It was time, Joshua was standing by. Anxious feet tapping in silence, a hear that was pumping like a soccer player waiting to step into the stadium for the fans. There were reporters everywhere, they were watching. Joshua raised his mask as he pulled out a piece of a chocolate bar from his pocket. Taking a large chunk, chewing it as the tension was reaching an all time high in here.

Joshua could see Jordan who was kissing his pendant and preparing himself. Alpha 1 was checking his guns. To make sure there was one in the chamber, and he was doing it more than once. If guys like Alpha 1 can be nervous, then this Black Spire must be worse than they thought. Joshua had to calm his beating heart, tapping it three times.

"Trust in yourself.. Trust in your abilities...Creativity will pull you through." Joshua spoke to himself, echoing the words by the Avatar of Destruction that had visited him prior to this. The gates opened up and the Venerators made their way into it.

Seeing a ruined city that was in flames. The sky above was clad in crimson with a black sun. This was just like the Mulligan spire.

STAGED SPIRE.

STAGE 1

Rescue and escort the civilians to safety

Stage 2

?????

Stage 3

??????

Unknown enemies.

Caution is advised.

No clear defeat or victory conditions, then it may be a battle of attrition.

"Alright, split into your designated teams! Go!" Alpha 1 took charge as they began their search. The creatures that roamed here were yet to be seen. The Venerators moved in squads of 10, so 20 teams were now patrolling the area. Joshua was joined up with Jordan and Alpha 1. The Assault Works members would proceed to clear rooms and buildings while Joshua was on guard duty with Jordan.

Jordan may be showing a good smile to everyone but he was breaking on the inside. Worried, tapping his feet and biting his lower lip. Pacing back and forth.

"Clear." Alpha 1 stepped out with the other guys from the Assault Works and Iron Guard.

"Enemies that are unknown bother me a bit." Alpha 1 said to the others.

"I get what you mean, but we need to find the civilians faster." Loran, a member of Iron Guard spoke as he readied his glaive.

"This might take a while." Joshua looked at his familiar list. Seeing all of them being available, including the Four Ancients, Barakas's butterflies may be better suited.

"Barakas." The Ancient of Spring made her appearance, floating by Joshua's side.

"Yes, Lord?"

"Can your butterflies be used to scout the area?" Barakas called for the butterflies, all of them were green that hovered around her.

"Yes. Would you like me to send my butterflies to join the other teams? The team leader's can share their vision with yours, Lord." Barakas explained, which Joshua gave a nod. The butterflies scattered.

"All teams, listen up. Joshua's got some butterflies to help do recon. They'll be joining you. Team leader's the butterfly will join as an active companion and will share vision among them. It will help with the search." Alpha 1 said as the group made their way forward.

"The butterflies have found civilians, they are all in a fortified park that is nearby. So far no enemies detected. The park is like a fortress, we spot a few Venerators present." Joshua was relieved to hear that, but there was a nagging feeling in his head that this all seemed like easy.

"Barakas, is there any possibility the enemy is blocking their vision by magic?"

"I can detect everything from this world, but there's... Wait... There's something wrong. My butterflies. The ones flying to a few selected zones have gone quiet." Barakas answered Joshua's question.

"Joshua, what are you thinking?" Jordan asked.

"The enemy may be lying in wait somewhere. Tell them to proceed carefully." Joshua answered.

"Got it, Alpha 1 to all teams. Stay frosty, enemy is able to take out the butterflies, stay away from those areas first. We'll need to reach the park. Let's hustle!" Joshua joined the others, making their way to the park. The teams arrived and they stepped into the place. Where Jordan went inside to look for his wife and child.

"Dad!" Jordan picked up the toddler and hugged his wife. The other Venerators went to meet with their families. So far no incidents. The park's fortification were the result of Venerators that were builders. They created solid defenses with weapon placements and ballistas. Some had automatic sentries in place. This would be sufficient for a indigo spire, but not for a black spire. The walls were made of some parts of the buildings and rebar to provide all the materials.

STAGED SPIRE.

STAGE 1

Rescue and escort the civilians to safety

Reach the civilians.

Stage 2

Fight.

Stage 3

??????

Enemies

Nephilim, Angels and Demons.

Caution is advised.

The Venerators heard war cries all over the area. Another screen popped up.

Mankind, Angels, Demons and Nephilim,

Only one will remain while the other three perish from this fight.

The butterflies all vanished.

