Demon Archives: Zorc. This demon learned the Card Magic practiced by the ancient Egyptians and Zathurians. Zorc invaded the Termina Dimension, hoping to establish dominion over its Earth, but was defeated by a powerful pharaoh. He became known as one of the Great Evils of Termina, under Majora and the Ten Tails.
On another note, on May 16 (real-world), we had an actual blood moon during a lunar eclipse! The same date I released Chapter 10, when the blood moon was kind of emphasized! Man, I'm good!
"Sluuuuuuurrrrrp…" The juice flowed into Jason's mouth the same way air pumps a balloon, a straw acting as the medium. "Ooooooo…so goooooood…"
"Boy, I thought that kid was done for a minute." Paulie said with a chuckle. "You really are the Sunny Fist's grandson!"
"No kidding!" Isabelle grinned, holding the juice bottle. "He's the first kid in our generation to go Fury Mode! TWICE, even!"
"Yeah, that was incredible!" Laruta beamed. "How'd you pull it off, Jason?"
"Oi guess it was when that big ol' sun came up!" Jason answered. "Gave me the rush I needed! As for the second one… well, Ah just felt another rush!"
"Miss Eda linked that window to Aquaria's sun." Lyserg explained. "But I think that sun happened to reach high noon. I heard that lightbenders can receive a massive spike in power during that minute, but it would only last that long and you'd still feel as tired as a natural Fury Mode. In that sense, I hope you'll be okay."
"Honestly," Paulie said, "we heard the Sunny Fist pulled off WAY crazier stuff with her bending."
"Hehe, don't think me mum doesn't talk about that!" Jason chuckled. "This ain't a big deal! Me chi will pump back up in no time!"
"Yes it will!" Laruta chirped. "After a good night's sleep! But now we're another step closer to ending this mess."
"Speaking of which, a group of Divine Angels just arrived." Lyserg said. "I should go report to them. Fortunately, it seems we've cleared this place of all other demons." The apprentice dropped his Gigai and flew away.
The leader of the angel platoon was a large, almost broad-shouldered man with a Sugegasa straw hat and a kimono with sakura designs over a black robe. His brown, ponytailed hair was wavy, an eyepatch covered his right eye, and his expression was calm. The angel turned as Lyserg approached, landing before him with a bow. "Captain Shunsui! Lyserg, apprentice of Division X. I was assigned to supervise Earth Sector V under Lady Jeanne's orders, and I assisted them in the protection of this city. Unfortunately, several civilians died in the attack, and Demon Lord HIM escaped. I…I take full responsibility."
"Well, it's only fair." Shunsui (from Bleach) replied calmly. "After all, you made it here ahead of us while we were slow on the offensive. We heard about Baal's prior rampages, but every time we flew to stop them, he would already make his escape. You and those mortal kids really showed us up."
"But I wasn't fast enough… or strong enough…"
"Lyserg, you can't expect to save every soul. These sorts of things just happen. Just be proud of all the souls you did save. Hm?" A spirit butterfly landed on his shoulder, making a dinging sound. "Huh…well, get this, kiddo: the barrier around Diablo's domain disappeared."
"What?! Then someone already defeated Mephisto?!"
"Looks like it. Balder wants all angels to gather and swarm the palace. But I guess you should wait for your lady's orders, huh?" Shunsui's kimono flapped open, morphing into majestic, sakura butterfly wings. "So, maybe I'll see you there. Gonna invite those mortal friends of yours?" He and his squadron Ascended.
Diablo's Lair
The Lord of Terror sent a call to several Demon Lords, their menacing silhouettes projecting from his Reflecting Pools. He recognized the kite-like shape of Vaatu, the sapphire flame of Hades, the two-faced Mictlan the Warmonger, Dabura the Cookie Cutter, the Robot Devil's blockish structure, or Mephistopheles the Ghost Contractor.
"My fellow Lords… as you can see, one of the descendants of Uno, he who harbors Malladus's soul, lies dying on my table. Soon, I will finish absorbing his essence and possess the powers of the Demon King! I've come to offer you this opportunity… to win favor with me. My brethren have fallen to the imbecile Angels and are at my doorstep as I speak. They are quite irritating… and I do not want any interference. So, I issue this command: assist me in crushing these feathered fools and all others who intrude my perimeter. Do so and I shall ensure you greater status!"
"Greater status?" Vaatu asked. "Don't be foolish. Hades and I are already Demon Saints."
"Only 'cause you got the backing of the Negatar, but yeah." Hades shrugged. "All I had to do was wait for Medusa to kick the bucket."
"IT MATTERS NOT what your titles are to me!" Diablo bellowed. "When I am king, I will show no mercy to those who defy me. That includes any of you, as of this moment! I'm already displeased that you denied my initial proposal of alliance, but this is your second chance. After I absorb Malladus's soul, I can easily crush any remaining rebels myself… but I'd rather not waste that time. So, I will be ever so grateful if you make my job a bit easier… or I will make this harder on ALL of you! Understand?!"
"Hmmmmm…no." Vaatu vanished.
"Hahaha, okay, okay." Hades let out a chuckle. "Tell ya what, I'll chuck in a few Cerberuses and a Hydra. Maybe I'll throw in a few Gorgons for free. That fair enough?"
"The Lord of Terror is terrified of Angels! IRONIC!" Robot Devil exclaimed. "And now he's begging us 'lesser' demons for help. ALSO IRONIC! MWAHAHAHA!"
"Very well, Saint Diablo." Dabura replied. "I accept your offer. I shall arrive with my best soldiers."
"I shall be there as well." Mictlan stated. "If only because I hope to settle a personal score with those Angels."
"I suppose I can send my Logias." Mephistopheles said. "It's not the worst deal I made. This must mean Mephisto has fallen, too. Pity."
"I guess I'll come, too." Robot Devil shrugged. "I've got nothing better to do for the next trillion years."
"I expect to see only the greatest in your numbers… Send them here immediately." Diablo ended the call. "Cowards."
"AH, don't give them flack, Diablo!" Another demon flew in. He had three eyes, four horns, and a rather ghoulish body with no legs, only a pointed end. "You're the one who's wettin' your pants in here!" he spoke in a loud, taunting tone. "Scaredy-blo, Scaredy-blo, liealalala!"
