Chapter 35. Plans and discussions.


Loona woke up feeling something warm against her. She looked down and smiled seeing Poch snuggled against her chest. The two were only in their undergarments, having undressed and gone straight to bed after having come back from their first date. She held him closer after remembering that night. The cafe, the singing, the dancing, the flying, and the kiss in the end. It was all amazing to her. Her tail wagged thinking about when he told her he loved her and how she told him the same, thinking about how it officially made him her boyfriend. She kissed his forehead.

"Mmm," He stirred awake, looking up at her as he blinked a few times, smiling as his vision cleared. "Morning."

"Morning. How'd you sleep?"

"Great," He said, pressing his head into her chest again, his tail wagging.

"Hehe...since...we're dating now...can I ask you something?"

"What's up?"

"Can...can I move in with you?"

"Of course...I was...actually gonna ask you the same."

"Great...thanks."

"You practically live here already and it's better than sneaking in to cuddle."

"Heh, shut up."

"Blitzo's is probably gonna get all teary about it."

"Ugh don't remind me. He's probably gonna hug me and not get off."

"You say that but you know you're gonna hug him back."

"Maybe."

Poch took a deep breath, taking in her scent. "...What time is it?"

Loona took her phone from the stand. "It's…eight ten."

"Think Blitzo would mind if we came in late? I dont wanna move just yet."

"I don't either. I'm sure it'll be-" Her phone rang, Blitzo was calling. "Speak of the imp." She brought the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hey sweetie, sorry to bother you two, especially when you're cuddling, but you guys think you can come over? There's something you should see." Blitzo asked.

"How'd you- nevermind. Is something wrong?"

"Nothing...too dire...just uh, get ready and come over."

"Ok." She looked curiously at her phone while he hung up.

"Something up?" Poch asked.

"Dad says it's nothing too dire but it's something we wanna see."

"Wonder what it is?"

"No idea. Let's get ready."

"Aww alright. I'll cook breakfast."

"I'd like that." She smiled.

They got up and grabbed their clothes, Stolas having left a pair of clothes for Loona on Poch's dresser, leaving a note that only said it was from him.

"You don't think he took a picture of us do you?" Poch asked.

"Well he is Dad's boyfriend but I think he'd have more...class." Loona said.

"True but...you forget he still teased us when he walked in on us at the base, so…"

"Yeah, let's hope he'll hold off."

They got dressed and Poch made them breakfast, sitting himself on Loona's lap when they ate, having not asked or been asked to, but it being a want to for both of them.


Poch and Loona came into the meeting room, Jack being the one that got them in. Everyone was there, including Solis, Shelly, Echo, and Dundy.

"Hey love birds, you're gonna wanna see this," Jack greeted.

"What's everyone doing here?" Poch asked.

"First c'mere," He gestured for them to approach the window.

The two hounds looked at each other before shrugging and following Jack. Once they got to the window the imp exterminator pointed at the cleansing monitor and when they saw it, shock hit their faces.

The face of the monitor said relocating, something it did after the last cleansing in Pride before migrating to Wrath.

"It's relocating!? But there were still two days before the one in wrath!" Loona stated.

"When did it change!?" Poch asked.

"About an hour ago," Stolas said, entering the room.

"Stolas!" Blitzo announced as everyone turned to face him.

Stolas smiled. "Hello! I see everyones here. That's good."

"You're here to join us when we discuss about the new area when it shows up, right?" Dundy ascertained.

"Did Octavia tell you that?"

"...Maybe."

"Well I am here for that. I don't expect it'll take too long for the new area to be shown, considering how sudden it was."

"What makes you say that?" Shred asked.

"No doubt it's the crusaders doing this."

"Wouldn't really surprise me. They can order the angels around so why not influence the cleansing?" Jack noted.

"Speaking of witch, there is something I wish to discuss with you all. Remember that armored Lion? The one that had the medallion?"

"The one that took control of you when you corrupted it?"

"Don't remind me. Anyways, there's something we realized when we studied the armor. The parts like the pistons and those wingblades were implanted in."

"Well yeah, the pistons obviously had to be implanted."

"That's the thing. How could it be implanted if the only thing that can actually harm or cut off any piece of an angelic monster is an exterminator."

The realization hit them all and they went wide eyed. They never thought about that.

"Wait, are you suggesting that an exterminator is helping them?" Moxxi asked.

"I'd rather not think that, but it is possible that a Crusader is doing it, even if it is through different methods, it should still have the same effect on them. If so that could be a good thing."

"Could be?"

"We don't know their numbers or how they are recruiting others to join them. Heck we don't even know what stage each could be in."

"About that," Millie jumped in, "has there been any crusaders in the Purge?"

"Aside from Lara who knocked out and took Claire's appearance, no." Poch answered.

"Why do you ask Mils?" Shred wondered.

"Well, we had those two crusaders attack during that on cleansing, then add Toket and Nugen who were with those Dhorks that were after us, then there's Lara, and you see a pattern." Millie observed.

"What's that pattern?" Jack asked.

"Ah I see," Dundy noticed, "The pattern is that it's related to us and specifically us."

"Exactly!" Millie high fived him.

"So what, they're targeting us? Why?" Echo asked.

"I think it's cause of our numbers," Shred surmised.

"Our numbers?"

"Right, there's only six of us here!" Poch connected the dots.

"I count twelve," Blitzo counted.

"He means Exterminators," Moxxie whispered.

"Oh."

"So that means their numbers are small, cause why else would we be the only targets?" Shred assumed.

"That is a possibility, but we simply don't know enough. For now that's our best assumption. Anything on the drive you stole?" Stolas asked.

"I'm still decrypting, I did get one file but it was the Armored Lion," Solis answered.

"Hm, might've been their first attempt if it's the first file you got. How big is it?"

"It's at least a quarter of a terabyte."

"Oh dear. I'll see if the corps can lend some aid."

"That'd be nice."

"Now then, while we wait, let's address the elephant in the room. Loona, Poch?"

"Hm?" The two hounds gave him their attention.

"How was your date?" He smiled.

