[Another collab between @IncredibleBee and me, but only until we get taken to the Council.]

The last van full of refugees cleared out of sight. The first two floors of the hospital were a bloodbath, a crimson mosaic of human gore and demon ichor. However, both Gene and Antonio had managed to put a stop to the five or so demons that had run amok among the hospital's hallowed halls, and redirected all surviving patients and doctors on staff to the parking lot. Hopefully, they'd make it safely out of the city. Gene and Antonio took a rare chance to rest at a bench just outside of the lobby.

"You know, I've known you all these... hours," said Gene, "And I still don't know your name."

"Oh!" said Antonio, surprised that he had forgotten. "My name is Antonio Hasta, ordained Exorcist of the Vatican and minister of the Roman Catholic faith."

"Gene Smith, Gilgamesh Incorporated intern," said Gene, shaking Antonio's hand. "Pleased to meet you. So, after you get through this, what are you going to do?"

"Hm. I suppose I will report back to Vatican City for my next assignment," Said Antonio, a confident smile crossing his face. "The fight against the forces of heresy and Hell is ever-ongoing, and there is no room for slacking about in such dire times!"

A sharp voice with a horrendous North English accent rang out from behind them. "Aw no ya not, mate! You got uvver places t'be!"

A black, smoke-wreathed, emaciated figure floated out from the lobby's sliding doors, and pointed a finger accusingly at Gene and Antonio. "You been muckin' bout t'whool place f'ours noo, an' ah'll be stuffed 'fore I let you faff 'boutenny moor!"

Gene shot out of his seat, and whirled to face the Watcher. Antonio, meanwhile, calmly stood up and quietly put his hand on his scabbard.
"The fuck?! I-- who-- the fuck are you?!" Gene screamed.

The Watcher regarded Gene coldly. "You joggin', mate? I'mma wutcha! Bin wotchin' you aweer tree bloody hours, an' y'neer nowt'sd, y'dozy cunt! Fuckin' 'scuse me?! Y'half-flaggid pillock! Bin tol' ova from t'Charred Council t'getcha o'er t'em an' noow y'choose t'nootice meh? I ough'a bat'r foiv kinds'o shite outta yer, y'fuckin' tally-wackin' barstud!"

Gene's surprise turned to genuine confusion. "_{What's he saying?}" he whispered to Antonio.
"_{I... don't know. I did catch "Charred Council" and "Watcher", though!}"

The Watcher seemed to get even more aggravated than it already was. "N'aw, give over, mate! 'cuz y'thicker'n I think you was, I'll splain t'ya nice quick: T'Charred Council wants yer, an' I comes t'getcher arse when t'time cooms, which be noo. Listen oop mate, you gonna come wiv me quiet like, or me an' me mate--"
"Hullo!" came a voice from behind a nearby tree.
"We'll force yer!"

There was a pregnant pause as Gene attempted to parse what the Watcher had just said.
"I think... we'll--" Gene and Antonio were swallowed up by a rising pool of darkness. The Watcher smiled smugly and folded his arms.
"Fuck'n cunt. Hoy, Watcher!"
"Aye, Watcher?"
"Weer y'standin' roond like a fairy far?! Fuckin' get in der portal!"
"Ah, sorry, mate!"

---

---

The Core

Gene blearily got to his feet, and briefly regarded the people around him. Aside from Antonio, all of them were unfamiliar faces. Not one of them looked particularly threatening, but Gene did find that positively hulking Watcher to be a bit of a deterrent from trying to act out.


Gene pounded the side of his head. He was still addled from being tossed around like that, and the booming voice directly in front of him wasn't helping matters.



Seals, Gene wondered. Why are people starting the apocalypse before the endtimes? That's the most unbelievably incompetent thing I've ever heard! I'll have to get back to Paradiso and talk to... someone about this.


What?! No, I wasn't!



Gene grimaced. He knew the Army of Light didn't like him, and the Hierarchy of Laguna was generally uncaring about him, but... an outcast?



Gene paused, and considered his options. If he abandoned Heaven to support these guys... what would he do? Kill his own brothers and creators for the sake of the most sinister-looking monsters he'd ever seen? All because of something other people had done, and because he didn't fit in? Did they think Gene was some haunted jezebel trying to punish herself for other people's crimes?

Gene shrugged, and stepped forward. This probably wasn't a good idea.
"With all due respect," Gene said, "you can take this job and shove it. I really don't need another gaggle of assholes making me do hard work for no payment and screwing me over for things I didn't do!"

Gene grinned widely and stood back. He might die for this. He also might not. All that mattered to him was that he'd gotten his say in.

Wrath, as the Sage from before stepped up, realized he hadn't gotten to properly answer the human magi before the Watcher had teleported/warped them to the Molten Core, but before he could move, the Sage's view on things drew a wry chuckle from the Nephilim. "Your goals aligning are more of a convenience for them than anything else, Sage. Remember that while we work for them." And then he stepped away, the words of Panoptos in his mind. Not very friendly to Nephilim, I hear. That had destroyed a lot of what Wrath had some day hoped to accomplish. Though he didn't completely lose hope, after all, he wasn't dead and the Council had known about him prior to this.

