image [https://imgur.com/7smUwRi.jpg]

I would have loved to stay and aid my friends with holding off The Actor, especially since he was impersonating Indena’s friend, but we were on the clock. If time ran out, the demon lord would win this game, and his prize would be the whole world. That was an unacceptable loss.

Unfortunately, as I attempted to head out alongside Uncle, a red and black wall of hard light spawned in my way, followed by several more walls to box us both in.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” I shouted, hitting the wall, but not breaking through the solid energy. Even in my combat mode, I wasn’t able to crack it.

This obstacle had been summoned by The Actor's hands, looking suspiciously like the red and black corruption of his crystal heart, which was hidden underneath his current borrowed identities marital arts gi.

“I can’t let you reach my lord.” The fake Sasha’s eyes were glowing a deep red, freakishly complemented by the white grin of her teeth. “Why not sit back and enjoy the show? Soon it’ll all be over anyways, and the credits will roll with the names of the ascended heroes who salvaged this miserable existence.”

I gave the hourglasses in the sky a look, just barely interpreting a possible ten minutes left of sand on our side.

“You can stall us as much as you want, but we won’t let Belphegor take over the world.” I announced, faking some pride to bolster my allies. “We’re the heroes, not you.”

While we bickered about who held the true just cause, two recently summoned armour clad warriors glanced around in a confused stupor.

“Where are we?” one of the crusaders asked. “What sort of trickery have those bastard fae put us through?”

The fake Sasha turned to the crusaders with watery eyes. “Please, help me. I’ve been trapped in here for a long time, and those witches are working with a demon lord!” She pointed to Indena’s group of three.

“Who you callin’ a witch?!” Indena’s flames blazed brightly as The Actor pressed all the right buttons to peeve her off…which didn’t help her image…

Both the crusaders were easily swayed to believe that Indena and Mella were witches, especially given Mella’s hat and Indena’s flame aura. They both drew up their weapons, which were swords, similar in design to Uncle’s own longsword. Actually, they both had armour very similar to his as well.

“Uncle, do you know those guys?” I asked.

“Not personally,” Uncle replied.

Things were quiet and the air got tense. All that could be heard was the sound of metal clanking against itself as the crusaders prepared to charge in, along with the raging fire that powered up around Indena.

But Indena wasn’t the only one here with elemental magic. The fake Sasha’s eyes shifted from a glowing red to a bright brownish colour. Stones of damaged marble were rising up around her, orbiting like a protective satellites. I figured that was a clear sign of an earth mage, if I ever saw one.

Indena and the fake Sasha both did a bow, customary of two martial artists, just like in the movies.

Frustration was growing on Indena’s face, while the fake Sasha seemed pretty relaxed about this whole ordeal. She had a big smile. Maybe this was just the Actors improvising, but I couldn’t imagine someone looking so calm while facing down a fiery Indena.

*CRASH!*

Mella tossed an orange splash potion at the ground, suddenly bolstering Indena’s elemental magic power as the liquid turned to a gas and swirled into her flames.

“Let’s just skip the simple stuff and get to the action,” fake Sasha suggested.

“You see me turning down this fire? Let’s get this started!”

*BOOM!*

An explosion rocketed Indena forward. She drew her fist back and shot it at the fake Sasha.

But her punch connected with an orbiting rock, causing it to burst into molten pebbles.

Indena had the time to retaliate, but as she went for a kick, a crusader's sword swung down on her. She just barely evaded the slash.

*BANG!*

A bullet from Marek’s flintlock struck the sword of the other crusader coming in for a slice on Indena. Thanks to his True Shot enchantment, Indena was able to focus on keeping up the pressure in her duel.

I’d never met the actual Sasha, but with how good the Actor was at martial arts and magic, I felt like the genuine one was the real deal in a fight.

“You’re good, but not like Sasha,” Indena said, grappling her enemy’s arm and twisting it around behind her.

“Oh come on, I haven’t even gotten started!”

Rocks from rubble around suddenly rose from their resting spot and glided through the air toward Indena. When she dodged, the rocks burst into dust and covered over fake Sasha’s arms, giving her leverage to free herself from Indena’s hold.

Those rocks also worked well to reinforce fake Sasha’s fists, making her punches deal more than twice the damage.

Indena had to block with her forearms, but the bone breaking pressure put strain on Indena’s flame aura.

Things were heating up as Indena’s fire started growing in response to the damage. A dazzling flame-like arm stretched out from her aura and blasted back the fake Sasha.

Fake Sasha then used her magic to raise up two support beams of stone, forcing them to fly up and crush Indena between them.

“Now I’m going to kill you!” The two stones crashed together, causing a massive shockwave.

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Indena just barely rolled out of the way in time.

“Sasha wouldn’t say something like that!”

“Oh, wouldn’t I? Tee hee…” She struck a cute pose. “I’m just getting started!”

The Actor really was good at playing this up. It felt like he was a completely different person.

Uncle had been watching the fight very closely, examining The Actors abilities. “It’s incredible that he not only takes on people’s appearances, but can mimic their powers so well,” he said.

“You think that’s the power the crystal heart gives him?” I asked.

“No. This is a different magical art called Mimicry. It’s hard to learn, but very useful.”

It kinda reminded me of my Copycat power. Although I wasn't just mimicking, I was literally copying.

I wonder what his crystal heart was for then. Janus’s crystal heart had the power to manipulate and create radio waves, while also being able to hack things. But what was The Actor's?

That ability to summon up historical figures back to life must have been it. It was the only other odd thing he was able to do.

