Chapter 29
The Witch, The White Rose and The Kitsune...
"So, Where are we headed exactly?" Nero asked as she followed Jeanne Alter through the lush forests beyond the ruins of Exultia. They were tasked by the Wretch to assist him with one of his projects.
"According to the map…It's a mining camp. Abandoned like most places around here…" The Dragon witch said while looking at the skies above. Her experience exploring this new world was a mixed bag of awe and melancholy. A once great civilization was now reduced to ruin and scattered holdouts such as the city of Sentinel Prime.
"It's really sad honestly. From being invaded by Demons and then having a civil war…The fact the Sentinel's are still standing is a testament to their tenacity and will to survive." Tamamo said while following her allies across a stone bridge connecting two near points of a massive canyon. They continued on their path as it changed from woodland to stone-scarred tundra. Jeanne Alter looks to her compass and it is directed westward. She squinted as one could spot pillars of smoke in that direction which caused some raised eyebrows.
"Huh…So much for Abandoned. Get ready, it's either demons or idiot barbarians." Jeanne Alter said as they all started sprinting with super-human speed.
Once they arrived, the source of the smoke was the burning remains of a barbarian camp. Gorred and charred remains littered the ashen grounds of the once-abandoned mining facility.
"...Barbarians attacked by Demons it would seem. Well, at least we don't have to deal with those idiots." Jeanne Alter said while poking one corpse with her blade. It dissipates into ashes in the wind.
"Umu, Those delinquents are a real nuisance," Nero commented. Her experience in this alien world wasn't just full of demon slaying but was also dealing with the odd group of Barbarians. Those are few and far between due to the lingering Demons that roam the planet. Nero herself finds it very disappointing that people would resort to banditry when they could do better if they worked together. She just sighs as she walks around the camp noticing the many scattered corpses
"...Corpses are still here, and I don't see any zombies or Unwilling roaming around." Nero said.
"Weird. Lots of people…no nest. Something's off." Jeanne Alter said while rubbing her chin.
"You got anything on your end, Tamamo?" She asked.
"These men were attacked by the Demons. Their essence is all over the place. I do still sense something else lingering here…Be on your guard." Kitsune said while using wind magecraft to put out the remaining fires.
"Whatever it is, we still got a job to do. Try to find an entrance into the mine and we'll deal with it then." Jeanne said as walks deeper into the camp. The place was a complete ghost town with no other signs of life besides themselves. The trio eventually found what looked to be an entrance but it was blocked by rubble and rocks.
"Of course, it's blocked! Ugh, Well at least we get to blow something up"
Jeanne Alter was then interrupted by a horde of demons spawning around them.
"About time you creeps showed up! I was getting bored." The dragon witch shouted as she unsheathes her blade.
"Umu! I was itching for a fight! Let's go Casko!" Nero said, twirling her beloved sword.
"Eh…'Casko' is fine actually. I'll back you guys up!" Tamamo said as she summons her mirror and gets a fist full of talismans.
The demons rush in only to be swiftly killed by the servants. Tamamo froze them in place with her powerful ice magic while the other two sliced and crushed the demons.
Whiplashes come slithering about and attempt to slash at Nero with their chained blades. She dodged the attacks and slashed forward, bisecting three at once before striking behind her to kill a cloaked Prowler.
Jeanne Alter pierced through Manncubus's heart before ripping it out and stabbing a charging pinky with Flag. She looked above to see a flock of cacodemons floating at her with their maws wide open.
She smirks as she collects flames in the palms of her hands. The flying demons screeched at her before belching their infamous purple balls of plasma. Jeanne Alter spins around to avoid their attacks and whips a barrage of fireballs into each of their maws.
…they all then explode, sending blue bloody chunks everywhere.
"I never get tired of that." Jeanne Alter said with a slight chuckle before checking in with her allies as all the demons near her were dead.
Tamamo and Nero were finishing off a Tyrant. The white rose severed its arm cannon and followed the sun-born kitsune annihilating its torso with her signature Tamamo magic shot! All that remained was its cyber pages which fell over with the wind.
"You are well versed in combat, Casko! I am glad to have you on the team! Umu!" Nero complemented Tamamo.
"T-thanks. I will admit I am still getting used to this whole Demon hunting business but I will do my best to adapt." Tamamo said, surprised by the compliments. As a Caster, it was necessary for her to be paired with a Class-like Saber due to her fragile defences. Hence why she worked with Mordred back in London before Chaldea showed up.
However, Nero was a little more compatible personality wise so Tamamo worked better with her. Jeanne Alter was a bit of an experience due to her origin as a made-up Alternate Jeanne d'Arc, but She can respect her wish to mark her path. Overall she seemed to be fitting in well in her new team. Even if it's a little off of her original goal of being a loyal shrine maiden to a handsome master.
However, she remains content with her choice. Something about The Slayer inspired her to take this leap and maybe she'll figure it out while walking this path.
With the whole demon horde out of the way, they returned to the blocked entrance.
"-Even with having three of my tails I don't think I can clear a massive mining tunnel. Also, I don't think blowing it up is the best course of action, " Tamamo said after some more detailed investigation of the blockage impeding their path.
"She's right, using immense force could make things worse." Nero said.
"What exactly are we after-Wait" Tamamo stopped herself as her ears started to twitch. Causing the girls to go on alert, and then a grey portal eerily opens up behind them. Without even questioning, Jeanne Alter throws a fireball into the portal. Forcing a figure to come flying out and falling flat on his face.
