"Damn it…" Mathew muttered as he dragged his way down the streets, his right arm gripping the sleeve where his other arm used to be. "Just my luck…" The Hunter muttered as he pressed himself against a wall before sliding down it, a trail of red coming down with him as he took a moment to catch his breath. "Just my fucking luck…" He repeated as he stared at the rising sun. "Got too full of myself and paid the price." He muttered, taking a breath. "Least its just me and no one else." He whispered before closing his eyes for a moment. "Sorry Nomad, looks like I'm not gonna make it back after all."
The call of an Orthos. It's the first thing she hears when she wakes in the Kingdom of Man. That piercing bird-like screech; honestly, she finds it to be a somewhat pleasant sound - at least more pleasant than the cry of a demon. A noise she had grown uncomfortably used to in this path month.
Opening her eyes, Chayyliel took a moment to rub them as she pulled herself up and out of the chair that she had chosen to rest in. She shuddered, stretching her wings slightly as she did to get the feeling back in them.
Rolling her neck she popped a joint before sighing in relief.
"Much better." She notes. She hasn't felt this good in a while. 'It really is amazing what something as simple as sleep can do for you…' She thought before looking at her desk, noticing the compact mirror that was resting on it. "I'll have to thank young Noah when I see him again."
When she saw him again, not if she saw him again, when.
Something in her bones told her that that child of man would survive to see another dawn.
Picking up the compact she took a moment to open it, stare at her reflection as she started to think. A moment later she closed it, letting it rest in a small pouch on her armored waist before walking on, leaving the office room as she returned to the residence her squadron had taken over.
Most of her soldiers were still sleeping, their backs set against the walls and storage machinery that decorate this place. Each of them had their weapons still in an arms reach.
"Good morning, Lady Chayyliel." Stepping outside, the Storm Warden found one of her more awake soldiers greeted her, their closed fist resting against their empyrean plate.
"Keraguel." She returned the gesture. "Anything to report in?"
"No mam." The angel admitted. "Once again, we're met with a quiet morning."
"Good." The Warden muttered, her gaze turning away from her fellow Angel and towards the rising dawn. "I prefer our mornings being quiet." The Storm Warden admitted.
"Just not when it's too quiet?"
"Yes." The Storm Warden agreed as she crossed her arms and just stared outward for a moment. "That form of silence screams at you, telling you something is wrong." Keraguel nodded his head before raising a fist to his lips and yawned. "Tired?" The woman asked.
"Forgive me, my lady."
"Do not apologize." The Warden admitted. "Experiencing exhaustion is natural." She stated. "And nightwatch is an exhausting and dull activity." She admitted resting her hand on her soldier's shoulder. "Go inside and rest your eyes, I'll take over."
"My lady?" The Warden just gave Keraguel a look before they nodded in her direction. Again they made that gesture, their fist slamming against their chest plate before picking up their angelic lance and started walking back into their base.
Left alone, Chayyliel returned her gaze towards the horizon, her arms crossed as she made a face.
Rest; it was good that her soldiers were finally getting some.
Her legion was like her shadow; as long as she moved, as long as she refused to rest, they would do the same. If she dived into Hell itself, they would follow her. She was blessed to have such loyalty…
Still…
Shaking her head, Chayyliel turned her attention skyward, staring at the brightened sky as she made a face. "My legion isn't just loyal to me, they are loyal to Heaven's cause." She mutters. "Just like I am…." She adds. "But if that's the case…why would they leave us like this?" She whispered to herself. Why has Heaven not responded to her call? Why haven't reinforcements descended from the sky?
Why were they alone?
She shook her head, pushing the thought aside. "We aren't alone." She told herself. "There are more of us out there somewhere. They're scattered, but they're out there." She lowered her hands as she looked back ahead watching the sun continue to rise between rows of broken buildings.
It's… strangely beautiful… words can't accurately describe it.
"We will find them." She muttered. "We'll regroup and bolster our forces." She told herself. "We will win this war." She whispered. "We have to."
