Outcast looked over them all, stepping away from Astarte's now still form. The class stared back, feeling the power radiate from her. She paused, the gaze of her visible eye fixed on them.
"So…" She began, her voice quiet yet demanding attention and silence. "You are the ones she has grown so concerned over." She paused again as she saw Jen with Sora and Chikyuu. "And they must be her sons. Well, they do look like their father." She said.
"Don't cha mean fathers?" Nocte asked as she landed before Outcast.
"I know what I mean." Outcast replied. "I see you seized the opportunity to have your own form again. But must you really continue to rip your own eyes out?"
"Seeing auras is enough for me. But what are we gonna do about the kid? She ain't doing so hot." Nocte nodded towards Astarte.
"Why would you care?" Moreau shouted from beneath Baphomet's claw. The two entities turned to him. "She is just a host to you. A crazy one at that but still. Why is she so…..Oh…." He paused.
"And so the penny drops." Outcast said.
"What is it? Why do you need Astarte?" Emiko asked.
"You see children, we need Astarte because she is the only one who can host us. Her mixed heritage means she can withstand our power without crumbling." Outcast explained.
"So you know the deal with Satan being unable to inhabit a human bar one in every however many hundreds it is? It's kinda like that." Nocte said.
"So...if Astarte dies…..you no longer exist?" Hotomi asked. The two of them shrugged.
"If Astarte dies, we return to the void between the realms." Nocte said, shuddering slightly.
"A fate befitting such vile disgraces like you." Uriel snapped viciously. She pulled a second blade out of a sheath on her back and held it above Astarte.
"But is it worth the loss of Evening's Dawn?" Outcast suddenly asked. Uriel paused and looked at her. Outcast tilted her head. "If, to be rid of the young one and us, you think sacrificing innocence is worth it, then by all means carry on. But humanity will be lost if you do." She added.
"What do you mean humanity would be lost?" Ame asked.
"Lord Satan wouldn't take the death of his daughter too well." Sachi said softly.
"And given she is the last link to Evening's Dawn that he has, he will take that even worse." Takao added.
"Which means?" Noel asked.
"Assiah would burn in blue flames. It will become a veritable hell if she dies. And nothing would stop it." Nocte said with a grin. Uriel paused, trying to make the decision. She had been given orders but knew the risk it put on humanity. Slowly, she lowered the weapon.
"Uriel!" Michael's voice echoed through the air. "What are you doing?! Get rid of this monster!" He ordered. Uriel paused briefly.
"But…." Uriel began. She looked at Evening's Dawn who had landed beside Michael. She shook her head and raised a second blade above Astarte. She went to stab it down when the blade shattered yet again. Outcast let out a sigh.
"So be it. If you children will not listen to reason, I guess I will have to reprimand you." She said. Nocte chuckled beside her. Outcast raised her hand towards Astarte's familiars. "Have fun with your new chew toy." She said, her eye glowing. The eyes of the familiar glowed as well, growling and snarling. Outcast glanced at Nocte before nodding. Nocte let out an insane cackle and charged towards Uriel. Outcast turned to Michael.
"Evening's Dawn, go with Amaimon and help Astarte. I will deal with Michael." She said. Evening's Dawn nodded and ran towards Astarte. Outcast stood before Michael. "Now then, show me what he taught you." She said, summoning a blade.