Battlecry (Part 1: Amon Arc)

Chapter 5: A Bitter Past

Upon Lucy looking at the proposition that Michael gave her to prove that he is on their side, she was still somewhat confused. Is he telling the truth? A demon, siding with us demon slayers? He did save me from the demonic troops and did not attempt to harm me. Still.. I need to examine him, for now, to see if he is not luring me into a trap. I will play along if it is a scheme.

Lucy then said, "Oh! I'm terribly sorry. I sensed demonic energy in you and I had to do my job. Please forgive me. I will get bandages stay here."

Michael thought to himself. Good thing this is over..so that is why she was acting and talking weirdly when we met. Speaking of talking, she has an accent that sounds similar to Italian. Shouldn't she be adapting to the language here already? Nevermind that...I need to ask her something when she comes back.

Michael then sat on the front porch and observed the house. The house was at least several decades old from the wood looking old, and the top was covered in moss and webs. It only had one window in the front of the house. Lucy came back with the bandages and started to fix up Michael.

"You didn't even give me a chance to reason because I'm claimed to be a demon? You didn't even use the Covenant's proverb." Michael said.

"I said I was sorry."

"Well nevermind that..I wanted to ask you something."

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something too, if that is fine with you."

"You can ask first."

"Why do you side with us, despite you being a demon? Are you doing this as a part of your repentance?

Michael replied, "Honestly, I wasn't even aware that I was a demon, Gabriel never told me that, though he says that I get bloodhungry when I am struggling in a battle, so I assume that it was my imperfections."

"How long have you've been slaying demons?" Lucy asked.

"I slew demons ever since I got here, so I say about two thousand years."

Lucy was shocked that she heard this and asked, "Really!? How old are you!?"

"The same number as I already said."

"So you had the Curse of Adam and Eve lifted as well?"

"Yes, Gabriel did it after he sent me here. Have your curse lifted yet?"

"N-no, I'm actually a beginner slayer," Lucy said nervously.

Lucy couldn't decide if he was lying or if he was telling the truth. So she continued with the conversation.

"So you know Gabriel?" Lucy asked.

"Yes, that was actually what I wanted to ask you if you have seen him...did you?"

"No I haven't nor did he come and see me."

"I see.."

Lucy noticed that Michael looked down, looking like he was ashamed of something. Lucy was done patching Michael up with bandages he stood up when she was finished.

"I should get going then, if you wanted me to confirm if I was a demon or not..there's your response."

Michael started to walk away, but Lucy didn't want him to leave. I still don't fully trust him, I need to read his mind to see if he is right, but that requires him to sleep or being unconscious... I have no choice. Michael was trying to remember the way back and Lucy Immediately gave a powerful knee strike at the back of his neck which made him lose consciousness and fell to the ground.

Lucy then grabbed his body into the house and placed him into a bed and prepared for the Memory Transfer. She placed her hand near his forehead and some spiritual energy appeared surrounding her hand. She then mediate until she entered into Michael's memory, and she successfully went into his memory.

She started from the earliest part of his life, but it was only when he was a child in an ancient place. She noticed the buildings and people, it was Sparta. So Michael is a Spartan? I heard of them in the past, at least he was not lying about him being about two thousand years old. But I cannot go earlier than that. So she skipped to an event that intrigued her which was Michael, in Spartan armory and weapons, heading into war as an old teenager. Michael was with someone, a bit shorter than Michael, has brown wavy hair, and looked the same age as Michael. His name was Jadd. While Jadd and Michael were marching towards the battlefield, Michael was looking rather depressed.

Jadd noticed this and asked him, "What's wrong Michael? You should be putting on your war face."

Michael responded, "I-i'm just scared that you and my comrades will die, we've been fighting this war for so long. Do you think we will receive victory?"

"Don't worry about it. We will get through this alive, we have to protect everyone back home. If we die, that doesn't mean that we truly lost, our people will prevail till the ends of the earth! Just stick with the training and we will make it." he gave out a smile after Jadd replied.

Michael smiled back. Michael then said to himself. I hope you're right Jadd...I hope so.

They entered battle once they arrived and fought the Spartan's recent enemy, the Persians. Lucy then thought to herself. This was the Battle of Plataea. Michael was in this battle? The Spartans had many casualties along with other allied soldiers of different Greek-city states. Was Michael facing the deaths of his comrades? I have to find out quickly. I can't stay in the Memory Realm for long..it can damage his memories or give him trauma from this event. Lucy continued looking at his memories.

Michael was in battle killing the Persians as much as he can. Hours have passed, he started getting tired, barely being able to lift his shield from killing all those Persians. Gasping for air and his legs and arms were shaking in exhaustion and pain. He was covered in blood, had multiple wounds and slice marks. He tried to look to for Jadd by shouting his name, he tried looking for him, but it was pointless for him. Then he started to get dizzy and he looked at the ground and noticed something. It was Jadd's head attached to a stake with his eyes gouged out. Michael was shocked by seeing this. He had no hope, no one to be at his side. But suddenly, he saw the Persians, knowing they did it. He started to get extremely furious. This made Lucy nervous.

Then a Persian general said to the archers, "He the last one, take him out and we will finish off the rest of these Greeks."

The archers set there bow and arrows and aimed for Michael while he was done on his knees, growing in rage. Michael then grew fangs, his eyes changed into a red, reptile-like eye. He started to have sharp nails, veins suddenly appearing around his body. Demonic energy started to surround his entire body, the wounds healed in just a second. Lucy then recognized that eye that shocked her with fear. Th-that eye it's the Gekido! I thought they were wiped out! It can't be! That's the strongest type of demons! He's a Saevus!?