They struck at dawn a few days later, initiating the fray by firing flaming rocks from makeshift cannons and continuing the chaos by charging through the palace gates. Shouts and screams shattered the sky, which poured from its vastness a torrent of monstrous capacity. Lightning burst from gaps in the clouds, scorching the earth and aligning with clashes of swords, axes, and other weaponry.
Most were Ira, the ones on Tyrannus's side, with bands of Avaritia and Superbia supporting from behind with bows and catapults. Arrows flew through the air and struck nearly as hard as the knifelike raindrops crashing down from above. On the side of rebellion, demons of all kinds fought with hearts and hands of iron, striking former comrades with pain as well as purpose. No one deserved this battle, regardless of its originators, yet without it, there could be no hope, no peace, no future.
Tetsuda had no inkling of the Ultimas' or Hirokan's whereabouts, yet none of that truly mattered—at this moment, all he wanted was Tyrannus. The incubus, clad in light but sturdy armor, Erectus held tight in his hand, darted his way through the fray, cutting down any in his path but primarily fixated on finding the poisoned Ira. Was Eluo enough, Tetsuda wondered? Was he enough? He'd barely trusted the Ira's beliefs about him back in Cosiyan, and now all chances of success seemed hopeless. Hell, he couldn't even find Tyrannus, let alone do anything to help him!
But worrying wouldn't help him, he also knew. He had to keep going, keep looking, even if he had to burn the palace to the ground to do so.
"Where are you?" he growled, slicing an Avaritia in half. "Tyrannus, where are you?!"
Faint laughter seemed to sound in his ears, and as the pieces of the Avaritia fell to the ground, Tetsuda looked to a half-destroyed wall. No one stood anywhere near it, yet something he couldn't explain dragged him, made him scale a pile of fallen stone and wood until he stood upon one of the walls that had—when whole—acted as a defense against invasion.
Bodies of archers littered the walkway, yet nothing living was in sight—just small turrets and piles of debris. He made his way toward a barely-standing turret, yet before he could cross through, something heavy and forceful knocked him onto his back and into the stone. He landed with pain searing up his back, and a cry escaped his throat.
Atop him, looking even more disfigured than Tetsuda had remembered, was Tyrannus. Half of his skin had turned dark green, and multiple horns curved out of the green side of his head. Bat wings, one covered in warts and plagued by rot, extended from his back. Vicious claws clamped around Tetsuda's neck, and wild eyes, one completely green and one blood red, bored into his own.
"You've finally returned," he chuckled in a voice not his own. "The bitch finally crawled back to his master! And he brought so many friends along with him!" He grinned, revealing cavity-laden teeth, and rose from the incubus. "I suppose I should greet them."
Cackling, Tyrannus took a few steps away and stretched his wings tight. Growling, Tetsuda got to his feet and ran after the Ira, managing to grab hold of his ankle just as he took flight. Tyrannus paid him no mind, instead drawing lightning to his hands and firing it in bursts down at the warring troops. Which sides he struck, Tetsuda did not know, and based on Tyrannus's crazed countenance, he didn't care.
Swallowing the sympathy he felt for those beneath him, Tetsuda grabbed onto a spike jutting out from Tyrannus's green calf and lifted himself a bit more. The constant beating of his wings combined with the rain made it difficult to hold on, and the smell of rot emanating from him nearly forced Tetsuda to vomit. Yet he held on, and even continued climbing the Ira until his foot was propped onto the spike. Mustering all his strength, Tetsuda dug his claws into Tyrannus's grey shoulder, and as the Ira winced, he stabbed Erectus hard into Tyrannus's rotten wing.
The connection he held with the lightning ceased, and his flight grew a bit more crooked, yet still Tyrannus did not falter. Rather, he continued flying away from the palace, toward a wasteland somewhat reminiscent of the one in which Tyrannus and Tairo had fought.
The palace long behind them, Tyrannus twisted his body and threw Tetsuda off of him. The incubus crashed into the ground at a slide, sending rocks and dust flying while tearing even further into his armor. His breathing came in heavy, ragged pants, but he managed to at least incline his head.
Tyrannus dropped gracefully to the ground, a grin still on his face, Erectus still in his wing. The blade had torn a fairly decent gash in the skin—Tetsuda had managed to wrench it just before being thrown—that hopefully would be enough to keep Tyrannus relatively—or, at least, temporarily—grounded.
"Your balls have grown since last we fucked," Tyrannus said. "I didn't expect you to jump on me like that. It's almost enough to make me come. Here." He flapped the torn wing, sending Erectus skittering to Tetsuda. "You'll need that to make this fun."
"Why are you doing this?" asked Tetsuda as he rose to a crouch. "Why make so many people suffer, Tairo?"
"You use that name as if it carries so much weight," Tyrannus said. " 'Tairo' as you know him is long gone. He's simply become part of the shitshow that is Tyrannus's mind."
"Then what are you?"
"What am I?" He snickered. "I suppose you could call me the 'true' Tyrannus. I'm all the wrath and spite that's consumed him since the day he died in the human realm. I am the Ira that he claims to be."
"You are not Tyrannus," Tetsuda denied, rising to his feet. "And you never will be."
"Lovestruck, like a typical incubus. At least you're fiery. Come, then." He outstretched his arm, and from the air, Falce Mortis materialized. "Let's have some fun."
