Exodus Files: Gates of Hell.

Chapter 25: The Uninvited Guests

Gates' armor illuminates as he hover above the Oni and the human girl. His arrival surely left the two dumbstruck. The tyrant glared at the couple with his burning eyes.

"It looks like you were completely surprised, o mighty Oni." Gates ridiculed Niv. The Oni prince directed Sora to stay in his back. Gates looked at the maiden and spoke "You shall take me to that place...and we shall complete the prophecy. TOGETHER, WE WILL MAKE HISTORY!"

Niv raised his fist in protest "Stop your nonsense, Gates, I won't let you get your hands on Sora!" The Oni held Sora's hand, grasping it tightly. This view just made the tyrant laughed "How will you do that, Nivrae, the first time we met, you were like a vegetable, being tossed around...You are still as pathetic as before...You displease my father." Niv fires a projectile at Gates in retaliation. The attack connected but ineffective, not even a scratch.

Gates slowly descended to the ground. As soon his foot touches the ground, he immediately walks towards the Oni. "I will fulfill my father's will, and not even you, the great Oni the fifth can stop me." and like a flash of light, Niv attacked with all of his might, uppercutting the tyrant in his chin, this time the attack made Gates lose his balance. "Ahh, I was wrong, you did improve. So, your strength depends on your sudden change of mood? Impressive." Gates said as he shook his head, still dizzy from the attack.

Niv looked back at Sora and commanded "Go back inside and warn the others." Sora nods and immediately runs back to the palace, but a huge explosion sent her flying back a couple of feet. "It's no use, Lacronite, My men are currently raiding the whole Palace..." Gates said. As Niv was about to face his opponent, the cunning entity swings his hammer and hits Niv's chest. Gates was impressed that this time around Niv was able catch the hammer.

Inside the Sky Palace, Doer and Reech were immediately alarmed by the commotion, their angel allies are under attack. The duo rushed to the ballroom only to witness their rival split an angel into two halves. Ikezubo slowly turned his attention to Doer "You never learn..."

Reech draws his Haedonggum and charges without thinking, Doer tried to stop him but the golem was too fast. Ikezubo just stared at his assailant indifferently. The slayer gave strong strikes but the samurai's liquefied body just let the sword pass through. Reech's last blow was caught by the Aquorion with his bare hand, and like the whisper of the wind, Ikezubo took Reech down with one slash. Blood spurted like fountain. Reech's body dropped motionless. Doer once again lost an ally. Rage flared in his heart. The Unicus' bone katars materialized from thin air. He attacked Ikezubo relentlessly bu just like before, Doer's strikes were useless.

The Aquorion got tired of his opponent and decided to cut the fight short. He hacked Doer's weapons, shattering it into small bits. Before the shards hit the ground, Ikezubo released a water dragon and directly piercing the Unicus in the chest, leaving a huge hole. Doer spits blood. As his visions started to blur, he drops on his knee and faints.

Before Doer loses his consciousness, Ikezubo knelt down and stabs his katana near the Unicus' face. The Aquorion then crouched and whispered "Look into your soul, friend, maybe then you'll realize my weakness." The samurai then picks up his sword and walks away.

The Palace is slowly being eaten by fire. Mu stood in the corner, speechless. The Sky Palace guardian cannot believe what is happening to her beloved sanctuary. The mergers attacked them when they least expected. Laraffa assaulted the angels, immediately killing many of the warriors. Orange strived to protect the Cherub before backing away from the threat. Mu grabbed Orange and teleported away. Orange was about to fight the merger but Mu grabbed him and teleported away. Mu and Orange arrived at the ballroom and took Doer and Reech before they vanished into thin air once again.