"Clearly, we aren't on the same page, Lucy." John's voice cut through the tension, sharp and unyielding. His group behind him shifted, weapons subtly readied, a silent promise of swift action. "If we were, you'd already know that a certain faction under your lord's banner – the Chaos Marauders, to be precise – has been causing me no end of trouble. Trouble that's escalated to the point where I'm likely on their hit list." He watched her closely, a predatory glint in his eyes.
"And honestly," he continued with a low growl "I plan to have all those involved in a certain event wiped out to the last man. Every. Last. One." He took a deliberate step forward, the sound of his armored boots echoing in the sudden silence. "In fact, I'm on my way to your 'lord' right now. His base happens to be in the same direction, situated just before theirs according the helpful scouts we came across. Figured a bit of 'courtesy' would be warranted before I commence my... redecorating." A cold smile, devoid of warmth stretched across John's lips. Lucy shivered, a flicker of something akin to fear, or perhaps reluctant admiration, crossing her face. She took a step forward, seemingly about to speak, but John cut her off with a dismissive wave.
"And as for the matter of needing your help for this? It's a sweet thought, truly, but you're profoundly overestimating yourself. Your presence here changes nothing."
Even as he spoke, the air thrummed with raw, unfocused power. A summoning ritual, clearly of immense magnitude, was nearing its crescendo. The delay was unusual, perhaps a consequence of its original summoner being incapacitated, but the energy building at its focal point promised a formidable foe. They needed to be ready, utterly prepared.
Sieg, a whirlwind of contained aggression, moved to the forefront, flanked by a contingent of animated stone statues and whirring clockwork automatons. His broad grin, a stark contrast to the grim situation, spoke of his eagerness for battle. Chio, ever the tactical mind, had already found a vantage point atop a crumbling ruin, her sharp eyes scanning the terrain, directing the girls into optimal positions as they braced for the enemy's manifestation.
Hope, her usually serene face now etched with fierce determination, began her unwavering chant, a cascade of luminous energy washing over everyone, buffing their defenses and enhancing their capabilities. Sieg's grin widened as he hefted a truly enormous buster blade, its polished surface reflecting the ambient magic. John couldn't help but wonder if the diminutive fighter possessed some kind of personal pocket dimension, given the sheer variety and size of the weaponry he seemed to produce at will.
Ivy, her intricate staff already glowing with a rainbow of siphoned elements, took her place beside Hope as Chio had instructed. She was far enough to avoid the immediate fray but close enough to unleash a devastating elemental assault. Opposite her, Aria stood, a picture of quiet readiness. Her eyes were closed, hands subtly moving in ancient gestures, though she had yet to initiate any offensive action. Angel, however, was visibly subdued. She stood at John's side, almost clinging to his shadow, her posture radiating an almost childlike fear. Seeing her distress, John reached out, his calloused hand gently patting her head, a silent promise of protection passing between them.
He straightened, a pillar of resolve, positioning himself protectively in front of Angel. In his 'weak' hand, the knife he always carried melted and reshaped, elongating into a gleaming sword, much like the impossible transformation he'd witnessed in a dream. His strong hand gripped his massive war hammer, its heavy head radiating a silent threat. His chains, usually dormant, rattled, coming alive with a metallic shriek, splitting into a multitude of smaller, whip-like tendrils while two long, thick ones remained coiled and ready. Meanwhile, Chio's voice echoed from above, crisp and authoritative, as she continued to organize the statues and clockworks, ensuring their battle formation was impeccable.
"This one is sorry, Master," Angel's voice, usually monotonic, now trembled, laced with a raw edge of fear that pulled at John's heart. Her grip on his leg tightened, almost painfully so, as she looked down, her shoulders shaking, on the verge of tears. "This one is unable to be of use or aid in this battle. This one is also unable to properly explain to Master the reasons for it."
