Asuka

I don't know how long we fell, however it felt like ages. The only reason I knew where the others were was due to Alex's fire and Nozomi's light. They held onto Jade's arms, trying to find me as we fell.

Nozomi: "Asuka!!!"

I somehow managed to maneuver my way to them, grabbing onto Nozomi's arm.

Alex: "I-It worked!!!"

Asuka: "A little too good!!!"

We continued to fall until a golden light appeared from the darkness below.

We saw a massive city, filled with buildings and parks that stretched for miles. Shining lights dotted the ground.

Asuka: "Everyone!! Hold on!!"

I grabbed a small toy soldier with a built in parachute from my pocket. I then used my Alchemy to make it grow, slowing our fall.

Alex: "Quick thinking!"

I nodded.

Nozomi: "I-It's beautiful"

She seems mesmerized by the city. I'm not going to lie, I was too. The city itself was gorgeous, however I had a hard time believing this was Hell.

Asuka: "We'll land soon, let's—"

Suddenly, a dark portal appeared below us. It was too late to avoid it, so we were sucked right inside. The second we entered, I passed out.

When I regained consciousness, I was laying in a dead field. The dirt was dry, no water in sight. The ceiling was covered in a dark red stone, almost like we were back inside a cave. I looked around and saw the others on the ground next to me.

Asuka: "H-Hey! Are you guys okay?!"

Alex was the first to get up.

Alex: "C-Crap... I think I hit my head"

Nozomi and Jade were still out cold, however they seemed okay.

Alex: "What was that? Some kind of portal?"

Asuka: "Maybe a defense against intruders"

Alex moved over to Nozomi.

Alex: "She's okay, maybe I can wake her"

Asuka: "Uh— Alex—"

He turned to see what I was looking at.

Alex: "What... what are you doing here?!"

Standing before us was Michael the Archangel. Easily the most powerful Angel of all and father to Alex. He stood in golden armor with beautiful white wings sprouting from his back. In his hand was a beautiful broadsword engulfed in flames.

Michael: "What are you doing here? This is no place for humans!"

Alex: "We came to rescue Draco, like how we promised him a year ago"

Michael: "You were told to leave that to the Divine"

Alex: "Last time I listened to you, Mom ended up dying!!!"

I stood between Alex and Michael and bowed.

Asuka: "L-L-Lord Michael, I-It's a pleasure to see you again"

He placed his hand on my shoulder.

Michael: "It's a pleasure to see you too, young Asuka. However I cannot allow you three to stay here any longer"

Alex: "You aren't taking us back! We've come so far just to get here!!"

Michael: "Your very existence in this place is disturbing the natural order"

Alex: "We're not going with you"

Alex tried to walk past us, however Michael put his arm out.

Michael: "That's not your decision to make"

Alex glared up at him.

Asuka: "L-Lord Michael, please just—"

He stopped me mid sentence.

Michael: "I understand that this was your idea, your plan. You will be punished when you return to the House of God. So watch your tongue, or it could get even worse for you"

My voice immediately broke.

Michael: "Now, I shall take the three of you home"

I looked up at him.

Asuka: "Three?"

Michael: "Yes, you, Alex, and Nozomi"

I immediately looked around and couldn't find Jade.

Suddenly, a spear shot straight towards Michael. With a swift swing of his sword, the spear was destroyed on impact.

Michael: "Who dares—"

Another ten spears rushed Michael, making him slice each one down with only one hand on his sword. However the final spear was made of Ruby. I instantly knew what would happen and tackled Alex to the ground. Once Michael's sword clashed with the spear, it exploded.

Once the dust settled, Michael was completely unfazed. Jade stood far away from us, his golden vortexes surrounding him.

Jade: "Sorry, but we have a mission"

I wanted to yell at him. Anyone who attacked Michael never lived to brag.

Michael's sword burned brighter.

Michael: "You will regret that"

In a swift motion, Michael appeared directly in front of Jade. Right as he swung his sword, a vortex appeared and shot out a spear, managing to block the attack without Jade even having to move his arms.

Jade: "Woah, you're pretty fast"

Michael put so much force into his next strike that it sent Jade flying back. Without even looking, he formed two spears below his feet and managed to catch himself on them, standing on top of them.