Reaching where the old man would be, Wrath joined him. "So, it would seem you have the pleasure of knowing my name, but not I yours. Once I know that, I can answer any questions you might have about my origins." He found himself looking towards the Citadel in the distance on occasion, still vainly hoping to see at least one of the older Nephilim, if only a glimpse. Eventually, after about a minute, he stopped and refocused on the man in front of him.

Gideon and Blair found themselves leaving the city, slaying some lowly demons who didn't know their place on their way out, but soon they came upon the highway they entered this city from. A long road, the term "highway to hell" suddenly felt like it applied here, because the gate they entered from was opened on this very highway. There were road block signs upon it due to an isolated tremor that created the gate, so basically the road was out, but as they came upon this fissure that they exit from before, they saw that the demonic power had ceased to flow from it... A strange occurrence considering the destruction of the seal, but it looks like they found their reason within moments.

A shadow figure appeared before the fissure, blowing away the road blocks to the side, black feathers fell as the figure took the form of an attractive young man, who bowed and lifelessly looked at the two, then bowed politely before speaking.

"General Blair, and General Gideon, Lord Mundus would like your report...", the man started. This was no normal man of course, it was a demon, one of Mundus' creation, and it appears this one was crafted simply for relaying of information like countless others. The demon Mundus was insanely powerful, having the ability to create life so effortlessly, but also the power to take it away...

"Before that however, Lord Mundus would like to advise that you have the full support of his underworld spy network, to use as you see fit to further his goals in conquering the human world. We will report to you information of various things that Mundus would like done in the human world, and you both as his agents", as he said this, several other shadowy figures of almost the exact same appearance appeared behind him. They had the ability to look exactly like humans, but it appears their abilities to blend were limited to appearances...

"Now... I will relay your report to Lord Mundus, you may begin", with a bow, the humanoid was ready to listen.

She touched the Watcher's hand, and then they vanished.

Only to reappear moments later in a place of fire and brimstone. Blistering heat and vertigo assaulted Lily's senses instantly, and she reacted just as quickly. Flames burst from every inch of her body, seemingly consuming her from within, before quickly solidifying into a single, coherent form. What was left was a distinctively humanoid female, looking as if made of liquid fire. Where her eyes would be were instead twin pools of pure, white light. On her cheeks, arms, and thighs were markings of a similar colour swirling around in circular patterns except on her thighs were they were more akin to the shape a solar flare would take. Like everything else, her hair had become as fire as well, billowing behind her in an invisible wind, far longer than it had been previously.

The sense of vertigo disappeared, Lily hovering a good half metre above the ground. She was also glad to realise that the heat no longer bothered her.

Now that there were no more distractions she finally had time to look around, and what she saw both surprised her and was expected. That there was fire everywhere came as little surprise to her, as it was seen as a sign of power by many; not only supernaturals like herself. The humans also considered it the most powerful of the four elements, and for good reason. What did surprise her, however, was the general appearance of the plane she was in. Massive citadels in the distance, something Lily doubted the Council had much use for, given what they were. Compensating? She thought with an inward smirk, turning to study the other appearances.

She wasn't alone, not that she had expected to be, but that there were so many was, in fact, unexpected. A somewhat large group of humans, along with the one Nephilim she had spied earlier. Evidently the Council wanted more than just her, Fenn, and Mary. Figured.

She finally faced the trio of giant stone faces, their presence being of little surprise to her. She had been told, after all, that they were to meet them. She had missed what their given Watcher said before he departed, and remained silent while the Council members spoke. And with every word they spoke, her mood soured. Pompous sons of bastards, she thought bitterly, unable to keep from wrinkling her nose in something close to disgust. Thinking they can lord over us, and for what reason? They've done nothing for us but sit on their own asses, and they have the gall to threaten us with annihilation if we don't obey them? Sounds more like the wailing of a petulant child.

Lily was, of course, clever enough to not voice any of her complaints, well aware that, even if she disliked the Council's methods, their power was nothing she could stand up against for even a second. They would wipe her out before she so much as thought of attacking. Instead, she took a deep breath to calm herself, the fire she was composed of dimming slightly as she did. When she opened her eyes again a handful of those present had already given their answer. One person had the gall to deny, something even Lily knew would likely end up being a death sentence not far down the road.

Despite all of that, she wasn't quite ready to just blindly accept their demands. She let her fiery body brighten imperceptibly, and spoke up. "Charred Council," she called when there was a moment of silence. "You wish for our aid and promise rewards, but before I agree to your terms, I wish to know the extents of the rewards you promise."

The nebulous form of Panoptos wafted over toward the newest speaker, a construct just as machine as he was man. Moreso than any of his progeny, the emerald-eyed Watcher nursed an interest in the human practice of prosthesis. What began as a restorative act to replace limbs lost in tragic happenstance became a way to surpass human limitations, and to bind to human beings themselves their ingenious creations, as had the Makers of old. ”So be it. Hold still, halfman.” He traced the emblem of the Charred Council onto the cyborg’s forehead as he uttered his question. ”At least you have a spot of humility, eh?” Cackling softly, he drew back and then replied. ”There is strength in unity, and in a cause to believe in. That enough for you?” The nine eyes of Panoptos aligned in a circle, with which he scanned the rest of the group, who so far remained silent but for the willful mutterings of Kosara.

