"How many of us survived?" Rinoa asked, worried about the answer. The battle had been a fierce one, but she knew that most people had evacuated in time.
"I can't give you an exact count of survivors, but I can tell you the toll it took. Around five hundred lives were sacrificed in the throes of battle. A third of them were monsters who defied their leader to stand with us," The King said somberly.
Rinoa sighed. More people died than she had first thought, but still, it could've been much worse. She turned her gaze to the fire flickering between them. "I see... So, what do we do now?"
"Gelon has been destroyed, even more than it was before. It will take a lot longer for us to restore it this time, and we've already used up most of our resources." He explained, his tone a mix of weariness and resolve. Thankfully, we took the food with us, so we should be able to hold out until spring."
"So we'll just stay in these villages?" The Doppel asked.
If it is the only option, then so be it. Still, it won't be as nice as it was in Gelon, but at least we're alive.
"Aye, and we'll set up a few campsites for those who cannot find any residence. One day, maybe in the near future, we can go back to the city. But for now, that day is a long way away." The King said, his gaze fixated on the horizon.
Rinoa sighed. Just when humanity was starting to get a foothold somewhere, the monsters showed up and took it away. It was a common occurrence, at least in this world.
The fire's crackling drew Rinoa's attention to the sword cradled in her lap. It pulsed with latent power, a potent weapon in these uncertain times. It also seemed to mesh well with her current skillset, and since she already had angelic power within her, she could emulate Micaela herself, although not quite to the same degree.
"I accept your offer, by the way," Rinoa murmured. She looked up at the King, a newfound determination in her eyes.
"Oh? You will become my first knight?" He asked, a small smile reaching his lips.
Rinoa's features softened with gratitude as she knelt, her voice steady as she echoed the solemn words. "I swear, to be fearless in the face of foes, to protect the innocent, and to bring justice to the guilty. I shall shield the vulnerable and do no wrong; this oath I embrace until my final breath."
Sabasa's laughter was warm, a comforting note amid the turmoil. "Ah, I'm surprised you knew the words. Anyway, there is no need for such formality. Rise, First Knight Rinoa."
A sense of camaraderie passed between them, transcending formalities. Rinoa rose, her sword finding its sheath as she sat back down.
"One more thing, Rinoa. Now that you've become my knight, you'll have to stop kneeling so much. I'm not really a King anymore, am I? I don't even have a kingdom to rule over in the first place!" He quipped, laughing at his own joke. Rinoa was surprised. He laughed so easily at his own misfortune.
He seems so used to losing. It makes sense. He's been on the losing side ever since he was born.
"What will you have me do, my lord?" Rinoa asked, her tone respectful.
"Hm... Go on patrol. Check in on our people and make sure they are doing alright. Once you are done, come back to me. We have much to celebrate." The King commanded.
"There's going to be a celebration," Rinoa asked. "What for?"
"You should know; you're the one who told us! Micaela, Kanon, and Hiruko are all dead! Though I thought Kanon was already dead, but those are just details. Now, I hope you can handle a few drinks, young one." The King said, his eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.
He keeps saying that he likes that he is so much older than me. He's probably only a couple of years older!
Damn this small body of mine. Is this what Luka feels like?
And now I've forgotten that I'm actually seven years old again...
"No, I think I'll skip this one. I have to get some rest." Rinoa said.
And I don't want to celebrate with all those deaths looming over me, even if they were but a fraction of our total population.
"Oh, I see. Well, good luck." The King said, leaving the campsite and heading off to one of the villages.
I should go check on Luna first. She's not far.
Rinoa packed up her things and started her patrol. The villages were fairly far from one another, but the girl was quick enough that it would not be too big of an issue.
500 deaths... Around 160 monsters were killed. Another 300 were soldiers, and the rest were citizens.
At least we kept the casualties to a minimum.
On the contrary, reports say that our cannon crews took out almost three hundred monsters alone. Combined with the kills from our soldiers, me, and the King himself... Well, we certainly got our revenge.
But most importantly, Hiruko is dead. I didn't actually see Kanon die, but it was safe to assume.
There are only four ancestors left now.
And the Sword of Heaven was slain as well...
Good. That's just one less enemy for us. With both Alipheese and Ilias weakened, humanity's chances of survival are increasing.
