Blood 2.4
Hearing voices in your head is never a good sign. Voices urging you to hurt others and destroy the things around you is worse. My eyes snapped to the left. For a moment, a phantasmal limb drifted over my shoulder. Its skin was red and gnarled with large jagged spikes. I felt it grip my side, and then as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone.
After my battle with Mittelt, the voices didn't stop. The mark didn't either. I tried to stop the flow, to push it away like so many times before. It ignored me. I'd say it was pouring into my body even harder than before. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. Molten brass traveled through my veins, carrying with it a cocktail of adrenaline and power.
I couldn't feel anything else.
I knew I should be. I was covered in cuts and bruises. I wouldn't be surprised if I had a couple of broken bones as well. The tingling feeling coming from my joints was scarily absent. I think I'd fall into a coma as soon as the mark stopped fueling me.
I pulled my axe down to my side. Its presence was a never-ending comfort. I looked down at my waist, putting the weapon in a small metal ring. The holster had formed with the rest of my armor. I still didn't have any idea as to how that happened. The black smoke was just another mystery on top of an ever-growing list. Oh well, it had some uses.
My eyes trailed across the room. It was trashed. There were scorch and slash marks everywhere. Broken wood and stone were scattered along the floor. The few scarce pieces of furniture in the room were either in pieces or sporting more cuts and gashes than I could count.
I brought my head to the corpse at my feet. Mittelt's face was stricken with fear. Blood covered her lower chin and neck. Her dead green eyes stared back at me. Quickly, I looked away. Habitually, I opened and closed my hands. I tried to stay calm. It didn't work.
Everything around me started to look weird. My vision spun. I could feel something push me from behind. Quickly, I turned around. There was something there. A large blob of empty air looked off. Everything behind it bled into a monochrome red. I limply stared, something between surprise and horror coming into my chest. The thing, the presence, whatever it was, wasn't supposed to be here.
Reality recoiled at it, the space around seemingly bending at its touch.
I could feel it looking at me. I stared back. It hurt. It hurt to look at it. With every passing second, the amorphous blob seemed to gain more shape, its wispy outline growing clearer and clearer. The reds deepened. A sense of paranoid worry came to me as I stepped back. The figure, it was growing taller. A distinct ring of horns crowned its head. A limb came up from its side. It stepped toward me. The figure reached forward and pulled.
What stood out most was its eyes. They were a fiery red, burning in a never-ending inferno. I recognized them. It matched the ones from before, beneath the great sea. I took a step back. The scent of yellow sulfur hit my nose. My stomach jumped. Acid crawled up my throat.
Then, just as suddenly as it appeared, the figure vanished. The overwhelming red fled my sight.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked. Nothing deemed me with an answer. I was starting to feel nauseous. It felt like I was starting to go insane. I steeled myself. I didn't have time to worry about this. If some big bad daemon wanted to come say hello, it could for all that I care. I needed to get me and-
"Asia!" I cried. How could I forget her? I bit my lip, rushing toward where she laid on the ground.
The girl didn't look the best. A large knot was growing on her temple. I could see where a trail of blood had dripped down the side of her face and dried. Her long blonde hair was strung out up above her head from how she fell. It was matted with blood and dirt. Asia's normally bright complexion was a dull pale.
"Shit. Shit. Shit!" I cursed. I pulled myself over to her, lightly putting her head in my lap. I let out a sigh of relief as I saw her chest slowly rise and fall. She was alive at least. Hurt but alive. I could work with that. I needed something to cover up the wound on her head.
My eyes quickly landed on the remnants of Asia's bed.
Making sure to lay her down easy, I shot toward it. The sheet came off with a simple tug. It tore just as easily. It felt like I was tearing wet paper. Taking a couple of long strips over, I started trying to wipe some of the dirt and grime off her head. I stopped as the girl flinched back.
"Asia?" I asked. My voice sounded weak, even to me. Of course, she didn't answer.
As delicately as I could, I cleaned off the wound. Then, I took a long strip and tied it around her head. It would have to do for now. I couldn't wait around any longer, not with the other fallen still in the picture. I picked Asia up, putting my right arm behind her knees and using my left to pull her toward my chest.
It felt a bit awkward lifting her, but once I got her into the air, it felt like I wasn't carrying anything at all. I trudged to the hall where this fight began. I caught a glimpse of shimmering red in the corner of my eye. I tried to ignore it.
