I do not own Highschool DxD nor do I own Diablo. All rights respectively go to Ichiei Ishibumi, the series' creator, and Blizzard Entertainment, the company who made Diablo.

NEW TRISTRAM, KHANDURAS….

The rain was starting to fall heavily upon Tristram as the dark storms that come by often within Khanduras have just shown up. Two groups showed up via a red magic circle just on the outskirts of the town of Tristram. Everyone was wearing cloaks with hoods to protect themselves from the rain, but it was still cold.

"Is that it?" asked Kiba.

"That must be New Tristram," Sona confirmed. "There should be an Inn nearby where we can take shelter for the night."

"We should get down there then," Akeno suggested. Everyone soon departs and make their way, although their footwear were now wet and covered in mud.

"Kyaa!" Asia yelped as she slipped on some mud. But luckily for her, Kiba caught her from behind.

"I got you," Kiba said as he hoisted her upright.

"T-Thank you, Kiba," Asia thanked.

Once the group approach the gates, Sona gives a few knocks on the cold, wet, metal door handle ring.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

A small window door made of wood opened up, revealing a very old and geezer-like man, with a raspy voice of someone from the south.

"Who goes there?" The old man by the door said.

"We're heading for the Slaughtered Calf Inn," Sona explained. The doorman, understanding that, closes the small window door before opening the gates. With a lamp in his right hand, he shines it over to see a large group of young people.

"Wow," The old man exalted. "You've come a long way from your town for you young'uns to come here. What brings you to New Tristram anyway?"

"We just wish to stay at the Inn," Sona explained. "We're cold and hungry and have been walking in the rain for hours."

The doorman nodded. "Alright, little lady. Come on in. It's my job to ask questions. The Inn is not too far. It's in the center of town."

"Has anyone odd come here recently?" asked Kiba as the group is led inside the town.

"Yeah," The old man nodded. "Some strange fellow wearing all black came by two weeks ago. Didn't even see his face. He just said he was a wanderer looking for shelter. Didn't care much for him though. Just seemed another fellow anyway."

As the group was led inside, the doorman closed the gates and went back inside. Both the ORC and the Student Council continue walking throughout the rain, the dirt road now muddy.

*DING DING*

Once they reach the Slaughtered Calf Inn and entered through the door with a bell attached to it, there was not much to make of it. While big, it was not huge. And all the occupants inside saw the large group enter and were surprised of the number.

"Excuse me," Sona called up. Soon a barkeeper in his 60's with a mustache looked over his desk from above and saw the group.

"Good evening, little ladies," He greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"We'd like to rent the accommodation rooms just for one night," Sona said. But the barkeeper looked to see that there was a lot of people, about 16 people to be exact.

"This is quite a lot of people you brought with you," The barkeeper said. "We only have eight rooms though so you will have to share, eh Mrs…?"

"Sitri," Sona introduced. "We're friends of Mayor Bron. Can you tell him we've arrived at the Inn?"

"The Mayor?!" The barkeeper was surprised. "Ooh! Yes, yes yes. I will send a notice right away, Mrs. Sitri. He should be here in around ten minutes or so. In the meantime, the center long table is yours. The maids and wenches will help you with your food and drink."

"Thank you," Sona thanked as everyone else went over to their table. Long and made of wood, it was enough to fit all sixteen. The Phenex servants sat together as did Rias and Sona's peerage.

For Rias, Akeno, Sona, and Tsubaki, they sat further away so as to discuss privately. The Inn was loud with the social talk of men and women, drinks handed out by all the wenches as food was passed around. Yet when they looked around, some men in the corners whispered to one another silently regarding the group and kept their eye on them, expecting trouble.

Most of the men were dirtied and old, some even mercenaries or townsfolk. Whether they were drinking, smoking, or even standing around talking, it was loud. And not only that, it was hard to navigate through due to tight spaces and the men being huge. The place smelled dirty, like it had seen better days and used candles as light instead of electricity. To the Devils, it could be the worse Inn they had ever come across.

But it would be home for them for now at least. Until they get more information on the whereabouts of Aidan.

And yet, the group of Devils in disguise had just arrived to Tristram two weeks after their training in the Underworld.

FLASHBACK…

With the help of Johanna the Zakarum Crusader and Kharazim the Monk of Ivgorod, both the ORC, the Student Council, and the three Phenex servants trained rigorously to prepare for their inevitable and dark journey into Tristram. The land was located in a hidden location in eastern Europe, unable to be detected by the normal human eye via satellite image. It was also the one-way ticket to Hell due to its dark history that they have yet to witness.

It has been two weeks since they had received full on training by the two, including Sirzechs who offered to help. After all, where his little sister was going, he could not follow and needed her to be prepared.

"Akeno, is everything packed?" Rias had asked to her Queen.

"Sure is," Akeno nodded. "All the healing potions, mana potions, food, and water that we could bring, along with some Phenex Tears in case things go bad."

"Excellent," Rias said. "Sona, how are things on your end?"

"Going well, Rias," Sona said as she tidied up. "We're nearly ready."

Sirzechs soon came over, walking towards his little sister.

"You seem to be busy," Sirzechs said.

"Just finished up the remaining packing essentials," Rias said. "What about you?"

"Just here to give you this," Sirzechs held up a red pamphlet. "It will take you directly to Tristram."

He hands it over to Rias who soon takes it as she looks intently at it. This was the one-way ticket to find Aidan within that town and bring him back. It was also a one-way ticket form which she may not return from, but she would never dare have such thoughts linger about death.

"Would that I could join," Sirzechs grabbed her attention. "But I need to stay here to deal with political tensions. The nobles are in uproar of what has happened."

"Onii-sama…" Rias spoke up to her brother in concern. "How is your wound?"

