REVIEWS
temp paleoboy: read this chapter to get the answer to your question!
Naruto30: Wait for the Peace Conference! That is when the Khaos Brigade made their appearance.
CHR0N1C130FCH405: My friend, your words humble me.
LimX23: IT IS HERE!
Xerzo LotCN: Ok, try to ask me stuff in PM's, dude, cuz I ain't able to reply to such long reviews easily.
As always, guys, here is the Discord Link: /FVXgdXtMUv
And remember that chapter 54 is going to go up on Slatrio (You know what I mean) for those who want to read it early! The link to Slatreon (Again, you know what I mean!) is at the bottom of the chapter!
Enjoy the show!
As it turns out, there was no need to wait for the rising sun. "Irina, why are you- I-Issei?! Why are you- Good Lord, here, take my shirt to cover yourself!" Michael showed himself not long after Irina had collapsed on the ground and, upon seeing Issei naked, immediately took off his shirt to offer it to him to cover his manhood.
"Michael, what is Irina doing here?!" Issei asked as he wrapped the shirt around his waist, leaving Michael bare-chested. He had to say, the guy might seem like the calm type, but god damn, does he have one helluva chiseled body. Masculine perfection. Fitting, considering he was made by God's hand.
"What am I doing here?! Why are you naked?!" Irina asked, still scandalized from the looks of things.
"Irina, dear, please contain your emotions," Michael told her, then turned to Issei. "Forgive me, Red Dragon. Irina had arrived a few hours ago in Japan, and I promised her a place to stay. Here. We already discussed this, seeing how I mentioned she might be joining me, but I guess I didn't foresee a few delays in her flight schedule. I went to open the door for her, and I told your maid to prepare her a room, and-"
"Ok, ok, I get it. Relax, Michael. I am more embarrassed by this occurrence than I am about you letting her in. Which is to say I am not mad, given that right now I am in a very good mood." Issei replied, then turned to Irina. "It's good to see you are well, Irina."
"I…" Irina hesitated to reply. "Likewise, Issei. Lord Michael, may I retreat to my chambers? Please?"
"Of course, child. Don't worry, and we will talk more in the morning." With those words, Irina left in a hurry to her room, leaving Issei alone with Michae to talk. The angel looked somewhat ashamed of his actions. "I'm sorry about my actions, Issei. I wanted first to ask your permission for Irina tonight, but…" He cleared his throat. "I gather you were busy engaging in less than sightly activities. The smell is clinging to you as well."
"Don't worry, Michael. As I said, I am not mad. Just embarrassed about being seen by Irina butt-naked. Still, I am not too keen on people from the inside letting those from the outside in. I will need to see how to correct that possible flaw in security, so in a way, you helped point out a flaw I need to fix. Anyone could trick me, or those close to me who have keys, for quick access directly into the Fortress, past all security measures." Issei stated, which had Michael pleasantly surprised.
"You are truly wise, Issei. Solomon taught you well. You are not leaning on the negative aspects of this mishap but seeing the positive aspects it brings. The benefits. But enough. You are tired; I know that much, and I need to get to Irina to make sure she is alright. We will resume our discussion tomorrow if you so deem to seek me out."
"Rest well, Michael. The peace conference is close, and I need to finish my preparations as well." Issei finished, and then Michael retreated to his chambers. Issei went back to his room to catch some sleep right in the middle of the body pile. It didn't take long for the girls to sense him and start shuffling to wrap their bodies around him.
Yeah…Life was good.
Ok, so maybe, just maybe, life could be better. It was the next morning, and if Issei wasn't wrong, the peace conference was right around the corner, meaning the guests currently under his care were ironing out the last details between themselves. Of course, things were not exactly, as one would say, calm. After waking up, Issei was, of course, met with the sight of not one but four beautiful women waking up around him as well, naked as the day they were born.
A true feast for the eyes. And a battlefield for the shower rights! Still, he survived and got ready for his talk with them. A discussion that went well, yet what followed next was less than good. Rias and her peerage were around, meaning Xenovia was also around, and Durandal strapped to her back. She wanted to train with Dummy, having heard about him from Raynare the other day.
And bumped into Irina. Things went downhill from there, and only after Issei got out of the talk with the others did he hear the voices. He and Michael.
"Irina, Lord Michael himself promised me Durandal back," Xenovia replied to Irina, who was looking more than a little irritated at the moment.
"But you're a devil! How doesn't the presence of Durandal affect you?!" Irina asked. "Moreover, how come it still accepts you?"
