REVIEWS:
Kgufgo: Gonna answer all of yours in one - Thanks for the reviews, and yes, I know the lock was problematic, to say the least. Rest assured, it won't happen again, but as for the relationship Jaune will have with the girls, I do need to point out that things will need to move slowly to some degree. Technically, Jaune did not engage in this endeavor to his full desire, and as such, there are some flaws in his overall resolve. Feelings will take time, so do not be surprised if the girls end up being more akin to friends with benefits for a while.
Xerzo LotCN: My dude, the first being Jaune fought is literally invincible. In Greek mythology, that giant fought Hercules himself, and nearly won, all because he is invincible whilst touching the ground and Jaune had no way of lifting him up. Ignium gave him skills, no power. But do read this following chapter some.
Long Wait: Blame Nerdy for that, he was DEADSET on adding Pyrrha back then, so I had to come up with something to appease him. But he is no longer here, so Pyrrha will be getting SLOPPY SECONDS! But as your point on Arkos goes, Pyrrha did make her crush pretty obvious in the end, so I think part of that is fans wishing that they did end up being together.
LordNoobReview: Baphomet will join full-time, but her goat fetish will be regulated. Krampus comes in later. As for his ancestors? You will need to read and find out. Obviously, I did not put his entire family tree in Hell.
Discord: /ZUgnSWnJdG
As Jaune traveled through hell, and Lucifer plotted against him, the boy continued to walk and climb upwards through the land of woe. And all this time, he has not even once felt fear. Was this because of Blood Binder? Or was it something more akin to him? He tried to think, but then again, thinking was not something he should be doing now. No, the time for thought passed, and now, it was the time for action.
And action is what he is getting, but for now, he has arrived in the next circle. Blood Binder whispered in his mind, telling him where they were. The 8th Circle of Fraud. This circle was perhaps the largest in all of Hell, length-wise, as it boasted the punishment of 10 different forms of Fraud if not more if you were to count in detail.
But the living weapon warned Jaune that, in order to pass through this circle, they need to walk among the sinners. There was no way for them to get onto the bridges above, yet, there were secret passages between each Bolge, as they were called, that would allow him to pass through each and every single one. And so, he marched on. First, he entered the 10th Bolge, where the Falsifiers are punished.
Had it not been for Blood Binder, Jaune would have puked at such a horrid sight. He saw souls afflicted with every disease imaginable, both physical and mental, depending on what they falsified in life. He recalled that Brite Arc, whom Maria asked to punish additionally, was around this circle, but this place was not his punishing grounds. No, his place was higher.
Walking through the afflicted souls, Jaune eventually found the passage and went through, walking into the 9th Bolge. And here, upon entering, he was met with a booming voice.
"Ye who dares crusade through hell, take a step no more!"
Jaune looked up, he saw the owner of the voice. A large demon wielding a bloody sword, looking down at him. He was ready to draw his own sword, but then he heard something and saw them. The souls of this circle marched towards him.
"I am not a fighter, crusader. But Lucifer has granted the shades an offer. He who claims your head shall be excused of this punishment, and instead made to serve Lucifer herself."
"Tch. So she even turned the souls against me." Jaune said in annoyance, but his time to process things was short as the souls charged at him. He drew Crocea Mors out and swinging it around, he cut down the souls that came at him, one after another. Their numbers were great, but his Aura was holding, and they were weak.
But he noticed how some of them had missing body parts … Then Blood Binder explained. This is where the sowers of discord are punished via mutilation of varying degrees. And in this madness, he eventually realized this is where his secondary objective was.
"Brite Arc! I am Jaune Arc, show yourself!" He called out in the chaos, and sure enough, a feeble-looking shade stepped from the crowd, which made space seeing the others fall in such a callous way. "Maria sends her regards."
With enough said, Jaune swung his blade, taking Brite's head off.
But he couldn't continue fighting. The demon was not charging at him because it was no fighter, but yet, the souls here, some of them, were! He decided to run past them, rushing for the next tunnel, but before he could take two steps, one of the souls grabbed onto him. The decapitated corpse of Brite Arc held him in place.
"Heed my words … " He said, his body holding his own head towards Jaune. "Surrender now, and give up. Only pain awaits you!"
"I know." Jaune replied as he kicked the head away. But that was when he was ambushed. Brite bought time for the souls to gather and charge at him at once. He looked back at the tunnel, only for the large demon to bring his large sword down, cutting him off.
"You are not getting away!" They shouted, and Jaune turned back to the souls, gripping his sword tightly.
He felt his aura surge, Blood Binder burning yet again. If he wished to make it past here, he had to take out the souls AND the demon, even if for a moment in order to get past them.
"Get … Out … OF MY WAY!" He shouted as he swung Crocea Mors, not realizing the blade was coated in aura, which in turn resulted in something truly wonderful. An arc of aura swept through the souls, cutting them down to size. Even the demon was caught off-guard by this and lost their leg as it cut off. Jaune took labored breaths as he looked down, then at his hands and sword. "I … I didn't know I could do that."
Blood Binder burned more than usual, making him flinch.
"Ok, ok. Self-reflection and analyzing what happened later, escaping Hell now!"
