"You will be transported to Slechtvoorteken's border via convoy by armored riot suppression vehicles with one of my legions. When you arrive there, you will have THIRTY MINUTES to explore the town before you and the convoy will leave. That should be more than sufficient amount of time to see if your powers get triggered by anything. No local is allowed to know who you or Vigne are, what you're doing, or why you're there. If any issues arise in the town you are to return to the convoy IMMEDIATELY. Questions?" Lilith finished her short debrief, orders beckoned to the four girls surrounding her office desk.
"Yeah, what about me and Raphiel? Kinda left us out of your spiel there." Gabriel mentioned.
"You and Raphiel will remain inside the convoy vehicle."
"Then why were Gabriel and I even training in the first place?!" Raphiel asked.
"It was a last minute decision, but Beelzebub and I decided that it would be best if you stayed in the convoy. Even though normal activity in a small town like that dies down around nighttime, we can't risk any stragglers noticing you two. Trust me, I would have notified you both before hand if we decided on this sooner."
"What a load of bull." Gabriel muttered.
"May I remind the both of you of the exceptional circumstance you're in and how lucky you are to not be locked up in a jail cell or worse right now?" Lilith glared back at Gabriel.
A pleading look from Vigne stopped the growing retort about to leave Gabriel's mouth, grumbling underneath her breath.
"Well then. Safe travels, and I hope your search proves useful."
The three all black, monstrous ASVs powered through the rough dense forest terrain towards Slechtvoorteken.
"Did we really have to take the uncomfortable road towards the town?" Vigne complained as the tight cabin of the truck buckled over more bumps on the uneven path.
"Apologies ma'am but your aunt said to be as discreet as possible. No main roads." The squad member driving responded curtly.
Raphiel mutely stared at her feet.
"You ok? You've been quiet way longer than normal." Satania smirked, shaking Raphiel out of her reverie.
"Still getting used to the fact that we're actually in hell. To be honest I'm not sure how to get to heaven from here." Raphiel said.
"Well we need to figure out something. It's great and all that I know why I'm getting my visions, but it still doesn't help that I'm having them." Satania replied. "At least Vigne's aunt was able to get us this escort, that's what's kinda blowing me away right now. Sweet, innocent Vigne is the niece of one of the current Seven Sins! And of Lust no doubt!" Satania laughed.
"Mom says she got all of the demonic energy in our family." Vigne muttered.
"Well if worse comes to worse at least you'll make a great house wife." Gabriel chimed.
"Gee, thanks Gabriel." Vigne huffed.
"Bravo transport, we have a problem."
The radio in the car buzzed to life as the escorts and the truck slowed to a halt. The driver opened his door, peeked his head out and slammed his door shut in a hurry.
"Bravo, escort the personnel back to Roodkloof. Alpha and Charlie will continue forward to investigate." the radio buzzed again.
"Copy." the soldier responded.
"What's happening? Why did we stop?" Vigne asked.
"There's an issue up by the hamlet, so we're heading back."
"What?! No we can't! I need to go there!" Satania pleaded to the soldier.
"Sorry ma'am, but I have direct orders from Sin Lilith to return if there are any issues."
The girls lurched to the right as the truck began to turn back towards Roodkloof, further from the answers they seek.
"What do we do now?" Gabriel mouthed.
"Well I was planning on doing this once we got there anyway." Raphiel whispered, urging the other three to huddle closer to her. "I'm going to signal with my hand. On three, cover your eyes. Satania, Gab, be ready to open the back door." The other three nodded in agreement.
A pure white ball of light formed in Raphiel's outstretched palm. Once her other hand counted three , the others did as instructed. Raphiel clenched the ball of angelic energy into her hand, engulfing the interior of the RAID truck in blinding white. The vehicle swerved as the two guards screamed in agony and fruitlessly tried to stop the temporary blinding. Gabriel and Satania kicked the doors open and the four girls tumbled out of the van.
"We have to hurry! Their eyesight will eventually recover!" Raphiel ordered.