"You'd better do your part, too, Belial, or I shall end you myself! I have not forgiven you for your rebellion, but I can still make use of you."
"By throwin' me out into those angels, right? Ain't you scared I'll make a bargain with them?"
"They'll never believe you. Lying is in your name, after all."
"I'm sure I can get them to beLIEve! Liealalalala! Fine, big boy! I'll hold them off for ya! Shan't be too hard! Be nice if I could get a cut of the soul though!"
"I'll be cutting YOUR soul if you don't get out there now."
"Hoho, of course, of course. I'm sure you got other appoints, Diaby." The liar fluttered away.
Shortly afterward, HIM, Alastor, and the Daemonis, Torrelasell entered the chamber, each with their own small wounds. "YOU TWO!" Diablo snarled at the Lords. "Explain to me why you let my brothers fall to the Angels!"
"Quite the contrary!" Alastor perked. "The Angels had nothing to do with it! It was all the work of mortals!"
"HOW?! WHAT MORTALS COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE THIS?!"
"The friends of Christina… and the current Hero of Time." HIM rasped, before speaking in his echoey voice. "Isn't that right, Alastor?"
"Indeed-larooney! But listen, we're still loyal to you, Diablo! We'll protect this palace to our last breath! And HIM brought us a real nifty present."
"Yes, sir?" Niffty zipped up.
"Not you, Niffty. I was talkin' about the traitor, Clawthorne. The old dog's shown his true tricks. We got him locked up in the dungeon now."
"I believe Clawthorne possesses a rather unique power." HIM followed. "Perhaps if we learn what it is, it can turn the battle in our favor."
"For your sake, I hope! The two of you are on very thin ice! And that goes for you, too, Daemonis! It seems you couldn't provide Aku the assistance he hired you for! But since you were wise enough to return, I surmise you still have services to offer."
"But of course." Torry stared at the demon coldly. "My acquaintance, Turas has provided me drugs that can enhance the powers of the unintelligent demons. Won't work on you guys, sadly, those are the breaks." She sported a smile. "But if you don't want the Phoenios breaching your doorstep, I think it's best that I stay outside. It was hard enough escaping that time priest. However, Aku wanted me to warn you about something in case it ever got this far. Something you shouldn't let the Uno princess find."
"Then speak!"
…
King Clawthorne was chained in a dungeon, his skull cracked and fur torn. He knew the KND would be here soon… For now, he couldn't risk using his true power too early. He had to wait until the time was right.
Outside Castle Hell
"Kid? …Kiiiiiiiiiid?" Nebula lightly smacked her husband's cheek. "Kiddo? Or is it Death the Adult now?"
"Huff! N-Nebula!" Death started back to his senses. "It…it is you, right? I'm not sure what's real or not, anymore."
"Well, one minute I was dreaming about buying this exotic outfit and showing it off to Star… at our own school, no less… then my head got all murky and I thought I could hear your voice. I just woke up, and… these kids told me I was brainwashed by a demon."
Death noticed Perry's group. "Hey, Dad." Star smiled. "I had a pretty hectic day…"
"Star! You're safe! …Heh, you found yourself quite the varied group, Astere."
"Amazing how naturally everything works out." she agreed.
"I suppose s-…!" Death gasped. "My scythe! Where's my scythe?!"
"The Reapers said it wasn't on you. They're trying to search the battlefield."
"What?! Did…did that little monster steal it?!"
"What monster?"
"Tch…" Death didn't even want to describe him. "It was probably one of Diablo's minions. I have to search for it immediately."
"Thought you should know, actually." Grell intervened. "It seems that Diablo's lair is now open. The Divine Angels are preparing to lay siege upon it."
"The lair is open?" Perry asked. "Does that mean all his Pillars were destroyed?"
"Sounds like we need to prepare as well then." Jennu smiled. "Astere, can you send us home?"
"Of course. I can open the portal now if you're ready."
"Nah, I can stick around a little longer." Loki grinned. "Ain't Dracula's castle in this world? What do you say we all pay a visit and trash the place?"
"We have a more important place to trash now!" Lucina argued.
"Take us home ASAP, Starey!" Mika beamed. "Everyone's gonna wanna know we're okay!"
"Starey? Alright then…" Astere conjured a pink portal.
"Ready to go, Mom?"
"So, I'm wondering," Nebula began, "the mind-control properties are gone now, right? Because if so, I kinda wanna keep this outfit."
"Please don't bring it to school…"
"I recommend washing it first." Death suggested. "But, Star…" The boy looked to his father. "I was wondering if I could talk to you after this battle is over."
"Talk? About what?"
"Nothing especially important. I'd just like to see you after this…"
"Uh…okay?" Star sported a puzzled look. "I guess I can. For now, I got operatives to address."
"By the way, Astere, what kind of conditioner do you use?" Jennu asked. "Your hair's so shiny, it's almost gem-like."
"I feel like it would get in your teammates' eyes during missions." Star commented.
"Perhaps I'll tell you some other time." Astere smiled.
Christina's House
Under a blood moon night, Sector V found Christina and her mother sitting on lawn chairs, sharing soda as they stared at the red sky. The yard had been reduced to ashes. "Oh, hey, dudes." Chris greeted. "Back from your mission?"
"I BEAT UP BAAL!" Jason exclaimed.
"Yo! That's another Pillar down, right?"
"Not just one!" Isabelle began. "Lyserg said the last Pillar went down, too! Diablo's lair is open now!"
"It…it is?" Christina sat up. "So, we can go in there?"
"You're hardly in condition to go." Jeanne stepped out of the house, sipping a glass of milk. "None of you are. You've all fought very well today."
"I could say so." Laruta observed. "Your yard is a mess!"
"This why we never bothered to set up a garden." Maddy replied.
"Oi, were you training this whole time?" Shimmy asked. "I bet you're WAY stronger than Jason now!"
"Well, when I was training with Mom, I realized something. Back when me and Jack fought Aku's assassin, and she tried to steal Jack's 'experience' with that weird power… well, I kind of bit the 'experience,' and I sort of remember a few of Jack's Shaolin moves. I kinda used them when we fought Aku, too. Flying Eagle," she posed and spread her flames like wings, "Tiger Claw," she made fiery claws, "Horse Drinking Water," she got on all fours like a horse, using fire to swiftly dash to other yards, jumping fences, and then returning. "Okay, I took creative liberties with some of them, but you get the gist. His moves gave me some new firebending ideas."
