Disclaimer: Black Clover is owned by Yūki Tabata, Studio Pierrot, and Shonen Jump.
Saga 32: Diary of a Madman Finale
Castle Town Kikka, Clover Kingdom, Common Realm, Midnight
In a lone, one-bedroom apartment (with plumbing), a haggard female person walks through the door with a limp.
"Ugh..." The female groaned out. "... I hate unpaid overtime."
For Angra Swing, her job as a commission worker at Witch's Broom was one of the more reasonably-paying jobs in Kikka, but this night, a particularly picky customer from the Noble Realm had a particularly specific request for a custom broom for his absurdly specific needs.
It wasn't just her either. The noble also commissioned eight other workers for his order.
... The work alone took eight hours, with said noble threatening the owner of the workshop from giving them overtime pay bonuses for good measure.
Upon arriving her rented out room, it was dead of night, her fellow workers skipped their weekly alcohol, and as for Angra herself, all she wanted to do was take a shower and hit the sack.
She closes the doors behind her, locks it, disrobes herself while leaving her sawdust-coated clothes on the floor, turns on her shower, washes herself, and comes out wearing nothing but a plain white towel cover her bare and dripping body.
She checks herself in the mirror, brushing a lone fringe cover her left eye.
"... So it's that time of the day again, my dear?"
"Shut up, dammit."
In the reflection, a shadowy figure with horns, wings, and a jagged smile crusting its chipped lips appear.
"I saw it all, my dear..." The shadowy figure mockingly stated. "Terrible day at work today, isn't it? Oh how you humans continue to be both predictable and unpredictable simultaneously..."
"... You really need to learn to shut up sometime, Mainyu." Angra groaned out.
"Oh honey..."
The shadowy figure then begins growing mouths all over its body, all of them baring their jagged teeth, snapping and flapping like a whole gaggle of alligators.
"... You really need more specific then that. Ehehehehehehehehehehehehehehheh!"
For the past 15 years, this was Angra's life.
For ever since that faithful day, a former peasant's quiet and boring life was utterly warped beyond recognition after one, freak, accident.
Twenty Years Ago...
Rayaka Village Outskirts, Forbidden Realm, Clover Kingdom, Afternoon
Ever since Angra Swing was brought to this world, it was made clear that she wasn't the one who would sit still.
As an infant, she was quite energetic despite her family's less than opulent circumstances, and as such, her presence provided to be a source of light for such bleak family (albeit a loud one).
Upon reaching childhood, her spunk only grew, as she herself proved to be the village's sole source of hope, and perhaps, its future mayor.
But on one faithful day, a sudden change of events changed this once normal girl into something else entirely.
One night, she herself was roused from her sleep, hearing sounds of the recently-born Magna Swing, her younger brother, crying.
As she tried to calm her younger brother down, however, she saw people moving about outside of the house's shutters.
And they were strangers to this villages, meaning one thing, and one thing only.
Bandits.
She runs towards her parents, tells them of her witness, and they all went outside to warn the other villagers.
They were all then attacked by the bandits, with few ones with grimoires left to defend themselves while the young ones were evacuated into the woods.
However, Angra herself slips on a damp rock and falls into a gorge, hitting her head upon landing.
Upon impact, all of her senses were stripped from her, leaving her helpless and cationic as her body drifted down the stream.
As she was trapped in her own darkness, her spark of positivity slowly eroded by the fear of death.
To die so young, after one accident, while leaving behind her parents and her younger brother.
The mere thought of not being there for them, her family, her baby brother, and the entire village, that all loved and cared for her in a world that did not care for them...
... She calls for help, as loud as she could, pleading that someone, anyone, would save her from the darkness.
But no one came.
She calls for help again, but no one came.
She kept calling for help until her throat began to ache like no other.
Eventually, her voice gives out first.
Then her body, unable to move.
Then finally, her consciousness, no longer able to perceive the world around her.
Eventually, Angra stops thinking, ready to accept her inevitable death.
... But as the darkness began to settle in, she was visited by something.
A malignant and downright disgusting presence, radiating nothing but hate and malice...
... Which then offers her a chance for survival.
"... Why?"
The figure simply smiles, revealing its stubby, yet knife-like rows of teeth.
"I felt like it." The shadow gleefully stated. "Why kill you off when I can simply have fun with you?"
The girl wakes once more, finding herself washed ashore a riverbed.
She feebly stands up, ignoring the biting cold and numbness from her muscles.
She looks at her legs, to find that they were covered with black, scar-like marks.
The girl was speechless at her hideous marks on her legs.
"Sup."
The girl frantically looked around to see where that raspy voice came from.
"I'm in waters."
The girl looks at the water, to find the same shadow that saved her...
... Inside of her left eye.
"About my little 'gifts'... I recommend you keep them hidden from human eyes for the time being."
The girl then finds a few strands of vines and leaves, wraps them around her legs, and puts one strand with the large enough leaf over her left eye.
"Good." The shadow stated. "As long as you do as I say, I'll be sure to keep you alive."
"... How can I trust you?" Angra asked. "I barely even know who you are!"
"Well for one, you're my physical host." The shadow stated. "Now originally, I was supposed to manifest much later, but... certain circumstances forced my hand, causing me to seek out someone else as my vessel."
"What's the other reason to trust you?"
The shadow only smiles.
A smile, naught of any shred of positivity, but one of pure, unrestrained malice.
"You speak to [Mainyu], Demon of 9th Rank of [Gamaliel]."
Name: [Mainyu]
Rank: [Gamaliel]
Magic: [Word Magic]
Sin: [Manipulation]
"... Demon?"
Mainyu simply smiles.
"For now, I'll just let you know that from now on..."
The Demon's smile just grows wider.
"... I hold your life in my hands, until death."
"Oh come now, I kept my word, didn't I?" Mainyu grinned in Angra's reflection.
"You knew all along that my village was going to be burnt to the ground in the first place, didn't you?" Angra snarled back.
"Oh honey..." Mainyu chuckled out softly. "... I did say that as long as you do as I say, I'll keep you alive, and I meant it."
"I was only eight when you showed me that revelation, dammit!"
Angra punches the mirror in front of her, cutting her knuckles and fracturing the reflection in the process.
