Come, my people [Chapter VIII]

[Miracle]

"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."

Images of the outsiders being slaughtered outside of Hallowton by her own men flashed through her mind. Even though she had not gone in person thanks to her connection with God she saw the death of every man, woman and child by her people swords and heard their cries before their blood spread through the ocean.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Despite the disturbing images that haunted her mind it did not waver off it's present course as her eyes remained glue to the tower that overshadowed all of the Crystal Expanse. Her armies of holy men and Solomon by her side there would be no escape for the Downward Spiral this time. Soon the suns would rise and Emmanuel would shine over them. Now that her connection with God's will was restored, it would smile upon them. What began with Aper would end with Miracle.

"Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength."

[Ayen]

Before Miracle and her army could move another step the ground in front of them exploded, forcing them all back by twenty feet and maintaining a reasonably large distance between them and the tower as new obstacles appeared to stop the holy men and women of God. To their left was the seven feet tall beast known only as The Angel of Death alongside vampires known as Jenesis and Kedara. To their right was the tyrant Jill Valentine, the Soldier of Darkness Ra Constantine and the sister of Maricul, The Crimson Devil Ranko with the blade of light, Semi.

Then in the center was The Paradox herself. Dressed in her infamous black witch robes and hat, long black hair up in curls and wrapped around her body ending at her pale, bare feet. Floating a mere two inches above the ground, her hollow ebony eyes looking down in disgust at the followers of Yahweh who so blindly came to finish what even The Arashi could not. The destruction of the tower. Their precious Emmanuel would not come as through her own will was the skies covered in clouds just as dark as her very eyes, blotting out the suns that were soon to rise this morning on Genesis.

“Does it fill your heart with song? Does it make you proud to know you have killed innocents on this day?”

Maricul feet finally came into full contact with the ground as her eyes turned away from the men equipped with swords and shields, and looked solely on the child, the avatar of Yahweh himself who willingly allowed herself to be used like a puppet.

“And you dare call us the monsters?”

[Miracle]

As the ground before them exploded Miracle was quick to protect her men from harm's way, as Yahweh was to protect her. They kept their distance and watched as the guardians of Utopia showed their faces one by one until the Jezebel herself appeared and looked upon them, upon her, with great judgment. Judgment she did not have the right to make. Stepping forward, the High Priestess rested her right hand on the hilt of her sword, and narrowed her eyes towards the disgusting female she once was foolish enough to call friend. Who she once fought alongside with. The very memory threatened to cause vomit, how she could have been so blind then was unknown to her. Turning away from her was one thing Miracle would not regret.

"Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Miracle dared to draw closer but not close enough to be led astray by the woman in black. She spoke beyond Maricul, beyond her warriors, to the human servants that stand behind them. The natives of Genesis who had turned from God to Maricul in one act of defiance.

"And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not."

The High Priestess finally sheathed her blade and aimed it's tip towards the heart of the vampire-witch turned paradox.

"Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds."

[Sparda]

Maricul's champions were not her only company in the long, dark shadow of the Downward Spiral. Beside her, a great disc of jet and amethyst smoke whirled into life; purposeful footsteps struck chilling echoes in the quiet as they came forth; what little light there was glinted menacingly off a great curved blade; and with a look of venomous, unrepentant contempt upon his face, Sparda marched across the threshold, allowing his portal to dissipate behind him.

"If your god is as good as you incessantly profess, Miracle," he spat, staring her down across the field, "Then why would he order the deaths of so many innocent people? They weren't here of their own accord - none of us are! What crime had they committed that demanded their lives be taken?!"

Some of her soldiers dared to step hesitantly forward, and were thrown right back as the Dark Knight unleashed his aura of simply ungodly power. Some of their number were dragged to their knees by its sheer strength, manifest as a crippling weight dropped upon each and all of them. Sparda raised his namesake blade, staring down its length at the blinded child prodigy.

"Your god is a fool, Miracle. And you're a fool for obeying him so damned blindly."

[Ayen]

“How Christian. Do as I say or I'll hurt you.”

