The two left Lilia collapsed form, walking over the many bodies littering the command room meeting back up with Sloth kicking him awake somehow managing to fall asleep despite their absences being only for a couple minutes.
"So now what do we do? The two virtues are dead and the commanding soldiers of Brightnight are all dead."
"I've already told Lust to begin the attack early, she could be arriving shortly. Would you please wait at the gate for her so she doesn't have to break the walls down?"
"But you said many times that Lust is the most exhausting of the Sins, you just don't want to deal with her do you?"
"What? No, that's totally not the reason at all. Sloth and I just have to clear the castle of soldiers. That's why I'm not going, no other reason." exclaimed Liliana, her expression sheepish distancing herself from Ratella slowly walking away allowing for no argument.
"Yeah I'm sure that's the only reason. Fine, I'll do it but I'm still itching for a fight so don't be surprised if one of her finest soldiers ends up dead."
"That's fine I couldn't care less about the aspects of shadow. It's just the price to pay for not interacting with her."
"I knew it, you liar!"
Liliana hurried away from Ratella waving her hand behind her in a matter of a couple seconds she had already disappeared from sight pulling Sloth along with her.
"Uhh, that was pretty cute so I suppose I'll humour her for now." whispered Ratella, her playful and sheepish attitude when caught in a lie playing on his heart strings.
He followed their previous path walking towards the main gate upon the battlements many soldiers stood ever watchful of the surrounding, no thoughts of the castle's sorry state.
No leadership remained in the castle; these soldiers were merely lost sheep easily slaughtered by wolves in hiding.
Before he reached the main gate, he retrieved his lance from the armory adjacent to the entrance of the main gate. He twirled it around his hand for a while to familiarise himself with its weight after using Exacublir for a couple days without changing.
The looming darkness of night was beginning to creep over the castle, a sinister feeling hanging in the air noticeable by the soldiers as Ratella approached them. Their posture straightens an unnerving feeling creeping down their spines at his presence.
Ratella's appearance was anything but pleasant, practically covered in blood. His silver and lilac garbs stained crimson and scarlet looking truly devilish.
"Ratella? You could really clean off after returning from killing Devils. It's been a few hours since you returned. You should prioritize cleanliness above all else."
An unknown soldier was the first to interact with the encroaching Serpahim, distancing himself from Ratella, a wary expression growing on his face.
"Ratella? Are you here to join the nightwatch?"
Their question fell on deaf ears, the figure of Ratella eventually appeared for all soldiers on the battlement above the main gate.
Ratella sharpened his wings and emboldened their size two fold slashing outwards to the soldiers around him splitting them in two before they could react.
The lance in his hand hummed to join the bloodshed, he accepted the lance's request throwing it towards the soldier in front of him impaling him to the floor.
The soldiers' faces twisted with horror and shock at his action before regaining their senses attacking the traitor in front of them although pointless they did not die in disgrace. After a few minutes all the soldiers' corpses lay at Ratella's feet, their last actions being honorable and filled with valor. Not a single soldier collapsed to the floor in terror, all choosing a chivalrous path.
Ratella valued their honor, executing them swiftly with no pain or suffering. Their values were far more honorable than his own. He had no room in his heart to feel any sort of aversion at their lifeless corpses. Only respect dwelled in his heart for the fallen men.
Ratella stuck his lance into the wall climbing upon it and sitting against the pommel awaiting the arrival of Lust's legion.
The rain pelting down from the skies masking the scent of blood and death looming over the main gate. His clothes further stained bloody red, not a single remnant of his angelic origins in his newfound appearance.
After an hour, the sound of thousands of footsteps reared themselves out of the expansive darkness clouding the land ahead.
Looking downwards he saw a single woman holding a torch highlighting her body, the rain having no effect on its flame.
The woman wore a crimson period dress and had black veils obscuring her arms and face. The only thing visible was her eyes, a piercing pink creating light in the darkness. A tone of excitement and anticipation laced within her gaze as she locked eyes with Ratella.
"Good evening, my good angel sir. If you open the gate I'll happily let you adore and love me in any way you wish. Your desires are mine to fulfill."
Ratella's face cringed with disgust at the woman's proposal, seeing as the height of impurity to offer yourselves to the closest person around.
"I do not wish for your company, Sin of Lust under the thumb of the Horsemen of War."
"Oh? You know my master? Then you must be quite special. I've not had any actual words from Lady War, only orders. Could you please tell what she has been up to?" asked Lust, a tone of jealousy replacing the excitement in her gaze.
"I'm sure you'll be able to catch up with her after all she lies beyond these very walls with Sloth."
"I thought so you hold the scent of death and blood. The soldiers on the wall are all dead aren't they, the scent is overwhelming around you."
"What did I spoil your fun? I'm sorry for the inconvenience but these soldiers deserved quick deaths holding no pain."
"So be it, it's of no concern to me I'm merely just a follower of Lady War. But could you just open the gate, pretty please?"
Lust's eyes gleamed with sorrow and pity trying to pull on Ratella's heart strings to force her way through and reunite with her beloved master.
She cupped her hands behind her back trying to appear harmless but the sinister aura surrounding begged to differ.
"I have one little request: if you humour me I'll open the gate. Select your strongest aspect of shadow to fight me. He doesn't have to win, just participate."
"Very well, I'll humor you, my aspects of shadow are quite the powerhouses compared to the others so I doubt it'll be boring. My beloved, Nyserra, please humour this angel's request."
Ratella plucked his lance from the wall dropping down from the battlement using his wings to catch his fall landing gracefully upon the earth below.
He stuck the lance in the earth below drawing lines in the dirt as he awaited for his challenger's appearance.
"I'm not sure you'll be able to win, my dear Nyserra but try your best. Ratella, you cannot kill her and she cannot kill you. They are my only terms to this duel."
"I accept these terms, let us begin. The Duel of Brightnight."