Author's Note: I don't own anything from Resident Evil, Devil May Cry or, most importantly, Bayonetta.

Chapter 7: A Helping Hand

The flight back to New York was the most silent and awkward trip Damien had ever been on. And that was including the van trip to Conveniencia which involved three people sitting in silence, being completely unsure of what to do or how to act.

Ada was uncharacteristically nervous. Even though she was the public face of STARS and the only person on the team he actually trusted, the woman had no idea how to deal with people. He didn't really blame her for that; Damien wasn't too sure how to even approach telling someone that their closest friend had died while they were incapacitated from being transformed into a horse for a month. Or even how to follow up from that. She wasn't exactly empathetic towards others to begin with and, in a situation like this, he didn't fault her for not wanting to follow up. He suspected that she didn't know how to.

There had been absolutely no small talk between either himself, Ada or her team. She spent her time on her phone, quietly speaking with either her director or one of her fellow agents, reporting his current whereabouts and the situation at hand. He thought she was doing it all out of necessity, but the longer she continued to 'report' the more he felt that she was trying to distract herself.

The ultimate question, of course, was from what. As far as he knew, Ada was a distant person and only really interacted with their group if it was absolutely necessary. But Damien also supposed that the agent wasn't very forthcoming with practically anything, so who knew what was truly going on in that mind of hers.

As for himself, Damien had spent the entire trip half listening to Ada in an effort to keep his mind busy. The other half was spent trying to figure out how the hell he was going to approach either Luka or Bayonetta without turning into a wreck. Did he know the answer to that?

Of course not.

The latest conversation Ada had with her phone had ended with her becoming frustrated with the person at the other end. Despite the obvious negative for her, it had granted him a small amount of insight as to truly what was going on behind that guarded expression. It seemed that she had been acting on her own volition, to the point where she had flat-out disobeyed orders to keep clear of the city. Other small snippets all lead to the same conclusion; everyone was annoyed with her.

So, business as usual. Trying to keep his thoughts away from all the recent revelations, Damien decided to fully listen in on her next and presumably final check-in.

"Ada here. Big Bird has been recovered and extracted from Red Grave City." She said neutrally into her phone, her eyes heavy and posture weary. Damien had almost forgotten his codename that STARS had assigned to him and he only just remembered just how much he disliked it.

"Congratulations." A dry voice mocked in return. "It only took you a week and a massive waste of our resources."

The agent was silent for a very pregnant pause. "I wasn't leaving him to die. You know that he, at the very minimum-"

"Is a very useful asset? He wasn't even the one to deal with the threat that Armstrong possessed. He's never done anything to aid us besides from being the very distant plan three. How useful is he really?"

"He's the only one left for us to contact. And this situation pertains directly to him." Ada argued, the weariness in her tone slowly fading away. "Of all the people we could get into contact with, Damien is the most suitable."

The man on the phone sighed. "If that is what you believe, Wong. Where was he?"

"In the city, just as we expected. In hindsight, it was lucky of us to find him so early into our search. As per my report he was incapacitated for a month, along with three of the members of Devil May Cry. The remaining members have been trying to save who they can and have been more direct in stopping the spread of the tree. We should have been more vigilant of what was occurring in this city." Her tone became curt and filled with annoyance. Damien figured this was something the pair were currently disagreeing on. "I told you we needed more eyes-"

"For what? I told you we should've nuked the city like we did to Racoon. Letting the Devil Hunters operate for as long as they have, with no real hope for those trapped inside, was and still is the incorrect choice in halting this Demonic invasion."

Ada's fist tightened and she took a second to respond. "The Devil Hunters are saving whoever they can. At least three dozen people have been rescued, with hopes for a dozen more."

That's what they had all been up to. Damien felt a surge of pride and hope flow through him at that little tidbit of information; it was their responsibility to help those in need, regardless of whom and who they were.

"Don't be so naïve, Wong. The death toll is estimated at three million; what is thirty-six odd people going to do to change that? The city is lost."

Her knuckles started to turn white and he touched her shoulder. Ada calmed slightly from the small spell he cast and she gave him an appreciative look. It fell once she returned to the phone: "Everyone we get out is someone spared a death they did not deserve. I'm not being naïve, Krauser; I'm doing my job. Our job!"

"Hmph. I signed into STARS to protect the world from threats, not save those in the firing line. That's your problem, Wong. You care too much about the small details." An exasperated sigh was then heard from the phone. "Even if you manage to extract the remaining citizens, if there are any left, you still need to deal with the giant tree that is spewing all sorts of threats from the Underworld out. What are you going to do? Talk to it? In this situation there is no reason to go after the little man; focus on the big picture!"

"I am focussing on that!" She snapped. "Nero believes he can deal with it himself and I want to believe that he can!"

"I don't trust the whelp. Well, I do trust him to try. I don't trust him to succeed. He's no Dante."

"I'm…" Ada hesitated, looked up and met his eyes. She instantly looked away with a guilty look. "I agree with that. I don't know if he can succeed. But I have to believe in something. What this is… it's well out of our knowledge and experience. Besides Temen-Ni-Gru, there's been nothing on the scale of this. Dante was the one to reseal away the Tower of Babel; Nero has to have the same potential as well."

His hope and optimism began to die down. Damien knew that Nero was strong and a skilled Devil Hunter in his own right, but even he logically had to admit that he was completely out of his element. If it had taken him nearly a month to penetrate that far into the city and still be so far from the base of the Qliphoth…

"How is Big Bird anyway? If he was incapacitated for a month then he should be in terrible shape."

Ada shot him a glance and shrugged. "He's breathing and moving. A lot more than we can ask for and in much better shape than Arkham. She's currently still bedbound."

He was extremely confused about who they were talking about until he remembered that Lady's official name was and still is Mary-Ann Arkham. No one had actually bother to change it in the twenty or so years she had been going by Lady.

"Really? What does he look like?"

"To be completely honest, it looks like someone dug him out of a grave and put a wig on him."

Ouch. Damien did admit that the descriptor did fit his current state of being, but that was unnecessarily harsh.

Krauser agreed with an amused snort. "That bad, huh? What about his mental state?"

Ada shot him a second glance and hesitated slightly. "He's good enough."

"For whatever you have planned, it'll have to do. I'll be waiting for your arrival. Krauser out."

The phone was shut with a few taps to the screen and Ada buried her face in her hands. She looked up about a minute later, her face neutral and completely composed. "Luegray, do you think you are alright? Mentally?"

Damien wanted to laugh at that question, but that would definitely not have been appropriate for the situation. Was he alright? How could he be alright!? Jeanne was-

He took the time to calm himself down. There was no real use in actually showing how high-strung he actually was.

So was he actually okay? No. The answer was definitely a solid no.

Well, he was trying not to be a wreck. Jeanne was on his mind constantly and he felt as if he had failed her. She had trained him to be a better warrior, a better fighter, a better tactician, and all it had ended up accounting for was him instantly failing at the first major obstacle and her death. If he was present, if he wasn't such a fucking failure-

Damien fiddled with his hands, trying to work some of the tension in him before it exploded out. He stared at them and tried very hard to keep himself calm. "I'll be fine."

The STARS agent gave him a flat look. "I highly doubt everything you've been through in the last hour has left you fine."

"I'll be fine." I'll be okay. Please stop asking.

To his dismay, he did not get his wish. But to her credit, Ada changed the subject with a faint grimace in her tone. "We're nearly there."

He looked up and saw the skyrise of the city approaching fast. Something was off about it, although, and what that was became far more apparent the closer they got.

Most of the buildings were partially destroyed. Cranes and scaffolding had been erected around the minorly damaged ones and their reconstruction was well under way. Pressing his face up against the window, Damien shuddered at just how little of the city was normal.

"Was it-"

"It would've been much worse if Cereza and Jeanne weren't here." Ada admonished. "Without them, the city would've been levelled."

He didn't mention that if they weren't there to begin with, the city wouldn't have been attacked in the first place.

"We'll touch down at STARS in about five minutes. I'll contact Redgrave when you are ready to meet him." She continued, obviously not certain on how to react to his lack of a response. "Mostly because I don't exactly know how he's faring in all of this and the citizens will definitely not take lightly to your apparent random return."

That he agreed with. But at the same time, he could see Jeanne's apartment building beneath him and he needed to know. He wanted to make sure of her words and that-

She had to be alive.

"I'm sorry, Ada." He pulled back from the glass and turned to the agent with an apologetic shake of his head. "I have to go."

The sunglasses were ripped off and her eyes were almost comically wide. "I'm sorry; what!?"

Summoning whatever was left of his power, Damien closed his eyes and teleported into his bedroom. The world behind his eyelids began to spin rapidly and he collapsed, holding his head tightly.

Maybe he wasn't as strong in this weakened state as he believed himself to be.

Eventually it began to slow down and Damien trusted himself not to immediately throw up when he finally opened his eyes. Slowly and surely, he finally managed to and found himself lying in a thin layer of dust. Wiping what he could see away, he pulled himself up to his knees and surveyed the area.

His bedroom wasn't exactly as fancy as many of the others that he had seen, but what he had, he cherished. A small television sat in the corner of the room on top of a chest of drawers, connected to a videogame console. Beside that were a dozen pictures that took up almost every inch of the walls; one with each member of his strange family that was his friends. The photo that always drew his attention was the group one, when the Witches, Luka, and himself went to the beach. Bayonetta's wild smirk and Luka's terrified smile always made him laugh, whereas his own and Jeanne's polite, yet uncomfortable grins always reminded him of just how-

Damien shook his head. That was definitely not important now.

Using his bed to stand back up, he opened the door that led out to the hallway. Everything was still covered in that thin layer of dust and he let his fingers drag along the wall, leaving behind long streaks of clear, grey paint. He found the light switch and flicked it. Nothing happened and Damien grunted with annoyance; evidently the power had not yet been restored to this building.

Clicking his fingers and casting a small candlelight spell to illuminate his way forward, he walked out and into the deathly silent main room.

"Jeanne?" He whispered, afraid of interrupting the tranquillity. This was his last chance for this all to be one cruel joke. His head believed that she would walk out soon, a teasing smirk upon her lips, and proclaim him the biggest fool in America; how could a measly Angel kill the pride of the Umbra?

But his heart knew it wasn't. Jeanne wouldn't stand for this level of untidiness in the apartment, even as part of joke. Hell, she wouldn't even be part of the joke, especially if it meant going against her own personal rules and morals. Both herself and Bayonetta had already experienced enough loss that faking a death wouldn't even be on the fringe edges of either's joke radar.

He moved as quickly as he could to her bedroom and hesitated at the doorknob. It didn't feel right to barge in like this, but at the same time some feeling was driving him to go inside. Not for the first time, Damien wished Khepri was here to give him some advice.

Khepri? Madama? He tried. Silence echoed through his empty mind.

The winged man was very tempted to ask Asura and Benevolence, but both of his resident Demon and Angel had been very sparse with their appearances before the whole Qliploth incident. Unlike Khepri, who had disappeared completely, the pair were either in pain or were losing their connection to his psyche. He didn't expect that to change any time soon and he also had no idea where to start to fix it.

Swallowing down any remaining fears, Damien steeled his resolve, twisted the doorknob and gently opened the door…

Nothing met him but the cruel disappointment of hope.