The two blushed but made a shy smile anyway.

"Well...it was...pretty great actually." Loona answed

"Yeah, the greatest night of my life!" Poch said, blushing a bit harder when Loona gave him a surprised look.

"Must have been. You were cuddling so tightly it was adorable!" Stolas said a bit giddy.

"Did you get a picture?" Blitzo asked.

"Can yall not?" Poch deadpanned.

"I'll send it later," Stolas whispered in the imps ear. "Anyways, how was the flight?"

"Flight?" Shelly rose a brow.

"Poch took her flying above the clouds on earth to not only get a good look of the city but also the night sky! He asked me for a gateway there!"

"How romantic!" Millie and Shelly gushed.

"It was...pretty nice," Loona couldn't help but reminisce.

"One more reason to be glad I could fly," Poch also reminisced.

"So, you guys official now?" Jack asked.

"Huh?"

"Is this relationship official now?"

"Well...yeah...Poch is," Loona turned redder, "my...boyfriend now."

Poch also got red when she said that, his tail hiking and wagging doing so along with Loona.

"Aww look both their tails are wagging!" Blitzo gushed.

"Sh-shut up dad!" Loona nearly glared, still blushing.

"So I guess that means no more having to sneak over?"

"Dad!"

"Sneak over?" Jack asked.

"Nothing!" She pinched her bridge and sighed. "...But...there is something….I need to ask you."

"Yes sweetie?" Blitzo, tilted his head.

"Um...I want to….move in...with Poch." She nervously asked.

"..." Blitzo approached Loona and grabbed her face, pulling her in close. "Sweetie?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"I need you to answer this honestly and very clearly...who asked to move in?"

"...I did."

"Damnit!"

"Hah!" Moxxie and Shred Exclaimed. "Pay up, bitch!" They said in unison.

As Blitzo groaned and got out his wallet, approaching the imp and cat, Loona and Poch looked at them confused.

"Did...did you guys bet on who'd ask the other to stay?" Poch asked.

"Yeah and I lost that bet! Thought Poch wouldve man enough to ask her!" Blitzo answered.

"Hey!" Poch said, offended.

"He was gonna! I just beat him to it!" Loona defended.

"Oh she's already defending her man," Dundy teased.

"Shut up. Anyways...I wanna move in with him so-"

"I'll help you pack," Blitzo said.

"Huh?"

"Sweetie you practically lived with him already so I've been preparing for this day!"

"Huh...thought you'd be a bit more...teary about it."

"Of course not! Whaddya take me for a cry baby?"

"He already shed all his tears yesterday before your date," Jack smirked.

"Jack!"

"It's true, he even cried to me about losing his precious girl," Stolas added.

"Stolas!"

"Should've seen him when we packed your things. He was so heartbroken I had to do the rest."

"Oh come on!"

"Wait...you packed my things?" Loona said in surprise.

Blitzo sighed. "Yeah...I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later...so when you were on your date I….went ahead and got your things together...that way...you can move in quickly."

"Oh...um...thanks dad."

"Dont...dont mention i-" A loud buzz came from outside. It was The Cleansing monitor.

"Oh hey, they got a new loca-...-tion…" Shred trailed off.

"Oh no." Dundy said.

"What?" Jack rose a brow, approaching the window with the rest.

Once they saw the monitor, shock hit their faces. The location was now the Lust ring, a little ways off from Asmodeus, and the timer was currently counting down from twenty-five hours.

"Twenty five hours!?" Poch exclaimed.

"That's practically tomorrow afternoon!" Jack added.

"Oh that's not good," Stolas said, "With it being so soon I won't be able to procure you a base in time, nor can we set up a waypoint for the T-watches."

"What about a map? Could you upload one?" Solis suggested.

"Yes but without a terminal, tracking your position won't be possible."

"Meaning if someone needs a quick get away we're screwed, especially since we don't have the truck." Echo stated.

"Who says we don't?" Blitzo interjected.

"The lack of a base to park it."

"Oh."

"That mean no backup?" Millie asked.

"It would be safer since if something happened like a boss appeared. We'd have no way of getting yall out of there." Shelly said.

"Aww, and Shred and I came up with such a good combo," Millie pouted.

"No worries Mill's, we can take this opportunity to come up with some new ones and make up for it on the next one," Shred cheered her up.

"When can you get those maps?" Dundy asked Stolas.

"I can get them as early as tonight but the problem is uploading them to your Twatchs. I'd have to do that directly," Stolas answered.

"Then let's meet up here at eleven, get the map data and Stolas can just open up a gate for us there," Jack turned to the prince, "If you don't mind."

"I don't. In Fact I was planning too anyway."

"Since Nure lives in Lust ring, think he can help?" Shred asked.

"I can ask, but he's probably busy with my daggers," Poch answered.

Stolas' phone buzzed. "Hm?" He checked. "I should get going, I'll meet you all here at ten." He left through his gate.

"Alright, now that's over, Jacks gonna take care of all our assignments for today," Blitzo announced.

"Huh? Wait, why am I doing all the assignments!?" Jack said, flabbergasted.

"Cause you-" He leaned into Jack, "have a fat fucking mouth!" He smiled with revenge.

"Wha- Stolas said something too!"

"Not before you said something first."

"Shit," Jack sulked.

"Everyone thank Jack for giving you a day off."

"Thanks Jack," Everyone said.

Jack flipped them all off.


Poch, Loona, Blitzo, and Stolas were moving things from her room into Poch's place. There was a suitcase of clothes, a box of condiments like her make up and girl stuff, a broken full length mirror, Blitzo's fault, some decorations, and some mementos along. Poch took a suitcase and decor while Sivarna held the box and mirror. All that was left was a backpack with a few items in it.

"Well...this is it." Blitzo handed Loona the backpack with a small small. He had a tinge of sadness on his face.

"Y-yeah...guess so." She took the backpack, feeling a bit sad as well.

"If...If you or Poch ever need anything...I'm just a ring away."

"Thanks," She smiled.

"I...Love ya Loonie," He wanted to hug her but was a bit afraid too.

