Chapter 286: What's Inherited From Blood, and From The Heart.

As brutal as the battles in the inverted Infinity Palace have gotten, the battles outside the Holy Empire of Sanbreque did not just suddenly stop. Even if most of those in the capital, if not most of the world of Valisthea were killed or transformed into Necrochalcos or other various demons, the forces bound to Muzan's will had the compulsion to hunt any human left, which was just what a group of werewolves were doing to those who were still trying to escape the city.

Greater Fiend Volf was having his pack of Lycanthropic soldiers and Fiend Centaurs corner some children and their parents before the canine leader licked his lips." Foolish humans…you really thought you would be granted salvation when your destiny is only to be our prey! Behold and observe these humans men!

Do not be deceived by their delicate appearance, they can be quite the filling meal! But they are quite the slippery prey, eluding fate again and again. But the time is now, when every last one of you across the universe gets thrown into the infernal abyss of annihilation."

As some of the children screamed Volf snarled and took out a bone like scythe out of his back." This bores me... So fragile, the lot of them, so weak! I cannot stand another minute of this tedium! Time to scream you worthless, GUH!"

Just as he charged at the humans, Knuckles suddenly dove down and broke out of his glide and punched the werewolf with his " Cyknuckle" attack so hard the were wolf's jaw broke.

As Volf went flying through a building the protector of Angel Island just glared at all the demons around him and punched the air around him as a warning." You guys think you're so tough? How about fighting someone that can fight back! Huh? Whoa!"

He saw another werewolf come at him before he caught his claw. The more humanoid werewolf smirked before snarling out." To late…you lost the fight before it even begun! You're a strong freak, but a beast charging into another tribe's pack will be devoured regardless! Uriaș Străjer, Uriaș Drac, smash this eyesore! Sabrewulf, Jon Talbain , make sure he does not run away!"

Knuckles heard a pack of feral roars and eyed two giants stomping up to him. The one on the left was unnaturally large and muscular, with a wild mane of grey hair around his face, with several tendrils protruding from a large growth on his back, and had armor-like protrusions on his shoulders and face, with the latter resembling a wolf mask, walk up to him welding a spiked mace larger then the hero from Mobius.

As another one with a giant ax walked up from the other side welding an equally large Ax Knuckles tried to push back the Werewolf in front of him, only for his target to grin." Only a fool thinks he can defy an alpha by himself! Huh?"

While the werewolf with the mace was about to smash Knuckles, another roar was heard before Cornell burst out of the building and slashed his target so hard that the mace went flying for the one grappling with Knuckles.

As Knuckles broke free, the werewolf on his side landed on the ground and snarled." Ortega…to think you would descend to this level of savagery! But all that really matters now is Ada so where is she!"

Ortega paused before he smirked." So, you come to get your punishment over with sooner than later eh Cornell? Still, you've always kept your promises so I knew you would come. Now we can settle this business once and for all!"

"Business? I was always a better fighter then, huh?"

His former clansmen had reddish light courses through his body before his grin widened." Ohh, it feels like my head's been laid open. I can't restrain my power."

As Ortega writhed and slowly changing shape Cornell and Knuckles stepped back as the werewolf on the side of Mike's group raise an eyebrow."

"Ortega?"

"Oh yes, you used to be a step quicker than I at one time." His rival snarled out." You, the only man-beast who can manipulate the seal. A year ago when we went head to head, your eyes were as cold as the moon.

They were eyes that saw a weaker opponent. You did not respect me…but the man you see before you is changed. Changed from that time. Changed I say! Cornell, are you really so worried about Ada's well-being?"

"Huh?"

Why do you go to such lengths? Why, you and Ada are virtually strangers. You are not blood relatives."

"That is none of your business."

"Ah but the sacrificial rites should already have begun by now so it is my business!"

"What did you say?!

Ortega slowly hunched over partly in wolf form as he licked his lips." If you plan on rescuing Ada, you'd better hurry or you'll be too late! However, first we've got a score to settle between ourselves!"

"You worthless…I won't let you get away with it!

"At last you show me your true colors. But do you think this is all I've got?! Ha ha ha! RAHH!"

Orgeta's eye twitched before he mutated into a three headed three-headed Chimera wolf before Cornell grit his teeth in disgust." Ortega…you took that Cadou parasite? You really have no pride!?"

"Bah…like a loser's pride matters one bit! Oh, what a great feeling! Now I am ready for battle. Are…you…ready…Cornell?!"

Knuckles wound up his knuckles before shrugging." You guys can have as many heads as you want but you're not going to be strong enough to, GUH!"

Just as he and Cornell were going to jump up, lightning crashed down to knock the two into the wall. As Knuckles saw some rings go flying and he struggled to get up he heard a laugh and saw the lighting bolt came from a more humanoid demon with grey skin and black wings.

As sparks crackled around the demon's body the new enemy smirked." You savages are so foolish, so you should be grateful I'll show you true grace before you die.

You humans have the lifespan of flies. I have experienced things your feeble minds could never comprehend... the music of the spheres echoing through the cosmos. You... may call me Alexei!

One of the Four Greater Fiends and Master of Lightning! You're quite the brutes but that strength will amount for naught, for you might as well try and punch the lighting before you punch me! At least know you have a noteworthy death!"

Alexie spun around rapidly to create a lighting cyclone, but just as the lighting was going to attack, a blue blur smashed into the demon and caused him to go through a window. As he burst out, he saw Sonic was in front of him and wagging his finger at the demon." So, you're only as fast as lighting creep? Then I don't even have to try to tag you!"

Knuckles saw his attacker's fury before he snickered." Now you show up eh Sonic? Here I thought you turned into a were hog again with all the furballs crawling around!"

Sonic winced before he wagged his finger." Seriously Knuckles? I thought we went over all that Dark Gaia stuff enough to,"

"Oh come on you really think I'm that dumb? I was joking!"

Sonic heard all the screams before he chuckled bitterly." Nice one man. Sorry, all the screaming and dying around here is killing the vibe yah know? All the more reason to shut down these punks pronto so we can help Ezan and the others!"

Alexei roared with outrage as lighting struck him." Blue…hedgehog? You... will... DIE!"

Sonic casually dodged all the lighting bolts heading his way before charging up a spin dash." How about a crash course to humble town for that ego of yours hotshot? Sonic, whoa!"

Sonic prepared to finish his target off only for a wall of fire to intercept him. He saw a red winged demon fly down cackling as fire swarmed around him." You are ignorant in the ways of the world as an infant in it's cradle mutant ninja. Without my fire the petty dreams of your Species would never have taken flight.

Do you not think that foolish? Impudent apes, how your hubris has grown in the few short millennia we have been away. have you forgotten the era when only the mercy of the Archfiend kept your lowly species alive? You ungrateful monkeys, on behalf of the shadow lord, I deliver you an ultimatum: Submit or Die."

Sonic raised an eyebrow before he glanced at Knuckles and Collen." Sorry this guy supposes to be a big shot I only remembered a few guys on the list Mike and Ezan had.

As Knuckles shrugged the demon in front of them roared. "Repent, you are in a presence of a Greater Fiend, I am Zedonius, Ruler of Flame! Its time this entire universe repents!"

Zeonius extended his wings before unleashing a large a massive and wide fire blast, but as it rocketed to Sonic, before he and the others could even react Lalic flew in from the other direction before shouting out." How about you repent for being such a creep first?"

The hybrid water dragon from Avalice burst at the flame projectile and spun around before she hit the shocked demon in the chest to send his own flames back at him. Zeonius saw he was being consumed by his own flames before screaming out," I'm…burning! BURNING!"

Before he became a human fire ball and was knocked into the sky before he exploded. Sonic saw Alexei was shocked and quickly spun dashed him in the chest to knock him into Knuckles, before his longtime friend smashed him into the air, only for Amy to jump in and smash the lighting archfiend's jaw with her Cyhammer attack before he went crashing into a building.

Sonic gave his pals a thumbs up before he smirked." Guess we saw who the hot shot was eh guys? Let's clean up these jokers and get this over with, time's tight even for me."

He prepared to dash to where he saw Ezan, Mike, Astra, and the rest went before a sword flew his way from the left. The blue member of the Justice Force dodged it before he saw that it came from a demonic flaming spectral fiend in a heavily armored dark knight suit of armor, closely resembling a Samurai.

Where his face was supposed to be, was a glowing purple flame. This demon cried out," Our hatred will not be so easily defeated vermin! Doku, Lord of the Greater Fiends does not relinquish his duty so casually!"

Sonic saw more demons coming before he sighed." They jam every demon in the universe in this place or what?"

Doku had his sword shimmer before uttering," This is where the dark side will rise once more, of course all of its followers would gather here! But my Kitetsu blade will be the one that slices down the bane of the, GUH!"

Just as he was going to attack before Raymond suddenly appeared before him using his Abyssal Gate attack spell and sliced the demonic samurai in half. The employee of Lawrence Logistics heard Doku's cry of outrage and smirked." Sorry, we don't have time to treat each of you ghosts like you're the star so just shut up already!"

He slashed Doku in half, and as Sonic saw the demon be vaporized, he gave Raymond a thumbs up." Got some style to yah dude, thanks."

"Don't thank me till we are done with this" party." Raymond uttered as he looked around. Elena where did Astra and the others go?"