Jeanne's bedroom was completely spartan in its layout. The only pieces of furniture were a closet wardrobe and a bed that sat and the wall of the room, opposite to the door. The walls were painted in a rough black, hiding the original red coloration. They were also barren, and honestly, Damien felt as if he had walked into a prison cell.

And to think she forced me to personalise my room, he frowned. Yet she was never comfortable in her own.

Maybe Jeanne wasn't ever as mentally well as he had thought.

The bed itself was neatly made up with a thicker layer of dust, as if it hadn't been used in a few months. He could attest to that; there had been many a morning where he found Jeanne awkwardly sleeping on the couch with several open books and other school papers left haphazardly everywhere. The only way she ever got any sleep in her own bed was if he carried her there on a particularly bad night, or if Trish was over.

Considering neither had happened in a month, this wasn't particularly surprising.

A small package lay upon the bed and his eyes were instantly drawn to it. It was not covered in the same volume of dust as the rest of the room, and he reached out to grab it. Bringing it closer, his eyes widened when he read the label on the envelope attached.

It was addressed to him. Slipping the card out, Damien began to read:

Damien,

I know that I haven't exactly been very forthcoming with my feelings, or anything else regarding us, but I feel the best way for me to communicate without physically leaving the conversation is to write this letter. My therapist believes we need to sort this before we have any more fractures in our relationship. So do I, but I don't trust myself to be able to have and keep that conversation with you. If I have this in writing and hand-deliver it to you, I cannot run from what needs to be done and hope it all simply passes by. This time it won't and I know as best as you do that neither of us can do this. So here goes nothing.

That night, when we had our fight, I felt that all that I really had left in my life were people who only pitied me. My clan and family were all gone. My only hope and lifeline, my former love for Cereza, was nullified and made pointless. Balder had taken everything from me to the point where I wasn't even sure who I was anymore. All everyone talked about in regards to me was how sorry they were and of their condolences for my situation. Cereza, Luka and yourself didn't and, while I do appreciate that, you were all still treading on eggshells, like you were all afraid of breaking me. I guess you were all right in the end, but I just wanted to not be treated like a porcelain doll for once in my life.

As you know, I used whatever I could as a mechanism to control my own identity, even if it was self-destructive. Being able to simply forget and move on, even if it was for mere minutes at a time, helped me in the short term, but not in the long. When you confronted me with what I was doing to myself, I did not want to face reality. I lashed out and I fear I drove an irreparable wedge between us.

For what I said to you on that night, I'm truly horrified at my words and wish nothing more than to take them back. I realised far too late that your hurt is every part as valid as mine. Yes, my scars have lasted for longer and most of my experiences will die with me, but your own are still something I should know better than to nullify over nothing because you cared. I deeply apologise for this and everything I said. You didn't deserve it.

As you know, the turning point for all of this is that accursed persona Redgrave decided to saddle me with. 'Cutie J' may be a ridiculous name, but to simply put on a mask and become another person helped me believe in myself, slowly and surely. And once my perspective wasn't masked by a cloud of intoxicants and alcohol, I knew what I had to do to finally help myself and move past the past. You helped, Cereza helped, Trish helped; I believe it is way due time to repay you all for this.

Miss Atyrell believes that the best way to move past this pain and begin the healing process is to start anew with a goal that determines my new purpose. As you saw on your last day here, I changed my appearance to better reflect who I want to see myself as. I also believe that I want to reclaim my former position as the Umbran Elder. A purpose we both determined would be suitable for this would be to reform the Umbra Witches clan. Not the clan of old, but a new and more welcoming coven. I can sense latent power in this world; it almost seems like a waste of my teaching abilities to let this all go to waste.

Your gift reflects this. You might not be an Umbra Witch by right or training, but your prowess makes you more than deserving of at least the 'Acolyte' title. Please, as way of apology, I would like to extend an offer to you to be by my side and teach the new generation of Umbra, along with Cereza.

I'm sorry for what I have done. I miss what we were before I ruined everything.

Jeanne De'Arc

He was crying. Reflexively, Damien reached up and wiped the tears away. He didn't realise more simply replaced them, and only did once they dripped down and stained the paper. Gingerly replacing the card, he held and cradled his Christmas present with one hand, completely unsure whether or not he should open it.

Jeanne wanted him to become an Umbra Witch. Luka had once commented that male Umbra weren't impossible, but had no evidence to their existence; if an actual Witch thought he could become one, then the evidence was clearly with the statement. Whatever would help him take this step was contained inside the wrappings-

Luka! Luka could help!

Damien instantly spread his awareness out and found the man inside his own apartment. His decision was then solidified and he teleported to Luka's living room.

The room spun again and he fell over, exhaustion seeping into every pore of his body. Each breath was becoming more painful and laboured, all belaying the same message:

You aren't ready. Stop before you permanently injure yourself.

Groaning softly, Damien closed his eyes and waited for the world to stop rotating around him. The sounds of deliberate footsteps echoed through his mind, each one sending sharp pains into his head. A migraine was beginning to form and he was beginning to regret not resting for longer at his own room.

"What the hell- Damien!?"

The footsteps became louder and faster as Luka presumably sprinted to him. A skidding noise caused him to flinch, and a thump drew out a groan of pain.

"What happened to you!? Kyrie said you were fine!" Luka was so loud. A pair of hands began patting and prodding him, each one recoiling at something on his body. "Jesus, that's a lot of sweat. Talk to me Damien!"

"Jeanne…" Damien forced his eyes open and found Luka's own staring back in panicked concern. "She's dead!"

The man almost rolled his eyes, but he settled for an explosive sigh that conveyed a lot of disappointment. "You reappear after being missing for a month, looking like absolute shit and the first thing you are concerned about is Jeanne!?"

Damien didn't answer that.

"Well, you're just like your goddamn sister. Worrying about everyone else even though you look like death incarnate." Luka continued. "Look, Jeanne will be-"

"She's dead!" He wailed, repeating himself. The journalist let out a huff and chuckled.

"Well, you've got one hell of a story to listen to, then."

"She's not dead!?"

After propping him up onto the couch, Luka had started to explain just what happened in his month-long absence. Life had gone on without him and it had only been just over a week ago before they had started becoming worried. Then the city was attacked by the reappearing Angels and they turned their attention to repelling the invasion. Once the Angels had been routed, Gomorrah had betrayed his mistress and killed Jeanne. All efforts to find him had been put on hold for a while and the journalist then stated he regretted not trying earlier.

Damien had completely understood that. Jeanne was far more important to Bayonetta than he was. Hell, he agreed that she was far more important than he was, but that was neither here or there.

A week had passed while his sister had mourned and Luka had struggled to get into contact with anyone who could possibly help. Bayonetta reappeared after he had 'confirmation' that he was fine from Nero's significant other (something he was going to have to confront Kyrie with at some point), leading to Rodin appearing to reveal that Jeanne was able to be rescued and restored.

There was also another detail of Rodin revealing he was a Primordius, but that was lost on Damien in the wake that his formerly deceased friend now not being that.

"Well, she is dead." Luka explained, walking from the kitchen with a pair of mugs in his hands. He handed one to him and Damien gratefully accepted the tea. "But what we can do is pull her soul out of Inferno, Orpheus-style, and return it to her body."

The name was unfamiliar to him. "Who is- It doesn't matter. We can save Jeanne?"

"Yes. We can. Well, Bayonetta is."

"Why aren't you with her?" Damien frowned, taking a sip. The hot liquid flowed down his throat an invigorated him instantly. Stealing a look at the mug, he chuckled and returned his attention back to Luka.

The man shifted uncomfortably and shook his head. "Well, she wants me to stay safe. She doesn't want to lose another friend."

"And her idea of keeping you safe is to leave you alone, completely unprotected?"

Luka gave him a curious look. "Why would Angels go after me? I'm not even close to a threat! And besides, where the fuck were you!? Kyrie says you were fine but you very obviously not!"

Damien decided to tell him the truth. It would come out later either way. "I was a horse."

He instantly spluttered and a cacophony of noises erupted from his throat. "You were a horse!?"

"Someone attacked Nero and decided to steal his arm. Devil May Cry and myself decided to try and take our revenge. We failed and the Qliphoth grew from it." He briefly explained, not wanting to get into detail of just how badly he had failed. "I was repurposed by Urizen to become a horse for his general."

Luka just stared at him.

"That was about a month ago." Damien quickly added. "I was saved by Nero about an hour ago."

"So your first thought after being a Demonic horse for a month is to teleport into my apartment and nearly kill yourself to do so? Jeanne wouldn't want you to do something so monumentally stupid for her!" He started slowly, but each word had more venom behind it the longer he spoke. "I knew you were passionate, but you weren't ever that stupid!"

"I teleported to Jeanne's first." He meekly corrected.

"That isn't helping your case!" Luka threw his hands into the air, exasperation rolling off him in waves. "I know that you care for Jeanne, but for fucks sake! You're killing yourself for no real reason!"

"That's in hindsight, to be fair." Damien replied, a little bit annoyed now. "I didn't know there was a plan for anything; all I knew was that she was dead!"

"Who told you?"

"Ada did. She'd been trying for a week."

Luka nodded at that. "She definitely has. They've been taking the heat for us, for the most part. The rest of the city and world suspect us despite her efforts, unfortunately."

That wasn't surprising. No one really liked him, and Jeanne's lack of a social presence left her as a villain in the eyes of the general public, although her Cutie J persona was very popular with everyone. The opinion on Bayonetta and Luka weren't high either and led to most unfortunate events being blamed on them, or specifically him. An Angelic host attacking New York that resulted in massive damage and loss of life?

Oh, it was all definitely his fault, despite not being anywhere near the city when it occurred.

"Well, where is Bayonetta now?" He changed topics slightly. Luka instantly shook his head.

"No. You are in no condition to be travelling, let alone fighting alongside Bayonetta. I'm not going to let you-"

Damien simply read his mind. He didn't even have to try; the name of the city was on the forefront of Luka's thoughts. "Noatun? I've never heard of that place."

An aggravated grunt answered him. "Please stop reading my mind! Look, I'm fairly certain Bayonetta would want you to stay here."

"I need to help! It's my fault-"

"Jesus Christ you really are just as bad as her." Luka ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "This isn't your fault, so don't blame yourself!"

"What do you want me to do then? I'm not sitting around on my hands while I can help her!" Damien placed the mug onto the coffee table and gestured to the man opposite him. "I can-"

"Jeanne would want you to recover. Remember that time you came back from Drakenguard? You didn't ask, but it was really fucking obvious you wanted space and comfort from us. We gave you that because you needed it, like you need it now." Luka argued back, his tone brokering no arguments. "If you were transformed into a Demonic entity and only just recovered from that, it wouldn't surprise me that your body is still not quite ready to do anything strenuous, let alone basic stuff. You shouldn't-"

"You can't stop me." Damien stood up and immediately felt dazed and light headed. He stumbled forward and fell onto the coffee table, collapsing it under his weight.

"Damien- Goddamn it! You know I can't really afford paying for your bullshit like Bayonetta and Jeanne can!" A pair of arms pushed his wing aside and wrapped around his torso. They heaved and he felt himself flopping back onto the couch and looking directly into Luka's angry face. "Are you trying to injure yourself further!?"

"If it brings her back, then it's worth it."

