Escalate

Day 4 of the trial dawned, and Asmo finally revealed his defense strategy. The other Archdemons, Baal and Belphegor, took the stand, facing intense cross-examination from the prosecution team of Ariel, Jophiel, and Chamuel.

The next day, the courtroom was abuzz with surprise witnesses. John the Baptist testified against Belzebub, who had orchestrated his death. Job took the stand, recounting how Lucifer had asked God to permit him to tempt Job.

Then, it was Belzebub's turn to testify. But as soon as he opened his mouth, a stream of profanities poured out. The divine censor in the courtroom kicked in, replacing his words with loud beeps. Ironically, the beeps formed a catchy beat.

Asmo rushed to apologize for his client's language, but then his eyes sparkled with mischief. He began to rap over the beeps, his words flowing effortlessly with the rhythm. The jury couldn't help but be entertained, nodding their heads to the beat.

But Judge Michael's patience wore thin. "Silence in the court!" he thundered, his gavel crashing down. The music died, and Belzebub's beeps ceased. Asmo grinned sheepishly, while Belzebub scowled, his anger still simmering. The trial would continue, but the tension in the courtroom had reached a new high.

As the trial finally seemed to be reaching its climax, Lucifer stepped forward, his piercing eyes gleaming with defiance.

The Archdemons had exhausted every tactic to delay the proceedings, hoping against hope that Lutan, imprisoned deep within the detention room, would sense their desperation and summon a legion of demons to storm the courthouse. It was their only hope.

Just as Lucifer prepared to be cross-examined, a convoy of black Vans screeched to a halt outside the courthouse, shattering the tense silence.

A Transcendant guard approached one of the drivers, unaware of the horror that awaited him. The driver's eyes, pale and white as the dead, locked onto the guard with an unblinking stare. The guard's eyes widened in terror as he realized too late that he was face to face with a demon.

Without warning, the demon shot the Transcendant point-blank but Transcendant used his divine powers to stop it just in time.

The bullet was left hovering in mid-air as the guard's eyes froze in shock. The van door slid open, revealing a horde of demons armed with rocket launchers.

Chaos erupted as rockets screamed towards the courthouse, one striking the Transcendant with incredible force. The explosion that followed brought down the ceiling, the foundation of the building crumbling as the walls shook. Debris rained down upon the already burning Transcendant guards, burying them under the rubble.

Inside the courtroom, pandemonium reigned as the unexpected attack brought parts of the building down on Michael and the other Archangels.

It left everyone stunned – except the Archdemons. Lucifer, unfazed by the mayhem, watched as Leviathan freed his brothers from their restraints.

Together, they made a break for it, their footsteps echoing through the chaos. Belzebub and Asmo seized the opportunity, dashing through the smoke-filled corridors towards the detention room to free Lutan. Their plan seemed to be working – until Belzebub heard a voice dripping with malice behind him.

"Once a Devil, always a Devil," Uriel sneered, his eyes blazing with hatred. "I guess I'll have to destroy you myself."

The very fabric of the courthouse seemed to be unraveling, the walls cracking and the floor shaking.The air was heavy with tension as Belzebub turned to face his nemesis, the sound of crumbling concrete and screams echoing through the background.

The fate of the Archdemons hung in the balance, their escape attempt on the brink of collapse as Uriel's Saber materialized in his hand.

As its bright light illuminated the dark corridor, Belzebub spun around to face him. The sword's sharp edge gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, and Uriel charged forward with a one fierce leap.

Belzebub raised his arms to defend himself, but Asmo leapt into the fray, positioning himself between the two combatants.

Uriel's Saber halted mere inches from Asmo's chest, its blade humming with divine energy. "Asmo, I can't believe you're still protecting that idiot," Uriel snarled, his eyes blazing with frustration. "After all he has done, do you think he deserves your sacrifice or protection?"

Asmo stood firm, his eyes locked on Uriel's. "Uriel, listen to yourself right now. Are you seeking vengeance or justice? I understand why you would think a Devil like Belzebub deserves to be destroyed, but everyone deserves a second chance, even him."

Belzebub watched the exchange with a calculating gaze, his mind racing with strategy. He saw Asmo's words as a distraction, a chance to free Lutan without Uriel's interference. Seizing the moment, he sprinted towards Lutan's cell, his footsteps echoing off the walls.

But Uriel was too quick. He vanished and reappeared in front of Belzebub, grabbing his wrists and yanking him away from the cell. "You're not going anywhere, Belzebub," Uriel growled, his voice dripping with malice. With a swift motion, he hurled Belzebub across the room, the Devil crashing into the stone floor.

As Asmo and Belzebub regrouped, a new voice echoed through the corridor, its calm tone a stark contrast to the tension. "I see you're still trying to free your precious Lutan," Raphael said, his eyes gleaming with amusement. A hundred needles floated around him, their points glinting in the dim light.

Asmo turned to face Raphael, but before he could speak, the needles shot towards him, hovering mere inches from his acupuncture points. "Any funny move, and you'll be paralyzed," Raphael warned, his voice dripping with menace.

Belzebub snarled, but Uriel was too quick. He struck Belzebub with the flat of his Saber, and then transformed the weapon into chains that bound Belzebub's wrists and ankles. "You're not going anywhere," Uriel repeated, his eyes gleaming with triumph.

Raphael chuckled, his voice low and smooth. "I must say, I'm amused by the bravery of your demons, Belzebub. Thinking they could take on not one, but four Archangels. Michael and the others are dealing with them as we speak."

Belzebub's eyes blazed with fury, but he was trapped, at the mercy of his enemies. The odds were against them, and escape now seemed impossible.