//------------------------------// // To the Ends of Hell and Back // Story: On My Honor // by Honored Service //------------------------------// Chapter 25                 On My Honor By Honored Service “To the Ends of Hell and Back” The arena loomed ahead of the barge as its passengers all looked to the flashing sign and back to the human it mentioned. He rolled his shoulders and the armor reflected the deep reds of the firy landscape surrounding the river. In the water, the souls of the damned washed by, trapped forever swirling in their anger and despair. This was Anger’s domain after all. “Are you going to be okay?” Luna asked, walking up behind the conflicted armor covered human. “Yes. Of course. Why wouldn't I be okay?!” Honored chuckled nervously. “I can do anything.” “It's going to be alright dear,” Luna draped a wing across his back, “We will be behind you all the way!” Honored let out a deep sigh, what did he have to worry about? He had a group of amazing friends behind him that would back him up no matter what Anger could throw at them. The dock on the opposite side of the river grew larger and the crew aboard the barge readied themselves for anything. Weapons loaded and at the ready, the group charged over the dock with a mighty roar. “AHHHHHHhhhh?” They all stopped and looked around. There was nothing awaiting them, except for a long line of demons waiting at a ticket window at the end of the dock. “Not what I expected.” Honored said slowly slinging his weapon and coming out of his combat stance. “What are you doing here?!” A demon wearing a fire red sports coat and matching pants stormed up to the group, Honored in particular. “You were supposed to be here nearly an hour ago, we got hundreds waiting. Now get a move on!” He looked down at a watch and then reached up and pressed a finger to a bluetooth headset in his ear. “Yeah, I got him right here. Yes armor and all. The others?” He looked to the other creatures behind the human. “Yes they are here too. VIP? Sure I’ll get them set up. Guide!” The ‘manger’ looking demon shouted. “Yes?” Guide said floating out of nowhere beside the group. “‘sup Steve.” “Don't ‘sup Steve’ me. You owe me fifty Angel tears for the last fight. And get your fighter to the ring, we got a show to put on.” Guide nodded and grabbed Honored by the hand and started to pull him along the dock towards the arena. Celestia and Luna both started to step after him, but Steve held up a hand. “Oh hold on there mortals. Fighters only that way. You have to get seated in the VIP booth to watch the fight.” “They can’t come with me?” Honored sounded slightly panicked as he left the group. “Sorry kid, it's the rules of the fight. No tag-ins or double teams. That's only on Fridays.” Guide said as we made our way past the ticket line and towards the arena, demons of all types looking at the Human and giving him ‘boos’ and shouts of encouragement. “They are going to be fine. Anger likes to put on fights like this for money. New souls that are sent here usually end up in the arena fighting before they get damned to their punishment for all eternity.” Guide sensed the human’s confusion. “It’s like an UFC fight. Do whatever you want to win. Winner moves on to the next level. So on and so forth until they win. Once they win, if they win, they get to skip their damnation and become the new Anger, ruler of the realm.” “That can't be that hard, I’m a great fighter.” Honored said smiling inside of his helmet. Fighting? This was going to be a snap. “There hasn’t been a new Anger in over three thousand mortal years.” Guide said seriously. “Oh.” ‘Shit.’ Honored thought, he was going to have his work cut out for him on this one. “Here you go, just make yourselves comfortable, and you can utilize the betting system if so desired.” Steve said while showing the group into the VIP booth. There were several couches and large sitting chairs facing a massive oval shaped arena in the center of the coliseum. Luna looked around, before turning back to the manager. “What is happening here exactly?” The demon pulled out a cell phone and quickly began tapping away on the screen for a brief moment before spinning it in his hand and sending it away with a burst of red flames, “Okay listen good, this is Anger’s challenge. That human wants to challenge Anger to the rights to travel to the next level. Anger has never had some mortal reach him before, so this is all new. He has decided that Honored must battle some recent damned souls and then his champions before he is found worthy of taking on Anger himself.” “And if he loses?” Celestia asked quietly, stepping up beside her sister. “Baby, damned here for eternity. But if he does well enough, he could make it to being a champion of Anger.” Steve grinned and flipped a pair of dark tinted sunglasses onto his face while bringing up another cell phone. “Oh yeah baby, drop another five duces on champ one. And another three on first round.” Steve walked out of the VIP