"Where am I?" Celestia's voice echoed softly as she found herself adrift in the dark abyss, her form floating aimlessly amidst the void.
The memories of her past actions felt distant and disjointed, like fragments of a shattered mirror. The last coherent recollection she could grasp onto was the moment when Zerro had offered her the glass filled with his blood, a gesture that had plunged her into excruciating pain before everything faded to black.
Feeling disoriented and alone, Celestia struggled to orient herself in the vast emptiness surrounding her. With sheer force of will, she compelled her body to move, each movement a struggle against the oppressive weight of nothingness. Yet, despite her efforts, she found no sign, no hint of her whereabouts or any semblance of direction.
Just as despair threatened to consume her, a flicker of light pierced the darkness, and a holographic screen materialized before her, casting an eerie glow in the void. Startled, Celestia recoiled, her heart pounding in her chest as she stared at the unexpected apparition, a beacon of hope amidst the emptiness that engulfed her.
"Take him down, Celestia," echoed Zerro's voice, resonating within Celestia's mind as she watched the scene unfold from her own point of view.
Shock etched across her features as she witnessed Zerro's apparent betrayal, pushing her into harm's way to save himself.
A mixture of disbelief and indignation washed over her as she grappled with the realization of Zerro's actions.
"Is he serious?" her supposed enemy muttered incredulously before refocusing his attention on her.
Celestia's frustration boiled over into muttered curses as she longed for control over her own body, resentful of being rendered a mere spectator to her own fate.
Her shock deepened when Lucifer, of all people, came to her aid, helping her back onto her feet with an unexpected act of kindness before nonchalantly stepping back.
"Prince Zerro went ahead, so there's no point in me fighting you. Plus, I'm too lazy," Lucifer declared with a casual shrug and a yawn, pointing towards a door at the end of the hallway.
"If you want to help, just head to the end of the hall, and you'll find him there," he added before sending her a wave and sauntering past her.
Left alone in the hallway, Celestia's worry mounted. Without Zerro to guide her and no control over her own actions, she stood frozen in indecision, a whirlwind of emotions churning within her.
"If you were going to take control of me, at least make some sort of use of me," Celestia ranted bitterly, her anger palpable as she grappled with the betrayal she felt.
"He ruined ten years of my life just to throw me away at the last minute? And that scientist said he used to be nice," she seethed, her scowl deepening with each word.
Feeling the urgency of the situation, Celestia knew she needed to take action before any other demon guards spotted her. With determination in her eyes, she propelled herself toward the holographic screen, her hand outstretched in a desperate attempt to manipulate it.
As her fingertips made contact with the glitching screen, she felt a surge of energy coursing through her veins. With a startled flinch, Celestia watched in amazement as the tattoo on her hand began to glow, its intricate design absorbing the holographic display.
For a moment, silence enveloped her, broken only by the faint hum of energy emanating from her hand. Then, as if guided by some unseen force, Celestia caught sight of a distant light ahead of her.
Hesitating briefly, she weighed her options before summoning her courage and inching forward toward the mysterious source of light. With each step, a sense of anticipation coursed through her, mingled with a hint of fear.
Then, without warning, she felt a powerful force seize hold of her, pulling her inexorably toward the glowing beacon. A gasp escaped her lips as she was engulfed by the light, her surroundings melting away as she was whisked away into the unknown.
"I'm back," Celestia concluded, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared down the length of the hallway ahead of her, her expression blank and unreadable.
Taking a moment to assess herself, she clenched and unclenched her hand, checking for any signs of injury. Satisfied that she was unharmed, she moved her body around, conducting a quick self-examination to ensure there were no sore spots or hidden injuries lingering beneath the surface.
With her physical condition confirmed, Celestia's attention turned to the end of the hallway, where she imagined Zerro was locked in a fierce battle with his brother, Erlik. A small, hesitant voice within her mind questioned whether Zerro needed her help, but she quickly brushed aside her doubts, determined to offer her assistance regardless.
"Might as well check," she mumbled to herself, her steps steady as she began to make her way toward the end of the hallway, steeling herself for whatever awaited her beyond.
As Celestia reached the King's room, her breath caught in her throat at the sight before her. Zerro lay sprawled on the ground, surrounded by a pool of his own blood, while Erlik, his brother, stood tall and menacing with a wicked smile adorning his lips.
"So, you're the weapon contractor," Erlik remarked, his voice dripping with malice as he addressed Celestia. Despite the deadly aura emanating from him, she met his gaze with a steely resolve, her eyes widening in shock at the scene unfolding before her.
Observing Erlik, Celestia noted the striking similarities between him and Zerro. Their features mirrored each other, from their black hair to their blood-red eyes, yet where Zerro exuded an air of nobility, Erlik radiated malevolence.
"You don't seem very strong," Erlik taunted, crossing his arms with a mocking smile. Unfazed by his jibe, Celestia maintained her composure, her expression unreadable as she approached Zerro's unconscious form.
Hovering her finger under his nose, she waited for the reassuring huff of breath that signaled his continued existence.
With a nod to confirm his survival, Celestia redirected her attention to Erlik, her eyes narrowing into a glare as she prepared herself for whatever confrontation lay ahead.