Unfurling each of their wings, the girls took off towards Slechtvoorteken. Branches, twigs, and trees whipped past Satania's face as she weaved throughout the remaining thicket, passing over the remaining en route convoy vehicles. As the girls exited the forest, the small town came into view.
"Feeling anything yet?" Gabriel yelled over the rapping wind to Satania.
"No. Nothing yet... what in the hell..."
The four girls stopped mid flight as wisps of smoke began to rise from the center of the hamlet.
"Guys, this looks serious. We should probably head back to Roodkloof like Auntie said." Vigne said.
"We can't! By the time we go get help it'll be too late!" Satania refuted, continuing her flight toward the town.
"So you've had a vision then Satania?" Raphiel probed, the other three catching up to Satania.
The demon was silent as she sped up her approach towards the town.
"Hello? Hell to Satania?" Gabriel chided.
Still no response.
Raphiel looked over to a desperate gaze who continued to stare at the town, her pupils tiny dots and frantic similar to how she looked when they were still on Earth.
Haunted.
As they neared the town's entrance a cacophony of screams and pandemonium assaulted them. Demons of all sizes and ages bolted or flew past them, frenzied.
"What're you all standing there for! MOVE!"
A boy, no older than a teenager, shoved past them.
"Watch it!" Gabriel yelled back.
"Whatever! It's your funeral!" the boy countered, his voice fading as he left earshot.
"What the heck is happening?!" Gabriel yelled.
"SEIZE THEM!" a voice boomed throughout the town.
"Come on!" Satania said, leading the four girls deeper into the chaos.
"Round up as many as you can! If they fight back, no excessive force or killing! We will not stoop to their level!"
The girls looked upward to the origin of the voice hovering over the town. A golden clad figure, sprouting three impressive sets of wings and a halo over her head. Four well armored figures bearing insignias of a yellow cross and blade crossing diagonally through its middle flew to and fro, hoisting restrained demons who failed to escape into the center of the town.
"Angels?!" Raphiel exclaimed over the pandemonium.
"Why are angels attacking demons!? Why are they even here?!" Vigne asked, frightened.
Satania's eyes hardened as she gazed at the soldier wearing familiar armor and bearing a familiar halberd.
"That's why." she muttered.
Without hesitation, she unfurled her wings and rocketed towards the guard.
"Satania wait!" Raphiel called out in vain.
Using her momentum, she stuck her leg forward and struck the soldier square in the back, sending him flying into the wall of a small house.
"Dammit! I'll stop her from killing herself!" Gabriel yelled, summoning her trumpet and taking off after Satania.
"Vigne help me round out the locales!" Raphiel ordered.
"We weren't supposed to be fighting." Vigne mumbled fearfully as she watched Satania barely dodge a stab from a spear.
"Vigne!"
"Capture the vagrant!" the ring leader ordered.
Vigne clenched her eyes trying to shut out the deafening chaos reaching her ears. "This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"Vigne! Look at me!" Raphiel clasped her hands over Vigne's shoulders, finally gaining the attention of the trembling girl.
"We're the only ones who can help these demons now. We don't have to fight. We need to do what we can and help anyone trapped escape while Satania and Gabriel distract those soldiers. Okay?"
"Right...okay." Her hands trembled less as her breathing began to steady. "Let's do what we can to help those people." Vigne nodded, a small amount of resolve lacing her words.
Performing arcs with her scythe, it was all she could do to hold her ground against each unrelenting blow. 'Just keep deflecting. One two. One two.'
"HA!"
A pole arm thrust from the soldier sent her skidding back.
"Dammit!" she gritted out as her breathing grew heavier. 'Don't slip!' she scolded herself. Before she could catch herself another soldier had the blunt edge of her ax bearing down on Satania.
'Oh crap!'
Before the blow could connect, the angel froze as a paralysis arrow lodged itself in her lower neck.
"Thanks Gabriel!" Satania shouted.
"We're fighting Braves Satania! Don't let them group up against you!" Gabriel sent two more arrows flying, paralyzing and neutralizing Satania's first combatant.
