Beliel's voice was so girly and immature that for a moment, it almost sounded as if Suzuno had spoken, causing everyone's eyes to flicker towards Crestia Bell unbidden. After a moment of silence, Emi crossed her arms and smirked.
"This is your wife," she asked, "she's way to pretty for you. She looks more like she belongs in a Victorian museum or something, not here with you… creep."
"I would appreciate it if you would refrain from speaking ill of my husband," the young woman said in a voice that sounded much more threatening than before.
"You two cannot be married," Raphael said, "marriage is a sacred bond, it binds souls…"
"Not here it doesn't," Bernael said with a twisted smiled, "here it's just a piece of paper and a few laws that bind you, no magic, no souls, nothing. And besides, Raphael, who are you to question our marriage? An angel of love should be supportive of us, shouldn't he, pumpkin?"
Bernael turned to speak to his wife and spoke in kinder, loving voice, and the genuine look of happiness upon his face took Emi, Suzuno, Urushihara, Raphael and Maou aback.
"He should, though I suppose with him still being a fully-fledged angel he is bound by Heaven's will. Still, enough of this idle chatter, do you have the Yesod fragment? I think I may sense it but I…."
Beliel's lilac eyes fixed Emi with a purposeful stare and Emi felt as if she were being x-rayed. She shivered as she felt waves of unknown power shoot through her being as she was submitted to an internal inspection. It was all Emi could do to put up a barrier to keep out the young woman's piercing gaze.
"We don't have the fragment of Yesod," Raphael said, holding up his hands in surrender, "we were hoping that if you understood that you might be persuaded to release the hostage. If we had whatever it was you sought, we would have provided you with it-"
"So now you're going to lie to my face," Bernael asked loudly, "you're going to pretend that you don't know anything about it? I'm sorry Raphael, but you were there before the Incident, you have been around for as long as any of the angels can remember, you of all people should know of the fragment of Yesod."
"I am an angel of love, a soldier of Heaven, one of the Archangels and the angel of Healing! If I do not know of this fragment of Yesod, it is because I am not meant to know! What I do know is that what you are doing is wrong! Release the demon and your sentence may be lessened when I drag you back to Ente Isla," Raphael commanded, his scarlet eyes ablaze with righteous fury.
He took a step forward and Bernael's face slowly twisted into that of a maniac, a large smile, bared teeth, and wide eyes with a strange fire behind them that screamed 'You should run while you have the chance.' Maou readied himself for a fight, as did the rest of the extraction team. Within a moment's notice, their plan would go into effect.
"At least tell me where Ashiya is," Maou said, "I truthfully have no idea what this Yesod is, nor do I know where you can obtain a fragment! Hell, I don't even give a shit, I just want my General back, NOW!"
Maou's form became clouded in black mist and only his red eyes burned through the dark fog of his power. Bernael looked at the Devil with his insane grin before he held up a finger and waved it back and forth.
"Tisk tisk, my fellow fiend, your General is safe, for now. And I know for a fact you have come into contact with the Yesod, I can still taste it," Bernael said quietly, his tongue flicking out to taste the air.
"Calm down," Emi said, grabbing Maou by the elbow, "save your power."
"Wise words, Hero Emilia," Beliel said, curtsying to the red haired woman, "unlike us, I sense that all of you are rather weak as of now. You have some strength, yes, but my husband and I are far more powerful, and far more experienced in these matters."
"It's true," Bernael laughed, "we've been here since Tokyo was called by a different name! That's partly why I wanted us to meet here, because it brings back so many memories."
"Called by a different name," Raphael asked.
"Yes," Beliel said with a small smile, "we have been here since days of the Edo period, back when Tokyo was known throughout the world as Edo. It has been… over two hundred years now?"
Beliel looked to Bernael for an answer and he nodded to her.
"That's right," Bernael said happily, "we've been here for some time! We realized that we wouldn't die so long as our powers were kept in peak condition, and so we set about building ourselves up. Two centuries later, bam! We have our own multimillion dollar company, we have an abundance of magic and people willing to feed it as we pay them to crank out useless electronic garbage, and I can finally afford the best suits available!"
