loser, to pay your respects-"

Max carried her quickly behind a tree before letting her go and she hit the back of the tree and slid down. "Ouch! Careful, you pig!"

Max peaked from the corner of the tree and ignored her profanity. Magilou did the same and both watched Avernus stalking towards Eizen as he struggled to get up.

"Avernus!" Velvet called his name and Avernus instinctively turned to her, eyes all widened in surprise and recognition as her voice loosened the hold of his dark side for a moment.

"Snap out of it!" Velvet coiled her therion arm as it transformed and punched Avernus in the stomach.

Avernus bent over slightly and huffed in pain. Velvet quickly cupped her hand over his cheeks and raised his eyes to herself. "Hey! It's me," Velvet stroked his face with Avernus' eyes frantically glancing back and forth between Velvet's own. She nodded. "That's right. Let's go back to-"

Velvet's senses instantly picked up a danger coming right at them. She jumped back before being sliced by an enormous scythe that was thrown from the nearby rooftop. The large weapon dug into the ground between her and Avernus.

Velvet looked up to see Qingu smirked, waving his index finger at her. "No. You just simply are not allowed."

The scythe flared up and burst into a thick and impenetrable wall of darkness, rising from the ground and separating her from Avernus.

Velvet looked at Maotelus desperately. "Is there another way around this barrier? Can you teleport me?"

Maotelus raised his small hands over at the barrier and focused his power. "It's a powerful one, but I'll try my best!"

Qingu crossed his arms and gazed over them with satisfaction. It was a matter of time before Avernus could kill either Eizen or Rokurou and the worst would finally come for the Menagerie.

Qingu felt a great source of heat beside him and turned to see Lailah levitating from the ground with her body shining in bright flames. Her face was twisted in anger. "You hurt my brother. I'm going to burn you into a crisp!"

"The Lady of the Lake, gifted by Brunhild herself," Qingu turned to her fully eagerly and in anticipation. "Show me what you got."

Qingu's senses picked up footsteps running at him along the roof. He disappeared into a mist as the strike intent for him missed. As Qingu appeared Eleanor resumed her attack and slashed her dual blades again. Qingu raised an arm and the blades hit his magical shield.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Eleanor Hume. Attacking me in a suicide run. You are braver than my mother's memories showed me."

"Spare me your lecture, fiend," Eleanor brandished her swords. "I have no interest in your banter, we have defeated greater threats before. You are nothing compared to them." Eleanor turned to Lailah. "Now! Hit him with everything"

Lailah gestured her palms over Qingu and an orb of fire appeared between them. Qingu patiently observed her as the orb got bigger and shook to the side, rotating around itself violently until it burned like a small sun.

With a cry of might, Lailah hurled the arte at Qingu and the orb burst into a blazing explosion, reducing the small building into tiny debris that was tossed all around the area.

As Lailah bombarded Qingu with her fire artes, Eizen and Rokurou regrouped. Battered and bruised, they prepared for one final attack. With a nod, they signalled each other and stormed Avernus.

The white shined in Avernus' eyes as he detected their aura and snapped back into his aggressive mode, turning toward them.

Rokurou's first slash missed and Avernus landed a gut punch, throwing the swordsman into the ground. Eizen's glowing fist was countered by Avernus' guard instantly as he raised a defensive arm. In a blink of an eye, Avernus grabbed Eizen by the throat and threw him at the nearby wall. Wasting no time, Avernus dashed and threw a punch at Eizen's stomach. Then another one followed. Avernus trapped the earth seraph against the wall and unleashed a barrage of fists whose speed made them invisible to everyone's eyes.

Max watched the fight in dismay. Avernus' eyes remained emotionless. No hate or not even a scowl. Even though he was with him for a few hours, that face was not him.

Eizen coughed with his eyes nearly bulging from the pain. Avernus grabbed Eizen's face and raised his broken body from the ground. He pulled his left hand for a finishing blow.

"Hey! Over here, Avernus!"

Avernus stopped and slowly turned. Rokurou was standing with both Stormhowl and Stormquell in his hands and both of his eyes were glowing red.

Avernus dropped Eizen's battered body as he slumped back on the ground. Rokurou's malicious laughter was an invite for a brutal showdown.

"I'm going to be honest, Avernus. I was dreaming of this moment for three years. After we took down Artorius and my brother, I felt that I was going to have a hard time finding a great opponent, but here you are." The long swords lit up in a spectacular red hue. "As a friend, I will grant you a warrior's death!" Rokurou brandished his sword and jolted at Avernus, smiling in bloodthirst. "Here's my everything! Form ten! Ultimate Judgment!"

Rokurou's shout reverberated around the courtyard as he brought down his swords on Avernus.

The dark wall suddenly shattered and Velvet jumped at them, extending her arm in dismay.

A bright flash suddenly blinded Velvet. Rokurou's swords were stopped by something as his strong attack was disrupted.

"What?!" Rokurou saw Avernus holding the blades with his bare hands, stopping them in their place. Avernus' arms were glowing blue halfway and his palms clenched the hilts of the swords easily as if they were made of wood.

