"Wow! Look at all of these amazing things!" Nifty exclaimed as she, Loona with Daisy, and Octavia walked through the market.
Like most details regarding how their civilization was arranged, the Sentinels didn't believe in redundancy. To be more precise, they didn't see a need to waste so much space with several different stores, venues, or even something that could be considered a shopping mall. Instead, they opted for the traditional approach of having a MASSIVE outdoor market with stalls as far as the eye could see. Make no mistake, although this was similar to something you might read in a story about a wily Arabian thief stealing apples and jewelry, you'd have to be lacking any form of brain function to attempt something here.
Unlike other markets similar in appearance, structure, and organization, the vendors here were warriors like those fighting on the frontlines, and both their senses and instincts were as sharp as swords. So if for a second they caught anyone even so much as lifting one of their wares in a somewhat unscrupulous manner, they'd immediately break their jaw with a solid left or right hook. And, because this was a world filled with badasses, that would not only be allowed, but their standards see it as a slap on the wrist, so yeah, no one was going to try some shit.
But this small group of Hellspawn with a lapin companion had nothing to worry about because they had full brain functions and were in no way, shape, or form ever, even on their worst days, that stupid.
"From weapons and battle mechs to jewelry and decorative pottery for your home. Geez, these people cover every possible inventory there is." Octavia commented, unable to look anywhere without her vision getting filled with high-quality goods of all kinds.
"There's the food!" Nifty said while pointing to a section filled with meats, vegetables, fruits, and many other edibles, "I'll go get my shopping done. You guys do some of your own in the meantime!" She told them before running off.
"...Wait..." Loona slowly spoke as a thought formed in her mind, "...We...don't have whatever they use for money here...how the fuck are we going to buy anything?" She asked.
"...Oh shit," Octavia responded, just now realizing that herself.
"Pardon me." A voice called out to them from the right, making them look in that direction, "But are you two perhaps not familiar with how our people conduct trade?" A man asked. His identity was revealed as a vendor in the market, which they could tell since he stood behind the counter of his stall.
"Were you listening in on our conversation?" Loona questioned, unable to cross her arms because Daisy was in one of them.
"Forgive me, but are you not standing in the middle of a pathway in the center of a well-populated market while speaking out loud?" He countered.
"Damn, he got you good," Octavia said as an embarrassed blush appeared on Loona's face.
"Yeah...well...yeah..." She replied, doing her best to think of a clever comeback only to discover she couldn't.
"My apologies; I didn't mean to humble you." He told her before beckoning them to come closer, "But if you have a moment, I can explain how our market works." He offered.
"Aren't you weirded out by the fact that we're...ya know...demons?" Octavia asked as they walked over.
"The moment you arrived both yesterday and last night, word spread planetwide. Along with the important detail that you are friends to our King. If anyone here is rude or disrespectful to you without good reason to be, the guards will give them a sound beating." He answered.
"Holy shit, you guys respect Will that much?" Loona questioned.
"The mere fact he allows you to address him so familiarly only adds to how important you are to him." He said as a smile adorned his features, "And yes, he had done so much for our people and has kept all of creation safe long before most of us in the present time was born. We hold him with the same level of respect and regard as we do our gods." He informed.
Gods? That was interesting to them, as they immediately assumed whatever the third power required to make Argent might've come from them. However, they could ask the Slayer about that later; right now, they needed to know more about the Sentinel market.
"Wow, that's incredible," Octavia said as she put her hand to her chin, "But now, we should probably get back to how shopping works in this place. Where we're from, it's done with good old fashion cash." She shared.
"Ah, so even the demons of Hell value pointless coin like many mortals do? Not surprising, to be honest." He replied.
"You guys don't have a currency? Like, any?" Loona inquired.
"If you need something to be given that description, then it'd be honor and pride." He began, "Our gods provide us with all we need. Clean air to breathe, endless bounty from the land, whether minerals, game, or vegetation. There are never any storms or natural disasters, for they control that as well. So long as we adhere to their laws which keep us safe and ensure all are equal, we will never lack anything essential to a life of comfort." He explained before gesturing to the market, "Now you may be wondering if there is no currency, what point is there to make so many items that hold no relevance to combat? And the answer to that question is simple. Although our gods give us the materials needed for anything we could desire or aspire to invent, it falls upon us to make it so. Despite being referred to as a market, it is more a showcase of one's craftsmanship. A way for the artisans and creative folk to show the vast reaches of their mind's imagination. And when one stall, whether it be manned by an individual or more commonly a family, proves themselves unrivaled in the wares they peddle. Then they garner the most respect from our society in that particular way, and every Sentinel seeks out their work. For as a whole, we are far above the meaningless validation of money; we seek to achieve immortal greatness from our peers and nobility." He concluded.
"Nobility, huh? I'm guessing Will's included in that category?" Octavia asked. "Most assuredly." He answered.
"What would happen if he took a stroll through here?" She followed up.
"This market would become a warzone. Everyone fighting with fist and tooth to earn the honor of our King choosing their stock over the others." He informed.
"Heh, even when it comes to shopping, you guys settle shit with beating each others' asses. I fucking love this place." Loona said with a smile before looking around, "Does that mean we can take as much as we want?" She asked.
"Although we care not for valueless wealth, this doesn't mean we're fools. Only one item per stock will be given to each person by any vendor. And they cannot receive more than one of the same item until a full year passes." He answered.
"Even if the item gets broken?" Octavia questioned.
"If broken by another person or party, then a replacement will be allowed. But if you show such little care for what you are given that you'd allow it to be damaged, then you will need to re-earn the right to come to this market and to walk amongst our stalls." He explained.
"Let me guess; they redeem themselves by getting inside the arena and beating the shit out of each other?" Loona asked.