Jade: "I have no clue who you are, but my job is to keep them safe down here. I'm not letting you take them anywhere"

Michael: "You disobey the Heavens?"

Jade: "I guess I do"

Michael: "Then this is where you will find your end"

Michael held his sword into the sky, forming a massive pillar of fire from his blade. It was so much that it actually touched the roof of the circle.

May not have been the best idea...

Before anyone could make a move, a silent chuckle echoed around us. The laugh sounded so familiar, however it made my heart race. My limbs felt like noodles, remembering how close to death I was when I last heard it.

Michael: "Come out!!"

The laugh grew louder and louder. Suddenly, I heard a voice in my ear from behind me.

Satan: "Asuka~ What a surprise~"

I immediately rolled out of the way and looked back, seeing Satan standing before me. He was dressed in his nice black suit.

Satan: "I must say, I was expecting Michael to be here, but you three? What a surprise"

He looked over at Jade.

Satan: "My my~ What do we have here~?"

Jade: "Hi, I'm Jade"

Satan: "The prince of Sin~ My Angel name was Lucifer, however I'm called Satan now~"

Jade: "I've always been Jade, nice to meet you"

Alex: "D-Dumbass!! He's the one who we need to kill!!!"

???: "Not happening"

I recognized that voice immediately. Instead of fear, rage now coursed through my veins. I turned and saw Yuki standing a few feet away from Satan.

Asuka: "You..."

I clenched my fist.

Asuka: "Y-You..."

Suddenly, an explosion of fire erupted from Alex, shooting straight for Yuki with katana in hand.

Alex: "YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Yuki blocked his attack with her daggers, however she was being pushed back by the sheer force of his flames.

Alex: "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!!!"

Yuki grinned.

Yuki: "That's cute~"

A massive wave of water came out of nowhere and slammed right into Alex, putting his flames out and knocking him to the ground.

All of this had finally woken Nozomi, however I saw both terror and despair in her eyes. Tears ran down her face.

Nozomi: "Yuki... why... why did you..."

The second Yuki heard Nozomi, I could tell something broke inside. Despite that, she didn't let out a single tear.

Yuki: "You... you don't understand anything..."

Nozomi: "Was everything we had just a lie?! Did you just pretend to care about me to get close to Draco?! Did... Did you lie to me about loving me?!!"

Yuki looked down at the ground.

Yuki: "It... was never a lie... I... I do love you..."

She clenched her fists.

Yuki: "But I can't pretend anymore. I'm a Demon, Nozomi... Even if we tried, you'd obviously go to Heaven while I'm destined for Hell. I... I'm sorry..."

She seemed to collect herself.

Yuki: "None of you know what you're actually fighting for. None of you know anything!!!"

She held her dagger and pointed it at us.

Yuki: "If you even think about taking a step inside my home, I'll end you"

Jade: "Sorry, that's not happening"

A spear shot straight at Yuki so fast that none of us had any time to react. Yuki didn't even have enough time to block or dodge as it aimed straight for her head.

Suddenly, a figure cloaked in darkness leaped in and slammed their axe into the shaft of the spear, destroying it on impact before it could reach Yuki. All I could see from the figure were glowing tattoos on the back of their hands in the shape of two crossed swords. I didn't recognize the axe either.

Yuki: "Took you long enough"

The second I heard the voice, I almost broke down.

???: "No more fighting..."

His voice was deeper and more monotone. However I could never forget it.

Asuka: "D-Draco?"

The figure pulled back their shadowy hood, revealing Draco underneath. His hair had grown longer, however his eyes had heavy circles under them. His eyes were pitch black, only the bright red of his pupils could be seen inside.

Draco: "Hey... Asuka..."

Once everyone else saw him, Nozomi tried running to him. Draco walked over slowly, catching Nozomi in his arms. Nozomi cried into his chest while his face showed no emotion.

Nozomi: "I... I'm sorry...!!! I-I'm so sorry...!!!!"

She clenched his hoodie.

Nozomi: "I-I'm sorry I couldn't protect you...!! I'm the worst big sister ever...!!!"

He rubbed her head.

Draco: "Don't apologize"

Alex: "What... what the Hell... why did you save her!!!"

He turned to Alex, who stared at him in complete disbelief.

