Ch36: Gift from Imperius
When our group went through the portal to Pandemonium, we saw that there was a slew of dead demons that was laid out on the field, their smells being absolutely horrid. "Ugh... I know that Imperius is strong and probably killed these guys, but did he have to leave their smelly, rotting corpses on our path?" I asked with a groan. "I don't know, but I know that we're going to go to be up against some tough foes... I can smell some very strong scents up ahead," Serena said as her nose scrunched up.
We walked forward some more and eventually found Imperius, who was standing by the entrance to the battlefields. "Follow me," he simply said as he jumped into the air and flew off. "Um... okay," Leah frowned as we continued forward and found that we were up against some demons we'd never encountered before. "These are the Warscarred Marauders, one of the various enemies that inhabits the Pandemonium Wastelands," Tyrael said as we continued to attack them, finding that the way was blocked by a gate.
"I'll handle this," Leah said as she pointed her finger at the gate and looked to be struggling with something. "Huh?" she asked, trying again before Hael shushed her to the side. "Allow me," she sighed as she pointed her fingers at the gate and a flurry of demonic energy beams flowed forth and destroyed the gate and also seemed to destroy part of the nearby cliff at the same time. It left all of us gobsmacked and it made Imperius come down and look at Hael with a gaze of anger. "Your power... could it possibly be that of my old nemesis?!" Imperius exclaimed in anger.
"Calm down, angel boy," Hael frowned as she looked at him with a frown. "I am his daughter, but I am not Diablo. And I prefer not to be lumped with that monster." Imperius looked at her with a frown and then looked onward. "We must continue. I'll let you go for now, hell spawn," Imperius growled as he shot into the air again and we continued forward as well. "And he didn't even listen to me saying that I hated Diablo... he's a jackass," Hael growled. "Yeah, tell me about it," Leah frowned as well.
We proceeded forward some more and came across another gate, this one having a giant Warscarred Marauder that had a strange seal on his person. "Heh. Let's fight," I smiled at him as I rushed forward and faked out a move before slicing his body in half with a single sword swing. I grabbed the strange amulet and then Imperius came down again. "That is a Siege Rune. Keep it, because we'll need it soon," he said as he obliterated the gate for me and we were allowed to continue forward some more.
We then came to a hill overlooking the Pandemonium Fortress with what looked to be a ram in front of it. "Look down there, Nephalem and demon spawn," he said, referring to my friends as that term once again. "Um, I classify as a human, not a Nephalem," Leah frowned. "Hmph! Let me talk," Imperius growled. That was enough for Leah to stop talking. "The ram down there is the only way that you can access the impenetrable fortress. The only issue is that the Siege Runes that power it are in possession of other demon spawn in this realm. You have one in your possession from the one Marauder. Find the other 2 and then go to the ram," Imperius said.
"Thanks for the pep talk. Let's go," Serena frowned. "Hold on," Imperius frowned. "What is it now?" Lilith groaned. "Tyrael informed me that you demon spawn in particular... that you wish to be turned into humans, correct?" Imperius asked. "Are you saying you can do that?" Serena asked. "Yes, I am," Imperius frowned as he aimed his spear at Lilith, Serena, and Hael before mom stopped him. "Hold it! I want to be turned back to normal too!" mom frowned as she joined the others. "Suit yourself, Nephalem," he frowned as he then let forth an energy from his staff.
When it connected with all of my allies, I was stunned by the effect. The blast of the staff wasn't one of destruction that Imperius usually used. It was one that coated them all in a bright light and then, out of nowhere, their forms began to change right in front of mine and Leah's very eyes... all except for Hael, however, who retained her original look of a Leah opposite.
Serena had transformed into what looked to be a small 7 year old girl, her body having small swirls on it of varying kinds, something like markings. She had long, brown hair curled into a ponytail and she was brown in color, like myself and Hael. She also had freckles on her face, a cute button nose, and was now clad in what looked to be little school girl clothes.
Lilith had been transformed to look like a 10 year old girl with short, dark red hair, having bright cheeks, and having white skin as opposed to everyone else. She also gained some moles on her face and one on her hand and she was now clad in what looked to be ninja attire, face mask not included. As for mom, she had been returned to her normal, everyday self. She now had her hair return to dark brown, her skin stopped rotting and turned back into its dark brown state, and she gained back a small bit of weight from all the heaving she'd done as of late.
"I-I'm back to normal!" mom gasped as she looked at her hands with a smile. "I-I'm a human now?... I'm human!" Serena gasped in happiness. "Hmph. This will suffice. No more of Diablo's evil on my person now, so that's a plus," Hael smirked for a change. "Thank you mister Imperius! Now let's go after those Siege Runes!" Lilith smiled as we all then rushed off to go for the next Siege Rune. "Thanks, Imperius," I smiled at him. "Hmph. Consider it my condolences for ridding the world of the 7 Lords of Hell," he frowned as he then warped away once again. "He's unique, isn't he?" Leah asked. "You can say that again," I frowned.