Luka rolled his eyes and covered his face with his hands. "And they call me the lovesick fool."

Damien froze and paled. Or at least he felt he did. Given his current condition though, he probably didn't look that much different and he took solace in that fact that Luka probably didn't notice.

And he continued like he did not. "Look, I know I can't stop you because you could probably toss the entire city away in order to leave, but even you have to look at yourself and ask whether or not you physically leave. Because right now all you would be to Bayonetta is a liability, just like me."

The winged man mulled over the words and reluctantly acknowledged that perhaps Luka was right. He couldn't stand, he couldn't teleport and he definitely couldn't fight. What use would he be to his sister or to Jeanne?

But he knew he had to do something. What kind of friend would leave the other to die and not even bother to save them?

"What are you doing here, Luka?" He whispered; his voice was very shaky and he could not hide that. Damien could chalk it up to his current condition and hoped Luka would too.

"Huh?" His face became perplexed. "What do you mean?"

"You said she left you behind for safety. If she really wanted you to be safe, you'd be at Rodin's under lock and key." Damien slowly lifted himself up into a sitting position, making sure his head remained stable during the transition. "What are you doing here, exposed like this?"

"I'm… researching Noatun. Except I've made no real headway and you are raising a very fantastic point." Luka gritted his teeth and placed both of his hands behind his head. "I guess with all of the hubbub she's probably going to cause in Noatun, Bayonetta thinks they won't bother with me."

Maybe. But Damien felt that if someone was bold enough to attack New York in broad daylight to successfully kill Jeanne, it wouldn't be too far out of their playbook to kill Luka to mentally throw Bayonetta into a deep downwards spiral.

"Knowing her, my sister probably was too busy trying to hold onto the glimmer of hope that Jeanne could be rescued to think clearly." He tried to logically deduce her thoughts, verbalising each line as he drew them. "So it probably never occurred to her that you could be in danger."

"We did come to the conclusion that the whole thing reeked of a set-up. Someone interfered with Bayonetta's summon and also is conveniently sitting on the exact place she needs to go. They're trying to goad her into making reckless moves…" Luka's voice trailed off. "Hold on, something isn't making sense."

"Killing Jeanne, you and myself would do that as we are all the people closest to her. But they only went after Jeanne and that was it. Why?"

"Well, you were a horse. Maybe they thought you were incapacitated permanently or something. And honestly, Jeanne is overall more of a threat to them than I can possibly ever be." He pointed out and Damien frowned.

"That would mean they would have known I was there."

Both himself and Luka slowly turned to each other, eyes widening at the same rate. Damien didn't even need to read his friend's mind to know they were both thinking the exact same thing.

"If the attack here was a set-up, then what if the Red Grave City attack was also a set-up? It took all of Devil May Cry and yourself out of the way, leaving Jeanne and Bayonetta by themselves for, I don't really want to say this, easy pickings." Luka grimaced, but he could see the sense in the proposal.

V had never given an explanation for Urizen's actions. The best they got was his end goal of consuming a fruit off the Qliphoth Tree to attain power, which apparently was a feat only Mundus had ever achieved. But as to why or when Urizen had decided to undergo this plan was a complete mystery.

Given the timing and how many people it had affected, maybe it was very intentional.

"I was planning to come home the day Nero lost his arm. Or one of the days around it, but either way it was the perfect day to tie me up in something." Damien felt a cat butting their head against his wing and he turned to see a golden feline pawing at his plumage. He recognised her as Viola and tentatively held his hand out. Viola looked at his hand, looked at him and then continued butting her head against his wing. "And STARS and Devil May Cry were completely holed up with Red Grave. It's far too convenient for it to just be a coincidence."

"Can you contact Khepri?" Luka asked.

The change in subject confused him until he remembered that they all had conveniently lost contact with their contracted about three months ago. "Wait, was that a part of this as well!?"

"Butterfly was attacked and left grievously wounded by Dante's Blue Guy. I don't know about Styx, but Khepri might've undergone the same fate." Luka explained morosely. "Bayonetta healed her, but… I don't know anything further. I'm sorry."

Damien's throat felt dry and he swallowed to try and moisturise it. "Khepri's hurt?"

"She could be! I don't know!"

A cold fury began to build inside of his stomach. It spread like a virus through his body and Damien curled his hand into a tight fist. Electricity crackled around it and he had the awareness to check for Viola before he accidently shocked the cat. To his surprise, she was still headbutting his wing without a care in the world.

"The thing is, Damien, the other Madama and Demons seemingly were taken out specifically so only Bayonetta only could summon Gommorah. And the Demon pretty much instantly attacked her the second it could. This- I don't want to kick and scream conspiracy, but it's damn well looking like one." Luka then punched the chair beneath him. "Goddamn it!"

"Why are they hurting everyone close to us?" Damien whispered, knowing his words were very petulant for this situation. "What did we ever do?"

"Well, we kinda stopped the world domination of Paradiso. That's a pretty big deal." The man stood up and grabbed his empty mug. Damien muttered a quiet thanks and kept his eye on Luka whilst he walked back to the kitchen. "As far as we know, the blue guy was working with Paradi-"

"He's the prime suspect?" Damien frowned. That was very specific; he had almost forgotten about the existence of Dante's blue guy.

"He is the suspect. Rodin told us he was."

That was surprising. The weapon-smith never normally involved himself with their affairs, with the exception of annihilating those specific servers and asking him to traverse the multiverse. Whatever this blue guy actually was, they were important enough for Rodin to personally get involved.

The realisation sent a chill down his spine.

"That's why we need to stay here. If this guy worries fucking Rodin, then what chance does a half-dead you stand?"

Damien felt his anger and frustration begin to fade and he leaned back into the sofa. He wanted to help. He needed to help.

But his body physically couldn't.

"Bayonetta's got this." Luka retook his seat, leaning forward and clasping his hands together. "You just gotta believe in her and recover. When she gets back with Jeanne later on today, you can tell them everything."

"Yeah." His voice was small. Tired. Conflicted.

"Anyway, what's that? You brought it along and I can't figure out for the life of me what it is." He gestured to the package that lay on the couch and Damien finally realised he wasn't holding it any longer.

"That's… It's Jeanne's Christmas present. For me."

Luka's eyes widened and he sat up straighter. "Oh. Well, that's… I really don't know what to say. Have you opened- that's a dumb question, you obviously haven't."

Damien telekinetically flicked the card towards himself and caught it. Pulling it out from the envelope, he passed the card to Luka. "I haven't because I'm confused about whether or not I should."

The man's eyes scanned over the card, narrowing the further down he got. Luka glanced up at him with a frown, then towards the package with a deeper frown.

"She wants to make you an Umbra?" He exclaimed finally, setting the card down. "This is news to me."

He reached out and grabbed the package, staring at it with a curious eye. "I don't recall Bayonetta ever taking time off to work with Jeanne, so I imagine her gift to your sister would talk about the same deal."

"What do you think it is?" Damien asked.

"The hell if I know." Luka shrugged. He put the package back onto the table and gestured to him. "You should open it."

He hesitated and made no attempt to reach the package. "I should wait for Jeanne-"

"If it's something to help you become a Witch, then you should definitely open it." He folded his arms and nodded. "And aren't you curious?"

"I am, but…" Damien shook his head and grabbed it. "Let's do it. It might be a powerful artifact that can help me recover."

Slipping his hand under the brown paper and ripping it apart with a smooth motion, he felt metal on his fingertips and frowned at the sensation. Grabbing the object, he pulled it out and stared at it with a small amount of confusion until he recognised just what he was holding.

It was an Umbran Watch.

Unlike Bayonetta's gold and Jeanne's silver, this one was inlaid with obsidian black stone. The design on the face showed no symbol and was a flat surface, like Jeanne's, and was covered in the signature grey cracks of the rock. Damien just stared at it with a mixture of shock and confusion.

"An Umbran Watch?" Luka rushed over to the couch and peered closely at it. His eyes widened and turned to him. "Holy shit! That's what gives a Witch her immortality and an anchor for her contract! That's… actually pretty much everything you need to become a fully-fledged Witch! Or Warlock!"

Jeanne wanted him to be a Witch. She didn't hate him.

He couldn't stop himself and Damien began to cry. Tears flowed, backed with small whimpers and sobs that escaped his uncooperating, throat. He closed his eyes tightly and tried very hard to retain control of his emotions.

"Hey! You okay?" Luka interrupted his calming and he opened his eyes to see the man looking at him with concern.

"She cared." He whispered softly. The words scratched at his throat.

"Of course she does, you idiot. Did you actually think she didn't after your fight?" He laughed. "Damien, you literally saved her life and pulled her free from Balder's clutches. And the only reason you had a fight to begin with was because you did and still continue to care too much about her. We had a conversation about it about three weeks ago when we were discussing gifts for Christmas and she told me she regretted everything she said that day. She had no idea how to approach you for an apology because she thought you hated her. Hell, didn't you read this letter?" He waved the envelope in front of him. "She bared her goddamn heart and you are worried that she didn't care? Damien, she's just like you; she cares too much!"

Like two peas in a pod. Damien cracked a smile at that.

"I guess offering what is essentially immortality is a hell of a way to do so, but honestly that's on brand for her," the man smirked. Luka returned his attention to the watch and closed Damien's hands over it. "We could connect you to it. I think."

"Do you know how to do that?"

Luka froze and his smile wiped from his face slowly. "Uhh…"

He clicked his fingers and pointed at him. "Couldn't you talk to Khepri?"

"I can't." Damien brusquely replied and the man's face fell with a grimace.

"Damn. I guess we have to wait for Jeanne. That really does suck; we might've been able to heal you faster."

A strange piece of trivia ran through Damien's mind at that statement. Lumen Sages were said to have watches; Jeanne and Bayonetta both neither had known and were never taught to be able to confirm this fact. But if that was the case and knowing he already had an unknown Angelic contract…

A dumb, idiotic and stupid idea was beginning to form.

"Hope might know." He spoke with certainty, trying to give Luka the impression he wasn't sure. "They could help us."

"Hope… The Joy? You do know that the whole idea of the Lumen Watch is still rooted in myth?" Luka gave him an apprehensive glance. "I know it makes sense with how they summon and as a parallel to Umbra, but that's just a writing convention, not reality. Besides, I never saw one on Balder's person."

And what he spoke was true. There was no evidence for it, but yet Damien felt as if there had to be a connection. There had to be some truth for it all!

And he knew exactly where to find it. Benevolence, can you answer this?

'Damien?' A weak voice answered him and he almost jumped in joy. 'You managed to reach us?'

Where are you? What's going on?

'Khepri brokered our deal and allowed our communication, despite Balder's machinations. If she has been compromised in anyway, this is too.' Benevolence was slowly getting stronger the longer their sentence continued. 'But in regards to your theory, it has some merit. We are not sure of the specifics since we were never involved in any processes, but it is possible.'

Damien sat up suddenly, his eyes widening. Luka jumped back in shock with a pain grunt escaping him. "Jesus Christ, don't do stuff like that! Especially when you zoned out for a minute!"

He turned to his friend with resolution. "I know where I have to go."

"Before you get started, are you even sure this is going to work?"