"...I...i know," She turned and headed for the exit. As she walked she showed signs of struggling before stopping. She groaned, turned around, went to Blitzo, and gave him a hug. "...thanks...for everything...dad." She hugged him tight before letting go and rushing back, leaving Blitzo smiling widely while tearing up. She went through and the gate closed, her taking a breath. She noticed Poch and Shivarna smirking at her. "...Shut up, especially you!" She pointed at Shivarna.

"Shoulda made a bet on that hug." Poch said.

"Shut up!"

"Hehehe alright alright, let's pack you in."


The split the drawers and closet in half, set some of her figures and collectables on his desk and drawer, most of them were just ones Poch got her, setting the plushy with his shirt next to the bed on the nightstand, her shyly saying for times when he's not home. Shivarna timed out so Poch was in charge of placing the broken mirror.

"Honestly I say we put it in the guest closet," Poch suggested, "Y'know since it's broken and all."

"Eh, that works."

As Poch left to carry it into the guest room Loona sat down on the bed, taking a breath. She looked around, seeing all her items placed around, the door set with some of her decor even placed on the door. It took them like an hour to move her in. She smiled, thinking about how she now lived with someone she loved.

Poch walked in, "Alright, Mirrors put up. You're officially moved in!"

Loona looked at him and reached her arms out, gesturing for him to come closer. He smiled and approached her, letting her grab him, setting himself on her lap, holding him close. Their tails were slowly wagging.

"Yknow...if you told me a year ago that I'd fall for a short cute hellhound...I wouldve called you a crazy dumbass." Loona said.

"If you told me that a gothic hellhound not only helped me move on but also be someone who's made a special place in heart, I woulda laughed.

"...that sounded so cheesy," She chuckled.

"But true," he did the same.

She sighed and held him tight, pressing her cheek onto his. "Mind if we," She blushed, "cuddle a bit and watch something on the tablet?"

"Sure, I'll get the-" He reached for his daggers only to remember he didn't have them, "Oh right, no daggers. I think Shivarnas still timed out too."

"That's fine, I wanted to change positions anyway."


The two were laying on their fronts, Loona being on top of Poch, her arms around his chest, watching Jujutsu Kaisen.

"So like...did the grandpa just...decide to die like that?" Loona asked.

"I know right? He just turned to his side, said those things, and just...croaked." Poch replied.

"It was unexpected, I'll give you that."

They continued watching the anime.


Octavia was on the balcony with Stolas and Dundy, practicing with the Grimoire. She was attempting to use an illusionary spell. Her hand was glowing along with the grimoire as she tried making the illusion, going for something simple like a flock of bats, a rainbow like aura hovering above, trying to take shape.

"That's it, you almost have it!" Stolas encouraged.

"Hmm," Octavia was concentrating, waving her hand, trying to solidify the image. The color turned blacker as the aura shifted into the form of a big black bat. "Yes!"

"Wonderfully done!"

"Good work," Dundy complimented.

"Thanks," Octavia smiled.

"You've been doing very well with this," Stolas hugged his daughter, "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks dad," She hugged back.

Stolas turned to Dundy. "Now, are you ready, Dundy?"

Dundy nodded, "Hm." He walked up to the center, writing for Asura and putting on some headphones, Octavia and Stolas moving away, moving in front of him at the door. "Asura." He summoned his six black arms and tensed his body. "Hmmmmm!" His eyes grew a tint of dark red and his shadow demon arms melded together, taking the form of Asura's unsealed form.

"SQUAAAAL!" Asura cried out.

"Octavia?" Stolas glanced at his daughter.

"Right," Octavia hit play on her ipod.

The calming sounds of the beach filled Dundy's ears, the waves, the wind rustling through the palm trees, the birds, all of it was very soothing to hear. He tried to ignore them and keep his anger up.

"Alright!" Stolas threw his hands up and conjured a multitude of black feather blades. He hurled them at Dundy, mostly at his Asura.

Asura followed Dundy's movements, punching at the blades as they came to him, deflecting them away only for them to reorient and attack him again. He Tried to ignore the calming sounds and focus on what angered him to keep Asura's form. It was difficult as he couldn't just ignore the sounds and rely on adrenaline. Asura's form was fueled by anger so he needed anger to be his focus while attacking the spears, not succumbing to the calm audio.

Octavia tensed up and cringed every time Dundy nearly missed a blade. Stolas noticed this.

"The blades are dull so even if it hits him he'll barely feel a thing." Stolas eased her.

Octavia sighed. "Am I that obvious?"

"Just a little. It's sweet that you care though." He giggled, facing back to Dundy.

"He's getting better at this, though I doubt it's getting easier. He hates being angry."

"I know, I hope what his mother told him helped."

"It did. He told me what she said. Apparently his dad always had something to be angry about, something about how he used it to fuel him ever since Dundy was born."

"Anger to fuel him?"

"Yes. Instead of just getting mad he'd use it as fuel for something he cared about, which was his family. He really only ever lost his temper when something happened to his wife or Dundy. But when he loses his tempers he's apparently... very scary."

"Aww how sweet...except for that last part." He threw his hands up, returning the blades. "Now lets kick this up a notch shall we?" The blades rolled together, changing form. They turned into three large orbs, spikes coming out of them. He felt Octavia give her a look. "Uh...I'll just," he pulled the spikes in, "hehe." He looked back to Dundy and assaulted him.

The owl exterminator charged up his shadow demon's fist with energy, adding a blast to each punch, making them fly away a good distance. Asura's form started to get hazy, nearly melting. It affected his strikes. "URG!" Dundy focused, trying to restabalize its form, nearly getting hit. He grunted when one hit his shadow demon in the face, getting feedback pain.

"Dundy!" Octavia cried in worry.

He steeled himself, reforging Asura, continuing to defend himself.

Stolas noticed it was close to his time out so he decided to stop. "That's enough!" He stopped his attack, dispersing the orbs.

Dundy took a breather and dismissed Asura, letting the calming sounds soothe him. "Ah…" He sighed.

Octavia and Stolas approached him.

