874 Terror

...

Mathias's breaths stopped at the demon's words, if he could really bring Leah back and stay true to his word, Mathias might actually take him up on his offer... If he ruled over Sanctuary, he'd make sure that Diablo couldn't spread his influence over it, so overall, it would be the best choice... Right?

Eventually, Tyrael would die, what would happen to the mortal world when a new angel of justice comes into being... Then both Heaven and Hell would be against them.

Tyrael eyed Mathias as the mage sunk into deep contemplation, the tension in the room was thick... No one moved, not even Diablo's many minions who just kept staring the group down with hungry glares.

Barnock couldn't say anything, he and Mathias were friends, but he knew if given the choice he'd pick Leah over him in a heartbeat. It wasn't good to expect more from people than they were willing to give, Barnock looked rationally at the situation and felt there was a real possibility of Mathias joining Diablo... His axe was ready to cut down his friend should he make that choice, fighting both him and Diablo at the same time would reduce their odds of victory to zero.

Selina huffs, "Hmph, Dad said that listening to a Demons whispers was dumb... Your dumb Mathias." she says, jolting the man out of his thoughts.

Mathias "I'm dumb? For wanting to bring back Leah? Sure Diablo is evil, but maybe me joining him is the best option for Sanctuary?"

Quennie "I can see through your words Mathias, you wish to bring your girlfriend back... Don't you know we could do that without the Demons help?" she says, stopping the reflexive response Mathias was about to give.

...

Mathias "What?"

Quennie shrugs, "I think I can do it... If not, we can just ask dad, right sis?" Selina gives a smiling nod and shows a thumbs up.

...

Diablo "I should tell you now, Mage. If you refuse my offer, Leah will remain inside my body, her soul being twisted into something unrecognisable... I will begin personally torturing her with all my being, I am not known as the Lord of Terror for nothing." they say threateningly.

Mathias scowls, he was dumb, he'd almost actually considered this things offer. Diablo's attempt at blackmailing him with Leah's soul had had the opposite effect though. "Damn you Diablo! And damn your offer! If I wanted to get fucked I'd go to a brothel!" he shouts thrusting his staff forwards and using his rage to cast a spell.

A huge arcane orb explodes from his staff, picking up stone and other loos objects around the room as it spirals towards Diablo... However, Diablo doesn't move, his arm is enveloped in the smoke that was currently pooling around his legs as he swipes at it. The arcane orb is cut in two, the magical energies comprising it imploding on itself and causing an explosion to occur.

A shockwave blows away some of the creature near Diablo, but when the dust settles the Demon residing in Leah's body still remains.

Diablo "Is that all? Pathetic, no wonder you let Leah die." he says, causing Mathias eyes to widen as the Lord of Terror begins expanding his aura to envelope them all.

Diablo was the Lord of Terror for a reason, while he might not use it all the time, he was able to surround someone in his aura and show them what scares them the most. Most of the time it'd just cause the unfortunate victim's mind to break, but, when used against powerful opponents they were sometimes able to resist. The only way to bypass this is for Diablo to become stronger, or for him to preemptively put them in a weak state of mind, apparently his attempts to weaken the group with Mathias betrayal hadn't worked all that well... Regardless, the ability was still useful at distracting them so his minion could tear them apart.

The black smoke surrounded the group and all of them had their consciousnesses sent inwards, so they could confront themselves and what they fear. Tyrael, Quennie, and Selina had tried to resist it, but even Reima would have to put some effort in to completely nullify this. Every experienced fear, whether it was existential or corporeal doesn't matter...

Tyrael opens his eyes and rapidly looks around, he hadn't even been affected by this ability of Diablo's before, his divinity wouldn't allow it... Unfortunately, as a mortal his mind lacked the protection to resist, even El'druin was useless under its effects.

Once he looks around his eyes widen in fear... Before him was Heaven, the previous shining example of every good and right, was now overcast with black clouds... No, not black clouds... Smoke. The High Heavens were burning, armies of Demons charged through the now destroyed Diamond Gates, corpses of his brothers were strewn about like trash, pools of liquid light surround them as demons continue to stab and strike their broken and likely lifeless bodies.

He blinks and the scene changes again.

Tyrael "No..." he mutters as he's shown the Crystal Arch, the birthplace of all Angels and most important place of Heaven. Diablo's hulking body could be seen atop it as black veins of corruption began climbing the Crystal Arch, in Diablo's grip was Imperius, he old friend and now "Unfriend".

Tyrael unconsciously reached his hand out as Diablo gripped Imperius arms and tore the angel apart, "No!" he exclaimed, knowing that with Imperius death, Heaven was doomed.

He blinks again, and is now atop the Crystal Arch... This is where the Angelic Resonance would be sung to birth a new Angel, he drops to he knees as Diablo walks up to his and slowly dips his hand inside, the rest of it slowly turning black.

Tyrael felt despair overtake him, had all he done have been for nothing? Would Hell win regardless of what he did? If so, what was the point of resisting?...

The hulking Diablo turned and grinned at Tyrael, causing him to raise an eyebrow... Wait, something's not right... His head started to thrumb with something familiar... He rests his head in both hands as he tries to remember what it was...

Diablo "Just let it happen, Angel." he says, slowly walking towards Tyrael.

Tyrael shakes his head, but just as Diablo is reaching for him his hand shoots to El'druin on his waist. *SLASH*

Diablo roars in pain as his hand is severed, Tyrael standing and glaring at the Demon, "DO YOU THINK ME SO WEAK DIABLO?! THE HIGH HEAVENS WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED, NOT BY YOU, AND NOT BY ANYONE!" he shouts, causing the world itself to ripple and distort.

The pained distorting Diablo suddenly stops and turns away, "Your resistance is futile." they say as everything fades to black.