booth, the door slamming on the way out. “So we have to watch Honored fight? He has to be entertainment to the demons?” Luna was on the verge of tears as she looked at the arena before her, realizing that she was about to watch her beloved human fight for his life, and there was nothing she could do to help. “I got some more bad news.” Discord said from his couch where he was holding a betting sheet. “It has all of the champions he has to get through to fight Anger.” Discord said while flipping over a page of names. And another page. And another one. Another one. And again. And again. Luna began to weep to herself. Her tears began to stain the couch she was looking over at the pages on pages of champions, each one more powerful than the last. Anger was the final name on page eight. There had to be over two hundred names on the list. Honored was going to fight himself to death. “So just fight.” I said looking at Guide as I sat inside of a small room that was attached to the arena floor. “Yes, but here’s the thing that you need to remember. “ Guide said flying closer to my helmet, “You need to remain focused; this is Anger’s world. He wants you to get angry and lose yourself in the fighting, wear you out. Just stay calm, level headed, and you’ll be out of here in no time. Get him out sooner, don't waste your energy on the pawns, look for the king.” Guide said, slipping in and out of his may accents and speaking tones. “Thanks Guide. Cool, calm, and steady. Too easy, I can do this.” I grinned and stood up and marched my way towards the door leading out into the arena. A demon would escort me out when my time had arrived to enter. A demon stuck his head into the room and looked at me. “You’re up human. Get ready.” “Show time.” I said giving Guide a thumbs up and strolling towards the double doors. I placed my hands against them and pushed them open, stepping out into the light and the roaring applause and stomping of demons’ feet that began to make my heart race. They paid for a show, they would get a show. “Demons and poltergeists. The moment that you have only dreamed of is here! A human mortal has made it alllllllll they wayyyyyyy to the fifth layer of the Underworld.” The crowd went crazy as the announcer's voice boomed over the speaker system through the massive coliseum. “He has already shot, stabbed, and punched his way through three other layers of the Underworld to reach this spot, but does he have what it takes to make it through Anger?” The thunderous applause grew even louder as the crowd exploded into more applause. “Then let's give it up for the one, the unstoppable, the mortal, Johnson The Pony Boy!” The crowd roared as the doors at one end of the arena exploded out in a mammoth explosion of purple and green magic, black fog spilling out into the arena as the massive armored human strode forth into the arena, arms raised and waving slowly at the demons. “And his first round, facing against the recently damned, the intense injector, the battered and butchered, give it up for Sam the Slayer!” The announcer boomed to the crowd. To Honored and the rest of the group, the name Sam the Slayer meant nothing. But to a few of the demons who had recently been to Earth to carry out their biddings, they knew what that name really meant. Sam was a serial killer that had just been put to death by lethal injection. Over thirty counts of first degree murder he had pled guilty for, and he made sure the court knew exactly how he killed his victims and then prepared their bodies for eating. He was a happily evil man that welcomed death with open arms knowing that he had place saved for him in hell. And the fact that he was being used for entertainment for the place he thought he would be a God had made him beyond angry. And the man in front of him, covered in armor, was going to pay for wanting to take his spotlight. Honored walked to the center of the ring and looked at the man across from him. He was of average build, just under six feet and had a normal build. Not muscular, not fat, but not skinny or in shape looking either. He had flat brown hair and glasses, but the look in his eyes, was all Honored needed to see. They burned with hate and loathing of a man, no rather a monster. Those eyes had seen people die, and they laughed with sick glee and pleasure at those deaths, relishing in the agony of others. Pure evil. Honored grinned, he would have no regrets, no worries about fighting a pure evil monster, regardless if it was human or not. It was evil, and he hated evil. “FIGHT!” The humans launched themselves forward at each other, one armored head to toe, weapons strapped all over the armor, and the other; wearing only a thin layer of clothes, but with a mad look in his eyes. Honored slammed a fist forward intending to crush the other’s chest in. Sam the Slayer jumped to the left and grabbed onto Honored’s outstretched arm and aimed to yank it to the side and back, breaking the armor and the arm cased