"Your Holiness!"
In the grand roundtable hall of the Order of the Sword's headquarters, Agnus stormed out of the shadows, slamming a hand on the table. "C-C-C-Credo's a traitor!"
Gloria trailed behind him, her catlike strut oozing confidence.
Seated at the table was Credo, the stern, goatee-sporting captain of the Holy Knights. His brow furrowed, his calm tone barely masking something darker. "Watch yourself, Agnus! You're in the presence of His Holiness."
"You knew from the start, didn't you?!" Agnus's voice grew more frantic. "That so-called sister of yours is a d-d-d-demon!"
"What did you say?!" Credo shot to his feet, slamming the table, eyes blazing with fury.
The Pope finally spoke, cutting through the tension. "Enough. Both of you, calm down. Gloria, what do you know?"
Gloria, called out, shrugged and sauntered closer to the table.
"All I saw was Agnus's lab trashed to hell by someone," she said with a smirk. "Hope that doesn't screw up our grand plans."
The elderly Pope, crowned with his ornate headpiece, nodded thoughtfully. "Of course not. I won't let your efforts go to waste."
He turned to the two standing men. "Agnus."
"Y-Yes, Your Holiness."
The stuttering researcher took a deep breath, barely containing his rage. "That b-b-brat Nero has demonic power—lots of it, strong power. She wrecked my lab, a-a-absorbed Yamato!"
Credo's brows knitted tightly, his glare clashing with Agnus's like sparks in the air.
The Pope looked to Credo. "Nero?"
"My sister, Your Holiness," Credo said, bowing. "One of the songstresses for the Sword Festival."
"Ah, the girl you recommended." The Pope waved a hand, signaling Credo to rise. "So you've never noticed this power in her?"
"Never, Your Holiness."
"You're l-l-lying!" Agnus shouted.
"Agnus." The Pope shot him a look. Agnus blinked, startled, then bowed, reining in his anger.
"Credo."
"Your Holiness, your command."
"I recall you requested the Ascension Ceremony for her."
"…Yes."
"The reason?"
"My sister was attacked by a demon. She was gravely injured."
The Pope sighed softly, his gaze pitying. "Then you must face the truth."
Credo's face drained of color, turning ashen. "Y-You mean—"
The Pope nodded, gesturing. "This is a matter for the Holy Knights, but… I suspect you'd prefer to handle it yourself."
Credo lowered his head, silent for a moment, then bowed. "Your will be done."
Gripping the hilt of his motorized sword, he turned and strode out of the hall.
The echo of Credo's footsteps lingered. Only when they faded did the Pope turn to Agnus. "You said she absorbed Yamato?"
"Y-Yes, Your Holiness."
Agnus shuffled closer, bowing low, rubbing his hands with a fawning grin. "Even though Yamato…"
He trailed off, glancing at Gloria.
"What, too secret for me?" she said with a laugh, turning to leave.
The Pope stopped her. "No need. Agnus, continue."
"Yes. As you know, I've studied that blade for years, and it never reacted. But now—"
"Hmm."
A faint smile curled the Pope's lips. He leaned forward, hands clasped, chin resting on them. "So, she's special."
"As you say, Your Holiness."
The Pope nodded, shifting topics. "Do you think Credo will bring her back?"
Agnus flashed a wicked grin. "Your Holiness, he has more than one sister."
"Hm…"
"I'll assist Credo," Gloria chimed in, drawing both men's eyes. She was already standing, ready to move.
Twirling a throwing knife, she smiled. "He's already lost one sister. I think… he'll make the right choice."
"Well said. We must protect the one who remains," the Pope said with a kindly smile, turning to Agnus. "Can I entrust this to you?"
"As you wish."
The dark-skinned giant bowed deeply, and both he and Gloria melted into the shadows beyond the hall.
But that darkness paled compared to the abyss in the Pope's heart.
---
Emerging from the pitch-black cave, Nero looked out. The sun was rising over the forest, thin mist cloaking the cliffs below, turning the emerald Mitis Forest into a "wonderland."
Kyrie sometimes brought the orphanage kids to play in these woods—not this part, but the eastern forest near the Order's headquarters. This western side, though? It was crawling with demons, way more than the east.
So, no wonderland. More like a demon's playground.
Nero touched her chest. Yamato, dormant in its magical form, still wasn't responding. Sighing, she drew one of her twin pistols from her thigh holster and started down the narrow path along the cliff.
She'd checked in the cave: both guns used the same ammo. Two rounds in the chamber, fourteen in the magazine, plus five spare mags. Fifty-one shots total. Once those were gone, she'd be out of weapons.
Better make 'em count.
This forest was steeped in demonic energy, its source a Hell Gate buried deep within.
The forest had a master.
At the path's end, Nero cautiously stepped into the woods, nearing an abandoned church hidden in the greenery.
Giant seeds, brimming with demonic power, were everywhere—under roots, in treetops, between rocks. Left by the forest's lord.
Nero didn't touch them. She pushed open the gate to the courtyard linked to the cliff, then crossed the vine-choked, moss-covered yard into the church leading to the skybridge on the mountain's far side.
The heavy iron door creaked open, dust cascading from the frame. Brushing grit from her hair, Nero stepped into the empty church and froze. Several demons rose to their feet.
Ragged, patchwork humanoids—Scarecrows. Fortuna's most common demons.
But in this forest, they weren't what they seemed.
Blue-green vines, dripping with vile slime, pierced the Scarecrows' bodies, wrapping them tight. The writhing vines hijacked the weak demons' movements, taking control.
In moments, crimson man-eating flowers bloomed atop the Scarecrows' heads.
Chimera Seedlings, minions of the forest's lord.
Nero raised her gun and pulled the trigger without hesitation.