"He was practically forced to live naked here when we first arrived," Beliel said, laying a gentle hand upon Bernael's shoulder, "always putting me first, giving me all the clothes and making sure I always ate. He was so committed to me in a foreign world… I eventually ended up reciprocating his affections."
Bernael planted a small kiss upon Beliel's forehead and she blushed, turning her purple gaze to the ground and clasping her hands behind her back as she kicked at a spot on the floor. Emi felt a strange familiarity resonate through her being and an image of Maou floated to the forefront of her mind before she forced it onto the backburner once more. The fact was, even though they had started out as enemies, she often saw Maou as a neutral party now, possibly even an ally in times of trouble such as these, but why did Beliel's statement seem to make so much sense?
'Being trapped in a foreign world with no one to lean on but one another seems to be a pretty common happening here, I guess,' Emi thought.
"This is a false love," Raphael hissed, "unworthy of note and damned by Heaven! You two will burn."
"Our love is the only thing that kept us alive and somewhat sane through TWO HUNDRED YEARS," Bernael bellowed, making everyone jump, "IT KEPT ME ON MY FEET WHEN I WAS FORCED INTO INDENTURED SERVITUDE OF THE FARMER THAT TOOK US IN! IT'S MORE PURE THAN ANY FALSE AFFECTION THAT I RECEIVED IN HEAVEN!"
"Calm down," Beliel said quietly, "I know how deep your love runs, that's all that matters."
Bernael was panting, his face painted with a mask of intense hatred. His hair had become disheveled and his suit was slightly wrinkled after the outburst. He took a few deep breaths, closed his eyes and smoothed back his hair before smiling once more.
"Beliel is correct, as per usual, the only person to whom I have to prove my affections is her. If you were a true angel of love, you would sense it."
"I sense something," Raphael admitted, "though I'm not sure if it's love or something else… obsession, maybe?"
"Quiet," Bernael said.
"I understand that feeling," Maou said, stepping forward, "when I came here, the only person I had was my General, Alciel. He made sure I was fed, clothed and made sure that Castle Overlord was kept up and running! I know how much you two mean to one another because I feel that for my General now, though to a less-uh-romantic degree. You took my best friend in a big world where I am struggling to make ends meet. If you truly understand these feelings, then please, give me back Ashiya. I'll do anything, I'll pay you, I'll help you look for a Yesod and extort one from whoever actually has one! Just give me back my friend."
"Is this the Devil, begging for our help," Bernael asked quizzically, "my, my, how the mighty have fallen. You used to be the most feared being in the world. You ransacked human civilization and had them running scared… and now here you are, begging at my feet like a dog."
Bernael's words seemed to touch everyone in the room, and for a brief moment, they had a moment of clarity. To some, they saw their King had fallen into despair. To others, they saw a Demon Lord gone soft, maybe turning over a new leaf as he asked for his General to be returned to him… no, not his General, his friend.
"Perhaps we should-" Beliel began before she was cut off by Bernael.
"No! No, if we surrender the Devil's General, we can rest assured that they will attempt to exact revenge upon us. Do you think me stupid, Satan? I know you have held the Yesod, I know you have touched it! They did not call you the master of deceit for nothing! You have always had a silver tongue, but your honeyed words are poisoned, sweet, yet deadly. I'll not surrender your General until I have a fragment of Yesod in my hands."
Maou activated a mental link between his allies, and as one they all received his message.
'Now!'
The team of angels, demons, heroes and clergywomen all made for their targets as their plan came into effect. Maou and Emi made to attack Beliel, while Raphael and Lucifer made for Bernael. Suzuno, however, broke away as soon as the enemy was occupied and she sprinted through the building, letting down her hair as her magical hammer grew to its full size. Her kimono allowed her a very wide range of motion, though it somewhat restricted her leg movement. Even so, she ran faster than a cheetah, hurtling by exhibits so fast that sheets of paper and small figurines were blown about by her passing. She checked room after room, going from door to door searching for Ashiya, but it soon became clear to her that he was not there, the only magical energies she could sense were still back within the large room of displays, with everyone else.
"Curses," Suzuno said, "he's not here, but where…"
Her eyes widened as she gazed out of the window, a large skyscraper reflected in her large blue eyes. After a moment, she broke the glass with her hammer and leapt threw the window, the distant blasts and echoes of battle fading from her hearing as she bound and leapt so far it appeared to be flight, heading straight for the Fony Inc. skyscraper in the distance.
