Jody "Hey, lucy…"
Lucifer "Yes? What weighs on your mind child?"
Jody "Oh nothing, I was just looking out the window at some of the damned and that reminded me of something."
Lucifer "Is it to deal with Angillina?"
Jody "Just a bit...I don't know what to feel exactly."
Lucifer "Feel about what? It's not like you forced her hand."
Jody "No, you're right but still... sometimes I look out the window and I can't feel anything but pity for her."
Lucifer "It's just collecting on a debt. What more could you have done?"
Jody "I just wish things were different. Why do they keep calling me if they know where they'll end up? Why would you waste such a beautiful life for this?"
Lucifer "Oh...It's not about Angillina is it?"
Jody "...I told you just a bit."
Lucifer "Be a bit more specific, please. I am not a mind reader."
Jody "Mhm...Exactly why I'm not telling you."
Lucifer "Oh come on. Don't be like that. If you don't tell me i'm going to start guessing."
Jody "Go ahead."
Lucifer "Is it because you want Cole to come willingly but you know he won't come here because he told you he never wanted to see you again?"
Jody "Oh shut up."
Lucifer "So I'm right aren't I? Jody, It's been three years. Surely he's gotten over it. Maybe we should pay him a visit?"
Jody "NO! Um...no It's alright. We aren't meant to be...God told us he wouldn't let me come back if i spilled blood in eden anyway."
Lucifer "He isn't in Eden...He's in heaven."
Jody "What? Did he die? I'm goi…"
Lucifer "Calm down, He was last in heaven but now it's just a blur?"
Jody "Explain."
Lucifer "I see him entering heaven then a huge power spike and an hour later he is in heaven but he is also just entering heaven but he is also leaving. I can't pinpoint a moment in time where he is stable."
Jody "Oh...I know where he's at. He's with Naiomi Nguyen."
Lucifer: "And you know this, how?"
Jody "I chose her to be with him if I was unsuccessful in courting him. She is really close in personality with me."
Lucifer "You can't just put spells on people Jody."
Jody "I didn't. She genuinely loves him. I noticed it when we were in class. She was a quiet observer. I confronted her cus I had thought she was going to make a move on Cole but she wished me the best of luck and went on to cry."
Lucifer "So because she was sad at a middle school crush she gets to be your replacement?"
Jody "No, you misunderstand. I tried to kill her but she didn't attack, she said something like 'Cole doesn't like violent people' and ran away so I had some demons follow her around and what do you know? She has a time ability and could have put up a decent fight but she didn't."
Lucifer "Okay…"
Jody "She valued a possible but improbable future with Cole over her own life. I'm sure she saw if she interacted with Cole I would've killed her in my childish fits of rage."
Lucifer "Does she know her name is on the roster?"
Jody "No, that's something only we can see silly."
Lucifer "So you are waiting? A proper torture for that back stabbing bitch."
Jody "I'm letting her enjoy the beauty of life before she arrives here. You two will have much to discuss."
Lucifer "Maybe we should pay a visit? Just to make sure... Ya know... everything is okay with them."
Jody "Hmm
Jody leaned on the window staring peacefully into the violent hellscape as she pondered over her role as queen and what it meant to rule over God's trash can. While Jody enjoyed the sights, Cole wasn't having a similar experience. A single bead of sweat dripped down Cole's brow and he rushed back into the fight, Aslalo following close behind him. Their movements so in sync they didn't have to even talk to have the others back. The barrier barely held itself together from the constant beating it received from the shockwaves of battle. Each strike damaged it more and more as they continued to fight.
Naiomi "HEY GUYS, IF YOU CAN HEAR ME SLOW DOWN! I CAN'T KEEP IT UP FOR MUCH LONGER."
Naiomi screamed and yelled but the men didn't hear them and battled on inconsiderate of the damage they were doing until a shard fell and cut Aslalo's glasses in half. Nearly blind Aslalo didn't stop his assault feeding into Cole's ferocity, he pushed even further than before. The lightning wrapped around his body turning a beautiful scorched crimson, Aslalo pushed more than he has ever had to before. His power pushed on the barrier fracturing it more than before, bursting a hole in it, distracting Sondi just long enough for Cole to deliver a stunning kick to the jaw. Sondi dazed and confused for a moment countered with a devastating punch sending Cole flying into Aslalo, the collision made Aslalo lose track of his armour and deliver a powerful shock into Cole's body. Aslalo quickly recovered and jumped back into the fight but Cole laid on the ground lifeless.
