Chapter 168: TARGET THE HEART

Samael feels more impatient every passing moment,

He felt so insignificant, begging for their trust is a new level of torment.

Selaphiel was eager to keep him out,

No matter how hard he try to turn things around.

And tired of the never ending loop,

He decided to give Azazel the message,

Asking for help if he could.

The telepathic connection eased it all,

But even Azazel, who was surprised the angels hardened,

Took a moment to think of how they could possibly fall.

He looked at his table, and his specimens,

Wondering just how their tough demeanor be ruined.

Just then, he remembered their biggest strenght,

Could also be their flaw if approached a bit different.

"Are you sure they won't change their views?"

Azazel telepathically asked, as Samael felt confused.

Views about him? Well, maybe not, he can't really tell.

After all...these creatures, he don't know them well.

"I guess...but is there any plan you could think of that would change their feelings?

I'm tired of looking stupid and waiting outside, it's humiliating."

"Target their heart,"

"Huh?"

Samael felt even more confused,

Was he that dumb or was Azazel's phrase just really not that smart?

"If they truly have a heart,

As long as they have a heart...

they will always be a way to take them down,

I'm sure they're not that smart."

"Please elaborate."

Azazel gave a sigh and walked quickly to his cages,

Where he keeps grotesque creatures, mostly failed experiments.

These creatures he do not kill because he thinks they could still be useful,

Because as dumb as they are, they're loyal,

and sees Azazel as their sole Master.

They greeted him with grunts and excited shrieks,

They're of different sizes, variety, and breeds.

Some have sharp fangs, the others don't have eyes,

Some were made of slime, and the others covered in pines.

Some are full of hair, and the others are only skin,

Some are as small as a hand, while some are bigger than even him.

As scary as they look, and as loud as they growl,

When faced with Azazel, they seem like children somehow.

They stink of rotting blood and flesh,

And when he's near enough, for more food they beg.

They hollered like dogs,

Whine like the young,

Scratching the floor,

Hoping its truly feeding time.

They continued to rattle their cages, demanding his attention,

Feeling envious when he moves to one location.

"Quiet down, if you don't want to get punished,"

Azazel looked at them fiercely, their attention gained when he started to speak.

"Your Master will have a little contest,

A prize for the strongest.

If you manage to beat your opponent,

You'll be able to escape from this cage, then a mission you'll be given."

They cheered in growls, shrieks and roars,

As Azazel started his fun little cause.

Samael anticipated whatever his Master's plan could be.

As Selaphiel wondered why the demon outside, looked suddenly stiff.

The eyeless monster made of patched skin and limbs,

Was one of the worst abominations, Azazel keeps.

Satan admires it the most out of his failures,

Commenting that it looks powerful,

Though had never-ending hunger.

Azazel took pride in it, that even his failure had some Lord appreciate it,

And so he opened its cage,

As he saw how quickly the monster devoured the other he's sharing his enclosure with.

"You're quick, my boy, now meet who else will accompany you,"

Azazel knew that to win, he need to sacrifice, no matter if they're a lot or a few.

He turned to look at the other cages,

Monsters eating each other,

Like pitiful savages,

Screams and blood soon spilled the place,

But Azazel wanted his pets not to be famished.

He had no time to bring them all food,

And the quickest way to fill them up, was to feed the weak to the strong,

He knew that they need energy to beat the blazing heat outside,

And thus after they're fed well, he had them go out for a lovely plan.

None even heard the monsters step out of the palace,

As they're deafened by the roaring air of Azazel's defiance.

The storm present was mistakened by the devils,

As the heaven's warning, but they couldn't care less.

Lucifer played it off, saying that a little rain won't scare him,

As Satan and Jacob continued to train.

Belphegor continued to sleep his hours away,

As Asmodeus could only look outside, admiring the scent of rain.

Soon, it stopped, and Azazel felt very tired,

Yet to avoid suspicion, he kept working and healing soldiers.

Soon, Eligorr noticed that his master feels drowsy,

But a jealous Nemue, stopped Eligorr from helping him.

"He's my responsibility." The reanimated woman said,

And when he saw that she tightened her grip,

Eligorr nodded and took a few steps back,

But he's already angered deep.

Ever since Nemue came, he feels like he's just simply there,

The woman was a brat, to her other comrades she doesn't give the slightest care.

But because Eligorr wasn't sure of how strong Nemue really is,

Every time she seemed angry, he mellows down, didn't dare take the risk.

