TITLE    : Demonic Submission Ch. 23
STORYID  : demonic-submission-ch-23
SUMMARY  : The Clash Between Tristan and Odeon.
AUTHOR   : TheLastChaosLord@lit
DATE     : 2013-07-02
CATEGORY : non-erotic-stories
FLAGS    : 
TAGS     : |demon|incubus|red head|duel|


<i>Hello everyone.</i>



<i>Before we go too far into it, this chapter is the Clash between Odeon and Tristan. It is 30 some odd pages long, and most of it is the two of them duking it out. There is little to no erotica in this chapter so if that's what you're waiting for you'll have to wait until a future chapter. </i>



<i>I'm posting this just as my last chapter becomes available so hopefully the wait won't have to be too long. </i>



<i>I'd like to thank WanderingMindGames who has helped proof this as well as helped me with a bit of the phrasing in a few spots. She is a great help and I'm glad to have her as my beta reader. </i>



<i>Anywho, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. As always I'm open to suggestions and ideas. It might be awhile before the next chapter as I haven't even started writing it yet as I've been busy with other things... Plus ideas for other stories keep trying to invade my thoughts. No worries though, there will be more soon enough for this story. </i>



<b><i>~~~~</i></b>



<b><i>"My People!" </i></b>Vestiem's thundering voice bellowed out across the chamber in the minds of all those who were present. <b><i>"We are here today to witness a tradition that has been passed down by our people for Millennium unnumbered! We are here to witness the Clash!" </i></b>Vestiem roared out from high above from his hovering throne. His words incited a riot of response, as from every demonic mouth cheers and howls of approval echoed around in the massive chamber. <b><i>"We all know what this is! A testament to our way of life! Where the strong rule, and the weak are culled! Where might is the only right, and points are made with swords and fangs!"</i></b> Vestiem threw up his arms as he spoke, and his people flew to their feet, cheering with unnatural fury and an unquenchable thirst for impending violence. <b><i>"It is here the mightiest prove themselves to all our people! It is here that warnings are issued to upstarts and usurpers, in the screams of those that would side with them! It is here that false rulers are deposed, and cut down like chaff before the scythe, unable to cling to their failing power! It is on this sand where Lords are born, and it is also here where they die." </i></b>



Tristan was standing before his throne, waiting as Vestiem began the opening address to his people. The main chamber was dim, save for lights that were directed to Vestiem and the pit itself. Ultimately, Vestiem had taken advantage of the Clash that Tristan had demanded and turned it into a sort of spectacle. He took demons inherent need for violence, pain and death, and manipulated it in a way that was showy, and inherently awe inspiring. As much as Tristan recognized it as a ploy to play to the senses and simplistic desires of most demons, he had to admit it was difficult not to get caught up into himself. There were rumbling drums that thumped in the background, sounding to a beat that set the heart raging and excited the soul. The cheering crowds and endless applause egged the participants on, lashing at them to fight to their fullest, or face the ire of the entire population. 



It was all so much to take in, and it was enough for most demons to be overloaded by it. Even Rena, whose loyalty to him was perhaps seconded only by Claude, was getting caught up in the excitement. She howled and brayed along with the crowd, roaring that her master would stand victorious and that Odeon would be a ruin by the end. Tristan smiled at that, knowing he would always have someone who would roar his praises. 



Tristan glanced down to Celestine, who was a bit overwhelmed at the grand experience. Yet despite that she looked to him and nodded lightly. She had faith in him as well, which he could see was conflicted with other more rational thoughts. Thoughts that argued that she prefer he lose this contest, and die at the hands of Odeon. It pleased him to see she was pushing those things aside, and was on his side for this. Even though she would not be likely to admit it if asked about it. 



Tristan finally turned to Claude, who bowed lightly and offered Tristan the warded box he had kept on his person over the course of the entire court. Tristan held out his hand over the wards and they unlocked themselves and opened the box with unseen hands. Inside was a handle of a sort, carved out of polished bone... Yet it was not that of a human, or of a beast. No... for those who knew, this was the bone of a demon, carved and cared for by its crafter in perfect detail. Its surface was covered in baroque, terrible runes. Symbols that would make a mortals mind spin just looking at them. The bottom of the handle bore a slightly curved point, where the top seemed to have an empty hole...void of anything, even a bottom. 



Once in his hands, Tristan slipped the weapon into his robes and nodded to Claude who withdrew and stood along side Celestine with Rena. He looked to both of them, using the mark to give them their orders as words would be lost in the cacophony of noise. <i>("Protect her, from any and all threats.")</i> His words had a simple calm to them, one that demanded absolute commitment. Both of them bowed deeply, accepting their orders without argument. He cast a single glance to Navira, who sat near with several of her more powerful demons. Her mortals were with Celestine as well, though one sat at Celestine's side and the other was on the opposite side of Tristan's throne. Despite their past misgivings, Tristan was pleased that Navira was supporting him in this. After a moment's consideration, he looked to Celestine and smiled confidently, again using the mark to speak to her. <i>("I'll be back soon...")</i>



Celestine cocked her head and raised an eyebrow curiously. Eventually she replied. <i>("I know. But stop standing around, and go kill that bastard already. He's done too much to be forgiven or forgotten...")</i> He could sense her wrath, as memories of what Odeon did to Rena came flooding back to her mind. Tristan simply nodded before looking to Vestiem, who was done with his introductions.



Vestiem seemed to sense Durial's readiness, and turned towards the Lord of Lust. <b><i>"We begin with Durial, Demon Lord of Lust and Depravity. He has issued this challenge to his opponent, with the soul intention of warning any and all who would oppose him, and to punish him for an attack upon his servants and property. Let us hope he can deliver, as many would suspect that our resident incubus is more show than substance!"</i> </b>Vestiem declared, inciting laughter from some amongst the stands while others booed, apparently disliking Durial and hoping this would be his end. However, others cheered for him. Many of which were sworn nobles under him, but even those beyond his dominance cried out for his victory. Apparently Odeon had no shortage of demons who hated him.



Tristan unfurled his wings to their full reach before leaping forwards towards the pit, soaring over the heads of nobles and their vassals. His passing was like a great shadow, and more than a few demons reached up in hopes of just grazing him with their fingers. He flew low enough to allow it, and they cheered all the louder for it. 



As he entered the pit, Tristan aimed for the center, landing in a flourish of his wings and skidding along the ruddy sand to stop at the heart of the pit. He looked about the massive chamber and saw that it was packed to the brim with demonic and mortal spectators. Almost every demon of the court had turned out for this... for the Clash... just as he had hoped. 



As he landed he recalled Vestiem's words to him after his hallway encounter with Navira and Barathax. The Sovereign had told him that while he would not try and take Celestine for himself, he would not help Tristan in any way shape or form if it became common knowledge that she was Fell Born. If anything, the Sovereign seemed to promise that he would lead the charge against Tristan if it got out, all in order to ensure the safety of his people. As much as Tristan detested Vestiem for his actions, he knew the majority of the demons under Vestiem's rule almost went so far as to worship him as the greatest exemplar of sin. One that they would all model themselves after if they could, and flock to any banner he called them to. 



It was strange though... almost like Vestiem had some ulterior goal to telling Tristan what he would do if Celestine's true heritage got out. It was almost like he was challenging Tristan to succeed in whatever his plans for Celestine were, and to do it quickly. The unfortunate thing was Tristan wasn't entirely sure what his plans for her were either... He had an end game in mind yes, but he didn't know if it would work, or if Celestine would end up destroying him first... Never mind the fact that he had no idea how long it would take to reach his planned results. But Tristan's thoughts were disturbed when Vestiem continued to speak. 



<b><i>"And now I present to you, the one who was challenged to this Clash by Durial."</i></b> Vestiem's voice rang with anticipation and he turned towards one of the heavy iron and brass gates that lined the wall of the pit. It began to jerk open to reveal the looming darkness within. It was from that darkness that Odeon slithered forward, abhorrent in his true form. While he had obvious jaw in his true form, Tristan somehow felt the Demon of Envy was smiling madly at him. <b><i>"Some may know him, others know his reputation! He has clawed and ripped his way up the ranks of our infernal hierarchy with astounding speed, feasting on the souls of any and all who have gotten in his way. I give you Odeon, scion of Envy!" </i></b>Vestiem thundered out, accompanied by cheers and cries for Odeon to slay Durial. 



"I am surprised Odeon, I would have thought you would have tried something before the appropriate time... It would be fitting for a wretch like you." Tristan taunted, loud enough for all to hear in the large chamber. 



"And why would I do thatsh Durial? When I can instead make you scream in front of allsh thesh fine demonsh..." Odeon slurred occasionally, his features twitching, "Thensh everthing of yoursh will be mine!" Tristan frowned as he tried to understand the words, and as he did he noticed something very odd about Odeon... Every few moments Odeon's whole head would twitch away from something... like he was trying to get some buzzing out of his head or something like that. "I'll take your preshious mortal, and rape her to death in front of everyone!" Odeon snarled pointing to Celestine. "I'll eatsh her soul and let her die shcreaming..." Odeon threatened, slithering closer to Durial and towards the center of the pit. 



For all his threats though, Celestine didn't seem concerned. She watched on, cool and focused. Yet despite outward appearances Tristan was certain she was anxious... Not because she was worried for Tristan, but because she wanted to see Odeon silenced...



Tristan looked again to Odeon and observed him more closely... Odeon was twitching badly for some reason. His bulky body, marred by swarms of tumors writhing just under his skin, seemed to be just barely holding itself together, like something wanted to get out. Green spittle leaked from his lamprey like mouth, and If Tristan wasn't wrong, his eyes glowed with an almost black haze hanging over Odeon's eyes. 



His legs were a mass of tendrils and barbed tentacles, many of which seemed to bear sharp spurs that wept some sort of slime... his arms were split into thick ropes of flesh, each of which bore a long bone spear at its tip. From his malformed head a thicket of quills twitched and swayed with each of his motions, stretching down his hunching back. 



Ultimately, Tristan realized something about Odeon... He had changed since their last meeting... His power was burning hotter than it should have been... His envy was nearly running out of control and it was twisting Odeon's already wretched body... Tristan didn't know if that would make him more of a threat or less of one. But something in the back of his head told him that he wasn't so lucky to assume that Odeon had weakened since their last encounter, even if his mind had slipped and madness began to claw at him... 



