Chapter 31

Lucifer`s Estate. Courtyard.

When the agreement regarding the situation with Kokabiel was reached, Alex and his companions actually let out a collective sigh of relief, for it was the major improvement of the relations between all 3 factions and a total avoid of the start of a new war between them, which was something of an another level of diplomacy. Now the factions had a collective enemy to deal with for he is threatening them and it was now Alex`s job to do what he always were best at- clean up another mess made by someone and ensure the world peace.

Basically, the very same thing that he and his friends were doing all the time, only difference from those days is the fact that Alex and his guys were paid for their job. When Alex actually contemplated a bit about it, he might have start charging Devils for dealing with crap on their territory. Because, knowing just how this world operates and what shit happens here, people like Alex and his gang will never run short of work to do and they might just have to do a living through this. And Alex did, just like his guys also do, and it was a good living, as they were paid handsomely and without any delays or problems. And then there was also the level of care put for the workers: health insurance, social support and support for the young parents and their children, vacations in good places and with the company paying for it. Seriously, despite how bat-shit messed up the job was, Alex`s division was working in very good conditions and their boss was the one they could ask for. Lucifer had a feeling that working for the safety of Devils wouldn`t be a well-paid or manageable. After all, only in Grigori you got the life insurance with condition "Was injured/hurt/killed during cleaning up another shit for the better of the world."

Getting back from the memories of good, well-paid and ensured days, Alex returned back to the rest of the friends and he was actually surprised when he heard that Arturia actually challenged Xenovia to a fight. What surprised him even more was the fact that Scathach decided to join in the duel, when Irina went out and joined Xenovia. Apparently, his wife decided to defend Alex`s honor and dignity, for Irina openly has offended Alex, Celts and Scathach. Alex knew that his wife wasn`t someone who would ever let it just slide without payback. And Irina was going to receive it now, along with Xenovia for insulting Asia and the others, along with the fact that she really had it coming. If anything Alex would be more than happy to oblige and deal with her with his own Clarent Avenger, but it was probably best that it was Arturia that would kick her ass.

All because Alex was feeling a bit weary to fight against Xenovia, not because of her skill with the sword, for Alex did know how those Exorcists were trained and he personally had to hold his own against a couple of swordsman from their ranks back in the days and now he was 10 times stronger and faster than back then. No, the reason for his weariness were those swords, Excaliburs, for they were whispering to Alex without anyone even noticing, only Lucifer was the one who also heard the voices from the swords. Unfortunately, their voices were incoherent and sounded like a white noise of some sorts. It was… troubling, especially the fact that Lucifer felt that there was something really wrong about those swords, something… absolutely and completely wrong. Like something whole was mutilated, broken and ripped apart and then put together in several other beings, but even before there was something that happened with this artifact.

That all was making Alex and Lucifer feel on edge a little, as they were watching how Arturia and Xenovia were getting in their positions and how Scathach's spears were swirling around as she carefully, akin to predator was approaching Irina. Rest of the audience was also near, with Sona and Griselda standing right near Alex and watching with the interest as well. Sona was the first one to speak up.

"Alex is it wise to allow them fight like this? Wouldn`t it cause trouble?" Sona asked Alex, who only shook his head.

"If it was held before the conference, something like that, even as unofficial match, would be enough to lit up that powder keg we`ve just diffused." Alex admitted. "Now, we can write this one off as a practice sparring to strengthen the bonds between comrades. And it isn`t unusual, actually. Back in my unit, such events were normality, because I knew that my guys needed to let off steam or settle some arguments. Something like that really helps out build the bond between the comrades and colleagues."

"Hm… I can see your point." Sona admitted, looking at Arturia and Scathach. "They don`t seem to be worried or even ready for a battle for that matter."

"Trust me, Sona: both of them are prepared, they simply know how to hide it." Alex noted. "Xenovia and Irina may have Excaliburs on their hands and be able to wield it, but they haven`t seen half as much action as Arturia and Scathach, and they most certainly haven`t dealt with the same kinds of monsters, ghouls, apostles and everything in between. And don`t even get me started on surviving certain all kinds of hell on Earth."