"And like all good girls, you've listened to me." Mainyu mocked. "Needless to say, when I heard dear Lucifer's raid on you home village, oh how I was laughing when he was this close to finding me, when I, the magnificent Mainyu, was living amidst the commoner populace, far away from his pyres and ire."
"Are we all just toys to you Demons?" Angra snarled out in pent-up rage.
"... Oh yes. All of creation merely exists to be our amusement." Mainyu pointed out. "Good, evil, we honestly don't give a crap as long as it alleviates our chronic boredom. Seriously, did you having the power to command reality itself on a microscopic scale with mere words can get boring really fast?"
"Gee, nobles up in the Noble Realm would kill for such power..." Angra rolled her eyes.
"And that's why I chose you, a person who's tasted the ultimate consequence, the perfect scapegoat to enforce my stranglehold."
Angra, after countless days of walking, finally returned to her home villages, covered in scars head to toe.
Her parents come find her, embrace her after their long separation.
However, unlike the rest of the village, Angra couldn't recover.
Her signature spunk was completely burnt out of her, living out the rest of her youth as a living corpse.
Upon reaching puberty, and receiving her grimoire, Angra, under the influence of Mainyu, declared that she would move out of the village and work in a castle town, much to her parents' displeasure.
Disagreements led to fights, fights led to rifts, and rifts eventually led to separation.
Angra leaves Rayaka Village at the age of 16, and finds herself in the bustling job market of Kikka.
For the next 17 years, she has completely cut herself off from Rayaka Village, all the while, remaining ignorant of what's happened to her family.
"... I let them die." Angra uttered out. "Because of you..."
She looks at the fractured reflection of both her and Mainyu, with the latter still grinning.
"... Because of you, I let them die." Angra tearfully admitted.
Mainyu lets out a soft chuckle.
"You know what would've happened have chosen not to take my words?" Mainyu retorted gleefully. "Well, your younger brother might've had a more stable influence growing up, but in turn, he wouldn't be able to become a Magic Knight and leave Rayaka. Should that be the case, not only your parents would've died, but both you and that delinquent-wannabe would've bit dust during that raid that my oh-so-obsessed playmate of mine spearheaded."
"... Just what are you implying?" Angra asked.
Mainyu simply smiles.
"You're welcome."
Angra lets out a maddened yell right before smashing her head into the fractured mirror, creating even more fractures upon her reflection.
Borderlands, Between Clover Kingdom and Spade Kingdom, Dawn
"... Ugh, can't sleep."
Fanzell crawls out of his sheets while taking care to not interrupt his fiancee's slumber.
"Then again, considering that we almost got arrested and executed by the Clover Kingdom authorities just a short while back, guess everyone's way out of it..." The red-haired man sighed out. "... Well everyone except her."
By the still crackling campfire, Fana was staring into the pyre as if it was the only thing that mattered to her in the whole wide world.
"Poor girl..." Fanzell sighed out. "... Just what the hell happened to you? I mean, I get that Morris was a little tapped to the head, but the thought of something even worse happening to her? ... No one deserves that."
With nothing he could do for the listless Fana, he begrudgingly goes back to sleep next to Dominante.
"I just stop thinking about it..." Fanzell anguished internally. "... Dammit. I wish I can do something to help the poor kid."
Fana's Subconsciousness
Darkness.
In darkness, only three things existed.
A lone campfire, still burning, illuminating this pitch-black world that resided in the broken mind of an equally-broken girl.
And two similar people, both sitting by the fire, with one throwing tinder into the flames to keep it kindled, while the other cradled a severed head encased in crystal.
"... Hey." Human!Fana spoke out.
Elf!Fana didn't respond to her words.
"... Did you have anyone you love before all this happened?" Human!Fana asked.
A dry twig snaps in Elf!Fana's grip.
"Just what do you humans know anything about love?" Elf!Fana scathingly retorted. "It was you humans and your gullibility that robbed my feeling of love in the first place, leaving me with nothing but hatred."
Elf!Fana then throws the broken twig into the flames.
"If you're going to ask me about love, then answer me this." Elf!Fana snapped. "Why do you humans continue to destroy after all this time? Wasn't my village enough?"
"... I honestly don't know." Human!Fana softly answered. "Back then, all I knew that Mars and I appointed ourselves to the Diamond Kingdom's experiments after we were picked off of the streets."
"Selfish to the bitter end..." Elf!Fana spat out in disgust. "... So why continue? Why do you continue to insist me that there are good humans in this world?"
"... Personally, I think it's because we're selfish that we learn how to be good." Human!Fana answered.
The fires crackles between them.
"You're kidding me." Elf!Fana replied in disbelief. "You're stating a paradox. All of you humans are born evil and will die with evil in your hearts."
"It's not so simple, really." Human!Fana retorted. "I think you think we're evil because of our innate selfishness, but tell me..."
Human!Fana's embrace around Mar's head tightens as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"... How can we learn if we aren't selfish?" Human!Fana asked. "How can we live without desire?"
"We elves only took what we needed from nature in order to survive. You humans on the other hand simply take everything in excess, wasting everything that you ultimately don't need." Elf!Fana spat back. "Your so-called 'desire' brings nothing but ruin and destruction to wherever you spread your influence."
"I know that for a fact." Human!Fana answers.
"So you acknowledge that I'm right?" Elf!Fana asked.
"You may be right... but that doesn't mean that you're not wrong either." Human!Fana retorted.
The cinders of the campfire crumple.
"Tch. What do you mean that I'm right but also wrong at the same time?" Elf!Fana snapped. "I want a straight answer, or I'll forcibly, evict your soul from your own body!"
Human!Fana places her hand on Elf!Fana's shoulder.
"... We humans are afraid of death." Human!Fana answered. "Almost too afraid, sadly."
"Explain." Elf!Fana stated.
"... Picture this." Human!Fana stated. "Imagine being born into a world where there's nothing but death everywhere, and the worst is that you know that you're weak."
"Hmph." Elf!Fana replied dismissively. "So what? Licht said that the strong are to be pitied, for they earn the ire of the weak. Personally, it's only natural that the strong live, and weak die."
"... But humans don't accept that, even after the fact." Human!Fana retorted. "We're so afraid of dying that we openly defy the natural laws in the name of survival. So instead, we started taking more then we needed to, not because we were selfish out of choice, but because we had no other choice but to be selfish."
"You're not helping your case, you bitch." Elf!Fana grimaced.