To Tristan, there was no doubt that Odeon was loosing his grip on his already tenuous grip on his sanity. A curious bent hit Tristan then, and he smiled lightly before taunting Odeon. "Everything of mine would become yours? How laughable. You are too weak to even handle a fraction of my assets... Even if, by some madness you beat me, other demons will start pecking at you and taking everything away from you, bit by bit. You will end up just like you are now wretch... alone, and with nothing to call your own." 



At first Odeon didn't even seem to hear Tristan's words, but instead seemed to freeze. Everyone in the chamber seemed to go quiet as they waited for Odeon's response, but they were slightly surprised by what happened. Odeon began to shamble forwards, wheezing and puffing. He didn't seem bent on attacking but instead locked Tristan in an angry stare, full of hate and spite. "Mine..." He hissed angrily, leaning close and glaring at Tristan. "It will all be <i>mine!</i>" he repeated, as if saying it would somehow make it true. 



Tristan watched as more chunks of Odeon's sanity flecked away. Apparently the thought of someone taking whatever he might earn never dawned on him, and he apparently didn't like the notion one bit... "Really?" Tristan asked, clearly mocking Odeon. "And how do you plan to stop them? You have no real power." Tristan declared, loud enough for all in the chamber to hear. It was built as a natural amphitheater, so he didn't have to speak up too loudly. 



"Power?" Odeon sneered. "I have <i>more</i> then enough power! I cannot be injured! You can't hurt me! No one can hurt me!" Odeon snapped at Tristan, confidence in himself seeming to solidify his speech for a moment, though only with an obvious effort.



"Is that so?" Tristan asked, knowing what would come next. 



"Yes!" he snarled in Tristan's face. However, just as he was about to speak, it looked like Odeon was suddenly distracted by something. Tristan watched as he began to hiss at invisible voices, whispering to Odeon. "Shut up! I know... I KNOW!" He howled, one arm swinging wildly at things that were not there. But whatever was plaguing him seemed to be pushed away a moment later as he whirled back to Durial. "I'll prove it! Attack me!" He dared Tristan, much to the delight of the crowd. They were becoming bored with the exchange between the two... they wanted violence. 



"Are you sure?" Tristan asked curiously. "It might hurt a lot if I do that." He suggested, his voice condescending. 



Odeon let out a wordless howl before speaking again. "<i>HIT ME</i>! Do it! Hit m-<i>UNG!</i>" The blow sounded like the cracking of an ice sheet, and echoed throughout the room. Odeon went barreling back, ass over teakettle, throwing up sand as he rolled and a half dozen of his teeth went soaring further and scattered across the ground... Tristan stood, fist still extended from the bone jarring blow. After an instant the crowd roared its approval, And Odeon was scrambling to get up. 



But the crowd quieted again, as Odeon twisted around and snarled at Tristan, his jaw already healing, with new teeth filling in. "So Lord of Lust, did you break your hand?!" Odeon began to snicker, as he began to approach Tristan once again. "Did your dainty hand get all smashed up?!" Odeon sneered at Tristan who withdrew his hand and looked at it. However Odeon was perplexed when he noticed that Durial's face showed no pain at all...



"Broken?" Tristan asked aloud. "Hardly... Here... see for yourself." Tristan held up his hand for Odeon to look at for himself when he was closer. 



Odeon frowned, all his eyes focusing on the offending hand. He saw a small amount of bruising on Durial's knuckles, but nothing more. "Wh-<i>MNFF!</i>" Again, the sound of breaking ice filled the room and Odeon went skidding away, hurled back by the blow Tristan delivered with his opposite hand. This time however Odeon managed to roll with the blow and get back up quicker. "Wretch!" he screamed at Tristan, even as his body healed completely with frightening speed. "I'll killsh you! I'll drag your insidesh out and dance in your fucking ShKIN!" The slur was returning as Odeon's grip on himself began to slip again. 



However as he howled and brayed at Tristan, Tristan saw the movement under Odeon's skin accelerate, like he was barley keeping it in. As much as Tristan wanted to drag this out, a part of him worried that if he did so, he would let whatever transformation was happening with Odeon complete itself. If that happened, Odeon might become even stronger. The logical and practical thing to do would be to end this right now. Pull out the demonic artifact he carried or force one of the more powerful destructive spells he bore and just end this right off the bat...



"Nah..." Tristan said to himself, grinning. "What fun would that be?" Tristan's grin turned into a cruel smile as Odeon hurled himself at Tristan, tendrils covered in bone spurs and tipped with three feet long spikes darted out at Tristan. It seemed that Odeon was done talking, and was going on the offensive. However, unlike most in this situation, Tristan didn't pull away; instead he stayed within Odeon's reach to dodge the blows with supernatural agility and terrible grace. But Odeon's attacks seemed to be legion, and for every half dozen blows that Tristan had to dodge, there would be one he couldn't dodge. He was still able to block them; using the armor he wore to deflect the worst of the damage. Still, Odeon was becoming more and more frustrated as Tristan seemed to dance around his attacks. His breathing became a sick mix of wheezing and hacking out phlegm and bile. Yet for all the disgusting sounds he created that would suggest he was weakening, Odeon was still pressing his attack. If anything, the attacks were accelerating. At first Tristan didn't understand why, but after a moment or two more he realized that more tendrils and grisly appendages were ripping their way free from Odeon's body, adding to the withering barrage. "Well, that could be problematic." Tristan grumbled to himself. He still didn't fall back, as if the increased challenge was something he wanted. 



Frustration and impatience was getting the best of Odeon however, and he howled madly at Durial, rearing back to lash out with a dozen of his weapons all at once. However even before he could hurl the devastating blow at Durial, he felt his chest compacting from a blow that snuck through his attacks. Odeon's mouth was suddenly full of blood as bones broke and pierced his lungs. In an instant the injuries were already regenerating, and he could see that Durial had let several of his attacks graze him in order to make his own attack. But Odeon didn't have time to be thankful of the damage he had done to Durial, even if it was only superficial. Durial was, despite all reason, going on the offensive, and lashed out again with his clenched fists. 



The second blow caught Odeon at the shoulder mashing muscle and making every tendril that burst from there suddenly go horribly numb. The third strike caught Odeon just above the hip near where his demonic equivalent of a kidney was. A half second after the strike had landed, he was certain the blow had detonated the kidney and white hot pain laced up his sides for a moment. More and more blows came, and every strike was powerful enough to shatter bone and pulverize organs and flesh. Odeon, and almost every other demon in the court was astounded that this demon of lust had such physical power, apparently shattering the idea that lust demons were usually physically weak...



Yet Odeon wasn't out of it by any means... Even as Durial's blows fell over and over, he knew that he was taking a toll on the Lord of Lust. It started out as a single drop of blood, slipping from broken skin along his knuckles, but each strike only exhibited the wounds he was receiving from Odeon's cursed flesh. Still, injuries or not, Durial wasn't slowing down, and after a stunning jab, he crouched low and then popped up, using every muscle in his body to land a devastating upper cut to Odeon's head that sounded like a cannon being shot. The blow landed with enough force that fully half of Odeon's face and jaw exploded away in a fountain of gore, and the rest of his head snapped back with enough force that Durial could hear Odeon's spine snapping. 

<hr pg="2" />Tristan grinned at the horrific damage he had wrought. Odeon's head hung limply back from his shoulders, what was left of it anyway. No, Tristan didn't think that was the end of it, but it should have taken Odeon a moment or two to recover from that. Moments that Tristan probably could have used himself. Despite his bravado from earlier, his fists ached badly, and he could feel flesh and bone were yielding against Odeon's power to seemingly return any force applied against him. Honestly it was like punching his own fist every time Tristan lashed out. But he was made of stern stuff, and his pride wouldn't let him ease up. 



But as he came down from his uppercut, Tristan saw that he had made an error... The blow that Odeon had prepared to lash out with before Durial interrupted him, was still tensed to strike, even with a snapped neck. "Damn" Tristan cursed, as no less than twelve of the barbed tendrils struck out. Tristan was able to dodge most of them, and block a few more, but at least three got through, the cutting teeth along the sides of the ropes of flesh finding gaps in Durial's armor and cleaving into flesh like a saw blade. 



The crowd was cheering its praises as the two combatants tried to murder one another. However as Celestine watched Odeon strike back she felt her heart skip several beats. The spray of blood from Tristan made her heart clench so tightly that she felt like she couldn't breathe for a moment. But somehow she pushed it aside and focused, unwilling to look away. She could hear Rena cheering for Tristan, screaming for him to tear Odeon's head off. Claude was a picture of stoic calm though, like nothing that was happening was even worth cheering on. At least not yet... 



Tristan growled to Odeon, more in annoyance than because of pain. He reached out suddenly and grasped a half dozen tendrils from Odeon's shoulders, his grip like closing vices, before he hopped up, and kicked both feet straight into Odeon's sternum with enough force to shatter the bone, compact Odeon's chest, ripping away the tendrils that Tristan was holding onto in a spray of Odeon's brackish blood. Even with a ruined chest, Odeon howled in pain, staggering back a half dozen feet. Tristan stood, Odeon's tentacles still thrashing in his hands. 



A lull in the combat seemed to form, even as the host of demons shrieked for more. Tristan began to circle Odeon, apparently taking his time as he was curiously looking over the ropes of meat he had pulled from the demon of envy. He seemed to be entertaining himself, toying with them and watching what blood was in them seep out onto the ground. Glancing up Durial saw exactly how extensive Odeon's regenerative abilities were... Over the course of only seconds, his head snapped forwards again as Odeon's spine mended. His face was only a couple seconds behind as the crater that Tristan had left there was suddenly full of new flesh. Even the tendrils Tristan held were suddenly replaced as new strands of slimy meat erupted from their torn stumps...



Odeon looked to Tristan, a mad snicker escaping his lips. "Is that all you have?" He rasped, slipping a few feet closer. "Is this all the vaunted Lord of Lust has?!" Odeon almost screeched at him. "Fine! I'll take it! I'll take it all!" He howled at Tristan. Tristan, for all the braying sent his way by Odeon, didn't seem all that concerned, despite the fact that he bore at least three lacerations from Odeon's attacks, and his hands were raw, bleeding and bruised. 



