- Azriel and Cytus -
(Back when Cytus shot at Azriel)
Azriel started to explain the plan to Cytus.
"We plan to strike them in Sol. We had a minor setback, but nothing too big."
Cytus showed doubt at that statement.
"Really? How minor? Cause' from what I heard Death was with Lucifer. You must think rather highly of yourself if you think you can handle him."
Azriel smiled.
"I have more allies than you know. Amaterasu, a small army of yokai, angels, and lycans. Lucifer will die, and Death will be too occupied."
"That's different from what you originally said," Cytus questioned.
"I know. The ideal scenario is Lucifer coming to us. I like having multiple plans just in case."
"What's their names?" Cytus said pointing at the man and woman.
"The yokai is Yukina and the lycan is Amahar. They're leading their respective groups."
Cytus gave a judging stare to the two.
"How does an archangel end up working with yokai and lycans?"
"Long story." Azriel smiled. "One where I want Lucifer dead, and Amaterasu wants some entertainment. Luckily, that entertainment involved hurting Death, which both the yokai and lycans can get behind."
Cytus felt like he wasn't going to get many more answers.
"Lucifer and his group haven't left Sol yet. I have a surprise set up at the border to stop them. You're healed up and ready to fight so let's get going."
"Before we do, I need to know something. Was I always a part of your plan?" Cytus asked.
"No. You were a happy coincidence." Azriel continued to smile, concerning Cytus
'I don't know if he's lying. I have a feeling that once Lucifer is dead I'll be his next target.' Cytus worried. 'Fine then. I'll gladly die if it means I kill two prominent members of your kind.'
Cytus laughed, surprising the other three.
"Sorry about that." He was still chuckling. "I just reminded myself of something."
Azriel's face turned cold.
"Glad to see you're happy."
'Laugh all you want monster. You won't be using Uriel's body much longer.'
The group started heading out of the forest. As they moved they were joined by lycans.
"How exactly do you plan on hiding such a large group?" Cytus asked.
"Yukina and other various illusion mages can cover us. To most, we'll look like a much smaller gathering of perfectly normal lycans." Azriel answered.
The group eventually met up with Mira, who had decided to wait by the border wall.
"Sorry about what I did sister. The damage had to be believable. You know my reputation." Azriel assured.
"Think nothing of it. What matters is getting this done." Mira's voice lacked confidence. She avoided looking at Cytus.
"Come now. We're all allies here. You'll have to look at me eventually, sister." Cytus smiled.
Mira was sickened by what Cytus had said, while Azriel tried to hide his anger at the comment.
'You filth. I hope your final moments are agony.'
Azriel stepped forward, deciding it was best if he calmed Mira down.
"Sorry about that. It's been a stressful time. Let's just accomplish this mission, okay?"
Mira and Cytus didn't say anything. Everyone went through the border wall.
"I assume most of the yokai and angels are waiting in Sol?" Cytus asked.
"They're hidden throughout. Don't worry, our forces will grow considerably as we catch up to Lucifer."
The small army traveled through Sol, gathering more allies as they progressed. The illusion held strong. No one assumed anything of the large force. Cytus felt a sudden headache.
'You have to be fucking joking.'
Cytus leaned over to Azriel and whispered.
"There's a vessel close by. This illusion of yours will be nothing to it. I recommend killing it now."
"Already on it," Azriel said.
Cytus's headache went away. He noticed a lycan woman with blood on her mouth walking towards them.
'Efficient, I guess.'
The army closed in on Lucifer and Death. The two were talking with a large oni holding a club as the army slowly surrounded their position.
"Wait for the signal. As soon as Death is gone, we move." Azriel told Cytus
- Death -
The oni went to slam his club at Death. Death sliced the oni's club with his scythe, and as soon as he did a shadow leaped from the ground, grabbing Death's legs.
Death disappeared into the ground. Lucifer shot fire at the oni in front of him, charring the being's upper half.
- Lucifer -
"We're under attack! Heinrich, center. Everyone else just watch for surprise attacks.
Peter drew his sword. It was a weapon covered in engravings that ignited once it left the sheath.
Lucifer conjured his wings.
The other oni started to stomp towards the group. Peter and Sabu rushed to meet them.
One oni attempted to swipe Peter with their club. Peter ducked under the attack and cut clean through their arm.
As the oni reeled back Peter jumped towards them and stabbed his sword into the large enemy's chest, toppling them. The oni attempted to hit him with their remaining hand. He poured energy into his sword causing flames to rip through his foe's body. He pulled his sword from the oni's corpse and with a swing of his flaming sword shot a wave of fire at the other approaching oni.
Sabu on the opposite side had used wind to fly up his targets arms, before decapitating them. As more oni approached he threw knives and shuriken into their eyes, blinding them.
Peter and Sabu were dispatching oni at an effective pace, meanwhile, Heinrich, Lao, and Yvere were in a triangle formation behind Lucifer. Elijah was behind all of them, holding the dagger Lucifer had given him.
Lucifer's arms ignited in flame. He saw the approaching illusion, and shot two large orbs into it that curved and hit each other, causing a large explosion.