"I wasn't planning to in the first place." Human!Fana retorted. "Tell me, what's your home like?"
"... A forest, filled to the brim with foliage, plenty of fruit and game to go around, enough for everyone, enough we only take." Elf!Fana reminisced.
"For me, the Diamond Kingdom was anything but plenty." Human!Fana answered. "The land itself was rock-hard and arid, the constant droughts brought upon famine that not even the weeds could survive the hellish conditions of our home."
Elf!Fana's eyes widen in surprise, unable to comprehend what her human counterpart said.
"... How the hell did you even survive that long?" Elf!Fana asked. "No living being can feasibly survive such conditions!"
Human!Fana let out a sorrowful smile.
"We stole." Human!Fana answered. "We stole from other kingdoms, raided their bordering villages, took their harvests, their resources, all in the name of survival, and in the hopes of being able to sustain ourselves without stealing from other kingdoms."
... The next question that Elf!Fana were to ask, she herself was too afraid to utter out.
"... Did you somehow managed to break out of that stranglehold?" Elf!Fana asked reluctantly.
Human!Fana lets out a low cackle before breaking down into tears.
"... We didn't." Human!Fana wept out. "Generation after generation, we just kept stealing from other kingdoms, to the point that my kingdom gave up the idea of self-sustaining and simply resigned to live under the label that the other kingdoms put upon us."
"And that is?"
"... 'The Bandit Kingdom'." Human!Fana answered. "Generation after generation, we just took, took, took, and spared no effort to make the process of taking easier. From training the kingdom's mages to become our War Mages, to the experimentations that was done to me, Mars, and countless other children-"
"Stop." Elf!Fana stated firmly. "That's enough."
The fire between them begins to wane.
"... it seems that I've underestimated you humans." Elf!Fana stated. "But if this is any consolation, my hatred has turned to pity for your kind."
"... It's too late to apologize, anyway." Human!Fana pointed out. "Nor I'm in any position to do so in the first place."
"Let's agree to disagree." Elf!Fana stated as she walked back into the darkness of her mindscape.
Human!Fana stares into the darkness that her elven counterpart walked into as the pyre next to her slowly dies out.
Eventually, darkness sets upon her mind once more, into the silent oblivion of her broken mind once more.
Morning light rose from the sky, shining upon the slumbering nomads.
"... It's morning." Lotus yawned out as he scratched his bearded chin.
He then looks around his surroundings, seeing that Fana was still sitting in front of the campfire, now completely burnt out to charcoal.
All Lotus could do was sigh out.
"... Honey?"
Next to him, Lotus's wife, Iris, woke up from her slumber.
"How're the kids?" Lotus asked.
Iris looked next to her, seeing the children.
"Sound asleep." Iris stated quietly.
"Let them. We got a long journey ahead." Lotus replied.
Suddenly, a sound of an explosion was heard next to their encampment, waking everyone else, including the children.
"DADDY!?" The youngest girl cried out. "WHAT'S GOING ON!?"
"DAISY! VIOLET! PEONY! IRIS!" Lotus cried out. "TAKE COVER!"
The mother and her three kids take cover over the sounds of continuous explosions.
"WHAT'S GOING ON!?" Iris cried out.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" One of the nomads cried out. "GET THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN SOMEWHERE SAFE-"
The nomad was then sent flying into the air from the fiery explosion, his charred corpse landing right in front of the children.
"ALRIGHT YOU MONSTER!" Lotus cried out in rage. "COME OUT BEORE I GET REALLY MAD!"
More explosions of flame were sounded off around the campsite, killing even more of his fellow nomads.
"LOTUS!"
Next to him, Fanzell, Dominante, and the former's student now-adopted daughter, Mariella, arrived on the scene, all with their grimoires out and ready to fight.
"Alright, who needs whooping?" Fanzell called out.
"Mari, see anyone else?" Dominante asked.
The ex-assassin looks around the burning campsite for the suspects.
"... There's five distinct mana presences surrounding us." Mariella stated. "Each with a differing attribute."
"WELL AREN'T YOU AN OBSERVANT ONE, LITTLE LADY!"
From the smoke, a humanoid figure with a red-colored cowl emerges from the smoke and flames.
The figure was wearing white robes with a belt with a brass circle with a pentagram around its waist under its red cowl, and its face was obscured with an ivory mask with a red-colored [火] symbol on it.
"So you're the one responsible..." Lotus snarled out. "WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH US!?"
The masked figure extends out its arm, sticking out two fingers.
"There are two things wrong with that statement." The masked man stated. "First, it's not just I, a great hero of justice, do not fight alone."
The masked man then snaps its fingers.
"COME! MY FELLOW HEROES OF JUSTICE!"
Around them, four more masked figures emerged, all of them each wearing the same white robes with the belt with a pentagram on the buckle.
One was wearing a blue cloak over its white robes with its ivory mask bearing a blue-colored [水] on it.
The other was wearing a green cloak over its white robes with its ivory mask bearing a green-colored [木] on it.
Another was wearing a yellow cloak over its white robes with its ivory mask bearing a yellow-colored [土] on it.
And the last one was wearing a gray cloak over its white robes with its ivory mask bearing a gray-colored [金] on it.
All of them lined up next to each other, in perfect unison.
"The flames that burn the evil!" The red man cried out as it struck a dynamic pose. "Proto Red!"
"The waves that drowns the darkness!" The blue man also cried out as it struck a dynamic pose. "Proto Blue!"
"The forest that chokes the foolish!" The green man also cried out as it struck its own dynamic pose. "Proto Green!"
"The earth that buries the wicked!" The yellow man also cried out as it struck its own dynamic pose. "Proto Yellow!"
"The blade that enforces the law!" The gray man also cried out as it struck its own dynamic pose. "Proto Gray!"
All of them then transition from their own poses into a coordinated one.
"Five fingers that form the fist of justice!" All of them cried out in unison. "Crushing all who dare to disturb peace for all!"
The remaining nomads behind the five rush them with their grimoires out, ready to deliver their sneak attack.
"FOR WE ARE... THE PROTOMEN!"
The rest of the nomads were disintegrated by a massive, multi-colored explosion, on which the five posed behind it, striking another coordinated and flamboyant pose.
"... Seriously?" Fanzell spoke out. "This is what we woke up to?"
