The Holy Man of The Church Creek

25

The battle of Kalinse Plains was the turning point in the civil war of the Underworld. With the emergence of the Crimson Legion, the tide of the battle had favoured the New Satan Faction by a large margin.

Fires danced across the lands on that day, large billowing pyres that stretched towards the purple sky, flickering as the acrid smell of burnt flesh and ash wafted through the air. From the fire, came the explosions, charged masses of magical energy shot forth from seals and weapons alike that wrought ruin to the plains.
To call Kalinse Plains a plain any longer would be a far cry. It was almost reminiscent of a chasm with rough grooves carved into the rock and soil turned black from the soot that fell like rain.
Bodies were left strewn along the area like spilled grain, some mangled with bits and pieces of flesh showing from the sinew of their bones, pecked away at a murder of crows. Others were even less fortunate with only limbs and pieces left after being struck with stray arcs of magical might.
It had been a battlefield, and not a place of mourning, yet even those in the New Satan Faction couldn't help but grow solemn. The Old Satan Faction's chain of command was lost, and those that remained had been decimated without much effort. Of course, it shouldn't have had been so one-sided, but the Old Satan Faction members couldn't garner the will to reform even just a small resistance.
How could they at the face of the Legion still standing strong behind the New Satan Faction?
They ran without much thought, the disorganization of it causing even more problems. Devils on the ground that fell were trampled beneath rushed footsteps, the breaking of bones constantly echoing amidst the shouts. Those that flew were met with a similar fate. Thousands of Old Satan Faction Devils had taken to the skies where they were targeted by large scale magics and met with the New Satan Faction's two Super Devils.
Sirzechs and Ajuka hadn't been able to afford a compromise. They had known that if they had left their enemies to escape in large numbers then there was no guarantee that aggressions would cease. Given the choice, they would rather not have had killed so many devils, but for the sake of their families and comrades, they had steeled their emotions. It was something that was part of being a leader. To be able to make a decision and see it through till the end for a greater good.
And it was something that she'd never forget. For she would never forgive them for it, what they had done. But that was a story for another time.
Instead, perhaps the most meaningful event in Kalinse Plains was Kuro. Marbas if she was being technical, he whose influence had grown enough to potentially start another War Between the Factions.
The Demon among Devils, a true Nobility of the Underworld whose existence tied into the tumultuous times of Heaven vs Hell.
Demons were representations of sheer power and authority. What Kuro displayed, it was a strength near identical to the malefic and wrathful energies described to be possessed by demons. For a demon's power was tied into the root of evil. Actions birthed from hate, jealously, and envy, that gave rise to a demon's reserves. What Kuro had, it seemed to be something that possessed an absurd amount of Evil, as if all of the World's Evil was centered solely on him. It was frightening to others, but for the residents of the Underworld, it meant something far more.
Demons had never relied on contracts with humans to garner anything. What they wanted, they would attain through strength alone. Natural leaders, progenitors of devil kind recorded in the Ars Goetia. The stronger the Demon, the greater influence its Evil and energies would have on the surroundings.
It was why Belial, Lord of Cinder and Flame literally turned the world into a burning apocalypse with his steps, bringing wrought and ruin with every breath.
Kuro's effect on the world around him was substantially different. It was like she could feel lurking shadows tainted with what humans would call curses crawling over her skin, the slightest contact producing unimaginable results.
A Domain of influence on the world.
It was the proof of being a Demon.
As such, no one questioned Kuro's identity as the Last Demon of the Underworld.
Instead, he would become famous as more and more Devils learned of him. His kind nature, his modesty, and humility, the qualities that she would always remember him for forever reflected in the hearts of the Devils who followed him.
He had been popular, loved.
His indifference doing nothing to deter the loyalty of those that fought by him to increase day after day.
It was to the point that it had been a certainty that he would become the sole ruler of the Underworld as the Last Demon. A worthy protector and leader who didn't indulge in pride and self dignity.
The Devils were reverent, willing to follow him anywhere and willing to fight for him without question. She had been the same, and she had been proud of his growing reputation, his acknowledgments and fame. Her enthusiasm was almost as if it was her getting praised instead.
