"Hmm...a lot more of you chose to fight physically or with weapons than I thought..." The Slayer admitted as he looked over the line of people in front of him.
After he and Vega returned to the arena, which worked out perfectly as the Wretch finished recounting his past, it was time to get everything back on track. The stands were still filled with Sentinel spectators, as they wanted to see how well these Hellspawn were going to perform.
Alastor, Velvet, Stolas, Sir Pentious, and Vox were led out of the arena by a Sentinel guard, escorting them to their respective areas. And, in an unexpected twist, Vega removed Charlie, for he said that her training would be different.
Those who remained consisted of Vagatha, Blitzo, Millie, Moxxie, Angel, Cherri, and Katie, who stood in the arena. In contrast, Husk, Nifty, Loona with Daisy, and Azrael remained in the stands to observe and offer helpful commentary. As for the Wretch and BJ, they too were led away by a guard, for since they proved themselves capable by taking down three Barons, they earned the
right to train with custom-made weapons. Lastly, there was Gabriel, who left with Alastor, Velvet, and Stolas.
"I'm surprised you're down here, to be honest." Cherri confessed, referring to Katie, "Don't get me wrong, girl, you kick serious ass. But this is a LOT more extreme than strangling or gutting some dickhead who calls you a lesbian." She said.
"True. But I can handle myself, and it'd piss me off to do nothing. If you and Angel are willing to endure what's to come, I've got no excuses." Katie explained.
"Yeah, yeah, you're both fucking badasses." Blitzo taunted while opening and closing his hand quickly to mock them, "But can we get on with the training already? I say we take on the same thing your gramps did, Will, no wait, make it double!" He suggested.
"FUCK. THAT." Vagatha said as her eye went wide, "You're fucking suicidal if you think we can take on SIX of those things! We'd be lucky to survive one!" She exclaimed.
"Oh, come on, didn't you see how Will's grampa and demon bestie did it? All we've got to do is break their legs or stab them through their eyes or heart. It's no different than killing any other asshole." He argued.
"Wrong..." The Slayer interjected, getting the focus back on him, "Both my grandfather and the Wretch can hit like a speeding truck filled with dynamite...the strongest person among you is Vaggie, and at best, she'd be able to pierce through half the layers of thick skin they have...which by the way, have the same durability as a tank..." He informed.
"Hold up." Blitzo said while raising his hands in front of him, "You think cross out's the strongest one here?" He asked.
"Cross out?..." Vagatha questioned, only to quickly realize how he came up with that nickname, "Oh, you BASTARD! Seriously?! You're going to make fun of my fucking eye?!" She asked while pointing to the X on her face.
"Not my fault your socket picked the worst letter of the alphabet to use instead of a normal fucking eyeball." He countered.
"Guys..." The Slayer sighed as he tried to keep them from fighting but sadly failed.
"If you say something like that again, I'll GLADLY give you another orifice for Stolas to use!" She warned, pointing her spear menacingly at him.
"HA! Joke's on you BITCH! I'M the top in our relationship!" He countered. "Hard to tell with how whipped you are all the time!" She sent back at him.
"ENOUGH!" Moxxie, of all people, suddenly shouted as he got between them, "Will is standing here WAITING for you two to stop acting like dipshits so he can train us! Which, if you've forgotten, we DESPERATELY need if we don't want to explode when one of those monsters punches our lights out! So either quit your bitching or leave so we can stop wasting time!" He ordered.
Wow, that was the most assertive Moxxie's been since Lucifer told Blitzo off when he went to Stolas's manor. Of course, only he, Moxxie, Millie, and Loona knew that, which is why when the lanky Imp was reminded of that day, he wised up and stopped acting like an asshole.
"You're right, sorry, Vaggie." Blitzo apologized, a look of genuine regret present on his face, "Old habits and everything. I know we need to be serious, but I'm a natural piece of shit, so it's a little difficult." He explained.
"No, I'm sorry. I escalated that way more than I should've." She replied, willing to take some of the blame.
