Chaos was on the move. The wasteland created by the comet was greater than any of them expected. Samukai was looking at the map, trying to tell where they were.
- According to the map- he started- I don't have a slightest were we might be
- Does it really matter? Our goal is now Vatican and then I guess we go to Kohryu
- Why are you so fixated about going to the Vatican?- warrior asked.
- To piss off the pope, and the angels. Oh, and they might have an information or two about the crystals, but I won't be putting my money on that. Also, have you decided if you want to go to Suzaku?
- I'm still not sure about going there, but I'd like to return to Seiryu. I wonder how it changed
- Master- Noktum joined the conversation- not to be disrespectful, but when will my training begin?- shadow asked, being on the top of the giant wolf.
- After we will get out of this wasteland, since there aren't many things to train on- they continued the march for a good while, until Samukai noticed something interesting. In front of them were many stones shaped like trees. Truly unusual sight. That forest seemed to be pretty large, judging by the fact that no matter where eyes looked, there were only stones.
- A stone forest? I can't remember when was the last time I saw one of them. It must have been even before I became a satan- Phantom said with a little bit of joy as if remembering something from his youth- But it's a great training field.So are you ready?
- Yes- shadow said, jumping off the wolf.
- Union magic, right?- magician nodded- Then first you must learn a circle of unification- demon casted a great magic circle. It appeared on the ground, illuminating it with deep blue light. It had many runes and symbols. Some of them even magician hasn't seen in his entire life. The circle then vanished.
- Now your turn
Shadow was deep in focus, extending both of his arms. He let the aura fly through him, seeing the circle in his mind. The blue energy started taking a form. Phantom observed it with awe. It was unthinkable for an adept to cast a union circle. And yet here Noktum had nearly created the circle. The spell was flickering.
- Alright, stop- demon called to the magician. Shadow did as he was ordered- For a first time it was impressive. But I think we should start with something simpler
- Then, maybe a reflection?
- Fine- demon then opened his hand. Light blue energy field the size of a small shield appeared. Noktum copied that. Phantom decided to shoot a fireball at it to see if it truly was working. To his surprise the fireball was reflected and hit a nearby stone tree.
- Interesting- Phantasm said, scratching his chin- Now, you saw black comet, right?
Noktum nodded, not knowing what demon had in mind.
- You sure it's a good idea?- Samukai said- I doubt that it is something easy to pull off. Beside, what tier is it?
- It's the ninth. But there is something that I want to check. Now cast the black comet!
Magician looked at the sky, extending his arms. He gritted his teeth and with his entire might he tried to summon his master's greatest spell. Soon a small black dot appeared in the sky. It was slowly growing bigger. Few tongues of crimson fire started to dance around it. While samurai couldn't believe it, Phantom had the biggest, wide open, smile any of them had ever seen.
Yet something was wrong with the comet. It was expanding and contracting at an alarming rate. It almost looked like it was pulsating. When they looked at Noktum, they understood why. Both his hands were badly damaged, covered in cracks. He even closed his eye, trying not to scream.
- Stop, now!- Phantom demanded. Comet was dispelled and the magician fell onto his knees panting heavily. When Samukai went closer to the shadow, to see if he needed help, the demon laughed.
- Incredible! Truly incredible! I have never seen anything like that before! You don't need anything to master a spell. Now I see why lord Lucifer has chosen you to accompany me. You have a great potential, and only need some to teach how to use it
- Yea great, but maybe help him a little- Samukai said with a slight anger in his voice.
- I already said that I don't possess a healing magic
- Then I know what spells I will learn next- shadow added, looking at his hands as they were slowly regenerating.
A good while has passed until shadow could continue his training. Phantom then proceeded to teach him all single dragon chains, which Noktum mastered just after the third cast. Samukai, being bored, decided to check the arts book. One certain art caught his attention. It was Divine Art; Pantheon. From it's description he learned that it was an art that allowed to summon a vision of a god that one has closest connection to. But it was tenth tier art, so for now the warrior decided to give it a rest.
