REVIEWS:
desropter: Your judgment is going to be put to the test.
Xerzo LotCN: Ignium is strong, yes, and Solomon does have his work cut out for him.
ZenithSerac: Wait and see.
As always guys, if you wish to further support this work of mine, be sure to visit my Coffee Page (Link at the bottom.) And this is the Discord Link!
/FVXgdXtMUv
After Leon joined, having needed to negotiate the conditions with Lucifer and Ajuka in order to keep him out of jail, Issei had to admit that the guy was possibly a welcomed change. He had another guy he and Kiba could talk with. Gasper was still in the works. So he wouldn't go to jail, Leon told the two everything he knew.
Danbooru found him in a Canadian prison, and he joined him in traveling all over the place. First, they traveled a bunch in the human world to collect their third member, George Merrygold, whom he claimed to be a powerful magician. After that, they began their actual activities by gathering enough evidence to start the riot they had committed in the Underworld. They were successful, but after that, they split. Leon admitted to meeting George for a final time in Bulgaria, but since then, he never heard from the guy again.
Same with Danbooru.
This was the first time Issei had heard of that guy in forever, and it seemed he was busy.
Still, there is nothing else for him to do, really. Peace was present everywhere, and all he was doing was focusing on his studies at Kuoh Academy and working on himself. Currently, there was nothing else he could go, and when he spoke with Ddraig, as brief as their talks were, it was mostly Ddraig assuring Issei things would be fine.
He'd be lying if he said he didn't have doubts. He never realized how much he relied on his gear until he lost most of its power. But he won't let it bring him down. He still had magic and more at his disposal. He will grow stronger, and when his gear does recover, he will be ten times the threat he was before it went under.
"No…" That was all Ignium said as he stood in his quarters, keeping Indra from looking into the future yet again. The King of the Hindu Pantheon was stubborn. Ignium would admit to that, but his attempts were growing less frequent, and he was likely starting to think he was truly stuck, unable to peek past a certain point in time, and that whoever was stopping him was doing it constantly.
"Your medicine, Sir." A servant brought Ignium some painkillers, which the demon took without hesitation. The technique he was using to stop Indra from looking into the future was causing him very nasty headaches. "According to the doctors, you are recommended to stop for today."
"I will…I think I scared Indra enough for today." Ignium got up, stretching his body. So far, Indra has attempted to look into the future 13 times today. That was 4 times less than yesterday. He was desperate. Not being able to tell what was killing his people was eating away at him. "Tell me, what is the status of the situation in India?"
"Sir, reports indicate that the humans have begun sending humanitarian aid to the country in hopes of slowing down the disease or finding a cure. Per orders, once they go in, we are not letting them come out and masking the killings as the disease has gotten to them. So far, most countries have decided to ban flights and other means of transport in and out of India, with the USA considering a sea blockade."
Ignium sighed. "Idiots. Have our agents veto that decision. A blockade could be taken badly, and India is allied with Russia. We are not starting World War Three."
"Acknowledged. However, on a related note, the population of India has decreased by a solid 5% so far, and the numbers are still growing. Around 90% of the amount that has died so far is made up of children between ages between 1 and 5 and elderly with ages above 60. Pregnant women who got infected have also reported miscarriages due to the virus." Ignium scowled. "Something the matter, sir?"
"Despite the necessity of this action, it doesn't mean I enjoy taking such actions," Ignium admitted. "The moment our fight with the Hindu Pantheon concludes, I want the vaccine given to them in a heartbeat."
"Yes, Sir. Lastly, the Colonels wish to discuss some budget issues with you, Sir. Recently, the spendings have been-"
Suddenly, Ignium perked up, his eyes turning to slits. "Wait." He looked in a certain direction. "No…No, no, no!"
"Sir?"
"Call the medical staff, NOW!" Ignium shouted, then his body turned itself to flames, vanishing and slithering away out of the main HQ building. He took his physical form again and flew through Dis, getting the attention of the citizens, seeing him in a rush. Many were worried about this, especially when they saw him land before the hospital.