Back at the battle, the first strikes were underway as the four on two battle commenced. Maou saw Suzuno slip through the chaos unhindered to search for Ashiya out of the corner of his eye as he charged the fallen angel before him. He punched a fistful of dark energy right at where Beliel stood, but lost his balance and almost toppled over as she vanished with a snap. He regained his composure and felt a breeze brush against the hair of his head. Looking up, he saw that Beliel took to the skies, but that didn't bother him, what did that was the angel's wings. Maou looked up and felt a strong sense of déjà vu as he stared with wonder at the wings of an evil angel. They were not like Lucifer's or Bernael's, they were bat-like, with thin membranes and clawed hooks that sent a shiver through Maou's being as he gazed at the angel. The wings were exactly the same as Maou's when he took on his original form.
"You see now, Satan," Beliel said, "I am truly an evil angel! I am the true embodiment of malice in Ente Isla! You are just a usurper!"
She flew down and slashed at Maou with a flat palm. Maou raised an arm, but the strike broke through his defense and struck him hard in the chest. Maou's world flipped, turned and spun as he was thrown through the air and into the large glass pane that was lit with a map of Edo. He hit the glass and it shattered, the fluorescent bulbs behind the glass broke as well, and Maou felt energy course through him as he was electrocuted.
"Maou!"
Emi made to run for Maou, but Maou saw Beliel strike at Emi as well. She kicked at the Hero with a buckled shoe, but it clanged off of Emi's sword, which spawned to defend its Hero. A retaliatory thrust made Beliel retreat and Emi once more made for Maou, who crashed to the floor with a huge avalanche of broken glass. His entire body hurt and the glass cut him all over, but Emi pulled him to his feet and gently smacked his face.
"Snap out of it!"
"Emi…"
"Yeah?"
"Duck!"
Maou thrust Emi to her knees and Emi watched as Beliel's buckled shoe flew inches over her head and struck Maou full in the chest. Blood shot from Maou's mouth as he was pushed back into the wall behind the glass display, cracking the masonry and shaking the building. Emi spun and slashed with the Evolving Holy Sword, Better Half, but Beliel flipped right over, her wings gracefully carving the air as she spun over the blade like a pirouetting ballet dancer before a sharp kick to Emi's head sent the Hero crashing to the floor.
Things were not much better with Lucifer and Raphael as they both pulled weapons from the display cases as charged Bernael, who stood resolute. For a moment, it seemed he would be cut to ribbons, but then his dark katana appeared in his hands and black flames billowed from the blade, making both Raphael and Urushihara's faces tightened from the intense heat. Lucifer went low, as he was short and Raphael went high, but both blows were countered by a flaming diagonal slash from Bernael. Steel met steel and black cinders flew as three ancient Japanese swords met.
"Did you really think I would be caught off guard? I heard Satan's mental link snap into being, I heard every word he whispered to you! You had no chance," Bernael laughed.
Steel clashed upon steel as Bernael pushed both Raphael and Urushihara back with immense strength and both angels, fallen and divine, stumbled backward before the might of Bernael's sword. With a fiery backhanded slash, Bernael brought his sword down upon Raphael, who parried expertly, but floundered as his ancient Japanese relic was broken in half by the force of the blow. The blade soared through the air and impaled itself in the wall, still vibrating.
"Did you really think your ancient weapons would last against my sword? I made this back when we got here, I imbued it with every ounce of power at my disposal, and I have added to it as my powers grew with the times. This katana was forged with one purpose in mind: to kill anyone who would stand in my way!"
"And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home-these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. Jude 1:6," Raphael said, tossing away his broken sword and letting his power flow through him as his eyes flared a bright crimson.
"Don't preach to me!"
Bernael slashed at Raphael, but another sword crossed his, laced with bright purple flames that seemed to hurt Bernael's eyes as they flickered and danced along the blade of the sword held aloft by Urushihara, who snarled at his enemy.
"Come now, Urushihara, we've been through his before. Throw down your sword, you can't beat me," Bernael said, pressing his face dangerously close to the locked blades as they pushed against each other.
