"I want every warrior of mine to be alert and on guard! Patrol every corner of the Earth and stop any approaching devilmen in their tracks! We want to wipe out as many of those mutants as possible before they rally together!" Zennon's voice boomed. His fur was frazzled and mangled, almost to the same extent as his mind. His fangs were exposed, and his eyes were strained as he harrowingly directed his armies.

"Sir, a large portion of the devilmen around the world have already made their way to Japan," an informer spoke up.

"All the more reason to get moving!" he returned. "I want you to alert every demon in our ranks of these orders immediately!"

"Yes sire," the devil responded, hurrying off and out of sight. The king was left with only himself and the daunting thoughts that plagued his brain. He glared up at the newscasting with a horrid face.

"Very well, if you want something done, you always have to do it yourself…" his utterance echoed within the void chamber.

"Do you really believe that was the right choice?" the demonesses questioned in a stale manner.

"Whether it was or wasn't it had to be done…" Gabriel responded. The pair suspended themselves high in the atmosphere amongst the honey glow of the clouds. The angel appeared ponderous with his arms tightly crossed over his chest and a sagging head. Jenny stayed by his side, observing the inner war that was going on inside him. She was not aware of its contents, but she knew it was a nasty back and forth.

All of a sudden, a new presence made itself undoubtedly clear. Jenny sensed it with wide eyes. The minutes had turned to seconds as she replaced her gaze on the angel. She wanted to speak up and warn him. But he already knew. The last glimpse she got of him was his head staring straight up, with a hollowness to his person.

A great clash sent Jenny spiraling. Instantly her first instinct was to regain control of her descent as she caught and stabilized herself in the air. The brash noise of confrontation was evident, but its source still evaded her sights. That was until she looked at the light. It was difficult to make out, and her heightened psychic abilities identified it better than her eyes, but within those rays, she made out two figures. Their outlines sheened with the lustrous of golden armor, holding one another in peril.

"What is the meaning of this!" a commanding voice roared. A firm hand, identical to the brother, clutched at Gabriel's shoulder.

Gabriel looked up at him with a solemn face. There was no other reaction he could muster; he had predicted this exact outcome long ago and thus could not be surprised by its arrival.

"I had to save them, brother…" he replied.

"Save them? Why ever for? Why would we want to save such heinous creatures? Ones that distorted their godly bodies in favor of grotesque ones that granted them more power. They are just as bad as the demons that threaten our existence!"

"Michael, you must see, it isn't like that. These humans changed themselves to survive, the demons would eradicate them otherwise!" Gabriel implored to his higher up.

"The humans are never in any real danger; their souls are bound for eternal salvation, and they are always recreated regardless. Throwing away their faith as some of them have, however, speaks for itself, and they shall perish in Hell with the rest of the demons," he said stoutly.

"But brother, they do not know that. They are frightful and do not know any better, and even if they did the cruel fate they exist within is sorry enough!"

Michael's tapered gaze opened at that moment, "That is unfortunately true, and because of that, I don't want to see you get caught up in it yourself. Which is why I've come after you, what exactly are you plotting brother?"

"Plotting? I'm not trying to plot anything. I'm so tired of this never-ending torture. I came down here to convince Lucifer to repent for his past transgressions. I wanted him to come home, for this time-loop to finally end, to set father's poor lambs free!"

"But in doing so you abandoned your post, and that is a crime in father's eyes…" the elder brother reminded. The deathly grip he had been holding on his brother slowly began to release into a much milder and more compassionate hold.

Gabriel's figure shrunk inwards, and his gaze left his commander. The shame and fret of his actions slightly began to catch up to him.

"I know that, I knew the risks when I made this decision."

Shock was apparent on the holy commander's expression, but more so than that a look of great devastation enveloped him.

It was rare to see his brother dumbstruck, this was one of those times, even if perhaps part of it was done out of choice. Gabriel knew he didn't want to believe it, and he would sacrifice his rationale to do so.

"Wh-what are you saying? You deliberately chose to do this?" his tone became assertive.

Gabriel gulped in a breath as he shook his head in discomfort. The topic was a startling one, one that had haunted him, but he prayed perhaps it might be glossed over.

"I-I didn't deliberately want to disobey father. I just, I just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't stand listening to their cries anymore, of all those poor souls, of constantly having to restart their misery. I couldn't stand hearing his cry anymore…I couldn't stand the pain in my chest from his absence. I wanted it to all be over, I wanted our brother to come home to us…" he trembled.

The harshness of Michael's features eased away into a look of solidarity. His brother did not weep but he felt that sense resonate even within himself.

"My plan was to come down here and convince him to apologize, so that then everything could go back to how it was." In his explanation, the realization started to well up in his eyes, recalling what Ryo had said to him. "B-but then he refused. He said he could never return to such a cruel and merciless creator…"

A hum of condolence reverbed from the older brother as he brushed back a lock of Gabriel's golden hair.

"I hear you Gab; you did a commendable thing. I share your pain in the loss of our brother, but as he told you himself, he's simply too far gone. He's not the same as he once was, and most likely could never be again."