Samael "Get up! GET UP!"
Cole "I can't...My body won't move anymore."
Samael "Look at Aslalo, he's just as tired as you and yet he's still fighting."
Cole "He has magic to keep him going."
Samael "So what? Is this all you can do? You might as well just let the school fall into the hands of Angillina permanently."
Cole "I just can't keep going. It's too hard, my body won't move, and I am not strong enough."
Samael "STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND GET UP! Just one step, then another, if you can move one more time then make it count."
Cole in agonizing pain slowly tried to get up. His body refusing to listen Cole flopped back down.
"Pathetic commoner."
Cole "Shut up."
"Demon" "Weakling" "Worthless."
Cole "I said shut up."
"Monster" "Haven't you done enough?" "Just give up and die."
Cole "I SAID SHUT THE HELL UP!"
A dark tainted energy started to leak from Cole, his AIE turning a crimson red and with a powerful howl, Cole shook the entire building further fracturing the barrier. Sondi and Aslalo stopped fighting to see Cole standing. His energy taking the form of a black ethereal wolf, his eyes lost all sense of himself. Picking up his sword and putting it in his mouth, Cole got on all fours and locked eyes with his target. All hesitation left his body as he dashed towards Aslalo and Sondi with the intent to kill whomever stood in his way. Sondi smiled welcoming the attack with open arms but was surprised when Aslalo jumped out of the way and Cole followed him instead.
God "They are in better sync than I thought. It looked like he was coming straight at me."
Sondi "This is so embarrassing, I thought he got over this."
God "It's not something that happens instantly. I was a bit rougher on him admittedly, so I see why he felt like he needed to do this. I'm surprised his body can even push out this much power, in only a year too."
Sondi "He is tapping into his last bits of power, he might die if we don't stop him."
God "Eh, he'll be fine. He has Aslalo."
Cole viciously chased Aslalo around, trying his best to rip and tear into him. With one swipe of his neck Cole cut a gaping hole into Aslalo's armor. Trying his best to dodge but proving ultimately useless Aslalo started to run away faster.
Aslalo "Something is off."
Evanescence "Off? OFF? He is trying to kill you."
Aslalo "No he isn't."
Evanescence "That blade can and will kill you."
Aslalo "No, if he wanted to he would have. It's clear that the sword completely ignores durability. He can't talk properly when he's all wolfed out. Maybe something is different?"
Evanescence "He is sapping your energy."
Aslalo "How can you be sure?"
Evanescence "Your armor is growing back slower each time he cuts it."
Aslalo "Cole I never thought I'd say this but you are one hell of a guy!"
Evanescence "What? Master Aslalo what do you plan on doing?"
Aslalo "He wants to sap my power. Fine, he can have it. Take everything AND WIN!"
Aslalo grabbed the blade and shoved all his remaining power in it as a last do or die attempt in placing his bets Cole was still in there somewhere. The onyx blade started to vibrate with a dazzling light cracking the shell. Once Aslalo let the blade go, the energy erupted from the blade turning it pure silver with gold accents. The handle wrapped with a pure white leather strip and the hibaki turning a beautiful platinum with a bright clear diamond dragon wrapping itself around it. Cole smirked as he fed he dark energy into the blade making a black wolf appear on either side of the blade, reverting cole back to his former self.
Aslalo "You better win. I have nothing left...asscole."
Cole turned to his overconfident guardian with his normal smug grin as he took the blade from his mouth and dashed towards his father.
God "Hmm? The boy seems much much faster."
Sondi "Yea? His eyes turned back to normal too. It's a strange thing to see."
God "Maybe we should end this quickly, lest we have to deal with this girls idiotic attempt at controlling time."
Sondi "Yea, rather lackluster I would say."
God "Should we end this now?"
Sondi "Yea he seems rather close."
Cole "Take this! Blade of destruction: dimensional slash!"