The pair now stood upon the roof, with Damien rubbing his hands together and Luka standing sceptically to the side. The journalist had his arms crossed and looked on with reluctance, while he was mentally preparing himself for the spell he had to cast. The animals were now back in the care of that strange old lady that smiled far too kindly at him and Luka had changed into an outfit more suitable of a place in a Mediterranean climate. Black, bell-bottom pants encased a pair of black shoes, which also had a white shirt tucked into it. A brown and black vest covered this, and Damien could see the hint of his father's scarf tucked away. A pair of fingerless gloves encased his hands and they were both holding onto a wide brimmed hat that had a grey lattice pattern across the brim.

"If what you've told me is right, then only the pathways into Inferno are closed. We should be able to get into Paradiso with ease." He answered, stretching his hands and arms with one motion.

"I meant the spell." Luka gestured to him. "Do you even know what to cast and how to?"

"Well, I don't." He reluctantly admitted after a moment's hesitation. "But in theory it's the same as summoning Khepri. But backwards. And in a different location."

"In theory!?"

Damien flinched at his tone. "Look, I need to try something! If I can get anywhere close to one hundred percent I can help. I spent so long doing nothing while an entire city was getting annihilated and I lost my l- my bes- my friend while I couldn't do a fucking thing about it! And you don't want me to help!?"

"I think potentially hurting yourself more is a problem that you need to accept." Luka shook his head and walked over, placing one hand on his shoulder. "Damien, you're hurt. Both mentally and physically. What you are attempting probably is going to hurt you more and we both know that both Bayonetta and Jeanne will kill you personally if they find out what you are doing."

"The goal then is to not let them find out." He pushed his hand off and walked forward. "I'm going to try, consequences be damned."

A thought came to him and he glanced back to Luka. "What are you going to do?"

"Me? I'm staying here, just as Bayonetta requested." Conflict then flashed upon his face and Luka groaned. "Oh… God dammit. If you succeed, you're just going to do even stupider things. Someone has to keep an eye on you."

Damien did not hold back his smile. "I knew you would see reason."

"All I see is an idiot."

He did hold back the bark of laughter that would've escaped his throat. Shaking his head and calming himself, Damien splayed his palms out and clapped them together. White energy began to wrap around his wrists, snaking around and meeting into a ball across his connected hands. Pulling them apart and expanding the sphere into an outstretched oval, Damien thrusted forward and poured his magic into the portal.

With an exuberant tearing of reality and a brilliant shine of golden light, a portal to Paradiso formed.

"Holy shit!" Luka screamed from behind. "You did it!?"

"I can't keep it open for much longer!" He turned back, his latent strength already beginning to fade. "If you are coming, now is the time to make that choice!"

Luka placed that hat onto his head, a strange fedora with two strings floating down from the front of it. Upon these strings sat two beads; one red, one blue. "Well, we both know Bayonetta will blame me if I let you get hurt, so let's go!"

He ran through the portal. Damien smiled briefly at his enthusiasm, then walked forward as well. Keeping his hands wide and his magic flowing, he stepped through the portal and instantly closed it once he felt the realm of Paradiso around him. Collapsing down to a knee, he took in several deep breaths and took stock of his immediate surrounds.

He frowned at what he saw.

The realm was still as vibrant as ever, which each surface gleaming with ensnaring beauty, but it seemed far more faux than before. Each object seemed to strain within itself, almost as if it was telling itself that it had to be perfect. It had to be snaring. It had to be beautiful.

Standing up slowly, his eyes moved to Luka's figure. The man was standing by a small temple to Temperentia, his hands on his hips and a frown on his face.

"This all seems… wrong."

Damien raised an eyebrow at that statement. "You can sense it too?"

"Well, no. But just look at this." Luka pointed to a plague that heralded the arrival of the four Auditio to Paradiso. "The metal is just terrified of us."

"Terrified?" He whispered, peering at it a little closer. "I wouldn't say terrified."

"What would you say, then?"

"It's trying too hard. Like someone has it at gunpoint or something." Damien turned away and looked down the pathway towards a city made of gold and white stone. "When I was here last time with Bayonetta, it didn't have to do much to get into your mind. Now, it's like we both know exactly what it is up to, and it isn't trying to hide it."

"Is it because we know?" Luka asked. He was interrupted before he would elaborate further.

"Foul intruders."

Damien whirled around to see a flock of Angels landing on the street behind them. They were centaur-like beings with their torso's comprising of a single giant head with arms popping out where the ears would be.

He did not recognise them at all.

A larger one, coloured red and holding a giant, drill-shaped spear, stepped forward and stared him down. "You… you should not be here. The Prophet said you were taken care of!"

That statement alone carried a lot of implications and Damien knew that everything was on purpose. Someone, or something, had been pulling a lot of strings behind all the scenes. His convenient disappearance was not a convenience.

Sharuba snapped into his hand and he pointed the katana at the Angel. "Well, you can tell your Prophet that his little scheme is a failure!"

"A failure? You are but a setback in the grand calculus of the plan. We will move on without you." The Angel pawed the ground and brandished its staff. "Us Accolade and Allegiance have no qualms in crushing you where you stand."

"Luka-" Damien started.

"I'm already out of the way." The man called out and the interruption made him glad for his intuition. Drawing the sword closer to his body, he held it across his body in a defensive stance and waited for the Angels to make their first move.

The Accolade held itself back and the Allegiance swarmed forward. They were armed with a mixture of swords, harp bows and drill spears, each one brandished and aimed at him. He did not want to test the limits of his fighting ability so soon, and especially when he had not had a chance to heal up, but a few Angels shouldn't be so bad.

They arrived and it was time to put his money where his mouth was. Damien deflected a spear that was levelled at his stomach and used the momentum to block a sword that arched down at his neck. Telekinetically shoving a few stray arrows away, the winged man quickly came to realize that it was simply a matter of time before he got overwhelmed by the numbers.

Fire wrapped around Sharuba and he slammed it down and attempted to blast the swarm away. A large explosion erupted from the ground at the point of contact and the Laguna went flying. The Accolade grunted with annoyance at its underlings and ran forward to engage him itself.

Time to shake things up.

The katana disappeared and the Carian staff fell into his left hand. Holding it up, he spun it in a small circle and thrust it forward. Three giant swords made of blue light appeared; one above and two either side of him.

The Angel stopped and stared at him with uncertainty. "What is this magic?"

"Something a little further away from home." He answered with a confident smirk. The staff disappeared and the katana returned back to his grip. Wind howled and wrapped around the blade. Damien had formed a small plan that pretty much involved them not getting close enough to catch him off-guard.

Hopefully his phalanx would keep them at bay long enough.

Shockwaves rippled through the air and began tearing at the armour of the Accolade. Damien continued the assault with more swings of Sharuba, watching with satisfaction as the weapon was ripped out of the Angels hand.

"Enough of this!" It roared, and the Allegiance returned to its side. "Get him!"

The Angels swarmed forward and the Glintblade Phalanx acted. The three swords flew out and skewered three of the Allegiance. They dropped like flies and rag dolled along the ground. But that still left five of them and they were now upon him.

Damien parried one of them and felt a pair puncture his stomach. The instant, sharp pain served as a reminder that he was definitely not ready for anything. Ripping the weapon from him, he roared with anger and used the pain to fuel his body into moving faster. Quick slices made quick work of Angels one and two, each one falling to pieces within seconds. Three was blasted with a bolt of electricity and instantly burst into flames. Four and five regrouped with the Accolade and the small burst disappeared into nothing. He couldn't keep himself upright and he collapsed down to his knees.

"Damien!" Luka sounded frantic. And terrified.

"Hmph. You were the one he was most afraid of? The Prophet must reassign his priorities then. We must return to the side of the Arch Eve and guide her towards her fate."

Blood was flowing from his mouth and Damien vomited more up with a dry heave. Tears burned his vision and he looked up to see the Angels slowly stalking towards him.

He was going to die. This time, there would be no Urizen to save him. No excuse to keep him alive.

"Dispose of the-"

"Get back, foul creations!"

A white blur dashed into view, slamming into the Angels and pushing them back. Damien quickly wiped his vision clear and found himself watching a Joy slicing through the Allegiance with a gold and aqua sword.

This wasn't any old Joy. This was Hope.

"Our realm has no quarter for the likes of you!" Hope screamed, ripping apart the final Allegiance with a charging thrust of their sword. They turned to the Accolade and pointed at it. "Now begone, or we will make your death permanent!"

"The old guard still wishes to stay relevant. You were replaced by the Prophet due to your insolence and inability to assist the Father with his plans." The Laguna snarled in return. "Now begone!"

Hope chose not to heed its warning and charged forward. The Laguna resummoned the spear back to its hand and swung it in two arcs, trying to squash the Angel. Both strikes were dodged with ease and the sword transformed into a whip. It cracked out and wrapped around the Laguna's neck, or at least where Damien assumed its neck would be given its head was its torso. The Angel pulled back on the whip and the Accolade stumbled forward. Taking advantage of the imbalance, Hope launched forward and the whip became the sword once again. This time, it impaled itself onto the top of the head area of the Accolade. It gurgled once, then dropped to the ground and disappeared.

"We will begone? We will see about that." Hope hissed at the ground, then straightened up and turned to him. "Damien!?"

"Hope," he greeted with what was hopefully a smile. Considering how quickly they ran to his side, it probably didn't look that good. "I was looking for you."

"You were looking for us now? Are you a complete moron?" They began to help him into a standing position, slipping under his arm for support. "Look upon these ruins and tell me if Paradiso is safe."

"Hope!" Luka's arrival did not tear his gaze away from the dead Angels that littered the floor. Neither did their translation spell.

They were machines. A hazy memory passed through him, from a place he would rather forget.

"And what makes these… children so special?" Jeanne asked, nudging his side with an elbow. "Besides being skilled warriors; but that seems to be everyone in this world."

"They aren't children." Damien said, gesturing at her to follow. The Witch complied with an annoyed huff, but didn't verbalise any other disagreements. "Bayonetta and myself-"

"Cereza." She corrected him, almost automatically at this point.

"Sorry. Cereza and myself investigated them when we had an opportune moment." He stopped to watch three machines' life-forms waddle past, with a fourth straggling behind. Gesturing with one hand, he lifted the lagging machine and brought it to them. "The machines share several designs with the androids."

"Androids? They are androids?"

"In every sense of the word. As much as they look like us, they are mimics."

Jeanne walked up to the flailing machine and put a bullet in its cranium area. She dug her fingers into the lip holding the spherical head onto the tube body and ripped it apart. Antique cogs and wires came out along with it, followed by a round black sphere that enclosed a glowing white core.

"That's certainly different." She held it aloft with one hand, observing it with a curious eye. "So why do you say that these machines share designs with the androids?

Damien dropped the machine and approached her. "Androids run on a similar looking core they call a black box. There are enough differences between the two for any theory combining the two to have any actual evidence."

"You think it's a bi-discovery then?" She arched and eyebrow and passed him the core.

"Not exactly. But something here is a puppet to the other." He clicked his fingers and the core disappeared into Inferno. "Or something is an imitation of the other."

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

Damien gestured at himself with a thumb. "The androids are meant to replace us in their war against the machines while we stay on the moon. I think differently."

The Angel lay in pieces of shattered machinery and the only thoughts that ran through his mind was those of Drakenguard. The androids that used to inhabit that world were replicas of Humanity and served as a means for a former Primordius to attempt to reclaim their position.

