And we are back with the next chapter to Heaven's Shadow and the possible ending and or beginning of the final act for the Special. I am sry for the slight delay but I've been working and trying to plan some other story ideas and even some changes to the final act. With that.
Onto the story!
Heaven's Shadow Part Nine: Light
(A Devil's Justice)
Boots and heels clacked across the white steel floor as Ragna and Bayonetta ran down the hall, Ragna pulling his fist back, releasing a shockwave that knocked through several Paladins. Bayonetta summoned a wicked weave and slammed it through a bunch of the armored soldiers behind them. Those Paladins took a cross and slit their own throats, transforming into Affinity Angels and dashing towards the two, only to be blasted away by Ragna's and Bayonetta's pistols. Bayonetta jumped over Ragna and spinned kicked two Angelos, while Ragna slid under her legs and cleaved two knights in half. The two moved in perfect sync, not from companionship but from the sheer fighting experience. Their demonic aura seemed to dance and weave with each other, much like during their first fight in Redgrave and earlier against Aris.
Perhaps it was Ragna's demonic heritage, or Bayonetta's contract with the Infernal Creatures, but the two moved as one. Ragna swung his blade clashing with two angelos, as Bayonetta jumped onto his blade and over the angelos, shooting two bullets through their skulls. They turned another hallway to see over a hundred Paladins and dozens upon dozens of Proto Angelos and Affinities. Ragna pulled out Ifrit and aimed his fists back, firing off Hellfire Burst and flying through the hallway, as Bayonetta jumped over his back and summoned infernal chains. She wrapped them around her waist and swung them towards Ragna's ankles, pulling her along like she was water skiing, pulling out her pistols and unleashing a barrage of pistols. Ragna wondered if they had any Holy Water since he had yet to be truly weakened like Magnus did, though perhaps his effort in Redgrave did do some major damage to the Paladins.
They bullrush through the horde of Angelic servants, effortless blasting through the hallway and sliding to a stop at the end. Bayonetta lets out a small chuckle as she smiles down at Ragna, the hybrid staring up at the witch before smirking, shrugging his shoulders and walking past her. The two made their way through, watched by the hateful eyes of Sofia, the Nun clutching her arms tight enough to draw blood. She had just watched forty percent of their forces be so effortlessly defeated that all she had left was Aris, Lero, twenty percent of her Paladins, and her remaining Proto Angelos. Of course Aris was now business facing off against the Pagan Idolizer Wonder Woman, the Amazon bashing her shield against her beloved's cheek. Despite Aris powerful ADAMAS form, Wonder Woman's blade could still cut at his skin, no doubt of some pagan god's divine weapon. Still her strength was only able to hold off Aris and not overpower him as Aris slapped Wonder Woman away. Despite this the Amazon's sheer determination was beyond Sofia's understanding as Diana stood back up and charged towards Aris.
She needed to find a way to stop them, and better yet, kill them. Everything was counting on her base prepped to eliminate the Son of Sparda once and for all, to succeed where Magnus failed, to appease the Reverend One. As Sofia watched the monitors, the heroes remained silent as they too watched the monitors. Ghia'ta silently prayed to the Sapphire Code that Ragna will persevere, that he will save them. Meanwhile, John made sure that Sofia was distracted before looking at the table where his ring was laying on, silently calling for it. John turned to Ghia'ta, her maiden trap next to his, and clicked his tongue at her. The Sapphire Princess turned to John who gestured to their rings, Ghia'ta realizing what he was implying and held her finger out. They silently muttered their oaths, focusing on calling their rings back towards them. The pink and green rings of Will and Love began to glow via the call of their user. They began floating off the table and slowly towards the iron maiden traps.
"Amusing." And with a press of a button, Ghia'ta and John's iron maiden were suddenly assaulted with electricity. Both spectrum heroes were screaming in pain for a few seconds before it ended, Sofia's back facing them as she lifted her hand away. She didn't even give them attention or taunts as her entire focus was on the two monsters making their way closer and closer to her. Yet, she couldn't help but ponder Bayonetta's earlier confession of amnesia to the Son of Sparda and that whatever reason she came to find the hybrid, the key to her past was her own reward. Now this….THIS was an interesting development. And soon the cogs were beginning to move, and if all things came accordingly, this could play in her hands.
"Milady, I am ready." Lero's voice called from the other end of her comms.