"You speak so confidently of that. Care to share any examples?" Sona wished to know and Alex simply looked to her, and then at Griselda who was looking at him as well.

Alex simply sighed and spoke up.

"Exorcist, have you ever heard about Millennium?" Alex acquired, making Griselda gulp in horror of thought. "Apparently, you have, along with the infamous 9th Crusade and a disaster that followed for not just the Church, but also for London and England in general."

"I`ve read the reports, but I wasn`t aware that you and your division also operated there." Griselda spoken. "Even after a year, our wounds are still fresh. Forces of 4 Holy Orders were annihilated, an archbishop murdered and our greatest paladin has succumbed to the powers of Helena`s Nail. Not even the previous Crusade was as vicious and destructive for our Church. "

"Oh yes, me and my whole division was called out there by Hellsing Organization in order to provide main support to Sir Integra and her weakened forces." Alex recalled that inferno. "We held off the attackers in Hellsing Mansion and then cleared out the northern sectors of London. Personally killed 37 of ghouls and 49 reanimated civilians, but I`ve lost more than a third of my entire unit. No captured or wounded, all KIA. Worst nightmare of my entire career…" Alex still saw the faces of his comrades and operatives, especially those that he had to kill himself. "The only single plus from that whole hell is that my people know what Hell really looks like and how to live through it.

Sona listened up to that one and her memory brought up the event those two were talking about. The biggest battle in supernatural world ever since the conclusion of Great War, which resulted in monstrous and bloodiest atrocity in the history of the world. Even Devils were severally affected by that attack and a lot was lost for them, along with those millions. Heiress of the Sitri couldn`t even imagine just how much horrors and atrocities did her lover and his friends have witnessed. And to live through… She honestly couldn`t see herself going through that alive and well, but Alex did and he is now here with his friends and family, along with those that were in that hell of Earth.

And now, the dual duel was about to begin.

Duel 1: Xenovia VS Arturia.

Arturia`s Divine Excalibur was revealed to the full display to Xenovia`s Excalibur Destroyer, whose shrouds were dispersed and the ugly abomination of a sword was on front view. Pendragon wasn`t impressed even slightly by what she was seeing. This weapon, if it could be called such, was nothing against what Arturia spent months creating and after she had mastered the ways of western swordplay, along with molding it up with years of battles and countless fights against many fearsome opponents. All of that and the help of her family and friends have made Arturia into one of the best sword masters in the entire world. The only few that were equal and surpassed her in swordplay were her older brother Arthur and a couple of other swordsmen.

Xenovia decided to speak up.

"Tell me something, daughter of Uther Pendragon, is this fake Excalibur capable of even holding his own against the God`s Holy Sword?" Xenovia swung around the powerful weapon and pointed at Arturia. "It would be a shame if a Sword of Promised Victory cut down a descendant of its original owner, without much of a fight." She smirked.

Arturia moved her blade to a striking position and prepared for a battle, looking at the insulter.

"Trust me, Xenovia, this weapon may not be named a Sword of Promised Victory, but in right hands, it will bring the true victory." Arturia`s stance became more composed. "And one more thing, Xenovia: this piece of scrap hardly can be called a Sword of Promised Victory. More like a Sword of Shattered Entity, for it was violated beyond repair by your arrogant bishops, lustful for young bodies of girls, from the looks at your uniform."

"I shall make you eat your words!" Xenovia decided to charge first, angered and furious at Arturia.

Alex`s Queen decided to wait out for some time before charging. While it looked like she was simply waiting, she was doing battle in her mind, weighing out all her options and working out the variants of this whole fight. Xenovia was a power type, centered on her own strength over speed and prioritizing it over the other abilities. A blunt fighter without much of a battle intelligence and intuition, a grunt in a sense. Xenovia`s main attribute is a strength and power in attack, but she lacked in speed and maneuver, as this sword would be hard to wield without much preparations, but Xenovia, from the looks on her stance and way she was holding it. As for Arturia, she had very good stats in all spheres of battle and combat, along with the experience and mastery of the blade. And Pendragon was going to show Xenovia, that it`s not the sword that brings victory.