The angel in question's lip quivered, for he felt the words sprung up from his heart. He caught them in his mouth, debating whether to speak them or not. Mustering the guts, he breathed in and allowed it to slip.

"Yes Michael, but maybe that's not such a bad thing?" Gabriel suggested.

The warrior's eyebrow rose curiously but strictly, "Oh, whatever do you mean?"

He felt as though he were caught in a spotlight, the intensity of his brother's eyes glowed down at him with all the might of the heavens. For once in his entire life, he himself seemed small.

"Brother, I'm speaking of God's punishment. I've spoken to Lucifer, I've seen these people, I've witnessed the regret and the good that both he and God's children possess. This fate they suffer is not necessary. It must come to an end, I cannot stand with this cruelty any longer-"

"Gabriel," Michael spoke up sternly, attempting to interrupt his sibling.

However, Gabriel could not be stopped. Not anymore, his patience for silence had evaded him, as he voiced his deliration even bolder. "If I must be forced to dedicate my life to ending Father's madness then so be it!"

"Gabriel!"

The last thing he heard was his name being barked in such a way he had never heard spoken before. It was absolutely dire, and more so than that, completely mortified. Strong hands took both his shoulders, securing him tightly in his place.

"You speak of heresy," Michael's words were unflinching. "Lucifer has corrupted your mind, Gabriel; you must see through it! I will not lose another brother to this nonsense! Please, you know what I will be forced to do, I cannot disobey God's law!" he practically begged.

Gabriel's head shuddered, "No brother, I came here not wanting to believe Lucifer. I came here wishing to change his opinion, but after being here, from all I've experienced, all that I've seen, I can see now the truth is much larger than I had thought. I came to this conclusion myself after having none left to confide in. I can no longer sit ideally by with this knowledge and allow these senseless acts to continue!"

A suffocating silence hung over the two. There wasn't a noise to be had besides the hollering gusts and the explosive look of desolate worry on Michael's face. His vivid blue eyes appeared as though they could bounce right out of his skull, and his pupils had been reduced to nothing but pinpoints. It was the last thing he could convey to his brother when words had failed him. How strongly he wished for another outcome, how badly he wanted to be wrong. As time passed, however, that last inkling of denial he clung to was forced out. The intensity remained but at last, his expression relaxed to some degree.

"Very well you've made a choice, but know now, everything I do from here I do because I don't have one!" he rose his voice and drew out his sword.

Gabriel gasped when he heard the screech of the heavenly weapon leave its sheath. He kicked himself away from his brother's grip sending them both hurdling in separate directions. Instinctively Gab tried to reach for his own weapon but to his despair, he no longer felt its presence.

Looking at his own frame was surreal. The shimmering armor he had been bestowed at his conception no longer came to him, leaving him naked. Suddenly the world became much colder as the rays that had grifted his body in a holy shine began to disappear. Finally, the halo that glowed for him in his purest form, that too slowly started to die out.

Gabriel could not say he was surprised, but even then, the stunning sensation that choked his figure, still took precedence over him. The moment itself was like none other, it couldn't possibly be real, he couldn't possibly be falling. Deep within him, however, he knew this to be true, as he watched the last golden light of his father leave him forever.

The moments were still as the angel remained suspended in time. Not a single thought could pass through his mind. He knew of many things, of his circumstances, of his brothers, but knowing and feeling had become two separate concepts. Before he could tell, his protective short-lived bubble had burst, as the betrayed look of Michael plummeted down upon him.

The impact of his brother's punch was one that could shutter the stars. He confided with the full force right to his jaw. In his already disoriented state, the added push didn't help any. All he knew was that regaining his bearings was crucial, not only for his own well-being but for the world's.

"I'm sorry my brother, I take no pleasure in any of this. I will have to take you back to God, he will determine your sentencing," Michael said with a struggle.

Gabriel felt his heart clutch hearing those words, knowing full well the fate he would endure by such a judge. He began to thrash in his brother's fist, doing all he could to try and fight his way out. In despair he knew battling his brother would grant him no win, Michael was the prized warrior in his father's army ever since Lucifer had been dethroned. In desperation, he considered that if he could just buy enough time, perhaps he could think his way out of his predicament. However, time was moving fast, it was moving practically without him. Michael's might proved greater than his and he could already feel the energy whirling around him. If he did not act soon, his brother would open a portal straight to their father, and Gabriel would have no chance of escape.

The younger brother clenched his teeth as his hands seized the wrist of his past commander, desperately attempting to loosen his grip.

Just then, when all seemed pointless, Gabriel heard a commotion at his back. Michael grunted and shielded his face with his remaining arm. In a bolt, he felt himself free falling again. Everything was a barrage as his sight scrambled to make sense of the affair. He could see his eyes were not deceiving him, the world was in fact, for that moment, hard to make out. The images around him were wildly colored and disorientating. The only clear thing he saw was the frame of his brother and that of Jenny.