And now it seems someone was doing the same for the Angels.

"It started about three moons ago. The Prophetic One arrived and introduced us to a new 'breed' of Laguna; one more powerful than us."Hope forlornly said, staring at the broken metal and porcelain alongside him. "And then they began to butcher us, slowly but surely."

"Hold on, what!?" Luka exclaimed, voicing the shock that Damien had spreading through him. "Butchering you?"

"It's not safe to discuss here. Let us go to a safer place, where the rest of us have gathered." Hope turned to the journalist and pointed towards the stone city. "Go towards Pietra D'oro and we will do the rest from there."

The city of Pietra D'oro was both eerily silent and auspiciously empty. Hope lead the trio through the streets with an air of authority, each step taken with authority and purpose. Damien, by comparison, was drooping lower in their arms and struggling to keep pace with the Angel. Behind them, Luka trailed with an uneasy expression.

"Are you faring well, Ascendant One?" Hope asked out of the blue.

"Can you not call me that?" He answered, grimacing at the sounds of his words beginning to slur. "I'm not anything special right now."

"I did say this was going to happen." Luka caught up to them and slipped his body other his other arm. His eyes met his own and Damien could see the concern in them quite clearly. "Jesus Christ, you're getting worse."

Hope stopped in front of a dilapidated temple and turned them towards it. "In here. Once we meet with the others, we can discuss your state safely."

The Angel slowly leaned him against a pillar and Damien reached out to give himself some support. The second they left his side, though, he nearly collapsed and only Luka's tight grip managed to keep him upright.

"Shit! Damn, you're fucking heavy!" The journalist complained and Damien managed to chuckle.

"Well, I thought I would be lighter considering I haven't eaten in a month."

"That's not how weight works!"

The sound of grinding stone interrupted them and they both turned to see Hope tracing the final touches of a glowing sigil onto a nearby pillar. Behind the Angel was a stone wall that was slowly descending into the ground, revealing a passageway that was lit up by torches inlet on sconces on the walls.

The Angel jogged back over and returned to their position under his arm. "We must move quickly before the Prophet figures us out."

"Right." Luka answered for them and the trio lurched into the tunnel. As soon as they crossed the threshold, the wall shot back up and closed the tunnel off with a resounding boom. Damien's vision swam and he held back a groan for all of two seconds.

"Luegray!?"

"Damien!?"

His eyes flickered and-

The woman in blue turned around with a sad smile, looking him up and down. "You've tried so hard to repent your supposed sins. Why?"

Damien stared at her, almost believing she was an idiot with the question she presented him. But he knew a lot better than to assume anything close to that with her, of all people. What he had done to her, of all people, could not be so easily forgiven. "You know why. I hurt you. I killed people you love-"

"Every single time we meet, you say the same things. You did not kill anyone who did not deserve it. What happened to him was not your fault."

He didn't remember this conversation, but Damien knew very much that it had repeated itself over and over in the final weeks of his stay in Kathreftis Sympan. Blue heels clacked on the marble floor and the attendant stopped within an arm's length of him. He turned away and refused to meet her yellow eyes.

"You do realise this isn't a memory, correct?"

What!?

His eyes darted around in a panic and he suddenly realised he had no idea where he was. Or when this was. Or how-

"Calm down. Your body is being pushed well beyond its limits and its starting to expire. Fortunately, you still have others looking over you." She smiled softly whilst her words drew his attention back. "Once you reawaken in your true self, it will be in far better shape than you left it. But for now, you require counsel."

Damien was confused more than anything. "But how can you reach me? I thought-"

"The Velvet Room is a place between time and space, undefined by law or reality. Just like the Gates of Hell and Faram Azula, it can be used to peer into other worlds with ease." She explained. Her hands opened the grimoire and flicked through the pages. "For six months I could not see into the Alphaverse; now I believe I know why."

"You know what is going on?"

The woman laughed, a golden sound that trickled into his ears like honey. "You must know that I cannot simply reveal everything. Your task is yet to be discovered, let alone able to be completed. The Infinite One's theories are correct. That is all I can reveal without bringing attention to myself."

That brought out a chuckle. "Going against your father's wishes once again?"

"It's not my father who is looking for me." Her mood sobered up and her expression became ashen. "The closest hint I can give you is that when I looked for the Alphaverse, I saw a kaleidoscope reflecting back at me."

Damien frowned and glanced to the side. "What's that supposed to mean- Let's just be real for a second; how does that help me!?"

"All will become clear when you realise its meaning." She answered, matter-of-factly. "I came here to warn you of what could come from the Prophet's interference. Do not stray from destiny, Damien. It will deliver us unto the same end regardless."

"What is that supposed to mean!? Please, tell me! Mar-"

Damien's eyes shot open and he instantly saw an Angel hovering over him. Normally his first instinct would be to attack the creature, but he was still reeling over what he had just seen to even function. The small head with wings did a flip and flew out of sight before he could act, leaving the man alone with his thoughts.

And boy, he had a lot of them.

How did she find him? He vividly remembered Philemon telling him that the Realm Between would be shut permanently once he left, so there should've been no possible way for his daughter to pierce through the veil and seek him out.

And what was the point of giving him cryptic advice-

He knew the answer to that one and he rolled his eyes. Despite being completely different from her father, she was still a pure-born Primordius. 'Cryptic Advice' had to be their middle names.

Groaning, Damien shifted himself upright and gave his surroundings a quick look over. He was lying atop a stone bed, that somehow did not feel like one, inside of a white and gold trimmed building that was dirtied by dust and shadows that danced from torches upon the walls. The small Angel from before was lurking by an arched doorway. It gestured at him with one wing and flew off.

His body felt better. Damien looked down, spread his hands out and gasped. His skin colour had returned to a healthy pinkish hue and his strength had somewhat returned. Pushing himself up to his feet, he walked towards the door and peered outside.

A stone passageway greeted him, along with a flock of the small Angels. They chirped and chittered excitedly, flapping their wings vigorously. He was confused by their actions and mannerisms, considering who he was, but curiosity won out. Damien walked towards them and watched them fly away, gesturing to follow.

So he did, clicking his fingers to reform candlelight. He held it aloft and continued after the Cherubs.

The spell was extinguished when he realised the passageway was getting brighter without the aid of candlelight. Licking his lips with anticipation, he walked out and gasped at the sight before him.

The passageway led to a gigantic cavern that glittered with torchlight and golden halos. Angels of all shapes and sizes milled around, tending to each other or holding conversations like humans. Some Joys were helping a Gracious reattach its armour to itself, Affinity were listening to a speech by an Applaud, two of those silly Angel Cars were racing around the perimeter of the cavern and in the background, he could see Fortitudo or a Courage observing the room upon a roof of another temple.

Damien just stared at everything with wonder for a full five seconds before he shook his head. He needed to move on and find Luka and Hope.

Forcing himself into motion, the winged man quickly rushed down a staircase and instantly ran into the flock of Angels from before. Now, they had a larger and older variant floating with them.

"Welcome, Ascendant One." It gurgled, bowing its head. Damien instantly shook his head in response.

"Please don't start that. And why are you calling me that now?"

"You are the Ascendant One. We have reawakened to our true purpose, which is to aid both you and your sister against the Enemy." It answered reverently, looking down upon the rest of the Angels. "Come. The First Sphere Seraphim will explain all to you, along with the human and Hope."

The flock pushed into him and shoved him down the stairs. Damien stumbled, regained his footing and gave the Angels a flat look before continuing onwards.

Each group of Laguna he passed all stopped in their current actions and stared at him, all with a mixture of apprehension and fear. He returned them all in kind; he would not forget the literal invasion of the mortal realm anytime soon and he didn't trust these Angels one bit.

A small part of his mind did argue that they had ample enough opportunity to do something to him, especially if he had lost consciousness in their domain. The words of the elderly Angel echoed again and he remembered what Bayonetta had told him;

"Hope, was it? They explained that the Father had corrupted their true purpose and twisted them onto the path they walk now. I don't recall a time when Angels weren't hellbent on destruction, but it does make a little sense if you recall what Jubileus had said."

Balder had influenced, if not outright controlled, the entirety of Paradiso for at least five hundred years. Given his death, it stood to reason that the Angels would just return to their normal lives.

Something about that bugged him. Damien remembered challenging Philemon for his meddling in both his own and his friends lived and getting annihilated for daring to battle one of the Primordius; Balder was extremely powerful, but he wasn't that much stronger than Bayonetta. How the hell did he manage to overpower the Creator and first of the Primordius?

He supposed he would find answers for that soon enough.

Hope and Luka were standing by a ruined fountain depicting a… urinating Cherub, conversing about Bayonetta.

"I'm just worried, you know? She mourned for seven straight days and instantly was right up for rescuing her. I know they are close, but that's… I don't know."

"Perhaps she has feelings for her sister-witch."

"Uhh, Bayonetta has made it pretty clear that she sees Jeanne as a friend. Not to mention Jeanne is currently seeing someone." Luka looked away awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "I mean, I'm- Guh! I hate talking about relationships. All I know is that flip-flopping between emotions that fast generally means that you are trying to bottle everything up. It's not healthy!"

"You would think that the ladies' man himself would be quite the gossip." Damien interjected with a smirk. The pair turned and Luka greeted him with a pained smirk.

"I'm not a ladies' man! All of that was for investigations and not because I'm some sort of sleazy guy!"

"Says the person who currently lives with Bayonetta, of all people." He quipped right back and Luka shook his head instantly.

"Hey! She lives with me, not the other way around! That mean's- Shit! That doesn't help my case against being some sort of womaniser…"

"Is it that bad to be considered attractive to members of your race?" Hope folded their arms and switched their gaze between the pair.

Luka shrugged and lowered his hand back down. "Well, it's all contextual. For the most part people who use their attractiveness as a weapon tend to be unsavoury in nature, and it's not exactly something to be proud of. Do you know of the deadly sins?"

"We are aware of them." The Joy nodded.

"Vanity is considered one and is very much associated with womanising." Luka made a face. "I don't think I'm full of myself, or at least I'm not now. But hey, onto more important things, that healing trance was very effective."

"Effective?" Hope directed her attention to Damien and began to intensely scrutinize him from head to toe. "That trance should have kept you asleep for at least one solar cycle."

"How long was I in it?"

"About twenty minutes or so." Luka answered, his face creasing with a slight frown. "Is that not good?"

That was concerning. Damien quickly glanced over his arms and tried to find something out of the ordinary. He didn't.

"Healing takes time and effort. We barely put you in the trance with means neither was spent in order to fully fix you. But we do theorise due to your differences in your constitution that perhaps some spells and magic do not function as intended." Hope walked over to him and placed a hand on his forehead. Their mouth curled into a slight frown and the hand was withdrawn with a single shake of their head. "It did not fully work. Your strength is not back."

"It doesn't need to be for me to help my sister." He folded his arms, trying to hide his unease behind bravado. "I heard Fortitudo wants to talk to us?"

Hope shook their head. "It is not just the Bringer of Flame who wishes to converse."

"It is not, young one." The smooth tones of the Auditio heralded their arrival. The trio glanced up to see the colossal Angel landing on the ground near them. Their wings folded up while the twin draconic heads lazily relaxed into a low position. "But we all need to know the truth behind all of this."

Damien caught onto the sub context and shared a look with Luka. "You know what's going on?"