Lenore couldn't help the yawn that escaped her as she pulled herself from the makeshift bed she was in. She stretched, groaning slightly as she did before raising a hand to her head in order to scratch it.
"Morning Lenore." Viviane called out as she continued to stretch her legs out.
"Morning, sis." The youngest muttered as she rubbed her eyes. "Limbering up?"
"Helps get the blood pumping." Viviane stated touching her toes. "Care to join me?"
"Not really." Lenore just sat down on her bedding for a moment as her sister seemingly looked at her with puffed up cheeks. "...Fine." The youngest muttered as she got to her feet and stood by her sister.
"There we go." Viviane smiled as her youngest sister joined her in her morning exercises. "A bit of exercise in the morning helps wake anybody and everybody up.
"If you say so…" Lenore grumbled, following her sister's lead. "How was the supply run last night."
"Good." Viviane admitted. "Not great, but it was good." She muttered, touching her toes again. "We got what we could, and grabbed what we might need."
"Like?"
"Oh you know." Viviane muttered, straightening up before bending backwards to work out her spine. "Gauze, painkillers, disinfectant wipes you know the works."
"Ah~" Lenore followed her sister's example, stretching her back out for a bit. "I'll get to looking at the supplies later. See what's not expired and all that.
"Pretty sure meds don't have an expiration date." Viviane muttered.
"They do." Lenore grumbled as the two sisters started stretching out their arms. "Especially the liquids." Lenore grumbled. "You wouldn't know cause you almost never need them." He grumbled with a sense of envy in her voice.
"You make it sound like you don't either." Viviane countered with a smile. "You carry the same blood in your veins as me, same blood, same genetics same strengths -"
"And same flaws." Lenore added. "Yeah that's what mom and dad say anyway." She paused. "But I'm not like you."She muttered. "I'm not like you or any of our other siblings." Viviane stayed silent. "All of you were born a matched set, but I was born alone." She grumbled. "I don't have a 'connection' like the rest of you do." She continued to stretch. "I'm not as strong as you guys are." She added. "Especially compared to you and Noah; you're seventhborn, what you two are capable of is beyond anything I can-'' Viviane swatted her in the butt. "Ow!" Grabbing her rear Viviane looked at her sister in disbelief. "Vi- what was that for?!" Viviane didn't say anything just walking forward as rested her palm against the girls head and pushed it back.
"Don't compare yourself to us." Viviane mutteres lowering her hand. "Nothing good can come in comparing yourself to someone else." Viviane put her hands on her hips. "Yes, you're not 'like' the rest, but that's not a bad thing. You didn't come into this world with your soul split in two." Viviane stressed. "Unlike the rest of us, you're 'whole'; you're your own person."
"Vi?"
"You don't have to worry about the line between you and another blurring and forgetting who 'you' are." Viviane muttered. "Your thoughts are your own, your life is your own." She added turning her gaze towards her sister with an uncharacteristic seriousness. "You're 'whole' Lenore. That's something each of us want, something we may never have."
"Vi…" The pair fell silent as Viviane just continued to stare at her sister.
"Everything you do, everything you are… that's something we yearn for." Viviane whispered before shaking her head and closing her eyes. "Anyway~" Viviane relaxed her tone shifting. "Don't stress that kind of stuff ok? Stop worrying about the stuff that's out of your control and worry about what's 'in' your control." Viviane stated patting her sisters back before turning away. "Anyway, come on, everyone should be already up or getting up. So what do you say we join them."
"Right…"
The Dark Kingdom. It's a place pulled from nightmares, a realm full of molten rivers and vast uneven plains of brimstone that stretch toward a horizon forever cloaked in twilight. It's a wild and untamed realm, still, even in a realm littered with the bones and ruins there is order.
And where there's order, there's class.
And as a member of hell's upper echelons, Demurrage preferred class.
Staring out from his personal abode in a piece of Hell known as Honor Scorned, the demon raised a cup of wine to his lips as he took a drink.
It goes down wonderfully.
"Certainly better than what was served yesterday at the Slaygrounds." Demurrage made a noise as he swirled the liquid in his glass for a moment.