And so, he went into the tunnel, continuing onward.
"My patience is running thin." Lucifer said as she witnessed Jaune escaping the 9th bolge. "And now, it seems he discovered a bit more about himself. What was that anyway?"
"From my knowledge of modern human fighting?" Judgement said. "An Aura Slash, I think. Granted, a pretty powerful one. It is an advanced human technique, used by either very skilled warriors or those lucky enough to have a matching power or large reserves of that stuff they call Aura."
"And this blonde human?" Lucifer asked.
"Currently? He embodies all three."
"Let's see how well that aids him against Malacoda and the Malebranche."
Walking into the next bolge, Jaune had to steel himself for the intense heat. Here, the counselors of Fraud, those who advised others to engage in fraud, are punished by being trapped in individual flames. Thanks to Blood Binder telling him where the safe path was, Jaune was able to quickly pass through this section, and into the next bolge. The 7th Bolge, where the thieves are punished. Thanks to Blood Binder, again, he managed to walk on the upper bridge, avoiding the snakes below.
Walking among the thieves would have been dangerous, as here, even one's identity can be stolen. He'd rather remain himself when he gets to the girls. He noticed the guardian below, but they couldn't reach him, allowing him to advance to the next bolge. Walking over to it, he jumped again inside the bolge, for here, the bridges were in ruins.
Upon walking inside, he noticed he was mostly alone, until he looked to the right, noticing a long line of souls walking towards him, dressed in golden robes and walking humbly, like monks. Jaune was confused about this until Blood Binder explained to him who they were. Here, Hypocrisy is punished. The robes those shades wear are gold on the outside, but lead on the inside, weighing them down terribly.
However, as they began to walk past him, one shade raised their head and shouted at him.
"I know my house's crest! You, are you an Arc?!" The shade grew closer to Jaune, allowing him to see the man more clearly. They had a long, curly beard, and their head was bald.
"My name is Jaune Arc, current heir of the Arc House." Jaune introduced himself, and the soul seemed to respect his position as heir. "Who are you?"
"My name is Apollo Arc, my child. I, like others, suffer for my hypocrisy, but know I did not get here by causing suffering to others, as my sin is to myself alone." Apollo said, then he began to gesture to Jaune to follow him, the boy listening, with Blood Binder not protesting. They walked among the other hypocrites. "Long ago, when I was still young, I took a vow on the name of our house. As you know, our code forbids us from breaking such vows."
"I am well aware of the code." Jaune replied.
"Good. Now my sin. I am not proud of what I did, but it soothes me to know I did it for a cause. When I was young, my father and I were fighting in the far north, in the cold and harsh conditions of Solitas. I and my father vowed together to not kill the innocent, and only the guilty. However, that changed when I fell in love with a local woman, whose current husband has been mistreating her. Wishing to have her, and sympathetic to her, I began a plan to have the man accused of manslaughter, and thus executed. I had evidence falsified, and even if I knew the man had actually never hit his wife, I watched him get killed."
The man paused and Jaune nodded before he continued. "His widowed wife became my own, and from her womb, our house continued. For damning someone I knew was innocent of the crime he was accused of, I hereby suffer here now."
"But how was that man mistreating his wife, if you say you do not regret anything?" Jaune asked.
"The way he mistreated her was not physical, but rather, everything else. He had ruined her mind and drove anyone who loved her away. Drove her to the brink of insanity." Apollo answered, and Jaune realized what he meant. It was not physical abuse, but rather, an emotional and psychological one. Still as bad, if not worse. "I gave her back her happiness, at the price of becoming a hypocrite."
"I won't say you did the right thing, Apollo, but so far, you are the first ancestor I heard of being down here that I don't desire to cut." Jaune replied, earning a nod from his ancestor. However, a question lingered on his mind. "Tell me, Apollo. Verda Arc, where does she suffer?"
"Ah, her. She was my great-granddaughter, whom I lived to see grow up to the age of 12. She suffers in this very circle, in the first bolge. That is where you shall find her."
"I thank you for your knowledge, Apollo. But do tell me, why did you want me to follow you?" Jaune asked, and then he heard someone groan in pain, making him look forward, and see someone crucified on the ground. "Who is he?"
"He is cursed to be walked on." Apollo said as the sinners began to step on the shade, crushing it under their weight. "He alone condemned the one true innocent soul to death, so now, he must suffer the weight of the entire hypocrisy of the world."
Jaune gulped, once again surprised by Hell. There was no limit to this realm's creativity in its creation of punishments, as even within specific parts, where specific punishments are dealt, special punishments are still created for deserving souls. But then, Blood binder once again burned him slightly, pointing out the way forward was near. Apollo, noticing him wince, spoke up.
"What is it, my descendant? I see you flinch." Apollo asked.
"I … I am on a quest, Apollo, and to complete it, I made a deal with the demon named Ignium, down in the last circle. I was thrown there, by Lucifer, in an attempt to kill me." Jaune confessed, and the shade rubbed their beard in thought.