-Oh, there's Luna.
Rinoa found the young girl covered by a thick blanket. She was huddled near a campfire, seeking heat in the cold air of the night.
"Luna," she said, calling out to the child. She turned to Rinoa, smiling upon seeing her.
"Hello, Miss Rinoa." The child greeted. She moved over a little, giving the Doppel a place to sit. She took it, warming up beside the fire.
"How are you feeling?" She asked.
"I'm okay," Luna said. "I was scared of the attack at first, but I knew that you were there... I knew you'd keep me safe."
The girl inched closer to the Doppel, who made no attempt to halt her approach.
"Are your friends okay?" Rinoa asked, doing her best to make conversation. Normally, she was quite awkward during times like these, but not around Luna, for some reason.
"Yeah, they're alright. I was talking with them earlier. They were really scared as well, but I told them that you were out there fighting all the monsters!" Luna said. Rinoa smiled, a sudden warmth entering her heart as she heard the words.
...
Rinoa gently took Luna's shoulders and calmly placed her head on her lap. The girl snuggled up beside her, enjoying the comfortable position.
"So... Did you hear the news about the monsters?" Rinoa asked.
"What do you mean?" Luna asked, looking up at the Doppel.
"A lot of them died protecting us." She said. "Without them, we may not have escaped."
"Really..? I heard something like that. Are you sure it's true?"
"It is. Thankfully, most of them managed to escape."
"..." Luna remained silent. Rinoa decided not to push the topic any further. For now, showing her that not all monsters are bad should at least help her a little. Though the fact that monsters had attacked them only two days ago likely didn't help sway her,
Haah... It really is hard to change her mind on this.
Maybe I should try letting her hang out with Omori or Tamamo. Getting used to being around them could only help.
Speaking of which, I hope Tamamo is alright. She's resting after all that fighting, and Omori is being looked after by Promestein.
Hm... I wonder how Luka is doing. I haven't seen him for so long now.
I hope he gets back soon. I miss him, a little.
"Rinoa," Luna suddenly said. "Why do they do it? Why do monsters attack us?"
The Doppel was surprised by the girl's sudden question, but quickly formed a response.
"It is in their nature, I suppose. Just like it is in humans to fight and hunt, monsters are the same as us, just stronger. No one is born evil, Luna, not even monsters, and not even the Goddesses. We all have the potential for both good and bad. Things like our upbringing, the environment we live in, all of that, they all affect how we turn out."
"So... Monsters are only bad because of their parents?" Luna asked.
"Well, not always. But yeah, monsters have never been known for being great mothers. But the biggest issue is their leader, Alipheese, and the six ancestors, or four, now."
"If we get rid of her, they'll all be nice?" Luna asked, her voice filled with hope.
"Maybe. Or they'll just not be so bad anymore. Coexistence will take a long, long time to truly work. But, I do believe in it. It is possible, if not incredibly difficult." Rinoa said.
"..." Luna returned to silence, simply staring into the fire. Rinoa sighed. She had more work ahead of her, but she could at least enjoy this moment for a while longer.
Saja slithered through the halls of the Monster Lord's Castle. Even after sustaining heavy damage in earlier battles, she could still walk, or rather, slither. The Sword of Heaven lived up to her name, but the wounds were still healing. It would only take a little while longer for her to be able to fight again.
I still can't believe it.
Tamamo No Mae, killing Micaela?
Minagi won't be happy to hear this. Should we even tell her? I can't even imagine what she might do.
The ancestor was on her way to yet another meeting. Her, Tamamo, Kanade, Hiruko, Kanon, and Minagi were all supposed to show up, but the last of the bunch were on a mission, and they decided it was more important. Tamamo agreed with her, and thus, the meeting of six went down to five.
Hiruko and Kanon are both late, as per usual.
I suppose we'll just have to start without them.
Saja opened the door to the war room. Two of her sisters were already sitting down, surprising the ancestor. It turns out she was the only one who was late, which was strange. She was normally first to the meetings, as she lived in the castle itself.
Well, it does not matter. Let's just get this over with.
"Let us be seated." She said, taking her seat. Tamamo sat down across from her, with Kanade on her right.