Durial stabbed the bone spears he had liberated from Odeon into the ground. All save for one which he seemed to be rolling back and forth over his fingers, almost like he was playing with it. Odeon saw this and cocked his head in confusion unsure if Durial was just ignoring him... but when Tristan spoke he looked to Odeon with a condescending grin. "I thought you were going to take something from me Odeon... but it seems I've taken something of yours instead." He said, holding up the appendage. 



Realization slowly dawned on Odeon and his whole body shook in envious rage. "<i>Mine</i>" He hissed, madness creeping into his voice. "<i>MINE!"</i> He howled again before hurling himself at Tristan, every barbed tendril and tearing tentacle raised to strike. As Odeon closed upon him, Tristan couldn't help but smile...



With the same speed and ease he had used to dodge Odeon's attacks at the beginning of their confrontation, Tristan hurled Odeon's bone spear like a javelin. It struck deeply into Odeon, a half foot of its length sticking out his back covered in Odeon's blood... The blow made Odeon stumble, and that was all that Tristan needed... In the following seconds, no less than five more lances of bone were punched through Odeon. They were driven into his hips and shoulders, ruining muscle mass and making it difficult to move the tendrils that Odeon still had. The last javelin was in Odeon's throat, making him cough up blood and keeping him from saying anything or scream in pain. 



"There... that should shut you up for a while." Tristan commented, clearly amused as he dusted his hands off. The legion of demons that watched were quiet at first, stunned by Durials' actions, but in moments hundreds of them were on their feet cheering for his success as Odeon pawed at the protruding spears of bone as gouts of gore oozed from his maw. "It looks like you're having some trouble with those..." Tristan said aloud, quieting the crowd again and making Odeon go still. "Here... let me help you..." Tristan took a step towards Odeon, before breaking into a full sprint assisted with a single powerful beating of his wings. Odeon didn't have time to raise his guard, at least not before Tristan made impact, and kicked one of the spears straight through Odeon, ripping the fresh wound that was already there even wider. In a flurry of activity, Durial grasped two of the spines and ripped them free, sending streams of blood and fluids spilling over the sand. 



If anything, it looked like Durial was flourishing with the spines, the way he made the blood slip off them before he tossed them aside. Odeon managed to regain his senses enough to lash out again, but Tristan was able to dodge the half hazard strikes and with another powerful pump from his wings he was leaping over Odeon and landing behind him. There he gripped two more of the spears that protruded through Odeon's back and pulled them through, dragging chunks of bloody meat and sinew with them before kicking away from Odeon. 



The Demon of Envy whirled and ripped the remaining bone spear out of his throat before snapping it apart and tossing it away. An angry howl escaped his disgusting maw as his flesh knitted back together again, unable to stop Durial from using the bone spears to spread Odeon's gore around the chamber. "What's wrong Odeon?" Tristan taunted, a playful smirk on his features. "Are you perhaps concerned because it seems whatever ward or curse your flesh bears, doesn't work against your own weapons? Have I found a chink in your armor?" Tristan asked, clearly mocking Odeon. Odeon's lack of response seemed to answer that question... It seemed that only foreign bodies or objects would be met with the repelling force his body seemed to generate. 



"Surely you have more to offer than spears of bone and rapid regeneration? Come now; let's see what you really have!" Tristan demanded, before hurling the two spears he still had at Odeon again. 



This time Odeon was prepared for them though, and batted away his discarded limbs. apart. "You wantsh power Durial!?" Odeon asked, trying to contain his slurring as the numerous holes in his body were quickly closing up. "Fine... Thish ish my power!" Odeon snarled, beginning to rush at Tristan. 



Tristan prepared for the barrage of strikes, unsure of what Odeon was doing. But when Odeon suddenly seemed to fold in on himself in a fraction of a second and disappear, Tristan was completely at a loss for what happened. But that didn't seem to matter when he felt the bite of at least seven lances of bone punching into his back, arms and legs... "<i>What?!</i>" Tristan gasped glancing behind him, to find Odeon there, his monstrous crater like mouth wheezing his foul breath over Tristan. 



In a half panic, Tristan lashed out with his wings, buffeting Odeon away and freeing himself from the spears that were impaling him. He had no idea what happened, and whirled to face Odeon again, but just as Odeon came into view, he again folded in on himself disappearing from view. "<i>No!</i>" Tristan tried to whirl to face where he suspected Odeon would be coming from, but instead of appearing behind Tristan, Odeon appeared at his side and lashed out once more. 



This time Tristan was able to defend against several of the attacks, but not all, and more spurs and lances of bone racked along his flesh, or stabbed into his side and leg. Tristan twisted to lash out, and connected with Odeon's head, though not with the force he was hoping for. The bad angle and his injuries robbed him of the power he wanted to use. Still it was enough to hurl Odeon back. Yet even as Odeon soared, he again folded into nothing. "Fuck!" Tristan swore as he felt more of Odeon's attack find purchase, tearing flesh away in a bloody mess. Tristan took to his wings and got up and away from Odeon... Glancing down he saw Odeon looking up cackling manically. 



~~~~



"What is that?!" Celestine asked aloud, clearly confused as to how Odeon could appear and disappear seemingly at will. She was trying to speak over the howling crowd, clearly pleased with the tables turning against Tristan. 



Claude spoke up, his voice angry and more than a little surprised. "It is called "Slipping". A rare and potent power. Who the hell did he eat to earn that?!" Claude asked no one. "In essence, a demon of envy can look upon a spot and envy it so greatly, that the power literally makes him trade places with that location. It is essentially a power that personifies the thought that 'the grass is always greener on the other side'. Normally it is a power that takes an immensely powerful sphere of envy, and even then is not something that can be taught or learned in a traditional sense. It has to come innately or by consuming a demon that has such a power." Claude explained coldly. 



"Fuck!" Rena swore. "How can anyone fight that?! Combined with his regeneration, even if Master is fast enough to avoid Odeon's attacks and counter attack, Odeon can just dodge as easily as thinking it!" Rena was grinding her teeth, tail flicking back and forth menacingly. 



Celestine looked to Rena slightly confused. "Uh... Rena... I don't think you need to worry so much... Tristan will be fine."



Claude looked to Celestine curiously. "And how pray tell can you be sure of that?" 



Celestine looked to him as if surprised he couldn't tell. "Uh... cause he isn't even using his full strength... he's restraining himself right now... bottlenecking his power. He's put himself on par with Odeon... I don't know why though..." She admitted. 



Claude looked to her stunned and amazed... as did Rena, Troy and Diana... None of them understood how she could have known that... but somehow she did. Celestine just shrugged in response to their gazes... not sure why they couldn't tell that he was obviously holding back. 



"I know why he is." Claude said confidently. "He wants to humiliate Odeon... This power was a surprise yes, but it hasn't derailed his plan... If anything, it's only helped ensure that there will be a greater impact when he lays Odeon low..." Claude said proudly, impressed by his master's tactics... Everyone save Celestine looked to Claude for a moment before looking back to Tristan, beaten and battered as he was, unsure if what Claude suggested was really the case. 



However another set of ears over hearing all this wasn't focused on that... She knew that only the tip of the iceberg was showing in regards to Durial's power... What Navira really wanted to know was... how the mortal knew that... All the Demonic Lords regularly hid their power. It was a means of fooling their enemies into underestimating them, but beyond that it was a deterrent. The question of 'how powerful are they really?' always comes around eventually... And because most demons are unable to answer that with full confidence, they sit back and choose not to risk it... But how did this little mortal figure it out, when the mighty Demon Lords could not?



~~~~



Tristan landed and tried to keep his breathing regular. He was bleeding from a dozen wounds, though it was probably closer to two or three dozen... One of his arms was seriously damaged; muscle and sinew had been severed rendering it nearly useless. His wings still worked, thankfully, but flying around above wasn't going to save him. There was nothing saying that Odeon couldn't just slip above and crash into him... Odeon seemed to be taking his time laughing at Tristan, mocking his apparent weakness. "Come on Durial, dance around for me some more!" Odeon demanded. "You can't just give up now! Your nobles might still have some hope for you... I can't have that... I need to humiliate you more so they know how weak you truly are!" Odeon demanded, his grip on his facilities tightening again as his confidence went up. 



However he was silenced when he saw Durial hunch over and snicker some. "...What is funny Durial? Do you not realize you're about to die?" Odeon asked, slowly moving closer. However his words seemed to illicit another small burst of laughter... larger then the last one but Durial seemed to contain it quickly again. Yet that laughter incited a new wave of angry hate in Odeon... How could he be so amused so close to death? "Simpering fool!" Odeon shouted, "I'll make you pay for mocking me!" 



But he was stopped dead in his tracks when Tristan began to chuckle again. But this time, he made no attempt to hide or contain it... Instead he let it grow... Grow stronger and louder until it echoed in the chamber, full of contempt and amusement. The amusement that only the mighty can have when the weak challenge them... "Kill me? How can you expect me not to laugh when you make such a comical statement?" Tristan bent over laughing uncontrollably for a moment and then stood upright, rolling his neck some before looking to Odeon again, as if slightly surprised by something... "Oh. Wait... don't tell me... Don't tell me that you think you're the only one who can regenerate his body and heal his wounds?" Tristan asked grinning like an ass. 



Odeon frowned, suddenly confused by Tristan's confident and utterly relaxed words... But he shook it off. "Bullshit! You would have already if you could! You are bluffing! Buying time for your wounds to heal naturally!" Odeon sneered. It was true, that the more powerful a demon was, the more quickly their wounds would heal. As much as he didn't like to admit it, Durial was powerful, stronger in many ways than Odeon. But in combat much of that power was wasted... But give him ten minuets and it might be enough to repair enough damage to be a threat again. He wouldn't take that chance... Odeon coiled himself, ready to strike and kill Durial and be done with this game. 