"You took upon yourself a great burden, Jaune. But if it is so, I won't hold you, if tardiness harms you. But I do warn you, for the next bolge is guarded by a group of demons known as the Malebranche. They will likely attack you on Lucifer's orders." Apollo told Jaune, who nodded his head before advancing forward to the 5th bolge.
And lo and behold! As he crawled out of the crevice and upon the next circle, immediately did he find himself coughing and struggling to breathe, as the fumes from the pitch surrounding him made his eyes water as well. He stood on a rock, trying to find his path through this circle among the inhabitants. Here suffer the barrators, the corrupt politicians who made unfair coin by abusing the power of their office, to lay in the pitch, and if they dare leave it, the demons here are tasked to tear them apart with iron claws and grappling hooks.
Yet, strangely, even as he began to walk towards the next bolge, jumping from rock to rock, he saw no trace of the foul demons. Even Blood Binder was silent, but as he walked, he saw the barrators, huddled onto the banks of this circle, out of the pitch. Strange, where were the demons to scare them back in and tear them piece by piece? Confused, Jaune approached them.
"Shades condemned!" He called out, getting their attention. "Where are your tormentors? Where are the Malebranche, with their claws and hooks? Why is there silence in this ditch?"
"Foolish knight, the demons are playing a trick!" One of them said, "The reason we are out of the pitch is because THEY are in it!"
Upon hearing him, Jaune's eyes widened, but he reacted too late. From the pitch, he saw how multiple demons arise, wielding the hooks and claws mentioned and flying around him. Jaune drew Crocea Mors, ready to fight them as they surrounded him, perching around him on the rocks, and eventually, he heard one of them speak.
"So you are the one whom Lucifer wants gone?" The one who spoke was none other than their leader. He gestured to himself. "I am Malacoda, leader of the Malebranche who guard this bolge! And here, young and foolish knight is where you shall perish!"
The demons set upon him, and Jaune raised his shield to block the iron claws coming to him, not to get hooked and ripped to shreds. But here he was challenged, for the earth he was on was but a small rock surrounded by boiling pitch. If he fell in, he'd surely die, and he saw no way to escape this predicament. He only saw ways to delay it. Pushing his shield back, which pushed back the 3 demons who charged him initially, he once again focused and swung his blade, sending the same attack he did last time at them.
The slash of aura traveled fast, yet it only nicked one of them at the horns, earning a hiss of pain, but nothing more. Jaune then rushed, jumping from rock to rock, in an attempt to escape them. From what Blood Binder was telling him, souls and demons are immortal whilst in Hell, for even if he killed them, their bodies will heal and return to life shortly after. Fighting them was a waste, as his only option was to escape, for the Malebranche are bound to this place, and cannot leave.
Bound … That gave Jaune an idea. They were bound to this bolge, and to their duty. Focusing again, Jaune swung his sword, the demons chasing him dodging, but he relied on them doing so. His attack struck the side of the bolge, creating a portion one can climb on. The shades in the pitch saw this, and so did the demons.
"An escape!" A shade shouted, and in waves, the souls began to leave the pitch, heaving to the created slope to escape, but that was when the demons turned around, rushing to secure them.
"Yes!" Jaune cheered, jumping to the edge of the pitch and climbing up to the bridge that was near in order to escape. But that was when he received a strike to his aura, an iron hook latching onto his shoulder and pulling him back. Malacoda was the one that caught him, and his anger was visible in his voice.
"Damn mortal! Do you have no brains?! It is ordained up high; those shades must suffer, never to be let free!" Malacoda spoke, then he pulled back his hook, wielding it as a spear as it charged towards Jaune again. Jaune put his shield up as Malacoda thrust his weapon, and despite being able to hold it, Jaune noticed how the strike put a dent in the shield of Crocea Mors.
Swinging his shield to the side, he went for a swing of his blade at the demon. But he was too far, thanks to the range of Malacoda's weapon, meaning Jaune's swings could not reach him. Or could they? As Malacoda jumped back, avoiding Jaune's initial swing, the boy focused his Aura into his weapon again, making it glow. Malacoda saw however and stretched his wings, taking to the blackish sky as Jaune swung and delivered another glowing arc of white aura.
The demon hissed, annoyed by the attack, but not giving up. He set upon Jaune, diving down with his weapon out forth, yet Jaune put his shield up again, but the demon saw through him. Malacoda pulled back his hook and landed close and in front of Jaune. Then, with a mighty thrust, he pushed his hook into Jaune's side. He tried to block with his sword but was at an awkward angle and not as strong as the demon. As the blade fell to the rocks, Jaune's aura strained against the hook as it deflected the weapon to protect him.
"What witchcraft is this?!" Malacoda shrieked, but being too close allowed Jaune to strike back, hitting the demon in the head with his shield once and stunning him. Then, Jaune lunged for Malacoda's weapon, taking advantage of the demon's daze, and yanked it from him. By the time the demon recovered, Jaune lifted his hook up like a spear, and threw it at the demon, piercing his chest.
"GAHHH!" Malacoda shouted in pain, pierced by his own hook. The other Malebranche, hearing his cries of pain, looked in their direction, and saw their leader falling.