"When did our lord say she'd be arriving?" Tamamo No Mae asked, her voice unusually nervous, even if she did try to hide it.
"Soon," Saja said. "In the meantime, is there anything we wish to discuss?"
Surprisingly, Kanade spoke up first instead of Tamamo. "There is," she said. "In recent battles, I have sustained a great number of losses. This is thanks to the Daystar. I now only have five clones left, as I used most of them in the fighting."
"I see. That is troublesome." Saja said. "Where are these clones, and what would you have us do about the issue?"
"I have two underwater, one in Vrimor, one in Remina, and one here. I am currently replenishing my energy, but it is a slow process. I am asking for more men to be sent to me so I can get back on the front lines quicker."
Hmm... Her main body is probably somewhere in Noah since it is the best environment for a slime like herself. But to only have six of herself still alive... It is worrisome.
"Very well. I will speak to Alipheese about it. " Saja said. "Is that all?"
Kanade nodded.
"Good, then let us—" But before Saja could continue, the grand door to the room opened, revealing a large Lamia monster behind it. Immediately, all the ancestors bowed, even Kanade, which was a strange sight to see due to her slime body.
"Rise, my children. I apologise for my lateness." The Dark Goddess said, slithering over to her seat. It was at the head of the table, symbolising her authority.
"It is no problem, my lord. What news should we start with?" Saja asked, sitting back in her seat.
"I do not mind. Tamamo, why don't you start?" Alipheese suggested. Saja noted Tamamo's strange posture and the sweat forming on her brow. She looked almost scared.
Just what does she have to tell us?
Tamamo No Mae stood, a slight shake running through her body as she did. This was highly unusual.
After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and relaxed. "The news I bring you today is mixed." She admitted, doing her best to regain her confidence.
"I will start with the good news. The Sword of Heaven is dead, killed at my own hand. She was slain during the battle in Gelon, in which we lost a great many of our comrades."
"Micaela is dead!?" Alipheese asked, not entirely believing the news.
"It is true, my lord," Saja spoke up. "I have heard the tale told over and over again by multiple different monsters. Tamamo did indeed kill her."
"That's... Good work, Tamamo. With her out of our way, Ilias has lost her second-in-command. Taking her down will be an easy task now." Alipheese said with a smile.
"I would not celebrate yet, my lord. There is still more news to be told." Saja pointed out.
Tamamo agreed. "My lord, I regret to inform you of this, but Hiruko is dead," She said. "I have also heard reports of Kanon disappearing, assumed dead."
"W-what!? How is that possible!?" Alipheese's eyes widened, and her heartbeat quickened. She found the news hard to believe. Her daughters were not ones to die so easily.
"The Sword of Heaven did not go down without a fight, my lord. She killed Hiruko, burning her corpse to ashes so that she could never be revived. I am unsure of what happened with Kanon. She may still be out there somewhere, and we are already searching for her." Tamamo explained.
But she's almost definitely dead; is that what you're trying to say, Tamamo?
"That is..." Alipheese looked taken aback by the news. To have not one, but two of her daughters leave her on the same day... She did not want to believe it.
Alipheese had always loved her children, even if she was never overly affectionate with them. The death of Kanon hit her hard, but she managed to pull through. But with both of them now gone...
Damn you, Ilias. You will pay for this. I swear it.
"Leave me." She ordered. Kanade and Tamamo immediately followed the command, leaving the room hastily.
"Saja. That includes you." The Monster Lord reminded.
"I would never leave you, my lord. I am... I am also upset about the loss, but now is not the time for mourning. We must take this opportunity that Micaela's death has given us." Saja pointed out. Even now, she was still thinking of the war at large.
"And what would you have me do? Send more of my children out to die?" Alipheese asked.
"No, my lord. The plan is already underway. We are counting on Minagi and her daughters to bring us good news." Saja explained.
"Minagi..? What are they up to?" The Dark Goddess asked. She was never much involved in the war, unlike Ilias. She would normally just leave it up to her daughters, a strategy that had come back to bite her.
"I am not sure myself, my lord, but it has something to do with San Ilia. Tamamo is in charge of the operation, so she likely knows more." Saja said.
"Very well. I will leave it in her hands, then. And what about you, Saja? Will you return to the front lines?"