His long-time comrade punched the blue three-eyed Oni, Moloch, down before she eyed the area carefully. She saw Ryu Hayabusa cut down the demonic ninja Murai as Kasumi evaded the strike from another demonic ninja clad in black, red and gold, the" Omega warrior" Genra's glowing duel sword before she and her comrade used a Team Ninpo blast to blow a whole through his chest.

She did not get the results she was looking for and glanced to the right to see Reinhardt Schneider evade the projectiles from his lover Rose, who seemed to be losing her mind as she kept firing more projectiles at the whip user.

Next to him Carrie evaded a few energy blasts and waves of acidic mist being thrown at her from her own possessed cousin Camille Fernandez.

To the right of them the Devil forge-master Hector slash through a demon summoned by the one who killed his wife, the red haired Issac.

Past them the mage Charlotte unleashed her Delta Spark lighting spell on the demon twins Loretta and Stella Lecarde, while another whip user trained in the art of the Belmont Vampire Killer arts, Jonathan Morris, lashed out at the demon Walter Bernhard as the red haired demon grasped the whip and smirked before saying," The power of the night is still full. I shall teach you the meaning of true terror."

Behind them Shanoa evaded the "Vertical shot" bullets of light and darkness being fired from her own corrupted lover Albus as an ally of her's, a bald rifle user named Robert gave her cover fire, while an intelligent Welsh corgi named Hachi was piloting a large mecha suit featuring a locomotive thematic, and using said mech to punch down the fire demon Dario Bossi.

At the same time Zangetsu sliced off the head of an attacking vampire warrior Nitara from planet Vaeternus, before deflecting a magic attack from Gebel, the Liber Logaeth, allowing Miriam to unleash a binding spell on her mind-controlled lover.

The android eyed the energy around her before looking down, and tensing up." Raymond…its scrambled but I can detect Astra below us. This palace is even more extensive than we assumed."

Raymond rolled his eyes before he looked around." Somehow I'm not surprised that the death cult really built up the HQ for keeping said death cult activities going. Still, all that matters is where do we have to huff and puff to knock this whole place down and help them?"

Elena sighed before she responded with a wary," Its not that simple, we don't want things to collapse on them."

"Eh…Astra's a tough girl I don't think the planet exploding on her would do more then piss her off."

"Maybe, but our comrades in the captured ship might not be able to weather that so easily. Look, I think there is a way if I can talk with Doctor Robotnik about the layout for the, huh? Watch out!"

The android pushed Raymond out of the way just as a massive building sized massive black tentacle burst out of the ground where they stood.

They and their allies saw dozens of tentacles burst out all over the city, and even rip through some like Ortega and the other demons before a harsh voice cut in with," I've spent a lifetime creating this moment... and you try to take it away from me? I will take what is due."

Everyone saw Mother Miranda walk up before Raymond shrugged." Sorry…your party kind of sucks so we are pulling the plug on it before anyone else the death punch poured down their throat!"

Miranda snickered as her eye twitched. "To ensure I never see your face again, I will feed you all to the Megamycete. Every single cell of your being. You can rot for all eternity as punishment for your interference. I don't have any more time to waste. Let us finish this, "heroes".

Miranda had the black mold burst into her before she grew demonic wings and former razor-sharp claws. She then hissed out." Heisenberg…help me purge the area and the glory is yours."

A shabby man with a hat and a trench coat walked up behind Miranda, tipped said hat and took out a giant hammer." Yack, yack. And if the man-things's dick is cut off in the castle - blah, blah, blah! Anyway, did not think anyone was left! You must be pretty tough, huh? Oh, you're not local...even better! So, your all mowing through demons like it's going out of style and I'm next in line, right? Kill me, move up the chain? Well to hell with that that! So now it's time for the beautiful, blood-soaked grand finale! Haha! Cower in the face of my steel glory!"

The one named Heisenberg punched the ground with his hammer. At first many assumed he was just drunk, but suddenly the ground started shaking before half the buildings in the city were ripped right into the air, and slammed together to form a massive sphere that blotted out the sun.

Heisenberg tipped his hat before his grin widened." I'm going to murder that boulder-punching blond asshole, but you're first. Well, what do you think? It's hopeless, right? Now die like the world's watching you!"

Heisenberg had the sudden asteroid descend, only for Zero to run up before casually slicing through another Cyber Demon and grinning." You think that's enough to make us scared? Please maverick, SA rank hunters just see this as a warmup! Reppuugeki!"

Zero shocked his enemies by taking an enhanced jump, and stabbing right through the asteroid like it was made of tin. Heisenberg saw Zero was in the middle of his constructed projectile before his eye twitched." I don't know why your metal is not being affected by me but I still can effect everything around you wiseass!"

Heisenberg tried to have the split pieces smash Zero, only for Axl to float up and take out his Pandora weapon before he smirked. As the Mavrick hunter took out his" Devil Arm" weapon and have it transform into its PF594: Argument form he fired a barrage of missiles and laser blasts to give Zero cover before he smirked." To bad you don't have enough things that I can't blow up first!"

Heisenberg saw Zero get through the other side before he grit his teeth." No…you don't have enough tricks to get through me you, I'm the master of, GUH!"

Heisenberg went flying to the right, and saw it came from Shadow. The ultimate creation of black doom had energy form in his fist before uttering," You're just the master of nonsense scum…disappear. Chaos Spear!"

Shadow threw the projectile at his target, and while Heisenberg tried to smash it back with his hammer, the blast shot through his hammer and impaled him in the chest.

Miranda saw Heisenberg be vaporized before she snarled with rage." No…you heathens won't ruin this!"

She had more black tentacles erupt to try and smash everyone as she laughed madly." Yes…Master Muzan will give me my daughter Eve back after he revives his sister! Then we will be a family in the new world! Just a little longer my dear, first these sinners have to die peacefully and prematurely! "

As she was about to have all the tentacles she summoned shoot lasers, she heard a child's voice say," But…I waited long enough momma!"

Miranda's eyes widened before she saw a small child walk up. Miranda's eyes twitched as she uttered," Eve…your alive? Did Master Muzan reward me?"

"Yes, yes he did momma and I wanted to thank you!"

"Oh my daughter, my Eve! I knew we would, GUH!"

She went to hug her child, only for the being that looked like her daughter stab her with a knife that was glowing green. The child licked her lips before uttering," You know how sick I was of hearing you rant about your god damn kid you whore?"

To her horror Eve suddenly took the shape of Crowley before the demon siding with the Enji smirked." I'm not really the fight loving kind of demon but you know, really got tired of hearing you for all those years cunt. Don't worry Miranda…just spearing you the trouble of your own whatever hating your guts as much as me."

Miranda yelled in outrage but before she could slash Crowley, the toxic in his blade took effect before her claw crumbled. As she fell apart Crowley saw the others looking at him before he shrugged." Wanted something to hold over you hero's heads before the night was through eh?"

Shadow looked around before he saw the giant blood red mother crystal and narrowed his eyes." Nice shot, but all of this matters little if we can't stop this."

Sonic shrugged as he looked around." Unless this Muzan guy is legit pumping out demons faster then Eggman popped out Badniks in the Death Eggs we got to have made some progress by now!"

Before the others could say anything, they saw another massive wave of purple water coming for them. Sonic saw Zero cut the wave in half, but saw that the area around the cathedral had massive toxic waves surrounding it like a dome before he chuckled bitterly." I thought all the demons got purged when Zannacross was busted so how many are around here?"

Shadow sighed as he looked down." A lot has happened since you guys were sealed Sonic, it feels that the darkness the universe has experienced is as much as its entire history before the Cosmic War…or at least it feels like it. So many have been so harden by how cruel the universe has become that sinning is just second nature. Its made it to the point where finding pepole that are not hostile from the start as more and more rare, to the point where few are worth saving."

Sonic saw how haunted his rival looked before he smirked." Well this is making the days when Black Doom invaded Mobius look like the easy going times. Still, no matter what, I'm never just assuming those around me are not worth saving.

After all, we are fast enough to see who's a faker and who's just caught up in the cross fire right? Maybe its just all the years Eggman forced everyone around to be his slaves but, I'm never going to just give up giving pepole a chance. Its not over, the likes of this is sure not making me give up!"

Shadow saw Sonic look defiantly at the Icon Of Sin approaching before he smirked." Glad some things never change" Faker." C'mon."

The two evaded the massive demon's energy blasts as they and the others tried to figure out how to get past the waves of toxic water. But those inside were finding a even more intense storm nearly devouring them, and for some it was very personal, Clive most of all.

The exiled princes of Rosaria were seeing just how vicious their mother really was now that she could fight for herself, and even with the other Dominant's fighting with them they were barely holding on to Annabell's savage onslaught. Despite being enemies just minutes before hand, the group of transformable warriors all hated their snake like foe enough to fight as one.

Even so, the former Dutchess turned chimera Eikon was unleashing so many attacks at once that her targets hardly had time to think. Alas Clive currently hated his mother so much that he was acting nearly on instinct, and after slashing through a snake head he saw the devastation to the city around him and narrowed his eyes." Is this your dream or your nightmare Anabella? After all that's left all you will have to rule will be ashes! Scarlet Cyclone!"

He had fire surround him to burn away the snake head before he burst at his mother, only for her other snake head to burst out of the ground to try and devour him. As Clive used all of his strength not to get devoured his demonic mother snickered." Oh Clive…you really are your father's son.