"Oi! Friendly Fire! Literally!" The Wretch said, pushing himself off the ground.
"Oh shit! Uh Sorry. You should've given us a heads up. Still, Sorry about that!" Jeanne Alter stammered with embarrassment.
"Ah, it's nothing. Something has been bugging out the comms, so I decided to help guide you girls in person." The ex-demon said as he dusted off his newly augmented form.
"Ah Wretch, I see you have a new look. Did you end up doing that operation on yourself?" Nero asked as The Wretch mentioned to her and Jeanne Alter a while back that he was thinking about modifying himself so that he can be more "useful", in his words.
"Aye. It was quite…Invasive but I survived…Mostly." He said with a slight laugh.
"That is not really a vote of confidence…" Jeanne Alter said.
"Hey, Relax. I know what I am doing. Anyways, Now with this body, I won't have to hide out in my workshop all the time." He said gesturing to his armoured body. He still had the looks of a ghostly spectre but his upper body was covered in pale white cybernetic armour with pipes flowing purple energy throughout his being.
"Um…Is he the 'Wretch' then?" Tamamo asked as she had never met this person before, only heard his name through VEGA and Ritsuka.
"Yup. That's me, The Wretched one that will be forever remembered in the Slayer's Testaments. Nice to meetcha." he said pretty proudly. Tamamo was hesitant at first but she could sense how different he was compared to the Hellspawn they just fought. If Doomguy has accepted him then a Yokai like herself can trust an ex-demon fighting for humanity.
"I am Tamamo-no-mae, Caster Class." Tamamo said with a bow. "Pleased to meet you…Wretch." she said his name awkwardly.
"Whoa I wasn't expecting you to go all formal on me." The ex-demon said while rubbing the back of his head. "But don't worry about offending me with my name. Like I said: It's a badge of honour."
The wretch then goes to see the blockage and ponders for a solution.
"Explosives?…No too risky considering what we are extracting…anti-grav lift? Nah, it will take too long…Ah!"
He then snaps his fingers before activating his wrist-mounted terminal to search his storage for a particular device.
"Here it is!" He exclaimed before opening a portal beside him and a large metal sphere-shaped device fell out of it. It landed with a loud thud that spooked the girls for a brief moment.
"What the hell is that thing?" Jeanne Alter asked as The Wretch tapped a few keys on his wrist terminal causing the big metal ball to levitate a few inches off the ground.
"A Spindly Torque." He said while he moved it via his remote control.
"You all might want to stand back a far bit. It doesn't explode but it's pretty… Energetic." He said and everyone got to a safe distance.
"So this is one of your creations, Wretch?" Nero assumed as she knew that he made The Slayer's invincible suit of armour.
"Sorta, I'll explain after…This!" The Spindly torque then shot out a bunch of harpoons into the rubble blockage. Each one had a cable leading back to the primary device as its inner core began to spin at increasing speed. Pulling on the wires with immense strength, it pulled the debris out of the tunnel with explosive force and threw the pieces behind it.
After chucking the last giant boulder it retracts its many harpoons and falls to the ground with another loud thud.
"'And that's how you clear a mineshaft! Gotta love Da'at Yichud engineering." The ex-demon exclaimed energetically.
"Well that was kind of awesome. Not as cool as blowing it up but just as effective." Jeanne Alter said with a smirk.
"All the destructive power without the ear busting kaboom. Great for those with extra sensitive hearing" The Wretch said while nodding to Tamamo.
"Oh you don't have to worry about me. Well, I do have extra sensitive fox ears but I can protect them. I do appreciate the consideration however, Mr Wretch." Tamamo said his name comfortably.
"Umu! Another stroke of your genius, innovator Wretch." Nero said happily.
"Now, let us continue our mission!" Nero leads the group and then enters the cave after the ex-demon collects the Spindly Torque and chucks it back into his storage unit. As they descended into the darkness of the abandoned mines, Tamamo's senses started to go wild as she picked up a powerful yet unknown power.
"Mr Wretch? May I ask what we are here for?" She asked kindly.
" Ah! Right, I should've told you earlier, Sorry. Time for a history lesson, You know about The World Spear?" He said.
"Oh yeah! Me and Jeanne Alter saw it a few times while exploring. It's a breathtaking sight to behold." Nero answered, but Tamamo was still out of the loop.
"It's a giant ass crystal piercing through the whole damn planet. You can't see it from Exulita but it's easy to spot if you are in the Northern or southern regions of the planet." Jeanne Alter explained briefly to bring her teammate up to speed.
"...Well it's also where the Elemental Wraiths came from. The God-like beings the Argent worshipped. Unfortunately, The Demons put an end to them and turn them into a well of hell energy." The Wretch explained as Tamamo cast some foxfire to illuminate the path.
"-Don't worry, The Slayer cleared up that problem. Anyways. The Spear itself is still a source of immense power. No one can get close to it as only the worthy can approach the thing without being attacked by the giant protector spirits. However, I have found out that the spear itself has spreaded roots throughout the planet." The Wretch said.
"So you have found one of those roots? Are you sure we should be messing with that?" Jeanne Alter said slightly concerned with messing with such power.
"Nah, Lots of sentinel holdouts tap the roots so they can use their old wraith powered weapons and gear. I don't want to bother them since well…We are a bunch of outsiders." He explained and the girls agreed. The last thing they needed was to be a burden to the shattered civilization.
