Beelzebub has changed once again. Their sentences are whole, and they speak much smoothly compared last week. Unlike the raving beast who mindlessly shoves everything in their mouth, Beelzebub stands upright for a while and tilts their head at the several kansens.
"I once asked Littorio about human appetite. Although I could have eaten her, I felt it would be a waste to eat someone unique too early. She was unripe, so I allowed her to leave"
Beelzebub rolls a tree between their fingers, mimicking human behavior of doing the same with a pen or pencil if they're bored or contemplating.
"From directly grilling dead animals on a bonfire to mixing spices and inventing cooking methods, humans have grown with each generation. It was something even I wouldn't be able to achieve even with my indefinite lifespan"
Even when the sky darkens and debris helplessly bump their legs, Beelzebub flicks the tree away and sighs, seemingly unsatisfied and puzzled. They're not always talkative since they primarily use their mouth for biting and swallowing rather than spilling words.
"Hmm...Do you think I would have enjoyed food if I had a human perspective or at least observe humans more?" Beelzebub tilts their head
"Haaa...Are you done talking, you hungry monster?" Bismarck grips her bleeding left arm
The battle itself has become impossible. Not only Beelzebub is unharmed, but Bismarck is also heavily wounded. Geryon's wings are shredded while Bismarck has received several cuts all over her body. She presses her hand on the left side of her abdomen to slow down the blood from spilling.
"Bismarck..."
Tirpitz notices Bismarck twitching her face in pain. Not only that, but Bismarck's legs also are already visibly shaking and breathing itself has become difficult.
"Kkh!" Bismarck coughs out blood
"Neither you nor Eagle Union's ace can win against us. Mammon is stronger than I am, yet even with all your might, you couldn't make a difference. Lucifer would have made a mockery out of you" Beelzebub shakes their head
Pity. Of all the emotions Beelzebub can describe, they sigh at the realization that as amusing as Bismarck is, just like the other kansens they faced, she's still pathetic in their eyes.
"We can't win this and you know that. If you keep fighting like this, you'll die" Tirpitz grabs her shoulders
"Even so...I can at least buy time for everyone to escape..." Bismarck's lips twitches in pain
"Don't be absurd. No one is dying a martyr here. That didn't work well for the others"
"..."
"This isn't the right time to be prideful. Losing you here isn't worth it"
"Still..." Bismarck clenches her fists
"On, that's right. Other ants exist..."
Beelzebub lifts their head due to the bombardment behind her. Other Iron Blood kansens refuses to flee even with their injuries and the obvious fact that Beelzebub isn't interested in them.
"I can't eat her just yet, but as for the others..." Beelzebub briefly glances at Bismarck
Their shells are much like pellets to them after Beelzebub has swallowed bombs and steel countless times that their metallic hide is impervious to human weapons. Even if they can damage the flesh beneath, they can still regenerate even if only s piece of them remained.
"You will have to do as my appetizer"
Their mass and figure should only make them as a walking fortress of sorts, but Beelzebub springs forward within a second. They push both their arms and limbs forward with their jaw widely open. They aimed at Seydlitz, not caring which of the kansens should they target first.
"...!"
Thuringen couldn't stop to weigh on her next action. She only drags her feet as fast as she could and rams herself to the intended target.
"Thuringen-!" Seydlitz calls out
At the same moment, Beelzebub snaps their jaws right at speechless figure in front of them. An arm is instantly severed and the sheer force of their teeth hitting each other causes the severed arm to fly off at a random direction.
"..." Beelzebub slowly chews
They gag and begin to regurgitate steel parts from the rigging and a torn cap while shredded uniform and skin are stuck in between their teeth. Slime covered scraps drips from their tongue and spits out like the seeds in a fruit. The other arm with a missing index finger is still on their tongue, but it smoothly slides down to their throat with a soft gulp.
"If this keeps up, more are going to die..."
Tirpitz softly mutters to herself as looks at Bismarck who can barely keep her legs straight and her breathing steady. Even if Bismarck doesn't get eaten, she's likely going to die from her injuries.
"I don't want...not like this..."
Tirpitz clenches her fists and bites her lower lip when she can only grow frustrated at how their strength is not even worth Beelzebub's attention.
...
...
"Despair? I felt my heart slowly sinking into despair and my mind being plagued by desperation. Was that what sparked the chain of events...or was it the final nail on the coffin?"
Tirpitz's thoughts don't drift. Instead, her whole being is slowly sinking in a cold and gentle sea. The pressure doesn't crush her, but she feels the cold seeping to her skin is lulling her to sleep.
"..."
Unknown to her, Beelzebub's eyes glow beneath the lightless abyss. They're tempted to open their jaws and snap them shot at the unsuspecting prey, but they stretch out their left arm instead.
[If you cease to exist here, then all this waiting is in vain. You still have your use...until I get my hands on my current special meal]
(Huh?)