"Better, but still needs to be treated. Diablo had nearly killed me and shattered my weapon. Last time I had faced him prior to this was centuries ago in the Second Dark Exile. And it took the combined might of all four Satans just to vanquish him. That is how powerful you will face him at full strength."

Rias took those words to heart, knowing deep within that another confrontation with Diablo will happen and that she had best be prepared.

"Mother and I have taught you all that we could with your Power of Destruction. The rest is up to you on how well you use it."

Indeed, Sirzechs and their mother Venelana had given Rias additional magic training, as well as melee combat training with Dawnbreaker. If Rias was going to fight Diablo head on, she will need more than just her demonic power. After all, Diablo had slashed her during the ceremony and had given her a nasty scar in the process. With a reforged Dawnbreaker and with the ability to conjure up weapons via her Power of Destruction, she could now fight Demons without having to rely on magic so much.

Although, she is thinking of having Dawnbreaker remade into a much better weapon. Aidan was able to wield it with one hand, but Rias had to use two since physically, she was not as strong as Aidan. But that will come later after the mission if the sword and she make it back alive.

"Be wary, dear Rias," Deckard Kain soon arrived. "Diablo will likely sense your arrival and prepare for it. You must be strong and not give in to fear."

"We will, Professor," Rias reassured. "And I promise I will bring back Aidan alive. You have my word."

Deckard approached Rias and took her hand into his, tracing an ancient rune in gold pixels into the palm of her hand before it dissipated.

"This rune will grant you protection against the terror within," Deckard explained. "Fortitude of the Faithful as it is written in the rune. I trust you enough in your strength and power, Rias Gremory. Please, be sure to bring Aidan back. It will mean the world to me."

"Thank you, Professor," Rias smiled as she lets go of the elder's hand. "And I will. I promise."

"Rias, we're ready," Akeno said as everyone, including Sona's Peerage and the three Phenex servants, gathered behind her.

"Right," Rias acknowledged as she went with her group. Using the pamphlet, the teleportation circle beneath them flares up, ready to transport the group to Tristram.

"Good luck out there," Sirzechs said before they departed. "Be careful though. Tristram and all of Khanduras is a haunted place."

Rias nodded in acknowledgement. Where they were going, there would likely be no return. Soon the teleportation circle took them away and they were gone in a flash, leaving only Sirzechs and Deckard Kain looking at the location of where they once stood.

END FLASHBACK…

As the four ladies waits for the mayor, they looked to see their Peerages and the three Phenex ladies already in the throes of drinking and eating. For some reason, the latter group seemed to be giving off more attention due to their appearances. At least none of the men were willing to start a fight and instead, gave tips to them in the form of coins. Yubelluna was labeled the sexy witch, Karlamine the female knight, and Xuelan a cute little girl.

Kiba and Koneko had their arms at the ready and were nearby to assist in case things got a bit too crazy. But for now, it all seemed under control.

But for some reason, Saji and Issei were having perverted thoughts and could not stop staring at the breasts of Yubelluna who gave a sexy pose with her legs.

But this was good news for the four other ladies at the table. Their attention was now diverted over to them and the men's' gaze fell upon the Phenex servants and not them.

*DING DING*

Soon another man came in through the door with his wet cloak before he pulled his hood down to reveal a bald man with sideburns. He soon spotted the four ladies by the table and came over to sit with them.

"Greetings, ladies!" said the elderly man. "My name is Bron. I am the mayor of Tristram. I had received word of your arrival by my barkeeper here."

"Greeting, Mayor. My name is Rias Gremory," Rias greeted herself. "This here is Sona Sitri and Akeno Himejima. We are here looking for someone."

"We don't often get a lot of visitors to Tristram, but if it there is someone you are looking for, you can ask me. I keep tabs on people from time to time."

"Before we begin though, we would like a place to stay for the night," Sona suggested. "We're cold and hungry, having walked in the rain for hours."

"Understood," Bron agreed. "Not sure if all our rooms will fit everyone here so you will have to share for the most part."

"That will be fine," Sona said as the barmaids and waitresses came over with their food. Served to them were hot tea, cheese, baked potatoes, some loaf of bread, and cooked beef. While it was nothing noble like or commoner like, it was still good food.

"So, my ladies, what can I do for you?" asked Bron as they dig in.

"As I said, we are looking for someone," Rias replied earlier. "Have you noticed anyone unfamiliar pass through here recently?"

"Not really," Bron replied. "Like I said, we do not get visitors often through Tristram. And if we do, they do not stay long. They tend to be here either for trade or just passing by."

"Was there one in particular who had a red glow to him?" asked Sona.

But Mayor Bron looked confused. "Red glow? Not that I knew of. Although, there was one fellow all dressed in black from top to bottom. Didn't even bother to show his face. Spoke very quietly he did. Had to ask him a few times who he was."

All three girls listened in carefully, thinking it may be Aidan.

"What did he say he was?" Akeno asked.

"Just said he was a wanderer looking for shelter," Bron replied. "Cordially, we let him stay in but everyone else felt…uneasy about him. Like there was something wrong. Folks say he was a warrior who got tired of fighting and spent his days drinking. Others say he was some form of beggar looking for scraps or even a scavenger looking for riches."

"Did he carry anything with him?" Sona asked. "Any weapons of sort?"

"No," Bron shook his head. "It was just he, himself, and no one else. Nobody even bothered to talk to him. Too afraid of him they were."

To the three girls, they then understood that this was Aidan. If he posed as some sort of Dark Wanderer through Tristram, then nobody would ever dare want to speak to him. The aura he had given off due to his horrible possession by Diablo would have made that clear, although it is sincerely doubtful anyone knew that a Demon walked amongst men.

"There was someone though who was almost always with him. A pretty young woman all the way from Caldeum. Her name was Lylia."

"Who was she?" asked Akeno.