"Lord Demurrage." One of his servants spoke up, making him glance back. "Lord Abraxis is here to see you."
Demurrage raised an eyebrow for a moment before lowering it for a moment, his eyes closing as he nodded his head.
"Send him in."
"Yes, My lord." The demoness bowed as she turned and walked out, leaving her master alone for a moment as he went back to looking out his window.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Demurrage." The demon Abraxis, stated upon being allowed in the other nobles chambers. "I see you're doing well."
"About as well as I can." Demurrage admitted as he turned to look at his counterpart. "And you?"
"Inspired." Abraxis admitted. "I feel like I've finally found something worth putting my time towards."
"Oh?" Demurrage asked as he walked over to one of the finely decorated chairs he had set up in his quarters. Settling in he made a noise before offering his counterpart a seat. "It's been quite a while since you found your inspiration. Tell me, what's finally lit that fire in your heart."
"Well, to be frank, yesterday's little showing is the source of this inspiration."
"Oh? Demurrage made a noise. "Is that so? You truly must have enjoyed the 'Destroyer's little showing."
"Indeed I did." Abraxis admitted, taking a seat. "With that being said, I have a proposition for you."
"Then by all means." Demurrage asked, staring at his counterpart's smile. "Let's hear it."
"As you know the Destroyer has been given charge of old Velgroth's armies. Not only that but be's also been granted the privilege of leading Lucifer's armies against both heaven and the eager riff raff already trying to stake out territory on Earth." Velgroth revealed. "No doubt the other Lords won't stand by and accept this with open arms. Lines are bound to be drawn and when they are we will have to pick a side."
"Very true." Demurrage agreed. "But what side is the question." He added. "When lines are drawn, what side do you intend to stand on?"
"You were always a smart one." Abraxis stated. "I believe you already have an idea."
It's quiet now…
Won't lie, she doesn't really like when it's quiet.
The quiet, the calm that comes with it? Times like this remind her of an old saying. The calm before the storm.
Galahad sighed to herself, her attention focused only on the helmet that was in her hands as she rested herself against the stone provided by destroyed steps. Around her she hears her knights hard at work, making certain that the breach within the kingdoms - within reality itself, was dealt with.
As well as those who had stood in their way.
Such bloody work never fancied her.
She lived to slay demons, not humans, but in these trying times… guess something like this couldn't be avoided.
"Galahad." Looking up the Knight saw that Tristian was once again approaching her, his eyes as hard and strong as they were exhausted. "How are you feeling?"
"I should be asking you that." Galahad muttered as she stared at her battle brother. "You look like you could use some rest."
"We all could use that." The Knight admitted, settling down beside his counterpart. "It's been a trying night."
"Agreed." Galahad muttered, nodding to herself. "And for that I feel a need to apologize."
"Don't." Tristan stated, raising a hand to silence Galahad. "You made the right call, if you hadn't we wouldn't have made it in time to stop the breach from opening." He told her. "Your decision allowed is to stop their advance."
"For now." Galahad grumbled, getting to her feet. When one door closes, another may open." She states, repeating a phrase she had heard in her youth. "They'll open another Hellgate, we just don't know where or when they'll do it."
"True." Tristan sighed as he crossed his arms, and turned his attention towards the others. "All the more reason to be ready when that time comes." He received a nod as the pair fell silent. That was before Tristan felt his helmet 'buzz' as a small light of sorts went off on it.
"Who's calling?"
"About to find out." Tristan muttered as he put his helmet on and tapped the ear. "Tristan reporting in." Galahad couldn't hear what was being said on the other end of the call, nor could she see what expressions were crossing Tristan's face as he accepted the call, so she did the only thing she could do at the moment; wait. "What?" Tristan remarked, his voice dropped a few octaves. "I see, thank you for the update."
"Trouble?" Galahad asked as Tristan lowered his hand and ended the call.
"Fraid so." He grumbled. "Lamorak and his division have found a number of dead strung up in the city of Wilton."
"How many?"