"Irina!" Michael shouted sternly. "What is happening here?"
Michael and Issei walked over to the two women arguing. "Lord Michael. Apologies if we disturbed you."
"There was no disturbance, child. Not until we got out. Now, can someone please explain what has transpired between the two of you? You sounded like you were arguing over something."
"Lord Michael!" Irina leaped, calling out to the angel. "I'm confused. Why allow Xenovia to have Durandal after she betrayed us? She is no longer part of the church. No longer part of the heavenly flock, and joined the devils! Surely, there are issues with her wielding the holy sword!"
"Durandal was given to Xenovia at Ise's request," Michael replied simply.
"At- But how? Why?" Irina asked further.
"Because, Irina, I am afraid your behavior during the incident surrounding the theft of the Excalibur fragments left much to be desired. Heaven has acknowledged that Ise's aid was crucial in recovering the swords, and yet, the church did not properly thank or compensate him for his trouble. Moreover, there is also another incident, one which I think you are aware of." Irina seemed to bite her tongue. "Indeed, Durandal was stolen by rebel exorcists opposing the peace treaty. I inform you, Irina, that said rogues had attacked this place - this Dungeon we find ourselves in."
"And where are they?" Irina asked sheepishly.
"Dead," Issei replied bluntly. "Every single one. My servants saw them killed, and I ordered the execution of their leader."
"Y-you what?!"
-5 RP with Irina Shidou.
"Lord Michael! Those people indeed betrayed the church, but they acted with the belief that they were still serving the word of God! How could you allow such a thing?!" Irina asked Michael.
"Because the times are changing. And everything is more complicated than you imagine, Irina. This is no longer about who the righteous faction is. With the treaty, there would be no more enemies for us. The Fallen Angels and the Devils will become our allies and friends."
Irina looked less pleased by that answer. "But…Why?" She asked. "Why, Lord Michael? Heaven went to war against them, lost so many, and, and…How can you forgive them?"
"Irina, how could you possibly ask such a foolish-"
"No." Michael cut Xenovia off. "She asks a good question. How could I forgive such age-old foes so easily? And the answer is simple. Because we are tired, Irina. Everyone is." Irina looked up at Michael. "This anxiety and fear plaguing us, thinking we might be attacked any day and rekindle the Great War. It has exhausted many of us. The Great War ultimately resulted in losses the likes of which you could never understand, and thank the heavens above for that! War…is a true embodiment of everything that we failed to teach humanity. By opposing peace, we support war."
"We will never understand them, Irina," Issei spoke up. "All the beings with so many years of experience, having seen the worst in the world, and rising to the top of the food chain by sacrifice and pain - how could we understand their feelings? Michael here is the prime example of that. They deserve to end things peacefully."
"Yet, couldn't you leave those people alive?! Why did you kill them?!" This time, her ire was directed at Issei. "You openly admitted to siccing your so-called servants on them, and you personally ordered the execution of their leader?! Bishop Crane had come here wielding Durandal, and-"
"Hold up, how do you know that?" Issei caught on, making Irina go silent.
"Irina…" Michael spoke softly. "Please, don't tell me you were on the side of the rebels."
"No! I swear on the cross around my neck, I wasn't! But…" She paused for a bit. "They did come to me. Wanted to recruit me. I refused. I heard what they did, but when I did so, they began asking me what I knew of the Red Dragon Emperor. Of Issei. They said they were going to endeavor to cleanse the world of the sinful. I knew what they wanted to do, but…I didn't know if I should warn anyone."
"You knew of their plan to attack Issei?" Michael asked softly, receiving only silence in return. "Irina…Why did you hesitate so? Issei was your friend. IS your friend. If you knew peril was coming his way, why didn't you give him a call to warn him?"
"Lord Michael…I don't know. Everything that has been happening is just…It goes against everything the church taught me!"
"The Church is corrupt and unworthy of any trust!" Issei stated boldly. "Bishop Crane was the perfect example of the kind of people they aim to create! I saw what lay in his very soul, Irina! He was split in two! The monster the church had created and the man that was asking for it all to end."
"You are lying!" Irina shouted at him. "The Church would never-"
"Just as they'd never use research generated from the cold-hearted experiments run by the late Vasper Galilei? Irina, you might not realize it, but ask yourself: The bible teaches us to love and accept those around us, no matter what. Yet, the church teaches the opposite when it comes to its enemies or anyone going against their ideals. The exorcists are nothing but their personal assassins."
