Peace Talks [Chapter VI]

[Ayen]

“If the gods wanted peace then they would not have created me!”

General Vulture’s eyes flashed, sheer insanity as apparent as the mustache on his face. He took a single step forward, glaring towards the prodigy daughter of Aircano like a madman.

“Let them hate us! Let them fear us! We are Isafaro! The strongest nation on Genesis! Is it not right that we become the strongest nation in the universe!?”

Vulture moved towards Miracle but before he could get close, before Miracle’s own guards could react Kasul blocked the ruler of Isafaro’s path. Its demonic presence being felt by all from within the tower as even General Vulture backed away when the most feared and dangerous blade in Genesis was sheathed.

“Jherrazad protects Aircano?”

“Some of us actually care about the state of the universe, General. That and we risk damaging the tower in a fight.”

Vulture backed down, not out of fear but out of a desire of not damaging the tower and even he wasn’t foolish enough to rush in blindly against the one who held the “Devourer of Souls.” Vulture stood in front of his trio once more, just in time for Amoura to speak further nonsense. Carari Grey let out a sigh.

“The burden of proof does not fall on our shoulders.”

Again they were easily countered. The Night Angel proposed probing their minds for the evidence they required and to that suggestion, Vulture would be the one to chuckle.

“Clever girl. You know none of us here possess the ability to probe your minds or separate true memories from tampered ones. If you’re done wasting our time---”

“On the contrary, General. We do.”

“What?”

---

A chill quickly entered the tower, crawling up the spine of everyone present as the demon entity known only as Z-Rah emerged from the entrance, green eyes gazing upon everyone, shinning as brightly as the suns for a moment before dimming down. One person in particular would trigger a violent burst of rage by the demon as he began to spin up through the air shouting, “FILITHY SPAWN OF MUNDUS!”

The guards of Vulture, Ranko and Carari Grey quickly got in front of their leaders to protect them should the demon attack, but his eyes were only on the female in Miracle’s party. Ranko realized that the woman with them was indeed the heir of Mundus that Z-Rah has declared vengeance upon. Of all the people in the world to be here.

“The one who threatens all of existence! Kill! Kill! KILL!”

The Crimson Devil pushed her guards aside and ran to the center of the room, looking up at Z-Rah by shielding her eyes with her left arm. The demon had a red glow all around him, flying up as high as he could before coming back down, looking to crash and explode into Amoura to annihilate her and any foolish enough to stand in his way until the words of the Crimson Devil would stop it dead in its track.

“ENOUGH!”

Just like that, a great calm consumed the room as Z-Rah no longer appeared as a threat to anyone. The others at a lost for words, Carari Grey was ready to run out the entrance while Vulture merely shook his head.

“And people call me mad.”

“You are to probe their minds for anything relating to The Arashi. Do you understand?”

Z-Rah nodded. Ranko returned to her position in the room while Z-Rah looked to Miracle and her party. His eyes flashed, and he attempted to look into their minds for any traces of The Arashi threat. But when he did….

“I cannot read their minds.”

“What?”

“Interference.”

“How convenient. Are you going to blame this on The Arashi too?”

“What game are you playing, Lady Miracle?”

“It is not them.”

“Then who?”

“I do not know.”

[Miracle]

Miracle was surprised to see Ranko come to her aid when Vulture threatened to advance on her. She had every faith in the world that Sparda, Amoura and herself could have fought him off but seeing one of the other nations stand up for her showed the young High Priestess that there were still some hope after all. Ranko has always been the most reasonable of the other leaders, with the only other one aside from herself being Luca Valentine before Carari Grey's reign over Moon Valley. The High Priestess was forced to shield her eyes as the blinding light entered the tower. Worry filled up her violet eyes when this new entry threatened Amoura and she held up her staff but again, Ranko would come to the rescue.

Finally it appeared that they would be able to provide the proof both Isafaro and Moon Valley wanted but then a startling realization. Z-Rah's path to their minds were blocked and Miracle could not understand what could cause such an interference. Just feeling this Z-Rah's presence gave the High Priestess the impression that his powers were not so easily negated unless.... Oh no.

"Maricul?"

Why? Why would she interfere and doom them all?

