Zeldris is actually feeling nervous about meeting this long lost blood uncle of his. Azareth has 'convinced', nearly threatened, the old crazy wizards of the rainbow crystal caverns to cut out their trickery for kicks. Although the caverns are indeed beautiful, they are cold, delusional, nauseating, and extremely too bright even for the demon king's eyes. Stormy showed that not only could she make great food, but she's actually quite crafty and made special shades from the crystals themselves for each member in the group, except for Wild as his eyes are able to adjust quickly even to this unnatural, sun like brightness. Stormy herself already has special shades like this that she always carries as both her and Apolline are sensitive to bright lights. The demon and goddess warriors already have similar shades as part of their standard provisions.
Everybody who was trapped in the caverns go through the portal and enter into another cave adjacent to Hephaestus's as Azareth agreed not to let all these people into his cave. The other soldiers in the area around the caves have all also been gathered and rejoin their comrades. They have been informed that the barrier is now broken and they can get into the town and fortress, and the giant size battle is now winding down.
Elizabeth and Kagome hear Apolline gasps out loud as the soldiers come through. She gets behind them as if she's trying to hide.
"Apolline are you alright?" ask Elizabeth; "What's wrong?"
"Don't let him see me;" says Apolline pulling up her hood.
"Don't let who see you?" asks Kagome.
"The blue haired one in the blue armor. He can't see me looking like this. I look like a skeleton from starvation hell."
After hugging and greeting her "Uncle" Azareth, Stormy soon finds her sister and scoops her up into a big bear hug.
"Hey Sis, guess who..."
"No please;" says Apolline bluntly. "Please don't let him see me like this. Another time, when I've gained some weight."
"Apolline, you've been saying that for....no, now's not the time."
"Apolline, is that you?" Ask the guy in question walking towards them. Elizabeth and Kagome can understand his words due to latter's amulet. Elizabeth can sense high levels of power from this demon, on per with the Ten Commandments. Little does she know that this is the son of the demon queen of the Holy Roman Empire Clan and that he's in fact a 6th cousin to Meliodas and Zeldris, but he bears almost no resemblance to either of them.
"She's not in the talking mood right now Gregory;" informs Stormy.
"But she said in her last letter that she wanted to see me again. I don't care what she looks like, I only wish she'd care about herself the same way we care about her."
"Later Gregory, Azareth wants to see you."
On the other side of the portal still inside the rainbow crystal caverns, Zeldris stands stiff as Gelda and Wild urge him to move. Zeldris rarely feels any kind of nervousness, but the thought of meeting this long-lost uncle of his whom he didn't even know existed until a few days ago has him feeling antsy. Even though everyone says he's a good soul, Zel still puts his guard up, really hoping it's not to good to be true.
"Zel, come on, you couldn't wait to get out of this place;" says Gelda taking her lover's hand.
"Such a shame really," says Wild, "I really love this place. It's so fun. Can't wait to bring Mild and Melidy here."
Zeldris snaps out of his trance. "Fun? This place? I hope I never see this place ever again. Never been so sick in my life."
The demon king allows Gelda to drag him through the portal. Wild comes out behind them, a bit disappointed to leaving his new 'fun house' but eager to resume the mission to get back to his siblings. Zeldris comes through the portal and takes off the glasses, but he's almost completely blind and quickly puts them back on, only now all he sees is black. Gelda takes her off and has similar problems. Wild has no problems at all.
"Remember Zel, Stormy said it would takes a few minutes for our eyes to readjust. It's alright.
After taking a few minutes for his eyes to adjust, Zeldris makes out a blurry figure standing a few feet away from him. He's only about a couple of inches taller then him and has a long, but not to long, gray beard. When his vision becomes even clearer, he can see slight traces of red strikes in the beard, as if his hair had once been a reddish color. Zeldris can recall stories that his father had been an auburn in his younger days.
Uncle and nephew just stare at each other momentarily as Gelda, Wild, and even Stormy detour the crowd of curious onlookers. Elizabeth and Apolline watch but keep a comfortable distance. Finally, Azareth speaks.
"Zeldris, nephew, we finally meet after all this time."
"U...Uncle;" Zeldris stumbles to get the word out. Then suddenly, something snaps inside Zeldris, something very rare. Tears start falling down his face. "Where have you been all this time?! Where were you when we really needed you? Why couldn't you have been my father instead of Barbatos? Why....."
