~ Where there is a woman, there is magic. ~

- Ntozake Shange.

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Faith:

Fuck.

It hurts.

My body almost succumb to the injures as I took in ragged breaths, almost failing to stand. It was the pure adrenaline keeping me going as I stood in front of Alchadar my back to him, sensing and feeling his body all worn out. The time that had lead to it was still unknown, my brain still nothing but a haze. It was hard to put anything together.

"Faith!" Chris called out happy, pinned down under a giant Bison. I widened my eyes slightly, more or so only now realizing where the hell I was. Or we was. On the walls hung my family's Insignia, and very familiar clothing belonging to the Angels. And the pile of holy weapons was unmatched as the realization dawned to me, was this a trophy chamber. Why was I here?

"Someone finally decided to wake up." Armen walked up beside me, nudging my arm. I smiled to him a little, vary still of Caim resting on the ground holding his side in pain. It would be quick.

"Al." I breathed, noticing that stubborn Demon get up to his feet. I however didn't allow it as I pushed him down, putting my hand to his face and closed my eyes, confident I was enough fast to patch him up. He couldn't fight in this state, it would be suicide. "Don't you even try. Gosh, why're you this hurt?"

A loud explosion suddenly rang in the air, causing the structure to the ceiling above us come crumbling down. I flinched slightly of the sight but focused again, it all dawned to me then and there. If they were here in the castle, there must be a whole another situation going on outside these walls. Had the war begun already?

I'm in the wrong goddamn place.

"Save your strenght." Alchadar argued as he tried to grab a hold of my hand, I put the other on it to stop him. My eyes tightly closed as I concentrated to his bleeding open wounds, sealing them with Holy light the best I could.

"And fail my promise?" I shot back, offering him a small smile. Alchadar was a little hesitant to my answer, it would seem he didn't expect me to remember such a thing. "I'm not letting you die down here because of me." I was about to be finished, hearing the footsteps of someone in the distance. My senses were tingling. Caim was up.

"I wouldn't allow to go out any other way." Alchadar offered me a smile, I noticed his forehead had finally closed and his body was glowing. I groaned and rolled my eyes, very typical of him to say such a thing. "Or you." Alchadar had to interrupt me as he noticed something, pulling me to stay behind him as his blade came in contact with Caim's sword. I fell hard on my ass.

"So you managed to get free?" Caim growled, his black eyes set to me. It was purely driven by will to kill. Alchadar punched his side and avoided his sword, disarming him in one quick hit.

"Shut up." Chris jumped to Caim's back, headlocking his head. Chris' arms squeezed tight around Caim's neck, forcing him to the ground on his knees. I noticed an odd golden pattern appear under him and looked over to see a bloody blue haired girl- a sorcerer? She hit the ground with her wand and sudden chains appeared from the ground, locking Caim to his spot.

Chris let go and took his distance, standing beside Alchadar. I noticed an odd group approach after them, and the two giants laying dead on the ground not far away. Had they been dealing with them the entire time? It made me slightly vince, it looked brutal. What was going on?

"Curse you all!" Caim growled out loud, trashing around in his chains. They were black and strong steel, not quaranteed his freedom. I stood up from the ground, pressing a hand to my bleeding thigh. It had been open far long and I didn't want it to get infected, healing it as I finally had the chance. Knowing I would be okay, the wide group of people standing before me calming me down.

They really came for me?

"Do we put him out of his misery?" Armen asked then, looking to Alchadar. My partner was standing there strong again, his stamina regained once his wounds were healed. A reassuring sight.

I pushed past him and Chris, looking at the caged Demon almost as if he was possessed. It gave me the feeling of how the tables had turned. It was him all alone in our mercy. The fact I remember fairly well how he gave me no mercy when I was in his situation, it almost made me snap his head clean off.

"... You decide."

Alchadar nudged my arm, earning me to look up at him. His red eyes were still glaring at Caim as he tried to gain freedom, however he gave me the opportunity to make this decision. Me? Then again I feel like he gives me the opportunity choose my course of action, granting me the possibility to choose between two things.

I narrowed my eyes and looked down, meeting Caim's black orbs stern. It wasn't as intimidating as it was with King Belial. This Demon caused pure hatred in my soul, something I hated more than anything.

"You wouldn't have the guts to do it." Caim tempted eagerly, a teasing grin on his face. His words made me draw out my blade as I held it forward, to his face. Reminding him of the mental torture he put me through, feeling helplesness and fear. Even if Demons were immune to such things, I wanted to think I was able to arise some hidden emotions.