Despite the shades trying to escape, they rushed towards them, and Jaune made the wise call to run away. Picking Crocea Mors back up Jaune sheathed it and headed for the next bolge. On his journey, he occasionally delivered the same slash attack at the pursuing demons to slow them down. Yet, as he did, he felt fatigue wash over him. He felt his aura weaken as well. But how? His semblance should be keeping him topped off. Was his technique perhaps taking too much, and he was using it too often? Perhaps.
Still, that didn't matter, as in front of him he saw the next bridge. With one last sprint, he got to it, and behind him, the Malebranche stopped in their tracks, being bound to their own section of the 8th circle; it was forbidden for them to venture anywhere else without the permission of Lucifer. And she needed permission from somewhere else too.
"I made it … " Jaune sighed out as he kept walking, getting away as the Malebranche cursed at him and tried to make him return with empty threats and mockeries. He did not turn back though and instead, he kept going forward. But eventually, as he was far away, he sat down, taking off his helmet to rest. "That was … Something."
He looked down at his hand and flared his aura again. He could see it glow like it did in the past but it was somewhat weaker compared to before.
He was feeling the fatigue wash over him. His new Semblance might keep his reserves of aura full when his emotions were positively running wild, but right now? His fatigue was leaving no room for adrenaline and other emotions and states of mind, resulting in his aura draining normally now. The technique he's been using, even if discovered by accident, drained a lot from him. Jaune realized this now and made sure to note it down in his mind to train it more. His reckless use of it drained his reserves of aura well, and if Malacoda was anything to judge by, the demons were no weak opponents either.
Trickery and merciless assaults await him further up as he climbs, but Blood Binder once again whispered into his mind. The dangers of the 8th circle were past them, as from here on out, the only demons in this circle were those who were not fighters in any way. Hearing this, Jaune slowly got up, manifesting his helmet again. His road was still long, but at least, he was close to exiting the 8th circle now.
And as he walked, now advancing on the bridges, he looked down to see another brand of sinners. Here, in the 4th bolge, are the sorcerers. Those who claimed to see the future, and through divinations, and reading of the stars, dictate events to come. But yet, such a right belonged only to God. God … As Blood Binder told him the name of the being opposing Lucifer, he told Jaune never to challenge him, for God was supreme, a being of pure love and unquestionable wisdom.
Those below sought to usurp this wisdom and knowledge, and as such, they walk with their heads twisted backward. If they dared to look into tomorrow, they will forever walk seeing yesterday. He walked further, coming upon another bolge, but this time, the sinners were higher, allowing Jaune to walk among them again, and once again, there was smoke around, tainted with the smell of burning flesh. And looking around, he saw from where.
Around him were the Simoniacs. Those who, according to Blood Binder, dared to sell what was rightfully God's for hollow golden coins. Those sinners were placed head-downwards in the round, tube-like holes within the rock with flames burning the soles of their feet, the heat of the fire proportional to their guilt. In addition, all these people were priests of multiple ranks, and in each tube, there was more than 1 person, being cramped into the rock and made to suffocate endlessly. Jaune could see the evidence as he looked at one such sinner, there were cracks around their place in the rocks.
However, as he looked among them, his attention was grabbed.
"You who live! Lo and behold, for I am Simon Magus, the father of this sin!" The voice made Jaune turn around to see another shade walking toward him, dressed in oily rags with 2 stones tied to his wrists. The shade was that of an old man, with a round belly, and a bushy beard, having a bald head. He walked to Jaune, looking at him. "Who are you, that walks through this place?"
"I am Jaune Arc, and what do you mean by you being the father of this sin?" Jaune asked out of curiosity.
"The faith has died in the world above, I know that much, as this bolge has not grown in long years. The sin punished here was named after me, for I was the first, who attempted to buy his way into the power of an Apostle. Now, I am forced to light the feet of those who walk in my steps on fire, all the while walking barefoot and wearing those rags drenched in oil that sipped into my skin. Every time a new sinner were to arrive, before, and I lit their soles on fire, I would always catch fire as well. Every time someone walks in my steps, I am made to suffer." Simon replied. "But you? You are no shade, you are a breathing young man! What are you doing here, down in these lands of woe?"
"I am on a mission, Simon." Jaune replied. "I am climbing out of the depths, for Lucifer herself saw me thrown into the icy pond at the center of the last circle."
"You have climbed from Judecca to here?!" Simon gasped in surprise. "What a claim! What an achievement! Tell me, my boy, whose help did you receive?"
"The demon Ignium, and Baphomet to some extent, are aiding me." Jaune told him.
"Ah, the Chained One, yes. And … Her." He cleared his throat. "Powerful aid, my child, but I do believe you have a third aide."
"Another person is giving me their aid?" Jaune saw Simon point upwards.
"God, my boy!" The shade exclaimed. "I might have been a grave sinner, but even I recognize the higher power. He wills this!"
"G- Do you really believe he would will such a mission?" Jaune wasn't sure god would want someone to find themselves a harem. However, he received neither a shake nor a nod from the shade.
"Only an angel could tell, and I am not one. Regardless, I held you up long enough, child. The night is slowly falling, and the ghouls will soon surface yet again. When they do, the demons will take cover, meaning there will be no obstacles before you, apart from the ghouls. Or you could seek refuge for the night, and continue again in the morning." Simon proposed. "There is a cave near here, I can show you."
