chapters 136-140

chapters 136-140

...

–Natasha Romanoff–

"ETA, 30 seconds!" The voice of the pilot called out over the intercom.

Natasha was sitting in the back of a Quinjet, with a lot on her mind. With only half of his Agents proving to be loyal, Fury had been deploying all of them around the clock. Natasha had led the raid against multiple Hydra bases so far with the intel they had gleaned from Sergeant Bucky Barnes. Needless to say, Steve was not happy when he found out the fate of his friend, who supposedly died back in World War 2. Natasha also wasn't exactly in Steve's good graces, at the moment, because interrogating Sergeant Barnes had been her job. He hadn't wanted Bucky to be interrogated at all, but the Winter Soldier had too much blood on his hands and too much potential information for SHIELD not to.

That's why Natasha was glad to get this emergency assignment. It was a way to get out of the current HQ Helicarrier–and therefore away from a pissed off Steve Rogers. Natasha could also finally see Layla again! Natasha had felt bad about how their 'relationship' had gone so far. They danced around each other and hooked up once, and then Natasha basically ghosted Layla. It wasn't on purpose, but that's what happened.

"We're touching down now. Friendly contact in sight. On the ground!" The pilot called out again. Natasha and a few other SHIELD Agents stepped out of the plane as soon as the hatch opened.

And there she was. Layla of the Fallen was standing in the middle of a damp field. She looked just as perfect and beautiful to Natasha as always. The way Layla's eyes lit up upon seeing her made Natasha flinch a bit. She felt even more guilty now...

Around Layla, Natasha noticed a few scattered unconscious people. These must have been some of the wizards and witches that Layla reported. They were the ones kidnapping SHIELD Agents and memory wiping them. There was also the remains of what looked to be a wooden shack. It had been destroyed by whatever flood had hit this area recently. Natasha wasn't sure where all the water came from though. Could Layla conjure water now? She'd have to ask.

"Natasha!" Before Natasha could realize what was happening, she found herself swept up in a tight hug. "Hi, Natasha! I missed you," Layla said as she held her tight.

Natasha was caught off guard!

Layla had gotten faster. Much faster! SHIELD originally had Layla's top speed clocked out just a bit above The Captain, but Layla had moved so fast there that Natasha's eyes couldn't even follow her!

Natasha hugged Layla back. She ignored the snickering the other agents gave her as they started checking over all the bodies around them. "Sorry I basically ended up ghosting you. The discovery of Hydra and just how entrenched they were in SHIELD and the government was really shocking. It was all hands on deck." Natasha said to Layla.

"It's alright." Layla replied. The Fallen Angel finally let her go.

Natasha was also surprised at how strong Layla was too. She couldn't have broken that hug if she tried with all her might! "I do want you to know, though, that I didn't consider that night to be just a fling." Natasha added.

"I'm glad! I didn't either!" Layla replied while avoiding Natasha's eyes. " I admit I was a bit lonely... at first..."

Natasha's eyes narrowed at hearing Layla say "at first." She also noticed the way Layla was suddenly trying to act so innocent. "And what do you mean by that?" Natasha asked. "Was there another woman?" Natasha honestly didn't mind if there was. She knew that she and Layla were not currently in an explicitly stated relationship. Natasha had also done a bit of reading up on Fallen Angels–with whatever lore she could find at least. One thing that always stuck out in her research was that Fallen Angels were pretty much all horndogs... With Layla's supernatural beauty, Natasha wasn't surprised if there was another woman out there.

Layla shifted in place. "There might have been one or two... or three."

"THREE!?" Natasha blurted out! Did Layla have no self-control!? It had only been two months! Natasha immediately changed her mind about not caring! "With who!?"

Layla listed them off, and Natasha didn't know what to think. "There's Hela, the Goddess of Death and Queen of Asgard. Then there's Sif, the Goddess of War and Fertility. And then there's Yasaka. She's a nine-tailed fox and basically the Yokai Queen of Kyoto on Earth DxD."