"We have been aware of the Enemy ever since the cloud of confusion was lifted from our minds." The mechanical voice of Sapientia echoed through the cavern. They all turned left to see the Angel crawling towards them, its armoured head bowed low. "We could not act, as we did not know enough."

"Let us tell you the tale."

The hair on the back of his neck stood up and a shiver passed through him. Damien did not ever want to hear that voice again. He swallowed down his emotions and looked up to see Temperentia floating down, a morose expression on their face.

"It started with our destruction at your hand. It took time for us to remanifest inside Paradiso, but when we did it was like a cloud had been lifted from our minds, as Sapientia mentioned previously. We realised that our very existence had been corrupted, against our creator's wishes and beliefs.

We started with the rebuilding of our society and existence, trying to determine our new place in the trinity. Lead by Hope and their vision of our life, we began to work through and sort out everything. Our purpose renewed, we made steps to make contact with those who we believed we could trust and help us find our place within Chaos and Inferno.

Then he came."

A blue figure floated above all; their arms were spread out in a welcoming pose and their face, or what was visible of it, was serene and emotionless. The Laguna watched them with curious eyes, waiting for some sign of action or introduction.

"I believe you all had roles to play in the Resurrection of the Creator." They, now identifiable as potentially a he, spoke with a dignified and arrogant tone. "And yet the Recreation did not occur. Why was this failure tolerated amongst you all? I was lead to believe the Laguna were proud creatures!"

"You trespass upon our realm and make demands of us for the actions we regret most?" Fortitudo was the first to speak, leaping up into the air with a might flap of their wings and hovering opposite them. "Who are you and what gives you the right to do so?"

A deep, low chuckle echoed through the land. "Who I am is completely irrelevant; my identity would not change anything about your opinion or prejudice against me. What you have failed to do is the purpose of my visit. You should all be very glad that I decided to; showing myself in the open like this is quite bold and a very rare occasion."

"Speak sense and not riddles!" Fortitudo roared. Temperentia floated up beside their brethren and stared down the figure with derision.

"If you are here to mock us with reminders of our lowest point, then begone!"

"On the contrary, I believe that I should not begone. After all, we do have much to discuss about your replacements."

"Replacements!?"

The figure snapped his fingers and two golden portals opened up beside them. Two humanoid figures floated down, one holding a shield and the other holding a giant sword. They had no heads and the weapons they brandished had faces etched upon them.

"Please, welcome Valiance and Valor. These two are my lieutenants and the leaders of a new force of Laguna that will usher in a new age!" The two Angels stared across at the Auditio. They returned it with uncomfortable tension. Neither could sense any kind of life from the new pair.

"What are these… things?" Temperentia moved forward and peered a little closer at them. "They do not feel… correct."

"An astute observation. These Angels were created by yours truly, for one true purpose that I have already entailed. Several times over at this point. I will not repeat myself again."

"You have told us once." Fortitudo stated, their voice as confused as the host felt.

"I have told you-!" The figure caught themselves and let out a short bark of laughter. "I suppose this would be the first time. I do not apologise for my tongue."

"Who are you?" Temperentia asked again.

"We are blessed perfection and the result of countless years of research." The one with the sword spoke from the aforementioned weapon, answering instead of the figure.

"We will complete what you failed to do." The one with the shield moved forward to block Temperentia's path. The Auditio halted in their movement with surprise.

"You believe you can challenge the Auditio and their legions?" Iustitia gurgled, rising up behind the trespassers. "There are three of you and countless of us."

"Hmph." The jovial nature had disappeared completely. The blue figure swept their arms out and gestured to the sky. "Who do you think subjugated an entire realm by himself?"

More golden portals formed and new Angels swarmed down from them. They chittered and roared in a challenge, a single sound that reverberated through the Laguna.

The Laguna answered in turn and rose up to meet them.

"We battled for the better part of a solar cycle. No matter how hard we tried or valiantly we fought, we were simply not strong enough to be able to repel these invaders." Temperentia gestured to the walls of the cavern. "It was quickly determined that these false Laguna were here not to simply replace us; they were to annihilate us and remove our existence entirely."

"We gathered those we could and fled." Fortitudo continued on. "All that is left of us, is here. Iustitia held them back for as long as they could, but they perished to make sure we could live."

"What?" Damien hissed, taking a step forward. "They're gone!?"

"When a Laguna perishes inside Paradiso, they are lost forever. The same is true for Infernal's in Inferno." Sapientia explained. "A spirit cannot return to the same place it was lost."

Hope quickly translated for Luka, who turned to the three gigantic Angels with wide eyes. "Hold on, how did you create new Angels?"

"We do not." The quadrupedal being kept its head lowered. "Our ranks are only replenished when Lumen Sages pass into the next life, much like an Umbran Witch."

The words reverberated through Damien and a cold fist gripped around his heart. He tried to swallow it away, but it persisted through.

"Hmmm?" Temperentia pulled their attention towards him. "You fear for something. Or someone."

"Have you aware of what has occurred outside of Paradiso?" Luka covered for him, noticing his distress.

"We are not. We apologise for not being more vigilant."

"These new Angels attacked us and killed Jeanne."

The three Auditio all stopped and stared down at them. Burning tears threatened to fall from his eyes and he looked away to try and keep them contained.

"We would say that is impossible, but this is the new reality of the situation." He assumed it was Fortitudo's voice that was speaking. "The Matriarch of the Umbra was a fine warrior and an even stronger force of personality. We are deeply sorrowed to hear this."

"We stand with Fortitudo. This is a deep loss."

"Damien?" Hope was standing near him, their head tilted in concern. He waved the Joy off and they reluctantly nodded after a moment of hesitation.

"Does this mean that Jeanne might become a D-Demon?" He asked, hoping that no one notice his words tripping up.

"It is very unlikely. Since the Arch Eve is not with you, we assume she has journeyed to Inferno to retrieve her sister." Sapientia hummed. "It takes a long time for a soul to become an Infernal, if nothing manages to interfere with it first."

"Well, that's a relief." Luka grinned and clapped him on the back.

"Indeed it is. But, we do have one question for you." Temperentia gestured down at them. "Why did you come here, of all things? Should you not be lending aid to Bayonetta?"

"We came here for help, actually." The man continued, much to Damien's relief. "She didn't want me in harm's way, and you all saw Damien come in here like a corpse. He should be able to tell you the rest."

He gave Luka a flat look before continuing. "Jeanne gave me- well, was going to give me an empty Umbran Watch. I thought we could come here and use it to regain my strength."

"An Umbran Watch? We presume you seek to utilise it as a Lumen Watch? That is impossible. You have been claimed by an Infernal." Temperentia frowned. "Your bond with Khepri runs deep and will not be so easily broken."

Damien frowned in return. "But Khepri said I managed to bind myself to an Angel in order to cast that spell back in Ithavoll."

"What!?"

"Impossible!"

"This cannot be!"

"Both light and dark was used in the experiments that he undertook." Hope pointed out. "When Paradiso was emptied in the invasion, several of us remained in the realm; those who were not influenced by the Father and kept to our original purpose. He could have contacted one of them, inadvertently."

"It still would not work. His bond with Khepri-"

"Have peace, Temperentia," Sapientia held up a claw to silence their fellow Auditio. "There is much about him we do not know. This may be another anomaly that we simply have to keep as an aspect of his existence, not something set in absolute."

"Where are these Laguna now? Do we know?" Fortitudo asked.

"Gone or deceased. Many were present in the initial attack by the Prophet and the others fell along with Iustitia." The Joy's voice fell slowly into hopelessness. "Maybe there is nothing left."

"There will be someone left." Fortitudo shook their heads. "We just need to find them."

"Do you know who you contacted?" Temperentia turned to him. Damien struggled to meet their gaze and wilted down.

"I don't… I can't talk to you."

"That is understandable. Our history is very painful for you." The Angel's face softened with sorrow. "Perhaps you need to summon your Patron for a greater understanding of this situation."

"I can't summon her. She's missing!" More emotions surged through him and he struggled to keep his composure. "Khepri has been gone for three months, when everything seemingly went to shit."

"Well…" Luka raised a hand and stroked his chin in thought. "Have you tried?"

"Not recently, no." He frowned softly and considered that for a few seconds. Damien had tried contacting her before and the last time he had tried to summon the Demon was before he was turned into a horse. Ever since he had returned to his normal form, he had never attempted anything of the sort.

Perhaps he should try.

"There is no use in dallying." Sapientia chuckled. "If you do not try, you will never know."

Apparently when they weren't being evil, the Auditio were actually a helpful lot. Who would've thought it?

His mind made up, Damien reached out with one hand and released his pent-up power with two words that echoed out; "PDEE BARMA!"

The portal to Inferno opened, coating the cavern with a hellish crimson. He could not see anything inside-

Wait.

"Khepri?" Damien's eyes widened when he recognised the scene in front of him. "Khepri!?"

"Holy shit!" Luka gasped from beside him.

"She's in trouble." Hope observed with a panicked tone. "We need to help her!"

Khepri was battling someone outside of the view of the portal. Magicks and fire swirled around her, blasting off towards her assailant. Her green dress was torn, her skin was charred and her face was curled into a grim snarl.

A blue laser beam caused the Demon to leap backwards to dodge both it and the explosions it erupted in its wake. Pieces of the landscape then were ripped from the ground and tossed at her. She managed to deflect them with bursts of wind, but could not stop another barrage of blue lasers that burned straight into her.

"Khepri!" Damien screamed and immediately began to run forward. Hope joined him without hesitation; their hands transformed into whips that trailed out behind, leaving aqua and golden tails in the air. The Madama glanced up and her face paled when she saw them.

"You fool!" She cried out, her voice clearly in pain. "Stay back!"

"No," another voice answered from beyond the veil. Damien skidded to a halt, not because of Khepri's warning, but because he recognised the second person. "Let them come. Let them witness the death of my greatest foe."

A figure, encased entirely in blue, moved into the vision that the portal offered. They did not turn to look at the pair and kept their gaze entirely on the Demoness across from them. "You, unlike your sisters, managed to evade me for three moons straight. One was captured. One was left for dead. One swore fealty to me. You? You ran, like the coward you are. And now I've found you."

"We will have revenge for our realm!" Hope challenged, pushing past him to run into an invisible barrier at the portal's entrance. "What!?"

"Were you not informed of the new arrangements, little Angel? You cannot enter Inferno any longer." The figure chuckled and slowly began to turn towards the portal. "It seems that you still aren't aware of-"

Their words grinded to a halt when they lay eyes on him. "Oh. It's you. I should've expected this."

Damien merely summoned the Sharuba and held it at the ready. He didn't really know what he could do against a foe that Khepri was struggling against, but he would not be caught out unprepared.

"But you shouldn't even be here." The figure's tone was becoming upset. "I did so much work to remove you from the equation fully, and yet you are still here. Why? Why are you here!?"

"What the hell do you mean by that?" He lowered the katana and tilted his head. Every passing second seemed to drive home that seemingly the entire deck was stacked from the start.

"Urizen should have disposed of you and your pesky Devil Hunter friends long ago, when I requested it. That was my only request and yet the imbecile completely and utterly failed to complete such a simple task!" The figure surged forward with their palms glowing a bright blue. The ground crackled and ripped apart as blue magic held large chunks of Infernic stone aloft.