"Thank you, Moxxie..." The Slayer said to the Imp, causing him to smile as he felt appreciated, "Now that we're done fighting among ourselves, let's get back to learning how to fight our enemies..." He told them as he crossed his arms, "Tell me, do any of you know what demon you'll be fighting the most frequently when in the field?..." He asked.
"Is it an Imp?" Millie answered.
"Correct..." He confirmed with a nod, "Imps are the foot soldiers of the Dark One...they're easy to create and can be used in a variety of ways...however, this doesn't mean you should take even a single Imp lightly...so you'll be fighting them until I feel it is appropriate to move up to the next standard of their forces..." He informed.
"Pfft, seriously, Will?" Blitzo questioned, "I'll admit, wanting to fight six of those big red mother fuckers was a stupid thing to say. But if I remember what the Imps from Doom are like, they're pathetic. Plus, you've got to remember that me, Millie, and Moxxie are former assassins. So I think we can genuinely handle those guys no problem." He told him.
"Hm, you make a fair point..." The Slayer responded, "But for my peace of mind, I'd like you to start with the Imps anyway so we can establish what you're capable of at the moment...is that a problem?..." He asked.
"No, not at all. You ARE the expert here. I just don't want to waste our time with something that's not going to teach us anything." Blitzo answered, for once meaning everything he said rather than speaking like a sarcastic prick.
"I appreciate that...but again, let's just see how this goes.." He insisted before walking off to the side to free up space, "You'll each get one Imp to fight...once all the Imps are killed, more will spawn, giving you two each...after that three per person...depending on how fast you handle this will determine if we move onto the next level of training immediately or spend more time on this one...do you understand?..." He explained, receiving nods from all of them, "Good...start the
simulation..." He instructed, speaking to the Sentinels in charge of the arena.
"Wait, quick question," Moxxie spoke up, halting the Sentinels, "Do we not get any training weapons like your grandpa and the Wretch did?" He asked.
"Nope. You guys are all physically capable of going toe to toe with Imps...they're slightly stronger than a normal human being but so are you...and some of you possess the ability to summon weapons or extra appendages to fight with...this exercise is not only a measurement of your abilities but how well you can function as a team when the numbers are against you..." The Slayer answered.
"One more question." Cherri chimed in with a devilish grin, "Are we allowed to rip parts of them off and use THOSE as weapons? Like how you do?" She asked.
"The only goal is to kill the demons while taking as minor damage as possible...so although your cooperative skills are being evaluated as well, that is something we can work on as we progress through your training...make no mistake, the ultimate goal here is to improve your overall combat effectiveness...being nice to each other in the heat of a fight is our second priority..." He clarified.
"Cool. Just making sure on that." She replied.
"Any more questions?..." He asked, causing all of them to shake their heads, "Good...as you were..." He told the Sentinels, allowing them to proceed with the simulation.
Within a few short seconds, on the other side of the arena, a line of Imps appeared, with sharpened claws and snarling expressions.
"Remember, they can't kill you, but they can beat you within an inch of your lives..." The Slayer reminded.
"Again, no offense, Will. But these things look like their parents were brother and sister. I'm confident that we'll-"
In an instant, Blitzo was tackled to the ground by the Imp opposite of him, which worked out well for the demon as it began slashing away at his face.
"SIR!" Moxxie exclaimed, only to have the same thing happen to him.
"GET YOUR HANDS OF MY HUSBAND, YOU-" Millie tried to shout, only to be tackled herself.
As for Vagatha, Angel Dust, Katie, and Cherri, they quickly reacted when their Imps tried to tackle them. Unfortunately, their evasive action only helped them with the tackle, for when the Imps landed, they charged up a fireball in their hands before tossing them, each one a direct hit.
"This...is going to take a while..." The Slayer sighed as four of his friends struggled to deal with their Imps and the fire that was now on their clothes. And at the same time, the three supposed assassins were wrestling with theirs.
"Don't worry, guys! You can do it!" Nifty cheered on from the stands.
"Do you ACTUALLY fucking mean that?" Husk questioned, giving her a doubtful expression. "No. But we need to be encouraging." She replied.