After all you're as narrow minded as he is! I understand being from a line of the Pheonix more than any of you, and I understand that sometimes everything has to burn to the ground till something superior can rise from its ashes.

You have been such a disappointment, that's why you should atone by returning to where you came! Here dying, join my legion of undeath. Your blood, the roses on unhallow'd graves!"

As the snake head prepared to devour her son, a bolt of lighting blasted her, crackling the demonic woman enough for Jousha and Jill to get Clive out of the snake head's grasp. Anabella saw Cid's face had nothing but scorn for the woman as he uttered," The only one here that must atone is you whore. All those lives lost so you could try and build a throne out of their corpse? Time you answer for all the backs you stabbed! Judgement Bolt!"

The leader of the local resistance summoned from the heavens a mighty levinbolt, but Anabella saw the flash and had her eyes widened before uttering," Boundless Pain." Before a symbol for Pain appeared out of her forehead that deflected the energy bolt.

Just as Cid winced in shock the symbol instantly shot forth to hit the bearded man in the face.

As the Eikon of lighting cried out in pain Anabella licked her lips." You have been so amusing Cidolfus Telamon. As if a stubborn fool could lead slaves to anywhere but the grave! You could have been among us but you let common curs degrade your blood. Still, your noble enough to make your suffering worthwhile to me!"

She rushed at Cid with her fangs extended, only for Benedikta to slam into the older woman's head before hissing out," Hey…get your own chew toy he's mine! Wicked Wheel!"

The woman till recently was part of leader of Waloed's "intelligence" spy unit unleashed a rising attack which unleashed a small cyclone that sliced Annabella's eye.

The mad Dutchess hissed out as her snake head unleashed a wave of fire while she licked her lips." I can respect your resolve girl, I think I would have preferred you as a ward over that icy cunt from Northern Territories, but alas your just not refined enough to stand on the top dear. Sad…but I did not get this far by having mercy."

She tried to stab the blond woman, only for a recovered Dion to parry the claw as he glared at his one-time foster mother." No…you got this far by slithering around in the shadows like the viper you are. But now everyone sees you for the self serving monster you are!"

"You think I'm hiding now faggot!?" Annabella hissed as her serpent head fired a wave of green fire. As Jousha countered the flames with his own flame barrier his genocidal mother widened her eyes." I was a good little Duchess for years…but I knew if I just was a nice "pet" the old fools around me would march me to my death. Hugo… Barnabas… Sylvestre… Elwin…those "Iron Blooded" clowns…all of them are just pathetic man-children who had everything handed to them. I…I had to play the game harder than all of them! And I made it this far, I won't lose everything to the likes of ingrates like you!"

Clive saw his mother's fury, before his own started to boil." Ingrate? You betrayed your own children, murdered your husband, sold me to a slave, then betrayed your new son as well! No one personifies being a spoiled ingrate then you!"

Cid snickered before throwing out," I'd say she's going through one hell of a midlife crises but she's to young for that."

Jill rolled her eyes before muttering a deadpanned," She's over fifty Cid."

"Seriously?"

Benedikta snickered before shrugging." Guess demonic makeovers do wonders eh? But it can't last with the whiplash I'll give you "your highness." At least I was not kidding myself about what I was" Mommy." Time to drag the Empress out of the shadows and make her realize she has no clothes, or brains!"

Annabella saw she was being attacked at from all sides before she narrowed her eyes." No…my dream is no fantasy; your dreams are the delusions!"

She grasped her hands before human sized bubbles of acid popped up to catch the attackers and bind them all. The delusional Empress laughed as her sons and there allies screamed in pain as they started to burn." I'm nothing but ambitions whore! It was my destiny to rule…and its all of you naughty children and manchildren's fault for not realizing who was the true ruler. Look at what you made me do you stupid child! The blood of all native Valisthea citizens is just the fuel for my ascension!"

Jousha saw the madness in his mother's eyes before he winced." Mother…what madness could ever bring you to such a conclusion?"

"Don't talk back to your mother! It's not madness…its absolute resolve! I'll show you what's a delusion and what's fact as you drown in the bloody tears of my resolve! Blood is the price of progress! It is the ink in which history's pages are writ! And I will write my own history! Bloody Imperatum! "

Annabella made a few hand gestures before the blood of all the dead around them started to burst out and gather around the treacherous parent, before forming a bloody whirlpool that started to suck her attackers in. Clive struggled to break out while seething out," Damn it Annabella…you will never be god no matter how many you betray!"

"Heh…of course not. After all, God" is an image created out of man's insecurities. Oh yes, all such tales of gods and their miracles are false. Those who would lead prefer that history suits their needs, and rewrite it to see that it does. And why shouldn't they? The fault lies not with them.

The reeking masses yearn for gods and miracles. It is their opiate, and they consume it greedily. The people do not endeavor towards greatness, but rather mire them- selves in their petty strife's - shackles on the feet of man.

Their leaders give them no more than that for which they clamor. It is history's oldest and most oft-repeated tale. Do men exploit this weakness to dominate their fellows? Mayhap they do.

But they succeed only because the people are eager to know such dominion. Gods are only illusions born of man's fear. It is they who see this charade for what it is and join in the pageantry who are to blame. I'm just the one who mastered the game child…hence its destiny you kneel or be swept aside!"

"Never!" Clive roared out as he tried to burn away the bloody water dragging him down." I'll never submit to tyrants…let alone you!"

"And yet you will boy! Because you are all alone! Even these outsiders don't have the means to derail my destiny! You're just a fool that will, ugh!"

She was going to try and exert more power to drown her sons and the others, till a sharp pain made her relent. She realized that despite all the odds, Torgal had followed his master all the way here just to bite Annabella when she was about to kill everyone.

Seeing this Clive could not help but chuckle bitterly." Even a dog knows your the last one that deserves to rule, because basic instincts can detect how foul you are!"

She saw the dog's furious growl and hissed back." You're still alive you worthless frost mutt!? What a farce. You're dumber than your first master if you thought a mere hound has sharper fangs than me! But its just more to make my sons suffer then!"

She raised her hand and had her right middle finger extend to impale Torgul, but as it reached the dog, said dog had its eyes glow before it unleashed an aura of ice that froze the area.

Torgal suddenly transformed as his fur changed into blue and white before a wave of ice froze the area around him. With her concentration broken Clive and the others were able to struggled against the bloody whirlpool before Clive looked at his pet with shock." Torgal…you're a dominate? It's like your Semi-Priming like we do."

Cid saw Torgal's resolve and glowing blue fur before he chuckled bitterly." I knew he was special but not this special! But, it makes sense.

I had Gav learn about Torgal. What he managed to find out was, that Torgal was in reality a rare breed of frost wolves from the Northern Territories, and that one particular wolf served as a royal hound to the Queen of the Northern Territories.

This wolf was known as Fenrir. And what's more, the Queen was believed to be the Dominant of Shiva. This explained why Torgal was inseparable with Jill, as Jill is the current Dominant of Shiva. Thus, he was able to "imprint" on Dominants, and gain some powers by being imbued by their aether, causing the Fenriric form we are all seeing now."

Annabella narrowed her eyes before hissing out," You damn mutt…if your senses had any worth you would submit to your true queen!"

"It does not work like that Annabella!" Clive roared out." You can't just lash everyone into submission! Your crown is one of lies and no matter how many demons back it, it will never last!"

"I'll show you all the weight of my crown boy! It's one that will break any vermin into their fate! Deluge of Boundless Pain!"

Annabella had her aura surge before she conjured a massive bloody wave to try and crush everyone into the whirlpool. Clive saw the wave coming for him before he yelled out," YOU DON'T DECIDE ARE WORTH! We are not your slaves, your pets or anything else! WE WILL DECIDE ARE OWN FATE!"

He, Cid, Jill, Jousha, Dion, and Benedikta all once more fully transformed into there full Eikon states to unleash enough energy to shatter the whirlpool and rupture the bloody wave.

Annabella saw Ifrit, Shiva, Ramuh, Bahamut, Garuda, and Phoenix growl at her from all sides before she hissed out," You think you can scare me? Your just unrefined beasts that are nothing compared to your superior!"

"Its time you realize just where you stand woman." Dion roared as he took to the air and opened his mouth." Mega…GUH!"

Before he could unleash his attack, his stepmother had snake tentacles lash out from her hair to bind the dragon's mouth and seal off the attack. As Bahamut roared Annabella snickered darkly." You think I'll let you mouth off to your mother like that? No matter how you lash out all of you will get you're punish, GUH!"

Before she could discharge Dion with venom, Cid in his fully" Primed" state had lighting bolts rain down to shock Annabella back before the now bearded man threw out a dry," You're the last one who gets to decide who to punish "Queen.""

Annabella hissed and pointed her heads at Cid, only for Benedikta to fly up." I think you issued your last command "Empress." Airal Blast!"

The harpy like woman unleashed a windstorm that ripped up parts of the city and hurled all the fragments at the older woman. While Annabella tried to have more waves of bloody toxic water burst out to erode the rubble Jill then flew higher before nodding." For once I think I agree with her. You won't command us or anyone else ever again! Diamond Dust!"

