Rinoa, Omori, Luna, Promestein, and Tamamo were all sitting together in a room. The scientist of the bunch was yet again asking Rinoa to use her male form for her scientific endeavours. The Doppel was doing her best to ignore the angel, instead focusing on Luna, who was sitting on her lap.
Omori was still trying to walk again. She only had two working tentacles to her name, but most of the poison had been removed, allowing her to at least wiggle the other ones.
Promestein promised to help the monster, even if she did at first suggest replacing her tentacles with 'Super Makina upgrades'. Still, she trusted the scientist, who told her she could be cured of the paralysis within a year with physical therapy. Holy magic was far more effective at healing than dark magic was, after all.
Tamamo was the only one sitting alone in the group, caressing her three fluffy tails. She had to hear where Luka had gone from Rinoa and was annoyed at being left behind. She understood why, but he could've at least talked to her about it.
"Have you heard the news?" Rinoa asked.
"No, what is it?" Tamamo looked at Doppel, who was holding Rinoa in her lap. If an outsider saw this, they might think she was her mother.
"The fighting in Noah has ceased. It seems the monsters have taken control of the region. I'm surprised; I didn't think Ilias would go down so easily." Rinoa explained.
"What!? You mean, they've already taken it? It's only been a week!" Tamamo exclaimed. "That means… Gelon is next."
"Wait, what? Are you sure? Won't they just go straight for San Ilia?"
"No... We have over six hundred monsters here, and since each one of them is living here in a resistance-controlled city, they are considered traitors. I'm sure they'll attack us again. Gelon is also in a good location to attack San Ilia." Tamamo explained.
"Oh... Well, shit. What do we do now?"
"Warn the king," Tamamo said. "I'll try to contact Luka, but he might be too far away now... We need to evacuate the citizens; we can't have a repeat of what happened last time."
Rinoa nodded, calmly placing Luna on the floor. She left the house in a hurry.
"Tam, I mean, Natsumi, what should we do?" Promestein asked. She had to be careful with her words. She didn't want to reveal Tamamo's real identity to Luna.
"We'll try to buy as much time as possible for the people here. But none of you can stay here. Evacuate with the other citizens, and spread the word while you're at it."
"Alright. Luna, Omori. With me. We better leave before the fighting starts. I'll keep them safe." She said. "I'm still a decently powerful angel. We should be fine."
"Good. Make sure to get as far away as possible and contact me if anything goes wrong. You can use telepathy, can't you?"
Promestein nodded before running back upstairs to her lab. She had some things to bring with her before leaving, and Omori and Luna would just have to wait.
"Where will you go?" Omori asked. "Shouldn't you come with us? You don't really have much power left."
Believe me, Omori. I'm aware... But still, there's something bothering me.
"There's something I need to check." Tamamo said, leaving the house as she did.
"We already knew," Sabasa said.
"Really?" Rinoa asked. "How come we didn't hear about it then?"
"We learned about it a few hours ago, when one of our scouts informed us that Alipheese has successfully taken over all of Noah. It's clear that we're next now, and San Ilia is after us. It's just common sense, really. We've started to evacuate all non-combatants; we're halfway done with the process."
Already halfway? That's good... They must've been ready for something like this.
"But where will they go? Is there even anywhere safe for us left?"
"No... Only villages here and there. They can hold our people for a few days, at most. As always, independent humans become rarer and rarer as the days go by. If Gelon falls... Well, let's just hope that doesn't happen." Sabasa said. The king walked over to a nearby sword rack, grabbing a large great sword from it.
"I must go get my wife. We will defend Gelon till the end. The monsters have even pledged to fight with us, believe it or not." He said, genuinely surprised by the fact. They were risking their lives for humans… It was hard to believe. "And what about you?" He turned to Rinoa. "Will you fight with us?"
Rinoa looked down at the ground. Fighting against multiple ancestors in a small and crowded place such as this would be suicidal.
But it's not completely hopeless. Even if we do die, we can save the people here. And that makes it worth it.
I know who I am now. I'm not just an imitation of the hero; I am a hero myself.
Finally, I can do something. I can help others. This is what I was always meant for. This is who I was always meant to be.
"I'll fight." Rinoa declared. "To the very end."
The king smiled at the statement. He knew just how powerful she was, and her help would be greatly appreciated.
"Thank you." He said. "Now, I must gather my knights."
Tamamo walked through the halls of the now somewhat-repaired castle. It was unusually empty, which made searching for her target much easier.
Where would I be?
She looked around for the fox. She knew she was somewhere here. After all, she knew herself quite well, and she remembered exactly what she used to be like, especially during this time.
In his chambers, I bet... Just waiting for him...
She opened the door to the king's bedroom. There was nothing suspicious in the room except for a sword that was missing from its rack. Tamamo used her nose to locate the scent she was looking for, and after a while, she found it.
There you are!
The Kitsune leapt at the small fox hiding in the corner. She had golden hair and only one tail, but Tamamo knew it was just a disguise.
The fox dodged the grab, jumping onto the bed in the centre of the room. Tamamo watched as the normal-looking fox changed into a much larger form, that of a nine-tailed Kitsune, with a smile Tamamo remembered all too well.
"Well, well, well... We meet at last, other me." She said. "I was wondering when this might happen... What happened to your tails?" She asked, genuinely curious.
"None of your business," Tamamo said, preparing herself for battle.
"Oh please... Strange, you act so different from me... Perhaps this is one of your schemes? Hmm.. Are you only acting so nice to get the Hero? That would be something I would do…"
"Me and you are nothing alike." She said.
And I'll never be like you again. This is it for you, Tamamo No Mae. Maybe not today, but soon, we will destroy you.
"You're not really one for answers, are you? Well, I have plenty of questions, and I know you'll be able to tell me all I need to know." Tamamo No Mae said. "Come, let us fight. Do try to entertain me, at least for a little while."
"You think I came unprepared?" Tamamo asked. "You should know better than that."
Hurry up, Rinoa... I told you to follow me.
"Still, I'm surprised you found me... You've ruined my plans. You'll pay for that." She said. Deciding to waste no more time, the ancestor launched a fire spell at the sealed version of herself. Tamamo used her tails to ward off the attack and actually managed to return it to the sender. Tamamo No Mae crushed the fire with her bare hands.
