Riverton, Belial Territory
Memphis POV
After the battle in the town's market square, Memphis worriedly ran back to his home with his friends in tow. He wanted to track down that cloaked man, but first he needed to check if his parents were safe.
Now that most of the infected were blown to bits, the guardsmen had enough breathing room to begin evacuating people.
While running, Memphis ignored the next guardsman who tried to tell them to evacuate as well. However, Memphis had already seen the infected villager about to bite down on the guardsman's neck.
"Sorry- can't right now! Also, behind you!"
The confused guard could not even get a reply out before Memphis' fist had already flown past the guardsman's face and driven through the skull of the infected.
"Oh Satans-!" The guardsman fumbled for her spear as she gaped at air. By the time she left her stupor to turn around, Memphis and his friends were already well past her.
"You're welcome!" Memphis waved behind him without looking back.
This situation had repeated several more times as they winded through the streets of Riverton.
Along the way a few infected villagers had jumped at them from broken doors or alleyways, almost giving Sidmen a heart attack, but they were also swiftly dealt with either by Memphis' fist or Sidmen's pistol.
Memphis would have laughed if not for how focused he was. Firstly, because he needed to see if his Mom was safe. Secondly, because he still felt the thrilling rush from the prior battle.
It was strange to Memphis' young mind.
Memphis had no experience in war nor been in a life or death situation. Sure, he had only occasionally hunted small beasts or listened to the stories from his Dad or the others at the garrison, but he could not shake off how surprised he was by his excitement.
Was this natural for Devils?
He did recall his Mom telling him a story of how long ago Father Lucifer and Mother Lilith had created Devils for their armies.
Was it that?
Memphis shook his head. Maybe he should ask Ethel about it later.
Speaking of which…
That was another thing, Ethel. Or should he call her Miss. Ethel in his head?
Apparently, she was from a super big Noble Clan.
After dealing with the crazy villagers and everyone was safe, the guardsman Captain was floundering like a fish apologizing to Ethel, but she brushed it off. Even Sidmen had stiffened more noticeably around the blue haired girl.
But not Memphis.
Memphis knew to his bones that the memory was forever seared into his mind, while on top of completely changing his perspective on High Class Devils.
The back of Memphis' neck tingled while recalling the amount of Demonic Power she used.
Despite looking gentle and near the same age as him and Sidmen, Ethel could really pack a punch!
Could all High Class Devils do that?
He had so many questions he wanted to ask her, but he held himself back.
Memphis turned back briefly. Ethel looked noticeably tired and tried her best to recover, but she still managed to keep with him and Sidmen.
Memphis quickly turned his gaze away when Ethel's sharp red eyes noticed him.
Red eyes like rubies…
A warm feeling bloomed in his chest, as he lowered his face to hide the faint pink dust on his cheeks.
That's right.
If anything, Memphis felt something different about his new friend. He could not understand this new feeling, and would have to ask his Mom about it.
Memphis shook his head again; there were more zombies to beat up. Any lingering infected villagers were swiftly dealt with until Memphis had finally arrived in front of his home.
"I'll wait outside. Find me around the corner." Ethel stated. For some reason she looked uncomfortable but otherwise looked like she wanted to rest more.
"Same. I'll run down to the shop to resupply and see if my family is okay." Memphis also felt the same sense of urgency coming from Sidmen.
"Okay, let's meet back soon." Memphis nodded, and headed inside.
The door swung loudly and hit the wall with a thud.
"Mom! Dad!"
Memphis' heart raced, his head turned to and fro.
"..."
"Are you home?" Memphis voice simmered.
It was silent. No response.
Memphis popped his head into a few rooms and found nothing. Memphis hummed as he scratched his head. "Maybe they already evacuated."
Memphis decided to quickly look upstairs before checking the garrison where his Dad worked.
Just as Memphis was about to walk up the steps, mumbling was heard.
"Faylen stop it…"
It was coming from his parents' room. It had heavier doors so it was harder to hear from downstairs, but as he got closer Memphis could hear the voice of his Dad.
The wild nails scratched onto wooden planks and groans trembled.
"Faylen-please control yourself! I'm begging you!"
His Dad's voice was louder and more desperate. Heavy steps, followed by furniture falling and a loud thud hitting against the floorboards.
"STOP IT, PLEASE!"
Memphis heard his Dad struggling and ran up the remaining steps. He was fast, he could make it in time!
Just as Memphis' hand touched the door handle-
BANG!
Memphis froze.
And silence returned.
No…this was just a bad dream. His Mom was fine, and she was just recovering from being sick.
She was fine.
