As soon as Matthew was healed, a lightning bolt hit Ffyr bringing her down from the sky in a ball of smoke. Avariel rushed to help her and heal her injuries.

Meanwhile, Mitzrael kept close combat with Vine, but even weakened by the holy mana of the temple, the demon king was too strong for him who was only an archangel.

Matthew rushed to help him, meeting Vine’s blade with his dark one. On the next movement, he tried to slash at the demon king’s belly who just dodged with a step back and countered with a lightning bolt that missed Matthew by an inch.

Ffyr’s wasn’t hurt badly, just a bit stunned by the numbness in her body caused by the electric currents from the lightning that hit her. With Avariel’s help, she was soon on her feet again.

Mitzrael now also had two swords in his hands. Together with Matthew, both now flanked the Black Rider that had to use all his speed to fight both men at the same time.

Avariel waited for a change and lounged, flapping her only wing to gain speed. Her blade found the demon king’s leg, cutting it lightly and making him fall to the floor.

Once on the floor, Mitzrael changed his weapons shape to that of a spear and hit Vine in the belly drawing blood, but not being able to plunge it deep inside.

The lion-faced demon roared in pain and punched the archangel away. Then he quickly rolled to the side avoiding Matthew’s blades and jumped up avoiding Avariel’s flaming sword.

With a kick, he pushed the angel away, but soon was hit by a fireball from Ffyr which dealt no damage, but blinded him for a second just enough for Matthew to get close and slash at his throat, taking part of his mane, but missing his flesh.

Mitzrael used another holy laser to protect Matthew from a counter attack hitting the demon’s sword and making it fly away. However, Vine just pressed on over Matthew with his bare fists.

Three punches electrified by the demon’s mana made Matthew stumble back. But, on the fourth, Ffyr’s air blade made it miss. With that a window opened for Matthew to slash upwards with Aym’s dagger, cutting and searing Vine’s flesh over the chest.

The demon king took the strike grinding his teeth, grabbed Matthew’s hands and threw him over his shoulder, using him as a projectile to hit Ffyr who was further away. With the throw, Matthew was forced to drop his dark blade.

As soon as Matthew was sent flying, Avariel stepped in with a stab. Vine dodged both her stable as well as another holy laser Mitzrael shot at him. He grabbed the angel’s arms, punched her chest denting her armor innard and threw her at the archangel, making him hold her to protect her from the fall.

They all took a moment to breathe at that point.

Avariel took out her breastplate that was now pressing into her chest making it hard for her to breathe.

Mitzrael took a step forward, but didn’t engage Vine. He just kept his guard up with a shield and a sword studying his opponent.

Matthew and Ffyr helped each other get on their feet. Matthew took out his last mana potion from his Inventory and drank it.

"You know you can’t win." Vine roared. "Why do you fight for a sinful demon, children of Yahweh?"

"This is the house of our lord. She asked for sanctuary." Mitzrael was succinct.

"It’s our duty to fight for those seeking protection." Avariel added.

The demon king knelt and picked up Belial’s dark blade from the floor.

"Then you will die." Vine threatened.

When he lifted the blade preparing an attack on Mitzrael, he screamed in pain. From the dark blade’s hilt dozens of shadow spikes grew piercing the demon’s king hand and fingers.

He tried to let go of Belial’s weapon, but the spikes prevented him from opening his hand.

Mitzrael didn’t waste the opportunity, as the demon king was occupied with the blade in his hand, and shifted his sword to a spear to gain range as he stepped forward with a stab right at Vine’s chest plunging deep and drawing a lot of blood.

Avariel threw a fireball made of holy fire at the Black Rider just as he took a step back, preventing him from gaining footing in the mud.

That’s when Ffyr used an air blast to push Matthew forward at high speed. He reached the demon king with a slash using Aym’s dagger and took out one of his eyes.

Vine fell on his knee and pushed Matthew away with one hand when he tried to slash him again. Then he pried his hand open and let go of Belial’s sword.

Now severely wounded, Vine looked around. His black steed was dead on the floor. His opponents were hurt, but not as badly as him. The holy mana of the temple stung his skin and made him weaker. His sword was on the floor.

He looked at the temple and saw Tylith there watching the battle half hidden by the door. She was trembling, scared of what was to come if Vine won the fight.

The demon king got up grinding his teeth. Took a deep breath. And stepped back slowly, leaving the temple.

When Matthew meant to give chase, Mitzrael stopped him.

"Let him go." The archangel said.

"Why?" Matthew asked. "He’s hurt. We can end this here."

"We can. But look at us." Mitzrael cleaned his bloody nose from the punch he got during the fight. "Can you guarantee none of us will perish if we keep on?"

Matthew took a deep breath and, disgruntled, agreed.

Vine walked slowly, without a word, towards the Styx where Charon waited for him with his boat.

After the demon king was long gone, the residents of the temple got out. Most of them went to tend to the flowers and the garden that was in disarray after the battle. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Tylith came to them and, looking at the four of them, asked with tears in her eyes:

"Why?"

"It’s our duty to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves." Mitzrael said with a smile and patted her on the head like a child.

"This makes no sense!" Tylith slapped his hand away annoyed. Not because of the venture of kindness, but because she couldn’t understand why they fought for her. She never met anyone who’d do something like that.

Ffyr rehearsed a protest against the demoness’ action, but Mitzrael silenced her before she could speak.

"It’s alright. She didn’t mean to harm me." The archangel said as if he could read Tylith’s mind.

"You’re a bunch of idiots." The succubus said finding a place to sit down and be alone with her thoughts.

"Vine won’t stop just because he was beaten here. He doesn’t seem the type to give up." Matthew said to Avariel while storing his weapons in his Inventory.

"Tylith will be long gone when that happens." The angel said, picking up her breastplate from the floor and examining the damages.

"Won’t he retaliate against Mitzrael?" Matthew asked.

"Probably. But that’s our problem. The Choirs will take care of it." Avariel explained and looked at Matthew. "Meanwhile you and Tylith will be on Earth and you know he can’t go easily to the Prime. You’ll be safe there."

"The Choirs?" Matthew asked.

"Yes. Heavens armies." Avariel smiled at him. "You mustn’t worry, Matthew. Just concentrate on going home now."

"She’s right Matt." Ffyr said, tapping him on the shoulder. "We won. Let’s just relax while we can. You know that it never lasts with you." The fairy chuckled.

Won. He noticed how Ffyr swayed while walking. Avariel was now sitting with Mitzrael who was healing her wing and making a new one grow from the stump of the one that was cut off.

He himself was sore all over. And, despite the assurance Avariel gave him, he knew deep down, perhaps because of his Sixth Sense skill, that Vine would not stop just at that.

He sat on a stone bench, sculpted from the same gray rocks that made up the temple. He looked at the sky where the dark clouds summoned by Vine were now dispersing.

That was not a win.

It was a draw.

After a couple of days, Mitzrael finally could open the gate to Elysium.

"I’ll ask Cahetel what to do about Vine." Avariel said to Mitzrael when saying their goodbyes.

"Thank you, Mitzrael." Matthew said, shaking his hand. "I didn’t believe I’d be here, but I’m finally going home."

"I didn’t do much, I only opened the door and showed you the way." Mitzrael smiled at him.

"Thank you anyway." Matthew replied.

"Yeah. Thanks 4 wings." Ffyr said, patting the archangel’s shoulder.

"Thank you... Safekeeper." Tylith was the last one to address him. Her voice was low and her usual flamboyant demeanor was now absent. In its place was a bashful and introspective woman.

"You take care." Mitzrael patted her head again.

This time she allowed it.