The woman with the power of Shiva unleashed a powerful ice spell to freeze everything around her former Mother in law, and Torgal unleashed a blast of ice to in order to help freeze the enemy over. However, as Annabella saw her body start to be covered with eyes her eyes glowed with red." No…gutter trash like you…CAN NEVER HOLD BACK MY RAGE! All of you…I'll teach all of you what it means to suffer! Oblivion!"

The chained hands on her bottom half suddenly break said bondage before her lower head roared, and unleashed a barrage of energy blasts to blow away everything around her. Everyone had to move at full speed to avoid being blown away before Annabella yelled madly." That's right…death to all who deny me my destiny! Miserable bearer scum! DIE!"

Cid winced as one energy blast blew a hole through his beard before he spat back," I'm not even thinking about dying till I'm free yah here me!? Judgment Bolt!"

The freedom fighter unleashed a blast of lighting, and Jill and Benedikta had ice and wind barrage the older woman as well. But Annabella 's Oblivion attack only slowed sightly as the mark of Zannacross glowed brighter on her head and she hissed out," Nothing…NOTHING WILL DENY ME WHAT IS MINE!"

Dion roared as he flew above the energy blasts and snarled back," Your only destiny is to answer for what you have done!"

The man currently acting as a dragon had a barrage of energy projectiles rain down to parry some of the ones coming his way. Clive saw his mother getting more distracted before he had his fiery body surge with energy."

No matter how vicious you become, you cannot control us! Burning Fate!"

He had a wall of fire surround him that was powerful enough to shield him from some of the blasts before he charged at his mother and tackled her into the air. As she stabilized herself Jousha cried out in his bird like state before his body glowed." And you will never claim us again! Flames of Rebirth!"

Annabella had the flames of both her natural sons consume her and just howled with a berserk yell that shattered most of the glass still standing in the city." No…the greatest sin is for a child to defy their parent! You exist to further my glory! Ultimate betrayal…must be returned with ultimate punishment! Ultima Oblivion!"

Annabella had veins from on both of her current heads before twin spheres of energy formed around them. She combined the spheres to become an even larger projectile before Clive just snarled with defiance." I'm not god but to me…there is no greater sin then for a parent to treat there child as a tool.

You failed us Annabella! You failed are family, and you have failed this city, and this nation! And no amount of treacherous cunning will get you out of what you deserve! Hellfire!"

At the same time Jousha roared out," Flames of Revelation!"

While Dion boomed out," Zeta Flare!"

Before the three unleashed attacks in three directions. The beams collided into Annabella 's Ultima Oblivion before the trio cried out," Tri-Disaster!"

And their attacks combined into a multicolored sphere, Cid, Jill, Benedikta, and Torgal also fired all they could into the Tri-Disaster sphere, causing it to surpass the opposing spell. Annabella's eyes widened in horror as her ultimate attack was being pushed back." No…I am from noble blood…RUBES CANNOT DENY ME! DAMN YOU CLIVE! If only you were what you were supposed to be…everything would have,"

"EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE STILL LED TO THIS ANNABELLA!"

Clive roared back bitterly." Because you clearly have never been content in your life! Even if this worked out for you, you would still be miserable! But no one will be hurt by your insanity ever again! This is for you father!"

Annabella tried to push the energy sphere back only to see her hands cracking before she screamed out," No…this is all just a dream, a bad dream! You will not take me! You…will…AHHH!"

Empress Emeritus Annabella saw her hands vaporize, and could only give out one last roar of pure hate before she was vaporized by the combined attack.

Clive landed on the ground, and realized the woman who tormented him for most of his life, his own mother, was just killed by his hand before he sighed." Father…may you and everyone else she wronged be sightly more at peace now."

Cid landed on the ground before chuckling bitterly." I'm not fond of brutality even for my enemies but she had it coming. Her fate fit her well. She clung to the delusion that she was in total control, only to die as she lived; alone and ignorant. She just couldn't see past her own little world. It's a shame her narcissism nearly doomed Valisthea.

Well…I know matricide is not something any decent chap just sleep off mates…but the blunt truth is we don't have time to dwell on it. This family matter of yours might have just been resolved but I'm getting a feeling that the matter involving the fate of our world is far from over. Mostly from well…that right there."

Everyone saw Cid casually point to the mother crystal above, and that it was surging with even more energy before Jill winced." Damn her…even in death she causes more harm."

Dion saw the bloody water start to vaporize before he looked at where he last saw his father alive and sighed." Then we must work even harder to make sure her actions won't decide the fate of this battle. At least…we don't have to carry the burden alone."

Clive's group saw Sonic, Shadow, Zero, and some of the others at last arrive before Sonic looked around." What's going on dudes? Sounds like there was some seriously funky stuff going down here."

Clive chuckled before he looked down." I'm not sure what funky means, but if it is close to bitter then you're correct. But it seems that wickedness has been struck down. Though…I can't speak for anything past the surface."

Zero nodded as he looked around." You did well handling the mavericks here, but we have to step it up to make sure the bad guys don't get the last laugh."

Clive paused before he looked at the giant crystal above him." You mean Muzan yes? Let's swarm the demon and be done with it. Where is he?"

Shadow looked around before he grit his teeth." I don't think he's out here. Like Black Doom, he seems to live up to his name and stick to the shadows…till we drag him out of them. What most concerns me now is where are allies went to."

E-Omega scanned the area before swerving to his long-time teammate." Initial survey suggests teleportation was involved. Final destination…unclear but many massive power levels are below us."

Shadow sighed before he nodded." Best get the layout from the Doctor on where Xehamaru use to "store things".

Zero paused before he looked around." Let's just make sure we know where all of the threats are. Sonic…you seen Fitter's kid for a while now right? Your sure she can be trusted?"

Sonic paused before he shrugged." You mean Astra? Her humor's as bad as Knuckle's at times but she made it clear she cares about making the right people pay and all that.

Ezan thought she is the right woman for the job so, works for me. C'mon Zero you, Shadow and the others were made by jerks to do bad stuff and chose your own fate so kind of a pot calling the kettle black thing right?"

Zero sighed as he looked around." I get what you mean Sonic. She had as much say in what she was made for as what Doctor Wily made me for. Still, it's just that the fact is it's not a command from someone else to make her a problem, but her own instincts.

The same instincts Doug had that made him decide his personal amusement was more important than the entire universe, is the instincts she has. I know we need all the help we can get right now, I just hope for all of our sakes her head is in the right place. Ugh, for now let's figure out what the hell is going on."

Everyone got ready to clear out some more demons, hoping they could reach the others in time. As they did, little did Zero know Astra was trying to figure out some of the things he worried about herself, even though it was because Geto was forcing the issue.

As we return to where we left her in the inverted clock tower, with Astra seeing Geto, Kill-Vern, and Kirinmaru all looking at her like she was something to hunt. She saw the demonic trio slowly move closer before she snickered." You trying to bore me to death with a lame ass stare off or are we doing this? You know you screwed yourself sealing me in your prison realm crap Geto…no one can bail you out of the ass kicking I'm giving you now!"

The man with stitches on his head snickered at the blond woman's "angry smile" before he put his hands in the air." Please Astra…you don't have to bark here, I know how tough you are, I made sure of it. And your once more mistaken…I made this trap just to neutralize you, but I can always adapt my plans for the situation. For example, your clearly corrupted with ideas from fools so rather strong medicine is required."

He made a hand gesture before a new goat like demon looking sickly formed out of the ground next to him. The blond woman heard the demon moan before Astra spat on the ground." Oh please, if your help is already half dead just have to sneeze and it will blow, huh?"

She saw the demon moan before gas came out of its mouth, causing Geto to snicker." Well, I think it's fair to say that you will be the one sneezing, and more when my special grade disease cursed spirit, Smallpox Deity gets to know you. Well, let's just say that what happened to the Verubin Nebula was not just a cruel twist of fate."

As the Smallpox deity roared Astra cracked her neck before a shadow suddenly burst up out of the ground to rupture the new minion. As gas went flying everywhere Astra's eyes hardened." I already got enough shots so…I'll pass. If you think just waving some gas at me would be enough to, huh? Damn it!"

As the gas spread around the area she felt her hair blow up and swerved to block a sudden incoming strike from Kirinmaru, who used the gas to cover his movements. The daiyōkai type demon saw Astra was knocked to her knees before he smirked." Maybe, but its just the opening move to your reckoning hanyō! You have no idea how long I waited for this moment!"

"Really dude? Your even more pitiful than I thought."

"What? How dare you call your superior pitiful!"

"Well, you sure act more like a dumbass then a "Master."

"How dare you! Blasting Barrage!"

The horned demon unleashed a barrage of purple energy blasts, but Astra had Gorr have extra blades shoot out of the hilt to knock them all away before she gave Kirinmaru the middle finger with her free hand." Oh if this is all you can dish out then I will dare as much as I want you,"

Kirinmaru roared as he suddenly gathered a massive purple energy orb in his right hand and hurled it at his target. The sudden new extra-large projectile just made Astra grit her teeth." Huff and puff all you want…you're never knocking me down! Ia Death Waltz!"

The Equalizer unleashed a lighting fast sword slash that shattered the projectile, but Astra was not even a second out of the shattered energy sphere before Kirinmaru charged at her with his Bakuseiken sword with enough force to shake the room, if not the entire Inverted Castle.

