The Guardian Temple

Table of Contents
Chapter 17 l Chapter 18 l Chapter 19 l Chapter 20 l Chapter 21 l Chapter 22 l Chapter 23
Chapter 24 l Chapter 25 l Chapter 26 l Chapter 27 l Chapter 28 l Chapter 29 l Chapter 30 l Chapter 31
Chapter 32 l Chapter 33

Ragna

It felt like no time had passed after we laid Rachel to rest.

Yet here I was, walking into a chamber at Timothy’s behest.

It was a briefing, of sorts. )A time to collect ourselves.

Asmodai was at my side, with the blade of St. Michael on my back.

“Where’s Sara?” I asked, noticing her absence.

“Brooding about Belial’s escape,” Asmodai informed, “Mistress.”

“I don’t suppose she’s in a forgiving mood then,” I sighed, “Will she still fight with us?”

“Yes. However she is not keen on the Guardian Temple Leadership at this time,” Asmodai informed as we entered the briefing room.

Timothy sat at a large round table, opposite him was Archangel Gabriel and their three heads, giving me mixed looks, alongside Raphael.

I wondered, briefly, how one would function having to handle three sets of expressions or if it occurred naturally.

Zepherina was next to Timothy, Vael on the other side of him. Demond and Tasha sat next to them, with Demond closer to Vael. Next to Zepherina was Forcas, whom Asmodai took a seat next to.

Raphael’s gaze was fixed firmly on Asmodai as he did so.

This left Xei sitting agitatedly next to Tasha, glancing around the room incredulously. “Auntie,” Xei said with a mock wave, “Nice of you to join us.”

“Yes,” Gabriel began, “As much as we have a mild advantage of some time due to the differences between Terra and The Guardian Temple, it is not infinite,” Gabriel admonished.

I narrowed my eyes on them, “My apologies. I was burying my wife! You’d think after suffering the ‘tribulations’ your Father put me through, I’d have gotten more efficient at laying my lovers to rest. I’ll do better with the next one,” I spat flippantly.

Gabriel growled, “This is why I lacked trust in Michael’s decision. You are still filled with hatred and resentment towards Our Heavenly Father!”

I scoffed, “Resentment is putting it mildly,” I turned to Timothy, “Trust me, this is a situation of an ‘enemy of my enemy’,” I mused.

Gabriel rose from their chair, “And how has that worked out for you, historically?”

I narrowed my eyes on Gabriel, “The Blade of St. Michael might not harm you, Gabriel, but I have other means to remove heads.”

Timothy’s fist slammed down on the table, “Enough!” His voice echoed and I watched his ice-blue eyes pulse with a shimmering light. Timothy narrowed those glowing eyes on me, “Mother, we are allies, for now. Let us not give Xyphiel any further advantages than we already have.”

I heaved a sigh, calming myself and turned to the agitated Gabriel, “He’s right.”

Gabriel growled and sat down, “Metatron, we turn to you for guidance.”

Timothy nodded, “Vael?” He motioned to the angelic construct that was once Sofia and Samael.

Vael lifted their arms up, showing a map of Europe, much of it covered in black, indicating conquered or burned lands. “Through the messages and witness of our watching angels and allied army troops on the ground, Xyphiel’s horde of demons hasn’t slowed since it ran through Themyscira. They may be using it as a new base of operations, out of spite.”

I scoffed, “Of course. My bastion of hope and progress turned against me.”

“Hope?” one of Gabriel’s heads scoffed.

I turned to Gabriel, “Yes. Hope. As in the hope to be free and live as you desire. To learn, to read, to do all the things that churches do not allow freely!” I snapped.

“Mother!” Timothy bellowed again.

I turned to see Timothy’s icy blue eyes pulsing in wisps of blue flame.

“This is not the time to air your grievances with the misguided understanding of the churches you faced before!” Timothy bellowed, “Xyphiel is waging a war against life itself, and if he has his way, this universe will be his! Enough of this!”