"Issei, please, you are also crossing the line," Michael spoke up, and Issei relented. "But he does speak the truth, Irina. This incident, with those rebels, only goes to show how far some people in the church would go to maintain the status quo. An era of fear and paranoia. This treaty aims to end all of this and to ensure a prime example of our future cooperation, as well as to give Issei his overdue payment for his aid in the Excalibur incident; I have agreed to grant Xenovia the holy sword, Durandal, yet again to wield to the best of her ability."
Irina stayed silent still, yet her posture seemed almost to relax. "You're right, Lord Michael. You too, Issei. The bible teaches love and acceptance for all. If this treaty would really bring peace, then doubting it and being against it means supporting the poison that is war. I apologize for my words, Xenovia."
"Apologies accepted," Xenovia replied casually.
"But…I still do not agree with your possession of Durandal." Her words struck everyone with a shock of surprise. "A devil using a holy sword. A traitor being given such honor…I just cannot bring myself to accept this. Forgive me, but it is the truth."
"Irina…" Michael sighed. "We will talk more about this on another date. For now, please return to your room and ensure you are prepared for the upcoming conference."
"Yes, Lord Michael." And with that, Irina left, leaving Issei along with Michael and Xenovia.
"The roots of the church's lies run deep," Issei stated, seeing Michael's expression twist into one of utter disappointment. "Michael, what are your thoughts?"
"My thoughts? My thoughts are that such a person, who can only ever hope to tolerate those around them due to corrupt teachings engraved into them from an early age, can never become an angel."
"Become an angel?" Xenovia echoed in surprise. "Lord Michael, are you talking about a way to reincarnate people into angels, much like how devils do it?"
The angel nodded. "Indeed, we have been working on such a method for quite some time. It has now entered its beta testing phase, and I had my eye on Irina as a prime candidate to join me. However, due to recent events, the truth of what the church has been teaching its followers surfaced, along with the corruption in those it touched. I cannot, in good conscience, allow Irina to become an angel now, given her behavior. Maybe some other day, when I implement the changes in the structure of the church and remove the malignant preachings that cause this. If Irina can prove to me she can change for the better, I will reconsider her position in my ranks."
"I see…" Xenovia replied slowly, processing what she had just heard. "Permission to speak my personal opinion?"
"You need not ask me for permission, child. Speak if you so wish."
"Allow her to become an angel." Xenovia's words were blunt. "I know it is not my call, but Irina is a good person. She is just confused and doesn't know what to believe."
"Is that really your opinion, child?" Michael asked, then looked at Issei. The boy got the message easily. Michael was seeking aid from Solomon's wisdom. Issei nodded his head and allowed Solomon to take over, his voice speaking from nowhere.
"Her behavior remains a problem," Solomon stated. "However, I agree with Xenovia. Irina is merely confused. So much has changed and is changing for her, and her view of the world is not the same one she grew up with. What we need to do right now is not doubt and judge her based on her behavior, but trust that her judgment is still done with a just sense of justice."
"I see. You make strong arguments. Very well, I will speak with Irina to see if she accepts, and if she does, I may just reincarnate her after the conference." Michael finished. "With that being said, I best go and tend to her. I could feel her unease, and having a figure she knows is on her side can help ease her nerves."
"Go then. I will head to the training grounds to work on myself more." Issei replied, and then, as Michael turned to leave, he turned to Xenovia. "Are you alright?"
Xenovia took a second to reply. "Her words stung, but I knew it was not the Irina I knew speaking. It was the teachings of the church to look down upon the unholy and sneer at them. Hopefully, with time, she can open her eyes to see the truth."
"And hopefully, not have to open them violently, like yours were, correct?" She nodded at his question.
"If she learned…Her faith would be shattered. I dread to think what she might do."
"Then, hopefully, Michael can help ease things when the time comes. If she really does become an angel, then it'd be unavoidable that she one day learns the truth." Issei stated. "Anyway, I will leave you to your business, and I will head to the training grounds myself. See ya later."
"Later."
Training was proceeding as smoothly as always if Issei were to say so himself. Granted, something was not feeling right. It was quiet. Everything was getting very, very quiet. There were no incidents happening anymore, and as he trained, fighting against Dummy, he couldn't shake the feeling something was not right.
"This is the calm before the storm," Solomon stated. "My student, you sense it as well, don't you? You as well, Ddraig?"