"It is tradition." He confirmed with a nod.
"MAN. I fucking LOVE this place." She repeated with a pleasant sigh. "Does that happen often?" Octavia inquired.
"Not ever since the Slayer became our King. There have been no crimes after he was crowned as he established a law that any who should do wrong in our society must face him in combat." He revealed.
"Goddamn, it'd be less painful getting thrown into a woodchipper," Loona commented. "Indeed." He replied.
"Hmph, this has been a really educational conversation. Thank you, sir." Octavia politely told him, "We're going to go look around now; again, thank you." She said.
"Think nothing of it, young lady. I hope both of you find something that catches your eye." He responded as he waved farewell.
.
.
.
"How does this look?" Azrael asked Husk as she turned towards him while wearing a necklace.
It didn't take long for whispers to spread through the marketplace that the literal angel of death was in their presence. And once word reached every last ear, all the vendors did what they could to entice her to sample their wares. As for Husk, he received just as much attention, surprisingly, as they quickly figured out he was more than an associate to her from how they spoke to one another. However, he didn't have much interest in what they offered, not that it wasn't well-made or incredible, mind you, but he only cared about two things, magic tricks and booze.
And since these people had knowledge and access to REAL magic, the only thing they could give him were bottles of various liquors, which he accepted GRACIOUSLY.
"Look, Azrael, I'll be honest. They all look the fucking same." He answered, a finely made burlap
sack over his shoulder filled with his haul as if he were an alcoholic Santa clause.
"That's not true, Husk. Each one I've tried on has a different gemstone, is made with a different metal, and has a unique style." She argued.
"Well, I can't notice that shit; I ain't about jewelry." He replied, "Besides, it doesn't matter what accessories you wear, not like they can make you any better than you already are." He complimented.
"Aw, thank you." She said with a smile.
"Eh, I have my moments." He admitted with a shrug, doing his best to be humble.
"Oh! I have an idea!" She exclaimed with an ear-to-ear grin, "Why don't you choose something for me? That way, it'll be something you like." She suggested.
"Azrael, I legit have no fucking taste at all. If I pick something out, it'll clash with your skin, or your clothes or something else people care about." He warned.
"Nonsense. We are a couple, and I am curious to know what you'd choose for me as a gift." She insisted before adorning a fake expression of sadness, "Unless...*sniff*...you don't want to get me a present..." She said, hamming it up.
"Oof, you should ask Al for some acting lessons cause that is terrible." He replied with a smirk, not falling for her ruse, "But if you're gonna be so theatrical about it, fine." He conceded.
"Thank you." She replied, kissing him on his cheek to show her appreciation.
Letting out a quick sigh because he had no IDEA what to pick, with more careful consideration than he'd ever shown in his life before he studied the jewelry in his vicinity. However, he wasn't lying when he said all of these objects looked the same to him; honestly, not one item stuck out as being different in his eyes. Then he saw it, a single accessory that not only stood out among the rest but also to him.
"Hey, can I see that?" He asked the vendor, who responded to him with a nod then fulfilled his request.
"I'm not looking in case you want to surprise me." She informed, even going so far as to put both of her hands over her eyes.
"Heh, good to know." He replied as he examined his choice.
It wasn't anything extravagant; in fact, it could be considered macabre. A lengthy yet well-made and smooth chain of something that felt like iron made the necklace itself. And while that on its own was untraditional and in no way flashy, what hanged at the bottom is what earned his interest. A skeleton with a sword clutched tightly in its arms and held close to its chest, with wings that were neither demonic nor angelic on its back, all made from the same material as the chain.
"Psst, mam." He whispered to the vendor so that Azrael couldn't hear them, "Does this have any meaning behind it? Or is it just meant to look cool?" He asked.
"All of our wares possess meaning to them, sir." She answered with a smile, speaking in the same volume, "The skeleton's meaning is straightforward, a person's soul in death. The sword and how the person holds it so tightly and close to itself represent the dedication to what they have dearest to them even in passing. And the wings, meant to resemble those of our gods, show that death is
not the end of one's life. Our gods lift our souls unto the next phase of our existence in our world and faith." She explained.
"Shit...so it probably wouldn't mean much to the angel of death then..." He muttered.
"Oh no. Make no mistake, sir, the item and its symbols can fit whatever meaning you so desire. Everything you see was made with the intent to be purchased by one of our own. But if you wish to impart upon it something new, you are fully allowed to do so. You chose this item before learning of what our meanings behind it are, so you must've seen something that resonated with you." She told him.
Huh, that's true. In no way is it an insult to this woman and her craft, but this necklace is what earned his attention out of all the items on display. But...shit...he wasn't good at this kind of crap...how the hell was he supposed to figure out whatever meaning he saw in this damn thing when Azrael was waiting for it right now?!
"...Ugh, fine..." He said with a sigh as he held his head, "Just bullshit until something good comes out, Husk. S'what you always do, and you've made it this far somehow." He decided.
Turning around to face Azrael, who was still standing there with her hands over her eyes and an eagerly waiting smile, he let out one more sigh before holding it out to her.
"Here...and I'm sorry in advance if it sucks...I told you I've got shit taste..." He apologized.
Removing her hands and opening her eyes, when Azrael saw what he selected, she was speechless. But it wasn't in either a bad or good way, simply because she wanted to learn more about why he chose this out of all the jewelry present.
"Husk..." She softly spoke as she took it from him, "Why this necklace?" She asked, making sure to sound intrigued and not disappointed.
"Alright...here we go...don't fuck this up, you dumb bastard..." He thought before responding, "Well...this is going to be hard for me to say...but...it's because it has some meaning to me..." He said.
"How so?" She inquired.
