Chapter 33: The Rod of Arafel!
Chris, Alito, and Death felt rumbles between their feet as rubbles began falling from the ceiling.
"We're near where the Noss might be." Death frowned. "Can you still fight?"
"Our combat systems have been reduced to just projectiles attack to facilitate the regeneration and power recovery. Besides that, our functions are reduced to manual labour, and that is all. Don't worry, our analysis systems are still working fine." Chris nodded.
Chris, Alito, and Death rushed out of the Abandoned Tunnel and saw the Noss stretching its limbs as it awakened from its slumber.
Death summoned three ghouls to lure the stingers and Noss as he unleashed a powerful shockwave from his Slice of Death while shooting down multiple stingers at once.
Chris and Alito managed to unleash streams of light bullets upon the swarms of stingers, quickly scanning and anticipating the locations of each stinger.
Death managed to unleash a few more shockwaves, with the ghouls, Chris, and Alito ridding the swarms. The Noss stumbled for a few times before crashing down upon his back, dissolving into the dark, grim atmosphere.
"Despite your injuries, you are able to shoot them down...Resilience seems to be your strengths." Death praised.
"I have been through things similar to that. That's why our bodies and augmentations are adapted in recovering quicker than past times. Still need three hours for the weapons to work completely." Chris nodded.
"I assume you are resistant towards normal, human-made weaponry like bombs, guns, rockets, and the lot as a result of your constant adaptation to supernatural damages that are stronger than said weapons?" Death wondered.
"Of course." Chris chuckled.
"That's a relief. We have no time to waste, though. The Hellguards trapped inside the Noss, we have to rescue them." Death replied.
"Right...We have to return to the Hunter after." Chris and Alito nodded.
A minute later
"Thank you, Horsemen and the two followers, for saving us three. My name is Achiel. From one warrior to another." the middle white hair Hellguard bowed.
"I'm Achiezer." the brown hair, middle-aged Hellguard followed.
"And I'm Achituv." the silver hair Hellguard concluded.
"That's great. Uriel is certainly worrying about the three of you. You should hurry back, we have something to backtrack upon but we will catch up soon." Chris nodded.
"What about the other six?" Achtiv wondered.
"We have rescued three from the first Noss, and now we have just the last Noss to fry. Where is the second piece of the Rod of Arafel, by the way?" Death nodded.
"The hilt? It should be in the rubbles where the Noss fell." Achituv pointed towards the heap of rubbles.
The team managed to rummage through the rubble and found the hilt.
"Sweet. Now let's get back to someone first." Chris nodded.
"It's getting dangerous, though. It will be safe if we follow you." Achituv hoped.
"Sure thing. Who knows, maybe Sufferings might come at anytime. Judging by my system recovery, charging head on will be suicide." Chris nodded.
Construction Site Safe House
The Hunter quickly approached the trio. The Hellguards followed behind.
"You're back. Belial - is he...?" the Hunter wondered.
"Belial is dead. He's way too weak for me though. You might be surprised; these two Maidens did it." Death replied.
"Wait, what? You killed Belial? Humans...kill Belial?" the Hunter's eyes widened.
"Not without repercussions, though. But it's well worth the risk; he would not trouble the remaining survivors any longer." Chris gave a weak simper, her body still regenerating its biomechanical augmentations.
"Besides...we ain't humans. We have forsaken our statuses as humans two years ago..." Alito shook her head.
"But even then..." the Hunter wondered in disbelief.
Chris and Alito nodded.
"Would you promise to keep it a secret if other survivors asked you about the person who saved you?" Chris asked.
"I would, you have my words." the Hunter nodded.
Chris turned towards Achiel, Achituv, and Achiezer.
"We want to have some privacy for a while, so would you please?" Chris asked.
"We respect thou's privacy." the Hellguards bowed and moved eight strides away from Death, Chris, Alito, and the Hunter.
Minutes of explanation later
"But I ain't going to wallow in self-pity. I know if I turn back, my loved ones will be disappointed. Until I find solace and the meaning of humanity thereafter, I'm not stopping any innocent beings from being killed or blackmailed!" Chris clenched her fists.
"I see...biomechanical augmentations and arcane magic. Wow, that is a first. Then again, this world is not very peaceful as your world is for that sort of advancement in tech, what with political war, financial depression, and all that crap. Still, I am very grateful for you both. My soul is free!" the Hunter chuckled.
