Jefferson City 3: The Twelve Archangels

The air is heavy, the weight of spiritual particles pressing down on reality itself, this massive display of energy shaking the very essence of the balance of worlds. Almost like a beacon of some sort, the creatures that had spawned around the city have all congregated here, their bodies still and unwavering before the faucet of Reishi that spilled upwards and painted the city's sky a vibrant rainbow of nauseating colors. Even the amalgamation that had chased Alpha had ceased all movement once its ugly shape had appeared from underground. Though, speaking of Alpha, they now have this weight right next to them, under them, around them, the intensity enough to swipe one's breath, still their hearts, and force them into inaction.

One wrong move felt it could be the last, sparks of Reishi popping here and there in the atmosphere as the constant wave blew hot air outward from its cylinder shape. Slowly, the ghouls around started to raise their arms, their bodies slowly crumbling into wisps of Reishi, sucked into the rising waterfall of raw energy, adding to it as the hue of it slowly turned whiter with every creature absorbed. That would be when the object within it started to become visible.

A sudden heartbeat.

The well of Reishi pulsed. A crying baby could be heard as that heartbeat came again, the wails of millions echoing from the well. The shadowy object within the well thumped again, its shape too organic, its form too identifiable.

But that's when it appeared, the machine that had fought Ehefra, landing between Alpha and the rising Reishi, its form knelt before the Soldat before it rose and condemned them with but one look. However, it focused its attention to the shape within the barrier of energy and rose its hands, speaking.

"Isn't it... glorious... A pinnacle of Quincy kind," It spoke, turning back towards Alpha as a shadowy portal opened, allowing the members of Charlie to spill forth as Team Beta finally arrived.

The robot rose its arms, its expressionless visor full of ecstatic glee as flames began to rise from the ground, blue flames spreading as the cylinder of Reishi began to spit flaming orbs from itself out into the city, setting buildings aflame and battering the dome of Reishi that kept this marvelous miracle contained. The sky lit up with roaring thunder and lightning, shaking the atmosphere itself as the crying stopped.

One last heartbeat.

"Uriel, the heart of all Quincy, has awoken. Let it bring us Salvation."

"Daring to defy a God?" The machine asked, lifting his arm to place it within the field of energy that rose up into the sky. "Then taste its wrath."

Reaching out with its other arm, its fingers curled into a claw as the glowing parts of its body increased in intensity, the Reishi running through its systems flowing more than it's ever had. Its fingers tips glowed with bulbs of Reishi, orbs of high intensity before a singular line connected the five orbs into a circle. That circle than formed the Quincy Cross they all Quincy carry before that attack that laughed at the world like thunder was met with an attack that laughed at the world like lightning.

"I no longer require even a ritual with this power."

But that is false advertisement, even for it, as its whole body is nothing more than a tool. It just so happens that this tool is capable of matching the masked Shinigami, especially with Uriel empowering it. Their clash would then reach its climax as both participants would find their attacks cancelled, ending with a massive blinding wave of light that blinded the entire city before they were left with nothing more than the space they had before: the Vandenreich facing a monumental mountain to climb.

"Of course, a Shinigami would move against a deity among our kind. One of our twelve relics restored, and your only thought is to destroy it. Your Director would be disappointed."

He paused then as he felt the air around him shake and shimmer as pods similar to the ones that began the assault on the city fell around him, their doors opening to reveal more of the black mechanical soldiers that had fought against the Vandenreich during their siege of the city. They formed lines around the single machine who spoke, making everyone hesitant to launch another attack against it.

"You may be curious though, about all of this. I doubt many of you know Quincy history, but you've already seen another relic before... Your Director Armstrong and the mighty spear, Seraphiel, that she wields... Uriel's brother."

And at that, Jenkins spoke up, "Director Armstrong's spear is nothing as horrendous as this! What of the city? We witnessed a man be dissolved into Reishi. What did you do to this city?"