As Xenovia closed in, she moved her Destroyer upwards and when the distance was enough, she swung it down with full force. The blade came down and shattered the ground beneath it, creating the huge cloud of dust, but there was no indication that the attack had connected with the opponent. And she soon realized that this was the fact, as Arturia suddenly appeared behind Xenovia, with the sword nearing the back of hers. Only by slight chance, was Xenovia fortunate enough as she maneuvered away and used her Destroyer to block the Divine. The two swords connected and Xenovia gritted her teeth, looking at Arturia`s blank face. It looked that two fighters were equal, but then Arturia moved Destroyer to the right and in one strong move kicked Xenovia away, making her stumble her way backwards and fall on her back, rallying her own composure and getting back up. During this short amount of time, Xenovia did lose the sight of her opponent and it was a fatal mistake in fight. This one was no different, for Arturia used this opportunity and shortened the distance with Xenovia, as Divine`s handle connected with the stomach of Xenovia, making her gasp and take more steps back, dropping Destroyer. Arturia saw how it happened and made one more step and was now controlling the area where Excalibur Destroyer lied. Arturia decided to speak up.

"I recommend you forfeit, Xenovia." Arturia was serious. "The sole reason I was acting so restrained was because I was testing you out, but now I know your real potential and I have disarmed you."

Xenovia growled and then stood up.

"Don`t assume that this was my best." Xenovia held out her right arm and mentally began to chant. "Prepare yourself, Arturia Pendragon! I call upon St. Peter, St. Basil, St. Denis and Blessed Virgin Mary. Please, answer my prayers!"

And with that, a portal appeared near of her and from it emerged the chained large sword, emitting the Holy energy on par with that of the Divine Excalibur. Arturia was quick to recognize this legendary weapon, that granted paladin Roland the power to fight 100000 men and which pierced through all it had. It would seem that now things would get truly interesting.

Xenovia reached out and took the weapon.

"With the power bestowed upon me by our Lord, I set you free!" And with that, the chains were broken and the weapon was in her hands. "Now, face the might of a true Holy Sword! Are you ready, Arturia, to have your precious toy destroyed by my Durandal?"

Arturia simply grinned and… put her sword in the ground, looking at a confused Xenovia.

"Are you not tired of this preach, Xenovia?" Arturia honestly asked of her. "True Holy Sword and fake Holy Sword… It is true that my Divine Excalibur is a completely separate sword from the original and it was made by me, but there is something you`ve always couldn`t quite understand, Xenovia."

"And what would that be, Arturia?" Xenovia questioned her.

"Any Holy Sword is nothing more but a piece of metal without any will or power. It is not the sword you must beware," Arturia then pulled out of the ground her Divine and looked up at Xenovia. "But a person wielding it."

And then, in one instance, Arturia basically disappeared from the view of Xenovia, surprising her and making her look around, trying to find out where did her opponent went. Everything was basically silent and she couldn`t get it, where did Arturia go, as she looked around, moving her Durandal along. Could it be that she simply escaped? No, that wasn`t her style. Then… the whereabouts of Arturia quickly became known to Xenovia, as she finally felt it. A response from her nervous system, signaling about her cut back, which followed by Divine`s blade placed just near of her neck, enough to cut her without even a single problem. Now she understood where Nephilim went. And just what was her real skill.

Durandal met the ground and she herself went on her knees.

"I yield. Victory is yours, Arturia." Xenovia understood her defeat and didn`t object to the obvious.

Arturia put away her blade.

Victory truly was hers.

Duel 2: Irina VS Scathach.