"Oh dear, this doesn't bode well." Azrael commented before looking to Loona, "Do you have any thoughts?" She asked.
"Yeah. They're all going to die." Loona answered while casually stroking Daisy's fur, much to the rabbit's pleasure as she sat in her lap.
Elsewhere, In The Wraiths' Sanctum...
"By the seven layers of our circle..." Stolas said in a whisper as he, Alastor, and Velvet all stared slack-jawed at the creatures surrounding them.
After their guide delivered them to the door that led to the staircase, which descended into the darkness made by the Wraiths, Gabriel took over and led them to their chamber. And while he did try to soften the shock, they'd feel when they laid eyes on these cosmic gods, there was only so much even an archangel could do to make it easier for them.
"I know you're dealing with a lot right now. Mostly the existential crisis creatures like this must be giving you." Gabriel spoke from the entrance, "But, and I need you to stay calm when you hear this; they're going to be your mentors for your training." He revealed.
"...Come again?" Stolas requested as the trio looked at Gabriel with widened eyes.
"The Wraiths are going to be teaching you." He repeated.
"We're...going to be learning new spells, techniques, and general magic from celestial deities?..." Alastor questioned, even he the most relaxed of them all finding it hard to believe that.
"Do you have an issue with us sharing our knowledge with you?" The Wraiths asked.
"NO! NONONONONONONONONONONONO!" Velvet rapidly shouted while wildly waving her hands in front of her, "It's just...this is...like...an INSANE honor, you know?..." She explained, trying to find the most straightforward way to sum up the mountain of thoughts and feelings they had.
"We are humbled by your praise." They responded, which only made the trio's eyes widen further.
"YOU'RE humbled?! How?! You're gods whose existence is beyond ANY of our comprehension! And I'm a native to Hell!" Stolas exclaimed.
"It is for that very reason we are humbled. Like the Wretch who came before you, despite your origin, our champion has come not only to trust you but care for you as well. In short, you've done the impossible. You've made the one soul in all of creation who has despised your kind for centuries wanting and willing to protect you and your home." They explained.
"I...suppose you're right. Admittedly, I don't think any of us have ever thought of it through that perspective." He confessed.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation." Gabriel interjected, "But we are pressed for time. We need to get on with their lessons immediately." He reminded.
"Of course. Thank you, Gabriel." They replied, "Now then. If the three of you are ready, we'd like to see you unleash your power to its fullest; this will allow us to gauge where your studies need to begin." They explained.
"Are you sure? Unleashing our combined power might do some damage to the surrounding room." Stolas said worriedly, not wanting to do anything rude or inconsiderate.
"Stolas, my good man, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but that is a completely pointless question," Alastor informed, "This gorgeously carved sanctum is the home of these astounding mind-boggling bat serpent gods! If it can house them and their power, why would the power of three demons from Hell do anything to it?" He asked.
"Yeah!" Velvet exclaimed, "Besides, it's been a LONG time since I've been able to go all out! We shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth as they say!" She told him.
In retrospect, Stolas did feel a bit silly for saying that. For as his companions pointed out, what was any of their power to that of cosmic gods? So, with the permission of the Wraiths', they all stood apart from each other, focused on channeling the most of their abilities, then proceeded to put on a display that was an impressive sight to behold. Arcane energy swirled around them as each did their own particular thing.
All three demons took on their proper forms to start with, not wanting to insult the Wraiths by pulling any punches. Then one by one, they each showed what they were capable of. Stolas displayed an impressive mastery over the magic that surrounded him specifically, able to bend it as he saw fit to his will without issue. On the other hand, Alastor fell more in line with a summoner, spawning many shadowy beasts from below him via a circle and causing several different types of runes and glyphs to appear around his body.
Finally, you had Velvet, and while her display was quite similar to Stolas's, it differed in one very significant way. Potion making, which was her specialty, was a trade that relied for the most part on ingredients to make the enchanted elixirs. However, suppose a potion maker is powerful enough, which an Overlord like her indeed was. In that case, they could make potions out of nothing but their mana without needing any other components.