Draco: "Like she said, none of you know what's really going on with this war"

Asuka: "W-What do you mean?"

Every part of me wanted to run up and hug him, however I could feel something was off.

Draco: "The Demons aren't the bad guys"

Asuka: "How... how can you say that..."

Draco: "Asuka..."

Asuka: "No!! How can you even say that when Demons are the reason I'm an orphan!!!!"

Draco: "Not all Demons are bad"

Alex: "Every Demon we've ever met has tried to kill us!! Don't forget that a Demon killed you!!! A demon killed Chris!!!"

Draco: "If I hadn't been killed, I wouldn't have seen the truth. I'm actually thankful to Yuki for that"

Nozomi left the hug and started backing away.

Nozomi: "W-What did they do to you...?"

Draco: "They showed me the truth, they showed me that I'm a Demon!!"

Nozomi: "N-No... Draco no!! You can't be a Demon!! I-It's not possible!! I use Holy Magic!!"

Draco: "Our parents were an Angel and a Demon"

Nozomi: "W-What? You have to be joking"

Draco: "I'm not"

Nozomi's eyes shot open when she looked into his eyes.

Nozomi: "N-No... that's... that can't be right!!!"

Michael: "I'm afraid it is"

We all looked back at him.

Nozomi: "Y-You knew?!"

Draco: "No surprises there"

Michael: "Your parents were the guardians of the Dragon Bane and Warrior Bane. The Angel held the power to repel Satan while the Demon held the power to repel myself. It was a way of keeping war from destroying all of existence. However the two fell in love and had two children"

Nozomi: "W-What..."

Draco: "I know, Nozomi... I was just as shocked"

Nozomi: "B-But... Demons can't use Holy Magic!!"

Draco: "You aren't a Demon... You gained more from the Angel side, but your time amongst humans has suppressed your Angel powers. Why do you think you're so adept at Holy Magic?"

Asuka: "Draco!! That's enough!! Just... come back home with us...!!!"

That's when another voice spoke from behind him.

???: "He can't do that"

A girl flew out from behind him and hovered in the air, flapping her black wings to keep her in the air. She was a Fallen Angel.

Draco: "Raven, I told you to stay—"

Raven: "I'm your guardian, you can't expect me to sit around while you go out fighting"

Draco: "But she's right. I'm not going anywhere"

Asuka: "B-But... don't you want to go home...?"

Raven: "He is home, amongst the Demons that won't shun him"

Asuka: "No... No one would ever do that..."

Raven: "If he goes back, he'll just be killed by the House of God for simply being a Demon. Your kind won't care that he protected you all, all you care about is that he's a Demon! Your kind... you have no idea what Demons go through!!!"

Alex: "Demons have ended more lives than I can count"

Raven: "You know nothing, Angel Spawn... and you never will!!!"

With a swift motion, Michael slashed his sword straight through Raven's chest.

That's when all Hell broke loose.

Draco rushed in and slammed his axe straight into Michael's side, cutting deep into him.

Asuka: "D-Draco!!!!! Stop!!!!"

His body erupted with Nether.

Draco: "I won't let you hurt anyone!!!!!!!!!"

Draco slammed the side of his axe into Michael, sending him flying back. He looked down at Raven.

Draco: "Are you okay?"

Raven's body began to heal on its down, the wound closing.

Raven: "N-Normally I'm a fan of pain, but that was a bit much~"

He turned to the rest of us.

Draco: "The Demons in this circle don't deserve to be here. They've done nothing wrong and don't belong. They were sentenced to be tortured for reasons that don't fit the punishment. Even if you were born here as a Demon, you can never make it to Heaven. It's cruel and wrong. We're going to put an end to it, so either join us or leave"

Asuka: "Draco... you... you can't mean that...."

Draco: "I do. I missed you all every single day I've been here. But if you're really able to believe that everyone in Hell deserves to be tortured forever, then we're done"

Alex: "I... I expected this from Yuki... but not you..."

Alex's flames grew brighter and brighter.

Alex: "Demons killed my Mom... Demons killed Asuka's parents... Demons killed Chris... Demons killed Scarlet.... They don't deserve anything but the tortures of Hell!!!"

Draco: "Then you can either move out of the way or I'll make you. I won't kill any of you, but it won't be pretty"

Alex: "The Hell happened to you!!?!?"