"...It's kind of sad…I hope one day they unite and rebuild. I believe Praetor Slayer's valiant quest will help them as their king." Nero said truthfully as she will be forever in debt to the Argenta for helping save her Rome.
"...Doomguy-sama is a King?!" Tamamo said, shocked to hear that she not only saved the Master of a powerful Demon Slayer but also a man of Royalty.
"You two really need to get her up to speed" The Wretch jokingly said.
The Weight of Death
Back in the Haunted halls of the Ogawa Heim, Shiki led the crew down the halls with a happy skip in her step and her hands in her pockets. Kind of odd considering the situation they were in. Fuijino was keeping just behind her constantly looking around for threats.
"Shiki seems to be in a good mood, Senpai. Humming all the while, with her hands in her pockets. " Mashu said.
"She seems so happy…" Gudao added.
"I can even tell that from my end. She looks reluctant but she's the type who enjoys a good fight. Isn't she?" Romani said while observing Chaldea. While Shiki and Fujino agreed to help them in this strange world they still lacked much details on what this apartment was or the history behind it. So Mashu decided to politely ask the dark-haired dagger wielder for some extra information.
"However, we can't stay in uniform like this forever…To us, It's a strange world, but to them it's a familiar scene. In that case…"
Mashu then catches up to the two women and gets their attention.
"...Excuse me."
"Hm? What? You'll have to go outside or in a room if you need the restroom." Shiki stated assuming the youngsters needed to relieve themselves.
"No, that's not it… This is an apartment, right? This place feels cold regardless of the temperature outside. Police officers and residents still walk around even despite being dead."
Doomguy agreed with Mashu, even if there were no demons around, this place was still something out of a horror movie with all the ghosts and zombies.
"Would this place happen to be a magecraft workshop built here in secrecy, Ms Ryougi?" VEGA asked while hovering beside Mashu with Fou still sitting on him.
"If it were, it wouldn't be quite so bad...Unfortunately this apartment was built in public with no secrets."
"She, right I have seen people come and go from this building like any other place. But I heard people stopped coming to this place after a while. No one wanted to go near this apartment" Fujino said, confirming Shiki's words.
"It's a barrier created using man's natural instinct to avoid taboos…without a single trace of magecraft. It's common sense for mages of the 20th century to conceal in order to avoid detection"
Romani then explained how strange this place was if it was a workshop as whoever owned the building must've been very cautious and patient to achieve the plan. Shiki corrects him saying that this tower simply collected death via an endless cycle. The residents would live one day, and die the next even though they were dead long before then.
Doomguy didn't like the sound of that…Endless suffering of many just to achieve a goal for a single man.
"...I know this might sound obvious, but humans are born with a certain fate. No matter how much you fight back, the eventual end-the cause of your death-will never change." Shiki explained that she had the best understanding of Death, thanks to her Mystic Eyes.
"Those destined to die in accident, whether they've achieved happily ever after, or a abrupt demise, there lives will end in a form of-"
Shiki Stopped her words as she noticed Ritsuka starting to look distressed… she could sense a growing anger within Doomguy but she remained focused on the redhead.
"Fouuu…"
Fou jumped onto the distressed master's Should and started nuzzling her to cheer her up.
"Are you alright, Ritsuka? I can drop the topic if it's getting a little too dark for you." Shiki said since the girl was trying to hide some emotional stress.
"I-I am Okay it's just…" Ritsuka tried to save face but she couldn't look Shiki in the eye and kept her gaze on the floor.
Doomguy instantly snaps out of his mysterious reaction to Shiki's lecture and quickly gets in front of his master. Taking a knee to see her face, he saw the tears she was trying to hide causing a wave of paternal instincts to kick in within him.
He gets up and Gestures to Vega that She and he will be taking a five-minute break from the conversation but they can carry on without them.
"A wise choice Slayer. We will be waiting for you two when you are both ready to proceed with the mission. You may continue, Ms Ryougi. Master Ritsuka just needs some time to de-stress." Vega Translated.
"I understand. It's probably for the best as this place can mess with your head." Shiki nodded as Ritsuka and Doomguy walked down the hall behind them as it was cleared of enemies.
The Demon Slayer found a bench for his master to sit down and collect herself. Fou was still with them applying his expertise in fuzz therapy. He was quick on the draw this time unlike before when he was being an insensitive arse. He then sits down beside Ritsuka and pats her head as she lets the tears out before instantly hugging him. An expected reaction as he was ready for it this time as her guardian. Death has taken too much from her so it's a no-brainer that she couldn't keep it together on such topics. Hell, he was getting pissed off just thinking about Death. The number of times he has wound up at the gates of death that howled his name…Shiki was right that everyone dies at some point, but he was proof that it's not fate that controls it.
Even if he was the exception, he still didn't believe one's death was out of their control.
"S-sorry, I lost my emotions there. I try to keep it together since death is something we are going to have to face." Ritsuka said thinking back to the servants that died, both enemy and ally.
"...The berserk servants of Orleans, the false emperors of Rome, Project Demonic Fog..And all the human lives affected by all this chaos." She said listing off their experience up to now as she lets go of Doomguy.
"...Add Hell on top of that…*sigh* How do you do it?" Ritsuka asked her servant and Doomguy tilted his head.
"Like…Do you ever get used to it? Constantly having death in your face."