Ignium threw the door open, walking in and seeing the various men and women there, stunned by the appearance of the General. "General Ophirius!" The head nurse greeted him. "What are you doing here, Sir?"
"Take me to the private floor, NOW!" Ignium demanded, and the nurse swiftly took him to the elevator, where she swiped her access card. The elevator moved, taking them down. The private floor was a special area of the hospital where they treated special individuals within the Snake of Adam. Those include high-ranking officers, people of high interest, and even research and development in the lower sector.
Once the elevator reached down, Ignium saw the elite doctors rushing to a certain room, where he wasted no time going as well. "Sir, wait!" The nurse tried to stop him, but Ignium simply opened the door by melting the lock and walking in.
"Sir!" The doctor saluted him. "We have managed to get him stable, Sir! The situation is under control!"
"Marchodias…" Ignium walked to the person on the hospital bed. Before him was a sight few would think could exist. On the bed, looking like an extremely old man with a beard long enough to reach his stomach, skin wrinkled and dry, and his head bald, was another demon. He weakly opened his eyes, sharing the same golden hue as Ignium.
"Ignium…My brother…" The man on the bed was Trion Marchodias. The first of the Marchodias House. The Demon Marchodias himself. Ignium walked over to him, leaning to his brother and taking his hand in his. Trion inhaled slowly and squeezed as much as he could.
"You grow weaker by the day, Trion," Ignium remarked.
"I know…"
"His state is deteriorating." The doctor told Ignium. "Our best medical advances, both technological and magical, are being used to treat him to the best of our ability, but I fear that his wound is too deep."
"The war…" Ignium stated, remembering the Great War. "Oh, my brother. What wound the angels left on you."
On Trion's chest was a clean cut, but it was abnormal. The flesh was gray, and the wound was not closing. Instead, golden light shimmered weakly, and the veins around the wound were as golden as the shimmer.
"Their holy poison has reduced you to this," Ignium added. "Doctor! How goes the progress for a cure?"
"Sir, we are making progress each day, but we theorize it will take us another 20 years to find a cure for this holy toxin." The doctor stated. "And I fear that our esteemed patient doesn't have 20 more years."
"What?" Ignium scowled. "I did not spend a fortune on your research to receive such news, doctor. What would take you to have the cure finished in time?"
The doctor gulped. "Forgive me, Sir, but…It would take a miracle."
"Why you-"
"Ignium." Trion stopped him, grabbing the demon as his temper flared up. "Please. Do not discharge your rage on them. They have done nothing but their utmost best to aid me. It is my fault that my body is unable to take anymore, not theirs."
Ignium turned to him. "Do not speak, brother. Save your strength."
"No…My strength has long left me, Ignium. Right now, only the medicine and devices connected to me are keeping me going despite my sorry state." Trion replied. "What a life…I remember, back during the day nearing the end of the Great War. When I got wounded. You flew into a rage back then, seeing me fall, and carried me here to Dis, where you had begun building your faction. At first, I thought you were a traitor…Then I saw you were a protector. You knew the Civil War would spark. And you saved as many lineages as you could."
"I saved all of them!" Ignium corrected. "I left no lineage to vanish. But our brothers and sisters…Too many of us fell, Trion."
"I know…And I will soon join them…I fear what is beyond, Ignium. The humans have a place to go to. The Youkai have a place to go to. But where do we go when we perish? We are not the same…"
"I cannot answer that."
"I know…My brother, know that I have only the utmost respect for you. You stood tall and did what was asked of you. You never faltered. You never betrayed the trust of those under you." Trion said. "I wish I could say the same. Throughout the years, I have been naught but a burden to you."
"Silence your words!" Ignium said quickly. "You were no burden."
"You may think so, brother. But that is not how I feel." Trion replied. "Oh, I am sorry, Ignium. I won't see you fulfill your duty."
"Do not go, brother," Ignium begged.