"Sadly, her Haki hasn't improved much." Jeanne said.
"Says you! I can do this now!" Christina coated her whole fists in Haki. "I can't use Haki and bending at the same time, but if I switch it fast enough, it makes good defense." She shot fire in the air, hardened her hands, shot fire, and repeated in quick succession.
"What's your verdict, Lady Jeanne?" Lyserg asked.
"My 'verdict' will not matter in a moment. All Divine Angels have been summoned to invade Diablo's lair. That includes us, Lyserg. Naturally, I must strongly advise that you mortals do not get involved in our battle… so, should you choose not to listen, then you are only dooming yourselves." Jeanne walked to Lyserg's side. "We will rescue your father and bring Diablo justice. Let us go, Lyserg."
"Understood…" Lyserg turned to the mortals. "I would say it's been an honor fighting alongside you, but I doubt this will be our final farewell. So, I'll see you later." The angels Ascended.
"Sooooo… we're going to Diablo's lair, too, right?" Chris asked.
"Tomorrow, after we sleep." Laruta reminded. "And, not to mention… don't we have to find a Gap that leads to his lair, too?"
"SIIIIIIIGH." They had forgotten about that.
"Well, until we figure THAT out… we still gotta wait for Uncle Facilier." Ralph remembered. "We can also spend that time preparing."
"I think it's about time to finish my new train!" Shimmy agreed.
Tomorrow; 1:05p.m.
Sector V spent their morning engaging in light sparring and a good breakfast. Mali left to buy lots of sodas and snacks for her friends to bring on the mission, while Shimmy and Ralph were hard at work with their inventions. "It's rare to see you doing this." Laruta commented, sitting on Chris's back while the latter did pushups.
"Can't waste too much energy, right? Not before the big battle."
"Hmhm!" The gymnast smiled. "…You're pretty calm, too. Are you… still worried?"
"Well, duh. But I still feel like I've been gone for a week… and a hundred years. And I started thinkin' there's no point in rushing anymore, is there?"
"We can be quick when we have a solid plan, but most of the time, it's good to pace ourselves. Either way, I hope we can make it in time, too…"
The alarms blared, startling the friends as they rushed to answer the Moonbase transmission. "We really need a better ringtone!" Shimmy said.
"You're telling me…" Isabelle rubbed her sore ears.
Fearing what the emergency would be, Perry's expression seemed rather jovial in contrast. "Hi, Sector V! I never got a chance to check in last night, but the twins showed me a clip from the evening news. You guys are Azultown heroes!"
"You bet we are!" Jason cheered. "And what've you been up to, mate?"
Perry recapped his recent mission. "Heh! Shoulda known if anyone could do it, it'd be you." Chris smirked. "Problem is we need a good way to get to Diablo's lair."
"That's what I wanted to call about, actually. Sector W might have a way to get there."
"Those dorks? How?"
"Let's just say… they have a new friend on the other side. And that friend can open a portal to Diablo's lair. I'm going to call all sectors and ask whoever wants to help in the invasion. We just have to decide where to meet up."
"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
"Did we change our ringtone already?" Isabelle asked.
"It's not a ring!" Mali pointed delightedly. "It's a birdy!"
A raven was perched on a branch hanging through the wall. "What's that on its head?" Shimmy noticed a tall, thin shape on top of it.
"It's a hat!" Isabelle confirmed, running for a closer look. The raven wore a black top-hat with a skull symbol. "Huh…that looks like-"
"GOOD MORNIN', CHILDREN!" The raven exploded into a cloud of colored smoke. Where once there was a raven, there was now a witch-doctor.
"YIPE!" But they only had a second to visualize him before Isabelle kicked him into the street.
"ISABELLE!" Ralph shouted. "That was Uncle Raymond!"
"Yeah, I was just about to say." Isabelle replied. "That was for blasting smoke in my face."
The friends hurriedly climbed outside and ran to the fallen man's aid. "Uncle Raymond, are you all-" Laruta tried to say.
"RIGHT AS A PENCIL, Miss Grayson!" The lean man was upright, bringing Laruta with and throwing her to the air. "Always nice to see the young'uns up and at 'em!" The man twirled his cane before propping it to the ground. Mali clapped Laruta safely in her hands.
You sound really happy today! What's up? Trella signed.
"I got ahold of the Spirit Water y'all wanted." Raymond flicked out a small vial. "Thank Godmother Wendy for that!"
"Sweet!" Ralph beamed. "We got Joaquin! I guess we just gotta get him to drink it, right?"
"That we do! And I was called by Miss Eda, too. Says you kids did pretty darn well up there! But King was…"
"Captured." Laruta frowned. "But we plan to invade Diablo's lair soon. Perry says that we have an ally who can open a portal there, we just need a good place to do it."
"Then would the foot of Mt. Malladus be available? Usually resonates well with demonic energy."
"Then let's spread the word." Christina fist-palmed. "We're gettin' Dad back."
Chaos Sanctuary
The battles were fiery inside and outside the Demon Saint's lair. A multi-headed Hydra and several Cerberus gnashed Nimbi Angels out of the air. A troupe of fiery and lunar Angels; those who worshipped Sun God Solaris and Moon Goddess Cresselia, gathered to battle Mictlan. The Warmonger possessed two heads, which could spit out red or gold hearts. By forcing the red hearts into his foes' chests, he could brainwash them, while the gold hearts would turn them into gold statues.
"Paparapapa!" laughed Babidi, the former wizard shooting blasts of energybending at Angels, standing at Lord Dabura's back. "These Divine Angels are divine suckers! With any luck, we'll actually be SUCCESSFUL for once, Dabura!"
"Then maybe YOU shouldn't underestimate your opponent this time!"
"YOU insisted that we could crush that fat marshmallow!"
"And YOU should've given the order to retreat after he swallowed 300 of our soldiers!"
"Like you would've actually listened!"
"Balloon-headed imp!"
"Flower-loving buffoon!"