-]-|=|-[-
Rias Gremory was starting to get impatient.
"How much longer?" Rias' words were short and clipped. The two other women walking with her could feel the barely restrained anger hidden underneath. The oldest devil's red hair swirled as she turned to look at Koneko.
"I don't know. The smell is all over the church." Koneko paused. Her nose came up, sniffing at the air. Its pale skin wrinkled in disgust. Two cat-like yellow eyes faced Rias. Quietly, Koneko said, "It has to be close. The scent. It's stronger."
Rias nodded. Koneko was her rook, a trusted member of her peerage. The younger girl's heritage gave her a natural advantage when it came to tracking. It was a talent that Koneko didn't use quite often, but it seemed today that the reincarnated devil would put it to good use. Rias frowned.
Thinking of her peerage left a sour taste in her mouth.
It felt like everything around her was falling apart. Kiba died. Her and Akeno had gotten into it over that. They weren't exactly on speaking terms due to how Rias wished to handle the entire situation. Koneko had pulled into herself, not speaking unless spoken to. Gasper was still hiding in his room, his power deemed too dangerous to be set free.
Issei wasn't ready for something like this. He had no combat experience. Well...Rias winced. She guessed his dying to Raynare was technically combat experience. It wasn't a good one. Issei was better off running around and getting in trouble with his friends at their school. The young devil didn't want to risk another member of her peerage if she didn't have to.
Rias frowned.
It wasn't exactly awe-inspiring. In fact, Rias would say that it worried her. It made her fearful for her and their futures. She'd have to do something about it, eventually anyway. Rias still had years to go before she had to start worrying. It wasn't like her "marriage" was going to be tomorrow. She had bigger things to deal with.
Thumping footsteps brought Rias out of her thoughts.
Rias, Koneko, and Akeno stopped. Not a single noise left any of the three. The footsteps got louder. They clanked and shifted, obviously being made by some kind of metal. They sounded off too, almost like whoever was making them struggled as they walked. Coming around the corner at the end of the hall, it revealed itself.
Standing at a towering height was a monster of black metal. Almost its entire body was covered by a mix of interlocking plates and leather. Lightly, Rias noted the condition of its armor. It looked ratty and scuffed, like the thing had recently been in a fight. It was covered in blood. Rias couldn't tell if it was someone else's or its own. The devil hoped for the latter.
The gnarled axe lying on its hip was menacing. The weapon looked like that of some profane butcher. The back side of the axe was covered in still-wet blood. Rias' frown sank even further as she slowly pulled her eyes up.
Blatant confusion showed on the devil's face.
There was a girl in its arms. She was a tiny thing. The young blonde wasn't quite as small as Rias' rook, but she wasn't far off. The young devil could see a bloody wound on her head. The girl looked to be a member of the church, a nun. A small trickle of demonic power leaked into Rias' hands.
Quietly, a male voice drawled out, "God fucking damn it."
-]-|=|-[-
I was looking at Rias Gremory, and she did not look happy. The red-haired devil did not look happy at all. I could see little sparks of energy flicking off from her in waves. Two piercing blue eyes met my own. There was no small amount of hatred in them. I couldn't blame her, not after what I've done. The long curled locks of red started to lash and flow like they were in an unseen wind.
"You..." she started. The word came out in a whisper.
There was something in her voice that I couldn't place. It took me a few moments to process it. In a way, She almost sounded relieved. The look on her face didn't match. The anger, the rage, it was ever-present. Smoldering like embers beneath a flame. Little wisps of red flew off of her eating way at the walls and floor.
Nervousness built in my stomach. Slowly, it spread throughout me, like a plague.
It got worse as I looked behind her. Standing at either side of Rias' shoulders were two people I did not want to see. To the left, there was a black-haired woman. Akeno. Her violet eyes burned into me, watching me like a hawk. To the right was Koneko. She seemed to hide from my gaze, a snow-capped head peeking out behind Rias' shoulder.
Not good. Not good at all. Why does this universe fucking hate me?
Nobody would answer my question. I could practically taste the power in the air. An overwhelming scent of burnt asphalt mixed with ozone wafted its way up my nose. It wasn't pleasant. It also didn't help the nervousness in my gut.
No, nervousness wasn't quite the word for it. It was an overabundance of energy. I felt antsy. I wanted to move around. Freed's lessons and my instincts were screaming at me. They were dangerous, mortally so.