That is how the truth potion she made for Alastor six months ago was as powerful as it was, for it was nothing more than pure concentrated mana produced to serve a specific purpose. As for how she demonstrated this for the Wraiths, no potion maker worth their salt would ever leave the house without proper materials to contain her product. Which meant that she was bottling and sealing her power same time it was being summoned. And for an added flourish to her display, she was going so far as to make each bottle have a different color and effect to it, showing the full extent of her mastery.
In total, Stolas, Alastor, and Velvet's displays lasted for about five minutes, each wanting to have it go on for as long as possible. When they were done, they slowly turned back to normal, the energy they brought forth disappearing along with Alastor's creatures, Velvet's bottled potions were the only thing to remain.
"That was remarkable." Gabriel praised, which surprised them. "Really? You think we did well?" Velvet asked.
"Granted, your skill with such power isn't the same as mine or my brother's. But that shouldn't mean much, seeing as how we're the children of God." He answered.
"Then, in comparison to other demons, how did we do?" Alastor inquired.
"If we're referring to demons from your circle, it's no surprise why in the ranking of power, you three are all near the top." He said.
"But...in comparison to demons from Doom?" Stolas hesitantly asked.
"Not even close to the power of a Summoner demon, we're afraid." The Wraiths answered for him.
"But summoning is an essential part of my whole routine. Was it truly not remotely near what a creature from that foul place can do?" Alastor questioned.
"Though referred to as Summoners, that particular breed is capable of many feats of sorcery. They can raise their fallen comrades instantaneously. Empower them both in life and death to make them more resilient to punishment, immune to certain debilitations and harm, and strengthen their offense. Although you may summon beasts, even ones far greater than what you showed us, as proven by your power. Any beast you could hope to call upon to aid you in a conflict holds not a candle to the best of Doom's legions. Who they can bring forth in mass without issue in quick succession." They explained.
"I guess this means we have just as much to learn as the others do, huh?..." Velvet asked as she slumped her shoulders, her tone sounding defeated and absent of its usual hyperactive energy.
"Only if you desire to aid our champion. If you wish to turn back now, this is your chance to do so." They answered.
"Well, of course, we want to help him! He's our friend!" Stolas replied, "Also, I could never look my darling Blitzy in the eye again if I backed out while he is giving it his all in the arena." He added.
"Then, it begins." They said.
Elsewhere, In The Forge Of The Sentinels...
"First the Maykr technology, now this. I think I'm starting to develop an inferiority complex." Vox said as both he and Sir Pentious looked on in amazement at the forge.
For the first time either of them had seen since they arrived, the Sentinels working in the forge weren't wearing full suits of armor like their comrades. Instead, they wore regular clothes, at least by their society's standard. Both men and women were built like fucking TANKS, well-defined muscles across their bodies and sweat pouring from their skin; these were folks who knew how to work to the fullest. As for what they were making, the list was insanely varied.
Weapons, armors, parts of all sizes, and assembly lines and stations to put said components together to make vehicles, artilleries, or even bigger parts that they'd send out to construct larger projects such as mechs.
"We worked on the Slayer's mech, remember? That was made from this tech." Sir Pentious reminded, "Also, I think I'm developing an inferiority complex too. But it's different from yours." He added.
"How so?" Vox inquired.
"LOOK at those women." He said while pointing to them, "Any of them could pick me up and snap me like a glowstick. I know I'm the brain over brawn type but still, that makes me look even more like a limp noodle than I already am." He explained.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'm pretty sure the women here are required to kill at the age
of five, same for the men." Vox replied.
"Oi, the fuck you two doing?" A voice asked from behind them, catching them by surprise.
Turning around to see who was speaking to them, both men would be shocked and intimidated by what met their vision. Standing before them was a woman, about 6"6 if they had to guess, and she wore clothes no different from the other Sentinels at work. But then they noticed the details of her appearance, and that's when their shock turned into concern. She had red eyes that burned more intensely than a raging inferno, for starters, while short-cut charcoal hair that seemed military in how it was styled sat atop her head.