"You did much better that time," Stolas complimented.

"Still nearly lost his form at the end," Dundy replied, taking his headphones off.

"Still you made progress," Octavia said.

"Thanks." He handed her headphones back.

"I'm going to check on your T-watch to see if its download is done and if I got the map right this time," Stolas told them.

"I really think you should get Octavia to help you with that."

"No no, I can figure it out. Worse comes to wear you have an excuse to stay the night."

"Eh, last time I did your wife tried to cook me so…"

"Yyyyes right. Um, I'll just go check on that now and I'll make you a way home." Stolas went to check.

"Still was a funny to hear your mom threaten to power bomb my mom if she ever did it again," Octavia chuckled.

Dundy laughed. "Haha! Trust me when I say she'd do it too!"

"Oh I believe it, especially if she was willing to demonstrate it by using you as the demonstration!"

"Don't remind me," He rolled his shoulder.

"Why does she always use you for that?"

"Heh. Because she would always do so to my father. Sometimes he'd say some insults, she'd dare him to try better, and then they'd start to wrestle...which always led them to...other activities."

"Wow, you have some crazy parents."

"I did, but I wouldn't have them any other way," He smiled.

Octavia returned that smile and went to sit at a bench nearby. "Honestly, I'm jealous. Your parents fight and that leads them to remembering how they fell in love. My parents fight and...all hell breaks loose," Her smile dropped a bit.

"..." Dundy sat next to her. "I...wish I could say that...It'll get better….But….at least you know they still love you."

"Heh...I know that from my dad."

"I uh….sorry."

"It's fine...being with your mom somehow...makes it better...she's really cool."

"Heh, try not to tell her that, it'll inflate her ego."

"I'll try." She smiled. "...Sorry for making things depressing."

"It's fine, I don't mind lending an ear when needed."

"Thanks." Her smile fully returned.

"You're welcome."

"Um Octavia? Which folder do I put the maps in again?" Stolas called.

"We should go help him," Dundy chuckled.

"Hah! Lets," Octavia agreed, getting up with Dundy to go help Stolas.


"Thanks for inviting me for a movie," Shred said to Millie and Moxxie. He was currently in their living room on the opposite side of the couch from Millie.

"Don't mention it," Moxxie said, bringing the popcorn to them, setting the large tub in the middle before sitting next to his wife.

"Your back ok?" Millie asked.

"It's fine, luckily you didn't burn me much," Shred laughed.

"Sorry," She shyly smiled, rubbing the back of her head with some guilt.

"Nah it's my fault for not keeping track of Ripper's time out." He nudged her playfully.

"Do you ever get dizzy rolling around so much?" Moxxie asked.

"Nah. I'm not easily dizzy. I can thank my childhood for that. I liked it when dad spun me around in his chair."

"I think he told me that when we went hunting. Oh that reminds me," He faced Millie, "Hunnie, I was invited to go hunting with Greg, Mik, and Dreck this saturday. Mind if I go?"

"Not at all! Try and get some more of that deer meat!" Millie told him, kissing him on the cheek.

"Sure thing! I'll even cook ya up something nice with it!"

"Aww thanks!"

"Mind getting some for me too? Poch said he'd make me some sweet and spicy deer kabobs."

"Sure," Moxxie nodded.

Millie leaned in to Shred. "Get me some too," She whispered.

Shred gave her a thumbs up and the movie started. They were watching a movie from the human world that Nala suggested. It was a werewolf movie. So far it was pretty good and they got to the part where the main character first changes. Moxxie cringing at it.

"That looks painful," Moxxie commented.

"Eh, if it's anything like how we changed then it's probably painless." Shred said.

"Hm. Yknow, I've been wondering," Millie paused the movie, "what was it like when yall first changed?"

"Well…it was…weird to say the least. When it was time for us to change they led us to this room, it was empty, white and didnt have alot of space. That's when the trap door opened."

"Trap door?" Moxxie quirked a brow.

"Yeah it opens below us and we fall into a bit of Hell's embodiment. Remember how Jack said it was a literal tub of hell?"

"Yeah?"

"Well don't be fooled, it's not a liquid, it's just got a liquid form. When you dive into it, that's when the embodiment pulls you in. You feel like you're drowning but you can still breathe. Then you body is on fire…literally."

"Ouch!" Millie cringed.

"Its fine, you felt hot but not burning up, nor was the fire actually doing anything to hurt you. Weird thing is that the fires engulf you first before it's surrounding you like some cocoon, your body feeling like some inferno. That's when you start to change and you feel every part of it, and I mean EVERY part."

"Every part?" Moxxie asked.

"Every. The growing of your fangs," He opened his mouth, "the claws," he showed his claws, "your ears closing up," he held the side of his head to emphasize his point, "before new ones grew up on your head," he flexed his cat ears, "the snout and nose," he rubbed his snout and poked his nose, "the tail," he brought his tail around, shaking it some, "which felt so strange, like some tendril coming out your back hip. with it came the fur, which felt like I was growing some moss or shit on my skin. You also feel your bones cracking and changing, which didn't hurt but was so not pleasant, all to form stuff like these," he pointed to his hock on his right leg, "and well, your eyes of course, your vision gets all obscured when that happens. Had to close my eyes before I got sick. Whens its all over, you're pulled out into by embodiment itself, as if its saying 'You're done, get out!'" He said in a way that made them chuckle, "and you're gasping for air, even though you didn't drown, it's a tiring process. You're climbing yourself out and, get this, you're bone dry, not even partly wet. That's what I meant by liquid form."

"Wow. How long did it take?"

"About six minutes. They let us into a room to check ourselves out, lending us a cane for walking."

"A cane?"

"You think walking on these was easy?" He gestured to his legs. "I fell on my face after two steps."

"Ouch. Was it that hard? It's not that tough to walk with them." Millie stated.

"You say that cause you were born with those. We weren't."

"True. How'd you feel when you first saw yourself?" Moxxie asked.

