Immolation Ex: The Knower (COMPLETED)

Chapter XLVII

"Where is Penemue, human filth?" The lead Watcher shouted, his voice echoing through the street. Flanked by two other disfigured beings, the trio of Fallen Angels, draped in dirty angelic robes, menacingly stood in the darkness outside of Dante's restaurant, Dante's Que Shack.

A bell rang as Dante opened the door and stepped out to meet his fellow Watchers underneath a flickering streetlight. "Asbeel, to what do I owe the honor of your arrival?"

Asbeel crossed his arms, narrowed his dark eyes at Dante, and tapped a fingernail to his chin. "Penemue, it has always been a wonder to me how you have managed to stay so pretty...obviously, I have not fared as well."

"I imagine you are not here to discuss my appearance, Asbeel. So, please, get to it. Why are you here, brother?"

"Yes, yes, you are correct, Penemue, it's of a much more important matter. Bezaliel requests, erm, commands you and your Cherubum to accompany us. Our leader wishes for you to meet with her at the Myriad stronghold. It appears she has created an alliance with Holok and together we plan to take Heaven with your assistance. In fact, Grigori soldiers are taking up positions around Heaven's Door as we speak."

"And why would we join her? You know the Cherubum were tasked by Father Himself to protect humanity...not hurt it."

"Yes, protect humanity against entry into this universe from any of the others. However, that task is no longer required. Holok's minions are more than adequate to accomplish this as evidenced by the thousands of years of our trouble-free existence. Holok even indicates that the Watchers and their demons will be allowed to live in peace once this is all over."

"Peace? Since when have the Myriads wished for anything more than to be ignored by that bulbous golden cloud? Never once have they thought of going to war with him...only with each other."

"That is not your concern, brother. You must let go of those old ideas, it's a brave new world." Asbeel looked over his shoulders at the other Watchers on either side and then, producing an evil smile, cut his eyes at Dante. "Now if you will, my dear Penemue, you and your pathetic Cherubum, would do well to come quietly. I suggest you follow our sister's orders...it is in your own best interests."

At least fifty Grigori, ten of them armed with Soul Disrupters, touched down silently behind Asbeel at the wave of his hand.

"I think you have things a bit distorted," Dustyn said, stepping from behind Dante.

"What are you doing, Dustyn?" Dante said under his breath.

Fiery swords appeared in the hands of The Watchers as they stepped backwards. "How is this possible?" Asbeel asked in fear. "How do you bear the mark of Samael, King David!?!!"

Dustyn smirked as Verne and Shiloh strode up next to him. "Don't you feel it, Asbeel?" he asked as more bikers spilled into the street from inside the restaurant and surrounded him.

"Feel what?" the nervous Watcher asked.

"The Myriad's power over this town is gone, and now, all of the Cherubum are free. Free to do what they were meant to do...protect humanity from outside threats. In fact, Cain freed them...and me, to do just that and it all starts today!"

The Grigori raised their weapons in unison as a white electricity crackled around Dustyn's hands, his two swords forming in both. "You guys might want to get ready," Dustyn whispered to Verne and Shiloh.

The pair did as recommended, and each generated a strange looking weapon with two blades that extended outward from the handle like the hands of a clock. The tips of the symmetrical blades pointed in two directions: one up and one down. Verne and Shiloh pressed the top of the weapon's handle and the blades began rotating rapidly, emitting fire as they spun. The rest of the Cherubum produced their own swords and followed suit.

"Damn, those are freaking cool!" Dustyn exclaimed, examining the spinning fiery blades that now appeared to be more like a shield than a sword. He returned his attention to the Grigori, and with Hirohito's sword in one hand and his own in the other, the young man stepped toward his enemy without fear.

The Grigori raised their shimmering weapons and sighted in Dustyn and the bikers.

"You would be wise to tell your Cherubum to stand down, Dante. Those are Soul Disrupters!" Asbeel exclaimed.

"No...no longer, brother!" Dante shook his head. "You're on your own, now, Asbeel. Go get them, Dustyn!"

"Right..." Dustyn darted forward, flickering from view like a television set powering off, only to reappear in the middle of the confused Grigori.

The golden soldiers fired as Verne and the other Cherubum raced toward them. As they followed Dustyn into battle, they skillfully used their shield weapons to deflect the blasts of the Soul Disruptors.

"Ahhh!!!" Unfortunately, one of the leather-clad bikers was not as quick as they others and took a hit to the chest, separating the Original Soul forcefully from its donor body. The image of a woman in a civil-war era uniform appeared momentarily, watched her former body fall to the ground in confusion, and then gasp as she exploded in a brilliant flash.

Dustyn caught a glimpse of the awful scene between strikes and snarled. He bounded into the air and brought the two weapons down into the heads of two very surprised Grigori. The angry young man then spun and sliced across the bodies of two more of Holok's slaves, leaving 45° angled cuts that separated as the creatures pointlessly tried to react.

BOOM! More Soul Disruptors discharged, thankfully striking none of the extremely rapid Original Souls slicing through their operators. The ranks of Grigori soldiers diminished rapidly, minced into flickering ashes by the ancient battle-worn Original Souls.

Cut. Slice. Flames. Flashes of light and then, as quickly as it started, the fight was over.

Asbeel and the other two Watchers fell to their knees at Dustyn's feet. "Please, King David, Bearer of the Mark, spare us. We offer our allegiance to you; we swear this upon the mark of our Brother, Samael!"

Dustyn looked over at Dante. "What do you think?"

Dante shrugged. "I would not trust them. However, I'll leave their fate in your hands."

"I am not the one to decide." Dustyn turned on his heel. "Cherubum, what is your decision? These Watchers and their master are the ones that have imprisoned you here."

Verne put his weapon away and looked over at Shiloh. "Well?"