The training continued for two more hours. Up to this point shadow mastered most of the spells up to fifth tier.
- You did really well. I still can't believe that someone can learn spells so fast. So what do you say for blessings and curses be our next lesson?
- Sounds good to me
- You sure you don't want to join?- demon looked at the samurai.
- Not really, maybe after we pick up a martial arts book from the nearest town
- You do you. Now we go straight and we should arrive somewhere- Phantom was leading once again with Samukai following right behind him and shadow riding a hound.
The stone forest covered a bigger area than they usually were. Weird shrieks filled it, each of them echoing through the woods. Massive, circling shadows appeared on the ground.
- Is it what I think it is? Or- Samukai didn't finish his sentence, when four giant brown eagles sat on the nearby trees. Soon more joined. There were about fourteen or fifteen of them.
- I think that they want us on their turf- warrior added.
- And what gives you this idea?- demon commented as each roc looked ready to attack- Say Noktum, how about we test what you've mastered?
Shadow couldn't answer as the demon fired off an abbadon, killing one roc. Rest of the birds spread their wings and shrieked.
- The hell was that?- warrior asked, deflecting a blow from a nearby monster.
- A warning shot
- Warning shots don't kill!
- My do
Rocs used their magic, which caused many, sharply ended stalagmites to rise from the ground. Most of them missed, but many managed to injure the Chaos. The worst had it Phantom and Fenfir due to their massive bodies. The wolf didn't mind the earth magic and caught the birds in his mouth. Roc tried to flee, but the strength of the hound's jaw was too big. Soon it fell dead.
Some of the monsters flow up, only to furiously dive down, creating crates due to impact.
- Why do you always have to engage us in combat?
- Hey, this time it isn't my fault. They didn't read the warning
All the rocs suddenly stopped. A flap of massive wings could be heard, echoing through the woods. Something big was coming. Something that also wanted Chaos out of its land.
Before the team landed a massive roc. It was triple the size of a normal one. It's feathers were almost golden. But the weirdest of all was the helmet that it wore. It looked like a centurion helmet that soldiers from the Vatican wore. Upon a closer look something off was about its left eye. It reflected the stone forest, acting as a mirror.
- So here's the big bird- samurai said. The leader of the rocs screeched at them, creating a few projectiles shaped like sharp stones. He shot the stones at the warrior, but the samurai quickly ducked. Noktum casted a barricade to protect his companions from more incoming projectiles.
The other rocs followed their leader and assaulted Chaos with stones raining from the sky. When the situation became calmer due to birds taking their time to cast more spells, Fenfir leaped on one of the rocs. He crushed it with his paw and caught another one with his mouth. Even more birds attacked the hound, scratching him with claws. Samukai then aided the wolf, cutting down as many opponents as possible.
The leading roc saw that and flew high up to the sky. Silver aura covered him. Soon he had the silver color of the feathers. Then he dived down, but he wasn't aiming at anyone. He hit the ground with such force that he created a hole.
- What's he doing?- warrior wondered.
He soon got his answer as roc shot out from the ground under him. Samurai got launched in the air. Wolf then caught the warrior. More rocs started copying their leader. Birds were shooting from the ground from left to right. Soon the land was covered in many holes. Phantom tried to hit the leading roc with abbadon, but the monster was too agile. But he was able to damage the wing of a normal roc.
Noktum tried his own abbadon but the effect was the same.
- I have an idea!- Samukai called to the demon- But first, summon your scythe
Phantom summoned his weapon not truly knowing what it had to do with the plan.
- Noktum cast the abbadon!- warrior ordered.
Shadow once again tried to hit the roc, but he was still dodging. He then saw samurai running to the demon, jumping at the blade of his weapon. Then he guessed what Samukai had in mind. Noktum tried to make the roc go above both of his companions. After three more abbadons, the bird was more or less above the duo.
