Discordant Swamps

Sazael walks through the vibrant marshlands to the swamps where the brilliant addition to his vengeance is located. His shoes moved through the murky waters as the skies above him was a deep red, not a star could be seen. No moon or any cloud either. It was unnerving to the Angel below.

"Keep going, almost there. So glad i'm wearing my least favorite shoes right now." He said to himself as he waded through the waters and before long found himself near the entrance of a intimidating forest. The type of forest one could get lost in and could only escape as a ghost.

He steeled his nerves and entered. His angelic sight guiding him to his salvation. The smell that went into his nostrils was surprisingly nice. The smells of sandalwood and rose relaxed him deeply. It thrust him into his childhood. The days of lazing about, his servants tending to him and his family needs. The young son would look out the window and saw acres of lush greenery. He remember the times when he was bored he would read his books. He spent his time learning about things that intrigued him like plants that would cause hallucinations. Perfect for pranks. 

"I had plans for Hera using these types of plants but i never got around to it. No time like the present to rectify that." Sazael said to himself with a big smile adorning his face as he made his way through the dank greenery. He was getting closer to the salvation he needed. He spotted some plants growing nearby. He remembered them exactly from his book, if burned, the smoke will cause hallucinations that manifest one fears and insecurities. Buztikal was the name of this type of plant, There was two variants. One that would calm you down and make you really hungry. And the other which like stated above, caused you to hallucinate your worst fears and insecurities. The second had dark purple spots on it which lines up perfectly with his memory. Sazael gathered a ton of it and place them in a drawstring bag he stole from a store in another realm. Once he got enough, he tied the bag back and placed it in his jacket. His mind was racing with all the devious shit he could pull on Hera, may be make her think that slutty succubus left her mundane ass for him.

"You won't see this coming, you little abomination." Sazael said to the air with a grin not unlike that of a demon. His mind racing with those sublime memories of torturing Hera.

A sharp blow landed in his stomach and he was ripped from those amazing times into the hell of his own making. He felt a large hand wrapped around his throat and fling him like a sack of rotten potatoes. Swirling visions of plants and trees graced him as he fell into the murky waters, splashing about as he jumps up, barely breathing as he try to see who dared to attack him. And how the hell the unfortunate fool managed to get the drop on him?! He rubbed his watery eyes and spit.

It was a gorilla wearing a dark purple jacket with a hood covering it head. The Gorilla stood upright and stayed still. Gazing upon the angel with no malice.

"A gorilla, A fucking Gorilla?!" Sazael exclaimed in rage at being caught off guard by a creature less smarter than him. His hands begin to glow a hot white. It begin to cackle with pure angelic energy. There was a arc of shining light above him, illuminating the once dark swamps.

The stylish Gorilla stand tall, awaiting the next attack. 

"Tempestas irae!!!" He roared as the energy transmuted into spears made of light. Without warning they were about to rain down on the Gorilla who seem unperturbed by it all as he did a grunt and snapped his fingers. Within a second the angelic spears destabilized just inches from his face. It was like if reality itself collapse the spears, the way the space around the Gorilla distorted was enough to put fear in the angel's heart.

"Who is this?!" He thought, a sense of panic and fear flooded his mindscape. 

However, Sazael wasn't one to give up as he shot his palm up to the air, he utter a quick spell. A simple practice that his father drilled into him just in case he was ever in a fight. A practice that he neglected until he was kicked out from EizenGarte Academy and from his own home. 

"PRAESTRICTUS FULGUR!" 

Just like that, a blinding white light filled the area, everyone who didn't immediately shield their eyes or wasn't a angel like himself would feel their eyes melting out their socket.

And yet the Gorilla stood there, very unperturbed. A expression of curiosity decorated his face. Sazael was about to have a aneurysm. 

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!" Sazael screamed, a façade to camouflage the fear he felt.

The Gorilla shrugs again, indicating he had no clue who this man was. 