"I will, my lord. My injuries have healed. Tamamo plans to join me, and the second is already waiting for me." She explained.
"I see... Before you go," Alipheese said, taking hold of her daughter's hand. "Do not falter. I cannot afford to lose another daughter. Keep yourself safe, and your sisters too."
"I will, my lord. I swear it." Saja said, gripping her mother's hand.
"Please, don't do it! I didn't know it was the church's foo–"
The sound of steel meeting flesh interrupted the man. His head rolled along the floor, leaving a trail of blood behind it.
Fool. Yet another sinner is trying to lie to me. Thankfully, my faith keeps me from listening to them.
There are so many of them now. Cleansing the city of heretics has become a daily task. How bothersome.
Eden cleaned the blood off of her spear. Once she was done, she left the corpse there; her angels would clean it up later.
For the moment, it will serve as a reminder to all the other citizens of what happens when you go against the Goddess.
The Third Seraph walked over to one of the balconies on the castle. From here, she could see all of San Ilia. Humans and angels worked in tandem to bring prosperity to the Goddess. Priests would often be seen spreading the word of Ilias, and they would always attract large crowds.
In only two weeks, we have built all of this. It is truly remarkable. This is what we are capable of when we all work together under Ilias.
The castle has been mostly fixed too, although it is still a little rough around the edges. It should only take a few more days for it to be fully restored.
It is truly a blessed day. Thank you, Ilias, for giving us such a beautiful morning. I will do all I can to repay you.
Eden returned to the main part of the castle, the throne room. She sat on the throne, which was surprisingly uncomfortable. It was not made for someone her size.
It's ridiculous. It's not wide enough for me... Oh well, it is only a minor issue.
Speaking of issues, it is time to see what my angels need.
The Seraph had been entrusted with control of San Ilia ever since the earthquakes. She was told to protect it and restore it, both of which she had been doing earnestly.
The Goddess has put her faith in me. She trusts me to defend this city from any retched monsters who dare to threaten our peace.
Speaking of which, the Goddess called us to a meeting not long ago, but neither Lucifina nor Micaela responded.
What is going on? I know Lucifina is on the front lines and may currently be busy, but why did Micaela not say anything?
The Goddess told me to wait until Lucifina responded to show up, and she would tell me when it was time... But still, just what is going on?
I suppose it is a question for later. For now, I must see what my subordinates require.
An angel entered the throne room, kneeling before the seraph upon seeing her. She was a small angel, one who resembled a child in appearance but was actually many years older than one.
"Speak, fellow angel. State the reason you have come." Eden said sternly. She had gotten quite used to leadership over her many decades of experience, but she was still no Micaela. But each seraph had her strengths.
"I am here to report on recent news from the front lines." She explained, still kneeling.
"Rise. Tell me what you know." Eden commanded.
"We have reported losses of up to thirty percent of all of our soldiers. On the other hand, reports say Alipheese has lost nearly sixty percent of her own army." The angel informed.
"That is great news," Eden said. "But if they are losing so many, how were they able to take Noah?"
"It seems their strategy of rushing forward is working. The only issue is that they'll run out of monsters to throw at us before they can storm this city. They are leading themselves to their own doom."
Excellent. With this, Ilias's victory is assured.
"Very good." The seraph said, "Do you have anything to add?"
"No, my lord. I pray that you continue to lead us well."
Eden nodded, dismissing the angel. She did her best to get comfortable on her throne but failed. It seems she will just have to try to ignore the size issue for now.
-Huh?
What's that sound?
The seraph stood up, leaving her throne. A strange noise was resounding throughout the building, and she eventually recognised it.
What the hell? Why are people moaning?
Eden sprung into action, leaving her castle. The sight that greeted her when she saw the city made her heart skip a beat.
No, no, no! What the hell! Why are there monsters here?
Above every building were winged, humanoid monsters. Each one had a tail, two wings, and a pair of horns to round it all off. Eden knew them well.
Succubi. And so many! Where did they all come from?
Wasting no time, she flew into the air, brandishing her spear. She soared towards one of the monsters, impaling her on the end of her weapon with ease.
All around her, her own angels were also fighting back, slicing through succubus after succubus. But the monsters would not just lay down and die. They fought back, pinning angels down to the floor and having their way with them right then and there.
