I hope you enjoy this chapter and offer constructive feedback on what you think of it. Thank you and have a Great Day!
...
-Spoiler Warning for ๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐-
...
Chapter 35: Climbing the High Heavens and Falling Into the Burning Hells
โโโโโโโโง๐ โงโโโโโโโ
"๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐."
"๐ธ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!"
โ Diablo and Imperius fighting
โโโโโโโโง๐ โงโโโโโโโ
๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ
...
-Johanna-
...
"The angels themselves could be turned by Diablo's evil if it is not vanquished soon." Eirena speaks as they walk closer to the second rift. "That would be a dread fate indeedโฆ"
Johanna can feel the unease of the few angels that follow them. There have been a few other angels that Kal-El had to bring back from this state by purifying them using his Aura. And each time the boy seems to slow down and to shine dimmer and dimmer. He even had to stop and cast a few of what he calls Sunfire spells on himself along with a potion to restore his spent energy reserves.
Since they felt that his inner Light was beginning to dangerously wane, Kharazim forbade the blue-eyed boy to participate in any combat, and to remain on the rescue of trapped or corrupted angels.
"๐๐ค, ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐ช๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ฎ ๐๐ฉ? ๐๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐จ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐!" Even after entering the second rift, Diablo keeps on taunting or frightening them.
"Watch us." Johanna taunts back.
"There are seven realms in the Hells, one for each of the Evils." Eirena tells the boy, trying to relieve him from the nausea of crossing the red portal. "It is hard to comprehend, but they must be even fouler than this." The boy nods as he holds his stomach, his skin paler than usual. Johanna can only imagine the seven Hells' depth of depravity.
They then contend with a second Mallet Lord as Diablo taunts again.
"๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ก๐ช๐จ, ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐ช๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช!" Diablo says.
"Just like last time?" Valla smiles, taking great joy in the pathetic attempts of the Demon Lord.
With the second Mallet Lord now husk of his former glory, they are now free to shut down the rift. And just like before, Auriel descends fromโฆ somewhere.
"๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐!" The Archangel says in a nearly singing voice. "๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข! ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
Exiting the Hell rift, their group finds Diablo displeased with their progress.
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐จ๐๐, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ข๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง. ๐๐ค๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ๐จ..."This devil says vehemently. "๐ผ๐ก๐ก ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ง!"
.
.
As they head toward the Silver Spire, they find Tyrael fending off the forces of Hell.
"Tyrael." Johanna says as she walks to him.
"Yes, my friend. I am ready to again fight by your side. I was wrong to give in to despair. You have shown me there is still a chance for victory." The once immortal angel proclaims. "But we must hurry. Even now Diablo makes his way to the Silver Spire!" His eyes then find the glowing blue-ones of Kal-El. "A Kryptonian?" Tyrael questions, surprised. "It has been eons since I have seen one. What is your name, young one?" He asks kindly.
"Kal-El, son of Jor-El and Lara." The boy greets the former Archangel of Justice with a small bow.
"Ah!" Tyrael chuckles. "You have also taken the test of the Heir, just like your father did?" Tyrael's question is answered with a single nod. "Good." With a wave of his sword, a glowing angelic portal opens. "I finally understand." Tyrael turns his head to the group of Nephalem. "Your kind faces death and darkness every day, yet still you find the courage to move forward." He smiles. "It is an honor to be one of you."
"I knew you would understand with time." Eirena smiles back at their side.
Valla and Kharazim walk to the edge of the structure they are on, Johanna then takes a moment and joins them. She gazes over the edge of the High Heaven at the Crystal Colonnade.
The crusader doesn't like what she sees. Diablo's minions infest every inch of this once sacred edge.
"Look at the destruction Diablo has wrought." Tyrael says as he stands at her side. "If we do not stop him, this is the future of all creation."
Their band of heroes then takes the portal. Eirena, after crossing the portal, nearly stumbles and sighs deeply before speaking.
"Oh dear. He has returned." She says, sighing again.
"Who?" Johanna simply asks.
"You will see." The enchantress responds ominously.
As they sprint to the Silver Spire, they are suddenly stopped by an unexpected sight. Three angels are fighting an ever increasing number of demons. But when they move to engage the enemies, a column of fiery angelic light hits the ground. The Archangel Imperius at its center. "Greatโฆ" Johanna groans.
"He is way taller than I thoughtโฆ" The blue-eyed boy says with wide eyes as he watches the 11 feet tall, pissed-off Archangel of Valor.