"Give Death credit though...without him telling us about Belial's attack prior to that bastard's fight, we would not be able to strategize in delivering damage at the highest efficiency." Alito simpered.
"Besides...I'm sorry for being such a dick to you." Chris sighed.
"Why? You saved my life!" the Hunter wondered.
"To be honest, I have the same thought as you when I was young, very young; the thought about giving people's location away just to ensure one's own, or your family's safety. My mother told me, back then, that there would be other ways around the problem even if it might seems hopeless. It's surprising really, how your loved ones impact you in many ways unimaginable, especially after...realizing you loved them more than you think." Chris simpered.
"Well, they say 'Mom's the word'. I ain't surprised. Then again, can't say that I blame you for accusing me as a heartless murderer. Thanks to you three, though." the Hunter shrugged and smiled.
"Hunter...your soul was never captive. Belial admitted that he had no power to take it." Death replied.
The Hunter's eyes widened in shock, then to anger, and then to shame...
"He tricked me? That means...I gave the others up for nothing...?" the Hunter shook his head, his right hand clasping his face.
"No, wait! I don't think so...hold on. Let me get my communicator device." Chris replied as she called Draven once more.
Moments later
"Yes...there's still seven short of the seven billion full population admitted into the Well of Souls. That includes the Hunter." Draven called.
"That's a relief...but...no...I can't live with what I've done. I mean...I give my soul up for nothing..." the Hunter shook his head.
"A blackmail is a blackmail...You have no other solution until we come along. We can't really blame you, right? If any, it's Belial." Chris asked.
"But still..." the Hunter shook his head.
The Trio turned around and asked the Hunter to huddle close.
"Our main purpose is to get the Rod of Arafel to get the Angel Key. We will be getting the Demon key after, which will lead us to the Well of Souls. We can revive humanity thereafter." Chris explained the trio's plan.
"R...Really?" the Hunter replied.
"The Well of Souls is Reincarnation central." Alito nodded.
"Yes. That will relive you of the torment and blackmail that Belial gave you." Death nodded.
"But I still can't live with it. After the humans that I rat upon revived, they will certainly kick my ass. Not that it matters because...I deserve it." the Hunter shook his head.
"We volunteer in being your witnesses. You have our words. Just don't die...please?" Chris gave a concerned look as she joined Alito in holding the Hunter's hand and giving a soft, but reassuring squeeze.
The Hunter sighed, "I can't...I can't say how grateful I am to the three of you..."
"All we want is for Humanity to be restored, so that my brother can be freed; he's framed for something he had not committed." Death frowned.
"For Alito and I, nothing beats more than the ones you have fought for restored back to life...if possible." Chris simpered, Alito nodding along.
"Thanks a million, you three. Thanks a million. I will be waiting for the great news. And thanks again, for ridding that scourge Belial." the Hunter nodded.
"Anything to destroy any heartless murderers, Hunter." Chris bowed.
As the team and the rescued Hellguards left for Uriel...
"It's unbelievable still, that you can kill a Demon Lord. Granted, he's the weakest of all Demon Lord, and the Pale Rider helped you in revealing his attack before the fight...but still..." Achiel commented.
"Alito and I don't mind dying...We will do anything to prevent history from repeating itself, even if the only solution is death. You have no idea how much impact the demise of an entire family can bring." Chris frowned.
"I see...we dare not judge your capacities and Alito's. Our apologies if we let you think we are judging you." Achiel replied.
"It's okay, Achiel. Alito and I were surprised ourselves at times too. You will be surprised at the adventurers back at our dimension, not just us, though." Chris simpered.
"Really?" Death wondered.
"Some adventurers are capable of dealing with monsters as powerful as three T-Rexes, supernatural creatures with armor that as strong as ten ankylosauruses, and monsters as high as the as the Petronas Towers. I'm not kidding." Chris simpered.
"I assume you deal with those types too, right?" Death wondered.
Chris and Alito nodded.
"Just wondering...how does adventurers happened in your dimension?" Achituv wondered.
"Ever since the politics stabilized immensely, nature has been restored to optimum level. New life forms and monsters are discovered even until this day. Budding adventurers soon grew and the government quickly put their heads together and organised the Republic Guild of Adventurers. It's always nice to see people capable of turning their dreams of being adventurers into reality." Chris simpered.