Disgusting! I must purge the city of these abominations!
Eden swooped down to one of the succubi, who was currently enjoying a Valkyrie's body. Once she was on the end of Eden's spear, however, that all stopped.
There are so many of them. And just how the hell did they even get here in the first place?
The city has an anti-teleportation seal all around it, so they couldn't have gotten here that way.
Did Lucifina retreat? Did we lose the front line?
No… the angel from earlier would've told me. Anyway, it doesn't matter right now. I must cleanse this city.
The Seraph rose back into the sky, eliminating a dozen succubi a minute with her immense power. Although she was never quite as strong or skilled as her sisters were, she was still no joke. There was a reason she was entrusted with leadership.
She looked at the battle raging around her. Humans were firing canons and crossbows in an effort to rid the city of the monsters. The angels continued to fight them head-to-head, but something was strange.
Where is their leader? There's no way they'd come here without at least one of the Lilith Sisters.
"Fufufu, look at that. A seraph, all alone." A sensual voice said.
Of course… It's her.
Eden turned around. Before her was Minagi, the ancestor of all succubi. All three of her daughters were flying beside her as well, but Eden felt no fear. She was prepared to fight for the Goddess to the end, even in such a dire situation.
"Daughters, leave me. Allow me to fight the seraph one-on-one. Go feast on the angels here, and the humans too. Show them why we are the better choice." Minagi ordered.
"Right away, Mother," Lilith said. All of them flew back to the ground, assisting their fellow monsters in raiding the city.
Damn it. I have to finish this quickly and then take them out afterwards.
I should call for assistance first, however. Most of our angels are fighting on the front lines, so we only have a small force here. We'll need all the help we can get.
Lucifina, Micaela. I need assistance. Minagi has somehow gotten here. Help would be appreciated.
Once Eden was done with her message, she turned back to the ancestor in front of her.
"Tell me, Minagi. How exactly did you get here? Surely Lucifina or Micaela would've stopped you."
"Oh Eden. I suppose you were always the dimmest of your sisters, both in terms of power and intellect. But I don't mind explaining. It won't matter once you're dead anyway." She said with a wicked, enchanting smile. Thousands of souls had already surrendered to it, but not Eden. She would never fall to a whore like her.
"Let me see if I can explain this to someone such as yourself. Look, from Noah, I went west, then south, and finally east." Minagi used her hands to point to her right, then down, then left. It was her way of mocking the angel, explaining her methods like a child.
Damn it. She went all the way around? That's absurd… It must have taken days.
"It was so none of your soldiers would spot us. And look, it worked. Now, I'll be honest, Eden. I'm more interested in your eldest sister, but I don't mind showing you a thing or two as well." Minagi said, spreading her arms out wide, as if inviting the seraph in for a hug.
"Come closer, oh powerful angel. I will show you what that Goddess you so adore prevented you from feeling." Minagi lunged towards the seraph, but she dodged in the nick of time.
"Get away from me, foul succubus. You and your daughters will die here, at the end of my spear!" Eden proudly declared.
"Good grief, you really are boring. Oh well, I might as well end this as fast as possible then." Minagi's eyes flashed, and unfortunately, Eden just so happened to be looking straight at them.
N-No! Damn it!
Eden felt her will slip away and fade into nothing. It didn't matter anymore. Nothing did. Except for one person, and that was the one directly before her. Minagi smiled, pleased with the results of her spell.
"Well, that wasn't too hard now, was it? You know, I've never really paid much attention to you before, but your body is quite nice. You're already quite the pervert, always walking around naked like that. I can't wait to see what you turn out like when I'm done with you." Minagi said as she approached the frozen seraph.
No! Come on, don't let her touch you!
Free yourself from this spell! Escape!
Minagi's hand crept along the seraph's body, and she began gently bringing her down to the ground. It was easier to do it all there, though she could still do it in mid-air, for all to see. But this was more personal.
Eden felt her mind start to slip away as Minagi's hand touched her body. She began to use pleasure spells on the seraph, making her body shake in forbidden ecstasy.
Hah, no, escape... I must escape.
The seraph's will began to falter as the pleasure got more and more intense. She started to think of her past and everything she once knew. Would this be her death? At the hands of a succubus, the race the Goddess despised the most?