Sazael was about to go apeshit in the purest form imaginable before a voice infiltrated his mind.

"Ok, ok that enough. Vonku you did so well! Now back to the circus, and tell my grandson Peter her grandmother said HI!!!" A sweet and almost motherly voice told The Gorilla seemingly named Vonku who nodded. Sazael wonders what the hell could it be now?

The hooded Gorilla took a bow and made way for his master and beloved Goddess that saved him from death as a baby. A woman came into view of Sazael, the sky turn from a dark red to a vibrant yellow before calming down into a serene purple with bits of sunlight breaking through before getting blocked by dark clouds.

Sazael felt his stomach drop to his testicles.

"Who the hell-" The words died on his tongue as he felt the air go still, the gorilla was gone along with that woman.

"So you're the infamous lackey?" She said close to his ear, causing the angel to jump and scrambled away from...nothing. There was no one there, he try to steady his heartbeat.

"I don't see why you're doing that, am i really that scary to you?" That sweet and almost motherly voice said again, this time in his brain. He held his head and felt like snakes was crawling under his skin, writhing. 

"Listen, i been following you. The way you have your own chapter in this story is a little weird but i always loved learning about the people who make our heroes tick." Eris said to Sazael who only got half of what she was talking about.

"Do you want me to dumb it down for you? I knew you was a drop-out but i thought you were the top of your class at one point?" She said as she sat down in front of him, a innocent smile on her face as she rub a hand through his hair. Like a mother would their own daughter.

He wanted to slap her hand away but he knew that would end really badly. Call it a hunch.

"So you are smart. That good. So i actually came to give you a little gift. No need to thank me." Eris said as she tied her sentence in a cute bow before making it disappear. 

Sazael have never been more confused.

She reached her surprisingly smooth hand behind his ear as he was paralyzed with sudden fear. And lo and behold she pull out a whole sword much to his shock. The blade itself was a calm and serene blue that made the angel think of slumber, attached was the green hilt and carved on it was a a simple owl.

"Do you know what this is?" She asked of him like a school teacher would their own student.

"A sword? But I'm guessing it a specific sword right? Sorry i have no clue what sword that is, I didn't take the weapon history elective in EizenGarte." Sazael explained truthfully, if this woman was a Goddess as he suspect, it would make sense to answer her honestly.

"SO SMART YOU ARE! This sword was crafted by a legendary weapon smith and forged in the realm of dreams. With just one stab, this blade can kill instantly. And i am bestowing this gift to you." Eris said as she handed the sword to him, he look at it curiously. 

The brown-haired angel didn't know what to think of these events. He know that there had to be a catch. There always a catch as he learned from The Boss himself who diligently taught him this that fateful day he was expelled.

"Why? Is there something you want me to do for you?" He asked, he hated being forced to be polit-

"Nobody forcing you to be polite. Are you that paranoid?" Eris asked suddenly, her voice sickly sweet and why wouldn't it be? She a mother to three beautiful children after all.

....

"Ah the ellipsis, seem you catch on pretty quick. As expected of a expelled student. Don't be so hard on yourself for falling into Lafarius's little trap and becoming a cog in his well-oiled machine." She cooed to him softly. The air around them becoming warm and smelling of jasmine.

"She treating me like i'm a ki-"

"To me, you are nothing more than child." She responded jubilantly as she look down on him as a mother would her own son after he mutilated himself.

That look of pure pity from this woman really pissed him off but he held his tongue, hell he didn't even formed a simple thought. 

Sazael look at the sword again. The sword itself felt like it came from a different realm and not in the way Sazael was somewhat used to. This sword feels like it was part of history itself, but not his history and not this realm's history. He knew little beyond these two realms. He suspected that The Boss wasn't from the realm of Mount Mammoth or this strange and surreal realm either. Something about the Boss always felt off to him. 

"How do you know this?" He found himself asking.

