The Devil and The Shield

by Kerghan-MB

A/U Crossover- Before the summoning of the Four Cardinal Heroes to Melromarc a secret summoning was conducted by the three Heroes Church to summon their own 'holy warrior' a powerful source of magic. Except that summoning brought with it a protector/friend/and lover to her side. At the same time Naofumi is stripped of Raphtalia by the King and forced into a fight he can't win. (MA)

13. Sacrifice

Chapter 13: Sacrifice

A/N: Another update, however I will be taking a hiatus from updating this story for a month or so as viewership is quite done following the last few chapters with about forty or so readers. I do still enjoy this story but I won't be grinding out another chapter and focus on something else in the meantime as to just keep myself from being out. For those of you who do enjoy it sorry about this has been my only true crossover that has taken this much effort and is a labor of love for me.

"Your presence is highly unnerving. Are you aware of this?" The image of a noblewoman with purple hair stood in front of a changing mirror. Her reflection of that wearing her normal undergarments complete with soul suffocating corset was also on display as she had her attendants working to fix up her appearance. Yet the Queen was not wholly alone, excluding her servants whom were just as much a part of the room as she was. Her words were directed to another person or thing.

It was currently pressed against the back wall of her fitting room. The entire shape was all black with burning red eyes that never seemed to blink and only stare straight forwards.

The two young handmaidens ignored the chills running down their spines as they felt the creature move its body from the wall. The floor creaked or perhaps that was simply because it wished for it to happen but they could feel the looming sensation as it looked down upon them. "I would say the same about you." It spoke, its tone sounding condescending as it lowered it's shadowy hands to the ground and caused the trained attendants of the Noble to flinch and release a slight gasp of fright as they could feel his hands slowly wrap their way upwards and around legs, his touch like of a coiling snake winding up and around their ankles towards their thighs. "Are you two afraid of me?" The voice breathed with a lecherous purr as it stood between them.

The woman turned back around, "Will you cease these actions! You're ill mannered behavior is neither appropriate nor at all helpful. These two have done nothing and yet you act like a letcher seeking new blood. If you continue this I will reconsider our deal Elias!"

The shadow chuckled clearly amused, his form slowly withdrawing from the two handmaidens before rising up from the ground as a corporeal entity. His refined form appeared rising upwards with his arms crossed over his chest. "Re-negotiations are not an option Queen Milian. You gave me your offer and I have accepted the terms. Nothing in our deal made mention of the actions I am taking now. I was not to kill your people, not to harm the Heroes, or further the divide amongst the warring parties that exist presently which is what I have done."

The Queen scowled as her attendants moved behind her and finished dressing her. Even mostly unclad in her clothing she made no hint of discomfort but showed immense irritation with how the Magus stood there taunting her to a fight. "I know that you are frustrated, anger, bitter, and highly aggressive but I have promised to give you exactly what you desire and what you do is nothing but stoke further discontent even here where there is no enemy, merely my loyal serfs."

"You merely scratch the surface of what I know of human emotions. The types of feelings that roll through me now are reminiscent of when I was naught but a beast, when claw and jaw were my means of expression. When I see the Pope I will show you what my rage is like and I will not maintain these relative forms to calm you and the others in my presence." Elias leaned in slightly, he still stood a full head taller than her and the gnarled horns only further increased that visible difference.

Both sides looked the other down, The ruler being ordained in her royal attire as she held up her arms to let her purple gown affixed to her body. "I am not one to be intimidated," The Queen said, showing no signs of backing down.

"Nor am I, your majesty, however I will keep my end of the bargain so long as you keep to what we agreed too. I want all of the magical knowledge to return home and my Bride unharmed."

Her neck was covered by her Ruff as she remained upright. "How does one such as you find such a young girl to your tastes? Surely there are those more like you that would be better suited than such a child?"

Elias leaned back, his eyes rolling over the Queen watching as her clothes were mostly completed, her arms settling down by her sides as the edges of her dress were set and firm. "When you speak of words that are suitable for me, you have no idea what I am nor would you ever be able to understand. What I am to Chise is what she is to me and her human appearance is but a fraction of her value to me."

"Value? You make it seem like she is a good, a commodity. How could you treat someone you claim to love as such?" The queen's hair was gathered up from behind and worked into a rolling bun. "Love is unconditional, it can not be bought nor traded."

"Which is why you can not understand me or Chise. Chise was abandoned by those that cared for her the most, given away because they saw her as a burden. The gifts and curses she was given by her progenitors were not accepted or understood by anyone else. She saw everything in the inbetween and no one but someone like me could have the same lifestyle as her, even thousands of years in age I know more about her than I believe her own family knew about her."

"Then how can you claim to know what she desires? She is but a child then and you are taking the role of both parent and lover? You are pushing her into what you want and not truly what she wants. Can you say honestly that you are not pressuring her, that her affections are not affected because of what you have done for her and not because she holds genuine love for you?" Her hair and jewelry were set, her eyes still staring straight into Elias barely blinking. Her noble posture and pride on display. She would not back down or be treated as a fool by the creature she herself had made a bargain with.

Even if it was a deal with the Devil she would pick this one over the one that claimed to be representing God in her own kingdom.

"I know because I simply do, I have spent a long time understanding my Beloved and have crafted my interactions to be what is needed, but do not mistake that for not true affection. I say what she wants to hear, I tell her things she wants to know. I do things that make her happy, even if I do not know why they truly make her happy, it gives me pleasure to see her so. When she smiles I feel warm, when she laughs the room gets lighter and when we touch one another I feel more alive than I have ever been before. It is something I can not understand and yet I want nothing but more of it. I crave it so much that I would drink it like her honeyed nectar, to bathe myself in her essence is something that only I alone want. Because she is more like me than you." Elias was proud of his actions and did not regret anything about them, for he would give up almost anything to have Chise. He'd spent five million pounds to have her, given up his own personal time, home, food, and care for her. Sharing knowledge that only he knew and exposing her to a world that they both could relate to.

