- Ash and Amaterasu -
The battle being witnessed by Lucifer, Tsukuyomi, Fensyr, and Kahvis was beyond what any of them had expected.
"SO CLOSE!" Ash taunted as she blasted her way through the skies.
Ash dodged around the light show of beams that Amaterasu's rings were creating, her weaving deflecting every beam that almost made contact. Despite the absurd agility on Ash's part, she couldn't close the distance against Amaterasu. The beams would always converge in a way that made dodging impossible.
Amaterasu couldn't speak. Every drop of focus she had was being used to control her new powers and ignore the agony of her burns. Her breathing was uneven, her eyes strained, and her skin sweat-drenched, despite it all, she was at her peak. As much fun as Ash was having, she couldn't help noticing Amaterasu's worsening condition.
"I need to end this," Ash mumbled to herself. "She's battle-tranced. If I don't-" she dodged around a sweep of beams, "she might kill herself with burns."
Ash blasted back, putting as much distance between herself and Amaterasu as was possible. She smiled at Kahvis as she hit the edge of the arena. Amaterasu recalled her rings to her side. Ash breathed out slowly, little flames joining her breath as she did. Ash breathed in deep, her chest swelling as she went. Ash shot forward in a blur of speed as powerful flames shot from her back.
Amaterasu let out her rings once more. The beams of the rings continued to scorch the ground as they attempted to hit Ash. Ash stayed on the ground, skating around with flames as she contorted her body to avoid being hit. If Ash in the air was an erratic missile, her movements on the ground were that of a dancer. Every slight bounce Ash made seemed to increase her speed further.
Ash's speed was such that Amaterasu's cracked eyes struggled to keep up. Amaterasu's breathing grew heavier to the point of being hyperventilating.
"Don't worry, Little Star," Ash spoke to herself. "I won't let you burn yourself out."
Ash conjured explosive orbs on the inside of her palms as she closed the distance to Amaterasu. Some of the beams from the rings started to make brief contact with Ash, burning her skin. Amaterasu, seeing her rings' attacks finally make contact with Ash, fell even deeper into focus.
'Maybe someday,' Ash thought to herself. 'If you learn to control this we can have a more proper match.'
Ash was only a few meters from Amaterasu now, her body lightly burned in multiple places. Amaterasu placed her hand forward moving the ring behind her back up. The rotating lights of the ring stopped as a massive beam of light shot from the ring at Ash. Ash shot over the beam and blasted herself over Amaterasu in a flip.
"Good job," Ash said as she slapped her hands together in front of Amaterasu's face.
The blast from the explosive orbs in Ash's palms was not one of fire but instead pure concussive force. As the force hit Amaterasu's face, Amaterasu's eyes went blank. Amaterasu fell to her knees as her rings dematerialized. Before she could fall to the ground, Ash caught her. Ash signaled to the others that the fight was over as Amaterasu's black marks faded away.
- Lucifer's side -
Amaterasu's body was in critical condition. Kahvis started healing her slowly while Tsukuyomi shouted at Ash.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Lucifer held Tsukuyomi back. "The wounds are self-inflicted."
Kahvis questioned Ash as they healed Amaterasu. "What was that ability you used?"
Ash sighed, "The contemporary name is "Concussion grenade." I hate using it for several reasons but it seemed necessary given the circumstances," she knelt and observed Amaterasu's injuries. "If I had used a proper attack she might have died."
Amaterasu was fully healed but still unconscious. Lucifer had Yvere look after her along with the other healers in Kahvis' army. While Fensyr, Peter, and Elijah were mingling with Kahvis' soldiers, Lucifer and Kahvis were sitting down in private to discuss Machia.
- Lucifer and Kahvis -
Lucifer spoke sternly, "Tell me everything you know."
"Straight to the point," Kahvis said. "What exactly do you think has changed since we last spoke?"
Lucifer closed his eyes and took a breath in through his nose. "Gaia..." he opened his eyes. "Nyx I understood, other titans being alongside Nyx I understood, but Gaia? She's a fucking World Council member!"
Kahvis sighed and leaned back in their chair. "How did you learn of Gaia's involvement?"
"Her 'blessing' that the human called Julius has," Lucifer revealed. "I won this information off of Zeus in a game a long time ago; Gaia can give a piece of stone infused with her life energy to a being, the stone assimilates with the being's heart and gives the being powers similar to Gaia's."