She, in fact, piped up next. There was always something to be said for exuberance—and that something tended to never please the exuberant. ”Patience, little one. Being one of us means you oppose who we tell you to oppose. Get feisty and you might find yourself on a leash.” Quickly he branded her head, teasing her snow-white hair out of the way with a long, gnarled claw. Panoptos flitted to Midori next. Her manner and mode of speech were pathetic for a human, let alone a demon, but the Watcher knew from experience that sometimes big loads came in small packages. In response to her acceptance he wordlessly floated over and inscribed the ignited insignia upon her head, ending with a final extra tap in the center.

While this happened, Silas the Sage pronounced his allegiance, and after finishing with Midori Panoptos flew over at a leisurely pace to officiate it. He completed the brand, and only afterward told him, ”Very noble of you, enlightened one. I hope you keep your word no matter what we tell you to kill. Heheheh…”

The instant Gene opened his mouth, Panoptos began to move. His brazen and flagrant denial echoed across the burning wastes even as the Watcher’s shadowy form leaned on his shoulder. Rather than saying anything or attacking, however, he seemed to relax, as if anticipating a show. On queue the accusatory head thundered,



”So long, smart guy. Have a good life.” In a flash, Panoptos drew a claw around Gene’s throat. Not a single drop of blood spilled out, however, and not a single cell of flesh was cut; instead, a horizontal line of fire lay across his neck. For all his bravado, Gene had not escaped his branding. Then darkness enveloped him, and he stood in the very spot from which he had vanished.

With the Effigy gone, business proceeded. First to break the silence that ensued Gene’s dishonorable discharge was Lily, transformed into a being of flame by some power within. Panoptos kept his distance from her, knowing that her demand warranted reply from the universe’s ultimate authority. Sure enough, the first head, the one apt to question anything and everything, replied.



Obliging, Panoptos crossed his arms. ”Very rude to make such demands. For some, like yours truly, service to the Council is more than enough. A purpose in life isn’t something to shake a stick at. Listen up, lovelies,” he addressed everyone, before pointing at the citadel in the distance. ”First off, there’s that. Who doesn’t wanna live in a castle? As long as you remain in our favor, it and all its faculties are yours, as well as our services.” Few, of course, would know the nature of the Watcher species as a slave race, created specifically by the Council for that purpose. ”Next, access to the Core’s World Tree, to access whatever realms you need. And one other thing. We don’t want our agents dying like flies after we go through all this trouble to bring you here. Your brands harbor a fragment of the Council’s power: a great rage that burns within you. If you’re in trouble, reach inside, yank it out, and presto! A more powerful form. If you have one already, demons, you’ll find it enhanced. I think that’s more than fair.”

At that moment, Souta finished his ruminations. Since his childhood he knew that the nature of Gilgamesh, and particularly the Reclaimers, never quite sat right with him. As many young people did, he had wondered for a long time what was truly right, and how he could bring such a rightfulness into being. In his wildest imagination, however, he never imagined a situation quite like these. Beneath the glare of the Charred Council he felt like an insect staring up at a giant, the easiest thing in the world to be crushed underfoot and forgotten utterly the next instant. The idea of service to this unknown entity struck him as utterly alien, and yet, something inside him told him that these tree monoliths truly represented the best chance of humanity’s survival—not, as he’d always been told, Gilgamesh. Souta knew that humans were flawed, particularly in their warmaking. The adjudication of right and wrong, if anywhere, properly lay with a higher authority. ”I..ahem!” He almost choked on his own saliva out of nervousness. ”I think it’s fair. I wanna pledge myself to this, uh, the Charred Council. Please.” He flinched at Panoptos’ touch. ”Oh, brave soldier. We’re so pleased to have you on board.” At that, Souta’s fear turned to anger. No matter what the Council accomplished, he decided, he would despise the Watchers forever. He placed his palm against the brand on his forehead, and felt only the slightest warmth. The fire had already died away to near-invisibility.

@Sho Minazuki @lmpkio

No matter who you are or where you go, you'll always find upstarts who think they can shake up the status quo and make a name for themselves by taking out big targets. While it is admirable to aim high, it's just plain idiotic and a waste of both parties time to challenge a foe in a league beyond their comprehension. One would normally think that the whole 'General' of Mundus' army would be a clear indication of that fact, especially considering her age, you'd think they would've known better. Just as suddenly they appeared, they were dispatched just as fast, like swatting a fly.

Finally leaving the city, they made their way across a long road, the very one they first arrived on. Once they came to the end of the road, they came across a shadowy figure. As it took form, it bowed before politely addressed the both of them. Given the circumstances and their mission, it came as no surprise the being was a Messenger of Mundus. "Very Well," she began her end of the report, making sure to keep it short yet detailed as possible regarding the areas checked and methods before she got started on the part worth of mention.

"Following a lead obtained from a golem, I arrived at an Abandoned Ruin and after coming across humans of the order, I narrowed down a location and following a burst of power, found myself at the site of the second seal. There...." she paused as she recalled the feeling she felt upon witnessing the scene....no....him, with a slight change of expression on her face, she quickly fixed and and continued her report in the usual manner. "...Was a human, no, a demon with the appearance of a human. One with a terrifying yet similar power, one I can't place a name on." relaying his appearance.

"However, the one thing that can be said with certainty was that in his hands....was definitely a blade of the accursed blade of Sparda." describing the blade in great detail as she wrapped up her report.