The Slayer paused as he thought deeply about how to describe it to a civilian like her Thinking back to his early days as a marine fighting insurgents for the UAC he was in the same position as her. Death was always in his face, now more than ever but there was one way to deal with such darkness.
"You Don't…"
Ritsuka tilts her head in confusion for a moment as she tries to understand what he said. She then realises what he meant, You don't get used to people dying as it's human to be frightened or saddened by the deaths of others. You can try your best to suppress the emotion or try to justify it with reasons. But in the end, It what's makes you human and there was nothing wrong with that.
"Kyu!" Fou said while wagging his fluff tale.
"...I see. I think I get it. " Ritsuka may be naive but she wasn't born into a magus family, she was just a human. She cared for others regardless of their living or Heroic spirit. It's just part of her nature and she wasn't going to change that for the sake of the mission.
"Count to 4…Inhale…"
"Count to 4…Exhale"
Ritsuka did the quick breathing exercise and started to feel better now knowing that her emotions are nothing to be ashamed about. It's just a matter of controlling them when needed.
"Thanks, Doomguy." She said with a smile and he gave her a nod. Both then turned their heads to the sound of footsteps and saw Fujino approaching them.
"Oh! Um…I am not interrupting anything am I?" She said sheepishly as she came to check in on them.
"Nope! I am better now and good to keep going. Sorry for putting the brakes on our progress so early." Ritsuka said getting up from the bench with her perky usual self. Fou jumps off her shoulder and takes her spot beside Doomguy.
"Oh no, it's no issue Ritsuka. Gudao and Mashu told more of your journey so we understand that you had much weight on your shoulders. I am glad to hear that you are alright now" Fujino said with a small smile as she watched Ritsuka run back to Gudao and Mashu.
Fujino then looks to Doomguy who was just watching Ritsuka laughing with her friends while then looking down at his hands. He looked so sullen even though his helmet hides his emotions.
"Kyu?" Fou chirped as he too noticed the man's sad aura.
"Are you okay?" Fujino asks as Doomguy quickly nods before standing up to go take point leaving the mystic eye bearer with more questions about the Demon Slayer.
"Why does he seem…So sad?" Fujino asked as Fou watched intently as the Doom Slayer walked away.
Unwanted Allies
The group pushes through the apartment and finds another room without a nameplate like Benkei's room.
"I can detect a servant's spirit origin in there, What will we do Master?" Mashu asked Gudao. He thought back to how powerful Benkei was while under the effects of this tower of Death. Chaldea had a lot of servants so it was a complete dice roll on who was inside and how they were affected. There was also the chance the room was filled with Demons, which would be unsavoury as well.
"Doomguy, Mind leading the charge?" Gudao asked and Doomguy nodded. This seemed the perfect place for CQC Breach-and-Clear tactics which he was trained well for as a marine.
"Good idea. I'll get the-"
Shiki then slashes the lock open with her knife before Fujino could twist it open.
The dark-haired woman then looks at her with a confused reaction to her's ally's pouting face.
"Uhhh…" Ritsuka noticed the odd rivalry between the two. Doomguy paid no mind as he got into position at the door. He signals to Mashu to tag up behind him who was oddly enthusiastic about assisting in a tactical manoeuvre. Shiki and Fujino follow up the same way as they are the remaining fighters of the team.
"Oh! Understood! I will back you up Doomguy-san!" Mashu said as she stood behind Doomguy who had his trusty shotgun at the ready.
"Breach in…3…2…1. GO!" Mashu shouts as Doomguy kicks the door open and clears the side rooms until he spots one active entity in the room. Swiftly he tackles the floor to pin it down to minimise conflict.
"Oh no! Oh my! What predicament I am in! Oh yes indeed!" the entity shouted as it was pinned by Doomguy's heavy boot on its chest. Fujino quickly turned on the lights revealing that the person in the room was the servant Mephistopheles who they faced in London who was allied with Hell.
"So much for a daring battle. Perhaps we can come to some fore negotiation? I see the two Masters of Chaldea are here and oh dearest Mashu."
Doomguy was trying his damnedest to resist blowing this clown of a demon's brains out as he handed his shotgun right at Mephisto's face.
"So…What's the deal with this scissor guy? Does he know you guys? Like he's Mash's Brother or something?" Shiki asked as she was out of the loop.
"I couldn't take having a brother like Mehpisto! The breakfast table would be pure catastrophe!" Mashu said disgusted with the idea.
"The breakfast table? That's all you are worried about-gah!" Mephisto could barely get the word out with a gun barrel pressed against his throat.
"Yep, that is the one and only mephisto. He doesn't seem to be affected by this place" Ritsuka said, recalling their last encounter with the horned hat-wearing caster.
"Oh so this isn't the first time we met? Interesting then I guess introductions are not needed then. Now perhaps you could ask your friend here to-ACK!" Doomguy again jabs his gun against his jugular.
"I am afraid your previous manifestation left a very negative first impression on our records. I would avoid antagonising us any further if you seek a positive outcome of your current situation." VEGA said, hovering over Mephisto with a very unamused look in his optic.
"I see…Well, Perhaps I will surrender what I know and answer any of your questions if that means I remain alive. Is that a fair trade? Oh charitable Masters of Chaldea?" Mephisto said with sweat dripping down his face. Ritsuka and Gudao look at each other trying to figure out if they could trust this servant especially since his previous manifestation made a deal with Hell in London and now they were here as well.
"Mephisto. Did you bring those demons here?" Ritsuka asked.
