Pierrot's eyebrows creased further, surprise evident in his eyes. It had been years since the last appearance of a named demon.
"Ba'al?"
"Your Lord..." he said, looking down on him.
Pierrot scooted back and scrambled to his feet, jumping away from the rubble near the wall, back to the wider space.
The demon turned to him, and he glanced at Quill, who was back on his feet and still in white form.
His attention was suddenly caught by two figures by the hole across the room. It was Gibbous and Roy. The surprised expressions on their tired faces prompted Pierrot to make a decision.
Arc lunged at Pierrot again, making Gibbous take her white form.
"No!" Pierrot shouted at them as he stepped back.
"I will have to manifest," he said, and the team's eyes widened.
"No... Pierrot." Gibbous was ready to fight. "We can help."
"I NEED TO." His voice was stern. "Give me time."
The three immediately were in form and circled Arc, their attention divided to Pierrot, who was standing in the corner.
His prayer began. Quill covered for him as he recited it, and Gibbous and Roy engaged in hand-to-hand combat.
"So it is time." Arc said, placing his hand on the center of his chest.
"What is he doing?" Gibbous murmured to Roy, who was ready to attack.
Without a reply, he did. Roy lunged at the demon with his heavy fist, and Arc dodged, pulled Roy by the arm, and kicked him from the back. Roy stumbled forward, losing his footing.
Gibbous pulled out her lasso, whipping and wrapping it around Arc's foot, and she pulled on it, but he didn't budge.
"That tickles."
Arc grabbed the lasso and yanked on her, swiping a claw at Gibbous. She let go of the lasso and leaned backward to evade it, before finding her balance and jumping back.
She cursed under her breath.
Roy slammed his sword at Arc while unaware, yet the demon moved aside and turned to him.
"A sneaky one." He retaliated with a kick to Roy's abdomen, and the other jumped back.
Roy immediately swung his sword again through empty air as Arc sidestepped effortlessly. In a fluid motion, Arc's elbow shot backward, striking Roy in the chest and sending him sprawling to the ground.
Gibbous saw her opening and dashed forward, her fists glowing. She aimed a flurry of punches at Arc's midsection, but the demon blocked each one with swift, precise movements.
With a powerful backhand, Arc knocked Gibbous off balance, sending her skidding across the floor.
Quill nocked an arrow and aimed carefully. He fired, the arrow slicing through the air towards Arc.
The demon turned just in time, catching the arrow inches from his face and dropping it to the floor with a smirk.
Roy was back on his feet, charging at Arc with renewed fury. He swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for Arc's neck. The demon ducked under the blade and delivered a crushing punch to Roy's ribs. The force of the blow lifted Roy off his feet and sent him crashing into the rubble.
Quill, from his vantage point, fired another arrow, this time aimed at Arc's leg. The demon sidestepped, and the arrow embedded itself in the floor. He snarled and spun around, focusing his attention on Quill.
Roy, bloodied but determined, launched himself at Arc with a powerful leap. He brought his sword down in a deadly arc, but Arc caught the blade with his bare hand. With a sneer, Arc threw the sword away and headbutted Roy, sending him sprawling.
Gibbous, despite her injuries, scrambled to her feet and charged at Arc with a scream. She unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, each one deflected or absorbed by Arc.
With a swift movement, Arc caught Gibbous by the throat, lifting her off the ground. She struggled, clawing at his hand, but his grip was unyielding. With a savage throw, he hurled her across the room, where she crashed into a wall and slumped to the floor.
Quill, undeterred, fired another arrow, this time aimed at Arc's head. The demon caught it mid-flight and threw it back with deadly precision. Quill barely managed to dodge, the arrow grazing his cheek.
Pierrot, still in the corner, continued his prayer, the air around him beginning to glow. His team's sacrifices bought him precious seconds, but Arc's eyes were now fixed on him, the demon's expression turning from amusement to cold determination.
Pierrot's prayer reached its end, and the air around him began to pulse with an intense, otherworldly light.
Arc's focus shifted entirely to Pierrot as the energy in the room surged.
Pierrot's body lifted slightly off the ground, suspended.
"Pierrot!" Quill shouted, loosing another arrow at Arc to buy more time. Arc swatted it away effortlessly but didn't break his stride toward Pierrot.
A blinding flash enveloped the room as Pierrot's transformation completed. His form was now radiant, with luminous wings extending from his back, and long white luminescent hair. His eyes glowed with an ethereal light, and a celestial blade appeared in his hand.
He was no longer the same person. He had manifested his angel form.
Arc paused, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his features for the first time.
Pierrot's voice, now echoing with a powerful resonance, filled the room. "Your time ends now." It was Pierrot's voice, overlaid by another.
With a burst of speed, Pierrot closed the distance between them, his blade swinging down in a powerful arc. Arc barely managed to raise his arm in defense, and even then, the sword's holy energy burned him, leaving a deep, searing cut.
Roaring in pain and fury, Arc retaliated with a flurry of vicious swipes. Pierrot's movements were graceful and fluid, each parry and counterattack imbued with divine strength. Sparks flew as claws and blade clashed, the force of their blows shaking the very foundations of the unit.
Quill, Gibbous, and Roy watched in awe, momentarily forgotten in the face of this titanic battle.
Gibbous struggled to her feet, breaths heavy and ragged. They knew they could not keep up in a fight like this.
The three shared a look, as the attacks got out of hand. Arc burst through the wall and outside, dropping from the 8th floor. Pierrot followed suit.
The three looked at the hole and down, finding the rescue and responders scattering away from the sudden impact.
"No... They will see..." Quill frowned. "They will see Arc." He looked at them with pleading eyes.
Roy clenched his jaw. "Let's go."