[Clash]

Hami listened to the 'night angel', then stepped back and stood with his aid as the Scriptury scratched and whirred to itself softly, writing down the notes that would be sent back to the Queen of Hallowton. When Z-Rah appeared he merely took another step back, using his decrepit arm to guide Lytur back a step as well, the Scriptury including the words of the soaring demon as the powers flared. He scratched his chin, worried. There were talks of mind manipulation... He could've got an amulet to protect against that in Hallowton- And Should've! There were Demons here, tricky and base Djinn that they are! Regrets were for the truly old, though, and Hami simply watched as Ranko quelled what turned out to be her agent. He set his jaw and looked to the Demon Queen... How many other little sneaks does this pack of vermin in silk robes have hiding nearby?

There were talks of interference and the mention of a name... Maricul? He'd heard stories, apparently she was a victim of the Arashi's power, but victims were merely those too weak or stupid to be survivors. The little one seemed quite certain that it could've been this Maricul, then again she was certain Yahweh probably guided her morning bowel movements... The talk of interference and the sneak-attack by this damnable demon and said demon's sudden revulsion with the crazy looker in the red cloak were enough to convince the Old Master that this meeting was less stable than originally planned.

He kept quiet for now, some good might still come of this. Not that it mattered to him, he'd get his rewards either way.

[Silver Eyes]

The moment he began to draw close to Miracle, Judgement and Redemption were out and cocked. If he made one false move there will be more hot silver in his body than bone. Ranko stepped in and the madman backed down. That was a close call and she could breathe easy.

"“FILTHY SPAWN OF MUNDUS!”

Until that psycho showed up, glowing brightly and screaming for her death. His power was charging up! He was going for an attack! Amoura bared her fangs, and her familiars poured out to aide her in this fight. From how much of her aura she was unleashing in a possible defense, it was possible she will shift to her devil trigger.

Again, Ranko stopped possible chaos. Amoura's familiars disappeared and her posture slumped as she expelled a very, very relieved sigh. Quite frankly, she was sick and tired of having to fight all the damned time because someone saw her for the threat she'll be one day. Bane, well, it was something else entirely.

"What is with everyone and their father attacking me? Can't I get a break?" Amoura shoved her gun back into their holsters. "Just probe and get the information."

The unexpected happened. Z-Rah was unable to get the needed information. Interference? Amoura's brow furrowed at this. So, someone wanted to make sure no proof got out about the Arashi.

"No, Miracle. If it was Maricul, then Z-Rah would be able to detect some form of her interference. Supernatural, abnormal--anything along those lines but he's not getting anything like that." And she had a good idea on who could possibly get the blame.

"Everyone, I think now is a good time to educate you on something. You may find it enlightening. You see, people like myself and Z-Rah or anyone else capable of entering a mind can tell what a source of blockage could be. Self made? Easy to detect the users work. Outside interference? Easy to detect as well. However...something new has arisen just recently and it's absolutely fascinating." Amoura kept her eyes fixed on General Vulture. It was time to drive her suspicions home.

"Technology has made an amazing advancement. There's machinery that can suppress supernatural abilities. Best of all there's no trace of it unless you hear the machine go off. I'm certain they've made many modifications to prevent certain abilities from working. Like...mind probing. Am I right, General?"

[Ayen]

All eyes were on General Vulture whose lips curled up into a smile at the deduction made by The Night Angel. He drew open the right side of his jacket, showing the small black square device inside his pocket that he could have easily activated without much effort either while no one was looking or before even entering the tower.

“No magic needed, only the greatest in Isafaro technology. Even the strongest of devils are not immune to it!”

His eyes lit up even more as he glared at Amoura.

“And you had trouble with a mere prototype!”

“So it’s true then. What they’ve been saying about The Arashi.”

“What if it is? Does it really matter? The sleeping giant has awakened. You’re all merely fodder for our armies!”

Before anyone could make a move to strike him down, Z-Rah in particular wishing to attack him for so easily negating his abilities, Vulture quickly clicked on his wrist watch, the four residence of Isafaro looked like they collapsed into raw energy but in truth, they had teleported away from the area to make for an easy escape. The war of magic versus technology has only just begun.

“I-I don’t believe this. The Arashi threat is real?”

“Jherrazad hereby drops its bid for the tower until further notice.” Ranko looked over to Miracle. “We’re willing to sign an armistice.”

“If Isafaro has found a way to negate abilities supernatural in origin then it’s only a matter of time before they harness the technology into their weapons,” said Kaso.

“They may also have found a way around the influence of Hallowton.”

“General Vulture is just a man yet he stands as an obstacle for all of Genesis.”

“Well, Lady Carari? Has Moon Valley reach a decision?”

“I…. I need some air.”

