A Demon's Tale

A horrifying broadcast like no other was now unfolding before the eyes of the public. Though it was late in the night, the program was forced to play through every device within the world.

To many, this was a video of a horrifying message that could only be described with one word.

War.

Though the words provided did not state this, it was clear to all who had viewed the broadcast.

A war was being insinuated.

If many had known it was coming, then it likely would not happen. However, the sugar coated speech provided by the woman on the screen had given more than enough reason for a war to start.

A suggestion to all succubi and incubi of the world…to drain the life of humans.

There were only a few however who perceived this shocking video in a much different way.

One of those people being that of–

Shiro: [...That’s not me…That’s not me…That’s not me…That’s not me…THAT’S NOT ME! THAT’S NOT ME! THAT’S NOT ME! THAT’S NOT ME!]

Breaking down in panic, anger and confusion, Shiro gazed at the woman who reflected her very own image and voice.

It was only natural, as this video was created without the involvement of Shiro herself.

The world was full of different types of abilities, but something such as this could not be achieved by a mere matōki ability or even an advanced ability.

Thus, the broadcast that played for the whole world to see was something that could not be fabricated.

As Shiro continued to look on, the distorted version of herself began to speak again.

Shiro?: [I know what you all might be thinking. “But Lady Shiro, something like that could only happen when you’re doing it!”, and I think that’s fair to consider. However, this goddess has just the perfect idea for you! Just do it! It doesn’t matter if they want to have it done or not! Find the nearest human and just go at it! I promise, once you feel it, it’ll be like nothing you’ve ever experienced before!]

Shiro’s palms began to bleed as her long black fingernails continued to dig into them. The sound of the room was now filled with that of clattering, as her teeth continued to strike each other relentlessly.

In many ways, the Shiro who now stood in the room, and the Shiro who was on the monitor in the very same room were complete opposites in appearance.

The unknown version of Shiro had a joyful expression on her face, and continued to enthusiastically speak of her suggestions to the world.

While the Shiro who watched the entire program play out was drowning in confusion. Her head felt dizzy, her body ached, and a nauseous feeling was beginning to rise within her stomach. Nothing had made sense to her in the slightest.

She stood without a word leaving her lips as the broadcast continued.

Shiro?: [Humans are super weak anyways, and dumb at that! They’ll get it on at any point in time without a single thought. They think it feels super good too, so is that really a bad thing then? If you ask me, that just means they’re accepting it! So go out there and get some more humans under your lips and hips! Let’s make it a game to see who can get the most before they all go bye-bye, just like these old god-ies! Bye-bye for now, darlings! And for you naughty humans, you better watch out! Hehe!]

As the video faded, a large message appeared on screen.

♥THIS MESSAGE WILL PLAY UNTIL ALL HAVE SEEN IT♥ ♥STAY TUNED FOR ANOTHER FUN VIEWING!♥

Dread filled Shiro’s body as the video ended.

She did not move in the slightest, she did not allow her body to produce another sound.

Second after second, she continued to look at the screen until–

Shiro: [Ummp……ghk….]

Quickly moving her hands to her mouth, Shiro attempted to resist the feeling that had now swelled to a much greater level.

However, after viewing the terrible display moments prior, this resistance could only hold for so long.

Shiro: [....mmmMMBLAACH….UUUUGHHEEE!]

Removing the contents of her meals within the day, Shiro produced a pool of vomit onto the floor in front of her.

Kneeling down in agony, her arms shaking with weakness, Shiro gazed towards the disgusting sight she had produced.

Shiro: [....That….That wasn’t….It wasn’t me….I know that….I….I would never do something like that…Never….Surely…Surely the others know…that it wasn’t….]

Feeling a buzzing within her pocket, Shiro changed her view to the phone that rested there.

Moments before, it had echoed the same broadcast that played out in front of her.

But now, something different was being received from the device.

Shiro began to think of what it could possibly be, and came to a calming conclusion.

A phone call.

Kōkatsu was likely trying to reach her as soon as she possibly could, thus, a phone call was the most likely option.

Allowing herself to breathe for a moment, Shiro prepared to answer the call.

Though, it was odd, as the phone did not stop vibrating at any point in time.