I was taken aback by Timothy’s outburst.

Asmodai rose to his feet, glaring down at Timothy, “Do not think I have issue with removing your head, Voice of God. Dare not speak to my Mistress in such a manner!”

Zepherina stood between Asmodai and Timothy, Vael flanking her, “Try it, Asmodai. I kicked your ass once, I’ll do it again.”

“Consider yourself, Asmodeous,” Raphael said, not rising, but turning to Asmodai, “For she is not the only one who has vanquished you.”

Asmodai growled.

Timothy stood now, standing up on the table and glaring at us, “This infighting wastes precious time!” He roared, glaring at us, “We must work together, past enemies or not! I think we can all agree that Xyphiel winning is a poor outcome for all, yes?!”

“Here here!” Forcas shouted, pulling Asmodai back by the shoulder, “Asmodai, I beseech you, you need not defend your mistress from her son.”

Asmodai heaved a sigh and turned to me.

I nodded, glancing up to Timothy, “I’m sorry. I’ll keep my grievances to myself, so we can focus on how to best strike back.”

Timothy gave a snort, his nostrils flaring and his eyes closing as he stepped off the table.

That’s when I felt a pain and a tinnitus struck my left ear.

I covered my ear and winced as a voice cried out.

“Mistress… I have been discovered… take… my warning!” I heard Esmeralda call out.

“Aunt Ragna?” I heard Tasha ask, concerned.

I shook my head, “Hush… I hear Esmeralda.”

“Esmeralda?” Asmodai asked.

“I left her behind as a mole,” I grunted, “Quiet…”

“Xyphiel licks his wounds… in your hallowed city… He had collected the avatars of sin within himself to grow stronger… He is… now… the pain! Oh the pain is unbearable! Kill me! Kill me now! I beg!” Esmeralda’s voice screeched.

I winced, Esmeralda must have been suffering some ungodly torment if she, a demoness, was begging for the mercy of death.

“Speak, Esmeralda! You must tell me!” I called out to her.

I staggered as a horrific cry of suffering filled my head, followed by gasping words, “He… stands… on your city… giving up the power he took from the vanquished avatars of sin… to give them out anew….” Esmeralda managed to squeak out. Her next string of words came more easily, “He has taken the power of Belphegor and Astaroth. Now holding all but two sins, of Wrath and Lust. But he… Plans… No. Stop. I beg!”

I winced, “Esmeralda, are you trying to say he’s going to choose new Avatars of Sin?” I asked.

After more cries of suffering, pleading and despair, I heard her call out, “Yes.”

The tinnitus stopped. I moved my hand from my ear, looking at the concerned faces of those standing around the table, “...Xyphiel is crowning new avatars of sin. Belphegor and Astaroth failed Xyphiel, seems he stripped them of their power-”

“Score!” Zepherina cried out, interrupting me.

“-and taken it for himself,” I finished.

“Oh… crap,” Zepherina sighed.

Gabriel frowned, “New Avatars?”

“I killed one,” Zepherina chimed in, “the avatar of Greed, La Cruz.”

Raphael frowned, “He is not an avatar of sin. But a lowly servant of Mammon.”

“Well something did this,” Zepherina said, showing her finger tips. Still they appeared pale, scorched and scarred.

Raphael approached her hands, touching them gingerly. “...You shattered the essence of a sin? But…” Raphael sighed, “Tis fruitless. An avatar of sin is a spiritual manifestation of the darkness of collective souls.”

“Meaning?” Tasha asked.

Xei chuckled, “Wait… Can it not be destroyed, only transformed?”

Raphael nodded, “Yes. Are you wise in the spiritual ways, undead one?”

“No. But I know how conservation of energy works,” Xei scoffed, “Same thing. You cannot destroy or create energy and mass, it can only be transformed or transferred from one form to another.”

Raphael scoffed, “Mortals take all the awe out of God’s works, I swear.”