However Odeon was sudden stalled when Tristan held up one hand, fingers ready to snap. "Oh really?" Is that what you think?" The snap of his fingers sounded and Odeon watched as Durial's wounds closed and disappeared at an impossible rate... his mind went numb as Durial continued to speak. "Well... I guess I just proved you wrong... I admit, my healing isn't as aggressive as yours... I actually have to expend energy to heal my body like that where you don't. But it gets the job done regardless. So then the question falls to you Odeon... are you ready?" Tristan asked with a wide evil grin on his features.



"R-...Ready?" Odeon asked, taking a step back unconsciously. "Ready forsh what?" He asked slurring uncontrollably, his confidence already beginning to slip. 



"Why... to see how demon lords go to war of course." Tristan replied, his grin widening even further as he spread his wings, showing his true majesty. Odeon watched as he felt the power begin to wax around and within Durial... Watched... as all the blood that Durial had spread around and spilt, began to glow in a red gold light... Looking at it now, Odeon realized in stupid awe that Durial had spread it very precisely as he moved about the pit... That each smear of blood was actually some sort of demonic glyph etched into the sand with Odeon's blood... 



Yet despite all that, Odeon stubbornly refused to concede. It would all be his... he wouldn't accept anything else. Everything Durial had, Odeon deserved. He knew that. He knew that was always the case. The arrogant pounce didn't deserve anything but to be eaten by Odeon, pure and simple! Odeon looked to Tristan, envy ripping through him as he looked up on Tristan's handsome form. He couldn't help but compare it to his hideous body; full of tumors and unsightly growths... oh how he envied him for that form...



"Fine..." Odeon slurred angrily at Durial. "Letsh shee it than!" He screamed at Durial, before he hurled himself at Tristan. 



Tristan smiled as he slipped the handle that he had taken from Claude out of his robes, and drew it back, ready to strike... "Awaken oh cursed one... creator of suffering... oh living <i>Torment</i>!" At his words the demonic bone handle seemed to thrum with power as its runes blazed... From the hole at its top a thirty foot length of a leather whip erupted. However the leather was not made from any animal... demons recognized it for what it was... cured demon flesh... From in between the strips of leather that made up its length, ugly barbs slipped out, and seemed to ooze blood from no where... 



Odeon came within range, and Tristan lashed out with this terrible weapon... when it cracked across Odeon's chest, it did not sound wholly like the crack of any normal whip, but any and all there could have sworn they heard the screams of hundreds of mortals mixed in with that deplorable sound... That and one agonizing scream ripping from Odeon's lips. 



Odeon looked down at his chest and saw the blow had left a terrible canyon in his chest deep enough to expose bone and organs... and even as he watched the wound seemed to grow larger... The agony was blinding and Odeon couldn't help but twist and arch his back, causing even more harm to himself as he stretched the wound open further... As the weapon withdrew with a flick of Durial's wrist, bloody goblets of ruined meat fell from its barbs and the whip itself seemed to writhe unnaturally, as if given the ultimate excitement...



~~~~



Celestine stared in stupid awe at what she had just seen... "W-...What?" Was all she could manage as the whip seemed to flick and move about on its own...



"It is the <i>Torment</i>" Navira said aloud as the crowd sat quiet, stupefied along side Celestine at what they were seeing. "It is a demon weapon..." Navira said unsure if she believed it herself. "Claude..." She demanded. "When did he get that?! Where did he get it?!" She asked desperately. 



Claude chuckled and shook his head. "Alas I will not answer those questions Lady Navira, as you are not meant to know." Navira huffed and turned away, looking to Tristan again as she worried at her bottom lip. Celestine looked to Claude confused and he smiled lightly. "Are you curious what it is?" Celestine didn't answer at first... as if unsure she wanted to know what it really was... this only seemed to be accented when she heard it crack out again, quickly followed by Odeon screaming as he writhed in the sand. She turned back to Claude and nodded. 



"It is the <i>Torment</i>. As Lady Navira said, it is a demon weapon. One of the first demon weapons actually. It was created by Encurcio, a demon from ancient times. Some say he was the First Sovereign, though there is no proof of that and I personally do not believe it. Regardless, he was from a time when demons were far more open with their activities. Humanity was still young then, and had not experienced much of the wonders and horrors the world had. Encurcio wanted to change that, and he did. He showed humanity pain, suffering and anguish. So terrible were his actions that whole cities fell under his influence, where he would slowly torture hundreds at a time, forcing those who he left alone to be haunted by screams every moment of every day. Even his name made it into future languages, as a description for pain and torture... Latin specifically. He lasted for centuries uncounted, and may still even be alive today if for not one problem. He grew bored... The suffering of humanity no longer amused him, as he had made mankind experience suffering in every way possible at least a thousand times over... He realized to late that he had become too ingrained in his methods and spheres of power to even begin thinking of branching out and bringing amusement into his life again."

<hr pg="3" />"And so, he turned to demons... and began plying his trade upon them. Hundreds of our kind fell under his grisly tools and ministrations. So foul did his reputation become, that other Sovereigns banded against him, and marched their peoples against his city. While they traveled though, Encurcio had tired of even the anguish of demons. It still wasn't enough apparently, not nearly enough to sate his desire for suffering. So he turned to the last possible choice he had. Himself. For days the demons under his command fended off the invaders. They were already immune to pain, and more terrified of the suffering Encurcio would inflict if they didn't do as they were told, than anything the other Sovereigns could manage. So Encurcio had the time for his last subject... He peeled his own flesh from his body, and cured it into leather... Sinew came with it, wrapped into strong strings... He pulled his own nails from his fingers, and his fangs from his jaw, taking care to carve each into a wicked barb, baptized in his own blood. He went as far as to peel away his flesh along one leg, to expose the bone, so he could carve into it while still part of him..."



"Some say Encurcio wasn't even aware of what he was doing as he tortured and maimed himself. Each piece seems to be made by him from him, each moment full of unparalleled agony and suffering. But it seemed that he was thankful for it... like he had finally found what he had spent centuries searching for, and that enlightenment gave him vision and the will to combine his own bits. As he was dying, he took the pieces of himself and began to weave them together. When the whip was done, he tore the chiseled bone from his leg, and combined the two pieces into one. The weapon complete, Encurcio took the last step, even as the other Sovereign's were smashing down his doors... He breathed his soul into the weapon, giving it a sort of life and awareness. It isn't self-aware by any means... but it is utterly incapable of boredom, yet perfectly capable of delight as it peels flesh and splits bone. In essence, Encurcio turned himself into a tool of pain and anguish... And with that he was finally satisfied as he died..." 



"The Sovereigns that had united against him found his corpse along side the weapon, with what few mad notes Encurcio left behind, written in his own blood. He had named the new weapon after himself. They fought over the weapon, seeking to add his power to theirs, and from there it has passed from hand to hand over the millennia... Changing names to suit the language of the time, but always translated from its original name and meaning. Finally it has come to My Lord's hands." Claude concluded... voice full of pride.



Celestine looked on to Tristan, who wielded such a terrible tool of mayhem, and despite herself, she shuddered uncontrollably as he lashed out with it again... the screams of those who died at Encurcio's hands millennia ago, still crying out with each lash...



~~~~



The pain was so immense that Odeon was certain his body was about to explode. This was what Durial had hit him with back at Lavanna's estates... Except now it was so much worse. The pain began to ebb for a moment and Odeon cracked open his eyes and looked down at the horrible wounds Durial had inflicted upon him. They were not healing as fast as they could be... Hell, they were not healing at all... Still, he began to push himself up with limbs that shook like leaves in a hurricane. Glancing to Durial through blurry eyes he saw the Lord of Lust standing thirty feet away, smiling easily as the horrific weapon he wielded slithered and writhed, waiting in desperate anticipation to be allowed to strike out again... 



Odeon began to feel his horrible injuries heal, and the pain was finally receding... he was able to push himself up again, becoming upright but only just barely. Again he looked to Durial, who seemed to be raising his arm to lash out again. "<i>Coward!"</i> Odeon hissed at him through bloody lips, making Durial pause. 



"Oh? He asked, smiling like Odeon's words were still amusing. "And how do you figure that?" 



"You would not be winning if not for that weapon!" Odeon accused, his body healing almost completely now. His breathing was heavy but controlled. He knew he could win; he just had to figure out how to get around that whip...



"Perhaps." Tristan allowed, though he did not sound like he believed it. "But I do have it. This is the Clash, you sad excuse for a demon... We must be capable of adapting to any situation, including ones where we are outgunned or outnumbered... Do not whine now that the tables have turned against you." Tristan sneered at him. 



Odeon snarled in response before he began to fold in onto himself attempting to slip once again. But Tristan knew it was coming, and moved forwards. Even if Odeon came in from behind or his sides, by moving Tristan would have changed the location of where he was in comparison to where Odeon was going to strike. When Odeon reappeared, and lashed out at open air, Tristan grinned at having confirmed his theory. Odeon couldn't see what was happening while slipping through space... Odeon looked stunned, and while he only missed by inches, he still missed. And for his failure, Tristan made him pay with pain. 



The screaming crack of the <i>Torment</i> sounded again, quickly accompanied by Odeon's howling as he fell to the ground once more. Tristan observed him for a long moment and began to ponder how exactly he might actually kill Odeon. Or at least ruin him to such an extent that there could be no question whether he had won or not. He had an idea, but the notion of having to pull it out of his bag of tricks wasn't entirely appealing. Still, it was the only means he had available to him that could actually stall Odeon's ability to heal... 



Unfortunately, as Tristan pondered, Odeon managed to fight through the pain and conduct another slip. Tristan didn't have enough time to dodge, so he did the only thing he could do... He turned to take the blows, and while he was able to avoid a few and deflect a few more, he was still injured once again by Odeon's barbs and spears. Glancing to Odeon, Tristan saw what probably passed for a smile with such a hideous form, pass across Odeon's features. Confidence was building again; Odeon realized that if he was this close, Tristan might not have been able to strike him with the whip. 



He was partially correct. Tristan could have lashed out with the <i>Torment</i>, but it would have been a weak blow, and done little real damage or cause little pain... So he did the next best thing... He lashed out with his fist once again, catching Odeon straight in the face with enough force to hurl him through the air and send several of Odeon's teeth through the back of his head....