Kirinmaru saw Astra looking at him with more anger than fear in her face before he snarled." Your power's no lie heathen, but that just means that when I slay you it will prove to the universe that I'm the most superior demon in the universe!"

"What the hell made you think we have some long-standing grudge or something goat face? I only just met you a few days ago."

"Its because you exist Astra Fitter! Your existence insults my long reign of the Lord of the Eastern Lands!"

"Piff…what lord? I never heard of you so unless you stick to the shadows more then your boss its all in your god damn head!"

"You must have had your head in the sand, millions know my terror!"

Astra saw Geto look annoyed in the distance before she rolled her eyes." Oh…now I see. You're just another pet project Geto and Muzan worked on eh? Almost feel sorry your just some insane project, but my mercy runs out feel fast for those trying to gut me."

Geto saw Kirinmaru looked conflicted before he shrugged." You're going to let her trick you with such a basic lie? Remember your promise to Rion yes?"

Kirinmaru had his eye twitch before the mark of Zannacross surged brightly on his head." Yes…I promised my daughter I would see the universe be dragged into the darkness! And those who betray their nature shawl suffer the most, just like you!"

The demon's muscles expanded before he tried to grasp Gorr with his free hand, and slash Astra in half with her sword out of the way. However, while his target was overpowered for a moment, when he prepared to slice through her she kicked off his chest and at the speed of a blur got out of the way as his strike caused a shock-wave.

Kirinmaru roared with outrage as he blitzed after her, only for the blond woman to smirk as she kept evading and parrying his blows." Really rage quitting this quickly dude? Just another entitled punk who only acts tough when everything's rigged for him! But you're too slow to tag me you son of a, GUH!"

Astra winced as she swerved to the right, only to feel a sharp pain go through her right leg. This cased Kirinmaru to kick her to the ground. As she got up she coughed up blood and looked at the wound before she winced." The hell? That was more like a stab than a punch. But that does not fit the kind of, wait, damn it!"

She quickly swung her blade to the left just as Killvearn tried to slice her head off with his scythe. As the man in black saw his attack get blocked he cackled darkly." You have the passion of a devil, just not the cunning."

"Get one cheap shot and you think you're a badass eh clown? To deceive and snare, that's all you got going. But if you don't have the follow up then you can't do jack. But I guess you deluded yourself into thinking your in the right to, eh?"

"Eh, not really. I know I was made to kill, so I kill. Life's a lot less stressful when you just know what you are eh? You should give it a try."

"Piff…thing is I want to kick assholes like you to the curb, but I refuse to just be defined as a kill machine like you!"

"Well then you will be cut down like the fool you, GUH!"

Astra roundhouse kicked Killvearn to the wall before she grasped her wounded leg and used magic for the wound to patch up." Like hell. See, sucker punching is legit and all, if it works.

But I'm on to your game reaper. Sounds like your so use to stealth kills you got no follow through cause you can't mortally wound someone who can match your speed, like me. Well maybe your paired up with these jackasses to make up for that but I'm breaking your team plan right here! My eye is on you and I, GUH!"

Astra raised her sword, only to suddenly feel an immense stab go through her palm. As she was forced to drop Gorr, Killvearn snickered." You're right, as you said I can't win without laying traps. If I really wanted to, I could train and be unbeatable in a fair fight. But…such victories are not enjoyable to me. Like an insect caught in a spider's web, seeing a target caught in a trap is glorious!

The more someone has worked hard, the more I love seeing them fall into my traps. Once I tasted that joy, killing in other ways seem foolish. When I can effortlessly finish them off, and grant them peace, it makes me feel that I'm truly a reaper. Because no matter how "hard you look" you will never spot my attacks coming!"

"Guess with your name like that no shocker you're a creep but you still tick me off."

Astra hissed out as she withdrew her hand and had her aura flare out." But your right that I can't see how you cut me. But that just means somehow your one way or another launching invisible bullets or blades or whatever eh?"

Astra saw Killvern pause before she snickered." Oh, did I spoil the punchline asshole? Guess you're just a crappy clown! Well, I don't need Ezan's fancy Sharingan to bust your trap, I'll just go around them!"

Killvern saw Astra raise her sword before he snickered." Impossible…you can't sense my phantom razors either. You're already snared. You can call me fiendish or " creepy" but you should thank me when I kill you. After all I'm freeing you from this hell that is your life."

"I don't need help from goons like you! If your traps are so damn hardcore, then I just need something to hit it first! Dark Magic: Dark Cloaked Avidya Wild Slash!"

Astra channeled darkness into her sword, and released that darkness with a slash that unleashed waves of dark energy in all directions. She saw were some of the projectiles got bent or cut before she narrowed her eyes." Got you asshole! GUH!"

The blond woman almost closed in on Killvern, but before she could slice him, a demonic mouth burst out to bite her legs. She saw it was not another Phantom Razor, but a large demonic bug summoned from Geto. The switched face man clapped as he slowly walked up." Very good Astra, your instincts are as sharp as the best of them. This feeling…is this what a parent's pride is?"

"Hell no Geto." Astra spat out bitterly." You just pulled some messed up crap to meddle in where you had no right to belong, that's as far as it gets from the pride a parent has!"

"But how would you really know? Your real father gave you even less attention than I did yes?"

"I still had family damn it! And I may not know enough to give advice but I know when someone is doing a horrible job. This is all just a project for you, you don't stick yourself in family and act like you know what you're talking about!"

"But I do have" experience." Astra." Geto uttered smugly." I am grateful you think I pulled you off in one attempt, but I had many, "Prototypes" before getting to you. In fact, I was going to introduce you after but I think it's time you are introduced to your brother. Yes, Choso is dying to meet you."

Geto snapped his fingers before the inverted clock tower's bell rang, and a coffin descended. He made a few hand gestures before the coffin glowed, and a man appeared out of it. His appearance was predominantly that of a human man with long black stringy hair tied into two high ponytails that jut upward and outward.

He had small dark purple eyes with slightly thin eyebrows and a blood mark that extends from both sides of his face across the bridge of his nose. He was clad in a loose, light tan robe that covered his torso, arms, and legs.

It was worn underneath a purple gi-like vest that covered his torso in a "v" shape and had a bottom section that extended to his waist. He also sported a round scarf around his neck that matched his gi and brown boots.

As the new male cracked his neck Geto smirked." Meet Choso, your half brother I suppose. I won't blame you for not realizing this relationship as I was going by Noritoshi Kamo at the time. He and his two brothers, Kechizu and Eso were the "test phases" under the Cursed Womb: Death Paintings project I went through before resulting in you.

Choso had a few" issues" with his brothers dying for failing me but well, after some "tough love" he was put in his place. Tell me Astra, do you hate me enough to kill your own brother?"

Astra saw Choso get into a fighting stance like a zombie before she grit her teeth." Geto… Kenjaku…whatever you called you deserve the worst I can think of for this. I don't need to kill any more of your pawns, I'll just go right to you!"

She tried to flash step behind Geto and cut him in half, only for Choso to suddenly intercept the blade with his hand. Even as his hand got cut he uttered," Slicing Exorcism…Blood Edge!"

To Astra's shock, the blood cut out of Choso's body formed into a rotating charkarm that sliced into Astra's face. Choso had the blood form into a dagger before he once more uttered," Supernova!"

Astra winced as more blood from her new enemy burst out, and quickly took the shape of several orb-like bullets.

Astra got hit by a few of them before she growled in disgust." What…trying to give me HIV with this blood or something? It's a sneaky trick, but kind of stupid if you bleed out before you can finish the fight! I, huh?"

The blond woman saw a set of two kanji words appear on her were the blood landed, the words for magic and seal before she suddenly felt weaker."Oh, don't worry about that." Geto smugly replied." Choso hear has been, modified to avoid such a weakness.

For example, his blood just unleashed the Makeup of the Seal, a spell that seals away the Spirit/Demon Energy of one's opponent where it lands. I find ways to make even a weakness a strength, and he lost so much blood in my training sessions that I decided to make that a plus instead of a minus. Its because of him that I decided to be more…hands off with your development Astra so you should thank him."

"God damn it. Your own son is just a doll to you?"

"Not a doll, a pawn. Those who change the universe can't be bound by such weak feelings Astra. The ends justify the means. Don't you want to see what you have not seen? And don't you want conformation that what you think is interesting is actuality interesting? Is that not what life is about? Is that not the purpose of freedom...the thing you cherished most of all?"

"Hell got me there." Astra spat back dryly." Of course...the whole thing about freedom is that its not the same for everyone, and I just feel with my freedom that seeing guys like you treat everyone as toys for purposes that make me sick makes me want to kick there ass!"

"You really value the lives of Bethal sheep over mine? Even after they seen you as a terrorist at best and a virus at worst for most of there lives?"

"See that's just the thing Geto...no matter how big my grudge is I refuse to let myself throw in honest folks just trying to get by with the bosses."

"No one is innocent Astra, we all are bound to are fate."

"Is that what you told your son before making him your attack dog you piece of,"

"Blood Meteorite." Choso uttered before he suddenly shot a dagger like blood projectile out of his chest. Astra got hit on the mouth and nearly choked on it as Geto sighed." I did tell that to Choso. True, it took some, intense enlightenment before he well, saw the" dark light" but, he's now as it should be, just as you will soon."