"๐๐๐!" Imperius begins, slowly walking toward them. "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!" He points to the multiple Nephalem in front of him before his head moves toward the small boy. "๐ฝ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐, ๐บ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!" He huffs, even when Auriel and Itherael arrive at their side. "๐ธ๐ ๐ธ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ข๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!" He threatens before leaving in another pillar of light along the three angels.
"๐ฟ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ." Auriel reassures them.
"One can only hope. But now we must stop Diablo before he reaches the Crystal Arch above us!" Tyrael points toward the Gateway to the Silver Spire.
.
.
Heading toward the Crystal Arch, Shade Stalkers, creatures similar to Shadow Vermines, rain down from the sky above. An impotent attempt of stopping their group, but Johanna knows that won't be the last.
Diablo means to corrupt the Crystal Arch atop the Silver Spire. If he succeeds, the High Heavens will be lost forever. Tyrael and them goโฆto face the Lord of Terror himself.
"The corruption is thicker here." Eirena comments after entering the Gateway to the Silver Spire.
"Though I forsook my home, to see it again like thisโฆ Any joy I might have had is replaced by sorrow." Tyrael shakes his head as they see that Diablo's corruption has permeated right into the very heart of the High Heavens.
After only a few steps, and at the end of the platform they are on, all are shocked to see the spirit of a familiar face.
"Noโฆ" Kharazim whispers as the ghostly apparition of Leah looks through their souls. The monk then stops the small boy at their side as he points his open palm toward the apparition. The look in Kharazim's eyes stops the boy from speaking. Kal-El only nods and sighs. They let Kharazim walk alone to the thing that tries to pass for a dead friendโฆ They can all feel his fury growing.
"๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ค๐๐จ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ก? ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ก?" The thing asks with a sneer. "๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐๐จ, ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ง๐๐๐ก๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐ช๐ฃ๐ก๐๐๐จ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐ฅ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐." It says with a laugh before transforming in an Aspect of the Lord of Terror. This Aspect is clearly the Prime Evil assault on their group's senses and minds, in an effort to crush their resolve.
However, the effort is in vain.
Kharazim, during all the time the Aspect of Terror spoke, only remained silent. And before the creature in front of him can even lift a finger, Kharazim draws his arm back and in a roar- A flash of light and a sound of thunder, the demon and a part of the structure's roof cease to exist. The wave of force coming from the blow parts the clouds in the sky well beyond the horizon. Johanna gapes, she did not even see the fist and the arm moveโฆ This is the kind of strength that can shake the Heavens.
"Upward!" Tyrael pushes on immediately. "We must make it to the summit." All agree and follow. They then cross into the crumbling Silver Spire's interior. "Diablo is climbing the spire to the Crystal Arch. We must hurry!"
โ
They are stopped again by another apparitionโฆ One they do not know. A young, yet tall woman. All the apparition does is look at the boy.
"Eilisโฆ" Kal-El whispers, his lips and voice wavering.
"๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐๐ง๐ค..." It begins with mockery. "๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐... ๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐จ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข." It laughs. "๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐จ ๐๐ก๐ค๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐... ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐ฉ, ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐จ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐." It says with only a sad shake of its ghostly head.
The boy remains silent and in shock, speechless. Even when the apparition slowly dissolves into mottes of pale green lights. Even when an Aspect of Belial, the Lord of Lies, appears in front of them... Even when the world turns redโฆ as the tall Aspect of Lies becomes ashes from a massive beam of red light and heat coming from the boy's now crimson eyes. Johanna gently puts a hand on his small shoulder. The boy turns his head. The red in his eyes gradually fades... and all that is left now are shimmering and incandescent, sky blue tears.
"Let's go." Johanna softly says. The boy gives a nod, and all continue. She sighs, hoping that this will be the last of these apparitionsโฆ these illusions. They all know now that as the Prime Evil, Diablo can easily use the powers of the different Aspects of Evil within itself to cause them mental anguish.
.
.
The ensuing battles are tough, as the infernal hordes continue to come their way with no sign of stopping. Kal-El does what he must, freeing both the trapped but still sane Angels, and those who are much less so.
After some minutes, Johanna finds two books. Both seem to have been made by Lady Auriel when she documented the creation of Sanctuary.
โ
~~~~~~~~
-๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ท-
"๐ธ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฑ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐."
โ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
-๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐ธ-
"๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข. ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ผ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
โ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐
~~~~~~~~
โ
"The corruption is so much more thorough here than it was in the gardens, so much more complete. Diablo knows the spire is the heart of the High Heavensโฆ" It is then, amidst the fight, that Tyrael remarks.
After killing another Mallet Lord, it is soon after that they come across the gateway to the Great Span.