Maricul mocked. Also stepping forward from her group of warriors from Utopia and standing within fifteen feet away from the mortal child. Despite her faith, her spirituality, and her strong connection with Yahweh, she was still a mortal child and succumb to all the mortal weaknesses like any other. Sin included. Coming to a stop, Maricul saw through the hardened expression on the child's face to the weakness underneath. The scared little girl who knew she did wrong but feared the wrath of her own god if she did not obey her will. The Paradox felt pity for the child, she had relied on her god for so long that the very idea of a life without him frightened her. It made her wonder how she would respond to the truth. To the reality that her god, was mortal, and every bit as flawed as they were.

“I can sense the fear in you. You don't want to do this. You don't want to hurt anyone else. I have the power to bring them back. I can wash this all away with the bat of an eyelash, but I need you to admit that you were wrong to take those lives.”

A flash of annoyance crossed her features at the presence of The Legendary Dark Knight. Old habits died hard and even while on the same side there were things about the silver-headed male that still vex The Paradox but now was neither the time nor place. She kept her focus on Miracle. Hoping against hope that this could end peacefully.

“Do you not believe Amoura can defeat The Arashi? Have you lost faith in your friends already?”

[Alex]

"Away with you, wench! And you too, Dark Knight!"

Solomon stepped up from the crowd of soldiers to stand by Miracle side with his hand at the ready to draw his sword and strike down the first person who made any kind of advancement towards his friend.

"We've tried doing things your way and what do we have to show for it? The destruction of Aircano and Crystal City by the hand of the Arashi! We take no pleasure in the lives that were taken on this day but it was necessary to ensure the survival of Genesis."

Solomon took out his sword and pointed it towards the tower that cast it's shadow upon all of them in the Crystal Expanse.

"And the destruction of the Downward Spiral is the next logical step in acheiving that goal. Before this day is over not only would we have succeeded in saving all of existence from the Arashi but we would have spared this continent a war for power. It's better to cut off your arm and cast it away instead of having your entire body thrown into hell!"

[Miracle]

It was the moment Miracle dreaded most of all. The inevitable confrontation between those she considered to be her friends. While turning on Maricul offered no regrets she did not look forward to doing battle with Sparda and anyone else from that particular group she has bonded with over the course of several months but if God so willed it then Miracle would not resist nor show weakness.

"A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes."

The young High Priestess turned away from Sparda and returned her glance to Maricul.

"Amoura is the herald of the prophecy and shall have no harm inflicted upon her by my people but I cannot permit the rest to live. Within the mass there is one who is the vessel. The mass are the outsiders and the vessel, the Third Aspect. Aper knew this and we were fools for not heeding his warning when he made his trek across the planes of Genesis. The universe and the realities that dwell within it are infinite. Even the Arashi has not the power to end all existence so easily but the tower, the tower would permit the Third to bring about her End. Unless it's destroyed. Kill the vessel, destroy the gateway and the Third Aspect WILL NOT come to past!"

Miracle's grip on the hilt of her blade tightened as anger started to take hold of her body towards those that would deny the Just hand of God and his servants from saving existence simply because the price was too much for them. It was a burden on her shoulders as well and something she would have to live with for the rest of her days but as Solomon said, it was better to cut off an arm and cast it away then have your entire body thrown into hell. Miracle stare towards Maricul became more intense as a realization soon came over her.

"But you knew this already didn't you?"

[Ayen]

“Then why not simply kill the vessel? Why kill them all?”

And thus everything that was wrong with religion began to come to light. The logical fallacies and contradiction to what was already established. The bible itself was just one big contradiction the more you studied it. Consisting of absurd commands that if anyone took literally would not be able to function in society. Why could none of the believers ever see it? For all the things faith offered it took away just as much, if not more.

“Of course I knew. What of it? I've made my intentions clear a long time ago and when The Arashi threat has been neutralized I intend to proceed with those plans but for now I, those you called friends and Utopia will not allow you to continue further with this foolishness.”

[Sparda]

"Such convoluted methods are pointless," Sparda interjected. He refused to believe that it was necessary for Miracle to have ordered every single Aircano refugee slaughtered - by the very people who had taken them in and protected them for so long, no less. They had done absolutely nothing wrong.