Rokurou's struggle was useless. Avernus yanked the Stormhowl out of Rokurou's hand and twirled in before slashing at Rokurou. The blades connected and the sheer force of impact tossed Rokurou away. As he opened his eyes, Avernus stood in front of him, holding Stormhowl skyward, ready to bring it down on the swordsman.

With only a moment to react, Rokurou raised his sword defensively and Avernus' strike hit his guard. The power behind Avernus' swing was too much and Rokurou's body was pushed into the wall, breaking the stones. Avernus slammed Rokurou's guard one more time and pushed him further into the hard surface. Like hammering a nail, Rokurou's body was nearly crushed after Avernus' relentless strikes and coughed blood, keeping his guard up desperately.

"Is this… the end?!"

Avernus hit him relentlessly, dug him further in.

Maotelus joined Velvet. She watched Avernus in desperation and was unable to move. The scene of him beating Eizen and Rokurou to death nearly deprived her of hope. Maotelus looked at Lailah and Eleanor's distraction was falling as both of them were hit by a simple yet powerful swing from Qingu.

"Velvet!" She was taken out from her nightmare by his voice and turned to Maotelus. He could see the hope dying in her eyes. "I can't cleanse him, but I don't want to kill him either. With your arm Velvet, I think there is a chance."

Velvet raised her therion hand and opened her palm before clenching it in newfound confidence. "I'll try. Cover me!"

Maotelus nodded. "Then I got your back." He whipped his arm at Avernus and the ground between them studdered. Chains of light erupted from the courtyard and lashed at Avernus, twirling around his arms and torso.

"That is enough, Avernus!" Maotelus yanked his arm and Avernus was pulled violently to the back and was dragged to the ground.

"Binding Order!"

The chains squeezed him in and trapped him. Velvet rushed towards him and raised his face to herself. Maotelus eyes shifted to Qingu as he expected the seraph to counter-attack. Qingu jumped from the from with his raised clawed hands. "He is coming our way!"

Maotelus gestured his free hand and a silver bubble enveloped all three of them. Qingu's strike hit the shield and bounced off. He levelled a gaze with Maotelus as he stood behind the shield, holding his hand in confidence.

"You are indeed strong. However," The ambience surrounding them weighed heavy and the space around the bubble turned into dark purple smoke. Qingu's voice changed and hardened as his eyes seemingly stretched in the darkness. His body gained in height but his figure was concealed in the darkness. "You will not ruin my plans!" A pair of large dragon-like claws pierced the shield, the tips beginning to tore the shield down.

Maotelus resisted Qingu and turned to Velvet. " I will keep him away from you as long as I can. Just do what you think is the best. I trust you and your feelings for Avernus!"

Velvet saw Qingu's claws rupturing the shield and his stretched eyes glaring at them from inside the smoke. She stroked Avernus' face. At that point, all her fear nearly came into reality. Was the scarlet moon required another sacrifice? Was it due for her to pay for her past mistakes?

But how could she get through to him?

Deep in her heart, Velvet knew that Avernus was waiting for her. If anything happened, she was the reason for him to find his way back.

"Listen, Avernus. A long time ago, when you left, I made up my mind and I swore to live my life as I saw fit and I decided that it was YOU who I wanted to share it with! Do you hear me?!" Velvet tightened her hands around his head and Avernus showed signs of recognition. " So I'm going to get you back and I don't care what it takes! What the hell were you thinking to fight our battles alone like that, huh?! It's my life too and we'll do it together!"

Velvet raised her therion arm and it tore through her black lace, changing into a giant dark red claw. "I WILL DEVOUR ALL YOUR FEAR AND DESPAIR!"

Velvet grabbed the back of Avernus and wrapped her fingers around him.

Avernus let out a screaming pain and the flow of his malevolence suddenly sank between Velvet's palm.

Maotelus looked in shock and uncertainty. He felt Avernus' soul was draining alongside this new malevolence. "Velvet! You're killing him!"

Velvet caressed Avernus' agonizing face and his shout became silent under his gritting teeth.

"Leave your anger, sadness and despair to me. I'll take care of you," Velvet whispered charmingly and brought his face closer and silenced his painful moans between her lips.

Avernus' body suddenly lit up and a greater force burst out of him. The shockwave broke the barrier and covered the area in a blinding light as if a curse was broken.

Maotelus and the rest look at Avernus as he was watching Velvet in surprise, blinking with his eyes and skin colour back to normal. Velvet retracted her lips and looked over Avernus' facial features gazing at him innocently.

"That felt like heaven," Avernus said.

Velvet frowned but pulled him into a tight embrace. "Shush. You always make me worry. We are going to have a long talk after we get back." She slowly glared over Avernus' shoulder at Qingu as he was standing a few feet afar, looking at the scene in annoyance. A fit of insurmountable anger bubbled behind her eyes. "Stay here. I still have unfinished business."

Then, she dashed at the seraph like a wind. Qingu raised his arm and his long scythe appeared in his hand. A trail of reddish claws hit his guard and Qingu turned to defend his back from an unseen attacker. Velvet slashed him relentlessly from all sides. Velvet's movements were quick enough that only red trails of her claw and golden signs of her eyes were visible to a normal eye.