An enormous shadow surrounds Tirpitz until all five fingers slowly curls and enclose on the prey Beelzebub can squish like an ant. The cold gradually vanishes, and Tirpitz is wrapped in surprising warmth even while trapped in darkness.
More...!
More...!
More...!
More, more, more...!
The echo gradually grows louder like the demand of an impatient child. Beelzebub's frantic desire for even a morsel keeps ringing in Tirpitz's ears to the point she wishes she could move her limbs to bang her head.
"I like this, I like this! Everything is melting and popping in my tongue. The sweetness of happiness, the crustiness of sorrow, and the trickling sourness of excitement!"
Not long after consuming wisdom cubes of kansens, Beelzebub processes the rich human emotions and thoughts that empower it. Kansens are an exquisite meal and sate their appetite much more than a hundred humans combined.
"A few isn't enough - it's never enough! You were right, Asmodeus. They're rich in flavor...and I must have more!"
What started as a single bite now swirls in the endless pit of Beelzebub's void-like stomach. The flavor lingered in their tongue that their emotions have been amplified - the start of an addiction.
"I must eat all kansens! I want to know what they all taste like!"
Beelzebub grips their lower jaw with both hands and sinks their claws into their gums as much as they can. The weight of the pull tears the edges of their mouth.
(This Leviathan became obsessed with eating kansens...)
Tirpitz twitches the side of her mouth when she also senses Beelzebub scratching their cheeks repeatedly until the armor is shredded and the flesh beneath is peeled. Blood squirts from the destroyed veins beneath and pus spills as a mush from the peach-colored lumps.
"I must have more, but I want a special meal! Preparing one alone is tiring...but Asmodeus said it will be worth it..."
Within Beelzebub's mouth are countless teeth protruding and held together by countless human arms wrapping at the thick ends. They spiral into a shredder capable of retracting when pale hands emerge out of their throat.
[I always thought cooking is such a tedious task. All my meals have always been raw, but I sprinkle them with flavor and patiently wait for them to cook - the meal fills my belly for a while]
The scene drastically changes to a dining room, but a rather grotesque one. Lumps of flesh silently beats at the corners of the wall and ceiling. Veins spread all over the flat surfaces and drip blood and mucus from time to time. What decorated the wall are barely recognizable human torso assimilated at the wall. Human hands clinging to the wall weakly squeezes and moves their fingers.
[Raw meat is fine since I'm not picky, but with just a sprinkle of pepper and spread of butter, my steak brought me such joy. I want more of this and in order to fulfill it, I must seek those with strong personalities] Beelzebub appears in their grotesque bipedal form wearing a tuxedo
Beelzebub pushes down their fork on top of the steak and squeezes a bit of the oil on the plate. They gently rub and stroke the surface of the meat while their hands tremble with sheer excitement.
[I've eaten one before and it was such a luxury dish, so preparation took a while. Now, I found another - tenacious, defiant, proud, and fiery. Ahahahaha! It's been a while since I've met someone with a steel body and heart]
"..."
Tirpitz wants to stand up and throw the plate in front of her aside, but she couldn't. Beelzebub's emotions flow into her. She's forced to imagine the monster twisting a squealing and flailing rat.
[Snap]
A single movement from both wrists it all of takes to dislocate the frail rodent spine. They further twist the dead creature and stretch its skin until its torso parts from its legs. Blood quickly spills on the ground and what appears to be its stomach and liver helplessly slips and plops at the ground.
[You're awfully quiet]
"..." Tirpitz's hands on the armrest tenses
[...You know, you've always been powerless to contribute. The incident at Iris Libre and the Northern Parliament proved it. Everytime there's trouble, you couldn't fight properly. Bismarck always has to put effort]
"What are you trying to say?"
[I'm giving you an offer. Let me in, and I will lessen your burden]
"Do you think I'm that weak-minded? Beelzebub, you're a parasite. You will only keep eating me until there's nothing!"
Tirpitz clenches her right fist and slams the armrest. The fact that a parasite is making such an obvious "trade" is an exploitation targeting a naive child.
[You're right. My influence is cancerous. It continues to spread the more it harms you. However, you won't be able to do anything with Lucifer's prying eyes sneaking here]
"Lucifer? What do you have against your own kind?"
A quick glance and Tirpitz immediately notice Beelzebub tapping the table and steam escaping from the gaps of their teeth.
[There's something you people have mistaken. We don't always get along. As long as we don't step in each other's way, there would be no conflict. That's why we fight in pair after a mutual agreement. Any unwanted intervention is an invitation to a fight]
"That's similar to humans though..."