"Ha!" Proto Red scoffed. "You think you villain scum stand a chance against us? We, the heroes of justice-"
"You're open."
Mariella then dashes towards Proto Red, already in the process of striking down the five in one fell swoop.
"[Ice Creation Magic: Sleet Slashers]!"
Several knives made of ice were thrown towards The Protomen.
"FOOLISH VILLAIN!"
Proto Red extends out its right hand.
"[Fire Magic: Proto-Combustion]!"
A massive fiery explosion engulfs the ice blades, vaporizing them into mist.
"... Did he just cast a spell without a grimoire?" Dominante pointed out nervously.
"WE HEROES OF JUSTICE NEED NOT THE TOOLS OF THE VILLAIN!" Proto Red loudly proclaimed as it along with the rest of [The Protomen] emerged from the flames. "EVERYONE! COMMENCE THE ATTACK!"
All five of them come charging in towards Mariella.
"[Metal Magic: Proto-Cutters]!"
"[Earth Magic: Proto-Compacter]!"
"[Wood Magic: Proto-Stakes]!"
"[Water Magic: Proto-Splash]!"
"[Fire Magic: Proto-Blast]!"
A rain of steel blades, stone blocks, wooden stakes, water balls, and fire blasts come rushing towards the ex-assassin.
A massive explosion engulfs where Mariella stood.
"MARI!" Dominante cried out.
"Ha!" Proto Red scoffed. "As expected-"
The smoke emerges, only for Mariella to be fine, encased in a ball of wind, with herself covered in patches of frost.
"[Wind Creation Magic: Wayward Wind Fool-Singularity]." Fanzell stated as he sheathed his broken sword. "My winds dampened the surrounding impact and she took the rest from there."
"[Ice Recovery Magic: Coolant Patches]." Mariella stated. "The flames singed me a little, but first-degree burns are treatable with basic first-aid."
"Ha ha ha!" Proto Red laughed out. "You're utter fools to explain your powers to us!"
At that moment, Lotus scowls.
"Look mister..." Lotus growled out. "I don't know what your deal with us is, but I'm giving you and your buddies only one chance to leave us, or else."
"Or else what?" Proto Red retorted mockingly. "There's only you miserable lot remaining! And our combined might has taken out the rest of those filth-"
Tendrils made of smoke rise from the ground around The Protomen, entrapping them in a mess of smoke tentacles.
"[Smoke Trap Magic: Stranglehold Circle]." Lotus coldly declared. "Nobody calls my men filth, you hooligan. You all lost your chance from the moment you insulted me."
Lotus turned to Dominante.
"If you will." Lotus requested. "They need further discipline."
"Got it." Dominante replied as she opened her grimoire. "[Cloth Binding Magic: Cross-Stitching]."
The robes around The Protomen sew themselves into misaligned pieces of clothing, trapping them in their own garbs, binding their arms behind their backs.
"Now I'm not for needless killing..." Lotus glowered. "... But since you gleefully stained yourselves with innocent blood, I'll give you all a demonstration why they used to call me 'Hell Lotus'."
The smoke binding The Protomen grows thicker and thicker.
"[Smoke Curse Magic: Siphoning Swarming]. [Smoke Weakening Magic: Garden of Plundering Smoke]. [Smoke Creation Magic: Smoke Prison of the Fallen King]." Lotus chanted out consecutive spells towards The Protomen. "I won't give any of you lot the mercy of a quick death. So instead, atone. Atone for every life you've taken in your remaining moments of your life that I shall slowly drain from you monsters."
The smoke then explodes, causing the culmination of suffocating smoke to disperse.
"What the!?" Lotus cried out in surprise. "How did you-"
"Oh you foolish villain..."
From the scattered fumes emerged the five Protomen, but with their clothes removed.
... Revealing the five to be made out of their respective elements.
"Those guys are literally made of magic!?" Fanzell cried out in surprise.
"So that's how they managed to cast spells without grimoires..." Mariella pointed out. "They are, in a way, spells themselves."
"And that's why..." Proto Red chucked out. "... WE ARE THE HEROES OF JUSTICE! FOR WE ARE IMMORTAL OF MIND, BODY, AND SOUL!"
The five magical humanoids attack the group.
"[Fire Creation Magic: Proto-Punch]!"
The fiery humanoid's right hand balls into a fist, as the knuckle was engulfed into a bigger blaze resembling an eagle.
The blazing punch connects with Mariella's stomach, sending her flying towards a rock, smashing through it, and breaking her whole body.
"MARI!" Fanzell cried out, but not before he was set upon by a metallic humanoid.
"[Metal Creation Magic: Proto-Blades]!"
Its arms transform into swords, with intent to maim Fanzell.
The red-haired man draws his broken sword to fend off the blade-armed humanoid.
The humanoids made of water and earth run past Fanzell and towards Dominante.
"[Water Creation Magic: Proto-Spiral]!"
"[Earth Creation Magic: Proto-Smasher]!"
The aquatic humanoid forms a drill out of water from its right arm, and the earth humanoid's arms transform into hammerheads as the two charge towards the witch.
However, the witch herself was not easily deterred.
"[Cloth Magic: Whip Weave]!"
Straps of cloth lash out towards the two humanoids, whipping the two humanoids away from her.
"Don't underestimate me just because I didn't see enough combat compared to Lotus, sweet little Mari or my man!" Dominante boasted. "I'm no ordinary mage! I'm a witch, and a dang powerful one at that!"
Suddenly, the sounds of screams were heard behind the three.
Fanzell, Dominante, and Lotus look towards the carriage, seeing that the humanoid made of wood has bound Iris, Violet, Peony, and Daisy in root-like tendrils.
"[Wood Binding Magic: Proto-Winch]." The wooden humanoid stated. "I have your loved ones hostage. Surrender, and I shall release them. Refuse, I shall kill them slowly and painfully."
The roots wrapped around the four began to tighten, threatening to crush their flesh and bone.
"LET THEM GO!" Lotus rushed towards the Proto-Green.
"[Fire Creation Magic: Proto-Kick]!"
Proto Red intercepts Lotus with a combustive flying kick to his back, skidding Lotus across the arid dirt.
"You heard Green!" Proto Red yelled out. "Surrender, or they die!"
"Dammit!" Fanzell internally cursed as he pushed against Proto Gray's blade-arms. "We're pinned down in several directions!"