There were visible scars on her arms and face, whether they happened solely from her work or if some were from combat, neither Vox nor Sir Pentious could tell. And her physique, by Vega's name, she looked like she could disintegrate them on a molecular level with a single punch.
"Um...h-hello there...terrifying lady..." Sir Pentious stammered as she stared daggers at them, "W- We're here to-"
"I KNOW what you're here for." She interrupted with a sneer, "The king told me that we'd be getting some greenhorns in the forge. Also said that they'd be demons. And as a nice little topping on the whole thing, he says you two are inventors, real smart Hellspawn." She shared.
"That we are, mam." Vox replied, managing to keep his composure, "Be rest assured, no matter what tasks you put us through, we won't waste your time. We're here to offer our intelligence in any useful way." He promised.
"Oh, is that so?" She questioned, "Then tell me, why are you two standing around like dipshits with yer mouths hung open." She asked while pointing to Vox, "Especially you. You've got a fucking screen as your head." She noted.
"We're simply blown away by your forge, is all." Sir Pentious explained, "It IS your forge, right?" He asked.
"My name's not on the door, but if anyone else claims this place is there's, I'll shove'em into the fire." She answered.
"And what pray tell is your name?" Vox inquired.
Before saying anything else, the woman walked over and got close to them, leaning in, so their faces were close as well.
"Only people who've earned my respect get to know that." She told them as a smirk came to her features, "And as it stands, you two have only got six days at best to accomplish that. So, quit wasting daylight and get to work!" She ordered while pushing them.
Falling backward off the platform they were standing on, Vox and Sir Pentious fell about ten feet and landed with a hard thud. Letting out groans in pain, when they opened their eyes and looked up, they saw a group of Sentinels surrounding them.
"Our apprentices have arrived, everyone!" The forge master shouted from above, "Ya can't be too rough with'em as they're in the Slayer's good graces. But that doesn't mean you can suddenly go soft, give'em a right proper welcome!" She instructed before walking away.
"Uh...it's...nice to meet all of you..." Sir Pentious nervously greeted as some of the Sentinels began to chuckle.
"Whatever you do, all I ask is you don't break the screen." Vox requested as those same Sentinels started cracking their knuckles.
Elsewhere, In An Open Field...
"Wow, it's like something from a storybook!" Charlie exclaimed in awe, unable to look away from the beauty surrounding her.
It wasn't just the Sentinels' architecture and way of life that made their world seem like a fantasy. The environments and natural ecosystems did that too. From winged beasts that resembled wyverns soaring through the sky to tall mountains whose peaks were hidden by the clouds and many other breathtaking sights filled this hellish princess with excitement.
"I'm glad you enjoy it," Vega said as he stood a small distance behind her, "When things settle down, maybe all of us could explore the world with Will as our guide?" He proposed.
"I'd love that!" She exclaimed with glee, which sadly didn't last long, "But...before that, we should probably talk about why I'm out here and not with the others." She suggested.
"That we should." He agreed, "Do you know why we're here, Charlie? Any ideas or theories?" He asked.
"One. And I hope I'm wrong..." She began as she turned around to face him, "That the reason why we're here, so far away from anyone or thing. Is because you don't want me to fight." She answered.
"Hm. Well, you are my granddaughter..." He trailed off while putting a hand to his chin, "So it would break my heart if something happened to you..." He continued, "...But...no. That's not why we're here." He concluded.
"Oh, thank goodness." She breathed out alongside a sigh, "This WHOLE time, I was having flashbacks to when I told dad about the hotel and how he was so angry about it." She confessed.
"Understandable. But I'd never do something like that, Charlie." He promised, only to realize he just unintentionally threw his son under the bus, "Not that your father is a bad person, mind you!" He quickly added.
"It's okay. I know what you meant." She replied to his relief, "But now that we've cleared that up, I'm confused on why we're out here." She said.
"Isn't it obvious by now?" He asked, causing her to shake her head, "I'm the one who's going to train you." He revealed.
"...Huh?" She sounded in confusion while tilting her head.