But, the machine then laughed at his question.

"Maybe you should ask her yourself. Awakening these weapons require a sacrifice of sorts. A being strong enough to give something up are the only ones capable of bringing out these weapons' true potential. However, if you feed them a sufficient source of power, say, an entire city's worth of Reishi, then you can produce similar results."

And the fate of Jefferson was revealed, millions dead yet again.

"Of course, Jefferson being a hot spot helped as well..."

-Danger approaching-

Before natural senses would detect movement, the unnatural nature of the machine's optics had detected something amidst, a sudden change in the world's environment that worked in contrast to the energy put off by Uriel. That sudden ping attacked its left side, a warning of something that could harm it, but not even a machine could react appropriately to the sudden presence of whatever this thing is. Of course, its ability to move was beyond mundane, reacting in a way that only its arm would take those skeletal fingers around it as tendril-like ribbons seemed to collapse around it.

-Appropriate designation. Removal of limb advised. Avoid touch-

Though, those warnings came too late as it noticed its arm starting to collapse into itself. The very nature of this being seemed to be taking it apart, piece by piece. Being here for too long would only cause it problems. Then, there's only one thing left to do.

"Fire upon my position," It ordered as it felt its shoulder disconnect from its socket, Reishi spilling from the open chassis as sparks flew from sliced wiring. Then all systems available lit up as the robot began pumping energy through itself equal to an individual activating their Vollstandig before rockets pointed at the black mass and firing, pushing the robot away from the creature while hopefully disoriented it robotic soldiers turned and fired on it.

That's when Uriel's awakening had ceased, the massive well of Reishi suddenly dwindling before all that remained would be a stone-like small object that looked similar to a heart, left floating and beating.

Sensors blared, the creature now behind it. The machine turned its head towards it, seconds before its throat was grabbed. What nonsense does the beast speak? Even after being lit up, it had unleashed some weird attack that had swallowed up most of its mechanical soldiers. It asked a machine if it could feel anything for what has transpired.

However, the humanity that remained spoke, relating what thoughts were held towards this situation.

"Souls? Weight? What use is that in the world we are creating? A world without burdened souls?"

It's dying though. Whatever this creature is doing is tearing the machine apart, and its struggle was weak due to the multitude of failing systems popping up. As more of that machine began to fall apart, blood began to fall free, rushing towards whatever bottomless pit this creature was sending it to. Soon, that husk of a machine broke, revealing a young man, his body frail with wires and such exposed along his body. The socket his arm was removed at is nothing more than a metal sphere.

Though, his body breaking apart did allow him momentary freedom from the creature, allowing his body to slip free and fall to the ground with a small crunch.

Spitting blood, his throat disintegrated, he tried to crawl, slowly pulling himself with his free arm before the creature fell upon him again with its tendrils.

That is until a cane touched the ground in front of him.

A figure, adorned in robes, a helmet over their head that hid their visage. In his left hand is Uriel.

"Ah, another failed experiment..." The revealed old male voice spoke behind his mask's distortion. "A shame."

"You remind me of her. Otherworldly, yet familiar."

He cared little for the man who was sucked away into the abyss, shaking his head gently. Uriel was safely secured underneath his cloak as his attention shifted to Liltotto. His eyes could not be seen, but they stared at the creature.

"Poor soul..." He mumbled under his breath as he was charged.

"Pour beast..."

Raising his staff, he clicked it on the ground, a sudden pressure around him that pushed outwards with immense force, almost like gravity itself had inverted. As Liltotto crashed into the sudden phenomena, it'd feel as if the world itself told her to disappear, the force enough to send nearly any combatant sailing away at speeds incalculable. Yet, she felt suspended for a second, a voice whispering through the sudden force pushing into her.

"Are you of his perhaps? I do so wonder..."

For a second, eyes with black rings around them blinked at her before that pressure finally tried to seize her and send her away to whatever destination gravity felt dropping her.