"Yes. Something is not right. Things are just too peaceful."
"I might argue that peace was good before, but not anymore," Issei said as he dodged a strike from Dummy. "This is the calm before the storm, indeed. Yet, everything we can do is train and be prepared for the storm itself."
"Do you believe this conference will go off without a hitch?" Solomon asked.
"No," Issei replied bluntly as he scored a heavy hit on Dummy. "This is a gathering of no less than two-thirds of the current rulers of the three factions. Two satans, Azazel, and Michael. If I remember correctly from our talks, Serafall Leviathan was originally meant to accompany Sirzechs. Still, she had to remain in the Underworld for the time being in order to ensure the stability of the realm following their scandal. However, Ajuka stated he wouldn't be participating and mostly joined Sirzechs to have a chance to study me further. He departs today, later in the evening, to return to the Underworld, leaving Sirzechs, Azazel, and Michael."
"Still big names. Heavy heads which cannot roll should we value the importance of peace." Solomon reinforced their goal. "We must not falter."
"Yeah! This is a high-stakes game now, and we must not let ourselves fall short! Come on, Ise! I want you to come out of here at level 50!"
"Dummy, it looks like we will have a sleepover for ourselves. En guard!"
"En guard!" A shout echoed in the valley as Sanac Sarganatas pierced his enemy with his sword, pulling the blade out swiftly and watching them fall. From behind him, Jeanne and Darium walked forth, the latter of the two walking a bit more slowly, using a cane. "That was the last of the exterior guards."
"How pitiful. Is this really what the Light of Allah was reduced to?" Jeanne complained, looking at the corpse below them. Muslims. But something was off about them. They all wore civilian clothing, yet the one striking detail about them was a golden tattoo on their neck, resembling a golden sword standing in the middle of a broken cross. "I used to read about how they were the biggest human-led faction in the world. Apparently, they were quite something during the days of the Ottoman Empire."
"Ah, yes!" Darium recounted, rubbing his beard. "That they were, that they were. Mighty warriors, born into this life! But alas, time has a way of wearing things down."
"And in this case, it has worn the quality and integrity of their organization," Sanac stated. "Nowadays, they mostly try to acquire and use supernatural elements to support the various terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al-Qaida. Heaven is aware of this and keeps close surveillance on them, but they somehow manage to slip through the tiniest of cracks in that surveillance. This hideout is proof of that."
"Ugh." Jeanne recoiled as they entered inside what looked to be an abandoned butchery. The meats on display were mostly goat and sheep, with the occasional piece of beef and chicken. She covered her nose with a handkerchief. "Couldn't they settle in a more proper place?"
"Beggars have no right to choose," Darium stated, looking around. "Hmm. Two guards were stationed outside, yet no one else was on the inside. Curious. Sanac?"
Sanac was leaning over one of the guards, his hand hovering over their head. He hummed and turned to his colleagues. "There is a switch hidden under the goat meat."
"I am not touching that," Jeanne said swiftly, making Darium sigh and reach for the switch himself, probing his hand under the meat until he found it, flipping it, and causing the floor behind the counter to sink, revealing several stairs going down. "Would you look at that? Now, this is fancy."
"We must recover objective Crimson. Our General is not going to stomach another failure in recovering it." Darium reminded them and went in first, descending the stairs, followed by Jeanne and, lastly, Sanac.
The stairs went deep underground, illuminated by small bowls filled with oil, and ignited. Yet, just by walking, they could tell that this place was more than just a hideout. The brick changed soon after they passed the top of the stairs. It was becoming older. Darium was quick to recognize what this was, yet Sanac beat him to it. "They are using the old Babylonian tunnels."
"Not just old, but ancient. It makes sense. We ARE in Iraq, after all." Darium stated, giving their clear location. Indeed, the three colonels were currently in the city of Hillah, Iraq. Right, where the ancient city of Babylon once stood. They were attacking under the cover of night. "Those tunnels stretch for many days. I'd know; I was present when the Babylonians built them! My word, four thousand years sure do fly. I was still but a child when I came here with my father."
"As much as I don't wish to interrupt you, old man," Jeanna stated with an uninterested tone. "I think we have more important things to do than listen to your tales of your youth."
Darium took exception to that, scoffing at Jeanne's words. "Your generation has no respect for the old ways, Fleurety! But you are right. This is no time for tales of old. We have been given a most vital assignment."
"It speaks volumes of how much Ignium wants this object. He assigned us to recover it directly." Jeanna stated softly.