Yet perhaps it was these events that had become her greatest regret.
Man fear not what they know, but that which they do not.
-Serafall Leviathan.
"They've retreated," Falbium said tiredly as if all of the exhaustion of the past month suddenly overtook him.
Falbium was never the active sort, preferring to sleep for most of the day or laze around in comfort. The war had pushed him past his general limits and it showed in his appearance. His clothing was torn in numerous places and his expression was bedraggled. There was even a hunch in his back as he walked with his shoulders too far drooped to be healthy. Granted, just the bags beneath his eyes and pale complexion were enough for one to understand his current condition. Falbium panted while he addressed Ajuka who was the nearest to him.
Ajuka nodded, watching the few devils that he and Sirzechs had allowed to get away into the distance. They numbered no more than a couple hundred which was quite few when considering the several thousands that they had once been. An act of mercy it may seem to Grayfia and the others, but it wasn't. For it was something that was necessary.
The events that had occurred in Kalinse Plains were revolutionary and keeping it under wraps by eliminating everyone was counterproductive to ending the Civil War.
Ajuka's eyes gleamed for a moment as he sent an appraising look towards Marbas of house Marbas. The individual that Serafall had claimed to be the Last Demon of the Underworld. Even now, the pressure that Marbas had released had him, a Super-Class Devil to feel unnerved.
"Interesting," he spoke softly, his tone loud enough to be heard by the others paying keen attention on him.
"Do you mean that as a bad thing?" Grayfia asked uncertainly, a frown playing on her lips. "If he is truly as Serafall says, then he has a right to lead the underworld as a being similar to our ancestors."
"He is a Pillar, a Demon representing the house of Marbas of the Seventy-Two Pillars. With the fall of our previous leaders, he who is a Demon has the highest right to lead us in their absence," Falbium nodded in agreement while voicing the views of the majority of devils who all followed a strict hierarchy.
This hierarchy was the reason that no devil ever rebelled against the orders of the Original Lucifer and the Four Great Satans. They were beings that deserved the loyalty and respect of the devils that followed them. For it was through them that the underworld had once prospered before the Great War. Naturally, Demons were of the same category as the original Seventy-Two Demons gave life to all devil kind and noble classes.
Falbium grunted hopefully, the movement of his chest tearing another hole in his already tattered attire. He frowned, but felt it was too troublesome to complain and simply continued to convey his thoughts.
"From a war prospective, having him on our side would give us a just cause, making it easier to rally more devils under us to finally put an end to this war," he said tactfully with a lip raised before huffing. "Admittedly, he has a certain charisma about him that even I was swayed by. Just thinking about how many devils would join our cause has my mind going numb. The numbers would surely quadruple, if not more, and that's just me being pessimistic. The outcome of this war is therefore already decided."
"Then isn't this a joyous occasion?" Sirzech said with mirth, a gleeful smile on his face that was reflecting his current jubilance. "Serafall's really done it this time."
"And I always thought that she was too much of a goof when she wasn't being serious," Falbium said wryly. "I guess now I can't use that against her in arguments."
"Speak for yourself Falbium, you're no better than Serafall in your laziness," Sirzechs countered good naturedly, a hand patting Falbium's shoulder.
Everyone was laughing and seemingly carefree as all the stress of the war just suddenly lifted off from their shoulders. It was only natural for them to act this way. It was only Ajuka and Grayfia who shared a look with each other that caused everyone else to pause in their merry making.
"Grayfia? Ajuka?" Sirzechs asked puzzled.
Grayfia hesitated for a moment before wetting her lips and stating her worries.
"Sirzechs, did you ever consider what it was that we were fighting for?" She began tentatively.
"To end hostilities with Heaven and the Fallen, and to subsequently put an end still to this Great War that will only bring us all to ruin," Sirzechs said in confusion. "What else is there to think about?"