Carari Grey and her bodyguards went outside without giving the others a yes or no answer to the question at hand. Ranko turned back to the others after watching Carari leave.

“There’s a resistance growing from within Isafaro itself. A small elite group made up of citizens and mercenaries who wish to overthrow General Vulture and turn Isafaro into a democracy. It may be wise to contact them to have someone on the inside.”

[Clash]

Hami Morgan heard the banter, he saw the four teleport out, then he turned his head to Lytur. "your Touch?" "I'm still in Touch, Master Morgan." "I think the talking will soon be over, Lytur..." He pulled a Scriptury of his own out of his robes, then pressed a small breaker into place, powering it up. "Head back to the city at once, take my steed." Lytur merely nodded and ran for the door, opening it and running out quickly. Hami got to play War-Time correspondent as his Scriptury grew warm in his hands. "I take it we should vacate the Tower and reconvene after this current development is dealt with?" Hami started walking for the door, then turned and bowed to the leaders of Jherra. "I bid all of you good evening!" He stepped out the door.

"Going somewhere?"

A tall man in tactical combat armor walked into the room, white-and-black striped hair jutting out from under a visored helmet. The man had a long blade with a rather large handle pressed against Hami's neck, the tip guiding him back into the tower. Thirty men in black tactical gear and wearing gas-masks ran into the room, many carrying sub-machine guns and assault rifles but a few carrying the heavier BAR rifles. The soldiers surrounded the group of them as echoes of movement filled the tower. Vulture's bid was a little stronger than the others brought. Carari and her own bodyguards were subdued. The field generators were still in full effect, keeping Lady Ranko, her entourage, Amoura, and Sparda from accessing their powers.

"Hallowton diplomat mean anything?" "It means I'll kill you in a civil manner." "I hoped you'd say that."

Hami's hands moved faster than his old body seemed capable, the blade was slapped away and three... five... eight... twelve blows landed on the Isafaro Elite soldier before him, knocking him out cold as Hami suddenly wrapped his arms around the stripy-haired man, he pulled a pair of large Mauser pistols from their holsters and raised his arms, letting the out-cold soldier slump against him as a living shield as he opened fire, easily killing seven soldiers. He couldn't call on a number of his tricks until those generators were down but he was still Hami Morgan, the greatest Jherra had to offer! The actions he had taken were enough, the remaining soldiers flipped off the safeties of their guns and made ready to fire on the leaders of Jherrazad and Crystal City, along with their respective entourages.

[Sparda]

So that was it? Not only a total initial lack of belief in the gravity of the Arashi's threat, but a declaration of war from General Vulture?

Sparda had been right to have so little faith in this meeting. Now, with all said and done, the gathering of leaders found themselves facing down a squad of heavily armed Crimson Vulture soldiers, at least one of them carrying an identical negation field to the one the General himself had had on him.

What fools they were to think it would save them.

While the Hallowton delegate had already turned upon them, killing an impressive number on his own, the rest would fall before the Dark Knight in short order as he rounded upon them, Luce and Ombra pulled from their holsters and unleashing a radial hail of bullets that was so fast and uncannily precise, taking pinpoint paths around the assembled delegates, all the remaining grunts were dead by means of a neat headshot before the first of the demon's victims had even hit the ground.

"That FOOL!" the Dark Knight roared in frustration, the deafening volume of his outburst almost causing the walls of the chamber to tremble. "Is he so damned drunk on power he thinks himself invincible?" There was a rage in Sparda's eyes that was rarely seen as he turned his soul-boring stare upon first Carari, then Ranko... then he stopped in place, closing his eyes and taking a deep, steadying breath.

"I suppose we should thank you two for seeing sense. I figured there'd be no reasoning with that lunatic. And if he's as bent on threatening us as he's put across, then there's nothing to be done but to break the Vulture's wings."

[Clash]

"Shut up."

Hami's remark was directed right at Sparda, though instead he was working quickly, slinging the unconscious soldier he'd used as a shield onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry as he knelt, scooping up the Scriptury he'd dropped in the fight. He looked over the bodies, so many dead. Hami walked over to one, pocketing the Scriptury and hefting an Isafaro assault rifle. "You're just a nobody, a bodyguard, the adults were talking." He turned and helped up Carari, noddinig to her then addressing the leaders of his world, those worth talking to. He payed no heed to bodyguards or hangers on.