For a moment, Velvet stopped, with her body in a prone position, like a wolf, before resuming her assault. "You tried to kill my kids! You tried to take my love from me!"

Velvet grabbed Qingu's scythe as her claw burned with malevolence and her eyes lit up in a golden light. "I will devour your dark soul, seraph!"

Qingu's unimpressed expression shifted into maniacal laughter as he pushed against Velvet's hold. "I understand now. My mother was wrong. Your power isn't coming from malevolence or hate." Qingu's thorns on his shoulder extended and his eyes turned into a bright flame. "It comes from your heart. Your anger is pure and hotter than the sun. Unreasonable and absurd to confront. A noble beautiful flame that can reduce all to ash. However," Velvet struggled against his power and she bent a knee. "I'm the King of Seraphim! Even these powers cannot defeat me! "

Before Velvet could be crushed, Avernus wrapped his arms around Qingu's neck from the back and pulled him away. Avernus held Qingu in a chokehold, preparing to break his neck. "I'm going to make sure you die a painful death, seraph."

Qingu chuckled as Avernus put pressure all over his head, nearly bending his head to the side. "First, well done, Avernus. Even after all that happened, you still have the power to challenge me. Great emotion roils beneath that iron-like will. How fascinating might it be, should it bubble to the surface once more…"

Before Avernus could tear his head off, Qingu placed a hand calmly on his arm and with little effort, pulled his arms away. "No one can defeat me, not even with Susanoo's power."

Qingu kicked Avernus away and raised his scythe. "If you will not turn, I will have your soul instead,"

The blade flashed as Qingu brought it down.

Blood splattered all over Avernus' face. The scythe pierced Velvet's therion claw instead as she protected, yelping in pain.

Qingu visibly frowned in anger watching Velvet's defiant face, holding a protective claw over Avernus' weakened body. "Then you two will die together!"

A silver light illuminated behind them and Qingu raised his head to see a long spear-like arte, made out of silver flame approach him in an instant. The arte pierced his chest and pulled him off the ground. The elemental spear carried him inside the castle and exploded inside.

Maotelus after launching the arte ran to Velvet and Avernus' side and commanded everyone to gather up. Eleanor and Lailah helped Rokurou and Eizen's battered body. Max picked up Avernus' swords and carried Magilou on his other shoulder.

"Can I come with you?"

Maotelus recognized Max's ability to see him and noticed the swords he was carrying.

"It's fine. Get ready for a big teleport."

Max looked frantically in uncertainty all around himself as they were enveloping with white light. "Teleport?! I-I'm not sure if I'm ready!"

Magilou sneered. "Weak."

But then Max's concerns disappeared as he laid eyes on Avernus holding Velvet's hand and embraced her tightly as it appeared Velvet had lost her consciousness. All of Avernus' hair was white, except for the tips which stayed blond. The scene was etched into his mind and then, everything turned to white.

Amidst the smoke of Maotelus' arte's aftermath, Qingu calmly walked out. A mist of red sparkles danced around and converge beside him. Kayda appeared and instantly put up a healing hand over Qingu's wound on his chest.

"I'm fine, Kayda."

"You lost them, didn't you?" Kayda mockingly said as the wound went away instantly.

"For now. But Avernus is not yet out of my reach. There is still time to turn him over."

Kayda looked at the moon as it finally turned silver. "In the meantime, what you are going to do without your Lord of Calamity?"

Qingu looked at Lancelot's body and he sensed that he was alive, barely. "I will take this one instead."

Qingu crouched beside Lancelot's battered body with him breathing weakly. Qingu raised a clawed palm and a dark orb appeared. "I will amplify your hate to infinite. Rise and bring up calamity!"

Lancelot's nails suddenly extended and dark fur began to appear around his body. His muscles grow in volume and his face contorted. His scream of pain and agony echoed through the night and slowly turned into the howl of a tiger, roaring in bloodthirst.

Next Chapter:

The Menagerie regroups at Van Eltia to mend their wounds and plan their next move. With Velvet recovering, they receive a message from Zaveid's missing ship. The team mounts a rescue attempt to help Zaveid and claim the new weapons he brought from the far continent and their deadliest encounter with one of the most powerful Seraphim Beasts the world has ever seen in Beowulf and the Sea of Ice.

Author's notes:

Hello, everyone. I apologize for the delay. It was a busy and challenging part of my life and it still is. I'm back and I will try my best to be quicker from now on.

This story's length will be shorter than Beyond Calamity. There will be smaller filler scenes too, so you don't need to worry about it dragging for too long.

Also, keep an eye for new Velvet and Avernus' artworks on my profiles aside from some new manga panels for Calamity Wars coming in for the following months.

For anyone who is interested in the soundtracks I have chosen some songs for you (Listening to those when I write the scene)

here is the link to google drive. I will constantly fill it with songs as the story goes on.

drive/folders/1aAPIXyPTT1H8zCuM5-uELcf4mP88qwbc?usp=sharing