"IT'S USELESS!"
Proto Red then stomps down on Lotus's head, pinning him down.
"DADDY!" Daisy cried out.
"Quiet."
Proto Green then tightens its grip around the youngest girl's arms, her bones beginning to slowly snap.
"Sta-STOP IT!" Lotus cried out in distress. "SHE'S JUST A LITTLE GIRL!"
"You'll join her soon enough." Proto Red declared coldly as his foot burnt on Lotus's head. "NOW DIE-"
"Umm, excuse me..."
The opposing groups look behind themselves, seeing a massive, muscle-bound cloaked man carrying a sack over his broad shoulders.
"... You're kinda blocking the road." The massive man stated.
Abandoning all pride, Lotus does the obvious.
"SIR! PLEASE HELP US!" Lotus desperately pled. "THEY'RE GOING TO KiLL MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS!"
The muscular man scratches his chin before dropping his bag.
"... Alright." The man stated. "Just hang on for a few more seconds-"
"TOO LATE!" Proto Red screeched out. "THEY DIE NOW-"
"Sir!"
The man then punches Proto Red off of Lotus's head.
"I was talking to them." The man stated to the downed Protoman.
The man then looks down on Lotus.
"... So, who do I need to save from who?" The man asked.
"... The humans made of elements... Please save my family from those... monsters..."
Lotus then passes out.
"DAD!" Peony cried out.
"Father!" Violet cried out.
"Okay!" The man confirmed Lotus's words as he took off his hood, revealing a child-like face with extremely-spiky black hair. "Imma go kick their butts!"
"WHY YOU-"
The man backhands Proto Red as the fiery humanoid charged, sending it back flying.
In the meantime, Fanzell takes this window of opportunity to shove Proto Gray away from him, creating distance.
"[Wind Binding Magic: Slashing Wind Emperor-Whirlwind]!" Fanzell first encases the metal humanoid in ring-like shackles of spiraling wind. "And following up, [Wind Magic: Slashing Wind Emperor-Gale]!"
The stormy thrust then sends Proto Gray flying back, hitting Proto Red before it can stand back up.
"About time!" Dominante cried out as she regained her offensive. "Fanzell, let's take em out two-on-two!"
"Copy that!" Fanzell answered as he changed [Slashing Wind Emperor] into [Wayward Wind Fool].
The two Protomen find themselves pincered between the two mages.
"[Wind Creation Magic: Wayward Wind Fool-Valley Scouts]!" Fanzell cried out as he sent out wind copies of himself to bumrush the two Protomen.
"It's useless."
The two join their hands together.
"[Water & Earth Compound Magic: Proto-Mound]."
The two erect a fortress of mud walls around themselves, blocking out the [Valley Scouts].
"Don't forget me!" Dominante cried out as she readied her own offensive. "[Cloth Creation Magic...]"
Several rows of purple cloth interwove themselves together into a massive hand.
"[... Knuckle Weave]!"
The fist punches into the opening of the walls, with said mud walls breaking down from the impact.
"Alright, rush them!" Fanzell barked out his orders to his [Valley Scouts] to attack the downed Protomen.
The two were also sent flying towards where Proto Red and Gray were at, piling them atop of the two right before they could recover.
"Hold on, we're coming!" Fanzell cried out as he ran towards Lotus's kids and wife.
The bindings around them begin to tighten even more, causing the four to scream in pain.
"Halt." Proto Green stated. "Come any closer, and their deaths will be imminent-"
A frozen knife pierced through Proto Green's back.
"[Ice Magic: Crystal Kris]."
Mariella stabbed Proto Green with a frozen knife, causing frost to spread all over its body, causing the tree roots to start decaying, freeing the four females from the Protoman's grasp.
In desperation, Proto Green breaks off from Mariella, retreating back to where the other four Protomen were at.
"DAMMIT ALL!" Proto Red cried out. "WE HAVE NO CHOICE! WE MUST COMBINE ALL OF OUR POWERS TOGETHER!"
"ROGER!" The Protomen cried out in unison.
All of them joined their hands together, melding into one, giant being.
"BEHOLD! OUR ULTIMATE MAGIC!" The Protomen chanted in unison. "[SUPER COMPOUND MAGIC: PROTO-ARIGATO MR. PROTO-ROBOTO]!"
All five combine their forms into a giant construct composed of fire, water, earth, wood, and metal, piercing the clouds in the skies, its shadow engulfing the earth around them, as if they were mere ants.
The base was composed of water, the bones were composed of wooden joints, the skin was composed of earth, the armor was composed of metal, and its massive sword was purely made of fire.
"THIS! IS! THE! EEEEEENNND!"
The giant construct swings down its flaming blade down towards the group.
"... EVERYONE, RUN!"
Fanzell, Dominante, and Mariella all run away with Lotus and his family in tow from the massive flame blade towards them.
"WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT!"Iris cried out fearfully.
However, as the blade swung down closer towards them, the man walks towards it.
"WHERE'RE YOU GOING!?" Fanzell cried out.
"No need to panic." The man reassured. "I got this."
From his sack came out his grimoire, a massive orange grimoire depicting the world grasped by a massive hand, with a diamond gem at the center.
"... A grimoire from the Diamond Kingdom?" Iris commented. "And a [Diamond Grade] no less..."
In the Diamond Kingdom, the grimoires there have their own ranking system like that of Clover Kingdom's.
From lowest to highest, the order went as such: [Bronze Grade], [Silver Grade], [Gold Grade], [Platinum Grade], & [Diamond Grade].
"First a warm-up..." The man stated as he stretched his legs. "... Then finally, this!"
The man's grimoire opens its pages.
"[Gravity Magic: Ascent Force-Infinity]!"
The man uppercuts the blazing blade along with the construct off of the ground...
... And it never came back down to the ground, just like a balloon that slipped from a child's hands.
"Now that was a close one!" The man chuckled out.
Fanzell walks up to the man.
"Who are you?" The red-haired man asked. "And what's with that grimoire?"
"Oh, you mean this?" The man pointed to his massive grimoire. "Yeah, I kinda had it as long as I remember. As for who I am... sorry, doesn't ring a bell."
"Oh, my bad." Fanzell stated in disappointment.
"But hey, if you wanna call me by a name, then you can call me Heracles!" The man grinned. "Nice to meet ya folks!"