"Charlie, you're the daughter of Lucifer, who happens to be one of the children of God. Who is your grandpa." He reminded before pointing to her, "The power you have already, and the power that you can obtain is legitimately infinite. The only limitations you possess are merely thresholds you haven't reached yet." He informed.
"Wow! So does that mean I could be like you someday?!" She asked, her previous excitement returning full force.
"Unfortunately, no." He answered, "You see, each child of mine is an aspect of my power. Embodying a force better than any other soul in creation, minus the parent who spawned them. However, I wasn't lying when I said your power is limitless. And while you can't create universes or even worlds like I or some of your relatives' can. You still possess a lack of any limitations. So when it comes to learning something new or performing a new type of attack, all you have to do is figure out how it works, and in doing so, you can execute it flawlessly." He explained.
"Isn't that what Will did? But with knights and angels?" She questioned.
"No. Will had to push beyond his physical limitations every step of the way. While as pure as that of a Heavenborn's, his soul still needed to be empowered by the divinity machine." He started to elaborate until a more straightforward way appeared in his mind, "Think of it like this. If you and Will or the others had to take the same test, all of them would have to study as hard as they could to find the answers. But if you can break down each question on the test and understand the parts that make them. Even without studying to find the answers, you'd be able to ace the test without any struggle. As you'd naturally fill in any potential gaps," He clarified.
"That...seems like cheating." She said.
"I'll admit, it's close." He replied, "But you still have to understand every component of the question. Or, in this case, every aspect of the powers and abilities I'm going to show you. If you don't understand even just a single detail about something, you won't be able to do it." He explained.
"Does that mean this would be a lot easier if I put in the time to study then?" She asked.
"Definitely. As in one hundred percent, it'd be much easier." He answered, "Unfortunately, we only have six days to do this. So hitting the books is out of the question." He told her.
"Right yeah, that makes sense." She agreed, "Alright, I think I understand it all now. But before we start, there's one more thing I need to do." She said.
"And that is?" He inquired.
Letting loose a wide ear-to-ear smile, Charlie rushed her grandpa and hugged him as tightly as she could.
"THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TRAINING ME!" She shouted, both her appreciation and her embrace making him laugh.
"You're very welcome, Charlie." He replied while patting her head, "If you'd like, when things have calmed down, I could ask Gabriel and see if he'd be willing to train you too." He offered.
"That'd be amazing!" She exclaimed as she pulled away to look at him, "But first, you need to teach me how I can use superpowers!" She reminded.
"That I do. So, if you'll kindly walk to where you were, we can start." He instructed.
Doing as Vega told her, Charlie ran back to her spot in the blink of an eye, unable to make her smile disappear. What would follow after could only be described by the few creatures who witnessed it nearby was a display similar to fireworks, as most of today would be Vega showing her a small taste of what she could accomplish.
Elsewhere, Deep Within The City's Capitol...
"Shouldn't we be at the forge?" The Wretch asked the guard, who was still escorting them to their destination.
So far, all the Wretch and BJ had seen were corridors, entryways attended to by guards, and torches lit with blue fire. And while both enjoyed this tour through the Sentinel's city, they were wondering why they needed to travel so far to get weapons, even if they were going to be custom- built.
"The forge is for mass production. Though that isn't to imply the quality of armaments and supplies made there is anything but perfect." The guard responded, "Your weapons are being hand-made by one of our commanders. An honor reserved for the greatest warriors in our society." He explained, answering his question.
"But we're still in training," BJ mentioned, not wanting to cut corners just because he was the Slayer's ancestor.
"You two defeated three Barons of Hell, with blunt weapons, only one in a suit of armor, without using magic, and without any additional tools like grenades or other types of equipment. That is something only our elites can manage after a training period that lasts close to a year." The guard informed.
"Even still, our performance was anything from flawless. I took a hit and was sent into the wall, and for the better part of the fight, we were dodging mostly." He said.