"No…Not yet. I cannot go yet." Trion said, which sparked a light of hope in Ignium. "Brother, please. Fulfill this old demon's final wish. My last desire, before I am to perish."
"Brother…Very well. If it is within my power, I will fulfill your wish." Ignium replied solemnly.
"I wish to see Heaven. To pass through the pearly white gates and see the unspeakable perfection and unmatched beauty of our Father's creation. Even if I will see it for the final time." Trion's words didn't surprise Ignium, but the demon was deep in thought.
"Sir, forgive me for interrupting. But you cannot be moved." The doctor told Trion. "In your current state, if you get disconnected from the devices, you won't last even one hour."
"What if he constantly received pure demonic energy?" Ignium asked. "He has dismissed greatly from the poison, but my body is still overflowing with power."
"Then, in theory, that would prolong his life, but how do you plan to transfer that power constantly?" The doctor asked, and Ignium already knew what he had to do. "Not to mention while carrying him."
"Simple. Summon Tadeus Crowley!"
Sometime later, Tadeus walked through the door, receiving his orders from Ignium. He was ordered to stop everything he was doing and create a device able to transfer power from Ignium to Trion and do so on the move. Tadeus accepted the task, and it took him no less than five hours to create and fabricate the device.
"It looks like a futuristic healing pod," Ignium remarked.
"I was not focusing on design, Sir, given the urgency of your request. However, we already had technology able to transfer power between two beings, and I based this on that. Here." Tadeus threw his boss a disc of some kind, and Ignium recognized what it was. He placed it over his chest and pressed it, seeing the liquid metal surrounding him. It was the armor he wore in his battle at Kuoh Academy, but different. "This is V2. Using the data from the battle, we have made several improvements to its design and functions."
Tadeus took a cable from the pod and connected it to a port that formed on Ignium's back. At once, the cable shorted, strapping the pod to Ignium's back. "Ugh." The demon inhaled. "It's a bit heavy."
"I had to use what materials worked best, not what was lighter, Sir," Tadeus admitted. The man then began to fiddle with several buttons on the pod, eventually making it open up. "Bring him here." The medics and nurses slowly disconnected Trion from the devices and then lifted him. Ignium kneeled as they loaded Trion in the pod, which then closed and filled itself with liquid. A mask appeared, covering Trion's face.
"Vitals are stable." One of the doctors said, seeing Trion's vitals on a tablet.
"We will receive updates on his health through the armor's system," Tadeus explained as Ignium stood up. "You can also deploy a monitor to check his state if need be, Sir. How are you feeling? The transfer is already ongoing."
"I feel the drain, yes," Ignium replied.
"Good, it means it is working. I will tell Marakus to prepare an escort, and we can-"
"NO!" Ignium shouted. "I am going alone."
"With due respect, Sir, you are heading into enemy territory!" Tadeus stated.
"If we go with a force, however small, there are odds of the angels believing we are coming to invade. Either way, it is not why I am going there. I will go alone." Ignium said strongly.
"How?" Tadeus asked. "Demons cannot go to Heaven."
"Wrong, Tadeus. There is a way." Ignium replied, then pointed downward. "All the way through the bottom of Hell."
Tadeus' eyes widened. "Dis, in Dante's Divine Comedy, is said to surround the other rings going down. But when I got here, I didn't see anything to resemble that structure."
"The Divine Comedy is not wholly accurate, but it does have a few things it got right. There is a gate that leads to Purgatory's mountain, and from there, I can reach Heaven. The angels never closed that avenue." Ignium explained, took the elevator, and was followed by Tadeus. "I will use it to reach Heaven. Will the pod last the journey?"
"It should, yes. But, Sir, I still think this is a poor choice." Tadeus reinforced his words, but as they reached the top floor, the roof, and Ignium went outside, he had nothing else to say.
"It is my choice." And Ignium took off. At first, he flew high into the sky, but then he began flying down. One might think he was about to crash into the pavement, but fire manifested before him. Black as the night, it melted the rock, and Ignium dove right in, unaffected by the extreme heat. Tadeus, of course, accounted for it, and the pod was not affected either. The Puppet Master simply watched as the hole Ignium made began to cool down, the molten rock turning solid.