"An enigma to be precise," Mayor Bron said. "She was covered from head to toe in bright blue clothing resembling Kehjistan culture, with only her eyes to show for it. She often approached the man and comforted him whenever he was alone, away from people. I've even seen them a few times going behind closed doors in her home not too far from the edge of town."

For some reason to the mayor's confusion, he saw a hint of jealousy erupt from within the females of the group, specifically Akeno and Rias. It looked as if there was some sort of purple and black scary aura behind them with a smile of pure need to kill. He did not want to pry any further.

"What else can you tell us about this Lylia?" asked Rias.

"Not as much, I'm afraid," Bron said. "She didn't cause any trouble to the town and claimed she had just been passing by. But like I said, she was often seen with the wanderer wherever they went, whether they be at the bar or by the gates of town. She was literally the only one who had talked to him. Brave woman. Some folks say they became lovers."

Again, to the Mayor's confusion, Rias had a scary aura to herself, one filled with pure envy as she grips her fists and clenches her teeth.

"Is she still there?" Rias asked with a bit of bitterness in her tongue.

"No, I'm afraid," The Mayor stated, which surprised Rias as she calmed down almost immediately. "She left about a couple days after the Wanderer took off to the Cathedral."

"Cathedral?" asked Akeno.

Mayor Bron pointed outside to a decrepit monastery on a hill, overlooking the town. It certainly looked like it was in ruin, in decay for centuries or even millennia.

"Tristram Cathedral," Mayor Bron called it. "Structure has stood since ancient times. But no one has come or gone there since it has had a bad reputation."

"What do you mean?" asked Sona.

Mayor Bron stood up and looked out to his town, a dark expression lurking across his face.

"Many years ago, Tristram went through a dark period when the Tristram Cathedral became infested with Demons."

"Demons?" asked Sona.

"A time when evil had befallen upon the town thanks to the Mad King Leoric. Tristram was the capital of Khanduras and his seat of power was the old Cathedral at the top of the hill. He ruled well but over time was filled with such depravity and madness that he began executing those loyal to him whom he suspected of treachery, all thanks to his loyal confidante, the Archbishop Lazarus."

"Archbishop Lazarus?" asked Sona.

"A priest of the Zakarum faith who came with Leoric to these lands. He was the King's most trusted advisor who suggested to him to make Tristram his seat of power. Yet he was also the one who had driven the Mad King into depravity."

"How so?" asked Akeno.

"When Leoric's madness began, he sent his knights into a suicidal war against the larger kingdom of Westmarch; on Lazarus' advice. When they returned, defeated, to Tristram, they found their home devastated. They confronted the king, finally understanding that there was no salvation for Leoric. When King Leoric attacked his knights, his captain, Lachdanan, ordered them to defend themselves, and a fierce battle ensued. Lachdanan and his forces were at last able to overcome the darkened monarch. With his dying breath, Leoric cursed Lachdanan and his knights to serve him in darkness, forever. Soon after, Tristram was attacked by a horde of demons, and the once-holy cathedral became a place of dark cults and rituals, with Lazarus having disappeared."

"Has it always been like this?" asked Rias. "Has Tristram been under such darkness since then?"

"No, not always," Bron said. "There was a time when it was saved thanks to the Archbishop's death at the hands of the king's son. However, shortly afterwards, Tristram was attacked again, all of tis inhabitants slaughtered. The ruins of the old town are at the midway point between the Cathedral and New Tristram."

This history section was dark, perhaps the darkest in human history. Or perhaps one of the darkest moments in human history to be exact. If Diablo was capable of doing this as they would have believed, then who knows what would have happened to the Underworld if the Four Great Satans did not plan carefully guarding Diablo's soulstone.

"So, how exactly did New Tristram come about?" asked Sona.

"The founding date of New Tristram is unclear, but it came into being well after the darkening and destruction of the original Tristram. Originally simply a collection of merchants looking to profit on adventurers and travelers drawn by legends of riches within the Tristram Cathedral, it slowly set down roots and became an established town. As soon as the cathedral was looted bare, however, the adventurers and travelers stopped coming, and New Tristram found itself in decline. By the time I was elected as mayor, the town was comprised mostly of depressing shacks."

"It sure looks like it has seen better days," Akeno noted as she looks out on the town. "No offense."

"None taken," Bron replied kindly. "I have tried hard to make life better for everyone, but it has not been easy. This land is cursed ever since its darkening. And it will remain that way for all time, no matter how much light we try to put in it."

Rias then changed subjects, "You said the Wanderer was headed to the Cathedral, right?"

"Quite right," Bron said. "He just got up and left in the middle of the night. Not even the guards noticed."

At this point, Rias knew where this Wanderer was and more importantly, who it was. She looked outside to see the Cathedral on the hill, knowing Aidna lies somewhere within that haunted structure.

'Hold on, Aidan. I'm almost there.'

LATER THAT NIGHT…

Everyone was all tucked into bed. Well, mostly everyone. Rias, Akeno, and Sona were still up, planning for tomorrow's journey into the Cathedral thanks to the information given to them by Mayor Bron.

But for one particular former nun, she could not sleep at all. For one thing, her bed was uncomfortable like hard wood. There was not exactly enough room for everyone at the Inn, so they had to make do, with some sleeping on the floor.

Asia could not sleep not because of the uncomfortable bed though. Rather, it was the fact that with the knowledge of where Aidan was, deep underneath the Cathedral, she knew that there will be so many terrifying things lying in wait. She was afraid yet also determined to save Aidan, the conflict within her emotions were driving her crazy, leaving her unable to wake up. Not only that, but the land of Khanduras itself felt cold to her, devoid of any light or warmth. It was as if the land itself was deprived of all hope, even her Twilight Healing's light was fading in this cursed land.

