The divine Comedy: Lucifer's second act

Ch.45 Up the tree into Sheol

Another day passed as the archangels and Lucifer began to fight each other once more.The rifts between heaven and hell become ever so unstable till the point both are nearly breaking apart,with legions upon legions of demons and angels preparing for war with earth as it's battlefield.
Free and his group had begun their journey to yggdrasil.

"Well all we have to do now is to climb up"
"Hopefully we don't fall down and enter another universe"
"But if you do then it'll be your fault completely"
Free said as they reached the garden of Eden where the world tree yggdrasil stood tall, towering over the city.
"How are we supposed to get up though?"
Asked Douglas
"Stairs"
"Duh"
Free said as he began walking to the entrance.
They claimed up several flights of stairs before finally reaching the top.

"Sheol is just beyond here"
"You can see the abyss from here"
"It disgusts me"
Free said looking at the horizon from atop the tree.
"Now what"
Asked Douglas looking down
"Just you wait"
Free said as Phanes took control.
Phanes gage everyone a slap on the back giving them wings temporarily.
"We jump"
Said Phanes as he leaped down looking directly at them.
"Don't be a scaredy cat just jump"
"You won't die I assure you"
"Even you Heinz"
Said Phanes as he soared back up.

Phanes got bored of waiting and pushed azaline and Heinz off, Cellinia and Douglas joined later after seeing the two gliding.Phanes led the way as they approached the abyss.
As they landed and approached the Sheol.
They saw how the everlasting darkness overlapped Elysium making it look like another realm.

Phanes detransformed,Free stared into the everlasting darkness.
He saw what he thought was his reflection albeit distorted through the darkness,with all his friends by his side.
At that moment Free finally realised what he was doing,what he dragged his friends into,his loved one even.
He realized that what he was doing was a suicide mission.
He realized that maybe his friends won't even make it out alive.
He looked back looking at everyone.
Azaline,Heinz, Douglas and Cellinia.
"Go home"
He said
"I want all of you to go home"
"It's not safe for you out here"
Free said looking to the ground.
"But we've been through all this"
Said heinz
"We can protect ourselves"
Said Cellinia as she tried to object.
"Free we made it this far we might as well finish this now"
Said Azaline.

"I don't want any of you to get hurt"
Free said as he was about to teleport everyone back except for himself.
"Well we aren't going anywhere without a fight mister Morningstar"
Said azaline as she raised her sword turning herself against Free dragging everyone along with her.
"I'm sorry...."
"Everyone"
Said Free as he brought heaven piercer out.
And so begins a fight between the heroes.

Free placed a barrier on everyone to make sure they didn't get hurt.
Free made the first move
He made a ball of energy and threw it towards azaline to take her out first but Heinz took the hit for her.
Azaline charged at Free to strike him at full power but free simply moved to the side.
after dodging her attack Douglas punched Free in the jugular.
Free released a burst of energy to Push everyone back.
"Why won't you all just go home"
He cried
"I don't want any of you to get hurt"
"Not by me,not by Phanes,not by Lucifer,not by ANYBODY"
He cried as the others got back up

Heinz summoned flak cannons to fire a continuous Barrage at Free.Free took every hit and used heaven piercer to break through.He teleported behind Heinz and kicked him he then chased Douglas down and hit him with the flat side of the sword like a cricket bat, knocking him down.
Free didn't even dare to hurt Cellinia.

Azaline tried to cut free but the blade just bounced off.He retaliated with a punch to her gut but it wasn't enough to knock her out.Heinz got back up and summoned missiles to strike Free.
Free unsheathed heaven piercer and used the sheaths gauntlet form to throw multiple rocks at the missiles, detonating them.
He wanted to end the fight quickly but he knew that Phanes would easily kill them all.

Free hesitated, his eyes filled with conflict. He didn't want to hurt his friends, but circumstances had forced their hands.The battle was only between Free, Heinz and Azaline now.
Heinz channelled what was left if his demonic powers post soul punisher, azaline entered an enlightened state that surpassed mortal boundaries

Free turned into Safer Free,the true power of the spark of creation embedded in a human.With a deep breath, Free reluctantly raised his weapon, a shimmering blade that crackled with untamed energy. His friends charged forward, swords drawn. The clash was inevitable.

Azaline lunged first, her strikes precise and deadly. Heinz followed suit, attacking from Free's flank. Free, torn between defense and retaliation, blocked their blows with a skill that betrayed his inner turmoil.

As the battle raged on, it became evident that Free was holding back. His strikes, while still formidable, lacked the deadly intent usually present in his combat style. Azaline and Heinz pressed their advantage, determined to disarm him without causing harm.
Free parried and dodged, his movements graceful and fluid. But with each clash of steel, his resolve weakened. He didn't want to harm his friends, and it showed in his hesitations.

"We've already made it this far Free, Just let us come with you,or else all we've done is in vain"

"Azaline....."
"I care about you lot too much"
"I don't want any of you to perish"

He lowered his weapon slightly, uncertainty in his eyes. But the battle had already taken a toll, and Azaline seized the opportunity, disarming him with a swift strike.
Free's weapon clattered to the ground, and he stumbled backward, his expression a mix of relief and sadness. Heinz and Azaline lowered their swords, their faces mirroring the pain of the situation.

"I'm sorry....all"
Free said as he was on the ground looking at his hands.
He raised his hand as he casted flare,an instant Burst of energy knocking azaline and Heinz to the ground.

Free drew a summoning circle around everyone and approached Cellinia who was standing unharmed.
"Cellinia,my dear"
"I need you to keep everyone safe"
He couldn't talk much as he knew that this was a suicide mission.
His eyes began to tear as he held her close towards his chest.tears rolled down his face as he let her go and walked towards the abyss.
Azaline looked at free one last time before they were transported back.

....Back to Aetheria