"I … I think I will take the offer to rest, Simon. Honestly, I could use a good night's sleep." Jaune replied, and followed the shade, being led into a cave where he let himself fall asleep.
"They failed?!" Lucifer raged at the ceiling, standing on her chair with Judgement by her side as she received word from Malacoda. Jaune Arc has managed to pass through their bolge, and when she looked, she saw him talking with Simon Magus, meaning he was in the third bolge now, almost out of the 8th circle. "He advances by the day."
"At this rate, by the end of the next day, he might just reach Dis." Judgement said, offering her own input on the situation. "He got out of the 9th circle, so I doubt he needs Geryon to give him a ride up."
"He got more help, I know it." Lucifer said, offering a sigh. "It doesn't matter, however. The 8th circle was challenging only due to size, but all in all, the real challenges are in the 7th circle of Violence. And as a matter of fact … It serves as the perfect place for a little game."
"What are you planning, Lucifer?" Judgement looked at her boss, who hopped onto the floor with a predatory smile.
"Simple: We make use of the prisoners."
Waking up, Jaune ventured back out towards the next bolge, not wishing to waste much time. Beel was likely already worrying about him, as he was running low on time regarding his visit to this realm. Traveling, he reached the next bolge, which forced him to cover his nose in disgust, for the smell was awful. The flatterers. Due to the foul smell, he pushed forth quickly, reaching the final bolge.
Here, the panderers - or rather said, pimps - and seducers are punished, being forced to run on the opposite banks of the ditch, each of the two groups taking one side as demons whipped them to constantly march. And right down there, he spotted her, miserably marching under the whip of the demon; Verda Arc.
Jaune, unable to contain himself, shouted out. "Verda Arc! I am Jaune Arc, your descendant from the same house! Demons! Spare her for now, and bring her up to me, for I will offer her punishment from the hands of her own!"
A demon sneered at him. "Arrogant human! Do you think being blood gives you the right?!"
"Being blood is what makes it that much more meaningful." Jaune replied, and another demon, smaller than the one that sneered, snickered.
"Very well." The demon grabbed Verda by the hair, and brought her out of the ditch, throwing her at Jaune's feet. "I heard you are wanted by Lucifer, knight. I care not of her orders, as I only take pleasure in making those shades suffer. Under my gaze, do what you will with her: Rape her, cut her, or torture her in our place, it matters not as long as I can gaze upon the deed."
Jaune drew his sword making Verda look up.
"Wait, please, at least listen to me first!" She begged, backing away. Jaune, curious, nodded his head, signaling to her to go speak. "My crime was to Fu Hong Se, from Mistral, first, I confess! I-"
"First?" Jaune caught that detail. "You mean you did other things?"
Verda shrunk under his anger, the demon simply enjoying the show. "I-I am a seducer, I seduced Fu Hong Se for a treasure his family owned: A herb that helps fertility. I never loved him, I only wanted that plant. From my womb, I had a duty to continue our bloodline, and so I did! But … After that duty was done, and my children were old enough, I moved on."
"You never loved your husband, did you?" Jaune asked. "The one who gave you those children. The one who helped raise them. He was merely another trophy to your seductions." Verda shrunk under his words further. "Everyone you ever said you loved - you used. Like nothing more than mere tools. Two crimes, and two people you brought pain."
"I am ashamed of my deed, yes, but I did what I had to in order to continue my bloodline! You own your existence to me!" Verda claimed, pointing at Jaune. "And lastly, my greatest crime yet: it was I, mother of Xenter Arc, grandmother of Justinian Arc, lit one of the sparks that led to the Great War!"
"You- Justinian Arc? Impossible, that is the name of my-"
"Great-great-grandfather, yes! The first wielder and the one who forged the very sword you wield!" Verda revealed. "This makes me your great-great-great-great grandmother. My son, Xenter, whom you met in the frozen circle below this one, is the father of Justinian."
"My ancestor was an honorable man!" Jaune shouted, believing Verda was trying to say Justinian was also a sinner. Yet, that was not the case.
"He was … He rests with God." She revealed. "His soul is nowhere in this realm, for he was truly virtuous and good."
"Good, at least I will make sure to account for that." Jaune said, raising his sword. "But tell me, what do you mean by lighting one of the sparks of the Great War?"
"Vacuo and Vale - Mantle and Mistral: They have been at odds for a few years prior to my actions. Vacuo and Vale had abolished their Faunus slavery, even outlawing it with harsh punishments, yet the other kingdoms saw this as a threat to their societies, which grew to rely on slavery for all physical labor. There was even a case where Mantle and Mistral would send one battalion each into Sanus to kidnap Faunus to enslave, under the pretext of recovering runaway slaves."
Jaune's eyes widened upon hearing such things. Mistral and Mantle, which is now known as Atlas, did something so rotten?! In some light, this doesn't surprise him, but still, it serves to explain how the Great War sparked. Such actions can be seen as those two kingdoms kidnapping citizens! "Faunus were made full citizens of Vale and Vacuo, I assume?"