"Until you return, Sir." Tadeus saluted him.
As he flew through the molten earth in his path, Ignium barely blinked. "Hold on, brother…" He spoke, wishing that Marchodias would last until they reached the gates. Ignium recalled well…The times before everything went sideways.
They were better times. Simpler times. Back in Heaven, Ignium was standing over a small pool of water, looking down below to the Garden of Eden. "Ignium!" Then, Marchodias joined him. During those times, he was younger in looks and had short, messy blonde hair. Ignium, for his part, was not as muscular and was more lean and toned, both of them wearing pristine white robes.
"Trion. Have you any duties for me?" Ignium asked.
"No, brother, I do not. Currently, there are not a lot of things to be done up here." Trion stated somewhat awkwardly. "Funny, considering you are a Power and I am a Dominion."
"Are you sure?"
"Very," Trion replied, but then he noticed Ignium peeking at something. He grinned. "What are you peeking at, brother?"
"Just the Garden of Eden." Ignium confessed.
"Why? There is nothing there." Trion stated. "Only plants, plants, and more plants!"
"Not yet!" Ignium argued. "Father claimed he was going to create something new in there, did he not? I want to see what it is."
"Brother, we will all see what it is Father wishes to create when he creates it. Come. Let's go and see what the others are up to, shall we?" Trion spread his wings, taking flight. "Are you coming?"
Ignium looked down for one final time at the Garden, then spread his pair of wings wide. "Right behind you."
The times were so much simpler back then…Ignium recalled them well.
The rock ended before him, and Ignium found himself on an island. Looking up, he saw the great mountain stretching to the skies above. Before him stood the mountain of purgatory, ever busy processing the souls that have sinned but which could be saved. He saw the angels standing guard at each terrace of the great mountain, and before long, his presence was noticed by the greeting committee of this realm.
"Ye, who walks those sacred grounds! I can see your foul nature! What makes you come here!" Before Ignium, an old man came shouting, his head surrounded and illuminated by four stars.
"Cato the Younger!" Ignium called him by name and title. "I know you from your days in life. A Roman politician during the late republic, you fought the great Caezar, trying to preserve the values of your loved country. And you threw your life away for it, which was seen by the powers up high as a sacrifice, making you a martyr rather than a sinner as foul as I. You were made the Guardian of Purgatory."
"You know me well, demon." Cato spat. "But your honeyed words do not answer me. What are you doing here? You are not welcome in this realm! Answer me, 'fore I smite thee back to the black abyss you crawled from!"
"My ascension comes not from divine order nor personal desire! I am here to fulfill the dying wish of an ill brother." Ignium replied.
"Your brother? Another demon? Pwah!" Cato spat on the ground, further mocking Ignium. "Two in one day! What misfortune."
Ignium's face contorted into a scowl. "I ask not your permission, Cato. My stopping here is merely courtesy. I will ascend flying up the mountain before the sun sets on it!"
"The angels of purgatory won't allow you to get past even the first terrace!" Cato replied sternly.
"I welcome them to try and stop me, old man. I fear no angel." With those words said, Ignium spread his wings and began flying. Cato averted his gaze as the demon kicked up the dust and pebbles and flew to the mountain. Cato, seeing this, was quick to act. He went to the side and took out a large bell, starting to ring it.
"Hear me, angels! A foul demon is coming your way! Defend purgatory and the way to heaven!"
With the alarm given, the angels saw Ignium approaching, flying to the mountain. Without delay, they flew up to him, swords drawn to intercept him. Ignium, seeing them, manifested his sword as well, ready to fight them back. If they desired a fight, he would give them a fight! But he had to keep going.
Trion didn't have much time left.
"Brother…"
"TRION!" Ignium shouted as he threw open the door to Trion's abode, walking up to him as he was packing some personal belongings. "I heard from Metatron himself! What in the name of our almighty Father are you thinking?! You are joining Lucifer?!"
