High School DXD
The Horsemen
Chapter IV
The figure of light knelt down wordlessly dipping an extended limb towards churning waves of brackish sludge mixed of ash and dirt. Overhead pouring droplets of liquid washed over patches of green beginning to emerge from a ruined landscape, barren and absolutely unrelenting even though haze of reddish coloration seeped upwards. Warmth broke through a horizon with a lone star rising above as it washed over exposing what amounted to a beginning. And yet other darker hazes were seeping upward, if only to drag traces of red downward into blackening patches of green. It cycled without an end until the humanoid stood upright.
A haze settled around said figure in spiraling upwards dissipating until reddish droplets went through it constantly. Darker hazes began surging beneath a humanoid of light, it remained standing despite moving back until brackish liquid supported it's own limbs effortlessly. Yet light shined brightly seeking to drive surging hazes, if only to have more clawing upwards. Earth, liquid, ash and dust all fell within these streams of haze that shimmered obscuring light until only an emptied void within the landscape grew uncontrollably.
It stepped backwards further putting distance with rays of light striking forward. If only flickering rapidly into fading nothingness, all due to a storm brewing above as lightning coursed through skies casting schisms in unwavering clashes. Gusts of air swept past a humanoid whose very brightness shimmered, if outright fading with hazes of darker storms surging upwards beneath itself as it sharply tried stepping away. Yet only swirling shimmering gaps of air consumed light's constant struggle to pierce an unyielding void.
Despite an endless void consuming all light which a humanoid ceased backing away due to an obstacle looming overhead. A tall peak of cascading rock, being whittled and withered due to howling wind became illuminated. Lightning scattered sending an echo across a landscape of budding greenery to strike without warning. Several speared downward striking, as a flash of bluish and white gave way towards another source of light. Blackened smoke churned within a void as an ever glowering reddish and orange glow sent a void scattering all too viciously.
Greenery began to burn in earnest due to a storm's winds carrying heat and warmth, even as embers peeled off scattering behind. Light returned with it shinning bright as a humanoid walked behind slowly kneeling upon ashes, if only to see green return stronger and a horizon broke allowing warmth to bathe in it's wake. Among embers flaking into miniature glowing orbs, a figure stood seeing it mirror distant void's above a skyline. Where distant stars remained flickering endlessly unopposed if only to burn out, or grow where only void existed unchallenged.
Reddish haze swayed from embers into fleeting wind, if only carrying flame across a landscape which burnt away greenery turning brown. Rock shattered into raining glass, cascading and causing waves of liquid to roar upwards chipping away until a glowering surface appeared once a sun on the horizon dipped with time gradually slowing. Yet flaking embers settled to become dust, mixing within earth and liquid for greenery coloration to emerge unchallenged. Cycling it watched, standing and light illuminated endless landscapes succumbing to fiery walls being fed by gusts of storms causing stream to arise.
Though landscapes cycled within fiery rings, within it rippled akin to liquid waves and went onward with the lone humanoid of light following behind. Embers of glowering orange, red or yellow landed on it as light within it shined brighter. Unhindered, unchallenged and seemingly without intent as surging streams of darkened haze crept upwards, from behind always clawing it's way over cooled earth upon merely in reach of this humanoid's steps. Yet fire seemingly ignited around in it's wake driving away a void's chilling presence.
Lightning struck again scorching larger portions of earth, each strike coming so close that flashes of all consuming light left little hidden. Yet only embers flickered downwards until a humanoid reached out allowing glowing specks of orange and yellow dimming into small piles. The heat retained itself until it became an ever churning mix of red, before it allowed them to descend into being swept by winds become only ash. Though this figure remained in place, a lone yet swift ember flew until struck where only light reigned for a face.
Embers around it ignited in earnest once again as fire swept upwards, clawing and spiraling within itself as a lone bright light remained in an epicenter. Rippling waves sent numerous embers flecking upwards, if only to land within as a figure remained in place. They settled one by one, glowing strongly and seemingly consuming a humanoid of light which remained standing undisturbed despite light itself becoming an unyielding blend of orange, yellow and red to turn to into another coloration not seen on a budding landscape of greenery.
Two extensions emerged setting thousands upon thousand of embers streaking across air, as two angled portions of light wrapped around their own originator. Flaming walls were silenced when wind began dying down, if only just enough for ripping waves of heat to settle partially. Yet through ash did flame churn inward as a figure remained in place. And lightning flashed overhead crackling viciously to strike around this figure of light as two extension extended sharply behind, if only to remain in place without moving.
Through flames which spun, churned and inevitably began fading away did two embers ignite into a radiant yet earth scorching red. They remained in place, if only for a fleeting moment as flames were sent widely in nearly to crudely match an undying light peering. And as one powerful storm churned over did the humanoid raise a portion of it's own bright extension. Within churning flames did a ripple of wind seemingly mimic a humanoid, if only for embers to burn to dust as it was left with only ash behind in it's wake.
Reaching forward did a limb nurture flames which were dying underneath. Though once closer embers came to be ignited viciously anew, they curled and wrapped yet nothing turns to ash except for a golden light giving warmth for greenery. Seemingly in place slowly but surely, below a sprout while small in stature yet an ever clearer sign of life, emerged. It was a lone piece of green which extended upwards toward light, as it angled due to wind's along sides did spreading white pedals reveal itself. At least until an ember settled on it, igniting greenery though it's remains were coveted as the humanoid knelt down taking it's ashes away.
The horn's bellowing rattled my ears until both eyes snapped open as sweat dropped past in sheer free fall to stain tiled padding. Shivers ran up an arm, or rather I felt my damned bones shuddering underneath such a horn's intensity. And immediately roaring cheers came from everywhere, I eyed hundreds if not thousands of various creatures. They're not all human, they're honest to hell actual devils and anyone who isn't is something else. Who'd have thought I'd walk right into hell inside this city, god help me since isn't that just surreal?
Standing upright I noticed neither Chase, Slim or rather a lack of anything had been once bloody blotches. Instead of bloodied streaks staining a tiled floor, I could only see it showing myself staring back. It was so thoroughly polished black akin to mirrors, but I wasn't down below two stories and stood literally on display. Unlike the bottom tier of these pits, it was built for someone or more to get themselves killed. No distractions to get me aggravated, wonderful but to only have motivation because I got my friend's face smashed in by something not actually human. God damn it, if devil's are as real as me? Well then, I hope God is that you're listening to someone for once you jackass.
Metallic bars were angled inwardly for being capable to tear up flesh, if seeing hook like edges bending downward to pin anything in place. Pits of fire set in three rows of six were evenly spaced out, as rippling air sent waves of heat and they were constantly burning enough for a man to be thrown in easily. And once I glared upwards I couldn't help but impressively sneer, "Looks like you're just as real as them? Right?"