Zeldris is feeling a flood of long suppressed emotions. His demon mark appears and he's struggling to control his temper and emotions, which is also rare. Gelda speaks softly to her beloved, and Azareth says that Zeldris can hit him or punch him if he needs to. Zeldris does hit his uncle hard in the face, who with stands it with only a few bruises. At first the group feels the tension, but Zeldris suddenly embraces his uncle, feeling like a little boy reuniting with a beloved adult, and cries.
"I'm sorry nephew Zeldris. I wanted to be there for you. I tried many times to rescue you and Meliodas and Isabella, I really did. I'm sorry that I didn't try even harder."
Zeldris exhales and wips the tears from his eyes. "I don't blame you. I know it was difficult and complicated. I just wish things could've been different. Tell me Uncle, did you know my mother?"
Azareth gives a little smile. "Yes, I knew her well."
"Were you really with her when she died? Was she happy at the end? Did she mention me and Meliodas?"
Azareth nods. "Yes Zeldris, she died peacefully and happy because she had faith that everything would be ok. Yes, she said you, Meliodas, and unborn Iris were all she thought about. She never got to meet her boys, but she loved you both very much and believed in the good souls you both had. She kept lots of diaries and wrote letters to you both. She brought those with her when she escaped. I have most of them, Iris has some as well."
Zeldris can't stop the now tears of joy as Gelda now joins the conversation and soon they are "catching up" as if they were all old friends. Elizabeth and Stormy soon join the conversation as well. Gelda informs that she can indeed read and decipher the ancient code in Stormy's log book. It's both a secret, or rather long-lost way to enter Gangkhar Puensum without setting the mountain off, as well as a pass code, or rather a test, for the blue dragon to grant them access. The trick is only a handful of worthy people will even qualify to take the test, fewer still have ever past it. Azareth knows that the piece hidden inside Gangkhar Puensum must be retrieved, but his first priority is to get that cure for his granddaughter and the others infected with the covid virus. However, since the seal in question is actually located near Krakatoa and all the locations are connected by intertwined gates, their missions remain connected and they must make a plan together. Stormy is all for that, but isn't sure they should go to Gangkhar Puensum while their mother might be in danger. Plus, the don't want to do this mission without Arwin.
One thing is for sure, Stormy is going against her mother's wishes to not get Azareth involved. However, he already is, and Artemis's oldest daughter has decided to work with him.
While all that is going on, Apolline's been trying to avoid Gregory. However, he has caught sight of her and approaches. Apolline puts her hood up trying to hide her face and wraps her cloat around herself to hide her body. Kagome is close enough for the amulet to translate their Latin.
"Apolline, is that really you?"
"Go away Gregory, nothing personal."
"Apolline, I really don't care what you look like, I just want to see you."
"Believe me you don't. I've regressed severely."
She realizes that Kagome is only a few feet from her and gives her a bone chilling look. "Do you mind? This is private."
Kagome takes the hint and backs away.
Meanwhile, Wild comes face to face with Big Guy, who interduces himself as Saloman. Wild is in awe by Big Guy's size, who's quite noticeably larger then the purple warthog, but actually isn't over weight dispite his massive and muscular size. Wild ask the bigger boar if he was from purgatory like himself. Big Guy confirms he's from the separate African purgatory but is in no mood for chit chat as he's worried about his sister. Wild tries to brag about Hawk and Melidy but Big Guy growls at him. Wild realizes that he's being insensitive and mentions that his two siblings were also kidnapped, receiving some sympathy from Big Guy. Wild then ask this fellow boar if he was billions of years old like himself and if he was fully grown. Big Guy gives him an awkward look.
"Excuse me. Are you looney or something?All seven purgaory dementions were each created 6,000 years ago! I'm 75! I stopped growing over 20 years ago!"
Wild is in shock! He believes he's been alive for over a billion years. However, he only recently learned that Britannia's purgatory demention "used" to be on the exact same time as Earth (as are all seven). However, for odd reasons, when Barbatos retreated to Purgatory due to Britannia no longer being able to support his power (and outside demons and goddesses, not Azareth or Artemis, casting chaoes magic spells that would keep both him and Caelestis sealed), had greatly excellerated the time flow in Wild's home alone. The spells also greatly slowed down Wild's aging, all but completely stopping it. Wild's species is "only" supposed to live several hundred years, occasionally up to 1,000. Wild's "physical" age is that of just barely starting adulthood (and not fully grown), while Big Guy is still a young adult. Hawk, at 17, is barely a pre-teen, and Angel, age 14, is still a child.
