“And as for me,” Sanata said as she ripped off her clothes.

“—Arcana. Satanichie—”

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”

Sanata was startled by that sudden warcry.

No, it was not a warcry, it's Shiro screaming.

“WHY DID YOU STRIP NAKED, YOU BASTARD!?”

Shiro shouted at Sanata as he tries to shake off the ripped parts of her clothes on his body.

Sanata tilted her head and asked, “What are you saying? This is my arcana, Satanichiel.”

Shiro was annoyed more by her answer.

“Y-You... you don't know what's going to happen don't you...”

Sanata was confused more.

She sighed as she turned around to look at the beings charging at her.

“Just shut up and watch, human. This is my power.”

“You'll get killed, you know.”

“Huh?”

Sanata was surprised by what Shiro had said. Her head instantly turned around to look at him.

Things started to confuse her more.

Sanata looked at Shiro and Shiro is pointing somewhere at top.

Sanata slowly looked towards that and remembered.

“Ah, I forgot.”

Shiro nodded.

“Yeah. My girlfriend is a demon.”

Sanata smiled as she felt the blazing aura of the flaming demon.

“That's a nice call, Shiro. But, don't worry.”

“Why would I worry about you when she's going to kill me?”

“Hahah! I said don't worry, I won't be losing in the next few seconds.”

Shiro sighed. But as he looks down at the dirt, he saw the ground shaking.

He looked at Sanata. He saw her being enveloped in a dark aura.

Her eyes dark as the black pearl, her twin-tails pointing upwards.

And then, everything was enveloped by a white light.

Lucifer, Raphael, Cairn and Mordecai.

They were all respectively leading their beings towards Sanata when...

“Sanata stripped!?” Lucifer said.

“Everyone, GET BACK!” Raphael said.

Every being was startled, but they followed what Raphael had said.

Lucifer tried to remember when was the last time he saw this.

And then he did.

“What are you doing!? Don't stop! Sanata's vulnerable when she's transforming into her Arcana!”

When everyone heard arcana, they became scared.

Lucifer looked at everyone and realized, “Just by hearing her arcana, everyone—“

“Stand up. Fight.”

A soft yet commanding voice was heard all over the sky.

“Sanata... how dare you strip in front of Shiro-kun... and you even threw your clothes on him!? How dare you!? I'LL

KILL YOU!”

Kuro flew with a tremendous speed. And she slashed down the demons that were blocking her way.

Everyone stopped for a moment. Silence filled the sky.

“G-Go...”

Cairn's small voice was heard otherwise.

Everyone looked at each other and their eyes were filled with confidence once again.

And they all released their weapons and casts their magics.

“GO! FOR THE EARTH!” Lucifer cried.

“YEAH!!!” Everyone else answered.

They went and followed the demon general in her tracks.

Cairn sighed because of relief. He thought the raid's going to fail because of that. But it didn't.

He felt a hand in shoulder. He looked at it and saw Lucifer.

“That was a good one, kid. You'll make a good general someday. But for now, do what you can do.”

His eyed widened, with excitement all over his face.

“Yes, sir!”

And he followed all those beings.

The light that was enveloping the whole place was still there, they still have a lot of time before Sanata completes

her transformation.

That was what they thought.

Slowly, part by part, Sanata's body is being covered in black-white plates.

Her hands, her chest, her legs, every part of her body are starting to get covered.

Horns grew upwards her head.

She grew four more wings, resulting in 6 wings.

Her wings with white lines are also being covered with plates.

She looked like a black doll of clay.

But it changed when the bright light stopped and went back inside her chest.

The light scattered from her chest towards every part of her body.

Her pitch-black plates has now white lines pulsing throughout her whole body.

Some of those plates broke down and flew behind her instead, forming into swords.

With five swords behind her, Sanata’s transformation is complete.

Dark aura filled the whole place.

Everyone felt the malice coming from the demon lord.

But they didn't stop.

The demons of Sanata engaged with the beings right after the transformation is complete.

Kuro was overwhelmed by numbers; she couldn't cut down every one of them fast enough. But her strength is

unparalleled. No demon could touch her, only her sword.

That is when, attacks stopped coming for her.

The demons flew towards the other beings.

