Chapter 167: A Holy Spirit

Darkness.

A void.

Emptiness.

As the entire fight was going out, Harvard would be resting in his very mind, nothing but black encompassing his very body. It was a dream. A Dream that he made while unconscious. Nothing was happening, and nothing was present to help him know more. Nothing, except for chains. Chains that bound the boy's body deep onto the ground, not letting him get up for even a moment. Chains that wrapped around his legs, arms, chest, waist, and even his neck, all pulling in a sufficient force to make him stay there. He would call out for anyone to assist him, yet his voice merely echoed in the void. Despite it being minutes, it would feel like hours to him. Days even. His breath was steady, yet the steel coil was tightening on him, almost as if it wanted to get in his skin, pressing closer and closer, making him groan and grimace. There was no hope. There was no future.

He was lost.

In such a bleak moment, however, he dared not to give in. He struggled again and again to get out of his binds, wanting to wake up and help his friends. At some point, however, the chains began to loosen themselves. A Light would shine before him, a light that made him look away on instinct. A Light that would began speaking to him. "Do not be afraid." It cried, "I am here to help you, creation of God." The boy would be silent, trying to peace together what it wants, still struggling out of his binds, despite them being loose, yet the voice continued. "Do not stress yourself. Do not weaken. Do not worry. Your life is safely within our hands. You will be freed and face the evil before you, all under one request. One Demand is all I ask."

"Do not let the Demons within your life anymore."

Silence still roamed, yet such a demand would have the boy speak up, raising his eyebrow to see why it wanted such. "Heck you're talking about?" The boy asked. The light would speak once again.

"Do you not see it, Creation of God? You, like many other creations he has made, has been tainted. Cursed. Manipulated over and over by the Devil's hands. Why hurt yourself in listening to his lies, where you can instead follow the Lord's path? The Lord's light? The Lord's Road to happiness? You cannot be with those demons anymore. They are hurting you. They are damning you. They are making you sin, as you stand watch and not see such consequences before you...We are afraid if you will fall and succumb to this sin....That is why I provided such a request." The Light spoke. As it gave its speech, the boy simply laid there in darkness, his thoughts contemplating. It was clear who this was: An Angel. An angel that wanted to help him, but to abandon his friends at a cost so great...That is something he cannot do.

"I'll do it myself." Harvard would reply, to which the Light Spoke once more.

"Child...Sculpture of the Lord.....Why? Do you really wish to revel in such blas-"

"What does this 'Lord' feel for my friends, Huh? What about them?? What, do I just....Let them die?! Out there!?"

The voice grew quiet, knowing its response would tick off the child further, yet it also realized that keeping silent would inevitably show the answer anyway. It spoke once more, hoping to explain itself. "They're Demons...They are creatures forever banished.....creatures that do not have your fortune for such forgiveness, rather they revel in their animosity and curse his name for everyone to hear. The response was for them to be cursed into hell for eternity...What point is there in letting them stay alive? What point is there in letting them fuel such misery and woe?? What point is there if they will just hurt you again and again?? This is the only path forward, for the better, sculpture of God. Understand that it may not be the most moral, but-"

"Save it." Harvard would interrupt. "You're lying. You're lying and you don't wanna prove it." His voice rang high and true, and as he started his own words, he'd begin to get up, slowly freeing himself from his own binds. The light would try and follow the boy, as he'd give his own piece of mind to such an idea. "I get it. You guys and Demons don't get along. I get that. What I don't get is why you want to play favorites on me? Do you even KNOW them? Yeah they're a bit crazy, but I'm crazy too! Heck, I flat out committed arson JUST yesterday! I'm just as much a monster as them, and I'M THE ONE BEING GIVEN FORGIVENESS!!? NOT THE ONES WORKING THEIR BUTT OFF TO SAVE ME!? NOT THE ONES WORKING THEIR BUTT OFF TO MAKE SURE WE'RE OK?! NO?? JUST ME??! What kind of Holy Spirit are you if you want to pick favorites?? If I was an angel, Demon or Not, I would still go out of my way to save them! That's what you guys would've done, heck, that's probably what your LORD would've done. He wouldn't go out of his way to nitpick certain people. THAT'S NOT WHAT BEING A LORD EVEN MEANS ANYWAY!!"

KRACC!! KRACC!! KRACC!!

One by one, the chains broke. One by one, the Binds that hold him down snapped like twigs. The light would plead further. "You have a compassionate heart, and a powerful soul. It shines like a diamond before our eyes. Despite such brilliance and valor, you still wish to help them? What if they would kill you when you aren't looking? What if they blemish such a proud soul and make you into a beast beyond comparison...?" The boy would not listen, crawling further and further, though he uses the light as a means for escape.

"Because they wouldn't. They're my Friends. Why would a friend even DO that!? Especially after everything we've seen and had to fight against so far. I don't care if I go to hell once my life is over, if it means my friends are safe, then that's good enough for me! I'm going out there by my own hands, and YOU will not convince me otherwise!!" Harvard's words were short yet expressive. The Angel looked on and sighed, letting the light illuminate before him..

"In that case.....then let me at least take you back home. You may choose to go along with those creatures. Understand however.....You are still forgiven. They are not. I pray that you will see that answer soon. We will talk again....and hopefully, you remain alive still after such hell that awaits you." With that sentence in mind, the light became brighter and brighter, enveloping the boy, having him regain his mind, body, and soul once more.

His own self was now outside, the fresh trees blooming wildly, his friends by his side. He'd turn towards his enemy, the Marrow, as he'd prepare a spell. "It's been a LOOOOONG time coming, Bastard. To think he'd actually write you in here....You better be ready for what comes next." Harvard would state, the Beast being desperate and trying to control the Spider-like Monstrosity to attack the trio, before being met with a strong fireball. The battle between it and Stolas stoked a massive forest fire on the opposite end, yet such a sight made him smile as he'd turn towards his comrades, getting into a stance as he readies his fight.

"Finally, took you long enough..." Solomon would joke, putting himself in the back, readying his spells for support.

Stolas would give a smirk as he and Harvard get ready to work together once more. "Alright, Coward!" He'd yell proudly, announcing his words to the Marrow. "Let us show you how REAL Men should fight!! None of that sneak attack nonsense. No more of that 'Primavera' Garbage, either."

"Its time to start throwing punches, you Sentient Birch...."