"Their deaths were meaningless, Miracle. Utterly meaningless. If Amoura succeeds, there would have been no necessity to execute them at all. And if she fails, then it doesn't matter one way or the other..." He paid Solomon no heed; though skilled, the Captain was still no match for him.

"But it wasn't truly your order, was it? You're just doing as your cherished lord commands."

[Silver Eyes]

"And you really think having us start a 'holier than thou' conversation is going to stop a group of fanatics?" Argus was separate from Maricul and Sparda and appeared to be, for the time being, taking a neutral standpoint in this madness. He had proven to be separate from the Amoura everyone knew in both personality and impulse. "We all killed people for our own reasons and she's doing it for a god that demanded blood throughout history." The hybrid rested his gaze onto the child, the harbinger of so many deaths of people who didn't know their presence was shifting a balance, and frowned.

"Know that until the end of your days this will haunt you. Waking, sleeping--it doesn't matter. You'll see the faces of those people who once deemed you as their protector. But in your mind it's worth it if it means making a god smile on you in favor." Argus' eyes downcast and he shook his head. There was no need to continue. The damage had been done. Miracle will not listen and there had to be more defending this place than just Maricul and Sparda. Judgment and Redemption were cocked and in his hands, now ready to do battle and defend the last of those who were at Aircano. With this gesture, he stood next to the others.

"But you also realize that we cannot let you pass. You may have a permission slip from god but we aren't accepting it. Turn around now while you still can because we won't hesitate to stop you and your sheep."

[Linx]

Again with the ruckus! All he wanted to do was study this blasted tower, and now a war was starting outside! Jeez, kids had no respect! Linx stepped into being on the battlefield, floating above it as he listened to the words bandied about, picking his side in an instant. He appeared on Maricul's side, silver eyes gazing calmly at the young child he'd grown to respect, profound sadness in them as he realized what was going on. It wasn't right, for a "benevolent" Lord to demand such hardships from a child, no matter what she had been through. "I may not be qualified to comment on the theology of the discussion, but I've my own piece to say." he starts, hands in his pockets as his eyes roamed over the army, before returning to settle on Miracle.

"For what good is a man, if he gains the world but loses his own soul? That's what you're doing here Miracle. Your compromising everything you believed in to follow a single order. Exterminating those that looked up to you for protection and guidance, those who fought for you and beside you, who claimed you as a friend. You may gain your world back, but what then? The people brought here with great power that wish to help others survive and return home will continue to be hunted. Instead of a kind hearted young woman, you'll become a dictator like that General Vulture." he sighs sadly, shaking his head. The gods knew he didn't want a fight, but he couldn't allow this tower to be destroyed, not yet. Not until he'd puzzled it out. "By killing these people, and destroying the tower, you're casting all reality into an imbalance. You think it's just the Arashi that are out there? Awaiting their chance at destroying everything to restructure it into something they see fit? You're dead wrong Miracle, whether or not your dear and fluffy Lord thinks it's a good idea." he says, eyes hardening.

There were beings outside of time and space, existing beyond the boundaries of reality that had been sealed there in an age before time. Creatures that would give him pause, and he didn't want to see them unleashed. His hands slide free of his pockets energy beginning to slowly circle upwards, gathered into his palms, ready for a fight. "I have nothing but respect for you Miracle, but I can not allow this tower to be destroyed. I can not condone your genocide, and I can not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the masses any longer." he decrees, his voice ancient as he takes up the mantle bestowed upon him once before in eons long since forgotten. God, Protector, Healer. He would not stand idle, not any more. "By choosing to destroy this tower, you doom everything in existence. I can not allow this farce to continue. You Shall Not Pass." he intones, mini hurricanes of energy rapidly filtering into his palms, ready to oblige this new Crusade if they sought a war.

[Miracle]

"The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools."