"Well…I kept checking, feeling myself while looking in that mirror, seeing and both feeling the changes to be true…I was like…This is what I am now….I kept messing with my tail, moving it around…it felt so odd but…I kinda liked it. There were also these assortment of cat toys in the room."

"For you to play with?"

"No," He shook his head, "to show something. I didn't have the urge to mess or play with any of those toys, even the mouse that kept moving around."

"So what was the point?" Millie asked.

"You'd see a cat play with those things in a heartbeat, I've even seen a demon cat resist the temptation, but I had none. Know why?"

"Why?" Moxxie got curious.

"Because even though my bodys changed, I'm still a human, mutated or not. So I don't have those instincts or those urges. Neither does Poch, Shelly, Echo, or Dundy. None of us have those natural hellish animal instincts."

"Wow, really?"

"Really hammering in that sheep in sewn on wolf's clothing part." Millie commented.

"Right?" Shred laughed.

"Was it hard to adjust?" Moxxie questioned.

"Not too hard. Feel like the dream helped."

"Dream? Oh yeah, your introduction dream!"

"Was what that like?" Millie wondered.

"Basically just a dream but a bit more….lucid and with shadow demons in it," Shred explained, "Each one of us had a different one. For me, I was in a rodeo but I was in my demon form and no one was around. There was one bull but it looked strange and huge. It had no lower half, just a tendril sticking into its own shadow, and it had huge hands not hoofs. It was running around while I was in the front row and it suddenly charged at me. I wasn't scared, which was odd but it stopped right in front of me, rose up and just looked at me. That's when I called its name, it just…coming to me. Then it went into my shadow and its words flashed before my eyes. I heard a cat behind me, looked back and saw a tail going into the hallway. I followed it and saw something running down it. I gave chase and the hallway just kept going. As I kept going I managed to catch up to it. It surprised me how big it was. We looked at each other and just like the first time, I knew its name, called it, it went in my shadow, and then its name flashed before me. I didn't know where to go next but when I stopped and turned around there was a door where there was once a hallway. I opened it and went outside and that's when I saw Ripper just looking down on me, right in front of me. After calling him and getting his words, that's when I learned things about them as the whole dream just…collapsed. Then I woke up."

"Wow!" Millie was intrigued throughout it all.

"Did you try summoning them when you woke up?" Moxxie asked.

"I did. Ripper was the first I summoned! And I'm sure they expected us to summon them when we woke up cause they put us in these large rooms to sleep," Shred explained.

"I wonder what the others dreamed about," Millie wondered.

"You can ask them after the cleansing tomorrow. Sure they won't mind."

"I'll do just that!"


Next day. Fifteen minutes before the cleansing.

Stolas uploaded the map to everyone's T-watches while they look at it one on the meeting room table, choosing where they're gonna go.

"Since we won't have any back up or modes of transportation, we're gonna have to spread out," Jack said.

"What are you gonna do if there's a boss?" Blitzo asked.

"Hope it's not a strong one or an improved one, and if so, gonna have to hold off till someone can get to them."

"We could have Shelly in her close range mode to deal with any stragglers in that case," Poch said.

"Or me with Cat Sith," Shred suggested.

"My dad lent me some sniper bullets so that gives me a better range. I'll take the highest point," She pointed to the top of a building.

Everyone else chose their places and one by one Stolas took them there. Poch was the last to go.

"Alright," Poch cracked his knuckles, "off I go."

"Be careful." Loona told him.

Poch smiled at her before grabbing her, pulling her down and kissing her cheek. "I will."

Loona was stunned and blushing but was quick to smile and hold her cheek where he kissed, watching him go off, her tail wagging. She didn't even care about the looks the others gave her. "Shut up." She said nonchalantly.


Everyone was in position, Shelly ready with her Le-Armes scoping everything out. They awaited the countdown, weapons ready.

The alarms rang, and the battle started with one singular gate. The team were flabbergasted that only one gate opened but remained ready for anything. An orb came out, the same kind as the ones from the Wrath Ring. It turned around, going left and right, the red dot in the middle of its face going around as if looking around. It stopped moving, staying afloat.

"What's it-" Shelly questioned. Suddenly a gate opened near her and something swooped in, crashing into the ground. "What the-!?" She heard the roars of a Lion boss, seeing the silhouette of one through the dust. "Shit," SHe got on the communicator, "guys there's a lion boss near me!"

"You're not the only one!" Shred responded.

"Huh?" She looked around and saw that there were four more gates, each near the others and she heard the roar of the other Lions.

"There's one near me!" Dundy said.

"Sam here!" Echo announced.

"One between me and Poch!" Jack informed.

"Anyone seeing any other gates?" Poch asked.

"None! So it might just be the bosses, even so it could be the improved ones so let's be careful!" Shelly said, jumping down, going to close range mode.

"Meet you in the middle Jack!" Poch told the imp through the comms.

"Righto!" Jack replied.


The I.M.P. were watching thanks to Stolas using his Grimoire to make a window to view.

"Not even five minutes in and we're already getting bosses!? What bullshit!" Blitzo complained.

"They aint playing around today," Millie commented.

"Why five?" Stolas questioned.

"What do you mean, your highness?" Moxxie asked.

"There's six there and they chose five. Why? And is it me but are the positions they chose a bit…convenient?"

"Maybe they wanted one for each?"

"But Poch and Jack are teaming up on one so it can't be that," Loona said.

"Hmm. I got a bad feeling." Stolas said uneasily.


Everyone was about to engage their bosses, Poch and Jack about to pincer the one between them, still covered in dust from its entrance. They were ontop the adjacent buildings. They nodded at each other before Poch threw his sword straight at its head, warping to it, clipping in on his brace as he did a spin, slashing down on its head. While he did that Jack empowered his legs, leaping to the body and slamming his scythe down. Both their attacks fazed through itself, startling them as they quickly reoriented to land on the ground safely.

"What happened!?" Jack asked.

"I don't know, nothing hit!" Poch replied.

The Lions figure became statticy before its form distorted and faded away. The dust finally settled, revealing another orbital machine raising up to the sky emitting and entrapping them in the same kind of barrier from before.

