The War Of The Purgatory

The sky above the battlefield churned with chaos, golden light clashing with infernal fire. Heaven and Hell were at war once again, and this time, the violence was unprecedented. Screams of anguish, the clanging of swords, and the deafening sound of destruction filled the air.

Kikidori stood at the edge of the fray, his sharp eyes scanning the battlefield. His black hood was pulled up over his head, and his obsidian armor reflected the eerie glow of the infernal fires around him. The scent of burning feathers and sulfur filled his nostrils. He tightened his grip on his weapon—a jagged, obsidian blade infused with hellfire.

In front of him, angels fell from the heavens, their golden blood staining the ground. Demons swarmed like locusts, their weapons tearing through wings and holy shields alike. Despite the carnage, the angels held their ground, their radiant light burning brighter than ever.

Kikidori gritted his teeth as he watched his fellow demons fall, some crushed beneath the heavenly wrath of the angels. He hadn't wanted to fight, not this time, but Lucifer had given the order, and no demon defied Lucifer—not without consequences.

Nearby, Ere'ana was locked in combat. Her silver armor shimmered under the light of her halo, and her blue eyes blazed with determination. Her sword slashed through the air as she fought off wave after wave of demons. She moved with grace and precision, but the sheer numbers of the enemy overwhelmed her.

At one point, a hulking demon lunged at her, its jagged claws aiming for her chest. Ere'ana raised her sword, but it was too late—the demon's strength was too much. Just as its claws were about to pierce her, another angel intervened, slamming into the demon with a shield of light. The demon roared in pain as it disintegrated, leaving Ere'ana gasping for breath.

"Stay sharp!" the angel shouted before flying off to engage another group of demons. Ere'ana nodded, her chest heaving as she steadied herself. She couldn't let her guard down again.

On the other side of the battlefield, Kikidori charged forward, his blade carving through the lines of angels. He moved like a whirlwind, a deadly force of nature. Angel after angel fell before him, their golden blood splattering across his armor. At first, he felt nothing—just the hollow, mechanical motions of a soldier doing his duty.

But something in him began to stir. As his blade sliced through yet another angel, he hesitated. He looked down at the angel's lifeless form, their glowing wings broken and dim. The golden blood pooled around his feet, and for a brief moment, Kikidori's heart ached.

"This isn't right," he muttered to himself. "Why am I doing this?"

But before he could dwell on the thought, a searing pain shot through his skull. Kikidori dropped to his knees, clutching his head as a sinister voice echoed in his mind. It was Lucifer, his presence oppressive and overwhelming.

"You will fight, Kikidori," the voice hissed. "You will kill. You are mine, and you will obey."

Kikidori's vision blurred as the voice twisted and contorted his thoughts. Memories of Ere'ana flashed through his mind—her smile, her laugh, the way she always believed in something better. He tried to hold onto those memories, but they slipped away like sand through his fingers.

"No," Kikidori growled, his voice strained. "I won't—"

Lucifer's voice boomed, cutting him off. "You have no choice. You are a demon. This is who you are. Accept it."

Kikidori's body convulsed as the dark magic took hold. His heart, which had been conflicted and full of doubt, grew cold and unfeeling. His lips curled into a sinister grin, and a low, chilling laugh escaped him.

"Fine," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "If that's what you want, then I'll give it to you."

Kikidori stood, his wings unfurling behind him, their once jagged edges now glowing with a faint, corrupted light. His eyes burned with a twisted fire as he plunged back into the battle, no longer holding back. He became a force of destruction, his blade cutting through angels like a hot knife through butter.

He laughed as he fought, the sound echoing across the battlefield. It was a laugh that sent shivers down the spines of both angels and demons alike. For the first time in a long time, Kikidori felt... powerful. He felt unstoppable.

Ere'ana, who had been fighting on the opposite side of the battlefield, heard the laugh and froze. She knew that laugh—it was Kikidori's. Her heart sank as she turned toward the sound, her eyes scanning the chaos for any sign of him.

When she finally spotted him, her breath caught in her throat. Kikidori was surrounded by a group of angels, his blade spinning in a deadly arc. The angels tried to fight back, but they were no match for him. One by one, they fell, their golden blood painting the ground.

"No," Ere'ana whispered, her voice trembling. "Kikidori... what are you doing?"

She took a step toward him, but another demon attacked her, forcing her to defend herself. As much as she wanted to reach him, the chaos of the battlefield kept her at bay.

Kikidori, oblivious to Ere'ana's presence, continued his rampage. He reveled in the destruction, his laughter growing louder with each kill. He didn't care who he was fighting anymore—angel or demon, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the power surging through him, the rush of adrenaline as he cut through his enemies.

But deep down, buried beneath the layers of darkness and rage, a small part of Kikidori screamed. It was the part of him that still remembered Ere'ana, the part of him that didn't want to be a monster.

As the battle raged on, that small part of him grew weaker and weaker, drowned out by the chaos and bloodshed.

For now, Kikidori was lost, consumed by the darkness that had always threatened to take him. And Ere'ana, standing on the other side of the battlefield, could do nothing but watch as the man she cared for descended deeper into the abyss.

The end of Chapter 15