Four massive figures were aligned in lunging darkened shapes masquerading as spears into a lone light where whitened humanoids had wings extended. It was a dome entirely sculpted with internal arches whereas other figures were in between them. Some were kneeling, others clutching their chest as either side of humanoid's were lancing respective weapons through them. But others were reaching upwards, or downwards towards smaller yet distinct imagery. Spiraling just underneath a main eye attraction consuming work made it out as the only thing possible, it'd been a war given so many had been painted together in mind numbing detail.
Turning away to stare past rows of flaming cauldron like bowls spewing fire upwards did I start laughing quietly. God's real after all, well I'll be damned. Angels are real as well, if devil's are coming to kill me for telling them to pray because hell...isn't their heaven. My spine curled in almost heat inducing shiver in just realizing that it was real, as in everything in those books which many outright ignored. Heaven existed apparently, Hell was real and as such possibly everything else that many considered only myth had been actually damned real enough!
The bellowing horn resounded above quivering an entire arena as I swayed in place to hear metal beginning to squeal in protest. On an opposite end bars literally started folding inward, in providing a doorway when crimson light flared behind. It brightly illuminated a crowd of creatures who rose to their feet, clapping thunderously and I could hear what they were saying. It was only one word yet it shook my bones in place, if only feeling sensations of rumbling due to stomping feet which were beyond any humane possibility.
"Kill!" These creatures hollered out in wild abandonment as a baritone horn went off revealing one lone figure approaching from this crimson light. Some sort of whitish symbol glowered angrily until it faded with something walking right into my line of sight. Oh yeah, I guess one of them really wanted a piece of me for pissing him off. Maybe God heard my wish, so let's see if you got guts taking on a man who's got everything to gain.
Unlike beforehand one of those gate greeting devils, or whatever came without his tinted glasses smiling far too smugly. Only dress pants with an undershirt with collars rolled up exposed elongated fingers trailing downward. Flesh split with an ear wrenching flickering, if only to spread wings that were crooked into angling forward. Eyes which were utterly blackened to house a singular slit of yellowed hunger sickly on display. An actual to god damned devil, a creature that preyed upon mankind stood not even fifty feet from where I stood grinning ear to ear since all I had to do was survive to pay their kindness forward.
"It's remarkable your arrogance grows especially when a mere man see's us." The creature's voice sounded humane yet there was an ever guttural tone freeing itself. Flesh once seemingly natural looked too pale, too faded given blackening lines stretched where cheek bones met along a jawline to widen far beyond nature's intentions. Nails lengthened gradually to wear it simply scrapped one cauldron's base to see pieces of stone being skimmed off, "But unlike your kin, I as well as others of my own do wish to see your kind being put in their place...human!"
I stared right back into this creature's eyes seeing nothing but savage anticipation to have my face broken joyfully. It smiled far too pleasantly, too much that I didn't need to see it's coy gaze crinkle expecting myself to be afraid. But oddly enough, I reached down absently feeling an ever growing surge of heat as cold metal remained in place. So, let's find out if that old saying is true enough. Devils, angels, heaven and hell...if they're real, then I guess I should start praying to find an answer quickly enough!
Walking past flaming cauldron's that seemed a mix of yellowed and reddish flames ignited along with all six locations immediately. The horn above bellowed once again as it looked over to raise a hand to suddenly slash across the throat. Let's see you try it, asshole. And an entire crowd roared willingly signaling he'd do what they'd been savoring to finally see. They looked down on humans apparently, they were above us because they were stronger, faster and I only needed to remind myself of Chase's half dead body for bringing him right into hell unknowingly. If these god damned creatures wanted my blood so bad, I'd give them something worth to prove them wrong.
Grinning too damned eagerly made it pause briefly as I stood simply in place wondering how much faith I'd humored. Lightly clenching fingers to curl them did I raise both to fold one over another, "Well, in that case may I ask God to bless you for strength, amen!" A creature's face twisted immediately to lash out angrily breaking apart stone in fits of painstaking rage. Perhaps they did fear something because apparently God was enough, if I kept believing enough to make it happen and that alone gave me a chance to enjoy it.
"Praise the Lord for all His glory, praise him and I bless you in His name, amen." I walked forward unable to resist grinning far too damned thrilled. Nothing else made sense to attempt, if they felt pain because of damned words? So fucking be it, praise God and I hope he listens to me for once because I'm having too much fun. Devils hate God, at least that make sense because bullets don't work on them and I'll pray to rip this bastard's throat out!
The devilish creature shrieked out angrily nearly biting it's own tongue off, "Enough speaking! Fight me you wretched human!" It actually demanded I cease invoking something that was hurting it, if anything it'd be my saving grace to figure something out. I guess fighting fair wasn't expected, but surviving is never fair. I'm just that damned good, because bullets won't work outright and I'm starting to wonder if tearing this bastard's throat out will make him slower. But the trick is getting close enough, so it makes mistakes!
Another ear wrenching shriek followed when it covered ears as I had a sardonic humor, "Bless you for being so kind, may He give you strength and faith in His name...amen." I couldn't believe enough because I imagined someone up in the heavens was giving me a sign. Because this was too damned good to not pass up, or remotely considering anything less as opportunity. Heaven existed, Hell existed and that alone couldn't be proven unless I found a way to see what else these damned creatures who viewed me as underneath them.
Two wings swept backwards angrily when it finally snapped an internal hatred of something I never believed fully. Devil's hate God which I can say works out well, now how else would someone have known? If lead bullets wouldn't get a job down given they'd walk it off, I only had one lone switch blade just inside my short's pocket. Just enough for a palm's width, but it'd been sharpened enough to where a small nick drew blood on anyone close. And it was short, to puncture quickly since I aimed to go right for it's literal throat!
"Like I said when you fucked with my friend and I, pal." My leering smile exposed teeth despite heat surging whenever I exhaled. Adrenaline kept flowing in earnest when dropping both arms, "I hoped I'd be able to break that face, so I think God's actually with me for once." I laughed loudly finding it all too damned surreal, but seeing an actual devil being enraged over something so simply as a mere word? I'd find a way to break it down, I'd earn my money and by God alone, I was in hell making a profit for myself and a friend.
The creature's face twisted beyond humane limits to a point where skin seemed so stretched it'd been closer to plastic covering. They're not human, no matter how much they wear our skin! It stalked forward rasping out air shrilly declaring, "I will rip your head off!" Clasping hands again did an impish smirk force to cover both ears screeching out sound just to drown our words. Yet it seemed to barely do much good entirely.