"The fountains of Heaven flowed with the energy of the Crystal Arch. But now look at themโฆ" Tyrael voices. Most do as Tyrael instructs and see that Diablo's evil already flows freely through the Heavens.
She is the first to touch the teleporter to the Great Span, and when Johanna uses a pillar to take some breath in, her eyes find another angelic-looking book.
โ
~~~~~~~~
-๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐น-
"๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐. ๐ท๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข. ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐."
โ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐
~~~~~~~~
โ
She smiles. After all of this is finished, maybe she will build a library. Johanna takes another moment to look around her, seeing that here the corruption now becomes more prevalent and that Heaven itself crumbles around them.
"๐ธ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐." The voice of an angel shakes her out of her inner monologue. She turns around and sees four new angels following them, making their current group total over half of a hundredโฆ She also sees Kal-El drink another potion and bathe in the lights of the spells of his Magicka.
Johanna doesn't know how much time the boy can last doing that. And at the face he makes right now; not very long.
"I often came to this Great Span to meditate on things as I looked out over the Silver City." The former Archangel of Justice says before sighing. "The view used to calm me. Now I find it does the opposite." He then slows down, frowning deeply. "Waitโฆ There is something different here." Tyrael stops them.
"I sense it as well. Be on your guard." Eirena nods.
"๐๐ค๐ค๐ , ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ก... ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ." Diablo taunts again, making the now mortal angel tighten his grip on his sword.
As they head on to a large platform surrounded by ice shards, Johanna has a feeling this is not a welcomed reunion. Five angels are already there, around a large formation of said ice. Johanna is going to make a step when her perception of time slows down to a crawl. The ice crystals, which both emanate angelic and demonic energies, in the middle of the platform explode into fragments, the shards are pushed with such force and speed that the angels that are near it are sure to- !
Something just happened. Something too fast for her eyes to follow. "The boy." She is sure of that. She looks back and sees that the five angels are now with them, Kal-El at their feet breathing hard.
"Thatโฆ" The blue-eyed boy takes a series of deep breaths, "...was way too close." he says shaking and looking at theโฆthing in front of them. Another corrupted angel, but different, somehow.
"๐ด๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐." The corrupted being laughs. "๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!" it yells with open arms.
Tyrael remains silent and raises his sword. Johanna uses that moment to look at the monk who nods in return.
"Stay here, and make sure that he regains some of his strength and stays out of harm's way." Kharazim instructs the angels who remain at the boy's side. They all nod to him with a synchronization that jolts Johanna.
"๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!" Shouts the demonic angel as waves of demonic freezing light push and nearly freeze them to the bones.
"Izual! Stop this madness!" Tyrael addresses, with a voice that seems more like a thunderous blast emanating from his lungs than a simple shout, to the being whose name Johanna knows is now Izual.
"๐๐๐'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐!" Izual responds before heaving the mace in his hands far above his head and bringing it down with enough force to shake the whole Great Span they walk on.
All around Izual, demons start to appear. Many Oppressors engage them as Izual charges too. Johanna shakes off the effects of the freezing temperatures that now plagues this place. She greets her teeth when the fallen angel appears at her right side to deliver a massive blow to her unshielded right shoulder. She is flung head over heels from a hit that could have taken her head if she had not decided to put on a helmet this morning. After what seems like very long seconds, she finishes into the waiting arms of Sonya the tall barbarian, who is still pushed far from where she was standing due to Johanna's mass and momentum.
After all, Johanna's shield alone is nearly as heavy as Sonya herself is.
For something that big and tall, Izual moves unnaturally fast. It is Valla and Li-Ming who seem to be the most effective against such a foe. This kind of agility and abilities to move around is something Johanna has been quite jealous of since she was a child. Being well over 7 feet is not funny everyday. Moving in small houses without breaking anything or simply walking among civilians without making small children, and even adults, run away in fear has always been challenging.
While Valla dances around each blow and the large number of frost effects released by Izual like a shadow, Li-Ming simply teleports and unleashes barrages of arcane missiles down upon the fallen angel as Kharazim, Lyra the Necromancer and Nazeebo the Witch Doctor are busy dealing with the Hell spawns that surround them.
Johanna and Sonya don't lose a moment and both re-engage the fallen angel in close combat.
"๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐!" Izual taunts her as Johanna uses a small indent in the ground to stabilize herself, making sure to not be pushed back by the tall monstrosity as her shield takes the brunt of another massive blow.
Yet, despite all his mockery, it is Izual who is defeated when all the Nephalem unite to slay the beast and send it back to the pits of Hell it came from. "... Does Izual respawn like an angel or a demon?" Johanna will have to ask Tyrael if she wants any answer.