Even with three tails, she can still fight. I'll have to break her, and quickly. She might be my only chance to learn what's really going on.
Tamamo No Mae unveiled her fan, using it to swipe at the other Tamamo. The Kitsune used her fan to stop the blow, but the difference in strength was clear. Just as she was being pushed back, the sound of a door being kicked down reached her ears.
Finally! It took you long enough!
Rinoa jumped into the fray quickly, using her sword to attack the ancestor. The Kitsune was now on the defensive, blocking the attacks of both Rinoa and Tamamo with ease, much to the annoyance of the former.
Suddenly, the Doppel had an idea and dropped her defence. Both Tamamo's were confused by this, but the smaller one caught on quickly. She backed up from the Doppel, giving her otherworldly counterpart the chance to hit her.
And just as she did, the Doppel's body began to glow. She recited the words of the spell, and a large comet blazed above her and crashed straight into the unprepared ancestor. The castle itself shook from the impact, breaking the floor of it apart. All three fell through, now on open ground.
Before the sealed version of herself could rise again, Tamamo No Mae kicked her down, her body's impact with the rock below her making a large crack appear in the ground. Rinoa swooped in, trying to land a critical strike on the ancestor, but was stopped when she took hold of her neck with her hands.
"You two have been a lot of trouble... I suppose I will take you both back with me. Your knowledge makes you valuable." Tamamo No Mae said as she tightened her grip on Rinoa's neck, trying to force her into unconsciousness.
"Leave her alone!" Another monster shouted, who immediately shot a slow yet powerful spell at the Kitsune, knocking her back. Her hold on Rinoa was lessened, giving the Doppel the chance to escape, which she gladly took.
"Ohohoho... If it isn't the greatest traitor of all... Sphinx herself." Tamamo snickered. "Where's your husband? I was hoping to get acquainted with him."
Damn whore. That's my man. I'll show you what happens to anyone who dares to try to take him from me!
"I should've known you would attack like this... It doesn't matter now. This is a fight you cannot win alone, Kitsune. Flee, return to your small home in the north, and leave us." Sphinx ordered, her voice as imperious as always.
"I never said I was alone." Tamamo No Mae pointed it out. "While you're here distracted with me, what's happening to the rest of your people? Heh. I'm sure Hiruko is having quite the feast."
And besides. I could take this trio on myself. But conserving power would be wise.
The smaller Tamamo No Mae rose, just barely able to stand after the brutal assault from earlier. "Sphinx, leave us. Go help the people here. We can take her." She muttered, still trying to stabilise herself.
"Are you sure, Natsumi? You don't look great." Sphinx said, Clearly worried for the small fox.
Natsumi..? That was my daughter's name. So, she has assumed another's identity...
Hmm. Perhaps she and I are not so different after all.
"I'm sure. Leave us." Tamamo ordered. Sphinx hesitated for a moment, but eventually did as she asked.
"So then, what now?" Tamamo asked. "Are you not going to join in on the feast?"
"I don't mind having the leftovers." The ancestor said "I really am curious, though. What happened to you? How did I turn out so... Pathetic?"
"Oh, you know, a couple of years sealed, some lovers here and there, and a handful of heroes trying to show me right and wrong..." She explained. "But I'm not here to answer questions."
Rinoa felt out of place in the conversation. Moments ago, they had been fighting to the death, and now they were conversing like old friends. She took the brief opportunity to heal any of the damage she had taken earlier.
"I suppose that is enough talk, then. It's time for you two to come back with me." Tamamo No Mae said, entering back into a combat stance.
"You sound so sure of that. I may be sealed, but I am far from powerless. Have you ever heard of the Words of Dispel?" Tamamo asked. "It's a technique I created, believe it or not."
Hmm.. I don't actually know if this version of me has created the spell yet. I think I made it a year or so before the whole great ancestors seal nonsense.
"I know exactly what they are, fool. What about them?" Tamamo No Mae asked.
"I only need a minute of my old power to take a bitch like you down. I am far more experienced compared to someone like you. The battle would be over before it even began. Do you really want to take that chance?" She asked.
But surprisingly, Tamamo No Mae had no fear on her face. After a few seconds, she started to laugh.
What's so funny?
Eventually, she calmed down, but the act still managed to annoy the original Tamamo. "Haha... Well, that was good... You know, you must really be the most pathetic version of me there is. I mean, really, what an obvious bluff."
"Bluff? What makes you so sure of that?" She asked.
"I visited the new Spirit of Earth. I know what you did to her. And I thank you for it. You saved my world from annihilation. Still, you are one of my enemies, so you shall still die by my hand, but I'll do you the favour of making it quick. Now, to get back on track, why would I be scared of a body that's lost all its power? You gave it all up. And now you have sent away your own reinforcements. Really, what a blunder!"
Rinoa. This is bad. Get us out of here.
The Doppel looked over at the Kitsune, as if to make sure that the message was correct. Once Tamamo nodded, she started her spell.
Damn it. Are we just going to abandon everyone here?
No. We'll make sure to get everyone out of Gelon first. That's what's important right now.
"Where do you think you're going?" Tamamo No Mae asked, pouncing on the Doppel. But just before she could grab her, she disappeared, along with the other ancestor.
Damn it! They got away. Fuck. It's going to be a lot harder to find all the humans now. Almost half of them have already escaped.
Those damn scouts from Gelon… How were we supposed to know they had harpies working for them?
I need to chase those two down. But just where did they go?
Or… Do I leave them for now and just grab as many humans as I can?
Decisions, decisions...
Morrison ran along the top of the castle walls of Gelon. He was holding a cannonball in his hand, aiming to deliver it to one of the men on the wall.
"Fire!" One of the men shouted, lighting one of the canons up. It shot directly at a crowd of monsters, managing to slay a few. Morrison had to cover his ears from the sound. The action was repeated by a few more canons, each taking a handful of monsters per shot.
This is humanity's last stand. If we can't defend ourselves here, all hope is lost.
So then, we better not lose.
He dropped the cannonball off near one of the canons, running back for more as soon as he was done.
But suddenly, a succubus landed in front of him. Her purple hair shone in the darkness of the night sky, along with two others beside her. Morrison recognised the trio. A horde of succubi flew behind them, each one looking ready to pounce on the men there at a moment's notice.
Lilith, Astaroth, and Morrigan. Shit. This is bad...