Xei rolled her eye, turning to me, “So, that means there’s no point in killing the Avatars of Sin, dad will just make new ones.”

“No,” Asmodai chimed in, “An avatar of sin’s destruction, as in the Demon whom is holding the essence or culmination of that sin, still has a great deal of impact.”

Gabriel nodded, “Asmodai could attest to this, having been a former sin himself.”

Asmodai nodded.

“So… We kill the demon, who’s an Avatar of Sin. No offense, but having seen those guys on the field, they’re no joke,” Demond chimed in.

“La Cruz wasn’t nearly as strong as Belial,” Zepherina stated, “Trust me, I know.”

Asmodai nodded, “It’s unlikely he would be. He was only recently given the essence of Greed. It takes time to fully acclimate to the power of a sin. To bond with it, become one with it. Some are easier than others, but Greed is difficult when the world is in the state it’s in. Less are so focused on the act of greed and more on survival.”

Timothy nodded, “So… This gives us a marked advantage.”

“It does,” Forcas chimed in, “If Xyphiel is expelling the essences of sins to new avatars, he’ll be divesting his power. As a result, there will be five lesser avatars of sin, who could be more easily fended off,” Forcas said as he glanced at Timothy, “A concentrated strike on Xyphiel, the moment he gives up that power, would be hitting him at his weakest. When the avatars are still fledglings.”

Zepherina nodded, “La Cruz wasn’t a pushover, though. He was still more potent than any other demon I faced. Just not as potent as when I went against Belial.”

“Your skills have since changed, young miss,” Forcas said with a smile.

“But I still remember how hard Belial hit,” Zepherina admitted, “and La Cruz couldn’t hold a candle to Belial.”

“This doesn’t change the fact that the Demon Horde is rolling across most of the planet,” Demond interjected.

Gabriel nodded, “Yes. I do not think we can do both. We must make sacrifices, and focus all our effects on Xyphiel alone.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Did I say something amusing?” Gabriel hissed.

“Mortal lives are so cheap to you angels, aren’t they?” I glared at Gabriel, my teeth gritted, “Just let the mortals die. A willing sacrifice, right?!” I snapped.

Gabriel paused, confused as I grew more enraged.

“Those people trusted me to protect them, damn it!” I roared, “I’ll be damned if I defeat Xyphiel, all to recover a smoldering ball of dirt!”

Gabriel’s face slowly turned to a smile, “Perhaps my brother was right. You are unlike your father.”

“No shit,” I hissed.

Gabriel’s faces quickly lost their grins. “I believe the saying remains, among mortals: One cannot devour their cake and possess it at the same time.”

Demond paused, “Wait, is that what that phrase means?!”

Xei chuckled, “Oh, Demond… At least you’re easy on the eye.”

Tasha leveled a withering gaze at Xei, who shrugged.

“That just makes you the lucky one, sis,” Xei chuckled.

Gabriel’s heads had mixed expressions of anger, joy, and sadness as they turned to Xei. “While he wished for you to move on, perhaps move on to an open seat, yes Xei?” Gabriel whispered.

Xei paused, her smile vanishing as she turned to Raphael. “Is there a way to contain the sins?”

Raphael turned to Asmodai and Forcas, “I know of no way, outside of taking the sin unto one’s own soul. Which could either destroy you or bond you to the sin itself.”

Asmodai nodded, “Yes. How Xyphiel is even containing them is a mystery to me.”

Forcas sighed, “Normally, that would be the case. Xyphiel, however, has corrupted the Seal of Solomon, and is using it to contain the essences for himself.”

“So we cut the seal off of him,” Zepherina said, “Like, slice off his hand!”

“The seal is not merely upon his palm,” Forcas explained, “That is where he expresses it, but Xyphiel, himself, is the seal.”

I felt the sword of St. Michael pulse in its scabbard by my side. I placed my hand on the handle, hearing a whisper.

“Kriggary is the Seal.”

I sighed, “Well, Kriggary was but…” I shook my head, “It’s Xyphiel’s now. There’s no changing that.”