"... Uhh, yeah. Likewise." Fanzell awkwardly replied.
Heracles clearly failed to recognize the wreckage around him, despite him saving the group.
"... So, you plan to get moving anytime soon?" Heracles asked. "I gotta get to the Ulster Alliance Territory quickly as possible, cuz there's a lot of strong mages that I can train with!"
"We would..." Fanzell stated. "... But during the attack, our oxen pulling our carriage kinda ran off elsewhere."
Heracles then scratches his chin before answering.
"Alright then!" Heracles spoke out. "I'll pull the carriage for you guys!"
"You sure?" Fanzell asked. "I mean, we're kinda heading to Liberatum in the Southwest of Spade Kingdom for refuge, and to do that, we're gonna have to cross Ulster..."
"Oh well, might as well train as we get there." Heracles pointed out. "As long as I set my foot there and meet with strong people, I'll be fine. Good enough?"
Fanzell lets out a sigh.
"... If you say so." The red-haired man sighed out.
"Perfect!"
The massive man lifts the carriage's reins behind his back, pulling it out of the muck caused by the previous battle.
"Alright, everyone all aboard!" Heracles shouted out.
"Wait." Fanzell stated. "... Where's Fana?"
He then immediately realizes that she didn't from the area where the campfire was at.
"... Oh crap."
He then runs towards the grounds where the campfires were at, and finds a massive mound of dirt.
"FANA!"
Fanzell then digs us her out with [Dancing Wind Empress-Updraft].
"... Thank god, she's still breathing." Fanzell sighed out in relief. "But just in case..."
He then casts [Dancing Wind Empress-Spring Breeze] to refill her lungs with oxygen.
"Someone please help!" Fanzell cried out as he dragged Fana out of the mound. "I need an extra shoulder for her to lean on!"
Mariella runs towards Fanzell and Fana, and the two carry the listless girl back towards the carriage.
"Alright, everyone on board?" Heracles asked.
"Everyone that's alive are accounted for!" Dominante confirmed.
"Normally, we would bury our dead, but after the fact, I don't we can afford to waste anymore time." Fanzell pointed out regretfully.
"Alright then!" Heracles spoke out. "Next stop, the Spade Kingdom!"
The muscular man tugs the carriage with ease, quickly picking up speed, leaving behind a trail of dust as the carriage traversed towards the sunrise.
Unknown Location, Diamond Kingdom, Morning
"So the Protomen were defeated?"
"Yes, my prince." The female voice stated in the dimly-lit room. "We've lost signal for all five of the Protomen about a minute ago."
"Where were their last location before losing their signal?"
"... About that, my prince." The female voice awkwardly stated. "... We couldn't specify their exact location before we've lost signal. As in, they were no longer on this world, physically speaking."
"... What of the data collected, then? Are they recorded proper, or did they get deleted along with the Protomen?"
"Luckily, my prince, all the combat data collected are perfectly intact." The female voice stated.
"Let look at them."
"Of course, my prince."
"... So a [Smoke Magic] user, a [Wind Magic] user with a sword, a witch using [Cloth Magic], an assassin-mage using [Ice Magic], and an unknown [Gravity Magic] user that singlehandedly took out the Protomen at their strongest... Finally, a data worthwhile looking at..."
The figure from the darkness emerges, revealing the white-haired boy with topaz-snake eyes and rows of black scales adorning his cheekbones.
"Come with me, Cleo." The scaled boy ordered. "The rest of you, take the data and apply an addendum to our next mass-production combat units."
"Yessss, Prince Yama."
The figures that loomed behind the dark-skinned woman with the same black scales slithered away elsewhere.
The two Liliths walk downstairs, just about dimly-lit as the rest of their Underground Laboratory.
"Tell me, Cleo..." Yama asked. "... Just why do you think our friends that we've spared are heading to the Spade Kingdom, of all places?
"Even I do not know myself, my prince." Cleopatra replied. "Although I've heard rumors around the Clover Kingdom that their recent confrontation with said kingdom has turned into a cross-cultural negotiation."
"... Oh really?" Yama grinned.
"Even more alarming, there've been rumors of the one negotiating with the Clover Kingdom is a half-Demon."
Yama stops in his tracks before walking off towards another direction.
"Prince Yama?" Cleopatra called out. "Where are we heading? I thought we were heading down to the production lines!"
"That can wait later." Yama growled out. "Right now, we need to talk to our little friend."
Yama briskly walks down to the deepest level of the Underground Laboratory, waiting there being a massive steel gate with two other Liliths keeping vigil.
"Prince Yama!" One of the Lilith guards spoke out.
"Has he made any attempts of escape?" Yama asked.
"Negative." The other Lilith answered. "He's still bound up in the air, with no restraints being broken."
"Alright." Yama replied. "I'm going in alone. Tell Cleo to stay and wait outside."
"Yes Prince Yama."
The gates open, and Yama goes into the secluded chamber as the gates close behind him.
At the center of the room, was a shadowy, winged humanoid figure bound in straps of black leather and iron chains suspending it in the air, keeping it bound completely, preventing it from escaping, and to add even more security, several pillars of stone pressed against the bound figure from all directions, keeping it still in the air.
"... To what company do I receive?" The bound figure spoke out.
"I want an explanation." Yama spoke to the bound figure. "Just how the hell is there a half-Demon walking about in this world? Is this one of experiments gone awry in the past, Morris!?"
The bound figure then lets out a wicked cackle as it heard that name.
"Oh please..." "Morris" replied snidely. "The man known as 'Morris' died with the rest of the Diamond Kingdom along with his accomplishments. For you see..."
Name: [Mammon]
Rank: [Gamchicoth]
Magic: [Reaction Magic]
Sin: [Selfishness]
"... I am Mammon, reborn into a superior lifeform, abandoned all aspects that all mortals were burdened by, and evolved into a Demon!"
Mammon then lets out another echoing cackle.
"... I'm going nowhere with this."
Yama then walks through the steel doors, without opening them, leaving Mammon to his own laughter echo in his prison tailor-made by Yama, to and for him exclusively.
"Prince Yama?" Cleopatra asked.
"Speed up the production of the [Homunculus Army]." Yama ordered. "While at it, send a scout to tail the activities in the Spade Kingdom."
"Yes Prince Yama." Cleopatra replied. "I'll notify all staff the message."
