The Wrathful Woman's Rage

Hello everyone and welcome to the latest chapter of A New Crusade! The happy little vacation at the Inn is over as the Witch's Cult reappears in this, surprisingly short, chapter that somehow spans most of the episode. Good news, if you're looking for a little extra reading, you can drop by my Pat reon and check out one of my newest exclusives: 'My New Host Is Kinda Cute'. This little one-shot asks and partly answers the question of what would happen if Princess Ariel from Mushoku Tensei was granted the power of Highschool DxD's Incinerate Anthem! If that sounds like a good time to you, come check it out. And with all the announcements out of the way, let's get to the chapter!

Priestella: Local Watchtower

The water gate city of Priestella was under threat. For the past year, Ulric had kept his ears open for any news on the movements of the Witch's Cult, anticipating the possibility of them assaulting the new mansion they'd found themselves in. The fact that a sin archbishop was in this particular city now of all times meant they'd either caught wind of the Emilia camp's movement, or some other diabolical scheme was afoot. 'Could they have gotten word that we entered the city the same way Priscilla did,' he briefly wondered.

It seemed unlikely, so far, as merely separating him from Emilia wouldn't be enough to leave her defenseless. Adding to that, the woman, Sirius Romanee-Conti, the Sin Archbishop of Wrath, didn't recognize him. "Now this is quite something," the bandaged woman cooed as she held her arms out. Golden chains possessing barbs and hooks at the end slid out of her sleeves, "to think I'd meet someone who knows of my dearest. Oh what an auspicious day!"

"That depends on why you're here," the knight narrowed his eyes, "what business does the Witch's Cult have in Priestella?"

"Now, now," Sirius giggled while putting a finger over her mouth, "it's not quite time to announce our demands yet. I am merely out here right now to open people's hearts!"

"Whatever your scheme, you won't get the chance to enact it!" Ulric launched himself forward, pumping mana into his legs to increase his speed.

"Oh my," Sirius reacted by swinging the chains coming out of her sleeves, the two hooked weapons stretching out like whips to meet the Crusader. He deflected this initial attack by swatting the hooks away. His opponent reacted to this failure by spinning around, whipping the chains at both high and low angles. Ulric dove between the two links then evaded side to side when she attacked vertically before coming in with a horizontal strike of his own.

With amazing speed, Sirius retracted the chains and grasped them just behind the hooks, using them as makeshift sickles to block the knight's first couple of attacks before countering with a few of her own. Ulric, relying on his footwork, evaded the attacks before lashing out with a roundhouse kick that caught Sirius in the side, sending her sliding away. As soon as she planted her feet the sin archbishop lashed out again with her chains. But the knight was ready and charged forward, closing the distance as fast as possible as the enemy's weapons curved around behind him.

"Kito," Ulric jumped and spun, "Jiwald!" He shot the chains just as they were crossing behind him, shattering the links as the swordsman, still in midair, finished his spin and landed on his feet, stride unbroken as the knight jabbed his sword at Sirius's head. The Sin Archbishop had just enough time to produce two new hooks as the blade slammed into them, causing her to stumble back. The crusader continued his onslaught, slashing mercilessly at the woman's guard.

"Such skill, such passion!" Sirius cheered while evading a vertical blow by spinning and lashing out with a kick. Ulric blocked it with an upraised forearm, but it still packed enough force to knock him over, forcing him to roll back up a short distance away. "I can feel it, you are one possessing great love, and I shall match it so that our understanding grows even deeper!" Just as the knight was about to advance again, another pair of chains came out of her sleeves, making four links in total.

But what truly gave Ulric pause was when they ignited with purplish-red flames covering them. "The flames of love and wrath burn brightly!" She bent back in exclamation, "let us continue to grow and understand one another!" Sirius swung the flaming chains forward then.

"What benefit could the world possibly have from your form of understanding," Ulric scoffed, empowering his blade with blue light magic and deflecting the first couple of attacks, "you and the Witch's Cult care nothing for anyone or anything but your own goals. All this talk of worldly understanding is a lie!" He maneuvered around and waited for a safe opening in the attacks before firing another Kito Jiwald at his opponent. But Sirius anticipated the attack this time and bent backwards with her arms spread.

"How can you say such a thing," she bent back up with her arms hanging limply, "all I want is for love to connect all of us. Can't you see it spreading now, bringing everyone together?" The knight wasn't sure what she meant until he glanced around and noticed an oddity: the people hadn't fled. Despite this clearly being a dangerous situation, the crowd had remained, staring at them as if transfixed.

