Lucian barged into the room, two other Saints flanking him, where Father Lucent sat in quiet contemplation.
"Father... I've heard of the situation... the Sanctuary has to act immediately!" Lucian yelled, his voice sharp with urgency. "That girl... I knew there was nothing good about her to begin with!"
Composing himself, Father Lucent rose from his seat, his gaze steady. "You are indeed correct. The Knights of Wonders are currently in a tight meeting. We can't wait for them to finish up. A demonic being from the Legementon of Chains is undoubtedly a challenge, but given its primary spiritual presence, your squad and Lucen's squad should be able to stall it before a Knight of Wonder arrives."
The twins stood silently beside Lucian. Both shared short black hair and calm looks, but were distinct in build. The older twin, Phalanx Castor, was notably muscular, a physical trait reflecting his fighting style and the nature of his Vanguard gauntlet divine weapon. The younger twin, Phalanx Pollux, was slender, possessing an aura of extreme calm and calculation that spoke volumes about the Harrow & Swift bow he wielded.
"That's not the problem right now," Pollux asked, his tone measured. "How do we currently track the movements of this demon?"
"That's why Lucen's squad will go with you," Father Lucent replied. "Solen has a very good spiritual perception; tracking shouldn't be a problem."
"I see. Then track it right now. Let's know the situation of things," Castor commanded, his muscular arms crossed.
Solen took a deep breath and opened his spiritual eyes to analyze the situation. He tracked the surging demonic energy calling to Celeste as she walked into a deep, purple barrier.
"She just walked into a dark barrier..." Solen murmured, his eyes momentarily shut. As he attempted to pierce the barrier, his spiritual vision was violently rebuffed; it only permitted physical entrance. "I can't see within the barrier... I think it only selectively allows physical access."
"Almost as if it's awaiting us..." Lucen replied, his hand resting on the hilt of his Excalibur.
"It is," Father Lucent confirmed. "The demon possesses the power of clairvoyance to some extent; it must have detected your spiritual presence and shut it out. Now... gear up, young ones! You depart in three minutes."
The two squads, the Vanguard of Durandal and the Saints of Excalibur, geared up, their Saint Regalia burning brighter than ever for the intense mission.
Into the Labyrinth
"We're here!" Solen yelled, his voice echoing as they stood before the shimmering, massive purple barrier.
"We're about to set foot into the demon's domain," Lucian informed them, his face set in a grim mask. They all jumped into the barrier, diving headlong into the unknown.
As they glided through a portal that tore through space, their bodies distorted and stretched. The values of colors switched violently between true and monochromatic, a dizzying display of dimensional travel.
They arrived with a jarring thud in a devastated city. Critters of destroyed buildings lay scattered across the ground, and a giant, bright, alien moon stared down at their presence.
"Hohohoho... you've finally arrived..." Argares welcomed them with a mild, chilling laugh as he slowly approached the squad. "I'm now going against my own natural order to seek fulfillment."
As he stepped fully into the light, he was characterized by red skin, long white hair, and pointed ears. He wore a casual male ancient Greek robe, but it was lavishly adorned with pure gold and shimmering jewels.
"Where is Celeste!" Solen roared, stepping forward.
"Hold your horses, kid. She's safe, at least... but don't think I'm willing to give her to you until you've satisfied me," Argares replied, his eyes cold.
"You're laying a condition down for us?" Lucian questioned, his hand ready.
"Well... you're in my domain, so it's really not a condition. But here's the catch: I'm here to devour you—flesh, blood, soul. So at least entertain me well before I do so," Argares said, his sharp gaze locked onto them. "Who knows... you might end up defeating me and leaving here with that little escapee of a girl. Tehehe..." he finished clumsily, tilting his head.
"The condition to get her back would be to defeat him, then," Solen thought, steeling his resolve.
"Back then you talked about going against your natural order to seek fulfillment... what did you mean by that?" Lucen asked, his tactical mind dissecting the demon.
"Ah, you have a good memory! Well, as a Duke of the Ars Goetia, my purpose is to inevitably bring back runaways... like this one. But meh... who says I can't have a little fun?!" Argares said, licking his lips. "The last time I fought an epic battle... this whole dimension felt it," he said, dramatically gesturing around at the destroyed buildings. "Hope it can happen again!" Argares grinned.
"You're the challengers! I'll make the first move..." Argares declared, releasing a thick, dark fog that permeated the entire space.
"Aroma of Sin!" Argares roared as hideous undead Vices started emerging from the subterranean ruins. "Let the show begin!" he screamed with a maniacal laugh.
Orin immediately dashed into the horde with his lance, landing high-speed hits that shredded the undead.
"Handling huge numbers is my specialty! Phantom Starfall!" Pollux, the younger twin, unleashed his Ultimate Technique. Thousand arrow beams emerged from his Harrow & Swift bow, raining down and instantly vaporizing the undead army.
The two squads mopped up the remaining undead, reducing their numbers to zero in moments. Argares, who was floating above, watched the scene with a look of genuine surprise.
"Hmm... my undead army won't rise up? I see you've coated your divine weapons with the blood of a powerful saint... such dark energy nullification is truly exceptional," Argares commended with a slow clap. "Then, kindly let me... be your game!"
Argares spoke, followed by a dash that set everyone's pupils into a crazy, reactive movement.
The Shock of Durandal
CLANG!
