Immolation Ex: The Knower (COMPLETED)

Chapter XXI

Michael and Azazel used the opportunity of Himmler and Dustyn's duel to position themselves behind the legion of Grigori that were now thoroughly engrossed in the fight of the afterlife; the spirit of a Samurai sword-wielding Super-Nazi fighting the ultimate Jewish warrior, King David.

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Dustyn teleported blindly out of the way as Himmler brought the point of his blade down; plunging the antique Japanese sword into the ground. Thankfully, Dustyn only managed to jump a couple of meters away from his previous position. The relieved young man shook his head, regaining his senses, and then took the brief opportunity of surprise he was given to leap from the grass, sword in hand, and lunge forward, cutting downward at a 45° angle toward his enemy's body.

Himmler, watching the Jewish fighter disappear and then reappear just out of arms reach, knew his swift, expert swordsmanship would do him no good this time. He released the sword's handle, the weapon vibrating in place with its shimmering blade jammed into the ground, and dove to safety, away from Dustyn's swift attack.

Dustyn slid to a stop with his sword in front of him. He glanced over his right shoulder at Himmler, aware that the German's evasive move now forced the Original Soul to stop and rethink his strategy. "Shit, what now?"

"Enough of zis horseplay!" Himmler shouted as he backed from Dustyn, the realization he could not defeat this powerful enemy finally sinking in. He raised his hand in desperation. "Just kill him, Grigori soldiers!"

Dustyn readied his blade. "You Nazi coward!" he shouted, now staring down a cloud of Grigori rising into the sky above him like a wave.

Himmler grinned understanding that this moment was his opportunity to destroy Dustyn and ran toward Hirohito's sword, yanking it from the ground. He laughed as he lifted its blade high into the air and jumped. "Die!" he shouted.

Dustyn turned and fell backward in surprise as he saw Himmler descending upon him.

Without warning, the S.S. officer's face exploded, his body fell to its knees, and then it tumbled to the earth next to Dustyn, the sword plunging into the grassy field barely missing his head. With a bright, white flash the creature blew apart into several pieces. Dustyn shielded his eyes from the brilliant flash. He blinked as he saw Danny and Angel quickly approaching him, weapons drawn, preparing to fight the Grigori he knew was nearly upon him. Carter strolled up wearing a grin and blew the barrel on his rifle.  

"Thanks," Dustyn said. 

"No problemo! It was a pleasure," Carter replied and then chambered an energy round.

Azazel and Michael suddenly flashed in and stood on either side of Dustyn.

"Get up, King David!" Azazel said, handing the young man Hirohito's Samurai sword. "Take your trophy and use it, for you have a fight to finish."

Dustyn stood brandishing his own blade in one hand and the extracted Katana in the other as the first squad of Grigori fell down on them.

Michael smashed the first three to arrive between his large hands.

Azazel impaled two more on his claw-like fingers and used their bodies to bash several more as if they were golden boxing gloves.

Angel flew over the top of the house with her knees bent beneath her and the Sword of Heaven over her head. It glowed brilliantly and as she brought the weapon down, vaporized each Grigori it came in contact with. She rolled as she landed, eventually standing next to Dustyn. "Sup?"

"You like me," the young man said with a grin. "Duck!" Dustyn shouted as he swung his sword over the top of Angel's head, beheading a Grigori that lunged for her.

"No I don't!" Angel retorted, cutting the legs out from two more.

"Don't you two start!" Danny said, plowing through a column of fake golden angels like they were stalks of grain. "Now's not the time."

Carter fired his rifle, disintegrating one Grigori soldier and then smashed one more in the face with the butt of his Heavenly rifle. "Leave them be, truck driver. Get over here and give me some cover!"

Dustyn sliced and diced one Grigori after the next, his growing golden body count matched in number by Angel and Danny's.

"Michael!" Angel screamed as she watched a fresh horde of Grigori fall from the sky and pile on top of the Fallen Archangel, biting and cutting him with their teeth and claws.

Azazel desperately slashed at the golden creatures burying his brother. They gnashed at his arms and face, threatening to overtake him as well. The Watcher knew they were shredding Michael to pieces, but there was no way for him to stop the frenzied assault.

"Get back, Azazel!" a voice shouted as the golden bodies exploded into the air. Gabriel burst from beneath the dogpile of Grigori, his brilliant sword on fire with Heaven's power, and with wings unfurled, sent more of the shimmering creatures sailing across the neighborhood. "Come on, you Grigori beasts!" he shouted. Michael lay at his feet completely still.

The remaining Grigori legions fell away in terror of the luminous armored Archangel, wings spread and fiery sword in hand; some of them had never seen a real angel in full battle gear and didn't know what to do. The golden grunts continued to travel backwards as all Four Original souls walked out into the street and joined Azazel and Gabriel, who was flanking them on the other side.

 Angel, Dustyn, Danny, and Carter watched as the final waves of the golden beings followed them, leaving to go back to the safety of the golden cloud. Within moments, the street was devoid of Holok's minions.  

"Well, what are you waiting for? Come get us and take us to Holok so he can smoke my pole," Danny said to the fleeinggolden horde, arms outstretched.

Several of the Grigori stopped mid-air, flipped them off, and then turned to fly away.

"They are quite addicted to that gesture aren't they?" Azazel remarked and then turned to attend to Michael. He knelt down next to the wounded Archangel and patted his face. "Brother, speak to me, are you with us?"

Gabriel sheathed his weapon and took a knee on the opposite side of the Fallen Archangel. Lifting his right palm, it began to glow, and he placed it to Michael's forehead.

Michael's eyes fluttered open. "Thank you...brothers..." he said and then lost consciousness once more.

"Is he going to be okay?" Angel asked, staring intently at Gabriel. "He has to be okay!'

"Yes, child. He will be fine, he just needs to rest," Gabriel replied, lifting Michael into his arms. "I will take you all back to the warehouse, if you like."

"Go on ahead of us." Dustyn said. "We're right behind you."

"Very well," Gabriel replied and then vanished with Michael.

"We should go ahead and split, too, guys. We really need to catch our collective breath before Holok catches wind of what happened down here and sends more of his golden assholes," Dustyn said.

"I wouldn't worry about that, David," Azazel said, using Dustyn's old skool name. "If anything, he is going to send out scouts, first to do a little reconnaissance and ask some questions of the other Watchers."

"Yeah, I am sure that fat bastard is getting an earful right now about how an Archangel, two Watchers, and a bunch of demons just kicked his Nazi general's ass and destroyed three Grigori Prime. Not to mention all of the other Grigori soldiers we destroyed," Dustyn added.

"I would not become too excited," Azazel said, staring up into the cloudy sky above. "This is only the beginning. We have a very long road before us."

Danny tapped Carter on the shoulder. "So, Badass, how the hell did you know to shoot that Soul Disrupter out of Himmler's hands, earlier?" Danny asked.

"Oh, it was telepathy," Dustyn said, throwing his voice into Angel and Danny's heads. "...and thanks for the reminder about those weapons, Danny. Those might come in handy."

"That's some freaky stuff, all that mind readin'," Danny said.

"It's awesome," Angel blurted, full of excitement. "I can't wait to try it."

"I'll show you later," Dustyn said, juggling the four Soul Disrupters in his arms. "Let's split."