"I am," Trion replied, standing proud before Ignium. "Lucifer speaks the truth!"
"His words are full of twisted pride and arrogance! No one can stand on equal terms with Father! He is the Great Creator, and we are his humble creations! It is our purpose to serve and carry out his will!" Ignium replied in creeping anger. "Why?" He covered his face. "Why betray Him?! Don't you realize Lucifer has no odds of victory?!"
"Does he? We are many, Ignium!" Trion countered. "And we could be more if you joined us!"
"Join you?!" Ignium gasped, shocked by such a proposal. "I will not join such a madness!"
"If you refuse to stand with us, Ignium, then you are standing against you! And in the kingdom that Lucifer desires, those like you have no place! Just as the humans won't have a place in Lucifer's kingdom!" Trion said further.
"The humans? Adam and Lilith?" Ignium questioned.
"Who else? Or are there other humans I am not aware of?"
"Trion, you can't! They are our Father's-"
"No!" Trion shouted, cutting him off. "No, Ignium…They shouldn't have to be Father's greatest creations. We are better! Greater! Look at them! They are no different from the animals he had created!"
"They think like us!" Ignium countered.
"They don't!" Trion argued further. "They don't know evil! They don't know WHAT is evil and what is good in the world! Father decided to keep that knowledge from them!"
"They are not ready to know!" Ignium kept pushing. "Please, Trion, trust in Father's plan for mankind! His perfect kingdom is-"
"Not the one I will live in…" Trion added, then unfolded his wings. Ignium's eyes widened as he saw them…Jet-black wings, void of any white. "I made my choice."
"Trion…" Trion then flew away, going past Ignium and knocking him to the ground in the process. When Ignium looked up, rushing outside, it was to see many more black-winged angels gathering, and heading to the Throne of God. "No!"
"Back to your stations!" With a final shout and a wave of fire, Ignium was successful in shaking off his pursuers, now flying through the tunnel of clouds to the heavens. He looked above, then flapped his wings, catching speed as he kept flying high above the gates.
"I am telling you, nothing ever happens here." An angel spoke to the man in charge of the Gates of Heaven. None other than one of the twelve to whom Jesus entrusted the keys of Heaven. Saint Peter. "It is just one human soul after another, either being offered passage or sending them down to the underworld."
"Nothing is good," Peter replied with wisdom. "If nothing out of the ordinary happens, it means everything is going as it should be going. Everything is good."
"How can you say that when things are in such an uproar? The Church below is rotten to its core, and we struck peace with the Devils and Fallen Angels…Ever thought this day might come?"
"In all honesty? I always held hope for peace, and this is more than nice." Peter said, offering his piece about the new peace signed by the three factions. But then his face twisted itself in worry. "Something is coming."
"Another human?" The angel there asked.
"No…It is something dark."
Before long, the clouds erupted forward, and Ignium landed on the ethereal ground. Peter and the angel widened their eyes in panic upon seeing him. "A demon!" Peter gasped, standing firm. However, as Ignium made to walk to the gates, Peter stood before him, putting his hand forth. "No! You are not welcome to pass through those gates!"
"Peter…" Ignium said softly. "Let me pass, Apostle."
"Why should I?" Peter asked. "I know of you: Ignium Ophirius. Of all the foul beings below, you, demons, are the original sinners! So long as I stand, you will not pass through here!"
"And why are you here, huh? We signed a peace treaty!" The angel pointed out, pointing their spear at Ignium. "Are you violating it already?"
"I signed nothing! Your treaty is with Sirzechs and the New Satan Faction. I am Ignium Ophirius, of the Snake of Adam! We signed nothing, and so, we recognize and obey no terms set by the treaty." Ignium pointed out to them. "However. My presence here is by my choice. Blame not Sirzechs and his lot."
"How noble, making sure we know who to blame." The angel pointed out. "Now go! Leave!"
"I will not! Let me pass. Trion doesn't have long." Ignium told them, demanding passage.