Natasha grimaced. Two of Layla's other lovers were literal goddesses, and the third one might as well be. She'd read some lore on nine-tailed foxes and if any of that were true, then they were really powerful! Natasha could admit to herself that she was feeling inadequate compared to three other women like that. She was just a slightly enhanced human after all. At least, that was the case until Layla leaned forward and kissed Natasha passionately.

The redhead spy was taken off guard momentarily before she kissed Layla back!

"Whooo! That's hot!"

"Damn! I guess Romanoff is off the market!"

"Huh? I thought she and Barton were a secret item. Guess I lost the betting pool..."

Natasha broke the kiss to glare at all the male Agents staring and hollering at her and Layla. One of her patented glares was all it took for them to immediately shut up! "Get back to work! Tie up all the unconscious magicals out here and search through the remains of that wooden shack for the others!" Natasha ordered them and they all immediately got to it.

Layla laughed at all the other agents scurrying off at her orders. "Who would have thought SHIELD Agents were such gossip queens?"

XXX

I was standing off to the side with Natasha, watching the other SHIELD Agents load up Dumbledore's group and the Weasley family onto the Quinjet. It was pretty funny seeing a bunch of magicals wearing Muggle handcuffs.

"Be careful with him." I told the Agents as I pointed to the unconscious Dumbledore. "He might be able to do some magic without his wand, but I don't know how much. Also, that one can turn himself into a black dog without a wand, and that one is a werewolf that will transform into a man-eating monster on the full moon." I pointed to Sirius and Remus next. The Agents nodded and told me they'd put those three in special containment rooms until they could be sorted out.

"We heard about werewolves when we took the Alley, but I've yet to see one in action." Natasha said as she watched them load Remus on the jet.

"I haven't seen the transformation in person either. It's supposed to be pretty gross." I explained. I imagine it must be, considering muscles and bones have to snap in order to re-contort themselves.

"So other than the...women, what have you been up to?" Natasha asked me. "You're a lot faster than you were before. Unless you were holding back then?"

In response, I let my ten wings show behind me.

Natasha stared at them in surprise. "Ten!? I thought you had four?" She asked me while inspecting them closely.

"I did have four wings. But then I ran into numerous fortuitous encounters and managed to ascend to the higher realms." I said jokingly. "My Dao is as deep as the sea and vast as the sky."

Natasha cracked a rare smile. "Nice try, Layla. I know cultivators aren't real. Ki isn't a real thing..."

"Well, actually–"

"Agent Romanoff! Miss Layla!" A SHIELD Agent ran up to us and interrupted me before I could once again break her worldview. "All prisoners have been secured for transport. The remains of the shack have been fully searched, and all the people buried in the debris have been rounded up as well. A few of them were injured, but none fatally."

"That's good," Natasha said. "I suppose we're done here then?"

"Also, ma'am, there is a little girl wanting to talk to you and Miss Layla. She says that she's Weasley's neighbor and has some important information to share." the guy said before he pointed off towards the front of the Weasley property.

I looked over, and standing over there was a younger blonde girl. I could tell by her iconic radish earrings that it was Luna Lovegood. She gave us a small wave before her eyes started to wander all over as if she was seeing things that no one else could.

I walked over towards her with Natasha right behind me. Natasha was the first to address her.

"Hello. I'm Agent Monroe. And who are you?" Natasha asked her while lying about her real name like the spy she was.

Luna snapped her gaze away from whatever she was looking at and back to us. "Hello Natasha Romanoff and Layla of the Fallen. I'm Luna Lovegood. I live right down the road." Luna said while pointing to the right. There were some hills there, so I couldn't see her house, but it wouldn't be hard to confirm.

Natasha blanched when Luna said her real name out of nowhere. She looked like she was ready to start interrogating the girl, but I put my hand on her shoulder and held her back. "So, Luna. The Agent you talked to told us you have some important information for us?" I asked her while using [observe].

[Luna Lovegood: The Girl Who Knows Things→ Level 6]

That was interesting. She had an actual title at only level 6. That meant her Seer abilities had to be for real.

"Yes. Something very bad is going to happen soon in Scotland unless you stop them." Luna said while looking off to the side again.

Natasha narrowed her eyes. "What bad thing?"