Even Rachins was blankly staring forward. And that's when Ulric saw it. 'Their eyes,' he realized in silent horror, 'they're glowing red?!' "What have you done," the swordsman turned his full attention back to the Archbishop of Wrath.

"I've simply invited them all to share in an understanding," Sirius shuddered while hugging herself, "it is the way to true peace, for all of us to be connected. Everyone is slowly becoming one and from it will be born a paradise that only true love can bring!" She held her arms high in the air then, as if basking in the sun.

"You'll release them!" Ulric shot forward again, this time with a new plan in mind. Sirius let out a cheer as her chains reignited and she swung them so that they curved around in front of and behind the knight, attempting to catch him in their flaming grasp. But just as they were about to touch him, Ulric concentrated his mana into a single step.

"Jiwald," he cast his light magic verbally, increasing its power as he kicked off the ground with all of his might. The stone street cracked, and the knight was a sudden blur as the chains closed on empty air. Sirius pulled her arms back in an attempt to reel in her weapons but by then it was too late. In a flash of motion, Ulric moved by her, his glowing blade finding its target. In the next instant, Sirius let out a cry as her left arm was sent skyward.

"AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The Archbishop grabbed the stump where her arm used to be, cries of pain turning into manic laugher, "what a caring, wonderful world this is! See how we all share in the moment!" Ulric was about to ask what she meant until the sound of multiple thuds drew his attention. Looking beyond his opponent, the knight's eyes widened in shock as he found that everyone in the crowd had also lost their left arm?!

Despite what should've been obvious pain, the onlookers all stood there, even Rachins, with the same demented look of bliss on their face as the Witch Cultist. "You wretched creature, this was your plan all along," Ulric grit his teeth.

"My plan was to connect everyone so that we could share in all of our feelings, even pain," Sirius giggled, "I had not anticipated one of such marvelous skill being present among the crowd. Come forth and finish me so that we can all experience the ultimate bliss together!" She held her arm and still bleeding stump out wide.

"As if I'd fall for such a ploy a second time," the Crusader shifted to more of a defensive stance, "It's clear to me now that your ability can be resisted and therefore a way must also exist to break it. I need merely find the solution for it."

"We can't have that," a voice sounded from within the crowd. The next thing Ulric knew, something slammed into his chest. It happened fast, too fast for him to react, and then the pain came. The knight collapsed to his knees and looked down, his hand clutching his chest as he noted a hole where his heart should be.

"We have our own reasons for being here and someone coming to mess up our plans early would be a problem," Ulric realized he knew that voice as he looked over to see a flash of white hair before his life left him.

Time Reset: Back With Emilia and the Others

"And after the song we'll have a nice chat," Liliana declared while pointing a finger, "but first I think we'd all like some snacks to enjoy, right Ulric?" The knight snapped out of his daze as he finally realized the scenery had changed. 'I died again,' he thought in irritation, unfortunately forgetting quite what he was doing before he set off.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow," Beatrice exclaimed while struggling against his grip, "Ulric, you're squeezing too tight!"

"Ah, my apologies," he released the spirit's little hand which she massaged with her other.

"What's the matter with you," Liliana asked, "you just suddenly spaced on us and started squeezing a little girl's hand out of nowhere."

"Just a sudden and very shocking thought," the knight assured before turning to Emilia, "your ladyship, I believe I know where to find Garfiel, but we'll need to leave right this moment."

"Right this moment," Emilia tilted her head in confusion, "do you think he's in trouble?"

"I think the likelihood of him remaining in the same location for long is very slim," Ulric turned back to Liliana and bowed, "my apologies that we cannot hear your next song, but this current business is quite urgent." He turned to Priscilla then, "and to you, your ladyship, have a wonderful day." He ushered Emilia and Beatrice away then, not waiting for any sort of reply.

"Alright," the blond spirit spoke up once they got to a narrower street, away from prying ears and eyes, "would you mind telling us exactly what's going on, I suppose?"

"I am sorry I had to pull you both away like that," Ulric stopped and turned to them right before they entered the main street, "but the matter is indeed urgent. The Witch's Cult is in the city."

"They're here," Emilia covered her mouth in surprise, "why are they here?"

