Chapter 13 - Thirteen, Only Seven Present Though

Drago arrived at the train station ahead of time.

As he got out of the carriage, he said,

"Hurry it up."

He continued as he walked toward the station.

"Staying here will only get me killed."

Drago started to walk into the station.

Then he saw seven demons in hoods.

They were blocking anyone from boarding the train while holding picket signs.

The signs said,

Free Demon King Ash.

And continued,

Or you will feel our wrath.

Drago walked up and tried to pass through them.

The purple demon pushed him back, along with his friend.

They said together,

"You will miss this train."

Drago got annoyed and stood back up.

He grabbed the purple demon by the throat.

"You dare lay a hand on a prince?"

The demon choked, then said,

"Hell never accepted you."

He coughed, then continued,

"You aren't a prince."

Drago's eyes flared crimson red.

"You said your piece."

He continued while raising his fist.

"Now die for your slanderous tongue."

A black-skinned demon speared Drago to the floor.

The purple demon fell, holding his neck.

Before Drago's soldiers could stop the black demon, he had already landed three clean punches on Drago's face.

They pinned him down while another soldier helped Drago back to his feet.

The train left the station because it was time to depart.

Drago watched it leave, heading toward the Kingdom of Humans.

"How long until the next train?"

Derrek pinned down the purple demon and said,

"Since we missed this one…"

He pushed the demon's face into the ground, then continued,

"It will be here at noon."

Drago grabbed the purple demon by the head and looked at his face.

"Looks like you will entertain me until then."

Another carriage came in fast, riding on the train tracks.

The drape of the carriage showed the number 13.

Drago was beating down the purple demon as it came in fast.

One demon was steering the carriage, which was filled with more of their group's protesters.

The demon steering the carriage was hot pink.

She reached behind her back and pulled out a bat.

The horses dragged the carriage into the station, breaking the doors as it passed through.

Drago looked over, then braced for impact while holding the clothes of the purple demon.

The purple demon poked Drago's eyes with his thumbs so hard that Drago let him go.

The carriage passed by, and the hot pink demon swung the bat across Drago's head.

The bat broke as Drago fell onto his back.

The carriage came to a complete stop ahead of the purple demon as he stood up.

He spat out blood and said to the pink demon,

"Save him first."

He pointed at the black demon as he was being pulled into the next train.

The pink demon said in a soft female voice, she said,

"Soren."

She continued,

"We'll retrieve him later."

Soren turned around and tried to run toward the train, but the rest of Team 13 came out of the carriage and pulled him back.

"LET GO OF ME!"

The carriage took off, passing Exe's carriage as we made it to the train station.

We saw a hot pink demon steering a fast carriage away from the station.

Soren yelled at her,

"Jane, why did you leave him?"

Jane's hood came off.

She had rebel horns just like Soren. One was snapped halfway clean off, and her eyes glowed with a hot pink flare.

"He would've done the same thing!"

She shouted,

"We haven't given up, though!"

Soren looked at the train.

"Daniel, my friend…"

He continued,

"I'll come back for you."

Jane steered the carriage down the hill until it couldn't be seen anymore.

Exe came to a full stop and called out to Tenka, Ren, and Fubuki.

"Make sure no one escapes."

They jumped out of the driver's seat and started searching inside the train station.

I got out and ordered Aries,

"Help the girls."

Aries took off, hopping fast into the station.

I looked back inside the carriage and called for Dante.

"Hey, we're here."

I continued while looking inside.

"Hey, Dante, are you there?"

The carriage was empty.

Exe climbed down from the driver's seat and said,

"He left through the window."

He started walking toward the train station while manifesting his Blood Scythe.

"Seems like Father is close."

I followed behind him while manifesting my moonblades.

A group of Hell soldiers and my father came from the shadows.

Demon King Ash said,

"Make sure Drago doesn't leave."

They dashed into the shadows, then vanished.

He looked at the station and said,

"No more tricks, Drago."

He started walking into the station.

One of Drago's elite assassins appeared behind Ash.

"So you came?"

Ash turned around and said,

"What do you plan to do?"

The assassin looked at Demon King Ash and bowed.

He spoke to him as if he were a friend.

"It doesn't have to be like this, my king."

Demon King Ash stepped away from the station.

"So you made your peace?"

The assassin nodded, then got into a stance.

"I swore my life to Prince Drago."

Ash nodded, then tossed his dagger toward the assassin's face.

The point of the blade opened like a mouth, ready to feast on more Ichor.

The assassin parried it with a katana.

Ash's dagger flew high into the air, spinning.

The assassin returned his gaze to where Ash had last been standing.

For an instant, he looked around.

Then he heard a voice.

"Up here."

Ash teleported to his dagger above the assassin's head instantly, then came down with a lethal strike.

Eclipse Art — Demon King's Silent Execution.

The assassin looked up and caught the strike with his katana.