Alex dashed forward, swinging both of his swords with all his might. Draco swung his axe to meet the blades, causing an explosion of fire and Nether.

Draco: "I won't let anyone else get hurt!!! Don't get in my way!!!"

Alex: "You're the one ready to hurt us!!! You're crazy!!!"

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

Asuka: "Stop it!!!!! Please!!!!"

They held their weapons together, causing more Nether and fire to form from their clash.

Asuka: "I said stop!!!!!!"

I rushed in, not knowing what I was doing. I formed my scythe and swung the back of it straight into Draco's side. He flew far back and crashed into a small hill. I ran up to him and gripped him by his hoodie.

Asuka: "What happened to you?! What... what happened to the Draco I love...!!!"

Draco: "Asuka..."

I cried as I held him, my tears falling onto his chest.

Asuka: "I-I've spent every day of the past year trying to find a way to get you back... I missed you... so much... I was ready to trade my soul with a Demon just to see you again..."

I tightened my grip.

Asuka: "But despite how much I love you... I can't let you do this..."

Draco: "Then I'm sorry"

I was suddenly punched so hard in the stomach that all my strength vanished. I collapsed on top of him, however he caught me.

Draco: "I said I wouldn't kill you, I won't kill any of you. I... I still care about all of you. But once you see the truth, you'll see what I see"

I tried to keep my eyes open, however my body kept feeling weaker and weaker.

Draco: "Just rest. When you wake up, I'll explain everything"

He leaned me up again the hill and sat me down.

Draco: "I'm sorry... Please... Don't hate me..."

He turned to catch Alex's katana when he tried to strike him from behind.

Draco: "Stand down"

Alex: "Make me!!!"

Draco: "I wouldn't—"

He slammed his blade straight against Draco's face, however it was only the flat so it didn't cut him. It was still strong enough to send him flying back a bit, only to regain his balance and land on his feet.

Alex: "First Chris... then Yuki... then you... Who can I even trust anymore..."

Michael emerged from behind him.

Michael: "Alex, allow me to take over"

Alex: "This isn't your fight..."

Draco: "I wouldn't, Michael. I've got this"

He held up the back of his hand to show off the glowing tattoo of two crossed swords.

Michael: "As I expected, you possess both"

Draco: "Fight me if you want, but killing you is on the bucket list anyways"

Suddenly, Nozomi spoke up.

Nozomi: "You... you aren't Draco..."

Draco: "I'm still me"

Nozomi: "Draco would never kill..."

Draco: "That was the old me, the me that coward behind my friends when faced with a real threat. I've trained every single day to get stronger, so strong that don't need others to risk their lives for me. Now I can be the one to risk his life"

Alex: "Bullshit... The Draco I knew... the Draco who was my best friend would never ever hurt any of us...!! He wouldn't fight for a damned Demon!!! He wouldn't pick Hell over his own family...!!!!!"

Draco: "I'm with my family! I'm a fucking Demon!!"

Alex: "I don't care what you are!!"

Alex lowered his katana.

Alex: "I'll give you one last chance. Come with us now or I'll have no choice but to kill you. Don't make me kill my friend..."

Draco: "If I leave, millions of innocent souls will suffer. I won't let it happen, you just can't see it!"

A wave of blinding light exploded all over Draco, actually burning his skin a bit. I looked over and saw Nozomi pointing her staff at Draco, panting and crying.

Nozomi: "Are you choosing the Devil or your family? Answer me!!!"

Draco: "Nozomi..."

He held his hand out.

Draco: "I'm sorry"

A chain of Nether shot from his hand and wrapped around Nozomi, holding her down to the ground.

Nozomi: "D-Don't do this!!!"

Draco: "You'll all realize soon..."

Alex: "It was your job, man!! You were supposed to use the Dragon Bane to kill Satan!! That's what you're meant to do!!!"

Silence fell over us all.

Draco: "You care so much about it? Take it"

Draco's Warrior Bane tattoos morphed into the Dragon Bane tattoos, glowing tattoos of a dragon head. He dashed forward so fast that none of us could keep up. He smacked his palm into Alex's chest, sending him to the ground.