"Good, Lero, good. Stall them while I….prepare." She didn't doubt it for a second, Lero will not be able to defeat the Umbran Witch and Son of Sparda. That being said, she will not only have to prepare this last ditch plan to kill the Son of Sparda, she must prepare the ritual if all else fails.
(A Devil's Justice)
"HRAH!" Ragna roared as he slammed his fist through another door, knocking the entire frame out of the wall and through the next room. Ragna and Bayonetta walked in to find themselves in a room unlike any they entered before. It was completely hardwood flooring with interior decorating such as portraits of Jesus or Nuns and even a Pope. The place made it feel relaxing if it wasn't in the middle of a base full of psychotic fanatics that wanted to kill Ragna.
"...It's quiet…..to qui-!" Ragna shut his mouth once the sound of….music rang in their ears? Ragna and Bayonetta looked at each other in confusion before walking forward, seeing a piano near a large fireplace with a cross hanging over it. They stopped once they saw a cloaked figure in white, his fingers dancing across the keyboard, playing an all to familiar theme.
"Beethoven, one of the first musical notes I ever listened to, beautiful as it is dreadful." Lero stated, playing the familiar key notes, his features obscured by his white hood and cover. Both Ragna and Bayonetta remained quiet as Lero continued playing, however, both were ready for the first move.
"Did you know that Beethoven played in front of a theater before the Order itself. Many of the Fathers and Reverend Mothers of that time were fans of his work, and wished to hear his finest. This song is much like the duality of man, beauty in work and yet plays in sin. Dread. Because no matter how much beauty there is in the world, there are still Sinners like the Pagan Idolizers, the non-believers, the fools… you, Son of Sparda." Lero stated, finally turning to the two, while still playing.
"You must love tempting Fate, Little Devil." Bayonetta chuckled as she leaned on Ragna's shoulders as Lero let out an annoyed grunt.
"I will let it be said that all of this could've been avoided had you simply let Fat…..I mean, Brother Magnus absolved you of your sins." Lero stated.
"I think you and I have different ideas of what absolve means." Ragna said, glaring at the white cloaked figure. Lero finally slammed his fists onto the piano, letting out a heavy sigh as he stood up.
"And you have to be insane to think I'm gonna stop now after all you fanatics have done to me." Ragna sneered, glaring at Lero.
"Perhaps…..but it doesn't matter." With that Lero disappeared in a golden light as did the room around them temporarily blinding the two. Once it died down, both Ragna and Bayonetta found themselves in a much more familiar room to the one they faced Aris in. Yet unlike the other this one had several floating platforms and even circular mirror-like objects floating in the room, a much more compact room as well. Ragna and Bayonetta scanned the room, seeing nothing in sight for the moment, but never letting their guard down for even a second. Ragna twisted his head to the side as something hot split open his right cheek, glaring up to see Lero standing on the underside of a platform.
"Let it be said that the Lord has fated this meeting between us, Son of Sparda. That he has gifted me the power to destroy as I should have earlier." Lero stated, drawing on his golden bow. That's when Ragna recognized him as the one who took the girls…harmed Diana…..took Ghia'ta.
"Ghia'ta, the girls…..my team….Where are they?!" Ragna growled, glaring up at the white cloaked figure.
"They will face divine punishment soon, but first I will deal with the two of you. For you cannot escape the Light of Lero." Lero stated, summing another golden arrow between his fingers.
(Lero: The Holy Light of the Order)
"So you want to throw hands with that silly little bow of yours?" Bayonetta challenged, smirking up at Lero.
"Heed my warning, Umbran Witch, while we have no current quarrel with you as our sights are on this bastard child. YOU are still a threat and will be dealt with in the name of the Lord." Lero stated as several of those Proto Angelos appeared with their own bows of white silvery energy aimed right at the two. Ragna popped his neck as he reached for Jekyll and Hyde, while Bayonetta twirled her pistols and the two aimed them at the group, both yelling as they dashed away from each other.
"Let's dance!"
(Play Fizzeth from the Hi-Fi Rush OST)
Lero and the Angelos unleashed a barrage of arrows, as Ragna and Bayonetta fired a bulletstorm. Bullets and golden light danced across the area as Ragna dashed across the floor and jumped onto the wall. Bouncing off his feet he ran up the wall as a trail of golden arrows were left where he last stood. The arrows exploded upon contact to the surface as Ragna used the explosive force to launch himself through the platforms shooting down two angelos. He twirled his guns and charged them with Love and Rage, firing off two empowered bullets towards Lero. The cloaked Paladin disappeared in a golden light as the bullets exploded into a nearby wall, reappearing behind the Son of Sparda.