"Uncle, are crystal hearts able to actually manipulate echoes of history?" I asked, still not really understanding the concept.

"There are as many potential powers in these crystal hearts as there are atoms on this planet. Each of them is unique in that way."

So we'd really just have to take them each on a case by case basis. I wondered if there may be a database for these somewhere.

“How do we beat him then?” I asked Uncle.

“We don’t have many options… Not from behind this energy barrier.”

Uncle and I both were looking for any sort of inspiration that might help us win this fight, but ideas were pretty spars.

As if suddenly seeing the answer, Uncle put a hand on my shoulder.

“I might not personally know these crusaders, but I think we can get them to come to our side,” he winked. “All we need is a little angel to convince them.”

Those crusaders came from the Ecclysian church, which revered me as their Eighth Star Angel. Although they’d never met me, what sort of zealot wouldn’t be inspired by the sight of a winged young lady like myself? Not to sound cocky or anything, but it might have been time to take a page out of The Actor’s playbook and play up my role.

Before I could say anything, Uncle wanted to pave the way for me.

“Brothers!” Uncle shouted in a theatrical voice, getting the attention of the crusading knights. “Here ye my words! I say that the Eighth Star has graced me within these four walls. We are being deceived by the true demon who summoned us here!”

He’s a good acter…

His words certainly got the attention of the two crusaders, but now it was my turn to put on a little show.

When I was back in the valley with Indena, I’d used stardust to make myself glow like a real angel. Indena added a little fire for style. If that was enough to convince monster wolves to be afraid of me, then I think it would convince a few crusaders who the legitimate Eighth Star was.

Well, here goes nothing…

My wings split outward, stretching as far as this hard light box would let them. My body was glowing brightly, and I used a flame wall to surround myself in fire.

“Be not afraid!” I sang out in as pleasing of a tone as I could. “I declare from the heavens that you are being tricked. The true enemy is the little girl, who’s actually an old guy in disguise, working for the demon lord.”

My heart was glowing white and my voice echoed exceptionally well through the battlefield. All the fighting from one end to the other stopped and turned my way. I’d gotten a much greater reaction than I intended.

“And so, old friend, you return to save even these lost ones,” uttered the demon lord, to which I didn’t understand what he meant.

Both the crusaders kneeled down low, clearly impressed both in mind and spirit.

“We are unworthy to be in such a hollowed presence… Forgive my questioning, but are ye a Star? Perhaps the Eighth Star of Heaven?”

“Verily?” the other crusader asked, sounding young and hopeful.

I was about to play it up as if I was with all sorts of pretty words, but something in me spoke up before I had the chance.

“I am.”

For a brief second, I actually believed it. I was the Eighth Star Angel. It wasn’t just a title forcibly bestowed upon me at that moment, it was something real. But even that title was just a misnomer, because the feeling behind it was a blessing. My body was warm, comfortably so, and that warmth was something I’d spiritually shared with anyone who had an open heart for it.

Of course, the reality quickly flooded back when I remembered that I wasn’t actually sent down to the world by God.

But what I’d said was enough to convince the crusaders of my identity. While everyone was stupefied, the crusaders rose up and gripped tightly to the fake Sasha’s arms, holding her steady in place.

“Hey!” she shouted. “Don’t just trust her!” Crocodile tears raced down her face. “She’s just a fake angel!”

“You are the true fake in our midst!” uttered the more experienced crusader. “As Deus wills, we see!”

With the fake Sasha grappled, there was a good opportunity for a decisive blow.

“Indena!” Uncle shouted. “Hit the heart!”

“Got it!”

She knew exactly where to aim. With a single good kick, she struck the gem heart hidden underneath the gi, causing a shockwave of energy to explode outward and send everyone flying.

Another positive outcome was that the wall of hard light came down, freeing Uncle and I.

Like having a heart attack, The Actor returned to his normal form and appeared to be convulsing on his knees, clenching tightly to the now cracked crystal gem in his chest. He took a few breaths, but then started laughing.

“What a plot twist. A fantastic turn of events sure to keep the audience's attention.” He slowly stood back to his feet. “But the show must go on. Stage call! All actors on set!”

A bunch of pentagrams appeared all over the floor. Nephilim rose up from those starlike symbols, surrounding my friends and the crusaders.

The crusader's swords began to burn with a hot white flame, exactly like Uncle’s long sword. Along with them, my allies also prepared for the attack. Mella gave a stamina potion to Indena, then she also tossed one my way, which I caught.

“Do not underestimate the power of this demon lord.” Mella told me, turning her attention back to her own conflict. “Hurry and defeat him! May Hyem bless you with victory, Little One.”

I sent a nod her way, holstering the vial in my belt. “Thanks, Mella. You guys stay alive, you hear me?!”

I ran to where Samael was recovering just a little behind us. I needed him to help me get to the demon lord, who suddenly looked like he was a lot further away from us than I remembered seeing a few moments ago. Samael looked like he was really tired, so I poured the stamina potion in his mouth.

“Sammy, can you fly me over to Lord Sleepy Eyes over there?” I pointed to where the demon had fled to.

New found energy spread across his body. He raised his head and nodded for me to climb aboard. A second member of my party also climbed on, Uncle to be exact.

“You’re coming too?” I asked him, thinking it might be better for him to stay behind and help deal with The Actor and demons.

“This’ll be a hell of a fight,” he said. “I’ll do what I can to help, Young Mistress,”

I appreciated his willingness. After that, Samael took to the sky, flying us toward our enemy for the final battle.

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