But the actions were reciprocated, he'd seen that Chise cared for him. Meaning that she wanted to experience the same thing. If she didn't want what he offered she could've refused which she had done to some of his commands but never when it came to them. Sure they had an argument or disagreement about some incidents but each time Chise came back to him. He was jealous of anyone who got to enjoy his Sleigh Beggy, the simple human girl Stella was someone who treated Chise like just another human, she recieved things that he did not. It was something that did not feel right, why should a little human have more of Chise's attention than him. Were it not for him she would- Elias stopped himself, the echo of his lover came to his mind 'This feeling, this is what is called Jealousy Elias… you were jealous of Stella because we were together.'

"You can choose to agree or disagree with me little Queen but know that she is the most important thing in my life and that is more than will ever be said to her by anyone else." His mouth opened slightly as he stood upright exposing the sharpened edges of his canines.

"You still do not know what she will want to be, you are simply hoarding her to yourself and demand that no one else take her from you." She retorted but Elias simply snorted.

"She will be MINE, that is all that matters." His rolled into a low threatening growl emphasizing that point. "But since you have nothing for me to do I must amuse myself since I agreed not to leave your presence until the bargain we made was completed. It is simply not my fault that these humans are incapable of handling my being."

But as both sides continued to stare the other party down when the door to the room was opened, a new servant appeared in the midst. Dressed as one of the Queen's loyal personal guards, a shadow was on full display but despite hiding their appearance. Elias knew this one personally, the smell and presence was that of the one that had delivered him the message of the Queen in the form of an engraved dagger.

The Queen didn't address her as she entered, "Speak," Was all she commanded.

"My lady, your suspicions were more than correct but we have an issue moving forwards." This drew the stern gaze of Melramarc's ruler to her. "My Queen the Heroes have all banded together in secret thanks to the church and King Aultcray's command and left the capital. All of them are heading in the direction of Naofumi Iwatani in an effort to either subjugate or kill the Hero."

"That boy won't die, he survived a battle with me." Elias spoke before moving back from his position to find a chair to sit in while the intelligence report was laid out. He'd already heard several from the Queen's agents and he could appreciate how thorough her information gathering actually was. "The other Hero's should barely concern the Shield Hero, he has more than enough power to defeat all of them."

"Contrary to your belief that is not why you should be concerned, the Heroes are being misled and shoved into a battle. No doubt the Church has the lead as to where Naofumi is headed and have, since I'm assuming this report is already mid-day, the Heroes themselves already have a lead upon us?"

The shadow bowed her head. "I dare say that you are most correct, My Lady. We knew of the battle that occurred at the now Late Rabier's home earlier, but what we do not know is where the Shield Hero vanished too after that. We imagined the Hero's goal was Shieldfrieden but no such signs or news of such an arrival there has appeared. But with the death of Lord Rabier he also unleashed the chained beast that had been bound by previous Heroes in the area, fortunately the creature was destroyed but that destruction also caused us to lose track of the Hero's location."

"I see, but that problem was something that had been plaguing the area for awhile. It is good to see that the century old problem has finally been removed. But I can imagine that since we haven't recovered anything from the Shield Hero and his party they are still somewhere in Melromarc and are making their way back towards the Capital." She spoke not of guess work but her daughter had been instructed to begin making her way back should things begin to get out of hand. Considering the rumors of her kidnapping the Queen didn't believe the act was intentional or done out of malice to her child which was a small consideration.

"Yes, my Queen, we did get a message from Count Reichnott." The shadow presenting a rolled up scroll bearing the royal seal and Count's inscription for authenticity. It was taken from her hands as her noble ruler opened it up and scrolled through the message proper. What she read from her second born disturbed the Queen and made her body run with a slight cold shiver. But there was a silver lining as she read that Melty was alright, she was currently with the Shield Hero and a new party that consisted of Raphtalia and the Saint… "Chise."

A simple word roused Elias, his head turning back around in her direction. "What about her?" 'Is this a report about her? New information, her location? What has happened?' All of those thoughts ran through his mind as the Queen held the scroll.

"She is fine," She gave the Magus a hard look, "That young girl is currently returning to the capital. I'm not sure of their time frame of their return but she will be heading the same direction we are and she is currently with Naofumi and his party."

This actually caught him off guard. He had asked for information about Chise, but since he had made it his own goal after disagreeing with Naofumi about what needed to be done in order to achieve their goals he hadn't imagined that the Shield Hero would find her before him. He had gone to decapitate the church upon learning of her location through their communication and while he hadn't found the Pope himself or his bride he had expected his actions to lead him on the correct path into reuniting with her. For all of the many weeks he had spent following around Naofumi and aiding him he had never gotten very close to finding her. Yet here, now? The Shield Hero after splitting paths with him ran into his bride? 'If I had gone with him… I would be… I… I-'

All of those in the gathered encampment of the Queen heard and felt the shattering scream of Elias. While his presence wasn't completely known the royal guards knew that there was a powerful being in the presence of royalty and while it wasn't to be seen as hostile it wasn't to be treated like a true friend either.

Elias grabbed at his boney face as he finished bellowing out a titanic roar of constant frustration. The entire room had shaken, the Shadow had almost lost her balance in the force leaving only her majesty upright and mostly unaffected as anyone who heard a dire cry like that knew what could possibly come as a result. Still, "Charming, now remain patient as my personal agents locate the Shield Hero's party once that is done we can set a direct course to them, but even if we don't they are heading towards the capital and hopefully arrive with enough time to end the threat of the church before anymore lives are senselessly lost."

[***]

While the momentary Chaos inside the Queen's encampment was fading, the subjects they were speaking of were making their way back to the Capital city having commandeered a wagon. A small gift from Fitoria the group were making their way via a small caravan back. The main roads were the most traveled but Naofumi believed that most of the royal guards would be sticking to the back roads. He figured considering what kind of a mess had occurred where they had left form he would be traveling more towards Shieldfrieden and the borders. The Hero very much doubted that they would be expecting him to be coming back to the Capital and his intuition proved successful as they had been traveling for several hours and had yet to run into any form of patrol.