"Obviously! But why are you saying this now?!"
"Don't! Just trust me! Draw the other one towards the tall tower at the town center and I'll use my arrows on them!" Gabriel ordered.
"Got it!"
Satania bolted towards the farthest angel, who was in the air dragging two young demons back to his leader.
She slammed her scythe into him, sending his unsuspecting body flying. "Run! Head towards the forest!" Satania ordered the now released demons.
"Thanks miss!" the children yelled together before taking off. The rugged angel returned, rolling his shoulders and cracked his knuckles.
"You will come to regret that imp!" he snarled.
"Try me." she shot back.
He lunged towards her, but she swerved backwards and took off towards the town center, luring her unsuspecting victim to Gabriel's trap. 'That's right. Keep following idiot.' Zeroing in on the town's central tower she couldn't see any sign of her short friend.
"Come back and fight brat!" the frenzied angel shouted behind her.
'Alright...I can do this.' Satania chanted to herself. She abruptly stopped mid flight and stuck her scythe out. Before the angel could react he crashed face first into the scythe's hilt, knocking himself out and collapsed into the street below, limp.
"That works." Satania glanced at the downed angel.
The distinct bellow of Gabriel's horn reached her ears. Satania took off, rushing towards her friend. Gabriel finally came into view, dueling with the last foreign angel. She struggled to land an arrow on the soldier, who deftly blocked it with his ornate golden shield. Satania watched in horror as the angel rushed forward, ramming
t͖͖̠̬͛h̨͚͚͖ͯ̒̄͗͞ḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧ s̨̞̞̰͎͎̪̩͕̈́̀ͯ̍ͧͅt͖͖̠̬͛i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟l͖͖̰̝ͭ̀͘l͖͖̰̝ͭ̀͘ c̨̨̣̮̝̈́̔ͯ̀͂o͙͙̙̘̙ͤͫ͞ṛ̣̬̫̍͌ͩ͟p͔͔͚͉̬̋ͩ̾͗s̨̞̞̰͎͎̪̩͕̈́̀ͯ̍ͧͅḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧ w̡̻̻̣͚̒̀ͅi̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟t͖͖̠̬͛h̨͚͚͖ͯ̒̄͗͞ b͔͔̳͈̊̆ͥ͂͜͝l͖͖̰̝ͭ̀͘o͙͙̙̘̙ͤͫ͞n̫̫̘̗͕̲̲̎ͥd̶̵̯̯̼̘ͨ̓ḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧ h̨͚͚͖ͯ̒̄͗͞a͔͔̜̗̦ͩ̅̎i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟ṛ̣̬̫̍͌ͩ͟, i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟t͖͖̠̬͛'s̨̞̞̰͎͎̪̩͕̈́̀ͯ̍ͧͅ l͖͖̰̝ͭ̀͘i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟f̰̰̯͕͊̃̊͞͞͞ḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧl͖͖̰̝ͭ̀͘ḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧs̨̞̞̰͎͎̪̩͕̈́̀ͯ̍ͧͅs̨̞̞̰͎͎̪̩͕̈́̀ͯ̍ͧͅ s̨̞̞̰͎͎̪̩͕̈́̀ͯ̍ͧͅt͖͖̠̬͛a͔͔̜̗̦ͩ̅̎ṛ̣̬̫̍͌ͩ͟ḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧ p͔͔͚͉̬̋ͩ̾͗ṛ̣̬̫̍͌ͩ͟i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟c̨̨̣̮̝̈́̔ͯ̀͂k̼̼̞̦̞̼̔i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟n̫̫̘̗͕̲̲̎ͥg̬̬̱ͩ͋͟͟ h̨͚͚͖ͯ̒̄͗͞ḛ̡̰̳͓̥ͬ͋ͪͧṛ̣̬̫̍͌ͩ͟ m̰̰̹͚̙̂ͦ͗͠i̧̻̻͉̜͑ͪ̾͟n̫̫̘̗͕̲̲̎ͥd̶̵̯̯̼̘ͨ̓
'NO! I won't let it happen!' she defiantly shook her head clearing her vision. She charged towards the offending soldier, rushing to her friend's aid.