"And the enemy is not making it easy. The Light of Allah has been declining ever since they angered heaven, resulting in them receiving a most harsh punishment." Sanac stated.
"No shit," Jeanne replied. "Seriously, they attempted to, apparently, plunder the body of Jesus Christ's mother and then burn it! Apparently, they thought it would kill the faith in the West, making them turn to Islam. Ugh. Stupid fucks couldn't think of a more disastrous plan if they tried."
"Vulgarities aside, that is the tragic end of every faction that lets the power and success of their movement get to their head. They believed themselves invincible. Unstoppable. A force of nature that only their Allah could stop. And he did. Or rather, his servants did." Sanac recounted. "Following their attempt, having reached the Vatican and the chamber where the remains were being held, they were ultimately stopped by Raphael and Michael. That day, they lost most of their leaders and members, as heaven sent its elite to chase them away. Since then, heaven has kept an eye on them to prevent them from reaching that level of power again. But even cornered rats can still bite."
"They were sworn not to reveal the secret of the supernatural," Darium stated further. "A good call. Otherwise, the extremist groups might target supernatural entities at a larger scale, vying for power they cannot have."
"Yet, they offered mercy where none was deserved. They should have razed them." Sanac added. "But it fits with heaven's way of doing things."
The stairs came to an end, revealing a long hallway ahead of them. Yet, this time, things had changed. Artificial light was being provided by lightbulbs installed in the ceiling, and the cables hanging on the walls led to the room directly to their left. Peeking inside, they spotted a generator running to keep the place illuminated.
Sanac signaled to the others to move forward slowly, with Jeanne taking the lead. As she did, however, she strapped a metallic bracelet of some kind on her wrist with a clear, blue center. They moved slowly until distant voices were heard in the halls. And as they moved, the voices grew closer until two men came from around the corner.
Upon seeing the intruders, they rushed to raise their weapons, but Jeanne aimed her bracelet at them and unleashed a wave of blue light that struck them before they could so much as cock their rifles. They felt dizzy and weakened, and before long, they collapsed, falling to the ground. Jeanne had a smug smile on her face. "Tadeus is not the only one able to make fancy toys, boys." She said as they continued onward, reaching the downed guards. Sanac hovered his hand over them, almost as if he was doing something.
"The room where Objective Crimson is located is right up ahead, through the second door on the right, then forward through the halls," Sanac stated; then, the group continued on their road, respecting the indications given. Their walk took a good half an hour, but it eventually saw them reaching a large, open room with columns old as the sands holding the ceiling up. The room had two fountains, but one was in ruins, and the other had no water coming from it. Old, cracked tiles were spread across the floor, and in front of them stood a wall decorated with various trophies hoarded by the Light of Allah over the years.
Including a very specific chest that stood on the left.
"There it is…" Darium said as he took a step forth, only for a bullet to cut his path short.
"Take no more steps forth!" A commanding voice boomed as the room filled with various men aiming their guns at the three colonels, the group admitting silently that they might have just walked into a small ambush. Yet, the one who apparently led them was no small man. Standing a good head taller than your average man, the person before them whore fully white robes with gold adorning him, his body covered in golden plates that acted like armor. Even their face was covered with a golden mask and a hood extending from their robes. "I am Aabid Sul Alakanin, the Champion of Allah. You infidels are trespassing."
"We are here to reclaim something your faction took a long time ago," Sanac stated, then pointed at the chest. "That. And only that."
Aabid looked back at the chest, then back at them. "You dare make demands? We can tell you are not human. You are devils. Infidels who do not follow the word of Allah and of our great prophet! This here chest contains the head of another great infidel, whose crimes against Allah, if they were water, could fill the NILE. We earned this trophy for our victory over him! They prove that OUR ideology is the one the world should follow."
"A moldy skull is proof you can conquer the world?" Darium replied with clear disappointment in his voice. "How the mighty have fallen…"
Aabid, hearing him, growled in anger. "Enough! You either leave the way you came or die where you stand!" He drew a sword from his back, pristine white steel decorated in gold. Yet, the aura that the sword let out had the colonels perk up a little.
"A holy sword?" Sanac said softly.
"Not quite," Jeanne said, looking more closely. "That is not a replica, but it is not like the Excalibur or any other big holy sword. It's something new."
"They actually learned how to create more holy swords, huh?" Darium said as he rubbed his beard. "Hmm. Judging from what I am sensing, that sword of his…Yes, it has the same amount of holy power as an Excalibur fragment. Could be troublesome to deal with."
