Phantasm stood like a statue on the field, not responding to anything his teammates were saying to him. Samukai started waving his hand in front of the demon's eyes calling:

- Oi Snake! Phantom! Oi!

- Why are you screaming?- demon for a short while looked like he had just been woken up from a long dream.

- So you weren't dead

- Why would I be?

- I don't know, but you were just standing there doing nothing

- If you want to know I was sensing aura

- Since when can you do that?

- Every demon can sense aura, just like you can smell or taste

- And you sensed?

- Bunch of angels somewhere around that village. Or so I think- demon said pointing his finger at the horizon.

- Angels? Do you want to get us killed?

- Don't worry, they are only angels and besides we have me. And I didn't plan to attack them, but now that I think about it- he said that with a mischievous grin on his face.

- Maybe before you do something stupid and reckless, we should check that village for some information?

- And who are you to order me around? But fine, let us go- he said as he was slithering into the direction of the town.

- Wait a second, you can't go there like that!

- And that's why?

- You three will draw too much attention!- Samukai said.

- You make it sounds like it's a bad thing

- Because it is! But wait...maybe I can do something about it- after the warrior said that he started chanting a spell unknown to the rest of the team- I call the power of great Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, to cover us in the shadow of the moon, Arts of the Shadow Theater

After the samurai casted his art, demon felt a little funny. Did the warrior get bigger? No, that was not the case, so what happened.

- Mind to explain why are you so big now?

- I didn't get bigger it's just you who are now shadows on the ground

- This is a little embarrassing- Noktum said. He was already the smallest from the group and now he was even smaller than before.

Warrior took something from his back. In hand he had black mask that could cover his entire "face", leaving only small holes for eyes.

- Now we can go

All four entered the village. The village itself was rather pleasant to look at. Narrow streets, by both sides surrounded by wooden buildings. From time to time they spotted stands full of articles coming from all over the world. All of them made of dark oak wood with colorful fabrics used as a roof to protect their owners from the sun. And by one of those stands, Samukai decided to stop.

- Need help?- suddenly asked a middle aged man, probably the owner.

- No, thank you...wait, do you have a map?

- Well, yes, but do you have money?

- Here- warrior said, taking a golden coin from the purse. While he wasn’t sure which currency was used in those parts of Vatican, he could hope that they would still accept gold instead of vatican denars.

- Mister, I am more than sure that you can buy much more things for that amount of money

- Yeah I know. Then the map of all three kingdoms, one map of the Vatican and one of Kohryu. Oh and would like to ask you one question

- What do you want to know?

- What is going on with all those angels in the town?

-Dear sir I don’t think I quite understood your question

- I mean, I am pretty sure that I saw one or two of them

- I think you must have mistaken someone for them. After all captain Victor has came with his legion, as he calls it, today

- If you say so, but this map is covering the entire world, right?- he pointed at the largest one.

- Yes, of course

- That's great, also thank you, here take this- Samukai gave man two more golden coins.

Warrior was now studying the map. Three main kingdoms were shown. Well rather two kingdoms and one empire. He doubted that this map will help them find these crystals, but at least they will know where they are going.

- So do you know where all those crystals are, snake?- Samukai asked. He looked down and saw that there were only two other shadows following him- where is he?

- It seems like the leader took off somewhere to the center of the village

- Oh no...we must find him before he will do something really stupid

Phantom was glad that he decided to stay with the samurai a little bit longer than he planned. The only thing left was to search for the legion and have some fun.. Of course leaving only collateral damage to the town and that would mean that only half of this village will be left untouched. Well maybe less than half. He also hoped that none of his “teammates” would try to interfere. On second thought, even if they did, he was stronger than them so there was no need to worry about that.

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And after a while spent on thinking, he found himself in what he guessed was center. Round empty place with many wooden buildings with various decorations surrounding it. That was definitely the center.

Now how should I get attention to drag them here. Good old fire would be great, but maybe something funnier...Phantasm was thinking for a while, and then he got a brilliant idea.

But how do I emerge from this form...He concentrated himself on emerging and soon found himself standing in the center. People around him stopped in fear and shock. Phantasm created big, dark clouds that soon started shooting thunderbolts everywhere. And that was the moment where all hell broke loose. People started screaming and running in all directions. Some unlucky houses got hit by the thunderbolts, setting themselves on fire.

This should drag theirs attention thought demon.

Just as a man dressed in a shiny plate plate armor with a long blue cape was about to pay the owner of the tavern for all of the drinks that his men had bought, he heard roaring thunder and terrified screams coming from the outside. He quickly paid what he owed, gathered his soldiers and stepped out of the tavern to see dark clouds above the village, furiously spitting out thunderbolts and setting more and more houses on fire. It didn’t take a genius to see that it was a work of some spell caster.

Samukai, after witnessing a giant thunderstorm already knew who did that and where probably the troublemaker was. Rushing through the scared crowd he was getting closer to the center of the village.

That idiot, he's dragging too much attention and what if that legion will show?! What is he planning to do then? Samurai thought to himself. Finally the warrior found the problematic demon.

- What the fuck are you doin'?

- Wait a moment- the demon said, raising one hand as gesturing the samurai to stand still.

- Wait for wha...oh you stupid bastard

After a few seconds the entire team heard the sound of marching feet. It was getting closer rather quickly. It didn't take long before a legion that had more or less fifty soldiers stood before the monster. Noktum too came out to see what was exactly going on.