An alarming 'CRACK' assaulted her ears as a yellow whip flashed in front of her, the path forward impeded. The leader of the legion descended in front of Satania, her set of wings more massive and imposing up close. Although she was barely taller than Vigne, her lithe Amazonian body revealed her physical prowess.
"So, the Sins finally sent in an incursion force, albeit one who uses cowardly tactics to defeat foes. Do demons really not care for each others' well being?" the unknown angel said.
"What's it to you?" Satania challenged.
"Stand down and I won't lay a finger on you. You have my word." the voice commanded.
In her peripheral gaze, she could still see Gabriel blowing her horn, fending off the remaining angel, and Raphiel zipping back and forth with demons in tow still evacuating.
'Just a little more time.'
Satania tightened her grip on her scythe.
"So be it." The angel called forth a summon, a golden grip forming in her hand. With a flick of her wrist the lasso came to life, the rope set ablaze with crimson fire.
She swung first, immediately forcing Satania backwards. Each strike was quick, calculated, flowing straight into the next flurry of strikes.
Before Satania could back peddle further the fiery lasso constricted around her scythe, jerking her forward, face to face with her foe.
"This is the best the Sins could come up with as a defense?" the angel threatened, her other hand locking the scythe and Satania into a deadly stand still.
Clenching her trembling fingers Satania struck the unsuspecting angel square in the face, freeing herself from the deadlock. Unfazed, the angel cracked her neck.
"That's more like it." she grinned. Her lasso cracked as three large seals appeared behind her, three fireballs each the size of a car soared past her and honed in on Satania. Satania hurried towards the small homes for cover.
'CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!'
Weaving through the thin spaces, she was barely throwing the fireballs off their track. Satania dove behind a small building as the miniature suns scorched past her, burning through and incinerating the unfortunate walls that stood in their path.
She shakily rose from her hectic stumble, leaning her weight on her scythe. Her legs began folding like jelly, the last few minutes finally starting to catch up to her body. Chest heaving, each breath more ragged and strained than the last. How much longer could she keep this up? Every muscle was burning. Each step unbearable.
Did everyone escape?
Is Gabriel okay?
She just needed to keep her head down for a little longer.
Just a little more time.
'Where the hell did Vigne run off too?!'
"Found you."
Satania's opponent hovered above her. "That was a pretty good right hook. But your resistance is a futile effort, demon."
Too tired to run.
Her wings ache. Even if she could fly away, she'd practically be begging to get fireballs launched at her. Before Satania could lament any further, a gold chain coiled itself around her assailant's arm. The angel ripped herself from Raphiel's hold.
"You didn't come in with our unit. Explain yourself." she demanded.
"You are the one who owes us an explanation for your arrogation." Raphiel challenged.
"You would betray the Coeli Legati? Why protect these sinners?"
"I don't know what sect of the Legati you serve, but you are the betrayer here." Raphiel responded calmly.
Satania helplessly watched the tense stare down between the two angels. She couldn't let Raphiel fight this crazy chick alone. She had to do something!
"Seraphim! We have you surrounded! Do not resist or we will use lethal force!"
'THANK THE SINS!' Satania finally loosened her grip in relief. A large squadron of demons surrounded the angelic terrorist, rifles at the ready.
"Micheal!" the angel shouted. In an instant the other remaining angel appeared next to his compatriot. "You win this bout. This is not the end!"
The demons opened fire, a hail of energy pulses slamming into Micheal's shield. The two quickly exited the stage in a flash of light.
"Are you ok?" Raphiel asked.
"Mm. Just need to catch my breath." Satania mumbled. Raphiel wrapped her arm around Satania's waist, offering her weight to help balance the poor girl.
"Over here you two!" one of the squad members beckoned to them. With Raphiel's help, Satania hobbled to the demon. "Lady Tsukinose's niece and her friend have been escorted back to the hospital in Roodkloof. We can take you both there as well, if you'd like."