Choso tackled her, but she spat out the dagger before glaring at Geto." Your one demented asshole Geto. As messed up as Higgs is at least he knows what an Equalizer is suppose to be! But you're just a damn schemer thinking it's all about him!"

"And you really think you know more than me child? I saw how your father ran things from the start, and saw just what his true agenda was. Despite how often his attention span, swayed, it has been clear how he wants this universe to have all its order broken down, so those who thrive in chaos will find paradise. Even madness has an order to it, if you know where to look. I'm simply fulfilling this order's true purpose."

"Like hell you know anything other than what you conned yourself to think is real Geto! You may be a parasite in are group but…you don't know what it's suppose to be about?"

"Oh? Then should we ask one of the other founders about it then? Cause I can do that now if you insist. I suppose now is time to reveal my other surprise family reunion."

Geto made another hand gesture, before the ground rippled, and started to shake. The clock tower bell run once more, before the pile of skulls in the corner of the room rose up, and revealed a suit of armor underneath them.

The armor was jet black, and had the symbol of Zannacross on its helmet. The armor slowly walked out before Astra raised an eyebrow." The hell a joke is this? I'm not related to damn armor you, huh?"

Astra paused as she saw the armor take out a blue katana before she tensed up." Wait…that blade…that Rainfall blade almost looks like the one Great Grandmother Aqua used, just like, ma told me about. This is not funny one-bit Geto. I know the old man would never let you use her corpse as your tool!"

"Correct." Geto uttered flatly. But, while this is not quite the corpse of Aqua Trian, it is a fragment of her soul, bound to her old armor left in the Chamber of Repose.

Your father may have seen such remnants as just things Ben Auro took from her "old days" to try and make her look like she was on the wrong side and dismissed them. But me well, even scraps have value.

This "Lingering Will" is not as powerful as she was in her prime, but it did help recreate her DNA to make your existence come about smoother. You should thank me Astra, for allowing you a chance to meet your father's only true love!"

"Geto you, whoa!"

In an instant the Armored Nightmare Aqua jabbed her sword at Astra, and caused a wave of ice to freeze the entire area. Astra swore as her arm was frozen before Geto laughed." Well, it won't be a pleasant reunion. After all this remnant is all of Aqua's regrets and anger as her soul passed. I chatted with her you know, the real living Aqua. Your great grandmother was a...complicated woman.

She regretted betraying Enji and her friends like Axel, but truly loved your father. I suppose he loved her enough to never remarry officially but, clearly they were at odds and stuck together mostly because they were the most hated terrorists in the whole universe. Love…the pain and misery it brought her, is why I know acting on such feelings is utter nonsense. Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated. Until then, everyone you love is a hostage, sapping your will and corrupting your judgment. After all...her love caused her to make...so many errors in judgment."

"Don't you dare act like you knew her Geto!" Astra roared out as her aura shattered the ice around her arm. While she tried to charge Geto, the Lingering Will Nightmare Aqua and Choso both intercepted her.

As she quickly parried both of there strikes Geto looked delighted." Don't take my word for it. See her hate and resentment for yourself! Your family destiny is darkness Astra!

Your father sunk the universe into darkness, and his wife, your great grandmother renounced the lies of the light for the passions of the dark side. For you to resist that destiny, is just the defiance of a foolish child. But, it's time you grow up. It's a parent's duty to guide a child to their destiny, and that's a destiny I won't run away from."

"YOUR NOT FAMILY!" Astra roared out as her energy started to cause the whole castle, if not the whole planet to shake." You're just a cultist who planned my life out before I was even born! I'LL NEVER BOW TO YOU!"

She tried to stab Geto, only for Aqua's Nightmare Armor to get stabbed by Gorr in the chest. Astra winced at impaling her own great grandmother, even if it was a remnant before Geto sighed." You really are so cruel Astra, stabbing Aqua like that. Even Doug did not resort to that."

"No…its just a, GUH!"

To her shock, Aqua's shadow stabbed her with her katana while uttering a grave," Ice Devil Slayer Magic…Lost Iced Shell."

The Nightmare Aqua put her hands in an "X" sign, with the right arm above the left arm. The right palm faced down while the left palm faced up, before purple ice started to crawl up Astra's feet.

As she screamed in pain Geto looked even more amused." The legendary ice magic that could seal any demon, is the perfect way to cool your temper down Astra. You may be above the likes of demons such as Deliora that she and her friend Ur made this spell infamous for, but you will be bound to it all the same."

"LIKE HELL I WILL!" Astra yelled out as she turned red and unleashed all of her power to try and break free." NO MATTER HOW MANY TRICKS YOU PULL OUT OF THAT HOLLOW HEAD IT JUST PISSES ME OFF MORE AND MORE TILL I…AHHH!"

Astra's eyes suddenly glowed red before to her shock the seal of Zannacross appeared around her. Geto then looked sadistic as he grasped his hand tightly." Oh…that's just what I want Astra!

Your rage consumed me before, but this time I'm ready! I prepared a seal of darkness that feeds off your rage, and only further empowers the spell! This ice will consume you, and freeze your very soul!

Then your body will be mine for the taking, and you will at last complete your purpose! You're a creature of darkness Astra fitter, one who's rage will burn the very universe! Its futile to resist what your very existence is about! The message will be delivered; your destiny will be fulfilled! Its time that the the prophecy is fulfilled, and the "portal" of the darkness accepts her fate!"

Astra struggled to not be consumed as she saw the ice go past her legs." No…I only destroy what I want, the ones who deserves it."

"Alas your mind is too, irrational to decide that properly. But your proof that despite what Ben Auro and the other Enji and angels hoped for, the darkness in man kind's heart will never vanish!

I know you suffered your entire life child, but it was to produce flames powerful enough to be worthy of the one who sits on the Throne of Bel. You want to defy your fate, but you will never be able to fit anywhere but where you belong.

Why haven't you returned to the reality whence you came?

Your suffering will end, you will be free of having to think at all, for I will take your body from you. If life will only bring you misery, spend the rest of your pitiful life in dreams. Dreams hold our memories. Sleep holds our dreams. And darkness-it holds our sleep. No matter how hard you resist, your heart belongs to the darkness now. Your heart will sleep forever in the folds of darkness. And your body will be another vessel for me. So, light gives way to darkness. Good night, Astra."

The mark of Zannacross appeared on her forehead, before the purple ice consumed both her and Aqua's Nightmare armor.

Kirinmaru at last got up from the previous blow before he saw his opponent was frozen and raised an eyebrow." This…this is really the end? This ice will subdue her?"

Gedo pulled off his stitched head to reveal the mutated brain once more before his eyes widened." The Iced Shell is a technique that uses the spirit and the physical body of the user to freeze the target into a block of ice. Her very soul will be frozen…leaving me to take it over without resistance. At last, both Aqua and Astra will have served their purpose, to allow me to become the Lord of Bel. I'll just lop off the top of Astra's head, take it over and at last, oh?"

The demons saw the ice start to glow, and the ground start to shake before Killvern winced." Wait…she's overpowering even this?"

Geto paused before he held his composure." Astra is far stronger then previous targets but, even the sun's flames burn out in time. The last cries are the most intense, that's all…it's a fact."

Despite this Geto paused as the ice kept glowing, not realizing that while things seemed frozen in the outside, there was more then a few things moving in the inside, the inside of Astra's soul.

Astra blinked, and saw that her surroundings was a vast endless desert. As she looked around, she saw Gorr, in his pale human state greet her with a wave." I admit, every time I think I figured you out Astra, more layers appear."

The blond woman raised an eyebrow before cracking her neck." The hell Gorr? I have enough going on right now with out you trying to devour my soul again! You better not be working with Geto!"

"Please…as if I would turn to another who wants to be" god." No this is not about your soul but another. I brought your mind to my realm because I just absorbed another soul into the Necrosword, and realized it felt, related to yours and that it might be off interest to you."

"Wait…what do you mean?"

"It might be better to ask her instead."

Astra turned around to see a sphere of light fall to the ground. It landed right in front of Astra, before suddenly taking the shape of a woman.

She had blue eyes, and her hair was blue and relatively short. She wore a black and blue, high-collared halter top, two pink, intersecting belts over her chest, and black shorts. She wore a silver badge.

On her arms were white bell-sleeves and tan, fingerless gloves. She also wore a small, segmented piece of armor on each of her upper arms. She wore what appeared to be black stockings or socks on her legs which reached about halfway up her thighs, leaving a small area of bare skin on her upper thighs.

She also bore two strips of blue cloth that draped over either side of her hips, along with a smaller, white strip of cloth tied around her waist, draped in the same manner. Finally, she wore pointed, armored, silver boots with a sharp "hook" on the outer side of each.

After a few moments, she opened her eyes and saw Astra's face. After only a few moments tears crept down before she sighed." You…you have his face."

Astra's eye twitched before uttering," Wait…are you really, Great Grandmother Aqua?"

"Great…Grandmother? Well…I'm glad Doug did not destroy the universe yet like I feared."

"Hell...it really is you then."

Aqua saw Astra's pain before she winced." Am I…really your great grandmother?"

"Yah…I, I am Astra Fitter G,"

"You can just call me Aqua; I was never big on formalities. Still, it's a pleasure to meet you Astra."

Astra saw Aqua's smile before she looked at her hands, and snickered bitterly." Not sure if your eyes are working yet G, Aqua."