"The possibility exists they've come for you again," the knight theorized, "but I haven't been able to determine whether or not that is the case. What I have determined is there is at least one, the Sin Archbishop of Wrath, Sirius Romanee-Conti. In a few minutes time she will appear at one of the main watchtowers nearby."

"Naturally you intend to stop her, I suppose," Beatrice crossed her arms, "do you happen to know what sort of abilities this sin archbishop wields?"

"She fights wielding as many as six barbed chains with hooks," Ulric rubbed his chin, "she's able to set them ablaze as well. Her strength and speed are notable but don't exceed my own, especially when I use my newly mastered state of Jiwald. But her combat prowess is not the true issue. Her authority appears to give her the ability to link herself to those around her and whatever injuries she suffers will also be suffered by those linked to her."

"So she might let herself be hurt so that others are hurt too," Emilia looked uneasy at the thought.

"It is a difficult dilemma," the Crusader agreed, "we need to incapacitate her without causing too serious of an injury. The good news is it seems to be less effective against those with a higher magic resistance, or at least that's my theory."

"I might have a solution, I suppose," Beatrice crossed her arms, "the spell, Shamac, is able to separate the will of the target from the rest of the world. I can't promise anything, but if I cast it on everyone within range of the sin archbishop's authority, I may be able to sever it."

"That would make slaying her more than possible," Ulric nodded, "Lady Emilia. As mentioned earlier, the possibility exists that you are the Witch Cult's target yet again. While I'm confident we can handle Sirius, there was what I'm assuming to be another member of the Witch's Cult there. I am unfamiliar with their abilities, so it may be wise for you to consider staying out of this battle."

"No," she denied immediately, "if the Witch Cult is involved then it's my business as much as yours. I know you only want to protect me, but I refuse to stand by and watch you get hurt when I know I can help. After all, I want to protect you as much as you want to protect me."

"It appears you're going to be unquestionably stubborn about this matter," the knight observed before glancing down at Beatrice.

"Don't look at Betty, I suppose," she shrugged, "I understand perfectly well how Emilia feels, so I don't even want to try stopping her."

"Then it's settled," Ulric sighed, "we all go. I just ask that you prioritize your own safety over mine, your ladyship."

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind," Emilia acknowledged as they walked towards the tower, "but even if I do get captured, I have faith that you'll rescue me."

"If God so wills it," the knight smirked the slightest bit, "I am both blessed and cursed that you think me so capable. But we'll speak more later, the sin of wrath appears." Sure enough, as they looked up at the tower, Sirius was just now stepping onto the ledge.

"Al Huma!" Emilia raised her hand and in the next instant a sideways pillar of ice appeared and pierced the top of the tower. It was a good size, easily measuring fifty feet across.

"The speed of your casting is even more impressive than ever," Ulric noted with a low whistle.

"That on and off training we've been doing for a year really helped," the half-elf glanced at him with a small smile before noticing something odd.

"It wasn't enough, was it," the Crusader turned to look at the crowd, noting their eyes were once again red, "I'd hoped that freezing her would prove less detrimental in the case she had time to use her authority." But it seemed they'd only succeeded in angering the Witch Cultist if the crowd slowly approaching them with furious looks on their faces was anything to go by. "But now's a perfect time to implement your part in this plan, Beatrice."

"I'm afraid it won't work," the miniature magic user relayed grimly, "now that I see it up close, I can say without a doubt that this is a type of spiritual interference closer to a curse or a hex. Shamac is useless against something like that, I suppose." But this would turn out to be a secondary concern as the voice of Sirius sounded from above, this time much angrier than before.

"It stinks," she seethed from within the ice, "it stinks, it stinks, it stinks, IT STINKS!" The frozen prison shattered then, revealing the relatively unharmed Archbishop of Wrath. "I smell it, the girl, the foul stench of the filthy half-demon who would take him from me! How infuriating! And simply taking him from me isn't enough for you, you damn wench!"

The crazed woman leapt down and landed more like an animal than a person then. "I am the Sin Archbishop of the Witch's Cult representing Wrath: Sirius Romanee-Conti!" Chains came out of her sleeves and fire erupted around them. "I will burn your wretched half-demon corpse and scatter it all over my husband's grave!"

"This is not the behavior she exhibited before," Ulric noted in mild surprise, "given that she appears to have not expected your presence, we can at least rule out that she was after you initially."