Fear didn't come to me. It was always an emotion I took for granted. I knew I should be afraid, but despite it all, I wasn't. I didn't cower. I didn't run. I knew what they were here for. The trio was here for me.
With the looks plastered on their faces, I had a feeling that the only way they'd let me out of here was in pieces. They wanted me dead. There wasn't going to be a way for me to talk myself out of this one. I didn't blame them. That didn't mean I was just going to lie down and die either.
I didn't have that much time to think.
Mumbled words left Rias' lips. Her blue eyes trembled, a storm of emotion rolling within. Rias would've been beautiful was it not for the murderous rage marring her face. Slowly, the devil looked down. Red bangs covered her face. A few tense seconds passed Suddenly, her head shot up.
"You killed Kiba." She only said three words. They were short, her voice filled with pain. The next one out of her mouth was filled with fire. Rias ground out, "Why?"
I hummed. In a way, it was almost funny. I didn't have an answer, not one that she would believe anyway. It wasn't exactly like I could just outright explain everything that had happened to me, right? Even if she did believe me, it wouldn't change our situation. Being corrupted by a mark on my palm was no excuse. Rias would try to kill me either way.
"Look..." My words stopped there. I didn't have anything to say to her. There was no excuse I could give, no reason that would magically make everything okay. I'd killed someone, a part of her peerage. Her little family. Genuinely, I answered, "I'm sorry."
A dainty eyebrow on the devil's face twitched. No one ever said I was the best talker. I could see the muscles on her face contort with barely restrained rage. Rias threw her hands into the air. Then, she screamed, "You murderer. You bloodied psychopath! You killed a member of my family, and the best you have to offer is sorry?"
I flinched. It wasn't because of her.
I felt something scaly drag itself across my spine. A hot breath that smelled of putrid ash and sulfur fell over me. In complete shock, I turned around. What met my eyes made my head hurt. It was the same thing as before, this time more red and scaly. I could make out large spikes of bone jutting from everywhere on it. Its fleshed seemed to pulsate, akin to veins. A wave of nausea hit me.
More hate-filled words came from behind me.
"What in Satan's name are you staring at?" the devil growled, grinding her teeth together. A hand roughly grasped my back, pulling at my armor. Violently, Rias Gremory pulled me toward her. My eyes tore themselves away from the shimmering red daemon standing a few feet away. Rias continued, "You look at me when I'm talking to you, bastard!"
I didn't respond. A thunderous footstep echoed behind me. None of the three devils in the room seemed to notice. I felt something pull on me again. It was like before, only stronger. The mark blossomed with warmth from where my hand laid against Asia's side. The daemon lurking in the church's hall spoke.
Blackened speech met my ears.
It sounded like someone grinding knives onto stone, ripping into my mind. I couldn't make out what it was saying. It flowed through me like water. It left something as it passed, something hot and heavy. A thick miasma of rage. The daemon came to me in bits and pieces, single parts of the beast sticking out more than others. It was half in half out, like most of it was somewhere else.
A clawed digit rand parallel to my face. It was gnarled and red, its end being covered by a sharp yellow point. The diameter of the limb was larger around than my arm, easily twice the size. The finger pointed out at the devils surrounding me. It spoke; it raged.
HALF-BORN.
It was worming its way in. Warm blood dribbled down my nose. I could feel it leak out of my helm as I gave a weak cough. Pain thrummed in my mind. I fell to the ground. Asia went with me. The girl rolled to the side, as I violently wretched on the floor. A dull ring reverberated through my ears. Rias Gremory backed away. She was yelling something. I couldn't hear her.
FAKERS. DECIEVERS.
The words were like lava being injected into my head. I wasn't just bleeding from my nose anymore. Fiery red pooled across my entire face. I couldn't tell where all of it was coming from. The daemon's speech only seemed to make it worse and worse. I couldn't move. I could just barely breathe. The only thing it allowed me to do was listen. A demand was spoken.
KILL THEM. KILL THEM IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD.
Its voice was becoming clearer. I wasn't just picking up single words anymore. No, it was full sentences. With them, came only more pain. I struggled on the floor. Something hit my side. I ignored it. The crushing pain in my head was overwhelming.
"Leave me alone!"
It was a plea. Something hit my side again. It tickled, a growing sense of numbness coming from the spot on my ribs. The three devils surrounded me. I wasn't talking to them. I laid on my back, staring up from the floor.