Alarm bells went off in both girls' heads.
"Relax." the demon coaxed to them, seeing the dread spreading across their faces. "The tiny angel was only banged up a little bit and exhausted, nothing a good night's sleep won't fix. The same goes for you too. You all should be fine for discharge by tomorrow."
"Well that's a relief." Raphiel responded.
"There's one more thing. Sin Lilith has requested an audience with you after your recuperation." His task accomplished, the guard rejoined the rest of his unit.
"To congratulate us for our... our act of heroism no doubt." Satania boasted as she smiled weakly.
"Hopefully." Raphiel thinly smiled. The two continued their slow pace towards the Squad's SUV.
'We actually fended them off. And no one got hurt like my vision predicted! It's a win-win!' Satania mentally cheered.
Well, this is a load of crap.
"You had simple orders. In and out. If there's danger you leave immediately. What part of that did you not understand?"
No praise. Not even a thank you.
Safely returned and rested, the following day held no joyous celebrations. A shame, the sky held no foul weather. In the Sin of Lust's penthouse the group of barely victorious four stood on the receiving end of Lilith's lecture.
"We understood...but we..." Vigne started.
"No buts Vignette! I am very disappointed in you! You normally act more rationally than this." Lilith chided the crestfallen demon who continued staring at her feet.
"Cut her some slack alright!" Gabriel butted in to her friend's rescue. "We weren't going to just stand by and let the town be attacked."
"So your initial thought was to blind and temporarily incapacitate a trained group of my personnel just so you could provide your paltry, pathetic assistance?" Lilith countered, cutting through Gabriel's weak rebuttal.
"We were only trying to help!" Satania frantically yelled.
"SHUT! YOUR MOUTHS!"Lilith banged her fist on the wall, the outburst startling the girls into silence.
"None of you have any actual combat experience! That training was for self-defense! You got LUCKY! But what if you hadn't? What if they had sent in more troops? If any of those demons had gotten injured or killed that would have been on YOU! " Lilith looked over the girls in disdain.
"And if any of you had gotten killed, that would have been on me ."
"Sorry." Satania mumbled.
" Sorry doesn't cut it! What would I tell my sister, letting her daughter run off to get slaughtered? Or the Shirahas, or Virtue Temperantia, whose relatives are supposed to be nowhere in hell in the first place?!"
"How do you know Zelel?" Gabriel meekly questioned.
Lilith extended her palm in a stopping motion, ending any further conversation.
"Enough." a slow breath exited her flared nostrils.
"You will remain here. Tomorrow afternoon Shiraha and White will be put on trial for violating Dimensional Treatise 3B, in accordance with Heaven and Hell's agreements. Kurumizawa will be on trial for Disobedience Against The Sins' Will. Vigne you will be sent home to your mother for a probationary period. IS. THAT. CLEAR ?" Lilith declared.
"Trial?! Isn't that too much?!" Satania gawked. "We'll listen this time, promise!" she pleaded.
But her pleas fell on deaf ears.
"I gave you your chance." Lilith warned. She slammed the door shut.
Satania rushed towards the door, banging on it and tried opening it. As her hands grazed the cool metal knob an orange energy forcibly pushed back against her, making her skid backwards.
"The windows!"
"Satania calm down!" Raphiel blurted out.
She bolted to the large glass windows. The same orange force knocked her on her back, her attempts to escape in vain.
The bright, candy red afternoon sky mocked Satania with its bright cheerfulness.
"Dude, give up. We're screwed." Gabriel groaned.
No visions? No divine insight?
No quick annoying flashes of the future to help guide her or her friends out of this luxurious prison.
If her powers want to lead her somewhere, it has to show her something.
Now would be a good time to help.
Anything at all.
'It can't end like this.'
A/N:Told you this one would come sooner :p
Finally, the penultimate chapter of the Hell Arc. The girls finally get to glimpse towards the challenges that they face, and what lies ahead.
Welp you know the drill, welcome new readers, and those that have been waiting, thanks for stopping by! :D
Ciao for now!