"Hardly. You boys stay back; I got-" Darium grabbed Jeanne's shoulder before she could take another step. "What is your problem, Darium?!"
"He is mine." A crimson glow poured from one of the orbits of the skull Darium was wearing. Jeanne, looking at Sanac, got a nod from her fellow colonel and backed down, allowing Darium to step forth. "Aabid Sul Alakanin! I am Darium Satanachia. I will be your opponent here, and only I. Tell your men to step down. Lower your weapons. My colleagues here won't attack."
"You are asking for a duel one on one?" Aabid asked the old devil.
"That I am, yes. With the stakes clear as day. A battle to the death. Should you prevail in killing me, then my brethren will bring no retaliation, and we will leave you alone. Should we win, however, not only would that mean your life would be extinguished, but we would be leaving with the contents of that chest!" Darium pointed at the chest containing their objective. "Are you a man of honor, Muslim?"
"Hmm. That I am." Aabid replied and raised his fist, signaling his men to back away. "You wish for a fair battle, is that right? Then we shall battle!"
"Then allow me also to make things a bit more worry-free regarding our surroundings." Darium tapped his staff on the ground, summoning forth a barrier that sprouted from his position. The barrier initially resembled a completely white canvas but then transformed into the room they were in previously. The main difference was there was no one there but the two of them. "There we go."
"I have no intention of taking it easy on you just because you are old," Aabid stated, making Darium laugh.
"You will find my age to be my most precious advantage, young one. Now…Take your sword." Darium's eye glowed once again, yet Aabid didn't need to be told twice when they were to begin. Upon hearing Darium's words, he was already in front of the devil, sword swinging down at his head, moving at a speed that would leave any normal human stunned.
Darium was certainly surprised by this, yet he was not fazed. "Speed of Mercury!" As Aabid swung his sword down, all he managed to strike was the ground beneath.
"What?!"
"Might of Mars!" Aabid heard the devil from the side and quickly put his sword up to block a strike from the devil's cane. He barely managed to block it!
"What is this strength?!" Aabid asked himself as he pushed Darium back. The old man was landing well and then vanishing just as swiftly as it took Aabid to blink! "And this speed!"
Darium appeared again, aiming a strike at Aabid's ribs, but the man was able to twist his body just in time to throw him off-balance, earning him a window to strike. He attempted to use the pummel of his sword to strike Darium at the back of his head, but the old man vanished once again before his weapon made contact. Yet, he was not that easy to defeat. Aabid reacted to the sound of the wind moving as Darium appeared again and blocked his strike.
"Hmm. Not bad." The devil commented, jumping back. "You have fine reflexes."
"That speed…And that strength…I fought your kin before - those levels of might are not normal!" Aabid stated loudly, raising his sword at Darium.
"Then you never fought a member of the Satanachia House before." Darium raised his cane again, tapping it on the ground. "Allure of Venus! Speed of Mercury! Might of Mars!" A glowing crimson eye flashed as Darium charged at Aabid once again, but to his dismay, the devil…MULTIPLIED! It was not one, but half a dozen of Darium - illusions or hypnotic effects, he didn't know.
He swung his sword at each, slashing them and confirming that they were not real. Yet, when he cut the last one, thinking it was the real deal, he was shocked to find it was another illusion. He gasped as he then twisted around, just in time to receive a direct strike from Darium to his chest, the force of the impact, blunt as it was, causing him to skip backward for several good meters. Aabid caught himself using his sword, checking the point of impact.
His armor caught it well. Even the armor he was wearing was heavily enchanted and tailored especially for him to be worthy of the greatest challenges.
"Oh my, that armor is quite well-made! You don't see craftsmen with that kind of skill anymore nowadays!" Darium commented before he vanished again, appearing before Darium and swinging his cane. Darium paired with his sword, but the cane was coming down again and again. Before long, he found himself trying to block or parry a fury of strikes coming down at him without rest or time between them.
"Wait!" However, as he found himself cornered, he realized something. Darium was calling out the names of planets! Not just planets, but gods! The planets today were named after the Roman Pantheon, a group of gods which, truly, were just the Greek Pantheon renamed. However, Aabid was beginning to piece things together. Mercury was the Roman version of Hermes, the messenger of the Greek Gods, hailed for his speed!