Damn it all! Now! For Ilias!
Using a sudden burst of will, she pulled herself free from the spell. In an instant, she picked her spear back up from the ground where it had fallen previously and thrust it straight into Minagi's belly.
The ancestor coughed up blood as the weapon made its way into her. She was used to being pierced, but not with steel. Still, even if the spear was a fine weapon, it was not enough to badly damage the monster.
Eden used her six wings to fly back a few metres, giving her some room to breathe. This was not the first time she fought an ancestor head-on, but she would normally have a legion of angels with her for assistance.
Currently, she was completely alone. Only the sounds of her fellow angels screaming in pleasure kept her company.
I need to hold out until Lucifina gets here. She probably has to buy time for herself and Noah.
Micaela might be able to show up as well, but I haven't heard from her in a while.
The seraph twirled her spear in the air, displaying her skill with the weapon. She was ready to fight to the end, even against such poor odds.
"You broke free of my grasp," Minagi said, impressed. "Still, it will do little to help you now. Why keep resisting, Eden? Why not succumb to my pleasures? You'll feel much better once you do."
"No! Give up now, Minagi. I will never submit to you. I fight for the Goddess, and I assure you, we will win this war!" Eden shouted.
"Haah… I suppose I have no choice, then. And I was going to show you a whole world of pleasure too... But if you're going to act like this…"
Eden watched as Minagi flew into the sky, joining her in the air. Suddenly, her entire posture changed, from that of a seductive Femme Fatale to that of a warrior, with her arms raised high, ready to attack the angel.
The Seraph managed to dodge the first punch, but not the second. It hit her right shoulder and almost broke it with a single punch. Eden screamed in pain but managed to use the extra adrenaline to her advantage, swinging her spear in an arc and cutting into one of the ancestor's wings.
The fight continued, with punches being dodged or countered and thrusts being evaded or stopped dead in their tracks. However, there was a clear difference in power as the battle went on.
Eventually, Minagi managed to land a critical strike, flinging the seraph straight into the ground below. The ancestor flew right down to meet her, punching her again, this time directly in the head.
Eden's vision began to blur as the punches came in, each one getting faster and faster. She had never seen the succubus do this before. She did not even know she was capable of it.
D-damn it… I can't move. I-I can't breathe...
After a few seconds, the ancestor sighed, slowing her attack to a halt. She stood up, dusting herself off. She looked down at the seraph, whose face was now badly bruised, but she was still alive, if only barely.
Lilith suddenly appeared in front of her, kneeling. "My lord." She said. "San Ilia is yours. What would you have us do?"
"Show these angels the pleasure we offer, starting with her," Minagi said, pointing at the battered seraph behind her.
"At once, my lord." Lilith walked over to the angel, licking her lips upon seeing the meal laid out before her. Eden tried to crawl away, but the effort was futile. She had nowhere to go anyway.
Ilias… save me…
No… I still have some power left. If I can just...
Yes, my other form is what I must use. Even if its appearance is... unsightly.
Lilith watched as Eden stood up. She was surprised. She didn't think she had the energy left to do even that.
All of a sudden, the seraph's body began to grow. Limbs shot out from her supple frame, transforming her body into a truly grotesque one. Tentacles were placed along her bottom, with two massive wings taking the place of her former six.
Overall, she looked like a grotesque combination of organs, both sexual and not, paired with the angel's original appearance. Eden herself seemed to be connected to the form somehow, as she had another body that looked just like her original self atop it. She sat on a throne with multiple other angels sitting near her, seemingly having come from nowhere.
So, this is your true form, Eden. How disgusting.
Lilith prepared for battle upon seeing the body. The Seraph still had some fight left in her, and it was up to the succubus to take it back out of her.
Just give up already, Eden. This is a fight you cannot win.
Minagi looked at the commotion happening behind her. Apparently, the Seraph had risen once more, showing her determination, an admirable trait and one that was all the more fun to break.
Fufufu, this is turning out better than I thought. I really should thank Tamamo for all this when I get back. This feast she's given me is truly incredible.
Lucifina chopped through another monster. A succubus jumped her, and a succubus was cleaved in two. It was not difficult, not when she was feeling so much rage.
For Micaela!
