- Beginning Of The End -

As the tower rises, the tip appears to tear into the very fabric of space. A bright shining light gleams from the tear.

Continuing its ascent it twists the “fabric” until both heads of the serpent are immersed in the Divine Realm.

All who witnessed the unholy sight, held their hearts in fear.

“The end is nigh!” A Justiciar shouts, “The apocalypse is here!”

“We must retreat!” another cries,

“Calm! Calm!” David tries to assuage the panic, “ Have you no loyalty to your queen?!”

“Queen?! She’s incapacitates herself after a single attack!” the errant Justiciar laments, “There’ll be no one to save us now!”

“(This is getting out of hand fast.)” Elaine thinks,

……

“What is it you desire…?” the hollow voice rang as the pair walked through the ethereal hall.

Taro noticed that no matter how far they would walk they never got closer to Shion.

Taro answers, “We seek our friend. Shion Orochi,”

For a moment a silence hangs in the air.

“Very well.” the voice responds, “Your friend. Shion Orochi…”

From then the hall of mirrors appears to rescind its illusion, and Shion was released from her shackles.

Her body goes limp…

Akari and Taro ran to her.

“Shion?! Shion!” She shakes her lightly, “Are you ok? Shion?!”

Her delicate eyelashes part to show her stunning amber eyes.

“Shion…” Taro’s eyes were starting to water as well,

Shion’s lips part to speak.

“Wh… Who am I?...”

“You’re Shion! Don’t you remember?!” Akari pleads,

“Shion…” she murmurs

“What… is my… purpose…?” Shion then questions,

“(What is going on?)” Taro thinks to himself,

He recalls the voice, its hollow cadence. It could be ascertained that this was some form of suspension chamber not unlike the one Taro was placed within. Lucifer definitely possessed the means to entrap people in these sorts of contraptions. Taro could only assume that periods of time within it would scramble your brain, your sense of self, purpose or memories.

Taro feared changing her in any way so he wanted to remember what she said. What she truly wanted to do…

“To be Shion…” Taro said, “You wanted above all else to be Shion. Not Orochi's daughter. Nor just a Dungeon Lord. You wanted to be you…”

…

She looked confused for a bit but then smiled softly.

“I guess it can’t be helped.” she finally said in her own words,

Taro could not control his emotions, ready to burst, he hugs her in a tearful reunion. They all closely embraced each other after finally being reunited.

Taro wished this moment would last forever. He wouldn’t trade it for the world.

……

Elaine tries to calm down riotous knights.

“Please we need to stay calm!” She pleads “I know that there must be something we can do. You mustn't give up hope.”

“Hope?! What hope is there in taking down that monolith?!" The justiciar cries, “Our only hope is a quick death!”

“No! Don’t say that!” She screams “Don’t ever say that! It was built! It can be unbuilt!”

“It was made to be a fortress, we have no means to destroy it now!”

Another one adds to the fire “How is it that you cannot accept the way this world is?!”

It gave her a sting to hear her own words spoken back to her, to be reminded of her old self.

When her heart was shrouded in darkness, doubt and fear.

But now… Things are different.

“Because we mustn't bend your knees to the whims of fate.” Elaine's eyes were filled with a fiery determination, “We’re going to rewrite this rotten ending. One where we can choose a happy ending!"

*clap *clap *clap

Everyone turns to the direction of the anonymous clapping.

It was Dusty the dwarf and his companions Knapp and Lapis.

“Well said, lass,” Dusty proudly announces, “Like she said, if it was built… it can be torn down!”

“Aye put a tear in me eye , it does,” Lapis adds, “We choose the tear down this eyesore!”

“I love happy endings hehe~” Knapp chimes in,

“But enough lolly gagging aye?” Dusty finally says with a big grin,

”We’ve got a tower to tear down.”

……

Blood drips to the ground on a pristine white floor. Followed by the thud of a grizzled man wearing posh attire hitting the ground shortly after.

Lucifer pulls her hair up and wraps it around her palm which situates the back of her head. After several rotations she holds up the bun and skewers it with a long silver pin, which keeps it in place. Somewhat messy bun illuminates her noble countenance.

Once she felt she was done with her hair, she delicately bends low to pick up the defeated Asmodeus by the hair and drags him further into the ornate hall.

“Luc.. cifr…” The man mumbles from his delirium.

“Oh?... Still conscious are we?...” She jeers, “Worry not. It’ll all be over soon.”

Just then the scarred slime hops in front of Lucifer.

“Ah! You treacherous little critter! What do you want?” she snaps,

*Bryuuu! Guu!

“What? You want to follow me, still?...” She pinches the bridge of her nose with her free hand.”Ah… I don’t understand what motivates you slimes but I suppose it doesn’t matter either way. Come along if you must.”

*Gruu!

It hops onto her shoulder.

Finally the White serpent makes it to the golden doors of the Divine Realm.

“Odd.” she says, “I’d have expected more resistance.”

The culmination of centuries long hatred led her to this moment. She took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

There stood her most despised rival. The angel that Taro had been meeting with. Unchanged she sat on her desk kicking her feet.

“Lucifier.” she cordially invites her,

“Saint Justina.” Lucifer spits with a venom in her voice,