When the world receded around him, Snider crossed his arms, more annoyed than anything else. The bottom of his boots clacked twice as they hit the hard stone floor, once when his toes made contact, and again when his heels did. He stood relatively nonchalant as the soles of his boots sizzled. The magic rune that had quickly appeared underneath seemed to be protecting the hunter. Snider looked straight forward, keeping an angered grimace as he took in his surroundings. The gigantic stone structures, the lava flows, and even the platform he stood on; it was as if everything in the area was designed with the express purpose of putting him in his place. Snider didn't like that one bit.

The elder couldn't quite get what was going on. In fact, he didn't really care, not that he had much a choice to. Without his hearing aid, Snider was deaf on one side.

Akoni's paper was quickly torn from Snider's face with his good arm. Snider pinched the piece of paper between his chin and chest, then tore a small bit of blood-soaked cotton gauze, still wet from his previous encounters. "PUT IT ON MY TAB" he wrote, before throwing it up in the air, not caring for where it actually landed.

"HEY! FUCKFACES!" Snider yelled. "I don't know where the fuck your asses are, but when I find them, I'm going to kick the shit out of them!"

His attention was then turned toward the more grandiose looking watcher Panoptos. Patiently, he watched the initiation of the other individuals on the circle in addition to the one excommunication. A tinge of fear trickled down Snider's spin as the red mark appeared over Gene's neck. Just a tinge though.

"Hey! ET! Get me the fuck home."

Fenn, Lily and Mary appeared at the Council’s chamber with a snarled curse and a watcher’s reedy laughter to announce his entrance. Fenn found the source of the aggravating noise and immediately lashed out with a large arm.

The watcher danced back as if expecting the blow – and it likely had. The thing probably invited such assaults on its person daily. “Careful, mutt. You stand in the presence of your betters. You better tuck your tail between your legs before your luck runs out.” With that, the thing retreated into the ranks.

Fenn was tempted to pursue. He did not know if whatever protection had been afforded to the demon ceased within this realm. It very well might have, judging from the fact that it had bothered avoiding his attack, but the gesture may very well have been another taunt. He managed to restrain himself, glaring out at the retreating figure. Even if he could not tell one watcher apart from another, that was a scent he would remember.

After a moment, the demon allowed himself to study his surroundings. The molten landscape and comfortable heat brought back memories of older times, a nostalgia Fenn would have dwelt on in other circumstances. In the safe confines of his mind, sentimentality was a trap the old demon allowed himself to fall into occasionally, but it had no room there. The three demonic visages carved into rock and the alien pressure exuding from them assured him of that.

As expected from the watcher’s words, others had been summoned along with them. He remembered most of them from the seal’s cavern, though there were a few others as well. Observers, much as him and Lily had been? Perhaps.

The Council’s voice echoed through the cavern. The dog found his jaw setting, his frown narrowing into a scowl. Already there were others voicing their agreement or dissent – and why would they hesitate? The Imp herself had set out to ask about rewards, like a haggler in the marketplace.

Here was one of the oldest powers of the universe offering to aid them in doing something most had chosen to do on their own. Not offering. Asserting authority. Yet, their command, the threat used was… empty. Eventual annihilation? Everything faced that in time. Some of those gathered in this place would be dead come the next century simply due to natural causes, and the two demons’ existence had ever been one perched on the edge of doom. There was a niggling feeling in the back of his mind, that the choice offered to those present held a hidden edge, something that only doubled as he saw the lead watcher marking some of the other’s foreheads.

It was difficult doubting the power held by the molten statues, but could the same be said about their influence in the current proceedings?

Another glance at those present let him reorganize his thoughts. Everyone in the chamber had been present in the conflict in the tunnels, but perhaps the idea that everyone involved in the conflict in the tunnels (barring hell’s recruiter, the white haired half demon and the snake – though then again those could not truly be considered outcasts to their cause, could they?) was present in the chamber, being given this choice, was the more poignant thought.

Where had been the Council’s forces? The lead watcher claimed their most powerful enforcers would not set foot on Earth unless they meant to destroy it, but the idea struck him as absurd. It left the Council powerless over whatever happened in that realm. It left the seals at the mercy of whoever found them. Unless they found those who gathered to protect them, and made them their own. Suddenly, the Council had gained new enforcers, and the chance to influence events on Earth. Was that all this was? A power game hidden behind a noble cause?

The answer given by the lead watcher, prompted by the heads of the Charred Council, seemed to confirm his suspicion. ‘As long as you remain in our favor’ was a pleasant manner of saying, ‘as long as you serve’. All the services this Council would be able to provide demanded a commitment far beyond the protection of the seals.

Fenn found the idea of submitting himself in servitude to beings that had bowed their heads in favor of an imagined notion of cosmic balance almost physically repulsive. This would be a master that would survive him, and abnegate everything he had learned throughout his life. It would not be a reason to be. It would be a slow death.

Damn him, this would not be the first time his pride led him to perilous waters for no good reason.

“I have proffered my allegiance once today. I shall do so no more,” Fenn spoke, his gravelly voice carrying well in the chamber’s interior, as though he was used to entertaining audiences.