"Make it quick."
Qliphoth, Between [Limbo] and [Lust], Hell
At the white roots of the Demon King's throne, eleven figures sat upon the branched-out roots.
"So... Who should I sucker today?" A bat-like Demon mused.
Name: [Yetzer]
Rank: 11th Seat, [Kelipot]
Magic: [Voice Magic]
Sin: [Temptation]
"Oh keep your ploys to yourself. It's not like these worms will do anything meaningful even if their lives depended on it. But, that's just the way I like it." An anglerfish-like Demon pointed out while twiddling with his lure.
Name: [Naamah]
Rank: 10th Seat, [Nehemoth]
Magic: [Word Magic]
Sin: [Slander]
"I second that. It's not like they wish to see what things really are, but rather, they only wish to see what they want to see." A vulture-like Demon agreed as she set down a skull on her armrest.
Name: [Ereshkigal]
Rank: 9th Seat, [Gamaliel]
Magic: [Illusion Magic]
Sin: [Deception]
"Truly, all of creation is truly disgusting to even fathom. But, that only makes me look better in comparison." A peacock-like Demon boasted as it flipped his hair.
Name: [Adrammelech]
Rank: 8th Seat, [Samael]
Magic: [Projection Magic]
Sin: [Vanity]
"Tch. It doesn't matter what you fucking cunts do with their sad lives. Hell, if I could help it, I would kill you all and vomit all over your corpses." A ratel-like Demon spat out in disgust as he sharpened a dagger against his throne's armrests.
Name: [Cain]
Rank: 7th Seat, [Harab Serapel]
Magic: [Weapon Magic]
Sin: [Hatred]
"*Yawn* Would you fucks keep it down? I'm trying to get some shuteye here... And for the record, I couldn't give two craps on what you all think or plan, just don't rope me into another mess... *Yawn*" A sloth-like Demon yawned out as it went back to sleep on its throne.
Name: [Belphegor]
Rank: 6th Seat, [Thagirion]
Magic: [Game Magic]
Sin: [Sloth]
"Oh come now, Bel-dear~. Even as a Demon, you just can't waste away down here for eternity~! You have to take this chance while it's open, and then thrust yourself into the action, full throttle, baby~!" A horse-like Demon moaned out as he squirmed like a worm with a perverted look on his face.
Name: [Asmodeus]
Rank: 5th Seat, [Golachab]
Magic: [Vector Magic]
Sin: [Lust]
"While I'm all for taking open opportunities, I'm not in it for the pleasure. After all, in the business of materialism, tributes don't collect themselves." A lioness-like Demon pointed out while she was counting her pile of coins next to her throne.
Name: [Ishtar]
Rank: 4th Seat, [Gamachicoth]
Magic: [Gauge Magic]
Sin: [Greed]
"... ARGH! WHAT THE HELL, ISHTAR!? ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN ME WITH YOUR NEEDINESS!? IN FACT, DID ALL OF YOU CALL ME JUST TO SPITE ME!? HUH!?" A mouse-like Demon shrieked out in terror as she pointed her finger at everyone else.
Name: [Lucifuge]
Rank: 3rd Seat, [Sathariel]
Magic: [Discernment Magic]
Sin: [Paranoia]
"Hey hey hey. I ain't after your scrawny ass. Hell, you ain't even worth my damn time. No seriously, there's barely any meat on you for me to even chew on." An alligator-like Demon scoffed out while chewing on an arm in his massive maw.
Name: [Beelzebub]
Rank: 2nd Seat, [Chaigidel]
Magic: [Drain Magic]
Sin: [Gluttony]
"ENOUGH!" A massive dragon-like Demon with four horns and four bat wings wings roared out furiously.
All of the Nine Layers trembled before the massive horned Demon's roar.
"... Much better. Now we can discuss the matter at hand. Any one of you try to even derail the discussion, I will throw your ass all the way DOWN THE BOTTOMMOST LAYER, EVEN IF IT MEANS BREAKING THROUGH THE PREVIOUS EIGHT IF I HAVE TO!"
Name: [Satan]
Rank: 1st Seat, [Thamiel]
Magic: [Inverse Magic]
Sin: [Wrath]
"*Yawn* Shut the fuck up, Satan..." Belphegor yawned out unamused. "I didn't even wanna be here until you had to drag me all the way up from [Fraud]. At least Beelzebub keeps to himself and respects my boundaries..."
"At least Beelzebub is more agreeable then you." Satan growled out. "In fact, the rest of them, even Lucifuge over there, agreed to come willingly."
"ONLY BECAUSE I THOUGHT YOU BASTARDS WOULDN'T GET ME INVOLVED!" Lucifuge screeched out her accusations. "BUT NOOO! YOU FUCKS DRAGGED ME INTO THIS, DIDN'T YOU!?"
"Only because you yourself, despite being so meticulous, is gullible beyond comprehension." Ishtar dryly remarked as she flipped a gold coin.
"I KNEW IT! SO YOU ADMIT IT, ISHTAR!" Lucifuge accused the lioness-like Demon. "YOU PLANNED ALL OF THIS, DIDN'T YOU-"
"ENOUGH!"
Satan's roar quakes all Nine Layers once more.
"Regardless of any of your reasons, all of you will remain." Satan growled out. "All objections will be met with a one-way-trip down to [Treachery] by my hands, UNDERSTOOD!?"
His roars quake the Nine Layers once again.
"... Good. No objections then." Satan growled out. "Now let the meeting of the [Eleven Elusive Evils] commence without further interruption."
The [Eleven Elusive Evils], a certain group of 11 Demons who've matured past their imperfect Stygian stage, now each bearing their own unique identity, are the Demons closest to the Demon King Apocrypha itself in terms of raw power, with each one of them being able to destroy entire civilizations in an instant, act as the adjuncts to the Demon King's will, managing each contract that connects the living world with Hell, taking advantage of the human's innate sins to further their wills to their own ends.
On what the ends themselves are, not even the Demons themselves know.
"It has been over a millennia since the Demon King had entrusted his will to an upstart Fallen Angel. The end result being not only him failing twice, but also resulting in the Demon King being summoned in its larval state 500 years later, causing the Demon King to be marooned in the world of the living, along with the rest of the Demons summoned to said world." Satan pointed out.