Ash pushed the blade down with his weight and said,

"You haven't skipped training."

He continued,

"Good for you… Titus."

Titus pushed Demon King Ash off him.

"I never stopped."

He dashed toward Ash with a deadly strike.

"Ever since you promoted me to protect your son!"

Exe was in mid-combat with Derrek.

"You won't get in his way."

Derrek blocked Exe's downward strike and threw him back.

He knocked back Ren, Tenka, and Fubuki with his good wing as they all tried to grab onto him.

Exe stood up with the girls.

"Then you will die here. Right here. Right now."

Exe continued,

"I never liked you, man. You always tagged along behind my brother's coattails."

Derrek snarled and said,

"Since I failed at bringing your sister, I need to redeem myself one way."

He manifested another lance from his Ichor.

"Even if I die here, Drago will reach the Human Kingdom."

Exe pointed his scythe at him.

"See that?"

He snapped.

"That attitude is going to get you killed here and now."

Exe charged at Derrek.

"Stop!"

Exe stopped before he made the strike.

Then he did a backflip and landed behind me.

I pointed one of my moonblades at Derrek.

"Move out of our way."

I continued,

"It's over, Derrek."

He smiled at me.

"Luna, how fate is so cruel."

He growled, acting like a fool.

"Destiny is awful, isn't it?"

Before I could say anything, the station doors slammed open.

Demon King Ash walked in, dragging Titus.

He set him near me and said,

"Watch over him."

Exe moved in front of his father.

"Listen, the train is about to—"

A speaker cracked alive and announced a message.

"Demon Train Four is now leaving the station."

It repeated itself one more time.

"I repeat, Demon Train Four is now leaving the station."

The train with Drago inside left the station fast.

Ash looked at Derrek and said,

"You will die here and now."

Derrek gulped as Ash walked past him.

"Not by me, though."

I ran the bridge of my nose, annoyed.

"Derrek, you really are someone special."

Another train pulled up to the station.

Ash got on it and spoke before he fully entered.

"Finish him, Luna. I'll see you both in the Human Kingdom."

Dante showed up from the shadows and boarded the train with Ash.

The rest of the Hell soldiers followed, and the train doors closed behind them.

Ash looked through the window at Derrek.

Derrek turned and took a glance at Demon King Ash as the train started leaving the station.

Ash pointed from the window as if he were warning Derrek.

The train left the station.

Then Derrek turned around.

He caught my Crescent Moon Waltz strike.

I kicked his ribs and sent him flying toward the ticket booth.

The demon worker ran out before Derrek crashed inside it.

"This is where it ends, Derrek."

Exe came behind me with Ren, Tenka, and Fubuki.

Derrek stood up from the broken wood.

"We could've been a happy family, Luna."

Derrek closed both of his fists tightly.

"Since this is my last stand, I will show out."

Derrek roared.

His only good wing grew in size.

Exe stared at his new ugly wing.

"What did my brother do to you?"

Derrek's eyes glowed orange.

"I accepted his offer."

He snapped while growling.

"If I die here, then I'm taking someone with me."

Derrek lunged toward Exe and me.

We separated, forcing Derrek to crash into chairs.

My dress changed into Eclipse: Silent Requiem form.

Derrek stood up and looked for either Exe or me.

Exe came from Derrek's blind side and cracked him over the head with the back of his scythe.

Derrek dropped him to the ground and almost grabbed Exe by the throat, but Ren came from the shadows and climbed onto his back.

She started biting down hard on his horn.

Derrek shook his body, trying to get Ren off him.

Exe tripped Derrek with his scythe.

He fell onto his back, his head smacking against the floor.

Ren snapped off his horn and scurried away with it.

Derrek screamed in pain.

"Those damn rabbits!"

He kicked Exe with his foot, pushing him back, then hurled his Blood Lance toward Ren.

Aries came in and grabbed the handle of the lance with his ear.

He gripped a seat that was bolted to the ground, then pulled the lance back, sending it flying toward Derrek.

Derrek canceled the Blood Lance, turning it into Ichor.

The blood splashed onto the floor.

Then Derrek locked eyes with Aries.

"You are the one who ruined my wing."

Derrek stood up and continued,

"You will die here, right now, rodent."

I came from the darkness and stabbed his large wing.

"Looks like now I'm on your hit list."

I twisted my moonblade and slashed his only wing that could fly.

He stared at me and said,

"How could you?"

I stepped away from him.

"You should've just moved on."

Derrek looked at me as if he'd had enough.

He stood up, then ripped the wings off his back.

Exe and I looked at him as if he had gone insane.

Derrek tossed his wings at us.

They landed on the floor near our feet.

He spoke as if he had just lifted a weight off his shoulders.

"Finally."

He looked at the sky and continued,

"I have no reason to hold back anymore."

Instantly, he charged at me while thrusting his lance.

"Make this life mean something to me."

He roared,

"Send me to Hell!"