"Told you...your world could be worse." Death grunted.
"Thanks, Death. You gave us enough confidence to deal with stuff back at our world." Alito simpered.
Back at the Building near the Earth Portal
"Achiel, Achituv, and Achiezer!" Uriel shot out in relief.
"Commander Uriel!" the three Hellguard bowed.
"It's such a relief to see the three of you back in our team!" Uriel nodded.
Death, Chris, and Alito approached the Hellguard commander.
"There is still one more piece of the Rod of Arafel left; I can feel the power of the Rod within you, Death." Uriel continued. "The Rid wills itself whole. You may be deaf to its cries, but I am not - the final piece lies beyond the North-east, by the Golden Gate Bridge, be warned...it is an area heavily fortified by the Shadow."
"Rest assured, Uriel. The shadows are weakening. Belial is dead." Death nodded.
"You what? You killed one of the major Demon Lords?" Uriel's eyes widened.
Chris, Death, and Alito nodded.
"More specifically, Chris and Alito." Death commented.
"Your arcane abilities are beyond any humans have imagined, Chris and Alito. For you to destroy the Demon Lord, you have our respect." Uriel bowed.
"Anything to secure the survivors' safety. Besides, we were humans before...but we have forsaken it since. I do hope, however, that you will respect my secrecy...for now." Chris nodded.
"Not human? What does she mean? They are clearly human..." Uriel wondered, but nodded anyway.
"The Destroyer will not be pleased when I restore the Rod of Arafel, though. Your warriors may pay the price." Death asked in concern.
"The White City is lost to us - this broken world will soon be our grave, and yet we must fight on against the darkness, to uphold the light. If your actions hasten our hand...so be it." Uriel conceded.
Death nodded. "If that's what you want, Uriel, I will respect your wish to stay on."
Uriel could feel the gentle squeeze of Chris and Alito's hands.
"May you survive the Swarm long enough for the Destroyer's destruction, Uriel." Chris simpered.
"Good luck, Death, Chris, and Alito. The final piece is within your grasp." Uriel nodded.
"With the blessings of the Light, run on forth!" Achituv nodded.
As Chris, Alito, and Death set forth to find the last piece of the Rod, Uriel tilted her head and wondered, "Chris and Alito are not human? But I can see that they are clearly human...unless they have a dark, traumatic past..."
The Hellguard's eyes and forehead rune glowed white; Uriel was known to have a partial ability to detect the emotions of people - such was the abilities of all Hellguard's commanders.
She saw a scar upon the chest of both Chris and Alito's soul.
"No wonder she said she understood me...They too have a dark, traumatic past similar to mine..." Uriel gazed at the two Maidens with eyes of sympathy.
North East - the path to the Bridge
After walking through a sewage pathway and out to the road with scattered cars across the ground, the trio encountered a Suffering charging towards the trio from a distance.
"Get to the sewage path!" Chris shot out as the trio lured the Suffering just in time for the big abomination to jar half of its body into the sewage path's exit.
"It won't be long before his body can tear through steel; blast 'em!" Death shot out.
Within seconds, the Suffering roared in anguish, slumped on the floor, and dissolved into thin air.
"Yeah...that's why 'Bigger isn't always better'." Chris huffed.
"Agreed." Death chuckled.
As soon as they came out of the sewer pathway again, a car was thrown towards the trio. Death quickly delivered a powerful uppercut and sliced the car apart.
"Great...another Suffering." Death frowned.
After handily shooting down the abomination with the Salvation cannon once more, Chris, Death, and Alito walked out of the sewer pathway once more. All was clear.
"Right...that was easy." Death grunted.
"We have them cannon, they sure are strong..." Chris nodded.
The last Noss loomed straight ahead, summoning swarms of stingers.
"Last one...ready?" Death asked.
"Our abilities might still be recovering...but that's not gonna stop us!" Chris frowned as she aimed for the Noss. Alito followed along, nodding.
With the same tactics the trio implemented for the first two Noss, the third monstrosity went down the same way they did.
Chris and Alito calmly clenched their fists and mumbled a soft 'yes'.
"Well, this is it...The final piece of the Rod. We clear the path to the Citadel, get the Key, get the Demon Key, and kill the Corruption." Death frowned.