"Oh, they are, I see you. I knew…that this could have happened after what Doug had become."

Astra saw the blue haired woman's sadness before she took a deep breath." Are…are you really her soul? Have, you seen all that's happened since, since you were supposed to have died? Geto… Kenjaku, he, he said your er, her soul's lingering grief and darkness in her armor."

Aqua paused before she looked at her own hand." I, I don't know what I am. I, remember dying, and now I remember seeing you. I, I do remember wanting to leave, something behind. Perhaps I wanted to atone for events of the past, even if no apology can undo the harm I have wrought. I felt...that I ought to leave

at least something behind so that, people could understand. Still, Kenjaku? He, he was one of Doug's most, creepy followers. He, he's still alive?"

Astra saw her great grandmother's bluntness before she snickered." Yah, but only after hijacking one body after another. He, he took many names, Noritoshi Kamo, Kaori Itadori, and now Suguru Geto. It, it's a long, long messed up story and honestly not sure I have time to tell you."

Aqua saw the pain in Astra's eyes before she uttered," Doug…he really let this happen?"

"Don't know…been meaning to ask him about it, if he's still around in this universe."

Astra saw Aqua's confusion before she sighed." Man you have a lot to be caught up in. But, hope you don't mind if I ask the questions first Aqua. I…I just have to know…did…did my old man care about anything but chaos?"

"Wait…old man? But, that means Doug is your father?"

"You can thank Geto for how messed up this is but yah that's the gist of it. He, he said Doug did not care about anything but chaos. You, you knew him more than anyone. Is all he cares about is whatever amuses him moment to moment?"

Aqua paused before she looked up and closed her eyes." Doug…at last when I knew him, cared about his family no matter what. We had are arguments, bitter ones. But, he never hit me or pressured me or my children. He respected freedom more than anything.

Even after how bitter he became over Ben, James, Cloud, and the others seeing him as the devil, he never would do anything to put us at risk. I know, I know Axel, Max, and countless others could never understand how I could renounce everything I believed in to become the bride of the devil, but I did not see it like that.

I, believe Doug truly cared about freedom over power or anything else. I'm not blind, I know that by breaking heaven Doug caused an amount of pain that surpassed what Zannacross and Brad ultimately did.

But, as painful as it was, after seeing the delusions of the Master of Masters and the Gods of Destruction, and how even Cosmos was misguided despite her intentions, I did feel that for better or worst, pepole had to see how we really were, so that at last a existence based on truth and not lies could take root.

Everyone would be better off, but only after they gave up the old ways. But, pepole clung to there old ways for far longer then me and Doug hoped for. I knew people had to be forced to grow so that things could truly change, but it became more and more painful seeing how many suffered. I won't deny, Doug steeled his heart, refusing to budge a inch till society changed.

I won't deny, the bitterness Doug had for the elites that shunned him, if not society itself could make him difficult at times. But, he was not all rage and chaos.

Doug, Doug had the resolve to see something few others would even attempt because he truley thought that things would change for the better after time. That, that's because he understood how people's hearts really acted. The heart has always been quick to grow. Each exposure to light, to the natural world, to other people, shapes this most malleable part inside of us.

Our most precious treasures-even an empty puppet-the trees of the forest, and the petals on the wind-there are hearts around us everywhere we look. And it does not take superhuman powers to see them.

Surely we remember as children the way our hearts made everything seem so shiny, and perfect. Doug has a heart like. That, that-uncorrupted, willing to see the good before the bad. Oh, he did not trust easy.

But, when he saw something that he liked in his gut, he would back him or her, even if it meant becoming the enemy of the universe. But, I admit, I was growing tired of what seemed like a never-ending struggle, but Doug refused to ever back down till Ben admitted he was right. I take it, the two are still fighting?"

Aqua saw Astra's confusion before she sighed." Not…quite. I know it's hard to believe but, the fighting's changed to a bigger level than you might have thought possible. All I know, is that the old man is still fighting somewhere, because he refuses to let anyone from any universe take his freedom away."

Aqua paused before she could not help but giggle." Despite everything, that does sound like Doug. But, what does that have to do with whatever this is? Does this mean that Kenjaku turned on Doug?"

"He says that all of this has been to fulfill his will…and that me becoming a Mazoku " Demi-Fiend" was to finish what the old man started, and make the universe a paradise of darkness. I, I don't know. He, he may not even have known I was his kid but, he did not really care either.

He, he wants to make things a place of chaos so much that he, he really does seem like everything else is just not important to him. What I wanted to be, never seemed to matter because, huh?"

To her shock Aqua grasped her great grandchild's hand and touched Astra's face with the other." Doug can be a pain in the ass, but I know he does not treat family like nothing. Oh, he loves tough love alright but it is still love. I'm…not giving him a blank slate.

If, if he really fell to pieces just because I died then he's weaker than I thought. But, then we have to see him again to make him answer for what he did to you Astra."

The blond woman looked hopeful as she blinked a few times." So…what does that mean? Are…are you really alive again?"

Aqua turned sorrowful as she grasped her hand." Sorry, I wish I could but I'm still just a fragment of Aqua's soul. But, I can still fight with you. In this blade, I think, I can sync with your heart. I, I can feel your heart has another soul inside yours."

Astra gasped as she looked at her arm." Wait, you're talking about my Atma Brand? Yah, I can do that with Sigrun. But, she's a devil. I, I can only do the Devil Binding Ritual with devils, because I'm a devil."

Aqua smiled before shrugging." I'm not a devil true, but who said you can only bind with devils? Because angels would reject you? Well, I'm no angel either and I want to help you. Are hearts can form the "Dimension Link" to bypass such things. Don't let men define your limits Astra, we can do this!"

Astra smirked as she grasped her fist tightly." Heh, guess we are related after all! Thanks m, Aqua. Alright, I'm tired of being frozen so let's do this!"

Aqua smiled before she grasped Astra's hand, and her great grand child's body glowed with light. As Astra looked shocked Aqua hugged her." No matter what you were told you were loved Astra.

I can already tell, like Doug you have a heart like his—also uncorrupted, another one willing to see the good before the bad. Like him, when he saw the heart in something, it then becomes real. When a connection seems broken, you may have the power to mend it.

You have touched countless hearts, and accepted them, and saved them. And some of those hearts have never left you-whether they fell into darkness or were trapped there-whether they sleep in the darkness of your's heart, or were welcomed into its warmth-they can be saved. All you need to do is be yourself, and follow wherever it is that your heart takes you. It is the best and the only way.

The rest is in there. So, lets show these "demons" what are hearts shape is truly like eh?"

Astra just smirked as the light around her glowed." So…is this a family's love? It…it really is something else."

Gorr saw Astra glow more before he glanced at Sigrun and shrugged." Well…could use more conversation so works for me."

Before Sigrun could respond Astra 's Atama Brand glowed and covered the whole area with light. That light soon shined out into the physical dimension to, causing Geto to look mortified as he stepped back." What…light? This…this is impossible."

The ice suddenly shattered before the three saw Astra casually hunched over with her head down. As the demons wondered if she had died she snickered." That's just because you're a dumbass with tunnel vision Geto, and I'm sick of it."

Geto saw that the Lingering Will of Aqua's soul was gone before he saw Astra move her head up, with the seal of Necrochalcos on her head gone." No… your body submits, your heart succumbs, so why does your mind resist? Your rage should have consumed you, and burned your very soul!"

"That's only because you misunderstood me for the last time, me and Aqua! You act like you're the master of the dark side jackass, but you forgot that the deepest layer of hell is not heat, but cold.

You pushed your crap on me so much that I almost thought you knew what you're talking about. But to bad for you, you assumed things about woman for the last time!"

Geto realized Astra held Aqua's katana in her free hand before veins formed in his head." What…a Nightmare chose you over me? She was just Aqua's rage and despair…it's impossible for her to defy her destiny!"

"You mocked us for the last time asshole! She chose me because we are family! And if you think I don't know what I'm talking about then suck on this! True-Ice Kamui… Cocytus Aegis!"

Geto was horrified as a wall of solid ice covered Astra, and glowed before morphing into a set of blue, black and purple knight like armor over her body that looked a lot like Aqua's armor, but also had the mark of Mazoku on them. Her aura also become more like a frigid mist around her.

Geto saw Astra look amused before he grit his teeth." So to the end…your last moment is to want to be a Enji Knight…a warrior of light?" He hissed out as his eyes glowed with power." I just have to punish you again with even more extreme measures. But I won't stop till you learn your place Astra!"

Withering, corked tendrils of lighting shot from his fingers, and hit Astra with enough force to cause a boom of thunder loud enough for the entire planet to hear. But Geto's grin faded quickly as he saw Astra did not even flinch from the magic strike, and just cracked her neck." That took care of that itch really good but a cheap massage is not even close to be enough to get out of what you have coming.

You thought I was just your damn Barbie doll to play around with at your leisure Geto, but I'm sure as hell not going to be the" Doomsday Barbie" you thought I was! I'm me, got it memorized?

And I'm deciding I'm more of a "Jackass Slayer Barbie" no matter what face they were or what cause they use to excuse being a pain in the ass!"

Geto saw Choso look tense before he narrowed his eyes." It seems your sister still needs to be punished my son. Do whatever it takes to make her falter."

Choso winced before uttering," Maximum: Wing King!"