Miracle wouldn't allow herself to be distracted by their arguments and she wouldn't allow herself to be sway further from the path Yahweh intended for her. This was not like the Valley. She knew from the very beginning that the ones who opposed her now are not men and women of God. They could not be. They all opposed his will in one way or another and as such they opposed Miracle. Even while she was deluded into believing they were on the same side they opposed her. The High Priestess answered to only one being and should he want her to stand down he would say it himself. A part of her wanted him to but knew that he would not.

"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself."

Miracle took her stance, spreading her legs out and shifting the blade's handle in her hands as the soldiers behind her were prepared to strike at her command. The fire of the Lord was starting to burn in her eyes as the world around them began to darken.

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered."

She could feel it fill up her soul. The dual suns were beginning to rise and soon they would hang above the battlefield, their only obstacle in the form of dark clouds projected by the Paradox.

"If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest."

While for better or worse he was gone, the essence of Aper lived on eternal in the heart of Genesis. The more it rise the more it strengthened Miracle and her armies until they possessed the strength of tens of thousands men.

"Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly."

They would begin to feel it too. Both suns were now above them and their rays of light began to cast themselves on the clouds set by the paradox-witch. As soon as they began to do just that Miracle's lips steered away from the talk of fools but continued to quote scripture from heart.

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things."

Yahweh's will shined down through the darkness cast by Maricul, filling up the battlefield and threatening to destroy thee who was unholy in the eyes of God while enriching Miracle and her armies with the power of Heaven and enriching them with the Holy Spirit. Without God all things were impossible but through him the impossible would be done and no power would rival them. It was not just Yahweh that stood by them. One look into the High Priestess' eyes and they would see the eyes of the Second Aspect staring into their essence and threatening to consume all flesh.

"Balance..."

Her voice leaked with a divinity that her enemies would not be able to stand as both God and Arashi spoke through the mortal child.

"You shift it with your presence here!"

Miracle charged forward with her blade raised, her men rushing pass her and swinging their blades down against the champions of Utopia as the High Priestess' blade plunged into the heart of the Whore of Utopia before her. Eyes burning with the righteous passion of God!

[Linx]

The energy infusing Miracle wasn't just her god Yaweh. Linx knew that energy. That slithering presence of darkness and destruction. The Arashi. Oh yes, he'd heard of them. He'd seen Veran from afar, but he'd never been this close. Never felt that unmistakable presence that he hadn't felt in eons. The same entity who'd slaughtered his home, his people. His love. His hands snap out, energy lashing forth, summoning his allies into this combat as he bares his teeth in a ferocious snarl, body bristling as he drew in power, a lot of it. "ARASHI!" he roars, hatred etched into his face. A stamp of his boot shattered the earth, hurtling forth spears of diamond strong earth as another violent gesture from his hands blasted forth fire and lightning. He roars again in rage, feral with bloodlust as a massive black blade appears in his hand and he meets the charge of the army with abandon, their blades unable to pierce his flesh as he cleaved three in twain at a time, blade driving in a frenzy, leaving a trail of blood and piecemeal corpses in his wake.

A flash of light announced the arrival of his summoned allies, geared for war. The Planeswalker, Dante, clad in black plate with his blade Ragnarok in his fist, unleashing a massive spell to shroud his allies in darkness, protecting them from even her holy light. It wouldn't hamper their ability to see or fight, merely enshroud them much as the Arashi was, protecting them from the sun. He too met their charge, hurtling forth massive blasts of power as he moved like lightning, blade flashing as it tore through the warriors, crimson eyes hard as fought without emotion, a killing machine that knew no pain or fatigue, a god among mere mortals. Leon was in full battle raiment, and radiant light and fire blazed forth from him like a third sun, bolstering his allies, granting them greater strength and stamina. A shout unleashed more power, white flames engulfing him to burn away adversaries as he fought, Lionheart flashing in the brilliant light as he directed the very light she called to pierce the enemy soldiers, his mastery over the element making it second nature to him as his free hand flashed through spells of warding, protection and regeneration for his allies. It would guard them against elemental fury, bolster their endurance and natural resilience, and heal their wounds faster than a normal rate. He too hated taking sides against Miracle, someone who believed as he did. But no god should order the deaths of others because they were lost, no god worth following. Gamaliel fully agreed with him as they fought, not as mighty as Linx or Dante, nor invincible, but his plate armour forged from the purest angelic steel turned blades aside, before he became engulfed by his foes. For a moment the light from the paladin dimmed, and his friends feared him lost.