As he soared, Odeon realized something... Durial was also physically more powerful than he had been let on earlier... The only consolation that Odeon had was that the stronger the blow against him, the more damage Durial would have taken. That consolation was promptly wiped away as Durial lashed out with the <i>Torment</i> again, catching Odeon mid air with the horrific weapon with enough power to shred several of Odeon's tendrils from his body and rip a great rent in the side of his body as he came crashing down. 



Tristan shook his hand as he bit back a curse from the pain. It wasn't enough to break his hand, but it wasn't far off. Tristan had to give it to Odeon, he was powerful and a durable son-of-a-bitch. Still as he watched, Odeon began to push up again, his envy fueling him to keep trying. Keep scrambling for that better lot that he thought he deserved... "Why does it... not work against the whip!?" Odeon asked aloud, his maw dripping with blood. "Why doesh my power not damage it like all thingsh that do me harm?!"



Tristan scoffed. "Well... as far as I can figure your defense seems to work by mirroring the force of a blow against the attacker. In most cases, that means that the attacker gets hit as hard as they hit you. Coupled with your ability to regenerate, it is almost a perfect shield. Its only real weakness from physical attacks is weapons that are almost fluid in nature, like a whip is. It has no solid form to break like a fist or claw. No matter how hard you slap a rope; it will come dangling back..." Tristan explained to the court and Odeon as Odeon dragged himself back up. To accent the point Tristan swung the <i>Torment</i> low, and cleaved half dozen tentacles that stood in place of Odeon's right leg. Proving the point, the end of the whip came snapping back, as if being slapped away by the contact with Odeon. Despite that, it wasn't damaged at all...



Odeon fell again, fresh screams escaping his ugly maw. The crowd of demons cheered out once more, pleased to see a fresh injury. Many of them probably didn't understand the reasoning behind why the whip worked, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was Tristan was coming out ahead, and Odeon was writhing in agony. Tristan didn't let up for the next few minuets. He would wait for Odeon to regenerate before lashing out again, only to restart the blistering agony that coursed through him. Soon the crowd was sitting back, beginning to understand exactly how far Durial would go to prove his point. Exactly how much pain he would put you through if you bothered him. 



By the time Tristan's arm even began to tire, Odeon was laying in a pool of his own blood and torn away flesh... his gaping chest wheezing and gasping as his body once again began to put itself together. Tristan had trapped him in a torture cell made of his own flesh, and the only way Odeon was going to get out was either by dying or killing Tristan, and only one of those options seemed realistic at the moment. 



"Thish... Thish ishn't fair!" Odeon wailed as he tried to turn over, only for Tristan to amputate another bundle of tendrils. 



"You are right of course..." Tristan replied loud enough for all in the chamber to hear over Odeon's screams. "It isn't fair. But then I'm not fair." He accented the point with another lashing across Odeon's chest. "I'm someone who looks out for those sworn to me. I look out for me and mine, and make the lives of anyone who threatens that an unending nightmare." Another flesh tearing strike landed across Odeon to drive the point home. "So to whatever fool that thought they could get away with hiring this wretch..." Tristan's gaze leveled at the other Demonic Lords, going to each one of them in turn, Navira included, before he turned back to the crowd in general. "Know that I will never tolerate such an incursion again." Tristan hauled the Torment back and lashed out, the end of the whip connecting with Odeon's skull and splitting it wide open, spilling his brains out all over the sand. 



Tristan spat on Odeon, cursing the fact that he might have gone a bit over board. He hadn't wanted to kill the cretin... not yet anyway. But he turned away and assumed it was over. Or at least he did, until he heard Odeon's body twitching and his head closing up once again. "Well..." Tristan had to grudgingly admit. "I'm impressed. Exactly how much damage does it take to actually kill you?" 



Odeon's voice gurgled in reply before his eyes found their focus again. "-can't kill me!" He rasped as if finishing a thought. 



Tristan was about to reply but he was cut off by Vestiem, his heavy voice filling the chamber. <b><i>"Perhaps he can't... Or maybe he can... The current setting doesn't seem a proper test for either of you..."</i></b> Vestiem looked to Tristan and grinned widely, and instantly Tristan knew he wasn't going to like this... <b><i>"So what say you my people!? Shall I make this more interesting?" </i></b>The demonic horde responded with bloodthirsty cheers... 



"Damn it." Was all Tristan could muster as he began to get an idea what was coming next... The heavy brass doors all around the arena began to clank open, and as they did, Tristan understood exactly how Vestiem was going to make this 'interesting'... No less than five of the great gates opened, and behind each was a titanic Hell Spawn abomination... The largest of them was easily as large as an elephant, and all of them were covered in plates of tainted steel and corroded spikes... Some of them only bore natural weapons such as massive clubbed fists with meter long spikes of bone sticking out or sawing teeth and piercing horns... Others carried great cleavers, corroded by spilt blood and guts... The most unique out of all of them seemed to be wreathed in a nimbus of static electricity... When it howled out enraged, lightning literally licked out from its body with such intensity that it turned the sand it touched to glass.



"Huh... Damn it again." Tristan cursed dryly. 



<b><i>"I am curious, Lord Durial... How do you think the Torment will handle plated armor? Will it peel it as easily as it peels skin and bone?" </i></b>Vestiem asked playfully, though Tristan suspected he already knew the answer. That answer being, 'no'. It might punch through, but it wouldn't bite very deeply... Not on its own anyway, and the weapon sure as hell wouldn't like it. Vestiem seemed to see through one of the flaws of the <i>Torment</i> right off the hop... It was at its strongest when it was surrounded by pain, something Hell Spawn were notorious for being resistant too... One of the abominations bellowed and began to rush Tristan, and he turned to face it unhappily. It was covered in thick plates of armor, and bore a heavy cleaver in one hand. It wasn't the largest of the brutish Hell Spawn, but it wasn't far off either. 



The crowed roared its approval as the monsters charged him and Odeon... apparently their duel just became a battle for survival while they each were to try and still kill each other. Tristan lashed out with the <i>Torment</i> as his Hell Spawn reared up to strike with its ugly cleaver. Tristan's blow wasn't meant to kill though, and was aimed up along the bottom of the creatures' forearm, where no armor covered and there were heavy straps of leather holding its bracer on. When the <i>Torment</i> connected it split the heavy straps of leather and more than a few of the tendons in the creatures arm, making it drop the weapon it bore as fresh gore spilled out from the appendage. The creature howled in rage and charged without its weapon, head down as it tried to impale Tristan with the rusty spikes that came out of its helmet. 



Tristan again lashed out with his weapon, aiming for the thin openings in its crude helmet for the right eye. He pressed his power through the <i>Torment</i>, making it scream and howl as it sliced through the air and glow in a bloody gold light. When it connected, the sound of shredding metal and flesh filled the room. However as Tristan tried to pull his weapon free, he realized the barbs had dug deep, and were caught in the ruined metal and bone... It was all he could do but hurl himself out of the way as the beast charged past, before it began dragging Tristan along behind as Tristan didn't dare let go of the <i>Torment</i>. 



Demons and mortals alike laughed as Tristan skidded behind the creature. However he unfurled his wings and sailed high above, holding on for dear life as the abomination continued to bray and charge about. The <i>Torment</i> was probably testing the creatures' ability to withstand pain, but each time the creature pawed at the offending injury, the weapon only seemed to dig in deeper... From up high Tristan noticed Odeon was perhaps fairing worse than himself. Odeon had been cornered by two of the Hell Spawn. One of which was a tall bipedal creature with swinging spike clubs for arms, and the other was a quadruped beast, like some monolithic lion with a mane of poisonous spines and a tail ending in an impaling spike. 



Yet Odeon was not one to be cornered easily. Before the Hell Spawn could strike, he used his power to 'slip' behind them and began lashing out. The quadruped took the brunt of the attack, as Odeon tore at its flanks with his bone spears and barbs. Blood flowed freely as Odeon seemingly sent chunks of the creatures' legs and side flying in every direction in a gory rain of flesh and blood. 



But that was all stopped when the creatures' tail punched through Odeon like a ballista bolt large enough to nearly split him in half. The tail lifted Odeon to the creatures' hungry maw, where he was promptly chewed up and swallowed... The crowd went quiet in disbelief... surprised that such a powerful demon could be killed by a Hell Spawn, even if it was one so terrible as this fiend. 



Tristan snorted at their surprise... Odeon wasn't so easily killed. A point he proved as dozens of lances of bone erupted out of the creatures' sides and back, punching through organs and flesh before Odeon tore his way free of the creatures' stomach like some sort of grisly birth. However the victory was short lived, as Odeon was batted across the pit by the club fisted Hell Spawn. Odeon connected with the far stone wall with enough force to send cracks spidering out in all directions before he fell into a broken heap. 



Looking to his own beast, Tristan leveled his wings and swooped down upon its back as it thundered about. When he landed he yanked on the whip still lodged in its flesh and steered the raging creature towards the nearest wall at full speed. As he rode Tristan let out a whoop of exhilaration, finding the creatures bucking and struggles amusing more than threatening. Seeing the wall with its one still good eye, the beast tried to veer off, but Tristan didn't let it, always steering it back towards the wall. 



When the impact finally came, Tristan leapt into the air and beat his wings to decelerate and avoid slamming into the wall himself. The crash was titanic, and the whole facility shuddered at the collision between stone and beast. Whole sections of the wall were turned to powder and broken masonry in an instant, yet despite the horrific jarring, Tristan could tell the creature still lived... He landed quickly, and stowed the <i>Torment</i> away before slipping his fingers under a plate along the back of the creatures' neck, and began to pull. Iron and steel groaned and screamed as Tristan forcefully tore away one of the smaller plates, one the size of a counter top, to reveal the creatures thick hide underneath, covering its bony spine. "Yea... that will work." Tristan said grinning before taking to the air again; flying high to gain the altitude he needed for the dive...



As he reached the crest of his assent, Tristan poured his demonic power into his muscles and frame, giving him immense strength for a short burst. As he dove towards the still stunned creature, Tristan punched down with all his might, focusing even more power into his striking fist. To the casual observer, it looked like he was somehow holding a bloody gold star in his hand that almost blinded the eyes it was so bright. When his blow connected straight to the spine of the creature, those watching exploded to their feet in awe, their voices raised in cheering for the gory spectacle. 



