Morgan wasn't one to take the front line often. Not because she was particularly weak, all demons were built for combat, at least, more so than humans. But it just so happens that her talents put her in a role away from the middle of combat. And that was fine. She never really had a complaint. But now that she was fighting all alone, even she was surprised she was doing so well. Even with the grimoire in hand, she only used it to even the battlefield, holding off either the humans or demons while she focused on either of the parties one at a time. Waves and waves of flesh rose with a wave of her arms scattered both parties and destroyed formations. Her fellow demons were the biggest threats, powerful as they were but these humans were no slouch either. This one woman on the frontline was nearly indistinguishable from another demon, fighting with lightning and blade. While the sharp compressed ice blades that was fired so far away from the rearguard always came at the worst possible times, forcing Morgan to create a small vestigial eye monster on her shoulder to keep an eye on them for her.
Had these two forces managed to work together, perhaps she would have fallen by now. But Morgan knew her demons would never truly work with humans. But that was slowly becoming a non-issue as the humans began working with the demons regardless. Covering their weaknesses, attacking in sync, battling in the shadows of the demons that rejected them. It wasn't true teamwork but it was slowly enough to push Morgan over the edge. Only for the voice of her old friend to cut into all that.
"ENOUGH."
Her words came with a powerful gravitational push, sending all the fighters into a short stumble, a magical attack to grab their attention.
And from above, Olivia floated back down, facing the exhausted Morgan by herself. Much to everyone's protest.
"Olivia!" their boss cried, "Finally! Now we can finally put this witch down for good!"
"Don't be careless." Momo warned, "Remember that the grimoire controls parasites."
"Don't underestimate our Olivia! She's the strongest soldier we have! She can crush Morgan with merely a thought!"
"We all know that that's all thanks to Roko." Helena called.
"N-N-No! She is Olivia the Sunsetter! She's the-"
"Cut the crap." Olivia shot her superior with a cold, callous rebuke that felt like could bring winter all by itself, "I know you gave me that nickname because I like watching sunsets. And you never meant it to praise me."
"I...uh..."
"Right? Morgan?"
"How could I not?" Morgan sighed, "You were so excited about your first title that I had to explain to you where this name came from."
"And to be honest, I didn't want to believe you...until now..."
"What changed?"
"...Perspective."
"That's one way to call him, I suppose." Morgan smirked.
"...Roko's resting. He won't be interfering here." Olivia said as she finally landed on her feet.
"That's the least of my worries, I'm sure."
"True. His knowledge is still all up here." Olivia tapped the side of her head pointedly.
"...You two really do make a good team."
"I could never." Olivia scowled, "You don't know how truly annoying Roko really is."
"Do tell."
"He suspected you upon your very first meeting with him."
"Really?!" Morgan blinked, "I didn't think I did much different when interacting with you."
"You didn't. He just had a theory and then went to hell trying to prove it to me without directly indicting you."
"Wow. Impressive."
"Hardly." Olivia growled, "He could've just told me."
"Well I can't really speak on that since I did also keep my secrets."
"...Yeah...I suppose."
Olivia let out a tired sigh, "...You won't give up will you?"
"If I leave here, it's with this book and I will continue using it." Morgan stated.
"...Why?"
"..."
"Is it...my fault?"
"...Did Roko tell you that?"
"No...it's just...how I feel."
"...You're sharp when you need to be but always a step behind."
"...Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Not for who you are."
…
Knowing very well that Olivia would not be able to lift the first hand, Morgan summoned a wave of flesh from nowhere to fall over her. A move that had deterred humans and demons alike before her. But here, Olivia stood there, barely even moving until, right before she disappeared under the shadow of the tide, the flesh froze over, completely and utterly before Olivia broke through it, flying right towards Morgan to slash with her claws.
Poor Olivia. She was a simple soul trapped in a complex world, meeting complex people. Roko may have been roundabout, but he was, at the very least, playing the game as it was meant to. Moving around the invisible obstacles that society built up around each other. Even if Olivia was never one to put up such walls, Roko was not wrong to be careful in his traversal. And if she had to pick between remaining simple and realizing the complexity of the world, Morgan would much prefer she learn the complexity of the world. Even if she lost her friend, she would become someone Morgan would be happy to follow.
So learn. Actually learn about the world and people around you. Elevate yourself. Even if you must change for that is the nature of life you are choosing to ignore.