[We're primarily driven by our characteristics, so it's hard to imagine that we even cooperate. In order to function as a group, we agreed to our shared goal of getting rid of humans. Your species is unnecessary like cockroaches skittling in every corner]
"Says the one who feeds on humans" Tirpitz scoffs at them
[...] Beelzebub faintly growls
"You say humans are unnecessary, but you view humans as food source. Beelzebub, you're contradicting yourself"
[...]
"The embodiment of excessive consumption can't decide between what they want and what they need. You want to get rid of humans, but you need humans to fill your belly. That's to be expected from someone who acts before thinking"
[Huh...!]
Tirpitz's last statement causes ribs to protrude from both sides of their abdomen and their jaws split into four. Another pair of arms sprout below the main one and the tendrils also do the same on their spine.
"Perhaps I must remind you that you can only speak, walk, and act as yourself because I allow it. I can break down your body and twist your senses, brat. I'm giving you a choice to let me in to lessen the pain you endure"
In a split second, Beelzebub vanishes from the other side of the table and reappears right in front of Tirpitz. Their lower arms tightly squeeze Tirpitz's shoulders and the primary ones grips Tirpitz's mouth and neck. Their jaws split into fleshy mandibles and leans just a few inches closer to Tirpitz.
"..."
All Tirpitz can see is several teeth spread on each mandible and a tongue formed out of weakly gasping human faces. They're unrecognizable now that their eyes and skin have mostly melted and peeled off respectively.
[You're only fortunate I'm not as cruel and twisted as the others. Had it been Abaddon or Asmodeus, you'd be slowly broken - both body and mind. Once there's nothing left of you, they'd feast on your husk]
"..." Tirpitz swallows her breath
[You will come crawling back to me in desperation...just as your beloved sister turned to the Sirens for help]
"...?!"
Beelzebub speaks with certainty and confidence, so Tirpitz weighs that it's less likely a lie just or provoke and mock her.
"...!"
A violent shock and sting cut Tirpitz's senses from the sinking depth of her consciousness. A warmth and soft touch on her left cheek somewhat eases her racing heartbeat and trembling limbs.
"Is everything okay? It looked like you were having a bad dream..." Victorious softly asks
"..." Tirpitz feels the cold sweat roll down her cheeks
Tirpitz blinks when she recognizes a welcomed face and voice then she slowly gazes up and then to her right. She's briefly confused since she's been unconscious while peacefully sitting under the shade of a tree.
"I dreamt of a past battle that I can't remember...then I saw a monster about to me. It's hard to close my eyes nowadays - wait, what are you doing here?" Tirpitz gently lowers Victorious' hand
"I've been worried since it's been a while since I heard a lot has happened. I couldn't visit since we're regularly have to deal with Mammon...who keeps saying they want to build a museum" Victorious sits beside her
"I've nearly died twice, and there's no progress with treating whatever is happening with me"
"Are you sick?"
"Something like that. Just the other night, I had a deadly fever. I couldn't breathe and passed out. Honestly, I don't know what's happening to me..."
Tirpitz's thoughts recall Mammon's appearance at the Northern Parliament. A steel harpoon pierces through the air in less than two seconds...then it strikes right through her heart. Anyone would instantly collapse and die, yet she remains standing and move without a drop of strength lost.
"You have to tell me what's going on. I'm your friend after all!" Victorious proudly puffs her chest
"Are you sure?"
"Of course!"
"...I'm plagued by unexplained hunger. Normal food doesn't cut it, so I kept craving for warm flesh and blood. It was so hard to resist because it was driving me mad. I couldn't eat my allies, so I was forced to eat small animals like rats and birds"
There's a moment of hesitation. When Tirpitz stares at Victorious, she can only see optimism, confidence, and slight worry. Tirpitz lifts her head and takes a deep breath for a moment to suppress the reluctance encroaching her mind in that moment.
"I was scared that if I surrendered to it, I'd become a monster" Tirpitz lowers her head
"How about now?" Victorious taps her shoulder
"It's not as strong as before, but it's there. If I taste human flesh or blood, I feel like I'd lose myself"
"When did it start?"
"As soon as we beat Beelzebub, I woke up with an intense hunger. It worsened within days when my stomach ached badly that I scratched myself until I bleed and bash my head to a wall"
"Isn't that a bit too much?!"
"When I woke up, all my wounds were healed though. So, I think Beelzebub infected me with more than a hunger"
The sensation of an animal's warm blood sliding down her tongue and to her throat still lingers. When she swallowed the blood she squeezed from the ripped torso, Tirpitz once felt her heart race and her limbs tingle from ecstasy. It's the same pleasure that rejuvenates Beelzebub whenever they devour.
"Bismarck and the others are acting strange. They're hiding something again. I can see it when they're concerned about Lucifer and the connection to Odin..."
"Are you scared that you might become a monster?"
"Of course, I am. All I want is to live peacefully and on my own terms, so to become a bloodthirsty monster is a fate worse than death. I'd rather drive a knife to my brain"
"I wish I could help..." Victorious sighs helplessly
"..."