"God bless you, amen." I even made a cross gesture to have it rear back shrieking when it fell onto both eyes absolutely infuriated. Oh, I'm going to enjoy this far too much to be healthy. What else could be done if praying alone made an actual devil experience pain? I haven't much of a devoted man, but I still believed bitterly since I had nothing less in willingness. So perhaps faith in a way, even if I wasn't entirely committed still held power for a man, I sure as hell didn't understand because I believed regardless.
It stumbled away briefly before lashing out to shatter a stone cauldron spout fire out in a blinding act of utter rage. Pieces of granite stung my bared arms, though I managed staying well out of arm's reach. Just remembering Chase being flung around so easily, it gave me motivation to hold off. If I get closer, I'm dead but if I stay away? I'll be dead given it's faster, stronger and so where does that leave me? It wasn't difficult to see one solution to survive when everything outside this cage wanted me dead, as well as within it.
The pair of wings straightened immediately when it glared with such malice in those yellow slits to exhibit such hate. And now, time to see if it's pissed off enough. I sharply angled myself grinning smugly taunt aloud, "What's wrong devil boy?" Both arms were flush against my own sides with hands flexing loosely in sheer anticipation, "Quit being a bitch about God, it's not like you're afraid of some make believe man high in a sky on his throne. Let's see how big you are when I break that face in, if you can't take it."
Claws for fingers racked against stone with an unholy expression of fury with it shrieking, "You dare to speak when you reek of His arrogance! What man are you to believe in to be so full of Wrath, human!" Whatever he'd been spouting came to a peak within myself, beckoning it forward brazenly to send a message. I could care less about God, since I did one slight taunt to keep a middle finger raised casually motioning it forward, "Then fucking do something about it...pussy."
It's eyes were widening absolutely infuriated until roaring out to sprint forward. Wings angled back when it leaped upwards as my heart pounded underneath seeing everything. Not yet, hold your ground and...now! I smiled savagely gleeful when I dove forward, if only to roll away when a fist smashed tiles so resoundingly it sent a miniature shock-wave rattling metallic bars. Skidding against bare shoulders did I catch myself to run upward to jump off a cauldron's side to get above it, I never once hesitated to be rewarded.
Between two wings which lightly bit into my exposed arms, I wrapped an arm around it's neck and locked myself to squeeze. Let's see how you like getting jabbed in the throat! Whirling with near force alone, I hand fingers tightening to grasp where it's throbbing flesh circulated blood flow and it tried elbowing me right anywhere to get thrown off. Yet I held on screaming into it's ear unable to resist hearing an ear shattering bellow of pain, "God bless you my friend, so may the Lord grant you strength amen!"
The devil stumbled onto both knees shrieking a high pitched noise torn between rage and pain to rear back shaking itself. But finger nails dug in deeper, gradually and I quickly wrapped both legs around his spine's base. Legs were locked with myself pulling back as I felt the switch blade inside a pocket, "You're going to wish God helps you, fuck wit!" Shouting when my hand yanked away to flick a crudely sharpened piece of metal to drive right into where kidney's should have been placed, if this thing was human superficially.
Jabbing quickly did it pierce flesh underneath white clothing as crimson started gradually seeping out in droves. Everything blurred with bellowing waves of hundreds cheering wildly, stomping sensations boomed around despite gripping nearly out of sheer desperation to keep his throat clamped down. And yet not once did he stop flinging around, it became a literal damned struggle to just focus on slicing into anywhere visible. This son of a bitch isn't even slowing down, hell he's getting faster and faster every damned second!
An entire back got soaked so thoroughly I started slipping mainly because of crimson seeping upwards every-time wings flapped recklessly. Stings gradually built up until only fire could be felt akin to an inferno from hell itself, "Would you bleed out! For God's sake!" I roared absolutely in disbelief to literally out of desperation jab his face's side, if only to feel air sharply whistling past ears. And the next thing I knew only solid pressure sent my vision blackening.
Hot flesh boiling embers drenching my entire back in a sea of unrelenting agony as pieces of jagged granite shot past. He just smashed us both through damned stone, fucking hell my spine is worse than rubber! Numbed throbbing sensations were running upwards as well downward, I couldn't even imagine how shredded my own skin had been run through. Yet I kept jabbing striking anywhere above a neckline, if only to hear an audible popping sound with a devil pausing momentarily out of sheer disbelief.
Until an elbow thunderously caught my rib forcing out a strangled rasp and seething scream! Wings tensed up scrapping both sides as he literally sped upwards roaring in a guttural shrieking trying to shake off a knife implanted right into his eye's side. Breathing through ragged rasps did I viciously curl and dig in deeper, struggling all the while to not fall off as an arm tightened accordingly in a blind self-preservation. Holy shit! Just what in God's name does it take for this damned thing to bleed out...it should be slowing down, but he's going faster!
Wincing due to flakes of granite being literally sheered off when an almighty sensation of being crushed took my lung's breath away. The damned thing was flying in some sort demented sprawling movement within a dome! I couldn't remotely see where yet alone look up, or else my own damned skull would've been pulp easily. Oh to hell with you, let's see you keep this up! One eye isn't enough, so I'll take the other.
Tearing down to have some sort of liquid slosh right into my own blurring peripherals did a knife's edge jab continuously. I only saw red, gray and spouting glimmers of yellow mixed fires when he came thunderously landing to shatter a tiled floor, "I will rip your spine out." A knife's edge was finally caught by a palm with it being buried fluently, I froze merely out of disbelief. It's face turned despite seeing some sort of torn up face riddled with reddish trails of meat, darkened crimson and his lack of an eye didn't comfort myself at all.
Flesh began knitting itself inwards once again as earlier with a bullet being pushed out. But to see an actual eye regrowing not even inches from my stunned expression, I could see veins literally weaving together regenerating an internal organ. No fucking way! Literally no amount of words, or thoughts were suitable given I felt a slight tug from his hand crunching down. I didn't even have time to scream out of frustration, or agony in feeling an internal snapping. And air became too inclined when momentum slammed me back first into metallic bars.
Coughing loudly I slid down limply growling to ward off urges to yell constantly, "Great idea!" Seething out of two words when lifting up an arm to see my forearm a ugly mix of purplish and blue left little imagination. Bastard fractured my damned arm, holy hell! Blinking away numbed sensations did several droplets land above to run down inflamed skin, I followed partially to see a cascading series of crimson dripping without abandonment. It trailed right behind where I slowly moved up to realize yet again I'd be that source, if not feeling anything save for stinging and waves of nerve blistering heat.