Meanwhile, Bayonetta spun and blasted the Angelos as they gave chase after the witch, firing arrows and flying around her erratically. Still this did nothing to the witch as she continued to laugh and smile, practically dancing around their attacks. This was so amusing to her, much like the angels if they could display facial expressions it would be one of rage as she imagined the soulless gaze of the angelos. They seemed terrifying to a weaker individual, but to Bayonetta it was like a regular tuesday. And as she spun over one she danced and summoned a demonic iron maiden, bumping the angelo into it with her ass, hearing its sickening cry as the cage killed it.
Ragna ducked under several shots and ran across the platform as Lero disappeared in a golden flash on another wall firing several arrows that seeked Ragna out. The hybrid spun his body shooting down every arrow which exploded upon impact blasting Ragna back nearly off the edge. Lero aimed an arrow at one of the mirrors and fired it, but once the arrow hit it merely bounced off right towards the Son of Sparda. Ragna whipped Hyde and fired an empowered shot which pierced the arrow and bounced off the mirror as well. Lero grunted as he ducked under the shot, Ragna's eyes widening in realization before smirking at Lero, Jekyll and Hyde powering up with Love and Rage. Ragna jumped into the air and aimed his pistols at two mirrors, firing the charged bullets. Lero's eyes widened as the bullets bounced off the reflecting devices and across the entire room.
"Hey! Try not to hit the good stuff, Little Devil!" Bayonetta called out as a bullet nearly went right through her hair, blowing up the angelo behind her. Lero jumped back and fired two arrows that struck the love empowered bullet, but the explosion forced him back as he nearly slid off the wall. He pulled himself together just in time to see the rage empowered bullet heading towards him. Lero held his arm up showing a golden cross that formed a golden shield taking the full force of the blast. To his annoyance Ragna jumped in and punched the golden shield right where the bullet was, creating a chain reaction of golden and rage empowered explosions. Lero grunted as he fell back onto the floor and rolled across the ground. He tried to get back on his feet only to hear guns clicking, looking up to see Bayonetta and Ragna with their guns aimed at his forehead.
"...You may think this is the end."
"...Yes, you're on the ground and clearly defeated. This is the part where you beg, and if you ask nicely I'll be gentle." Bayonetta teased, glaring down at Lero.
"Enough games, where are my friends?" Ragna asked, but Lero merely lifted his head, planting his forehead firmly against their pistols.
"You do not command me, Devil Spawn, and this is FAR from over!" With that Lero's entire body began to glow in golden light, and in a flash of golden light two beams jumped away from the two. Lero landed on the wall, his cloak much brighter than before while the other light dispersed to reveal a golden holographic form of Lero sliding away from them.
"Endure the power of the Holy Light!" With that Lero disappeared in a flash of light, Ragna feeling a boot planted in his chest and knocking him away. Bayonetta turned just in time as the golden Lero spun towards her with some sort of golden energy blade. Bayonetta jumped back as she activated Witch Time but to her surprise the being moved through with ease, unaware that Lero was in his Lumen Sage Mode: Lightspeed. He may not be as strong as Aris, but between him and the others he was the fastest due to his Lumen Power Lightspeed. The two Lero's moved across the room at lightspeed, Ragna was fast and he could catch glimpses of Lero but the Paladin was much faster then he anticipated while Bayonetta was on much even ground.
"Come now, Little Devil, try and keep up!" Bayonetta taunted as she dashed out of Lero's sight and kneed the golden form away from her. Her body was covered in a demonic aura as the shadow of a much bigger demon appeared behind her. The Umbran Witch smiled as she dashed towards Golden Lero, clashing the hologram. Ragna on the other hand tried to reach for Morningstar but the blade was knocked out of his hand by Lero's lightblade, slashing at the hybrid's back. Ragna grunted as he was flung away as Lero dashed around moving so fast all Ragna could see was the light trail he left behind now. He couldn't keep up, he needed more power, he needed something.
More speed.
(Play BURNING-RES9 from the PROMARE OST)
And much like with the first fight with Bayonetta, his race with the Flash, against the dragon form of Ember, the Fire Cerberus, and even against Hades himself. Ragna's demonic nature kicked into its instinctual nature to survive, to grow, to be more powerful than ever. Ragna felt his body burst with power, his heart beat a thousand times faster. Electricity shot across his body and even his eyes became pure white with overflowing power. Yet he didn't feel stronger….No….He felt faster as he looked and could clearly see Lero and where he was moving. Ragna twisted his body and pushed off a platform moving so fast Lero had to flip his body at the last second to avoid the much stronger strike of Ragna's. Yet the force of it had sent the Paladin flying to the ground as Ragna slid across the floor, stopping to a halt when someone stood behind him.