Zepherina frowned, “So… What’s the plan?”

Timothy looked around the room, and I gave him a nod of confidence. “We send a strike force to interrupt Xyphiel’s Avatar creation. We’ll wait until he’s crowned them, maybe even sent them off. If not, we occupy the lesser avatars and strike at Xyphiel when he’s weakest.” He turned to Gabriel, “I will trust the Archangels to halt the advance of the demon horde in the meantime, using all the forces of Heaven.”

“Without commanders, they will be in disarray,” Asmodai advised, “Send myself and Forcas to the front lines. We will aid in defending against the lesser demons.”

“Xyphiel is going to have three new Avatars of sin, there will still be the other two on the field, right?” Demond asked.

“No, not necessarily. For the ritual to commence, at least one of the standing Avatars must be present to admit a new Avatar of sin. This isn’t a simple process either. An Avatar could be rejected, forcing Xyphiel to start over,” Forcas nodded, “So the hordes of Hell, lacking their higher officers, would likely be without key leadership. Not the greatest state for any army to be in.”

“So who goes to take out Xyphiel?” I asked.

Timothy took a deep breath, “I will go, alongside Vael and Zepherina.”

I scoffed, “And me.”

Timothy nodded.

“Don’t think you’re going to fight Xyphiel alone, sir,” Demond said, standing up.

Gabriel smiled warmly as he did.

“I have a score to settle too,” Demond finished, “Sir.”

Timothy nodded, “Of course, old friend.”

Demond smiled.

“I’ll be there too,” Tasha announced, “Alongside my sister, Xei.”

“Uh, why am I getting roped into this?!” Xei protested. “I can do more on the front lines.”

“Father will have to face all of his children,” Tasha said firmly.

Xei hesitated, but sighed, “Yeah. Fine, I guess. I have equal chances of dying in the field. May as well do my best to kill dad.”

“So, we have our plan,” I announced, “Lets get-” I cried out, grabbing my ear again as the tinnitus returned.

“He… Chooses… Now… Mistress!” Esmeralda called out before her voice went silent.

I paused, everyone's eyes on me, “We don’t have much time.”

…

Zepherina

I was ready, as was my mom, Ragna.

Though I wasn’t sure how everyone else was.

Demond wanted a piece of Xyphiel for his role in having his brother, Elon, killed. There was no talking Demond down from that, sure. But Demond wasn’t able to take Xyphiel on before his ascension and I was rather certain that he didn’t have the capacity to do so now.

Tasha and Xei alone were the same as Demond. I’ve never seen them fight side-by-side, but they know each other’s style well, together they could be formidable. Tasha’s weapon alone might be useful, and if Xei could run some interference, then that would give us an advantage.

Confusion against our enemy would be good, but I had to consider that they could cause us just as much trouble.

I glanced at Vael as we made our way to the Gate of the Guardian Temple.

“Vael, are you prepared to deal with the decisions we may have to make in the midst of battle?” I asked.

Vael didn’t even hesitate, “If you speak on matters regarding our attack force's potential losses,” they said, turning their face to address me, “I am well versed in the concept of triage on the battlefield.”

Demond responded next, “I’m well aware you’re considering me when you make that statement.”

I turned to Demond, who seemed far less upset than I expected him to be.

“I’m not going to slow you down. Xyphiel won’t be alone. I plan on taking on a fledgling Avatar of Sin here and there, General,” Demond said with a salute.

I gave him a nod.

“Besides, I’ll be there to watch his back,” Tasha commented.

“And I’ll watch hers,” Xei scoffed, “Besides, I’d rather be dead than see my father win another war. So, in a macabre sort of way, this works out.”

“No one is dying other than my father,” Timothy said firmly as we reached the door.

I turned to see Asmodai, Forcas and Gabriel behind us.

“You’ll stop the advance of the demonic forces?” I asked.

