"Alright! Let's do this! Time to use our superpowers!" Blitzo excitedly exclaimed, hopping back and forth while throwing punches at the air.
Now that the others were playing with a fully loaded deck, so to say, The Slayer felt more confident in putting them through training he knew would benefit them the most. However, it did seem like they were a tad distracted because of the recent events. Although, for Angel Dust, he made an exception, as he, Katie, Vagatha, Cherri, and Millie were all trying to help him figure out how he was going to move around without a bra, an issue that'd need to be solved before the end of the day.
"Slow your roll there, Blitzo..." The Slayer replied while moving his hand in a downward motion in front of himself, "As we learned from yesterday's training, all of you have a lot to learn...you're not helpless or incapable of fighting against Doom's demons, but you still have a long ways to go...but before I put you against the simulation for today we're going to go over some basics..." He informed.
"What about them?" Moxxie asked while pointing to BJ and the Wretch, "Are they going to be training alongside us?" He added.
"Yes...but think of them as hands-on instructors...they're here to learn same as you, but they don't need these basics...as demonstrated when they took down three Barons..." The Slayer answered.
"Which, by the way, MAD RESPECT." Cherri complimented with a look of amazement, "All of us together could barely fight off a group of Imps. But you two badasses took down three of those big mother fuckers." She praised.
"Helps that the Nazis I fought against had giant robot dogs, mech suits, and more robots in general," BJ replied.
"And I used to be a Baron myself. As such, I earned my right to live in the arena before I was granted a higher intelligence by the Dark One." The Wretch explained.
"Robot Nazis and demon pit fights. Just your average day in badass land." Vagatha joked, though in no disrespect.
"Anyway..." The Slayer spoke to get all eyes back on him, "The first thing we need to do is establish how different all of you are now that you possess Argent energy...so Angel, if you could come over here and help me with that..." He requested.
"Oh, sure thing." Angel Dust replied before walking over and standing opposite of him. "Shake my hand..." He instructed as he held out his own.
"Um...okay..." Angel Dust agreed, slowly doing as the Slayer told him as he wasn't sure what was the point.
"Do you feel any different?..." He asked.
"No. Ignoring the transformation stuff, it's just a normal handshake." Angel Dust answered. "Good...that shows even without training, your soul has gotten used to the power inside of it..." He
said as he pulled his hand away, "Now...I want you to hit me using every fist you have at once...don't hold back, understand?..." He instructed.
"Uh...you sure that's a good idea, Will?" Angel Dust questioned, "I mean, I know you're invincible and everything, but you still react to something pushing you, right?" He asked.
"It'll be fine...all six of your fists...directed towards my chest and abdomen..." The Slayer answered.
Although it may seem weird for Angel Dust to be so nervous, it mainly stemmed from his displeasure at the idea of attacking him in any context. But Angel Dust did as he was told; he summoned his other four arms that sprouted beneath the two at his shoulders, then with a quick wind up, he sent them all forward. When his fists made contact, the resulting sound was similar to a tree splintering as it fell over, but that didn't hold a candle to what happened to the Slayer. He was pushed backward, not by a small distance either; Angel Dust nearly managed to send him to the arena wall but came up short by a foot or so.
"HOLY SHIT!" He shouted before running over to him, "Will! You're okay, right? I didn't fuck up, did I?" He asked in a panic.
"Uh, Angel. You remember that he's a god, right? And that he's pretty much impervious to anything that can cause him harm?" Vagatha asked with an amused smile, which most of them had when they saw his reaction.
"...YEAH!" He shouted defensively as a light pink hue came to his cheeks, "But...ya know...shut up!" He told them.
"It's alright, Angel...thanks for worrying about me..." The Slayer said as he looked himself over.
"Oh...uh...no problem...what're friends for?" He replied with an awkward laugh, still embarrassed by his overreaction.
"Now then...we've all just witnessed how strong each of you are thanks to Angel's demonstration...and when he shook my hand a few moments ago, we saw that his newfound strength isn't on a hair-trigger...but before we do anything, I need you all to tell me that you understand the responsibility this power carries...you can't pick fights with random people or cause any trouble...if he'd hit an ordinary person from your circle with that, they would've exploded...so if I EVER see any of you abusing this power, I will speak with Vega, and it will be revoked..." He warned.