It was a harrowing fight in the eyes of the viewers. No weapons, not even any magic was being thrown about. Morgan and Olivia were basically throwing fists at each other over and over again. A primal beatdown on both sides that neither avoided. But where the onlookers could mistake hatred in those blows, the two old friends could only feel comfort. The blows hit. And they hurt. But both knew each other well enough to know when the other was holding back. It wasn't a matter of holding back either. Both weren't pulling their punches either at least to the best of their abilities. The hesitation was coming from an emotion that neither demons were familiar with and weren't comfortable to speak it's name. So they expressed it through their fists. Slowly draining these undemon-like emotion until all that was left was understanding.
Olivia and Morgan skid back, their blows finally starting to hit at full power.
"...Heh. Finally starting to feel that." Morgan smirked, brushing some slight blood off her face.
"...I..." Olivia still looked conflicted.
"Do not hesitate, Olivia!" Their demon boss ordered with a seemingly callous tone, "We need to secure that grimoire no matter what!"
"Be quiet, Jacob." Morgan said with stern annoyance, "Are you still trying to give orders even after a human of all things came in and did so much better than you ever did in a week than you did in months?"
"Like you're one to talk, Morgan." Jacob scowled, "YOU'RE the one who held us back for all those months!"
"And? Was it not your job to find the grimoire? Say what you want but you still failed. And the Demon King will not look kindly upon that."
"D-Don't you dare invoke his name, traitor! You do not deserve to-"
"Jacob." Olivia said, turning her head only the slightest bit to glare at him from the corner of her eye, "Quiet."
Jacob looked like he wanted to say more. To defend his honor and authority. But that one cold glare reminded him of the immense power that Olivia still held through her contract. And that was enough for him to reconsider into a persistent silence.
"See?" Morgan sneered as Olivia turned back to her, "You can give orders when you need to."
"You weren't paying enough attention to him then." Olivia sighed, "It wasn't me that silenced him but my power."
"Eh. Same thing really."
"No it isn't." Olivia scowled, "This...I didn't want...I don't WANT to lead. You know this."
"Then you should've never grew attached to humans."
"I'm not attached to humans!"
"You have a literal contract with one right now."
"S-"
"An actual contract. Not an exploitative one."
"I...It's exploitative!" Olivia stammered, "I-I own at least 50% of his mana!"
"And how'd that happen?"
"...He gave it to me..."
"You see? You don't even seem happy about that." Morgan scoffed.
"T-The contract doesn't even matter!" Olivia protested, "It's te-...It's...Roko is just a tool! Nothing more!"
"...Olivia, it took you a full three weeks for you to finally shut up about him the first time you met him."
"B-b-because he's an asshole!" Olivia protested, taking an embarrassed step back, "You heard the things I said about him! Which I told you in CONFIDENCE!"
"I know." Morgan smirked, "I'm not going into detail because of that confidence. I'm just saying..."
"Saying what?" Olivia scowled.
"You haven't looked at humans the same way since meeting Roko."
"I...no...I..." Olivia's eyes darted around, checking her demon friends to make sure they weren't confused by her, "T-That's because I was pretending to be a human! For a long time! You know, keeping up my cover and all that!"
"So it's all my fault after all."
"Huh?"
"If I never gave you your disguise, you'd never have come in contact with humans. And you'd never have to meet Roko."
"T-That's..." Olivia bit her lip, "That's not the problem here."
"I know. I'm not the problem. You are."
"I-I am?"
"Olivia, I'm just going to be straight with you. You don't belong here."
"Eh?"
"On this side. With the Demon King."
"I..."
"And to be fair, NONE of you do." Morgan turned an irked glare at her former workmates, "If one stupid illusion was enough to get you all to enjoy human life for months, you don't belong on the side that HATES HUMANS."
"W-W-What do you know?" Jacob scowled, "We were willing to suffer for as long as we needed to in order to get that grimoire!"
"Suffer huh? Was that what was going on? Brian, would you like to chime in?"
"Brian, shut the fuck up." Olivia shot out immediately.
"Olivia, you shouldn't treat your husband like that."
"He's not my husband!"
"So NOW you can differentiate your mask from your self."
"Huh?"
"Keep hold of that feeling." Morgan said, "Which is the real Olivia? The one who respects humans enough to make a contract with one? Or an Olivia who utterly despises humans enough to genocide them all?"
