The Second Hell: Part 2 - Contemplation And Domination

A soft green light hovered a little above the ground, emanated from Asia's soft hands. Alongside this phenomena, the air vibrated fiercely into a piercing shean. The two combined formed a miracle of medicine, revitalizing the fleshy exterior to a stiff bone mesh, which animated the suit motionlessly. A miracle that resulted in the rising of the deceased. A violation betwixt life and death.

"Ah! Thanks Asia." Koneko's right chest was restored to its previous state in a perfect imitation. Elsewhere in the darkness, a new light source fizzled into existence. The light of a flame illuminated Rias' face most prominently in a group of about three total. Least bright was Issei, situated himself along a wide tower of plastic, imitation concrete. The median, known politically as "The Priestess Of Thunder", watched nervously as she held back an obvious tear.

"We'll be okay." Rias assured her crew.'

"Not unless we keep moving. Or fight back. Or…something!" Kiba shouted in retort, the harsh stench of fear inflaming his words. There was obvious horror in the void-like atmosphere, so much so as to rival the dark itself. Yet none of the previously confident shells were able to harness that dream of god-like capability, revealing now the truth of their reality. This was a slasher novel, and they had found the first patch of gooey red blood. This was a slaughter, a massive demon hunt, an oddly moral form of ethnic cleansing. And worse yet, this wasn't a story. This was real, and their every action could pose horrific consequences. This truth donned on them all equidistantly in time, same as its intensity. Akeno began to sob, whining into Rias' shoulder whilst tightly gripping at her sides. Rias returned the embrace while Issei cried to himself, trying his damnedest not to show any amount of fear publicly. "What," Kiba began. "What…now?" He was one of the only people there with true confidence and his voice, though slow, reflected as much. He was concerned, yes, but he was sure this was fixable. After all, they had survived battle before, many ties in fact, and he was sure they'd do it again. But that was all wishful thinking on his part; he had no real plan besides hoping that Rias would know what to do. He turned to her, looking deeply into Rias' face, desperately searching for some sort of motivation.

Rias lost her mind in frantic contemplation, unknowingly staring into the dirty floor. Eventually though, she announced her conclusion. "We'll need to talk to my father."

"Wait!" Issei objected. "You don't think that guy was that strong, do you?" Though he phrased it somewhat rhetorically his question was genuine. Was he that strong? They hadn't even talked to her father when they fought Risor. Issei even needed to sacrifice his damn arm to defeat him, and even then he needed holy water and Asia's cross to seal the deal. What in God's name did Rias think this guy was capable of?!

Everyone in the room thought about this as well, though they had learned not to question Rias' injunctions. "Listen," Rias paused, sighing as she collected her thoughts. "Issei, we weren't able to slow him down at all. We fought for ten seconds, and they had already injured all of us. I'm not going to risk the safety of any of my servants."

"She's right." Koneko added. "Kiba broke his arm, and the only reason he's not dead weight right now is because of Asia. But she can't heal effectively enough to keep us fighting, so there's not much we can do."

"...Thanks for that, Asia." Kiba smiled at the blonde, now tending to Issei's chest as she cured a horrendous purple bruise that slowly faded away.

"Of course!" She smiled back. The [arty remained silent for a moment, save for Asia's medical prowess that still created that heavenly shein.

"It's final thenl." Rias stood. "We'll travel to the underworld, we can rest on the way there." Rias turned her body towards her righteous queen. "Akeno?"

"Yes ma'am!" Akeno once again summoned a collection of red runes below the feet of her companions, causing the dark room to erupt in radiant light. With a soft 'fwoosh', the dank basement of their recently desecrated highschool lay barren, and the creatures of the night began to scuttle around its interior freely once again.

—-

"Oh God! Why would you do this?! She was my wife!" A warm, female courpse slaped the ground with a wet thud. Their mouth, still agape from shock, intook the pooling blood like a pierced ship within the vast expanse of the endless ocean horizon. The man dropped to his knees, holding his former wife's hand as he wept over her body. "You bastard! I'll kill you!" he shouted into her back, continuing to cry. "I'll kill you…"

Heavy footsteps lead towards the house's front door, or rather door frame, and The Slayer's boots once again slammed against the white mahogany slab, now cracked in half as it lay on the floor surrounded by splinters.

The outside air carried thick plumes of black smoke. Smoke flowing effortlessly out of several houses that were completely enveloped in flame. How fitting; who'd've guessed that an entire neighborhood of devils would die the same way they were born, drenched in vital fluids while shrouded in embers? In only about an hour, hundreds of vile creatures had been slayed, all of them drowning in horrific Hell Energy. It was such a spectacle, you'd think the news would've picked up on it by now, or the police. But The Slayer spared no time to check BBC, and the authorities- whoever was brave enough to actually go through with an investigation-probably didn't even want to see the murderer without an on-demand airstrike. Regardless, whoever came to stop him, the hunt would continue. This time, towards the city.