Ajuka cleared his throat. "To be fair Grayfia, I believe it's better to be more direct when dealing with Sirzechs. I'm sure Falbium understand what you were trying to insinuate already but you know as well as I that Sirzechs can be simple minded. He'll need time to grow more wisdom if he is to ever lead."
Sirzechs brow twitched. "I'm not a fool Ajuka. I'm just not a genius with high intellect to create an entirely new magic formula. What are you trying to get at here?"
"Marbas, the Last Demon of the Underworld," Ajuka said plainly. "He is on our side right now, but after the war it's almost a certainty that he alone will attain the highest position of power with how all devils revere their ancestor Demons. Have you ever considered what would happen if Marbas chooses to continue the Great War?"
Sirzechs stilled, expression turning as grim as Falbium's had after Grayfia had spoken.
"We will fight against it," Sirzechs said without pause.
"Then it would be us against a unitedUnderworld. You know as well as I that this Civil War only occurred due to the absence of a legitimate ruler of hell," Ajuka said bluntly. "We will lose. There will be nothing that could be done, and more than likely it won't be just Marbas we will face."
Ajuka's gaze shifted towards the Crimson Legion fading away as they were transported back from whence they came via the magic crest of Sitri and Marbas. Only two individuals were left behind, and Ajuka's gaze was on the both of them.
"You mean Serafall," Sirzechs said in disbelief. "She wouldn't do that," he argued. "You know her reasons for fighting in this Civil War."
"And I knew Grayfia's too," Ajuka replied calmly, ignoring the way Grayfia seemed to flinch. It wasn't the time to worry about relations at the moment, he had to get a point across. "The thing is Sirzechs, nothing is ever certain, and this hypothetical outcome I've described is also part of that. Marbas could very well be a wise and powerful ruler of the Underworld, but that will still depend on his personality."
Sirzechs remained quiet as Falbium furrowed his brows before shaking his head.
"In any case," Falbium began as he addressed everyone. "We will all just have to wait and see about the type of man this Marbas is. And if anything, everything will begin from a talk, isn't that right Serafall?"
"Huh?" Serafall let out a confused breath.
She had just arrived next to Sirzechs and the others after asking Kuro to wait in one of the tents she speculated was being used as a command post. She had been worried for Kuro and wanted him to rest a bit before meeting with anyone, therefore, she had come to greet everyone by herself.
"What are you all talking about to look so serious?" She inquired, head tilted to the side.
"No, nothing of real importance," Asjuka was the first one to respond, giving Serafall a gentle nod.
"Oh, okay then," Serafall said before beaming. "This war's going to end!" She then said excitedly, giving a similar reaction as Sirzechs a few moments ago.
She seemed to be an entirely different person from the woman who had been coldly slaughtering her enemies. In fact, she was rather bubbly and cheerful in what Falbium would later describe as annoying in the future when she would pester him to become 'devil black.'
"Yeah," Sirzechs said putting on a smile. "The war's going to end for certain, therefore, there's not much need to talk about that. Instead," Sirzechs's gaze grew curious. "What exactly happened, Serafall?" He asked. "I mean, the last time we met, you had only gone on a simple task by Ajuka as you said. And now you return to us like this?"
Serafall was left at a loss for a moment at just how exactly she would answer, her gaze inadvertently landing on the back of her hand. Her face flushed as a result, and any notions of starting from the beginning left her mind as something far, far more important occupied it.
Serafall was a woman, and perhaps there was only one thing in a woman's life that she would hold as her greatest moment regardless of any achievement.
"W-Well," she stuttered, ears going red and legs fidgeting.
She was acting shy, almost embarrassed, a hand scratching at the back of her head as she tried to find the right words to convey. Eventually, her mind settled on one action that spoke louder than any words. She raised her hand, which until now, neither Sirzechs or anyone had been paying attention to and infused her magical energy. There on the back of her hand was a familiar and distinct Magic Crest that gleamed with a dull red. The markings seemed to interact with the Sitri Magic Crest and tangled until they were entirely intertwined.
The crest of House Marbas.
And the Crest of House Sitri.
Bound together and inseparable.
Holding a meaning that was recorded fully in the scripts of the Seventy-Two Pillars.