"Domine!" His voice rang out like a brass army bugle, a clarion call as he rose, sluicing bodies off of him like a dog would shake off water. "Iesu Domine!" he bellowed out again, his sword blazing with a holy light/ "Lava quod est sordium!" he cries, blade flashing as he held his own against the tide, losing track of his friends. Dante grinned viciously, determined to not be out done, quick stepping back for some space before throwing his head back as well, roaring to the skies. "FUEGO! PYROFUEGO!" he roars as cyclones of flame touched down, burning to ash his opponents, hurtling himself back into the fray with a mad cackle, three champions of Utopia more than ready to fight and die for their home and their beliefs.

Off in the background, slipping around the armies for any that cared to nice, one would notice something odd and out of place on that hellish battlefield. Slowly but surely, a simple cardboard box was making it's way around the back end of the army, heading for open ground beyond. ((Last paragraph has nothing to do with the war, may comment, but leave it alone.))

[Ayen]

The weapons of Miracle's army were all magnetized through Kedara's will over electricity causing their swords and shields to bend and be cast aside from their very hands as Jenesis and The Angel of Death charged into the herd of holy fighters. Though they fought well Jenesis and AoD both cut down the warriors, Jenesis with her Katana and AoD with his bare hands. While this was happening Jill Valentine transformed into an eight-feet-tall gray monster with four tentacles on her back which she used to smack the warriors away as Ra Constantine and Ranko forced back more heavenly soldiers with their weapons, the Semi's own light being able to hold its own against the light from Yahweh.

In the middle of the battlefield stood Maricul whose heart was impaled by Miracle's sword. For a brief moment Maricul appeared to be dead but The High Priestess knew that death could not come to The Paradox so easily, even with the power of God and Arashi behind her every step. And so it would prove true yet again once Maricul head rose up to allow her eyes to stare into Miracle's which now projected their very own trinity of destruction.

“Miracle...”

Maricul offered little resistance to the sword as she ran her body through it, grabbing Miracle by the hair and pulling her head back to expose her neck, a sense of nostalgia would fill the air for both of them as the fangs of The Seductress bare themselves one final time. Biting into the flesh of God's anointed one, tainting her innocent and holy presence by consuming her blood and allowing it into her own body. Maricul knew she damned herself with this act as well. But it would not sway Maricul's decision as her hands brushed over the anointed one's body inappropriately and making her unclean. As she pulled back her lips, Miracle's blood pouring down from her lips, The Seductress spoke at length, “You're mine now!”

[Sincara]

Another war.

Another mindless fool breeding hatred and anger towards another mindless fool in a battle over ideology. Over the idea that their string of beliefs and code of ethics outweighed that of the force which opposed them.

It made her sick.

Couldn't they see that through their own foolish decisions to oppose one another that they played right into the real enemies hands? Couldn't they see that they were nothing but puppets over a power that went straight beyond any of their understanding? Couldn't they see this war would only cause more harm to Genesis and all of existence than heal the wounds already left to bled out by the Arashi filth?

There was no warning of her arrival on the battlefield. Everyone else was too busy raising their weapons for war. They couldn't see the child who eyes were covered by the rims of her hat and the six shooter that rested in her right hand but her eyes definitely saw them. The ying and yang of Genesis. The light of Miracle bonding with the darkness of Maricul. Two sides of the same coin directly responsible for the fall of her home and the rise of so much pain and misery. One could not be where they were without the other. Now they were both perfectly positioned as she raised up the barrel of her gun. A .357 Magnum ejected from the chamber and while a plague of unholiness filled Miracle's body, and a plague of righteousness filled Maricul's, both their bodies would be torn and blasted apart by the bullet fired from the child plagued by vengeance and sin as it enter through Miracle's back, exit through her chest into Maricul and finally out her back as well.

May they both burn in hell together.