"Oh, I beg to differ." I spat back, the venom and hurt evident in my voice. I rose my blade up and prepared to strike it down, noticing the shift in his posture. I allowed Holy light to consume my blade, knowing a single swing of it would wipe out half of his years. Kill him instantly. The others held their breaths, eager to witness such a thing. Yet the lingering tug in my brain as well hidden amber eyes were giving me an unsure look. It made me realize something.

I struck my blade down hard, Caim closed his eyes.

Clanck.

My blade hit to the ground beside him. Earning a very odd look from the covering Demon before me.

"What!? You're letting him live!" Chris argued beside me, I slowly stood back on my feet. Not looking in his direction to hesitate on my decision. "After all he put you through!"

Alchadar held him back, resting a careful hand on my shoulder. My eyes never left Caim's. "Are you sure of this?"

"... I've forgotten a piece of myself somewhere along the way. My deep sleep made me realize it." I begun slow, looking down at the weapon resting in my hand. The fact I was able to give mercy to everyone. Hell, everyone was able for a change. And this would be no different. "This doesn't concider no one else but King Belial and his armada. His reign will stop," I bent down to my knees, glaring and daring for Caim to try anything. "While I do believe some are able to change."

"... I hope the apple falls far from the tree." Armen growled to my conclusion, eyeing Caim as well. Chris finally groaned and gave up, walking away from the situation to cool off. It would seen he wanted to slay some Demons' today, however I didn't grant this one. I wanted to be right. I wanted to be the bigger person.

"Don't take this granted." Alchadar spoke to Caim, warning. I stood up again and noticed the Demon relax a little, glaring his little brother a little. "You've been given a second chance at life. Use it well."

"For Satan's sake..." Caim rested on his knees, sighing deeply in defense. His predicament evident, however it would seem he really thought about it. Being spared by his enemy. I wanted him to realize that. I could've of have done it. In the blink of an eye. Without hesitation. Yet I didn't.

"-- The backlines have secured the perimeter behind the castle. They're coming in." A strange man said, the stench hit my nostrils almost immediately. Werewolves.

"The what?" I asked, puzzled.

"We must get going." Alchadar nodded, to some unknown reason I was left a little dazzling. What was the plan? Or was there one? "I'll escort Faith out, and follow after you. The main task is to locate His whereabouts."

"Just a second guys." I was a little puzzled, raising my hand up to heal the strange group's wounds. They were friendly, part of us. Meaning it was my job to keep them alive. "Is the plan still the same?"

"Yup, meaning you need to get out." Chris almost interrupted my work, I shot him a sharp finger. I was almost finished. My eyes scanned his and Armen's wounds, I rose my other hand to quickly seal them as well. It was draining yet I didn't give in to it, refusing to falter to this.

"Wait... now." I sighed and stopped, feeling their bodies going strong and regained back to normal. A work of art I was able to help that way. "Anyone even know where the mad King is?"

The unsure looks exchanged between one another gave me the idea they weren't, it was a whole goddamn castle to search for. And to hope he wouldn't start a ruckus because of it.

"... In his chamber."

Our heads turned slowly to Caim's direction, the Demon slumped on his knees almost defeated. The words had slipped from his lips. What? He just revealed his Father's whereabouts to us? Almost too easily?

It would seem my heart was in the right place.

"Do we trust his word?" Chris questioned suspiciosly, eyeing Alchadar's body language. It was almost evident if he caught the bullshit, but there seemed to be none. Alchadar slowly nodded, his red eyes lingering in Caim's defeated demeanor. He had given up. Or realized something. It was something I couldn't understand, but my partner seemed to.

"It's the only thing we've got." Alchadar agreed slowly, nodding once Caim met his eyes. A sudden brotherhood returned as a small smile played my lips. "You join with the armada in the back and await for my command. Let's move."

It was my cue to push myself moving as I noticed the strange pack take the front, everyone following. We left Caim strapped to the chains, alone. In the trophy room of my fallen comrade's belongings. The thought made me shiver. I'd do everything in my power to bury them... I'd definitely do it. We couldn't risk letting him go and changing his mind. Too much of a risk.

We entered a dark dungeon, I wondered where the hell I was. This wasn't definitely the place I once was. It wasn't until I almost vomited of the sight unfolding before me- dead creatures and rigor mortis smelling in a dark hallway. The sight made my stomach churn in agony as I slapped a hand on my mouth, covering it.

"I'm gonna puke." I warned, trying to avoid stepping on any of the slimy creatures.