Johanna stumbles when she feels a small rock in her right boot. She uses a pillar covered with ice to stabilize herself before slowly taking said boot off. Sonya helps her with the many straps that hold her armor plating in place. While she takes off her sabaton, Johanna sees another angelic book between ice shards.
She sighs and takes it, knowing full well that-
โ
~~~~~~~~
-๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐'๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐ -
"๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐. ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐..."
โ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
~~~~~~~~
โ
The crusader takes a deep breath and groans from the headache that forms in her skull at the amusement of the barbarian at her side. Johanna is really confused about why she keeps finding these things at the most convenient of times.
She then cracks her back and takes a potion before putting on her boot back.
Despite the fact that the fight lasted only a few minutes, they all take their time to rest as the ashes of the demonic angel gradually begin to disperse and disappear at Tyrael's feet. The former Archangel bends down, and with a few swipes of his hands discovers a glowing crystalline thing. It is only when Johanna raises up that she sees that it is a sword.
"๐ฐ๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โฆ" Tyrael sadly whispers as he observes the broken angelic blade.
"You know that sword?" Johanna asks.
"Know it?" Tyrael chuckles. "I was the one to forge itโฆ" He smiles with sorrow. "I forged this blade alongside mine; El'druin." He utters, raising his hand and the sword in it. He lifts his other hand as the two blades begin to chime and hum in unison. "I gave it to Izual before his fall in the Hellforge."
"Maybe these two were meant to be reunited after all." The crusader smiles, only for Tyrael to sadly shake his head.
"Noโฆ But it does need a new wielder." Tyrael smiles, extending the blade at her. Johanna slowly takes itโฆ The blade, even if it has been touched by darkness, still shines brightly in her hands. And yetโฆ The sword does not feel right there. The ice and cold emanating from it... reject her.
Her eyes instinctively find the child- "Did the sword just vibrate? Or are my hands that tired?" She looks at the crystalline and golden, damaged sword with confusion before turning her gaze back to the boy who is still among the small horde of angels. Some are even kneeling, busy to cast their own Lights on him for whatever reasonโฆ She also sees potions of some kinds she never laid eyes on before. The kind filled with liquid light. Johanna silently and inelegantly snorts. They all look like glowing chickens around a small chick. The grip in her hand becomes much more colder. So much so that it starts to hurt. One of the glowing white potions that an angel holds is given to the blue-eyed lad and- ! Another vibration, she is now sure that it came from the blade.
"Wellโฆ From what I know from his father; Kryptonians have a rare and deep affinity with crystalline structures and light." He explains and nods as he watches the blade his hands forged a long time ago and the way it reacts.
"Kryptonianโฆ Diablo also called him that. Is it his species?" Li-Ming asks, now standing at their side and pointing with her head to the boy.
"Yes, young wizard." Tyrael confirms with a nod. "They are nearly as old as time itself. Their star, Rao, was the first light to form in the emptiness of space, born just after the creation of their universe."
"So you did meet his father." Johanna voices her curiosity.
"I did. It was eons ago. Well before Sanctuary was even bearing life. Jor-El was a young man with a great mind, pushed by curiosity and discovery, much older than his son is now." Tyrael reminisces.
"How powerful was he, compared to his son?" Sonya asks at her turn. That makes Tyrael chuckle deeply.
"Strong enough to shatter a world with a single blow." The former archangel laughs when the barbarian's jaw nearly drops to the ground while all of them widen their eyes in shock. "Do not worry. From what I know, it will be a few centuries even millennia before he reaches that level of power." He gestures to the boy among angels.
Before Johanna can ask her own question, Diablo makes himself know.
"๐๐ค๐ค๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ง๐ช๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ." The Prime Evil says, and making them remember that time is of the essence. Johanna uses that moment to put the sword into her bag, maybe later will she know what to do with it.
โ
โ
After successfully stopping Izual, they then all head to the second level of the Silver Spire, freeing a few angels in their way. Johanna can see that Kal-El is now in much better health compared to the beginning of Izual's fight.
Once the teleporter is taken, Johanna discovers that this place is now more akin to the Hells themselves than the holy one it is supposed to be as the atmosphere tastes of blood and sulfur while an oppressive red haze is constantly present.
"It is not far now. I only hope we are not too late." Tyrael remarks. "I can feel Diablo's corruption closing around the light of Heaven." He says before stopping, his eyes slightly widen from what faces him.