"Dozens." Tristan stated. "And they aren't human." Galahad raised an eyebrow.
"Demon then?" Tristan shook his head as Galahad fell silent. "...Angel?" He nodded as Galahad made a 'tsking' noise. "So that's what's going on…" Galahad grumbled.
"Seems like it." The lady-knight sighed, running a hand through her pale blonde hair.
"Damn…" Was all she could say for a while. "I was expecting a Blight, not Armageddon." She muttered.
"Worried?"
"No." She admitted. "We were trained for this." She stated. "To protect our Kingdom - to protect our home - we must do what we were trained from." She stated. "We will fight, be it against the dregs of hell or the champions of Heaven." She whispered. "We will fight, and we will win." She grumbled. "We have to if we want humanity to survive."
"Well said." Tristan nodded his head before resting his hand on Galahad's shoulder. "But we can't do our duty if we're exhausted." He told her. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
"As will you." Galahad muttered turning away from her fellow Knight as she walked off somewhere. More than likely to patrol the area instead of actually getting some rest. Tristan shook his head, sighing in annoyance before looking elsewhere. His gaze returned to the steps Galahad had chosen to rest upon, as well as the shattered church they were connected to. For a moment he just stared forward, his attention taking it in before he finally decided to look away and refocus his attention towards his allies.
Had his gaze rested up on the church a bit longer however, he would have noticed the black tar-like substance peaking out from between a few cracks along a familiar cross shaped symbol.
An ear piercing shriek echoes across the Shibuya Crossing, yet it finds itself drowned out as the sound of something heavy collapsing makes itself known.
Surrounded by death, a Faceless soul steps forward, their attention focused in the mountain of rubble provided by a fallen building. Slowly it started to move, the last of his prey crawling out the rubble as they gasped for air.
"Tmuw…" They began. "Tmuw uw idd sralq." The demon declared. "Haf til'z ky zmuw wzralq!" They shouted trying to pull the rest of their body free from the rubble that had trapped the rest of their body. "Na mfpil uw zmuw wzralq!"The faceless soul just stared forward, gaze hidden behind his mask as he pressed forward. "Smiz vory haf?!"They shouted, taking the time to try and retaliate. They raised a free hand, infernal magic gathering only to be lost as their hand suddenly fell against the floor. The shriek they released was one that could be heard for miles. The Faceless soul just took the time to sheath their weapon as they stopped in front of the bound demon before standing over them. With their free hand they grabbed the demon's horn before raising them up.
It's unnerving.
Staring up at… a blank slate.
"Smiz… smiz va haf silz?"
"A lipy." The Faceless soul spoke in old Infernal. "Tydd py sma'w ul tmirqy."
"Wmiz?"
"Wma'w rywealwukdy oar zmuw izzitc." The Faceless one barked. "Gujy py muw lipy."
"Vajul!" The demon barked back.
"Vajul?"
"H-hyw vajul ao zmy hyddqfirv!"
"Tmy hyddqfirv?" The demon felt his horn crack. "Hyijyl uw rywealwukdy oar zmuw"
"H-hyw. Add zmuw uw muw vaulq! hy uw zmy aly haf silz!" The demon hissed as his horn was broken and his head dropped to the floor. "Hy kracy zmy wyidw, mot wzirzyv zmuw - idd ao zmuw!"
"Wmyry sudd xe oulv mup?"
"I val'z clas, mot jiluwmyv iozyr zmy ourwz kizzdy." The demon declared looking back up. "nyuzmyr myijyl lar mydd mijy wyyl mup, sy kyduyjy mot uw vyiv!"
"Tmiz wa? The Faceless soul turned as he started walking away. "Tmy xe qfyww xe kyzzyr qyz xe pajy al."
"S-smiz?" The demon seemed taken back. "Wmyry sudd haf qa."
"Tmy wipy edity sy idd qa." The faceless one began as he grabbed his blade for a moment and drew it so fast that the shockwave it released split the demon in half, as well as the rubble that was keeping them bound. He sheathed his weapon. "Zmy Dilv Ao Zmy Vyiv."