Of course as they approached one of the small checkpoints on their way back Naofumi hoped that some basic disguises as merchants would be enough. He had crafted a fair number of trinkets to show off to demonstrate the lie if necessary. He'd already given one to Raphtalia to give her more abilities to her light powers.

"Alright guys it looks like we're arriving here, just keep calm and don't say a whole lot unless necessary. I hope we can get through this checkpoint without a fight." Naofumi had his head covered as he drew towards the small portcullis guard house that blocked the road.

'Not really any guards in sight is there.' "Hold up Filo." Naofumi said, stopping her as she pulled the wagon behind her.

"What's wrong Master Nafoumi?" Raphtalia's head peered up and over his shoulder.

"What's wrong is that nothing appears wrong… There should be guards out here, this place looks like it's been abandoned and there should be someone here even if just one or two." 'It feels like they want us to just make our way straight through and that can't be right. The church and King have hounded me every step of the way. They just wouldn't stop now.'

Melty and Chise stood to take a look as well. "It's quiet." "Yeah, this doesn't feel right."

Naofumi's hair stood up on the back of his neck, "Let's find another way round. This just smells way too much like a trap." Filo pulled with the reins and began to turn the cart completely around when the harsh snap of a bowstring shot upwards into the air. All heads turned and saw a streaking sign of trailing blue light reach high and then almost like a firework explode creating blue pillars of light that traveled downwards.

Forming a ring around a large section of the area of glowing magic Naofumi knew it was already too late and the accompanying voices didn't help the situation either. "Give up Naofumi, this will be your one and only chance to surrender without having us resort to violence."

It was Itsuki, he was walking forwards, trailed only by Ren, Motoyasu, and his party which included the bitch princess. All of them appeared to be more than ready for this confrontation which only told the Shield Hero that this was indeed set up for them.

He didn't know how they could've figured out his plan but he didn't have time to try and think about it. Of course while he would happily give them the beating they deserved he also knew what Fitoria had asked of him.

The giant Queen Filolial wasn't one he wished to make a permanent enemy of given just how much of a show she had put on… followed by an impressive beating. "Look I don't know what you guys are looking to do but we don't have to fight."

His party dismounted from the wagon, Chise, Raphtalia, Melty, and Filo were all behind him. "I came here to work things out so I'm asking you if we can put down our weapons and just talk." Even though he didn't like saying those words himself it was the more responsible answer.

Itsuki drew back his bow, Ren held up his sword and Motoaysu swung his spear around into a low ready stance. "We'll talk after you surrender, you must give us the princess and the Saint of the Church. If you do this we promise that we will take you into custody without harm."

'Into custody? Are they seriously still believing all of the lies?' "Are you all still so blinded that you believe I kidnapped the princess? Seriously, why are you guys believing everything they are telling you without question!?"

"Naofumi." Ren's voice was low as he looked over the face of the other Hero with narrowed eyes, his sword glinting in the light of the sun. "You will. Surrender. If you do not, they will take you by force."

"Sir Heroes please stop! This needs to end!" Melty shouted but of course this was countered immediately by her older sibling.

"Still! She is still corrupted by the brainwashing powers of the shield! Please attempt to take her peacefully heroes but treat her as an enemy until then!"

"Not a problem princess, let me take care of that!" Motoyasu stood up for his friend and party member, his spear beginning to glow as he prepared one if his first attacks. This wouldn't be like before, there wasn't going to be any surprises, no tricks. This was a battle of good and evil-at least in his eyes- and he wasn't going to be struck down again.

"Everyone you must stop!" Chise shouted, taking several steps forward. "I am like all of you, I was summoned here against my own will just like Noafumi and the three of you!" Moving between the two parties she could see what was coming. The boys here were just like a stubborn Elias, although nowhere near as stubborn as she was.

"You all wish to fight one another but this will solve nothing, don't you all wish to return home? If you start attempting to kill each other now how do you plan on living with yourself once this is all done?" Chise looked between Naofumi and the other three. "We've never truly met before but I know how hard it is to look at someone you despise and turn the other cheek but this is not your answer. Please lower your weapons!"

The three Heroes looked at one another, perhaps they were for a moment considering her offer. She was to the world a Saint, a holy figure and one who had a reputation for mercy and kindness. If she was protesting this violent act then there might be a good reason.

And yet… the words told to them by everyone else, the army, the church, the mages, and many levels of the royal family. The people who they had trusted and been entrusted with so much power. They simply could not ignore it.

Ren's form snapped upwards and charged, Motoyasu following directly behind him. From there Itsuki flanked to the side firing his arrows that pinned Naofumi to the spot or they might hit those behind him.

A half dozen or so pelting shots glanced off of Naofumi's shield as an angry snarl escaped from his lips. 'I at least tried Fitoria!' "Shield Prison!" His arm swept forwards but Motoyasu and Ren split thinking they were the target. But Itusuki found himself encased in a metallic ball and chain.

"Filo, Raphtalia, Take care of Ren, Melty counter your sister! Motoyasu is mine!" WIth his orders given and a roar of defiance he charged and ignored Chise's request for him to stop. He couldn't back down nor would he now.

"Your head is mine Naofumi!" Motoyasu swung his spear spinning up and around his shoulder, the blade cutting through the air in the direction of Naofumi's head. But it was just the opener and the metallic clang of metal as the other Hero blocked the strike and moved inwards.

Yet the Spear Hero had planned on it, with both of Naofumi's hands up to block he caught his momentum, then stopped and matched his opponent and spun with his free leg and delivered a hard kick into the other Hero's stomach. It made him skid backwards several feet but the Spear Hero tried to follow it up with and spinning attack but the Shield wasn't going to fall for the same trick twice and instead blocked the attack but followed through letting the other Hero's force push him around and to the side, out of kicking range and with both of Motoaysu's hands grabbing his weapon he caught the full force of a punch square into his face.

Ren had to keep himself on his toes, his and Itsuki's parties were scouting the area leaving them with Motoaysu's group per the King and Church's request. This left him a little vulnerable as he deflected and traded blows with Raphtalia. A deserved swords-woman in her own right. She parried and clashed with his basic attacks. "I guess you're much stronger than I gave you credit for." The sword Hero admitted that he didn't actually expect the demi human slave girl from before to actually stand toe to toe with him. He had killed a dragon afterall.