"Four main steps left...we have gone too far to go back now. The humans can live a better life than this...this smolden atmosphere." Chris nodded.
The trio rushed over to the rubble and as usual, found three weak Hellguards lying on the floor. In the middle lies the star-shaped crown of the Rod of Arafel.
The circle ring of the Rod that shaped like an orchid plant - the Eye of Arafel - and the hilt of the Rod, the Staff of Arafel, joined the star-shaped crown and formed the Rod of Arafel.
"Finally...the Rod is formed." Death nodded.
Chris and Alito managed to get the three Hellguards on their feet, who introduced themselves as Gad, Gadi, and Macabi.
"You three look-alike. Guess the Hellguards really do resemble after all." Chris mused.
"The Rod of Arafel, at last it has returned to the light...Thank you for freeing us and reconstructing the sacred weapon." Gad, the silver hair male angel, bowed.
"That's unnecessary. Let's get back Uriel. We have no time to waste." Death frowned.
"Right." the rest agreed.
Uriel
"Gad, Macabi, Gadi!" Uriel went forth and embraced the once lost Hellguards.
"Commander Uriel!" the three Hellguards bowed, just as Death, Chris, and Alito approached the Hellguard Commander.
"The Rod of Arafel has been made whole." Death spoke.
Uriel brought her hands over the ancient object that was radiating with holy light. She felt tempted, but she drew her hands back, shaking her head.
"I am tempted to ask that you wield that weapon and turn the tide of this war. But I fear the Destroyer would capture it again, and turn it to his dark purpose. No, better that you remove it from this world and into the safekeeping of the White Army. We will make our stand here, until the Hellguard is no more." Uriel nodded.
"As for freeing the angels...Words can't imagine how much that will mean for us as a morale boost. We can't thank you well enough. Chris and Alito, I'm sorry that I doubted you." Uriel bowed.
"Then again, I can't really blame you. I mean, I don't expect anyone here to instantly trust that Alito and I can free them. I just hope you can show a bit more confidence. All in all, I'm glad your tortured Hellguards have returned." Chris simpered.
"We would love to assist you in defeating the demon, Uriel, but my brother takes us on another path." Death replied.
"As with us, we need to destroy the perpetrator of the dimensional disruption in our world." Alito followed.
"You have all proven to be honorable especially on you, Death, a virtue little known for your kind. But if I ever see War, I will make him pay for what he done." Uriel frowned.
"My brother could not cause all of this, I will see him spared." Death frowned.
"So be it...I will have to talk to Chris and Alito about some matters, if you will?" Uriel shrugged.
Chris and Alito nodded, knowing it would not take long.
"Well, I will make a return to Lostlight, I will be waiting for you there, Chris and Alito. Just don't take too long with the conversation." Death nodded.
Chris and Alito nodded in reply.
After Death went first, Uriel sighed.
"Chris, Alito, you don't have to hide it; I know your reasons behind wanting to rescue the Hellguards even when I think it's beyond reach." the silver hair women replied.
Chris's eyes widened.
"Your reason is the same reason as mine, the loss of loved ones, right?" Uriel asked.
"I never told you about..." Chris looked on, puzzled.
"Not all Angels and Demons can mind read, but most can detect emotions. I'm one of them. You said that you don't want history from repeating itself when I doubted your abilities in rescuing the anguished Hellguards, and I can detect a deep wound across your soul despite your calm exterior, just like me..." Uriel sighed.
"You mean...you suffered a loss of a loved one?" Alito wondered.
"Abaddon...But...I hope you do not share it with Death yet..." Uriel hoped.
"We will, promise!" Chris nodded.
"I admired Abaddon...he was the best of us in the Legion of the Hellguards. Besides, I'm honored to have served him as a top lieutenant during our time in the White City. That's when I realized...the feelings I felt for him, is one-sided." Uriel looked away.
"Unrequited love...Because of Abaddon's duty, right?" Chris wondered softly.
Uriel nodded softly.
"You all know what happened during the End War. I'm sure Death has filled you in. Abaddon died by the hands of a Chosen, all because of War...His brother will refuse to admit it, but if War does not appear at all, this will not have happened!" Uriel shook her head.
"Now...would you kindly tell us about your past? No shame in doing so, I hoped. I swear to the Light that everything you said will be kept confidential." Uriel continued.