Memphis slowly turned the door handle, and the door creaked open.
What awaited inside was the sight of his Dad sitting against the wall; silent and dead blue eyes frozen in place. His brown hair was a mess and his face covered in grime, while his guards' uniform was torn in several places.
His Dad quietly stared at the still body of his Mom next to him.
Her long blonde hair sprawled everywhere and began to be soaked in her pooling blood. Along her cold skin, faint red web-like veins flickered and the red glow dimmed from her still green eyes.
A rifle laid on the floor next to Sammoth's open unmoving hand.
Memphis' heart sunk into his chest, his limbs felt like lead.
"Dad…?"
Memphis forced out the words but his throat felt it tightening.
Soft tears splashed against the creaky floorboards.
"Mom. Is she…?"
Memphis waited for a response, and a brief moment passed.
Slowly; Sammoth's soulless eyes met Memphis' own, faint recognition fluttered within like a dying light. The recognition grew, and a lone tear rolled down his cheek.
"Memphis…"
At that moment, Memphis felt something precious break inside him.
Not once in his life had Memphis seen his Dad cry; and it was a sight that he wished he never saw. It made his heart twist.
Memphis did not reply and looked at the dead body of his Mom.
His warm and kind hearted mother laid peacefully without a stir.
Then a bubbling intense heat stirred from within the depths of Memphis' heart. It oozed and seeped within him, as his eyes scowled fiercely. His knuckles whitened, as he gripped hard enough to break his skin and draw blood.
The image of a cloaked young man flashed through his mind.
Memphis was upset at his father, but he knew who did this.
Who killed his mother.
"Memphis?" Sammoth, realizing the situation, stumbled to get up. He grabbed his rifle and stood up on shaky legs. "...It's not safe here. We need to leave the village and get you somewhere safe."
Memphis ignored his Dad, he could barely hear him as his anger bubbled over like hot magma.
Sammoth's distraught eyes looked upon him.
Memphis did not respond, unflinching in anger.
Memphis knew what he needed to do.
Then as Sammoth weakly tried to reach out to him, Memphis ran away.
Memphis ran down the stairs with his full weight pounding against steps.
"Memphis-! Wait. Come back!" Sammoth's legs helplessly struggled to move.
"MEMPHIS!"
Sammoth's anguished cries were ignored as the front door slammed against its hinges.
Memphis ran into the streets of Riverton, his tears already dried up and what remained was a sickening hatred.
And on this day; Memphis swore on everything unholy, that he would seek vengeance.
[Line Break]
Streets of Riverton, Belial Territory
Sidmen Vandek POV
Hidden in an alleyway and the artificial sun beginning to set in the purple sky, Sidmen sat on the ground as he quietly fixed Mr. Sparky All-Terrain Companion Mk 1.
In the distance, sparse fighting could still be heard, but otherwise Riverton had quieted down. Especially since Lord Paimon's men had arrived as support, it seemed it was true that Lady Ethel had sent a message to her father.
It also helped that the population of Riverton was so small, only about 10,000 Devils, and that most of the fighting had taken place in the town's market square.
So many people died…but Sidmen was also just glad that he and his friends were still alive.
Taking a screwdriver from his tool belt, he tightened the last remaining screws.
There, that should fix him for now.
"Activate."
"Beep…Beep…Beep"
As the command was given, two lights lit from Mr. Sparky's "eyes" as its saucer form hummed to life. Gently with four flexible mechanical spider legs, the frame stood up.
Mr. Sparky tilted its body enough for the two eyes to look at him. In a way, the machine was almost saying "hello", but Sidmen knew that this was merely a programmed feature he added while it was in "standby mode".
Sidmen's yellow eyes softened as he looked upon his greatest creation yet.
"Do a wiggle."
"Beep boop."
Mr. Sparky started to tilt side to side in an attempt to wiggle. It was quite silly seeing its legs extend up and down as it tried to follow the command to the best of its abilities.
Except the distraction did not last long, and Sidmen's mind wandered back to what he had learned just earlier.
When Sidmen had arrived at his family's shop, it was closed and no one was inside. So he took the chance to stock up on any tools and spare parts he needed, along with extra ammunition for his pistol.
Yes, his trusty pistol that he never left home without and always kept in his boot.
As Sidmen always told himself, 'Always prepare. You can never be too cautious!'.
From the stories he's heard from his parents when they had apprenticed as artificers in the bigger cities...Devils were quite capable of doing some scary things.
And after the shit that happened today, he felt vindicated. Although seeing Memphis' befuddled reaction at the time would have been funny if not for all the zombies trying to kill them.
Sidmen sighed while pulling out the pistol and admired the work.