When she had received phone calls from Kōkatsu, Silvia, Nero, or many of the others that she loved to speak with, her phone had brief periods where it rested for but a moment.

Reaching towards her pocket, she pulled out the buzzing phone to see–

Shiro: [W-What?! NO!]

A report was now displayed on her phone.

Before she had called Kōkatsu, a similar report was shown.

When that report was displayed, the details presented were that of an arrest charge.

WANTED: NERO VIRTUOSO - ALIVE ONLY

Those were the words that were presented the largest on the entire document.

Much like before, at this very moment…another report was shown.

WANTED: SHIRO FULOREEN - ALIVE ONLY

A terrified distortion occurred on Shiro’s face.

She now had a charge of her own.

A crime she did not commit, a crime she had not been there for…

…A crime in which she was perfectly framed for…was now being forced upon her.

Much like her arms had done not long ago, her entire body shook in fear as she considered what to do.

Shiro: [No….No….Why do they….This isn’t…]

It was clear what would happen next.

Her location was known.

It was only a matter of time before authorities arrived.

Whether that be the royal families, or the gods themselves, there was a problem that was now making its way towards Shiro.

What could she possibly do now?

There was no hope in speaking with the gods.

There was no hope in reasoning with the Bloodfire’s or Tensetsu’s.

All she could do was run.

Run.

Shiro: [....I need to go…now!]

A thought sparked within Shiro’s head.

There was not much she could do, and with what was shown, it was almost certain that she would be considered an enemy.

Perhaps not, however.

Perhaps she would still be considered the same Shiro they had known.

It was merely a matter of trust.

Rushing through the doors of the building, Shiro set her sights on a singular location.

There was one place that she needed to arrive at.

Even if they did not trust her, even if they hated her now, even if they were to attack her, she did not care.

There were people she needed to secure.

Arriving at the exit, Shiro produced a quick dash away from the cursed building.

Her presence now attached to that very same building provided all the evidence required for those who began their charge.

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???: [THAT WAS FAKE, HELIG!]

From the small room with walls of glass, built within a much larger prison structure came a loud roar of words. In that very room stood multiple kitsune, along with an angel woman who was managing the nearby control pad. The orange kitsune who stood as both the oldest and largest within the room had attempted to continuously pull the angel woman away.

Helig: [That was her. There isn’t a physical way to manipulate one’s appearance that effectively. A look can be provided, but not a voice, A voice can be given, but not the looks of an individual. You should be aware of this as well, Kōkatsu!]

Kōkatsu: [She isn’t our enemy! I know that for a damn fact! Shiro isn’t the type to do this shit at all!]

Helig: [If you are conspiring with them as well, then you would do well to make yourself known.]

Kōkatsu: [I’m not doin’ shit, but neither is she! I was talkin’ with her back when we went to get the bastard down there!]

Helig: [Do you not believe she could have called you after she had finished her job?]

Kōkatsu: [Even if that’s possible, it still ain’t her! I know what she’s like! Plus, she said she was on the way there to begin with!]

Helig: [Incredible. I suppose since, in your words, she told you the “absolute truth”, you shall stick to such an answer until you die.]

Kōkatsu: [LISTEN TO ME! I know this shit doesn’t make any sense…but it’s not her! I swear! I’ve known Shiro for so damn long now…She wouldn’t even think ‘bout this! I’d expect anyone of us to pull this shit before she would, includin’ me! She’s a dumb, pure woman…but she’s my closest friend! I know her more than anyone, and I know that this ain’t her!]

Kōkatsu’s voice began to break as she continued to cry her heart out towards the cold Helig.

Turning her eyes to meet Kōkatsu’s, Helig asked a simple question.

Helig: [Tell me then, why is this not her?]

Kōkatsu: [I…I can’t say…]

Helig: [You can’t speak of the reason, yet you wish to provide innocence to her image? What level of foolishness have you fallen to?]

Kōkatsu: [Look, I can’t say why ‘cause I don’t know what you or the rest of our group are gonna do, but there’s a reason! I swear!]

Helig: [You cannot speak of the reason due to us?]

Kōkatsu: [I don’t want any harm, or else, I’ll kill all of ya.]