"Do you really think we'd be dumb or disrespectful enough to do that? You've shown us time and time again, Will that you trust us, and we're not going to take that lightly." Vagatha promised as the others nodded their heads simultaneously to show they felt the same.
"I know that...but this is no different than me handing you a gun and expecting the best from you...I'm sorry if it sounds like I assume you're going to make a mistake...I just wanted to put that out there..." He said.
"We understand," Cherri assured before an ear-to-ear grin spread across her face, "Now, do WE get to punch you as hard as we can?" She asked, making him chuckle.
"Believe it or not, that's how we're going to spend the morning..." He revealed.
"WAIT. So we're legitimately going to have the opportunity to beat the shit out of you?" Blitzo asked, "Don't fuck with us on this, Will. We may need that in writing to be sure you're not screwing around." He said.
"I'm completely serious...until your first break at lunch, all of you will be attacking me together, on your own, with weapons, without, etc...the best way I can teach you how to fight like a proper warrior is to have a one-sided sparring session..." The Slayer explained.
"Can we shoot you too? Or is that a step too far?" Millie asked.
"Your guns can't hurt me...but they will offer practice for when you're given firearms that will be capable of harming the demons...so yes, you are free to shoot, stab, and whatever else you feel like doing to me..." He answered, encouraging them to hold nothing back.
"It might be a little hard to understand how we're meant to dodge and be on guard though if you do nothing at all," Vagatha mentioned.
"A good observation...which is why every so often I will shoot this..." He said as he summoned a futuristic-looking pistol, "This can fire a rapid burst of plasma or a high-powered shot...and while it will sting if it meets its mark, I guarantee it won't hurt worse than getting hit with a dodgeball...unless you get hit by it over and over again..." He informed.
"Oh yeah, and there's NO way that'll happen, mister marksman," Katie replied with a smirk.
"Slayer." The Wretch spoke up, "What will your ancestor and I be doing for our morning training?" He asked.
"Both of you have a solid understanding and mastery over close quarters combat basics...so you'll spend this time fighting Hell Knights with one given to each of you...however, you are not allowed at any point to run away, use any guns, or magic, and if you decide to use weapons it must be your sword Wretch or the spear of destiny for you grandpa...and if I see you even for a second breaking these conditions then the Hell Knights will be switched with Barons, and you'll be disallowed from using your weapons entirely..." He instructed.
"So it's like a boxing match then? Stay close to our opponents, only dodge and backstep but no retreating, and we should probably only rely on our weapons if we find ourselves in a bad spot or we feel that is where our focus should be after we spend enough time bare-knuckle brawling." BJ replied.
"Precisely..." He confirmed before slowly turning his head from left to right to look over everyone, "Any questions?..." He asked.
"No, sir!" They all responded, ready to get started.
"Very good...let us begin..." He said as the Sentinel who attended the arena summoned Hell Knights for BJ and the Wretch.
Elsewhere...
Vox was impressed by Sir Pentious, yet it wasn't solely because of his genius. No matter how hard life seemed to hit the snake demon, he always managed to bounce back with zest. But now, as both men were returning to the forge, he feared that this unique ability his friend possessed would result in him getting the shit beaten out of him two days in a row.
"Um...Pentious..." He spoke, wanting to talk about it with him.
"First, we'll push open the doors and have them hit the walls, which will get everyone's attention
and bring them to a standstill." Sir Pentious said to himself, totally lost in his expectation for how their second day would begin.
"Pentious." He repeated a bit louder this time.
"Then, after we go inside and they bear witness to how AMAZING we look now, we'll blow them away by showing off our newfound power!" Sir Pentious exclaimed, diving deeper into his delusion.
"PENTIOUS." He repeated a third time, hoping it'd get through the brick walls he seemed to have in his ears.
"That's when that scary woman will approach us, apologizing for being so rough with us yesterday and how we're a welcome addition to her workforce!" Sir Pentious declared.
At that point, Vox had given up on using words to snap him back to reality, hence why he slapped him across the face.