"Such a lady as ever." Chris howled out a laugh, not even looking where he stepped. He was too used to gore. Finally we stepped out of red door, stepping to a large hallway. I forced what was left of the food in my abdomen down, noticing a hand grasp mine and the others' running to the opposite direction. Down a very long and gloomy hallway. "We'll wait for you!"

"Come on." Alchadar lead me to the opposite direction where Chris, Armen, the sorcerer girl and the werewolves disappeared. I glanced an odd glance back but didn't argue, knowing I would tire myself out in a second. I could use Daniel's healing. For now I decided to go with their gut and plan, trusting them with my life.

We came down the corridoor and took a tight left, noticing the whole section of a wall was gone. An open gap in it. And it lead outside. Alchadar pushed his original plan away as he ran towards it, stopping in front of the rumble of rocks. I noticed the immense fighting, arrows and swords flying. Everyone yelling and fighting. A sight I hadn't yet seen. So strong and faltering. It made me halt strong.

"It's started?" I asked shocked, noticing the pile of dead bodies on the ground. My eyes widened as it was both enemy and our comrades. The question was more to myself, to let it actually dawn to me.

"Can you transform your wings?" Alchadar asked as he put his blade back to it's sheath, turning to me stern. I snapped out of it and had figured out how to do it, allowing my white wings emerge without transforming. "Good. I need you to find Mona, she'll give you the mindlink everyone has, that way you can listen the situation. Ben will come to pick you up, but you need to fly high. They might mistaken you as a boogey first. From there they'll take you to Daniel." Alchadar strapped his small dagger to my side, noticing I was missing my normal artillery. My blade my only cover.

"Right." I nodded strong, not failing to miss a single command of his. Ben, Mona then Daniel. Piece of cake. Why not straight run to the open area? "Al."

"Yes?"

I grabbed his head and pulled him in, forcing him to a kiss. A small tear drop fell down my face. It dawned to me this could potentially be the last time I see him, hoping dearly it wouldn't be. But King Belial was a completely different thing to deal with, I only hoped they managed to draw the King out.

Alchadar lent to the touch, I felt his brain calm down a little. It sure made me feel 10x better through all this.

"Thanks for saving me. But don't you dare die on me." I commanded after releasing his head, unattaching us. Alchadar wiped the tear away from my face and smiled confidently, wiping away the redt my fears. "I mean it."

"I'm not intending to die today. I have still so much to live for and experience with you." Alchadar cupped my cheek, putting his forehead to mine. A soft and calm gesture between all this chaos, the one thing I yearned to have. And for him to promise not to die on me. A satisfied sigh left me as I nodded, smiling to his touch. The reassurance I needed. "Now, go."

I got up on my feet, a little shaky as I turned to stand on the pile of rocks. I glanced back and offered a small smile to Alchadar, promising silently I would do my best. And our time apart wouldn't be that great. At least I hoped it wouldn't be. Not now or never.

I can do this.

"Okay." I took in a deep breath, recognizing the wings attached to my back. All it really took was some space as my wings activated and sent me flying towards the open skies, leaving the Castle's horrors. Such a short period of time being there. It only meant how good friends I had by my side, and Alchadar as well. Once I got really high I looked around, the sight made me hesitant down below.

The Giants were crushing the warriors and skeletons with their feet, some summoning the Earth's power and using it to their advantage to clear some room. In the middle of it were the wide group of soldiers and warriors, making room and as much casualties as possible from the enemy ranks, destroying everything in their path. On further right I noticed the Dwarves sending out fireballs towards the Kingdom, small fairies beside them as they enchanted them- and it would seem as they made contact, the fireball exploded and caused more damage.

Now this is some serious operation.

Beside my head flew an arrow, I almost questioned how far it went. My head dropped down to notice the Elves lined up to the back along with Sorcerers and witches, supporting the backlines. Their arrows didn't miss as they shot at King Belial's troopers, each hitting a target. A very familiar Elf had climbed up to stand on top of a cannon a Dwarf was operating, waving up towards me. A small smile cracked on my face as I waved back, relieved to see Praxina there.

"-- Faith!" Ben's voice was heard, I noticed him catching up to me in the air. He had transformed into a huge bird, most likely watching the skies. "I'm glad you're okay. Now, come on!" He nudged my side and turned a full 90° degrees around me, directing me to follow after him. I was a little dumbfounded still but dove down as instructed, approaching the backlines with him.

"I knew you'd miss me." It gave me the perfect opportunity to fly past Praxina and slap my hand to hers, a glad and happy face on. The odd glances towards my direction didn't go unnoticed. Oh... was I supposed to stay hidden? The thought made me cringe as I quickly followed after Ben, hearing the Elf princess yelling after me.