"For starters...the corpse...it's...me..." He began, "Although I'm technically alive right now...I am, in a sense, dead because I'm a human who went to Hell and became a demon...but also, I've never felt alive...even when I was back on earth in the casino I grew up in...I kind of lost that innocence and desire to see what the world had in store when so much of it came through the front door...and most of it was ugly..." He explained, "Then there's the sword...it's...double-edged...because my drinking always protected me...but it was also the reason both on Earth and in Hell I got into trouble...and in both places what ended up getting me killed...a lot more in the latter than the former..." He continued, "And as for the wings...they're...you...because wings lift you from below...yet mine never did...then you decided to take a chance on me...and for the first time in my entire life both before and now...I feel like I'm finally escaping the shit that's held me down for so long...that made me comfortable where I was below...almost like you're my guardian angel or savior or something..." He finished.
He felt sick, afraid, and nervous all at once. Never, not ONCE before now did he ever give a person any kind of gift, and if he had but forgot about it after all this time, he could safely say it wasn't to someone he had feelings for, such as Azrael. It was so bad that he found himself staring at the ground; he didn't move his head to look this way; his body did it in response to the emotions
raging inside him. And yet, as the seconds went by, Azrael didn't say anything, which worsened his fear that despite his best efforts AND that what he said was all true, that she didn't like the necklace.
But that's when those feelings were cast away, done so by her hand reaching out and grabbing onto his own. And when he moved his head upward, to see what she was doing and what expression she had on her face, Husk was met with something that filled him with absolute relief and warmth.
"Let's go somewhere...more private..." She said to him, a smile so comforting and pleasant it was all he could focus on, "I want to show you how much this means to me, but it'd be awkward with so many eyes watching us." She explained.
That's when he noticed it, that short period when she wasn't saying anything she spent putting on the necklace. For now, it adorned her neck.
"Sure." He responded with a smile of his own, willing to go anywhere so long as it was with her.
.
.
.
"I must say, for a race of people so focused on combat. Their craftsmanship outclasses everything found in my circle of Hell." Stella admitted as she looked over her new jewelry.
Thanks to Gabriel's prior research and study on the Sentinel people and their history, which included their customs and traditions, they were able to start exploring the stalls immediately without worrying about money.
"Quite the plentiful bounty you've accrued, miss Stella." He commented.
"One item per person, but no limit to how many things in total said person could acquire." She replied, referring to the rules.
"True. But you cannot attempt to sell or give your jewelry away even when you return home. I don't know how, but the Sentinels WILL learn about it, and they won't be pleased." He warned.
"Are you kidding? I'm going to get rid of all the crap Stolas gave me to make room for these. And the only way I'd ever part with them is if someone murdered me." She said.
"...Miss Stella...forgive if this is too prudish of me. But could you refrain from saying something like that even in passing? After what happened last night, it's something that is far too real to me." He requested.
"Oh...right...I'm sorry." She apologized, "I must admit, it completely slipped my mind. Possibly caused by my mostly incapacitated state during the whole thing." She suggested as a frown appeared on her face, "Octavia...she must've been so terrified...and I wasn't able to do anything." She said.
"It wasn't your fault. Something your daughter has no doubt already told you." He replied before he put a hand on her shoulder, "Everything worked out in the end. Although Valentino escaped, both of you are okay. And if I had to choose between the two, it'd always be your
safety." He promised.
"Only because you came into our lives, Gabriel. If we never met, if you never helped my daughter and me, the outcome would've been far grimmer." She pointed out.
"You can't think like that, Stella. It'll only give you nightmares and consume your fears. You mustn't allow the alternative ways it could've ended plague you for the rest of your life." He told her.
"But how can I not, Gabriel?!" She asked him as she brought them both a stop in a relatively isolated part of the marketplace, "Nearly every second of today, I've thought about it! How painfully tight his grasp was on my throat, how fast everything became dark when he slammed me into the ground, and how as my only child was fighting him off, I laid there helplessly waiting to be his next victim when he was through with her! How can I POSSIBLY rid myself of these torturous thoughts?!" She asked.
To answer her question while also soothing her soul, Gabriel did the one thing she never could've seen coming. Despite his evident unease at direct physical contact when it came to showing appreciation or affection, he pulled her into a hug and even went to the trouble of summoning his wings to wrap around her.
"Because, Miss Stella, I am here." He said quietly, another measure to try and ease her troubled mind, "I... had never known true companionship before we met. Every conversation we shared over lunch, the trust you've bestowed me, and your willingness to allow me to be a part of your life and the life of your daughter. Who, I've also come to care about as I do you. So long as our foes are at the gates of either Heaven or Hell, I vow to protect both of you with my spear and everything else within my power to give." He promised.
"Gabriel..." She silently thought to herself as she rested her head on his shoulder. A content expression on her face as she closed her eyes to embrace the moment, although he couldn't see it.
For a few seconds, everything didn't exist for Stella; she savored how this felt as much as she could. But then someone came along and ruined it. However, that was far from her intention.
"Oh! There you guys are!" Nifty exclaimed as she hurried over, several sacks of ingredients being carried in both hands.
"Ah, hello, miss Nifty. You've finished your shopping, I see." Gabriel politely greeted as he pulled away from Stella, ending their tender moment.
"Mhm! Got everything I need to whip up some lunch for everyone! And a certain rough and tough man~" She replied, "Loona and Octavia are done too! As for Azrael and Husk, well, I tried to find them. But no matter where I looked or how far I went into the market, I couldn't see them anywhere." She informed.
"Knowing my sister, she's allowed her lack of sound judgment to get the better of her yet again and dragged him off to do something absurd." He suggested with a sigh, "I suspect we'll see both of them when everyone gathers to eat. Shall we depart for the dining hall so we can be ready?" He asked.