Argares's deadly punch met the counter of Lucian's divine weapon, Durandal. The battle turned into a blistering counter-barrage of blows and slashes. Lucian, fast in his reaction, managed to land a scar on the demon's arm before being sent flying away by a devastating dark-energy-amplified kick.
"Hiya!" Castor dashed in on Argares. He compensated for his relative lack of speed with pure destructive force from his Vanguard gauntlets, a blur of powerful strikes.
CRUNCH!
Castor was abruptly halted and sent flying by a strong gravitational push. As he tried to balance himself, Argares appeared above him in an instant and hammered him down to the barren earth with a devastating kick to his stomach.
Thousands of arrow beams from Pollux approached Argares, but he dodged the majority and incinerated the rest with a demonic flame technique. "Ignis Damnatus!" Argares yelled, the heat radiating off him.
Dash!
In a flash, Lucen appeared behind Argares, his words cold as ice. "Mirael!" A circle of golden, purifying light permeated through the space, temporarily slowing the demon's energy. Before Argares could fully counter, Lucen swung his blade. "Valen!" Thousands of slash barrages rained down on Argares as Orin had already aimed his lance, burning with bright blue holy flame.
"Lancea Caelestis!" Orin threw the spear at full speed, aiming directly where Argares was trapped.
Upon impact, the attack caused a blinding, holy explosion.
Amidst the smoke, Argares laughed, effortlessly throwing Orin's lance—which had never truly pierced him—to the ground. "Impressive team combination. I was able to counter the majority of your slashes with my fist," Argares said, looking at Lucen. "The only thing I got caught up with was the explosion," Argares spoke confidently, emerging with some minor scratches.
"Seraphine Luxora!" Solen dashed in on Argares and landed a devastating punch.
"Gah!" Argares gasped, saliva pouring from his mouth. In a brilliant cross of pure light, the attack sent Argares flying, tumbling across the debris.
"Their team combination is pretty good... they wrapped holy explosion seals and demon perception seals on that lance the last time!" Lucian thought, analyzing the fight.
Cough... cough... Argares stood up, clutching his stomach. "Hey, kid... you're going to be very troublesome. Most demons won't realize, but you aren't simply striking the soul, are you?!" Argares demanded.
Solen looked puzzled, switching to another attack stance.
Dash!
"I let my guard down then... you won't get that chance again, kid!" Argares appeared instantly behind Solen, a ball of intense dark flame in his hand. "Ardor Peccati!" Argares released the ball, and the only thing that stopped Solen from scorching to pieces was his Saint Regalia.
"AHHHHH!" Solen screamed as the dark flames burned his protective gear.
Stare! Argares's eyes locked onto Orin.
Clang... clang... Orin managed only two blows before receiving a soul-piercing strike coated with pure darkness. "Guh!" Orin fell to the ground, spitting blood.
Before Pollux could draw the string of his bow one more time, he was met with a blow that slammed his head to the ground. Solen, Orin, Pollux, and Castor—all handled in a matter of minutes. The demon was truly angered now.
Aegis Invictus.
Lucen took the game back to Argares, slashing out a golden projectile that the demon brushed through like it was nothing.
Punch... Punch... Punch...CLANG!
Lucen took devastating blows, but managed to land a last-minute counter, avoiding damage to his vital organs. The final blow sent him flying a few meters backward.
WHOOOOOOOM!
The demon stretched his hands forward as he began gathering dark energy and flames. "This was the technique that brought this city to ruins... but this time compressed and more lethal for better results..." Argares cackled.
"To nothingness with you!" Argares grinned. "Pactum Ignis Aeterni!"
Argares released the star-shaped flame, and it approached Lucen with incredible, terrifying speed.
"Ah... at least I died while serving the Almighty!" Lucen sighed, shutting his eyes, accepting his fate. "The energy within this attack alone has pinned me down already... I can't move a muscle... Nonetheless, using such a technique would take a toll on him... I leave the fate of humanity in the hands of these Saints..."Lucen dropped his Excalibur, preparing for impact.
"Pick the blade up! Dammit!"
Lucian dashed in front of the attack, his arms wide, his legendary blade nowhere to be seen. Lucen's eyes sprang wide open in surprise as Lucian tanked the attack head-on. The demonic star of fire caused a massive, city-block-sized explosion, but Lucian acted as an absolute shield, absorbing the entire impact.
Lucian breathed heavily, his body steaming, but with not a single scar on his skin, emerging from the heart of the attack unscathed.
"Aegis Invictus!" Lucian spoke with heavy breath. "My soul and body have become one with the indestructible blade that vanquishes the reign of darkness! Your attack has failed, demon!" Lucian yelled at Argares.
There was a visible look of shock, confusion, and mild fear on Argares's face. "What's this?! That attack took half my energy reserves... how did you conquer it, you bastard!!!!" Argares thought, his usual arrogant grin faltering.
"I see... so that's it... Aegis Invictus... the technique that fuses Durandal with its wielder, making them become indestructible for a moment—a truly worthy technique for a guardian of light!" Lucen thought, a slight smile returning to his face.
Lucian looked down at Lucen with visible disgust. "I'll fight with you because of the circumstance of things. PICK THAT BLADE UP!And do NOT slow me down!" Lucian commanded as Durandal materialized back into his hand.
Lucen slowly stood up, retrieving his Excalibur and pointing it at Argares. "We'll defeat him before the uppers come!"
"Pfft... don't count on it," Lucian replied, already taking a defensive stance next to his renewed peer.