Divine Diligence

Final Chapter

Martius 19th, 2206 (PM). 

Following that massive earthquake at the Hyperion Colosseum Familia Et I hurried to the arena to locate the source. "Well, well, look who it is?" Princeps Tenebrarum said with an evil grin as we arrived. There, in the colosseum's audience was Imperator Salim, Prima Tenebris Princeps.

His face was unrecognizable. Once an admittedly handsome young wolf on the outside, half of it now a hideous porcus with one eye that matched Mihi Daimonic Biologicum Parentes and a tusk poking out of one of the sides of his nose, symbolizing his fall into darkness.

"I was rather hurt that you didn't invite me to the reunion." "You're not even part of this family!" Princeps Azuro exclaimed. "How could you be so foolish Salim!?" Imperator Azurus questioned. "Au contraire Pater," "Hold your tongue!" Fratres Meus warned. "You've no right to address Pronepos Meus in that manner! He trusted you to care for our great land and you have betrayed him!"

"Ahh, yes, thank you for reminding me?" Imperator Salim said. "I'd forgotten that you were raised by a mixed species couple, and thus have a skewed perception of the word family. No matter I didn't come here to argue regarding our beliefs anyway."

"Then why're you here?" I questioned as he teleported atop a mighty spire on the opposite side of the colosseum and pulled a lever. "Eleonora!" Bis Nepotem Meus exclaimed as a cage lowered to Imperator Salim's side. "I wish to give you a challenge. Reach the cage atop this spire and I shall release your beloved."

"You heartless monster!" Nepos Meus exclaimed. "You'd sacrifice your wolfmanity to feed your Acetic autocratic desires!" "Ever the overreactive one, Proavus?" the possessed Imperator asked playfully. "Thou are no longer allowed to address me in such a manner!" Imperator Grimus interjected. "A true Hyperi would follow his titan bestowed role, given to the aether pack by Hyperion himself, instead you abuse your power to fulfill your dark wishes!"

"No matter," Imperator Salim stated once more. "I have the colosseum surrounded, now your only escape is to play my little game." "Are you sure about that?" Soror Mea asked. As soon as she said that a ringing sound filled the air as the possessed Imperator excused himself to answer his scroll. For an Acetic Daimonis attempting to take over the empire, he at the very least had some semblance of mannerisms.

"Dominus Meus!" a voice exclaimed from the other line. "An angelic army hass apprehended us!" "WHAT!?" Prima Tenebris Princeps whisper shouted. "How could this be!?" "You never did pay attention during our family worship," Imperator Azurus commented. "What do you mean!?" Imperator Salim questioned. In that moment, a bright light shot down from the heavens as the former Imperatrix transformed.

It was glorious. Her hair which was short, and dull transformed became long, and transcendent as her wings which were hidden from view when we arrived in the mortal plain, extended outwards just as they were in the Asphodel Mountain.

"Dominus Meus!" the voice from Prima Tenebris Princeps scroll exclaimed. "That bright light exterminated half of our army and the angeloses are closing in on us!" "It appears you've run out of options," Soror Mea remarked. If they were any ordinary daimon, that would've been the part where he would've given up however, Mihi Biologicum Parentes was no ordinary daimon.

Upon realizing he was outnumbered, Princeps Habiti summoned an army consisting of another daimons and dark souls using what little energy he cared to in an attempt to defeat us. "Watch out!" the former Imperatrix exclaimed as she used her flail to stop the daimon flying towards me. "Thank you!" I said, brushing myself off. "Kurin, take the young Princeps somewhere safe, we'll sort out things here!"

"NO!" I shouted. "I'm not leave you four here at a time like this!" "We have no other option!" Imperator Grimus exclaimed. "Only the five of us are immune to Rashid's power! If you four remain here, there's a strong likelihood you'll seriously injured or possessed!"

As much as I hated to admit it, Fratres Meus was right. Now, that Nostri Parentes had full control of Imperator Salim's body, his powers were now able to affect us physically. What's even worse was that he was now strong enough to transfer between hosts through physical contact much like a virus would. Despite being Daimon Princeps Acetiae, it appeared that he played the long game.

So, though I wished to stay and fight, the four royal Princeps and I exited the colosseum to take refuge in Mihi Biologicum Parentes' old home where it all began while Hyperi Propinqui Mei did what needed to be done.

Given that I was absent for the final battle, I had to rely on Propinqui Meis' retelling of the event to fill in the blanks. As soon Nepotibus Meis and I exited the colosseum, Imperator Salim spoke once more. "Excuse me," Tenebris Imperator said. "I apologize for the interruption; however, you've still failed to explain how and why you're an angelos."

Soror Mea then turned to Princeps Habiti. "If you must know I became an angelos when I saved the realm from my mate's rampage." Assuming that he misheard her words, he asked her to repeat herself. "I apologize did you say from?" "Yes," Imperatrix Amalia answered.

"He suffered a mental breakdown two years before he became Imperator, and the empire suffered the consequences. Upon realizing that his entire life was a lie he released all manner of natural disasters on our realm." While the former Imperatrix distracted Habiti Imperator, Princeps Azuro along with Majorum Et Predecessores made their way to the top of the spire.

"Stupid spire!" Nepos Meus exclaimed. "Why couldn't they have just placed Eleonora in a pit!" He soon regretted his words as soon as Princeps Azuro stopped. "Azuro, I apologize!" he exclaimed. "It's just that!" "No, no," he answered. "In all honestly I wish that too, and I actually stopped to rest." "Oh," he said. As soon as Pronepotem Suum recovered his stamina, the four of them continued their ascent.

As to be expected, the climb was not easy. Every step they made hordes of daimons blocked their path, each one almost twice as big as the last. At times, one of them would be serious injured from the fight and the rest would have to pause so Imperator Grecundo could heal them. And yes, Nepos Meus was also able to manipulate water to heal the sick and injured.

Despite it being widely regarded as a feminine skill during Chenghiz's time, according to legend, it was the exact opposite, for water wolves and aethers. For them it was often the females leading the pack during fights and hunts leading them with more injuries over longer periods of time. When those situations occurred, it would be their mates, the pack's males who would heal them.

Once they'd finally reached the top, Princeps Azuro saw his mate and was tempted to call out to her however, as per their agreed upon plan, he remained silent as he, Et Majorum sneaked up behind their opponent for a surprise attack. "NUNC AMARE!" Imperator Grimus yelled, as the four Hyeri males tackled Habiti Imperator. "UNPAW ME!" Imperator Salim demanded to which Propinqui Mei ignored.

In a flash of light, The Compass of Hyperion began to wind faster and faster until a beam shot from it as the former Imperatrix used its power to open a portal, leading straight to Anulus Acetiae. Immediately, Fratres Et Nepos Meus threw Tenebris Princeps in while Imperator Azurus Et Princeps Azuro freed Eleonora from the cage. The battle was won.