Unable to sleep, Asia snuck out of her own bed and adorned her nun outfit on to step outside. The rain had luckily stopped and there was only the night sky, but it still felt cold. Walking to get some fresh air, Asia needed a way to clear her mind.

And she knew one way how. The only way she knew.

In a secluded area by a tree, next to a nearby river that was quiet, Asia sank to her knees and held her hands together in a praying position. She closes her eyes as she empties her thoughts.

"Auriel, Archangel of Hope, heed my prayer. I am in need of your guidance."

As Asia prays, a gentle blue light emerges from her Twilight Healing rings as an angel, an Elder Angel, emerges from above. Asia recognized this presence as she opens her eyes, seeing that it is Auriel in the "flesh."

Asia beheld Auriel's grace and beauty, as if her sense of hope had instantly been filled. Auriel's wings flutter with joy upon seeing the young nun that she chose long ago.

"Dearest Asia Argento…" Auriel greets caringly as she lands in front of her and urges her to rise to her feet. "Your power of hope grows with each passing day. Yet you seem troubled enough to call for me."

Asia did not hesitate to speak her mind. "I am lost and do not know what to do to rescue Aidan. I have learned what has become of him, where he is at, and I want to set him free. But when I look at this place and see the cathedral, I feel as if… I have been overwhelmed with despair. I am afraid and I do not know if I can venture within. But I also do not want to sit by and heal those injured. I want to stay and fight."

Auriel understood the young Devil. "It takes a brave heart to traverse down into the darkest depths where only horror and damnation await. Whether it be the confines of a cellar, or even the very threshold of the Burning Hells, I can sense in your heart a desire to fight, even against the edicts of your friends who care for your safety."

"So what must I do?" asked Asia.

"Keep that flame of hope within you alive so that you may brave the darkness within the monastery."Auriel then conjured up a small ball of light within her hands that glowed gently."I will grant you this, as a form of self-defense and healing."

In a flash of white light, two strands of cloth appear from Auriel before she ushers them forward to Asia. Asia beholds the strands that were white and glowed with blue runes, much like Auriel's.

"This is An'Naresh, the Braid of Longing." Auriel explained as the braid wraps and fuses with Asia's white nun veil, forming two strands that form around her arms, similar to how Auriel wields Al'Maiesh. "I crafted it as the sister weapon to Al'Maiesh, able to heal and strengthen those it touches, a manifestation of your hope. Yet also to be wielded against the minions of darkness, burning them in a holy fire that cannot be washed away by the power of despair."

Asia looked at the two strands as she held them in her hand. Yet for some reason, she felt doubt linger within her.

"I…I can't take this…" She hesitantly said, if not fearing the archangel's wrath at the rejection. However, Auriel remained calm, as if she understood what was going on through the young nun's mind.

"An'Naresh is of angelic make, crafted from the very light of the High Heavens. Its runes glow blue when Demons and other dangers are close."

But Asia still felt unconvinced, confessing to Auriel, "But Auriel, with all due respect, I have never wielded a weapon like this in my life."

Auriel calmly replied, "And I hope you never have to. And if you do, remember this…" Auriel's chord soon wraps itself around An'Naresh, both glowing a gentle color of blue. "True courage is about knowing not when to take a life but when to spare one."

Wise words from the Archangel of Hope. It would seem that, since Malthael's absence, Auriel's role is now to keep the Angiris Council unified with whatever wisdom she could procreate alongside her fellow archangels. After all, asides one other archangel who vouched for humanity, she was the most impassioned of them all. If possible, she would seek defend mankind from Heaven's wrath, seeing the race of man as children who just need some guidance to learn how to grow and mature and fight.

If only others within the High Heavens would see the same thing as she did, otherwise harmony would be lost.

Asia took in the words that Auriel spoke to her. Al'maiesh soon unfurls itself off of An'Naresh yet the archangel remains in place in front of Asia. Once again, questions ran through the nun's head. Questions she sought the answers to. Asia looks at the ground next to her and ponders in deep thought, in doubt and in scrutiny.

"Speak your mind, young Asia," Auriel noted, catching the former nun off guard initially before she calmed herself.

"Auriel…" Asia began. "I do not mean to criticize your decision, but why me? Why did you choose to resurrect me?"

Auriel looks at her with a bit of curiosity. Asia decided to press further.

"I was excommunicated by the Church for my sins despite being raised by them. I have been labeled as a witch and fell in league with Fallen Angels, only to be betrayed and killed by them. Time and again I have been nothing but a burden to Aidan, and no matter how much I want to help him I know I could not fight like in the same manner he does. When I passed away in front of him, I thought my life had ended. So why did you bring me back to life?"

Auriel, if she had a face, calmly and compassionately smiles beneath her cowl and drapes Al'Maiesh briefly around Asia to grant her comfort and clarity. Her wings also wrap around her, as if Auriel was cradling a small child.

"Throughout my entire existence, young Asia, I have watched mortals rise from the ashes and fall to the earth…"Auriel explained as her runes light up to give Asia a vision of some sorts. Through it she sees the Angiris Council discussing Sanctuary, with Auriel in the middle in an impassioned expression of herself. "I voted for the continuation of mankind and of Sanctuary, given that through enough passing time, they will play an important role in the Eternal Conflict and end the long struggle at last. I have always held out to hope that humanity and the nephalem will aid the Angels in our darkest hours."

The vision switches to show a young Asia within the church praying. "When I had looked upon you, I have always heard your prayers and answered them the best I could, even if they were meant to Anu, or God in your tongue. Your devotion to the light and compassion for all beings touched me so. When you were killed unwillingly, I felt the briefest moment of despair and sought to make things right, to bring back that ray of hope that you have brought to others. Including myself."

Asia was a bit stunned though, looking at the archangel. "I…bring you hope?"