inside of it. But Sam may have overestimated his opponent's strength, or this murderer was so use to stalking and harming the weak, he simply just struggled to move the armored arm. He slowly turned and looked up at the suit of armor, whose head turned to look down at the human that was latched onto his arm. “Nope.” Honored said, rearing back with his other arm and throwing a devastating left hook with his other fist. Sam went sailing through the air, blood arching out of his mouth as he traveled through the air, experiencing pain that he had never felt before. In all of his murders, all of his crimes, no one had been able to fight back considering the drugs he gave them before hand. This was something he didn’t know how to cope with. So Sam the Slayer, the man feared by millions, began to cry on the blood red clay of the arena floor as blood dribbled from his mouth. Each breath he took was labored, a sharp searing pain gripping his chest. He was sure the armored creature had broken multiple ribs and punctured his lungs. Honored walked over the crippled human slowly, each step leaving large boot prints in the earth as he walked over. The man lying before him began to whimper and cry as he looked up at him. Honored towered over the broken man, a man responsible for so much evil in the world above, but this all unknown to Honored Service. He reached up and pulled the helmet off of his head, revealing his face to the man beneath him. “You’re human?” Sam gasped out, coughing blood up as he struggled to breath. “Yea, and I think you should see the face of your executioner.” Honored said, voice full of malice and anger. “You are nothing but dust.” Honored stood up and lifted his leg, and held it over the murderer. He dropped it with a quick jolt that forced the leg heat vents to open and cook the body in black and green flames. SPLAT The arena full of demons and creatures of the underworld went silent as they stared at the burning corpse of the human. Honored placed the helmet back on his head and twisted it till it clicked in place tightly secured. Then the stands went wild with the cheers and screaming of thousands of demons. Honored grinned and waved his hands to the crowd as he reached to his thigh and pulled his Desert Eagle out of its holster. He cocked the slide and faced the door at the other end of the arena. Round two was about start. “Oh damn.” Guide said from the ready room Honored had exited from. He quickly willed himself away and reappeared in the VIP booth at the top of the arena. The other mortals, well one mortal and three demi-Gods and whatever that metal thing was, were all pressed against the railing. All of their attention was focused on the fight going on below them. Honored was facing down a trio of griffins known simply as the Triplets. They were the newest additions to Anger’s champions. “One of you has to get down there and stop him!” Guide yelled, getting them all to snap away from the railing and look back at him. “Why?” Luna asked turning back to the action as Honored stood his ground and fired a round from his pistol at the griffon closest to him. The griffon stumbled backwards, rope and spear tumbling from its grasp, and collapsing to the ground. “He seems to be doing just fine on his own.” Guide slapped a hand to his face. Freaking surface dwellers. “Clearly, but that is what Anger wants ‘ya bloody gits!” Guide shouted gesturing to the fight going on below. Honored dodged to the left as the the griffons both charged at once. The lightning defense rune on his chest arched to life, a bolt striking out and catching one of the remaining Triplets in the back. That one flopped to the ground, spasming form the electricity, before going still as Honored fired two bullets into its back, blowing meaty chunks of griffon across the floor. The final griffon raised his claws into the air, trying to ask for a mercy surrender. Honored slowly holstered the still smoking pistol and walked towards the griffon, before pulling his arm back and sending his summoned void blade through the griffon’s chest and out its back. The griffon slumped forward, landing on Honored’s chest plate. He dispersed the blade and pushed the body onto the ground. Demons from the sides of the arena ran forward and began dragging the bodies off to the side. “That is Anger’s Honored. Full of rage that fights to fight for a goal that is so far away, so far out of reach, that the odds of him defeating all the champions is next to nothing.” Guide said pointing as Honored bowed for the applause that shook the arena. “Someone needs to stop him. Or he is going to just keep fighting till he dies at the hands of a bigger, badder champ.” The group thought of Guide’s words as the door opened again and another creature walked out. A blood red demon, draped in a black robe, hiding everything but its head. Two twisted and gnarled horns poked through its nasty tangled black hair. Honored walked towards the demon. Celestia sighed, Guide