"Let's show these humans what happens when the cattle start to act up." Astaroth spoke, looking down at the man in front of her. Suddenly, she flew at Morrison, pinning him to the floor with ease. She quickly started to undress him.
Fuck! When did they get here? Just how many monsters are attacking us?
The man struggled with all his might, doing his best to push off the succubus. But to him, it felt like he was trying to move a mountain.
"Stop moving so much." She commanded, using a spell to hold the man still. Once she had done that, she got to work.
It only took a minute or so for the effects of critical ecstasy to affect the man, leaving him incredibly weak.
He felt his energy drain and his life force seep away as the succubus took more and more. She seemed to be taking her time with him—for now, at least.
"Morrison!" One of the men who was not being ravished by a succubus shouted. He saw the red-haired monster actively having her way with the man and decided to help out as best he could.
Astaroth was far from amused as she felt a large, wooden plank hit her across the head. She looked up at the boy who did it, who was scarcely older than sixteen.
Well, at least he'll make for a better meal than this dried-up old man. Better finish him off and move on.
The succubus got to work, draining the man's energy at a rapid speed. His life force was dwindling as time went on, and it would only take another small push for it to be devoured completely.
"Get off of him!" A loud voice shouted. The succubus did not react in time and was rewarded with a sword through the chest for her efforts.
"Gah!" She screamed out in pain as the sword pushed its way through her, forcing her to stop draining the man below her and focus on the attacker. Once the sword was pulled back out, the succubus slowly stood up, holding the new wound in her chest.
Her eyes locked on the man who did it. He had ginger hair and an impressive frame. He was even taller than her, and by a fair bit too. In his hands was a large, finely made great sword.
No fucking wonder that hurt so much. That bastard will pay for that.
The succubus jumped the man, but he was ready for it; he sidestepped, dodging the attack. Using some surprisingly quick reflexes, he swung his huge sword at the succubus and managed to tear into a part of her wing.
"Now!" He shouted. Astaroth was confused as to why for a moment, but soon realised the reason. A canon was positioned just behind where the King had been and had just been lit only a second ago. She gulped.
The cannonball launched straight into her chest wound, almost perfectly. When the projectile crashed into her, she could feel her chest bones break from the impact. There was now a large hole in her body, but stopped halfway through. Piercing a subbus such as herself with a mere single cannonball would be impossible, but it could still hurt her a lot.
The succubus could not even find it in her to scream. The next few seconds were hazy, with the ringing in her ears and the pain throughout her body making it hard to see what was happening. Her eyes did make out the sight of the King and her sister, Lilith, fighting, and of a purple-haired girl fighting with Morrigan.
D-Damn it... Fuck... I need to heal quickly. Before this... Kills me...
Astaroth put all of her energy into healing, stopping the injury from being fatal. The hole in her chest quickly closed up, allowing her to devote more energy to getting a better sense of her surroundings.
What the hell? How is Morrigan losing to a human? And Lilith, how has she not killed him yet?
Fuck, I need to talk to them.
Astaroth started to use her telepathy, letting her talk with her sisters.
Astaroth! Are you alright? What happened to you?
I'll live... We need to leave now. Screw Tamamo. She can deal with this herself. Let's go back up with Mother. This is all more trouble than it's worth.
I agree. This purple-haired bitch is stronger than she looks.
..?
N-Not that having purple hair is a bad thing or anything.
Whatever. I agree with Astaroth. Let's leave. Minagi is waiting for us, and we wouldn't want to be late.
Yeah, yeah. Fine. And I didn't even get to have a meal yet.
Rinoa stopped swiping her sword when she saw the blue-haired succubus disappear. She let out a sigh of relief and turned to the men around her. There were a few husks already, even though the entire encounter lasted less than a minute, but most of the men were still alive.
She walked over to an older man on the floor, whom she recognised as Morrison, one of the king's knights. She picked him up and brought him somewhere safe.
Alright, those are gone. Now we just have to get rid of the rest.
Tamamo should be able to deal with it, I think. I should go ask the King what I can do to help now.
Seth looked at the rope restraints around his wrists. Just like before, they still had not budged. His prayers to Ilias weren't helping…
I must wait. Patience is a virtue.
But what's all that sound outside? All that screaming and fighting... What's going on?
"What the fuck is that!?" One of the guards shouted. Seth looked up, outside of his cell. A strange, short figure was at the end of the hallway, but for some reason, she had an extra limb coming out of her skirt—two of them, in fact.
A monster, of course... And I can do nothing but watch.
"Halt, monster. State your reason for being here. This is a prison, you realise?" A guard asked
The girl did not answer in words, and only a small giggle could be heard in their place. Then, a massive tentacle shot out from her body, killing the guard in an instant, along with the man beside him. The iron bars of the cell were also destroyed.
Inexplicably, all the ropes on Seth's body were also cut without harming him at all. He had never seen such precision before, and her power was out of this world as well.
"Who are you...?" Seth asked, rubbing his now-freed wrists.
"Hehe. That doesn't matter. I'm curious about you, you know? I heard of what you did... Burning fellow humans alive... You could be quite useful, you know? And I can tell you have a fair amount of monster blood in you. If I were to mess with it a little, I could turn you into one of us. Would you like that, human?" The strange, human-looking Scylla asked.
"Of course not! I'd rather die than be one of you!" Seth declared.
"Heh, that's exactly why I'm doing it. I want to see what you'll say after you turn... Come here, human. I'm just so curious." She said this, approaching the man. He backed up into the corner, hiding from the now terrifying looking ancestor.
"Now, let's see..." Hiruko put a hand on the man, who did his best to resist her, but failed. Suddenly, she started his transformation. She smiled as she watched the show, and she rejoiced in the screams.
Rinoa ran through the courtyards of Gelon. She looked for any survivors stuck under the rubble or in any other precarious situation.
"Help! It's... A monster!" A woman shouted. Rinoa ran to her, lifting her and her child off the ground. The boy in her arms was only a little over four.
"Come with me." Rinoa said. "You're one of the last to be evacuated. You're lucky I even found you."
The woman thanked the Doppel, who helped her leave the courtyard.
What the hell is that?
Rinoa looked at a bundle of tentacles that emerged from one of the buildings, each one covered in blood.
Shit! It's Hiruko!