The dog shook his head slowly, then gestured at Lily. He had to ignore the irony burgeoning in his mind that, were it not for her, he would have participated in the seal’s destruction. Perhaps this meeting would not have come to pass if he had simply tried to gut her where she stood in the tunnels. “My duty is to this one. Should she choose in your favor, I shall aid her, but that will be the extent of my commitment.” He directed a scowl at the lead watcher. He had been tracking him, as well as motion from the other specters around him out of the corners of his eyes. The dog’s ears were propped and alert. “Know that if you or any of yours seek to brand me, Watcher, I will take an arm in exchange.”

The loud scrape of metal sounded as Michael slid along the barren rock the paladin stood on. Antonio leveled the sword with the Council's disgusting, heretical forms. A tone of enmity was apparent as his booming voice echoed around the chamber.

"I'd say go to Hell, but you've made yourself quite at home. Perhaps these fools may take up your offer, but you truly are miserable old idiots if you think I'd just turn tail on my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Any scar I gain in His service is a mark of pride, demon. Now get on with it! You're wasting valuable time I could be spending making those demons and heathens above suffer. And pray we don't cross paths again. The next we meet, I'll bring a pickaxe, and we'll see if your insides are softer than those rocky faces."

@Sho Minazuki@I-Am-X

Gideon kept himself silent as Blair reported her side of the mission. Again, it was unfortunate that she was able to spot the culprit, let alone be the one who actually saw the person, but it was simply luck that was on her side this time. Nothing more. It's only the fact that he defeats the said person that actually matters. If only he knew his name. Regardless, after the demon wrapped up her report, it was the half-demon's turn to report.

"As for I," he begins, "I also found the antechamber on where the seal was found. There, I encountered five members of the Order, and a rogue half-demon, and was able to defeat all of them successfully. I too have seen a glimpse of this... person, as well as the destruction of the seal, but he vanished before any of us could get to him. I will deliver the identity of him as soon as I encounter him again."

He was boasting now on his part, with perhaps a few white lies and exaggerations in between, but regardless he didn't show them. He will do anything for a taste of having the title of Mundas' most powerful and reliable general of his army.

Almost as soon as Akoni stepped forward and agreed to become an agent of the Council, Wrath did the same. On their orders, the largest watcher, Panoptos, inscribed a fiery symbol upon their heads but it did not burn. Just the opposite, it felt somewhat invigorating. Then Panoptos made use of some other magic, healing Akoni's bruises, mending his bones, and restoring his energy.

With a smile the old wizard said, "I could definitely use one of you. But not one of the assholesz"

Akoni did feel disappointed when the largest of the watchers said that the Horseman wouldn't be involved and that this group would, hopefully, never meet them. He knew the tales, read the stories, but even still he found the prospect of meeting these nephilim to be nothing short of fascinating. Still, if the only option to meet them depended upon Armageddon then it would be for the better.

The next to step forward and accept the Charred Council was, to Akoni's surprise, the cyborg. The same one who had jumped the gun back in the Eidolic Cairn. Something was different about the augmented man this time. In any case, the cyborg inquired to the Council what sort of aid they could provide to ensure the mission went smoothly. Akoni wouldn't have asked himself and found he was annoyed by the half man, for certainly once the bra dings were completed the Council or its agents would inform them.

After the cyborg was... Akoni had to outwardly sigh to vent his frustration. It was Kosara. That damnable half-breed had also been a member of the Demon Hunter Organization and had earned the old man's ire not just for being his junior, but for being so utterly reckless and uncaring about collateral damage. For her, hunting was a sport, a game which she enjoyed without any sort of consequences. You could always tell where Kosara had been because a hurricane would have been more subtle. Plus her excitable child-like personality just grated. Akoni completely tuned out her and her christening.

After Kosara was... A small and timid girl? No, that couldn't be right. No way in all the realms would the Council take interest in a small girl. Akoni's eyes glowed blue as he identified her. Ah, Midori. A demon. The old man thought that she was just about the most pathetic demon he'd ever seen, but even so she was not to be underestimated.

After the laughable demon girl went a man that Akoni felt was familiar, even though they had never met. He was a Lumen Sage, a group Akoni was intimately familiar with. Chances were they would have him dead, so all was good that Silas did not seem to recognize or be familiar with Akoni. Hopefully the sage would also fail to recognize the book that Akoni always had strapped to his person.

After the sage, a man with a strange arm spoke up, but he was far less accepting of the situation than any that spoke before him. A quick identify told Akoni that this abrasive and angry man wasn't a man at all. Gene was an angel of Laguna, aspect of Humility. Well that was terribly ironic, wasn't it? You'd think an angel of humility would recognize the absolute governing force of all the realms and agree, but instead this angel did everything it could in an attempt to piss them off. It seemed that even the "humblest" of Paradiso were self-righteous jackasses. No love was lost on Akoni when the largest of the watchers branded Gene an enemy of the Council and whisked him away.

As these events would unfold, Wrath attempted to make conversation with him. Akoni bit his lips in irritation. Did this nephilim not recognize the importance of what was happening? Talking over all this was disrespectful. Well, Wrath stared off at the citadel and so Akoni felt he could concentrate on the brandings. Until Wrath refocused on him. God dammit! Pay attention, kid! Well at least all Wrath asked for now was his name.

"Akoni," he said rather curtly, never taking his eyes off the others.