"Hallowton will remain neutral, as always. Not much they could do in open war but The Queen of Hallowton's heart goes out to all of you." He turned again to Miracle and Ranko. "My Ladies, I ride for Isafaro. I know where my loyalties lie." He smiled to Miracle. "We'll meet again, I'll get to the bottom of this and return to you..." He nodded to Ranko "...And to you, Lady Ranko." He quickly turned and headed for the door. "Always work for an old man to do... dang kids..."

There came the sound of rifle fire from the halls as the Demon's powers returned to them.

"And Their damn toys!"

Outside the Downward Spiral tower was the various forms of transportation each person had taken, and a beautiful Destrier which Lytur had ridden alongside Hami's Courser. Lytur and the Courser were already heading back to Hallowton with the on their Scriptury, and Hami saddled up, slinging the unconscious solder over the horse and slinging the assault rifle over one shoulder. "To Isafaro..." He spoke to himself again, eyes turning to the west. He spurred the horse on "Hya!" And rode hard towards the Industrial city of the Crimson Vulture.

[Sparda]

Nobody?

Bodyguard?

What does a man have to do to earn his due respect?

Tall words coming from a messenger with nothing to contribute, Sparda grumbled mentally beneath the gunshot as the aged man left the tower to be on his way. Sneering indignantly once out of earshot, the demon turned back to the other assembled delegates and jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

"Who the hell was that old coot?"

[Miracle]

Miracle was surprised. General Vulture has gone so far out of his way to ensure that the truth was not seen here today but it was all in vain as his confession removed any doubt the others had about the Arashi existence. Anger. Anger she had not felt since her last encounter with the Seductress flooded her body when she looked at Vulture. Not anger at him but anger at his actions. He left as quickly as he made his declaration of war. It was as she feared. Isafaro would go after them all and they actually had the resources to manage it.

There was a light at the end of the tunnel however. Jherrazad was willing to draw up the foreground that could be use for peace later on between their nations and Mayor Carari Grey was finally allowing the Arashi realization to sink in. It was a harsh realization indeed but the truth wasn't always meant to be a pleasant experience. It was simply the truth. Nothing more and nothing less than absolute. Miracle was happy that at the very least, Crystal City would leave here with two allied nations at their side. They would need all the help they could get to combat both the Arashi and Isafaro threat.

Speaking of Isafaro, more soldiers with those generators from Hallowton came into the tower. Hami was quick to dispatch some of them and Sparda, even more. Miracle only had the time to take out her staff but her assistant in the battle was not needed as the others had quickly taken out what few soldiers there. The High Priestess was surprised that there wasn't more of them coming this way but this was only Vulture's way of showing them a prelude of what's to come. A frown graced Miracle's face when Hami insulted her friend.

"This 'nobody' is a friend and an important part of my nation. I expect you to show him the same respect you would me."

Miracle spoke coolly to get her point across then listened to Hami as he spoke of riding off to Isafaro. The High Priestess thought that suicide even for a man such as him but before she could argue his decision he had gone away. She looked back to Sparda when he asked who that was.

"Sir Hami. His story has been heard throughout all of Genesis. There isn't a native who doesn't know his name."

Miracle then looked over to Amoura who must have suffered a great deal at how her pain was denied and even mocked here on this day.

"Are you all right?"

[Silver Eyes]

While the old man walked off, after having said those words to Sparda, Amoura's red eyes intensified in color and her lips peeled back just enough to unsheathe her sharp teeth. It was a warning to never address him in such a manner again. Threat further backed it up when a feral snarl escaped her lips. The hybrid despised people with his behavior.

"I'm fine," she growled at Miracle and walked past her, "my work in this meeting is done. I'm going back to Hallowton." She didn't bother waiting around for any words from the two; she disappeared from their sights.

[Ayen]

Ranko watched silently as Carari Grey was helped up to her feet and departed the tower without a definite yes or no answer to The Crimson Devil’s earlier question and Hami rode off towards Isafaro. For now there was not much else to do but prepare for the inevitable conflict with Isafaro and potentially, with Moon Valley.

“Lady Miracle, for now we take our leave. I believe this will be the first of many talks between our nations. Until then, we bid you adieu.”

Ranko, Kaso, Alexander and Z-Rah were the next ones to leave the tower. Unpredictability struck them all today. Going into this meeting The Crimson Devil did not think she would agree to any sort of alliance. Now she left here with Miracle and all of Crystal City as allies in a war that would decide the very fate of Jherra, against a juggernaut hell-bent on universal domination. Ranko would see to it that the dictator known as General Koma Iz Vulture will fall.

The End