In an instant, so fast that Rinoa didn't even have the time to react, the woman she was helping was snatched up, along with the child.
No!
But before Rinoa could even move, the ancestor was already done with her meal.
Damn it!
Rinoa backed up from the ancestor, who smiled as she savoured the food. She looked at the Doppel, her eyes telling her she was next.
But now that she was ready, she was able to cut the tentacle that came for her, and then the next one, and the next, and so on. She continued to parry the ancestors attacks, stopping them from hitting her even a single time. Rage filled the girl, allowing her to hit harder and move faster than she ever had before.
Die, you fucking bitch!
Summoning a blade of light, Rinoa jumped in the air, using one of her most powerful spells.
"All life returns to nature from whence it came!" She shouted, launching the attack at the ancestor, who took it head-on.
"Ouch." She said, rubbing her head. "That hurt!"
Rinoa did not listen to the ancestor, instead focusing on using another skill against her.
"The jaws of Rakshasa come to make the wicked pay!"
"Cutting through time, space, and reason!"
"My mother was the star of morning, the child of dawn. The star thrown to earth shall obtain victory!"
Once Rinoa was done, she fell to the ground, her energy depleted. She used so much in such a short time, she could hardly even breathe.
"I admit. It was an impressive display. Nearly seraphim tier." Hiruko admitted. "I suppose I'll have to ask Tamamo about how you could do those moves... But now, you're nice and open. Don't worry, little girl, I'll make your end extremely pleasurable."
N-no!
Get back up! Get back up now! Stop her. Don't let her continue. She'll kill you...
L-Luka! Save me! Please!
Rinoa's eyes widened as a holy ray of light appeared from the clouds. A figure descended, with its wings spread far and wide.
That's not Luka...
"Micaela... Why are you here?" Hiruko asked, watching the seraph descend. The angel looked at the monster below her.
I ask myself that sometimes...
Of course, the Goddess told me to, so I will do as she asks. This girl is important to her, for whatever reason. Besides, after I destroy this ancestor, I'll have saved Gelon. Then, San Ilia will be safe. For now, at least.
Micaela landed on the ground, unveiling her sword and pointing it at the ancestor.
"Hiruko. Ancestor of Scylla, daughter of the Dark Goddess. I, the Sword of Heaven, and the first angel, sentence you to death. Surrender, and I will make it quick." The seraph said. Rinoa took the chance to crawl away, hiding behind some rubble as she watched the scene unfold.
Micaela looks tired. Really tired. Has she not had a chance to rest yet? Was she just fighting on the frontlines before this?
Why is she here anyway? Gelon isn't under Ilias's protection.
There must be something I'm missing here.
Rinoa looked at the seraph's opponent. She, too, looked tired. Perhaps they were on even ground.
Whoever has more skill wins...
Please, Micaela. Don't lose this battle. You may be our enemy, and you may have killed just as many as her, if not more… But at least you don't torture them... Kill her. I know you can.
The fight began in an instant. Micaela countered every tentacle, but not easily. Her fatigue was showing.
Hiruko smiled as she saw the slow moves coming from the Seraph. She spent more and more energy attacking the angel, but she soon realised she was also running low. Fighting that girl earlier had taken more from her than she expected.
"Rinoa? What are you doing here?" A young-sounding voice asked.
"Shush!" Rinoa said, covering the Kitsune's mouth with her hand. Tamamo had suddenly appeared beside her and had nearly given away their position.
"Oh... Sorry." Tamamo said. She looked over at the fight. Micaela's holy blade cut through the extra-limbs of Hiruko like silk, burning them up as she did. When she had the chance, she flew towards the small ancestor, who failed to dodge. She tried to stick her sword straight into her chest, but it was blocked by her arm.
Hiruko took the chance to launch the seraph away with one of her strongest tentacles, flinging her into one of the castle walls.
"Ouch." Tamamo said. "That looked like it hurt... Anyway, watching this does us no good. Tamamo is still out there, somewhere. How did the evacuation go?"
"Almost everyone got out, believe it or not. The King just left a little while ago. It's just us left now. There might be a few stragglers left here, though, which is why I was searching this area in the first place." Rinoa explained.
"Alright. I'll help you out then. Still, where the hell did that other me go?" She wondered aloud.
Micaela groaned in pain as she stood up from the wreckage. Her usually soft skin had been scratched by the wood and stone of the building.
Still, she was not badly hurt. The ancestor lacked the power to do so, and Micaela knew that well. She had no doubts about her own success—if others didn't interfere, that is.
Damn... The constant battling has really started to take their toll on my body. After this, I'll need to rest for at least a week.
Perhaps I could reward a few followers to speed up the process, or punish some heretics. Either way, I get what I need.
Using her seraphim powers, Micaela sensed the area around her, checking for any life forms nearby. There were a few dozen humans—those who did not get picked up in the evacuation—and three massive sources of dark energy, each coming from a different part of the city.
Tamamo No Mae was separated from the rest, clearly doing her own thing away from Hiruko, probably so she wouldn't steal her prey. Not far from Hiruko, Kanon stood idle.
Micaela was confused by the apparent lack of monsters at first, but then came to the conclusion that the angels she had brought with her had taken care of them. A few of them may have been taken out by the local humans as well.
Tamamo is busy dealing with my fellow angels, and Kanon isn't doing much. She seems to have gone through a huge transformation.
Perhaps she needs orders, and she just hasn't received them yet. If so, that means she won't get in my way.
I have just enough power left to deal with Hiruko; I'm sure of it. It will be a tough fight. But as long as I fight for Ilias, I will prevail.
The seraph started to walk back to the ancestor, now having reinforced her determination.
There are some other beings present as well, like that human girl. Rinoa, was it? That's what Ilias said her name was, at least.
The Goddess told me to take her as well. Perhaps I will have enough energy left over to do it.
She's meant to be the sister, no, the Doppel, of the Hero Luka, who was a Nephilim... So then, she is like kin to me. My niece, through Lucifina.
Still, in a world where Lucifina had children... It's absurd.
But it is what the Goddess said to be the truth, and that means it must be true.
Micaela continued walking back to the courtyard where she had been fighting previously. The ancestor had flung her back further than she had first thought.
"A-An Angel!" A man said, bowing before her the instant he saw her. He was wearing heavy black robes, which covered his strangely dark form. Micaela did note his almost glowing red eyes and his unusually dark appearance. "I have been waiting to see one of you again for so long now."