It was then that another demo spoke up, asking what was in it for us. Self-serving as always. The answer provided by the Council and by Panoptos, turned out to be far greater than what Akoni actually had expected. He anticipated that the experience itself would be its own reward, and for the elder wizard that was enough. The citadel was amazing enough, but an extra powered form? Would he not have to fall back on Overcharge in dire circumstances? But the greatest asset... Was the tree. The same tree Akoni tried to gain access to decades ago. The same tree which he emulated every single time he gatewalked. To say that it was the single greatest reward he could be offered... Was a gross understatement. Akoni had to wipe away a single tear.

He paid little attention to the next branding, Souta. Akoni knew he was some representative of Gilgamesh but honestly he couldn't care less. Of course, then he was pulled from his feelings of gratefulness and ecstasy by a burning rage that could only come from one person: God damn you, Snider. His dessencion was quickly followed by others, a demon hound and some holier than thou Templar. It was assholes like them that ruined organized religion.

"Akoni," he said rather curtly, never taking his eyes off the others. Wrath noticed his tone and sighed quietly to himself. Only a magi would find the goings on here interesting to any degree, though the voice of one of Laguna's Effigies caught Wrath's attention. He didn't know the guy personally, but the Army of Light knew every type of Laguna angel to exist, and potentially ever to have existed. The lad, however, had made the mistake of refusing the Council and Wrath could only laugh as Panoptos branded him an enemy of the Charred Council and sent him on his way.

Leave it to a Laguna angel to try and get away with insulting the highest authority in the entirety of reality. Still, he didn't see any specific need to hunt down any who refused, it wasn't what they'd agreed to do anyways. He listened as Panoptos spoke of their new privleges and he gently put a pair of fingers to his mark when it was said that they had a new form should the need arise. That...had been unexpected. He'd heard tales among the White City of War's Chaos Form and Death's Reaper Form, both powerhouses to be feared and avoided at all costs, not to mention the same was said of the Four Horsemen themselves. He wasn't sure if he'd stay at the Citadel often, all the fights were outside of the Core, and the tree would just make getting to where he needed to go faster. But as he stood there, watching the proceedings, he made a decision. He would fight whoever he had to to protect the Seals. But, under all circumstances, he wouldn't fight or kill Uriel. She had seen to his creation and taught him all the basics for the skills he now used on a regular basis for fighting. Simply put, she was the one angel he gave a damn about.

However, when the Templar spoke, Wrath found himself raising an eyebrow at the man as he gazed down at him. Does the fool really think any of that is REAL? I've BEEN to heaven and the highest authority there is Uriel. Or at least the highest one that I've met. I really hope most humans aren't that, well, daft. Still, perhaps it was for the best that nothing was said on it by the Nephilim or the others, though the former had a strong urge to take the know it all human to Heaven so he could see what it was really like. In the end, however, it wasn't worth the trip or the time and he returned to looking at the Citadel as he listened to the proceedings.

Mary gasped as a sort of flame burned within her, a dizzying sensation to accompany the new location. fairly quickly it was snuffed out, and Mary felt herself again, alongside the demons she had befriended. All three of them studied their surroundings. Mary saw flame. Heat, brimstone, flames that would never die. Behind her lay a great city, so large and towering and ornate. Before her were the Watchers, as well as who she assumed was the council.

Their loud, booming voices rang out against human and demon alike, commanding respect and attention. They reprimanded and scolded everyone there for there failure at the Second Seal. Mary took it quite personally, looking away in shame and fear. She barely noticed the people stepping up and being branded, too absorbed in her own self pity. Still, she refocused at about the point Gene told the most powerful beings in the universe to "shove it." She almost gasped at this man's stupidity and bravado. Quickly, he was disposed of, marked as a traitor and sent back to whatever realm he came from. An example too them all.

Lily asked for more clarification on her "reward." Yes, they did mention some such, hadn't they. But the Council quickly shot her down, remarking that her life, and that of her playthings, was reward enough. It seemed a bad idea to ask these things for her humanity now. But, maybe after they had saved the human realm, they would come around. Besides, access to the ornate edifice behind them, and too any realm, was a bonus. Even more of her demonic side though? She wasn't exactly thrilled about that.

Fenn's gravely voice cracked through her thoughts, demanding that he was loyal to Lily, and no others. Hmm. It seemed they were dating or some such. Mary wondered, absentmindedly, what demon dating rituals were like. She would have to ask them one of these days. "I will accept this servitude." Mary spoke, right after him. "But I would much prefer if I was not marked as well. And I refuse to carry out these two's executions, should they refuse." Her first remark was a genuine request. She understood, more power was always helpful, but she was getting farther and farther from her humanity. The second sentence was not a request. Her voice was firm, and so was her resolve. She wanted to work with these demons, and no harm would come from her to them unless they instigated. She wasn't going to be a complete lackey of these beings.

the man of Hearts

Wandering lost and alone Zio had no idea of the events taking place as he strolled around underground. “How do I get out of this place?” talking to himself Heart walked around and around “... why did i jump down here?” So many questions clouded his mind, well not many just one or two about why he was stupid enough to try chase a dog.
All the sudden everything started shaking, cracking could be heard from all around and rubble fell on Zio’s head.
“Huh what… oh no…. NOOOOOOOOOOOO” Screaming at the top of his lungs Zio started bolting down the tunnels to try and avoid being buried alive. With no idea of where to go it felt like a pointless struggle, turning left because the area in front was already caved in, turning again only to reach a dead end, left, right, left, backtrack, it seemed the struggle was all in vain but he kept going… until.