Scathach`s left spear pierced the ground and she took up her right spear with both arms, looking at her opponent who didn`t lose up her smile and unleashed her Excalibur Mimic. Ruler of Dun Scaith was becoming increasingly irritated with this girl`s antics and this cheerful disposition to everything that she does. Even now, in face of a powerful opponent, she was smiling and there was a very clear air of confidence. Or arrogance, which remained to be seen. However, what irritated Scathach the most was this girl`s attitude with her husband Alexander. Calling him her best friend and then declaring that she would kill him… All with a smile on her face and strongest belief in her God. Alex has told her about his time in Church and how things were there. And they weren`t well for Alex, for may archbishops wished for him to be their weapon, like this girl. The only few that were good with Alex were Arturia, Jeanne D`Arc and Father Alexander Anderson, in whose care he was placed. Irina was a loud, obnoxious and oblivious foolish girl that was far more pleased with hearing her own voice instead of the others. She claimed to be Alex`s best friend, but this girl knows nothing of Alex, not unlike his friends, his comrades, his true family.

Moved in circular move set, akin to that of a predator and watched closely at the Exorcist`s girl, studying her and awaiting for her movements. She was playing it safe, knowing too damn well then to rush in and get in to serious trouble. Irina, looked at her opponent and then spoke up.

"Hey, back in the mansion, you`ve said that I`ve insulted your husband." Irina spoke. "Are you married to that man in red coat-thing? Is he a Celt and I said something awful to him?"

Scathach scoffed, looking critically at the girl.

"You really are foolish little girl, are you not?" Irina looked insulted. "No, Archer is a good friend and a fine man that are rare to come these days, but I already have a man a hundred times finer then he is or the others. And you claim to be his close friend, foolishly and arrogantly."

"Wait… You and ALEX?!" Irina screamed as if in shock. "B-But h-how… Only our Lord c-can truly unite people in sacred bonds of love and happiness! What you claim to have is nothing more but a vulgar and lustful bond! A-and that means that Alex is not married to anyone!"

"You truly are a finest example of one`s mind been completely washed up with propaganda and constant belief in one`s absolute righteousness." Scathach commented, turning a cold eye on her. "Do not claim what you do not grasp, girl. I am a granddaughter of Morrigan and great granddaughter of legendary Scathach and your Lord is a foreign entity to me and my folk. I have no need in him, nor does he has a need in me, and so I do not care if it is allowed for me to marry a man I love with all my heart with or without his permission. I have wedded Alex by the customs of my people and my family graciously accepted him in it. And just for calling in doubt our bond and love, I would gladly pierce your heart with my spears, but... You have done something far worse, my naïve little prey."

"And what did I do, witch?" Irina hissed.

"You have threatened my family and my husband." Scathach answered, as she suddenly disappeared from the sight, only dust rose from her spot and one spear remained, but with no wielder of it or a sibling lance.

Irina didn`t even notice how did that happen and started looking around with her katana. Until she felt the familiar cold wind breezing from behind. She turned her head to the left and looked over her shoulder to see if it was what she had feared… only to duck away from the deadly blade of a red spear that just barely missed Irina`s head. She almost didn`t see it coming, just a gut feeling and nothing else, but her hair did suffer, for Scathach`s spear has claimed some threads. Irina was beginning to stumble back, but Witch of Dun Scaith moved her spear with a blazing speed, as the bone neared Irina`s head, but her Mimic was there and it shaped it`s blade to block the attack in it`s tracks. Exorcist girl had thought that she was safe for a moment, but then the spear swung in lancer`s hand and in a millisecond, the blade was gone from Mimic`s steel, but the opposite end of Gae Bolg met with Irina`s face and hit her. Irina began to stumble back and then another blow came, once she felt how the red spear out and cut her left hand. She jumped away and looked at her wounded arm, seeing that it was not a deep wound, but a more of a warning. Scathach swirled around her spear and positioned herself for another attack, looking at Irina akin to the wolf ready to take its prey. Irina decided to speak up.