"As have many others like yourself,"Auriel revealed. "Not once did I condemn you for your actions unlike your former masters. It was why I chose you; you are the mortal incarnation of hope in the world today. The road ahead will indeed be harsh but never lose the hope you have ignited within your heart. It alone will inspire everyone to venture forth into the darkness and light the way."

"So then what must I do?" asked Asia.

"Continue to bring that hope you have within," Auriel advised. "Take heart, young Asia. Seek justice if you can, vengeance if you must, but do not abandon hope. It alone will make your mission all the more successful against the encroaching darkness within the Cathedral."

With those last words, Auriel's form dissipates slowly into light blue particles. Asia had wanted to ask more but felt that she was wasted too much time with the archangel. Thus she watches Auriel's light slowly dissipate away, praying within its holy light before it dies down.

With a smile of hope, Asia returns back into the Inn and into her bed, able to finally get a good night's rest.

THE NEXT MORNING…

After everyone woke up and had breakfast at the Inn, they all prepared to set out and head for the cathedral.

As they came upon the hill, they beheld themselves ruins, like the town was set on fire long ago. Burnt and cold pieces of wood still remained, even with some of the buildings' foundations still intact via stone. Ash covered the ground as did the dust and smoke, with the wind blowing gently across.

"What happened here?" asked Asia.

"This must be Old Tristram," Sona said. "Where the town originally stood before Diablo destroyed it."

As everyone passes through the first gate, they take notice of the burnt and ruined buildings. The corpses and bones of the animals and people were still present.

"To think…" Akeno stated. "That people once lived here. And their remains have not decayed even after so many millennia."

"Their spirits must have been cursed, forever to wander these dark lands due to Diablo," Tsubaki noted as they pass by an old, empty, and moldy fountain. Right next to it was a busted cage with rope around it, like it was meant to be hung.

"Here's the second gate," Kiba pointed out, opening it as everyone makes their way to the cathedral at the top of the hill.

Sona had kept close to Rias, with Akeno behind the two, keeping an eye on her health and well-being. So far it seemed as if she was perfectly fine, yet as they walk ever closer to the cathedral, they became concerned for her. They knew that a confrontation with Diablo at his full strength is now imminent. They knew Rias will seek revenge on the Demon for possessing and influencing Aidan from the beginning.

The question is, will Rias hold her own mind intact?

"Rias…" Sona called up to her friend, making the redhead turn to her. "How are you feeling?"

Rias smiled, "I'm good, Sona. Thank you for asking."

But for Sona, she did not feel convinced. That smile may have been a façade to keep everyone's spirits and confidence high once they enter the cathedral. As a King, that is logical. But as a friend, Sona felt as if Rias was wanting to rush in, save Aidan, and get out as quickly as possible.

She felt as if Rias' heart had hardened and could only be undone once Aidan was saved.

"Are you sure?" asked a concerned Sona. "Aidan will lie in the deepest part of the cathedral and it will not be easy rescuing him from Diablo's grasp. Are you sure you are up for it?"

"I am," Rias replied immediately. "Onii-sama and Mother have been training me day in and day out for this inevitable confrontation. As things are now, I cannot back out. If I do, what kind of King would I be leaving my Pawn behind?"

"I see," Sona said, with a fake smile.

Sona wanted to press further but knew that prying more into Rias may lead to another argument out of outburst. So she decided not to go forward with the issue.

Speaking to Akeno as Rias walked onward, she whispered into the Priestess of Thunder's ear, "Akeno, keep an eye on her. Diablo will surely want her to fight him alone so that he can overpower her easily. Stay by her side at all times."

"I will," Akeno accepted. "And I am sure you can count on the others as well."

Sona smiled, seeing Kiba, Koneko, and Asia close and next to Rias, keeping an eye on her every move. Just by looking on her facial expression, she looked calm yet determined. Confident yet filled with vengeance. They need to keep her mind in check per Sirzechs' request, as Diablo will try to psychologically assault her when they engage in battle eventually.

As the group moves forward, they beheld for themselves the decrepit Tristram Cathedral. It was very old and decaying, with much of its structure falling apart. The surrounding land was decayed and dead, filled with only the cold ashes of the past.

"Is this it?" Saji asked.

"It is," Sona confirmed. "Within this once holy and ancient Horadric monastery lies Aidan underneath. And Diablo and his Hellspawn."

Everyone was ready. This was it. Once they enter into this dark and twisted labyrinth, there is no turning back.

However, before they took one step forward, a ray of light shines down in front of the cathedral, a light almost bright enough for them to cover their eyes. Then a figure of sorts descends from on high and lands in front of the group with his knees bent to catch himself before he stood up straight.

His wings were of an Elder Angel, luminous strands of light protruding from the back and were blue and white in color. But his armor was silver, giving of a very intrinsic appearance. Like all other Elder Angels, his face was featureless, merely showcasing a black spot from where it would be placed with a hood around it.

"Halt! What you seek within lies an unfathomable evil that must not be unleashed upon the world. Should you continue this path, you may doom all of mankind to Diablo's wrath."

"First of all, who are you?" asked Issei up front. "And what right do you have to block us like this like you are some kind of hot shot warner?"

"Issei, back off!" commanded Sona as she steps forward in front of him and bows in regret. "I apologize for my servant's words. But he is right. Who are you exactly?"

"I am Hadriel, archangel of the High Heavens," Hadriel introduced himself. "I am not here to cease your pursuit, but rather to warn you only once. That what you may find in the depths of this accursed place will forever change you. You are not prepared for this endeavor."

"With all due respect, Hadriel," Sona said. "We have trained for this moment and are well aware of the dangers within."

But Hadriel was not convinced. "Many young mortals like you have once exclaimed those same words. Each and every one of them fell within the cathedral, either killed by the monsters or the traps within, or driven to madness and taking their own life."