"OW!" He responded as he rubbed his cheek, "Vox! Not while I'm daydreaming!" He complained.
"So you're AWARE that what you're saying stems from a fantasy that will NEVER become a reality?" Vox inquired.
"You don't know that!" He said defensively, "Maybe we weren't up to their coolness standards before. But with my snake face and your robot-looking head, we're the coolest people on this planet!" He argued.
"Hmm...let's see..." Vox hummed as he held up his hand to count on his fingers, "There's Will, his grandfather, the Wretch, Gabriel, his sister Azrael, the Sentinel people as a whole, and Vega." He listed, having been required to use his second hand for the last two, "That's seven people who're cooler than us on this planet. Should I keep going?" He asked.
"...Between you and Cherri, it's a miracle I have any fun at all..." Sir Pentious replied, the wind beneath his sails now gone.
"Oh, come now, I am nothing like her." He said as he put an arm around his friend's shoulders, "She sustains herself on annoying you. I'm trying to keep you from pissing off a forge filled with men and women who could use your long serpent body like a rope for tug-o-war." He clarified.
"Is it SO wrong that I want to make a dazzling entrance wherever I go? To have all eyes land on me?" Sir Pentious asked.
"Not at all. And when we're back in our circle of Hell where everyone's a nobody. You'll have plenty of opportunities to show them all how awesome you are." He answered as they came to a stop, having reached the forge, "But I am begging you as your friend and intellectual equal.
DON'T do ANY of what you said previously; it WILL end with me having to drag you back to Vega to get healed again." He said.
"Fine..." Sir Pentious agreed with a sigh, "Let's get on with our day filled with normal boring work..." He complained.
"Trust me. NOTHING is boring with these people." Vox promised as both men pushed open the doors.
Feeling a wave of hot air that carried the scent of molten metal hit them, they entered the forge
hoping for a different experience. However, Sir Pentious and Vox weren't even ten feet into the building before they were stopped by a whistle coming from behind them.
"Well, well. You two got new faces, not much else, though." The forge master greeted them.
"Ah, so you've noticed, mam!" Sir Pentious responded as they turned around, "It was an exciting process actually, you see we-"
"Stop." She told him while raising her hand, "I KNOW what happened. Do you think any of those angels or knights built that machine without my input?" She asked.
"Does that mean you helped Vega with the design?" Vox inquired, curious to know just how intelligent this woman was.
"That I did. In fact, I was the one who pioneered the divinity machine's original design alongside the Khan Maykr." She revealed.
"...You're incredible." Sir Pentious said, unable to stop himself from expressing how amazing she was in his eyes.
"Easy there, snakeskin, I'm a married woman." She replied with a small smile, "But thank you for the compliment." She added.
"Snakeskin? Combined with your friendlier tone towards us, does that mean we're not going to get assaulted today?" He hopefully asked.
"Yeah. You two got the life beaten out of you, and yet you're still here, that earns you a place in my forge." She answered, "But if you think this means you're equal to me or those men and women down there, you'll need to get those new heads of yours checked out." She said.
"We don't, mam. We're here to train, work, whatever it is you have intended for us. All the while, we voice no complaints about our position." Vox assured.
"Hmph. You two may survive here after all." She replied, impressed by his humility, "Alright, so here's your work schedule for today. I need to be sure both of you aren't just smart, BUT that you can adapt to whatever may be thrown your way. So your training will start in the repair bay, where we receive mechs, vehicles, armors and weapons that have been damaged. Due to how many different attack methods the demons utilize, no one repair job is the same." She explained.
"Alright, repair work. We can manage that without issue." Sir Pentious said.
"Let's hope so." She responded before crossing her arms, "You get breaks at lunch and dinner. And before each interval, you are expected to meet a quota. If you fail to meet the number I give you before you're meant to take off for a short bit, it'll be denied. Any objections?" She asked.
"No, mam." They answered in unison.
"Excellent. Your quota to earn your lunchtime is fifty sets of armor and weapons, twenty-five vehicles, and ten mech-related repairs." She revealed, causing their eyes to widen.