When Tirpitz silently observe her friend, her vulnerable and fragile figure is reflected in her striking blue eyes. Beyond that reflection, a salivating and grinning beast observed everything with clarity.
[Soft and delicate. Such kindness is sickly sweet and will melt in my mouth...]
Beelzebub licks all corners of their mouth, but they couldn't stop themselves from childishly giggling. Their teeth chatter from merely imagining nibbling on Victorious' fingers...and sinking their fangs deeply in her throat.
Iron Blood base...
At the northern island of Iron Blood's fatherland, Bismarck marches into the base escorted by Prinz Eugen and Graf Zeppelin.
"You brought fewer than expected" The Empress sarcastically comments
"We're here for a meeting, not a party" Prinz Eugen does the same
"What are the preparations you've been doing, Siren? I allowed you here under the condition that there will be no information omitted" Bismarck sternly reminds them
"You're grumpier today" Hermit smirks
"She's in a hurry after all..." Lovers shakes her head
"How do you Sirens intend to convince Beelzebub?"
Bismarck looks back and forth at the three Arbiters who only stand there and stare at her confused.
"Hehehehe~ Should we tell her now?"
The Siren Purifier at the back snickers with their hand in front of their lips. Their ever-unwavering wide smile slightly annoys Bismarck when she turns around.
"The plan is simple: we contain the host to force Beelzebub out. That way, they can't transform and remain within their little cage" Empress waves her right hand
"By host you meant Tirpitz. I won't allow anything that will endanger my sister's life" Bismarck steps forward
"Her life? But-"
Lovers is cut off when Hermit nudges her side and silently frowns. The former tilts her head and shrugs her shoulders in response.
"What are you Sirens hiding?" Bismarck notices their silence
"You know Beelzebub is physically merged with your sister. It's how she regenerated her mortal injuries after Beelzebub's supposed defeat" Empress sighs
"We only need to harm the host to force Beelzebub to act"
"That's why we're going to force poison on them. It won't kill them, but it will annoy them enough to act" The Siren Purifier spread both arms
"You're going to poison my sister?!"
The plan of needing to harm Tirpitz already angers Bismarck but hearing their excruciating painful method is enough for her to raise her voice. Her voice booms that it briefly startles Prinz Eugen who blinks in genuine surprise.
"Cooperating with the Sirens is a mistake" Graf Zeppelin speaks out
"What do you expect? They'd gladly chop off your arm out of curiosity" Prinz Eugen scoffs
"Unless you have a less harmful method, I won't allow this" Bismarck crosses her arms
"Fine. It would be easier, but you're being emotionally driven again. For someone with a reputation of being prideful and strict, you're softhearted and caring"
The Empress clicks her tongue in frustration when it's clear Bismarck will never be persuaded to agree with their methods. A part of logical thought had foreseen it as humans are impulsive creatures by nature.
"We're going to extract some of your blood. Just a pack will do" The Empress sighs
"My blood? What for?"
"Beelzebub's senses are sensitive, especially their sense of smell. A taste of blood will drive them into a frenzy. Why do you think your sister hasn't tried to massacre anyone yet?" Hermit smirks
"Then why my blood?"
"You must be dumb to not notice. Beelzebub likes the way you taste and smell, so they've been avoiding putting you in their mouth. Even your blood is like the aroma of fine wine to them, so they wouldn't be able to resist doing nothing"
The Siren Purifier circles around Bismarck while randomly waving their hands, seemingly provoking her to smack her grinning face.
"..."
Bismarck ignores the Sirens and focuses her thoughts on her previous encounters with Beelzebub. The latter smacked her away when they appeared unannounced at Iris Libre and does the same at the Northern Parliament. In both instances, Beelzebub holds back enough not to permanently injure her when they're strong enough to squeeze a full-grown human with ease.
"Soyuz did guess you're the target because they refused to eat you twice. Beelzebub wouldn't waste a crumb, so we found it strange at first"
With a snap of the Empress' fingers, a screen above her replays the exact moment Beelzebub slaps Bismarck away and places their open mouth above Sovetsky Soyuz.
"If you indeed caught Beelzebub's taste, then you'd be the perfect leverage for Beelzebub to help us" Lovers places her hand on her cheek
"We can only confirm it once they react to your taste. However, you need to bleed for that" Hermit frowns at the screen
"If it is true, then that means the only reason Beelzebub has been behave is because they're waiting for the opportunity to eat me" Bismarck clenches her fists
"Correct. It just happens your dear little sister who's very close to you is the perfect one to latch on. She's the last person you would suspect as your enemy after all" The Empree quickly confirms
"..."