A tendril of shadow wrapped around the figure and whipped them back. Khepri reappeared and recalled the tendril back to her palm and set her sights on her assailant. The Madama was holding one side and stumbling around in very obvious pain, but her mouth was set in a determined line.

"Your fight is with me, Prophet." She snarled, preparing another spell in her free palm.

The Prophet sighed and floated back into an upright position. "Your time is nearly over, Madama. Soon enough, the time of Paradiso and Inferno will be up. And with your elimination all possible obstacles to the destined beginning will be gone."

"Then finish it, if you dare."

"Your arrogance astounds me." He turned around and the chunks returned to his command. "But I am not surprised. You've never changed, Khepri. And you never will."

"I don't need to change." She glanced behind and locked her gaze with Damien.

'Prepare to close the portal.'

His eyes widened with sudden fear and Khepri's plan became increasingly obvious. It was the first time he had heard her voice in tw- three months. And now he might never hear it again.

Don't! No, Khepri! Don't do this! Please!

Her lips curled into a smile. 'Do what?'

Khepri disappeared with a warp and then he felt her right behind him. The Prophet's head shot up and-

He closed his fist and the spell shut off. The portal closed and the presence of Inferno disappeared instantaneously. Damien stood there and just breathed, trying to figure out what had just happened. He didn't get much of a chance.

Khepri fell onto him. Her sudden weight caused him to stumble forward and drop the katana, but his wing reflexively straightened out and held them both up. Hope grabbed onto the Madama, pulled her up and he turned around to help the Angel with the Demon.

"Madama!?"

"Let's just say…" Khepri chuckled, her voice failing between weak exhales and wracking coughs. "Don't challenge the Prophet for a week."

"You did what!?" Hope exclaimed.

"Don't explain. We need to help you!" Damien guided the Infernal to a nearby stone bench. They laid her down and green energy began to coalesce in his palms. A weak hand pushed him away and he just stared in disbelief. "Khepri!"

"You are still recovering from your own ordeals. My health is not paramount to what needs-"

"Fuck what needs to be done." He pushed past her hands and began to heal her. "I'm not losing another friend!"

Khepri merely sighed and let her gaze wander off into the distance. Her breathing patterns began to stabilise the longer his magic flowed into her body. Her skin colour had not changed and the wounds that lay scattered across it stayed as they were. Pouring more into his effort, Damien could feel beads of sweat forming on his brow and he began to feel a little dizzy.

But he pushed through. Khepri would not die.

'I'm not dying, you idiot.' Her voice was annoyed, but there was a hint of… pride?

I don't care. Jeanne is gone and- A sinking feeling enveloped him and Damien slowly ceased all of his movements. You knew.

'I could not tell you.' Khepri answered, her green eyes softening. 'And I did not get a chance to warn you.'

"Khepri?" His voice was very small and his mouth began opening and closing like a fish out of water. No sound came from it and he knew he could not speak.

"Madama?" Luka stepped forward and knelt beside him. He gave the man an appreciative look and found Khepri doing the same. "What happened?"

"It's honestly good to see you, Redgrave." She smiled kindly. "But I cannot tell you much. All of this was foreseen and none of you could have known in order for us to stand a chance."

"Three months ago, my visions had changed and the future I was expecting was gone. The grand enemy of us all, the Prophet, had caught onto my machinations and was making moves to begin his first step." Khepri gestured around them to the Angels that were all listening on intently. "When the rumours of the fall of Paradiso reached the Court of Sheba, our Queen ordered us into hiding. She expected the same to happen here; the Prophet would arrive with an army of Infernals, overthrow her through sheer weight of numbers and then subjugate the realm to his whims."

"What actually happened was he left Sheba alone and took out the Madama's, one by one. I lost contact with Styx exactly three days after the order was created, and Butterfly a week after that. Fridja had turned on us and was working with the Prophet to eliminate us all. Once enough of us were gone, the Infernals started to realise that the balance of power had shifted back into their favour and all alliances and brokered deals were gone within seconds. I managed to stay hidden long enough to scry forward far enough to begin to comprehend what was about to pass; when I put together enough information to be able to explain, I tried to find you." She rested a hand on his own. "But I was too late to stop you from being captured by the kin of Sparda."

Damien's eyes widened at the revelation. "Urizen is related to Sparda? Dante's father?"

"That's what he calls himself now?" Khepri spoke after a brief moment of silence, her voice full of mirth. "What a pretentious poet. Either way, a part of destiny had begun to unfold and I had no real choice but to abstain and watch these events from afar. If I interfered, the Prophet would have discovered me a lot sooner and… well, I wouldn't be here anymore."

A sombre hush fell upon the crowd and a strange pain broke out in Damien's chest. He rubbed it with one free arm, frowning slightly.

"I watched as he started his assault on New York, I watched Gomorroh show his true self as Jeanne died. I could not do anything but watch as everything I had prepared crumbled into ruin." Khepri continued. She swallowed and then pushed him off, sitting up and regarding the gathered crowd. "It took a few weeks, but he found me. I knew what he was trying to do, so I knew what I had to do. Delay."

"I fought the Prophet for a week. Each second I dragged out of him was another for Cereza and yourself to recover and become strong enough to be able to start this new chapter of fate." She sighed and turned to him. "Evidently it was not long enough. Cereza has already made her way to Noatun and you have barely recovered from your ordeal."

"I guess we were correct…" Luka said despondently.

"Correct about what?"

"That this whole thing was a trap."

Khepri's lips flattened into a thin smile. "Well, here's the thing. Since she has gotten Madama Butterfly back and you are here, conversing with me, my preferred sequence of events is actually occurring right now. So yes, while we are falling into the Prophet's scheme, we do have the edge."

"And what is that?" Temperentia rumbled, their eyes narrowing.

A finger was raised and Damien felt himself become the subject of it. "Me?"

"You heard the Prophet; he doesn't want you involved." The Madama lowered her arm and folded them. "You specifically can be the thorn in his side."

"Why?" Four people asked simultaneously. Hope, Luka, Temperentia and himself all gave each other quick glances, but returned back to Khepri for her answer.

It was almost like he should have expected what she said; "I can't tell you now."

"Great!" Luka stood up and began to pace. "Not only do we have this supposed 'chosen one' who can barely stand, let alone fight, and no reason to go with it. Remind me why we ask you anything again?"

"Because you know if that you never ask, you're guaranteed to never get an answer." Khepri smirked. "But time is of the essence. Damien; you wanted something from me?"

He pulled out the Umbran Watch and handed it to her. "Jeanne ga- was go- Gah! She gave me an Umbran Watch and I was wondering-"

"You can't convert it to a Lumen Watch." Khepri took the small object and held it up, flat in her palm. "It's designed and meant for a contract between Human and Demon. Such magic cannot be undone so easily."

"Then what about the one I contracted in Paradiso?" Damien asked.

"Oh, them? They are a minor contract, like Gomorrah was to Bayonetta." She suddenly closed her hand around the watch and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "But something tells me they aren't so minor any longer."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Luka spoke up.

"Damien, concentrate. Find the binding that you formed in Isla Del Sol and follow it." Khepri instructed. "I'll explain as you do so."

Okay. He could do that. Closing his eyes, Damien began to explore his inner psyche.

Four connections trailed off his centre; two were clearly grafted on and he assumed they were Benevolence and Asura.

'Correct.'

RIGHT

One he recognised as Khepri's and hers felt natural and like it belonged. The final, unknown one was a wispy golden light and he grasped it. Giving it a mental tug, he tried to follow it out of his body. It turned, weaved and looped in onto itself; this wasn't that surprising. He had tried to sever the connection once, but it seemed that the other end wasn't so lenient in letting him go and he only ended up damaging it. Giving it another tug, he felt resistance and knew that he was in the same room as the contracted.

Temperentia stirred and turned to him. "What did you just do?"

And then he dove back into his body, completely and utterly confused. It took a few seconds of thinking, but it all snapped together with a resounding culmination and Damien felt his eyes bulging. He collapsed slightly and felt lightheaded. How was this even possible!? Just-

"WHAT!?" He screamed in both denial and confusion.

"Calm down! I told you I would explain, so let me." Khepri hissed. "When you called for aid with your sin summon, the only Angel left in Paradiso answered. A lowly Temperance, one who had been freed from Balder's doctrine, stayed behind in case something went massively wrong."

"WHAT!?"

"We answered your call, Ascendant One, because it was the correct action to take." Temperentia spoke. "Our flock was going to annihilate the Umbra Witches and then return to the world to annihilate that too. It was requested of us to lend aid to those who needed it, and the world needed it. Even at the cost of our siblings."

Damien just stared into space, trying to wrap his head around this.

"We were chosen to take up the mantle of the Lord of the Winds and Auditio when we reformed our legion. Our power has increased and so has the strength of our contract." It continued. "You will need to accept us for this power to be useful, although."

He continued to stare into space.

"Damien?" Luka appeared in his vision. "You okay?"

He snapped out of his reverie and shook his head. "Am I okay? Am I okay!? Do I look like I'm okay!?"

"Calm down-" Khepri started.

"I will not calm down! Why the fuck am I here with… that fucking thing as my contracted!? How did that happen!?"

"It's not the same Angel." Hope stepped forward and gripped his elbow. "Do not blame-"

"It created me!" Damien screamed, shoving the Joy away. "I will not be chained to a fucking-"

"Listen to me!" Khepri warped in front of him and he froze. "Do you honestly think I would broker a contract between you and something that you would despise!?"

"Yes." He answered without hesitation.

"He does have a point." Luka shrugged and leaned against a nearby pillar. "You kinda did."

"We understand your pain. The former Laguna in our position performed many terrible and horrible actions that bring us great shame." Temperentia spoke with melancholy, but a steeled edge ran through their words. "We will not let this shame define our legacy. If we are bonded together, then allow us to lend you our strength!"

"You took my blood family away from me and turned me into this… monster!" He retorted and the Auditio wilted slightly.

"The being you were joined to was not the same one who oversaw the Eclipse project." The Madama gave him a glare. "They want to repent for the sins of their predecessor. You can help them with this!"

"Why does it have to be me?" Damien knew he sounded like a whiny bitch, but he felt he was a little more than justified in this particular instance.

"Because you have the potential to. You are unbound, unclaimed truly by either light or dark. Quite literally, you are currently the only being with potential to use both Angels and Demons." Khepri had calmed down considerably. "The only other person who could have been was Bayonetta, and she was claimed by Butterfly long ago."

The statement didn't feel like a lie, so he assumed she was telling him the truth. But still, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was decidedly off about her explanation.

'I'm not lying. I will admit that I am withholding some key pieces of information, but nothing I have stated is a lie.'

Can you please not? All I want to do is regain the strength to help Bayonetta and Jeanne, and not deal with this bullshit that I currently am!

'There is no bullshit here. You are bonded with Temperentia and nothing will change that fact.' Khepri stated. 'There's nothing to be gained by denying yourself the use of a willing tool. That's a poor way of putting it, but it's true."

I will not use it!

"And that's acceptable. But in your current state, you need to understand that every power available to you should be utilised." Khepri decided to voice the words. "I'll be with you every step of the way. Don't be afraid of your potential."

