Angel's Ascension: Strife (Book Ten)

Chapter 38: One Last Reprieve

"Hey, you came back real quick. Did you find anyone on your trip?" Lucina asked. She leaned against a brick wall and eyed Lucy in the air.

"No, I think everyone on Earth was eaten by those creatures. Princess can't help us so we're the only ones left to deal with this problem." Lucy landed beside her and scowled before punching at the wall. "It's not fair! Why did you have to make a paradox!?"

Lucina shrugged at her. "How was I supposed to know? Apparently, that top angel knew that the universe I lived in wasn't part of the ones allowed. Why don't you blame him for making me aware of such things?"

Lucy shook her reddened fist and exhaled. "Samael was his name. It's too bad he isn't around for me to punch him. And now we'll have to figure this out as a team."

The two soon faced each other while the creatures surrounded them from the edge of the circles. A large rumble alerted them to the north where a giant shadow stood before them. With each rumble, the shadow grew closer to them until a figure emerged with several limbs. Thorns and spikes grew out of them while a loud groan followed.

"Get a look at that thing. It seems to have noticed us and wants to breach the circles." Lucina stood straight and rubbed her wrists. "If we have to work together to avoid oblivion then fine. But remember this doesn't make us friends or anything." Her body ignited with dark hellfire and she ascended to the sky. She pointed to the giant and a stream of hellfire flew out with static surrounding it. A wall of flames emerged once it struck the beast.

Lucy launched herself at the flames with a fist aimed at its face. "Okay, we can take this ugly thing down first and discuss plans after!" She punched the giant in the face and a massive shock wave quickly swept through the area. The monsters below them screeched and others flew away like a flock of birds.

Lucina flashed a grin and rubbed her hands until electricity manifested. "Step aside, I know you don't like lightning and this one is going to sting." Once Lucy flew to the right, she held a finger to the sky and black lightning zapped the creature. It stood in place as its limbs jolted and a groan escaped its mouth. "Go ahead and finish the bastard off!" She yelled.

"I'm working on it!" Lucy pulled a sword out from the palm of her hand. Silver flames covered the blade as she spun in the air. After gaining enough momentum, Lucy ripped into the giant and swiftly shredded through the limbs. Black mist filled the air as the giant fell back with gaping holes in its body. Dust rose from it before the beast dispersed into black matter. "Ugh, such a nasty smell it left behind. I don't see anymore that rivals its size so we should be good now!"

"Alright, where do we go from here? If Earth is nothing but a ball of those things then we might need to leave this place." Lucina crossed her arms and chuckled. "Death's realm isn't going to look any better so start dropping locations."

Lucy scratched her head and rubbed each eye. "Well, I doubt Hell is under all this stuff and probably wouldn't want to go there regardless."

"You got that right. I might wind up killing Lucifer again and take his powers." Lucina smirked at her. "Though getting morningstar again wouldn't be such a bad trade." Her wings twitched as they approached the statue of a horse.

"Heaven may be in the same boat as this place but there was that Creator. He decided to help a little earlier but I dunno." Lucy tapped her feet on the ground and paced around the statue. "This is a rough spot we're in, huh?"

Lucina seated herself at the base of the statue and crossed a leg. "I'd say my universe but I'm in a weaker state than I was a few hours ago." She exhaled. A sudden flash of light enveloped them from the sky when a figure descended.