Another apparition. One from an old man only Tyrael seems to know. None walk toward it as a few corrupted angels and other demonic forces charge them. The angels following them immobilize quite easily the corrupted ones, while the Nephalem kill and banish the few dozen hell spawns remaining. Kal-El does not lose a moment and brings back as fast as he can the angels from insanity, freeing them from the corruption of the Lord of Terror. Johanna nods firmly. The forces of hell weaken while their own side strengthens.
After cleaning the little vermins crawling around, Tyrael takes a few steps toward the ghostly apparition.
"๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ก๐ช๐ข, ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ก. ๐๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ฌ ๐ฝ๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ช๐จ?" It asks in anger.
"Marius is dead and his soul is not in your possession. Now out with it, demon!" Tyrael raises the tip of his sword to the false spirit.
The illusion of this Marius then transforms into the Aspect of Destruction, a gigantic Mallet Lord - fitting as the Aspect of Baal himself. The large enemy falls like so many others as they fight their way through forces of hell and the few mad angels, freeing them with many more along the heavenly halls and corridors.
"๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐." An angel says as two of his kind help him stand up. It is there, after what feels like an hour of fighting, that Johanna finds another entry of Auriel's journalโฆ She is fairly sure that someone or something is leaving these things lying around on purpose for her to discover.
โ
~~~~~~~~
-๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐บ-
"๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ธ๐๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐; ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข, ๐ธ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐."
โ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐
~~~~~~~~
โ
"I remember angels striding through these halls in all their majesty." Tyrael walks to her side as she puts the book in her bag. "We thought ourselves the masters of all creation. Our arrogance was our downfall." He says, cleaning some of the fluids and blood covering his darkened face.
"Have you ever come close to defeating Diablo, Tyrael?" Eirena asks. The question stops the former Archangel who then softly sighs.
"I am afraid not. It is no small featโฆ for even angels can be pray to terror." He responds, his gaze far into nothingness.
Their group takes a few moments to clean themselves, to take back some of their strength and make sure that their equipment is correctly in place before continuing forward.
"You've said that the Crystal Arch is the heart of Heaven. Tell me about it." Johanna softly asks.
"It is older than time itself, and over the eons this shining realm took shape around it." Tyrael begins. "It thrums with living light and sound that courses through the very fabric of the Silver City."
"The angels are birthed from it as well?" The crusader asks in no small wonder.
"Yes. Like musical notes in a grand chorus, angels are the manifestation of the Arch's intrinsic harmony. The purest expressions of this harmony were my brethren, the archangels." He slowly responds.
"I do not sense this harmony you speak of. It is long broken, is it not?" Kharazim asks.
"Yes. But Hope has returned. And as you mortals are fond of saying, it is not over yet." Tyrael then sighs deeply and in sorrow. "I fear that if we defeat Diablo, Leah's innocent spirit will die with himโฆ"
"The spirits say that Leah cannot reach Mbwiru Eikura in this place. Diablo has corrupted everything." Nazeebo speaks for the first time since they entered these halls.
"I refuse to believe that!" Johanna voices her anger and hopes.
"It will not be lost while I live." Kharazim starts, turning his gaze to the crusader before nodding. "No matter how long it takes or how far the journey, I will never rest until her soul is at peace."
"You are right." Eirena interjects. "Leah knew the protective spells of the Horadrim. Diablo took control over her body, but he can never twist her mind." The enchantress states with certainty.
โ
All the while, a small boy listens silently and thinks faster than any being around himโฆ
He also hopes that his plan isn't as suicidal as he thinks it is and that his new friends won't be too pissed off by it.
โ
"When the angels voted to decide humanity's fate, who voted against us?" Johanna asks, her hand at work with the barbarian's hair and all the pieces of debris in it.
"Imperius." That doesn't even surprise her. "Malthael abstained, but it was counted against you." Responds Tyrael.
"Malthaelโฆ The former Archangel of wisdom?" She asks again, remembering the few books she read.
"He was Wisdom itselfโฆ until his disappearance. The Angiris Council has beenโฆ broken ever since." He sadly replies.
"What happened to Malthael?"
"Long ago, when Inarius and his ilk stole the Worldstone to create Sanctuary, Malthael became consumed with discovering its whereabouts." The former Archangel shakes his head. "As the archangel of Wisdom, he was tortured by his inability to recover the sacred artifact."
"Where is he now?"
"Some say he haunts the silent halls of Pandemonium, forever seeking answers to the unknowable mysteries of life and death." Tyrael only shrugs.
"What is the Prime Evil?" She hopes that as an angelโฆ former angel, Tyrael knows the real answer.
