Vivian set foot on a circular pedestal of red light in front of a closed metal coffin. Before the coffin stood Saya in an ornate dress that unfolded to reveal a golden halberd.
"What are you doing here?!" Vivian demanded. "I'm here to get Mom back!"
"I am she," Saya replied.
Ask her her name, the thought in Saya's voice shot through her head.
"What's your real name?!" Viv shouted back.
"...Hell. Guess there's no fooling you, child."
"Okay, but you mean Hell's your name?" Viv prodded, mind diverting to a song she once heard.
In a flash, Saya charged at Viv without hesitation.
A white-haired feminine android with an eyepatch wearing clothes resembling Vivian's grabbed a glaive and parried Saya's weapon backwards with it.
"Saya, stop trying to kill her for Godsakes!" she screamed at the cyanotic demon.
"Who are you?!" Vivian asked the newcomer.
"Nu! Amanohokosaka!" she replied, gritting her teeth as she parried Saya's attacks.
"Your intervention has damned the lives of you both," Saya spat at Nu.
"Your mom couldn't make it," Nu explained, facing Saya. "She hasn't been born yet."
"What?!" Vivian demanded.
"Your insolence WILL BE REPAID IN SARCOPHAGY!" Saya shouted, beating her lance against Nu's sword repeatedly.
"I would know!" Nu huffed, slamming her weapon against Saya from overhead. "I'm her sister!" she commented, grinding her teeth in tandem with her blade.
Vivian shot various swords at Saya. They all disintegrated as they passed through her.
"You can't even kill me with a Lux Sanctus! I AM DEATH!" the demon shouted in boast.
"She's right, we have to retreat!" Nu replied, on the defensive.
"There's a force manipulating me, strongarming me into staying here!" Vivian explained as Saya launched herself at her.
Every human's a Boundary, the thought shot through her head.
The lance pierced Vivian's ribcage.
"AAAAGH!" she screamed.
The city underhead began to emit a bright glow fluctuating between blue and red.
The girl forced the lance through her to a point of impalement. Her skin turned black and her blood emitted a shining red pulse.
The halberd's midsection dissolved.
How are you gonna get us through this one?! Vivian mused to herself with doubt.
All part of the plan! the second voice in her head replied. ORIGINAL GRYMOIRE: IGNITE XBLAZE!