Forcas bowed, “General, I have worked closely alongside Gabriel and the other Archangels. We will halt the advancing hordes and push them back to Hell from whence they came.”

“It is a welcome feeling to have you on Father’s side once more, brother Forcas,” Gabriel’s voice called out in unison, “We have missed you.”

“And I have missed you as well,” Forcas said with a wide smile, “I expect to hear your trumpeting choir of victory over the battlefield soon, Archangel Gabriel.”

Asmodai rolled his eyes, “Let us leave to a more welcome place on the battlefield,” he growled, “Less I slay myself before this pointless fawning.”

“Your orders are to achieve victory, Asmodai,” Ragna called out.

Asmodai bowed, “And that I shall give unto you, my Mistress.”

Timothy moved to the doors, placing his hands on them, “Take us to where Xyphiel will fall.”

With a push, the doors opened.

We walked out, and I felt my face fall.

We were in Themyscira or what was left of it.

Within the ruined city, beams of the afternoon sunlight shimmered through the billowing smoke from multiple smoldering buildings and broken streets.

Corpses had been piled high and burned.

Once we were all out, the Guardian Temple Doors shut firmly behind us and vanished.

“This must be as close as we could get,” Timothy sighed, “The site of Xyphiel’s foul rituals is likely corrupting everything around it.”

I glanced at the capitol building, still intact, but barely.

Columns before it were broken, as were multiple windows. The doors hung on by a single hinge. The steps were broken and seared with signs of fire and stained with blood.

Ragna moved next to me, “We will rebuild it.”

I heaved a sigh and moved forward, seeing the darkness surrounding the capitol building, “Once we send Xyphiel to Hell.” I wasn’t trying to be pessimistic, but the rampant optimism was pushing my nerves.

Morale is one thing, blind faith is another.

We moved towards the steps, and as I took my first step, the ground shivered, and cracks appeared along the stone beneath me.

I took a step back, narrowing my eyes at the ground.

It began to give way, and I took several steps back, readying myself as a hole opened up before me.

“Get back!” Timothy ordered.

I spread my wings, flying upwards. As I did, however, a burning whip shot out of the hole and wrapped around my foot.

I tried to pull it up, but it was too strong, and I couldn’t beat my wings hard enough to keep myself from being pulled down.

The world spun as I was pulled into darkness, slashing at the whip to sever it as I landed within the pit.

I glanced upwards, seeing I was well beneath the street, deep inside a ruined subway tunnel.

A haughty laugh crossed my ears and the scent of flowery incense filled my nose.

“Syrian Rue,” the voice called out as I saw a succubus approach me. Though her power and strength weren’t that of any succubus I had ever seen.

Her eyes burned with yellow flames which wrapped around her massive horns from time to time as she recoiled her burning whip with a wide grin.

“I found the Avatar of Lust!” I called out.

I heard Vael’s voice next, “There is more than lust within, go forward, I will see to Zepherina’s aid!”

I could hear Timothy attempt to argue, only for Vael to land, or rather arrive next to me, their pointed feet never actually touching the ground.

“I can handle this one,” I growled, “Belial couldn’t use his powers on me before and I’ve grown stronger since I faced him.”

“I’m insulted!” The Avatar of Lust called out, spreading her shimmering red wings lined with gold. Her body was covered in blackened armor, her hooved legs armored heavily, “I am Khairunnisa, Lord of Lust and Queen of all the Succubi!”

“And I don’t give a shit,” I growled, shouting, “Keep going! We got this!”

Vael nodded, “There is another power within here.”

The light from the surface vanished.

I called upon my blades, their light filling the air around us.

“That there is,” a familiar voice called out. The voice of Bella.

“Bella,” I scoffed, “If you think I’m going to have issues killing you you’re sorely mistaken.”

“One of us most certainly is,” Bella’s voice called out, “Begone, Khairunnisa. I shall see to the Angelic construct and the science experiment.”

Khairunnisa chuckled, her flames flickering into the darkness, “As you wish, Bella…”

I rushed towards Khairunnisa, hoping to stop her retreat.