"I-I think I got married?"
Serafall mumbled lowly, sounding more like a question than a statement in the dumbfounded silence that followed soon afterwards.
When Serafall brought Sirzechs and the others into the room Shirou was resting at, it was with uncertainty that Shirou decided not to ask why Serafall was avoiding his gaze.
More to the point, she was avoiding everyone's gaze as if the slightest eye contact would cause her to flee. She was even walking a full meter away from the nearest person which was Grayfia, her head lowered in what appeared to be mortification.
Serafall couldn't help it however. After blurting out something irrelevant, and more on a personal level she had immediately began to regret it. Her hands balled into fists as the memory of Falbium laughing at her face and his snide remarks reverberated in her mind. She was even more peeved and embarrassed when both Sirzechs, and Ajuka had placed a hand on her shoulders and ardently expressed their opinion for her to get Kuro 'whipped' as soon as possible.
She had been infuriated and flustered knowing exactly what the two were insinuating and had even glanced at Grayfai to give Sirzechs a harsh scolding for his actions only to be left dazed when Grayfia seriously nodded her head.
Falbium's laughter had echoed out even louder, Grayfia's calm voice resounding.
"The fate of the Underworld is in your hands," she had said much to Serafall's confusion and abject bewilderment.
Thereafter, they pressed her relentlessly for answers about her entire journey, not giving her enough time to think before speaking. As such, the end result ended up with her utterly exhausted and feeling betrayed. She had gone to such lengths to save her friends only for them to subject this to her.
Her mouth thinned, but she still refused to meet anyone's gaze especially Kuro's as she was feeling too self-conscious and like all her secrets were out in the open.
After entering the room Kuro was in, she had isolated herself in the corner and made herself look small, hoping that she would be forgotten.
As Shirou's gaze moved from Serafall to Sirzechs, he couldn't help but recall the image of this man that he had seen in the future. Unlike his future self, Sirzechs still appeared to be more childish, lacking the regal bearings that had been present in each of his action as he had calmly dealt with Heaven and the Fallen's representatives.
"A pleasure to meet you,"
Ajuka was the first to break the silence of the room, his gaze staring at the indifference on Shirou's face and scrutinizing it. Based on first impressions, Shirou seemed cold and indifferent, which wasn't really a bad thing or a good thing either. It could simply mean anything, and Ajuka was actually somewhat impressed. It was the duty of a leader to represent the views of it followers, and by not revealing anything, the leader wouldn't show any weakness. For a leader too reflected the status of its citizens, or at least made it ambiguous in a negotiation. Again, neither good, nor bad.
Shirou glanced at Ajuka's offered hand and clasped it in his own.
"Marbas," he greeted simply.
Looking at how Ajuka had spoken first, he was a tad surprised as Sirzechs had always been the one to initiate the conversations with Michael in the future. His initiative had always revealed his eagerness to make friends with those before him. This was similar to the peace talks of the present era.
Indeed, just as he thought this, Sirzechs came up to greet him, the man introducing himself as the next head of the Gremory family. Grayfia was the next to follow suit and she looked just as she did in the future. Almost exactly the same. Other than attire, there was basically no difference in her natural beauty making it seem as if she hadn't aged a single day. Thinking about all the female Devils he knew, perhaps it had something to do with their physiology? Meaningless thoughts aside, they were all just beautiful.
After Grayfia, came a man that he had never met before. He was Falbium Glasya-Labolas, the fourth Great Satan in the future, and admittedly Shirou had never heard much of him.
This was a result of Falbium's own doing; spending most of his days sleeping or lazing about, and not bothering with anything related to his position of power unless necessary. He was the definition of the word recluse.
The five of them, six if you counted Serafall who was still in the corner, sat upon a table laid out with red-velvet cushioned chairs.
In the silence that followed, it became clear to Shirou that he was the center of attention. Ajuka was directly staring at him along with Grayfia whose expression was unnaturally calm. Sirzechs was being more discrete with sideward glances, and Falbium just idly stared at him from his slouched position with his head rested atop his arms.