"Pff. No, but had enough rights to get the kingdoms upset enough. Then I intervened … I had the king of Mistral launch an even bolder recovery task, raiding an entire village in Vale. However, his men fucked it up." Verda explained. "During their assault, they captured a pregnant woman, Faunus, but with a human husband. The child she bore came out human, and word got back to Vale. That child was all the pretext they needed, and Mistral was accused of kidnapping citizens of Vale, both human and Faunus."
"You seduced the king to make him do something reckless … What were you thinking?! By that point, your house was secured, yet you still sought more?!"
"I confessed my crimes, grandson of mine … Now judge me with your sword." Verda said, and Jaune gripped Crocea Mors tightly. But somehow, he relaxed his grip on it, and sheathed it, confusing Verda. Sure, she was afraid of being cut before, but she could tell he was not fortified enough to go through with it if-
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT!" Jaune shouted as he punched Verda, a sickening crunch heard as her nose broke. "Those people had dreams, and you took them away! The lives lost in the war … They are all on your hands!"
"Ugh! You son of a bitch, you actually hit-"
Jaune drew Crocea Mors again, and in one swift motion, cut off Verda's head, making it fly through the air before the demon caught it.
"My … Head." She said slowly, looking at her headless body. Souls could not die, yet, they could feel pain. She could still sense the pain in her body.
"Demon, take her body, and toy with it as you like." Jaune said, and the demon got the message. "Until her head returns to her body tomorrow, do with her as you see fit. I won't tire myself with further punishment."
"If you allow it … " The demon grew a sick grin, going over to her body, where he groped her breast. "I always wondered how shades feel."
"No … " Verda said, her head in the demon's hand. "Please, I've suffered enough already."
"Oh, you foolish soul." The demon said, holding up her head with a sickening grin. "You can never suffer enough down here. And if you can, then my name is not Vendora."
"No … No … NOOO!"
The demon set upon her body, and Jaune, not wishing to witness such a sight, simply left.
"Hmm. Perhaps I misjudged him." Lucifer spoke to herself as she was alone while witnessing the exchange between Jaune and Verda Arc. "He seems to have a bit of an evil bone inside him after all. Though, it begs the question: Is this something buried deep within, like a desire, or rather something brought out by Hell?"
She closed her eyes once again to see him continue his march. "He is reaching the next circle … At least that wolf has better odds at slowing him down than most."
He was forced to stop walking as he found himself standing in front of a solid rock wall, and looking up, Jaune saw only darkness. This was the edge of this circle, and where another drop resides. Focusing, he brought forth the wings gifted to him by Baphomet. But before he had the chance to jump up, he stopped as he heard and saw a beast unlike any other come towards him. Quickly, he jumped out of the way.
The monster landed, having the face of a man, but a body worthy of the foulest of beasts. "Jaune Arc … Your ascent is forbidden."
"My ascent is my own beast … State your name!"
"I am Geryon! The beast of fraud, and guardian of this circle." The monster introduced himself. "I came to stop you, but, as I watched you fight your way through my circle, I decided to not attempt such a task."
"You won't fight me?" Jaune was puzzled by the demon.
"If you could hold yourself against Malacoda, then I, who never fought down here, hold no chance. My very appearance is a form of fraud, as I may look fearsome and monstrous, but I am meek and weak." Geryon said. "I won't stop you."
"Then so be it." Jaune said, then he flew up, towards the next circle.
Towards Violence!
"Damn you, Geryon … " Lucifer muttered. "Not even trying."
Flying upwards, Jaune eventually became able to see a light at the top. With his wings carrying him as far as they would go, he found himself on the edge of the circle, on a wall of some kind. And as he looked around himself, he saw the circle of violence, or at least, one section of it. Here, being burned by both the sand beneath their feet and by the fire raining from the sky, are those who committed violence against nature, the arts, and against God.
Here suffer the blasphemers, the sodomites, and the usurers - loan sharks - each receiving a position in this circle. Be it lying on the burning sand as the fire burns them from above, to running around, to huddling together to cry their pity. But he did not care. He had a mission, and as Blood Binder whispered to him, he could not afford to be idle.
He began to walk, going through the desert … Until he heard a loud howling noise, and he looked in the distance, the souls running away as they were being grabbed and thrown by none other than Cerberus' brother. Shade was coming towards Jaune, eyes red with fury.
"Of all things Lucifer could throw at me!" He thought as he watched the larger beast stand tall before him. He had to be at least 10 ft tall, and his overall muscular build didn't help improve the boy's opinion of his survival rate. Red, rage-filled eyes stared at him as the werewolf-like Hellhound looked at him, growling.
"You failed … Cerberus is Lucifer's captive." Shade said, approaching Jaune as he walked on the burning sand. "She offered me a deal, just so you know … If I kill you, Cerberus will be released."
"Shade, don't do this." Jaune tried to plead for another option, but his words fell on deaf ears.
"I have no choice left." With a mighty howl Shade charged at him. Jaune had only a moment to put up his shield before the beast crashed into him, a fist connecting to his shield.
"Heavy!" Jaune thought, taking in the weight behind that fist.