Kuro didn't like it.

She knew someone ordered them to get away.

“—Is it that you, Alistair?”

Alistair bowed at her and said, “Yes, please forgive me for my rudeness. The demon lord doesn't want her army to

get cut down to half with just a single demon. Please understand.”

Kuro removed the blood that was on her sword.

“So? Will you be the one accompanying me?”

“If you say so, I would love to.”

Kuro assumed a stance. She held the sword with her right hand and put her left hand in her front as if she's

planning to cut Alistair into two.

“Then let's get started!”

She jumped and slashed Alistair into two.

Mordecai and the others were having problems fighting the demons. The ratio is 3 demons to one of their beings. That the demons are

also stronger than any demons they've fought before. It almost seems like they're fighting the demon lord herself.

But, they will prevail. Mordecai thought in his head.

That is, because...

“The plan is on motion, boys!!”

“Yeah!!!”

Everyone shouted as they receive morale.

Cairn was smiling.

While he is sliding at the ground towards the place where the demon lord is.

Sweat pouring off his face.

Just by looking at the demon lord his feet starts to tremble.

But, the plan should continue.

His fear shouldn't let the plan go to waste!

“I'll be coming for you, Demon Lord!”

“Hoh?” Sanata said as she turns her head to the right side. “A lowly demon like you dares to challenge me in a

fight?”

Cairn laughed and said, “No, that is not my intention, my lord.” As they talk, he becomes closer and closer towards

Sanata.

“My job is...”

He grabbed Shiro off his neck and slides upwards the sky.

Shiro screamed.

“AAAAAAAHHHHH, Oh it's you, Cairn. How you doing?”

“...”

For some reason, Cairn was silent. Shiro saw sweat pouring from Cairn's face.

After a few seconds, Cairn gulped and talked.

“Let's talk later. Sanata's demons are following us.”

Shiro nodded.

As they fly upwards, demons started to follow them.

The allied beings saw that and helped Shiro and Cairn.

They attacked the ones following Cairn and Shiro until no one is left.

Shiro smiled as he saw demons and angels helping each other, as well as the asmoriths.

“I didn't expect to see this view.”

Cairn answered politely.

“Yes. Me too.”

Sanata looked at the two as they safely land on where the beings first arrived.

“Hm. That was a good one. I hesitated for a little, but killing that demon without him noticing is a pretty boring

thing. I'll let him live for now. And also,” Sanata turned around. “I'll be taking your son back in a few minutes. So

for the meantime, entertain me okay?”

Lucifer and Raphael landed behind Sanata.

They were assuming battle stances.

Sanata smiled.

“Don't be like that, let's talk for a little.” She said.

Raphael and Lucifer looked at each other's eyes and decided.

They undid their stances and walked closely towards Sanata.

Sanata smirked and created a throne for her to sit down.

“So? Do you have anything you want to say before we beat you down?” Raphael asked.

“Raphael.” Lucifer held up his hand and stopped Raphael from provoking.

Sanata created a golden goblet full of wine and drank from it.

“Hm. This is good. Want to try?” she asked.

“Spare me the royalty, Sanata. What do you want? No, what really is your intention?”

Sanata clicked her tongue.

Lucifer noticed it but he disregards her.

“Surely you don't intend to just let Shiro go, you have another intention, right? What is it? Why do you need to

involve everyone in it? Why? Why do you have to decieve us all? Look around, everyone is fighting, and here you

are drinking a wine without a care in the world! What do you really want you demon!?”

Lucifer shouted as he talks.

Raphael stood there agreeing with everything Lucifer said.

Sanata looked around; she saw the result of her selfishness.

She looked at earth, saw the humans suffer, as well as their death.

The trees that her beloved God made, the animals that he made to be protected, all of that were dying.

And here she was, sitting. Waiting for someone that might never even come.

She looked down and said,

“Then what do you think about yourself, Lucifer?”

“...What do you mean?” Lucifer asked.

“You fought me out of your selfish desires.”

Lucifer was taken aback. He stepped backwards for he realized, “She is right.” in his mind.

Sanata drank the wine and threw it near Lucifer.

“You fought me mainly because you want control over hell.”

“That's not—“

“You want power. You want power to stand up against him. Isn't that also selfishness?”