"Hey, you do know that those attacks of yours could`ve killed me?!" Irina critically said. "Are you trying to get me killed here?!"

"Funny, considering that you yourself were speaking about killing all of Nephilims here, two of whom is I and Alex." Scathach recalled. "Is it strange for you to see people protect what they hold dear to them?"

"W-well, n-no, but you are acting like a villain here, not like a hero!" Irina accused her.

At this one, Scathach simply laughed, loud and clear, enough for everyone to hear this, especially Irina. She went out her posture and looked at Irina, before speaking up.

"A hero? What are you, a 5-year old little girl?" Scathach asked of Irina, confusing her. "Listen up, naïve girl: there are no heroes or villains. There no those stereotypical bad guys or whoever you`ve heard from those fairytales, nor are there any knights in shiny armors or cool superheroes. There are no absolutely chivalrous good paladins or knightly defenders, nor are there completely vile and corrupt sorcerers or beastly and wild monsters like in those foolish stories. This world is filled to no end with people that are all after their own personal goals and desires, all selfish, in one way or another. And that how it has always been and all these years and ages, one man after one goal, another man after another and then their paths cross when they realize that their paths to desired demands one of them to be defeated. And that how all the legends and stories came to be and still come to be this day. Believe me, for I know how legends are truly are made and I have seen true myths in creation."

"All this talk… You are trying to stir me away from the path of righteousness and goodness!" Irina protested. "I know what I believe is right and that all you say and mean is wrong! I know Alexander and I know that he would never…"

"You know Alex?" Scathach pointed at her. "Just what in the seven hells do you think you know about him, ignorant Exorcist?"

"He is my best friend and we have known each other for years since lady Griselda took him in the church, until your friends have kidnapped him and corrupted him!" Irina accused Scathach. "And I shall cleanse this corruption and reclaim his soul for our Lord, for this is my duty as his best friend and true future wife!"

"You say so many loud words, yet I see neither true meaning nor a solid proof to these words. Only a waste of air and breath." Scathach coldly stated. "What do you even know of Alex? Have you ever even talked to him, listened to what he had to say, instead of listening to the ringing of your own voice? Have you ever seen him happy because a success in something, or saddened and grieving over a loss? I doubt that." Scathach began to move with her spear towards Irina. "But I have and all of my friends have, for we care for him, just as he cares for all of us. I have seen him laugh and joke with Cu Chulainn and Diarmuid O'Dyna when we were celebrating his birthday, despite how much he hates that day, for it was a day he lost his mother. I have seen his tears of joy when he saved a little girl from the fires, even though his hands were burnt badly. I have watched him cry the tears of grief on the funerals of our friends, dead at the hands of ghouls. And I have felt his heart`s wounds and weight, along with all the care and love he has for me." Scathach stopped just in front of Irina, who was listening to it all and not interrupting.

In a single fast strike, Scathach took away Irina`s Mimic and pointed a spear at her neck. And then, she finished.

"Do not think that you know the man just because you`ve proclaimed to be his friend." Scathach gave Irina an advice. "And never even think about hurting those that I care about. Or the next time, I shall not hold back my spear and strike you where you stand before you have a time to blink."

And just with that, not with the language of steel and blades, but through meaningful words, Irina lost her duel against Scatchach, as she marched away from her opponent and picked up her own spear, walking away with Arturia and the rest of the audience. Xenovia walked to her friend and looked at them as well, before taking up the Excalibur Mimic and looking at it with strong interest, as her Destroyer was in her other arm and Durandal back in its original place of containment. Irina snapped out of her contemplations about the words that Scatchach said and looked at Xenovia.

"Xenovia, why re you looking so strangely at my Mimic?" Irina spoke.

"I am trying to understand something." Xenovia answered, returning the Mimic to its owner. "Arturia`s Divine Excalibur was not created by our Lord, but when it clashed with the true Excalibur, I could clearly see that her weapon was leagues superior to mine, a weapon that was crafted by the God himself.'