was right. Here was Honored charging towards an enemy, or just a being standing there. He never attacked first, only in defense. The demon threw the cloak open and seven black claws exploded out from the depths of the robe and raced through the air towards Honored. Honored, caught off guard, was lifted into the air by the claws as the demon where they had spawned from grinned evilly. Discord looked intently at the fight and then snapped his claw. He smiled at Luna and Celestia before teleporting away in a quick flash of light. Honored struggled in the claws as the other claws not holding him up reached out and pulled the helmet from his head. Honored made the void blade appear once more, and spun the arm as hard as he could, catching the claw off guard. The blade sliced the claw off and Honored continued the arch of the blade and sliced all three other claws holding him in the air. He slashed forward, cutting a claw in two while stepping around another strike from the remaining two. He rammed the void blade into the demon’s shocked face, the blade easily passing through the demon’s skull and out the back in a fountain of blood and grey matter. The demon sunk to the ground and Honored realished again in the cheering of the crowd. He spun around with his arms raised, void blade still hissing through the air, as he basked in the glory of pure adrenaline induced fighting. The gate opened again releasing the next champion from Anger’s ranks. Except nothing came out. The crowd was screaming even louder, as Honored stared at the empty arena. He was confused and every scanner within his suit’s spell matrix failed to pick up on anything. Suddenly Honored was smashed to the side by an unseen force. The armored covered human smashed into the ground and sat up. Standing where he had been was a pony. This was a pony in only the most basic of terms. The creature stood the height of a normal pony, about waist height on Honored, but that was where the similarities stopped. Its mane and tail were made of orange tendrils of mist that whipped around the pony in random directions. The demon pony had sleek red coat that looked like it was constantly moving in light breeze. Two red feathery wings twitched on the pony’s back as Honored stared the pony down. But one thing that forced Honor to stay down was not the glistening gold armor of an Equestrian Guard that covers some of the pony’s body. It was not the razor sharp hoof claws on all four of the pony’s hooves. But it was the pony’s eyes that had cut Honored to his very soul. “Sky?” Luna knew Honored was in trouble. She could read everything that was happening down on the arena floor from in the VIP booth. And the magical signature coming from the pony was one she had felt before. It was Fast Skies’ unique pegasus magic. Except now it had been tripled in strength which had made her able to fly beyond beyond that of even Rainbow Dash’s speed. Faster and then even more than the speed of sound. And she was a demon. Or at least a prisoner under Anger’s domain. Honored had to fight her. No. This is what Anger wanted, to force Honored into deep emotions to cause him to lose control. The primal fighting animal that Honored could be had yet to emerge. But this would surely do it. Luna watched, gripped in fear, as Honored stood and slowly walked towards his first love in Equestria that had died saving his life. Deep down inside, Luna felt jealousy, anger, and sadness all at once. She might lose him. “Sky?” I said in disbelief, standing and walking towards the mare standing across from me. She was alive! After this whole time she was alive! I could save her, I could save her just as she had done for me so long ago. “Sky it's me, Honored.” I said holding out my hand towards her. BAM I stared up at the blood red sky full of black clouds that loomed over the stadium. Critical warning signals and signs popped up on my visor alerting me to the damage done to the suit. What had just happened? I sat up and looked around, still only seeing Sky standing across from me in the same spot. “Sky, you need to get behind me, something is attacking and I have to kill it.” I grunted while standing up. Suddenly, Sky was right in front of my visor with a hoof pulled back, claws aimed at my throat. I ducked just as the claws lashed forward scraping off the top layer of paint of my helmet. I rolled to the side and stared in horror as Sky zipped away so fast it seemed like she was teleporting. She then rushed back towards me. “No.” I whispered as I stood up and activated the void blade. “No please.” Honored sobbed as he swung the blade and clashed against Fast Sky’s hoof claws. “Ohhhh Yeahhhhhh.” Anger said to himself, looking down at the arena. This was the perfect set up. Forcing Honored to fight his past love, beyond better than he could have hoped for. The raw emotions pouring from him filled Anger with so much energy, he was tempted to jump down there and lay the hurt on the foolish human that dared