Ramesses rudely disrupts Zeldris and Azareth and nervously ask the old demon if he'd remove his curse. Azareth gives the demon cat a somewhat angry look and clearly is mad that Ramesses had the nerve to ask him that.
"No I will not Ramesses! Don't ask me again!"
Ramesses trembles with fear and runs behind Kagome. She herself tries to ask about Ramesses's curse and why Azareth won't remove it, until it's revealed, mostly by Big Guy and the cat's big mouth, that Ramesses was "cursed" as punishment several years ago for his cowardice. He had left a young Cleo and his own wife and young kittens for dead during an nearly fatal electric cave in to save his own neck! His punishment was a "curse" that removed his claws, demon strength, and magical powers. Ramesses himself can break the curse if he performs an brave, unselfish, noble deed, which he's yet to do.
The Polish and Roman soldiers are very concerned hearing about Queen Cleo's illness and reveal the startling news that the Covik virus had returned to their clan just a few days ago after being absent for over 50 years. They fully suspect that somebody also released it on purpose on them and that they have teams gathering ingredients as they speak, including going to Krakatoa, although that mission is proving to be quite difficult as they can't even get anywhere near the volcano.
Suddenly Gregory blows his whistle and calls everybody to attention. The Britannians and Kagome's amulet are just outside of range, but everybody who understands Gregory gasps and get very worried looks on their faces, some freaking out, including Azareth.
"What's going on?" asks Zeldris.
"I don't know," answers Elizabeth. "Stormy what's wrong?"
"Can't be?" answers Stormy almost in tears; "Why would they do that?" Stormy turns to them; "They got in touch with their comrades in Transylvania. They told us not to go their right now because..." she stumbles says the words; "somebody released the Covik Demon Soul Eater Virus...and...the demons are dropping like flies. Even the goddesses are getting sick and weak."
The Britiannians are quickly told about the Covik virus and this isn't welcome news to them. They want to go the fortress immediately to reunite with their comrades, especially now that they know that Meliodas, Inuyasha, Iris, and possibly Gowther are also there. Stormy and Apolline really want to retrieve Arwin before going to Gangkhar Puensum as the sisters do everything together. There's also the business of not knowing what's happened to their mom.
"Oh, Artemis is with Nemesis," informs Ramesses after overhearing their conversations.
Stormy and Apolline snap to attention at the cat demon, who immediately regrets opening his big mouth.
"What did you just say Ramesses?" ask Apolline in a low but fighting tone. He wants to run and hide but there's no less then a dozen overpowered individuals starring at him, plus another 5 dozen in the cave. He's forced to confess that he overheard Nemesis say that she picked Caelestis pocket when she was in the cave earlier. Ramesses even saw Nemesis proudly holding up the black jewel that contains the goddess. He even confesses that Nemesis has taken Angel and what she plans to do with her, which sends Big Guy into an intense rage. Even with everybody trying to help calm him, he's destroyed half the cave and unintentionally injured a couple dozen in the process.
Suddenly, Hephaestus proudly confesses that he had successfully recreated and "improved" the Covik Demon Soul Eater Virus for the famous demon slayer Ching Liang and her 'comrades', who believe it's their literal holy duty to ride the Earth of all demons and their hybid descendants. In fact, they believe that goddess/demon hybrids and especially human/demon hybrids are the most inheritely pure evil and corrupted beings, even more so than pure blooded demons. Hephaestus even proudly confesses that he made a version of the the virus to effect goddesses as well, although it still can't kill them, just make them really sick, which explains why the goddess warriors on the field are also dropping like flies.
The large group in the cave are trying to process everything going on and are confused about what to do, as well as trying to connect all the dots. They force Hephaestus to reveal all he knows.
"Look;" says the craftsmen; "Everybody's got their own agenda. Caelestis, Nemesis, Ching Liang, the other demon slayers, even Artemis; nobody's on anybody's side. They all use each other to achieve their own goals and turn on one other when they don't need each other anymore. It's as simple as that. Actually, Ching Liang is very loyal to Artemis and the goddess race in general, except Lucy and Caelestis."