Shirou cleared his throat. "What are the odds of winning this war?"
He asked his main topic of concern. One of the reasons he was participating in the civil war of the Underworld was so that he wouldn't change future events to too much of a large degree. To know for certain that the war would be finished was like lifting a weight off of his shoulders, leaving him with only one task left to do. His sole reason for returning to this time period.
Falbium glanced at Grayfia with his eyes, and the two came to an agreement.
"We guaranteed to win the war as it is now," Falbium drawled. "If what Serafall said was true, then not only did we win this battle of Kalinse Plains, but I doubt the Old Satan Faction would ever be able to gather as many devils as they had today. Partly because of a lack of logistic supply due to yours and Serafall's efforts, but the majority because of you alone."
"Me?"
Despite Shirou's relatively unmoving expression, it wasn't hard for Ajuka and Sirzechs to detect the genuine surprise in Shirou's tone. It wasn't commanding, nor was it forceful, but rather, it reminded them of a carefree sort of individual. Kind of like themselves before the war had started in full.
A small smile played on Sirzechs face before he nodded at Ajuka to explain.
Ajuka sighed but relented with a wryness on his face before explaining his conjectures.
Shirou nodded over the course of the explanation, but neither Grayfia or Ajuka could read his thoughts at a glance. In fact, it became even harder to read him. It wasn't because he was making it difficult for them or that he was being guarded, it was just because of his own growing unease that his face was gradually growing too stiff to reveal anything.
Him, the next ruler of the Underworld?
It was a concept he had no plans of undergoing.
"Wait, wait stop," he said, a hand moving to pinch the bridge of his nose as he thought to himself. Eventually he decided to just be truthful and attempt to alleviate himself from his current position. "I was never meant to exist here let alone to be in such a position of power," he said solemnly, trying to convey his seriousness.
He stared everyone in the eyes, his sincerity getting through even Ajuka's scrutinizing gaze.
However, his words had another unexpected effect.
Bang!
A vase fell over as Serafall abruptly stood up, hands balled into fists as she stared incredulously at Shirou. In the next moment, she pursed her lips when everyone glanced in her direction and kept quiet as she sat back down. If one looked closely enough, one could even see her shoulders trembling.
When Shirou had said that he was never meant to exist, it played exactly into the thoughts that Serafall had begun harbouring ever since meeting Shirou. As an individual of his power, why had he not been well known until the Marbas territory was attacked? It was simple after assuming Kuro's identity as a Demon. He shouldn't have existed as Kuro had said. For most likely, the Underworld wasn't meant to have another Demon in an age where Devils ruled. As such it was most likely that Old Man Marbas's intention was to take Kuro's existence into the grave with him.
Kuro's cold expressions.
His indifference.
And his selflessness.
All were things Serafall suddenly realized with a sinking feeling may have been born as a result of the isolation Kuro must have had undergone to keep his existence a secret. It was only when the innocents were being oppressed that Kuro had taken action.
Then didn't that mean that if she had never undergone Ajuka's assignment, then she would never have had met Kuro? And Kuro, he would have had been destined to die a death acknowledged by no one?
She bit her lips.
How could she possibly accept that!
She fell into a brooding state, her brows furrowed, but at this point, no one was paying attention to her any longer. All gazes instead on Shirou.
"Is that so?" Ajuka said profoundly, his impression of the Last Demon of the Underworld elevating significantly. He had come to a similar conclusion as Serafall and now held a deep respect for the being sitting across from him. His expression softened, the tilt of his brows becoming less narrowed as he actually smiled, feeling that his worries were unfounded.
Grayfia was much the same while Sirzechs couldn't contain his jubilance and had barely managed to restrain himself from pointing at Ajuka and boasting that he was worrying too much.
On the opposite spectrum, Serafall's mood was plummeting, yet she maintained her silence even as her face darkened considerably.
"Then you do not plan to lead the underworld at the end of this war?" Falbium questioned, bringing up the most important topic.