Tristan's blow did more than break the creatures neck... It had in essence blown the creatures head clean away from its shoulders, separating the armored skull and throwing it away from the sight of the impact, while leaving the body to slump over and spasm several times before going still. When Tristan turned away, he was painted red from the waist up. Spray back from the blow covered him with the creatures steaming blood. Tristan began to walk down the creatures back, thinking of striking Odeon from behind as he battled the second Hell Spawn that was perusing him. 



At least he was thinking about it, before a bolt of electricity caught Tristan straight in the chest and hurled him back thirty odd meters. His body spasmed beyond his control for a moment before the electrical energy discharged. "... Ow..." Tristan coughed out sarcastically before getting up to his feet again, looking up to see the Hell Spawn surrounded in static discharge clambering over the creature he had just decapitated. Its wide maw was rows of teeth with electrical sparks jumping between them. From its back large nodes seemed to throb and swell, before a growing buzzing could be heard. Tristan frowned wondering what it was... before realizing it came from the creature. He only barely managed to avoid the lightning strike that lashed out from the nodes upon the creatures back. 

<hr pg="4" />Tristan grumbled as he took stock. The first lightning strike had struck him and had burned him slightly, even with his supernatural resistance to heat. Then again... he just got struck by lightning so he wasn't about to complain about a little burn. He was lucky his heart was still beating after all. The buzzing began to sound again and Tristan realized he didn't have time to wait or plan. He slipped the <i>Torment</i> out and called its whip forward again before swinging out. But he was too late, and Tristan had to dodge yet another jolt of power. Everything about these creatures suggested they were abnormal Hell Spawn. Their size alone was absurd, but the fact that they had unique abilities was... disquieting. These things could have taken on several lesser demons at once, not something that should have been possible for Hell Spawn...



Still, Tristan didn't relent. He lashed out again as the creature tried to charge him, threatening to bite him in half with the dozens of black flint like teeth it bore. Tristan was able to avoid it, but in the process the <i>Torment</i> had wrapped itself around the creatures' throat, to which the creature seemed to object... It began to rear back though Tristan somehow managed to keep its immense bulk in hand and keep it from pulling away further. Though that might have been a mistake, as a fresh charge of electricity surged down the <i>Torment</i> and directly into Tristan. 



However unlike before, Tristan quickly realized this was not a quick bolt of electrical power, but instead a continuous strike. His body shook violently as raw electrical power coursed through him, threatening to blow his heart apart or overload his brain... Despite the clenched muscles and searing resistance, Tristan's free hand inched towards the handle of his weapon, eventually being able to grasp it in both hands. 



Seeing him moving the creature seemed to turn up the amperage, high enough that the sand at Tristan's feet was literally liquefying into glass under him... But it wasn't enough. With a thunderous howl, Tristan pulled with all his might, demonic power flashing once again. The <i>Torment</i> screamed out to join its current master, feeding off the pain that burned in Tristan. The cord slipped around the creatures' throat, with every barb cutting like a saw, deep into its flesh. A moment later, the creatures head fell from its shredded neck. With electrical path cut, Tristan was suddenly free of the creatures' powers, and his heart thumped back into life and he coughed up burnt blood. "Well... I can scratch off being struck by lighting off my list of things to do..." Tristan said as he tasted soot, glancing up to Vestiem, who was having a laugh riot at what he saw. Curious, given that he didn't seem to mind losing these monolithic creatures... creatures that really shouldn't have existed at all...



"I hope theresh isn't much elshe to do on that lisht..." The familiar slurring filled his ears and Tristan turned to face Odeon. However when he did he was unhappy to see Odeon wasn't alone... "Caushe you won't be filing out the resht..." Odeon finished, snickering to himself... Tristan looked upon two of the Hell Spawn that Odeon had been fighting, both in bloody ruins; and both standing along side Odeon, ready to strike out at Tristan... the fifth Hell Spawn was impaled on a wall with at least a hundred of Odeon's bone spears...



Tristan noticed quickly that Odeon had his tendrils in each of the Hell Spawn, and could see that there seemed to be slithering tumors under each creature's skin. "What the hell?" Tristan asked, more disgusted than impressed. "Are you inside those corpses Odeon?" Tristan asked.



"Yesh! I control them! They are my puppetsh! Mine! ALL MINE!" He howled before Odeon began to laugh madly. As Tristan watched, both the reanimated creatures began to chuckle along with him, even though their throats were never meant for such things... The sounds that came from them were wet, broken and disgusting. Each chortle brought fresh goblets of flesh tumbling from their slack jaws.



"Poor corpses... Well... really poor anyone who ever has to experience you inside them..." Tristan began, clearly mocking Odeon. "I imagine it would be a terrible and very unsatisfying experience..." Tristan said with a wide grin, apparently undaunted by Odeon's new puppets. 



Odeon howled in hate and both of the creatures advanced... The quadruped was faster and closed the distance in moments, only to be the target of the <i>Torment</i>, who despite obeying, disliked being ordered to lash out at this creature, who no longer felt pain at all. Despite that, Odeon had picked a fragile toy. After ripping free of it and all the other damage it had taken, it was ready to come apart, and the blow from the <i>Torment</i> bit deep, almost making the creature turned puppet explode in a gory mess as the bone and sinew that just barely held it together finally failed. 



Tristan darted towards the second, a hulking brute with one of the huge cleavers buried deep in its chest, apparently the instrument of its first death. The pair to the weapon lodged in its chest, rested in the creatures' right hand, which quickly rose to slice at Tristan. It never made it that far however, as Tristan released the <i>Torment</i> once more, and severed the arm at the elbow where the armor was thinnest, sending the appendage spinning away from its owner. The creature stupidly reached for Tristan with its still attached arm, but the Demonic Lord easily darted past it, and struck out again, the gore drenched whip cleaving down through the creatures skull all the way to its lower jaw. Tristan hopped up onto its torso as it fell back towards Odeon, who darted back away from the creature to avoid being crushed. 



"Look at that Odeon... Now I've taken your toys away from you too..." Tristan mocked stowing the Torment away once more before he used both arms to start dragging the cleaver from the Hell Spawn's chest. 



"Nooo<i>OOO!"</i> Odeon screamed before his voice became nothing but incoherent gibberish. So great was his anguish, that Odeon didn't realize that Tristan was swinging the great cleaver at him with all his might. It bit deep and literally cleaved Odeon in twain, even if the blow shattered the cleaver in response. It seemed Odeon's defenses still weren't down, even as his sanity left him...



"Oh yes." Tristan declared brutally. "I've taken everything from you. Your toys, your pride, and now I'm going to take your life." Tristan snarled as he glared at Odeon even as he regenerated. 



"Can't! Can't Killsh me!" Odeon rasped as his flesh tried to grow over the regenerating organs, apparently attempting to keep them from spilling out of him as they regenerated. 



"Can't? Actually I can. I could have killed you right from the beginning but I chose not to. But that was only because this has been an amusing diversion, even with..." Tristan glanced to the destroyed Hell Spawn. "... the 'festive' interruptions... But now it's over... Now you die." Tristan reaffirmed. 



Odeon shook his head violently, even as his body shook badly and madness hounded his waking thoughts. "Can't! Body will alwaysh regenerate!" 



"Well..." Tristan said grinning. "You know what they say: 'Kill it with fire'..." As he spoke, a bloody golden aura burned around Tristan, and intensified from the demonic glyphs that he had created earlier. Odeon went completely still, as if Tristan had just said something impossible. The Demonic crowd watched and listened, clearly confused... demons didn't burn... Or if they did, it required such intense heat that that it would split stone and melt sand... "You never thought anyone would figure it out did you Odeon?" Tristan gloated aloud for all to hear. "It is such an uncommon weakness amongst our kind that most demons who would ever face you, wouldn't even bother trying."



"I hash no weaknessh!" Odeon howled, trying to push himself away with limbs that were still occupied with regenerating. 



"Yes you do." Tristan announced cruelly. "And it wasn't even me who figured it out Odeon... It was Celestine, my mortal servant that showed me your weakness!" Tristan announced pointing to Celestine. "I noticed it as I recovered Rena from you... Your maw was burnt and not healing at all. Celestine had stuffed a brazier into your mouth and cooked the flesh inside, not something that should have happened unless you had a particular weakness to fire and heat." Tristan explained. His words triggered murmuring amongst the demons that watched on. 



However that was all silenced by a deep throaty chuckle that invaded their minds as well as their senses... Everyone looked up to Vestiem, looking down upon Durial and Odeon, his low chortles not stopping until he finally spoke. <b><i>"Well done Durial. Well done indeed."</i> </b>Vestiem's gaze turned to Celestine. <b><i>"And praise to you little mortal... You serve your master without even realizing it..."</i> </b>



Odeon's mind reeled as his secret was revealed... his secret shame. A weakness that he knew all of demonkind would take advantage of at every opportunity. Even if he somehow miraculously defeated Durial... he would be dead soon enough by others looking to steal his power... Odeon looked to the inspiration of his doom with insane eyes... His whole body shook uncontrollably before he exploded into action. Odeon's tendrils punched deep into the ground beneath him and heaved, before the sound of cracking rock could be heard. Everyone looked to Odeon as he rose, carrying three great stones, ripped up from the earth beneath the sand. 



"Really?" Tristan asked. "That's your gambit? Hurl rocks at me?" Tristan obviously thought Odeon's actions were hilarious.



"<i>No!" </i>Odeon hissed, his voice no longer even trying to stop the slurring. <i>"If I can't hash her, no one will hash her!!" </i>Odeon howled out, before twisting and hurling the great stones with all the force he could bring to bear... all hurtling towards Celestine. 



Tristan watched, almost as if the world had suddenly become one of slow motion... He realized he should have seen this coming. Hell, he had gone and painted a target on Celestine himself. Odeon knew he was dead... so in one last envious attempt to lash out, he sought to take away something precious to Tristan. Tristan felt himself moving, even without thinking about it, his great wings pumping hard to gain the acceleration he needed to stop the three great pieces of raw earth. He looked to Celestine, already rising in some attempt to dodge the incoming rocks, but it was clear to both of them, she wouldn't be able to move in time. Behind her, Tristan saw Rena and Claude both hurling themselves in front of her, moving to intercept the great stones. But even if they both managed to stop one, the third would still make it through...