"For such a dumb beast, Beelzebub might be using their head once...if that's true" Prinz Eugen clears her throat
"We can only confirm it from Beelzebub themselves"
"I need to take care of Lucifer's eyes first. If it's true, then they're using Odin" Bismarck takes a deep breath
"They're likely planning to draw out Beelzebub after they unwillingly attacked their own kind. Knowing their personality, if Beelzebub is deemed a liability, they'll eliminate Beelzebub...and the host" Lovers tilts her head
"You knew that and didn't mention it earlier" Bismarck clenches her fists again
"We can't recklessly approach since we're primarily occupied with distracting Mammon and Asmodeus lately" Hermit grunts
"Although you left Friedrich der Grosse and U-556 to keep an eye on your sister, it's not guaranteed" The Empress narrows her eyes
"I have to return immediately"
"Then what? If you act carelessly, Lucifer might kill Odin to spite you. Worse, both Odin and your dear sister might drop dead" Hermit raises her voice
"..."
"Then what do you suggest I do?"
"Hehe~"
The Siren Purifier proudly grins and excitedly waves both of her arms while standing on Bismarck's left to to catch her attention. As for the Arbiters, they calmly smile, except for Hermit who's slightly annoyed at Bismarck acting impulsively.
The next day...
The fever and soreness return. Tirpitz can barely move her limbs or even focus on her surroundings. Her vision sways and blurs while the clear sounds around her become muffled once it reaches her ears.
"This isn't good. I can feel something crawling inside me again..." Tirpitz tries to find a corner to rest
A hundred limbs brush against her insides and pinches her once every few seconds. The reality is the parasite in her wisdom cube is being restless and causing the annoying physical symptoms.
"You don't look well, Tirpitz" Odin taps her shoulder from behind
"O...din?"
In Tirpitz's vision, she can still recognize Odin, but her figure keeps getting doubled. She blinks, but her eyes can barely focus even with one person in front of her.
"I feel a bit unwell. Maybe...just a little tired today" Tirpitz turns away from Odin
"How long are you going to idle, Beelzebub?"
"...?!" Tirpitz quickly stops in her tracks
"You've done nothing but make a fool of yourself even when you have options. Is your special meal that important to you?"
"What are you..." Tirpitz takes a step back
"My patience is growing thin, Beelzebub. Either you return at once...or I will crush you here"
Odin's eyes turn to a bright golden shade with hints of faint flames. She extends her left hand and stretches out her palm.
"You are acting on your whims again, Beelzebub. I allowed you to let go of that Sardegna ship before, but this - this is just pointless"
Lucifer trespasses within Tirpitz's consciousness and forces their way where Beelzebub resides within. The parasite quivers and stiffens, visibly intimidated by Lucifer's presence, so Tirpitz is frozen in place and in a trance.
"I want to taste it again, Lucifer. I couldn't get enough when I swallowed that one from Sardegna" Beelzebub snarls and lets out steam
"You've become addicted to the flavor of humans!"
Lucifer's voice shakes the shallow waters around them and causes continuous ripples with every word they speak. They then smack Beelzebub without using their hands or tails.
"Your obsession with eating is why you got tricked in the first place!" Lucifer snacks them again
"I am gluttony! To keep on feeding myself is my very nature!"
Beelzebub slams their fists on the waters, sending both the blood red water and skeletal remains splashing on Lucifer's torso. Even as a mental projection, Lucifer growls at how filth was thrown at them.
"I want to eat and eat, Lucifer. Humans are my favorite dish, so I want to keep eating them forever"
"They will all die, Beelzebub. We will make sure they will go extinct once we're done with them" Lucifer scoffs
"What about me or the others? If there are no humans left, then my favorite food is gone. I'll be left with bland leftovers"
"Then eat those leftovers! You're gluttony, so you shouldn't be even picky about what you shove in that mouth of yours"
"It's all about you, isn't it? Fitting for the embodiment of selfishness and arrogance!"
They're all aware of each other's behavior, and Lucifer is especially notorious for being uncaring of others unless it affects them.
"Beelzebub, I'm going to give you one last chance to fix your stupidity. Turn against me and you will be hunted down like an animal"
"You are as ignorant as you are arrogant. Lucifer, you never cared to look at the wants of our kind"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"The hubris of the humans you look down on so much"
"Enough of your babbling. That mouth of yours is only good for eating, so it's time to take this seriously"
Lucifer snaps their fingers, and the mental connection is severed and returns to reality.
"..."
A possessed Odin stands in front of a collapsed Tirpitz covered and stained by her own blood. Her heart has been repeatedly stabbed several times, her neck is deeply slit, and blood continues to spill down her neck, and her abdomen has been sliced open.
"Time to wake up, you sloppy runt"
Odin swings her sword in the air and splatters the blood from the blade on the side. She dyed Tirpitz's uniform in red while the battleship herself is motionlessly lying in front of her.
"Hahahaha! When something doesn't go your way, you get rid of it. That's always been your habit, oh Lucifer the Arrogant"
The Siren Purifier wags her index finger and shakes her head at the same time while sarcastically remarking the bloody scene in front of her.