"Yes and No. You see, I've split myself into two halves just before you guys bursted into this room. Let's call these halves one that enjoyed the situation and and the other enjoys it.. Originally the 'evil' me was supposed to be here to face you all. But something appeared to have spooked him away. So I took up residence here and waited for you all to show up." Mephisto said.
He continued with the explanation that when he was a single servant he was summoned to draw the various servants of Chaldea to this anomaly.
"I was summoned by someone else, Not via Chaldea's summoning system, to this tower of resentment. By that guy, his name is…That guy…Grand something. That guy is one class above mine." Mephisto explained and Chaldea instantly knew who must've summoned him.
"The Grand Caster, Solomon…Great. This just got more serious." Romani said as he leaned back into his chair as the caster explained his ruse of better rooms for servants of Chaldea. That is what drew them to this place and now they were trapped.
"Anyways, once I drew the servants here I split myself to escape the contract made with Grand whatever and now here we are. As for those outsider Demons, my best bet is that the Evil me might've invited them here. Honestly, Just thinking about the creature really sends a shiver down my spine. Actually your big brute here does the same as well." Mephisto said with questionable Honesty.
Doomguy had a hard time believing this servant as he had zero trust in any demon, even if it was more or less a title. (Minus Nobu but let's keep the Guda-Guda nonsense out of this)
Then he remembered seeing the individual entering the building from the upper floors. If it was her, that would be enough to scare any evil bozo into hiding. VEGA was also feeding scan data to his HUD and found zero signs of Demonic possession coming from this manifestation of Mephisto.
"So, Now that I have told you everything. Perhaps I can assist you in your investigation! That was part of my plan as the 'Good' Mephisto! Would the Masters admonish my evil self and believe in my good heart…Hehe, think that you'd believe in me!" The servant offered.
The Slayer would rather just kill this clown and be done with her but it was the Master's call if he was going to be spared or not. They did have a good track record of bringing the good out of people, even if they were past enemies.
"You heard him. People really trust you guys." Shiki said and Both masters just sigh and nod. If Mephisto was telling the truth they could get more information and they did outnumber him if this was just another trick.
"Fine, Just don't betray us." Gudao said.
"You can let him go now, Doomguy." Ritsuka asked and Doomguy lifted his heavy boot off of the man.
"Finally! I swear my lungs feel three times smaller now. Now then off we go!" He said only to be forced to take point as Doomguy, Shiki and Fujino weren't going to let him get any close to the Masters.
"Awwww ... .I guess fair is Fair. But if you want to compare the threat level, I am on the same level as Miss Assassin" Mephisto said, taking a verbal table at Shiki.
"Hey! My knife cuts Better than his scissors!" Shiki said angrily gesturing to his weapon of choice.
"That's what gets you angry?!" Ritsuka said.
"Well, I think I'd feel the same if he had similar abilities to me. Shiki however is superior at cutting. In fact she can use her knife to actually save a life." Fujino said with an honest smile.
"Asagami…" Shiki says with slight embarrassment before returning her focus forward and leaving the room with Gudao, Ritsuka and Mashu.
"You can trust Shiki. She may be a bit rough around the edges but she does good with her powers…And I swear to help to protect them." Fujino said solemnly to Doomguy and VEGA.
"Thank you, Ms Asagami. Your assistance is appreciated." The AI said as Doomguy silently nodded. Fujino smiled and all exited the room and continued the investigation now with more info on their current situation.
Double Twisty Trouble
The halls of the apartments seem to distort and signs that lead to nowhere. The elevator was stated to be: "Forever out of order" and stairways seemed to be just ahead of them.
"...Ryougi, was this building always like this? Or is it just this time?" Romani asked as even the Data collected from the Praetors suits Auto Map hasn't painted a clear picture of the building.
"Yeah. It was always a creepy apartment, but this time it's even worse. The width of the corridors, the number of rooms…stuff like that doesn't make a difference. But this temperature…I can't deal with this cold. Now this really feels like a haunted house." Shiki said while stuffing her hands into her jacket's pockets.
"The cold air does add to the creepy factor. Too bad we are used to monsters jumping out at and trying to murder us. Zombies and Ghosts don't really spook us that much anymore." Ritsuka said facing literal Demons from hell kind of sets the bar pretty high.
"However, That doesn't detract from how gross the smellcan get. Phew." Gudao commented while the redhead was looking smug with her Gasmask.
"Shiki, You mentioned this is a place that collects death. It doesn't collect ghosts?" Mashu asked to remain on topic.
"Indeed. It's more like it traps them here. It didn't collect them endlessly like this. Now this place is like a whirlpool. It pulls unrelated stuff and turns it into evil." Shiki answered as this place was becoming more different compared to the Ogawa Heim she knows.
"Big swirl! Hole, gap, black hole! I got it! It's easier to understand this way! I thought this place was like a magnetic field that attracted grudges like a lighting rod…But a big tree's hollow trunk is more suitable. Once you take a peek, if you're unlucky, you will fall into an eternal abyss." Mephisto added
"Hehe..A trap hole that opened in reality? Make sure you don't-"
His words were silenced by the signature sound of a shotgun racking in another round into the chamber.
"Mephisto, It's best if you avoid trying to 'scare' our master's. We really are not in the mood for it from you." Mashu said with a very unamused look.
"Yep, Mephisto. I have the records here at Chaldea to back them up." Romani said, backing her up.