Kahvis shook their head. "If I had revealed that Gaia was a part of the organization they would have revealed that I'm a [Soul emissary]," They lowered their head. "I'm sorry. Your life has been targeted twice now..." They looked Lucifer in the eyes. "I'll tell you everything I know. Firstly, Machia is one of three factions in [Salvation]."
Lucifer's eyes went wide. "Why is it called '[Salvation]'?"
Kahvis was intrigued by Lucifer's worry. "A group of the healers who were enslaved during Ragnarok founded the organization. The one they elected as their leader, Ninazu, is especially spiritual, hence the name. The intent of [Salvation] was originally supposed to be a failsafe should another Ragnarok ever come to pass."
Lucifer calmed down. "Essentially a replacement for the Riders?"
Kahvis nodded. "Exactly. No one in the world thought that the Riders would disband after Ragnarok, most believed they would be this world's undisputed rulers. I'm not sure if Death stopped that from happening or if there was animosity between the other Riders, whatever the reason, the shock of the disbandment led to the creation of [Salvation]."
Kahvis continued, "The other two factions were named Leviathan and Cosmos when I left. Leviathan worships the Leviathans and believes them to be the true rulers of this world while Cosmos fervently believes in [The Creator's Paradox]. As I'm sure you can tell, Machia was the most recent addition."
"Why did you leave?" Lucifer asked. "I can guess at your reasons but I need to be certain."
"Of course," Kahvis said. "Ninazu and the other formerly enslaved healers were more bitter about Ragnarok than they let on. Bitterness and zealotry are dangerous enough but as the organization grew in power..." they sighed. "I was a fool to think such a group would stay on the right path. Power is not the cure for trauma..."
Lucifer was surprised to see this side of Kahvis. The two didn't speak for a moment as they gathered their thoughts. Lucifer wondered if he should speak with Death about the Riders and what led to their disbandment. Kahvis thought about the Church of the Riders. Thinking about the Church made Kahvis switch topics for a moment.
"What can you tell me about Ash?"
Lucifer shrugged. "Not much, genuinely. I'm not being reticent out of respect for her privacy, I simply don't know much about her. I know she has some kind of connection with Death, and possibly Agni as well, but beyond that, I can only make assumptions."
Kahvis assumed, "You haven't spoken with Death about his Rider days, have you?"
"No," Lucifer shook his head. "Most of the information I've obtained on the Riders came from Hell's libraries. Death doesn't like speaking about those times, and the Riders themselves are a forbidden topic in the Godlands," He clicked his tongue. "Fucking World Council has the nerve to act like they rule the Godlands while banning discussion of the beings who created the position for them."
Lucifer scratched his cheek. "Are there any other members of the World Council that are a part of [Salvation]?"
"Not that I know of," Kahvis said. "But given Gaia's involvement, it would probably be best to suspect the other members."
- Death's side -
Death had just gotten off the echo call with Lucifer. Death informed Purgatory's leaders of [Salvation's] existence. The anger in Death's eyes terrified Xiao's squad.
"Sir?" Lina asked.
Death stood up and spiked his echo into the ground. He walked away with his fists clenched.
- Death's side (Past) -
Near the border of Purgatory, two angels were having a discussion when a large demon approached.
"Name?" one of the angels asked without turning to face the demon.
"Abaddon," The male demon answered. "I'm here to challenge the [Hunter]. Lord Satan asked me to give this to you as well," He tossed a box to the angels.
After the angels opened the box and read the letter inside they both sighed.
"I'll go inform the [Hunter] he has a challenge," one of the angels said before flying off.
Death arrived.
"I believe you should reconsider this."
"Scared, [Hunter]?" Abaddon taunted.
Death sighed, "Last I heard, your kind was at war with one another. Is this truly the best use for one of their soldiers? What does dying by my hand grant you or those you care about."
The angels knew that Death was being genuine in his questioning. Abaddon, however, did not. Abaddon pulled a large halberd off his back and unfurled his wings. Abaddon pointed the head of his halberd at Death.
"I will earn my place as Lord of the Abaddon house! Even if I have to rip you in half to do so!"
"Mmm," Death conjured his scythe and shifted into his hunter form.