Outside bars did roaring cheers become nearly thunderously maintained with one word being spread akin to a plague, "Kill! Kill! Kill!" Spitting out a glob of reddish meat, I took a deep breath to glare despite breathing heavily. It didn't take much to understand why, or think because none of them expected a decent fight. These devils wanted a god damned slaughter, but the fact was I'd given every spectator a riling surge of twisted entertainment.
Fingers just below a fractured arm stilled moved, even if it hurt like absolute hell to slowly roll my wrist several times. But it wasn't broken, or snapped thankfully enough. Anything more than just holding a revolver, then I see my own damned bone. Knives don't work apparently, so what do I have to do to kill these fucking thing? I got up despite shaking limbs to keep an injured limb behind, out of sight and flickered to where I'd thrown a coat aside. The firearm remained in open view but it wouldn't do much entirely.
The devil's facial wounds were knitting together unworldly at a degree with an eye regrowing from literally only pieces. A white undershirt with sleeves rolled had been unraveled with streaks of crimson soaking around sides, but it seemed to be drying out underneath. Wonderful, I guess bleeding this bastard out isn't possible either. How the hell can I walk out alive, ah...to hell with it. If I'm dying today, so be it!
Bracing against serrated metallic bars left an idea given, if this devil kept up as another attempt would do me better. How pissed off are you, let's find out! Gesturing for him to move it along, "Did I make you angry, devil boy? God bless you, a..." It didn't bother stopping due to no longer tolerating prayers to God apparently, if by shooting forward with both wings angled sharply back. His screeching drowned out my voice yet I smiled far too happily again, devils were prone to blindly attacking if they got hurt enough.
Diving out of the way towards where my own cat lay in a heap did I run without looking back. Metallic bars shook violently mixed within a guttural yelp, but it gave time for myself to skid forward curling an injured arm in avoiding further harm. If I can't stab an eye out, I'm shooting both out and tearing this fucker's throat open! Behind I felt air whisking forward as I immediately shoulder rolled well out of reach from claws for fingers scrapping past tiled floors. Marks longer than knives missed my damned leg barely, if only just to reach out in yanking the revolver to continue running in putting as much distance as possible to get a shot.
Five cauldron's spouting out fire were all what remained for myself to place any hope in trying to survive longer. Quickly looking back I witnessed a devil's ascending form to gain altitude to spear himself forward bellowing out an almost savaged promise, "Run all you like human! No man can hide from us, none can!" I flipped the bastard's smug promise off, if only darting to skid past a stone base cradling an arm to cope with internal fiery sensation's of nerves tingling due to screaming in wild damning agony.
"Who say's I'm hiding when you bleed red like a damned pig!" I shouted back laughing to see him hovering overhead with wings flapping in unrestrained tension. His face had gradually healed to a point where only faint red scarring remained, even if his eye looked murkier than another though both narrowed to feral slits of disbelief. Fire from within a cauldron roared upwards partially obscuring us both in a broiling wave of induced heat. Strangely enough it didn't bother me despite being so damned close to have flesh burnt, I barely felt anything except for a surging numbness due to adrenaline keeping myself alive.
If I'm dying here today so damned be it, but I'll damned long before when I'm taking as much of you down as possible! Eying flaming pits where massive ovals harbored fire, I figured if I couldn't bleed him out? I'd put his damned face into these fiery ovens, I never considered well done fights. But I made an exception to get this devil extra crispy, if it managed to catch a flame naturally. It came down to provoking it further, if it wanted to hear words.
"May the Lord in heaven grant you..." The devil never bothered hesitating to dive forward scrapping claws against granite tiles in a bid to drown out a blessing. Yet it came far too fast, too damned fast and I dropped away seeing an entire cauldron's get ripped off a foundation! Aiming right through an exposed hole where fire surged upwards, I found my heart frozen due to one detail shimmering in those yellowed slits.
Only one blackened blur of a wing sliced through flames striking me flush in the chest. And in one moment I saw him not even an arm's length away, but then only air. I got flung backward flailing desperately, though force alone sent my back right into another section of bars. Unlike last time, I gagged looking down seeing one metallic bar curving right through an arm. Son of a bitch! Gagging outright I couldn't stop a mixture of screaming and trying to stumble forward, but it was locked right underneath muscle too effortlessly.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! I internally raged roaring out trying to stop tears yet it was too much. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't stop hot liquid trails despite bellowing to ward off being skewered. Red rivers were practically flowing out of my damned arm, I couldn't stop feeling chilling sensation of watching myself bleeding out. Stone clacking to the ground made my blurring vision see an outline lugging an oval capable to crush any man. A revolver lay off to my side out of reach, unable to be used and I was pinned despite gripping a serrated bar's edge to pry it loose.
This devil's laughter bordered on longing to smile beyond viciously, "Your arrogance still holds human! You want to see Him so badly?" Using only a singular arm to mock my damned self sent waves of undeniable fury to get me planting both feet. Straining I yelled out trying in a half bid motion to tear myself free, "Enjoy your last moments! I'll send you on your wretched way to burn for your Wrath damning your soul!"
Blood rushed through both ears with never heart beat signaling a rapid increase given a reason as to why. Fear coursed from head, to toe and I watched stunned despite grinning weakly to stare right into a creature that wasn't human. Chilled tingling started loosening what little will I'd been pushing, to only see a serrated bar only half way through. Yet too much red stream out pooling, I glanced down seeing myself in a reddish reflection. I was going to die in a place that was hell, so why couldn't I stop smiling in this creature's face?
"Do it pal, so I'll see your ass in hell!" My heart was beating so rapidly that it hurt to breathe yet alone think of anything else. Cold crept up along a spinal cord due to serrated edges digging further inward, I stared right into this creature's face to leer far too entertained. It wanted me to beg, I'd have done it to anyone considering meth addict's had died within hours of having fixes and they'd wanted more to prolong their lives. But unlike them I held no regret to do what I'd done, hell alone I'd die laughing at whoever do me in because I'd get the last laugh and that alone gave me solace to spit in God's, or these devil's faces.
Jerking forward weakly did a metallic edge leave a trail of reddish flesh being pulled off. It'd might as well been made out of fish hooks and glue. But the creature's face twisted to grin brazenly when hoisting an entire oval stone cauldron that'd weighed tons possibly, "There's no hell for men in the underworld, human. I can assure you, so meet your maker and send Him my long earned disdain for preaching arrogance in mankind!"
He spun around roaring a victorious cry to which an entire crowd rose to their feet savagely egging an end to a bloodied finish. Gray and an entire wall of yellow reddish mixed embers came streaking towards myself, again I felt only a chilling seep into my bones when seeing it finally. Perhaps death came quickly, if I dared to hope as he released an impending doom to smash me into pulp. It didn't take too long as his wings snapped to a halt did an entire mass of stone, granite and fiery pieces shot through air. And as a sharp whistling slammed right into me did an internal cold suddenly disperse when fire met my face, but by then I could only inhale once to just see...steam slip past my eyes.