Rena bound towards the first stone, attempting to use her whole body to deflect it, and perhaps use it to leap towards the third stone. Tristan felt a swell of pride at Rena, being quick enough to realize that something had to be done about the third bolder. However his hopes were dashed as he saw Rena kick at her initial target, only for it to come apart under the force of the blow, giving her nothing to push off against even as her target was destroyed. 



Claude snapped out towards the next rock, driving his claw deep into it and twisting hard, to turn it aside. At the same time however, he planted one of his feet deep into the ground and used the first stone as a pendulum, and use it to give him the momentum to spin and possibly catch the third great rock. Tristan watched as Claude reached an almost impossible distance, even going so far as to even forcefully dislocate joints to give him a few extra inches. Apparently it was enough, as his free claw closed around the edge of the last stone.



Tristan felt a sudden and almost overwhelming relief. Or at least he was, until he heard another smaller crack, and saw the portion Claude held onto came apart from the main body, which still had enough momentum to crush Celestine...



<i>"NO!" </i>Tristan roared as Celestine disappeared behind the stone's shadow. He was close... so close. He already passed Rena, and was soaring clear of Claude. Just another foot or two, but he already knew he was too late... He wouldn't be able to get the <i>Torment </i>out quickly enough to stop the boulder in time. Even if he did, the shower of debris would still kill Celestine... The only difference being whether she died from a single slug, or a shotgun blast of stone. Even if he killed Odeon now, he knew he had lost...



But by some dark miracle, the bolder suddenly split cleanly down the middle. As he watched, the two smaller pieces went careening off to the sides, avoiding Celestine. It only took him a moment to realize who was responsible... and his heart both sang and howled at the sight of her. Navira, hands clad in demonic armor and bearing wicked talons had cleaved the stone in twain, saving Celestine in the process... Tristan saw the smug grin on Navira's features, as she looked through the sprinkle of dust straight at him. She knew what this meant... And so did Tristan. 



The world snapped back into the normal flow of time as Tristan skidded to a stop in front of Navira, meeting her relaxed and confident gaze with his own, full of intensity. He obviously didn't know if he should thank her or curse her for what she did... "You are welcome." Navira said with a slight purr clearly enjoying seeing him like this. 



Tristan shook as he forced the words through gritted teeth. "Thank you... and <i>damn</i> you!" He instantly turned away and looked straight at Odeon, who had fallen to his knees howling in frustration. "<i>You!" </i> Tristan snarled, before taking to his wings again, careening into Odeon like a reddish gold comet. The impact was enough to leave a crater in his wake, hurling up dust and sand, even as Tristan glowed in power through it all. 



~~~~



Celestine watched Tristan burst after Odeon, impacting with an explosive thump in the pit. However Diana's wordless cry drew her attention to Navira's servant as she rushed past Celestine. It was then that Celestine realized why Diana was losing it... One of the hunks of rock Navira had deflected from Celestine had found its way to a different target... Troy lay half buried under the heavy stone... Blood leaking out from under it as it crushed her lower half. Celestine hadn't even heard her cry out when the stone impacted, and stared stupidly as blood leaked out from Troy's mouth. 



Diana was losing it, trying to pull the rock off Troy, though it was obvious she wouldn't have any success. It was too large... and even if they did get it off... Troy was so freakishly injured that there was no chance for her to survive. At least under normal circumstances. Celestine rushed to the women's side and looked to Troy, wondering how she could possibly help. 



Troy surprised her though, when she reached out and grasped Celestine's hand. She took a deep breath, wet with blood, and then spoke to Celestine, smiling lightly. "I'm happy I got to meet you..." 



Diana uttered a rapid stream of curses as she tried to think of how to save Troy. Celestine turned to Navira, who wasn't even looking to her servant... She was still watching Tristan with a smug look on her features as if she had won some great victory. 



Celestine looked to Navira frowning. "Aren't... Aren't you going to help her?" Celestine asked, already knowing the answer to her question. 



Navira seemed to notice her and looked back. "hum? Oh... No. Of course not. Why would I save her?" Navira asked slightly confused by Celestine's question. 



"Because she's your servant!" Celestine snapped out, harsher than she intended. "Aren't you supposed to protect them so they can continue to serve you?" Celestine asked, her voice beginning to become harsh. Celestine noticed Claude moving up along her, his strong grip beginning to take her and pull her away. "Claude?! What are you doing? Let me go!" Celestine struggled but he held fast before turning to Navira. 



"My apologies my Lady. She is distraught and not herself." Claude apologized for Celestine, much to her anger. Celestine was about to snap out, but Claude's hand rested over her lips and silenced her. 



"It is fine Claude. I find myself willing to make some special considerations for her, not utterly unlike Durial." Navira shrugged before continuing. "But to answer your question, No, I am in no way obligated to protect them. They exist for my pleasure and nothing more. Durial might treat you better than that, but I assure you that you are a special case." Navira stepped towards Troy and Diana. "One he should, perhaps, get over." She knelt down to look at Troy with calmly.



To Celestine's horror, Troy smiled up to Navira. "I am sorry I cannot serve you longer Mistress..." Troy croaked, more blood oozing up past her lips. Diana sobbed as she shuddered painfully, somehow unwilling to demand that Troy be saved...



"I accept your apology." Navira said with perfect ease and with no sympathy or mercy whatsoever. "Perhaps your death could still serve a purpose though..." Navira reached out and touched Troy's features, and instantly Celestine could feel Navira pressing her powers. 



Troy's pale face flushed for a moment and Celestine saw pleasure written on her face... She saw it there even as Navira began to pull her soul free from her dying body, and coax it into some dark clay jug at her waist. "This will do for now, until I can find a more suitable container." Navira said pleased as Troy's life faded completely. Diana shuddered once again but went still as Navira looked to her, and quickly grabbed her by her hair and forced Diana to kiss her. In an instant Diana's face washed clean of pain and misery and was replaced with stupid euphoria... Again Celestine could feel Navira pressing her powers... And watched as the Demonic Duchess punched her talons into Diana's guts. 



Celestine couldn't help but scream out her rage against Navira's actions against Claude's hand. She kicked and clawed at his hard scales, hurting herself more than him. She couldn't look away as Navira pulled Diana's soul from her dying body and into the jug along side Troy's. Once done, Navira rose to her feet and moved to sit back down into her throne, eyes glued back on Tristan. 



Celestine finally shook loose from Claude's hold and spoke, voice more quiet and broken up. "Why her? Diana was... was still healthy... she could have still served you..." 



Navira paused and glanced towards Celestine. "They existed as a pair... having only one of them would be horribly boring. Better that they are both dead than let one of them linger like a bad memory." Navira explained without pause or pity. "Their souls can nourish me, though there are other uses as well." Navira pulled the bottle from her waist and held it out to Celestine, a curious and lustful grin on her face. "Would you like a taste?" She asked, trying to tempt Celestine. 



But before Celestine could answer, Rena put herself between the two of them, blocking off the option. Navira giggled playfully before slipping the bottle back to her side. "So dutiful Rena... Protecting her as I'm sure Durial demanded. She would love the feeling of consuming a soul, right up until she stopped being herself, as her soul mixed and became one with the others..." Navira shrugged and left them there before looking back to Tristan as he began his final attacks on Odeon...



~~~~



Odeon lashed out blindingly, but Tristan was so angry he didn't even care as several spurs and spears ripped into his flesh once again. "<i>You will pay for what you've done!" </i>Tristan snarled, raising his fist high and then striking down with enough force to collapse Odeon's skull in a single blow. Tristan felt his arm begin to break, but he didn't care... Instead he lined up the next blow with the opposite arm, punching Odeon in the sternum, leaving a gaping crater in his chest... 

<hr pg="5" />Tristan staggered back, breathing hard as hate and rage nearly overcame him. Yet despite that, Odeon still began to crawl up again, his sucking wounds closing up quickly. Tristan spat at him before speaking. "Enough." He said with a finality that silenced the crowd of demons who watched, anticipation running through them at the ending that was on its way. "Odeon, have you ever heard the phrase, 'Burning with desire'?" Tristan asked, voice sharp enough to cut. Odeon looked to him, madness overcoming the last shreds of his sanity for a moment at least and leaving him little more than a creature of petty envy and spite. 



Odeon began to stagger towards Tristan and Tristan lifted his arm in response, hand open and aimed towards Odeon. As Tristan moved, the light from the demonic glyphs painted across the pit glowed brighter before their light became concentrated and directed themselves at Odeon. Odeon stumbled for a moment, and then looked blankly to Tristan, confused by what was happening. Even as the crowd watched, they could see smoke beginning to rise from Odeon's body. 



Some semblance of sanity came back to Odeon then, when faced with a danger his primal side simply couldn't comprehend... "Good." Tristan's voice drew Odeon's terrified attention. "I wanted you to be here for this... not lost in some mad stupor..." Tristan began to slowly close his fist and the smoke that rose from Odeon's form grew more intense. In a few moments Odeon's body began to thrash and convulse from a hideous amount of pain. A moment more and sections of his skin began to darken as if being scorched, before openly breaking into a bloody gold flame. 



Odeon screamed once again, as he suddenly began to try and thrash about and put out the fire. Yet for everything he tried to do to put them out, Odeon could not snuff out these flames. "How does it feel Odeon?" Tristan roared at him, loud enough to fill the whole stadium. "How does it feel to have your every want and desire turned into fuel for the fire?" Odeon howled as more of his flesh was consumed... It didn't take long for Tristan to see the heat make Odeon's many eyes boil and burst out of his skull, robbing him of his sight. Tristan had planned to laugh... he had planned to mock Odeon as he lay there burning... but now, any such revelry felt like it would be hallow...



Somehow Odeon managed to get upright, and began to hurry forwards, towards Tristan. Though blind as he was, Tristan was certain Odeon was just running for the sake of fleeing from Tristan... blind animal instinct telling him to get away... Tristan stepped in the way however, and caught Odeon by the throat and held him fast. The heat of desire could not burn Tristan... he was the stuff of passion and carnal desire after all... Odeon was less fortunate. 