"Like i said, I been following your story, it pretty interesting. So what do you say? Will you accept my gift with no strings attached?" She asked with a big friendly smile.

"This might be a trap, however-" Sazael interrupted his thought by subtly using intuitus veritatis (a angelic technique used to discern unholy intentions and plans of evil.) To his surprise he found none.

Eris wasn't even going to bother to comment on this, she just shake the sword in his direction with a smug grin.

"Well i could never have too many options when it comes to making Hera suffer." Sazael thought as a devious plan formulated in his head.

"Variety is the spice of life after all." Eris said, seemingly in response to him. He grabbed the sword and like the wind that was once so still. She was gone. He blinked, he look at the sword in his hands. It was pretty light but the blade look like it cut through flesh like almost melted butter.

He looks toward the direction the spider was in and shivered. He braced himself. Remembering the spell that calm arthropods after he learned of Hera being gifted a golden retriever sized spider from stupid demon father. He made his way deeper into the swamps. 

He couldn't wait to see the look on that stupid abomination's face.

The group was halfway there to the designated location. Hera walked quickly ahead of the two, hoping her worst fears haven't been realized when they get there. Furiosa saw how badly Hera's hands were shaking. It reminded her of that one night Sazael's Posse, the two angel girls that was basically his groupies pushed the blonde into a frozen pond. The ice broke and Hera fell face first in the ice cold water. She had to warm Hera up with blankets and her own body. It was the least she could do after all Hera done for her.

She remember using her abilities to make the two angelic bitches drink toilet water straight out the bowl. That was talked about for months! Furiosa stifle her laughter and try her best to placate her Guardian angel's feelings.

"My little cinnamon roll-"

Hera stop for a moment and look at Furiosa like she grown a second head.

"What?" Furiosa had to ask, wondering if she did something wrong.

Hera giggled a little, a welcome reprieve from the pure dread she been feeling for the past day.

Cinnamon roll? I think that's a new one. I like it." Hera mentioned with a smile that melted Furiosa's heart and made her incredibly hungry at the same time.

"Bertraim will be fine. Knowing Sazael, he would much rather kill him in front of you then kill it before-hand. He a sadistic little douche like that." Furiosa offered, trying her best to uplift her and free her from her anxiety.

Hera stood silent for a moment.

"Wow...i oddly feel more comforted by this." She stated with a humorless laugh.

"That my job, to make sure my little cinnamon roll is comfortable." Furiosa said proudly as she gave Hera's waist a good squeeze. Causing the blonde woman to yelp and playfully swat her hand away.

Furiosa turned her attention towards the armored enigma that was now way ahead of them thanks to their little moment.

"Hey wait up!" Called Furiosa as she and Hera ran to be closer to him.

The Slayer nodded, still saying nothing.

Furiosa decided to break the ice. After all if they going to be teaming up, it's important to understand each other. 

"So not everyday we get to team up with a legend." Furiosa started.

"Didn't we team up with my boss Devilla during the situation with Sarglan and Velven?" Hera asked curiously.

"Yeah i guess we did. Damn our lives sure have gotten exciting over the past few weeks." Furiosa mused as she grabbed Hera's hand.

The Slayer had other things on his mind. A lot of things that ate at him every damn second but there was something that was more relevant to the situation.

"There definitely going to be some traps, assuming you don't have the 5,000 gold?" The Slayer asked of Hera.

"Oh i actually have around 5,369 gold and 700 silvers saved. But they're not getting my money! Especially when they could k-ki-hurt Bertraim beforehand and i just gave away all my money like a fool!" Hera stated, enraged at the mere thought of that happening. For some reason, she felt the arcane energy stirring within her, she felt something crawling within her, a thousand things crawling within her but it wasn't unpleasant. It felt comforting in a strange sense. The familiarity of this sensation bringing her temper down. 

The skies itself morphed into a calming and serene grey. The winds beginning to cool, a soft breeze blew threw the area.