challenge his reign of this domain. He was the man. The macho man. The king of the ring. The - “Excuse me? Are you Anger?” A loud laugh suddenly exploded from behind Anger. He whipped around to find one of the creatures that was a tearren bound demi-Gods from above. This one was draconequus. Discord. “Oh of course you are. Look at your get up, and the way you command this realm.” Anger snorted and nodded his head once. “You speak true. What do you need from me?” Anger spoke loudly at the creature pointing at him with his muscular, vein covered, glistening with sweat, arm. “I just wanted to meet the real ‘champion’ of this level of the Underworld.” Discord said sliding closer to massive demon. “And I must say that I’m slightly disappointed.” Discord quickly moved away as Anger slammed an elbow through the air where the Lord of Chaos had just been. “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY PUNK?” Anger whipped around, the muscles covering his body tightening. One could even see the muscles under his tassel covered jacket rippling. He reached up and snatched the gold covered wraparound sunglasses off of his face and stared Discord down while breathing heavily. “I’m too hot to handle and too cold to hold! I’m the champ! OHHHHH YEAHHHH!” Anger roared slamming his feet down, causing the area around the two to shake violently. “Well you say that,” Discord said floating into the air and pointing down to the ring, “but you have girl doing the fighting for you. In fact you name doesn't appear on the fighting list at all. Not even on the final page after all the other ‘champions’ have been beaten.” Discord said, waving the fighting line up at Anger. “You’re no champion, just a fight manger.” “OH YEAH?” Anger shouted at the draconequus before ripping the buttons from the front of his orange and yellow tassel covered jacket revealing a mass of chest and ab muscles. “You’re going to eat my rear rockets and like it!” Anger vanished in a flash of red light and black smoke. “Oh dear.” Discord said looking down to the arena. Honored braced himself for another hit from the pony that was kicking his ass around the arena, but it never came. Fast Skies stood still just as she had been at the beginning of the fight, not a drop of sweat or dirt on her. Honored was covered in dirt from the arena floor and new scratches and dents now adorned the armor. He looked towards the door opposite as music began to play and a shadow loomed in the dark doorway. The stadium quaked at the rising music. A black hole formed in Honored’s stomach as the music continued to fill the arena. The stands around the stadium went wild as the demons and creatures of the Underworld went ballistic over the approaching figure. A fresh new band of sweat broke out on Honored’s brow as he stared at the growing dark figure that began to fill the entire doorway. Anger, in all of his glory, slowly entered the arena to thunderous applause and cheering. He lifted his arms waving to the crowd as the tassels attached to the sleeves of his bright orange jacket flapped in majestic way. The large sunglasses hid his eyes from Honored, but he knew they were probably filled with confidence. Anger towered over the mortal human by at least two feet, and the demon God’s muscles were nearly as thick as Honored’s unarmored body. Anger grinned madly at his challenger before rushing forward to meet the human in a few quick strides. Honored dived to the side as the train of pure anger and muscles crashed through the area. “Where you running? It's pain time!” Anger roared while side stepping back and tossing an elbow backwards and into the recovering human. Honored flew backwards, nearly across the entire arena, and smashed into the ground, skidding to a stop against the wall opposite Anger. “Hmph. Here I am, gracing your presence human. The least you do could do is make it worth my time.” Anger laughed deeply at the human that was currently trying to stand back up and recover from the massive elbow hit. Honored ignored the flashing icons on his spell matrix and quickly jumped into the air using his magic boosters and soared over another running attack from Anger. Anger failed to stop in time and collided with the stone wall. Dust and debris filled the air from the hit as Honored killed the jets and landed on the ground in front of Fast Sky. “Sky, please talk to me. Look at me. Do something to let me know that you’re in there.” Honored begged the pony who just stood there, staring straight ahead of her. The human held back another wave of emotions as he looked at Sky. “I’m sorry this happened Sky. I don’t know why you ended up in this awful place.” “Because she made a deal with the boss.” Anger said directly behind Honored. He was unprepared for the choke hold that Anger placed around his armored neck that began to slowly crush inward from the shear strength Anger was applying. He then slammed backwards, driving Honored to the ground. Anger stood up from the slam, arms