The daemonic visage of something stared back at me.
I don't know what it was. It was like observing something that didn't exist, that shouldn't exist, and yet it did all the same. As if it was in disgust, the air around the daemon recoiled. Observing it made me realize something. It was burning itself into my mind, tearing at it. Something in my head broke as I was forced to understand that which did not wish to be known. The thing opened its mouth again. More black speech fell from its fang-lined lips.
Stand.
This time, the word was clear. It wasn't overwhelming. In fact, it sounded normal. The pounding headache from before was absent. The daemon stood over me. Rias and her peerage did much the same. Lightening jumped between Akeno's fingertips. The half-devil's gaze was filled with malice. That quickly explained the blossoming pain in my chest. It was sobering, pain. It meant I was alive. It wouldn't help in the long run. I drew on the mark. The pain started to dull.
With my entire body screaming in protest, I leaped to my feet.
-]-|=|-[-
This fight wasn't going to plan.
Fuck. I didn't even have a plan in the first place. How does one dodge lightning? It's a very simple question with a very simple answer. You don't. You don't dodge lightning. My chest was smoking. A numb tingling sensation ran up my torso. Sadistic laughter rang out in the hall. The bitch hit me twice before I even got my axe off my hip.
If I was in a better state of mind, it would've been worrying.
Now though, it was just another problem added on top of the pile. The only good thing about the entire situation was that I couldn't feel any of the pain I should've been in. The mark handled all of that. After Akeno hit me, all of the muscles in my body did their best to tense at once. I was lucky to still be on my feet.
The three were standing spread apart at different places in the hall. Rias was up front, her arms hanging at her side. Red-gray light ominously built in her hands. Akeno was behind her, a smile on her face. Her right hand was pointed at me, electricity crackling in it. Koneko was the only one who didn't seem like an immediate threat. She stood a good distance away from the rest of the devils. Her face was stony, but I could see something odd in her yellow eyes.
Fear? I thought.
It didn't matter. I had to get out of here. I had to take Asia and-
Something came out of my mouth. It was loud and low. For a moment, I thought it was the daemon speaking to me again. It was a growl. A guttural, inhuman thing. The mark hurt. I ignored it, clenching my teeth. As soon as the thought entered my mind, I heard it speak. The daemon roared.
FIGHT. FIGHT OR DIE.
I couldn't even attempt to resist. Its voice was slowly getting more clear. It didn't sound quite as terrible to my ears. It was still as loud. I tried to push it away, to ignore it like all the others from before. It didn't work.
I could still feel its presence, still see it slinking about just out of view. My eyes darted about, momentarily ignoring the three in front of me. I couldn't affect it at all. It felt like I'd opened a door and whatever the daemon was took it as an opportunity to come through. One thing was certain.
It didn't want to go back.
"Do you like that little man?" The black-haired devil stared at me. A cruel glimmer lit up her eyes. Something flashed in my mind. I gripped my axe and swung it to the floor. The wood it hit splintered and cracked, the head of the weapon embedding itself within.
I tried to growl a response. I grit my teeth. Blood leaked from my nose. Everything in the hall seemed gray and dull. Like before, the only thing that stood out to my eyes was the three enemies before me. They seemed to positively glow when compared to their surroundings. My muscles tensed. Dark laughter washed over me. I hate them. I hate them. I hate it. I hate this place. I hate it here.
"Kill." I mumbled. The words didn't reach anyone but me. That wasn't the point. I continued anyway, my mind running red with unnatural rage. "Maim."
"Burn!"
I moved before she had any chance to respond. I turned my axe's head perpendicular to the trio. With a loud grunt, I wrenched it out of the floor. With my supernaturally enhanced strength, a hole opened up in front of me. Ragged shards of wood ripped themselves up towards the trio. Rias was hit with the brunt of it. I smiled as some of the debris embedded itself in her. Blood dripped down porcelain skin. Akeno rushed forward. I heard a shrill scream come from behind her.
Wings unfurled. They were blackened leather things, almost charred in their appearance.
A ragged grunt left my mouth as Rias leaped into the air. My axe left my hand with nary a thought. I wasn't going to deal with this again. I had a way to deal with fliers. Not a good one, but still a way. The devil dodged to the side. She didn't expect me to follow after my impromptu projectile. Mittelt didn't either. I jumped up, reaching for her leg.
Akeno did.