"Ooh, what a shocking new form, Little Devil." Bayonetta mused, recognizing it for the form he used for a split second before he ran off back in Redgrave when they first fought.
"Yeah…..Wow." Ragna muttered, he felt reinvigorated, he felt like he could run across the planet in seconds. This power….THIS speed….is what he needed against Lero.
"You ready to end this?" Ragna asked as the electricity began to move erratically around him as his body began to vibrate in place.
"Ready when you are." Bayonetta said as they turned to face Lero as his golden duplicate helped him up. The four faced each other, neither making a move: Ragna and Bayonetta wrapped in demonic power, while Lero and his duplicate in Holy Light. And with one step the four clashed, shaking the entire base as they dashed across the room. Rays of light and lightning danced across the room, the platforms were destroyed in their clashes as Lero clashed with Ragna's blade and Bayonetta kicking the hologram. They moved so fast that those that watched couldn't even get a glimpse of their form.
"Shit how the fuck do we know if Ragna is winning if we can't even see him?!" Crush asked.
"Wait, you guys can't see them?" Flash asked, eyeing the girls.
"...Yeah?" Tala asked.
"Oh boy." Flash muttered, going back and watching Ragna and that hot sexy lady fight with the weird fanatic, because from his perspective they were as fast as him.
"RRRAAAAHHH!" Lero roared, swinging his light blade only for Ragna to block it with ease. To Lero's surprise, Ragna reached forward and pulled the Paladins cloak inches to Ragna's piercing gaze.
"I have had it up to here with you Paladins!" Ragna growled, slamming Lero into the wall.
"First you guys killed innocent people!" Ragna threw Lero into another wall, making the Lumen Paladin bounce off the walls and floors like a pinball.
"Then you captured me and tortured me!" Ragna roared, reappearing and kicking Lero into the floor, slamming his boot in the white cloaked figures chest.
"Then you hurt my friends!" Ragna roared as he pulled Lero up and slammed their heads together. Ragna liked to consider himself a patient person….but even his patience had a limit and these Paladins pushed it.
"But worst of all! You. HURT. MY. GHIA'TA!" Ragna punched Lero, uppercutting him into the ceiling. The golden Lero appeared behind Ragna with a blade ready to cut his head, only for a giant demonic maw to appear and snap the golden hologram in two, Bayonetta behind the hybrid hero. Gomorrah disappeared as Ragna and Bayonetta stood side by side, their demonic power seemingly combining and forming a strange ethereal being, a woman with bug-like features and battle army covered in electricity.
"Ragna." Ghia'ta muttered sweetly, touched by Ragna's rage for her.
"You're 'Ghia'ta' shall face eternal damnation! As shall YOU!" Lero roared as he summoned a golden arrow that far eclipsed his size, much like a ballista bolt, aiming it and hurling it at the two. Bayonetta looked down at Ragna as did the hybrid, both smirking at each other before digging their feet into the steel.
"Let's GO!" Both hybrid and witch jumped into the air, twisting their body with their feet out. The large bolt and two collided creating a flash of light and electricity, the two pushing back against the bolt. Much to Lero's horror, the large spectral figure appeared kicking the bolt, shattering it and launching the two towards Lero. The Paladin could do nothing as the two slammed their boots into his chest, the three flying and burning through the ceiling. They broke through several layers of the base with no end in sight of a top and Ragna had to wonder if they were in a mountain or something. Finally they burst through a much larger room as the two separated and sent Lero into another wall. The lightning around Ragna dispersed as Bayonetta and Ragna landed beside each other. Ragna looked up at Bayonetta, and for the first time he had a true smile of respect as Bayonetta smirked down at the hybrid.
"...Bravo." Both jumped at the voice, Bayonetta aiming her pistol at the source of the voice.
"Bravo, Son of Sparda, Umbran Witch. You far exceeded my annoyance….and my patience." Sofia growled, stepping into the light as she glared at the two.
"...Forgive me, Lady Sofia." Lero apologized, landing back on his feet and kneeling before Sofia.
"...Dismissed." Lero winced before disappearing in a golden light, leaving the three.
"So if I had to take it, you're this place head honcho?" Bayonetta asked.
