Chapter 41:
The final countdown
Within 20 hours, the hazbin hotel had been turned into a makeshift fortress.
It was quite impressive to see everyone's effort come to fruition as staff, guests, overlords, seraphims, everyone stood in the courtyard as Vaggie was pacing back and forth, her drill sergeant voice on full display.
"AAAAALRIGHT EVERYONE, We have exactly 4 hours before Tempest arrives. We all know what we are facing here, and I'll just be blunt, there is a chance some of you…some of US won't be making it out alive…."
As she stopped before the large crowd and faced them, arms behind her back and her posture straightened "…we have no idea just how powerful our opponent is so we have to hit her with everything we got. I know some of the relationships within this group are strained to put it lightly, but today, we all are in the same fucking shitstorm, so if we want to make it out alive, we have to put our grudges and differences aside and work together as a team, understood?!"
At this, almost everyone would salute as the crowd erupted "YES MA'AM!"
Giving them a smirk, Vaggie began pacing back and forth again "Good, that's what I'd like to hear" as next to her, Carmilla, Odette and Clara had retrieved the angelic weapons from the last extermination from the hotel's storage, standing next to the large crates as Vaggie gestured towards the overlords.
"Time to arm yourselves and get ready for the fight of your afterlife, folks!" as one by one, everyone passed the Carmines as they handed out weapons.
Managing to gather enough angelic energy, Sera summoned her battle regalia, now being fully clad in the same angelic steel plate armor she wore 3 years ago, she brandished her mace, giving one last solemn look at her sister, who had resorted to having to wear what little armor they could find, which was a once discarded exorcist uniform and an angelic scythe, before she steeled her nerves and closed the visor of her helmet.
Knowing their opponent was not going to show mercy, Charlie had begrudgingly chosen, not for her shield, but her angelic steel trident as she tried to summon that same power she felt 3 years ago as 6 black and red wings emerged from her back and her full demon form emerged.
Lute looked around her, seeing everyone pick up arms, even the Vee's, Vox and Vallentino, who gave each other glances and strangely, a hug.
It was strange to see, tho Lute figured that the 2 did care for each other in a strange, twisted way.
Looking on the other side, she saw the latest new overlord, Ashley, hug her girlfriend and former Vee, Velvette as the 2 gave each other a sad smile, knowing this might be their last moment together.
Somewhere further away, Carmilla had kneeled down to embrace her daughters as the 3 of them shed a few tears, possibly enjoying their last moments as a family…..
She would see Pablo, the man Tempest was after….say his goodbyes to the fellow sinners he grew to love and call his friends…..a man condemned for his actions…who desperately wanted to repent…..but to no avail…..
A tense atmosphere hung over the crowd, but despite that, you could almost taste their determination, everyone was ready to fight tooth and nail…..
Feeling something grab a hold of her hand, Lute didn't have to think twice as she looked next to her, seeing Emily, donned in an exorcist uniform as she stuttered "This….is the only kinda armor they had….t-that was in my size….." as she looked at her girlfriend.
It seemed the old sword and pistol weren't the only things Vox had kept as Lute was once again donned in her Vee armor, the sheen of the angelic steel shining dimly as the 2 women held each other's hand "…..till the end, babe?"
Emile gave Lute a sad smile as she returned the statement "Till the end, sweetheart…." As they exchanged one last kiss.
Charlie would pull out her phone and look at the time….
30 more minutes…..
And as the time ticked away, the ice around the cast iron gate began to melt…forming a gateway….and the unmistakable shape of Tempest stepped through, arms behind her back and her face stern as ever….
"Your time is up "princess Morningstar"…24 hours, those were my conditions…it's time to make…your…choice….." as tempest approached, stopping in the middle of the courtyard " …..Salvation….or damnation…..what will it be….your highness?"
Charlie looked behind her, and when everyone wordlessly nodded in agreement, she returned her gaze towards the deep-sea demon "We stand with Pablo, everyone deserves a second chance….and that includes you too, Olivia….you don't have to do this, there's still hope for you…"
Tempest pulled her face into a snarl "so..it…seems….."Princess"….."
"….you chose…..poorly…."