Both Helig and the shorter fox girl who slightly resembled Kōkatsu herself widened their eyes in shock.

Kaoru: [Lady Kōkatsu!]

Though she tugged at Kōkatsu’s sleeve, Kaoru was ignored by her mother, who continued to glare at Helig.

Helig: [You’re now telling me, directly to my face, that you’ll kill me if action is taken?]

Kōkatsu: [If ya promise nothin’ happens, then nothin’ happens on my end, and I’ll tell ya why it ain’t her at that.]

Closing her eyes, Helig took a deep breath. Slowly, her eyes returned to their normal appearance.

Helig: [...Very well. I will perform no actions that involve harm or anything of the like. Now provide me with the reasoning.]

Kōkatsu: [Fine. The reason it ain’t Shiro–... Oi! Kagami! Ya alright?!]

In the corner of her eye, Kōkatsu could see a Kagami who was sweating profusely. Her face provided a pained look, her hands struggled to stay in place, and the matōki around her had started to fade.

Rushing over to her side, Kōkatsu quickly provided her gentle hand to the girl’s forehead.

Kōkatsu: [What’s wrong, sweetie?! Tell me, please!]

Kagami: [Lady Kōkatsu….You need to…]

Kōkatsu: [I need to? I need to what?! Take the time that you need to speak!]

Slowly, Kagami opened her mouth, with a hoarse voice passing through her lips.

Kagami: [...Tell everyone…to retreat immediately…]

The entire room was now filled with far more shock than ever before.

A chilling sentence had escaped the girl’s mouth.

Kōkatsu: [Retreat?! What do you mean?! What happened, sweetie?!]

Kagami: [It….It’s not working….No….It wasn’t working to begin with…I don’t know what happened…But…the seals weren’t to our advantage in any way…]

Kōkatsu: [Wh-What?! The seals weren’t to our advantage?! That’s a confusing message, sweetie. What does that…No….NO!]

As she spoke to her exhausted daughter, Kōkatsu deduced the message provided within her head.

Once the realization struck her, she quickly turned her head to face Helig across the room.

Kōkatsu: [HELIG! STOP THAT FUCKER RIGHT NOW!]

Helig: [What?]

Kōkatsu: [IT WAS A TRAP! HE GOT CAUGHT INTENTIONALLY!]

Helig’s eyes lit up with panic as she began to face the same direction as Kōkatsu.

A beam of light was formed in her hands, and a golden ax had appeared from thin air.

…But it was far too late.

They watched as a black shadow soared past the windows, and up towards the roof of the prison.

Whilst this shadow passed, a small light made its way towards the room they had stood in.

Helig: [Damn!]

Kaoru: [ZENKO BARRIER!]

A barrier that spanned across the room was formed.

Only a mere second after, an incredibly large explosion occurred right outside of this shield.

What soon followed that explosion was another provided to the building’s roof.

The soldiers that spanned across the field grew cautious of what the origins of such an explosion were, but an answer was soon provided.

A man dressed in all black came flying down from the clouds above, creating a crater in the ground as he landed.

Though they had gazed at his cold, terrifying appearance only now, the soldiers were already well aware of who he had been.

Soldiers: [Stick to the plan and take him do—AAACH]

Before a move could be made, Nero provided a large slash of matōki to rip through the air, cutting countless soldiers in half.

As each of them charged in a strategic manner, they were only met with a rondo of death.

Dodging every strike provided to him, Nero continued to take the lives of those around him with little effort provided. His hands robbed them of their flesh, his feet took the bone that had molded their bodies, and his disc of scythes cleaved them of everything they once had.

Without falter, a dance of blood and darkness was provided to those who stood in opposition to him.

Arrows and bullets that were fired towards him were merely redirected to those who stood at the ready.

Higher class angels attempted to strike Nero from behind–

Angel: [Hah! Got you now, bastard!]

Nero: [...]

–only for another small blast of matōki to be produced, which slowly moved towards their location. Turning his back on the foe, Nero marched towards the soldiers who stood before him.

Angel: [Do you really think a little blast like that is enough to–]

Their words could not be finished. A large plume of explosions were activated in quick succession from the singular, tiny ball of blue light.