The Slayer stayed silent for a moment. His mind racing with the information he is currently learning.

"I suppose that make sense." The Slayer said to himself, preparing for possible scenarios. 

"Besides, Sazael would love nothing more than me to bend to him. He's awful, vindictive, cowardly- "

"Don't forget Limp Dick Virgin too." Furiosa casually added with a kiss to Hera's cheek making her almost lose steam on rage-fueled speech.

"Y-yes that too!" Hera stammered as Furiosa chuckles. 

"But anyways what about you? Do you have a lover? You got a son or daughter? Or let start off simple. What your name?" Furiosa asked The Slayer with curiosity. 

He stops and turns to her, he stared at her for a long time as Hera protectively got in front of Furiosa, her mouth forming to apologize on her behalf.

"It just Slayer… that all there is." He responded simply.

"I apologize if I stepped over the line." Furiosa said in her gentle professional voice. Hera was floored by this simple gesture, Furiosa had grown a lot in the past year and it made Hera very happy to see how far she had come.

He grunts as a response to her apology.

"You clearly got something going on." Furiosa thought, her pink eyes glowing slightly. She know she shouldn't be doing this, but she needed to make sure this legend was trustworthy. This Slayer could be another tool of The Boss.

"I mean, maybe the Boss could have something going on in Holten that he unleash The Slayer on those freakish creatures to protect his real estate and indebt the locals to him further. He does have connections seemingly all over the realm and it wouldn't be out of the question that the Slayer would be one of them. Man i should start making some more connections as well, hit up some old pals of mine." Furiosa thought to herself as her mind continue to race with theories.

"What if this all just a trap? To lure me and Hera into a false sense of security? Then next thing we know, Sazael pulling a Eclipse from Berserk on me because he would do some shit like that." Furiosa theorized with a shudder, a quick scan of his mind and soul shouldn't be a problem. Hell she might even find out what fetishes he into so she can trust him better.

"If he into ass then he a-ok in my book." Furiosa thought with a cheeky smile.

Furiosa tried to get a read on his mental state and emotions but to her surprise it was like a pure black void that-

She felt a severe headache as her vision got blurry and the sounds of a deranged woman laugh infiltrated her eardrums. Making her skin crawl, it felt like a thousand small snakes all writhing inside her. Gravity shifted beneath her feet, and down, down, down she went. She heard her lover's calm and soothing voice as the reality slowly aligned back to one she was more comfortable with.

"Furiosa? Are you well?" A concerned Hera said as she knelt down on the ground next to Furiosa.

Hera held her hands and she felt herself coming back to reality, the professional succubus found herself kneeling on the ground alongside her guardian angel.

"What the hell was that?" Furiosa thought as she felt her sense of self being twisted and chewed on.

"You would be better off not knowing." Slayer said to the succubus, startling Furiosa who feel like she was about to be sick.

Hera was confused until she remembers Devilla and how she would automatically answer a question that her assistant was thinking of.

"You can read minds too?" Hera asked curiously as held Furiosa in her arms. The Succubus leaned into her, the lifeboat in her once stormy life.

"Something to that effect." Slayer responded seeing the thought above Furiosa written out.

"Oh, damn. Shit." Furiosa uttered. She might have pissed off their best chance to rescue her guardian angel's best friend.

"Real...smooth...Furiosa...." She thought to herself, angry at her clear lack of forethought. And she thought she was actually improving. It was getting hard to keep denouncing herself as her mind felt itself splitting apart and doing jumping jacks.

Hera went back to Furiosa and place her hands on both side of her Temple and her hands started to glow a soft white. A sense of relief and calm radiated throughout Furiosa's body as she shuddered. The Succubus made it way to her feet

"I apologize for looking into your soul without permission." She apologized with a grace Hera had never seen before.

"It understandable, you are trusting a stranger with the love of your life. I do the same if i had such a ability." He said calmly, surprising the both of them on how understanding he could be.