"Indeed, I am Lady Sofia, leader of the Archangel Branch." Sofia introduced herself, crossing her arms.
"Great." Bayonetta fired off a single shot, but to her annoyance a golden wall appeared between them and Sofia.
"Did you really think it would be that easy?" Ragna asked, completely keeping it to himself that had she not fired, he would have tried to kick Sofia.
"Can you blame me for trying?"
"Where are my friends?!" Ragna now turned his attention back to Sofia, glaring at her.
"Right there." Sofia pointed over her shoulder, lowering several Iron Maidens.
"Ragna/Kid!" Ghia'ta and several others called out before they were electrocuted, much to Ragna's dismay and anger.
"Let them go!" Ragna roared, slamming his fist against the golden wall.
"In due time, but first we have some business to attend to, and I have quite the offer."
"As If I would ever do something for a lunatic like you!" Ragna growled, glaring at the Lumen Nun.
"Good because I would rather face retribution than consider working with you, Bastard child. No…..I have a proposition for you…..Bayonetta, was it?" Sofia asked, turning to the Umbran Witch.
"Still is."
"Charming. Now it has come to my attention that you have no recollection of your past." Sofia stated, smirking as she noticed Bayonetta's body shift a bit, her smirk disappearing.
"What of it?" Sofia smirked under her mask as she pulled out a golden cross and snapped her fingers. Two Paladins walked in dragging a man behind them, kneeling before Sofia as the Nun reached down and held the man's chin.
"What is your name?"
"...B-Ben!" Sofia smirked as she began chanting words in a strange tongue, her cross glowing behind she aimed it at the man's head. Everyone watched as Sofia seemed to drain some sort of essence from the man. What many did not know was that this cross was specifically designed to absorb memories of those they wish to…..convert as Magnus' ancestor was the one who designed this sort of Cross. It was meant to find the sin within the man and woman, their memories and extract them. A clean slate. Sofia pulled the cross and held it into the air and formed a golden sphere before Bayonetta and Ragna. They both watched in shock as it played back the very moment the man said his name.
"Now, what was your name?" Sofia asked, leaning down to the man.
"I….I don't know." The man confessed, Sofia turning to the Umbran Witch.
"What has been taken, can be giveth back." Sofia chanted the words once more, placing it back on the man's chest for a few moments and pulled away.
"Now….it was Ben, yes?"
"...Y-Yes." Sofia hummed and snapped her fingers, ignoring the man as he was pulled away.
"What you have lost, can be given back, and we can give it back to YOU Bayonetta." Sofia offered, her hand reaching out for the Umbran Witch. Ragna eyed the witch from the side, unsure how to respond and can't even begin to wonder what was going through Bayonetta's head.
"All you have to do is….kill HIM." Sofia instructed, pointing at Ragna with a fierce glare. Ragna's eyes widened as Ghia'ta cried out and even the others yelled out in protest. Bayonetta remained silent as Ragna's jaw dropped, unsure what to say. Bayonetta…..wouldn't do that right? She may have fought him not that long ago, but they were working together and they worked so well.
CLICK
Ragna's eyes widened in shock as Bayonetta's pistol was aimed at his right eye, the Umbran Witch staring at him with a stoic expression.
"Sorry, Little Devil, it's just business."
"NO!" Ghia'tas' cry fell on deaf ears as Ragna twisted his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the bullet and whipping out Hyde. Bayonetta flipped back missing the rage empowered bullet, spinning away from Ragna and firing a barrage of magic imbued bullets. All of them were sliced apart as Ragna twirled Morningstar, glaring at Bayonetta. All the while, Sofia cackled from the side, clapping ecstatically as the two prepared their rematch. Ragna and Bayonetta glared at one another before dashing forward, clashing.
"Let's go!"
(A Devil's Justice)
I'm gonna be honest out of all the chapters, this and the second chapter are my least favorite. Not because of pacing but because of the fight between Ragna, Bayonetta and Lero. Considering Lero whole gimmick is speed and his golden arrows I tried to play the more 'shooter' genre of Ragna but I think I'm way better at sparing that out but I think I'll get better with practice. And honestly Lero was the weakest between the three so it made sense he would actually get defeated. But the main focus is.
The Rematch. Let's settle this once and for all: Ragna, The Son of Sparda and Hero of Redgrave City vs Bayonetta, the Umbran Witch and Slayer of Paradiso. Let's get ready to RUMBLE!
Until next time! Zer0the0mega108 out!