Thunder cracked overhead as the team rushed from Esmeralda's cantina, weapons drawn and adrenaline spiking.
Outside, headlights blazed through the fog. Multiple military trucks and armored jeeps had surrounded the area. Dozens—no, hundreds—of soldiers formed a blockade, rifles raised, all aimed at the cantina's front door.
And in the center of the chaos stood a man in white and gold robes, twisted into a mockery of divinity.
Pope Romanoff.
In his iron grip was Kurai, bruised, her lip bleeding, one knee buckled beneath her.
"You bastard…" Hikaru growled, Durandal glowing with divine fury. "I'll make you pay if you hurt my little sister."
Romanoff smiled like a vulture. "First, you'll have to get through them."
The sound of wings echoed like thunder behind them. A fleet of soldier-angels landed from the heavens, their armor gleaming and faces hidden behind polished helms. At their head was a towering figure—a brute of an angel with muscles like carved marble and a warhammer strapped across his back.
"And don't forget about us," came a cold voice.
A group of battle priests stepped forward, armed to the teeth—pistols, rifles, and grim smiles painted across their faces.
Hikaru scoffed. "What can humans do against us? We're immortal, you fools."
The lead priest grinned. "Immortal, you say? So I guess the blood running down your sister's leg is just ketchup?"
Hikaru's expression faltered. The priest raised a golden bullet between two fingers.
"These are holy bullets—blessed by a certain archangel. Even you, Hikaru, won't walk away if enough of these hit you."
The team tightened formation instinctively.
"What's the move, boss?" Levi whispered, gripping the Lance of Longinus. "They've got us boxed in."
Hikaru's eyes never left Kurai. "We get my sister back—no matter the cost. Levi, Jarod—take out the soldiers. Esmeralda, Joker—focus on the priests. Suimin and I will deal with the angels." He paused. "Wait… where the hell is Suimin?"
"I think your buddy is still asleep inside," Esmeralda said flatly.
Hikaru gritted his teeth. "Damn it. He always does this."
Without hesitation, he grabbed a nearby angel and hurled him straight through the cantina window.
CRASH!
Inside, Suimin jolted awake, yawning as he sat up amidst splintered wood and angel feathers. "You guys again? You've interrupted my sleep for the last time!"
---
Levi raised his lance, spinning it once before hurling it like a javelin. The weapon pierced three soldiers in one shot, then exploded in radiant light.
Jarod loaded David's slingshot with glowing stones. Each launch took down another rifleman, headshots delivered with deadly precision.
Esmeralda opened the Satanica Sanguine, pages fluttering as she chanted. Priests screamed in agony as blood poured from their ears and noses, the dark magic tearing their bodies apart from within.
Joker spun through the battlefield with unnatural grace, firing threads from her fingers. She yanked priests into the air like marionettes before ripping out their souls, laughing softly as she absorbed their essence.
Above them, Suimin soared beside Hikaru, lightning crackling through the sky as they tore through angelic ranks. Feathers and fire rained down. Hikaru sliced through divine shields while Suimin's drum pulsed with sonic booms that left craters behind.
In the chaos, Pope Romanoff dragged Kurai's limp body toward a waiting jeep. She tried to resist, but her injuries slowed her.
"My brother will kill you," she spat, blood dripping from her chin.
"With these holy bullets," Romanoff grinned, "I am stronger than your brother. I, the great Pope Romanoff, will be rewarded by Heaven itself—maybe even get my own island of altar boys."
He laughed, slamming the door shut.
---
~The Mountain Church~
The jeep screeched up the winding path toward a lone church nestled atop the mountain. Cold wind howled as Kurai was dragged inside, thrown against a pew like a sack of meat.
"You'll regret this," she hissed.
"You should remember your place," came a new voice from the altar.
From the shadows emerged Jehosephat, once a friend, now a fanatic. He adjusted his crimson-trimmed vestments, cold eyes landing on her.
"You're a worm," he continued to Romanoff, "and I'm an ant compared to Raphael. Need I remind you who gave you that weapon?"
Romanoff paled. "Y-Yes sir." He scurried away like a rat.
Jehosephat knelt beside Kurai. "It's been a while. Lovely to see you again."
Kurai spit blood at his boots. "Jeho. Still licking the feet of tyrants, I see."
"I serve order. Unlike you and your thieving brother."
"No," Kurai said. "We're trying to fix Heaven."
"By murdering Uriel?"
"He tried to rape me!"
Jehosephat's eyes narrowed. "We'll let Raphael decide the truth."
"Raphael is coming here?" she asked, feigning surprise.
Jeho smirked. "Afraid?"
Kurai's eyes gleamed. "Not for myself… I'm afraid for him."
---
~Back at the Cantina~
Hikaru stood among the corpses, drenched in blood. His fists trembled.
"Where is she? WHERE IS MY SISTER?!"
He hurled a dead angel across the clearing, its body crashing into a tree.
"I can track her," Esmeralda said. "But I'll need a drop of your blood."
Without hesitation, Hikaru extended his hand. She pricked his palm, letting the blood drip onto a sigil drawn in the dirt.
"The church," she whispered. "She's up there."
Lightning split the sky.
Hikaru's wings flared. "Oh no you don't…"
He launched himself toward the peak, Durandal glowing in hand.
---
~Inside the Church~
Jehosephat turned as the front doors exploded inward. Hikaru flew in like a meteor, sword-first. In a single stroke, he decapitated Jehosephat, his head thudding against the pews.
Romanoff shrieked and dragged Kurai to her knees, gun to her head.
"Drop the sword or I shoot her! We already got Michael's blade from your whore of a sister. Now give me Durandal and Michael will be pleased!"
"You sick fuck…" Hikaru whispered, placing his sword on the ground.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
A neck snapped.
Suimin appeared behind Romanoff, arms crossed, expression cold.
"Don't. Fucking. Touch. Her."
---
From the altar's shadows, a new voice emerged.
"I got what I came for," said Raphael, holding Michael's sword. His armor shimmered with holy energy.
"I'll be seeing you all again very soon."
With a beat of his wings, he vanished.
---
~The Aftermath~
The rest of the group arrived moments later. Levi's face paled as he saw Kurai.
"Fuuuuuck," he muttered.
Esmeralda stepped forward. "Don't worry. Blood is my specialty."
She whispered to her grimoire and pressed her hand to Kurai's wound. Magic flowed, and the flesh began to mend.
"Well… I guess this piss stain's useful after all," Kurai grunted.
"You're welcome, bitch," Esmeralda replied with a smirk, helping her up.
The two locked eyes… then smiled.
Joker raised an eyebrow. "Although I'm pretty sure Suimin would've preferred to lick the wound instead."
Suimin's pinkish skin tone turned scarlet. "I–I never said she was mine or anything! Geez! That's the last time I save you!"
The group erupted into laughter.
---
Levi slung his lance over his shoulder. "Well, boss. Now that we've got a full team… what's the next move?"
Hikaru stepped forward, wings spread. "We make our move… against Heaven."
"Wait," Jarod asked, glancing around. "Where's Joker?"
"She was here a minute ago…" Levi said.
---
~Meanwhile in a shaded alleyway~
Joker stood alone, leaning against a stone pillar overlooking the battlefield, cloaked in shadows. A faint smile danced across her lips as she held a black cell phone to her ear.
"…Yes. They're about to make their move against Heaven," she whispered.
A soft chuckle is heard from the phone "Good; everything is going according to plan".