"But...but...WE ONLY HAVE LIKE...THREE HOURS BECAUSE OF OUR TIME IN THE
DIVINITY MACHINE!" Sir Pentiious shouted in surprise.
"War doesn't give a shit about convenience snakeskin. Now make your way to the repair bay if you want to eat with your pals. It's at the other end of the forge." She informed.
Not wasting a single second after she told them this, both men raced down a nearby stairway to get to the ground floor.
"Heh, they'll get broken in quick enough." She said to herself before returning to her duties.
Elsewhere, In The Wraith's Sanctum...
"So...you want us to...teleport?...I think?..." Stolas questioned.
Although a great deal of their training would still revolve around studying tomes and various other articles, the Wraiths believed their trio of students were ready to attempt a basic use of their powers.
"We understand that this is a difficult thing to grasp." They spoke, "The Summoners and Archviles can temporarily turn themselves into the energy they wield. During this time, they can move at a nearly unperceivable speed. It is also impossible to strike them with anything other than arcane energy. That is why even the Slayer struggles against these foes when they appear in mass alongside their hordes. And it is why you will be invaluable to your companions if you can master this technique." They explained.
"Do you have any suggestions for us?" Alastor inquired as he looked up to them, "If not, then we're likely to stand around here for most of the day twiddling our thumbs." He said.
"Ask your friend. She seems to have a handle on it already." They replied.
No...there's no way that VELVET between the three of them somehow managed to get the hang of this immediately. But, to Stolas and Alastor's bafflement, they turned around and found the doll demon quickly blinking in and out of reality in controlled flashes within a small radius.
"I...just how...please explain that to us..." Stolas requested while massaging his temple. "It's easy! Just stop existing!" She replied before blinking to another spot.
"My dear...HOW does one stop existing? The very nature of one's existence IS to exist." Alastor, he pointed out.
"Hmm...think of it like sleeping." She suggested as she came to a stop to think about it. Even putting her finger to her chin to show she was serious, "You know that moment when everything goes out? Your sight, hearing, smell, touch, all of it. That split second where you aren't inside your dreams, and you aren't in reality either. That null is what it means to stop existing, to relinquish all control and allow yourself to be at the mercy of the space that surrounds you." She explained.
"...That...was surprisingly in-depth and somewhat philosophical." Stolas complimented.
"I didn't become one of the best potion makers in Hell just because I'm adorable!" She exclaimed while sticking her tongue out playfully, "I may not be a know-it-all when it comes to technology like Vox and Pentious. But my head's not filled with air." She said.
"We never assumed it was." Alastor assured, "But you have provided some base for us to build off of. Imagine that pause in life that you experience when you fall asleep. Let's see if I can make it work." He decided, opting to give it a try.
Breathing in and out slowly to calm his nerves and clear his mind. Once the radio demon was as
relaxed as he could be, he tried to do as Velvet instructed and let go, release all control, and let himself become vulnerable. Then, in what he could only describe as a shockingly euphoric rush, he felt his body and soul be empowered by the Argent inside him, and a swift sensation of movement happen.
"My goodness, Alastor! You did it!" Stolas exclaimed with pride, for he managed to move at least five feet away.
"Yay! Good job, Al!" Velvet praised as she ran over and hugged him.
"Oh my, that was...indescribable." He confessed while opening his eyes, "It felt so...so...good...I'm sorry for the lack of details, but that is the only way I can think to sum it up." He told them.
"It's okay! I understand!" She assured. "And I shall too, hopefully," Stolas replied.
"If it is acceptable. Practicing this ability is how you will spend the duration of your morning training. If you have reached an adequate point before lunch, then we shall continue it while adding in another." The Wraiths suggested.
"Sounds like a plan!" Velvet agreed. "Indeed." Stolas joined in.
"Oh yes, I do want to feel that rush as much as I can before lunchtime!" Alastor exclaimed, eager to give it another go.
Elsewhere, In The Wilds...
Despite the widespread assumption, meditation is not about sitting with your legs crossed and humming for hours on end. It's about letting go of the worries and stress that are negatively affecting your life, a state in which you become one with yourself and ignore what is happening in the world around you. However, Vega's method of meditation was...unorthodox, to say the least, for it wasn't executed via yoga, sitting still, or any other traditional variation.