Shade was dangerous, very much so. He didn't know how much he compared to the demons, but he was certain he was definitely more of a threat than Malacoda was!
The werewolf, seeing that he was blocked with a shield, scoffed, steam coming from its nostrils. Shade moved quickly, so fast Jaune had trouble keeping up, and used the momentum from him spinning around to land a powerful kick on Jaune's shield. The shield might be powerful, but the one behind it was not! Another heavy strike sent Jaune stumbling back, nearly tripping and falling. But even if he didn't fall, he was open now.
The wolf maintained the momentum from the kick and spun around again, this time his foot made contact with Jaune's helmet. It sent him toppling on the ground, his body jumping like a rock on water across a lake. He tried to bury Crocea Mors into the sandy ground, but the desert he was in provided no such aid.
Eventually, his sword buried into a soul, making them scream, but it worked to stop him. This allowed him to look up and then dodge left as the creature charged in for another strike with its claw from above, missing his head by a couple of inches.
Ignium's little gift was burning again, and he could feel the adrenaline pump into him. It was strange. Normally, he'd be pissing his pants in fear at the situation before him, but he couldn't feel fear.
Was Blood Binder making him crazy? Maybe. But right now …
It was keeping him alive.
"Come on!" He shouted, challenging Shade further. He had to scout out his weaknesses since, well, he didn't exactly have any silver with him. Not that he believed that might work anyhow, considering Shade's origins. He banged his sword against his shield. "You deaf you oversized fur ball? Show me what you got!"
"Grrr. Challenging me will only make your death come quicker." The creature went on all fours, running up to the boy with impressive speed. He was most likely trying to go for a strike again, but Jaune prepared himself by gripping Crocea Mors tightly and putting up his shield. The white glow of his aura enveloping the sword. He kept his eyes on Shade, seeing him still running to him, then, when he judged the distance to be enough, he acted.
Jaune swung his sword horizontally at the wolf, but it jumped over him, then Jaune felt two heavy claws grip his shoulders as Shade gripped him and then landed, lifting the poor boy up and throwing him back to the ground, sand being kicked up as he landed.
It didn't help that it burned like an oven and some got into his armor. He felt something break in his body, but he didn't dare let himself stay down. Instead, his aura flared further, healing whatever must have been damaged and allowing the boy to charge right back into the fight with a desperate battlecry.
Seeing this, Shade was confused as to why Jaune was still fighting. Oh well …
Jaune had yet to see the most terrifying part of him yet.
Jaune charged in, sword in hand, and sent out TWO aura slashes through the air at Shade, who, as Jaune watched, did not make even the slightest effort to dodge.
"Let me demonstrate why you cannot win, Jaune." Shade was struck by the attacks dead-on, the first taking out his head and the second his right arm, both falling onto the burning sand.
Jaune simply remained there, mouth slightly open behind his helmet, as he watched blood spurt from the wound he just inflicted. But then, from the blood, he saw bone growing, followed by muscles and then skin, and lastly, jet-black fur.
"You … You can regenerate." Jaune muttered, watching as Shade was back in one piece, not even seeming winded by what just happened or even affected at all! The hound began to walk towards Jaune.
"Got it in one. Normal Hellhounds cannot regenerate their bodies as we Alpha variants can, but that is WHY we are superior! Why Cerberus, my sister, is superior to a runt like YOU!" Shade buried his claw into the ground, then pulled it up quickly, sending burning sand at Jaune, making him raise his arm to block it from getting into his eyes.
However, that is when he felt a heavy fist connect with his abdomen, his aura straining against the force of the attack. Looking down, he saw Shade there, his fist putting a big dent into his armor, which he felt against his skin.
He felt like his lunch was coming back, but he didn't lose focus. Swinging Crocea Mors again, he managed to cut Shade as he jumped back, leaving a deep cut on his neck that had his head almost fall off. Almost. The wound closed in mere seconds after it was dealt, and Shade once again looked unimpressed.
"Weapons, weapons, and more weapons … I lost count of how many humans I mauled once they lost hope because they lost their pointy sticks." Shade mocked, then he once again got on all fours, facing Jaune, who once again put his shield up. But a thought ran through Jaune's mind.
"If Shade respects only the strong, then … Weapons. I see now. If I want him to listen to me, even for a bit, I will need to gamble. Hopefully, I will survive."
Shade charged in at Jaune, his speed great, yet, right as he was about to leap into the air, ready to slash Jaune in two with his claws, he stopped mid-attack. Why? Because looking at Jaune now, he noticed a critical change. His armor and weapon … were no more. His armor vanished, and his sword and shield were on the ground. He was quite surprised that the boy would drop his weapon, and in that moment of confusion, Shade felt a hand, or rather a fist, connect with his lower jaw, making him stumble back.
"Ugh." He rubbed his jaw, then looked at Jaune, seeing his fist up. And in his eyes, he saw a burning desire. Narrowing his own, Shade planted his frontal claws into the ground and then focused. The heat within the sand increased, and then Shade lifted the sand up again, but due to the heat, the sand turned to glass which he then punched, sending sharp shards at Jaune.