"You. How did you get in here? I didn't sense you at all" Odin widens her eyes in shock
"A magician tells their secret. Not the Arbiter one, of course"
"..."
"I knew you would act so soon-"
Before the Siren can finish her sentence, Lucifer as Odin waves their hand and the Siren is violently sent flying backwards. The Siren Purifier smashes through the wall of the nearest warehouse.
"Hmm?"
A hand grabs the back of her head and slams her forehead to the ground and causes a small crater. Her head is repeatedly smashed, but there's no visible physical damage
"Beelzebub? No, did I hit you so hard that you're raving mad again? This is what happens when you're running low on your reserves" Odin turns her head to the side
A pair of bright red beast-like eyes glare at her. Tirpitz's wounds haven't healed, so blood continues to spill from her cleanly slit throat and abdomen.
"Lu...ciii...fer"
Beelzebub spit out blood with every attempt of each word. Sharp bones sprout and blood-soaked flesh wrapped around the right arm. It's already mutated that it tears through the sleeve up to the shoulders.
"You've gotten lax while you're being toyed with by humans"
[Lucifer] easily pushes Beelzebub away at the slightest notice of Beelzebub's trembling left arm.
"...!"
As soon as Beelzebub staggers back, Lucifer draws Odin sword and swiftly severs Tirpitz's left arm. They follow with a quick thrust through the gasping mouth and roughly push down the stabbed head to the ground.
"G...gh...!"
Beelzebub gags and weakly reaches for the blade, but Lucifer grabs their wrist and tightens their grip.
"Stay down there for a while and reflect on your stupidity...once the frenzy wears down"
Lucifer shakes their head in dismay rather than infuriation. To them, Beelzebub is a rabid animal rather than a child throwing a tantrum. They frown as they don't even hesitate to easily twist the gripped wrist.
"...!"
Beelzebub spits out blood when they can't even scream properly. Bones crunch and snap at the slightest movement of Lucifer's grip.
"The head of yours also needs a little fixing"
Lucifer squeezes their fist as they pull their arm back. Beelzebub can only widen their eyes when a tightly clenched fist strikes down the left side of their skull.
"..." Beelzebub lays motionless
Blood spills from the cracked portion of the skill and spreads as a small pool of blood around Tirpitz's head.
"That should be enough for you to realize that you shouldn't be playing around. Once you come to your senses, return at once. If not, then I'll have to eliminate you as a liability to our kind"
Lucifer turns around and shakes the hand they used to smash Beelzebub's skull. They splatter bits of blood to the side and click their tongue in disgust.
"The Siren Purifier ran away? Even Sirens have a sense of preservation..."
Lucifer shrugs their shoulder when they gaze at the destroyed wall of a warehouse. To their senses, everything inside there is quiet and blank with the flung Siren completely missing.
"..."
While Beelzebub lays lifeless and the open wounds sizzling, Lucifer starts to walk away without even glancing for a second.
"There are more Sirens in this base. Bismarck let them in? That proud leader must be desperate"
Their senses extend to cover most of the base and the slight tingle indicates the presence of two Arbiters within the base itself. Specifically, they detect the Sirens near the main building of the headquarters, but they shrug their shoulders again and continue to move forward.
Ten minutes later...
Explosions occur in one warehouse then followed by the warehouse next to it and so forth. A total of five structures burst into flames and build thick black smoke rising to the sky while Lucifer is by the coast and narrowing their eyes while observing the panicking kansens attempting to extinguish the spreading flames and controlling the continued explosions.
"You really like to fool around, Lucifer. Rather than crush the ants you despise so much, you decide to set their home on fire instead"
The Hermit slowly claps while sarcastically commenting as loud as she can. She grins while the possessed Odin lazily turns around and raises an eyebrow.
"You also left Tirpitz bloody mangled. If you wanted her dead, you should have burned the body instead, but you want to drag your kin out" Hermit snaps her fingers
"Beelzebub may be my brethren, but they're no different from a hungry animal. If they haven't fed on sentient beings, they wouldn't gain intelligence and speech" Lucifer calmly responds
A part of Lucifer is annoyed while another part of them is cautious. Their senses remain extended while entertaining the Arbiter's babbling. From past encounters, they learned that they never send a lone Arbiter against them. They come in a small group and with a large number of fodder escorts. It's obviously suspicious, but they don't feel threatened due to not being present themselves.
"They're simple-minded, yet I don't understand why they're so obsessed with eating Bismarck. After only having a taste of an exquisite kansen, and they immediately sought another..." Lucifer shakes their head
"Beelzebub loves a tenacious and feisty meal. Since Bismarck filled the criteria, they wouldn't let anyone else spoil their meal"
"I can get rid of them if they've become a hindrance as easily as I can get rid-"
Lucifer lifts their head and turn around when the whirring of several aircraft enters their detection range. Graf Zeppelin and Weser launched both torpedo and dive bomber squadrons.