The Tanuki didn't respond except bring her sword down hard, the sparks rippling outwards from the contact between the two of them as both strained against the other. Except Raphtalia gave him a sly grin, "I'm not stronger, you are just much weaker!" Her foot planted down into the ground as she kept trying to drive the blade forwards.

"I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't yield I will-!" Tossing her backwards as he completed the follow through with his sword. But his opponent moved back far too easily, his senses flared and he swung the blade back around to catch the claws of the attacker coming in from behind. The two of them did a quick flurry the Filoliali's rapid attacks were met by Ren's fast reflexes but he withdrew as he felt the rush of his previous opponent. "Even. Two. Against. One I'm not going to lose!" Ren drew back his blade to the hilt. "Rapid strike!" Throwing out an ability which pushed Raphtalia into deflecting and Filo moved behind her.

"Fast Tornado!" The Filolial's wind magic blasted right in between the charging Ren and Tanuki. The magic blasted back the sword Hero making him skip along the ground but he rolled into a ball and without hesitating springboarded back towards them. "Alright METEOR SLASH!"

Chise was stuck in her position for a moment watching the Chaos unfold, everyone was going at one another's throats. The princesses exchanged volley upon volley with one another, each countering the other as equal casters, Motoyasu and Naofumi continued to trade physical blows with one another as Naofumi refused to let the Spear be brought to full effect. Ren was tied up by the the demi humans and Itsuki-

The prison holding him back was shattered, his face was red with embarrassment and anger as he broke out. His arrow lining up again with the Shield Hero. "This will end now! Lightning-!" His bow string drew all the way back, with the hard crack of thunder that poured over the magical arrow that was pulled between his fingers.

"Stop!" Chise threw up a wall right in front of the Bow Hero, her golden light flaring upwards as Itsuki unleashed his shot. It exploded right back in his face the magical explosion sent the Hero reeling as he slammed hard into the ground the dirt and grit covering his once pristine clothes. The redhead brought her hand upwards to her face in quiet horror as she had possibly hurt him. Of course with the chaos of an all out melee still going on around her she doubted that anyone really noticed.

"Come forth Rage shield!" Naofumi's blackened and firey greatshield caught the two handed blow of Motoyasu squarely down upon it. The other Hero knew just what this shield could do from their battle against the waves earlier. "Back down now or I will use it!" Still he gave him a chance, if the Spear Hero didn't listen then this would be his final warning.

"No, this is your last warning Naofumi. Give up or things will get far worse if we have to do what comes next." Motoyasu leveled his spear towards the other Hero who narrowed his eyes back at him.

"I at least gave you a chance whether you believe me or not, I didn't want this fight." Naofumi held up the shield as he felt the fire begin to flow up and around his body. The cursed power of anger, rage, and hatred for one's foes was beginning to pool up within him. With his shield leveled towards his attacker he planted his feet only to see Motoyasu grin.

"NOW!" The spear Hero shouted jumping backwards evasively before turning and running weapon in hand… directly towards Chise. In that same moment Ren dashed backwards, coming in from another angle. His sword now sheathed and digging into his leather jerkin for something.

Then Itsuki who had been given a moment heard the command and jumped to his feet his bow readied as he took aim for the cloak of the Saint. His four shots landed in rapid succession as his target had turned towards the two approaching Heroes who were at different angles. The group had been split up and separated from Naofumi's party leading the redhead into an exposed position with no one to be close enough to aid her. Filo and Raphtalia couldn't outpace Ren as he dashed and Naofumi was caught flat footed and stationary before he realized it. Melty was still locked in a magical duel with her elder sister and didn't see the trap either.

Chise felt the pull of her cloak as she was pinned to the ground. Her mind ran too quickly, thinking and trying to decide who to stop or if she should run. One behind two from either side, what should she do! She panicked and it was already too late as the but of Motoyasu's spear slammed into her sternum she was dropped to her knees and before she could look up Ren grabbed both of her hands and slammed on a pair of cufflinks that instantly cut off her magical abilities.

"Cover!" Ren shouted as he tore Chise up from the ground her imbedded cloak's straps snapped from around her neck leaving a red welt as Itsuki pushed forwards and unleashed a continuous torrent of rapid fire arrows towards the Shield Hero's party. It forced them to slow down and evade as Motoyasu drew up his spear.

"Air Strike!" He shouted, throwing forward a magical attack that forced Naofumi to guard.

'All of them did perfectly… now just one last touch.' Ren kept the hauled Chise who attempted to wiggle and thrash about from his grip but without her obvious magical powers she was no match for the physical might of a Hero.

"Let me go! Stop!" She shouted but was ignored as the group reformed around Princess Malty near the portcullis of the guards gatehouses and at the edge of their magical arena.

"Now, now we don't need anymore trouble from you." The princess withdrew a simple looking circlet from her belongings and reached up despite Chise's protests and clicked it around her forehead. Her head dropped forward.

"Shit! Chise!" Naofumi shouted as his party lined up across the other Heroes. It would be one thing to attack them but not with Chise amongst their numbers. He couldn't risk losing control with the rage shield and hurting her, knowing what might happen to him should he so much as leave a scratch on her.

Ren lowered Chise to her feet and the girl barely reacted. Her figure slumped slightly but her limbs hung loosely as she stood there, her eyes losing their focus and direction just staring blankly as if her mind was lost.

"We didn't want to do this Naofumi, but we can't afford to risk her safety. She's too important to have gotten killed because you won't do the right thing." Ren said, pushing her form out of the way to which she barely reacted. "It's no slave crest but for now she won't cause any issues and interfere with your capture."

"You guys are completely insane! You are being completely fucking used and you can't see it!" He shouted at the other party, "Chise is from our world and your heads are shoved so far up the Church's ass that you just breath in bullshit as fact."