Chris and Alito looked at each other and nodded, after all, what harm could it bring?
After the confession...
"At least you have the Hellguards...Alito and I though...have none." Chris wistfully shook her head.
Uriel looked down, took a deep breath and calmed herself down.
"Thirty people of the Fuschia...gone by an epidemic within twelve days after reunion...And Alito...the Gnades died during a civil war. Looks like we are all at the same boat...Mine is Abaddon, Chris is her whole family, as much as Alito does too..." she sighed.
However...
"I have evidence that War is not guilty." Chris frowned.
"What?" Uriel frowned.
Chris recounted Elder Eidard's conversation, before the Trio headed on to the Lost Temple, to Uriel.
"The Wardens...they responded to the Broken Seals, yet the Councils said that the Seals were intact?" Uriel shot out.
"A conspiracy, Uriel; someone must have tricked Abaddon and War to Earth, along with the Wardens." Chris frowned.
"No...But how can this be?" Uriel shook her head.
"Think about it. The sixth seal will call all Wardens. The only way a Warden can appear is if the Sixth Seal was broken, or via the Makers' Key. Someone must have broke six out of seven, tricked War and the Warden together to strike Earth, and restored the Seals just as the Councils checked to see if any Call was given." Chris frowned.
"Even if your claim is the truth, one thing still remains...the White City are lost to us; we can never go home." Uriel shook her head.
"No...What you all fight for can be returned. Death, my Lady, and I planned prove War's innocence. Once we have done it, we can persuade the Council to grant us permission to find the conspirators." Alito explained.
Uriel closed her eyes, mused for a moment, and frowned.
She believed that War kick-started the Apocalypse for over a century, how can it be that a conspiracy is responsible?
However, the Warden could only be called upon when the Seals are broken, and War was the most honorable among the Four; aside from the rampage which resulted in him losing his left arm, he had never lost his calm before.
Uriel held her blade, Justice, and replied, "I will confront War if I meet him once more. Until then, I will search for the truth."
Chris and Alito nodded, "Good luck!"
"Chris...Alito...you both have helped the White City in ways we will be infinitely grateful for. Take this..." Uriel gave Chris a large blade with a golden flame-like hilt, two diamond crystals on its hilt, and a silver blade body. The blade body has a gap in between. "Heaven rewards those who seek the truth and justice."
Weapon Data: Sunder
Description: This elegant weapon recalls the grace and power of its original owner, an angel guardian in the White City. The weapons wielded by the venerated guardians are both aggressive and defensive; while Sunder's blades are more than capable of striking any foe with unearthly precision and force, this versatile weapon may also create a protective orb around its wielder that mitigates damage dealt by the enemy.
Chris and Alito held their hands on the Sunder and their eyes glowed.
Project Tundra and Project Ventus link up complete...
Dematerialization of weapon at the ready...
Assimilation of said weapon ready...
Activate Get Ability Weapon Assimilation System? Y/N
The runes of Project Tundra and Project Ventusmaterialised upon Chris's left eye and Alito's right eye. The Sunder began to glow intensely as scribbles of data wrapped around the weapon's body. Within seconds, Sunder vanished.
Weapon download complete
Special Ability: Sunder
Both of you are able to unleash a powerful light orb that can mitigate damage dealt by the enemy.
Special Ability: Critical Chance increase
Enhanced accuracy allowed a higher chance to hit critical area of enemies.
"So you can absorb the weapon's ability, download them, and assimilate them as your abilities...such are the wonders of human's intelligence and diligence." Uriel simpered.
Chris was about to wonder why Uriel reckoned Alito and her as humans, when the Hellguard Commander raised her left hand and waved in refusal.
"Don't think of it for now. You said you want to find solace first, right? It's best of you don't derail yourself, I'm sure everything will come to light." Uriel nodded.
Knowing that Uriel was sworn to truth, Chris and Alito calmed down considerably and nodded in reply.
"Thanks, Uriel." Chris and Alito replied as they shook hands with the silver hair woman.
"Remember, Chris and Alito, nothing is more important than solace, justice, and finally truth." Uriel nodded.
Chris and Alito nodded.
Derailment is the last thing they would imagine in doing.
They might be confused about whether they were human...
However, nothing beats anything compared to finding solace and be in a calm state of mind to find humanity's meaning.
Solace...that was their aim, and they would find it...
Come what may...