"ZAPARAPA?!" Both were struck with confusion upon being struck by black lightning. This was followed by a storm of heart-shaped arrows.
"Ho ho ho! You two bicker, but it seems you retain a subtle friendship." A bald Nimbi with thick, cloud-like brows, his body covered by a beard. He had two pairs of rainbowy, heart-shaped wings. "My Cupid Bow can cause great pain to pairs with no love, but you've been spared the full brunt of its power."
"Grambi the Loving!" Dabura exclaimed, recognizing the Elite Angel. "And…" he glared at the one who cast the lightning. She was a queen with a purple robe and black, spiked collar, with a magenta crown with very tall spikes. Her lips and eyes were black against her violet face. "I see you've decided to side with them, Queen Jaydes."
"I could never allow Diablo to sully the world of Grambi's children." answered the Mushroomian Demon Lord. "Those who side with him are equally guilty!"
"And a demon who sides with angels is unfit to be a Lord!" Dabura tossed some glass into his mouth, wincing in pain as he chewed it. He shot spitwads with bullet speed, slowly turning Grambi and Jaydes into glass around the parts that were hit. By consuming any earth-type material, Dabura could turn his foes into said material via his spit, but it would wear off after he ate something else.
When Babidi tried to ambush Jaydes from behind, the lady whipped her hand and conjured a Warp Pipe, catching Babidi inside it. He was forced to jump his way through World 5 of Mario: The Lost Levels. If he got a Game Over, he would be turned into a Shaydes.
"Look around you, Jaydes! All us Lords have gathered to witness a new age to the Underworld! We may not respect Diablo, but we'll be damned if we let the mortals or spirits remain on top of us any longer."
"So you will." Jaydes withdrew a star from her robe. "But there's a reason the mortals have remained on top for this long…"
Mt. Malladus
All volunteer sectors gathered at the foot of the volcano; the place from where Malladus was summoned 50 years ago. The Global Command ops, Sectors V, W, IC, MG, JP, RT, SG… "Kids Next Door, thank you for your bravery." Perry announced. "Dr. Facilier was able to provide us more Seastone Rings, so we should have enough for all of you. In just a moment, we'll be diving into the lair of Diablo, mastermind of this invasion. The Divine Angels and Spirit KND will be helping us, but I still can't promise a safe journey. This will be your last chance if you wanna stay behind."
"Anyone that leaves is getting KICKED in the rear!" Christina announced.
"SECONDED!" Karma shouted.
"DON'T SAY THAT!" Laruta and Veronica bashed them.
"But if you're all set to go, Robi here will open the portal for us."
"Uh-huh!" The frizzy-haired Nimbi stepped forth, raising a dark star in hand.
Yesterday, Sector W was attacked by a half-mechanical, icebending demon dragon called Bonechill, who specifically sought out the children of Luvbi. Bonechill wanted revenge on Luvbi for defeating his brother, Heartburn, but his revenge was denied him. After Bonechill's defeat, Queen Jaydes arrived to subdue the demon, thanking the children for their work. To reward them, she lent them one end of a Star Gate, promising a favor should they request it. However, she already had the request in mind.
Robi threw the star against the ground, expanding into a dark portal. "Who's first?" Perry asked.
"GERONIMOOOOO!" Christina and Jason expectedly dove in.
…
Seeing her star glow yellow, Jaydes threw it over Dabura, the demon looking in worry. The star grew into a portal, and a horde of lively, mortal children came flooding out. "WE'RE COMIN', DIABLOOOOOO!" Jason screamed, the KND charging for the Chaos Sanctuary.
"CHILDREN?!" Dabura gasped. "But why would you bring them here?!"
"Because mortals, especially mortal children, possess more heart than you shallow demons ever could have!"
Braving the clash of angels and demons, the KND crossed the threshold of Diablo's lair. Somewhere inside this den was her father… No matter if he was alive or dead, Christina would make Diablo pay for all he's done. She would show the Demon Saint true terror.
Between allied Demon Lords, powered-up unintelligent demons, the rest of his lower officers, as well as the hired hands of rogue spirits, Diablo paid for all the insurance necessary to fend off his enemies. Acat was a Gerudo from Old Hyrule. She agreed to assist Diablo if only to eradicate the Unos, but was otherwise a loyal worshipper of Ganon. Once known as the Tattoo Eagle for her many markings, her Zanpakutō lets her give life to her tattoos in violet form, whether as wings (with Triforce designs), arrows, or swords. She confronted Rudy and Snap from Sector RT, who at first ran from the merciless Gerudo in panic. Eventually, Rudy got the idea to draw his own accessories for Snap, allowing him to battle Acat with similar techniques; naturally, the chalk weapons would dissolve after too many hits.
Sector MG confronted one of Azmodan's Sin Lieutenants, Envious Vidian, and his troupe of Blood Cultists. Through bad luck, Lucas Orson wound up separated from his team, forced to fight Vidian by himself. Vidian saw into Lucas's heart and took the shape of the one Lucas was most envious of: his twin brother, Claus. Since preschool, Claus was more brave, strong, and proficient at magic than Lucas, so much that their father wanted to take him on monster-fighting adventures while Lucas was too scared to go. Vidian adapted Claus's magic to his advantage, almost overpowering little Lucas.
"YOU FELLAS HAVE FUN WITH THE SMALLFRY!" Shimmy exclaimed. "We're traveling in style!"
Shimmy had constructed a larger, five-car train; each car as long as a truck's crate, but only half as tall. Their train easily mowed down the swarms of weaker demons, but some were nimble enough to jump onto the train. The Black Tallblin and Lizalfos were tougher than the average grunts, and it took Chris and Jason's combined efforts to take out a Silver Lizalfos with minimal injury. "OI, WE HAVE A GAS LEAK!" Shimmy screamed.
"Pull over and I'll fix it!" Ralph said.
"Not in the train, up ahead!" Shimmy's finger flew toward the dense cloud of gas blotting the passage.
"Leave it to Mali!" The child stepped up front behind Shimmy, hands forward as she bent the gas aside.
"BUUUUURRRRRP…" A force of wind blew Mali backward and blew the train off-course. "AAAH! Something smells and it ain't soda!" Shimmy screamed.