"God dammit! Guess we'll be facing another boss." Jack said, getting ready.

"Guys, Jack and I are trapped in a barrier! Were probably gonna get a boss like last time!" Poch radiod in. He got no response. "Guys?" He heard a cut in front of him and felt a sensation as a heavenly portal opened up.

Poch and Jack glared at whatever was about to greet them. A figure walked out of the gate, one much smaller than it, one of a person they knew that held a smile, one that was oddly genuine.

It was Toket. "Hello," He waved.


"RAGH!" Dundy slammed his fists down on the Lion bosses head only for there to be no impact, him rolling to land on the ground. "What the-!?" He saw the boss fade and the orb appear, flying up and forming its barrier around him. "Well drat. This again." He said somewhat annoyed. He was about to contact the others till a heaven gate opened before him. He got ready to face whatever boss would appear. From it a large wheel was hurled at him. He punched it away only for it to fly back into the hands of the thrower.

"Nice seeing you again," Said James as he set the wheel down.

"James!?"


"Hello? Can you guys hear me?" Shelly tried to communicate with the others. The gate opened behind her, she turned and drew her guns to face whatever came.

From the gate walked out two brown short deer angels. They were both male, both had short smooth horns, were four foot eight inches tall, smooth fur, and they looked young. One had red eyes, the other green. One had a long sleeved blue striped shirt with a blue hooded vest while the others was red. They stood side by side, mirroring the exact same smile, making the two look even more identical then they were already.

Shelly was taken aback by appearance but stayed on guard.

The two deer tilted their heads opposite of each other while waving with opposite hands. "Hi." They said in unison, the tones of their voices nearly matching.

"...Uh….Hi?" Shelly was even more off put.

"How are you?'

"...Good."

"Oh, we're sorry."

"Sorry? What for?"

Their heads went back and they each pulled out a small cylindrical stick with a small blade at the end. They extended to full lenght polearms that were six feet long. "Ruining it," they smiled with innocence before charging at her.


"Hmmm." Echo stared at the gate in front of him. He heard a yawn before someone walked out.

A humanoid angel with an average height and pale yellow skin walked out. He was average build with a smooth face. He was dressed sloppily in a brown trench coat, white dress shirt, slacks and sneakers. He had a bowl cut and blonde hair, stood to be five feet tall and his eyes were brown. On his hands were golden brass knuckles. He stretched and yawned, looking at Echo. "...Ugh…they had to pair me with a guy with a tommy gun."

"Hm?" Echo rose a brow.

"I told them I hate overexerting so I'd be best suited with someone close range, but no we just HAD to draw straws." He rolled his eyes.

"Uh?"

"I feel cheated…Toket likes seeing me pissed, I just know it…Hey…you." He pointed at Echo.

"What?"

"Mind doing me a favor and only sticking with your sword? I dont wanna use up so much energy dodging gunfire while trying to close in on you. So can you do me this solid?"

"Wha- No!"

"Oh c'mon! I'm asking nicely here!" He groaned, slouching.

"Were enemies, why would I put myself at a disadvantage!?"

"Ugh ok fine, how bout this? I'll fight with one arm tied behind me."

"Like hell!"

"No I mean it!" He reached into his jacket and pulled out a pair of cuffs. "See I'll even cuff it on the back of my belt!"

"Are you serious!?" Echo couldn't tell.

"Yes! So do we have a deal?"

"...fine."

"Thank you," He cuffed his hand behind him on his belt while Echo got his sword. "Ready?"

Echo nodded and the two closed in.


From Shred's gate came an ewe that was nearly the same height as Shred. She had long white flowing hair that reached to her shoulders. Along the ends of her hair there were green vines twisted and tied into it. Her eyes were a big bright yellow, her fur was silky white, she was skinny and slender, she wore a long green single piece dress that went below her knees, and black womens dress shoes. Sashed around her hip were two belts with throwing knives on them. Her horns curled above her head and were very smooth. A somewhat sad expression was on her face.

"Hello," She spoke softly to him.

"..." Shred did not respond, only kept his guard up.

"Please don't be like that. My name is Elis. What is your name?"

"...Shred."

"Shred…it's a name that suits you."

"Thanks…yours too."

"Thank you," Her expression got sadder.

"...There a reason…you're sad right now?" His guard faltered a bit.

"There is…and…it's about…us."

"Us? We just met."

"I know…but…you seem like such a nice person…and I think…we could be great friends at least….but…"

"...But?"

"...you chose the form of a demon….and I… an angel….we cannot be friends."

"...Says who? Just cause I became a demon and you an angel doesn't mean we cant find some sort of alliance. Besides…were humans right?" Shred smiled.

"That may be true….but we are still enemies….even so…I'm happy to hear that from you…you're a nice person…I hate…violence…so please," Her eyes soon became cold and dark, "Die…quickly and painlessly." She threw a hand forward and the vines in her hair moved in response, extending out and stabbing at Shred.

"Oh shit!" Shred quickly moved out the way, summoning Cat Sith and armatizing it, running from the assault of vines.


Toket waved at Poch and Jack. "Hello."

Poch and Jack looked at Toket with shock. It only lasted a second before the two charged at him. Jack swiped his scythe at him.

"Whoa!" Toket jumped back from it, the following slam, and the upcoming side slash which had Poch on the side, jumping off and thrusting his sword at him with the added velocity of the swing. Toket used his spear to bounce it away.

He side kicked, clipping it on his brace, the end skidding off the pole of Tokets spear. He landed and ducked, allowing Jack to thrust his scythe at the crusader.

Toket attempts to block but a quick upward kick from Poch from below broke that guard, forcing Toket to bend back to avoid the blade, seeing the end of Pochs sword swing down on him, the eagle angel reacting by rolling to the side. As he got up Jack came at him with an upward diagonal slash, Poch following with a twist. Toket avoided the slash and blocked thrust. The two went for a downward slash, Toket jumping back, avoiding it. Jack's scythe embedded into the ground and he pulled himself Toket, kicking at the eagle who used his spear to vault into the air, the spear getting kicked, toket rolling with it, adding momentum to the spear which allowed him to clash with Poch who jumped up to attack him. Toket pushed him off and as the two came to continue their attack Toket wrote O§§ßč and wrote a circle around it, tapping it, the words disappearing. He dived into the ground, the surface becoming muddy and distorted, getting away from the attack, surprising the two exterminators.