He knelt slightly, meeting her gaze, his expression softening for a fleeting moment. "I won't let them harm you, Angel. I won't let them even get close." His voice was a low, fierce murmur. "I already lost someone important to me because I hesitated, because I didn't act. I won't allow that to happen to anyone under my care again." He rose, his gaze sweeping over his assembled group, his eyes hardening with an icy resolve that sent a shiver down Lucy's spine, mixing unnervingly with a surge of something she couldn't quite name, causing her to bite her lip.
"Aria, make sure you're ready for whatever is coming. Chio, find any weak points, give us a heads-up on anything you feel we need to know. Hope, keep those buffs coming and be ready with healing the moment it's needed. Ivy, take out anyone you see trying to circle around with extreme prejudice, regardless of their uniform, but focus on Chio's directives. As for you, Sieg, as soon as whatever is summoned shows up, give it no chance. Go right at it. We will provide support as best we can. Ash, stick close and Saya, cover our backs. I'm trusting the two of you with all our lives, so don't let us down." His orders, delivered with the cold precision of a general, galvanized his forces.
At his command, Aria began a slow, melodic chant in an unknown, ancient tongue. Large, intricate magic circles glowed into existence before and above her, spinning slowly, drawing power from the very fabric of reality. Ash, his face set in a look of grim determination, manifested a massive black bow, nocking a greatsword-sized arrow into its string. He aimed it, not at the ground, but at the blinding pillar of light where the summoning was culminating. The sword-arrow began to pulsate, growing brighter, hairline cracks appearing across its surface as it absorbed an immense amount of magical energy.
With a final, ear-splitting flash, the summoning concluded. The light receded, revealing a colossal, grotesque figure – or rather, two distinct entities fused into one horrifying form. The first was a magnificent, yet terrifying, angel-like being, eight pure white wings unfurling from its back, each feather seemingly woven from celestial light. Its eyes were inexplicably covered by a piece of pristine white cloth, a paradox of beauty and blindness. In one hand, it wielded a massive mace that pulsed with divine energy; in the other, a sword wreathed in roaring flames. It wore gleaming gold and white armor, beneath which flowed a voluminous white dress, seemingly untouched by the chaos of its manifestation.
Yet, behind it, horrifyingly attached to its back, was a living black mass, shrouded in crackling white flames. Multitudes of eye-stalks, each tipped with a malformed mouth, writhed and twisted. Each mouth spoke simultaneously, uttering different praises to their 'lord,' their voices overlapping into a cacophony of distorted adoration that pierced the minds of those who heard it, causing a sharp, agonizing pain.
"No... please, no," Angel whispered, her words barely audible, her entire body wracked with violent tremors. Tears streamed down her face, her carefully maintained composure shattering completely. "Not one of the Enforcers. Do not find this one. Please, spare this one. Do not force this one to watch it happen again. Don't take everyone and everything away from this one once more." She stared at the monstrosity, her body collapsing onto itself in a raw display of terror and grief.
Gently, John turned, pulling her into his arms, lightly rubbing her back, his touch grounding her amidst her spiraling fear. "Shh, it's okay, Angel. You will be okay. We will beat that thing and you will be okay. No one will be lost to that and I promise we will remain here for you." His voice was a soft, firm promise. "It's okay. Go over to Chio, Angel and watch. We will beat this monster into oblivion and you won't lose any of us. I don't know what happened, but whoever and whatever has hurt you like this will pay. I promise!" He whispered, holding her for another moment before gently guiding her towards Chio's position, away from the immediate danger.
Even as John was comforting Angel, Sieg, true to his word and his nature, had already launched himself at the towering angelic being. A mighty war cry tore from his throat, a defiant roar against the divine horror. His tiny figure, almost a speck in comparison to such a colossal entity, seemed utterly insignificant. As his buster blade arced downwards, the angel-like being responded with terrifying swiftness, swinging its enormous mace. The blow connected, sending Sieg hurtling backwards, a streak through the air. But even in his retreat, he had succeeded: his blade had connected, slicing through the pristine cloth covering the entity's eyes.