The boy, seeing the shards approach, focused his aura to defend and blocked most of the shards. Even his eyes were protected! He then charged at Shade through the hail of glass shards, the beast attempting another strike with his claw, but when Jaune blocked it with his arm, he found his claw brush against him, but doing no damage.
"Aura?-" But Shade had no time to analyze things as Jaune delivered another jab to the wolf's jaw, but the being didn't flinch this time and retaliated with an uppercut of his own to the boy's chest, slightly lifting him up off the ground and almost knocking the air out of him. The key word being almost. Jaune grabbed the wolf's fist and used it as support to lift himself more and spin his body around, landing a double kick to the creature's nose.
Jaune then jumped off, Shade having grabbed his face to nurse his nose. It bled a bit.
"Hmm. Not bad." Shade muttered, but the fight was far from over.
Jaune charged in again, jumping into the air and trying to land an axe kick on the werewolf's head, only to find it blocked and pushed back. He didn't get to land, however, as the werewolf then grabbed his leg and swung him around like a ragdoll before smashing him into the ground, aura flaring to protect him.
Jaune felt the pain in his body flare as well, his aura already struggling to keep him unharmed as much as it could. But he needed more. The wolf dragged him by his leg and lifted the boy to his eye level to inspect him. Looking into Jaune's eyes, Shade could see Ignium's pet on him, but … He saw something more genuine.
"Why do you have that gaze?" He grabbed Jaune by his head, slightly crushing his skull and earning a groan of pain. "You have that gaze, yet my sister is in Lucifer's hands?! Are you mocking me?"
Shade received an answer in the form of Jaune suddenly lifting a leg to kick Shade, nailing the wolf in the side of his face, forcing him to drop Jaune.
Jaune felt like he could finally get a few words in now that he was freed from Shade's grasp. "I didn't mean to let her be captured! Lucifer had been watching us- ME the entire time!"
"I know that … LUCIFER TOLD ME!" Shade punched the ground, but Jaune dodged in time, the sand that was raised turning into a deformed mass of glass. "Lucifer can see everything that happens in Hell, and hear as well if my information is right. She is even watching this very fight."
The wolf punched the glass formation, but instead of shards, it seemed to break it all to dust, except for a singular chunk that resembled a dagger.
"Shade … I am going to save Cerberus. I will save everyone. Even if I die trying … " Jaune declared, keeping his guard up in case Shade charged in again.
"I know. Your aura is a good defense, but as I told you." Shade then used the glass to slash at his wrist, but in mere seconds, the wound closed. "There is no defeating the likes of I … "
Jaune gulped … Shade was right. His ability to heal completely left Jaune in the dust, yet, something felt off. Shade was not moving, but rather, seemed to be drawing something in the sand using the blood that just fell from him. Was that … A magical circle of some kind? "Shade, what are you-?"
"If I let you go, Lucifer might go against her initial contract with me and harm Cerberus." Initial contract? "This is why I will make sure she won't do anything to her until you get to the palace."
"Wait, you- You WANT me to make it?!" Jaune asked in surprise.
"When I first met you, I held the same opinion I had for other humans as well, kid." Shade said, the circle being now complete. "Weak, defenseless, stupid-"
"Hey!"
"-And you wanted to CLAIM my little sister." Shade continued, fixing Jaune a glare. "You yourself said it before: You are also an older brother. You know how difficult our duty is."
Jaune remained silent for a bit before replying. "I do. This is why I promise to do everything I can."
"And I know you like keeping those promises … " Shade added, then looked down at the circle he'd drawn. "Jaune, next time we meet, I hope it's in better conditions. Now go! This circle is dangerous, and you have hard battles ahead!"
He stabbed the glass shard into the circle. "I will blind Lucifer for a bit."
"AHHHHH!" Lucifer roared in pain, holding her eyes. "DAMN YOU, STUPID MUTT!"
Her now-bleeding eyes were revealed to the world as she pulled her arms away, clenching her fists. She was not blind, but her vision was blurry. "I didn't think you'd have the brains to figure out how to use our contractual bind this way. Very well, I won't harm your sister … But best prepare for your own suffering for causing me pain."
Leaving the third section of the seventh circle, and with it leaving Shade behind, Jaune continued onward, having recovered his weapon and deploying his armor once again. But as he walked, he soon came upon a forest … as he slowed down, he noticed the crooked trees had faces on them. He gulped, Blood Binder whispered to him the location they now found themselves in: The second section of the 7th Circle: Those who committed violence against themselves. Either by profligation or suicide. The trees are those who killed themselves, and the screams he hears among them are those who ruined their own lives.
And above him, the harpies flew.
Back in the human world, Beel, who was still working on the house, took a small break as she took notice of the sun starting to set. She was slightly worried about this since she thought Jaune would be back by now. She simply shrugged it off. If he was dead then the Abyss would've pulled her back into it by now, meaning he was alive and kicking. However, the moment she felt the fly that was sent with him die she got alarmed.
"Oh no … " She muttered, looking up at the moon as the fading light let it be seen somewhat. The next few hours, in this realm at least, will be critical for her.
Because if Jaune dies, then she can forget about ever becoming free.