These were the only two Avatars who survived the initial battle, and if they could focus on Vael and I, then the battle would be easier for Ragna, Timothy and everyone else.

However, before I could, a massive wall of black scales blocked my path.

“I owe you, Zepherina,” Bella’s voice called out to me.

I turned to see her figure emerge from the darkness.

I didn’t expect to see her as I did.

Her black hair seemed to meld with the shadows itself and the green flames within her eyes pulsed with a power I hadn’t seen for some time. But I could feel the energy she gave off, it reminded me of the first time I fought Asmodai.

I slashed at the scales, only to see them flinch slightly, and recoil, without breaking.

“It was you who forced me to summon Asmodai. Your little magician who broke my circle and caused his power to reflect back into me. Corrupting my spirit, my body and strengthening my mind,” Bella monologued, as she stepped forward.

Vael’s body began to glow, filling the room with light.

There I could see the scales that blocked me were not the body of a single serpent. Rather it seemed serpentine scales were encompassing us completely, from above, and all around. As if a sphere of scales had been cast around our room, giving me little more than fifty meters in all directions to battle.

Bella’s full form was now visible.

She now had blackened feathery wings wreathed in bronze and silver chain mail. Over her throat was a blackened steel gorget which covered her chest in thick plate armor. Her arms had similarly colored guards, though her fingers were bare.

Long green and black nails extended from her lithe fingertips, wisps of green smoke coiled around her fingers as she approached.

The clack of hooves and shifting of yet more plate and chainmail showed her form had changed. Her face was human, her lips black, though it seemed her lower half still had heavy hooves.

Her legs were covered in a skirt of plate and chain mail, all black with the occasional green wisp of flame or smoke curling around the opened plates.

“I’m going to tear you apart,” I hissed, “And then I’m going to seal away your essence.”

“You are going to try**,”** Bella stated, “But you will fail.”

I raised my blades up, “I’m a warrior. Have you ever fought your own battle, witch?”

Bella paused, a grin crossing her lips, showing her teeth were still ferocious and predatory. “A keen observation, General Zepherina. As a sorceress, I always cast spells by calling upon the power of demons to do my bidding. Always, they asked a price for loaning but a whisper of their power.” The scales began to slowly move around us, the space not growing or shrinking as they did.

Vael’s halos rotated quickly, their eyes scanning our otherworldly cage.

“But now? I am the fount of power to draw from. Before, you all feared what I was capable of doing with even an echo of the power of a demon… Now, that power and more is all mine,” Bella narrowed her fiery green eyes on me, “For I am Wrath.”

“Fuck,” I thought to myself as I steeled myself, “Bella’s acclimated. I took on Asmodai before and I’ve fought him. But that was Asmodai, they may have the same power but Bella isn’t a warrior.”

Vael thrust their arm out, their arm turning into a long blade as it shot across the distance between Vael and Bella.

As it neared Bella, it stopped with enough force to thrust Vael backwards.

Surrounding Bella was a pulsing orb of translucent green mist and flame, her smile grew wide, “Making the first move, Construct? It seems God’s Venom has lost some of its sting!”

The serpentine walls began to shift and convulse, a massive snake-head with large spear-like fangs and glowing green eyes lashing out towards Vael.

“Have a taste of mine, to compare!” Bella roared.

I lunged towards the serpent, slicing at its head, causing it to veer off from its trajectory, smashing into the ground behind Vael.

Vael staggered forwards as I moved behind her, glancing up.

“We’re surrounded,” I pointed out.

Vael’s voice was agitated as I glanced back, watching the jeweled eyes along her halo’s looking out in multiple directions, “I’m well aware.”

“I’m open to suggestions,” I said as I readied my blades.

“I am trying to seek out the heads of these beasts, I see no order within the chaos of their coils,” Vael admitted.

I looked out, seeing the writhing and seething ceiling and walls surrounding us.