"Yup! Let's go!" She answered before running off to where Loona and Octavia were waiting. Following behind the energetic redhead, where they soon met up with the girls, the group headed
for the dining hall. And yet, during all of this and Gabriel and Nifty's conversation, Stella remained strangely silent. For unknown to the rest of them, even Gabriel, she was bothered by how short- lived that moment between them had been.
Elsewhere, In The Arena...
There is a mighty difference between experiencing something via an auditorial description or seeing it in some form of recording/footage than living through it yourself. A perfect example would be war-time documentaries. Yes, we can see the horrors of war through the preserved film, but we cannot begin to know what it truly feels like to be in a war ourselves. That is something those lucky few who were sparring with the Slayer now understood, for although they were aware their friend was a force of nature, even a simple training session with him showed them how terrifyingly skilled he was.
As a man of his word, he didn't move from where he stood. If he did, there'd be no chance at all that his companions would land a single strike or bullet against him. However, he still blocked their attacks and dodged when multiple things could hit him, but the overall point was for him to offer them guidance as they attacked. He did this by pointing out flaws in their approach, areas
where they needed to spend time working on, and relying too heavily on specific tactics and needed to think of new ones.
At the same time, BJ and the Wretch were working up an impressive sweat with their simulated Hell Knights. Over these last three hours, neither of them ever brandished their melee weapons; they were determined to sharpen their close-quarters evasion skills and their physical attacks.
"Angel, don't shoot and run if you can't keep your aim steady with automatic fire..." The Slayer advised as he deflected the other's barrage of bullets with his gauntlets, "Vaggie and Katie, keep in mind where the other is at all times, you keep getting dangerously close to interfering with each other's attack strategy..." He continued. Having grabbed onto the Latina's spear and pushed her aside while simultaneously grabbing one of Katie's arms and throwing her away by a few feet, "Cherri...you're making it hard for your allies who're attacking from long range to make clear shots because of your explosions..." He informed. Right as he caught two more of her summoned bombs and threw them away quickly before they exploded.
"Yeah, Cherri! Let us lineup a fucking shot!" Blitzo exclaimed, only to receive a charged plasma round from the Slayer's pistol to his shoulder, "WHEN DID YOU SUMMON THAT?!" He questioned.
"Fireballs, missiles, grenades, and many other projectiles will be flying at you from all sides...if you have trouble reacting to my pistol the moment I summon it and before I shoot a charged round...then you'll be incinerated or liquified by bile before you can pull your triggers..." The Slayer responded.
"Yeah, Blitzo! Don't go saying shit when you-"
BOOM
"The same goes for you, Cherri..." The Slayer said, having shot a bomb she was holding with his pistol, "Hold onto your explosives for more than five seconds, and you risk an Imp's fire or several other outside factors detonating them..." He warned.
"Duly noted..." She replied with a puff as the explosion covered her in soot. But she was quick to
shake it off and get back at it.
"Will's turning out to be a damn good instructor." BJ praised his grandson, though he did so through gritted teeth as these fake Hell Knights didn't allow them to let their guards down.
"That was evident when he set such strict training conditions for us." The Wretch pointed out as he evaded a powerful swing from his Hell Knight's left arm.
Continuing to train for several more minutes, eventually, they'd be brought to a stop as the Hell Knights BJ and the Wretch were fighting vanished suddenly.
"My king." The arena's attending Sentinel called out from above, "It is close to noon. You requested that I informed you when the time drew near." They said.
"Thank you; you may take a break for lunch as well..." The Slayer responded, receiving a salute from the Sentinel before they walked away, "Alright, everyone...put away your weapons and take a breather..." He instructed.
"To be honest, Will. I don't think we need to." Vagatha said as she looked herself over, "We've been going non-stop for three hours, and yet, I don't feel the slightest bit tired." She shared.
"That'd be the Argent..." He said.
"Yeah, well, can the Argent help me with my fucking stupid boobs?" Angel Dust asked while pointing to his bust, "I don't know how you broads fucking deal with this shit; it fucking SUCKS." He complained.
"Don't worry, Angel. We just need to get you some support, and you'll be right as rain." Millie promised.
"If it's underwear you need, I've got plenty!" Blitzo exclaimed before pulling out a green bra with the Slayer's helmet on both cups from seemingly nowhere.
A moment of silence then took place; most of them were shocked that he somehow had that on hand, while BJ was left wondering why his grandson's helmet/face was on a bra.
"Sir...how and why?..." Moxxie questioned, serving as the voice for everyone.
"Moxxie, a good businessman, ALWAYS carries samples of his product in case he can make a sale. I have a BUNCH of stuff on me." He revealed before looking into the inside pockets of his coat, "Let's see...I've got more Slayer bras, panties, and boxers...I've got some pamphlets for Slayer Studios...I have some candid photos of Angel in the shower...oh and I-"
PUNT
Like a professional football player, the appropriately named kind, Angel Dust, ran up and kicked Blitzo clear across the arena and into one of its walls. Which also made him drop the bra he was holding.
"YOU HAVE WHAT?!" He shouted in anger while reaching down and picking up the bra as he DESPERATELY needed it.
"Dude...you were a pornstar...there's a HUGE market for anything related to you now that you're not shooting movies...of the sexual variety..." Blitzo wheezed out; his lungs nearly caved in from how hard he kicked him.
"PLEASE, for the love of all that is holy, tell me you haven't been doing that with anyone else. ESPECIALLY not our employees because we will get sued out of the ASS." Katie requested as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Well...I DID consider getting some snapshots of you...but it turns out no one cares about your body regardless if it's naked or-"
Before he could finish that sentence, Katie was on top of him like a feral badger, stomping him violently with her foot further into the arena wall.