"We will not repeat such a thing," Kiba said. "We intend to rescue our friend trapped below."

"You may all have been slaves to the Demons, but that does not mean you are their equal. Your friend is lost, forever possessed and cursed by Diablo. Even if you do manage to free him, his death is inevitable."

"Not while there is still hope for him," A voice spoke up, seeing that it was Rias who came face to face with the archangel. Hadriel immediately recognized who this was, to everyone's surprise.

"Rias Gremory of the Gremory Clan,"Hadriel greeted. "Of the mortals here, you of all must understand that what you intend to do will not be like what had happened before. If you continue this, you will face Diablo at his full strength and might and not even you will bear the full brunt of the power of Terror. You will inevitably fall as have so many of your kin before you. Not even your brother was the exception when he fought the Prime Evil."

Rias was silent, listening to the archangel's warnings as she kept her head low. She could recall clearly of Sirzechs' most recent fight with Diablo, how his spear was shattered, and he was severely wounded. Though he had survived, it was almost impossible to believe that a great and powerful Devil like him, reaching the ranks of Satan, would be wounded by a Prime Evil.

"I will give you all one warning…" Hadriel warned. "Turn back now and leave or stay and enter to face oblivion and true terror. What do you choose?"

For Rias, it was not something she needed long to think about, not with the thoughts of conviction and vengeance lurking within her mind.

"I choose to fight," Rias said to Hadriel. "I will enter and stop Diablo. And if you must stand in my way, I will not hesitate to destroy you."

"Your ancestors once said the same to their Demon masters during Lucifer's Revolution. Many of them died as they cut down their enemy, leading them to create the Underworld from Hell itself. Do you not realize that those words you have spoken may lead to fear, which then will lead to your end?"

"Hey!" Issei spoke up. "You cannot insult someone as great as her like that!"

"Silence, Issei!" Sona held him back.

Rias' head lowered a bit in ponder of Hadriel's words.

"I know," Rias agreed. "I do not deny my fear of entering this…wretched place. I am scared, of everything. I do not know what exactly we will find down there, but I do know this." She looks at Hadriel with determination in her eyes. "I will not run nor hide from my fears any longer. I must save Aidan or die trying. If I cannot do that, then I will not live up to my expectations as the King of my peerage or as heir to my household."

Hadriel looked emotionless, almost as if he was piercing into Rias' gaze to see if her determination lived up to it.

"You won't have to rescue him alone, you know?" Akeno asked. Rias turns around to see her Peerage, Sona's, and the three Phenex girls.

"It's time to make Diablo pay for deceiving us and taking our friend," Kiba said with a sword drawn.

"We're with you all the way," Asia said with An'Naresh glowing blue.

"Yeah, let's go save him," Koneko said with a blank yet upbeat expression.

"And we will help too," Xuelan spoke for Karlamine and Yubelluna as they stepped forward to be part of Rias' group.

Rias smiled as happy tears formed in her eyes before she wiped them away. "Everyone… thank you."

"And so this is your final decision?" asked Hadriel for confirmation.

"It is," Rias confirmed as she turned around.

"Then proceed, young Devils, into Terror's lair. Know that Diablo's innermost sanctum is hidden by five seals. Only by opening each of these seals can you clear your way to the final battle."

With that said, Hadriel glows a bright white light from his form, making everyone cover their eyes from the brightness. Once it had died down, Hadriel was no longer where he was standing.

With the warning now out of the way, everyone beheld themselves the door to the Cathedral.

"Issei, Saji," Sona issued, making her two Pawns grab the massive door handles. Saji and Issei slowly but firmly places both hands onto its door handles and open it.

A loud croaking and groaning sound of the door soon opened the way to the darkness within. This was it.

"It's done," Saji said as he and Issei let go and look inside. Rias was soon the first to step within the dark place, the very seat of power to her most hated enemy, Diablo.

"The sanctity of this place has been fouled," Rias said as they proceeded to enter through the first level.

LEVEL 2…

"The smell of death surrounds us," Koneko said as they enter the second level of the cathedral.

"Ugh…" Saji pinched his nose. "What's that smell? Me, or zombies?"

"Zombies!?" Issei freaked out a little, in disbelief that those creatures actually exist.

Ignoring the outburst, everyone proceeds to go deeper and deeper, the smell of death hanging in the air as it becomes more and more potent.

It also felt hot inside as they went further in. And it was not the light of Asia's An'Naresh cloth that was giving off heat nor the torches that Kiba and Karlamine held up.

*CLANG* *CLANG*

Two large metal sounds echoed, like someone was swinging a hammer on an anvil.

"What was that?" asked Karlamine.

*CLANG* *CLANG*

"It's getting louder," Xuelan answered.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Soon screams were heard across the room, echoing off its walls. Everyone covered their ears from the loud voice of it.

"Kyaaaah!" Asia screamed as she hid behind Akeno, who covered her up and cared for her. Koneko soon jumped and hid behind Kiba. Not even Issei or Saji were immune to the loud scream as they comically hugged themselves.

"W-W-W-What the hell was that?" Saji trembly asked.

"That was…human," Sona said as she let go of her ears. "A man."

*CLANG CLANG*

The sounds got louder as they ventured forth.

Everyone followed where the sound was coming from and beheld themselves a crude wooden door, blood pouring forth from it. Opening it slowly by Tsubaki, what they saw was a room of horror.

Body parts were everywhere, blood decorated the floor, human corpses hung on iron hooks by the wall. If this was a slaughterhouse for cows and pigs, then the sight of human corpses almost made everyone throw up.

Up ahead though, they saw the source of the clanging sound. They saw what looked to be a huge man, only for it not to be a man.