"Ghomumumumumu!" Through the gas, a humongous, obese demon with gaping mouths in his belly and shoulders trudged up. "Tremble, my tasty morsels! I am Ghom the Ravenous Glutton! You destroyed my master, Azmodan, so now I will eat you!"
"Another poisonbending demon." Laruta observed, nose pinched. "You guys go on ahead. Me and Mali can-"
"It's okay, Laru-chan!" Mali pushed herself up and climbed off the train. "I can beats him myself!"
"Are you sure, Mali?"
"You always help me, Laru-chan, but I wanna beat a bad guy by myself! Can I pwease?"
"Okay, Mali… let us know when you're done!"
"Hahaha!" Mali was joyed by her friend's belief in her.
With a cluster of exploding gas clouds at their backs, the train continued onward. They rolled onto an outer walkway, enclosing on a security tower. It seemed that some of the angels and Spirit Ops that arrived ahead of time wiped out most of the strong demons in this zone. Just as the train penetrated the tower, they found their selves rolling down a steep slope into a misty dungeon. "More gas?!" Jason exclaimed.
"This isn't gas!" Laruta said. "It almost feels like… shower steam?"
"Hey, does anyone else feel woozy?" the captain dropped into a sit.
"Not me…" Christina replied.
"I do…" Ralph said, the others sharing the sentiment. "This doesn't feel as relaxing as shower steam."
"There's water up ahead!" Shimmy said, slowing the train into a halt. At the base of the slope, they arrived on the shore of what seemed like a lake of bathwater. The enormous tub had acidic bubbles and monstrous rubber duckies.
"Aaaaaaahhh…" A pair of enormous crab claws emerged on flexible, skinny arms, and with them the torso of HIM. "How kind of Diablo to let me install this in his lair. My very own Sanzu Bath. Care to join me, children? You'll feel so refreshed, the souls will leave your bodies…"
"Ugh…this steam is Sanzu water." Silica grunted.
"Water that gives nourishment to demons… and drains mortals." Isabelle sighed. "Even to souls, this can drown them like our own water. Even our Seastone Rings don't help. …Guys, back there!" She pointed up past HIM's right. "There's a tunnel! And it looks like the only way forward!"
"You children aren't going anywhere." HIM glared. "Not until I see my darling pet, at least. Well? I know you have him somewhere."
"Joaquin isn't yours, Crabby!" Ralph clamped his watch. "We gave him Spirit Water, so he's resting! I ain't waking him up to see you!"
"It matters not. I'll just destroy him, too!" HIM splashed a wave of bathwater at the small train.
"Laruta, can your bending block it?!" Ralph panicked.
"No, I can't even bend this steam!"
"Do we have any shields?!"
I DO! Trella scream-signed. NOW, HIPPIE HOP!
At that instant, the wave was split into two, flowing past the train. "WHAT?!" Both demon and fellow operatives fell agape as the spirit of an enormous, white rabbit formed into place, adorned in a rainbow flower necklace. "Where did this rodent come from?!"
"Yeah, Trella, what the heck?" Ralph asked. "I thought you could only summon monkeys."
Surprise! Mom and I found him after that volcano mission! It's a rabbit Grandma Kuki used to have, but it died and was buried in the yard of that house. This spirit only showed up after the mission. She said Grandma used to have a giant robot based on Hippie Hop, too.
"Holdin' out on us with a cool beastie like that?" Shimmy smirked. "I better bust out MY surprise, too!" She opened a secret compartment and pressed a switch. Her lead train formed a window around her like a cockpit, and the other kids were moved to the front. The back four cars repositioned to become arms and legs, growing fingers and shoes, the lead car made up the center of the body, the cockpit bending forward like a neck. Hip-hop began distracting HIM, swinging his paws and ears in karate fashions, but the demon smacked the bunny into the wall. He looked as Shimmy's Trainsformer made a mad dash across the lake and toward the tunnel, HIM stretching both claws to grab its legs. The train grabbed the edge of the tunnel as it fell, propping itself. "Christina, you and the others go on ahead! Me and Trella can handle this lobster!"
"But this guy's a Demon Lord!" Isabelle said. "At least Jason should stay-"
"This cockpit's keepin' us safe from all that Sanzu, ain't it? Cap'n can't do much out there!"
"Heh, she's not wrong." Jason chuckled. "But you'll be apples, won't ya? You can do this!"
"But Captain!" Laruta protested.
"Everyone Gets a Turn!" Jason recited the cherished guideline. "It's these two's turn to earn a victory!"
Well, I helped with Aku and Joaquin, but I don't mind one more! Trella signed.
"Roast him good for me, girls!" Christina encouraged.
"You got it, Chrissie!"
Though Laruta still bore concern, she decided to trust them as well as she did Mali. Shimmy let them all out as they leapt toward the tunnel, racing out of the Sanzu steam.
Hip-hop bit into HIM's arms, weakening his grip before swatting the rodent off. Shimmy spun her mech and threw a punch, HIM flipping up his heel to block it. "Little girls and their pets…" the demon flashed and morphed into his muscular form, and four large shower faucets erected, "really piss me off!" (Play "Final Ghirahim" from Skyward Sword! …Get it? GhiraHIM? And he's fighting Shimmy?)
Boss fight: HIM
HIM shot Heat Vision, Shimmy bending the Trainsformer's left arm in front as a shield extracted. Hip-hop charged and pounced HIM in the stomach, but the demon endured and clenched the rabbit in his claw. HIM's faucets began to shoot searing Sanzu at bullet speed, steadily chipping the Trainsformer's armor. However, Shimmy noticed her shield was deflecting HIM's lasers, so she directed them to cut down two of the faucets. HIM ceased his lasers, growling as he caught one of the falling faucets in his left claw and used it as a club to whack the mech. Using motion controls, Shimmy blocked with her arms and dealt palm thrusts to throw HIM off balance. She kicked as the shoes of her mech stretched to stamp HIM's knees. HIM swung his own kick, but Shimmy grabbed and twisted his ankle.