"Well, you do remember why did the Pope brought her in the Church?" Irina asked her friend. "She possesses a gift to create strongest arms with will alone. And she did craft it back in the Church, along with that cursed abomination Caliburn Chaos." Irina recalled that black and red twin of Divine Excalibur.

"Indeed, and now it serves in the hands of our greatest traitor." Xenovia scoffed, thinking about that man. "But, that is not what I was actually thinking of. Arturia said that a Holy Sword is nothing without a master to wield it. Just a scrap of metal without will or power."

"What?! That`s absurd! It is nothing more but heresy!" Irina protested. "Just like what that witch said about Alex. I mean, he and I are totally best friends still."

"Doubtful." Suddenly a voice was heard from behind them. "You could never even stop for a second to listen what he had to say."

Both Exorcist girls have turned and were now facing a familiar to them young man with the well-known Unholy Sword in his sheathed. Both girls prepared themselves for a fight, but the intruder didn`t even bother to lift a finger, for he simply looked at them with a curious eye.

Xenovia was the first one to speak up.

"You!" She addressed the traitor, who didn`t even flinch. "I should kill you where you stand!"

"Oh please, as if you could, Xenovia." Black swordsman spoke up. "What chances do you think you have, when neither Vasco with Durandal and even Father Anderson couldn`t stop me, and that was 5 years ago. I highly doubt that you would be able to do much with these scraps of metal. Besides if had wanted to, I would`ve killed you already and be on my way to Lucifer."

"Wait, you are here to see Alex?" Irina questioned him. "I thought that two of you aren`t in the best terms, despite your relations. Back in Church, no matter how much you`ve tried, he would never get convinced to join up with us."

"That was then, when I was a naïve idiot like you two here." He laughed a bit. "Anyway, seems like I wasn`t fast enough to catch him, might as well just make use of you two as messengers."

"Like we would ever relay a message from the likes of you, filthy traitor." Xenovia scoffed.

"Still, it is best that he gets this one, I don`t care which way. And seeing how he is now your superior, you could do good service to him and deliver a message." Swordsman simply stated. "Tell Alex that he best watch his back from now on. Many forces have noticed the arrival of True Heir of Lucifer, but none of them are as dangerous as the False Heir."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Xenovia asked of him.

"I wouldn`t call that nonsense, especially considering whom I am talking about." Swordsman drew out his Caliburn Chaos and slashed the air, creating a portal. "Just tell him that. And one more thing: if you want to find Kokabiel, check the abandoned industrial site in the woods. He was sighted there."

And with that said, he disappeared without a trace in the rift that just closed behind him. And with that, he also left some questions that needed to be answered to Xenovia and Irina, for they had little to no idea about the False Heir of Lucifer. However, they at least have gotten the idea of where to look for Kokabiel, which was far more than one could ask for.

Alexander`s mental landscape.

When Alexander and the rest returned to the house, Lucifer contacted Alex and asked for a private talk with his heir about something. Alex excused himself for a moment and went in his personal room, from where he simply entered a state of meditation. During his time in the prison under ORC, Lucifer had some time to teach his heir a couple of ticks and how to communicate with him, along with the usage of this meditation as their means of discussing things more up close and private. Thoughts and images here traveled at far faster rate and entire conversations could be done in a matter of seconds between the two.

As Alex stepped on the wastelands, which was usual their place to talk, he immediately saw Lucifer awaiting him. Alex closed the distance and spoke up.

"Let me guess, this has to do with Excaliburs, doesn`t it?" Alex took a guess. "And the fact that we keep hearing those strange voices?"

"Yes, indeed." Lucifer confirmed. "For you, however, those voices may be unknown. But not for me, I am afraid."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked of him. "Did you recognize those voices?"

"I did." Lucifer admitted, sighing. "Those voices belong to none others, but our brethren."

Alex`s eyes widened, when he realized to what Lucifer pointed at.

"Nephilims…"