Embers remained alight despite a humanoid of light wandering among growing lush greenery holding pieces visibly. It wandered seemingly despite among rolling fields of green sprouting similar stems of white and yellowed peddles, air pushed distant ash and liquid into descending in wild abandon to further spreed greenery. But despite such it turned to glance down at hot embers unable to be snuffed out by pooling liquid. Wings of light draped behind when storms rumbled overhead, as peaks of rock were breaking underneath strains to cause cascading sensations thundering onto dirt to mimic overhead booming in churning skies.
Lightning scattered above striking below among fields of greenery igniting walls of flame cycling through with ash in it's wake. The humanoid figure simply stood still looking behind in seeing hazes of darker coloration forming, shifting and extending outwards consuming warmth to leave only cold behind akin to a void beyond the skies themselves. It began backing away despite holding embers in place that were an ever consuming orange, if only growing brighter when it extended light to pierce through veils of darkened hazes. But like beforehand in eons past, it thickened in creeping over dying embers of ash and greenery.
Backing away did wings extend brightly once again although light dimmed when a horizon's distant sun emerged. Flames licked their way through greenery seemingly without an issue, as wind pushed embers further ahead igniting more in innumerable flakes of glowing orange and yellow. But soon entire swaths of dirt, rock and green surged into unyielding walls. The humanoid stepped further away bypassing flame entirely despite embers within it's own view glowering an ever potent red, if not becoming brighter despite cold darkened hazes seeping upward to snuff out wherever it'd walked in quiet stillness.
Rippling waves of shimmering heat boiled unopposed as darkened streams surged trying to quell a line of blazes. Yet the humanoid's glowing light remained unaffected, if only to become brighter melding within it's confines effortlessly. Powerful gusts of air pushed fire forward, to grow and seemingly veer forward without any direction yet embers were uplifted just behind a humanoid's extended wings slipping through gaps of light. Reddish coloration seeped from underneath a figure's very presence, to twist and writhe around it momentarily amidst an inferno of a storm as lightning split skies overhead within churning clouds.
Wind swept embers out an extended limb to whisked away as a figure merely looked upward following ashy trails of dying orange. Amidst rippling shimmers of heat did an unknowable appearance take shape, slowly but it seemingly came among descending embers settling over it's very form. Yet the humanoid with wings lowered extension of light, if only raising limbs to allow them to settle without hesitation. Hundreds, if not thousands of small glowing pieces caught themselves ablaze trailing over the humanoid's exterior with light becoming akin to a star that crested over fields of ash, to send darker coloration's fizzling away.
Standing in place embers singularly began falling off a humanoid pooling below to which it looked down despite stepping back again. A small spark of greenery among ash to light one lone flame that spread circulating within an ever large pile, if only glowering a vibrant mix of reddening orange like coloration. Rippling waves of broiling air bordered encroaching walls of flames, though within their churning movements did two embers get whisked off a humanoid's form. Amidst howling gusts of air roaring did they seemingly stay within place smouldering into bright orange like mixture of yellowness orbs in a rippling steam.
Ash swept up from dirt seemingly whirled due to gusts of a storm crackling lightning overhead as a star's warmth fled underneath thickened clouds. The humanoid stepped closer taking only two steps to look down at a pile of embers solidifying. Flames grew upward, if only ceasing when extensions of light upon wings allowed unending traces of orange to fall downward. Further adding more without backing away despite darkening hazes struggling to claw upwards from earth around it, but boiling heat constantly sent them withering away into gusts.
Seemingly rippling flames moved together due to wind's fanning their potency to nimbly spread to where nothing met it's edges. The winged humanoid stepped closer offering embers that continuously grew within it's very extended limb, even though broiling ripples came within mere reach yet light only shined brighter in closer proximity. Gusts carried undying embers to settle within a pile at the base of these flames and one elongated flame curled upward, ensnaring the humanoid extended limb with flames licking across an ever brighter outline. Rippling heat capable to send rock glowering into whitened sparkling gems seemingly faded away, as embers came streaking forward engulfing a humanoid's winged form without warning.
Flecks of burning greenery, ash and dust obscured it's entirety for seemingly an eternity, if only to break apart. Streaks of lightning crackled across an entire skyline, if only for flames envelop the humanoid which simply stepped backward allowing a cascading momentum of blistering embers that turned rock to glass. Sinking just beneath dirt, ash and remains of greenery did liquid rock cool amidst flames arising to churn underneath a humanoid's wings. And as storms thundered overhead did it take two steps forward.
It knelt down extending a limb towards an ever growing cooling pit of rock burnt to fracturing glass as wind swept once powerfully aside to have dust drift away. But as a limb of light just brushed against churning walls of flame did an earth shattering tremor originate below. Peaks distantly tumbled underneath as the humanoid found itself slammed backwards. Without warning, without sound and without once failing in brightening greenery set ablaze, as fire snaked around where a neck could have been amidst light itself. And the walls of flame encircled, licking away to burn everything, or anything into dust once again.
Two limbs grasped opposing fire which slithered over growing potent yet it looked up into burning embers which solidified into unyielding orange. Behind burning fields hazes of darkened coloration clawed back upward snuffing out once lush fields, as they turned into brackish pits of brownish sludge and inevitably froze over due to darkened voids consuming it swiftly. Yet fire remained around a winged humanoid which found itself uplift against a peak of granite, even though cascading rocks tumbled from above distantly. Within fires of reddish, yellow and mixtures of white did a withering extension seemingly grasp tightly.
Slowly an almost identical figure arose from where glass induced dust had sparked a limb grasping the humanoid itself. Sluggishly despite fierce winds seeking to whither away walls of fire, it stood up swaying even though it forced a humanoid's winged outline further into granite. Fracturing once unyielding stone capable to withstand tremors, gusts and storms, it fell piece by piece landing to crush fields of burning greenery. Yet the humanoid of light merely reached past a limb of spiraling fire towards where another figure arose fully.
Standing upright a figure similar to the humanoid lunged with unseen force to have it smash right back into rock abruptly! Rock fractured into glass, dust emitted behind as flames condensed shrinking an entire encircle to leave only blistering waves of air boiling between them. Smaller yet dampened flames snaked underneath larger more potent streams, but light continuously melded to where a pair of orange seemed to rival a star setting over the horizon. An entire rock face smouldered openly to shine reflecting streaks of light piercing beyond flames, if only effortlessly chasing away a growing cold akin to the void over greenery.