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- Now swing with all your force!- Phantom then swung his scythe up with all his might. When the blade was at its highest point, the warrior leaped from it, grabbing the roc by his talons.
Bird couldn't do anything with the additional weight and was going down. Soon both of them hit the ground. Roc now without his helmet, screeched one last time and flown away. The rest did the same. After a few seconds there were no more rocs as far as the eye could see.
- Come back here you bitch!- demon screamed, firing off an abbadon.
In the meantime on the hills surrounding the village of St. Peter, a certain angel was witnessing many red beams appearing in the sky.
- I think I've found the trouble maker- he said, spreading his wings and flying in the directions of the beams.
Chaos was advancing further into the forest. Demon was hitting random stone trees with abbadon, to blow off some steam after not being able to hit the roc.
- Wait, can't you like control the beam?- warrior asked.
- I can, but it takes too much magic aura- Phantom lamented. He then stopped in place, tip of his tail shaking a little. Samurai came closer to the demon, to see what was happening. Izanagi was in his hands, just in case they needed to fight something.
- What, what do you see?
- It's an angel. One, closing in- demon then smirked- Now let's see how you fill fare in fight against an angel
While Phantom was preparing Chaos for the upcoming battle, somewhere far away in the Great Cracow, the sky turned red and smoke covered the sun.
Another town was under the mercy of the barbarians from the south. They left nothingness after them during each raid. But this time it was different. Something otherworldly, truly sinister was helping them. After the horsemen welding torches followed a massive demon. It had muscular hooves for legs, black fur covering its body, a pair of massive black wings similar to those from eagles and a head that was like a mix between goat and wolf. It created enormous fireballs, almost a small comets and effortlessly destroyed the buildings that stood in its path.
Toro was doomed to fail under Baphomet and his forces. Any remaining survivors hide themselves in the nearest church, hoping that the horrid beast will spare them. While guardsmen and centurions were able to put up a decent fight against the raiders. They were pretty much defenseless against the demon. And thus even more parts of Toro were covered in fire. Yet something was bothering Baphomet. He caused so much damage, but there was no angel in sight. He was glad for that, but it was suspicious.
- What's the matter, demon?- captain of the raid asked. He was a muscular man covered in fur armor, wielding a massive two handed sword.
- Nothing, just continue the attack and remember to give anything of value to me
- Oi, we said we split the loot in half
- Really? Your summoner told me something different
Damn you Dante! Leader of the raid could only swear at the man, as the demon started advancing towards the church.
Then Baphomet felt well known to him aura. A lot of it to be accurate. From the burning streets came white armors similar to those from centurions. Each of them had a pair of metallic wings on their back. The angels were also wielding spears and shields. The raiders then backed off, making angels focus only on the demon.
- Ah, I've awaited you- he looked at them and sniffed the air like a wild animal- But you are not really true angels, right?
The angels didn't respond, but instead aimed their weapons at the demon. Yellow light covered the spears. Projectiles in the same color then came out of them and flew at the beast. Yet Baphomet gladly let them hit him. Most of the projectiles were stopped by his arms, some of them even missed.
- Hm, not bad for half-assed angels like you. If you even can be called such
One the angles charged at the demon. When he was ready to strike, the beast grabbed him by the head. Holy warrior started making weird metallic sounds that didn't belong to anything living. Baphomet then mercilessly slammed the angel's head into the concrete. Warrior tried to free himself from the grasp, but it was to no effort. Demon continued his assault until he felt the angel going limp.
- My expectations were low for you, and yet you still let me down
Baphomet then noticed something strange about the angel he just struck down. It was weirdly shaking as if electrocuted. It rose up from the ground and let out an ungodly roar. Its damaged helmet started transforming into something that looked like a mouth full of sharp teeth. The wings were now set on golden fire.
- Oh, that's interesting
The rest of the reinforcements prepared their spears to continue the attack. When the transformed one tried to bite his head off, the demon summoned an abbadon. Red beam destroyed the angel's head, and that seemed to be the end of it.