"True. But we weren't expecting perfection. At best, we believed you'd last long enough to take down two, but by then, the third Baron would capitalize on your exhaustion and dulled instincts. Yet to our joyous surprise, we were wrong." The guard replied before coming to a stop.
They finally arrived at their destination, and when the Wretch and BJ looked to see what lay ahead, they were greatly curious. Unlike the previous entryways, there was only one door this time.
However, it didn't seem to open in a traditional method as there was no handle or hinges of any kind. Another interesting detail was a mark on its center, one that the Wretch recognized immediately.
"The Slayer's insignia..." He said, his mind now rapidly filling with assumptions, "Is this his throne room? Or perhaps his private arsenal?" He suggested.
"No. Both are in a private location that only the Slayer can permit access to." The guard responded. "Then why's his mark on the door?" BJ asked, quickly understanding what was going on.
"His mark is a gift, bestowed to the highest of our people who've earned his respect and are considered personal allies to him. These select few wear it proudly on their bodies as brands, have it inscribed on their armor and weapons, and in this instance, added to the doors of their dwellings." He answered.
Suddenly, the door swiftly unlocked and was pulled into the floor, almost as though it were listening to their conversation, and waited for that particular moment. But the reality of what happened wasn't so whimsical, for it was opened by its owner who stood on the other side ready to greet them. A man, well along in his age as indicated by the gray color of the hair on his head and face, stared at them with the silent yet powerful look of a leader.
"Commander Valen." The guard greeted in return as he knelt, a fist laid across his chest in salute, "These are the two you've been waiting for. The only demon from Doom to turn his back on his
master. And the ancestor of the Slayer." He informed.
"Hmph, one look alone could tell me that much." He spoke, his voice deep like the booming sound of thunder, "Come. Your weapons are prepared. You need to learn." He instructed as he turned around and headed inside.
Not wasting a second, both the Wretch and BJ followed behind him. Upon crossing the threshold, the entrance was sealed, and they could hear the sounds of the guard's footsteps as he departed.
The inside of the space that awaited them was so far the most beautiful they'd seen; carefully woven banners hanged from the ceiling, all of them perfectly complementing the armaments that adorned the walls.
"My family has always been forgers, as well as warriors." Valen spoke, giving them a brief history of what they saw, "With this new conflict we face, my wife and I are busy. She runs the forge while I stay in the city and oversee our efforts with my fellow commanders. Normally, we'd be on the battlefield alongside our troops, but this is a delicate situation that requires more strategy than brute force." He explained.
"A wise decision. But there is something that confuses me." The Wretch replied as he looked around, "Why are so many weapons and armors, all seeming to possess great power, put on display rather than in the hands of soldiers?" He asked.
"They are relics. Wielded by our brothers and sisters who have since passed and are now in Heaven's embrace. Everything you see was made with the wielder in mind. If anyone else were to try and use any of it, not only would it be impossible, but it'd be an insult to their memory and service. Which to us is unforgivable." Valen answered.
"I respect that. Agree with it too." BJ said.
"I knew you would. But not solely because you are of the Slayer's bloodline." He admitted as he came to a stop, "Word spreads quickly throughout our kind. By word of the Wraiths themselves, we know you have been trusted with a weapon made for one of the creator's children. The angel of death, if I'm not mistaken." He informed.
"Vega must've mentioned it to them." BJ guessed.
"The reason I mention this is because I want you to temper your expectations." He told them while turning around so they could be face to face, "My family's work is second to none. So although it isn't an ancient weapon meant for a being higher than us all, you know for certain that the only equals to your weapons are what you see in this room and what the Slayer wields himself." He assured.
"We never had any doubts, sir." The Wretch replied, accompanied by a nod from BJ.
"I'm glad to hear that. It removes a weight our shoulders." He said before turning his head to the side, "Rainer. Bring them in." He ordered, referring to someone else.
From a separate room nearby came a new Sentinel, yet his armor wasn't the same as those they'd seen so far. Behind him, he pulled a long metal table that hovered thanks to the technology used to make it, and on its surface rested a small arsenal. Nearly every single weapon it carried appeared to be a gun of some kind, but the most shocking thing was that BJ recognized them from their designs.