The painful sensation caused HIM to loosen his grip on Hip-hop, the rabbit flipping away. Hip-hop grabbed the flowers off his necklace and threw them like shurikens, latching into HIM's beefy skin, the demon brushing them off. The Trainsformer sprung up as Shimmy dealt a slam-dunk onto HIM's head, only to be shoved off into another shower faucet. As the faucet fell, Shimmy got the idea to grab it and clash it with HIM's own faucet. However, when she took a swing, HIM stretched a claw into the mech's "stomach," clutching it, but Shimmy pushed off and leapt away before the damage would worsen. "You know, Trella, I wonder." Shimmy began as she ripped the head off her shower faucet. "If this guy's a bathtub demon, how does he respond to filth?" As Hip-hop distracted HIM by pouncing over his eyes, Shimmy linked the shower head to the fingers of Trainsformer's hand. She pulled a lever to let a stream of crushed coal flow through, shooting it through the faucet and drenching HIM in black.
"AH! FILTHY, FILTHY!" HIM frantically swat Hip-hop off and splashed into the water. Shimmy seized the chance to jump HIM's head. When he tried to grab Trainsformer's legs, Shimmy seized one in both hands and struggled to rip it. The other claw still caught one leg and was able to throw them across the lake. HIM sent some of his Mr. Quackers to pile on Hip-hop, pushing himself up. The crab-man charged at Shimmy, claws spinning like drills. Wheels extracted beneath Trainsformer's soles, with jets to give them a boost. However, instead of intercepting HIM, Shimmy needed the momentum to leap over him—HIM expected this and thrusted the drills upward, sawing Trainsformer's torso. Shimmy snickered as the torso leaked more liquefied coal, spilling on HIM's face. As HIM wriggled in disgust and from the surprise, Trainsformer's hands clasped his neck. The mech dove down amidst its arched leap, flipped HIM above, and slammed him headfirst into the tub's floor. Doing so cracked the tiles, causing water to drain out.
HIM furiously shook away and stretched an arm to press a switch. The ceiling opened in segmented spots, releasing a torrential rainfall of bathwater to keep the tub full. At the same time, faucets opened beneath the tub, coating the surface in bubbles. The bubbles were very dense and weakened the Trainsformer's movement, and worse still, HIM submerged and hid beneath the suds. Shimmy tried to kick the water and splash the bubbles away, but she felt the mech's legs grabbed by HIM. The crab squeezed and crushed its ankles, the mech toppling into the suds and flailing in its efforts to shake free. Shimmy pulled a switch to release coal from the legs, polluting the water as a disgusted HIM released.
"BAH!" HIM rose from the water and tried to stomp the cockpit beneath his heel, but Shimmy blocked it with the arm shield, swatting HIM's foot away and quickly flipping up. "Yes, it's true. In either the Mortal or Underworlds, I can't stand filthy things. I won't even risk getting tooth decay from candy! Too bad children aren't bothered by it." HIM saw the mech faltering on its footing and fired Heat Vision at the legs, but though Shimmy deflected it with the shield, HIM shot Soul Beams from his claws, pushing Shimmy against the wall. HIPPIE-HOP! RELEASE THE FISHIES! Trella screamed. Having fought off the Quackers, the giant rabbit barfed a school of goldfish into the bath, the swarm swimming to nibble HIM's legs.
"What the heck's that rabbit been eating?!"
One time, Grandma Kuki got a bunch of fish killed by a Cat Lady. Those are all their spirits!
"Well, while he's busy with that, let's speed up the drainage!" Shimmy threw steam-powered punches into the wall at the water's surface, as well as through the bubbles and against the bottom, though the bubbles still blotted the speed of the drainage. It was then HIM decided to employ a new trick: his green eyes stretched out, and he grabbed the right one as he yanked both out like a rope. He flicked the eye-rope and sliced off Trainsformer's right arm, the mech hurriedly evading further attacks. "MAN, you demons have weird moves! You can use your eyes like ropes?!"
"On the contrary," HIM corrected, "this is a trick I learned from mortal crabs. They can use their eyes to rope distant targets or strangle enemies if need be."
"Never knew that." Shimmy replied, using the other arm to grab the fallen one out of the water. HIM's eye-rope lashed at her cockpit, but it was blocked by a pair of flower nun-chucks, which Hip-Hop had shaped from his necklace. The rabbit swiftly air-hopped around HIM and lashed the flowers, which themselves were the same as the shurikens. The burning eye-rope could still clash and deflect the chucks, but when he heard Shimmy throwing the severed arm at him, he sliced it—causing liquefied coal to splash over his back. Hip-hop seized his moment of disgust to rope HIM's neck in his flowers, twist it, and bring it down. Shimmy grabbed HIM and shoved one of the mech's ruined legs into his mouth, the demon biting it, only for more coal to seep into his throat and eye sockets. HIM vehemently and blindly sliced Shimmy's mech to pieces, but she could detach the torso as Hippie hopped to grab it. The rabbit sprung high, and Shimmy stomped a pedal as a rocket kicked on in the back of her car.
Hip-hop threw her into HIM's head, the demon reeling backward, while the rabbit roped his legs and pulled. HIM fell back, Shimmy's car reangling to keep pushing him. HIM shot one last desperation beam and destroyed Hip-hop, but his head met the bottom of the tub. With Shimmy to keep pushing him, the cracks grew around the bottom, draining the last of the water. The sludge from Shimmy's severed mech polluted whatever was left. Shimmy and Trella were forced to climb out of the crumbling mech, standing in the shallow Sanzu sludge. Fortunately, the filth caused HIM to shrink to his normal form. (End song.)
"Huff…huff…" HIM returned his eyes to their sockets, but he still cringed against the coal inside. "That wasn't even as bad as the Powerpuff Girls' Dynamo… and yet… to lose to such toys… this game has gone on long enough. You've made me VERY angry… and I need people to take it out on. After I destroy you… I will visit Townsville… and take revenge on those wretched girls and their descendants! You'll rue the day you humiliated His Infernal Majesty! Huh?!"
The crumbled ground shook. A portion of it puffed up, and a pair of furry, clawed arms emerged. "EEEEEAAAAAHH…" King Clawthorne breathed with invigoration.
"KIIIIIING!" Shimmy screamed.
"WHAT?!" HIM gasped.
"You know, HIM… when you build your giant bathtub right above the prison, you really gotta watch out for leaks…" Clawthorne marched toward the panting crab with malice. "That was a nice shower you gave me… though there's a bit too much coal for my taste."