- Such a shame. I thought that this would be challenging- after these words even more angles started to transform. Each of them letting out a blood curdling scream. Something was also happening to their bodies. Now being more slim than before, same with the arms and legs, perfect for cutting the air.
- Boss, do you know what's happening?- one of the raiders asked.
- Not really, but at least we have more time to plunder, so let's not waste it
Baphomet was having a hard time hitting the angels. They were much faster than he expected them to be. Abbadon barely managed to scratch them. The most damage it did was to arms and legs, but it didn't slow them down even for a bit. Not only that, each of the warriors was able to hurt the demon, either by the hands that ended with sharp claws, spears, or even biting him.
- As much as would like to play with you, I have much more things to do- Baphomet then raised his arms up to the sky- Grace of the Dark Lord
Then from the sky came many black beams. Each of them impaling the angels, annihilating their bodies. Nothing was safe from the spell. Beside angels, it also laid destruction to buildings, streets, some of them even hit fellow raiders.
- Oi you bastard stop! You'll kill all of us!- captain shouted, while taking cover from the demon's might.
- Don't panic. You better take your men and led them to the church
- Why church? Wouldn't going for the treasury be better?
- Let's leave it for the end. Now, remember to take anything valuable from the church and then burn it to the ground- demon commanded.
- Don't need to tell us that twice
The barbarians soon arrived at the gates of the church. It was a simple building that didn't seem to be filled with valuables. But none of them wanted to go against the demon, and just stormed the decorated wooden doors.
The church was full of men and women, old and young, rich and poor. Yet in the catastrophe they all had one in mind. Just to survive. But that seemed to be in vain when a group of twenty something people stormed in. Each of them looked like they came out from the wild, dressed in animal's skins, wielding massive weapons.
- Take the women and kill the rest!- the biggest of them commanded. When one of the savages tried to kill a young man with his axe, he felt that something was off. His own weapon was lying on the ground. No, not only that. His right hand was right next to it. When looked at his arm, his worst fear was confirmed. In place where the hand should be was blood. Lot of it. Man fell to his knees, grabbing the wound trying to make it stop bleeding, while screaming in agony.
Then a tall figure appeared behind him. Rest of the raiders froze in place.
- If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away- the figure said calmly.
- WHY! YOU BASTA- the man was cut off, when his head rolled on the ground, with the being looking at its fingers, as if looking for any sight of blood from the now dead barbarian.
Before the savages towered a thin person, no, a monster, clad in golden and white robe, golden breastplate, gloves in the same color, that ended with sharp claws. His face was covered by a gray mask with red symbols making for eyes and a white hood. He wielded a simple spear.
Screams such as "monster", "bastard" and many others were heard from the raiders.
- To bring such dirty mouths into a house of God-he then disappeared. Or that was what the barbarians thought. In fact this monster now stood in front of a man wielding a gladius. He then dug his fingers into the man's skull.
- Curse of a frozen statue- he spoke in a cold manner. The raider was frozen with his face in a grimace of fear.
Another tried to rush at this being, with raised shield and a war axe, but the spear that the masked warrior wielded effortlessly pierced through it and impaled the poor fool.
- What are you!- one of them screamed.
The spear wielder then revealed his four, great white wings.
- I am a virtue- after he said those words a yellow string of light appeared and cut down another savage- You all have the stench of a demon. Where is it?
- Like hell we would tell a freak like you
- Oh? Well then, I will kill you all and the I'll find the fiend myself
- Wait!- the leader fell onto his knees, prostrating himself in front of the virtue- Please spare us! Or even me! Just spare me and I will tell you anything you want!- he pleaded, deaf to the terrified screams of his crew.
- Hm- virtue pretended to think- Fine- then even more strings showed themselves and cut every raider except the leader. No one could believe in the cruelty of the heavenly warrior.
- Now, where is the demon?