A burst of heat washed over me as I saw a blast of green flames wrap around us.

Vael’s eyes were pulsing in an icy blue as their arms were crossed over their chest, a projection of icy energy surrounding us.

I looked out to see Bella’s hand cast out towards us, “Well, you’re swifter than I thought… Or are you merely on your guard properly now, Venom of God?”

“I am the Sword of Samael, dipped in God’s Venom,” Vael’s voice rang out like a hammer striking a massive bell, “I am the Wrath of God!”

With that, Vael launched forward.

I followed behind them, watching their flank to ensure Bella’s serpents didn’t strike as Vael advanced.

Vael’s arms struck Bella’s shield, pushing with enough might to cause a shockwave to ripple through the air. The pressure was enough to force me to land, just in time to block a massive serpent coming to flank Vael on their left.

Bella chuckled, whispering softly, “God’s Wrath…?” Bella’s smile faded, the flames in her eyes growing and wrapping around her mighty horns as she roared, “God’s Wrath Pales in Comparison to Mine!”

The shield around Bella grew, forcing Vael back.

I had to let the serpent’s maw go, allowing it to crash down to my left as I grabbed Vael with my right arm and soared upwards.

Vael’s flesh felt sturdy and hard, like stone, I noted as I flew up and ran along the onyx serpent scales surrounding us. “She cannot sustain that shield forever!”

“She seems capable of maintaining it long enough,” Vael commented, still in my arms, their eyes searching, “On your five!” Vael warned.

I glanced to my right rear, spotting the serpent’s fangs lunging towards me. I stopped, allowing the serpent to smash into its own body. As it did, the head vanished into its flesh as if it were mist, phasing through instantly.

I pushed away from the wall, just as the massive jaws opened beneath where my feet would have been.

“Tell me, Zepherina, have you ever come across a foe you couldn’t cut down or pummel into submission?” Bella taunted from below.

I roared, throwing Vael across the space, “Together!” I announced.

I readied both blades, and Vael did the same with their arms, both of us clashing against Bella’s barrier in a combined effort.

The force of our collision caused the ground to shake and crater beneath Bella. Despite this, neither she, nor the shield, wavered.

“Did you really think ‘Hitting it harder’ would work, girl?” Bella said softly, her expression more of disappointment than anything else.

“Energy… Is energy…” I grunted with a sneer, pushing more power into my blades as they glowed brighter, “Everything has a limit!” My blade managed to push into the shield, ever so slightly!

“Including you,” Bella hissed, making a motion with her hand.

The shield began to rotate, with my blade piercing it, it sent me hurtling towards the far wall.

I landed on my shoulder, rolling until I got to a crouched position. I could see Vael still forcing their arms against Bella’s spinning shield.

Now the surface appeared to be swirling green smoke and bright yellow sparks which flew off of Vael’s arms.

My eyes widened as I saw Vael’s arms shortening, as if they were being ground away by Bella’s shield.

I ran towards Vael, grabbing them and pulling them away from Bella’s shield.

Vael pushed away from me once clear, their arms growing back, “My body was in no danger…”

Bella stood firm, now narrowing her eyes on us as the shimmering flakes of Vael’s arms floated down around her like snow, “The pair of you will fall this day, know that.”

“You’re the one going down!” I shouted, “I’m going to send you to Hell where you belong!”

Bella’s lip lifted in a sneer, “Where I belong? I have lived in Hell my entire life, little girl!” Bella roared, the Serpent's scales beginning to glow with green flames.

Vael hugged me, a blue sphere surrounding us as flames wrapped around us.

Through the roaring fire, I could hear Bella’s voice roar louder still.

“What have you known of suffering, Princess?! Of Pain! Of Loss?! You’ve been in control of your life since your birth! Leading Armies! Falling Nations! All with the destiny of divine rule all but handed to you!” Bella raged, “I have had to scrimp and claw, bargain and beg for everything in my life! I crawled up from the bottom of this wretched world, only to find that everything was still controlled by another!”