"Trion Marchodias? He is the other one in the pod on your back?" Peter asked, shocked to learn that two demons now stood before him. "Why are you bringing him here?"
"It is his wish!" Ignium replied. "He wished to see Heaven one last time before he died. I will fulfill that wish, whether you lot allow me to pass or not." Stretching his arm, a cannon formed from his armor at the top of his arm, pointing it at Peter. "I know you cannot die, Apostle. But this is bound to hurt plenty."
Peter and the angel got into positions, ready to fight. However, before anyone could do anything, another voice was heard.
"Wait! Cease your violence!"
The one who descended was what everyone there would describe as beauty incarnate. Her hair was long and curly, with golden locks glowing in the light of her six pairs of wings. Her blue eyes shone like crystals of ice toward Ignium. Her figure, voluptuous and built for sin yet covered in pristine robes that covered all and left only imagination for others, belonged only to one.
"Gabriel…" Ignium said, standing face to face with the Seraph, as much as it caused him pain being near her. He flinched slightly but pushed forth. "Let me through."
"Ignium…I remember you. Michael told us how you attacked them during the signing of the treaty." Gabriel stated, staring at him. "Why are you here? You were once part of the Powers and were known as a very loyal servant of our Father. But you joined Lucifer nonetheless. You have no place left in Heaven."
"I know that!" Ignium replied in frustration, spooking Gabriel. "I am not here for myself. I am here for him." Ignium reached for the pod and brought it forth, showing the contents to Gabriel.
"Trion…" She stared directly at it, seeing the old demon. "What happened to him?!"
"War…" Ignium replied simply, then saw Gabriel attempt to reach for Trion's pod, only to be stopped as Ignium caught her hand.
"Unhand her!" The angel demanded.
"Wait!" Gabriel ordered the angel, looking closely at Ignium. "Being this close to a Seraph…Does it not hurt, Ignium?"
"Plenty." He let go of her. "Trion cannot handle your presence, Gabriel. Not in this state. Do not get too close, or you will kill him before I can fulfill his final wish."
"And what wish is that?" She asked.
"Trion Marchodias' final wish: To see Heaven one final time," Ignium told Gabriel, who seemed troubled by his words.
"I cannot let you into Heaven. You and the others were cast out. Banished for all eternity." Gabriel recounted. "If, by my order, I have the gates opened, I risk being cast down. No, I risk putting all of Heaven at risk."
Ignium shook his head. "You wouldn't." He said, surprising her. "Father would never cast any of you down for doing something like this."
"Blasphemer!" The angel shouted. "You dare claim what the Lord would have wanted!"
"Silence!" Gabriel shouted at the angel, then turned to Ignium, steeling her gaze. "Ignium…"
"You are no warrior, Gabriel. I know. I also know you are kind and forgiving. I ask you not to forgive me, but forgive Trion enough to allow him this final wish. Please, Gabriel. He is your brother, too!" Ignium asked, even begging Gabriel to let him pass. "You have my word: Once we conclude our business, we will depart."
"Your word…" She echoed, thinking heavily on this. "You won't do anything? You won't attack us?"
"It is not why I came." Ignium pointed out. "I am here solely for Trion. I owe him this much."
"How did he survive so long?" Gabriel asked, looking at Trion. "He looks awful."
"He was harmed during the Great War…"
"TRION!" Ignium shouted as he cut through the ranks of angels and fallen angels alike, his demonic flames incinerating enemies on both sides as he charged through them. He was rushing to Trion, whom he saw being slashed across by an angel. Upon reaching him, Ignium summoned forth a torrent of fire that incinerated the angel in question, turning them to ash.
"Ig…" Trion stumbled back, being caught by Ignium. The golden energy was spreading across his body like an infection, and Ignium quickly acted, trying to use his fire to stem out the poison. "Brother, I…"
"Save your strength!" Ignium shouted, then took flight, fleeing the battlefield with Trion in his arms. "I will take care of you, brother. Just hold on!"
