Chapter 19 Awake to Justice: Judgment

"My loyal servant, it has begun. Just as I foresaw, he has defied me. He comes to us this very moment. He believes he can save them, but he will fail." The mood in Hell had intensified. An unconscious uprising had begun and the Underworld was growing restless. The smoky obsidian demon knelt before Mundus' statue, his head bowed in reverence to his master. "As my highest ranking general, you shall make sure that he meets his fate. I have other matters to attend to. My army has been fully mobilized, and the human realm sits on the brink of my dominion. I warn you, Alastor, my patience wears thin; Do not fail me…." Mundus' presence withdrew and his voice left a fading echo.

"As you wish, Master…" Alastor disengaged the broadsword from his back and began walking away from the throne, and towards the direction of Sparda. His judgment was nigh….

Sparda did not hesitate to pick up speed as he drew nearer to the gate. He periodically looked down at Marlene to make sure she was still alright. The vast lands of Hell were now completely barren. No demon could be seen anywhere even in the most remote areas. Has the invasion begun already? No, not possible, he would not invade the humans' world without me at the forefront unless….Sparda stopped mid-flight unless…. he knows….But that cannot be. Surely, not enough time has passed for him to receive word...

Sparda spread his wings and began soaring again. He slowed as he neared the white pathway that led to the portal. He landed and began walking, paying close attention to his surroundings. It is far too quiet. An electric crackling caught his attention and a figure appeared from the shadows. It was Alastor, standing with sword ready. Sparda gently moved Marlene behind him as he drew his sword as well.

All of Hell stood silent, save for the gusting winds of the portal. Both Sparda and Alastor exchanged steady glances, each remaining motionless. Sparda knew the time for discussion was over. Now, there was only time for action without hesitation.

"Get out of my way, Alastor."

Alastor's words came out raspy yet precise, "You are no longer my commanding officer, General. I fear that I cannot comply with your wishes."

"I will not hesitate to kill you if I must."

"So it seems. Lord Mundus is very anxious about having you done away with. I was sent here to ensure that you will no longer pose a threat to him..."

"Well, then I guess there is no choice to be made. Let us get this over with"

"….However, I am not accustomed to act unless I understand why I must do so…yet….I cannot deny that I see why Mundus would be hold such misgivings." Alastor motioned towards Marlene, hiding behind Sparda's leg. "But alas…I have no quarrel with you, General….Mundus has grown far too comfortable on his throne. I no longer care to do his bidding, for I see it will only contribute to his personal gain and do little to honor our world….I am a subordinate, but I will not become a slave…I never intended to serve under another tyrant."

Sparda was shocked. He always knew there were other demons who felt the same as he did when it came to Mundus, but never had anyone openly talked about it…aside from poor Ifrit of course. "So…your eyes are open as well."

"Yes, they are. Though I do not understand why you have done what you have...why, it seems, you have sided with the humans. It only further perplexes me when I try to contemplate your reasoning. However, I do trust your judgment as I always have, since you recruited me into your army and I witnessed your pride and honor in battle. Your words have always held more power than those of Mundus, and my fealty has never been with one other than you, General."

Sparda was beyond pleased with this. How many others feel the same way, he wondered. "You shall let me pass then?"

"No, I fear that I cannot." Sparda held his sword ready, preparing for Alastor's impending attack, but to his surprise, Alastor made no move. "You will not be able to return through the gate that way. Mundus has stationed nearly half his army at the portal, lying in wait for you."

"Then they shall suffer the same fate as those who have already crossed my path."

"No, it would not be wise, General."

"You don't understand. That is the only way out. I have no choice, I must take the chance."

"But there is another way, one that would afford us less risk in its passage"

"There is another portal?"

"Yes….follow me."

Alastor snapped his sharp wings outward and burst into the air. Sparda waited for a few seconds and contemplated, the portal is right there…so close…how do I know I can trust him…but Marlene…do I risk such an open battle with her at my side….no I cannot risk it…I have no other choice. Sparda picked Marlene up and looked her in the eyes. He flew off in the direction of Alastor, faithful that he spoke the truth.

Alastor was able to fly much faster than Sparda, using the power of electricity at his disposal. Sparda struggled to keep up, trying to keep Marlene safe at the same time. Sparda recognized that they were entering the rocky cliffs of Hell, nearing his lands of origin, the lands to which he promised himself and Beowulf, years ago, that he would never return.

As they flew over the land, Alastor halted, "There, the portal is there."

"Here? In the Wastelands? But I do not see it."

Alastor flew downward, leading Sparda directly to the portal. "You see, it is here"

"….but….but how? Mundus did not have the humans erect the tower here."