“...”

“You are a demon. You are no angel. Even now. You use your army just to save one child.”

“..One child, huh.”

Sanata looked at him with sharp eyes.

Lucifer replied with a glare.

“I asked them if they want to join me. They replied honestly. And, if I win this war, the world will be saved. So

don't tell me I'm selfish for wanting to save the world.”

Sanata clicked her tongue once more.

“Looks like we can't talk this through.”

“You should know that from the start.”

Sanata clicked her fingers and commands.

“Go.”

And two shadows appeared from behind her to fight Lucifer and Raphael.

They landed on their feet just in front of the two. And the two was caught by surprise but still managed to assume

their battle stances.

The ones who landed was...

“Azazel... and Montair.” Raphael said.

“Raph, we need to get Azazel. I can take care of Montair, you go and punch that Asmorith back to his senses.”

Raphael laughed and created a sword out of light.

“Yo! Idiot Azazel. Let's talk for a minute, shall we?”

Raphael raised his left hand and waved to Azazel.

Azazel looked angry. But he replied.

“I don't have time for talks. I'll kill you fast, so I can finally be able to kill Lucifer for killing my son.”

Raphael sighed at him and said, “Sigh. You really need some talking. Don't worry, I'll bring you to your kin later, just

wait.”

Azazel rejected.

“Hmph. I won't let myself be beaten by the likes of you. Not until I had my revenge.”

Raphael leaned towards him down to his chest, with his sword at his right hand, he assumed his battle stance.

Azazel summoned bolts of lightning on both his hands. It sparked dangerously.

Raphael broke a sweat on his face.

“Woah, this won't seem easy.”

And he jumped on his position and appeared on Azazel's face, with his sword on Azazel's cheek.

Lucifer and Montair stared at each other.

Both are strong.

Both are smart.

But...

They don't know a single thing about each other.

“Who is this?” Lucifer asked.

Sanata's eyes widened and she laughed.

“That's my general, in par with Zenainiel. You already forgot?”

“No, it's just... I haven't seen him anywhere.”

Montair bowed at Lucifer and talked.

“Forgive me, I also don't know anything about you. Yet here we are, about to kill each other.”

Lucifer waved his hands.

“No, no. It's alright. I'm used to these kinds of things. Anyways, let's have a good fight.”

“Yes.”

Montair started with a punch that was almost invisible, for it is faster than the naked eyes could see.

Lucifer was definitely surprised by that.

And in an instant, smoke filled the view of them both.

Sanata sat there, watching her army overwhelm the allied beings.

She looked up and remembered the time when she were badly hurt by Michael.

“Argh! That angel... he deceived me! How dare he... how dare he!”

She thought Michael's words were lies, she thought that what he really wanted was to kill Sanata, those words

were there just to take her attention and kill her in the process.

But she was wrong.

Those wounds healed.

And they never scarred.

And for some reason,

She felt more powerful after that fight.

Everytime she came back from a fight from the upper hell,

She always thinks about him.

She doesn't know why,

But she just did.

Can you really just fall in love with someone you met with in a few minutes?

And you even hurt each other the first time you met.

Yes.

With a little touch of kindness, you could.

What Sanata just wanted was,

To meet him again.

She kidnapped an angel to ask about Michael.

The angel said that he was the most destructive angel, and the kindest.

Sanata already knew that.

What she wants to know was how to get to him.

The angel said,

“You could never. Not until you become an angel yourself.”

That hurt Sanata.

She never really wanted to be evil.

She just became one without knowing it.

And so she decided.

“I will raid heaven.”

And that's when she heard about the being that's called the “nephilim”.

Sanata sighed as she remembered those days.

She said to herself,

“If I can't get up to you, then you'll go down to me, huh.”

That's what she meant by all this mess.

She want Michael to come down and retrieve his vessel, save the world, or destroy it.

No matter what choice he makes, Sanata will still be able to see him, talk to him.

She just wanted to be with him a little longer.

That kindness, it makes you crave for more.

After thousands of years of only having malice, one touch of kindness is the deadliest.

That's why, no matter what.

“I'll make you appear today, o great angel.”

Sanata smiled as she talks.

Shiro and Cairn safely landed on the place where the beings first arrived.