"Poch, that was-" Jack started.

"I know!" Poch replied.

They followed the distortion as it moved away. Once Toket popped out, they went for a swing until they were stopped by the crusader throwing his hands up, getting on his knees, and yelling one thing. "Parley!" He kept his smile but there was a look of pleading on his face.

Jack and Poch froze.

"Excuse me?" Jack said, raising a brow.

"Parley." Toket repeated.

"Parley?" Poch asked.

"Yes. Parley. Y'know….cease fire? Negotiate? Talk?" He rose up. "You've seen Pirates of the Caribbean right?"

"No actually."

"Wait, you haven't?" Jack looked at him with shock.

"Not on netflix."

"Get a dvd."

"Couldn't find it at the store near me. Something about Amber Heard."

"Oh, that bitch!"

"Ahem." Toket coughed. The two remembered who was near them and got ready to fight. "Now now, parley, remember?"

"Like we'd trust you!" Jack said, raising his weapon.

Toket rolled his eyes and grabbed his spear. "Here then." He tossed it to them letting it fall and slide to them.

"Wha-" Jack, along with Poch, was surprised by his actions.

"Now do you believe me?"

They kept their guard up but looked unsure at each other.

"Cmon I just wanna talk, really."

Poch and Jack were hesitant but lowered their weapons, keeping them in their hands.

"Now, I'm going to reach into my vest and pull out a few chairs alright?"

They looked at him with distrust but kept their weapons low.

Toket slowly reached into his vest. From it he pulled out a full size chair, setting it down and sitting on it, reaching back in with both hands and pulling out two more, placing them down and sliding it to them. "Have a seat."

The two exterminators looked at the other before sitting down. Still being cautious.

"Now then," he crossed his legs, resting his arm on one while his chin was placed in his hand, "I want to make a deal with you."

"What kind?" Poch asked.

"The kind that helps the both of us. You ask questions and I'll answer them, all of them. No bullshit. Then you do the same."

"Bullshit!" Jack accused.

"I just said none."

"I don't believe it."

"Try me."

"...How did you become a crusader?" Poch asked.

"Starting big are we? Well the opposite of you of course. We bathed in an embodiment of heaven. But I'm guessing that's not exactly what you meant. You mean more so how exactly did we go about finding out we could become crusaders, am I right?"

Poch nodded, "Yeah."

"Well I'm the best person to ask. I am one of the firsts."

"You are!?" Jack was surprised.

"I am. Now as to what led me to finding out how well….I guess you could say it was from a finding from the unknown period."

Poch and Jack looked startled by the knews. "The unknown period!?" They said in unison.

"Yes. Know how they said that there was nothing to be found from that period?"

"Yeah?" Jack acknowledged.

"Well that's not exactly true. There were somethings like records or old books, but they were empty, completely blank….atleast to the naked eye." He could tell he got their attention. "There was….a certain journal….one that I happened to gain possession of. It was special as its cover had a title in a language no one could read, even though its contents were just as blank. That's when, as if fate guided it, I stumbled upon something that made what was blank to be filled with words. I read it, and it was just a normal journal of one's life…until you get to the end where there was a certain formula, one to create something called…the embodiment of heaven."

Poch and Jack's jaws nearly dropped.

"That came from the unknown period!?" Poch exclaimed.

"Yes. 1000 years ago."

"But how?"

"I wish I could tell you but I don't have enough information yet."

"Hold on. You're not done." Jack butted in. "That explains how you found how to become one but not how you DID became one."

"Heh. Well ysee…thats where The Purge comes in. I was out looking for what was needed to make this embodiment and all of the sudden, I was entrapped in a Purge. The angelic monsters were coming and the Exterminators were killing them off. I knew nothing of what was happening but I still came up to an angel, asking for its help, showing it what I found. It attacked me and I tried to uselessly plead to it but it didn't listen, mainly cause it couldn't. That's when an actual angel appeared and stopped it and came to me. I went to heaven, getting a glimpse of a good afterlife, a few angels and me getting to work on creating this embodiment. We created it and then they tried to touch it but to them it was like some hard jello, soft but unable to be penetrated. Then I touched it. I was pulled in and I was washed over by some light, soothed by it as my body changed. I emerged as what you see now. After I emerged, having had a heavy urge to sleep, they witnessed my light angels and that's when they pieced together you exterminators. Thus the plan to recruit and train your counterparts, the crusaders, was set in motion, with me being in charge."

"So you were not only the first crusader but also the one who found out about us?" Jack surmised.

"Yes."

"...When did this happen?" Poch asked.

"...eight months ago."

The two were really taken by surprise by that notion. "Wait, eight months!? How!? Your stage two in eight months!?" Jack tried to understand.

"More like stage three."

"Three?! That's impossible!"

"...It's not…he showed it earlier, remember?" Poch said.

"What?...That circle!" Jack remembered the moment from earlier where Toket drew a circle over his summoning words.

"Yes. I'm at stage three. Only got it recently the first time we met." Toket explained.

"But that shouldn't be possible! To even get to stage two you'd need like a year's worth of experience! It took us longer cause of….reasons." He glanced at Poch.

"Heh. That's also what the end of the journal mentioned. It said things about stages and how to achieve them and such. So I couldn't possibly be in this stage….by normal means."

"Normal?" Poch questioned.

"I call it…the time void. While training and understanding my powers I was thinking of quick ways to catch up to you while we were finding ways to recruit more. The angels wanted a way to challenge the exterminators equally. Luckily I'm a scientist."

"You're a scientist?" Jack questioned.

"Not an official one but I do my own research and experiments. The discovery of angels and demons, this power, the exterminators, it opened all sorts of possibilities for me! I did some experiments, trying to find a way to increase progress or rather shorten the time needed. Then I discovered it, or rather created it. A time void, a place where time slows down."