"I can't do that," Urushihara said, "I made a promise a long time ago. I have to be there to see the Devil's world come to life. And then I shall determine his fate from there."
"So you actually owe allegiance to the Devil," Bernael sneered, "you would turn your back on your own kind? You would go against someone who is just like you!"
"I'm nothing like you," Lucifer said coldly, "I left Heaven for different reasons, I wasn't forced out like some criminal!"
"You're right! You left because you were bored, I left because it was my destiny! You felt that and you were intimidated by me, but now that I am the strong one, and you are weak and I am giving you a chance to join me! Cast aside your weapon, surrender to the Darkness! There is no way you can beat me now, I have discovered a nigh infinite source of power," Bernael proclaimed.
Raphael charged forward and flanked Bernael, but the fallen angel raised a hand and erected a shield. With one hand upon his katana, he pushed it forward, threatening to beat Urushihara, who had both hands wrapped tightly around the hilt of his own sword. Raphael threw a barrage of red power at Bernael, but it struck the shield of black energy and did nothing. He pushed against the barrier with all his might, but to now avail. Bernael smirked as he held off two of Heaven's greatest angels.
'Oh how the times change,' he thought smugly.
Maou and Emi worked quite well together, as Maou's power was primarily long ranged magical attacks, and Emi was able to keep Beliel occupied with her Sacred Sword. Even so, to say they were getting their asses handed to them was an understatement. No matter what they did, no matter how infallible their plan seemed, they always seemed to be outmatched. Beliel, as it turned out, had a sword of her own, a very large two handed weapon that was at least as large as the small angel was, perhaps a bit larger. Still, she fought with grace, power and finesse unexpected of an angel who appeared so small, innocent and fragile. Her blows easily brushed aside Emi's guard and they were so fast and precise that Emi felt herself being pushed back by the ferocity of the attacks. Beliel's wings worked wonders as the fallen angel fought the Hero, her small body seemingly bandied about and tossed to and fro like a trapeze artist, and yet it was all so flawless the way the girl managed to fight that Maou could definitely see why Beliel was a warrior back when she served Heaven. She hacked and slashed at Emi mercilessly until Emi was against the wall where Maou had broken through the shattered glass.
"I could use a little help here," Emi shouted, barely fending off the fallen angel.
Maou appeared behind Beliel and allowed his power to pour into his being as his horns grew, his legs turned hairy and goat like and his ears became pointed. His teeth sharpened and became predatory, his eyes glowed red and his muscles bulged and rippled beneath his clothes as he returned to his original form. Beliel eased her attack upon Emi for a moment before Satan Jacob bludgeoned her with a blast of red energy. The fallen angel was cast right towards Emi, who rolled out of the way, leaving nothing to come between Beliel and the wall. There was a sickening crunch and Beliel's wings cushioned her as she struck the concrete. She was dazed for a moment and her wings were broken and crumpled. She stared at Maou with lilac eyes that seemed to burn with in implacable hatred and could likely curdle milk. Satan Jacob raised an eyebrow as the angel winced, her wings crunching, crackling and popping at she forced the joints back into their sockets and fixed her wings. When they were once more in good condition to fly, Beliel shivered and stretched them tenderly.
"You know, Satan, I used to look up to you," Beliel said, "I used to think you were my knight in shining armor, coming to take over the world and take me as your bride… I was the perfect fit after all."
Emi kept the tip of her sword between herself and the young woman before her as she slowly crept around to stand at Maou's side, ignoring his newly taken form.
"You and I were supposed to rule the world, but then Bernael was cast out, and I was left all alone. I fell from grace within a week of Bernael's own exiling. I always knew that you and I were supposed to be together, but when Bernael showed me how much he cared and I thought all chance of you returning was lost, I gave in to his love for me. I was happy with him, and I realized I didn't need you," Beliel sneered, "I realized that I was more powerful than you could ever be, I survived and thrived in a world without magic! I was cast out of my home, abandoned by those to whom I devoted my entire life! I fought against my true nature for the sake of Heaven, and how did they repay me?! Exile! Betrayal! I knew then that I was the true enemy of Heaven, I would raze it to the ground. You…. You were just another Demon King, you came further than most, I'll admit that, and you almost had the world in your hands, but in the end couldn't go through with it because you were an impostor, your malice was never a match for mine. Your hate could only take you so far, you lacked the spark of vengeance to reign as the world's tyrant!"