Yellow light flared up behind me. I had barely a moment to register it before electricity wracked my spine. My whole body twisted into a grotesque sprawl. I fell to my knees. I looked at my attacker, rage splattered across my face. A broiling smoke entered my nose. It smelled sweet akin to overcooked pork. An unpleasant warmth covered my back.
"Bitch!" I screamed. The sadistic woman yelled something back at me. It didn't matter. I couldn't hear her anyway. The smell was nauseating. Hurriedly, I wrenched my helm from my head. Spitefully, I threw it at her. She jumped out of the way.
I followed soon after, throwing myself towards her from the floor.
More magic wrenched into me. I ignored it. I couldn't feel any of it in the first place. Akeno yelped as we fell to the ground. Her magic ceased as I wrestled her on the ground. Suddenly, something hit me on the side of the jaw. A foot. Koneko's foot. My head forcibly turned to the side.
I thought, Annoyance.
A mixture of wet reds and solid whites splashed to my right as I spat on the ground. Something hit me again. I continued to fight Akeno on the ground. She laid into me, punching and kicking. It should've hurt. I grabbed the devil by her shirt lifting her. Confusion flashed in Akeno's face before I slammed her back down into the ground.
The floor beneath her cracked, a miniature fault line forming along her back. I could see all the air escape her body as she squirmed on the ground. I didn't stop there. Holding the devil to the ground with my left hand, I raised my right. I slammed it down. Over and over. With each hit more wounds littered her body.
It was a shame that Koneko only let me get three.
Being easily picked up by someone who's a quarter of your size is an interesting experience. I didn't have the mental state to pay attention to it. My thoughts were moving too fast. One moment I was on the floor; the next, I was being held in the air by my back.
I didn't stay there for very long.
Before I had a chance to react, the girl threw me through the air. I slammed into the wall of the church. I couldn't tell if the crunching noise from behind was me or the wall. A low rumbling came out of my throat. Warmth dripped down from my lips. My axe was only a short distance away. I needed it back. I had to fight. Pulling on the mark, I tried to move.
I got half a step before I fell to the ground.
The familiar heat of the mark spread throughout my whole body. I screamed from the ground. I had to get up. There wasn't any other option. Putting my palms to the ground, I tried to push myself up. I didn't even notice Akeno rising from the floor. Unpleasant tingling ripped into my body. Again, I collapsed.
"Damn you!" I raged.
My wrath didn't change anything. I struggled from the ground, slowly pulling myself towards my axe. Stomping steps came from behind me. I could see my weapon. It was just out of reach. Scratching my armored fingers into the wood, I wrenched myself forward. Time seemed to slow for me as my right hand grasped its hilt.
-]-|=|-[-
Red. A violent cherry red.
It was all I could see. A blinding, blistering red. It enveloped my entire body. Barely, I could make out the strange light caressing me. It licked my skin like a horrid flame, burning away my skin. Little flakes of black and red fell to the ground. Snow. It reminded me of snow. Its ashen waste was taking me with it.
I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel anything. I rolled on my back. Blurry figures met my eyes. The trio stood over me talking. I couldn't hear them. I couldn't hear anything at all. I had to get up. I had to fight. I couldn't lose. Not here. Not Now. I bit my lip. Forcefully, I lifted my arm to the air.
What met my eyes was a stump.
In a single moment, my mind returned. Everything was clear. Pain wrecked my entire body. An unpleasant warmth covered my entire body. Blood. My blood. My mouth was a desert, filled with sand. A shredded tongue parted my lips to touch the air. There wasn't much of them left. My entire face felt raw and wet. It was as if someone had taken sandpaper to it. An abject sense of despair ate into my mind.
I looked down.
My right arm was gone. Fucking gone. I didn't even feel it. One second, it was there. The next, there was nothing. Rias' magic had washed over me like a hungry storm, eating my flesh. For a moment, the wound had been clean. I could see pink-covered bone and a mass of red. My heart thumped.
Suddenly, my body remembered its functions. Blood poured, spurting out onto the floor below me. Shell-shocked, I stared. I couldn't believe it. My arm, it was gone. Something else hit me. I could feel fire-like pain erupt from my abdomen. My back arced.
What happened?
The question was all that could come to me. I didn't know the answer. I couldn't answer it. I tried to move. Lightening crashed into me again. My muscles locked up. Blearily, I tried to get up. My body wouldn't listen. I had to get up. I had to. If I stayed here, I'd die. Asia would die. They'd kill us.