Alex: "W-What did—"

Alex suddenly started screaming, clenching his hands into his chest. Within seconds, his hands emitted a bright light similar to what Draco did. Soon, the Dragon Bane tattoos could be seen on the back of Alex's hands.

Draco: "There"

Alex stood up, his legs shaky.

Alex: "W-What did you... what did you do?!"

Draco: "I don't need that anymore"

Alex: "You... you aren't Draco anymore..."

Draco: "I am, but it's not a fair fight unless you have that"

Alex's body suddenly erupted in a massive explosion of flames. However, combining his flames with the Dragon Bane, his fire was now bright purple.

Alex: "I... I won't let you..."

Alex's eyes glowed purple.

Alex: "I won't let you get away with this!!!!"

Alex dashed forward so fast that I almost missed it, clashing his katana into the blade of Draco's axe. Alex's fire infused Aether and Draco's Nether swirled around them, causing the ground to shake and crack.

Alex: "You were like my brother!!!!"

Draco: "I must've been a sucky brother then"

Draco pushed him back with his pure strength alone. Alex quickly recovered and went in for another strike. Despite that, Draco met every attack with his own. Every clash sent shockwaves so powerful that it shook the ground.

I looked over and saw Jade standing over Nozomi, using one of his spears to try and get the chains off of her. When Yuki would try to get close, she would be attacked by a few hundred flying spears, so she wasn't an issue.

I tried to stand, but Draco hit me so hard that no matter how hard I tried, my body just gave out.

Meanwhile, Michael and Satan just stood there watching the clash.

Satan: "It would seem dear old Dad has chosen two new champions to represent us"

Michael: "It would appear so"

Satan: "What exactly were you planning on doing once you got here~? Lighting the place ablaze~?"

Michael: "I was ordered to burn this floor to the ground. However with you in possession of my bane, I cannot complete it successfully"

Satan: "Same to you, with your boy in possession of my bane, I can't even fight him off. Unlike Draco, he has the experience needed to wield it at nearly its max"

Michael: "How little you know"

Alex: "DRACO!!!!!!"

Alex's flames swirled around him like a tornado of fire. He had sheathed one of his swords, holding the other with both hands. From his back, fiery wings emerged and spread out with purple flames. His sword burned bright.

Alex: "This is your last chance!!! If you don't, this'll be it!!! I'll stop you right here and now!!!"

Draco: "I warned you..."

Draco's body began to turn dark like he normally did when he was in his rage state. Despite that, he was in full control. His hoodie ripped open to reveal raven black wings. His body emitted so much Nether that it formed a dome around him of pure darkness.

At the same time, Draco condensed all of his Nether into the blade of his axe while Alex did the same with his flames into the blade of his katana. They ran at each other, so fast that if you blinked, you missed it.

It only took one swing.

The explosion from their clash was so massive that all of us would've been caught up in it if it wasn't for Nozomi putting up a golden barrier around her and Jade. There wasn't enough time to reach me, however the Fallen Angel girl had appeared in front of me and protected me with a barrier of darkness.

When the dust settled, both were still standing. Suddenly, Draco fell to his knees. His hoodie split down the center as a massive gash was revealed.

Asuka: "D-Draco...!!!!"

Despite what I thought at first, Alex began to fall back. He landed on his back, blood soaking into his jacket. The cut from Draco's blade was so precise that it cut into Alex's chest, but left his shirt untouched. Draco let out a powerful scream of victory.

Michael appeared next to Alex and picked him up, healing him with his divine light.

Michael: "We must leave"

Jade and Nozomi tried to run for me, however Yuki and Raven stood in their path.

Yuki: "She'll be safe, believe me"

Nozomi: "I... I don't believe a single thing that comes out of your mouth..."

Michael: "Hurry!!"

His body was slowly turning into pure light.

Nozomi: "A-Asuka!!"

Asuka: "I-I'll be fine...!! Go make sure Alex is okay...!!"

Nozomi was on the brink of tears, however Jade pulled her along as the two of them reached Michael before he could vanish into a flash of golden light.

Asuka: "This... this can't be real... it... I-It can't..."

Draco: "It is"

I looked up and saw Draco standing above me, his wound still horrible and eyes still like a Demon, however his skin had turned back to normal.

Draco: "Rest, when you wake, I'll show you all that they've been hiding from you"

Before I knew it, I lost consciousness.