"Uncle Azareth;" asks Apolline; "Why is it that you and mother haven't spoken to each other in nearly 25 years? She always speaks highly of you and still refers to you as her best friend."
Azareth huffs. "It's partly because I wouldn't support her efforts in her quest, not since I learned of the risks and the price that would have to be paid. The final straw for Artemis, however, is because I suspected that her husband and my best bud, Apollo, was murdered and I warned her that Vald was a stocker and may have been involved. Unfortunately, Vald convinced her otherwise and also that I was plotting against her in her quest to save her son. She hasn't spoken to me since and I agreed to give her space."
Azareth realizes that he's getting off track and refocuses. The first thing he knows that needs to be done is to get the cure for the virus made, meaning that main key ingredient must be retrieved from Krakatoa in Java, Indonesia. From what Azareth last heard, the team sent there has been unable to get past the mass empire defenses out there, and attempts at going in through the back door or by portals have failed. Even if the team can manage to get to the volcano, Krakatoa's magma chambers are clogged and on the war path, as well are 50 other active volcanoes in the country. On top of all that, Krakatoa's current volucish is "missing in action", or rather, taking an extensive vacation, too long as he's been away for 20 years!
The person they really need is Nuri as she's still connected to her original volcano. Jasmine too could enter and possibly even Iris. The trick is getting in touch with the Des Santis sisters, even at the fortress if that's where they are. Nuri's location is currently unknown to them. Azareth's unable to track her because she's a volucish.
"I'll go to the fortress;" Azareth announces; "I've already survived that virus twice and may be immune enough. I can also keep it isloated to myself to keep anybody from catching it from me. I got a strain of Iris's hair from Chloe's hairbrush because she used it yesterday, so I should be able to track her, unless she doesn't want to be found. But I'm sure she does."
"Commander Gregory!" Calls out one of the soilders; "It's your sister (the current Demon Queen of the Polish clan and Gregory's older sister, currently on the front line near the fortress) her ladyship needs to speak with you and I'm afraid it's very bad news."
"Gregory takes the communicater and starts talking to Lizzie. Elizabeth hears that and can't help but be curious. Appoline confirms that the Polish demon queen's name is indeed Elizabeth, Elizabeth Julia Olga, no relation to Britannian Elizabeth what so ever.
The vulacish with them is in extreme pain and there's a strong deminatonal storm rift. They must lay low until it passes, and the vulacish warns of a global wide chain reaction occurring as they speak.
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Elaine is lying flat down in the shrine with most of her hosts, completely exhausted but unable to sleep, she turns her head towards the massive window, watching Mt Fuji's "light" eruption in the distance. Even though it's the middle of day, it seems to be almost night with the thick, ash clouds blocking out the sun. While not a "massive threat" at present, underground trimers and readings indicate that Fuji and other volcanoes throughout the whole archipelago of tens of thousands of islands are merrily refueling for the next rounds of attacks. Word is that all of the volucish have mysteriously disappeared, rumored to have be killed or wasted each other. If any of the portals or dimensional gates, must especially the one near the shrine or the purgatory gate, open under these conditions; hundreds, even thousands of people could be sucked through and displaced around the world. Many may even die in the process.
While the first round of explorations thankfully caused little loss of human life and most villages were miraculously spared; wooded areas, farming fields, and livestock have suffered greatly. Elaine's still wearing a ventilation mask, so she doesn't breathe in any of the toxic particles now thick in the air to protect her baby. Even the protective barrier around the shine can't keep out all the particles. The twin boys are also wearing masks, as is Uda, however Kikyo is not, neither are her husband and brother as there aren't enough for them. Inuyasha's allies are still out and about, and Herman is still missing. Elaine did get a brief look at the earthquake and volcanic destruction around the area. Both she and Diane, as well as King, can help start regrowth, especially since her host informed her that lava creates extremely fertile soil. She learns that the Japanese people are used to living with extreme nature conditions and constant warfare, a constant cycle of struggling for survival, lose and despair. Yet also constant rebirth, rising up from the ashes and rubble, soldiering on and even thriving. Aside from Ban, Elaine and most fairies have always had a dim and hostile view of humans with almost no respect for them. While the Japanese humans most certainly have no shortage of corrupted, greedy, power-hungry people, Elaine also sees that they are a very inwardly strong and resilient group with a rich and vibrant culture. At least some have more respect for magical and spiritual beings, and a much closer connection to nature and spiritual forces then humans in Britannia.