Suddenly, a sound came to me. It was deep and throaty. It was eerily familiar. It was rage and blood lust made manifest. I could practically taste the hatred lacing the words forcing themselves in my mind. A fourth figure made itself clear behind the group.
We'll kill them all! Pathetic mage-ling cowards, too weak to fight with their own strength!
The voice was overwhelming. My head was pounding. The mark was pumping power into me, but it wasn't enough. I wasn't healing fast enough. There was a pool of blood building up below me. This time, it was my own. The thought almost made me want to laugh. There were black spots racing across my vision. A garbled sputter came from my mouth. Akeno zapped me again.
The daemon stood over me. Its blood-red skin was split and cracked. The beast wasn't obscured to me anymore. Violent spurs of bone erupted from all over its towering form. Its two snake-like eyes were a blazing inferno, spitting bloody hatred at the devils standing over me. Its visage was almost indescribable. The only thing that kept me grounded was the blinding pain in my nerves. I wanted it to stop.
The daemon opened its mouth. Teeth that looked like glass met my eyes. A segmented tongue covered in spurs slid around them. It hurt to look at. My body involuntarily shook as the thing stepped closer.
Let me in! I'll flay the skin from their hides, rend the flesh off their bones! Half-born fakers!
The voice was indignant. Angry. Furious. The daemon's words made my head spin more than the magic assaulting my body. The daemon was going on a tirade, screaming and chanting like a petulant child. It hated them. I didn't understand half of it, some of the words seemingly bleeding out of my consciousness. It was distracting, yet oddly sobering at the same time.
Its voice was demanding, powerful. An unnatural dread filled my entire being. It was wrong. Everything about the demon was wrong. Despite the mortal danger the three devils presented me, my mind screamed that the thing behind them was the more immediate threat. I tried to move away. My body didn't respond. I screamed as more of Akeno's magic hit my chest. The daemon spoke again, every other word an outraged yell.
Pathetic! Absolutely pathetic. Let me in! Stand and fight. Fight or die!
I didn't care anymore. I couldn't win this fight. It was such bullshit, such absolute bullshit. They were just playing with me. Fuck magic. Fuck flying. Fuck my luck. Fuck this stupid battle harem world. I hate this. I hate it so much. I can't have a single damn thing here can I? I was going to die. I wasn't ever supposed to win. I wasn't the main character. My name wasn't Issei Hyoudou.
My voice was quite, raspy. Spitefully, I raged, "I-I'll take you all with me."
The words came out slowly. They cut themselves through what was left of my face. The daemon smiled. It wasn't something I or any other human was meant to see. Just looking at it made me want to run away, but I couldn't. My body wouldn't let me. This world wouldn't let me. I hated it all. The daemon pointed out a scaly digit at me. Its face turned into a triumphant sneer.
SAY IT.
I yelled my answer aloud, "Fine! Do it. You win, I'll let you in. J-Just-" I paused taking a labored breath. My chest barely moved. Three sets of eyes glared at me from above. Defiantly, I stared back. "-make sure Asia lives. After that, I don't care. Kill them all."
The daemon's form shimmered.
I felt something seep over me. It dripped into my remaining limbs. It burned. Involuntarily, I gagged. Fire drug itself through me. I tried to move, to speak, to do anything at all. I could do nothing but watch. I couldn't even move my eyes. My legs went first, twitching shaking. My remaining arm was next. Every muscle in my body fired at once. Spikes of fire ran through my nerves. It felt alien, completely unnatural. I didn't have any chance to voice my concerns. Violently, my jaw closed.
A brief moment of relief came to me as the pain stopped.
A voice entirely foreign came from my mouth. I felt the word as it came out. It clawed its way out of my throat, leaving chaos behind it. I could taste blood and fire.
"Agreed."
AN: Merry Christmas Folks!
Here's chapter sixteen for you. I hope you all are having a wonderful time with your friends in family, and if not I hope you're having a good day regardless. It's been a minute since I've written for this story, so let me know if any of you guys notice anything out of place in the writing. Like always I encourage you to point out any errors in the writing if you notice them. It helps me edit any of those annoying bastards out.
Anyway, this is the first part of the finale for this arc. The second one will either be out tonight or tomorrow depending on how much time I have with doing Christmas stuff today. Until then...
~ciao