"No, but I still intend to help you put an end to this war as soon as possible. Too many innocents are suffering at the hands of this civil strife, many having done nothing wrong yet still being affected," Shirou said without much thought, his words rendering all silent. "They don't deserve those hardships."
Shirou's face was a mask of indifference, but the emotion from his tone was finally enough for all to understand just what kind of person Marbas was.
No one had any complaints.
For he was a person fitting of the title of the Last Demon of the Underworld.
A protector and true nobility of the Seventy-Two Pillars.
The Old Satan Faction was scattered and facing destruction. With the map Shirou had obtained from Nirgul in Serafall's hands, the supplies of the Old Satan Faction were also cut short.
The lifeline of any considerable force relied on raw material and living-necessities like food and water. Without them, no matter how big an army one was, it would be impossible to maintain in the long run. Hunger and lack of equipment would then set in and cause debilitating effects.
This was one off the main reasons that those in the Old Satan Faction side had crumbled and become much smaller resistance groups as opposed to the New Satan Faction which garnered an immediate rise in standing.
Shirou sighed as he stealthily made his way down towards the encampment in front of him.
He was working alone in a similar way as Serafall and the others to locate as many resistance groups of the Old Satan Faction as possible to disband them. It hardly took any effort, and this encampment in front of him was an example of why.
He stepped foot into the resistance camp, forged Crimson Armour suffused with the energies of the World's Evil proliferating around him and catching all Devils within in a daze.
"I-It's Marbas!" One of the Devils yelled, falling back in fear.
His reputation had spread far and wide after the battle of Kalinse Plains and now anyone was able to recognize his Crimson Armour. After all, there had been a certain primer magic on that day on Kalinse Plains that had recorded the entire spectacle on the orders of the neutral party, Lord Dantalion of the Seventy-Two Pillars. He who was the keeper of books and secrets in the Underworld. The family of Librarians and Archivists, they who document the history of the world and whose library was said to contain all knowledge.
Everything had been recorded and stored, the appearance of a Demon amongst Devils unable to remain hidden.
The noise of clattering metal entered his ears along with the familiar sound of whimpering he had grown accustomed to in the following months.
In his presence, no Devil dared attempt to rebel. Even the Ultimate-Class Devil heading the present small resistance group of the Old Satan Faction put on a bitter and uncertain expression.
From the current standpoint of the Underworld, there was no longer any meaning in the civil war between the Old and the New Factions. Not since the Demon known as Marbas appeared.
It was something inherent, to give way to a rightful ruler.
This was more so for the Old Satan Faction of which the majority of it was comprised of old traditionalists. Loyalty ran high, but Loyalty to one's predecessors ran higher. This was the main problem and the reason why Shirou hadn't met with much opposition in the past few months. To continue their loyalties towards the intentions of the fallen Lucifer, or to follow the present will of a being worthy of leading them, this was the conundrum of the Old Satan Faction.
Shirou's eyes swept across the small camp. Many of the Devils present were of the High and Ultimate class, and all had given up at his presence. Of course, there were still several that didn't and wished incite others to attack, but they were quickly put down by a lurking shadow of curses unseen.
"It's done. I swear, I either admire you for putting up with me for this long or take you as a fool."
He smirked, after hearing the words in his mind. He had grown used to the pain of his form and his level of pain resistance was now unheard of. He wouldn't even flinch if his entire body was scorched to death and minced while alive.
'Then take it as you will,' he replied back, expression unmoving as he gestured for the Old Satan Faction Devils to relinquish themselves to the New Satan Faction devils that would be coming in a moment.
The Old Satan faction devils all did so without much complaint, seeing the results of what had happened to those cursed by the World's taint.
Warts and festering wounds had opened up in place of clear skin, oozing and puss filled, the anguished expressions of the affected particularly chilling.
"Weaklings," the voice in his head seemed to scoff. As Shirou wasn't in direct contact, the level of curse wasn't exactly high, yet they had still succumbed to it. On one hand it was a blessing, but on the other, every devil opposed to him was intimidated. After all, it appeared as if he could take down High-Class Devils just by walking. He hadn't even attacked yet.