"Ah, I never knew I caused such a ruckus in the past…" Mephisto then decided to change the topic to Shiki's mystic eyes. He wondered why she was using them on zombies and ghosts. Her mystic eyes of Death Perception still affected beings that were already dead, which seemed a bit strange to Fake-Demon Class servants.
"Hell if I know. It might look the same to humans, but ceasing to live and dying are two different things. Doesn't matter if it's zombies or ghosts, they're moving. If they are moving that means they are 'Living'" Shiki's eye then turns into their crystal blue colour and quickly glances over Doomguy and VEGA ...For a split second she pauses on The Slayer before moving to the AI."
"Your little robot there counts as well. See? I don't make the rules for these things. My eyes aren't picky on what can die as long as it can in the first place." She said, shifting her eyes back to the dull noir colour.
"That's…Painful! You have gone through much, Miss Ryougi." Mephisto said.
"Not really. It's better than becoming a demon in order to continue living, isn't it?" Shiki shot back which made Mephisto silent as she was referring to his legend.
"-Oh. You're right."
Doomguy let out a tiny chuckle at that burn on Mephisto which almost went unnoticed.
"Holy cow! Doomguy can laugh!" Ritsuka said while Dramatically pointing at him. Causing Mashu and Gudao to laugh at him. Doomguy didn't mind and just rolled his eyes under his helmet at her antics but it did relieve him that she was back to her bubbly self.
"Yeah act the tough guy but we all know you're a big softy-Hey!"
Doomguy then messes with her hair in response which causes more laughter.
"Watch the scrunchie!" Ritsuka said while escaping Doomguy's hand and fixing up her hair.
"Those two seem to have a special bond between them, Don't they?" Fujino said quietly next to VEGA
"Master's Ritsuka's connection with The Doomslayer is a sight to see. He isn't normally this casual, he was always silent and stoic before our arrival at Chaldea. Their bond is akin to…"
"The familial bond of Father and Daughter?" Fujino said finishing VEGA's analysis.
"Correct. He has recognized how Ritsuka see's him as a surrogate Paternal figure and taken responsibility over that duty." The AI said before a loud, ear-piercing, shriek echoed through the halls. Within moments Monsters of both undead and Demonic types ambush them from all directions.
"Chit Chat time is over! You guys have a lot of Enemies heading right for you. I can't tell if there is a servant among them but be careful!" Romni Alert nearly spilt his coffee due to the sudden ambush.
"About time things got interesting." Shiki said, re-activating her mystic eyes.
"Defensive formation everyone!" VEGA said he would go over to Gudao and Ritsuka to provide tactical support if needed.
"I expect to pull your weight, Scissors!" Romani ordered the Caster servant.
"Of course! You all dying means I die! Time for some fun!" He said, pulling scissors out of thin air and Dash into a group of zombies in front of them.
The Battle Commences with Doomguy revving up his chainsaw and cleaving the Charing horde of the undead before stabbing a hell knight in the face with his Doomblade. Doomguy rips the blade out and slices through three imps at once with blazing speed.
"Impressive. Let's see if he can keep up." Shiki said she used her dagger as a catalyst for her Eyes to instantly kill everything she stabs into.
"Are mystic eye users always this bloodthirsty?" Gudao commented before Seeing Fujino twist apart zombies and gargoyles that dared to attack her.
"Did you say something, Gudao?" Fujino asked, her eyes activated making her Red eyes look more prominent with shifting shades of red.
"Nope." Gudao chose to not question it anymore.
Fujino just shrugs and returns to the slaughter without hesitation.
"Haaaa!" Mashu shouts as charges through the monster fodder with her shield and then impales a Dread-knight through its chest. She struggled a bit to get her weapon out of the corpse, eventually pulling it out.
The shielder takes a moment to catch her breath and looks at her blood-soaked shield. It slightly disturbed her how brutal she has become towards the monsters they fight. But, through fighting with Doomguy, she understood that creatures that prey on people are mindless and without purpose.
She raises her shield to fight for humanity and protects the people she cared about.
Doomguy swaps out his plasma rifle as now they were getting swarmed by ghosts, the energy-based weapon proving most useful when busting spectral enemies. An idea popped into his head and he swaps to the microwave attachment and zaps a ghostly ghoul. It screeched in pain before exploding in a concussive explosion leaving behind splatters of ectoplasmic goo.
He nods at that result and continues as Ritsuka just watches while shaking her head.
Chaldea holds its ground until Romani finally gets a servant signal ping on his console.
"Guys! We got a servant rushing down the hall! Ryougi, it's heading right for you!"
Shiki was swift to react to the sudden attacker's dagger against the knife.
"Hahahaha! Look at you, You are like me! Pretending to be normal, But you're just a mass murder like me!" Mr Hyde said he could see Ryougi clashing.
"Dr Jekyll?!" The master shouted seeing the dual-classed servant appear in the fray.
"I am afraid he is on the list of missing servants. I know he helped you alot in London but you have to fight him." The acting Director said. Ritsuka and Gudao steel themselves for having to fight a friend but Shiki then spoke up.
"Don't worry. I have this guy. Focus on defending the rear." She said while staring Hyde down with a very disappointed look. The two youngsters nod and put their faith in Shiki.
"What's with that look? Am I not right with what I said!?" Hyde said affected by the curse of this building. Little to no sign of the good doctor remains within this afflicted servant.