"You're a crazy bitch, you know that!?"

I laughed, there might be some truthness in there. Ben dove down behind some cannons operated by the Dwarves and a few fairies, one particularly popping up. Mona. And Bella standing beside her enchanting the fireballs on the further section of the war in North.

"Good. It'll sting a little." Mona was glad to notice me and Ben, quickly flying up to me and clapping her hands. I noticed two fairies appear from behind her and engulf their hands together, shooting a tiny purple stray through my head. She didn't lie about the stinging, the right side of my head pulsed as suddenly countless of voices rang through it. I could hear everyone. "Now get out of here. As far as we're concerned no one's noticed, but it's still too early to say. Hush!"

The tiny fairy gave a really hard shove as I was left standing there eyes wide.

Well, yes ma'am!

"Tell me if anything comes up." I ordered to the both of them, hesitant to just leave them. They fired another fireball to the Castle's side, looking at me puzzled.

"We've got it covered." Ben reassured and grinned as the boulder came in contact with the Castle's right side, sending it to pieces. Revealing another hole in the castle's structure. "Hell yeah!"

They're having fun...

I sighed, satisfied my presence wasn't needed. At that I flew up to the skies again and headed North, sensing a familiar presence lingering in the distance. My partner in crime in finishing the old mad King. It was a long way to fly alone, almost a few dozen kilometers. If anything happened we wouldn't be able to strike as fast, and the thought made me worry. Why was it so far away?

A hoodie wearing guy was sitting in the distance, alarmed as he noticed me arriving. A tiny smirk tugged the corner of my lips as I landed on the small hill he was sitting on anxiosly, probably listening the podcast of war cries in his head.

And it was not so nice to hear.

"Thank God." Daniel sighed in defeat and put a hand on his chest, I could almost see most of his worry fade as he noticed me. It made me snort as I approached him, opening my arms and engulfing him in to a hug. He really looked like he needed one. And for the truth, I had really missed this guy. Such a fun person. "They got you out?"

"Somehow yeah." I smiled up at him and let go, looking to the distance where gunfires and the cannons could be heard over here. It was a thing that would probably be carved deep to my brain. "We managed to get Caim tell us where the King is hiding. That's where they're headed right now. Do we really just sit here and wait around for them?"

The anxiousness was taking over, knowing people were putting their lives at risk at the front. Not to mention Alchadar, Chris and Armen inside the castle of doom, and everyone else stuck in there as well. The mindlink between Alchadar and me wasn't helping either, I could feel his distress and him fighting. There was something where they went, was it the King or not was impossible to tell.

"It's the best we've got..." Daniel trailed in the middle of his sentence, looking to a distance. I understood it was someone speaking to him, however I couldn't hear a thing. Daniel's eyes widened as his wings flew up, really high. Something was up.

"What is it?" I asked hesitant, unsure.

'All units. The target is moving towards the Underworld's entrance. Group 5 divide and stop him.'

Daniel's head rang through my head, I flew up to where he was. From there I saw the fire smoke and the explosions sent to the castle's walls, the right side of the castle my target. The Underworld entrance. The spot which Dagon and his group was supposed to take control over.

"He..." I trailed off as well, noticing Alchadar was still fighting. The new information received only made him halt and be as eager with his killing as ever. No, something was up. "He was never there?"

Did Caim lie?

Or was there something else as well?

"Zena said that King Belial used their younger siblings. That way managing to snuck past everyone." Daniel said his face turned to a frown, worried if he reached his goal. I almost questioned but didn't, Zena was a matter at another time. Suddenly I felt something warm on my body, raising an eyebrow as Daniel used his healing powers to me. Patching up my thigh fully and the bruices evident on my arms and face. "We need to be on the A-game."

"You don't say." I wondered, sighing in defense. My eyes crossed tightly on my chest, it felt just stupid to sit around for everyone to do our dirty work for us. However at the same time I understood if they wore out we'd be there to cover the injured and heal them, replacing their spots on the battlefield. Valuable assets, but saving us for later felt a little too cautious.

My mind was listening intently at Alchadar's, his worn out state telling me he was running. Were they trying to get to the cellar?

'-- It's bad.'

Dagon's voice informed from the voice-link, his mind in full pain. My eyes widened slightly in confusion until a bright light was sent out of the castle's cellar, up towards the sky. It was a powerful force, creating a huge wind to blow everywhere. We barely embraced ourselves as we kept flying, trying to see.