She launched another volley of spells crossed with sword arts, butchering dozens of monsters with ease. It would not last, however. Soon, a new monster appeared in front of her, one who would not fall so easily.
Saja… come out of hiding, have we?
"The Daystar herself graces me with her presence. Tell me, did you see your sister die? I heard it was quite the spectacle. I wish I had seen it myself." Saja said. Her haughty smirk annoyed the Seraph as much as it always had.
"Who killed Micaela?" Lucifina asked, not in the mood for conversation.
"How rude, and here I was just trying to talk... Let us do battle, Daystar. With your death, the war will be over in days." She proposed.
She didn't need to ask, as Lucifina would've fought her no matter what she said, but now that she knew she wouldn't be getting anything out of her, she saw no reason to wait any longer.
Lucifina prepared to battle, raising her sword high above her head. She brought it down with all the force she could muster, but it was futile. Her blade was pushed back by a wave of dark magic, stopping it in its tracks and eventually forcing it to start to inch ever closer to its wielder.
But the Daystar showed no fear. In a fraction of a second, she dropped her guard, letting both the sword and the spells hit her. Neither did any damage, and Saja knew exactly why.
A large, blazing comet appeared above the seraph and quickly crashed on the ancestor below. This is how she always activated her trap card: through trickery.
Lucifina, Micaela. I need assistance. Minagi has somehow gotten here. Help would be appreciated.
The sudden telepathy put the angel out of the fight for a moment, resulting in her taking a few hits. She flew up into the sky, giving herself enough time to process the message.
Eden is asking for help, and They've attacked San Ilia.
Fuck. I need to help her. But I just... I want to kill them all.
This is just like before, when the Goddess requested my presence at a meeting. I knew what it was about. I didn't want to talk about Micaela, and I can't afford to leave these fronts.
Damn it. We can't afford to lose San Ilia either. And besides, I'll be able to kill that damn succubus whore while I'm there.
Lucifina sighed. If she was going to leave, she would have to at least buy time here. If the monsters advanced now, it would be nearly as bad as losing San Ilia altogether.
"I've never seen you run before, or at least not when you still have so much energy left," Saja said, having snuck up on the seraph when she was not looking.
Fuck!
Suddenly, a massive barrage of lights and fire crashed into Lucifina, sending her tumbling to the ground.
Urgh…
The Daystar slowly stood back up, using her sword to assist her. The damage she suffered was not major, but it still hurt a hell of a lot. Still, she pushed through it, using her still intense feelings of hatred to do so.
When the ancestor flew down to her, Lucifina was already prepared. She thrust her sword straight into the ancestor's chest, but Saja proved too quick for her. In a flash, the Monster coiled around the seraph.
Not wasting the opportunity, the lamia immediately tightened her hold, which was so strong that it could break steel with ease. Lucifina couldn't breathe under such heavy pressure, and she knew she had to escape quickly.
And so, when a comet appeared above Saja yet again, Lucifina knew she had her chance.
"Oh, come on!" Saja complained as yet another blazing ball of holy magic crashed into her. She guarded it with her arms, but it still did heavy damage.
When the ancestor looked back to her coils, she noticed the seraph had already freed herself. And when she felt cold steel enter her back, she knew exactly where she had gone to.
Lucifina pushed her sword further and further into the ancestor's back, twisting it once, then twice, not for the sake of damaging her but so she could cause as much pain as possible.
The Seraph was flung away when Saja's tail slapped her, launching her a few metres back. The ancestor sighed, taking a deep breath as her body healed itself. When she turned back to where the angel had been, she was gone.
What the hell? Where did she go?
Saja looked all around her, desperately searching for where the Seraph had gone. When her search ended with no results, she used magic to do it instead. When that ended in no results yet again, she got seriously worried.
She did notice something, however. Another legion of angels was approaching, made up of Valkyries, Cupids, Archangels, and others, all ready to protect the front lines and hold off the monsters.
Hmph. Well, if anyone sees the seraph, I'm sure they'll tell me. For now, I must slay all these angels.
Lucifina looked down at the city below her. Monsters and angels were fighting all over, with monsters on the winning side. She could change that. But first, she would need to find Eden.
She landed on the streets, using her magic to look for the Third Seraph. But she was nowhere to be found. She could only detect a group of succubi, all congregated in the castle.