Luna turned to me. "The Dark Lord is scared of you, you know. He's really scared. You survived his strongest spells twice and then thoroughly trounced him the third time you all met. He correctly assumes that you have gotten even stronger still since then. He knows he can't beat you."

I smirked proudly. "That's good then!" Although I don't want him hiding away like a coward forever. He's worth 5 levels on top of being an evil asshole that I would happily purge for free anyway.

[Guys like him don't hide forever. They go crazy and choose to go out while taking as many people with them as possible.]

Shit, the system was right about that one. Voldemort knew he couldn't beat me, so his only option was to become a full terrorist at this point. But how would he go about doing that?

"What is he planning?" Natasha asked Luna. She didn't even bother asking how a barely 14-year-old girl knew all of this in the first place.

"He wants to fight Light with Fire." Luna said cryptically. "It's going to happen here." Luna then reached into a small pouch before pulling out a picture book that was way too big to fit in there. It was a book about the Scottish Highlands. She pointed towards a specific location in the book.

Heather's eyes widened when she heard me mention Voldemort. The Ancient One let out a tired sigh. "Why do these foolish dark mages always end up summoning demons..." She lamented as she stood up. "Stay here apprentice, I shall return."

Heather looked like she wanted to protest about not coming with me but I stopped her. "Heather, remember what we talked about. You're 15, you don't have to go around fighting dark wizards. Let me handle Voldemort. This time he won't get away." I reassured her before pulling my head back.

Natasha was staring at me weirdly. "Your portals are overpowered if they let you just go anywhere at any time..."

"They sure are."

Voldemort, to my surprise, was just glaring hatefully and hadn't made a move to attack while I was distracted. Not that anything he could do could even work on me anymore. At my current level, I now realized that his supposed 'Ultimate Class' level of power was a lot more inflated than I first thought. He had the ability to cast a single Ultimate Level spell at most, but the mana cost would probably kill him. To be honest, I don't think he even knows any spells of that level anyways. Fiendfyre was pretty much the Wizarding world's most destructive spell.

A second later the Ancient One stepped out of my portal and I closed it behind her. She glanced around quickly. "Interesting. They are trying to summon Belial. And it appears they have succeeded."

"Belial?" That name sounded vaguely familiar.

"He was an Angel that fell from heaven. Instead of going to the underworld or joining the Grigori, he fled into the Hells. There he bathed in Hellfire and turned himself into a true demon. He currently rules over Gehenna." The Ancient One explained. "The ritual they are performing is already complete. It basically uses the souls of all the mortals participating in it to call Belial forth."

"Why are they still chanting then?" Natasha asked.

The Ancient One shrugged. "I'm not sure. Maybe they were tricked by whoever gave them the ritual?"

That could be. I wouldn't expect any of the stuck up purebloods to ever be willing to hand over their very souls to a demon. Even if Voldemort himself commanded them to do it.

My thoughts were cut off when I felt a burst of powerful dark magic emulate from the ritual circle!

"Prepare yourself. He is coming." The Ancient One said.

XXX

I could see Voldemort smiling before he started cackling! "Hahaha! Your arrogance has truly cost you, Layla of the Fallen! I have no idea why you made no move to stop the ritual, but now it is complete! Prepare yourself to be slain by a True Demon! The natural enemy of your kind!"

I looked over to the Ancient One, and she didn't seem to be that worried. Then again, this woman was always hard to read in general. Natasha was putting on a cool face as well, but I could see her gripping her pistol tightly. This was her first time facing a demon.

The summoning circle glowed bright red as the pentagram lit up!

"Arise Belial! Arise!" All of the Death Eaters chanted in unison. They had looks of excitement and reverence on all of their faces. They probably thought they were about to bring about my downfall. Seeing the smile on Voldemort's gross face was honestly disturbing.

...And then all of them slumped to the ground...dead. Lucius Mlafoy, Peter Pettigrew, and all the other members of Voldemort's inner circle died just like that. Their souls were pulled from their bodies and flew towards the being that had just appeared between them all.

He opened his mouth and swallowed all of their souls. "Mmmmm. Quite a few magical souls there! Not a bad offering." Belial muttered as he looked towards the gaping Voldemort. "A fine offering mortal! Now then, why have you summoned me?" Belial's appearance was incredibly stereotypical for a demon. He was tall and his skin was bright red. He had two large horns on his forehead and instead of human legs, he had the legs of a goat.