"...By how much?"

"Two months out here is equal to one year in there."

"A year!?" Pochs jaw dropped.

"Yes. The method to do so requires the sacrifice of a few boss souls, and strong ones at that, so it's not cheap. There's also some drawbacks, being in there for so long harms the body and once you leave you can't go back for a good while, doing so causes further bodily harm. As a bonus though the monsters sacrificed appear as some form of…apparition making them great for training, especially if the focus is reaching the next stage."

"Guess that explains it." Jack said.

"So then…how many are you? And….,what stage are you all in?" Poch asked.

"So far we have about eleven of us, including me. I'm the only one in stage three, two are new, and the rest are stage two." Toket answered.

"How'd you find them?"

"Ysee that was the tricky part. Finding someone capable and willing wasn't going to be easy, so I turned to those…acquainted with me. They either joined for a shared goal for me or because their views aligned with the angels."

"Are you saying some of you became crusaders for your own reasons?"

"Exactly."

"Is that why you're working with the dhorks?"

"Yes, them and the other factions. Are goals are different but we found that we can aid the other, creating a…mutual agreement,"

"Other factions?" Jack questioned.

"Yes. You'll find out more when you decode those files you obtained. Any more questions?"

"Yeah. What's up with those early Cleansings?"

"Just testing something from the Unknown Period, something we improved."

"And that is?" Poch questioned.

"Now that would be complicated to explain and I dont have the time to explain it sadly. Anything else?"

Poch and Jack looked at each other, having nothing else to ask, before looking to Toket.

"My turn. I have few, don't worry. First of all, have you ever stumbled into an area with angelic statues, ones that you've felt a reaction to?"

Their eyes widened but they kept a mostly straight face. Poch answered. "We have."

"So I'm right in assuming you also have the book. We got our book from a different one full of demons. Now the next question, and this is directed to you," He pointed to Poch.

"Me?"

"Yes. It's about that new shadow demon. How did you acquire it?"

"..."

"Is it a touchy subject?"

"Yeah. It is. And you do-" Jack started.

"He's a fusion of my brother's unique and mine."

Jack looked at the hound with shock. "Poch you don't have to-"

"If I can't answer a question like this….how can I say I've moved on."

"...Alright." Jack understood him and let him continue, though not agreeing with it.

"Your brothers? You mean the one with the sword that appeared to protect you?" Toket questioned.

"Yeah…I…Inherited him from my brother….It was after I killed him." Poch replied.

"You killed him?"

"I was under an influence brought on by a demon, a demon that managed to weasel himself into the corps with an exterminator's help. It was cause of that influence that I killed him…He…understood though….he never hated me for it….or the things I did…so…by his last wish…he had Klarna watch over me…Klarna obtained a part of his soul and then migrated to me…when I went to stage two he fused with Shiva, my unique."

"Interesting. So through his love for you he managed to give you this gift. How…poetic." He seemed to genuinely smile at that.

"Thanks." He said a bit uneasy.

"Well, that's all I really wanted to ask," Toket got up.

"That's all?" Jack said, surprised.

"That's all I had to ask…but I do have a message for you."

"Message?"

"From the Dhorks. They say come at us whenever, we will be prepared and we plan to win, to triumph over you demons and demon defectors. This is our declaration of war. That's all they said." Toket turned around, walking off. "We crusaders will be aiding in this war, but don't think you won't find us in a cleansing or two, or other areas." He said, a bit ominously.

"What other areas?"

"Depends on the Crusader. Oh right!" He turned back. "Spear please."

Poch and Jack looked at the weapon laid before them, looked at each other and looked back to Toket, the hellhound bringing his toes under it, kicking it up, grabbing and tossing it to the Crusader.

"Thank you." A heavenly gate opened behind Toket and he waved them off disappearing into it.

Once he disappeared the barrier went away and the orb that made it escaped through a gate. They looked at the timer and saw that the Cleansing was over.

"Think that means the others are safe?" Jack asked.

"Lets che-" Poch was cut off by Stolas's gate being opened right next to them.

"Oh good! You're alright!" Stolas said in relief.

"Stolas?"

"The Cleansings over. We need to discuss something, come in!"


Toket took a seat, seeing the other crusaders taking care of some of their minor wounds, Elis talking to the deer twins, while the one that Echo fought was talking to a few agents. One and Two approached Toket.

"What was the point of that talk, Toket? You told more than them."

"I didn't need to ask much, I got all the info I needed." Toket replied.

"You gave plenty too!" Two remarked.

"Made a deal and I kept it. Besides, I wanted to make sure to water the seeds."

"Whaddya mean?"

"We chose the lust ring because that's where the succubusses are, and their souls' colors were plainly seen while with us, seen to compare. Get what I'm going at?"

"Oooooh I get it."

"Wouldn't it have been better to add a few demons too?" One surmised.

"Not quite. They scurry about so quickly when the alarms come out and we'd have to catch an exterminator with them before they have a chance to clear them all out. Doesn't help that the soul barrier has such a finite space either."

"Ah yeah that does make it easier said than done."

"I think I may have a solution to that," Said another agent. He walked into the room. He was seven foot eight inches tall, somewhat burly, had a white mustache that stretched and curled below his sharp chin, was bald, and had had a DZ pin on his suit shirt.

One and Two slumped along with frowning, One greeting the man. "Hello Draum."

"To what do we owe the pleasure?" Two asked.

"I've come here with a new musical sheet for this difficult genre." Draum said approaching Toket.

"What did you have in mind?" Toket asked.

"Well we of the Deluxe Zeta have surmised that there have been some demonic tunes in the human world, considering demons ability to disguise."

"Idols as demons? Wouldn't be outlandish I suppose."

"Exactly. We have a plan to get one of them and their entourage in a duet of sorts with the exterminators. One that well exposes the hidden instruments in play. The instruments to their melody of melancholy are already being tuned, we just need the stage to be set for the performance."

"Hm. I think I have something that could help." Toket smirked.


End.

Next chapter: Plots