Perhaps she is in there, fighting them off.
The Daystar flew towards the castle, breaking the grand doors open with ease.
What the hell...?
But the inside was not what she expected. Instead of a scene of angels and monsters fighting, it was one of pure debauchery. Succubi were raping angels on the spot, stealing their energy and, most of the time, their lives themselves.
On the throne, a dried-up corpse could be seen, still holding a spear in its right arm. The three pairs of wings made it clear to Lucifina who it was.
No! Eden!
Even if Lucifina had never cared too much for her other sister, she still did not want to see her hurt. And to die in such a disgraceful manner was as well...
"She was more impressive than I thought she'd be." A seductive voice said. "She never once stopped saying those words. Never once stopped believing in that Goddess you so adore, even as she died."
"Minagi…" Lucifina looked up at the ceiling. On top of one of the supports, the succubus ancestor sat cross-legged. Once she noticed her glare, she opened her legs, causing the seraph to immediately look away.
"Hehe… You're pretty fun to tease too." Minagi said, slowly descending from the top. "Though, I find nearly everyone fun to tease, so I suppose that does not say much."
The Daystar did not deign the ancestor with a response. Instead, she chose to begin taking revenge for her sister's death in full. She flew at the ancestor, who promptly dodged to the side.
As she did, she launched a spell of pleasure at the Seraph, who seemed to be completely unaffected by it. This mistake would cost her, as the Daystar was able to get a lucky hit in, cutting into the ancestor's shoulder.
Minagi screamed in pain as the steel cut into her, forcing it to go deeper and deeper. Eventually, she managed to kick the angel away, and her body began to suddenly glow.
"I am the Daystar, the child of dawn," Lucifina said. "The star thrown to the Earth shall obtain victory!"
The spell did as it has always done, exploding on the ancestor's body and lighting it aflame.
Minagi fought back, punching the seraph away. The fight continued for a while, but Lucifina's rage gave her the edge. Her sword continually cut into the ancestor, causing her to bleed all over.
After a few more minutes, Minagi called it quits. She did not expect to hold San Ilia for long in the first place, but to not even hold it for an hour...
She telepathically told the Lilith Sisters to leave and to bring any new slaves with them. The succubus continued to fight back against the seraph, but got bored after a while. For one, she had already bought enough time for her fellow succubi to escape, and she was also slowly losing the battle.
Needless to say, it was time to leave. And so she did, flying out of the castle, closely chased by the mad seraph.
Damn, I need to get her off of me!
Minagi cast spell after spell, causing multiple bolts of light to crash onto the seraph, who took them without so much as a whimper.
Fuck!
Just before the ancestor could teleport away, the Daystar caught up, if only for a moment. Using the opportunity presented to her, she cut into one of the succubus's wings, managing to sever it off completely.
Minagi screamed in pain, but the attack still failed to stop her from exiting the anti-teleportation field and getting away.
Lucifina saw this and wasted no time in descending. She took care of any of the succubi who were either too slow at getting out or too weak to teleport away. Once she was done with that, she returned to the castle.
Eden…
The Daystar approached her sister's dried-up corpse. Even now, she could still tell that it was the same Seraph she had always known, which might've only made things worse.
She sighed, using magic to raise the body up to heaven. It seems her funeral will have to come after Micaela's.
Damn it…
With Eden gone, I am the last seraph alive.
I am the only one left to oppose Alipheese.
I must speak to Ilias. We must form a plan.
There's no way we can lose this. Not after all we've lost.
You will pay for this, Minagi. You and whatever sister of yours killed Micaela. You will all pay.
Notes
This chapter is the end of the 'Red Fields of Noah' arc, meaning that the constant chapters of pretty much nothing but fighting are at an end.
Eden did her best to defend San Ilia, never once losing faith in the goddess, but even so, she still lost her life, leaving Lucifina as the last seraph.
Now, Ilias has lost yet another piece of her army before she even had the chance to make up for her last loss. Thankfully, Eden was not as important as Miceala, but it was still another blow she could afford to take.
On another note, I've started another fanfic. It's more or less just a collection of one-shots with a bit of extra plot, and it's mostly Paradox, but if it sounds like something you'd enjoy, feel free to check it out.