"Strong words from a traitor." Itsuki said, keeping his bow at the low ready. "But everything you've done says otherwise, the fact that you think for one second we'd believe you shows that you're just as crazy as you believe us."

As both sides squared off with one another not ready to make the first move both sisters had their chance to look the other one down. "How could you do this sister? Is becoming first princess that important to you that you would kill me, ruin a Hero that is innocent and subjugate someone to the church all for your own selfish ambition!?"

Of course Princess Malty would never admit to something so openly, "Oh my dear sister is so heavily brainwashed that you are even making up such wild accusations against me?" She raised up a hand to head feigning care and concern. "How terrible it is to be under the sway of the Devil of the Shield." Her malicious grin showed as she spoke but only in a way that her sibling could see. Even if her sister knew who cared? Today was the day she'd finally be rewarded and given what her little sister had stolen from her.

As the groups stood there still deadlocked Chise turned her head towards the guardhouse. 'That's it, come my child Come right here.'

"Filo, Raphtalia, get ready!" Chise slowly walked forwards her mind only hearing the enthralling commands begging her to begin moving her feet. Slowly she walked towards the gate

"You're nothing but a fool Naofumi, but it's okay I'll beat you senseless!"

Blind and useless, it was why Heroes could never be relied upon. As Chise reached the stone building a large flash of light came streaking down from up above.

"COVER-!" The Shield Hero screamed as he threw up multiple barriers and shields. THe oncoming attack was moving so fast and carrying so much energy that he had felt it with seconds to spare.

The other Heroes were not the direct target, but even that fact wasn't enough to protect them. Whatever barrier that had been erected was shattered by the impact and the entire area exploded in a massive ball of fire as the now damaged gatehouse had the portcullis raised and from it's pathway walked the only man with enough power to do something like that to the Heroes. Raising a flat palm he called forth his new loyal thrall, Chise.

She had been spared any sort of damage from the impact and only followed the orders given to her by the one in control of her. Her mind was lost, her vision was nothing but a gray murky mess and there was nothing for her to resist the force pulling, pushing, and guiding her around. Without resistance she accepted the outstretched hand and took her place at his side. "Very good my Holy Mother, very good indeed." A few moments later the cuffs limiting her power fell to the ground with an audible thunk.

In what was now a massive crater many meters deep and wide was the after effects of the cataclysmic blow dropped from above. "Damn…" Naofumi cursed still holding up his rage shield although his body was angrily protesting his current movements, but all things considered he was happy to just be alive right now. "You three okay?" He said looking behind him at the small gathering, all of them were a little singed and dirty but not dead.

"I'm good enough Master." Raphtalia said, using her sword as a crutch.

"That really really hurt," Filo whined as she rolled onto her stomach.

"What just happened?" Melty asked as she held her elbow that was now slightly bleeding.

Moving his shield, Naofumi looked and saw the other's Motoyasu, Ren, Itsuki, and that bitch were all alive but they were obviously hurting. Clearly they hadn't expected a surprise attack so this wasn't their game. However, his eyes looked upwards to the edge of the crater and saw the only person who could be so bold as to attack all of them. "I fucking knew it." He cursed as the Pope in all of his scummy radiance stood atop the crater and at his side was Chise, her entire posture and demeanor like that of a zombie to him.

"My, my it seems that you have managed to survive, truly the miracles that God gives to the unworthy and unfaithful sometimes amazes me. But no matter, it is merely a test of my own faith to do what is necessary." The condescending and sourness in the Pope's voice was a sharp shift from his usual overly pleasant one.

To the Shield Hero he could clearly see this was the real man in charge of this religion. "All of that pious bullshit." He spat getting himself to stand even though he could feel his body groan as he recovered from that huge attack. "For a man of God you surely learned how to embrace all that is evil," Rubbing his chin as he watched the Pope's head shake from side to side.

"That is where you are wrong, I am the only one deserving and understanding of God, you who are a mongrel along with all the rest of the Heroes," His hand gesturing to the rest of them who were feeling about as bad as Naofumi as they began pushing themselves up and onto their feet.

"You and the King asked for our help, we've done everything to help the people!" Itsuki said, gritting this teeth through the pain. "I've done nothing but try to be the Hero that everyone wanted, how can you turn around and attempt to kill all of us like this!?"

Ren remained quiet as he just held his shoulder using his sword as a way to keep himself up on his knee. Yet the grip on his blade only increased in pressure, the audible sounds of leather being twisted ever tightly was heard by those around him.

"Just what do you think you're doing, you almost killed me!" Shouted the second princess, despite a few cuts on her forehead she wasn't too worse for wear, given the short warning Motoyasu had taken the bulk of the blow for her given their proximity.

Of course her anger was all but ignored by the Pope. "I have no concern for you, royalty has failed us just as much as the Heroes have, it is the reason why you are not going to be spared either… the entire royal family has failed in its purpose and must be cleansed like all the other heathens!"

"Well," The spear Hero used his own inner strength and determination to rise up. "If you stand against us, then that makes you our enemy!" Pulling back his arm Motoyasu charged up his most powerful attack, the spear sparking and glistening as he narrowed his eyes and fired the projectile straight towards the Pope. It streaked through the air like a bolt of lightning crackling with unbridled intensity but its target didn't even move.

It exploded violently as it reached the man in holy robes and exploded, almost like a blast of TNT going off at once it rocked the area. Clearly Motoyasu's bluster wasn't all for nothing, but as the dust cleared there existed a bright golden barrier protecting the Pope and to his side was the Saint, her hands upwards and providing protection.

With a slow Golf Clap the Pope stood looking down upon the group, his smile broadening. "Impressive but futile when the only 'Hero' I need is already at my side." He outstretched a hand to her. She reached for it and took it and walked forwards standing at his side. "I have God's gift, a near unlimited amount of magical power and able to wield magic in a way that only Heroes can."

"Tch," Naofumi said, raising up his shield, "You're nothing but a coward, a pathetic false prophet who had to steal a child from another world to suit your own god damn agenda!" The older man's smile faded as he looked down at Naofumi with considerable disdain.