"That is irrelevant now. Since the opening of the main portal, demonic activity has increased at an accelerated rate throughout the human world, eroding the barrier where it was weak. Our kind has exerted far more influence than you may have thought. This is just one of many portals that opened after Mundus joined the two realms."

Sparda looked through the circular portal and saw a plot of land, an island, through its murky ripples. "I see…alright, I must act quickly. I have to get her back to her world, to safety." Sparda paused for a moment before he stepped through the portal, Alastor followed closely behind.

As he entered the human world once more, the wind chilled Sparda's face. He spotted a grassy area and contemplated leaving Marlene there for the moment. His thoughts were drawn back Alastor. "Join me, brother, we will face Mundus together."

"I am sorry but I cannot. I do not know why you wish to abandon your homeland, and although I am certain it is for a sound reason, I do not share your feelings. I am a devil. My place is in Hell, and there it will always remain."

"But surely Mundus will force you to pay for your transgression…"

"I believe he will not. I have been discreet, he has no knowledge of my actions. You will have nothing to worry about."

Sparda saw a great confidence radiating from Alastor and admired his singular courage. He know that there was no way, or indeed any reason, to convince him to stay. "Thank you, Alastor, this will not be forgotten." Sparda flew down to solid earth and placed Marlene on the ground. He glanced up at Alastor, who looked back at him and gave a small bow.

Then suddenly, Sparda's eyes widened in shock as he saw the triadic red eyes of the Dark Lord appear behind Alastor. He attempted to warn him but he was too late, "Alastor, behind you!--"

Alastor turned and saw the three eyes of Mundus above him, surging with demonic energy. He pulled his sword from his back and readied himself for attack. The entire scene moved in slow motion. Before Alastor could even defend himself, Mundus struck with monstrous power, sending a great beam of white and red light through him, blasting a gigantic hole in the middle of his body. His body was dead almost instantly, as his demonic life energy begain to disperse in an aura around him.[1]

As he fell from the sky, his sword was released from his grip and his body began to glow and break apart; all that was left was his glowing blue soul floating in the air.[2]

"Worthless scum, you chose to defy me as well…If you desire so much to raise your blade to me, I will grant you such a fate."

Suddenly, Alastor's soul was unwillingly forced into his sword, as it planted itself in the ground near Sparda; it vibrated with electric energy until it fell silent. His own sword had now become his permanent prison, a punishment from the Dark Lord himself.[3]

"Mundus…." Sparda spoke in a grunt.

"Sparda…you have finally shown your true allegiance. Your treachery disappoints me." Sparda gnashed his sharp teeth and grew angrier with each moment that passed. "You are not even worthy of my time. I have a world to conquer. Take solace in the fact that you will not live to suffer my reign, and enjoy your slow demise."

As Mundus' eyes faded away, the portal over the island began to rumble. Within seconds the rumbling had stopped and the hissing portal became quiet. Then, out of the portal exploded a plethora of all kinds of demons, some that even Sparda had never seen before; included were Sloths, Gluttonies, Greeds, Wraths, Prides, Vanguards, Abysses, Soul Eaters, and even what remained of the Frost clan. They all charged, pouring out of the portal like a pestilent swarm.

Sparda held his sword at his side and looked at Marlene, "Go." She did not move but instead latched herself back on to his leg.

"No, I don't want to leave you," she screamed in her high pitched voice.

Sparda pushed her away, almost violently, "Go…Now!" The tears welled up in her eyes and she ran away, never looking back as she cried.

Sparda turned back to the legions of demons heading his away. He felt remorse for Alastor, who had fallen because he had shared his own view of Mundus. He glared over at Alastor's sword and it seemed to speak to him. Then, without giving it a thought, he took it up and electricity surged through his body. The blade felt hot in his hand and he could feel the rage of Alastor combine with his own. A smile ran across his face as he leaped into the air and flew directly towards the horde. Sparda was now on a collision course with almost half of Mundus' army and with Alastor dead, his only ally was the sword he had left behind. He would face Hell's army, alone….

[1,2] Both of these sentences appear to indicate that the scribe "Didymus" was grappling with a way to describe the physical and pneumatic compisition of demons and devils. It appears that he creates a bifurcation between the body and "soul" or "energy aura" of a being. Whether this is justified, we have no way of ever knowing. What is clear is that the alien nature of demonic beings is what is being communicated here. ~Ed.

[3] The original manuscript, again, seems to indicate that the demon's soul was transformed into the sword, rather than being trapped inside of it. A note in the original manuscript aslo notes that this punishment is so severe, not because the demon is afforded no freedom of physical movement, but rather that they are at the mercy of the wishes of their wielder, usually a human, which is apparently dishonorable to the warrior ethos of demons. I am sure that this is a reference to the warrior ethos during the time of the manuscript's composition. ~Ed.