God "That can't be good…"
Sondi "Don't worry it's not lik...What is that possible?"
Sondi reached his hand expecting to stop Cole's attack with his palm but came to a quick rationalization as he quickly dodged under the blade and his fingers fell to the floor. Cole remained focused on his father and kicked him to the ground, focusing everything he had into the blade, thinking he had finally done it as he slammed the blade down. Time slowed, a disappointed Micheal calmly walked past a frozen jasmine, while naiomi could only barely move to intercept him. Micheal cut a human sized hole through the barrier and made his way past Aslalo and tried to push the blade out of the way but burning his hand on it.
Micheal "Ow...Dad really? You let this hurt you?"
God "I didn't think he could really. I knew it was possible but I never expected he would be able to do it."
Micheal "A blade capable of cutting through God. Such a display of blasphemy. Should I restart the year?"
God "No, no it's quite alright. Not like he did any major damage nor does he know who I am. He'll just think he got a solid hit on his otherwise normal human father."
Micheal "This boy is proving to be more dangerous by the second. What will we do with him?"
God "As of now nothing...but i do find it rather...Interesting? Curious isn't it? He is unknowingly the only one who could ever pose a threat to me, yet he doesn't even know it."
Micheal "Let's hope so."
God healed the damage done to him and released the barrier, and started to walk past Cole, stopping to pat him on the head and smile. With one snap of his fingers Micheal starts the flow of time to its normal pace letting Cole slam the blade into the floor deleting the barrier, the wall behind it, and the birds who happened to be unfortunate enough to be in the line of fire split cleanly in two. When the dust cleared Cole jumped for joy expecting to see his father below him but instead the stark reality came to light as he heard his father bellow from behind him.
Sondi "That's a quite dangerous toy there kiddo."
Cole "I'm not a kid anymore."
Sondi "Right...my apologies. Good job, your training is complete. There really isn't much else I can show you."
Cole "Yeah now you say that after I socked you a good one huh?"
Sondi "No not at all. Rather because you lowered your pride and worked with someone else and didn't give up no matter how hard it may have seemed. Micheal, would you be so kind?"
Micheal "Why of course."
Micheal snaps his fingers making the barrier collapse in on itself instantly. Naiomi and Jasmine collapse to the floor from exhaustion. Micheal giggled as Naiomi sneered at him.
Micheal "I think delton would be more suited for the situation now. Tell father I await further instructions."
Sondi "As always. See ya Micheal."
Cole "Okay well now what?"
Sondi "You'll go to the med bay and see Dr. Crowny. She will heal your injuries and restore you all back to full strength. Oh and Cole...can you come here for a bit?"
Cole nodded as he waved every one to go on ahead without him and just like that they left to the med bay.
Cole "So what did you want to talk to me about?"
Sondi "That sword...and those powers...I remember the doctor telling me you were crippled. Have you been talking to someone?"
Cole "No, these are my natural abilities."
Sondi "Impossible."
Cole "And how would you know? It's not like you make time for me."
Sondi "Cole, I make as much time for you and your brother as possible. You know that, stop being such a child."
Cole "Oh that famous line loves to come out whenever you have nothing to say for yourself. I'm not a child. I haven't been one for a while. What else do I have to do?"
Sondi "Look how you're acting! What else should I call you? Boy? Kid? Because you certainly don't behave anything but."
Cole "I told them I came here to train, but that wasn't entirely true. Do you know what today is?"
Sondi "March 27th, 2144 what of it?"
Cole "I knew it...My birthday dad...today is my birthday you dick. What did I expect? You were never there for anything else. You know how hard it is to look you in the face as i begged for you to help me? As I had my AI send distress signal after distress signal? Do you know what was running through my mind after Jody died? Would it have killed you to check up on me once?"
Sondi "You wanted me to baby you? Is that it? You ran off with some girl you just met after I told you to be home before curfew many times, it was your tournament I was sure the judges were going to stop it, and no I don't know what was going through your mind but you were violently lashing out and even threw your bed at your mother. Don't remove your responsibility from this."