"Oh my gosh...this is incredible, grandpa..." Charlie whispered in awe as she stared wide-eyed at the energy surrounding her. "How...am I doing this?" She asked.
"You're not. I am." He answered, standing opposite from her, "Although it may sound strange, I'm in a sense pulling the power out of your soul while it remains where it is. Sort of like a telescope...but with a lot of obvious differences." He explained.
"It's so pretty..." She continued to whisper, "I can't believe that...this is what Argent looks like..." She admitted.
"Well, that's not entirely accurate." He replied, "By default, Argent energy is light blue or somewhat silver, which is why Samur gave it that name. However, as we're witnessing now, it will match the appearance of the soul it currently resides in. Which, in your case, happens to be a rainbow." He clarified.
"I knew there was a rainbow inside of everyone!" She exclaimed with a smile, "I even wrote a song about it!" She added.
"Haha, well then. I'd love to hear it sometime." He said, "But for right now, let's keep our focus on the energy. And on remaining as calm as we can." He instructed.
"Right, sorry." She apologized before regaining her composure, "So, what do you want me to do?" She asked.
"The same as yesterday. Hold out your hand and try to form a simple sphere. I thought that if you could see the energy in this way, it'd make it a bit easier to accomplish." He answered.
"Should I put my hand in it?" She inquired.
"You can, but it won't give you any special advantage." He informed, "The only way the Argent can be used is if you will it so. Regardless of whether your hand is inside it or not. I may have it swirling around you like this for your training, but your success is still yours alone to obtain." He told her.
Choosing to nod her head this time to end their conversation, Charlie held out her open palm and focused on making a ball with the Argent. A few minutes would pass, and nothing new happened, but she didn't let it undermine her determination or concentration. Suddenly, as if her wishes were coming true in front of her eyes, streams of Argent began pulling away from the rest and moved to her hand, where they'd start swirling around each other.
"Grandpa!" She exclaimed quietly, struggling to keep calm from how much excitement this made her feel.
"Steady now, don't lose your focus." He advised.
Continuing to do...THIS. Charlie grew ever giddier by the second, to the point her legs were lightly shaking as she tried to hold it all in. Eventually, the swirling strands of Argent would finish their goal as a baseball-sized orb of the energy rested in her hand.
"I...I did it...I DID IT!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, unable to remain stationary any longer.
Watching his granddaughter marvel at her success and bounce around the place from how happy it made her. This moment could very well be one of the proudest in all of his life.
"Superbly done, Charlie!" He praised, regaining her attention, "Out of curiosity, have you noticed it's remaining intact?" He asked.
Immediately when she heard him, her expression became one of fascination and wonder as she looked at the sphere.
"What do I do?" She asked, staring intently at the orb with widened eyes.
"Whatever you want." He answered as he approached her, "The only limitation is the amount of Argent used to make the sphere. But, for example, if you were to do something like this." He said while taking it from her to hold in his hand, altering its shape to a dagger, "You could turn a harmless orb into a deadly weapon. And since it is comprised of Argent, meaning it can affect all types of souls, the demons of Doom won't have any proper defenses." He explained, turning it back into a sphere then handing it back to her.
"There are so many possibilities." She muttered, her eyes still wide as her mind raced with countless ideas.
"Then why don't we spend the rest of our morning session for today exploring them? Try and make
as many orbs as possible and manipulate their forms. I'll keep the Argent present so you can do it without worrying." He suggested.
Once again, nodding her head in silent reply, Charlie set to work making more spheres of Argent to help her control the power even further.
Elsewhere, In The City...
"I have two eyes again; I have two eyes again~" Nifty cheerily sang as she skipped through the streets.
When the divinity machine had gifted its last batch of Argent energy, and after Charlie and Vega took off, those who were left in the sanctum decided to tour around the Sentinels' capital city.
"Happy for ya, Nifty." Husk said with a small smile, "First, you got your height back, and now you can wear sunglasses again." He told her, which made her gasp.