“WHY THE FUCK IS THERE A BOULDER CHASING MEEEEEEE?” A scream resounded through what was left of the tunnels as Zio tried to avoid being crushed alive.
As he started losing breath and hope he saw some light, A light, an exit. So he ran again making it through to the light just as the path he took completely caved in.
Freedom, safety and no need to worry about his life Zio cheered as he looked around at the great city he was free in….

From one look of the city now he just ran, ran and ran.

Over the flailing, confused form of Snider Panoptos floated, listening to his nonsensical utterances with intense fascination. Though the Watcher could not have attested to ever seeing a cartoon for children, this human absolutely nailed what he would have thought to be the stereotypical old man in a cartoon: senseless, senile, sporadic, and spasmodic. After a few amusing moments he sighed and turned back to face his progeny. ”Which one of you,” he asked, ”Brought this one here to waste our time? Can’t you see he’s broken? Eugh…” Panoptos descended just close enough to flick Snider on the nose, lazily drawing an off-kilter mark that glowed dimly, like a dying ember. Then Snider disappeared, returned to the ruined city from which he came. When Panoptos looked up, he spotted one of the Watchers raising its hand. ”Uh, that were me mate, sorry fer dat.”

”Rhetorical question, imbecile. Didn’t you bring the fanatic, anyway?” Panoptos sneered dismissively, and refocused his attention on the remaining members of the group. Of them, funnily enough, the least humanoid seemed the most interesting. He picked up an odd assortment of signals from Fenn, not scornfully dismissive but definitely not accepting. Intrigued, and suddenly wary, Panoptos observed. Behind fur and fangs, the thoughts of a hellhound were difficult to discern. Surely a beast of Inferno did not doubt the power of the council? Perhaps he considered matters more existential. The Watcher would have frowned pensively had it a mouth with which to do so. Did the creature, of all beings, suspect…?

He counted himself unsurprised that Fenn saw fit to refuse service to the Council, but remarkably the demon exhibited enough intelligence to spare himself a terrible fate by choosing a third option. Panoptos drew a talon across his chin in thought. Only when the hellhound snapped at him did he break his silence. ”As if you could touch me. I’m protected, poochie. Still, you needn’t worry about a branding. Emblazoning you would be like…giving a sheep an education.”

Unfortunately, Panoptos did not get the chance to offer more profound insight, for a mere man saw fit to not only refuse but threaten the venerable Charred Council. The quiet that followed his declaration was brief and deadly. Then, the center head fumed,



From beneath Antonio’s feet, the white rune protecting him from the ungodly heat abruptly faded.

The Paladin should have died that instant, roasted into ashes inside his own armor as it melted off of him, but the power of the Council sustained his life. Only after a minute of this torment was the man transported in darkness, whose tender oblivion seemed an incredible relief, back to the surface. Rather than a simple scar, Antonio’s traitor brand was the entirety of his skin, charred by the unquenchable fires of the Core to a festering meld of black and red. His armor lay on him still, but warped and damaged to such an extent that he might not ever be able to take some of it off on his own. Nevertheless, his movement and ability to fight were unimpaired, and his consciousness remained fully with him.

The Core did not lapse into silence following the Templar’s departure. Few, certainly, expected him to survive such an unabashed slander of the Charred Council—what, after all, did he think would happen? That some divine providence would step in and annul the consequences of brazen and unchecked malice? Yet the meeting quickly returned to order.

Panoptos decided to hold Mary in particularly low esteem. His advanced cognition beheld the conflict within her mind, her body, and her soul, and the fact that she seemed beholden to the two demons did not help his estimation of her. ”Perhaps your pale blood clotted in your ears, dollface. Either you’re branded an agent of the Council, you’re branded an enemy, or you’re such a base creature that we can be assured of your servitude without a mark.” To make sure that nobody missed his meaning, the viridian Watcher cast a nine-eyed glance at Fenn. Then he continued, ”Besides, you can’t use our portals without it. Fancy walking from here to Paradiso and back?” The voice of the level-headed Councilor rumbled through the fiery realm after its servant’s question.

Answering questions with questions, that seemed to be the forté of at least one of the Council Heads. And while those questions put her no closer to a clear decision, the Watcher known as Panoptos did enlighten her as to the possible rewards. She had known of this realm before, of the Council, but that they would be allowed to make use of all its faculties should they decide to become the henchmen of the Council, as well as an improved Devil Trigger...

She watched the various other people either deny or accept the demands, even going so far as to smile in grim amusement at the one man who saw fit to insult the Council, and was branded on body and soul as a result. Merciful indeed, she had fully expected the Council to simply erase him from existence for his affront.

She let herself hover slightly higher in the air, giving herself a better outlook of the surrounding landscape, especially the massive citadel in the distance. The World Tree, access to all realms, and undoubtedly far more than just that. The Council had been close, and yet very far in their assumptions of her. While she derived much enjoyment from humans as playthings, it was so much more than just that. Evidently they weren't as perfect as they liked to believe. That brought another thought to the forefront of her mind. She lowered herself to just a scant few centimetres off the ground, turning around to face the Watchers.

Her eyes fell once again upon Panoptos, narrowing as an impish smile found its way to her lips. She studied the leading Watcher with a discerning look, thinking, wondering... Could it be? He had said that their services would be available to them should they take accept. And "services" were never performed for anyone of lower rank. A chef could not make demands of his Lord, after all. She did not finish the thought, however, figuring that pointing out her suspicions would earn her nothing but scorn from the Watchers, regardless of whether it was true or not.