As Beliel spoke, Maou sensed the fragile state of being contained within the angel. Her logic was flawed, built up like a wall to keep out reality and all of its harsh truths. Maou knew that if he were to defeat the angel, he would need to tear that wall down.
"I never even knew of your existence," Satan said imperiously, "and I acknowledge no angel as a true tyrant. Your evil is unchecked and uncontrolled, a forest fire with no clear objective. This fire that burns within me does not burn for something as petty as revenge, it burns for those who rely on me create a better world for all of demonkind. My fire is like a lance, powerful and piercing, with clear motives and its launch is fueled by the myriad of people that count on me to deliver them safely into the future of Ente Isla. My evil is necessary, a stipulate of change, a marker of progress! And even then, I have grown since my failure, I have learned new things, I am now closer than ever to achieving the peace and prosperity I fought for back then! You are just a failed experiment, an amusing contradiction. An evil angel indeed, and what's more, completely useless. Lackluster and meaningless, your existence and the false words you use to justify it are all trivial. If you were wise, you would bow to me and vow to serve me. I could give you purpose, together we could breathe new life into Ente Isla, we could save lives, and in the end, you could take my place as the evil that is necessary to change the world. Bernael may say he loves you, but if you look closely, I think you'll see how much he's used you!"
Emi listened as Maou used his silver tongue to its fullest. With each insult and slander, Emi felt her rage build, but with every lie and every promise, she felt herself inclined to do whatever it was Maou said. It left her in a relatively supple state that made her sensitive as to how the Devil viewed her. Was she his friend? Were they just accomplices? Should they really work together? Did he like her perfume?
Emi shook her head and narrowed her eyes at the small fallen angel before her, who looked as if she were involved in a fierce inner battle. She shook on the spot and stared at the floor as she felt her castle of glass shatter around her.
'Brick by brick,' Maou thought, 'I dismantle the castle of lies you built around yourself and show you the true nature of the world in which you live, but if Bernael's love is real, then what will she do?'
Beliel's face contorted with pain for a moment before she glared at Maou, her violet eyes flaring with power.
"You are nothing! You are insignificant! Die, Devil!"
The small, silver haired angel dove forward, her sword levelled at Maou's chest. As the tip of the sword neared his flesh, Maou had a flashback. He was in his castle, set upon by the Hero and her compatriots, He'd lost a horn then, and he didn't want to go around missing an arm or a leg this time, but the sword was already so close, it was practically upon him.
"I ap Jahan Sayoz," roared a voice.
A wall of dark mist and intense malignance rose before the blade of Beliel's sword, stopping the weapon mere inches short of Maou's flesh. The only thing that burned through the wall was his eyes, and a blurry outline of his frightening form. He radiated terror and chaos, and Beliel looked fearful as she stared at the maelstrom of power before her. The dark, commanding tones that had spoken still rung within her head and resonated in her cranium, and from her time in Ente Isla, she knew what the voice had said.
'I am Satan Jacob!'
"Kulek ow xeponj! Rinv aponvjh rinvj, xegoukek ow joulj anx xejhkocek ow akpiej! I ap te fto jofj hekkok aponvjh tij enepiej!"
Thud.
The Devil took a step forward, towering over the small trembling angel before him, making the ground shake and driving a spike of fear into the angel's heart.
"I ap hte hkue takzinvek ow hte enx! I jtall xejhkoc hte foklx anx ykeahe ih anef wkop hte ajtej! Cou jtall eihtek soin pe anx lige, ok jhanx avainjh pe anx mekijt!"
Thud.
Another hoof clacked down upon the floor of the museum as Maou slowly and deliberately walked toward the angel, who now looked as if she might cry, but Maou would not stop, he knew that she was far too powerful to be left alone simply because she was scared. If anything it expedited and fortified his actions, as he wanted her to submit before she went berserk and destroyed the museum.
"I…I…," Beliel stumbled, her eyes locked upon the flaring red orbs that were Maou's eyes. Emi wanted to shout for Maou to stop, but she felt a twinge in their mental link, telling her not to interfere.