"You...You...My followers. They're all dead..." Voldemort trailed off. A look of realization dawned upon him. "DAMN YOU HAND! I WILL HAVE MY REV–" He was cut off when a [Lightspear] erupted out of his chest, courtesy of myself. "Graaaaaagghh!" Voldemort let out a willful shriek before he collapsed to his knees. He tried to pull the [Lightspear] out but it was too late. Voldemort burst apart and turned into a pile of ashes. I wasn't letting that guy escape again and I was frankly tired of fighting him. Since he died to an Angel's light, his soul will also not be able to stay in the mortal world. He'll be going straight to Lady Death's domain. I'm sure he'll enjoy her hospitality...

[You have leveled up x5!]

[Layla of the Fallen: Angel of Hope, Death's Favored]

[Level: 46]

[Sacred Gears: Purger of Darkness, Orb of Anywhere]

[HP: 13000]

[MP: 9200]

[Vigor: 800]

[Strength: 140]

[Intelligence: 920]

[Luck: 100]

[Skills: Observe 3, Angelic Mastery 4, Acting 3, Light Manipulation 7, HP to MP Conversion, Mana Burst]

[Perks: Never Tell Me the Odds, Lucky Shot, Mana Replenisher]

[Drawbacks: Sin of Lust]

[Available Free Stat Points: 60]

[Skill Up Point: 0]

I dumped all of my free stat points into Intelligence to bring it to 980. I was expecting a fight here soon. Demon's didn't like to leave Earth once they managed to arrive. Especially one like Belial that had been summoned at his full power. It was very hard for them to get here with their full powers considering they had to be properly summoned for that to happen. If a demon came to Earth on their own, they could only use an avatar which would weaken themselves by forcing them to split their powers. If their weak avatar is killed, then they lose that fragment of themselves forever.

"Really, Layla? Resorting to sneak attacks are we?" The Ancient One said with mock disappointment as she watched Voldemort turn to ash.

"Well that happened..." Natasha muttered as she lowered her gun. Then she remembered the demon was still here and pointed it at Belial.

Belia didn't seem upset that the one who summoned him died. He shrugged and turned towards the three of us. "Well well well. If it isn't the Ancient One herself! And who is that I spy next to you!? Why, it's one of my long lost siblings! Where have you all been? Haven't seen any of you feathery bastards in over 1000 years!" Belial's blood red eyes met my violet ones. He grinned menacingly, displaying rows of razor sharp teeth.

"Father transported us all to an alternate dimension, but now we've found a way back. I'd be a lot more careful of your actions from now on, Belial. Turn around and fuck back off to hell or else." I said as I scanned him.

[Belial: The Demon King of Gehenna→ Level 69]

Fuck... I wasn't winning against that without going all out from the start.

Twelve demented wings made of infernal fire manifested behind Belial. "Hoh? I should be careful of a mere Cadre? You dare order me to return when I just got here?" He asked menacingly. "No! I don't think I will!" Power surged around him and I could tell the time for talking was over.

Natasha fired her weapon next to me. To my surprise, the bullet she fired was glowing dark purple. It had been infused with some of the Light I'd blessed her with! It wasn't enough power to be dangerous for the likes of Belial though. Belial raised his hand and caught the bullet out of the air.

He scoffed. "Pathetic mortal weapons!" He flicked his finger and the bullet went sailing back at Natasha at twice the speed of sound! I quickly threw my body in front of her to save her!

[-30 HP]

"Hahaha! To so willingly throw yourself in front of a mortal who you even blessed yourself. She must be your lover, sister! I will enjoy breaking her in after I break you!" Belial taunted. He raised his hand and a large fireball the size of a car manifested above him.

Natasha looked frightened and I felt genuine anger! "You won't touch her! MANA BURST!"

[- 4000 MP!]

[Vigor: 800→1200!]

[Strength: 140→540!]

[Intelligence: 980→1380!]

"What the fuck!?" Belial screamed out as I felt my power absolutely skyrocket!

XXX