"Regardless, her issue seems to be with me," Emilia stepped forward and waved her hand, freezing the feet of the crowd surrounding them to the ground as she spoke to their opponent next, "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. If you feel you have a reason to be angry with me, at least tell me why? While it's natural for you to be upset with me attacking first, I don't understand the rest of what you're saying."

"If it's only natural then you should get down and beg for forgiveness!" Sirius declared as the flames she was generating grew more intense, "then scream in pain as I cook your intestines!"

"I see talking is out of the question here," Emilia produced a sword made of ice then, "in that case, I'll try this approach!" The half-elf charged forward and clashed her blade against Sirius's chains. Interestingly, her initial blows were surprisingly strong.

"You damn half-devil scum!" The Sin Archbishop yelled as she swung back with her chains. The crazed woman succeeded in disarming Emilia by breaking her sword in half, or so she thought until the ice-wielder caught the flying piece and transformed both halves of the sword into twin daggers. She assaulted the sin archbishop with several quick slashes then, gracefully dodging out of the way of Sirius's chain swipes as she did so. Emilia then combined both pieces and formed an ice-halberd.

Sirius continued trying to overpower the silver-haired girl but was thwarted at every turn as she continuously reshaped her ice constructs to continue her assault, pushing the mad woman back. "It seems our help might not be necessary here," Ulric noted.

"That woman's technique is possibly suffering from her overwhelming rage, I suppose," Beatrice theorized, "either way it seems Emilia has this handled."

"In that case," he called out to the royal candidate, "Emilia, continue dealing with the woman and restrain her if the opening presents itself! We'll look for the other Witch Cultist!"

"Just don't get too carried away," Emilia called back while continuing to square off against her opponent.

"Now how do we find our other enemy, I suppose," Beatrice mused aloud.

"Try to sense any odd magic at play," the knight looked around as the crowd started to close in on them, the ice around their feet apparently melted enough by the heat for them to move again, "and look around for someone not affected by Sirius's authority."

"Then perhaps we'll get to use this after all," she climbed onto Ulric's back and held up her hand, "Shamac!" Black smoke spread out from them, shrouding the whole crowd and obscuring their vision. It was only thanks to Beatrice that the Crusader could still see. 'Now, where are you,' Ulric looked around as the confused city folk tried reaching out blindly towards them. But something wasn't right.

"Beatrice, do you sense anything odd," he asked as the possessed people closed in more.

"No, nor do I see anyone that isn't under the Sin Archbishop's control, I suppose," the great spirit reported.

"Keep up Shamac for a little longer then," Ulric readied himself and, with a little assistance from his light magic, leapt out of the crowd. But shortly after he did, he was greeted by a horrifying sight. A tower of purplish flame had erupted where Sirius was at, but that wasn't what was concerning. It was when Emilia used her magic to disperse the flames and charge forward with yet another ice sword that the situation took a turn for the worse.

When the flames were swept away, Sirius was revealed to be standing there with a child in a green dress with blond hair, a terrified look in her eyes as she struggled against the chains binding her. This caused the half-elf girl to stumble in her charge, which was the opening Sirius was looking for. The cultist tossed the girl aside and blasted her opponent back with a spurt of flames before summoning even more flames to engulf the downed royal candidate. "LADY EMILIA!" Ulric attempted to rush towards the flames but was stopped by Beatrice leaping down and grabbing his arm.

"Wait Ulric! Something isn't right!" She called. Before he had a chance to ask what she meant, a new, or rather a familiar voice greeted their ears.

"It seems I made it in time." From the flames a figure emerged. It was the same white-haired man whom Emilia had bumped into yesterday, and he currently had the unconscious girl in his arms.

"You," Ulric narrowed his eyes, "so you're of the Witch's Cult as well?"

"You're certainly quick to accuse people you barely know," the man turned to face them, "but in this case, you're right. I am the Sin Archbishop representing greed: Regulus Corneas. And as promised, fate has brought us back together. I have come to claim this girl as my seventy-nineth wife."

I'm starting to think some of Subaru's deaths were just there to lengthen the runtime a little, but that might be just me. What is certain is the threat is at least double this time as not one but two Sin Archbishops have unveiled themselves! Let me know how you think Ulric and the others might handle this along with what you liked/disliked or if you've got any neat ideas for future chapters! Also, stop by my Pat reon to check out the latest news, exclusives, scene samples and more! Last thing, drop in next time as Ulric tangles with possibly the most self-entitled of the Sin Archbishops! 'Til then.