Cole "YOU ARE MY FATHER! I HAD A DEMON AND AN ANGEL...you know what? I don't need this. I'm not arguing with you. Thanks for stepping up and not embarrassing me for once. Goodbye."
Sondi "Goodbye is forever ya know?"
Cole "I know goodbye father."
Cole walked out the door into the hallway, taking a deep breath in and out as he closed the door behind him. Cole turned to his left surprised to see a lone Aslalo leant up against the wall waiting for something, what exactly got him to stay behind? Cole couldn't figure it out and he didn't bother trying to ask either. Aslalo Opened his arms invitingly, and at first Cole gave a very Questioning look but eventually he gave in and reciprocated the hug. His heart filled with even more love and warmth as Naiomi and Jasmine both joined in squeezing the tears out of Cole.
Aslalo "Damn you'd think heaven could afford to fix their roofing?"
Cole "Yeah right? Water keeps dripping on my face man."
Naiomi "Aww how touching. You two are growing awfully close recently."
Aslalo "As if, he is still a commoner, just not as shit as i once thought."
Cole "Fuck you too, ya rich prick."
Jasmine "SHE WHAT! OKAY, HOLD HER OFF FOR AS LONG AS YOU CAN WE ARE ON OUR WAY."
Cole "What? What's going on?"
Jasmine "Angillina just sent an all out attack on the school. Turning anyone who gives up into demons and anyone who resists the transformation gets fed to the new demons. The school tried to stop her but she wiped out their forces like it was nothing. They said not even Eve was safe."
Aslalo "Come on I know it was bad but how bad could it have really been?"
Naiomi "Let's find out, I'll open a portal to the school grounds."
With a loud *fwosh* Naiomi opened the portal and the gang stepped through to see the school normal. The scenery was beautiful and lush, the students walked to class like normal, and everything was as it should be. At least that's what Cole, Naiomi, and Jasmine thought. Aslalo however fell to his knees puking his guts out.
Cole "What the hell man? I know you were tired but seriously weak. Jasmine, you said the school was messed up."
Jasmine "It is? That's what the reports say. My informants wouldn't intentionally lie."
Aslalo "You don't see it? Look around you?"
Naiomi "The school looks fine. Maybe they over exaggerated."
Aslalo "No, they didn't...Angillina! She must be presenting it as something else. Here, this may help a bit."
Aslalo touched them in the head, shocking their brains a bit. When they opened their eyes they were silent from the horror of the school. Bodies littered the floor, some students were hanging from charred pikes while others were still alive, unable to scream from the pain they were in. Cole's mind went blank from all that he witnessed, chills racing down his spine and the foul stench filling his nose.
Cole "If the outside looks like this I can only imagine what the inside looks like...We have to stop her now."
Naiomi/Jasmine/Aslalo "Agreed."
As the group burst through the school doors, helping and every one they could, an on looker watched with a patient anticipation.
Jody "And so her story comes to a close, such a disappointment. You'd think with the ability to control illusions as powerful as hers she would see what I did easily. So much for a goddess hahahaha."
Lucifer "In my experience, humans tend to ignore reality for mere illusions. Wealth, power, fame all things to hide what they truly are and feel. Mere toys for their a shit reality. They play dress up for eighty or so years and for what? An illusion of happiness?"
Jody "Humans are strange, but that's what makes them so much fun. Watching them struggle against their inner demons and come out as a victor."
Lucifer "Although, I think you enjoy when they lose."
Jody "Of course silly! More toys to play with duh. Ooo she woke up finally, the show is about ready to begin."
Lucifer "Should we play too?"
Jody "No, but it's not much of a game if it isn't fair right? Let's even the odds."
Lucifer "Right. I, accuser of man and punisher of the wicked saw no fault. My kingdom full of sin is without fault and without error, Those of my kingdom will come to me willingly and of their own right. Pity befall the damned who were forced to sin and die without redemption. Pity befall those who know not of what they do. Light bearer: purifying light. Children return to the count for we shall have our time, those of you falsely judged rise and come take your revenge for the false accuser."
Jody "Oh? Reviving the dead and even reversed the man made demons? How kind of you."
Lucifer "I guess your mercy is rubbing off on me...Just a bit ya know?"
Jody "Just a bit hehe."