Angel's Ascension: Strife (Book Ten)

Chapter 19: Goodbyes

Reine stepped onto the edge of the citadel while the group joined up. "I don't know any good places to go but we will leave right this instant! This will only take me a few minutes." She hurried up the citadel and powered on the engines.

Spades stared up at it. "It's a shame that she's this powerful. We have no other way to stop her besides leaving." He exhaled.

"I'm worried that she will be here sooner than that." Azrael frowned at the sky. "How can we stall her away from the citadel? Lucina is too smart for that to work."

"Hey, I know it seems like a stretch but I can take her on!" Percy said with a toothy grin. "Just let me handle Lucina and everyone can escape while I make her look foolish." He soon approached Cheyanne and waved to her.

Cheyanne stared up at the citadel. "What do you want now, Percy? If you're going to show off then I'm the last person you should be coming to." She scoffed.

Percy held both hands up and shook his head. "No, that's not it. I just wanted to apologize for everything in the past. You don't have to accept it but I feel a lot better telling you."

"Is that all? If so then you can go now." Cheyanne responded.

"I- right, I'm sorry for bothering you." Percy drifted away from her. Well, it was worth a shot but I expected her to turn me down. I'm stupid for thinking I had any chance. He chuckled to himself.

Lucina suddenly ripped a hole in space and clawed her way out of it. "What are you doing? I won't let you get away with her." She narrowed her eyes and stepped toward them.

Lucy eyed her with a frown. "I'd be pissed but being stubborn is part of who we are. A few of us will have to stall her if we're getting out."

"Okay, girl." Cheyanne stood beside her. "I'll take this bitch on-"

"No, allow me! I'll hold her off for everyone." Percy slit his wrists and blood fell to the ground. A symbol emerged as his skin reddened. "I only ever use this ritual for when I want someone dead."

Sin's eyes widened. "Percy! That ritual is dangerous. Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"

Percy glanced back at him and eyed the other death reapers. "Yes, I can handle this. Just know I'm doing this for everyone!"

Lucina raised an eyebrow. "What is this form? Do you really intend to throw your life away for a bunch of pathetic beings?" She snorted.

"Well, I wouldn't call them pathetic. I just don't want you anywhere near them." Percy pulled back on his middle finger until a loud snap emitted. Thousands of blood tendrils fired from his body and pelted Lucina. Steam rose from the blood as it boiled upon contact.

"Huh, that's more blood than I've seen him use. He called it a ritual..." Cheyanne muttered.

Celtyx crossed her arms. "Yep, he's doing it not to show off but to make a point. He said that you and the others still matter to him despite his loyalties. This is the only way he can repay his actions in his eyes."

Cheyanne sighed to herself. "Percy doesn't need to do that! Isn't it obvious that we've gone our separate ways? I don't understand."

"You think boiling blood will do me in? I hope this was just a starting attack." Lucina wiped the blood off her face. Her body emanated with dark energy as surged through her fingers.

"No, I'm just getting ready." Percy rushed at her and slid across the ground. He launched blood tendrils from his fingers and kicked off a ledge. Once he stood within her range, Percy grabbed Lucina and grinned. "Now take this!" Blood sprayed all over her and dug into her skin.