Lightning crackled overhead stretching across an entire skyline dousing landscapes with pale yet bluish flashes. Thunder bellowed just behind sending tremors to cause peaks of rock further away, to tumble and fall into sloshing waves of liquid rippling beyond their heights. Yet the two humanoid remained standing throughout it all, as wreathing flames curled around a winged being of light standing unmoved. Wings unwrapped themselves from behind their originator to simply curl around wreathing flames to clasp one limb simply in return.
Earth turned into dust underneath them both as rising flames akin to liquid boiled upward beneath dirt into sending an entire landscape into charred ash. Darkened hazes beyond flames fled due to boiling waves of air igniting rock into glassy glints amidst flames of orange and burned without an end, if only for time itself crawled to a halt. And yet one lone limb brightened by fire's potency reached upward to simply remain where eyes of glowering orange met. Just underneath with wings curling around both within a ring of fire encircling them both.
The first sensation of fingers lightly reaching my face brought eyelids fluttering open to see only a gray out slab of granite. Inhaling slightly a rush of heat followed by subtle warmth trickled up my spinal cord, even though serrated bars had literally made everything worse off. Yet I chuckled quietly, "Death is supposed to be painless, huh? What a load of bullshit!" Glancing down into seeping streams of crimson hardly seemed worthwhile consider I should have bled out, I doubted I had less than a minute to wonder why I survived being crushed.
It's too hot, too damned hot! I grunted when an unwavering flood of an inferno rushed up to my head as I bared teeth to escape this hellish surge. What the hell, I'm burning up! I needed something to get out of this place, or by God anything to breathe in air colder than within an ever growing inferno for a confined wedge. My lungs were filling with literal damned fire as a rippling flame begun smouldering underneath one hand, I tried jerking away yet it seemingly grew much to a panic to reflexively kick away.
Growling in sheer instinctive panic did I try covering my face, but it only seemingly ignited to make me scream expecting agonizing burns. Looking away momentarily to see dripping serrated edges of a metal bar did something strange occur, if believing a lack of nerves signaling pain itself. Am I going crazy, or...what? Blinking away disbelief when flames practically slithered across reddish soaked flesh which had been shredded by granite, it simply kept itself alight not before trailing upwards past wounds exposing internal reddening muscle.
Quickly any sense of cold faded immediately once flames dampened to literally sink into wounds were hissing flesh melded together. Breathing out in shock with steam escaping did it a light headed sensation force myself to lean back exhaling, "Damn...that's nice!" Mumbling undeniably in bliss to move an arm freely again, if only to leer when I reached with another hand towards smouldering embers of flames seeping underneath pinned knee caps. As soon as fingers came into contact did everything become lighter entirely!
Flames hissed over drenched clothe coming into contact with shredded scarring that eerily slipped upwards to my bare shoulder. Metallic bars turned red gradually, I couldn't stop laughing out of sheer disbelief. It didn't hurt, I found strength to twitch legs which made an entire damned slab of granite quiver. This damned rock probably weighs a hell lot more than I do, but it's like I can bench press this fucker. Holy hell, I have to be losing my mind because I can't explain why I'm still breathing when I'd have been skewered chunks.
Snarling to lightly bite my inner cheek did I jerk a shoulder free from serrated edges meant to keep anything alive in place. Grasping further underneath to slid forward partially, I struck an entire pile of embers which flashed with an explosive mixture of yellow and red, I stared in muted shock to see fingers lightly on fire. More...I need more, I'm damned enjoying getting hot now! And I owe that devil son of a bitch to get his head removed, I'm pissed off!
Crimson pools began boiling in earnest to emit steam which I inhaled deeply to have an internal inferno growing beyond anything I'd experience. It was beyond getting drunk, it'd made it almost entirely incomparable because it was too damned addicting. Straining to sit up, I placed both hands with flames seething away at clothing yet didn't burn away at all. Rippling waves circulated snaking around my own forearms, they were constantly expanding to have tips scorching metal into literal white melting droplets. Following them to which lead up into shoulders, it gave me a tingling sensation behind my back once I exhaled deeply a steadier stream of steam that made granite peel away leaving little imagination.
The slab of granite jolted once I began pressing it forward unable to stop breathing in burning stone and metal. Ashes were settling on my chest to further ignite smaller yet conjoined lines of withering flames that kept wounds hissing away. Grasping an edge did a surge of adrenaline get momentum, "I need more!" I bellowed out that last word unable to control myself, I needed to quench a hunger that built up as if I'd done meth! It made my stomach churn violently, I couldn't stop it and by God I wanted out of this damned hole!
An entire slab violently got flung aside smashing against a cage's interior to have it rattle vigorously given vibrations hit my spinal cord. Reaching upward I used spaces between bars, if only to stumble partially to look up irritably. Holy...shit. Metal literally began bending downward growing a subtle reddish coloration as it melted in place. Coloration mixed from red shot blending into orange and inevitably becoming a glowing white of droplets catching other portions on fire. For once I didn't hesitate to reach forward in having more being soaked up to quell a need to eat, it helped so much and by God, I still wanted more of it entirely.
Outside an entire crowd of spectators full of devils, humans or whatever had died down to an audible rumbling. Peering through melting bars did expression of stunned wonder, disbelief and utter fascination met my glaring gaze. It seemed brighter inside oddly enough, "Disgusting." I chuckled loudly seeing streams of blackened mists oozing off them, it looked like a damned smog which smelled like absolute shit, it was too damned disgusting and their eyes were too feral to be human. Most of them weren't human given a few of them sprouted leather like wings when portions of an entire cage melted inwards.
Cracking my neck to ward off stiffness certainly helped when pieces of loose granite fell onto a tiled floor. I can't believe, what I'm seeing. Among splintered tiles of polished black which reflected myself in somewhat shattered images, I witnessed flames clawing their way upwards over my damned head as they fell streaming behind. Hissing steam escaped when two eyes seemingly smouldered in their sockets released steam anytime I blinked rapidly. It was too damned surreal, too much yet when I glanced upward did something appealing take all that away.
"You should have cut my head off, pal." Leering hungrily to crack both sets of knuckles in seeing a stunned devil stepping away despite being half way across in leaving the cage. Every literal inch of my flesh burned far too damned natural, for every breath seemed closer to ice just warding off an inferno that kept surging. Underneath ragged shoes steam escaped with tiles fracturing whenever I moved to just sink underneath sweltering pallets of gravel, they were splintering due to an intense wave of heat that only kept becoming more potent.