"Who are you?" The seraph asked, tightening her grip on her blade in preparation for the answer.
"My name is Seth, my angel. I lead a village in the south of Safina. I devoted everything I had to the goddess." Seth explained, still kneeling before her.
"This village, what was its name?" She asked.
"Narfolk village, my lord."
"Narfolk... Wait a second. I remember that name. That was the village we never supported. You had a terrible reputation with humans, and you made us look bad. And on top of that, you surrendered the village to the Hero Luka, and then the Resistance! And you dare call yourself one of our followers?" Micaela asked, her voice ripe with growing fury.
Seth stopped kneeling and prostrated himself, his head touching the cold stone floor. The angel sighed. This was the true form of humanity—nothing more than servants who would do anything for an angel's approval.
We don't need failures like this to follow us. I should slay him right now for his past actions. But I see no reason to waste energy. I'm sure one of the monsters here will do it for me.
But just as Micaela was about to move on, she turned back to the man, having noticed something very concerning.
Impossible... He is a monster. How did I only notice this now?
Look at his eyes; they really are glowing.
Damn it. I must really be tired if I'm failing to see something like that.
Oh well, I might as well get rid of him now.
Seth watched as one of the angels he so adored pulled her sword out in front of him.
Wait, what's she doing?
No, it can't be. Is it because I was turned into a monster!?
Before killing the man, Micaela used her sword to take off his robes, revealing the disgusting, half-transformed skin hidden by them. She was repulsed by the sight. Clearly, the man had only been halfway done with his transformation. Whoever did it made sure to make it take as long as possible and be as painful as possible.
I wonder who did it... Well, it matters little now.
The man watched as the angel lifted up her blade, which soon met his arm. He held it out to protect himself, but it was severed in an instant. Then the sword reached his head.
He fell to the ground, no longer breathing.
Micaela moved on, wiping her sword clean as she did. As she progressed, she used her powers to sense her surroundings even further, making sure no one could sneak up on her.
Lucifina is on the front lines, making sure they don't sneak around Gelon. Eden is still at San Ilia, and Ilias is watching from above.
With all of our power combined, we can turn this war around. I'm sure of it. They may have taken Noah, but it is just a small victory in the grand scheme of things.
As long as we stop them from taking San Ilia, that is.
The Sword of Heaven walked through a few buildings, looking at the carnage of the earlier battles as she did. The walls were torn down, and the ceilings were split in half or just completely caved in.
Hmm... I wonder if that's from the current battle or from the earlier damage the city sustained.
It doesn't matter now, I suppose.
-Oh?
Who is that?
Micaela's ears perked up as she heard the sound of someone crying—someone young. Deciding to investigate the source, she turned over to the corner of the room. There she saw a man, a woman, and a child, all of them shrouded in darkness.
Immediately, she looked for any sign of their faith on their clothing. She was disappointed as she saw no cross of Ilias or any badges proving that they were followers.
The man had scruffy hair and dirty robes for clothing, and the woman wasn't much better. In her hands was a child, no older than ten. She was a small girl, and she was crying, likely scared of the ongoing fighting raging not far from them.
"Miss angel, we mean you no harm." The man said this, stuttering due to his fear. "We're hiding here, away from the fighting."
"Tell me. Are you followers of the goddess?" Micaela asked, even if she could already guess the answer. Still, it was best to make sure.
"N-" The man tried to speak, but his mouth was blocked by the woman beside him, who was looking at the angel with eyes full of fear.
She's clearly the smart one here.
"We have followed the Goddess all our lives, Lord Angel." She said, bowing her head before the Seraph. "I assure you, we have kept faith in the Goddess ever since we we're taught about her."
The woman let go of the man's mouth, who realised the blunder he had nearly made. He too, bowed before the angel. Micaela could sense the fear coming from both of them, but not from the child. Clearly, she was too young to be aware of what was happening.
"Tell me then. If you are followers of the Goddess, why do you live here, in a city corrupted with monsters? Why not live in our capital, which is safer than ever?" Micaela asked.
"We had planned to move there for a long time now, my Lord Angel. But we could not afford it. And we heard the city was badly damaged by an earthquake, so we were unsure of whether or not it would be wise to move there." She explained.
Hmm...
"Then... What are the Goddess's five commandments? Surely, any true follower would know them off by heart." Micaela asked.
I shouldn't waste too much time here. I better get rid of these pretenders soon and get back to fighting Hiruko.
"I-I... The first one is..." The woman started to stutter for the first time since the encounter started. The man, who was presumably her husband, looked in horror as she failed to produce an answer.
Micaela waited. She wanted to hear them admit their misdeeds and grovel before her. She knew they were liars; she just wanted to see it for herself.
"The first one is to not sleep with monsters!" The man answered.
I suppose I'll give them that one.
"And..? What are the other four?"
The two continued to think about the question. Clearly, they were uneducated. To not even know more than one commandment...
"Mommy, look!" The young girl said, tugging at her mother's arm. "Miss Angel is so pretty!"
...What?
The girl walked over to the angel—uncomfortably close, in fact. Micaela was made curious by her behaviour. Once the girl reached the angel, she started to feel her legs.
"So soft!" She said. "I wish my skin was as soft as yours, Miss Angel."
What am I supposed to do now?
The parents have still failed to give me an answer. So, they are definitely not followers.
But this child is innocent. It is not her fault that her parents failed to educate her.
But if I kill the parents, the child will be left here with no one to look after her.
...
The Hero Luka showed mercy to me… He let me go, even when he had the chance to kill me, and this is how I repay him?
Perhaps I should bring the child to safety. The parents deserve to die for their sins, but the child...
Haah... Really, this is such a hassle. I have an ancestor to kill, and this is what I'm spending my time doing?
Micaela nonchalantly approached the two adults, who backed up as far as they could from her. Using magic, she covered the child's eyes as she dealt with the heretics.
Once she was done, which didn't take long, she walked back to the child, taking her hand.
"Your parents are gone." She explained. "They were blasphemous fools. You will not be like them. I am teleporting you to our home continent. Someone there will take care of you. Follow the goddess, and you will be greatly rewarded." Micaela explained. Before the child could ask any questions, she teleported her.
...