"Grrrr!" HIM tried to limp away, but King leapt and clasped his skinny frame in both hands. "GAH! Release me, you mangy mutt!"
"Oh, that's right… you never figured out what I am, did you? You see, HIM, I'm a Titan."
"Titan?" There were several creatures with that term, but HIM didn't recognize which one…
"Figure it out on your next life, crabcakes." King's mouth opened wide.
"NO! AAAAAAHHH…!"
Shimmy shut her eyes and Trella her antennae. His jaws clenched firmly over HIM's head, King tore it off like tissue. The girls reopened to see the demon's body poof into darkness. "Plech. Coal. Phew, I don't know what you did up here, girls, but you're pretty good if you beat him all by yourselves!"
"We ain't the Top Sector for nothin'!" Shimmy boasted.
"The battle's not over, yet. How about I give you kiddos a lift?"
We'd love that, Mr. King! Our friends went up through that tunnel there.
The canine crouched as the girls climbed on his back. King pounced up into the tunnel and scampered forth.
Outside
Torrelasell unloaded a round of bullets at Elizabeth Liones, an Elite Angel with flowing silver hair and pure blue eyes with white triskeles for pupils. Elizabeth bravely took the shots, amassing a divine light into her palm to strike the Daemonis. Palutena, the goddess who bestows lightbending, deemed Elizabeth worthy to keep her power after death, and it was as strong as Torry expected. But Torry tanked the attack if only to rip her "experience" out of Elizabeth's heart. She then kicked the angel away, Lizzy coating herself in a warm light that healed her wounds. "Elizabeth the Pure. You may be the best healer of the angels… but can you heal the past?" Torry flashed behind Lizzy and slapped the capsule of her experience against her.
Elizabeth felt the sensation of a wooden log piercing her chest, the very same fatal wound returning. "Demon Saint Zeldora put a curse on you for stealing his son's heart." Torry recapped. "Forcing you to reincarnate and die at the same age over and over. Forever breaking his heart, until you could finally die in peace. This last incarnation was an Avalaran princess, right? Whatever happened to your old kingdom?"
With a burst of lightbending, Elizabeth used Passion of Jonah, conjuring a giant whale-shark hybrid made of light. Torry was reminded of a different whale as the beast's first two chews wounded her, later to shoot herself free of the creature. "That doesn't matter." Lizzy said, returning to the air with resolve. "I left all those lives behind. My only future is with Meliodas… and to ensure a brighter future for those above."
The distant lightshow projected by Lizzy's chi attracted many eyes from afar… especially those of a certain adventurer. Riding up the Sanzu River on her hand-made ship, the pirate took a swig of golden rum as she sailed toward the site of the battle. "Oi, who got ticked off up there?" she pulled out a telescope for a better view. In her time exploring the Underworld, she recognized a handful of Demon Lords. Dabura, known for his love of flower-picking and being turned into a cookie. Robot Devil, known for his karaoke bars. Then she noticed Torry. "'ey, ain't that one of them Daemonis? Strewth, maybe Dimentia's around! Think I'll swing a kick in this brawl…?" Her sky-blue gaze fell to something gold and glittery: the victims of Mictlan's gold heart ability. "And pick me up some treasure, too!"
The Warmonger in question had shoved a Red Heart into Jaydes' chest, forcing her to turn against her beloved Grambi. The Nimbi hoped the power of his Cupid Bow could reignite her love. "That was low even for me, Brother…"
Mictlan heard a familiar voice and turned, glaring. "Xibalba…" Known as Xibalba the Forgetful, the Mexican Demon Lord was almost pitch-black, with a cloak and large, drooped wings. He had a white beard and curly mustache, tall spiked crown, and green eyes with red skull pupils. Skulls hung from his horns, and green candles lit his shoulder armor. "Since SHE is with you… I suppose you're on the Angels' side."
Beside him was La Muerte the Memorable, a thin, white-skinned spirit with a wide red sombrero and thin gown with a wide base. Candles decorated the rim of her hat and gown, and she had flowing black hair. The guardian of the Mexican Spirit World, she was Xibalba's wife. "Oh, don't mind us, Mictlan." Muerte said. "We're just here to watch our child's performance."
"Child? You can't mean Sartana's child…"
La Muerte and Xibalba once found a child abandoned in the Mortal World, by the name of Sartana. They inhabited mortal Gigai and decided to raise her until she was old enough to live on her own… but Demon Saint Lucifer learned about this and struck a deal with the adopted child, where she would revive as a living skeleton after death with Underworld powers. This curse would pass down to Sartana's grandson. "Indeed." Xibalba answered. "Sartana's great-grandson is among the Kids Next Door here. Earlier, we took advantage of this holiday and issued a 'challenge' to him. He passed, so we granted him a gift to aid him in this battle."
"Then you're a TRAITOR all the same!" Mictlan slashed his claw directly down Xibalba's front. Fortunately, his power kicked in: Xibalba 'forgot' that he took the blow, causing the wound to be erased. This power only worked randomly, but it was rather frequent regardless.
"Mictlan, you didn't just try to attack me, did you?" Xibalba asked teasingly. "Remind me, after Lucifer lost his powers, which of us was made the Demon Saint?"
"ROOOAAAR!" Mictlan tried to clap him in both hands, but Xibalba and Muerte flew backward. As soon as his hands met, two macahuitl swung from opposite directions, striking his head as he reeled back. Recognizing the forms of these weapons, Mictlan stood to find his nemeses, Maya and Zatz. The tan-skinned Maya bore the flaming wings of an eagle, while the pale, but black-clothed Zatz flapped the lunar-blue wings of a bat, symbolizing their positions as the Sun God and Moon Goddess's Divine Angels. Their Zanpakutō, Eagle Claw and Crimson Moon, resembled the weapons they had in life. "Just who I was waiting for…"
The four members of Sector JP had confronted Dabura's officers. Ichigo Diego fought Yao, a giant purple boar who could morph his arms into different weapons. Joto fought Mamba, a blue-skinned demon with orange, spiky hair, who tried to slash a small scythe at the fly-sized girl. Mamba could also use her hair to attack via the Life Return technique, entangling Joto in the minute strands. Kodachi launched fireworks at Susha, a Mobian frog criminal, but the amphibian could phase into the ground like liquid and ambush Koda from beneath. Mazu battled Torga, a chicken Mobian, who had the unique power to control and change into candles. Roasting chicken was basic nature for a cook, and his firebending was a good counter to Torga's candles.