Above an audible horn's baritone sounded off momentarily, if only to be cut short when it'd be apparent I wasn't dead. I still need more, I can't stop shaking! Several cauldron's of fire roared upwards when eying a stunned devil which remained rooted in place. His eyes were constantly glancing as if trying to figure out how, or what in hell's name just happened. Leering to expose teeth did I just reach into spouting fires to nearly scream from wild abandonment, if beforehand was an adrenaline rush then I just found cloud eleven in damned euphoria. I reached further down until heat practically scorched away cuts, or bruising to a point where an immediate jolt underneath myself sent a literal rumbling of stress to granite!
Now this is more like it! An entire hand from finger to shoulder was lit with yellow turned reddish flames that glowered towards crimson red, if only to sink beneath inflamed skin. Inhaling deeply I tasted trace embers sizzling for a spine tingling electrified sensation, "More." I whispered once a cauldron's internal blaze began smouldering until only blackened ash remained at it's depths. And I couldn't stop resisting to sprint over towards another which spewed out flames, I slammed my hands right until I hit a damned bottom just for pleasure's sake alone.
Although a stomach churning odor managed in having my face dipping right into flames to see a cross turning white hot. Guess it's not flame retardant, or something. Seeing what little metal remained oozing downward left little shape left to it's original state, it simply liquefied dripping past torn clothing until shining partially. Droplets turned into damned glassy shards, before smashing onto granite to become literal dust. Ironically I reached down catching one to see glassy ooze so damned hot, it'd have burnt through human flesh entirely.
These nightmares I keep seeing when I sleep, or nap aren't just dreams. But can't linger on them now, I get something to wish it'd killed me. Lazily snorting into letting it fall which shattered into dust left little imagination, I had priorities to humor considering a devil hadn't moved from where it'd tried believing it had won. I owe Chase big time, but I owe this fucking thing so others of it's kind get the damned message. You fuck with anyone I bring along, then you're going to hell with God's blessing to make it painfully worse.
The cauldron's internal fiery center dissipated abruptly when I yanked an arm free to see only wisps of blackened smoke. A devil's voice cracked demanding, "What in Lucifer's name! What sacred gear do you hold, human?" It stepped back due to crackling tiles of stone fracturing further beyond wherever I stepped. Glowing lines beneath were similar to fire threatening to puncture through, but only steam hissed upwards when I grinned savagely. In all my time on these streets god alone I knew that tone anywhere, hell I knew when someone realized they were fucking with someone who'd been pissed off.
Honestly stating since I didn't know what it meant by scared gears, "Ain't nothing sacred, devil boy. Not until I rip your spine out, sound familiar?" I mocked savoring a promise he'd said earlier which made his expression tighten immediately, "Make your peace in hell, pal. Because God, or I don't want to hear you beg like a...devil."
The creature stepped away further when I reached out with a hand brushing over an active cauldron mid way. More, I want more! Sprawling streams emerged into latching on as I walked hungrily to see his feral like eyes narrow further in stunned disbelief. Steam oozed off my forearm to a point where even clothing started catching fire, if seeing trace glowing patches seething in pure duress. Boiling portions of tile gave away into molten pools, I only stepped into them not once being impeded to see flames clawing upwards.
Scorching rivers latched onto my legs curling and sinking beneath not so scarred flesh which had been riddled with cuts, or lacerations. Even the air began to boil between us making a devil's wings extend to dark backwards, "Wrath." It mouthed out to twist away clutching itself to hiss out when I beckoned him forward by waving, "Come and get it, devil boy. Can't stand a little heat, I'm just a man who bleeds red for God's sake."
Outside an entire crowd started jeering when they'd heard my words, if by calling for blood as many were exposing their true faces. Widening snarling emitted off dozens as several came slamming at a cage's exterior shaking bars furiously, "Kill the man! Rip his head off, tear it's throat out and make it beg!" Most devils had elongated expressions with jawlines sloping oddly, all were actively trying to slash through reddening bars, but they held in place. Even though audible tremors followed a bright right wave of electrified screams. As an entire interior glowered with various pentagrams actively, even as a resounding baritone horn went off overhead again.
Come and get me, do it! I raised a middle finger at various spectators trying to force their way in droves of furious creatures. Yet the one I wanted sunk onto knee's clutching his throat in barely rasping out infuriated, "You're no mere man, no man's sin is...Wrath alone!" I gave an incredible look since none of that made sense to me personally, or rather it didn't bother me. What anyone defined to be sin, or whatever held nothing except for me to laugh it all off eventually.
"I owe you for crushing me devil, it's my lucky day!" Unrestrained anxiety bordered on maddening urges to break him until nothing remained, I'd damn well make sure he'd be unrecognizable when I got my hands around that skull. It clenched a throat breathing out heavily to shout back as obvious concern gave it away, "You're not a man, none can make sin as much as you're doing! Are you one of us...a half breed?"
That might as well have been a damned insult which snapped patience far too happily. I sprinted forward feeling lighter, easier and his eyes widened when a fist clocked him square to have him rolling back shrieking in shock. He tumbled over flapping wings that braced as a sizzling sound garnered my eyes to casually see flesh smouldering on knuckles. I just burnt this fucker's face off, oh I'm liking this even more! It's not healthy I bet, but to hell with it all since I want more to scorch a devil until I see only ash, to piss on them.
Planting feet adjacent momentarily I pushed off hell intent on letting this creature catch a break from an overdone humor. It swiped quickly, if only for me to notice well ahead to abruptly skid along boiling tiles to feel air waft over head. Not this time, devil boy! Whirling upward a fist inflamed met where his legs met and something possibly popped, if a devil's guttural roar hunching over brought his gawking face into that same upper-cut. And it's chin jerked aside when I came from behind clamping down on an exposed throat!
Immediately one difference stood out as a pair of wings struck behind frantically trying to ascend to get some distance. Yet I held both arms leaning back to hear him shriek out gurgling, "Impossible!" Force alone partially swayed my spine despite planting one lone inflamed foot upon a knee's back, it literally became gravity's due to see him stumble forward. Fingers curled digging underneath one sturdy skin far too easily, smoke sizzled past due to it becoming butter as a cooling sensation poured with an audible screaming that sounded too beautiful. This wretched creature was in complete agony, if I had to guess all too happily!
Burn asshole, burn! Internally I bellowed due to sheer adrenaline flowing in just yanking it backward straining bones due to a point where I heard subtle snapping. A pair of leather like wings tried slicing behind but only a muted sensation of burning faded away into an outright inferno, "I hope hell is a nicer place for your kind, devil." I pressed further inward despite sloshing crimson waves cascading downward to see it all boil underneath us. Crimson became steam, if only turning to dust as it didn't even remotely dim an uncontrollable inflamed swath of granite, I kept yanking into brushing against something solid.