Why did I do that? I've never bothered with protecting them before.
And it also wasted even more of my energy. Damn it. I should be trying to conserve it…
Micaela left the building. The courtyard was not far away now. Hiruko had been waiting all this time.
It's time to kill that damn monster. For all the angels she has eaten, I will give her a painful, slow death, just like she did to them.
There she is...
The ancestor was currently walking around, looking as though she had been bored by the wait. In actuality, she had only been waiting two minutes, but she was known to be prone to exaggeration.
"Finally." She said. "Took you long enough! What, did I hit you a bit too hard?"
Micaela didn't respond. She readied her blade, calmed her breathing, and focused herself. She could not afford to make any more mistakes.
For the Goddess...
Without warning, she started the battle once more.
Getting too close to her last time was my mistake. It's better to stay at a longer range for now and then swoop in to land some good hits when I have the chance.
Hiruko watched as Micaela flew above her, evading any of the tentacles she sent out. She cut them with ease, like a knife through butter. To any normal human, it looked like a ray of light dashing across the air, moving faster than sound itself.
Hmm. Is she trying to wear me out?
I don't have much energy left... I should try a different strategy, then.
Should I call Tamamo here? Or Kanon? I doubt either of them knows of the seraph's presence.
No. They would just steal my prey.
I can win this, and then... Heh, she'll be all mine.
Hiruko launched herself into the air with her tentacles, sending her high into the sky. Once there, she sent an entire barrage of them at the seraph, surprising her. Multiple managed to latch onto her and start to pull her in, closer and closer to the ancestor.
Damn it! They were so fast!
Micaela struggled against the extraordinary strength of the monsters appendages, trying her best to break free. But they were too much for her to handle alone.
Think. Think! What is she weak to? How do I break free?
The seraph tried to think of a way to escape as she was brought closer and closer to the ancestor's mouth, which widened to a disgusting degree, displaying the monster's depravity in full.
That's it! Her element is water! And there are none nearby! She's weakened, if only a little. She can still summon some herself, but without a nearby source...
So, she won't be able to put out a fire, or at least, not easily. And especially not fire infused with holy magic...
Micaela raised her sword even as the rest of her body was being constricted by tentacles. With her one free arm, she plunged it down, lighting it with fire as she did. It impaled one of the tentacles, igniting it in an instant.
Hiruko screamed as the fire spread to all of her tentacles at an incredible speed, and then to her own body. Micaela was burned, but it didn't hurt her nearly as much. She slipped free from the ancestor's grasp, who had fallen to the ground and was now rolling on the ground, trying to use water magic to stop the flames.
She's weaker than usual. Did she fight someone before me?
Oh right, that other girl... She must have done quite the number on her. I'm impressed. I can see why Ilias wants her in her army.
Micaela wasted no time, swooping down at the currently open ancestor at an incredible speed. Her sword flashed, burning with the holy flames of the first angel, and it slashed straight into the ancestor's chest, leaving a wide gash.
Hiruko rolled away, regaining her footing after a few seconds. The flames had been put out, but the number of her tentacles were dwindling.
Micaela is tired too. I can still win this. I know it.
Should I call Tamamo now?
I could die... Micaela has already put a spell up to prevent teleportation.
No. She won't be stealing my prey from me. She's mine! Mine!
Hiruko had one arm on her new wound, and she started to use her magic to heal it. She was now running dangerously low on energy, but she was still unwilling to call for help.
Her eyes flashed, and her last and strongest tentacles were shot towards the seraph. Micaela just about cut them, but she had clearly slowed down. A few of them managed to strike her, hurting her even more.
Damn it! I have to finish this now!
Micaela fell into a rage as the adrenaline got to her. She shouted as she leapt at the ancestor, pinning her to the floor. Before she could even move, her sword was plunged straight into her heart.
Hiruko's eyes widened as the pain hit her. Her heart had been impaled, and her circulation had been cut off completely.
Blood started to fill her mouth, and she began chocking on it. She grabbed the blade with her hands, desperately trying to pull it out.
F-Fuck! It-it hurts!
Ta-Tamamo, help me! Please!
Hiruko barely managed to send the message, but it was already too late. Micaela's sword began to burn, and with a mighty effort, she forced it through the ancestor's body, pulling it from her heart to her head, splitting her upper body in two.
The ancestor did not have the time to have any last thoughts. The only thing she saw was the angel looking straight into her eyes as she killed her.
Micaela stood up, pulling her sword from the monster's corpse. Immediately, she fell back down. It was hard to even breathe now.
That took a lot of energy. But it is done. She is finally dead.
One down, five to go...
Better make sure they can't bring this one back like they did Kanon.
Micaela used the last of her holy magic to summon a small fire, which lit the ancestors corpse up. It spread, burning her remains.
There... done.
After regaining enough energy, the seraph stood back up. She sighed. The fight had taken a lot of her, but she had prevailed.
Now, to return to Ilias. There are still two more ancestors here. But we can bide our time. I'll still need power leftover to protect San Ilia when the time comes. I don't have the energy to do anything else here anyway.
Hmm? Who's that?
Micaela turned around. Behind her was a Kitsune, with nine proud tails glistening in the moonlight.
Tamamo!? How did she get here? Oh, damn it. I bet Hiruko called her here...
Do I fly away and return to Heaven?
No, She'll shoot me out of the sky. I've seen her do it with plenty of angels before.
And I can't teleport either, thanks to my own damn seal! I had to do a basic one, so that I could save as much energy as possible, but that means it won't let me teleport away either!
Damn it. I have to face her head-on.
"I see you killed my sister." Tamamo No Mae said. "A pity. She was quite useful, even if she was simple. But your battle with her seems to have taken quite the toll."
Micaela sighed. One fight after another. But now was no time for complaining. Now was a time for action.
As long as I fight for the Goddess, there's no way I can lose!
The seraph brandished her blade of light and pointed it at the ancestor. Today was the day she would finally kill that damned fox.
Tamamo No Mae parried the attack that came from Micaela with ease. Her tails were now stronger than a mountain, as they were infused with an extraordinary amount of power, all attuned to the element of Earth.
She's slow. She's weak. This is my chance. Still, though, how the hell is she still even moving? She should be dead after using this much energy. What the hell is keeping her going?
It doesn't matter. I'll finish this now, before she can escape.