It was a portal, no doubt. An opened portal. The skies were suddenly rumbling of dark clouds and thunder, hiding the once clear day under an ominous atmostphere. Thunder struck the ground to where some of the people resided, earning painful yells. It was almost enough for me to launch, there were injured people. But Daniel held me back, sensing something bad.

It almost made me growl out in frustration, of course it wouldn't be too easy.

Of course he has some sort of Ace up in his sleeve.

'Close the portal!'

Alchadar's voice rang through as a command, the sudden hesitance in his voice made me halt. Whatever was happening, it didn't sound good.

The biggest light illumination happened as a sudden phenomenon struck, causing a huge explosion happen right on Demon Kingdom's castle. It was enough powerful to peel the ground from a few hundred feet, leaving the people out on the field to fetch for themselves. I noticed enough fast how Giants bent the ground in their will, creating rock walls to face most of the impact. It still was enough to knock them back.

And us as well.

"Whoa!" I wasn't enough strong to withstand the huge blow of air, it knocked me from my balance. Yet I reached out and grabbed a hold of a tree branch, holding on to it for dear life waiting it to end. "Daniel!?"

"I'm fine!" His voice yelled not far from me, I couldn't see. I was too busy trying to not get dirt blown to my face, the force knocked down a few trees. And then, it stopped.

My wings catched me once the gravity took control again, I slowly flew up to see again. The bright light had disappeared, meaning whatever the hell everyone inside the castle just pulled managed to close the portal. Leaving only a huge dust and rumble of a Kingdom left. I got worried the second I could feel Alchadar barely conscious, knowing he was too close to that. Way too close.

"We gotta go." I barely contained myself, hearing the cries and whines of the people near the Kingdom. Daniel didn't argue as he flew after me, knowing it was pretty bad.

'What the hell is that?'

'We're going to die!'

'Oh my God!'

Suddenly we heard people freaking out, noticing movement to where the destruction had happened. And the closer we got it made us halt, staring eyes wide. It wasn't nothing small. But the biggest mountain that moved inside the cloud of dust. Sudden light illumination of blue happened as a huge tail whacked the smoke out, revealing the ugliest and dangerous looking creature of the century. Like the mix of a dinosaur and a sea monster- a sight that shouldn't exist.

It wasn't alone as a smaller one crawled on the ground, reminding of a lizard with huge eight legs and the mouth that of a shark. These beasts weren't from this world.

They came from Satan's doorstep himself.

"What the hell?" Daniel questioned, staring at the monsters in disbelief. The creatures shrieked out loud, the sound so high pitched it made my ears ring. His head wondered elsewhere again, listening. I recognized it was Zena talking to him, this time whatever she said didn't sound good. It was the sight purely alone to make you feel that.

'All units. Prepare yourselves.' Daniel took in a deep breath to translate, it made my skin crawl. 'It's a class S-rank predator, and the smaller one is class B-rank. Their only purpose is to kill and destroy everything in their path. Approach with extreme vigilance.'

'Class-S!?'

'Nah, we can't beat those things. Look at the size of those armours. We need bigger guns in the field!'

"They're hesitating." I said as I was hesitating. Hell, by purely looking at the creatures had my skin crawling. King Belial managed to pull these ones out of the Underworld, meaning this was the biggest problem in our hands now. If they got out to roam the lands freely, I didn't want to know the number of casualties caused by it. The innocent lives lost yet again.

'... We're coming to help.' I spoke to the mindlink, noticing Daniel wipe all his hesitation as he followed after me. I flew as fast as I could, hoping I could reach there fast enough. I needed to, there was no hesitation things would get ugly once those beasts got to work.

'-No!' Dagon called out. I narrowed my eyebrows in return.

'Fall back, Daniel and Faith. It's Class-S rank.' Alchadar's voice was heard next, I noticed the four eyed creature look up towards the sky. I halted, pulling Daniel to a stop as well. Where was this going.  'It only hunts-- the beings it conciders a danger. It's only goal is to be-- the strongest standing being.' His painful rasp made my heart ache as my hands clenched to fists, the situation already frustrating enough. And now hearing this? Yet again another obstacle preventing us from helping anyone, the only reason purely to keep us out of harm's way.

"Faith...?"

Daniel tapped my shoulder, I glanced his direction. But my head was earned elsewhere as I heard something powering up, noticing the S-rank  creature charging his body from his tail, to his body, and all the way up to his mouth. Such raw power. Almost magnetic and the elements completely else than Earth's beings.

It fired a huge blast of blue destrutible power towards the sky--

In our direction.

'Faith!'

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~ Keep reading.