Working as One

Not far from the action, a person sat off the edge of one of the buildings just out of sight of everyone else. He had on a dark red shirt that he had ripped the sleeves off of and black pants. He had a crop of red hair that spiked up in the front.

"Let's see…", he said, "it looks like the scene is all set. We got our big baddie over there, all the unimportant side characters are gone, and now the slayers are here in quick fashion."

He looked up to the sky where the angels had originally come from.

"Now play your part, slayers, and drag out the head honcho for me." He said with an eager grin on his face.

Back on the battlefield the slayers and Malakah were in a stare off as they waited for each other to make the first move.

"Jayden." Jun said as he turned his head towards Jayden behind him. "Set us off."

"Glad to, Captain." Jayden replied.

"Iris."

"I know." She stated as she took a few steps back.

Malakah watched on as they formulated their plan. More so than the others, his focus was fixed on Iris.

I don't understand, he thought. What is she hiding? Why bring her if she's just going to be a liability? Hmm. I'll need to keep an eye -

"Wake up, angel!"

Jayden's voice jarred his train of thought as Jayden had released one of his arrows right at him.

"Tch!" Malakah dashed off the ground into the air to avoid the arrow.

"Nightkiss, Oath of the Serpent. Can shoot several different arrow types made from unholy energy, but the most deadly part is that it can split into multiple arrows on command. But - as long as you can dodge the first arrow you have nothing to worry about!" He spoke out loud.

The arrow suddenly turned mid flight and redirected towards the airborne angel.

"What?!" Malakah yelled.

"Ha! You should probably check your sources before you start monologuing in the middle of a battle. As long as it's a single arrow, I can control its course!"

Jayden snapped his fingers. "Now go fuck yourself." The arrow split off into several arrows and continued to do so just as before.

Malakah looked down at the incoming storm of arrows. "Foolish human!"

Get real! Jayden thought. With the God Core System, we're in control! He blinked once and his pupils suddenly started to glow.

Each slayer had access to the anomaly known as the God Core System. Beyond just being a power system for slayers, it also offered many benefits to slayers - such as being that they're able to see and feel all forms of divine energy, which was undetectable by mortals.

This was where Celestial Vision kicked in. It was what allowed them to see the world behind the curtain.

Jayden could see the energy welling up around Malakah and knew he was preparing for an attack.

"It's over for you!" Jayden shouted out.

Malakah pointed his spear down towards the incoming arrows.

A bright flash of light released from the tip of the glowing spear outwards into a concentrated cone of energy. He moved the energy from one side to the other and eradicated every arrow.

"My God, do you have to talk so much?" Malakah asked rhetorically.

"Unfortunately, yes." Jun's voice sounded out.

Malakah's eyes darted to the side where the voice was coming from. There was Jun right next to him in the air with his blade held out to his side.

"How-" Malakah started.

Jun's slash was quick and precise. Malakah tried to move out the way, but Jun's blade slashed upwards and completely severed his right bottom wing off. A spurt of yellow fluid gushed out from the wound.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" He screamed out in pain. The severed wing evaporated into black energy and vanished.

"But, Jayden means well I'm sure."

V-verdict, Blade of Souls! Thought Malakah. The more he focuses the sharper the blade is! But you rely too much on these weapons! Even with one wing missing, I can stay airborne. You, however….are a wingless heretic.

Malakah quickly jabbed his spear at the airborne Jun who was now a sitting duck.

An arrow shot between them and pierced right through his spear arm. "Gah!" Jun fell out of the air and came to a skidding stop on the ground below. Though it was a steep drop, their enhanced bodies that coursed with unholy energy allowed them to perform feats not possible for the normal human.

"Thanks for the save there, Jayden. I was a bit off-balanced in the air and couldn't adjust my swing path. Won't happen again."

"Only you would continue to play the perfectionist in a battle against almost immortal beings." Iris said as she rolled her eyes.

Jun partially smiled at her words. As long as we work as one, there's no enemy we can't take down, he thought. We've made it this far because we all understand this.

Jayden lowered his bow. "Are we ready? I don't think he's going to be doing any quick dodges with that missing wing."

Jun looked at Iris. "Agreed. The plan is working so far. Iris?"

She held up her right hand to show the ring she wore was now glowing a bright red. Then strands of black energy began to pour out of the ring and wrap around her arm.

"Gah." Iris winced as the energy spread all over her arm. "Just give me a moment."

Meanwhile, Malakah had used his innate holy energy to heal the wound in his arm.

"It's always such a pain when slayers group up. Much easier to pick off when they're alone.." Malakah glanced down at his missing wing. "Damn those cursed weapons. Otherwise I would be able to reattach the wing. No matter, I just-"

Malakah stopped mid-sentence as he could feel a dark energy rapidly rising. He looked down towards the slayers and saw the black energy as it began to wound itself around Iris's arm.

"What is she…wait! That ring! So that's their plan.."

On Iris's arm the energy began to take shape on her arm into what appeared to be some kind of armor.

"Hurry, Iris. We can't expect that he'll spend too much longer up there." Jun said.

"Captain, it's too soon! She's not ready. We can finish it with just the two of us." Jayden said.

"No, we need Iris too if this is going to work." Jun retaliated.

"Just…shut up, both of you. Let me concentrate!" Iris exclaimed.

All three of them perked up as they felt a sharp spike in divine energy. They turned towards the sky and saw Malakah holding his spear up in the air which had rapidly gathered holy energy and had imbued it all into the blade of his spear. A faint humming could be heard as the tip radiated with power.

"No more games, slayers." He spoke.

"We're out of time!" Jun uttered. He quickly turned back to Iris. "Is it almost done?!"

"No!" The black armor had formed around part of her arm, but not fully.

Jayden raised his bow back up and pulled back on the string. Two arrows formed on the string right before he quickly released it. He knew that such a quick release would strip away some power, but the speed would be raised.

The two arrows sailed through the air towards Malakah. Jayden could clearly see the path of the arrows with his Celestial Vision and how they would break. "I can finish this!"

"Iris, if he dodges, be ready!" Jun called out to her. Iris nodded as the armor was nearing completion around her arm.

The arrows were right upon Malakah as he was still finishing gathering the last of the energy needed. The arrows suddenly exploded before reaching him, but a barrier made of holy energy that was invisible, now became visible.

"A shield?!" Jayden said, shocked.

Malakah pointed the tip of his spear down at the slayers. His pupils were stark white as the energy overflowed from his spear and his body.

"Now be cleansed."