It all clicked in that instance, Jenny had warped them into a confusing state and had managed to hit Michael. He was disarmed for a second, but Gabriel knew it wouldn't last long, this was his one and only chance. They needed to escape.

"Jenny come on!" he yelled as he zoomed away as fast as his twelve wings could carry him. He heard the demoness coming up from behind him, giving him at least a touch of comfort that he and her might just get away together.

Centralizing his energy, Gabriel manifested a portal before them. In the split of earshot, he could hear the desolate yell of his big brother at his back.

"You're working with them?! Gabriel how could you betray us so. You'll never getaway! I'll be forced to hunt you down, understand! Gabriel!"

The last words of Michael buzzed in the angel's head as both he and Jenny had ducked through the portal to their temporary escape. He crashed to the ground with his breath caught in his throat. He gazed with trembling eyes at the spot he had constructed his portal. He had closed it almost instantly once he and Jenny had made it through but even then, he could swear he still heard his brother's voice piercing through it.

The demoness steadily allowed her floating body to land next to him as she took in their whereabouts. It was clear they were far from where they had been, seeming to be nestled right in the heart of a dense rainforest.

"Gabriel…" Jenny at last broke the silence.

He appeared ruffled by the sound of his own name as if he were stirred from a dream. His head shot around to face her. It was evident how fear and disbelief had consumed his expression.

"What will happen now? What should we do…" she asked gravely.

His flustered eyes flicked about as if looking for an answer that was nowhere to be found.

"Umm, I-I don't know," he admitted with a shivering tone. "We need to find Ryo and do all we can to stay out of the reach of Michael. We can't stop moving or else he'll catch up to us, that's all I know anymore."

Jenny's irises sunk in a gloom, one that did not last, however. Promptly she erected her stance once more and adopted a look of determination.

"Then we shall be off then?" the demoness prodded.

"Yes, but I fear perhaps, he has already moved on…" Gabriel confessed.

"Then I suppose we'll just have to find him. It's my duty to keep an eye on him, you may follow me if it makes you feel any better," she offered. Without any hesitation, the psychic began to lift herself higher into the air. Seconds passed as she went, and Gabriel's vision loomed upon her. It was the first time in his long life that he had no idea where to go, or what to do. It was an alarming feeling, but one he could not break away from. For now, in agreement, he felt it best to follow the demoness' lead, as slowly, he opened his wings again.

The scope of the devilman army was vast and expansive. Attempting to find the end of such a hoard proved impossible, which only filled their commander with that much more assurance.

His wings opened in a large woosh bringing him and Miki up off the ground and to level with his fleets. His vision crawled over each and everyone one of them slowly recognizing them all. The sight of them both burned and warmed the inside of his chest. The sting of guilt mixed with the incredible relief that he had in fact rescued them from Hell as he had promised. He smiled while holding in their tears of glee.

Particularly, Akira noticed the Buddhist priests, as they floated there before him all stuck together.

"You all made it, we did it!" Devilman exclaimed.

"Yes, we made it here thanks to your resilience commander Fudo," the priests bowed, triggering all the rest to do the same. "However, I fear not all our devilman have made it back just yet. There are still a few stragglers on their way, and I would imagine the demon council look to threaten them the most," they reminded him gravely.

Akira's structure became contemplative, "In that case, we'll send out a few of the platoons to help escort them back to home base safely."

The leader called upon his squadrons, instantly directing them to their allotted tasks. There was not a moment's hesitation as each and every one of them made off in a snap, sensing for their brethren in arms.

Miki watched curiously; it was interesting but a bit strange to see Akira as the commander he truly was.

"Next we'll need to gather up our small group and get everyone moved over to the main base," he spoke to the crowd with the first half being directed primarily to the girl.

"Yes sir, we can begin traveling there now if you see it best," the monks replied.

"I would, we'll meet you there, with a few others more along with us," the devilman said surely.

The rest of his army appeared well enough as the lot of them bowed before turning about their massive flock. He watched them away with enthused pride. Everything was falling into place now, and the hour when he would, at last, see Satan fall at his clutches would soon be his to indulge.

Miki clung in his arms with a puzzled look, "Akira, where did you send them all off too?"

The young devilman's eyes glimmered down at her with a large toothy grin, "To the devilman fortress. Back in the timelines before, when all the devilmen were grouped together, there were so many of us we couldn't all stay in Japan. So, instead, we moved to a much larger base in China. That's where they're going now, and once we gather up our friends and family, we'll be going there too."

Miki appeared taken back by the explanation. She processed it as fast as she could but even then she feared it all might overwhelm her.

"We're leaving, now? Already?" she iterated.

"Yes, there's no other place safer in the world. You'll see Miki everything will be okay," he spoke softer. His arms coddled her giving the girl a slight squeeze. She didn't seem completely caught up in the plot yet, but regardless he changed direction and flew towards the human's hideout. Miki felt the wind blow and the ground disappear out from beneath her as the world flew by. The speed at which they were flying mimicked how she felt on the inside. Everything was happening sooner than she could realize, and at this point, all she could do was sit along for the ride. In her heart, as they went, she dreamed of a world free of this war.