The two continued to fight, lighting up the entire courtyard with their clash of light and dark. Tamamo continued to parry the swipes and swings that came from Micaela, who in turn continued to dodge and reflect the spells from Tamamo.
Damn it. This battle cannot continue any longer. I'm having trouble even moving...
I have one more source of energy remaining. But it will cause permanent damage to use it...
But I have no choice.
Micaela suddenly flew into the air, her body glowing in the dark, moonlit sky. Her wings stretched out far, allowing her to stabilise herself.
This is it, Tamamo No Mae. Everything I have... I believe in the goddess. She will give me the strength I need to destroy you!
Tamamo watched as the angel began her spell. She knew it well, and there was only one way for her to stop it.
Here we go, Micaela. Let us see which one of us is truly stronger.
Her nine tails expanded, all of them gathering power from the moonlight. She began to chant the words of her famed spell, one that was strong enough to even take down a seraph. Her tails all pointed towards the angel, each one ready to shoot her down at a moment's notice.
"I am the Sword of Heaven, the first angel." Micaela declared. "Now, fall before my holy blade!"
Even if I have to burn my own life force to kill you, Tamamo No Mae, I'll do it! There's no way I'll lose now, not while I have the Goddess on my side!
Tamamo No Mae's attack and the seraph's met in mid-air, causing a huge explosion of light and dark, which shook the entire courtyard. Both combatants were flung back, and Micaela was grounded.
Tamamo No Mae coughed loudly as she attempted to stand back up. Micaela had more fight left in here than she had first predicted. Still, there was no way she could keep it going now.
The Kitsune ran towards where she saw the angel crash land.
Once she arrived, she found the seraph, sprawled out on the dirt ground. She had many wounds and scars all over her body, which had not yet had the time to heal.
Micaela screamed in pain as something impaled her. She looked down to her belly, where something was protruding out. Eventually, she recognised it as a blood-stained fan.
The seraph failed to breathe as she took the attack. The fan was pulled back out, letting a huge amount of blood leak out of the angel's body.
Too much, I can't heal; why can't I heal?
I have no energy left… None at all…
Micaela was then kicked over by the Kitsune, her body impacting the ground roughly. Tamamo No Mae put her foot over the angel's body, keeping her pinned to the dirt.
"Finally... " She muttered. "For all the monsters you have slain today and in the past week, I will kill you." Tamamo put more pressure on the wound, forcing even more blood out of the seraph's body.
Help me, somebody... Help me...
Lucifina, Where is she?
Out on the front lines... Right...
Micaela used the small spark of energy she had left to call her sister, begging for help as she did.
"A seraph for an ancestor... If only Hiruko had lasted a little while longer... I suppose it matters little now. She did succeed in something, at least. The mighty Sword of Heaven, down at my feet... Should I kill you now or take you as my slave?"
Tamamo pondered the situation for a moment. Micaela could be turned into a mighty weapon for Alipheese. But she could escape. And did they even have the facilities to keep her imprisoned right now?
"Huh... I can't even teleport away... Did you put up a field? That must've cost quite a bit of power. To have so little energy remaining... Well, I suppose you were fighting on the front lines constantly."
She fought me and Hiruko on the first day, along with Giganto weapon, then Saja and Minagi next. She's clashed with every ancestor now except for Kanade, and in only a week... No wonder she has so little power remaining.
I'm surprised she was still able to fight at all me after all of that. She truly is impressive.
"Anyway, there is no point wasting any more of our time here. It is a pity. I would've liked to see what Minagi would've traded with me to have you, but there's no way I'm letting you live after all you've done."
Tamamo started chanting a powerful spell, one that she had used many times before and only moments ago in the battle that had grounded the angel. Her tails stretched out to their full length, using the power of the moon to enhance her own strength.
"Goodbye, Sword of Heaven." Tamamo No Mae said, her body glowing intensely. "Tell me, where is your goddess now?"
Before Micaela could respond, the attack began. Nine rays of light crashed straight into the seraph's body, ripping her flesh apart.
Ilias...
Lucifina...
Eden...
Fight on... Even as I die, keep up the fight. We must not let the monsters win.
Please, sister... Kill that damn fox.
Tamamo No Mae sighed in relief once she had finished the spell. Finally, the seraph was dead.
And now, the other two await us. Then there was the goddess herself.
Let us see what you do now, Ilias. You have lost the centrepiece of your army. Can you still even fight?
Tamamo No Mae walked off. The humans had run off somewhere, and she would have to track them down.
Or Is it better to just leave? Should I join Alipheese on the front lines?
Gelon isn't even important anymore anyway. We destroyed too much, so it's of no use to us as a base of operations.
And what's the point of finding those humans? It doesn't give us anything. We have enough of them for now. We can find them later, after the war is over.
Oh, right. Kanon. I better tell her to leave as well. It's a pity she can't teleport. I'll just tell her to walk back to us and to also protect herself against any attackers.
We should really fix that problem. Those Makina upgrades of hers weren't built for teleportation...
Rinoa looked over the pile of rubble she had been hiding behind. There she saw a blonde-haired angel lying flat on the dirt. Blood covered the ground all around her.
Micaela..
No, I shouldn't feel bad about this. This is a version of Micaela who killed hundreds of humans in her time without even a hint of remorse.
But, still...
She had watched as Tamamo No Mae killed the seraph, using her greatest spell to do it.
Coward... She should've faced her when she wasn't so tired. That damn fox... This is no real victory for her. She cheated!
The Kitsune had left the area a while ago. The other Tamamo, the one from her world, was worried that Tamamo No Mae might've teleported to where the refugees had run off to. She teleported to them to make sure that wasn't happening. She would contact Rinoa once she had confirmed it.
Now what? I've rested up a bit now. Should I go look for any other survivors? There might be a few left.
Oh right! Seth! I forgot about him. He should have some guards, though. He was supposed to be the last one evacuated.
Rinoa looked back at Micaela's body, as if to confirm whether or not she was really dead. She used her holy magic to sense the vital signs of the seraph and picked up nothing.
Is this a win for us? Micaela was certainly one of our enemies.
Ugh, I'm getting confused between the one I know and the one in this world.
According to the rumours, Micaela showed no mercy to those who did not follow the goddess, killing even children without care.
-Wait, what's that?