The promise of extra power was both welcome and unimportant. She would grow more powerful in time regardless, but if it allowed her to put down the one seeking to destroy the Seals... It was worth it, she thought. But then there were the matters of the implications of what exactly the Watchers had said. They had given no set amount of time for their servitude: No number of years until they were released. There was a very good chance that those who swore allegiance to the Council would serve them until the time of their deaths, and likely even beyond that.

Serve the Council and be given access to places, knowledge, and power that few beings had even laid eyes upon, or deny them and risk an untimely death due to pride. To say it was a difficult choice for someone as independent as Lily would have been an understatement. Rewards of yet unknowable proportions, or risk annihilation due to pride.

She sighed, closing her eyes... and smiled. A good thing I always associated more with avarice than anything else.

She looked up, pools of liquid fire gazing unafraid at the large stone figures that were the Council.

"I accept."

Wrath visibly flinched with the member of the Council member marked the Templar himself. In the three hundred years that the Nephilim had been alive, he'd never found anything worth being so afraid of, but what he'd witnessed before the human disappeared, well, that wasn't a pleasant thing to observe. When they were given permission to go to the Citadel, Wrath lingered a moment more, watching those who were undecided a moment before turning and following the path. He kept pace with Akoni, debating on how best to address him. "Interesting day for you I bet. First the Seal, now a servant of the single most powerful force in all Reality. Ever think you'd end up here?"

He knew he was being foolish, most mages he'd met in his wanderings, including those few angels who preferred magic over holy might, spent large chunks of their lives trying to get to the Molten Core so he didn't see why a Human mage would be different. Wrath had spent some years of his wandering trying to find a way to catch a glimpse of one of the Horsemen, to see the terrifying visages that his mentors and teachers in Heaven lived in fear of. Not that he'd ever had any luck, so he'd eventually given up and settled on just trying to avoid spitted by one of them himself, though it would seem that all those times he'd ducked his head down to avoid being detected had been pointless, learning the Council had known about him the whole time.

KYL-9XX

The answer to the cyborg´s question was not really reassuring. Strength in unity? Sure, if the ones that accepted the Council´s offer worked together instead of against each other, they might have a chance at stopping whoever was responsible, but would that be enough? Kyle did not want to stretch his luck though, and remained silent as he received his own branding. He felt like a little fire was kindled inside him, at the same time his cybernetic eye and his broken modules were miraculously repaired by the watcher´s touch. The others around him took their turns stating their decision.

When a demon spoke up, the rewards and help they would receive became a lot clearer: Access to the "citadel" and some kind of tree that would grant them passage to any realm they desired to enter. Far more interesting however was the power to "transform" into a stronger form. The demons amongst them would have practice in that matter, but the cyborg? He was curious to find out what this "new form" would mean for him. Kyle made a mental note to find out as soon as possible.

To the cyborg´s suprise, a few of the people present refused the offer. It was less the refusal in itself though, but how they spoke to this entity that amazed Kyle, as they insulted the council and told them to "shove it". Some appeared to do it out of sheer spite, others seemed to be genuinely appalled by the thought of serving them. The "traitors" received their own speical brand and vanished shortly after. Now more than ever, Kyle was glad he had decided not to rebel against this council. There were only a few people left who had to make their choice, and the three entities urged them to step forth as agents or be marked as enemies.

The rest was allowed to go to the citadel to rest and gain back their strength. From the corner of his eye, he saw how a few started making their way towards their new residence. Kyle looked towards Souta, who had accepted his branding as well. He barely knew the kid, but at least he knew him somewhat, compared to the others who were complete strangers to him. Kyle walked up to Souta: "Hey man...wanna go to this citadel and check the place out?". If they were going to work together, he might as well get to know him better.

Gene popped his neck back into place and rubbed at the blazing orange slit across his neck. The only thing Gene could think of was how this new tattoo would make getting a new job much harder. Gene scowled and turned to look at Antonio.

"Wow," said Gene, "you look like one of those old dudes who spent, like, twenty years in Florida. Are you... okay?"

Gene briefly considered touching Antonio's skin to see if it felt as hot as it looked, but decided against it. One touch might end up sloughing all that browned skin off, and the last thing Gene wanted on his plate was another man's epidermis.

Gene shook his head and tried to wipe thoughts of Antonio-skin coats out of his mind.
"We'd best get going soon. This city ain't getting any safer, you know?"

@IncredibleBee

Antonio's iron will and zealous determination kept him from shouting during his immolation. As he appeared in the material world, his armor, a gift from his Holiness, had become charred. How unfortunate.

An armored hand reached up to his chest, and ripped off the front of the charred surcoat and burnt chainmail. What was revealed was now Antonio's exquisitely sculpted abs, now bronzed to a perfect brown hue. He kept his helmet, but his surcoat now resembled a tattered white trenchcoat with his chest exposed.

Somehow, this made him feel more stylish.

"They should have known. All those who submit themselves to Jesus are safe from the fires of Hell. Let us abscond. There are more innocents to protect."
With that, he summoned Rocinante, and backflipped onto the divine motorcycle. A sidecar awaited his angelic companion.