"Come now Odeon." Tristan whispered to him, voice dripping with malice. "You can scream louder than that... can't you?" Tristan pressed his power harder, pouring it all into the curse that was cooking Odeon alive. Tristan was very satisfied to hear the pitch and volume of Odeon's wails reach new heights. Odeon would have flailed at Tristan, but his tendrils and tentacles were all scorched away already, leaving charred and twitching stumps behind. Soon the intensity of Odeon's screeching became so great, that his vocal cords began to tear and rip, creating a gurgling phlegmy sound as even Odeon's ability to scream was taken away from him...



Soon Tristan withdrew his power and cut off the curse, leaving Odeon hanging from his grip, little more than a burnt torso and skull... Tristan let go of the still barely alive creature and let him fall into the sand with a crispy thump. Turning to Vestiem, Durial spoke, voice level and firm. "I claim victory in the Clash. Do you dispute it, my Sovereign?" 



Vestiem looked down from his throne, a wide grin upon his evil features. The pit was a ruin... Blood and gore stained nearly everything, much of it belonged to Odeon, though a fair amount belonged to his Hell Spawn as well. He looked to the now dead creatures. One impaled a hundred times against a wall, two decapitated, and another with a crater in its chest and head cleaved down the middle, and the last little more than a gory splatter across the sand. All told, Durial had turned the pit into a abattoir, and had reaped his revenge against Odeon in a spectacular manner. Though not all was perfect... the debt he now owed Navira would weigh heavily on him. Vestiem wondered what the Demonic Duchess would demand in payment... He would have to keep his ears open to that... <b><i>"Nay. You stand victorious on this day Durial." </i></b>Vestiem rose to his feet and looked down at Odeon's charred body, still twitching occasionally. <b><i>"His soul is yours to do with as you please."</i></b> Vestiem finished. 



Parts of the crowd erupted in cheers and shouts, apparently pleased with Tristan's victory, though others remained quiet. Tristan couldn't help but notice that there was more cheering now than when he was introduced... Seems he had won some new loyalties, or perhaps fools who cling to success hoping for some scraps of their own. Regardless, it was unimportant. Tristan spoke up, voice strong and dominant. "I will offer this wretch to Lady Lavanna, who's home was damaged during a confrontation with Odeon and one of my servants." Tristan looked to Lavanna, and her small throne in the seating reserved for nobility. Many looked to her, confused by Tristan's sudden generosity. A damaged home was nothing compared to a soul of such power, all the more so given that Lavanna was a demon of envy as well... Given the fact their spheres matched, it would make Lavanna's power swell more then it ever would for Durial.



Still, she did not hesitate to come into the pit, and once she arrived, she knelt over the crispy body of Odeon. "My thanks, Lord Durial." She said, bowing her head to him from behind her silvered mask. Tristan nodded to her calmly and then turned away, not inclined to watch Lavanna feast on Odeon. 



"Search for who hired him to seek out information on me." Tristan ordered under his breath to her. "I know you keep the memories of those souls you consume. Don't let this one slip past you." He demanded, his anger still simmering. 



"O-of course my lord." Lavanna replied. She had not expected the Clash to be as horrific as it had been. She had no idea Durial had such power, and she suspected he still hadn't gone all out. Even the other Demonic Lord's seemed surprised, or at least most of them. She had always assumed he was just a lust demon with power over desires and little more... He usually was so flighty and casual... it was strange seeing him like this. Still, she wasn't going to pass up the opportunity of a feast like this... She reached up to her mask, unable to feed appropriately with it on...



~~~~



Rena got in Celestine's way as she was trying to watch Lavanna finish Odeon off. Looking to Rena slightly confused Celestine spoke up, voice still broken up at what happened to Troy and Diana... "What are you doing Rena?" 



"Saving you the therapy you'd end up needing if you watched her feed. Lavanna wears a mask for a reason. Let's just say 'Fugly' doesn't even begin to describe it. Odeon was hideous, but Lavanna is just downright abhorrent. Even demons find her disgusting to look at, and she is what some would describe as a sloppy eater." Rena explained firmly. Celestine nodded and didn't watch as she was certain that Lavanna was consuming Odeon's soul. 



Rena could obviously tell Celestine was distraught, though why exactly was clearly beyond her. Celestine waited patiently as Rena tried to bring up the subject a few times, but over and over again she kept quiet, clearly not sure how to. Celestine couldn't blame Rena however... She was a demon, to expect her to understand was an empty hope at best, downright silly at worst. After the sixth or seventh time Rena opened her mouth to speak only to hold back again Celestine spoke up. "I understand that you don't get it Rena." Celestine said flatly. "Don't worry yourself about it... I hardily knew them after all." Celestine said shrugging lightly. 



"But they were important to you?" Rena asked as other demons clearly didn't enjoy watching Lavanna work. Even as Celestine and Rena spoke more demons looked away disgusted by the things they saw. 



"I don't know." Celestine admitted. "They were getting there, but the whole thing about how they were raised was going to put a damper on any relationship." Celestine shrugged. "I just don't get how two perfectly loyal servants were not worth saving. I mean Navira seemed concerned when that Nephilim when it was being torn up, but not when her mortal servants were." Celestine voiced her concerns. 



Claude spoke up though, answering Celestine's thoughts. "It is because Nephilim are very rare and nearly impossible to tame. They usually choose death first before submitting to a demon of any sort. Simply put, the Nephilim was more valuable. The humans were easily replaceable and just as easily forgotten." Claude finished, calm in his explanation. 



Celestine hated hearing the words, but she couldn't exactly argue with him either. Yes, she felt differently, but she wasn't in a position to dictate how demons would behave. "I guess that is how a demon would look at it... I for one will try and remember them, for what little I knew of them." Celestine said leaning back in her chair.



~~~~



Lavanna pulled up from Odeon's now still corpse and slipped her mask back into place before turning to Durial. Her breath was labored as she worked to digest the new power she had consumed, but more than that she was trying to organize the memories that came with Odeon's soul. 



"Well?" Durial asked coolly, finally turning to look back at her. 



"I have his memories... but it will take time to sort through them all. Perhaps a few da-<i>ungh</i>!" Lavanna staggered back, feeling a sharp pain in her head. Durial looked to her curiously and she shook it off quickly. "Odeon's mind was fractured by the end... madness was taking him and I had to leave some of him behind in his corpse. Madness clawed at him, though I don't know why. Something triggered it, and I think it was around the time he met you and those under your service. I will need more time to pick out details." Lavanna reported quietly as they began to walk towards one of the great gates that slowly opened for them. 



"How much time?" Durial asked simply. "Are we talking days or longer?" He pressed lightly.



"Likely... well likely longer Lord Durial. As I said, his mind is fragmented. I will have to go through each memory and organize it one at a time. Including millions of unimportant and insignificant memories accumulated since the moment of his birth... Whatever happened to his mind was enough to jumble up the majority of his memories even before he began fighting you today..." Lavanna hoped he would accept her reasoning... Once she did not fear Durial so much, but after bearing witness to some of what he could do, she felt that perhaps a more polite and subservient stance would serve her, despite herself being a respected noble only a few ranks below him...



A low rumble escaped him as they walked under the stone path and out of sight. "Damnation." He swore. "Fine. But don't tarry too long Lavanna. I need to know whom is after me." Durial instructed, before taking to wing and rushing ahead. 



~~~~



It had been the better part of an hour before Tristan returned to them and when he landed amongst them, Celestine felt herself getting up to her feet to go to him. The Clash was impressive, and she had to admit that part of her was terrified by the power he wielded. But the more animal side of her was drawn even more to him now. But she realized Tristan was not happy about something, and glanced to her like he was worried. <i>("Are you alright?")</i> He asked frankly, wondering if anything had happened to her in his absence. 



<i>("I'm fine. A little shaken up but fine.") </i>Celestine couldn't help but glance to the bloody smears left behind by Troy and Diana... Demons had come to collect them without a word and dragged them off to dispose of them... Tristan looked to the now dried smears of blood and then back to Celestine. 



<i>("I didn't suspect that he would attack you like that. Though it isn't surprising on reflection... I kind of painted a target on you.") </i>Tristan wasn't wholly apologetic. Celestine guessed that as she wasn't hurt, no wrong had been committed, at least in his mind. 



<i>("Yea... you did.") </i>Celestine responded simply. <i>("But hey, I'm alive and he is dead right? So it all worked out.")</i> She asked, putting on a slight smile, a part of her very happy that Tristan had won, despite her overriding goals...



<i>("I'm surprised you are so candid about the deaths of those two. I understand why Navira doesn't care about their deaths, she has a new project to occupy her time with that Nephilim, but you are awfully calm about this.")</i> Tristan expressed to her, and she could feel some concern through the Demonic Mark, but mostly it was confusion. She also felt a little bit of happiness there too... though he was keeping it down. Apparently he was happy that she no longer had a connection to Navira. Despite herself, Celestine felt a swell of joy at knowing that Tristan didn't want her anywhere near Navira, and that he didn't trust his rival. 



<i>("I said this to Rena already, but I hardly knew them.")</i> Celestine shrugged as she took a half step closer to Tristan without even realizing it. <i>("It isn't like I'd see them again for a long time or that I could truly be their friend... Now that I think about it... everything about them was so... so basic. There might have been more to them then what I saw and how they acted, but I never saw it. Still, part of me wishes I had got that opportunity to see more .They were sort of interesting, and while I didn't like watching them die, it doesn't mean I should grieve for them. They-...") </i>Celestine cut off her thoughts, not liking where her reasoning was going. 



<i>("They what Celestine?")</i> Tristan pressed, slipping closer to her. She felt his warm hand on her bare hip and didn't resist overly much when he pulled her closer to him. 



<i>("They... They were just dolls. Playthings of Navira and nothing more. I shouldn't mourn for a set of broken dolls. I mean... I can mourn their wasted lives but more then that is just a waste...")</i> Celestine explained, letting out a long slow breath. Again, without realizing it, Celestine slid up closer to Tristan, and was almost leaning against him now, even as his arm wrapped around her waist. She felt a surge of joy from him as he heard her words, and that made it easier some. She still felt bad, but not as bad as she expected she would have so soon after what happened...



<i>("You are right Celestine... they were just dolls... to call them 'people' is too much.")</i> Tristan affirmed, hiding the smile that grew on his features...



~~~~