Continuing his rampage of slaughter, Nero spoke aloud to the soldiers around him.

Nero: [You’ve all died in rather similar methods, I suppose. Perhaps treating lower life forms such as yourselves to something larger would provide a pitiful thrill that you’re expecting in battle.]

Still evading the strikes of his enemies, Nero turned to look at the extraordinarily large prison behind him.

Nero: [In that case…Hm.]

Throwing his disc towards the building, Nero provided a strike strong enough to slash the building into multiple, large pieces.

The soldiers began to look up in fear at what was now approaching.

Their problem was no longer just Nero alone. The debris that threatened their very lives was now hurtling towards them.

An immeasurable amount of troops were crushed under the unconquerable weight of the rubble as Nero continued to take the lives of those who were fortunate enough to survive.

There had likely been even more lives lost than just them, as Nero was not the only one who had been kept within this penitentiary.

Smoke filled the field as the rubble met with the floor, creating several blind spots for the forces that had once created strategies to defeat such a powerful being. Screams of agony ripped across the sightless battlefield.

From within this smoke came several coughing individuals. The largest of all looked towards those around them with worry filling their heart.

Kōkatsu: [Kaoru! Kaoru! Are ya alright?!]

Kaoru: [Hk! I’m fine, Lady Kōkatsu. Kagami and the others are safe as well. I made sure my barrier would protect us at all costs.]

Kōkatsu: [Thank goodness. Damn, this is way too much already. Helig! Call yer troops off now!]

Helig: [Call them off?! Are you insane?!]

Kōkatsu: [He’s fightin’ ‘cause they’re fightin’! Call them off or everyone of ‘em is gonna die!]

Helig: [....Tch!...Damn it!...We don’t even have the control pad anymore, so our speakers can’t be used!]

Kagami: [Please…come here…Miss Helig…I will provide….the amplification…]

While Helig started to complain, a voice spoke to her from Kōkatsu’s arms. Both Helig and Kōkatsu looked down to find the owner of this voice, to see the same exhausted Kagami from before, who was reaching out towards the angelic woman.

Kōkatsu: [Oi! Kagami! You need to rest, sweetie!]

Kagami: [...We….We must tell them to fall back…I cannot…rest yet…]

Helig: [...Kitsune girl, you are able to amplify my voice to the soldiers around the area, is that what you are saying?]

Kagami: [Yes…It is just as you say…]

Helig: [...Very well. Please make this as quick as you can.]

Rushing over to Kagami, Helig provided the open hand with her own to match. A red light was traced around Kagami’s body, and soon spread onto Helig herself.

Kagami: [Alright….You may speak now…]

Taking a large inhale of air, Helig shouted towards her forces.

Helig: [Soldiers! Fall back now! This is not a battle you can win, so retreat immediately! That is an order!]

With her message provided, the troops began to back away from Nero as far as they could.

Noticing the open space around him, Nero looked towards Helig in the distance, but paid not a single additional second to her presence.

Shooting towards the sky with a powerful coating of blue matōki, Nero looked towards the ground below him. Spreading his hand out, he provided a quick final blast to the prison behind him, engulfing it in matōki-produced flames.

After providing his final attack, Nero looked towards the sky in front of him, and dashed off into the distance, leaving the helpless soldiers to bear witness at his might.

The smoke started to clear, and Helig released her hand from Kagami’s grasp.

Kōkatsu started to move her eyes towards the woman of light, only to see wings sprout from behind her back.

Helig: [...This situation needs to be dealt with. Now.]

Kōkatsu: [Oi! Helig! I told ya, s’not–]

Helig: [That is a question we will answer once she is arrested. For now, this order will be carried out. Not a single excuse shall be provided.]

Kōkatsu: [OI! I’M NOT DONE TALKI–]

Kōkatsu’s desperate yells fell upon empty ears, as Helig lifted off into the air with her feathery wings, and started to soar across the sky.

She now sat there, surrounded by her children and the surviving members of Helig’s forces, questioning every moment in time that transpired within the long night.

Kōkatsu: [That’s not her…Damn it…]

Kōkatsu quietly mumbled, as she continued to grind her teeth together.

A new hellish scene was now unfolding for the entire world to witness.

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