"I do not need a Devil to dare speak to me, but now that I possess the Saint, a weapon of my congregation blessed by God's divine servant I no longer need Heroes either!" From the Pope's side he drew out a simple looking wooden stave. "Behold the power given to me by God's faithful!" It began to glow and shimmer in a brilliant light shifting from a simple wooden object into a bright golden light which bent and became a bow. "Now I shall encase you in the holy temple of our God and end all of your vileness so that only those truly devoted to God will be saved!"

The area around the crater and guardhouse were shaken by pillars of golden light rising up from the ground as in the nearby area thousands of loyal followers of the church knelt down and prayed for their leader and Saint. Their own minor magical power was being used as fuel and created a temple of pure magical energy.

Like a great cathedral that rose upwards creating an impenetrable barrier that only seemed to rise up higher and higher to those inside. Golden walls, rippling brilliant light, all of it shined as Chise's emerald eyes glowed and the Pope's weapon grew in size. Siphoning magic from his faithful and Saint alike fueling his own abilities. "Behold God's holy temple and while upon this sacred ground I shall be the one who ends the false Heroes, the corrupt royalty and the Devil of the Shield himself. You shall not escape these walls until you are purified in my holy radiance!" Drawing back the magical bow string he fired a huge bolt of golden energy towards Naofumi it punched hard into the Rage shield striking him and sent him crashing into the ground almost imbedding him a foot into the rocky soil below.

Of course the moment he'd attacked the Shield Hero his friends came to his defense. Filo streaked through the air her massive claws striking at the Pope but as she got close Chise's barrier stopped all of her forward momentum and barely made the holy man notice. His hand swept towards her the glowing bow becoming a spear that made FIlo jump backwards and throw a magical tornado but the spell was just eaten up by the massive shield forming around him.

Raphtalia came next, the opposite side of her aim for Chise, her arm reaching out to grasp her but met the same wall, her hand only pushing against a near impenetrable wall of energy. "Chise! Chise snap out of it!" She shouted doing something in hopes of snapping her friend out of the trance she was in, but there wasn't even a glint of acknowledgement. Chise just stared straight ahead, no sound or utterance that she could even hear what was being said.

"You served your purpose, now kindly die you Demi-Human." The Pope swung back his spear, becoming a massive blade which came down and made contact with Raphtali's own blade, the tanuki crying out as she held up her own blade against the tremendous force pushing down on her.

"Burn in Fire!" Naofumi threw his shield upwards in the direction of the pope and drenched him in a wave of bright red flames.

"Hell's fire has no effect on me, Devil." The Pope swept his blade aside shoving Raphtalia upwards and was caught by Filo who jumped up to grab her as the Religious zealot broke apart the fire effect with ease.

"Fine, then try this, Thunder Shot!" "Wind Slash!" "Crushing slam!" The other three cardinal Heroes all unleashed their own attacks each one slamming into the barrier provided by Chise but only made the golden light flare up brighter and cause no damage to the Holy man protected.

"Damn how are we supposed to hurt him if all we do is just hit that stupid barrier!" Motoyasu yelled out in frustration as the overconfident Pope just stood there smiling.

"We'll have to overload it, that girl Chise would have to have a limit we just have to keep putting up nonstop damage and try and force him to waste mana maintaining that." Itsuki said moving to the side still firing arrows towards the Pope but each one just sparked off like all the rest.

"Circumvent the barrier and attack her directly, it can't be two places at once from above." Ren shouted in his own direction.

"No that's not it-!" The three Heroes bickered with one another as they all made their attempts against him. "Princess light his ass up!" Motoyasu yelled back to Malty who conjured up a fireball in her hands.

"No one insults the royal family!" The projectile slammed straight into the golden light and surrounded the two standing together in another flash of light.

While the other Heroes gathered their will to finally fight the true enemy Naofumi looked to the other princess that wasn't a complete bitch and pain in his ass. "Melty, keep up the pressure with your magic, and focs at the base of the formation in front of them if you can without making it too obvious."

The purple haired princess looked on incredulously. "What do you-"

"There's no time to just do it! I've got to keep up the pressure or he'll kill all of us." He shouted cutting her off, throwing up his shield and Naofumi jumped into the air. "Air strike shield!" Sending forth the green disc as a pseudo mount beneath his feet. The powerful green shield rang loudly as it crashed into the shield. It strained and groaned as Naofumi looked squarely into the Pope's face. "If there was a time that I needed your power Elias it would be now! Her against the man who took Chise from you!" His cry of desperation hoping that somehow the power that the mage had given him could come forth. If fire could and magic could not breach him then maybe the shadows of a magus could.

"Of course evil will always work with evil, but while I am within this holy sanctum you are subject to the will of the faithful!" The Pope pulled back the glowing blade, the glittering light flowing forth from the relic object as the faithful gathered in their hundreds if not thousands prayed and offered their own strength up to the Pope. Their magical essence caused those with weak will and constitution to collapse but those gathered did not stop. They were but a fuel for God's holy pyre, a beacon of justice. "Taste God's judgment demon!" The Pope thrust the sword forwards, the barrier parted as he did so striking squarely into the Devil of the Shield's false weapon.

Lighting sparked and cracked as the two forces met Naofumi giving it his all just to hold back the power but as his airstrike shield below him began to crack he struggled to come up with any kind of plan!

But Ren charged from the side, his blade slammed into the golden wall of light. But a yell came from above , it was Motoaysu coming from up above with a downward thrust grinding hard into the attack. Then from the other side a barrage of arrows, hundreds of them impacting hard each one exploding against the wall as the volley was like a machine gun. All four Heroes were striking, though they weren't unified they were working together.

But then that wasn't all as Filo and Raphtalia came in from behind, the rapid slashes and kicks in combination caused the strain to show on the golden barrier. Naofumi looked on and saw that while the Pope wasn't feeling anything he noticed a small trickle of red blood flow from one of Chise's nostrils.

'Damn! DAMNIT DAMNIT!' Even with the pain The Shield Hero could see the plan of burning out Chise's mana so they could attack the Pope… but were they going to possibly kill her as a result of their actions.