"That's Karin's kid, isn't it?" Shunsui asked casually, smoothly dodging Dabura's energybending. "Man, he's bigger than Yachiru said. Have ta ask him to spar one of these days."
"Don't spectate in the middle of battle!" Dabura shouted.
"Sorry." Shunsui zipped past and sliced Dabura's hip. The demon growled furiously, but was confused as a color wheel appeared above him. "Yes, that is my ability." Shunsui knowingly explained. "Katen Kyōkotsu makes a wheel based on all the colors on your person. When it lands on one, you'll take more damage depending how much of that color you have. I'd be afraid of pink and blue if I were you."
"Ha ha ha! Then it's a good thing I've come prepared with smaller colors." Dabura withdrew a flower crown with several colors that were neither blue nor pink. He happily placed the crown on his head.
"Oh…well, that's annoying." Shunsui said.
Inside
Shortly after parting with Shimmy and Trella, Sector V's rampage through the sanctuary resumed relatively simply. They had to expend a fair amount of stamina in fighting off the silver-skinned demons, but the food Mali packed helped bring them back to speed. "When it comes to the footsoldier demons, did you know their skin tone changes based on how strong they get?" Isabelle asked. "Lyserg told me yesterday. When they do, they change to blue, black, silver, then gold."
"The more you know." Chris figured.
"Reminds me of some of the Kremlings." Jason recalled. "Some of the same types were different colors and they had different strength levels."
"Just goes to show even minions put in effort sometimes." Laruta said.
Traversing through a music studio, the kids began to feel worried by the stereos and steamy floors. They could already expect who they would encounter here… but, as they closed in on a stage with macabre skull aesthetics, they were greeted by the notes of a Spanish guitar. "Buenos días, Uno Princess Christina!" A skeleton wearing a glittery white, open jacket and matching sombrero danced out, strumming a white guitar. His black hair was smooth, eyes charming, and his jaw thick. "I, Ernesto de la Cruz, have been hired to sing of Diablo's glory! And, to sing your deaths…"
"Why does every Mexican villain wear a sombrero?" Christina asked. "Like, are they really that popular?"
"Ernesto de la Cruz?" Isabelle gasped. "The same Ernesto my papá met?!"
"Your… papá?" the singer cocked a brow.
"My name is Isabelle Rivera." The Spanish Shandian glared. "Ring a bell?"
"You… are Miguel's daughter?!"
"Crikey, you know him?" Jason asked.
"When my dad was a kid, he got cursed by a magic guitar and wound up in the Spirit World. And he…"
"He RUINED my reputation!" Ernesto stomped. "Looks like fortune favors me today. I was only ordered to kill the princess, but I'd rather have Miguel's child join me in death."
"Well, he's yours if you want him, Bella." Chris offered.
"But you guys are gonna need me if Alastor shows up."
"HEY! Sector V! Fancy meeting you here!"
The group spun, finding a purple-haired girl with a whitish song sheet design on her black dress, and a Spanish boy dressed like a cowboy. "Serena and Rango!" Isabelle beamed at the SG teammates.
"Where's Trella?" Serena asked. "Or the giant girl? Did something happen?"
"They're clearing out the competition. Say, do one of you wanna fight this guy for us? I don't wanna get separated."
"If he's a Music-type, then I'd be happy to!"
"What?! No!" Ernesto protested. "I have no business with you! All I want is the Rivera!"
"Rango, you wanna tag along with them? They could probably use the numbers."
"Sure!" Rango twirled his guns.
Serena bellowed a Song Beam at Ernesto, the rogue spirit blocking with his guitar, but could do nothing as Isabelle swiftly ran past him, her friends following suit. Ernesto's notes gave life to green energy skeletons and flower petals in the breeze, intended to cover and smother the young singer. Serena danced with the flowers' flow and directed her notes to trip the skeletons.
"At least now we have two poisonbenders again." Ralph commented.
"Happy to be of service." Rango replied. "Maybe I'll have a chance to try out this soon."
"Ew, gross!" Laruta cringed at the toxic smell: Rango withdrew an apple from his pocket, red with green ooze shaped into a skull. "I'm guessing you're gonna use that with your bending?!"
"Yesterday, we got lured into a Gap by Demon Lord Xibalba. We had to pass a little 'trial' of his, and he rewarded me with this. Says it'll bring out the best in my bending."
"I hope there's a bathroom nearby…" If it was any similar to milk for Laruta, such a power-up could result in nasty side-effects.
Diablo's Sanctum
A Divine Angel in a golden mask, strutting the feathers of a peacock, effortlessly diced the Golden Lynel guarding the Demon Saint's sanctum. "Huff…huff…huff…" A shriveled, pale man lay dying on the floor. The Head Angel recognized him… and it was clear this was the first thing Diablo wanted him to see. The drained form of Christopher Uno.
"You're too late…" the demon spoke, looming above the altar. "Malladus's essence… is mine now. The absorption has diminished the prince's lifespan. With fair treatment, I'm sure he could live a few more years. Will you take him, Balder? Or do you still seek vengeance?"
"As if I could let you live for all your sins. You destroyed my master, Imperius the Valiant. You breached the Spirit World and ransacked the First Church, all so you could earn your Saint title. And now you've defiled the Unos, heroes to both mortals and demons!"
"HEROES?! They're the real sinners! They're traitors! After all these years, I will be the hero that restores glory to the Underworld! All those demons outside believe in my revolution. They will see it come true!"
Diablo leapt from his throne, his claws projecting an orange aura. Balder raised his two-sided sword and blocked the attack, the impact of their powerful chis shaking the palace.
Demon Archives: Mictlan. A demon that hungered for war and conflict, he rules the Mayans' Underworld, both for the ancient Earth and current Historia Mayans. He is the brother of Xibalba, who rules Mexico's Underworld. Mictlan hoped to gain power by consuming the strongest fighter among the Mayans, Princess Maya. In the end, Maya sacrificed herself to slay Mictlan, but she and her beloved were rewarded by the gods they worshipped.