None dared to meet his gaze, all looking towards the ground as devils in the New Satan Faction soon arrived and apprehended them.
It was only then, when all danger was gone did Shirou move towards a certain location.
A steel cage fueled by some type of reinforcement magic that flashed with magical light upon contact.
Shirou's brows furrowed. He could see the people from within staring at him in fear and apprehension. They didn't recognize him. How could they when they had been locked up and unable to hear the news regarding him?
He smiled for once. At least he wouldn't be getting basked in praise again.
He stretched a hand out and gently prodded the magic enhancement on the cage.
"Don't!" A child called from within. He was malnourished with arms thin enough to be compared with sticks. From his magical fluctuations, he was like most devils within, low or mid-class.
Shirou shook his head, understanding what the child was warning him of.
To be honest, there were certain disparities in the way the Old Satan Faction members treated their captives. Some held them in contempt like the radicals and abused them, while the majority still had compassion for their fellow devils as the civil war was simply a clash of ideologies. The devils inside the containment were thin yes, but they weren't that worse off with some even having bright complexions. Therefore, to some extent, they understood that the Old Satan Faction Devils didn't truly want to kill them.
It was this reasoning that prompted the boy within the containment to voice a warning to him who seemingly didn't understand the magic imbued upon the cage.
The thing was, he did.
The tips of his fingers began to blacken as he forced his hands through the magical enhancement, his skin peeling and flaking away into crumbling embers. He should have flinched after undergoing such pain, but he showed no such emotion even as the scent of charred flesh wafted up his nose. Instead, just as if it appeared that Shirou would lose his hands for his actions, they gripped upon the steel bars of the cage and pulled with reinforced strength.
A groaning sound of metal echoed out, and the bars bent enough until a hole the size of a man was formed. Over the hole, a magic seal flashed abruptly before distorting and dissipating, the tether it was attached to ruined by force.
The boy gaped in silence, the others in the room murmuring amongst themselves in amazement that had yet to end.
Shirou knelt down towards the boy and prompted him to raise his hands, the bound rope around them carefully unwound such that the course fibers wouldn't dig into the skin.
It was a treatment towards lower classed devils that baffled the captives. After all, they had assumed that they were being rescued from the moment they saw their captors restrained. However, they had also assumed that it would be those devils working for Shirou that would help free them. Not Shirou himself who appeared to be in a class higher than their own.
All left in a daze, they didn't even realize it when they were safely secured in the hands of the devils of the New Satan Faction. The impression Shirou left upon them would be one that would be hard to forget.
Shirou watched as the devils around him thanked him profusely for his efforts before leaving towards other areas they were assigned to. Left alone, Shirou stared at the empty camp and sat upon a chair cushioned with soft cotton and woven in wool.
Any minute now, he thought, glancing up towards the sky.
The civil war of the faction would end today if Ajuka's reports were proven correct.
The Old Satan Faction was already finished, and the last of them had apparently moved towards the one location he actually needed to go.
"The area of my supposed death," God's voice communicated. Shirou was alone now and it was unlikely that someone would be able to detect God's heavenly aura. "It's as if fate wills it."
With the loss at Kalinse Plains, many Old Satan Faction members had lost their determination as they didn't know what it was that they should fight for. However, some of them still believed in another scenario. The reason why the Crimson Legions of the Underworld were opposed to them. Perhaps there was a hidden message left behind by the Original Lucifer that only the most loyal of subordinates were tasked with?
The Legions, the arms and legs of the Seventy-Two Pillars.
Although Shirou knew for certain that the Crimson Legion wouldn't appear again due to his desire to not put others in danger, the majority of the Underworld didn't understand that. Therefore, a misunderstanding had formed.
He sighed, expression vacant.
When he had first arrived, he had resolved himself against the advising of God to change the timeline and put an end to the suffering caused by the civil war sooner. Now that that cause was coming to a close, it was time to finish what he had come here to do.
"Then go, you yourself won't have to search. I'll follow the trail left behind by my own energy."
Shirou nodded, and it was then that God fell silent, sensing the approach of a devil.
"Serafall," he greeted the new arrival.