'With another angel at my command I could very well become the most respected demon of all time,' Maou thought to himself as he awaited the petite woman's response.
"Beliel," said the dark, monstrous voice from within the field of energy, "I owwek cou hte hihle ow venekal, anx I jfeak ho mkoheyh cou fiht egekc agailazle kejoukye! I gof htah iw cou xeep pc leaxekjtim inaxequahe, cou ake wkee ho xo fiht pe aj cou fill! Jo I jfeak in hte jaykex lanvuave ow Yenhkiup!"
Beliel looked fascinated, yet terrified all the same. Over the hubbub and the sound of battle, Lucifer heard the oath that Satan Jacob had made, the very same one that he had made to Lucifer as well, all those years ago.
'At this rate if anyone dislikes your reign you'll have hell to pay,' Uruhsihara thought as he struck at Beliel with all his might, swinging the ancient sword around as easily as if it were a switch.
"Don't do it Beliel," Bernael shouted, "remember the vows you made to me on our wedding night! You and I are in this together!"
Beliel looked at her husband, a helpless look upon her face as she wept for her situation. Before her, drenched in magical power was the Devil, whom she once believed to be her chosen, the only person capable of understanding her plight. And across the large display hall, still fighting, was Bernael, the man whom had loved her unconditionally and had proven his worth.
"I… I will join you, Satan," Beliel said quietly, closing her eyes, "I shall serve as you general and do my utmost to make your reign as long and fruitful as possible."
"Kneel," Maou spoke from within the vortex of illusionary magic, "recite your oath in Centrium and let it bind you to me!"
Beliel gracefully dropped to her knees and took a prayer stance with her hands clasped, looking up at Satan pleadingly. Her eyes were wide with relief, and perhaps a bit of disbelief as she prepared to recite her oath to her new liege. Before she could utter a single syllable, however, there was a commotion as Urushihara and Raphael were both thrown backward by two bolts of black lightning. A cry was heard, bloodcurdling and outraged like a wounded animal. Emi shouted something and drew back an arm to swing her sword, but was blasted backward by a gout of flickering shadow. Maou turned as time seemed to stop. His friends were suspended in midair, being electrocuted or simply launched across the room. And there, behind Beliel, sword poised to run her through, was Bernael, shrouded in shadows. His face was twisted with savagery and sadness as he prepared to do the unthinkable.
"No," Maou said, not daring to believe Bernael would ever commit such an atrocity.
But then he did. In his rage and his passion, Bernael found the strength to do the deed. He thrust his sword through Beliel's chest as Maou outstretched a hand, his brain unable to comprehend such a vile act. Steel slid through muscle, bone, and organ and Beliel looked down at the black blade of her husband's katana as though it were the answer to life itself. Her eyes were wide and glassy as tears leaked from the corners of the lilac orbs. Her breath was shallow and shaky as it hurt just to breathe. The sword dripped blood as she opened her mouth, no sound coming out. Bernael tugged and the sword came free, along with arcs of blood that splattered the white tile floor and drained from the wound as Beliel's strength faded. She fell backwards and Bernael caught her in his arms as she slowly faded.
"Bernael," she asked, her mind muddled by blood loss and betrayal, "why?"
"We swore that we would stay together forever," Bernael said quietly, wiping away Beliel's tears with a gloved hand, "you told me you would never leave me… 'till death do us part,' you said."
Beliel's face turned pale and blood pooled underneath her as her life drained away.
"You lied," Bernael said, quivering, "till death do us part, indeed."
Urushihara, Raphael and Emi all hobbled up, looking relatively worse for wear. The angels were covered in soot, and Raphael's shoe had been blown off while Emi simply looked bruised and sore, while not electrocuted.
"I'm sorry…"
Bernael stared down at the white face of his wife, her lips dry as she fought to get out the words that Bernael needed to hear.
"For what," Bernael asked quietly, completely ignoring his adversaries.
"I never… loved… you…"
Bernael stared down at Beliel, but her liquid gaze dimmed, the light in her violet eyes died and she moved no more. With that, Beliel, the Angel of Evil and Uselessness faded from this world and was granted paradise in the afterlife.
"Liar," Bernael said quietly, shaking Beliel's lifeless corpse, "you always were a big, fat liar. C'mon, get up, tell me the truth, dammit."