Mars was Ares, the god of war, meaning strength! Venus was love, yet the fact it caused illusions could be seen as how love tends to cloud judgment and cover the eyes. He had him figured out! With a cocky grin, he made to slash horizontally at Darium, forcing the old man to leap back. Yet he was not done.
"You are not the only one with magic!" A mass of light gathered in Aabid's hand. "Allah's arrow!" With a shout, he launched forth an arrow made of light at Darium, which the old man dodged using his speed, but just barely. The attack launched by Aabid was a very fast one, and judging by the fact it left a considerable dent in the ground, not a weak one either.
This made Darium wary. Long-range strikes, huh? Then long-range he shall deliver! "Wrath of Jupiter!"
"Jupiter? That means Zeus!" Aabid realized just as Darium put his cane up and pointed it at him, releasing a powerful bolt of lightning that flew right at him. Yet, Aabid simply stabbed his sword into the ground.
"Protect me!" Aabid shouted, and as the sword glowed, a wall of rock manifested from the floor, blocking the lightning strike. Darium found that extremely interesting, but then Aabid proceeded to raise the blade. "Take his air away!" Slashing the air around him, Darium was confused as to what he was trying to do, but then he felt it. A current, strong, going to Aabid and taking with it the air. Darium found himself suffocating.
"W-what?!"
"This is Kalimat Alnabii! The Word of the Prophet!" Aabid explained his sword. "A treasure created by our alchemists, blessed by the highest authorities of Islam. It is a weapon on par with the sword of the infidels: Excalibur! It has the power to command the elements!"
Darium coughed, unable to breathe. "He took the air away from around me, leaving me with nothing to breathe! Unless I do something, I will not survive this!"
"Gift of Uranus!" Darium shouted as the wind around him began to drag the air back to him.
"Uranus?! The Greek Primordial of the Sky?! Of course, there is a planet named after him as well…" Aabid stated with annoyance as the air was once again distributed evenly among them. The power of the devil was more than enough to overrule the power his sword was releasing on the surrounding air.
Darium raised his cane, and like a staff, he brought it down in Aabid's direction, directing the wind at him. Aabid, feeling the wind coming, attempted to dodge, but he was struck dead-on and knocked into one of the pillars, causing it to collapse on him. However, he got up swiftly. "Not yet!" He charged at Darium, releasing more arrows of light that flew right at the old devil. However, summoning forth the speed again, Darium avoided all of them, charging right for Aabid!
Upon coming in close range, Darium pushed his cane into Aabid's chest, confusing the man. It was not a strike; the old man just positioned the staff against his chest for seemingly no reason. But there was reason. "Aries" A devastating force erupted from the top of the cane, knocking Aabid back once again, and this time, his armor was insufficient to block the full might of the impact.
He landed with the air knocked out of him entirely! "That was not a planet! That was…Aries…A constellation?! He can summon forth power from constellations as well?!"
He did not have time to process things, however, as Darium continued on with his next move. "Draco!" Darium pushed his cane forth, making a wave of fire erupt forth like the breath of a dragon. Aabid, seeing this, put his sword forth and slashed down.
"Split the flames!" Upon his command, the moment the sword cut the stream of fire in half, it remained separated until it ended.
"Hoho!" Darium laughed. "Good! Very good! I must admit, this battle has proven more entertaining than I originally gave it credit for! You were trained well, son of Islam! But I must correct you on something…" He pointed at Aabid's sword. "I, too, originally believed that blade to be equal to at least one fragment of Excalibur. But upon further inspection, something is off. The power of the sword…It's temporary, isn't it?"
Aabid flinched.
"So I was right." Darium continued, reading Aabid's reaction. "Whatever power you have imbued into it has been fading away ever since the fight began. You cannot keep it going endlessly, and once its power fades, you will be helpless against my power."
Aabid clenched his fist.
"Just how your ancestors were. The Light of Allah is a relic of the past! You are nothing but ghosts clinging to glory that doesn't belong to you. And fools! Surely, you know that Allah - God-"
"DO NOT DARE TO CLAIM THE ARE THE SAME!" Aabid screamed, surprising Darium. Up until now, Aabid has kept a calm and collected attitude. "The word of the God of the infidels is to love and accept one another, but that is nothing but a bunch of lies and deceit! The only way of living - the only truth! It's the truth, as it was said by the prophet Mohammed himself! Submission to the higher power! Making the infidels submit!"
"And by infidels…Do you refer to the Three Factions?"