It once was a standard issue pistol, underworld military model with a wheel lock firing mechanism. However he modified it using a hammer lever firing mechanism and a revolving barrel for repeating shots.
It was a novel model that he had not seen others use before so finding cartridges to hold six loaded shells of demonic crystal was impossible to find. So reloading it was a huge pain, but still, he would not give it up for the world.
It was because it was a gift from his older brother.
Sidmen frowned while melancholically caressing the steel plating and polished wooden handle.
His older brother did not have the same passion for clockwork mechanisms and magitech like himself and his parents, but he still partly learned the family trade. Once he got old enough, he joined the Belial Clan's army and worked at the local garrison maintaining the gear and rifles.
However, while Sidmen was shuffling through a box of metal bits, he had gotten the usual ping of a message sent by magic from his parents.
His parents had safely evacuated and worriedly asked where he was, and left him another message…
His older brother died while on duty rescuing a group of villagers.
Sidmen gripped the oversized pistol in his hands and pursed his lips.
His older brother was much braver than he was; always had been, always will be. Sidmen was not sure what he would have done, would he have also saved those people or would he have made the analytical choice and not risk his own life?
One day, could he become like his older brother too?
Sidmen pushed away his negative thoughts and sighed as he slid his pistol back into his oversized boot.
This was why Memphis always poked fun at him for being a timid Hell Cat. However at the same time, Memphis was often a reckless musclehead that got himself in trouble, but maybe that's why Sidmen and him had become good friends; besides the both of them being the few Devils in the village around the same age.
It was also hard to make yourself busy in such a countryside town, though it did give him plenty of free time to try building new ideas.
Sidmen loved clockwork mechanisms and magitech. He loved working with his hands, feeling the rush of seeing his ideas work. It was also really interesting how magitech almost gained a life of its own.
In a way, he had already found his calling in life, just like his parents. Perhaps it was something that ran in the family.
Sidmen smiled nostalgically as Mr. Sparky continued to 'wiggle'.
"Enter standby mode."
Mr. Sparky jolted to a stop then smoothly adjusted itself to a stable position to await further commands.
"You really should study in the Capital."
"Hm?" Sidmen was pulled of his thoughts and saw Lady Ethel sitting on a crate while curiously looking at Mr. Sparky.
Both of them had been hiding here while waiting for Memphis.
"Lilith, the Capital. You should try studying under Satan Ajuka Beelzebub and the Technology Department. Lucifaad is good too, or at least in one of the bigger cities in any Territory." Ethel seemed more rested now and was absentmindedly kicking her feet. "This village is too small for a genius like you, it's wasted potential."
He was a genius?
Memphis also said that many times before, but it was different hearing from a noble lady from a high ranked Clan, she had seen more of the world than he had.
Sidmen nervously fiddled with the goggles over his auburn hair. He was happy to hear the compliment but he did not know what to say.
"Really? But I really like Riverton…" Also he was worried about being randomly murdered in the big cities. Too many people that he didn't know nor could he trust.
Ethel stopped kicking her feet and gave him a deadpan stare.
"You invented whatever that thing is, it almost reminds me of a Hellhound puppy." She said as she pointed at Mr. Sparky. Ethel furrowed her brow as she got more worked up and then pointed at Sidmen's boot. "You also invented whatever model that gun is too. It can fire repeating demonic bullets within a short timespan! Do you have any idea what my father would do to try recruiting you if he found out? Again. Wasted. Potential!"
"Eep! O-okay, I'll consider it!" Sidmen flinched at her intense stare.
"Hmph. Good. Now somehow convince Memphis to join the Military too. He's way too stubborn for his own good, although it's not always a bad thing…" Lady Ethel's scowl lessened and she appeared to be in thought.
Huh.
Why was it that Lady Ethel always seemed to speak more softly when around or about Memphis?
Sidmen didn't get it. It was outside his area of speciality.
Girls were weird.
From outside of the alleyway, another squad of Paimon troops had shuffled past unaware of the two young Devils.
Seeing the Paimon Clan's symbol had reminded him of something. It was strange; specifically Lady Ethel was strange.
She was a young Noble and an Heiress to one of the highest Pillar Clans in the Underworld, from what he recalled from his older brother's stories, Lord Paimon was also a top General in the Military.
And yet, Lady Ethel was not cruel nor oppressive like he imagined most Noble Devils to be. From some of the rumours he heard from his parents, some of them made his stomach twist.
She smiled and played with him and Memphis. She helped to stop the cloak figure and even saved everyone from the horde of zombies.
She still clearly behaved like a princess but why was Lady Ethel still here and not safely protected in her Clan's castle?