"Our contracts from the world of the living have been on the decline as of late." Ishtar stated. "Even though the Qliphoth has been amassing more souls to Hell, our profit margins in the world of the living has gone down by 74%."
"While I did managed to spread enough of our influence through my powers, even I'm starting to become a little concerned of our failsafe's success." Asmodeus brought up. "Even worse, it's way late to pull out now, since the ploy's way past its climax and the fruits of my labor has already been ejectculated-"
"The point is!" Naamah cut off Asmodeus's double entandre. "... Is that our ploys' successes have been dwindling, and even though some of our contemporaries on the other side have been doing our work and covering our disastrous losses, even I agree that it won't be sufficient enough."
"Simply put, it's that damn Lucifer's fault that everything that we've each worked on has gone to total shit." Cain snarled out as he picked his teeth with his dagger.
"WAIT!? WHY ME!?" Lucifuge cried out.
"I SAID 'LUCIFER'! NOT YOU, DUMBASS!" Cain barked back at Lucifuge.
"ENOUGH!"
Satan slams his arm against his throne's armrest. Everyone sans Belphegor were rattled by the quaking.
"... Anyone else?" Satan asked.
"I'd like to point out a few things." Ereshkigal spoke out. "Firstly, it seems that the humans have done more evil acts then we initially anticipated. The near-extinction of the Elven race, the disastrous war between two kingdoms, and the slow burn of the class prejudice has been leeching away our profit margin, as Ishtar would put it. Point is, humans are gradually becoming more and more evil."
"... And why should that *Yawn*... Be our problem?" Belphegor asked.
"Don't you get it, you boob!?" Yetzer answered. "If humans become too evil, then they'll stop relying on us and eventually render all of us obsolete!"
"And that, I cannot tolerate!" Adrammelech cried out. "We Demons have a reputation as the worst of creation to uphold! To be forced to share the limelight with these upstarts!? Unacceptable!"
"Not to mention, they'll be broken out of our control." Beelzebub pointed out. "The problem with humans is that not only they're willing to bite off more then they can chew, but they will succeed, regardless of reason."
"And that itself cannot be allowed." Satan pointed out. "The Origin has created humanity to be the most resourceful race out of all the established 6 races. If they grow beyond their boundaries, the balance that we upheld under the Demon King's name will be destroyed."
"... Ye-Yeah." Lucifuge stuttered out. "The status quo cannot be disturbed, r-right?"
"But if only we can venture out of the gates and be able to return on a whim..." Ishtar groaned out. "Honestly, Lucifer's recklessness is costing us greatly."
"... Then let him do what he wills."
Upon hearing those words, everyone looked towards Yetzer.
"What do you mean, Yetzer?" Beelzebub asked.
The bat-Demon simply grins.
"... All I'm saying, is that we join this little game of [Armageddon]." Yetzer suggests. "Not directly, but let our King's so-called champions do our work for us, sweep the rug under their feet, and we come in and reestablish our dominion over the world of the living."
"Oh, a threesome?" Asmodeus cooed. "Count me interested~!"
"*Yawn* As long as I'm not in the middle of it, count me in." Belphegor yawned out.
"I suppose it's about time we taught those upstarts their place." Adremmelech agreed.
"As much as I hate your asinine plan, I happen to hate those four even more." Cain stated. "Just don't get in my way."
"It's better then not having any plans, I suppose." Ishtar shrugged.
"Oh, I'm salivating to see their stupefied looks on their faces." Ereshkigal gleefully stated.
"I second that motion." Naamah raised his hand.
"AS LONG AS I'M NOT THE INTENDED TARGET, COUNT ME IN! BUT DON'T EXPECT THAT I'LL DO WHAT YOU FUCKS SAY!" Lucifuge squaked out.
"... I'm willing to try something new for a change." Beelzebub stated.
Satan simply glares his hellfire-like pupils towards Yetzer.
"Your plan better not fail."
To Be Continued...
Author's Notes: And one more chapter done!
It was a blast writing his Saga, with the Demons now becoming more proactive, Angra/Magna's older sister now acting as the canon Word Devil's unwilling host, our Diamond Kingdom Remnants embarking on their new journey, the whole Super Sentai bullcrap, "Heracles" being basically Goku with amnesia, Yama being back after what? 5-7 Sagas later?
Oh, and the [Eleven Elusive Evils]. If the Demon King was like the don, then the eleven are like his underbosses, while the four factions are their own semi-independent branches, with rest of Hell's Demons being the goons.
Regardless, a lot of new characters have been introduced, so here are their voices (for funsies, as usual):
Daisy Whomalt: Rina Endou (JPN), Apphia Yu (ENG)
Peony Whomalt: Aoi Yukki (JPN), Veronica Taylor (ENG)
Violet Whomalt: Sarah Emi Bridcutt (JPN), Shannon Emerick (ENG)
Iris Whomalt: Romi Park (JPN), Elisa Melendez (ENG)
Protomen (Collectively): Jun'ya Enoki (ENG), Ray Chase (ENG)
Heracles: Sairi Ito (JPN), Sean Schemmel (ENG)
Yetzer: Shougo Yano (JPN), Orion Pitts (ENG)
Naamah: Yukki Kaji (ENG), Anthony Bowling (ENG)
Ereshkigal: Kana Ueda (ENG), Carli Mosier (ENG)
Adrammelech: Hikaru Midorikawa (JPN), David Trosko (ENG)
Cain: Subaru Kimura (JPN), Kaiji Tang (ENG)
Belphegor: Shun Horie (JPN), Briana Palencia (ENG)
Asmodeus: Yuu Kobayashi (JPN), Clint Bickham (ENG)
Ishtar: Kana Ueda (JPN), Carli Mosier (ENG)
Lucifuge: Ayumi Tsuji (JPN), Erica Mendez (ENG)
Beelzebub: Tomoaki Maeno (JPN), Keith Silverstein (ENG)
Satan: Joji Nakada (JPN), Travis Willingham (ENG)
Also, as for me in IRL, finally some good news.
I can now eat actual food now! But sadly, no raw protein (meaning no sushi and poke bowls) is allowed.
Also, can't go to the gym for another month. And I'm already feeling a little crappy physically (not in health-way, but fitness as a whole).
:(
... So what do you guys think of this Saga?
Please leave a comment or a review, for I'd like to know what my audience is thinking!