- O..O..Outside the church- the man felt the cold spear going through his back- You..You promised- the last savage had fallen on the ground, staining the church's floor with his blood.
- I did? Then I must've forgotten- spoke in the same cold manner as before, casually wiping off the staining blood from the spear.
Baphomet turned his head in the direction of the church. He felt that something strong was in there, but couldn't pinpoint what exactly. When he saw a tall hooded figure coming out, he knew how his opponent shall be.
- Ah, Spear of the Church, Iscariot. So that's where you've been hiding- demon smirked.
- It was more a rest than hiding- Iscariot looked dead in the eyes of the monster- Even I get tired from killing all of you
- Those are some bold words for a virtue- demon fired off an abbadon. The red beam screeched as it flew at the angel. But Spear of the Church gracefully dodged the incoming beam, moving so fast that he looked like he teleported.
A cut appeared on the demon's arm. Then another and yet another. The strings of light were more than eager to cut down the Baphomet. But he caught one with his hand. It started to sizzle. As demon thought no more of them appeared.
- What's wrong? Can make only one at the time?- Baphomet then felt blood oozing from his leg.
- No, just wanted if you are stupid enough to fall for it- demon then casted one of his most powerful spells. Once again from the sky rained many projectiles. Iscariot was dodging them without too much problem. Baphomet then fired off an abbadon. This time virtue didn't expect the beam and was hit directly to the head. The force of the spell sends his headless body flying into a nearby burning building.
- It would seem that even a virtue isn't a problem for me- Baphomet said proudly. When the smoke had faded, the demon noticed a movement. The headless body of Iscariot was still twitching. At first he dismissed it as a body not knowing that it was dead. But when it stood up, he decided to fire another abbadon, just to be sure. Body barely dodged an upcoming beam,walking aimlessly. Then many white strings erupted from the hole where his head once was. Those strings mixed together, recreating Iscariot's head.
- Well, well, well- virtue slowly clapped his hands- I did not expect you to take off my head. To bad it isn't enough
- Next time I will destroy your entire body- Baphomet then spat black fire from his mouth. Iscariot used his wings to shield himself, which seemed to work to some degree.
- Art of the angel; Wings of Law- virtue whispered. The feathers on his wings stood up, pointing at the demon. Then all of them started flying just like arrows, shining in white glow. The force that each of them hit Baphomet was more than enough to set flying a good few meters. When angel ended his assault all that was left from his wings were four golden, spider-like legs, each of them slowly moving up and down.
Demon covered in many cuts was furious. He then casted abbadon like crazy. Many of them missed, further destroying the town. But some managed to hit the virtue.
- While I truly enjoy this fight, nothing can last forever
- Then perish!- under the angel appeared a black circle that spit out a black fire. Iscariot barely dodged the pillar of flame, but didn't come out undamaged.
- Divine arts: Light of God- angel raised his right hand. Many light strings started to cut Baphomet into pieces. While tried to defend himself, it was in vain. Soon only the upper half of the demon was lying on the ground, the beast still breathing. Iscariot came closer to him. Iscariot then raised his hand again and another string cut off the demon’s head. Then another and another. Soon there was nearly nothing left of what once was a Baphomet.
Demon's body was set ablaze in black fire. From the fire came a sphere in the same color.
- Blade of the soul- angel whispered. His spear gained a spectral blade that he used to strike the soul, before it was able to run away. The soul screeched, but after a while it exploded. Nothing was left from the demon. Iscariot sat down on the ground.
- One pest down, now how much more is left?- he wondered. Then he heard hoofs. A herald was coming in his direction.
- I can't even rest- he said, as the herald appeared from the corner of the burning building.
Somewhere far away, roc was preparing himself to land. He landed on the balcony of one of the greatest buildings in the world. A person dressed in robes came to him and let him sit upon his shoulder.
- You were a great help, I saw everything through your eye. Only one is a demon- the person patted the bird- You did great. Now let us bring those news to the rest- both of them vanished in the depths of the building.