In there, there was a few injured being healed by the others to continue the fight.

Shiro noticed it. But he didn't react. Because if he did, the morale will go down.

He walked towards Cairn that was impatiently looking down at the fight.

He said, “Cairn. Isn't this okay? You already saved me, let's take everyone and run away! There's no need to stay

here and make everyone be hurt because of me, right?”

Cairn replied with a shaky voice.

“I'm sorry. We have a plan. We also need Azazel to stop Armageddon. And also, if they could, they want to bring

down the demon lord too.”

“They can't do that!”

“I know. That's why,” Cairn pointed down. “If they could, they'll just blow up this whole place down.”

Shiro were surprised.

“H-How are they going to do that?”

“Arcana.”

When he heard that word, Shiro realized that he still don't know anything about his father's, no, even Raphael's

arcana.

“A-Anyways can you remove this chains? They're pretty heavy and I can't use any magic while chained.”

“Ah, you're right. I almost forgot about that.”

“Oi...”

Cairn touched a part of the pitch black chains.

He casted a demon skill.

“Disintegrate - Continuously.”

Heat passed down from his hands towards the chains, and slowly, Shiro also heated up.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU IDI- AH HOT! HOT! IT'S HOT OI!”

“Stay still for a moment, I'll finish these in seconds.”

“YOU...”

And just like what he said, it broke down in 10 seconds or less.

Shiro was jumping because of the heat on his wrists when he noticed Cairn.

He walked closely to him and asked,

“Aren't we gonna go down?”

“No, that's not the plan. I just have to save you.”

“So we gonna wait?”

“...Yeah. Although I don't want to.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

Cairn sat down a nearby rock and Shiro followed.

“It's hard being weak isn't it. You can't do anything without the help of others.” Shiro talked.

“Yeah. And if you try to do your best, people will just laugh off you because they can do better.”

Shiro looked up the red tunnel.

And then, he decided.

He jumped off on where he sat and landed in front of Cairn.

Cairn was confused, but he noticed Shiro offering his hands.

Cairn took it, and was also taken by a surprise.

“My name's Shiro. It's nice to meet you, Cairn.”

And at that moment, Cairn cried.

Not because he finally knew what his friend's name was.

It was because he knew what would happen next.

“I decided... I will go down. Together with you of course. And I will prove... that even weak ones can do

something.”

Shiro said with gleam in his eyes.

Cairn nodded and shook Shiro's hand.

“Nice to meet you too. My friend.”

And they walked towards the end of the tunnel.

A punch from upper right, and she deflected it gloriously.

Another one at her abdomen, but she dodged fast enough.

“Hm. You are fast miss, but you lack punches. I mean literally.”

“It's because I use a sword, Altair. And I don't want to slice you up in an instant. That'll be boring.”

Kuro provoked him, but she clearly knew.

That she can't match the speed of that greater demon.

Evidence of punches was visible in Kuro's body.

On her shoulder, at her stomach, even at her cheek.

She brushed off the blood that was on her cheek and prepared to attack.

That's when she saw a familiar light that gave her the push she need.

“Shit! I can't get close. That lightning hurts so bad, old man.”

Raphael held his hand that was burned by the lightning the lord of asmoriths uses.

He's still holding on his sword with his right hand.

But it's clear that he cannot continue battling with his left hand burned.

He's very well-versed of battles that went on like this.

But his mind is full of things.

He couldn't think properly.

What skill should I use? What move should I take?

Can I beat him? Can we even win this?

Are they alright? Aren't we losing?

As he realizes those things, a guide of light went down the sky and gave him a clue as to what he should do.

“Ah, you're right. I just have to...” Raphael undid the light sword and formed a sphere with his hands.

Azazel knew what he was going to do.

“You can't use that thing on me. Even if you undid me, my memories and emotions still won't change. I will always

be seeking revenge, you know that too well.”

Raphael laughed.

“I'm not going to use it to you, you don't need some undoing!”

Azazel's eyes widened.

“You can't mean...”

“Arcana!”

Azazel clicked his tongue and attacked with bolts of lightning.

But he was too late.

“Sahkiel.”

“To be honest,”

Lucifer talked to himself.