"Should we stop her?..." The Slayer asked, for even with Blitzo being boosted by Argent like the others, he feared she might manage to kill him.
"NO." Everyone, even BJ and the Wretch, answered. For although the latter didn't know the Slayer's companions that well, they could tell the Imp had it coming.
"Alright...then let's head to lunch...I'm sure they'll join us when they're ready..." He said before walking out of the arena with the others following behind.
Elsewhere, In The Wraiths' Sanctum...
When the Wraiths praised their students the day prior for being adept at the arcane arts, admittedly, even they weren't prepared for how quick to learn these three demons were. Over three short hours, they had a solid understanding of their new technique. Far from masters, they were, yes. But still, it was an impressive amount of progress.
All three demons could turn themselves into streams of energy, which allowed them to move about the space within the Wraiths' chamber freely. However, what they lacked was the speed necessary to take full advantage of it, and should their concentration falter even the slightest bit at their current skill level, they'd return to normal. But by practicing it a bit more alongside the next ability the Wraiths wished to teach them, there were no doubts in the cosmic gods' minds that they'd be on par with a Summoner or Archvile in this aspect.
"This is so much fun!" Velvet exclaimed while laughing as she darted around the room like a lightning bolt.
"Careful you don't graze our books and scrolls! We need those!" Stolas told her.
"A question, oh cosmic mentors." Alastor spoke, addressing the Wraiths, "Is it possible to use this ability in an offensive capacity? Or any other way that isn't solely based around our movement and evasion?" He inquired.
"Yes. But it comes with great risk." They warned.
"Because rather than a spell, it is us that would be carrying out the attack? And should something happen, it'd affect us directly?" Stolas asked.
"That is not all." They began, which brought Velvet to a stop so she could listen as well, "The apex of this use of your power is indirect possession. Those who have mastered it beyond all else may pass through another being, regardless of whether they are corporeal or ethereal. And should their power be more significant than their target's, they can control them without any resistance." They informed.
"Oh my, that is an intimidating amount of power," Stolas said. "Do the demons ever use that?" Velvet asked.
"They do not need to. The demons are all extensions of their master. Though some do possess souls, they are not their own. Even the most powerful of their forces, the sister demons, do not use this technique." They answered.
"So this could be an ace for us! A trick that they'd never see coming!" Alastor proposed.
"Yes. Due to the Argent that now resides in your souls, combined with your already present plentiful amount of arcane energy. By the time your training is complete, you could possess even the likes of an Archvile or Summoner." They replied, "But if we are to teach you, you WILL abide by this rule. Do NOT attempt it with the sisters; no matter how weakened, they receive the entirety of their master's power, and no amount of training will have you surpass that threshold." They told them.
"Understood. When it is possible, all of the demons are fair game, but not the wicked witches that control them." Stolas said as he, Velvet, and Alastor nodded their heads to show they agreed.
"Very good. Now, noon draws near. It would be best if you took this time to see your companions and share a meal at the dining hall." They announced.
"Oh! Wait! What's the next thing we're going to learn when we come back?" Velvet asked, eager to know what amazingly awesome lesson was in store.
"We believe it would benefit you to wait until your return to know." They answered, causing her to whine and Alastor to laugh.
"Even cosmic deities take pleasure in being teases!" He exclaimed before walking out, "Come now, you two, don't want to get there right as all the good tables are taken!" He called out to them.
Not needing to be told more than once, Stolas and Velvet followed without another word spoken among them for now.
Elsewhere, In The Wilds...
Of all the things Vega expected when he set out to teach his granddaughter how to wield her powers, her impressively fast learning abilities weren't one of them. In a window of three hours after figuring out how to shape her Argent into a sphere, she quickly managed to master altering that shape into whatever she wanted. And so, in what to Vega was a blink of an eye, their training's purpose rapidly changed from mastering Argent manipulation to how many ways she could weaponize it. Coincidentally, that is also the exact moment in time when he realized his charming, compassionate, innocent granddaughter's imagination applied not only to good ideas but also to weapons and means of mass destruction.
Which, in his personal opinion, HAD to come from her father's side of her genes.
"Impressive, Charlie!" He called out in praise, having to raise his voice due to the explosions of energy happening around him, "Not only are you wielding the Argent like a weapon, but you are also finding more uses for those spheres by unleashing their compacted energy like the detonation of a frag grenade!" He said.
"Is it weird that I learned how to do this from Cherri?" She asked, also having to raise the volume of her voice so he could hear her, "When I was upset about Will being sealed away in Doom, she, like everyone else, tried to make me feel better! Albeit, it was by blowing up abandoned buildings which I didn't think was the healthiest way to vent my frustrations, but it taught me how to detonate explosives made from my powers remotely!" She explained.
"Indeed. An unusual approach to lifting one's spirits, but it taught you a unique skill that has paid off in the grand scheme of things!" He replied, "However, there is more to fighting than simply bombarding your enemies with explosives. You need to-"
Stopping mid-sentence as he had to catch something flying towards his face at breakneck speed. When he looked to see what he grabbed, it was a dagger made of Argent.
"Ah, using your explosions as a cover for a second attack. Very good!" He praised, "However, you'll need to do FAR better than that if you-"
BOOM
It exploded. That sneaky little devil princess detonated the energy used to make the dagger. And the dagger's size wasn't small, about the same as a big game hunting knife. That meant the resulting explosion was pretty large, enough to conceal Vega in a huge smoke cloud when it happened.
"Ha! Got ya!" Charlie cheered with a triumphant pump of her first, "...Grandpa?" She inquired as she didn't hear him say anything or see his silhouette through the smoke.
Watching as the cloud slowly dissipated, she was shocked to find Vega was gone.