"The Slayer, your grandson, gave us designs to work with in advance." Valen informed as the
sentinel stopped moving when he reached them, "He wanted your firearms to be familiar, but made using our technology and materials. Rest assured, they fire, reload, and handle as they did when you first used them. Only better in every possible way." He explained.
Walking over and picking up the first gun he saw, which was a fully automatic modifiable shotgun, for BJ, it was like he was greeting an old friend.
"Been a while, still feel as good as you did back then." He said to himself as he looked the gun over, "Didn't matter what situation I was in, how many Nazi bastards got in my way, this beauty turned them to chunks after a few seconds of the trigger being squeezed." He told them, "In fact, when things got really messy, I'd have two of them of them." He admitted.
"A perfect time to mention that," Valen replied, regaining his attention, "All of your weapons are capable of duplicating themselves. It's an alternate use for the storage technology the Slayer's praetor suit utilized. All you need to do is press the button where the safety would be, and the second weapon will appear automatically in whatever hand is currently empty." He explained.
Hearing that filled BJ with a twisted excitement he hadn't felt since the war, and when he hit the button causing the result that Valen said it would, he couldn't stop himself from grinning.
"Oh yeah, it's all coming together." He said in a low voice, thinking of utilizing this feature in combat to his advantage in more ways than one.
"Once you've become familiar with your updated arsenal, we'll move on to the clothes we've made for you as well," Valen informed.
"Don't you mean a suit?" He questioned.
"No. The Slayer asked if we could replicate your current attire while making it with our technology. He wanted you to be as comfortable as possible when you fight." Valen revealed.
"Heh, shit Will, giving me all these gifts when I've given you nothing. It's not right to show up your old grandpa like this." He said with a chuckle and a smile, touched by how considerate his grandson had been.
"Pardon me." The Wretch spoke up, "But which of these weapons are mine?" He inquired.
"This one, sir," Rainer responded instead of Valen, holding up what appeared to be a hilt of some kind from the table.
"Thank you, son." Valen said as he reached out to take it, "You can go resume your training now." He told him.
Handing the hilt to him and then saluting him out of respect, Rainer left the room.
"I hope you don't mind our choice of weapon for you, Wretch." Valen began as he came closer to the demon, "We assumed you'd prefer a melee approach rather than a ranged one." He explained.
"Not at all. Your assumption was entirely accurate." The Wretch assured before Valen gave him the hilt, "But how does it work? It seems to possess no blade." He pointed out.
"It functions similarly to your suit." Valen told him, "With the help of the seraph Samur, this weapon is similar to the Unmaykr. A fusion of Sentinel and Maykr technology powered by Argent energy. Doing so produces a blade that has never been seen before. To summon it, all you must do is visualize how you wish the blade to appear; the energy that courses through your armor will do
the rest." He informed.
Needing no further explanation, the Wretch focused his mind on a sword, one that could strike fear into any entity of Doom, even the Dark One himself, should they see it. Within a flash, a beam of bright blue energy shot out from the hilt, taking the form of a massive broadsword-like weapon, with the addition of two extending appendages on the blade's tip.
"Holy shit!" BJ exclaimed, expressing both his and the Wretch's thoughts as they witnessed this.
"So, this is what Argent energy may look like if used for a weapon. Interesting." Valen noted, hoping to talk to Samur at a later date about this, "As is Argent itself, the blade is the perfect unison of purity, corruption, and the power wielded by our gods. Any being, regardless of who or what they are, shall be struck down if hit by this sword, so wield it in a manner that will ensure no dishonor befalls either it or you." He instructed.
"You have my word." The Wretch vowed before withdrawing the energy and returning it to a harmless hilt.
"Damn, wonder what my guns can do?" BJ asked, honestly hoping after that they'd fire lasers or something else that was equally badass.
"There is a training room my family and I use. Would you like to test your weapons there?" Valen suggested.
"Sounds good, right, Wretch?" BJ responded while looking at his partner. "Indeed. Please, lead the way." He requested, receiving a nod from Valen.