- Demon! By the order of the Holy Kingdom of Vatican I declare thee a heretic worthy of judgment in the name of the Holy Father!- shouted the captain. He stood proudly before his men, with his long sword pointed at the beast

- So let it be! Maybe I will finally get some enjoyment from that mess

- This shall be your end. Angels, slaughter that beast!

Like one man all thirty or so white armors spread their wings and encircled the demon and his team. Using this occasion, captain Victor ordered his men to evacuate as many civilians as they were able to. He knew how ferocious a fight between a demon and angel can be, and there was no reason to put anyone in danger.

The spears of the angels were covered in silver glow and rained upon the Phantom, quickly returning to their masters only to be thrown away. Samukai and Noktum had a hard time dodging the weapons, even when they were only focused on the demon who tried to block them with his wings. It was to no use as after the first few rounds they were nearly torn off. A black blood fell upon the street. Coming from the wings and demon himself who didn’t manage to protect himself properly, gaining a few leaking wounds on both face and chest.

A few of the angels came down for the rest of the team. Noktum tried to fend them off with fireballs and Samukai tried to cut them down with Izanagi, but they were too agile for any of them. Even Phantom couldn’t hit any of them with chains as the angels came closer to him, ready to finish their job.

- Come forth the five armed star of Hell; Abbadon!- a red pentagram appeared before the demon. It was spinning rapidly, turning into a red vortex, emitting a high pitched noise. Soon after the vortex released a beam of pure energy that tore down through anything it hit. Despite the might of the spell, it only managed to hit a few angels, most of its victims were houses which weren’t burned by the previous spells.

- Fucking what’s wrong with them? They shouldn’t be that fast!- demon complained as yet another angel dodged his spell. For a while it seemed like they were even getting faster and faster. But it couldn’t be so as the demon didn’t feel any magic being cast. If that wasn’t problematic enough, the angels kept on attacking him and his team. But the worst part was the short outburst of aura that he felt. Its scent was strong but hard to say what it exactly was. One thing was sure, it didn’t belong to a normal angel. It had to be something much stronger

- What’s with them “only being angels”, mister act before thinking?- Samukai scolded Phantom as he was deflecting blows from the heavenly warrior.

- Listen, I know that perhaps I should have started with some better spell- warrior only gave him a disappointed look- But I need you two to buy me some time

- What are you planning to do, leader?- Noktum asked, blasting an angel with a few fireballs.

- Let’s just say that I have a certain spell that’s perfect for occasions like this one. But the thing is that you will have to buy me some time- the demon summoned his scythe.

- O you, who cast shadows upon the darkest of nights- a black mass has encircled the demon. It formed a ring around him and the mass itself was spontaneously rising and falling. The angels who noticed that were ready to throw their spears at him, but were quickly stopped by the hound and the warrior.

- O you, whose flames burn brighter than the sun- Phantom continued the incantation. A few tongues of fire came from the black mass. Even more of the weird angels were coming for him. Noktum was casting various spells to keep them away, and those who got too close to their leader were cut down by Izanagi. At least those who didn’t get away.

- O you, who cover yourself in crimson- the half of the fire tongues turned crimson- descend upon us, Black Comet, and bring us ruin!- the black mass, bright and crimson tongues shot out to the sky. They have vanished in the clouds. The team waited for a while, but nothing was happening. Samukai wondered if the demon had failed in casting that spell. He better had something else up his sleeve as there seemed to be no end to those angels. Then the samurai spotted a small shadow on the ground.

Then the shadow was getting bigger and bigger, pulsating even. After that warrior and magician looked up.

- What is that- Samukai dropped his sword. At the ornament was a black mass shaped like a sphere, accompanied by crimson flames. With each second it was growing in size and soon enough it could cover an entire village or a town. Just like the one they were in. Oh no.

The comet was coming down at an alarming speed. Even the angels now looked up. Samurai then saw the demon and for the first time he looked like he was exhausted from casting a spell. He was breathing fast and his body was shaking as if he was left alone in the cold for long.

At last the comet came down. It indeed covered the village. Then it exploded, turning everything in the nearby area into a lifeless desert. The darkness it brought lasted a few seconds at best but for everyone it felt like an eternity. After it ended, the samurai got up and cleaned himself from all of the dust that covered him. He helped Noktum do the same.

- Dear fucking every god that exist, I have never thought that I will ever be thankful for an aura related to darkness- Samukai said to himself.

- It wasn't as effective as I planned it to be, but it is still fine, and before I forget- the demon slithered closer to the samurai and hit him with his scythe.

- And what for!?

- For calling me stupid bastard earlier

- Now Mr. Destroy everything, what is your plan?

- We go for that crystal

- Great, where is it?

Phantom opened his one hand and revealed a crystal that started spinning around until it finally stopped, pointing in the direction before them.

- It is there

- You sure? It could've been the other way- Samukai could have been right, the crystal after all was symmetrical and could have been pointing behind them.

- Believe me, I know better

Noktum and Fenfir then decided to emerge from the shadows and followed their self proclaimed leader.

- Seriously, nobody agrees with me?

- I would rather listen to Phantasm- Noktum answered.

- Fine I will go too, but if we get lost again, then you will admit that I am right and you are wrong

- You can dream- Phantom said as he started following his path.