"Ignium…I am sorry…I am sorry for dragging you down with me…" Trion's tears flowed all the way until they reached Ignium's hideout.
"Ever since I have been watching over him and trying to heal him, but we are failing…" Ignium explained. "Now, I doubt he can last even if we took the poison out."
"Trion…" Gabriel covered her mouth, and then she made her call. "Open the gates!"
"Gabriel!" Peter gasped in shock. "You can't be letting them inside heaven! Think of your station!"
"My station is the authority I am using! Ignium! Please…Hold your worth." Gabriel replied, and Ignium nodded, looking at Peter. Peter, realizing his position, took out the key of the gates and opened them. The light that shined through and touched Ignium was not holy, but it was dazzling. Beautiful. Ignium's eyes softened as he looked inside, and slowly, he walked into Heaven. Gabriel followed him, staying close.
He kept walking until he reached his destination. Looking around, it was like not a lot had changed. He saw the spheres of heaven, each its small realm, orbiting around the central pillar: God's System. Or just a small part of it. Ignium knew the main part was up high, where only the Seraphs had access. Yet, the beauty of this place. The peace and the hymns echoing through the air…
It was all overwhelming.
"Come, brother…You are home." Ignium put the pod down and opened it. Before long, Trion opened his eyes, looking up to his surroundings.
"I…" Trion said weakly, and weakly, with the last of his strength, he reached to stand. Slowly, as Ignium stood kneeling with his head low, Trion walked out of the pod and stepped forward, looking up. "It's so…beautiful…Just as I remember it…"
"Trion…" Gabriel muttered, seeing the old demon. Her brother.
"I…I can feel it…" Trion said, reaching up. "I can feel His love persisting here! I can feel…Father's love." Tears flowed down Trion's face as he spoke, recalling the cursed day of Lucifer's rebellion. "Father…Forgive your foolish son in his last moments, and let me bask in this light as mine fades."
"Marchodias…Brother, is it time?" Ignium asked him and raised his head, with Trion simply turning around with a weak smile to him. And before his very eyes, Ignium saw his body begin to crack. Golden wounds appeared on his body, but yet, despite the agony, he smiled at him. He smiled and kindly looked at him as he began to fade. "Brother…"
Gabriel averted her eyes, tears building up in them.
"So long…I longed for so long to see Heaven again, even for the last time." Trion began, then looked at Gabriel. "Sister…"
Gabriel opened her eyes to look at him. "Trion…"
"I am glad to see you in good health, Gabriel…" Trion told her, and he began looking up again. He spread his arms wide and spoke one final line.
"Father…I am home."
"Trion!" Gabriel tried to reach for him as his body finally broke down fully, turning to golden dust before her very eyes. The dust spread throughout heaven, carried by the wind. Gabriel, unable to hold on any longer, collapsed on her knees, tears falling to the ground. Behind her, Ignium picked up the pod.
"I will hold my word…Goodbye, Gab-"
"Come back."
"Huh?" Ignium turned to her, surprised. Then, Gabriel turned to him, her face lined with tears.
"Come back, Ignium…Please, come back to us…Michael…I am sure he can use God's System to undo the metamorphosis! You can come back to us as an angel!" Gabriel reached her hand for him. "Please…brother!"
"Gabriel…" Ignium was truly shocked by the offer he was receiving. The chance to rejoin Heaven…To ascend again to grace and bask in this warm light forever more for all eternity? Ignium knows it is an offer any demon would kill to receive. It is an offer many would accept. Even Lucifer might say yes to this offer.
"Ignium…" Gabriel called out to him again, and Ignium walked to her. Gabriel, believing he was going to accept, allowed a weak smile to creep up, but she got something else instead. Ignium grabbed her hand and pulled her in. He embraced her despite the pain brought to his body, but in her ear, he gave his reply.
"I can't." He then let her go and flapped his wings, flying before her. "I have made my decision, Gabriel. I have chosen my path. Now, others are depending on me, down below. I cannot abandon them, even for the beauty of heaven."