"...Tch, what was that? Disappointing…And here I was looking forward to this fateful encounter. Before I knew it, I was Ogawa Heim. I was already a servant. Facing countless ghosts and their grudges, running into a strange group with the weight of the word on their shoulders." Their blades meet as she stared into the crazed eyes of Mr Hyde.
"But I wasn't satisfied. That much I know. The reason I could remain motivated was because I had a hunch! That I might be into the real thing. The mass murderer with Twin Personalities!" Shiki shifted her eyes into Death Perception as they battled it out.
Shiki took on the servant while the horde was still swarming in from behind from portals that ripped open.
"Yes, please send more problems to us! Like we love having a bunch of raging monsters attacking us!" Ritsuka said annoyed with the ever-increasing threat level.
"They let us take you out of your misery, Pathetic humans." the familiar growling voice of marauders echoed as two of them appeared from portals above. Mashu and Fujino quickly reacted and grabbed both masters. Mashu blocked the axe with her shield while VEGA flash-banged the demon. Fujino didn't have the luxury as she took the hit for Ritsuka but didn't flinch at all at the slash to her back.
"Fou! Fou!" Fou chirped with concern.
"Fujino! Are you okay!" Ritsuka said, worried.
"Yes, I am fine!" She said trying to find a safe place away from the corrupted veteran fighters who are moving way faster than your typical marauder. They were also engulfed in an eerie blue aura.
Doomguy instantly sensed that something was off and wiped out the remaining horde with a BFG round. His hunch was right and an unknown force was enhancing those marauders. He first thought it was a Buff Totem but they were glowing blue, not red.
He got their attention off them and got ready for the double trouble nuisance. The Slayer and fallen warriors stared down at each other.
"You will fall here SLAYER!" Both charged at him with their axes. Doomguy dodged the first strike but the other one blasted him with a shotgun. Both attacks didn't do any damage to him but it was getting annoying on how fast they were.
"Wait here you two. Those marauders are real trouble unless we can figure out what's making them so fast." Mashu said as VEGA cloaked the Masters out of sight.
"Is this something new for you?" Fujino asked.
"Yes, The only time where the Demons get some sort of support spell is either a Buff Totem or an Archvile. Neither are present and the aura doesn't match." Mashu said as they both re-engaged.
Doomguy was on his game as he adapted to the sheer speed of these marauders but they were not only faster but more resilient to attacks. No reaction to explosive damage and even tighter openings in their attack patterns. This might prove a problem if they get smart and start hunting for Ritsuka.
Then one of them had its arm held by a distortion and the other got a face full of Kouhai boots.
The Slayer had to Admit, it was fun seeing those bastards get wrecked by two women with crazy magic powers.
"GAHH! WE WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!" One marauder rips its hand free before punching Fujino into the wall with the impact cracking it everywhere.
"Fujino! You'll pay for that!" Mashu got angry and double-teamed another one with Doomguy. Both summoned their spectral hounds to attack them but Doomguy just gunned them to oblivion with bullets.
Doomguy managed to grab one of them by the leg and smashed it into the flow before whipping him down the hall.
The duo stunned the other demon with The Slayer grabbing its gun, shoving it down its throat and pulling the trigger. The demon dies and a spectre pops out. It looked like a summoner demon, a species that took over the role of Archives until the coven recovered.
"What the…" Mashu questioned before attempting to strike it down. Her attacks passed through the spectre so Doomguy got an idea and used the Microwave Beam.
It did not like that and promptly exploded against its unholy will.
Doomguy nods again satisfied with the results and…
Wait there was the other guy to worry about.
He turns around to a marauder suspended in the air via many twisting distortions.
"Twist…Twist…" Fujino said, walking up behind Mashu, her hand on her side. Her eyes were wide open and activated.
"Just…Twist and…DIE!"
"GAHHHHHHH!" The Marauder screamed as it was twisted into shreds and another summoner ghost popped out of the gory remains.
Doomguy busted that one as well without delay.
"Well that was quite a show." Mephisto said, appearing out of nowhere.
"You barely did anything!" Mashu yelled, not amused.
"Of course I did, I kept undesirables away from Ms Ryougi's duel with Mr Hyde," Mephisto said with a cheeky smile. They then went to said duelling individuals as the battle reached its end.
"It's over…Sadly I think you were better as the Gelte fellow." Shiki said as she slashed through Hyde. Cutting through the lines of death that only she can see and bringing him a swift end.
"No…Fair…Cheater…." Hyde fell to his knees and shifted back into Jekyll.
"Ugh…Hyde came out again…Sorry, and I was manipulated. Masters, Be careful with Mephisto…He cannot be trusted…
"Oh? Me? No, no. Don't you know I am a changed man? Wait, I can't change! I mean, I am already a good Mepy! If I change, I will become the evil one! Nope, not changing, not ever going to chaaaaaaannnge." Mephisto retorted.
"...Ritsuka, please give me your hand…I have something that I have to give you…" Jekyll asked and Ritsuka walked over to him.
She offers him her hand.
"Good…You have the heart to trust people…You are the master I've always hoped for..Come on, take this key. Use it to get to the upper floors- But before you go…Die!" Hyde comes out again and slices at Ritsuka. His knife bounces off her shields and a bullet whizzed by her and hits Hyde right in the head…Finally Killing him.
Everyone turned around to see Doomguy with smoke coming off his pistol's barrel as Dr Jeykll's body faded away.
Ritsuka scooted away and ran into her servant. He instantly patted her on the back and reminded her to breathe.
After one quick breathing exercise, she composes herself.