He shook her more vigorously, but Lucifer hobbled forward and placed the blade of his katana upon Bernael's shoulder.
"That's enough, Bernie," Urushihara said disdainfully, "she's gone now, and she's happier than she ever was with you. Why don't you give up now, return the Devil's General and count yourself lucky that you left with your life?"
"He has a point," Raphael agreed.
"Four on one," Maou stated flatly, removing his hurricane of power, "not very good odds."
"You all seem to be forgetting something…"
"What would that be," Urushihara asked, pressing the blade of his katana down firmly upon Bernael's shoulder.
"That I have become more powerful than any other angel in existence. There is a reason everyone is afraid of the dark as some point in their lives, that's because at one point monsters like me hid in it… and preyed upon the WEAK," Bernael shouted the last word, and with his roar all light was sucked from the museum, leaving Maou, Lucifer, Emi and Raphael stuck in a world of complete darkness, and helpless before the fallen angel.
Hello, Devils, good to see you all alive and well. Sorry for the delayed update, I've been a bit busy, and injuries suck. Anyway, to the author's breakdown of the story... I've lost control of my writing and I think I may need to be stopped. "Forget the therapist, just get me my gun," as they say. Now, I realize that killing Beliel was cruel and terrible and I actually feel bad because I wanted a bit more from her, but I guess you can't win them all. It probably doesn't make much sense the way I wrote it either, but I imagine the scene in my head and tried to get it down as best I could. Lot's of action, so for those of you who were waiting for that, I think you'll find this to whet your appetite for swordplay, magic, fateful standoffs and blood. It was a blast to write, even though it was a shorter chapter. Also, that quote Raphael speaks when fighting Bernael is a quote from the actual bible. I might throw in another one if I find one that fits, but we'll see. There are several references to the future of the books (and hopefully anime) in this fic, such as the Yesod, Lucifer's Maou's promise to allow Urushihara to judge his ability as the Demon King, and probably a few other things I missed. I hope you like this chapter, I had fun writing it, now for the link...
To translate the Ente Islan language, I used Maouspeak, which can be found here:
.me/maouspeak/
And as for music, I was blasting several songs from Panic! At The Disco's new album Death of a Bachelor. House of Memories is the shit!
NOTE REGARDING LANGUAGE!
So I got a review stating that Centrium, the anime exclusive language of Ente Isla is not the actual official language of said world. I know this, but this is fanfiction, so canonical ideologies are null and void here. C'mon son! No, but thank for the review, because it reminded me of something I forgot to add. I was heavily inspired by the Ancient Language of the Inheritance Cycle when I thought up the idea to make Centrium the 'official' language for Ente Isa. For those of you unfamiliar with the Ancient Language, it the a language in which magic is channeled and controlled through the words of the language. It is the language of power, and as such it is impossible to speak falsehoods while using it. This also makes it perfect for swearing oaths of fealty, etc. I have this headcanon where Centrium, the anime language of Ente Isla, is binding just like that, as they actually speak words of said language to cast spells in the anime. Maou planned on having Beliel swear fealty to him in this binding language before she was slain by Bernael, that rat bastard. Anyway, I really wanted to have an alternate language for Maou when he made his speech, or declaration or whatever you would call it, so I added Centrium, the only language of Ente Isla, (anime or light novel) that actually has a translation. What this does is separates grazers (Bye Felicia!) from people who are actually interested in your story and will take the time to click a link and translate a few sentences; and so I wanted to include a different language in this chapter. Yes, I am well aware that there are many languages in Ente Isla, and that the Trading Language in the light novels is the most widespread variant of their language, but as there is no official translation to my knowledge, I decided to go with the anime version. RANT OVER! Now for those of you thinking that would never work because of the things they said during their battle at the very beginning, I will offer you this to think about, binding languages are often subject to ones own view of the world. What this means is that if Maou truly believed he would be able to return and subjugate, he could very well say that, but if his worldview changed and his personality became different, the oath he made to return and subjugate would be, you guessed it, null and void. Same thing for Emi, if she vowed to kill the Devil in Centrium, but then fell in love with him and no longer believed him to be a Devil, her oath is now null and void. God I love that phrase.