"...Did...Did I actually blow him up?..." She questioned. For although it was impossible to think she blew her grandfather up since he was God, so far, the evidence seemed to point to that conclusion.
"Afraid not, sweetie. You're a good ways away from shattering me with an explosion." He informed from behind her, leaning forward so his head could be next to hers.
In what might be the cutest sound he's ever heard in his life, Vega couldn't keep himself from laughing when Charlie squealed out of fear and turned around to face him.
"GRANDPA!" She shouted as she hit him with the bottom of her fist in the chest, "DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT!" She scolded, blushing out of embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, I saw a perfect opportunity and couldn't resist." He apologized.
"Did you open a portal while the smoke hid you?" She asked, calming herself down after that scare.
"Correct. You see, Charlie, versatility is a powerful skill to have in battle. But without imagination, it isn't going to get you far. I took a disadvantageous situation for myself and used it to my benefit." He answered.
"Yeah, I didn't even see any light from the portal you created." She noted.
"Speed, precision, and skill are all things needed to survive Doom's demons. For right now, we can shift our focus away from the many purposes of Argent energy and onto your tactical thinking and abilities that are more utility than they are offense." He said, "But before that, it's now lunchtime. Which means we're at our first break." He added.
"Wait, really?" She questioned with a shocked expression, receiving a nod in response, "Wow, it doesn't feel like three hours have passed at all." She admitted.
"One of the many wonders of Argent." He told her before opening a new portal, "Now then, let us hurry. Otherwise, the others might claim all the best food for themselves." He suggested.
Giving him a nod of her own, Vega and Charlie went through the portal with him following behind her.
ElseWhere, Near The Dining Hall...
"Ya know, we may not be tired or sore. But I am hungry as hell." Angel Dust admitted, now feeling MUCH better once Cherri helped him with his new article of clothing.
"Oh fuck yeah. Running around throwing bombs for three straight hours empties your stomach like nothing else." Cherri agreed.
"Better stuff yourselves...dinner won't be until late into the evening...and the night training will be the longest before your next break..." The Slayer told them.
"You know, it's unusual for me to say something like this. But bring it on!" Moxxie exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"Oh ho! Look at you, Mox; you've got some backbone now!" Angel Dust praised.
"My Moxxie's always had backbone!" Millie said proudly while crossing her arms, "But with this new power we've got and Will training us, we're ready to take on the world!" She declared.
"Let's focus on the demons first...then we'll tackle the world..." He suggested with a light chuckle.
Continuing their approach to the dining hall, which was in view now, soon they'd see two figures standing in front of the building.
"Oh, hey guys!" Charlie greeted with a smile and wave as they got closer.
"Hey hon, how's the training going?" Vagatha asked, exchanging a quick kiss with her once they were close enough.
"Great! I blew up, grandpa!" She answered.
"Ah, the privilege some people have. I'd LOVE to blow up God." Cherri joked. "Anytime you feel courageous, Cherri." Vega challenged.
"Oh wow, now that you're not a computer program, you're suddenly brave. Or, very stupid." She replied with a smirk.
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing." He countered.
"Alright, as much as I'd LOVE to see you two turn this place into a crater, I'm fucking HUNGRY." Angel Dust interjected.
"So are we!" A new yet familiar voice called out from behind them.
"Ey, what up shorty?" Cherri asked as she turned around, referring to Velvet, whom the voice came from.
"We learned an AWESOME new magic trick!" She answered, Stolas and Alastor trailing right behind her.
"Is it pulling a rabbit out of a hat?...Because if so, I know a rabbit who you can practice with..." The Slayer joked, which was the first time most of them had seen.
"Hold up, did YOU just make a wisecrack?" Angel Dust questioned with widened eyes.
"What?...Too weird?..." He asked, followed by a shrug, "I thought I'd give it a shot..." He explained.
"No, if anything, it's nice to know you feel like you can do that with us," Vagatha replied.
"Indeed! It's a real sign of progress that you're coming more and more out of that armored shell of yours as we spend time together!" Alastor exclaimed.
"Huh...that's good then..." He said before turning around, "But let's talk more inside...we look stupid just standing here..." He told them.
Pushing open the doors to the building and walking in, they weren't two feet through the door before a surprising sight stopped them. On one of the larger tables available, there was a MOUTH WATERING spread of food, its delectable appearance only trumped by its delicious smell. On top of that, Loona with Daisy, Octavia, Gabriel, Stella, and Nifty were all there waiting, which told them that it was for their group.
"There you guys are!" Nifty greeted with a grin as she hurried over, "We were starting to worry you wouldn't arrive before everything got cold!" She said.
"Who...who has gifted us this...beautiful thing?..." Angel Dust asked, legitimately on the verge of tears from how GOOD this looked.
"I did!" She answered, catching them by surprise. "Y...You?...SERIOUSLY?!" Moxxie questioned.
"Mhm! I went to the marketplace, got ingredients, and then had the chefs help me prepare this for you!" She explained.
"How did you get them to agree to that?" Millie asked.
"Oh, they were happy to help! In fact, everyone in the market was eager to give me what I needed!" She answered.
"You've been cleaning and helping out beyond the dining hall, haven't you?..." The Slayer guessed. "Mhm! Anything I can do to contribute!" She replied.
"Yeah...you're quickly becoming their favorite..." He said as he placed his hand on her head, "Good job...I'm proud of you..." He praised.
Receiving a sign of affection like this turned Nifty's typically yellow face into a bright red tomato. However, she wasn't shy about it, and she smiled at him with pride.
"Thanks, Will. Coming from you, that's the best thing I could hear." She said.
"Nope. Not allowed." Angel Dust told her as he gently pushed her away from him, "I see what this is about, you little shit. And while it's a very well played move, I'm not letting you get away with it." He sternly said.