"YOU'RE RIGHT! SUNGLASSES! OH MY GOSH!" She exclaimed with a squeal. "Do they not make glasses with a single lens in your circle?" Azrael inquired. "They're hard to come by. Hell's filled with dicks remember?" He replied.
"Mhm. No consideration for those of us with mono-vision. But NOT anymore!" Nifty continued to hoot, unable to hide how happy this made her, "And hey! The machine finished healing your wounds from the Hell Wave too! No more robo casts!" She pointed out, referring to Husk's fully restored appearance.
"Which is something that both of us appreciate. Because now I get to see the rest of your handsome face." Azrael complimented.
"Sister. We're meant to be observing the wonders of Sentinel society and civilization. Could you please not be flirtatious while we do so?" Gabriel requested.
"Does their relationship bother you that much, Gabriel?" Octavia asked, finding his opposition towards it to be strange.
"Allow me to answer that with a question of my own. How would you feel if you saw either miss Loona or your mother dating someone who was a well-established alcoholic?" He asked.
"Whoa, why do you have to bring me into this?" Loona asked. Daisy nestled into the arm that carried her.
"Do you two not see yourselves as sisters? If not, I apologize; I assumed so because you're so close with each other." He answered.
"I mean...she is my best friend," Loona admitted. "And we ARE in a band together," Octavia added. "We live in the same house." Loona continued.
"And our dads are in a serious relationship," Octavia mentioned.
"But?" He questioned, expecting there to be an objection at some point.
"It's...weird. It's not like we grew up together or have been friends since childhood. And yet, when I think about it, the idea of saying we're sisters isn't upsetting at all." Loona replied.
"I doubt it will mean anything, but I, for one, am happy you two have each other." Stella shared. "Really, mom?" Octavia asked.
"Yes. It's comforting to know you have someone you can be so relaxed and close to in your life. When all of the adults you know are certifiably insane." She answered.
"That's not true, I know, Gabriel," Octavia responded.
"Trust me, he's the craziest one here," Azrael promised.
"Says the woman whose first love choice was an anthropomorphic cat demon who smelled of every possible alcoholic substance known throughout creation." He countered.
"I still wasn't the one who started a war with our brother~" She reminded.
"HE PLAYED AN EQUAL PART IN THAT, AND YOU KNOW IT, MISS, I'M NOT
TAKING SIDES!" He countered.
"Hey, guys!" Nifty exclaimed, interrupting their sibling squabbling, "There's a marketplace here! OH! We can shop around! Both for things to use for lunch AND to keep as souvenirs!" She suggested.
"Use for lunch? Are you planning to cook?" Husk questioned.
"Mhm! I want to know how to make the delicious food the Sentinels do so I can make it for Will! You know what they say, the fastest way to a man's heart is through his stomach!" She explained.
"Although I suppose in your case, it'd be the liver," Gabriel commented, referring to Husk.
"One more comment, Gabriel. And I swear by our father's name I WILL kick your ass in front of your lady friend and her daughter." Azrael warned.
"I'm above striking a fair maiden. It's a good thing my sister happens to be a witch." He responded.
"ALRIGHT!" Husk shouted as he stepped between them, "That's the bell, you two! Round one's over, back to your corners." He told them, despite being curious about what an angel boxing match might look like.
"Yeah, I agree with both Husk and Nifty. Maybe a little shopping spree for supplies and junk will get you two to simmer down." Loona said.
"Great!" Nifty exclaimed with excitement, "So, here are the groups. It'll be me, Loona, Daisy, and Octavia. Gabriel and Stella. Husk and Azrael. Does that sound good?" She asked.
"No, it's perfect," Azrael answered before grabbing Husk by his hand, "Let's go, Husk." She told him sternly.
"Yes, mam." He responded as she dragged him along, not daring to talk back when she was like
that.
"And while they go one way, we'll go the other to avoid them," Stella suggested as she started walking away.
"After you." He said, following behind.
"Alright, be honest. This whole shopping thing was just to get the couples out of hair, wasn't it?" Loona asked once those four were out of earshot, both she and Octavia looking at her.
"Nope! But hey, it worked out to our benefit." She answered with a giggle, "Now, let's look and see what kind of food and accessories the Sentinels are selling!" She directed before leading their group into the market.