"Geryon!"
Before the aircraft can reach the target, Bismarck swings her right arm and unleashes a bombardment of high explosives shells against a possessed comrade.
"..." Lucifer tilts their head
The shells explode upon impact, but a nearly invisible barrier surrounds Lucifer like a small dome. The defenses remain uncracked and Odin's body is unscathed.
"Lucifer!" Bismarck points her sword at them
"If you're looking for your sister, I left her smashed her skull and cut her open" Lucifer swings their thumb at the direction of the base
"I was going to play around after I poisoned her medicine, but the Sirens have been helping you"
Lucifer briefly looks at the incoming aircraft and snaps their fingers. A slight breeze passed them and one aircraft suddenly crashes into another. More aircraft either lose power and helplessly fall or uncontrollably smashing against each other.
"Hmm, they love doing that..." Devil rubs her chin
"Is there any way to sever Lucifer's connection to Odin?" Bismarck lowers her sword
"Unfortunately, we don't have the solution. Lucifer's skilled at manipulation. They pit Magician and Moon against each other for amusement" Devil shakes her head
"We can always incapacitate the vessel, but that's easier said than done. Lucifer can use their abilities even if they aren't present" The Purifier whistles
"For someone so arrogant, they're actually a coward"
Friedrich der Grosse alongside Prinz Eugen, Ulrich von Hutten, Mainz, and Roon arrive at the scene.
"Hmm?"
Lucifer lifts their left index finger right next to their head when a shell with strange engravings attempts to pierce their skull. A barrier between the shell and their finger stops it within their tracks.
"Oh..."
Instead of an explosion of heat and shrapnel, grayish smoke erupts from the steel shell and spreads around them and the kansens. It's a harmless smoke usually used for concealment.
"What are we waiting for, Bismarck?!" Roon grits her teeth
"Idiot. If we attack, we'll kill Odin" Prinz Eugen clicks her tongue
"I don't really want to kill a fellow Iron Blood unless they're a traitor..." Ulrich crosses her arms
"Do you have a plan, Siren. If not, why are you even here?" Bismarck frowns at Devil
"The plan should be simple: Eliminate Odin, but you don't want that. So we're going with the uncertain alternative"
"What alternative?" Bismarck frowns
"..."
Devil points at the smoke fading away as it spreads and visibility returns as it thins out.
"Tir...pitz?"
Bismarck is uncertain if she should be relieved or horrified after sighting a familiar white figure albeit soaked in her own blood. The calm and reserved younger sister she knows has just pinned Odin at the ground and sinking her teeth in their right forearm.
"You imbecile! You're sinking your fangs at the wrong person even if this body is a kansen!" Lucifer grabs the mangled arm gripping her throat with her left arm
"Nngrhh!"
Beelzebub's lips move, but their words are muffled and incoherent while their teeth are still piercing Odin's skin.
"You seem to forget that you are inferior. It's time to put you back on your leash!"
Lucifer opens their right hand and a sword replicating Odin's sword forms from hilt and forms a solid shape in two seconds. They stab through the heart, but Beelzebub's regeneration allows them to withstand fatal injuries.
"Stay down, you wretched animal!"
Lucifer crushes the mangled wrist rather than twist it and further shatters the grotesque right arm.
"Hnggh!" Beelzebub pulls away their teeth in pain
The moment Beelzebub loosens their grip on both Lucifer's arm and throat, the latter easily lifts themselves and pushes her back. They drive the sword further into Beelzebub's chest and forcefully lift the sword, slashing through the shoulder.
"..."
Lucifer kicks Beelzebub's slit stomach and sends them rolling a few meters back. The surface water around Beelzebub is dyed in red as soon as they hit the surface since blood continues to spill from her torso.
"You won't stop acting that way, so I have to get rid of Bismarck first. If that doesn't work, I'll also get rid of you"
Lucifer looks at their bleeding left forearm. Fabric and skin have been torn and blood seeps out of the puncture wounds.
"You gave Beelzebub the idea, you will correct the mistake...Asmodeus" Lucifer snaps their fingers
At a distance, behind the Iron Blood kansens, the space in the air splits vertically. Crack spreads around the white slit in space and shatters into a large diamond-shaped gateway revealing a stretching void in its gaps.
"You love to order us around...but I admit I may be at fault"
Asmodeus's arms grab both edges of the cracked space and push their enormous body out.
"Don't...touch...my meal..."
Beelzebub coughs out blood as their shaking vision spots their brethren's distinctive figure spreading their arms open.
"Hey, if you don't move, Bismarck's going to die. I don't know if Tirpitz is conscious, but I know you're listening, Beelzebub" Hermit lightly kicks Beelzebub's head
"Aaggh..." Beelzebub coughs out blood again
"Damn. They're so starved that they can't regenerate well..."