Looking down at his shield that continued to spark against the blade of the Pope he focused hard, looking to ask the power inside of it. The power that Elias had given him… "Dammit! If you love Chise you'll give me your strength again Elias Look at her you son of a bitch! She's going to die if you don't give me that power again!" He was practically screaming at the Legendary Shield begging that the power that it once had would activate and give him the chance to put an end to all of this!

"Keep crying out for your devil! It will avail you with nothing!" The Holy man tipped his attack and Naofumi's eyes went wide as the blade built up so magical energy and everyone was right around him.

Another massive explosion occurred sending all of those gathered around the Pope to be thrown. Ren, Motoyasu, Filo, Raphtalia, and Naofumi all of them were sent into the air and landed amongst the battered rocky ground.

Melty and her sister were met with a swift barrage of arrows, they smashed through the balls of fire and water which blew both of the members of royalty backwards together, skidding and rolling into a single mass with Melty strewn over her elder's chest.

Itsuki was the last as he dodged as best he could but when the Pope drew upon even more power from his followers and turned the bow into a ballista even he couldn't dodge it. He crashed into the golden walls of the magical cathedral before falling to the ground in a heap, his body no more damaged than the others but each one was suffering.

With a grin he lowered the bow's gaze towards Naofumi, "Despite your efforts I will end your existence now Shield Hero…" The latter of his words were spoken with thick mockery. For in his eyes he never was one. "I have far too many followers and with the Saint now beside me there is nothing that you can hope to achieve except your own death. Although you have played your role perfectly it is only a shame that I get to kill you just once."

Rising up to a knee Naofumi still managed to find some last vestige of his pride or maybe it was insanity that caused him to rise to meet his fate with his head on and not laying down in the dirt. With blood falling from his forehead the Shield Hero was back on his feet.

Filo and Raphtalia called out to him but they were too far away to lend their strength "I'm not giving up." He shouted, drawing out his rage Shield once more, the black armor of rage forming once again over his body. Naofumi refused to let himself die like this! Give it one more go! He thought he could do it, he could kill this son of a bitch!

"Air strike shield!" He jumped into the air, the green disc catching him as he drew himself once again towards the Pope on a final collision course all or nothing!

"Goodbye Devil!" The Pope charged up an even larger magical bolt and aimed it upwards towards the oncoming Hero. The heavy thunk of the spell being loosed echoed as all parties watched as the oncoming attack and Hero neared one another until the light engulfed Naofumi and then slammed into the other side of the magical cathedral. Watching almost with baited breath the smoke cleared showing no signs of the green air strike shield or it's rider except…

Floating in the air a black transparent mass looked down upon the Pope with red eyes. Snapping back from the shadows, the cursed Shield of Thorns now hung off of Naofumi's arm. In the final moment his request had been answered and he had let the attack pass through him harmlessly much to the shock of the man below him.

It was his best chance as he landed just on the other side of the golden barrier an arms reach from the profane man clad in robes. WIth a scream of defiance Naofumi's black armor turned into a thick black mass, his arms growing in size beyond their normal proportions as his black hair shifted white.

With nothing but his own fury his massive black hands punched their claws into the golden light causing Chise to have more blood spill from her nose in a slight trickle, small droplets beginning to splash onto her clothes and feet.

"I am the living Shadow of Thorns," A voice that was neither human nor monster began to speak through the Hero. The recognition showed as the religious leader's eyes widened in Horror as the blazing red reflected well of the devil that had been subdued such a long time ago. "I swore that I would see you pay for what you have done." Naofumi's head shifted from the visage of the Pope to Chise and the human's face let loose an unholy roar, the golden light barrier was torn open despite the smell of burnt flesh and black chunks of flesh or magic were ripped free from the Hero's hands Naofumi surged forwards. The Pope swung towards the figure but Naofumi's body passed through the holy protection and grasped the golden blade.

"Impossible! Impossible! My faithful I need more power"! He didn't care what sacrifices had to be made now he could not let the Devil of the Shield overtake him. The world could not be lost to evil and darkness it could not! Not when he was so close!

But Naofumi drew back his one free arm as he felt nothing else but a feeling of unquenchable rage. The blackened fist clenched tightly and he swung it forwards, the blow shattered the Pope's regal glasses sending them flying from his face and knocking him off of his pedestal and to the ground.

Yet the religious weapon did not stop glowing as he shifted it into a spear just as Naofumi jumped again for him. Both sides grappled with one another, "Saint expel him! Expel him now!"

With a sluggish whirl Chise's body turned and raised up her hands the glossy haze in her eyes now mixed with red beginning to leak from her eyes as she sent forth a shockwave from her hands it knocked the Shield Hero from his perch atop him and sent him skidding along the ground. "Good now heal me at once!" WIthout hesitation her hands glowed a gentle white and the bruises and pain that the Pope felt his aches and pains recede. He was still in control spinning the spear in his hand he leveled it towards Naofumi, "Now I won't-"

From nowhere the Pope's body felt the cold chill of frigid Ice streak up from below, his feet, legs, and mid torso were quickly sealed in thick chunks. "HEROES!" A voice bellowed from outside, it was feminine but commanded great authority.

"CHISEE-!" A second voice followed afterwards the golden magical cathedral cracked and broke apart lifting the spell from the area and exposing everyone to the open air and radiant sunlight above.

"Impossible-! You can't be here!?" The Pope shouted, still struggling to move from within his icy prison as he looked up at a form that was dressed in royal armor, purple hair tied together by a silver and gold crown that marked her as the Queen of Melromarc. But just to her side was the true Demon and cause for even greater concern.

The monstrous form of Elias leapt from the perch perhaps clearing some fifty feet in the air as he aimed directly for Chise who only looked up at him blankly. With a cry of righteous Outrage the Pope slammed the golden weapon into the ground shattering the ice holding him in place and despite the chill of his body he felt colder not because of the magic but for what came again for him now.

"Elias be careful she-" Naofumi attempted to inform the Magus but he did not even care as his massive gaping maw opened itself up as he headed towards the spell struck teen. Like so many times before the golden light rippled upwards forming a protective wall that the Pope stood behind, but he raised up the golden light of a bow towards Elias.