Rip out my spine, huh? Wings were frantically slicing away pieces of clothing and dug in deep despite guttural choking out reddish fluids. It literally became rain to drench my face yet heat boiled droplets to allow emit steam obscuring most of an interior. I still heard bars thundering against strains of dozens, if not more desperately trying to break in due inhumane shouting. They sounded beyond panicked as I yanked hardly back grasping one circular object underneath gushing red to feel a body convulsing sporadically.
Let me return that god damned favor, devil! Sharply jerking off to my right, I heard a sickening squealing while keeping an inflamed foot on a back leg. Again I tried until only shrill guttural shrieking went about continuously, "When you see God, send him a message!" Whispering vindictively into a bloodied ear as I started pulling awkwardly to skewer bone, it seemingly crumbled underneath muscle and crimson in a smoking fury. It was a bitter odor, but certainly akin to someone being grilled alive.
Something within a neckline gave away when this creature gasped out in seeing wings weakly jerk aside partially. Fully gripping an internal spinal cord through his neck, "Let the all knowing son of a bitch know, I love and hate Him with all my damned heart...amen." I whispered harshly that last word to roar out pulling upward in being rewarded with bone sizzling, I yanked not once, not twice but three times using all my will victoriously.
The sound of bone wrenching away from a neck came with it tearing asunder and an ear shattering sound a mix of splintering snaps. I caught myself stumbling away with a small weight clenched to see a head dripping crimson droplets. They dropped rapidly akin to a waterfall briefly until fizzling out as ashy trails emitted underneath. Flames dipped off my skin into literally igniting flesh, bone and gore in one brazen inferno of reddish orange. Turning said head around did eyes boil away in their sockets becoming dust, flesh crinkled and withered away until only a stem remained with blood no longer liquid at all.
I take it back, I love what I'm getting now! Reddish mist oozed off the headless devil until it began to dissipate in numerous flecks of dying crimson light. So that's how a devil dies, clean and doesn't leave a bloodied mess like a real person. They're not human, but they can die just like anyone else if someone tears their head off. All myself ascending reddish streams molded into a curling trail across arm brandishing growing flames that licked along exposed flesh, but an instinctive glee ran too freely. And without prompting I stomped down hard cracking granite tiles, not before twisting a heel to break apart one body until nothing remained at all.
Yet one lone glinting object rolled away leaving my eyes to follow it's rolling motion. Out of fading dust, light and ashy remains did one singular chess piece lightly tap against a cage's interior. A pawn piece, huh? Inhaling deeply to ward off overheating, I turned away coming towards the Pit's center in hearing jeering screeching of devils outside wanting my head to roll. They clamored for a man to be torn apart but I took one large breath. Unable to stop myself when hearing an overhead horn blaring signaling a victory, I'd make them listen well.
Glaring hotly towards one upper portion of privatized suites did I unleash a bellowing challenge pointing to where someone sat watching. Valac may have been a muffled figure standing with some glass on hand, but I bellowed out allowing fire to consume my gaze. Roaring so damned fiercely, I swore I'd heard a lion yet it was lost among baritone horns and I felt an internal snap to give everything to scream out two words. They trailed over a dying horn echoing among stunned devils who couldn't believe what they'd heard, if not outright daringly were provoked to continuously try to bend metallic bars in damning fury.
My voice alone drowned out a dying horn's crescendo for all to hear, "You're next!" Pointing to where he sat did everything suddenly drown out in a sea of flashing light. And in that moment when bright red flashes appeared did everything change for myself. No matter what came forward in my life from this point on, I would never give anything less than human satisfaction to believe men were weak. I would never give in, or else I'd die on my feet. Because anything less would be a damned disgrace in being a human among hell and heaven.
End Chapter IV
Author's Note: Before someone asks, why did a devil seemingly flip out and become so damned angry over praying? You can literally search this up in both source material, show and put it together. Depending on the scale, or rather 'strength' of a devil...a pawn would be heavily affected. Not to mention, if a migraine can make most in the main cast react that bad outright? You don't need holy weaponry, blessed bullets or anything over the top to really get something that hates Heaven to be furious, or wanting to shut out blessings of those who believe. You can get away with it, but even I highly doubt anything above a pawn piece would be severely inhibited by someone saying amen...so, don't expect that to happen too much as you've noticed.
Technically speaking, how does one become aware of something within them? In canon, someone dying is a start for Sacred Gears to kick start themselves to preserve their host. I don't need to explain too much, if you're on the cusp of death? You're going to be afraid, I don't care who you think you are but we all fear it. Or rather are aware it'll come for us, eventually one way or another. I'm no exception, neither are you and if you aren't afraid? Then I guess, you're a better person to welcome it since I know it'll be inevitable.
These nightmarish like dream sequences are showcasing many things, more so in growing intervals they're getting clearer for the character yet it's not set in stone. Pun not intended, but you're seeing something incredibly off, aren't you? It's meant to be abstraction at it's best, it's your interpretation mostly to figure out how and why these beings are existing without distorting canon. And thus, a Horseman awakens, in the fires of War. Metaphorically speaking, fire is attributed to being apart of Wrath as a Cardinal Sin. Violate, destructive, unrelenting and yet fire's warmth provides something within creation that can leave ashes for life to grow...this is what you call nature to flourish when dust settles.
But now it comes down to how rapid, or extensive with War's emergence signals. Notice the last few paragraphs, a bellowing roar: or distantly, would it sound like a trumpet being blown? My point is, it's a wake up call and if you're aware about Wrath as a deadly sin? Anger, Rage and violence tend to follow fairly in order. Now imagine with fire, do things take a heated turn for some ugly situations, if anger is an ignition for said effects. Also this provide a little context, in why War (Rex) loathes devil-kind as they do to human-kind, so it's not without reason to consider it hatred yet.
Despite such horrific brutality that there's a silver lining in this Horseman's actions. You can call it honorable, if not outright vicious perversion of said concept, but he never once backed down. He never gave in, he laughed in the face of death (prologue was a hint), got his due for a friend and now the reward for surviving is going to be quite...satisfying. But also, there's more to exploring other pantheons of religious faiths, so this is a word of warning. Eventually, we'll be shifting to see where and how he gets some unique acquisitions that provide ample time to build up to DxD's canonical starting point. And here's the amusing opportunity to ponder, would War actively assist the Three Factions?
I won't reveal anything, because I hate spoiling yet I do leave you as a reader to humor it in reviews. Showcase what you think, what you'd like to see more and hope to where this journey goes. I don't like using main cast characters in these kinds of story, it's too early for them to show up and inevitably develop when there has to be a basis for them to be their canonical attitudes. Nonetheless, let's find out what else is lingering in these places for us to explore? And I will leave a hint, if you think devil's see things differently...what about Fallen angelic observers who fell to their impure thoughts?
Leave a review, have a safe week and stay strong.