"Kuro," she replied back, steadying herself after reaching Shirou.
There was a sheen of sweat on her face, and a healthy rosiness on her cheeks that belied her exertion in reaching him. Ever since the end of the battle of Kalinse Plains, Serafall had been acting strange regarding him. Yet, he had never questioned it because he knew that in the end, it wouldn't matter.
"I suppose it's around time, isn't it?" He said, glancing in her direction and nodding his head. "To put an end to this all."
She nodded, but her expression grew unnaturally still such that even Shirou took notice more because the paleness of her face concerned him.
"Sirzechs and the others have already begun gathering everyone. It will be the final push to end this war in the next couple days," she said in monotone. However, Shirou realized that there was something wrong. There didn't seem to be any traces of happiness or joy in both Serafall's expression and body language.
In fact, she was rubbing at her arm, and her eyes were dour.
Shirou grew concerned but realized that he had waited too long before answering.
"Then all the better," he said. The end of the war would mean the beginning of the years of peace that Sona and Rias would later enjoy and grow accustomed to till the point where one would even become an anime addict.
Serafall swallowed as the two fell into a silence, the sound of chirping birds and the buzzing of insects creating a gentle sort of atmosphere. Yet everything was only on the surface.
A storm was raging within Serafall's mind.
"Hey Kuro," she called.
"Hmm?" He replied, tilting his head.
The action of his would have had been something Serafall would have had enjoyed looking at, but at the moment, it only brought her a certain degree of inner pain and strife.
Her hands balled into fists, her decision made.
"A-After the war, what are you going to do?" She asked suddenly.
Caught of guard, Shirou's expression actually broke to display a rare widening of his eyes that caused Serafall to ignite in a feeling of faith. Perhaps she could get through to him. However, her faith and thoughts of the future were brutally crushed right before her. For Kuro's expression immediately blanked, not a word leaving his mouth.
She felt like sobbing, but held it in. It was unbecoming and she didn't want Kuro to come to a decision out of pity.
Yet his silence alone was telling.
He would leave.
Her lips quivered as she swallowed, feeling as if she could no longer speak as her voice would most certainly break. She was a woman of around eighteen, almost nineteen years of age, and perhaps she had never known what it meant to truly grow attached to someone. The words that her mother had spoken to her that described such a feeling had always been foreign, but now she understood them clearly. She didn't want him to leave, to lose him, but she had always been mindful of the wishes of others. It was why she had been described as soft in some aspects that correlated with the intentions of allowing any individual to choose their own path. She wouldn't force anyone to walk a road not of their own choosing like the Old Satan Faction. Yet her mouth still opened and words spilled forth from her lips, her unwillingness unable to be suppressed.
"The lands of Marbas, the devils there are waiting for you," She tried, masking her anxiety behind a calm expression. "That little girl, Adelina, is also there waiting."
No response.
"They're all waiting for you, Kuro. You're their hero," she tried again, making an effort to prevent her voice from cracking. "The other devils that had arrived at the territory, they're expanding it even now. Would you just leave them without another word?"
Again, no response.
The devils of the Underworld had survived once without him, they could do so again, especially under the rule of the new Four Great Satans: Serafall, Sirzechs, Falbium, and Ajuka. He was the one who didn't belong. A traveller out of his time.
Serafall pursed her lips, her head bowing lowly.
"T-The Sitri house," she said. "You can come with me there. There's, uh, there's a banquet," she was fumbling with her words, but she could hardly care as all that mattered was convincing him. "Allon has already gone and made preparations, all we have to do is arrive at the end of the war before it commences."
Once again, no response.
Serafall swallowed, her head turning sharply, unable to meet Kuro's honest eyes. For she didn't want him to see the tears pooling within hers.
"Serafall," Kuro's voice startled her.
There was a warmth and caring to it that helped ease her mood.
"I can only promise you that I can if I'm able," he said.
Yet that was enough for her, even if it was a lie, she would cling to it till the very end.
"Mmhm," she nodded her head, the two then leaving to meet up with Sirzechs and the rest.
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