"This time you die Devil-!" But as shouted down the cursed monster the golden wall shattered, Chise's body staggered as a blue ball of energy was ripped from her body, the magics of the barrier and from within her were stripped bare and straight into the Mage's gullet.

Chise dropped to her knees and then fell onto her side her body almost still like a corpse, the holy man stunned beyond belief that his Saint was rendered inert as he felt the vestiges of fear creep into the depths of his soul as Elias drew ever closer.

"A soul Eater is a threat to any caster and my beloved is no different-!" Elias cried as he landed on the ground, his body shifting even further from the absorbed magics doubling in size once and then twice over until he towered over the Pope. "BUT I SHALL BE DENIED HER NO LONGER!"

His Holiness unleashed the bolt of light towards the Mage but he shifted to the side his gaping maw opened and swept downwards to bite in what could cut a full grown man in half but the jaws went lower and snapped around the Redhead who lay unmoving with a tremendous crack of bone.

All parties gasped as Elias hefted up his massive mantle of a head and swallowed. Everyone was in shock, Raphtalia cried out, Filo shouted and moved to get herself moving. The other Heroes were stunned silent, Naofumi couldn't move his jaw that was hanging on the ground, and the members of the royal family were all equally stunned.

Having what he desired again Elias leapt backwards landing behind the Heroes and their party, his entire being seeming to be basking in the situation.

"You damn Devil! Demon! HERETIC You've eaten God's blessing!" The Pope raged as he felt tears spring from his eyes as the power he had sought was taken from him, the gift of God stolen by a nightmare… meaning his plans and goals. All of it that had taken decades to prepare was undone in a single instant.

"Elias you- you-! HOW COULD YOU!?" Raphtalia screamed, punching the giant form that didn't seem to be bothered to brush her aside.

Filo herself let out a screech and rushed to attack Elias but the Magus didn't even bother reacting; he raised his head high and let their attacks, now paltry by comparison, barely tickle him. But one more thing remained, "False Holly on a Ring, Twine the Branches and Rise for as source of thy power I order thee Bind my Foe in a sea of black thorns!"

From the ground below God's Apostle his feet, arms, legs, waist, neck, and every nook of his body was wrapped up with shimmering black thorns that would come from a rose bush. Snaring him in position as small rivets of blood began to drip from their connection. It would not be fair for him to end this… no. This would be His end and an even more fitting death!

He directed his attention to Naofumi. "End this Shield Hero! End the Pope and fulfill our bargain!" His words demanaded it be done and Naofumi was in no position to refuse him. "Use your power and destroy the man who has tried to take everything from us!"

What could he say, he couldn't fight Elias he had come back and despite what he had just done to Chise perhaps it was for the better than letting her be used by the sick religious zealot. "Come forth Rage Shield!" His thorns shield changed forms back into the red flame shield.

"Master!" "Master Naofumi." Filo and Raphtalia abandoned their attack on Elias and went to his side. Both of them were looking for him to give them direction; they still wanted to fight, they wanted their own chance for revenge.

"I have one Legendary skill left and considering how tough that bastard is this could end him for good." His blackened limbs returned to normal, his white hair became dark and the red in his eyes reverted to a dark brown. Hefting up his shield he aimed it straight towards the Pope. "Foolish sinner I sentence to cast your screams onto the heavens you worship!" his hud began to crackle and ripple as the cursed powers from his rage shield began to overtake his body but he kept his focus. Even as the visage of the dragon that had offered him this power began to show his face once again in his mind he persisted.

"The jaws dragon born from my flesh shall swallow you and you shall become an offering to the God's as you howl in PAIN!" His shield took on a blue luminescent glow as if it were shining like a star in the sky, this was to end all of this, destroy the man who had caused him so much heartache and tried to kill him! God's only true sinner.

"Legendary Shield Skill. BLOOD SACRIFICE!" The glow and aura around him flowed back into him before one second later his body, at every angle, erupted in a torrent of blood. Naofumi's body was locked in position as the pain that now engulfed him was blinding as fresh blood ran from his body and soaking the very ground in a thick pool of dark red liquid.

The Demi-Human's gasped, The Other Heroes stared horrified, and the Queen herself was taken aback as Naofumi's vision began to darken and he slipped forwards. His body fell down onto the ground into the dark crimson mess that began to drain into the ground below.

"Pathetic devil!" The Pope who saw the foolish Naofumi attempt to use power beyond his understanding paid the price. He swiped with the golden sword and cut away the vines pinning him down. "Now to kill you Monster!" He switched the sword into a spear which leveled towards Elias who still stared directly back at him.

But before any further action the ground below the pope erupted in blood as the ground shattered and broke apart revealing a pair of massive blackened metal jaws with huge fangs held together by a red chain that broke upwards from below the Pope carrying him into the air.

The spear was stuck between the upper and lower part of the jaw that had carried him upwards, his body dangling as his feet touched a second pair of jaws below him. "This can not be! I am the instrument of God, I am the Pope!" He cried out looking at the weapon that continued to shine with its golden radiance yet the second pair of jaws opened up revealing it to be its own mouth with one more set below that.

Even the holy weapon empowered so far by the magics of his followers could take no more and with a deafening crack the weapon splintered apart. The base wood that made it broke apart and with that the Pope was slammed between multiple jaws that crushed into his face, torso, hands, feet, everywhere on his body the Pope was smashed by Naofumi's attack and the victim's blood spewed outwards like a river until the jaws pulled downwards sucking itself back into the bloody pool that it had come from.

Yet the victory celebration did not happen as Filo, Melty, and Raphtalia rushed to the now unconscious and bloody Shield Hero all of them calling his name but no response was given back.

But from there Elias shifted his head and looked down towards his own torso watching as from out of the black twisted mass did Chise's face appeared from within him, her hands slowly coming out as well but she remained halfway stuck and still completely limp but this was fine for him as he brought down one of his massive fingers and ever so gently touched the face of his bride. "At last we are together again…"

R&R