"All hands prepare for battle!" Alpha 1 shouted as the long ranged combatants readied their defensive positions.

"Barakas?" Joshua asked, where Barakas shook his head.

"No... My butterflies are gone." Joshua heard voices coming from all around them.

"We've got demons coming from the west gate! It's an entire horde!" Joshua heard a marksman shout out. Followed by gunfire by the ones at the western gate.

"Familiars!" Joshua's familiars made their appearance, with Commander 151 standing by Joshua's side.

"Your orders, Lord?"

"151! Prioritize the civilians. Demons are incoming from the west side. 151, you are in command of all familiars except for the Ancients!" Joshua commanded as 151 nodded.

"Lord, by what I understand the enemy will be more than before. Will you allow me to call for reinforcements?" 151 asked.

"Is that possible?" Joshua asked.

"The Suicide Division of Azteris is ready, our numbers have grown lord. We are... Perhaps at one hundredths of our strength, but they are ready to heed your call."

"Then yes.151, I wish to make sure these people survive." Joshua said where they watched a portal open. Men, women and teenagers stepped out of it. Supplementary forces from Azteris. The system notified Joshua.

They will be bound to you the same way the current Suicide Division is bound.

More of Demon's Bane, Goliaths and Rogues in their old equipment. They did not wear their masks. Faces scarred, eyes glowing blue and they were clad in their great coats for battle. The others were in their ashen gray uniforms. A child ran to Commander 151, giving a flower. Which the Commander 151 took it and placed it to his chest. The horsemen held their helmets carefully.

"Thank you child." They put on their masks and helmets. Readying their weapons.

"Suicide Division! Do you see the people to your left!?"

"Sir, yes sir!" The gas masked soldiers looked at the humans.Their eyes glowed azure as they saluted to the humans.

"They are humans, non-combatants. And family to the many others that fight alongside our Lord. They do not know war, they do not know violence as we have. And now we fight demons, angels and nephilim. The Lord's orders are to ensure that none of these civilians are harmed. So we will show these poor sods that they have made a mistake to attack these people. Troopers, horsemen... Ready your bayonets! Rogues, Demon's Bane join the Lord's allies. Goliaths and Crimson Reavers, you must act as our second line of defense. For they have made a mistake. Tell me, what do they need to fight us?!" 151 shouted.

"They would need armies for each one of us!" The Suicide Division shouted back. The roar of the army was heard, then Klaudia summoned her Licht that made the skeletal army rise up from the ground.

"Care to allow my forces to join you?" The Licht asked.

"No. I believe we can think of a different strategy... They can be hidden in the ground yes?" 151 asked.

"Yes."

"Do you have spears?" The Licht nodded, with his mouth chattering in delight.

"Have your spearmen ready to hide by the ground and we lay traps for them. Have your soldiers grab our enemies by the legs. Halt their movement while our forces proceed to break through them." The Licht nodded, and turned to Klaudia.

"My lady, is that a sound plan?" 151 asked Klaudia who nodded, then 151 turned to Alpha 1.

"Please command the west gate to be opened." Alpha 1 turned to Joshua.

"Just let them do it, Alpha 1. They want to protect the people on our side too." Joshua said where the Venerators by the gate opened them. The horde of demons was making their way to them. 151 drew his saber and it glowed red.

"Charge!:" The horsemen and troopers ran forward.

"Flying demon's inbound!" Krieg then jumped up as he readied his lever action rifle. Firing fast shots into them.

"They had. Flying demons. Come one, come all! I'll blast your heads off!" Krieg shouted with joy as he reloaded his lever action rifle.

"Enemies from the south and north! Coalition of angels and others." They heard as Klaudia's black orc stood before her.

"Lady, your orders?"

"Xurek. Lead the others. You've killed angels and nephilim before." Klaudia spoke to the orc as her companions made their pressence. Lugasa walked on over to the other two Werewolves who grinned at him.

"151." 151 nodded to Xurek.

"I have never fought against Angels and Nephilim. If you need, I can give you my best. The Crimson Reavers and the 7th Vizel. I would like to fight on the front lines as well. To face such creatures, though my soldiers know no fear. It will be better if I understood their weaknesses." 151 spoke to Xurek who nodded, watching the 7th Vizel ready his blade along with the 5 Crimson Reavers.

"Thank you. Lord, My Lady. We will handle this." The other companions, the skeletal horsemen and the Four Horsemen stayed by Klaudia's side.