"I am good now. Just got a little spooked, that's all." She said as she got her emotions together.
"Well, I am glad that's over. Thanks again Doomguy-san." Mashu said as she recalls him doing a similar action for Saint Martha back in Orleans. Doomguy nods as he respects Dr Jekyll so he uses the most merciful action to protect Ritsuka.
"Sounds like he was a good man with a split personality. Yet that wasn't the case with him now. Trust me, I know his story very well and something just felt way off meeting him in person. Hey Scissors. Say something…" Shiki said.
"Hehe! Not that it's important, so I will write it in two lines! Dr Jekyll fully mutated when he arrived at his apartment. Both his body and soul rotted away, he died." Mephisto explained.
That meant as a servant, Dr Jeykll was gone and only Hyde remained in the body. He used Jeykll's appearance as a disguise while they were at this apartment.
"Just like how his story ended…So sad." Romani said while listening in.
"What do you mean by Mutated, Mephisto? Dr Jekyll used drugs to turn into Hyde. Not a mutagen.." VEGA asked, picking up on that little detail.
"He's right. Even as a servant his Noble Phantasm is the chemical mixture just like in his story. What do you mean by Mutated?" Mashu asked.
Mephisto then revealed that this apartment inflicts a curse of resentment upon the servants trapped here, changing their whole aliment
personality-wise. Even worse for those whose lives ended in resentment and sadness.
That only reinforced the cause to free the servants trapped here but also worried about what they have become during their imprisonment.
"Let's move forward. Looks like the real fight starts now." Shiki said, picking up the key off the floor.
"But first. Ritsuka, mind checking on Asagami. She might not look like it but she might need some healing." Shiki said, pointing at her acquaintance who was embarrassed.
"Shiki…." She mumbled
"No if, ands or buts. Go on, there's nothing to be embarrassed about. We'll take a short rest in the meantime." Shiki said and Fujino just nodded and Ritsuka took her to a nearby empty room to check on her wounds in private.
"Phew…Good call. I need a breather after that fight." Gudao said while sitting down as he was hyper-focused on supporting Mashu that whole fight.
"If you want senpai you can rest your head on my lap." Mashu offered. Gudao felt his face turn red.
"N-no need for that, I'm good." He said leaving a confused Mashu.
"Heh. So, anything to report on your guy's end." Shiki asked Doomguy and VEGA.
"Our battle revealed a new Demon Type. It appears to be an ethereal version of the summoner Demon. Instead of summoning lesser ones it possesses its brethren to increase its speed and endurance." VEGA explained
"Huh, So beneficial. Weird. You guys know how to kill it then?" Shiki continued.
"It is immune to ballistic damage but Focused energy attacks will neutralise it. Of course you Mystic Eye's will most likely work as well." VEGA said as the conversation got more casual meanwhile Ritsuka was tending to Fujino's wounds using her Mystic Code's healing function to patch her up.
"So you really can't feel any of this?" Ritsuka asked as he tended to Fujinos back where there was a massive burnt cut across the bruises surrounding it.
"Yes. It is something I struggled with since I was a child. I had to constantly go to the doctor several times just to make sure I wasn't ignoring something life threatening." Fujino explained.
"Well, Good thing you have Shiki around. Are you two friends?" Ritsuka asked.
"Sort of…She helped me a while ago and I am very thankful for that. Maybe I'm just that good at making friends." Fujino said, embarrassed.
"Oh don't worry about that! You made a bunch of new friends with us." Ritsuka said as she was nearly done healing Fujino's Injuries.
"R-really!?" Fujino said, looking over her shoulder.
"Of course! You are helping us save our pals trapped here. Now please hold still. I don't want your wounds to start opening up again on me." Ritsuka said cheerfully.
"Oh sorry!" Fujino said remaining still obediently.
She couldn't help but hide a smile as she could only recall such kindness from another once and that was when she was at her worst. With that in mind, she swore to help Chaldea in any way possible to repay that kindness. Thinking of Doomguy fighting demons, a real Demon slayer. Something she could've become if her father didn't try to suppress her abilities.
Maybe there wasn't a need for demon slayers then…But there is a need now.
'...I will fight…For once in my life I feel I have a purpose…I will…Twist them to shreds…'
(This Chapter was Beta'd by Darklord331)
AN: Continuing with my experiment of having two different perspectives, Looks like the Wretch is hanging out with Jalter and Co (Still Working on a name for this little fan club). Hope you guys enjoy the more References to Wolfenstien with Da'at Yichud, The secret super science group of The New Saga. Again just small mentions just for fun but not too unlikely since Hell's reach is across the multiverse.
Let's Talk Demons now.
As you can see I decided to throw the DLC enemies into the mix with the Possessor. I wanted to add a natural way that Doomguy would Figure out how to beat that Demon and I felt the spectral bugger fitted well within this Ghastly Collab Event (I swear I will stop with the Ghost Busters jokes)
Not too sure if I am going to throw all of the DLC demons at Doomguy just yet as I want some to remain in The Ancient Gods Arc since I do plan to cover it in this fic. I also really need to diversify of the Demons a little bit more. I noticed the lack of Whiplashes and Cyber Mancubi so expect more of those guys.
I hope you guys enjoyed this one. I had fun with the duo Perspective thing but I think I will tone it down in the next chapter. Gotta keep focused on our BOI Doomguy! That is all for now so I'll see you in the next one!
Have a nice day!