It was a large and fat horned creature, with two horns sprouting from its head. From its sharp teeth were two curved fangs that were upside down. Covered all over its body were large stitches held by crude metal. It was wearing a large brown leather apron cloth. On its large demonic feet were two ankle bracelets that looked as if it was to hold it in place. In its right hand was a large cleaver, the biggest one ever seen, with a ram's skull and spine decorating the spine of the blade. In the left hand of the creature was a large hook, attached with chains around its left wrist.

The creature hacked away at the body parts on its table as blood saturated and spread across the room like a fountain. It then stopped and took a sniff of the air, sensing something different.

"Ahh…Fresh meat!" The Butcher exclaimed with a huge grin. It turned around with its cleaver and hook at hand, seeing the fresh meat.

"It can't be…" Sona was in pure shock. "That is a Butcher Demon."

"A Butcher Demon?" asked Issei asked.

"I read these in our Devil Mythology books," Sona said. "Accounts say they are formed from other various parts of Demons and given life through wicked blood magic to bind these parts together. And many of them served under Diablo's command."

As the Butcher grins and faces everyone, it huffs and puffs and gives a loud demonic roar, before charging in like a rhinocerous.

"Evasive maneuvers!" cried Sona as everyone dodges out of the way. Akeno holds onto Asia to move her while Sona grabbed Issei and Tsubaki had Saji.

The Butcher charges in and slams into a wall with its head but it shrugged off and threw its hook at the group, making them move out of the way.

Xuelan and Koneko move in and start using their kung fu and senjutsu respectively to wear down on the Demon. With every punch and kick thrown, the Demon staggered and was bruised. But as they landed in front, the Butcher swings its cleaver's flat side and knocks the two out of the way, giving off another roar.

Tomoe, with her katana, alongside Kiba and Karlamine, charge in with their blades and engage the Butcher head on. Kiba goes right as Tomoe goes left and each make a slash on the Butcher's arms. Karlamine soon comes in from above and does a downward slash.

*CLANG*

But the Butcher blocks it effortlessly and punches Karlamine away. It then swings its giant cleaver around to Kiba, knocking him over to Tomoe. Asia tends to Karlamine first before moving to the other two, with Tsubaki providing her cover for her to move around carefully.

Momo, Reya, Tsubasa, and Yubelluna use their combined magic to inflict some harm onto the gargantuan beast, but all their magical based attacks do nothing. No matter what they inflict, it simply was not enough as the wounds heal.

Soon it throws a flurry of kunai-shaped spears attached via chains at the group. They narrowly dodge, only to be interrupted by a charging Demon as the Butcher comes in with a swing of its cleaver, making all four break off.

Issei moves in with his Boosted Gear and shouts, "Dragon Shot!"

A stream of pure energy fires at the Butcher, but it is blocked by the Flesh Carver's flat side of the blade and deflected away, much to Issei's surprise. The Butcher then throws its hook form its left hand and grabs onto the Red Dragon Emperor and pulls him in.

"WOAH!" Issei cried before he is promptly battered away and slammed to a wall.

*CRASH*

Akeno soon fires a big shot of lightning but the Butcher shields itself away with the cleaver and somehow deflects it back to Akeno. Caught unaware, Akeno took a direct hit.

"Gaah!" Akeno was thrusted back.

"Akeno!" Rias cried before she turns to the Demon. "That does it!"

Powering up her Power of Destruction, she unleashes one shot at the Butcher directly onto the face. In the process, she cleaved one of its horns off, making it stagger back and scream.

Now enraged, it charges again at Rias at full speeds. Rias would have pulled her sword out but Sona arrives in the nick of time to conjure up a shield with which to block its advance. Soon a flying kick came in from Xuelan and Koneko.

"Haaah!" Both girls cried as they push the Butcher Demon back and everyone goes back in to fight it. Even with all the wounds they make on this Demon, it keeps healing back up.

Sona soon turns to Rias after dropping her shield.

"Rias, keep going!" Sona ushered. "My Peerage and I will deal with this monstrosity!"

"But Sona—" Rias objected, only to be cut off by the Butcher battering Issei away to the wall again, making him cough blood.

"GAH!" Issei cried out.

"Go, Rias!" Sona demanded. "The longer we stay here, the stronger Diablo becomes. Take the Phenex servants with you! And go get Aidan!"

Using her water magic, Sona unleashes a water serpent that sprays water spears all over the Butcher, each one impaling at the Demon. They soon dissipate away but the Butcher's wounds heal right back up, most likely due to the magic that binds it together.

"Come on, Rias!" Akeno agreed with Sona as she grabs Rias' right hand. "Every second that passes by, we may lose Aidan forever. Staying here to fight this thing will only waste time."

Rias knew Akeno was right, but she did not want to leave Sona behind. And yet, she trusted her childhood friend in what she was doing, with her Peerage keeping the Butcher at bay.

"Come back alive, Sona," Rias said as she rallies to her Peerage and to the Phenex servants. "I'd hate to see you die in a place like this!"

"Same to you!" Sona replied. With that, Rias and the others departed immediately, going deeper into the labyrinth.

"ROAR!"

The Butcher slams its cleaver onto Issei, who catches and holds it up right with his arms crossed over to halt the cleaver. But then he is punched away.

*BAM*

"AGGH!" Issei cried as he is flung away, only for some members of the Peerage to catch him and bring him upright.

"What do we do, Kaichou?" Saji asked. "This thing is unstoppable!"

"We just need to keep wounding it, "Sona said. "From what I have learned, Butcher Demons can be destroyed if their severed body parts are hacked away and disintegrated."

"Then that's what we got to do," Tsubaki said. "Cut off its limbs and destroy them before it has a chance to reform back to the main body."

"We can take this son of a bitch down!" Issei shouted. "Or I won't get to live my life as a harem king!"