Elaine herself and her hosts would be saying good riddance towards the missing Herman if not for the concern over his massive gravity power. Uba doesn't trust Herman at all and is very concerned about what he could possibly do if he's not found and restrained soon. The few Japanese phrases he's been saying, which he learned from a cheap phrase book for bachelor's he purchased some years ago, are very offensive or lustful in nature. Herman himself doesn't seem to know what he's saying, nor does he really care to be corrected. They've learned that Herman actually wasn't born with these powers, but he gained them artificially through illegally items and very amateur experiments, which makes them even much more dangerous and difficult for him to control.
Herman has been aimlessly wondering around the damage landscape, largely ignorant of the suffering and rather viewing it as a playground with boyish enthusiasm. Herman actually believes that "weak" people are lazy and that everybody can and should take care of and protect themselves. He messes with Herman and others because one; it'll force them to quite being pathetic and lazy and toughen up. Two, because it's fun, just like the street gang mentors he grows up with. Life is about good fun, pushing past your limits and seeing how far you can go without caring about what anybody else things or feels. That's Herman's philosophy to life.
As he sees yet another situation in which somebody is rescuing and protecting a child, approximately age 10 or 11, he shakes his head. "Again, somebody wasting their precious time trying to save some lazy child who won't fight for themselves. That child has been over smothered and spoiled, enabling this pathetic, entitled, selfish, lazy behavior, relaying on others to do things for her. She's plenty old enough to take care of herself."
He finally sees a band of seven people who seem to be having fun setting things on fire, destroying already damaged buildings and crops, sparing with each other, and having "harmless" fun playing with the locals. Herman's almost completing blind and obviously to the fact that they are actually tormenting and even murdering the locals, mostly women and children and disabled men, and are enjoying it. He's about to "play attack" and join them when he hears the screams of the victims and the looks of pure terror on their faces. He finally realizes that this isn't a game as this band of seven are playing when they slice apart and burn a baby, laughing and cheering in the process. A wave of consciousness hits Herman hard, and he unleashes his powers and attacks the murderers.
Little does he realize that they've are fighting directly above a strong magic magma zone and an unstable dimensional rift.
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Inuyasha's group; Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara, have been going around rescuing everybody they can. They soon feel an extremely powerful energy output and run towards Herman's direction.
Herman's gravity powers have gotten out of control and are cutting deep into the earth. When Inuyasha's group show up, Miroku's protective beads are forced off his right hand, which has never happened before, and his wind tunnel is free and mixes with Herman's power. Miroku's unable to take control of his black hole vortex and the combined powers, along with the energies of the band of seven, force a massive earthquake and the magma chambers underneath to boil and flow to the surface. To make matters worse, not one, but TWO volucish feel the pain coming from the earth and head to the source of their agony.
Back at the shine, Elaine and the family also feel the intense energy. It's unlike anything they've ever felt before, even Uda, and it's extremely catastrophic. The old priestess feels the seal to the gate in the cave is about collapse. They feel the earthquake and then hear an explosive BOOM. It's so loud that everybody's ears are in incredible pain and they've all gone completely deaf. A magnificent lava wall spews from the earth, several miles long, going all the way up to the summit of Mount Fuji.
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In the fortress, Jasmine suddenly feels an extreme amount of pain and agony. Unable to conceal it, she hollers and collapses to her hands and knees, shocking everybody present with worry. Ban and Hawk rush to her side first and try to help her up, Hawk allowing the volucish to lean on him. She says the word "Vesuvius" as clear as day. While most present here have no clue what's going on, Merlin, Arwin, and Inuyasha have heard that volucish can feel the "pain and agony" of their own volcanos, even others close them. Is Jasmine really feeling Vesuvius from nearly 1,000 miles away? What about the nearest volcanos just a few hundred miles away in Greece? Have they awakened and can she feel them?
Nearby, Iris, while having no direct connection to volcanos or magma, can feel her sister's pain due to their intense sisterly bond. She can also feel that her home's in catastrophic danger and sprints full speed ahead in her sister's direction, at a speed that rivals that of Meliodas. Gowther, with Vald in tow, struggles to keep up with her.
Not too far away in another part of the fortress, Nuri too feels intense pain. She has felt this before and knows what it means. Conjuring up the last amount of her strength that she didn't even know she had, she breaks free from her retirants and her captors.