SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 53 out, this is Chapter 54 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 54: The Ultimate Natural Enemy

"So, the exit is up there?" Zagred looked up and spread his wings. "Now, if you'll excuse me... farewell." he took off.

"Hold it!" Asta barked.

"It seems you are our real enemy." Nozel joined the fight. "But we meet at last."

"Captain Nozel..." Yuno was stunned.

"I am nowhere as lenient as him." Nozel declared, recognizing Zagred as a demon. "You cannot defeat me. Though I don't plan on losing to the one I have the worst affinity with, either. And I have been sharpening my skills for this moment, too." he sent out a magnetite of 'Silver Spear' at the demon with a combination of 'Silver Rain'.

"Evaporate." Zagred intoned, vanishing the attacks. "I don't have the time to delay any longer." he spat and turned towards the exit in the ceiling.

"Yuno and Asta, is it?" Nozel inquired. "We have to give chase."

"Captain Nozel, can you hold on for a moment?" Freyja requested. "This guy... Patolli, he shares a body with Captain Vangeance. That's why I'm going into his subconscious to try and get Vangeance back." ignoring any protestations, the Goddess of Magic entered Patolli's mind. "Finally found you, Patolli." she threw open a door deep within the elf's subconscious, said elf was seated on a chair in front of an unconscious William who was trapped in a World Tree trunk.

"What do you mean, Carys?" a terrified Patolli demanded.

"You were fooled by a being you didn't understand and are unable to protect those precious to you." Freyja replied. "Look at you; you lost the light you believed in and are in a complete mess of emotions. That's why I'm telling you this: quit giving up! What you are doing right now is merely running away! You just stopped thinking and locked yourself up in the darkness because it's much easier."

"Shut up!" Patolli fumed. "Would could you possibly understand? You're just reincarnated in a human body!"

"Holy Magic: Alignment Field." Freyja nullified Patolli's dark aura. "Why did you kill Julius?" she screamed. "He was the one who brought me back to the capitol when I awakened and taught me how to control my magic. You took everyone hostage and killed Julius. Your reincarnation killed innocent people in the kingdom; the very same people I swore to protect. That's why... after doing all of that, where do you get off acting like a coward? Just because you did something you can't fix, you don't get to despair and run away. Aren't you supposed to help us stop that demon, too? You already made up you mind to do all of this." breathing hard after her rant, she continued. "You asked me before, didn't you, Patolli, why I decided to reincarnate a human? It's because I was reincarnated as a human that I learnt to love unilaterally. That's why I refuse to give up on you elves, too."

"Carys-san..." Patolli threw himself into her arms and wept.

"I never did answer your question back then, did I, Patolli?" Freyja asked softly and whispered into the elf's ear.

"Honestly, you never cease to amaze me, Rhiannon." Patolli was impressed, the two had returned back to the real world. "Could you see this through to the end with me?"

Up top...

"That must be it." Zagred spotted the stone seal on the wall. "The door to the outside. And..." he then saw Licht in front of him. "You're not fully awakened yet and you already can't forgive me. I guess I can't blame you. I couldn't take this Grimoire from you. I'm surprised you can manage that, after spawning that giant demon left your soul so unstable." he feigned shock, seeing Licht tighten his grip on his 'Demon-Dweller Sword'. "Well done indeed. "I must reward you for all of your hard work. I'll kill you off properly. "Lightning Lance." he fired a blast of lightning at Licht who deflected it with his blade.

"Earth Shield." Zagred defended himself. "Rain of Swords. Split Open." he broke the ground Licht was standing on. "And Bind." he captured the unstable elf. "That sword can absorb magic, but I imagine it doesn't fare as well against physical matter. "Iron Spear. My Word Soul magic can not only make whatever I say happen, but it can also summon physical matter. You are no threat to me when you have only one sword."

Just then, Charla's briars rushed in, wrapping around Zagred's lance and throwing it into the wall.

"So, you were an elf who wasn't an Apostle of Sephira." Zagred noted.

"I saw Baval enter the Shadow Palace, so I followed him." Charla replied. "After that, I found Baval unconscious and I knew something was wrong. You fiend! You are a devil, aren't you?"

"Do those things actually exist?" Yami snorted. "If anything, you are too pasty to be one."

"You keep showing up one after another." Zagred snorted. "It's turning into quite a party. Wave of Flame." he cast a fire wave at the dashing Charla and Yami.

Charla simply formed a briar wall in front of her to fend off the fire.

"Dark Magic: Black Hole." Yami sucked in the flames with his spell. "Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash." he sent his energy slash at the devil.

"Storm of Blades." Zagred dodged the attack and countered.

Charla just formed several briars to stop the swords and form a barrier of vines.

"Wither." Zagred shriveled up the shield.

"Dark Cloaked Dimension Slash." Yami took the opening and attacked.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.