"Eligorr, I have a mission for you,"

The hybrid looked at Azazel with a surprised gaze,

As Nemue felt envy once he's mentioned the man out of the blue.

"But I'm sure I could do the task better!"

Nemue said, as she looked at Eligorr with anger.

Azazel sighed. He knew that Eligorr is far capable in this setup,

But didn't want to punish Nemue yet,

She may have been programmed like this so far.

"Deary, you're stronger than him, that's for sure,

That's why I can't risk ever losing you."

Azazel said as the woman calms down.

While Azazel looked at him fiercely,

"Better follow my pets now."

He hands him a map and a handwritten note,

Filled with what he's about to do.

Eligorr only grabbed his purple coat,

As he goes about, on his journey,

The furthest he'd venture from home.

Nemue quickly hugged Azazel,

As the demon pretended to act cool though startled.

He feels a bit regretful ever bringing her back,

Knowing that he still misses the former Nemue a lot.

Despite it, he knew that her dependent nature on him could do him big favors,

So he hid his disgust, and just tolerated it better.

...

Eligorr saw the beasts approaching the barrier.

As the angels themselves looked quite surprised to see the monsters.

Samael readied himself to act as a hero,

Assuring them that they don't even have to get out and all be gone tomorrow.

And just as what Azazel had planned,

Samael acted weak in his fight.

That sprouted guilt to those watching from behind,

Hoping to twist their hearts and minds.

But even if he did act weak,

He was still strong to begin with.

Which is hard because even if he didn't mean it,

A blow and stab here and there had more than half of the monsters killed.

The other, since they are smarter than their master give them credit for,

Decided to run and escape than be killed all.

This made Samael doubt that the plan would succeed,

Until he saw the greedy monster, those who remained he began to eat.

It suddenly resulted into it starting to get big.

After it finished, it looked at Samael and hungrily ran,

And as much as he tried to avoid it as much as he can,

Damn...was the monster fast.

Samael's arm was bitten by Azazel's favorite,

As the demon acted surprised upon recieving it.

When it felt really alarming for real, however,

He found it hard to retrieve his arm back, and was close to being swallowed.

His eyes gave genuine fear, which even shocked Selaphiel,

He was about to go and slay the beast when Lluming first left.

He decided that he be the one to check it out first since he's the weakest archangel yet,

So if ever they'd lose him,

it wouldn't burden the mission,

and they wouldn't be as pained as well.

He quickly gained the attention of the monster,

Who felt attracted to his warmth and scent altogether,

It charged at him after spitting the worn out Samael,

And charged at Lluming, but he got him by his tail.

The big beast roared and despite being made of nothing but chunks of flesh,

Seemed to know where Lluming is, nonetheless.

It was fast, agile, and could reach great heights,

That despite already flying, he managed to drag Lluming back down.

Ken, who felt useless just being a mere spectator,

Disregarded Michael's own orders.

The archangel could not believe when Ken quickly blew a hole unto the barrier,

Despite telling him countless times of the possible danger.

To Ken's defense however,

The great celestial fight could happen any time,

and to keep sheltering him will be useless,

He needed to know if he could really do it.

If he had what it takes,

No matter how threatening the stakes.

And thus, now that he saw a monster this big for the first time,

He wondered if how much damage be really done.

Mar wanted to warn him, to shout,

But knew the danger if ever she gets loud.

The people inside muffled their voices,

Knowing that the monster could charge at them as well.

The archangels scattered as the human fighters got into position,

Making sure the inside cage will be safe from intruition.

Lluming continued to distract the monster,

But had difficulty attacking him for a sole reason.

It doesn't have eyes, and his blinding light doesn't work,

And though he tried to burn his flesh,

it seemed to only heal its wounds.

He saw a running figure towards him and was shocked,

"K...Ken! Go back!"

Ken didn't listen however, and wanted to see how far he could go without restraints,

If he dies or lives, then its his fate.

And so, with a powerful scream he targeted the monster as Lluming kept distance from him.

Loud explosions could be heard as Ken's ears in result then bleed.

The monster's head exploded, and patches of skin began to melt,

Ken opened his eyes to see, and didn't know what to expect.

He was surprised when it took only a few blows,

And the monster was down, which is...fine he suppose.

But when he was about to check if the bloodied Samael was alright,

The monster's limbs started growing, which confused Ken and Lluming's mind.

Lluming decided to burn the monster yet again,

But it kept regenerating, and got even bigger,

"What the hell?"

Ken couldn't help but say the expression,

Until he noticed they were another set of footsteps in the soil,

If you pay enough attention.