The Slayer just continued onwards.

"It would best that we don't form a relationship with each other or know more about each other than we already have. After this is done, Live your lives, and i will live mine." He told them, not a single emotion was present in his voice.

Hera nodded.

"At least let me find a way to repay you. I owe you that much." She offered to him. 

"Like i said, when this is over, we discuss it." He responded.

Hera handed Furiosa the ShadowDust infused Boots much to Furiosa's confusion.

"When we get there, I need you to put them on. This is crucial, remember when you would sneak in after the gate been closed on campus?" Hera asked with a knowing smile.

Furiosa remembered with a smile.

"Do you still know how to do the invisibility spell?" 

"Of course, i also learned some new things as well. Needed to take a crash course since we're on a rescue mission after all. I can't wait to show off." Furiosa said confidently making Hera smile.

"Ok here the plan you two." Hera cast a barrier of silence around them. "Touenut." With one utterance of this spell name, both Slayer and Furiosa felt the air around them change. It was like they were in a well-insulated and soundproof room. Furiosa almost wanted to laugh at how serious and cool Hera was trying to look but she held it in. 

"Me and Slayer are going to go in first, you will already have your invisibility spell on, i need you to search around the area, here actually." Hera handed her the electrified bat with nails. Furiosa carefully grabbed the handle, she could tell she could do some real damage with this.

"In case you run into trouble. You will find Bertraim and tell him to follow you. Don't worry he knows that you're trustworthy and will do so. You two will sneak back out and we won't be far behind, we will meet up by..." Hera stopped and paused for a moment.

"What wrong cutie?" Furiosa had to ask.

"She doesn't know where you live." Slayer answered simply. Hera nodded, embarrassed that she doesn't know where her best friend lives after all this time.

Furiosa sensed her distress and softly kissed her on the lips, making Hera even more red. Furiosa then bit on her lower lip and tug at it, sending the assistant of Devilla into a stuttering mess. The Slayer found it cute but they really needed to get a move on.

The cherry-headed social worker took out a notepad and a pen she keeps on her and wrote down her address and simply gave it to Hera.

6122 WHARF AVE. 

Hera put the note in her pocket and gives Furiosa and The Slayer two thumbs up. 

Furiosa wanted to laugh again and she did but she gave Hera a thumbs up as well.

The Slayer gave thumbs up of his own.

The Abandoned warehouse was a series of warehouses actually, there was four large buildings stationed near each other, It was once scheduled to be demolished but The Boss struck a deal with the mayor. He was able to soundly convince her that that tearing these buildings down would be such a waste to destroy it. In exchange for a monthly stipend donated straight into her account, the hesitant mayor allowed the buildings to stand.

"This is a trap." Slayer said blankly. 

"Of course it is." Hera responded simply as Furiosa stretched her arms and did some light exercises. 

"Good thing my dream job still have me getting into physical altercations with assholes." Furiosa joked as she finished her exercises. 

She put on the shadow-dust infused boots and uttered the spell.

"EyeNeesnu." With that, she was invisible to the two, it been a while since she used this spell. 

"I think the last time i use this, i snuck into a liquor store in that modern realm, mmm that hard lemonade was good as hell. Took like fifteen cans with me." She thought to herself with fondness.

"I'm assuming we knock on the first one we see?" The Slayer asked, more to himself than anyone else.

"Seems like it, wish they would have specify." Hera said as she kinda annoyed but not surprised at Sazael's lack of effort.

"With the way that group fight it no wonder they half-assed writing the instructions." Slayer spoke as they got closer.

Hera nodded at Slayer who knocked on the door.

The Door slowly opened as Furiosa unleashed her ethereal wings, they too covered by the spell and flew in there, undetected by the people inside.

There was a four armed demon swordsman staring at them before beckoning them to come inside.

The Slayer went in first, acting as a shield for Hera as she slowly went in after.