As the smoke faded, Lucifer saw Azriel, Cytus, and Mira surrounded by various lycans, yokai, and angels.
Lucifer made a manic smile.
'Knew I should have just killed you. Thank you for giving me another chance.'
"Luce!" Peter yelled, snapping Lucifer out of his blind rage long enough for him to regain his composure.
Lucifer placed his burning arms towards the army in front of him.
'Increase the output. Fire magic is weak, and thus takes great sacrifice.'
A blue roar of fire left Lucifer's hands.
Azriel showed shock at the attack, but even with such power, there was still an army backing him up. Multiple casts of wind magic went off, catching Lucifer's attack. The flames turned the ground to ashes, as it collided with the wind wall.
Cytus placed his hand towards Lucifer. He was charging an attack. He wanted Lucifer dead and knew a simple bolt wouldn't suffice.
Lucifer saw the attack being channeled and quickly flew behind the nearest building, breaking line-of-sight with the army. The four behind him followed. He had to give them an order he wasn't sure about.
"Go. Use the cluster of buildings to your advantage."
The four didn't hesitate to move. They could clearly tell Lucifer would be stronger if he didn't have to worry about friendly fire. As the four went to run to the cluster they were met with stone spikes shooting up at them.
Heinrich stopped the attack. Lucifer shot an orb that curved around the corner the four were about to run to. The attack made a sizable explosion that sent little bits of debris towards the four.
Lucifer's eyes screamed go. He had been timing Cytus's attack in his mind.
'Now!'
Lucifer lowered his stomach to the floor, and soon after a powerful bolt of electricity punched through the wall he had been hiding on. He flew up to the roof and was met with multiple attacks of fire, wind, lightning, and stone.
Peter and Sabu were finishing up the oni. The large foes were easy matchups for the two. However, they had to be careful to avoid every hit. While the oni were slow, their attacks would be instant death if they connected.
Peter would give momentary glances over to Lucifer.
'He needs my help.'
An oni's club smashed down right next to Peter who dodged the attack. Peter pointed his sword at the oni's face and blasted it with a stream of fire. The oni fell over, their body twitching. Peter stepped over the fallen enemy and stabbed his sword into their head.
Sabu wasn't as efficient as Peter. He simply didn't have the same mana reserve to throw powerful attacks around. His initial kill had been for momentum. For the rest of his side, he would use his magic to get close and then stab the oni's eyes, causing them to try and grab him.
As they did, Sabu would jump over and wrap his knives around the oni's neck and slice it open, causing a river of blood to flood out. After the oni fell, he would stab them in the back of the head.
The oni were almost defeated. Unfortunately for the group, they weren't the biggest threat.
Lucifer was distracting Azriel and Cytus by flying around, shooting multiple weak attacks. He was trying to lead them away and use the tight bundling of buildings to his advantage. He was cautious not to fly too high, lest he risk being sniped out of the air.
The battle had only begun. Lucifer was being chased. Death was missing.
A small sense of dread prodded Lucifer's thoughts. The victories of the group were one of many that they needed to get out alive. It only took a moment of error to cause a cascade of problems.
Lucifer weaved in-between buildings as Azriel, Cytus, Mira, and various other angels chased him. He had the advantage of being one target. He would constantly leave floating explosive orbs in his trail that would catch the occasional angel.
Azriel flew past everyone else in an attempt to cut Lucifer off.
Lucifer expected as much. He knew Azriel was renowned for two things: Flying, and brutality. As Lucifer flew through an alley, Azriel appeared at the exit. Lucifer landed and slid under him, using one hand to shoot fire behind him, and the other to attack Azriel.
Lucifer got past Azriel, who was uninjured by the attack. Once he cleared the alley he took off again.
Occasional attacks would come from the shadows. Most were easily avoided and some were weak enough to just endure. Lucifer had received a few minor injuries in the form of small burns on his shoulder and cuts along his back.
The chase caused far more casualties for Azriel's side than it did injuries for Lucifer. The problem was that Lucifer had to be almost perfect in his maneuvers. One slip up would leave him on the ground, open to attacks from all sides.
Lucifer was counting the wingbeats behind him as a means to keep tabs on his pursuers. He noticed one set missing. He shifted his body, cursing his late notice. A bolt tore through his wings, clipping them, and causing him to hit the ground.
Lucifer put his hands on the ground and created a dome of fire around him. He needed a second to think but wasn't given it. A large gust of wind slammed against the dome, dissipating the flames. He was surrounded. His ears listened for magic. He returned his damaged wings and waited to recreate them.
'One motion.'
Orbs appeared in-between Lucifer's fingers. He clapped his hands together, causing a large smokescreen to appear. The moment his hands touched he created his wings and flew to his side. He had been listening for which enemies' magic was slowest.
Lucifer bowled through a group of lycans. He landed and charred their bodies with fire. This was a mistake.
A large blade of wind sliced through the alley and the corpses of the lycans, cutting deep into Lucifer's chest.
Lucifer flew off, cauterizing his wound.