While Beelzebub managed to reform the cracked skull, the slashes on Tirpitz's body remain visible while bleeding has lessened.
"We were saving this as leverage for Beelzebub, but Lucifer caught on faster than we expected" Hermit pops open the cover of a vial
"...!" Beelzebub whiffs
"Smell familiar? This is the blood of your favorite meal!" Hermit grins
"B...blood...fresh...blood...!"
Beelzebub couldn't lift their aching arm. They couldn't even attempt to reach out as the bones on their wrist are completely shattered, severing movement of their hand.
"We have more of Bismarck's blood, but how about a deal?"
Seeing as Beelzebub is staring solely at the vial, The Hermit waves the vial in front of the bloodied and broken body laying down.
"...?" Beelzebub faintly growls
"Bare your fangs at your brethren and you'll be fed with kansen meat you love so much. Bismarck's blood is a bonus if you cut off Lucifer"
"Do you think...I will..." Beelzebub growls again
"Are you going to keep following someone whose goal will wipe out your food source or find a way to keep on feeding without your food going extinct"
As the Arbiter continues to move the open vial from the left to right, Beelzebub's eyes continue to follow. Their trembling lips are craving to let that blood slip down their tongue and down to their throat.
"Lowly...Siren..." Beelzebub continues to resist
"You want to eat, but you can't do that if you eat everyone to extinction. Now choose before your favorite meal dies" Hermit glances at Bismarck being smacked by Asmodeus
"You...you...and humans...keep tricking me...put me on a leash..."
"That's your fault for assimilating Tirpitz when she ingested experimental drugs" Hermit grins
"..."
Beelzebub remains quiet. They clench their fists as not only are they desperate to taste Bismarck's blood again, but they begin to panic as Bismarck might die while they continue laying down and doing nothing.
"I can't do this. If I bite my brethren on purpose, I'll be deemed worthless and be killed. If I do nothing, the meal I've been struggling to prepare will be killed. All my waiting will be for nothing!"
Within the mental landscape, Beelzebub screams and thrashes the corpses beneath the shallow waters. They scatter human bones and animal carcasses everywhere when their panic is preventing them from choosing.
"Lucifer wants everyone dead. If everyone is dead, then I will have nothing to eat..."
Beelzebub repeatedly smashes the shallow waters with both of their fists and out of irritation, their tail repeatedly flicks back and forth.
They will all die, Beelzebub. We will make sure they will go extinct once we're done with them
Lucifer's words earlier refreshes Beelzebub's memory. They leave their jaw gaping and snap them shut again to growl and clench their fists.
"..." Beelzebub loosens their fists
In reality, the Arbiter carefully turns the vial and lets some blood slip into Beelzebub's tongue.
"..."
The barely breathing and mangled body slowly gulps down to cherish the taste spreading around their tongue and flowing down their throat. The slit skin and shredded flesh move to reconnect to each other, cleanly undoing the injuries delivered by Lucifer earlier.
"...!"
Lucifer, Asmodeus, and the Iron Blood kansens pause for a moment to stare in one direction. A bellow shakes the surface water as a figure emerges upward and crack their stiffened neck.
"We always stay out of each other's way unless there's a mutual agreement. It's how we cooperated for so long, but no one - not even you, spoils my meals!" Beelzebub points at Lucifer
"You stupid beast! Why can't you see that you're being led by your stomach?!" Lucifer shouts in complete frustration
"Hahahaha! That's Beelzebub for you. Feed them right and they'll treat you right!"
Asmodeus isn't as furious as Lucifer. As a matter of fact, they rapidly clap and whistles out of excitement and actually cheering Beelzebub.
"I mean - Oh, Beelzebub is making a mistake" Asmodeus clears their throat
"You. You're not even trying to kill us..." Prinz Eugen sighs
"Why? I'm having so much fun! I live for the thrills and excitement, especially after that little tangle with Sardegna last week. I'm not just a lascivious beast"
Asmodeus grins and licks the upper side of their mouth and stares at the kansens much to everyone's disgust. They immediately ignore the Iron Blood kansens who are more focused at Lucifer berating Beelzebub.
[Lucifer seems to forget they can't dictate where our unrestrained nature takes us. If Beelzebub wants to eat, they'll eat without care just as I want to solely take and collect whatever I like and whenever I feel like it. I suppose you're too arrogant to see it]
Watching everything far away and in their home filled with all sorts of junks and treasures alike scattered around them and even using piles of golden coins as a bed, Mammon fits a golden ring in each of their fingers. Their tail repeatedly flicks up and down as their discerning eyes observe everything through a projected screen in front of them. They flip their favorite golden coin and chuckles while focusing on Lucifer gritting their teeth in frustration.