"Iggy…" Gabriel replied, making Ignium smile.
"I haven't heard that nickname in millennia…I used to really dislike it, you know? But I never wanted to hurt you or anyone's feelings by saying it. Now? Now, hearing it again brings back a lot of good memories. Goodbye, Gabriel." Ignium flapped his wings again and angled himself with his head to the ground.
"IGNIUM! WAIT!" Gabriel shouted, yet Ignium dove right down, heading to the human world and leaving Gabriel to weep. "Please…Come back, brother…All of you, come back."
In the middle of the night, in the desolate desert of Mexico, Ignium broke through the clouds like a falling star, landing on the ground with a fiery impact that turned the sand on the ground to glass and turned rock to magma. However, the heat was dying down. The molten rock became solid again, and the fire died down instantly. Ignium didn't seem to do much except throw the pod off of him, followed by his armor, throwing it inside the pod.
Then, he found himself a suitable place and turned around. He collapsed to the ground, his hands over his face as he wept. "Brother…" It was never easy losing a brother. Trion Marchodias was his brother. Like Lucifer. Like Michael. Like many others, the likes of which he can't name in one night - they were his brothers and sisters! "Not another one…"
And he weeps for them all. For the ones he had to kill. For the ones that fell in battle…For the ones that he failed. He was truly part of a dying breed. "Gabriel…Thank you." He looked up to the sky, seeing the stars through the clouds. "Never change, sister…"
"Ignium!" The voice of his colonel, Marakus Aim, manifested in his ear as a communication circle appeared. "Thank Lucifer, we got a hold of you! Your signal went dead once you reached purgatory, and we only now located you. Are you truly in the human realm?"
Yes. He couldn't forget.
"I am." He replied, whipping his tears away. "I will require a portal be opened at my location."
"What about Trion Marchodias?" Marakus asked.
"No more. He is at peace now." Ignium replied. "Everything went well. We do not have to worry about heaven attacking or declaring war on us."
"Sir…"
"Open the portal, Marakus. Do not test my patience." Ignium said sternly, and soon enough, a portal was opened for him to return to his HQ. Picking up the pod with the armor inside, he walked through the portal, returning to his base. Yet, in those final moments, there was one final memory he could recount.
"Hey, Iggy." Trion used his nickname, which seemed to annoy Ignium. The two of them were fresh demons now.
"Do not use that nickname anymore."
"Oh, do forgive me, Commander Ophirius," Trion replied jokingly, using Ignium's rank at the time.
"What do you want, Trion?" Ignium asked him, not feeling in the mood for chatter. "There is a war brewing, and I am very busy."
"I know, I know, I just…You know that my wife and I are about to have a kid, right?" Trion asked, to which Ignium nodded his head. "I was wondering, and I wanted to ask if you'd be their godfather?"
"Their godfather-?" Ignium was surprised by the proposal. "Come now, Marchodias. You are a member of the Ars Goetia order, holding the rank of Marquis. Surely, you'd want a higher-ranked demon in the order to have the honor."
"No!" Trion said sternly. "I want you to be their godfather, Iggy. Please, brother."
"Trion…" Ignium smiled at him softly. "Very well. I will be there."
In the present, Ignium visited the Marchodias family, which was sheltering under him. The head of their house was an old devil but wise and kind. The demon didn't speak with them but just watched. The next in line, a young man who resembled his grandfather well, was happily playing with his son, his wife by his side, and enjoying life.
"Hmm?" The older devil noticed him. "Ah, uncle. Good to see you."
"How are you, Anura?" Ignium greeted him. "I'm sorry, but…Your father…"
"I know," Anura replied. "I sensed when he passed…"
"I wish I could have done more," Ignium stated, taking a seat next to him. "You devils live long lives, but we demons are virtually ageless."
"And we live our lives in full," Anura replied with a smile. "After all, knowing we will expire one day gives meaning to living now, doesn't it?"
Ignium nodded his head. "Wisdom of the ages, Anura."
Kofee Link: Coffee (You know how to alter this)/horns