Some people had question marks over their heads, confused as to why he would say that in such a dark place. But they ignored it as they turned their attention back to the Butcher in front of them.

Everyone soon gets ready as does the Butcher who jumps twice and slams his cleaver in an attempt to sow fear into their hearts.

"HAAAAAAHH!" Everyone cried as they charge at the Butcher. The Butcher does the same for another roar.

MEANWHILE…

As the doors to the next level open up, a foul odor overwhelmed the ORC and the Phenex servants' senses, as if the smell was of rotting corpses.

"It stinks…" Koneko holding her nose, unable to take the smell.

Asia coughed within her sleeve as Akeno and Yubelluna held up one part of their arm sleeves to use to cover their mouths from the smell. Kiba whiffed his head away at first smell of it.

"Kiba, Karlamine, go check out and see what it is," Rias said whilst holding her nose.

As the two Knights moves in, Kiba finds a torch lit up and takes it off its pedestal. Walking as he did, both he and Karlamine carefully look below to see a corpse of some sort. But the sight of it left him feeling with dread.

It looked like a young boy whose body was mostly intact, save for an eye missing and his head bashed to a wall. His guts were spilled out as dried blood poured out. His expression was that of pure shock and horror, most likely the final moments before his death. He was also wearing some light leather armor and held a broken sword in his right hand.

Based on his looks, it looked like some sort of young adventurer coming down here to the cathedral in search of treasure. But what he must have encountered left him with only death waiting at his doorstep.

As Kiba soon looked around, what he saw from the light of his torch horrified him a bit.

"My god…" Kiba whispered, forgetting the headache in his head from using God's name.

"This is…terrible," Karlamine was in disbelief in what she saw.

Down the hallway were more corpses, some decades old and some new. There were also skeletons of past adventurers who were centuries dead. But the gore and sight of it all left all of the ORC feeling terrified.

"What…happened here?" Asia asked whisperingly as she was behind Akeno, scared at the sight.

Koneko takes a look at some of the bodies. "Adventurers… They must have died in an ambush."

"But by who?" asked Xuelan. "This cathedral is abandoned save for what we have seen so far."

Everyone was silent as they rallied up to the middle of the hallway. As they did though, it could have just been them, but they could have sworn they started hearing whispers, like those of the damned.

Rias was keeping silent. While mortified of what the hallway showed her, she wondered what could have happened to these poor souls and how they got here in the first place. But the whispers echoing from the hallway's walls kept her distracted.

"Rias Gremory."

A dark voice flooded everyone's minds and echoed across the hallway. But to Rias, she knew whose voice it was.

"Diablo." She vehemently and angrily realized as she turned around to face frontwards.

Soon the hallway was lit up by the torches and a red dark power aura illuminated up from the room ahead, glowing violently.

"Rias Gremory!"

Suddenly, a red light shone from the room and Rias was lifted into the air by Diablo's psychic grip. Lifted high into the air, everyone could only watch helplessly, calling out to her name as she struggles against the psychic grip from the Lord of Terror. She opens her eyes a little bit before her face turned to one of shock and horror as a vision of what appears to be the Burning Hells in red takes hold of her.

"Now you see…" Diablo's voice echoed to her. "With the essence of the Pawn and the soulstone, your family has served their purpose."

Rias soon beheld Aidan impaled in chains, kept imprisoned within some sort of chamber deeper into the cathedral. He was hoisted up, levitating off from the ground slightly, as hooks and nails attached via chains penetrated through his hands, body, and back. His face was shrouded in darkness, unable to see his expression, yet the red soulstone on his forehead glows as Diablo speaks, and Rias' vision shakes every time Diablo spoke to her.

"My host body is forged," Diablo proclaimed."With it, I bring an end to the Eternal Conflict. An end to the long war at last."

As Rias' vision ends, she regains her senses and Diablo lets go of her, making her plummet to the ground. Luckily enough for her, Akeno and Kiba catch her and hoist her up. But that was the least of their worries as a door opens and countless Demons begin to pour forth. Everyone, including the three former servants of Riser's Peerage, prepares themselves for battle.

Rias finally understood what that vision had entailed. Aidan was attempting to seal himself away with Diablo in an effort to battle the Demon for all eternity. It was indeed a noble act of Aidan and anyone would have done the same if they were still in control.

But Tristram Cathedral was also Diablo's seat of power, a place for him to gather his strength to venture out into the world to spread terror and depravity to the populace.

As Rias stands up though, she proclaims in defiance, "My will is not so easily broken, Diablo. The Gremory Family shall fear you no longer!"

With that said, Rias takes out Dawnbreaker and envelops herself in the Power of Destruction, ready to take the Demons head on.

She was going to save Aidan from Diablo, no matter the cost.

And so the first chapter of the Darkening of Tristram Arc is out. Like I said, Fresh Meat was the hint for this and it will only get worse for everyone as they go deeper and deeper into the cathedral. Now if you think I am going to cover every single level, sixteen in all, then forget it. That will take way too long so I am just going to cover the most important levels and most memorable from the first Diablo game.

So what do we know so far? The history of Tristram revealed in a nutshell, Asia asking guidance from Auriel and being granted a weapon, a surprise cameo from Diablo II in the form of the archangel Hadriel, and the infamous Butcher. This chapter took a while but now we can move on to the real deal, which is the Dark Lord of Terror himself. With Sona and her Peerage dealing with the Butcher, now it just leaves Rias' Peerage and the three Phenex servants.

Speaking of Diablo, who knew Rias would receive visions from him in regards to the upcoming confrontation? It just goes to show for one thing and one thing only.

The final battle awaits near against Diablo.

I will give the ORC more screen time in terms of fighting now that Sona's is being taken care of by Fresh Meat. And the three Phenex servants will definitely play a role up in the next chapter.

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