“Her anger fuels her power,” Vael whispered, “I cannot hold out much longer.”

I hugged Vael back, closing my eyes, “Together, I know we can,” I whispered, adding my power to Vael’s, sustaining the shield. “Calm. We have to exude calm and serenity to resist. We cannot fall to wrath.”

“I am a poor choice to go against this foe,” Vael admitted, “I am sorry.”

“Now, and only now, am I in charge of my destiny!” Bella roared, “From Today onward, I am Lord of Wrath! The mortal realm shall know my anger, and God Himself will feel the heat of my burning rage! I will burn all His creation, and show Him that I am not the pathetic little girl he abandoned in some damnable dungeon to be raped by His bastard children!”

I felt the heat raging around me, trying to slow my breathing as Bella’s flames licked at Vael and I’s shield.

Finally, the flames faded.

I opened my eyes, to see the ground scorched and glowing green from Bella’s tantrum.

Bella’s wings rose and fell with her breathing, the flames in her eyes having shrunk slightly.

Her wrath was powerful, but it seemed that using it to its full extent had taken a toll on her.

“Are you done whining?!” I growled, standing up slowly, pulling Vael up with me.

Bella’s lip quivered, “How dare you mock me, you spoiled little Princess**!”** Bella roared.

“I’m just asking if you’re finished throwing yourself a little pity party,” I taunted, readying my blades, “So we can get back to the business of defeating you.”

I glanced to my left, the massive serpent’s head ripping towards me.

Vael rushed to meet it, their arms in the top of its mouth, and their blade-like feet in the bottom. Vael’s blades sunk into the flesh of the creature, green mist leaking from its black flesh.

Bella’s right hand was closing, or trying to, clearly controlling the serpent’s mighty head. Her hand shook as Vael held firmly in place.

“I do hope you have an idea of what you’re doing,” Vael advised, “Angering her seems counter productive.”

“...Everyone has a limit,” I reminded, focusing my energy into my blades. “We’re just seeing who cracks first at this point.”

Bella chuckled, “By the time I reach my limit… It will be far too late for your comrades.”

My face fell.

Bella’s laughter echoed through the enclosure, “Did you think my goal was to kill either of you?” She grinned, “I’m just ensuring you two don’t interfere.”

I scoffed, “Kind of foolish for you to tell us you’re just distracting us, don’t you think?” I snapped.

“Only if you had a chance of doing anything about it,” Bella said as the flames in her eyes rose again, “By now, you’re likely already too late for what Lord Xyphiel has in store for what’s left of your family.”

I roared and rushed forward, slamming my blades into Bella’s shield once more, “Not if we get out of here!”

Bella laughed mockingly, “The warriors of your group locked in a fruitless battle with Xyphiel’s most potent sorceress - Neither of us has a chance of felling the other any time soon - and I am not one to posture and whine…” Bella spun her shield around again, and this time I hung on tightly.

I grunted, “You… Talk… Too Much…” I pointed out, keeping my eyes on Bella as I tried to push my blades into her shield deeper. The spinning worked directly against my efforts.

“I can afford to take time to mock you while my magic tests you and your little toy’s limits…” Bella chortled, “Your allies, however, are running out of time.”

Vael’s voice cried out in anger now, a white light filling the room, reflecting off the serpent’s scales, the sound of tearing flesh filling the chamber. “We will not be undone by the likes of you!”

The serpent’s head dissolved, but the scaled enclosure didn’t move or change.

I realized, at that moment, that even if we could defeat Bella, she might have been right.

Khairunnisa was just the bait. Of course Vael and I would rush in to take her out, neither of us could be affected by Lust. But Bella wasn’t lust - this was a bait and switch!

The shield stopped spinning and Bella’s eyes locked on mine, “Have you finally discovered the breadth of your folly, girl?”

I narrowed my eyes on her, “You won’t win.”

“Poor deluded little girl,” Bella shook her head, “I already have.”