"My lady. Allow for the four of us to greet our brethren." The Pale Rider asked, where Klaudia nodded to them as the four horsemen leaped out to the South gate. Iacus and Donovan followed suit with Joshua's nod.

"Two targets by the east gate! Only two!" Joshua nodded to Klaudia as they leaped to the West Gate's overwatch to have a glance. Seeing the two figures walking to their path. Joshua heard a trill from Ashen Phoenix.

That is not of your world. That is the anomaly. I am ready to fight by your side.

"Thank you." Joshua said as he and Klaudia leaped downwards and made their way to the enemies side.

"Ancients of Seasons. I release your seal that binds your powers."

"Ancients of Death, I release the chains that binds your natures." Joshua and Klaudia whispered in unison,

Bayran appeared above as the ancient dragon with Barakas the great monarch butterfly and Cinder's true form, a phoenix that ravaged the air. Asim was just standing by with his pair of battle axes by the south gate. Waiting to greet the Nephilim. The other four ancients made their way to deal with the angels. Klaudia and Joshua needed to greet the enemies before them.

Alpha 1 watched how the Suicide Division fought,they were brutal. The demon's that fought them had ☠ icons hanging above their names.

He checked their status.

'Terrified' The Suicide Division was crashing into the demons. They had fear as a result of all the damage that they were suffering from. Because of the lack of demonic powers and pressences. Bayonets that struck the target into the targets, firing through it to free the weapon. A demon tore a Suicide Trooper's arms off where another soldier helped to remove the gas mask and using his teeth to secure a blade from his fellow trooper. Then slashing the neck of a demon.

They did not care for their lives, they were throwing their lives away so easily. Then Alpha 1 turned to see more of the soldiers stepping out from the portal to fight. The Demon's Bane unit was no slouch, they were constantly sniping enemy forces that were trying to take potshots. The Rogues were gone, but he heard gunfire from the sides. When a demon made its way from the shadows about to strike a family, Jordan struck the blade into its throat.

It tried to cast a spell towards the people. Unleashing a stone blast. Where the people watched a Suicide Trooper dive to take the blow. His legs were blown off, mask falling off. Where they see the trooper coughed out blood.

"Ho-" The demon's head was blown off with a single shot from the rifle. The trooper put the rifle aside and looked at the Goliath that walked on over to him. Giving a nod, where the Goliath picked up the Trooper and threw him into the direction where the demon's were coming from.They heard more explosions from where the demons were from.

"Why'd you throw him away?! Can't you heal him?" Jordan raised his voice, where the Goliath walked away from him. Seeing a trooper step out from the portal, grabbing the rifle.

"He chose his path. That is how we fight. Our duty is to your people. Our lives are forfeit. That is why we are known as the Suicide Division." The trooper said as more demons showed up from the ground.Where the demons grabbed the trooper's leg, pulling him down to the ground. The trooper pulled out the pin by his backpack as a few Goliaths put their shields to shut the tear in the ground.The explosion was heard as the shields blanket with blood over it.

The demons were trying whatever path they could use to break into it. Jordan could see that they were desperate. The Suicide Troopers that were inside were still as drones, when the demon's tried to break through via the shadows. They were being caught by the Licht's soldiers, giving the chance for the troopers to fire at them.

A moment later, they turned to see Commander 151 wiping blood off his blade with one arm missing.

"The Nephilim and Angels are pathetic."

"You dare to insult us human?!" 151 stopped the angel that was attacking from above.

"To be triggered by such words, clearly you have made a mistake. Fire at my target!" The angel crafted a barrier to stop the bullets that was reaching her.

"You think you can break my barrier?" 151 threw his saber directly at her, where it cracked.

"Goliath. Throw me." The Goliath threw 151 at the angel he pushed the blade deeper into the barrier, shattering it and then using his other arm to strangle the angel.

"Ho..H-" The angel choked as they both were falling. Even when they fell to the ground, the Troopers continued to fight the other enemies coming their path, while 151 strangled the angel until her head exploded.

"Angels bleed the same as us. If it bleeds, we can kill it." 151 said as the Demon's Bane and Rogues went to secure the deeper parts of the fortress. Demons were coming out of the shadows but the two groups were true to their name. Turning these demons into nothing but corpses.

151 looked at where Joshua and Klaudia were.

"My lord will succeed. I have faith." 151 spoke.