Suddenly, a flash of light appeared above the city. It shone so brightly that Rinoa could see the carnage of the battle clearly for the first time.
She looked up at the source but had to cover her eyes due to the light's intensity. Eventually, it began to dim while also descending.
It's so bright! Could it be...? An angel?
Once the light had completely dissipated, an angelic being could clearly be seen, one who looked very similar to Micaela herself.
No way! Lucifina!?
The seraph dropped to the ground and started to slowly approach Micaela. Once she noticed the blood, she started to run to her. She picked up the angel, holding her in her arms.
Rinoa got a good look at Lucifina. Her eyes were not filled with the normal intensity they once held but instead looked distracted, as though they were not fully processing what was happening. Her usually insane grin was completely gone, instead replaced with a neutral look that eventually dissolved into a frown.
Is she crying? No way!
The Doppel heard the sound of the seraph's crying, which started to become more and more intense over time. She held the corpse close, even as the blood covered her own body.
"Micaela..." She whispered, holding the seraph's body even closer, as if she were hugging her. "Who did this to you?"
Rinoa made sure to cloak her presence as she watched. She couldn't afford to be spotted by the mad seraph, not while she was like this.
"Was it Tamamo?" Lucifina asked aloud. "Or was it that fucking plant? Or that whore? Or that Scylla bitch? Who, Micaela? Who did this to you?"
Lucifina stopped crying after another few minutes. She placed Micaela's body back on the ground calmly. Using a holy spell, she teleported the corpse back to heaven. There, she would be given a proper burial.
I don't know who did it, Micaela. But they will die for it.
Either way, I'm killing that damn plant. I can sense her; she's still nearby.
Lucifina felt the rage flood her body as she flew towards where she had sensed the aura. Rinoa followed as best she could, but she was significantly slower than the seraph, and she had to deal with obstacles on the ground.
The seraph's body started to burn brighter and brighter as anger filled her. It did not take long for the angel to track down her prey, and once she did, she started the battle without warning.
She swooped in from the side, surprising the ancestor. Her blade cut straight into the monster's poorly defended body. Her sword was imbued with intense flames, which just so happened to be Alraunes greatest weakness, which was only amplified by her zombie form.
Kanon fell to the side, collapsing on the ground. It only took her a moment to get back up and look at the seraph. Lucifina was not wearing her usual insane smile; instead, it was replaced by one of pure anger.
The ancestor quickly started to fight back, launching her own vines and other plants at the seraph, who did not bother dodging. Instead, she took the attacks head-on, much to her surprise. Her weak mind only understood what was happening when the angel started to glow.
"I am the Daystar, the child of dawn." Lucifina said, no longer whispering as she usually would. "The star thrown to the Earth shall obtain victory!"
A blazing comet appeared above the pair, crashing into the earth. The flames surrounded her, burning her flammable body easily. It continued to spread, eventually enclosing her whole body.
Lucifina did not waste the opportunity. As the ancestor burned, the seraph attacked. She used skill after skill, move after move, again and again, until the alraune stopped moving.
Once the monster was lying down on the floor, doing her best to crawl away, the seraph finally decided to speak. And this time, it was not for the sake of a spell.
"Did you kill my sister?" She asked, stepping on the ancestors back. "Do you know who did it?"
Kanon tried to speak, but failed. Her vocal cords were completely inoperable. She couldn't even scream anymore.
She wished she could, as the seraph's sword was plunged into her back.
"Did you do it?" Lucifina repeated. "Or was it someone else?"
The seraph cut again, trying to get an answer from the ancestor, who tried and failed to limp away. Rinoa watched in horror at the display.
This is...
I need to get out of here.
The Doppel started to run back to the main courtyards of Gelon. She had no place watching this battle any longer.
"Did you do it?" Lucifina repeated it, this time directly Into Kanon's ear. After a few seconds of no responses, she gave up.
Perhaps it was her, perhaps it wasn't. Does it really matter?
I'll kill them all anyway. Every single one. They will all pay for her death; they will pay a hundred times over.
Deciding she was done torturing the ancestor, Lucifina used her sword like an axe, chopping down on the alraune's head again and again until she stopped twitching. She burned her corpse down to the last shred, making sure she could never be reanimated again.
One down, five to go...
Rinoa stumbled back to the streets of Gelon. She had followed Lucifina outside of the city itself, and getting back took longer than she had expected.
I can't sense Tamamo or Kanon... So she finished the job. And I can't sense Lucifina either.
Finally, they're all gone. It's finally over.
Rinoa dropped to her knees, her breathing heavy. It was a long and hard fight, but it is over now. No more fighting could be heard anywhere. The angels that came with Micaela had left, and all the monsters had too.
Thank you for your intervention, Micaela. Without you, we would've all been killed.
The Doppel returned to where Micaela had once been. Her blood still stained the ground, but there was one shining object that caught Rinoa's eye.
No way, it's still here!
She walked over to a sword still lying on the ground. It was a beautiful weapon, one with no imperfections, and you could tell it was powerful just by looking at it. Rinoa recognised it instantly.
The Sword of Heaven.
She picked up the sword, which was unusually light. When she felt the steel, she was shocked by its pure rigidity and strength. She had no doubt that with a weapon like this, she would hit far harder than before.
But should I take it?
...
Micaela, in our world, you have become a good person. A kind person.
But as you are now, or rather, as you were...
I will do what the future you, the real you, would've wanted. I will fight for humanity with your own sword.
From here on, this sword is no longer one of Heaven.
This is the Sword of Humanity.
I am the Sword of Humanity.
Notes
Well, that was a long chapter. I was very close to splitting it, but I think this is still alright... Though it is 11k words…
Three huge deaths have happened, all of them in the same chapter. Kanon has been laid to rest once more, along with her sister, Hiruko. She did her best, but the Sword of Heaven, even when tired, is too strong an opponent for the ancestor.
Lastly, the seraph herself was also killed. She had been way overworked and had practically no rest in between battles. Tamamo was also almost full up on power, meaning the fight was unfair from the start.
Needless to say, all of these deaths will affect the future. With only four ancestors, two of which currently cannot fight, Alipheese's army has been greatly weakened.
Ilias, too, has taken a massive hit. With Micaela gone, her army has lost its core leadership. Can she still fight with only two seraphs?
This was undoubtedly the most important battle in the entire war, and neither side has truly prevailed.