“I don't really know why we have to do this.”

“Void Slash!”

A crescent moon of darkness appeared as Montair slashed Lucifer.

Lucifer used his hands and vaporized it.

But that didn't end.

Continuously, each and every time, the skill becomes stronger and stronger.

It makes harder for Lucifer to dissipate it.

Montair noticed it and stopped attacking.

“Lucifer.”

“Hm?”

“If you keep on defending my attacks, without attacking, you'll die.”

Lucifer smiled and honestly replied, “I know.”

“Then why do you keep on doing so?”

“Hm... for personal reasons. But my reason for now is a worldly reason.”

“What does that—“

“It doesn't mean anything.”

“...”

Montair was slightly angered by Lucifer. But, he has the upper hand.

He jumped off straight to the face of Lucifer.

And Lucifer deflected him with just bare hands.

Montair was pushed down to the ground.

A smoke of sand covered them.

“At this rate, I really will get killed.” Lucifer said to himself.

“But it's still not enough. I still need more time.”

And that's when he saw a meteor fall down from above.

And that meteor made him realize one thing.

Montair also looked up at that.

No, not just him, everyone in the battle.

They all looked up at that mysterious light.

And Lucifer said to Montair,

“Hah! Now you messed up.”

“Huh? Aren't you the one that messed up? Your prisoner came back down, just to get caught?”

“Hm... well, you have a point. But there's something different from him now.”

“And that is?”

“This.”

Lucifer held up his right hand.

And what Montair saw, made him rush to the demon's face and punch him to death.

Sanata was standing up when she saw that white light,

And she said,

“Ah, you came back here just to get beaten?”

Shiro landed.

Sanata looked surprised.

Somehow, he is different.

What can be the difference with him in just few minutes of being released from me? Sanata asked.

Shiro replied.

“I'm not going to get beaten anytime.”

Sanata laughed it off as a bad joke. Because it really is.

“Hahaha! How do you expect to beat me then?”

Shiro smiled, as if he also thought that what he said is a joke.

But, he looked at her with a strong gaze.

“You said earlier... that if you'll be beaten... you want me to kill you, right?”

Sanata nodded.

“Then, I'll kindly take it back.”

“What?”

Sanata was surprised.

“It's because...”

A large smoke appeared not far from them, and from there, a demon was sent flying.

It was Alistair.

He landed on a big rock and was immobilized; he was fast asleep.

Someone jumped off that smoke and landed on Shiro's right side.

Shiro smiled and greeted her,

“Yo, Kuro. You doing well?”

“Hello, Shiro-kun. Yes. Now that I get to be by your side.”

Sanata was surprised.

She thought that Alistair could win that battle against the demon general but she didn't thought was the power of

will that Alistair is missing.

And then,

A large sphere appeared behind them.

Inside it was Raphael, and Azazel.

With Azazel, unconscious.

And Raphael... well, he looks like a teenager?

He used his wings and went towards Shiro's left side.

Sanata was pissed. She clicked her tongue.

“That damn asmorith, not doing his job properly.”

“Well, his only job was to piss you off apparently.” Raphael replied.

Sanata laughed.

“Even when you are just a kid, your mouth is still foul as ever, great teacher.”

“Oh please, I'm just a student.”

Raphael smiled.

Sanata knew what was going to happen next.

Montair, her strongest general, appeared instantly at her left side.

He was kneeling.

“Forgive me... my lord. I can't... I can't fight him any longer.”

Sanata patted her general's head and said.

“It's alright. You can rest now.”

“Yes...”

Montair collapsed on the ground.

She looked behind her and saw the one who's always breaking her plans.

Lucifer.

“Ah, now that I filled this thing with my power, I can finally fight him. He's strong, I admit that. But he didn't use it

to win. He used it to defeat me. There's a difference, am I right?”

Lucifer landed behind Shiro.

The allied beings was miraculously winning the fight against the million demons, with their sheer power and their

teamwork.

Sanata was speechless.

She really was speechless.

She looked at the center of them all.

And that center spoke,

“I'll take back what I said. I won’t be the one to kill you when you are defeated.”

Shiro inhaled and exhaled.

He looked at Sanata with blazing eyes.

“We will.”

- End of Chapter 16 -