"It is the sum total of all seven Evils housed within one body. There is an ancient legend, known only to a few, of the great Dragon, Tathamet, who was the original embodiment of evil." He says before shrugging again. "The legend says that he was ripped apart during an epic battle with Anu, and that the Burning Hells are composed of his remains."
Johanna nods, a little disappointed. Even angels, it seems, do not know all of the secrets of the universe. She then frowns.
"Who is Anu?" She asks.
"Just as Tathamet was the ultimate evil, Anu was the ultimate good. It is said by some that the Crystal Arch is all that remains of this great warrior." Comes his single answer.
"Are you saying that Diablo wants to become this Dragon?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes." Tyrael smilesโฆ Before shrugging once again. "We have rested long enough. We should move."
After finding the gateway to the pinnacle of Heaven and crossing it, they meet an unexpected allyโฆ or maybe an enemy. A small group of angels greets them. Six, three on each side put themselves with weapons in front of their faceless helmetsโฆ saluting the Archangel of Valor; Imperius himself.
"๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ธ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐?" The tall and fiery Archangel asks.
"Perhaps we do." Johanna cannot hide her anger anymore and walks closer to the angelic ruffian.
"Imperius, stop this madness! Diablo is the enemy here, not the nephalem!" Tyrael voices the obvious.
"๐๐ข๐๐๐๐, ๐ธ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐." Imperius spits. "๐ธ ๐ ๐๐๐โ" They can all feel it, a small tremor. "๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐?" Imperius then turns rapidly toward the gates of the Crystal Arch. "๐ฝ๐! ๐ณ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐!"
In a wave of energy, the angels and Imperius facing them all fall to the ground like puppets with their string cut. Their glowing wings nowhere to be seen. The only ones still standing, even if barely, are the angels who follow them and who have been radiated with Kal-El's Aura. However, their weapons are still needed to keep them on their feet.
"No!" Tyrael walks toward the gates, passing by the still conscious Imperius. "Diablo has begun extinguishing the Crystal Arch; that's why the angels have fallen! If its light should go out foreverโฆ" Tyrael swallows loudly. "We must defeat Diablo before that happens!"
"It is up to us now." Johanna steps to Tyrael and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I'm glad you are mortal, my friend."
"Diablo's vile corruption bars our path." The man nods. "Stand backโEl'duin's light shall clear the way."
Johanna does just that. Tyrael steps closer to the gates, lifts his glowing angelic sword above his head and swings downward. A wave of golden light meets the doors and unlocks them as a series of angelic glyphs shine brightly on the metal gates.
"Do you think Adria came here?" With the angels all but indisposed, the enchantress remembers who is responsible for all this tragedy.
"No. She is in hiding." Johanna responds with clenched teeth.
"I cannot rest until she has fallen. That woman has lost every right to live." Eirena states in a show of anger quite rare for her normally kind character.
"Agreed. But first; Diablo." Sonya says, breathing out of her nostrils like an enraged beast.
"The gate has been open, nephalem." Tyrael speaks with fatigue. "This last trial is your alone." He extends his hand toward the crusader who takes it firmly by the forearm.
"You were a fine commander, Tyrael. I am proud to call you friend." Johanna says, her head held high.
"It was an honor. But this is the moment you were made forโthis is the hour of mankind's victory!" Tyrael proudly replies before turning to the boy. "Help them." The blue-eyed boy only nods at Tyrael's order.
Knowing what Diablo wants to become, none of them can allow him to become the new Tathamet and dominate all of existenceโฆ for ever.
"I understand why your spear โ why Solarion rejected you." Johanna hears Kal-El whisper to the grounded Imperius with a sneer that should not belong on the face of someone so young. Imperius only grunts but remains silent as the boy passes him. They then enter the Crystal Arch and race toward Diablo, leaving the angels still standing and the exhausted Tyrael to watch over the ones who can't even defend themselves if their lives were in danger.
Butโฆ
"Arg!" Spikes coming out of the corrupted ground trap the enchantress. "I am trapped! You must keepโ" Kal-El stops her by placing his small hand on the bone-like spikes, and with a jerk that shakes the air, pulls them off the ground. "Thank youโฆ" Whispers the enchantress as they run toward the Prime Evil.
Diablo's corruption has twisted Heaven into another realm of Hell, but the band of heroes sees what Tyrael spoke of; The Spine of Anu. The literal back bone of Heaven and the seat of its power. In the middle of the platform where Anu's essence pools, is Diablo, his evil essence reverberating through the Heavens themselves.
"๐๐๐ ๐จ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ซ๐๐ก๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐! ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ก๐๐๐๐ค๐ฃ!" Diablo says after stopping his strange demonic chant.