"Ooooh, someone's feeling threatened~" Cherri teased.
"Ahem." Alastor sounded to get their attention, "I hate to be the one who breaks up this soap opera, but our food IS waiting for us." He reminded.
"Hm? Oh, right!" Nifty exclaimed, realizing that they forgot about the meal, "Come on! Take a seat! Hurry and try it!" She beckoned as she went back to the table.
Not needing to be told twice, everyone hurried over and claimed a spot at the table, eager to dig their teeth into this feast. The group spent the next few seconds putting food on plates, pouring drinks into glasses and starting new conversations with each other.
"MMM! Nifty! This meat is exceptional!" Alastor praised as he bit into a piece of well-prepared poultry.
"Dude, trust us, we know." Loona responded for her, "She let us sample some of the goods before you got here because she was worried it'd suck." She explained.
"...Loona." Stolas spoke to get her attention, "I can't help but notice that you and Octavia have two huge burlap sacks behind you." He observed.
"Oh yeah, Nifty wasn't the only one who made off with a haul from the market." She replied with a grin, "We even picked some stuff out for the little fluffball here." She added as she looked down at Daisy, who sat in her lap munching on some greens.
"Mom got herself jewelry as well." Octavia pointed out.
"Damn girl, you blinged your ass out!" Cherri exclaimed, having not noticed it like most of them until she mentioned it.
"Yes, quite," Stella responded in a relatively quiet and reserved way.
"Something wrong? Your vocabulary's usually longer than a train." Angel Dust inquired. "No, just tired is all." She said.
"You sure? Did Gabriel fuck up somehow?" He asked.
"Why do you assume that I have done something wrong?" Gabriel questioned.
"I dunno; from how Azrael and Lucifer always talk about you, they make you sound like a dumbass sometimes." He shared.
"...I'm going to kill them both." Gabriel decided.
"There will be no murder at the table, son." Vega told him, "Speaking of your sister, wasn't she and Husk with you?" He asked.
"Yes. But when it came time to return here to prepare lunch, we couldn't find them.
Undoubtedly she dragged the poor fool somewhere." Gabriel informed. "Sounds risque," Millie commented with a sly smile.
"Oh please, I may make it a point to expose my sister's continued lapse in judgment. But there's certainly no way she'd do anything scandalous while we are in the presence of such warriors." He assured.
Just then, the doors to the dining hall were pushed open, and in came the very woman they were talking about.
"Hmph, I thought the devil was the only one to appear when spoken of." He joked as Azrael walked over and claimed a seat.
"Hello, everyone." She politely greeted.
"Ey, death. Where's Husk?" Angel Dust asked.
"He's not too far behind me; he needed a few moments to recuperate." She answered.
"...Recuperate...from what...sister..." Gabriel asked slowly.
However, before she could answer or anyone else could ask more questions, they looked towards the still open doors to find a stumbling Husk entering the building. And while that was an odd detail in of itself, as was the large burlap sack he dragged across the ground in his left hand, it was his face that held their gazes. The fur on his head and cheeks was ruffled and messy, and although he had the most satisfied smile they'd ever seen, none of them could detect a whiff of alcohol.
"Holy...fucking...shit..." Cherri muttered as she slowly turned towards Azrael, "YOU TWO MADE OUT!" She shouted.
"Hehe...yeah..." Husk replied instead of her, which weirdly confirmed it more as there was NO WAY he'd ever lie about something like that.
"...Well...I have officially lost my appetite..." Gabriel said as he rose from his seat, "And I am going to excuse myself for a while...for otherwise I may succumb to my emotions and beat you to death with my bare hands." He told Husk as he walked out.
"Worth it..." Husk replied while he passed him, unable to process fear due to how good he felt right now.
"Azrael, I must say I am shocked," Vega told her.
"Oh no, not you too, father." She said with a sigh as Husk walked over and sat next to her.
"Hm? Oh, forgive me, I've created a misunderstanding." He apologized, "I'm not upset, by shocked I meant to imply I wouldn't have expected this from your relationship so soon, is all." He explained.
"Oh, thank goodness." She breathed with a sigh of relief, "I'm happy to know you approve of our relationship, unlike Gabriel." She confessed.
"Wait...Auntie, did Husk give that to you?" Charlie asked, referring to the necklace she saw hanging around her neck.
"I bet my new tits that is what made her want to maul his face." Angel Dust said with a knowing
grin.
"Hehe...yeah..." Husk spoke for her again, still in a daze.
But before they could gossip more about this stunning new development in these two's relationship, another member of their group arrived at the doors.
"Hey, what'd I miss?" Katie asked, able to quickly detect the buzzing in the air around them.
"Yo, Katie!" Cherri called out while waving her hand, "You'll never believe this! Azrael sucked Husk's face like a vacuum!" She informed.
"Huh, let me get a seat and plate, and you can fill me in," Katie said as she walked over.
However, when she got closer, they all noticed an interesting change in her appearance; she wasn't wearing her high heels.
"...Okay, I have to ask this...did you actually kill Blitzo?..." The Slayer inquired.
"Hm? What're you talking about, Will?" She asked as she sat next to him, a chilling smile present on her face, "Blitzo's just sleeping in the arena after that weird bout of exhaustion he came down with. As for my shoes, I stepped in a particularly disgusting pile of shit on my way here, had to throw them away." She told him.
"Blitzo's dead. And she's freed herself of the evidence." Everyone, including Vega and Charlie, thought simultaneously.
"Interestingly though, I passed by some roadkill on my way here." She mentioned. "Roadkill? In a place where there aren't any cars?" Moxxie questioned.
"See for yourselves; they'll be crawling in here any second now." She said.