The Madama revealed the Watch and telekinetically lifted it up. "This is for defining and finalising a contract between Demon and Mortal. Technically speaking, we don't actually need this to solidifying ours, but I can use this to give you enough of your strength back."

The words relieved him.

"But… there is a catch."

"A catch?" Hope questioned, gripping the underside of their arms tightly.

"Time delivers us all to the same end." Khepri clicked her fingers and the Watch opened. "You can't fight it."

Everyone but the Demon just stood there. Damien decided to verbalise his reaction, but Luka beat him to the punch. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

"What you have suffered here will not be forgotten." The Watch began to glow a bright purple and the Demon peered over it. "Your body will need to heal eventually."

"I don't care. I want to help." He knew the repercussions would hit like a truck later, but it would be worth it.

Khepri smiled. "And you'll be able to. Just be careful; a candle that burns from both ends lasts half as long."

The light enveloped him and began to fill him with energy. The exhaustion dissipated and Damien felt his body becoming stronger and stronger and-

Lightning and fire crackled around him, illuminating the surrounding area as the purple light faded with flashes of red and blue. The winged man spread his fingers out and stared at them, flexing each of the digits one at a time. Sharuba snapped into one hand and the Carian Sceptre fell into his other. Twirling the staff around, he pointed it at the peeing Cherub and let loose a glintstone cometshard, following up with a shockwave from the katana laced with fire and lightning.

The twin projectiles impacted onto the statue and it disappeared in an explosion of grey, red, yellow and blue dust. A few Angels gasped and pointed at the display of power, whereas other just watched with frozen expressions of shock.

"What was that?" Fortitudo's voice was in awe. "We have never seen anything that approaches that kind of power."

Temperentia raised an eyebrow and let their fingers wave around. "That is a display of otherworldly power. What have you been up to in these last six moons?"

"You recognised it?" Khepri asked, grabbing the floating Watch and dropping it into Inferno.

"We know enough of the other worlds to understand when something does not belong." It explained. "As the highest-rank Auditio of the four, it was our responsibility to keep track of the Multiverse, along with the Infinite One, in the Creator's Absence. This has not changed."

Damien wasn't all that surprised by that revelation. He recalled Temperentia talking about the Realms Between before their clash at the Vigrid airport; revealing that they had knowledge of the multiverse was a logical step.

"But we have no knowledge of what each world contains. What you have shown us is far beyond the scope of our own magic."

"Some people of the Lands Between dedicate their entire lives to pushing the limits of sorcery." Damien returned both weapons back to Inferno and let his arms rest by his side. "But this… I think I've returned to my full strength."

Khepri nodded once, looking completely satisfied. "Good. Now we need to get you all to Noatun."

"I'd hate to be the breaker of bad news, but we are kinda in a pickle right now." Luka stepped forward and gestured around. "Not only are we probably as far away from Noatun as we possibly could be, but we are trapped in this cavern, correct?"

"The mortal is both incorrect and correct." Sapientia tilted their head. "There is a pathway directly to Noatun that lies near the heart of Paradiso. It was what Aesir used to use when he visited us."

"He is right in saying that we are trapped in this cavern." Fortitudo added. "The land above is crawling with the false Laguna. We do not have enough resources to battle to the Gate and activate it without losing everyone to them."

The Demoness merely rolled her eyes with annoyance and sighed. "That complicates things."

"If someone showed me where-" Damien began, but Khepri's eyes instantly found his and he quietened down. "Sorry."

"Just because you are at your full strength, it does not mean that we need you to start pulling ridiculous shit like teleporting across the entire world." She shook her head and turned to Hope. "Do you have any ideas? You're the most familiar with the magic of this world."

"Is there a reason why you didn't ask us?" Sapientia coldly whispered. Khepri merely glanced in their direction with a raised eyebrow.

"Do you know anything about the magic of Paradiso?"

The Auditio merely grumbled about 'silly Infernals' and turned away with what Damien assumed was embarrassment. Shaking his head at the ridiculousness of an Angel having what amounted to a teenage sulk, he heard Hope answer his contracted and hope blossomed in his heart.

"There is a way. When Balder ordered the legions of Paradiso to empty, those who were gifted in the Light Arts redirected all the exits to open in Isla Del Sol." They spoke. "We could try to replicate this to move the entrance to Noatun to the Gate in here."

"Will that work?" Damien marched to the Joy and somehow managed to keep the desperation out of his tone.

"We might need your aid in performing this, but it should be possible." Hope nodded firmly. "All we need to find is the leyline node that connects the Gate to the entrance and move it to the Gate here."

The unfamiliar terminology did phase him. Damien stood there perplexed and Hope gave him a knowing smile.

"Do not fret, Ascendant One. If we require aid, then we will ask." The Joy folded their legs underneath themselves and took a seat. They placed their arms on their knees and began to glow a faint green. Giving them space, he walked over to Khepri and Luka.

"Is there any reason they call you the 'Ascendant One?'" The journalist questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"I honestly don't know. You know, I don't know why they call Bayonetta 'Arch Eve' either." Damien directed the statement to Khepri. "Do we get to know why?"

"I can tell you this one, actually." She stroked her chin and gestured to him. "An Ascendant One is the one who is destined to obtain either one or both Eyes of the World to become the Arch Adam or, in Bayonetta's case, the Arch Eve."

He frowned at that. "I'm supposed to obtain an Eye?"

"Well, the Right Eye was lost with Balder and Bayonetta isn't giving up her Eye any time soon." Luka shrugged. "So I guess you're off the hook for now."

"Is he?"

The foreboding question, despite the innocent nature, sent a chill down his spine. The winged man swallowed and turned the conversation away from anything involving Eyes of the World. "So what will you do?"

"What will I do? I'll continue to do what I've always done." She sent an inquiring glance towards him. "What do you mean by that?"

"You can't go back to Inferno and I don't think Paradiso will remain safe for that long either. The Prophet knows about both and this won't a safe haven soon." Damien shared a look with Luka. "How do you plan to do anything?"

"You have room for one more inside of you." Khepri moved and prodded his bare chest with a finger. "What is with this outfit? You look ridiculous."

"Don't dodge the question."

"I'm not dodging it." She lowered her arm and accentuated her words with a few gestures from her hands. "I can simply join Asura and Benevolence and wait as a spirit technically possessing you. But all I would be doing is being along for the ride."

"Will it harm me?" Damien voiced his last lingering doubt.

"It shouldn't. And if it does, I will find a workaround." A white light interrupted her and the three shielded their eyes. A loud groan of metal and stone pulled their attention to a moving ring that was etched with sigils. It was situated on a ramp that curved downwards onto the ground and was made of darkened iron.

Khepri turned to him and placed the Watch back into his hand. "I'll be with you. Make your way back to Bayonetta and she'll be able to get you in the know."

She closed her eyes and dissolved into red liquid, flowing from her standing position and into a red cloud. The cloud shifted towards his chest and Damien opened his arms out to accept it. A strange, uncomfortable sensation passed through him when it entered his body, but that disappeared once the entire thing was inside.

That was strange.

'See? It was fine!'

I actually didn't doubt you this time.

Khepri laughed. 'You always harbour doubts, my champion. Once the Gate activates, you'll be able to pass into Noatun and… I'm not sure how long it will take before the Prophet notices you.'

'I'll be with Bayonetta. We'll be fine.'

The white glow began to fade and Damien turned to see Hope standing up. "We did it! We are actually quite surprised that we could, but we underestimated our own strength."

He smiled and gripped their shoulder. "Thank you, Hope. I don't know what we would have done without you."

"Hey!" Luka pointed towards the Gate and called out at the pair. "It's active! I think."

And it was a reasonable assumption too. The metal structure was now glowing a pale purple light, with a blur vortex whirling inside of the ring. Damien decided to assume it was a portal and Hope's next words only affirmed that.

"The portal will close once you pass through. Chances are there will be nobody on the other side, but you will need to bring Luka out of Purgatorio before you can continue. We do not believe that it would be safe for him there."

"Understood." Damien nodded and walked over to his friend. "We ready to go?"

Luka nodded to him as well. "Yeah. Did Khepri give you a time limit on that recovery spell she used?"

"Uhhh…"

'One day. Any longer and we would be risking death as a consequence when it all comes back.'

"One day." He echoed, trying not to focus on the potentially dire situation, and Luka nodded again.

"Bayonetta promised to be done within the day, so that's pretty good timing." He clapped his hands and walked towards the portal, uncovering his hook-wire on his wrist. Luka tilted his hat and bowed at the Angels surrounding them. "Thank you, both for not being evil and helping us out."

"It was our pleasure, Redgrave." Fortitudo bowed their heads and the main one smiled. "It is good to see that some are willing to forgive and forget."

"I'm not going to forget what happened to my father or myself. But I know what happened to all of you is what happened to Jeanne; it would be hypocritical of me to forgive one and not the next. Hell, I forgave you after Ith-"

"Let's not talk about that." Damien believed that the Angels did not know about the top of Ithavoll and he would prefer to keep it that way. And, even though he had sworn to never forget his greatest shame, he would rather not have it at the forefront of his memories constantly.

"Sorry." Luka rubbed the back of his head and replaced his hat back on his head. "But either way, I trust you guys now to not destroy the rest of the world while we aren't looking."

The Angels fell into a hushed silence. Temperentia floated in a half circle, their face serene and joyful. "That means a lot to us. We thank you."

"Do travel and be safe-" Fortitudo began.

"Hope." The Auditio spoke over its sibling, addressing the Joy beneath them. "Travel with them."

Damien frowned and saw Luka doing the same. The Joy stepped forward and gestured to itself with one hand. "Us? What could we possibly give them?"

"You are one of the few untainted by him. Join them as our representative and lend them your aid and knowledge." Temperentia tilted to join eyes with him. "It is the least we can do, if we cannot render aid in any meaningful way."

A small spike of guilt passed through him, but he shook his head and the feeling passed. Damien would not forgive and forget so easily.

"We… we promise." Hope turned to him and held their hand out. "Will you let us join you?"

"Luka?"

The man shrugged indifferently. "I don't see the problem with another person on the team."

Damien could not agree more. He took their hand and shook it firmly. "Welcome aboard, Hope."

I said this story was going to be shorter... Right?

RIGHT?

Anyway, we are now back to where we left Bayonetta. Relatively. There is one small pitstop before we can rejoin up the siblings, but its so minor that I'm just going to combine it into the next chapter. Mostly because this chapter kinda ended up ridiculously long and I feel that I may have gone overboard.

But anyway, we'll be saying goodbye to Ada and Resident Evil for now. They'll be back in The Wonderful Adventures of Cutie J and Blood Moon, along with a sleuth of characters that have been hinted at for a long time. Hell, a major character from the multiverse finally got a small chance to shine now, so I hope you all enjoyed their brief inclusion. Besides the odd flashback, going forward will just be all Bayonetta only until we reach the next story.

But we are slowly getting to grips with the plot that's going foward. I will say that this ties in Bayonetta 3 a lot better than the existing canon (which honestly is a band-aid over a broken bone level of tie-in) and hopefully it will give you all a new appreciation for the Prophet. Loptr in the original version of this story was the best character to write and I am finding the exact same joy with this new iteration of him.

As always, thank you for reading! Please leave a comment if you have any thoughts, be it good or bad, and I hope to see you all next time in The Lumen Sage: Part 2.