Something bothered Sidmen.
He had always been more polite to the young Heiress since they first met, especially after he found out about which Clan she hailed from. If anything, he thought Memphis was dangerously too friendly with Lady Ethel.
However, he was too curious now, he had to ask. Sidmen gulped and straightened his back. "Lady Ethel…"
"Don't call me that."
"W-what-?"
"Lady. Don't call me that. Especially Memphis, he should never call me that. Are we not friends? Lady feels too distant…" Lady Ethel frowned slightly.
Friends?
She considered Memphis and I as her friends?
That was awfully blunt of her, but still. Sidmen felt a bit more comfortable and leaned against the wall. However, he still could not fully trust her, so he decided to keep some form of manners in case her servants were ready to ambush him.
"Okay, Miss. Ethel…Why haven't you returned to your father yet? He must be really worried about you and it's not very safe here."
Miss. Ethel went silent and she appeared in thought. For a moment, Sidmen almost wondered if she looked briefly embarrassed by something. Then finally making up her mind Miss. Ethel stood up on the crate, and her frilly red and black dress swooshed around as she faced him.
Miss. Ethel proudly puffed her chest and put her hands on her hip, an air of confidence surrounded her. "It's because I am Noble! I am strong, and others are weak. I am a Noble of the Paimon Clan, and by that very fact, it is my duty to protect the people of the Underworld! So, until we catch that criminal, I will not leave!"
He was speechless.
The speech she gave was very typical by this point, but at the same time it had earned his respect. Perhaps he had judged her too harshly.
Miss. Ethel had turned gaze at the opening of the alleyway.
"Oh, Memphis you finally arrived." Miss. Ethel then extended her Devil wings and gracefully lifted off the crate and touched onto the ground before putting her wings away.
Again, always around Memphis…Very weird.
"Memphis?"
Miss. Ethel's voice turned from haughty pride to concern.
Standing up, Sidmen saw his best friend quietly standing there. However, something felt wrong. Very wrong.
Memphis was not smiling nor did he give off a carefree feeling.
Memphis had an expression he had never seen him make before.
Wrath and sorrow.
It was like the stars in his eyes were not shiny like they always did, and instead they burned with an intense fury.
It made Sidmen feel uncomfortable, something was wrong with his friend. "Memphis, are you okay…?"
"My Mom…she…didn't make it." Memphis stared into the distance, he was brief with his words.
"Memphis…"
Miss. Ethel was quiet, pity in her eyes.
"They also got my brother too…He died while trying to help people escape."
"Even your brother too…" Memphis grit his teeth, until taking a deep breath. "Are you two ready?"
Sidmen was scared but he was also angry for what the cloaked man did to his brother and their hometown. He could not sit around debating his options, this was the time to act.
"Yeah, and when we capture this guy I hope he rots in jail."
"We won't let him escape this time!" Miss. Ethel's soft face sharpened once more. "As long as he has not moved far from the original teleportation coordinates."
Miss. Ethel nodded as she collected herself, her soft face sharpened once more.
Sidmen pulled out the tracker and flicked on the switch. The internal components turned as the magic began to connect the tracker to its twin. Soon, a projected arrow appeared and hummed to life. Slowly the arrow turned and the number reader lit up.
"He has not moved yet from his original location…" That was odd, a part of Sidmen had wondered if he had escaped already.
Memphis seemed to calm himself slightly, but remained ever focused. "Then let's get going."
The magic circle of Paimon Clan shone with a brilliant light blue hue underneath their feet. Then the spell triggered, and the three young Devils were engulfed in light.
[Line Break]
In the mountains of Belial Territory
Somewhere in the mountains of Belial Territory, in a worn stone bunker rested into the hillside. From within its depths, a lone figure lurked. A young man with spiky black hair with magenta highlights and scowling pink eyes. He had thick bandages wrapped around his abdomen.
He paced in a white laboratory that contained several cages filled with infected villagers. On the other side was expensive instrumental equipment, and areas filled with alchemical vials.
"Shit!" Red crystalline powder was neutralized.
"Shit!" A demonic bullet was shot through advanced lab equipment.
"SHIT!" He pushed a punch of papers onto the floor and set them ablaze, along with other parts of the lab.
One by one, the young man destroyed any evidence in a hurried fashion.
"Those fucking brats! If I get my hands on them, they will certainly regret it!"
A/N: The sadness and chaos continues!. Also, I've plotted out most of the story. When I started, the beginning and ending roughly were done, but there was little middle stuff, but now that's fixed. Also, we're approaching the end of the "first arc" or "introduction".