No, she couldn't be referring to who they thought, could she? Preemptively looking towards the entrance this time, they were all surprised to see Vox and Sir Pentious crawling on the ground into the dining hall after another minute went by. Furthermore, their bodies were covered in oil, soot, grease, and other fluids you'd expect to find a mechanic dirtied with.
"Yup, that's roadkill," BJ commented, having seen enough of it in Texas to know what it looked like.
"Oh my gosh! Are you guys okay?!" Velvet worriedly asked as she hurried over. "We...*huff*...made it...*huff*...Pentious..." Vox informed his companion.
"Don't...talk to me...let me die in peace..." Sir Pentious requested with his face pressed against the ground.
"This is twice in two days I've had to save the both of you from the brink," Vega said as he rose from his seat, but he was happy to do so.
"We...have...so many things...waiting for us when we go back..." Vox said as Velvet helped him to his feet.
"Yeah...the forge is scarier than the demons sometimes..." The Slayer admitted.
"Make sure...you use my skin...for a nice set of boots..." Sir Pentious told them.
"You don't have skin." Vega reminded as he picked him up from the ground, "And even if you did, that'd be incredibly morbid." He added.
"VERY fashionable, though. Boots made from him COULD fetch a pretty penny." Cherri chimed in.
"I...am going...to kill you..." Sir Pentious weakly promised. "Only by death through laughter." She countered.
After Vega and Velvet took the time to help Vox and Sir Pentious clean themselves and for him to replenish their stamina, they took their seats with the doll demon and were ready to eat. And so, with everyone present but Gabriel and a presumed to be dead Blitzo, the group enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared by Nifty accompanied by pleasant conversations.
Meanwhile, In Lucifer's Circle...
"Shit...this place is like a damn maze..." Helsa cursed beneath her breath.
It'd been several hours since she and Verosika parted ways, and all of that time had been spent on her sneaking around while expertly evading detection. However, unknown to her, the Maykrs had constructed additional facilities before they arrived, which made the task of finding the Slipgate all the more difficult. But finally, she felt she was on the right track; she noticed that an influx of drones and angels seemed to be coming from a specific direction, almost as if they were arriving in mass.
"This next building HAS to be it..." She whispered, making her way through ANOTHER corridor after waiting for it to clear out.
With every step, her body grew tenser, fearing that at any moment she'd run into an angel or worse, the Seraph. Yet when she reached the door at the end and watched it slowly open, an evil grin of joy spread from cheek to cheek as she saw two glorious things. The first was her objective, the Slipgate, while the second was the lone angel attending the room.
"Helsa." The voice from before spoke to her, "I shall take it from here." It informed. "As you wish." She whispered, closing her eyes and relaxing her body to make it easier.
In the same amount of effort it takes to snap one's fingers, her new master took control of her body. And when her eyes reopened to grant the demon vision, they were a dark red. Moving her body into the room as stealthily as it could manage, the demon got right behind the angel, reached up to the sides of its head, then...
CRACK
In one quick motion, it broke the angel's neck, even going so far as to stomp on the injured part of the Maykr to ensure its death. Now that no obstacles stood in the demon's path, they set their sights on the Slipgate's terminal, swiftly getting to work on opening a portal. However, right as they neared the end of inputting coordinates, one of the only two doors into the facility opened. And the person who came into the room was the WORST case scenario.
"Miss Eldritch?" Samur Maykr questioned as the door closed behind him, "What're you-"
He stopped, both in his sentence and his movement, for he saw next to her the corpse of an angel. In an instant, time itself froze, both Samur and the demon controlling Helsa evaluating the situation.
"...I see." He was the first to speak, his mind faster than that of any demon from Doom, "Valentino infected you first. Hmph, that explains how your security didn't stop him and how it was so easy for him to infect your staff." He deduced, "And, given your silence, I presume you're not even here right now." He added.
"You are...correct, Seraph." The demon's voice came through her own as she turned around.
"Hm...the Cyberdemon." He said. His extensive knowledge of Doom's population, helping him to learn the demon's identity, "That makes sense. Of all the monsters ever created by your master, only one surpasses your intellect. So fitting that he should be our ally." He told him.
"He is nothing but a usurper, a false servant to our lord." The Cyberdemon replied with a scowl, "I will take more pride in his death than even the Slayer's for his treachery." He claimed.
"You act as if you'll be able to stop him. Twice now, he has bested your master's schemes." Samur reminded as he slowly began to approach the terminal.
"True. But that only makes us stronger; we learn from our defeats and have become better." He argued, holding his ground.
"Heh, I strongly doubt that." Samur admitted while coming to a stop just a few feet away, "Do you think we wouldn't take every precaution possibly against every conceivable situation? You may be able to interact with that terminal, input coordinates, and ready it for use. But in the final moment, you'd be incapable of activating the portal, for only by a Maykr's hand can that authorization be issued." He revealed.
"I could take one from this corpse." The Cyberdemon suggested while nudging it with Helsa's foot, "Or, I could have one of yours." He added.
"You have no weapons; Helsa's power even with the parasite does not match mine, and the moment you start a fight, every Maykr across these facilities will know you are here. I'm genuinely curious as to what move you think you have that can be executed." Samur said.
"Oh? Is your memory finally failing you, Seraph?" He questioned with a grin, "Do you not recall how our invasion of this circle began last time?" He asked.
For most, they'd be left confused by that response, but thanks to his fast-working mind Samur knew what he meant. Sadly, because of how close they were, he couldn't react fast enough as the Cyberdemon threw Helsa's body forward and made her arms wrap around his own.
"This was always a suicide mission." Was the last thing he told the Seraph before the parasite in Helsa's body was overcharged with power, causing it to explode violently.