Angel's Ascension: Rapid Descent (Book Two)

Chapter 10: Rage and Fury

Lucy and Ignis had traveled deeper within the citadel. The gray colors now a bleak white, hallways had grown more narrow and fewer rooms appeared.

"Think we're nearing the top?" Ignis asked as he felt the walls. "I hope so because this place gets creepier the deeper we go." He noticed the texture of the walls had changed. "We need an exit or something!"

Lucy shook her head and closed her eyes for a brief moment.

"I'd say we're in the middle of the citadel and right now I feel a faint presence from above. There's also a stronger presence nearby and they're much clearer to me."

She felt someone else was close to them and when Lucy opened her eyes there was a door at the end of the hallway. The two ran all the way toward it as Ignis busted through the door with his shoulder and almost fell down. Lucy then helped him regain his balance and took in the view of the room. It was empty but the entire floor was made of water and seemed larger than the previous room.

"Woah, this place, it's beautiful..." Lucy took a step on the water and remained on the surface.

Ignis stayed behind her and saw the entrance vanish from the room. He saw his reflection on the water which kept smooth despite them walking on it. After a couple of minutes, Ignis put his hands behind his head and groaned.

"It's a cool place and all but it goes on for way too long. I wonder, is anyone else is in this room?" He looked around and heard nothing but silence.

Suddenly several threads appeared near them. Lucy came to a halt and held her fists up. Ruby rose from the water before their eyes and gave them a disdained grimace.

"It's been far too long since our last fight angel and demon. You've gotten far in the citadel for a couple of weaklings that is! is"

She pulled the threads closer and they spun around them to capture the two. The threads glimmered with red energy as Lucy and Ignis jumped up to avoid the threads. They landed just a few feet over the threads when Luna lunged out at them from nowhere. With her lance, she jabbed at them many times. Ruby gave her a wave and tapped the floor when an echo rumbled out.

"From here on out, this is the big leagues! Lucy, if you haven't experienced enough pain and misery, we'll dish out plenty for you even for your boy toy!"

An enormous beast soon crawled out of the water, it appeared like a crocodile. Ignis continued to dodge the lance jabs when he saw the beast let out a huge roar.

"W-What is that? Some kind of large lizard!? Looks like it would fit hell perfectly."

Ignis kicked at Luna's lance before he skidded backward. Luna gave him a smile and dashed toward his range.

"It's my pet, Crok. He loves flesh, you'd be great for feeding him, sweet cousin."

She twirled her lance around before being stopped by Lucy who blocked her off from Ignis. Luna gave her a scowl as Crok began to crawl to them and open his mouth to reveal dozens of sharp teeth.

"Come, my baby, feast on these bad playmates!"

Licking his lip, Crok moved faster while Luna fought back Lucy with her lance and landed some very close jabs. Ignis leaped in the fray when he erupted in flames and punched Crok right on the nose. He heard a bone crack and landed on the floor.

"Damn, that nose of yours is one tough piece of skin." Ignis shook his fist which had reddened.

Ruby then twisted her threads and pulled out more to create an arena within the room.

"Let's make this more intense. Whoever touches these threads will get a warm surprise. You'll enjoy it, prince!"

She did a gesture which made ripped holes in reality and formed new portals. They shot out beams of energy at them as Lucy flew upward and powered up to deflect the beams with her aura. She made a new energy blade in her right hand and fell toward Luna to strike back at her. Crok stood up on his hind legs and swiped at Ignis with energy beams that added onto the assault.