But before any of them can move closer to engage, a dome of energy is erected around the platform, blocking their way to Diabloโฆ But not the small boy who now stands inside.
"Lad, what are you doing?!" Johanna shouts as she pushes vainly against the dome of pale light just like the others are trying to.
"Something really stupidโฆ" He laughs nervously. "If I don't die; you can kill me after that." The blue-eyed smiles. And if the shaking of his hands shows anything, what he's about to do is either stupid or suicidal... though it is more likely both.
"๐ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐ค๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ก๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ค๐๐๐๐ฃ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ค๐, ๐๐ค๐ฎ. ๐๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐? ๐๐ค๐ช, ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐?" Diablo narrows his eyes while the boy looks through the Prime Evil's eyes. "๐๐ค... ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค?" The Demon Lord then widens his eyes. "๐๐๐! ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐!"
With a scream of indignation and rage, the ground in front of Diablo turns to molten red hot. Kal-El drops to one knee, exposing less of his figure, before projecting a multitude of luminous barriers between him and the Prime Evil to ward himself off from the attack, his gaze ever fixed on Diablo's. Yet, with all his protections, the boy doesn't fare much better, his strange clothes slowly burn away along with patches of his own skin and flesh as his glowing shields shatter or fail one after the other.
"Fuck that hurtโฆ" He says through clenched teeth. "I really begin to hate Magic!" With a yell he vanishes from their sights before the Prime Evil reels his head in pain from the thunderous blow that Kal-El just delivered to his jaw.
"๐๐๐!" Diablo shouts again, making the blue-eyed boy hold his ears in pain.
Diablo uses that moment to turn on himself, and using his long and powerful tail, he hits the stumbling boy right in the face with a speed that Johanna could barely follow. Johanna can only cringe as the boy flies through pillars and then into a wall. Kal-El barely stays there but for a few seconds before dislodging himself from the wall. Johanna's eyes can see that the burns on his skin have already healed in the time it took him to be impacted. The pillar near the wall cracks and fallsโฆ With the boy just under it. She is about to yell for him to watch out, only for the boy to extend his hands up. He lightly grunts as he catches the massive angelic pillar while the ground under his feet crater from the sheer weight of the otherworldly block of stone.
With a heave and a shout, the pillar is launched at a speed that boggles the mind. Johanna has no idea how the pillar stayed in one piece before he could even reach Diablo's head. What surprises her even more is that Diablo barely flinched when the huge angelic column hit him square across the face.
"๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ค ๐๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง... ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ... ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ..." Diablo slowly stops himself when the Void energy swirls around the boy as he puts his hands together. With an unsheathing motion, a blade of ethereal Unlight appears in his hand. Diablo flinches when Kal-El's eyes look through his again. "๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค ๐ง๐ค๐ค๐ข ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ข๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ง! ๐๐ค ๐๐ค๐ก๐๐จ ๐ค๐ง ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐๐!" The Prime Evil says as the same cages who tried to trap Eirena emerge from the ground, trying to catch the blue-eyed boy as he moves through them with ease.
Johanna slowly starts to understand. The boy is pushing Diablo to show his capabilitiesโฆ What he can doโฆ But there is something elseโฆ Something she can't see.
Her inner turmoil ends when Diablo uses his tail again, but this time, Kal-El catches it and digs his feet into the ground before spinning the 24 feet tall Prime Evil like a feather. Diablo goes through columns and finishes face first into a wall. This is where Kal-El uses his Void blade to deeply cut into the Prime Evil's left knee and then jumping on the wall Diablo just extirpated himself from to deliver a headbutt. But the boy instead of leaving Diablo's torso, only digs his fingers through the Lord of Terror's demonic scale and hide.
His eyes look deeply into Diablo's own, as if he is searching for something in them. Diablo yells in pain as the boy's fingers dig even deeper, breaking horns and scales. When Diablo sees that the two small arms he is currently using are not enough to dislodge the little boy, he eventually decides to resort to using the second, larger and more powerful pair of arms at his disposal. Kal-El growls and headbutt the demon again, making the Lord of Terror scream in rage as the boy slowly loses his hold on him.
But the boy uses something that surprises them all. Even Diablo himself.
A tailโฆ A black one.
Something thin, long and lethal looking. A tail that Kal-El uses to ensnare Diablo by the neck to keep his eyes on those of the demon.
"๐๐๐๐๐๐!" The Prime Evil uses one of the long hellish bone protrusions to pierce through the boy's left leg and tears Kal-El off of him, launching the lad far through the platform.