"You need to go," Celestia declared, her voice firm as she summoned her sword and raised it high, determination shining in her eyes.
With a swift motion, she charged toward the king, her intent clear: to end his reign of terror once and for all.
Anticipation coursed through her veins as she brought her sword down, expecting him to defend himself with equal ferocity.
But to her shock, her strike met no resistance, her blade passing through his chest without leaving a mark.
"Are you done?" Erlik's bored tone cut through the air, his nonchalant demeanor sending a shiver down Celestia's spine.
Stumbling backward in fear, Celestia's eyes widened in disbelief as Erlik's hand closed around her neck with a vice-like grip.
Lifted off the ground, she squirmed and writhed in agony, her desperate attempts to break free proving futile against his overwhelming strength.
Each gasp for air was met with the tightening of his grip, her world narrowing down to the overwhelming sensation of suffocation as she fought to escape his merciless grasp.
"I knew my stupid brother was planning some sort of revenge on me after I killed our father and blamed the murder on him, but who knew how weak he still was even after all these years," Erlik's voice rang out, his crazed smile sending chills down Celestia's spine as she struggled to draw breath.
Just as darkness threatened to engulf her, a defiant voice pierced through the haze. "Get away from her!"
With a hiss of pain, Erlik felt the sword Celestia had dropped earlier impale his arm, pinning him to the wall behind him. With a gasp of relief, Celestia collapsed to the ground, her hand instinctively reaching to massage the area where Erlik had gripped her neck.
As she struggled to regain her bearings, Erlik's disbelief echoed in the air. "An angel?" he questioned, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight of the male figure approaching Celestia with concern.
Dizziness washed over Celestia, making it difficult for her to fully focus, but she recognized the newcomer as Han, her heart swelling with gratitude as he swept her up from the ground.
"Celestia," Han called, his voice a soothing anchor amidst the chaos around them. With a shaky exhale, Celestia met his gaze, finding solace in his familiar presence.
As Han turned his attention back to Erlik, the king's fury reached a boiling point at the intrusion of an angel into the demon realm.
"How dare you come to the demon realm! You angels are prohibited from entering!" Erlik roared, his rage palpable.
Unfazed by the king's threats, Han's resolve remained unwavering. "When it comes to Celestia, I will do anything for her, even if it's forbidden," he declared, his grip on Celestia tightening protectively.
With determination in his eyes, Han summoned a portal, a white circle materializing before them, offering a glimpse of the forest they had traversed earlier. But as he prepared to step through, Celestia's grip on his shirt halted his movement, her voice weak but determined as she called out to him.
"Bring Zerro too," Celestia whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with a pleading urgency that Han couldn't ignore.
Surprise flickered in Han's eyes at her request, disbelief mingling with concern as he hesitated, torn between his loyalty to Celestia and his resentment toward Zerro for the pain he had caused her.
"But after all he did to you—" Han began, his voice trailing off as Celestia interrupted him with a heartfelt plea.
"Please," she begged, her eyes imploring him to grant her one final request.
A troubled expression crossed Han's face as he wrestled with his conflicting emotions. Ultimately, he relented, knowing that his priority was to honor Celestia's wishes above all else.
Gently lowering Celestia to her feet, Han watched as she steadied herself before mustering the strength to approach Zerro. With a determined stride, he closed the distance to the fallen demon, roughly grabbing him by his black jacket and using it to help drag him toward the portal.
Celestia stumbled forward, her head swimming with dizziness, but she refused to let it overpower her.
Erlik seethed with fury as he watched the trio make preparations to leave, his presence seemingly forgotten in their haste.
How dare they disregard him, the king, as if he were inconsequential?
He was the highest demon in this realm, deserving of respect and deference.
To be overlooked by this mere mortal and angel was an affront to his authority, an insult he could not tolerate.
With a roar of rage, Erlik seized the sword embedded in his arm, ignoring the searing pain as he tore it free, blood spilling from the wound in rivulets that painted the ground crimson.
Each step he took reverberated with raw power as he closed the distance between himself and the intruders, his eyes ablaze with unbridled fury.
"Quick!" Han's urgent cry shattered the air, jolting Celestia into action.
With a frantic leap, she threw herself in front of Han, her heart pounding in her chest as she narrowly avoided Erlik's outstretched hand.
Responding to Han's command, the portal above them began to close, its ethereal glow fading into nothingness. With a final surge of determination, Han sealed their escape, sparing them from Erlik's wrath by the narrowest of margins.
In the aftermath of their narrow escape, a heavy silence settled over Celestia and Han, each consumed by their own thoughts and emotions. The tension in the air was palpable, a lingering reminder of the danger they had narrowly evaded.
Breaking the silence with gentle reassurance, Han's voice cut through the stillness like a beacon of light in the darkness.
"We're safe," he whispered, his words carrying a soothing cadence that washed over Celestia like a comforting embrace.
Those simple words were all Celestia needed to hear to feel a wave of relief wash over her.
With a sigh of contentment, she allowed herself to finally rest, her eyes fluttering closed as she surrendered to the embrace of sleep, safe in the knowledge that they had escaped the clutches of danger, if only for the moment.