Astra saw Geto's son form a halo of blood that sprouted four wasp-like wings, and he used those wings as a medium to create vector lines of blood. Astra saw Choso's surround her with compressed blood spheres before she saw the pain in his eyes and sighed." You really want to die for nothing?"

Her opponent only winced before uttering," Flowing Red Scale: Stack…Convergence!"

In a flash of light Choso stabbed Astra through the heart. For a moment he looked like he felt proud, till he noticed Astra was suddenly behind him and in front of him at the same time. He realized what he thought was Astra was just an ice clone.

He yelled out before the ice statue suddenly exploded, causing him to be frozen in a solid pillar of ice.

Astra saw the frozen face of pain in his eyes before she grasped her fist tightly." No one else is being a pawn for you Geto. You, oh right, you."

She casually swerved Gorr to the right as Kirinmaru burst at her with his Bakuseiken. As the horned demon saw her look at him he hissed out," No matter how much armor you clad yourself in Half-Demon, you will never have enough fighting spirit as a true demon!"

"Your right I don't have your "hot blood", I'll fight with my own cold blooded dead serious gal way instead."

Kirinmaru was shocked as he saw his blade suddenly freeze, and shatter. As Bakuseiken fell to the ground in pieces the daiyōkai demon had his eye twitch before he yelled out," How dare you! Damn you hanyō! For Rion's sake I will not lose to the likes of you!"

"Is that what your daughter really wanted or are you projecting what you want on to her to make up for your own ego ruining her life to!?"

Kirinmaru had his eye twitch before he yelled out in berserk rage. He stood with his legs apart, his head lowered, his shoulders hunched, and his fist raised, the posture of every man who had ever lost his mind in a killing rage.

Astra shrugged, to her this kind of anger made men easy one way or another. She sidestepped his charge, and smirked as she heard something snap. She turned around to see a dozen razor like shapes appear encased in ice and shatter.

As they fell to the ground she saw Killvern looked shocked at how her aura was more like the mist of snow then most energy aura's before she flashed a half-lopped smirk." Guess your toys don't work in a subzero environment clown. Sucks to be you! My rage is the cold kind of anger, the one that chills to the bone and never lets up boys. I'm sure as hell not the gal who sits on a castle waiting for others to rescue me, but I'm not just a simple-minded killing machine either! I am Astra Fitter, no one else!"

Geto released a swarm of " Death Flies" to try and suck up Astra's power, only for them all to freeze solid the moment they get near her fridge aura.

The switch faced man twitched as he looked at the Mother crystal and chuckled bitterly." You're wrong, you only exist to be the harbinger of Armageddon to usher in the era of Heian Astra! Your resistance is impressive, but I'll overwhelm your soul yet! I just need more power!"

Geto waved his hand before energy from the mother crystal started to go into his aura. Killvern saw this before he winced." Wait…is that not the energy Master Muzan needs?"

"He can't ascend if heathens interfere and we can always just gather more energy after this…defiance is dealt with!"

Killvern nodded before he ripped off his arm, and had it become energy. He yelled out before the arm started to rotate." Fair enough. I never like to harm myself, but so to make me resort to this is quite the deed! But no matter what, I won't fail my task. I kill no matter what! Incinerating Inferno!"

The black clad reaper formed a massive red energy sphere just as Kirinmaru yelled out," I will defeat you and become the most powerful demon. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT RION WISHED FOR!

Grim Comet!"

Kirinmaru amassed a black energy sphere just as large as the one Killvern was forming that came off as a falling meteor before Geto widened his eyes." The darkness is all around you Astra…YOU WILL SUBMIT!

Maximum: Uzumaki… Tamamo-no-Mae Incarnate...Rika summon...Howl of Armageddon!"

Geto had the souls of all of those who died in the recent fighting come to him and form a massive sphere of black energy. He then had a eve larger totem-esque tower of grotesque, cursed spirit-like faces merged together and form in front of him before the top of the tower gathered the energy and had a demon with four eyes and long back hair that extended all the way down to the back of its legs.

The new demon had two lines around the edges of their mouth similar to a puppet, as it stood on the front of their foot with four larger toes with dark toenails. Tamamo-no-Mae wore a light-colored kimono with designs accented around each sleeve and dark pants.

From this demon were puppet strings, before it dragged out another female demon. This manifested a white skull-shaped head with horizontal lines going down it, no eyes, and long teeth. Most of her body was made up of a black mass but she also had two muscular human-like arms with black fingernails, and a bottom half was a black mass in the shape of a tail. The new demon roared, before a single eye opened between the eyes on her head and gathered a massive amount of energy.

Astra saw energy blasts forming all around her before she narrowed her eyes." You can get all worked up, but no matter how much rage you throw at me, I'll put it out like the weak ass fires it is. Hakka no Togame… White Haze Punishment!"

The blond woman in black and blue armor struck the ground with her sword, before magical ice burst out of the area. The three attackers tried to unleash there energy blasts, only to find even there projectiles had frozen solid. Kirinmaru saw the ice consume him before he uttered," Rion…I…GUH!"

At the same time Killvern saw he was freezing up and had his eyes widened." No…the reaper can not die to the likes…of…GURAH!"

Geto saw the ice was freezing through all of his curses before his eyes glowed." DAMN YOU ASTRA! YOU WILL NOT DENY ME! Reverse…C"

Before he could finish his spell the ice broke through his energy barrier and he froze solid. Astra saw all three of her attackers were little more then ice statues before she grasped her blade tightly." I wasted enough time on this dumb game already. You know I had this whole very slow and very, very painful death planned for you Geto, but your lucky I have other things to do then waste time making you cry for mercy your not getting.

I have people counting on me, and keeping my word to them means more to me then making you cry like the little girl you are in the inside. You're not a god, your just" Ken" enough to be a pain in the ass.

So just drop dead already. Cocytus Death Mistral!"

Astra unleashed a barrage of slashes that looked like the gust of a snowstorm. As she landed, human sized icicles burst out everywhere she struck. After a few moments of silence, Kirinmaru and Killvern fell to pieces as their energy blasts shattered as well.

Geto's head fell off his body, and Astra went to spit on his head, before it fell down the crack in the clock tower.

Astra raised an eyebrow, but before she could look down a flash of light burst out of the crack in the floor, before the Domain Expansion became undone.

Astra saw she was still in an Inverted Castle but that the setting looked more normal before she snickered as the demons fell to frozen pieces." Well…got what you deserve assholes. At least…you're the only ones who had to learn the hard way."

She turned around, and saw Choso become unfrozen, before he fell to the ground. To her relief she heard a moan, and saw that her power was successful in keeping him from freezing solid like the others. Astra remained on guard before Choso suddenly moaned.

His eyes widened, as he seemed like he was truly awaken for the first time and he coughed out blood. Astra heard him moan before she sighed, and had her Cocytus Aegis fade as she powered back down to normal." So…you are still alive down there, eh?"

Choso saw Astra looking at him before he coughed out," You…you saved me? Why? What…what am I supposed to do now?"

Astra snickered as she looked up." The hell that I know. That's the thing about freedom, its suppose to be something we all pick for ourselves. All I do is make sure people can live long enough to do that."

Astra was about to say more before the ground started shaking. The blond woman looked around to make sure Geto was not coming back again till she felt energy below her, looked at the blood red mother crystal and rolled her eyes." Oh right…still got the other pile of assholes to shut down. Whatever…I'm sure as hell warmed up now…or cooled down depending on how you look at it. I'll get you to a safe place Choso and then we can figure out the rest later when business is taken care of."

"What…why?"

"Because we are sort of family I guess? Don't expect me to call you bro anytime soon but bailing out exploited guys and gals is what I do. Heh, I know it runs in the family now. Now then Muzan, time you join Geto and the rest where all the punks who think they are lords of hell are going. I'm not going to be the "vessel of doom" and I'm making sure no one is taking that job either!"

Astra cracked her neck and looked around before preparing to join the others in making sure the night was not one demons would celebrate.

Authors Notes: Got a lot of guys and gals running around so let's get to it. Doku and Murai are enemies in Ninja Gaiden one, while Alexei and Zedonius are from Ninja Gaiden Sigma two, and Omega is the final boss of Dead or Alive 3.

Henderson and the other werewolves were from Resident Evil 8.

Moloch and Nitria are from Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance.

Dario Bossi was from Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, while Walter Bernhard was the central enemy for most of Lament of Innocence.

Meanwhile Hector and Issac are based of the game versions of Curse of Darkness, Loretta and Stella Lecarde are enemies in Castlvaina Portrait of Ruin, while Albus was from Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, while Robert and Hachi are from Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2.

Choso is from Jujutsu Kaisen, and Aqua is of course from Kingdom Hearts, though her " fragment" is a nod both to Terra's Lingering Will from Kingdom Hearts 2 and Ventus's Nightmare-possessed armor from Dream Drop Distance. Hope the family showdowns pleased everyone.

Sorry for the delay, between grad work, being sick, New York Comic Con and a few other things had more than a few things getting in the way, not to mention the site has been rather, erratic for the past month.

I know this is my final fanfic but did not mean for the site to end with it, hopefully things will improve with that and that stats, E mails, and everything else will be back soon. For now, thanks for the reviews, hope you liked what you saw to see more and with that, as always see you next ( Sees body getting erased into a white void) Doh.