The devil yells in pain as the black and blue glowing blood of the child burns through his own flesh with smoke rising from it. The boy stands on one leg as many foul words and insults leave his lips. Most are in languages she has never heard before. Diablo then sees that the blood of the boy still eats through him and decides to rip the spiked bone out of his own flesh.
"You're rightโฆ" The boy laughs with a manic smile. "After all, I already found what I was searching for." He says as Void energy gathers around his hand. Pointing with his palm open at Diablo, a beam of Void-Light tears through the shoulder of the Lord of Terror who shrieks in agony before launching a series of fireballs and red lightnings at Kal-El.
The boy dodges left and after taking a deep breath, extends his palm in a strike, sending some kind of wave of force through Diablo- ! Johanna sees something that can't be real coming out of Diabloโฆ A soul, a small oneโฆ one of a young woman along fragments of flesh and scales of the Lord of Terror.
"Leah!" Eirena shouts in shocked surprise.
Kal-El doesn't lose a moment as he runs and catches theโฆ The young woman's soul transforms in his small arms. From lights come bones, flesh, blood, skin, hairโฆ but also something much darker. Scales and horns are now there, as if a part of Diablo came with the girl.
At least it isโuntil Kal-El uses a massive amount of Aura right into the woman's whole body. The horns and scales slowly grumble into dust and cinders. Leaving behind only smooth and pale skin. The dome blocking them vanishes, the enchantress doesn't slow down and kneels in front of the boy holding the body of Leah while Johanna puts her heavy shield between them and Diablo's unmoving form.
"Leah!" The enchantress calls again. Slowly, Leah's eyes move behind tired eyelids. When she opens her eyes, it is two incandescent orbs of infernal lights that greet them.
"๐ด๐๐๐๐๐? ๐ธ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐." Leah whispers with an angelic and reverberating voice before losing consciousness again.
"Uhโฆ Well, close enough. Right?" They all look at him with anger. "I meanโฆ It did work better than expected." He nervously says as Eirena takes the girls from his arms.
"I am taking her back to Sanctuary while you kill that thing!" Eirena states. "I don't want to know what the angels will do if they learn of her." The enchantress then gazes upon Kal-El. "And you! We are going to haveโ BENEATH YOU!" The warning of the enchantress comes too late, as a glowing circle of demonic magic spawns just under the blue-eyed boy along chains who ensnare him.
"๐ด๐ ๐ด ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐... ๐ด ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐, ๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐." Diablo says as his form changes drastically. Gone are the nimble limbs and the fragile-looking form of the Lord of Terror.
In his place is now a mountain of muscle and power.
"๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ณ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ท." The Prime Evil smiles before Kal-El is dragged through a portal and then Hell itself.
"You son of aโ!" The boy never had a chance to finish his sentence.
.
.
-Kal-
"โBITCH!" He yells as he falls from high in the sky of the Burning Hells. "Not again!" He breathes again, trying to calm himself down. His Aura is depleted, his Magicka is super lowโฆ and his solar energy reserves are nearly toast.
He looks downโ !
"HOLY SHIT!" Hordes and hordes of demons. Big or small, all are waiting for him to make landfallโฆ to tear into him. "That's a lot of them!" His brain stopped counting at 84 millions and a half. "You want a piece of me?!" The only response he gets are the roars of the demonic forces waiting for him. He takes his sidearm and puts it on his maximum setting. "Well fuck you too!"
He aims and opens fire.
A glowing crater 20 meters in diameter forms at the spot where he aimed before pulling the trigger. No demon remains thereโฆ only the smell of atomized matter can be felt.
He smiles, and then opens fire in all directions.
An hour later and his legs can barely hold him upright.
"Will you stop coming, DAMNIT!" Even with his weapon, with all his skills and abilities, they still push him back. They just keep comingโฆ Tirelessly and without end.
But unlike them... he grows tired.
Kal doesn't know whyโฆ But he knows that something is wrong.
His instincts scream at him to move, to do something.
He shakes his head and sees that the endless tide of demons has just stoppedโฆ But why?
It is only when his small foot makes contact with a glowing demonic glyph that he understands the trap he just walked into. No matter, that's not the first thing that has blown up in his face.
But what stops him is the hundredsโฆ No. The thousand of similar glyphs, all bursting with an enormous amount of demonic energy and cursed magic, which are all starting to glow around himโฆ
"Ohโ" Is the only word that leaves his lips as his vision is filled with light, heatโฆ and pain.
And thenโฆ Nothing.
...
๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ๐ โ
Chapter End Notes:
All it takes to fall... Is a single misstep.
I hope you have enjoyed this chapter and offer constructive feedback on what you think of it. Thank you and have a Great Day!