"And not only," Aabid stated darkly. "We will one day kneel every man, woman, and child in the West! We will raze their fake history and erase anyone who stands against us! We will make every infidel, no matter their race, SUBMIT!"
"So that is a yes," Darium concluded. "You disappoint me, son of Islam. I thought you were a man of honor, but now I see you are not. The signal you gave your men earlier was not to retreat but to wait until we were out of their way to attack my comrades."
Aabid reacted swiftly to that. "How could you know?!"
"This is MY barrier! I am still in touch with the outside world." Darium explained. "You are not a man of honor, but one which would do anything to achieve their goal, no matter how low. But that is ok. In war, there is no right or wrong. Honor has no place in a battle where your life is on the line. One must do what one must to remain alive. To survive."
"You understand…Just who are you? Your uniform is strange." Aabid finally asked.
"I am Darium Satanachia! Proud Colonel of the Snake of Adam and member of the Five Leaf Clover! I serve General Ignium Ophirius! The demon!" Aabid recoiled back, hearing that line.
"A DEMON?! You- The Snake of Adam? We heard the reports, but…It is true, then! A separate devil faction with a military structure. And you? You are one of its leaders?" Aabid asked, staring at Darium.
"I am." He replied simply, then raised his cane. "This battle had gone on for long enough, Aabid!" Twisted the top, Darium revealed the hidden blade within. Thin and long, yet black as the starless night. "Time to die."
"Yes…Time for you to die." Aabid raised his sword but then, strangely, pointed it at himself. "Time for us both to die. I will not allow you to take your prize, even if it costs me my life! Unseal!"
"Wait!" It was too late. Aabid stabbed himself with the sword, and Darium watched as a golden light began to envelop him. The man before him screamed in pain as the power of the sword coursed through him, but Darium saw more. His armor was absorbing the sword! No wound was left behind, from what he could see, yet the sword and armor fused with Aabid's body. When the glow died down, Darium tried to look again, but he found himself struck from the side.
The golden warrior was using the same pillar that Aabid crashed into as a club, and he managed to strike Darium dead-on, sending him into the nearest wall. "Gah!" It was not an easy strike on his old bones. He fell, trying to use his sword to support himself.
"This is the peak of our research. I am now one with Allah's will! And his will is for you to perish, devil!" Summoning forth two swords of gold, Aabid charged at Darium, yet the old man still had an ace up his sleeve.
"Time of Saturn." A bell chimed around them as time itself froze in place. Darium rose, moving to the side as he clutched his side. "A good strike." He said, raising his sword and looking for a weak point in Aabid's armor. And to his luck, he found one. On the neck, he could squeeze his sword through the plating. "Forgive me for giving you such an ignoble end. But I have my mission. And that is everything that matters!" He stabbed his sword into Aabid's neck, and then time resumed.
"Wha- Ugh!" Aabid didn't know what happened, but he fell to the ground swiftly. He found himself with a sword in his neck. He weakly reached out, grabbing the blade. "Y-you…H-how?"
"Saturn," Darium said as he pressed a button on his blade, causing it to glow an eerie purple. The glow spread on Aabid's body like a plague, a veiny pattern appearing all over his armor and likely within. A muted scream was all that escaped as a blackish liquid seeped from the armor, which was now melting as well. Darium took his sword back, using a cloth from his pocket to clean it before he sheathed it back. "This is the end." The barrier broke apart, returning him to the others.
And what a sight.
Every single soldier of the Light of Allah lay dead on the ground, with their blood painting the bricks. "What took so long, Darium!" Jeanne complained as she approached him. "No sooner did the two of you vanish than those idiots began to attack us like men possessed."
"You should have never trusted his word," Sanac added.
"I didn't. I just knew this was nothing to you." Darium replied, with the others seeing the puddle that was once Aabid.
"Ugh. You used your sword?" Jeanne stated in disgust. "How unsightly."
"But effective," Sanac added. "Regardless, let us collect our objective and be on our way back to the main HQ. General Ophirius is waiting for us." Those words said that the three of them approached the chest. It had a lock on it, but Sanac slashed it off without effort. He then kneeled and opened the chest, revealing what was within.
A skull, yet as he picked it up, it was clear this was not the skull of a human. The teeth were not teeth. All of them were sharp fangs, still pointy and able to pierce flesh with ease. "So this is it, huh? The skull of Objective Crimson." Jeanne said.
"Indeed," Sanac said as he held the skull. "This is the skull of Vlad the Impaler. This is the skull of Dracula himself."
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