"..."
"Because if the second one exists, please bring her out so I can introduce myself to her for the first time." Morgan said.
"I...I know I don't really have the same hate as...the Demon King towards humans. But that doesn't mean I need to change sides!"
"Oh yeah? Then prove it."
"Huh?"
"Take out that human in your shadow. And kill him." Morgan crossed her arms, "Do the Demon King proud for once then."
"...I can't." Olivia coughed awkwardly, "I'm contractually obligated to keep him safe."
"That's fine. Kill his friends then."
"Huh?"
"Those humans. Right there." Morgan pointed towards Momo and the other humans behind her, "Kill them. You have the power now don't you?"
"I...I..."
"Hey, Jacob! Got any complaints with slaughtering those humans?"
"Me?" Jacob scoffed, "Who cares about some humans?"
"So it's cool to kill them?"
"Waste of time if you ask me but sure."
"You..." Olivia gulped, looking down so the panic in her eyes couldn't be seen.
"Do you see?" Morgan walked up and grabbed Olivia by the collar, forcing her back up to look into her eyes, "This is the kind of company you're keeping! Can you really do it?! Kill the race you've grown attached to?"
"T-This doesn't matter." Olivia looked away, "Roko wouldn't allow me to kill his friends anyway so-"
"I'll allow it."
"ROKO?!" Olivia yelped as Roko's head poked out of the shadows.
"Did you forget that I'm evil now?" Roko pointed at his glowing crown, "What do I care about some humans I used to know? You mind controlled me onto your side so it doesn't matter to me."
"ROKO I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU SO HELP ME GOD!" Olivia shouted in pure rage as Roko retreated back into her shadow.
"Based."
"Who has the contract here?!" Olivia snapped. "Why are you two teaming up against ME?!"
"Because YOU'RE the problem here!" Morgan snapped back.
"What about you?!" Olivia cried, "Why do you care so much about getting me on the humans' side?! Huh? Are you sure YOU'RE not the one overly sympathetic with humans?"
"You...stupid little..." Morgan gripped her head, the accusations hitting her with waves of complicated emotions.
"I got this." Roko poked his head back out of the shadows, "She's doing it for you."
"Huh?" Olivia blinked.
"She doesn't care about me. All Morgan wants is for you to not be conflicted since, if you DO have compassion for humans, killing them will not be easy for you to witness, much less do yourself. After all, if she truly did care about humans, do you think she'd be wielding a grimoire that turns them into husks of their former self?"
"Back off." Morgan growled.
"Kay." Roko said, going back into the shadow once more.
"I...I..."
"...Olivia..." Morgan sighed.
"I...I..." Olivia continued to stutter, her mind reeling from the events and emotions swarming her.
"...Blaze Corruption!"
In shock, Morgan quickly covered the stunned Olivia as a wave of smokey black flames blasted against them. As Morgan cried out in pain, Dietrich had already leaped across the air, claw raised to attack them.
"Don't you try to confuse Olivia with your silly ideas, witch!"
Morgan cried out in pain again as Dietrich's claws slashed across her back.
"We don't need Olivia of all people betraying us at this pivotal moment." Jacob scowled, "Men! Attack! Kill Morgan and take the grimoire!"
"Ugh." Morgan stumbled forward as the demons rushed towards her, opening the book and letting blobs of flesh cover her back, trying to heal her, "Bring it on. If you think I wasn't prepared to fight all of you from the very beginning, then you're sorely mistaken."
"Is that what you call 'love'?"
The word, finally spoken, hit Morgan like a dismantling hammer. Knocking down the foundations of her preparations. An idea so fundamentally antithetical to demons that she had never once considered it. At least, that's what she thought. How she was raised. But now was not the time to be lost in thoughts. She needed to turn. Face the attacker and raise her arm in defense. And it was him. The face of that stupid man that stunned her for a second longer, leading to her biggest mistake. As his claws punctured the grimoire she was holding, she could only scowl in pure hate at the demon looking at her with pity.
"BRIAAAAAAN!"
Morgan's cry of hatred was mixed with the unearthly screams of the grimoire. The book exploded into waves and waves of flesh that consumed Morgan as well as the surrounding area. Pushing back the demons' assault as in Morgan's place rose some monster more akin to a disaster.