raised relishing in the cheers of the crowd. You have to snap out of this! Mars screamed in Honored’s mind. Anger is using your primal emotions against you. Sky is here for a reason you numbskull. He is forcing you to not think, but to only act on your emotions. Get with the damn program, forget about her, forget about why she is here, and just kill Anger. Honored’s eyes snapped open and he quickly pumped more magic into the armored suit, summoning multiple repair talismans inside of the suit to activate. Flashing warnings slowly vanished form Honored’s visor. With new found strength and willpower, thanks to Mars, he swung his legs around, spinning on the ground, and caught Anger off guard and sent the demon God to the ground. Anger let out a grunt of anger as he hit the ground with an enormous earth shaking ‘thud’. The crowd went silent, except for a small booth on the top of the stadium were Honored’s friends were going wild as Honored rose to his feet and squared off against Anger who also rose to his feet. “You’re about to find out why I’m the king of the ring.” Anger growled as he circled with Honored who swung out his void blade and held between the two. “And you’re about to get the real king of demons.” Honored spat back at Anger who yelled while charging forward to tackle Honored to the ground. Jumping into the air, the human stuck his legs out and kicked Anger square in the chest, stopping him dead in his tracks and dropping the demon God to the ground. Honored stood up and circled the collapsed demon while bringing his rifle up to bear. Anger looked up to find the end of the human’s weapon stuck in his face. Anger rolled to the side as the rifle barked once, the round smashing into the arena floor harmlessly. Honored tried to bring the rifle up to fire another shot but Anger drove a leg up and down, kicking the rifle from Honored’s hand while also stepping forward and punching the armored human in the head. Stumbling backwards from the punch, Honored recovered and ran forward as Anger also ran towards him. Honored stuck out his arm and stepped to the side just as he passed Anger’s chest. WHAM Anger flopped backwards after striking the outstruck arm. “Get some mother fucker.” Honored shouted while reactivating his magical void blade. He jumped forward and slammed the blade into Anger’s chest but found the space empty. Honored looked up to find himself staring at Anger who was now standing atop a sixteen foot utility ladder grinning down at the human before leaping of and flipping mid air. Honored was unable to get out of the way as Anger body slammed him into the ground. Anger stood up and readjusted the rhinestone cowboy hat on his head and brushed dust from his shoulders as he walked around the impact crater he had left Honored in. Two metal hands gripped the edges of the hole in the ground and slowly Honored pulled himself from the crater. Standing just as tall as before, Honored charged towards Anger, but at the last second blasted himself forward with added speed from his magical boosters. Anger squared up and prepared to brace for Honored’s impact but the demon God forget about one thing. His void blade. SHING Honored lifted the massive muscular form of Anger over his head while the void blade sliced clean through his gut and out his back. Honored jerked the blade to the side, slicing the demon God open from the center of his abdomen to the right side, covering the arena floor in a pool of blood and lose entrails. Anger shouted in agony as he fell to the ground writhing in pain and anger at the human that stood over him. Honored reached down and ripped a part of the yellow and orange jacket Anger had on and placed it against the empty side of the shoulder cape before magically attaching it to the growing article of clothing. “What did he mean by making a deal?” Honored asked guide who appeared beside the human holding a huge burlap sack with a blood red dollar sign on it. “Deal?” He asked confused. Guide followed Honored’s hand towards the still unmoving Fast Sky. “Oh that. Well she made a deal with the boss when she died. Servitude for an undisclosed amount of time, in exchange for one wish. One thing, no matter what, to happen.” Honored Service looked to the frozen mare. She was forever lost to some being’s will because she made a deal with the boss, who he assumed had to be the devil. “Anyway to talk to to her?” Honored said while the rest of his following friends arrived on the arena as Anger still groaned in pain beside them. “‘Fraid not mate. She’s in his control now. And I ain’t got the foggiest clue when her contract will be up. Then she can go back to the great beyond.” Guide said before pointing towards the crippled demon God Anger. “Now kill this gadfly so we can a move on, ya?” “Just one second.” Honored said while reaching up and removing his helmet, now covered in scratches and dents from Fast Sky’s blows. He bent down towards the little pony and gave her a light kiss on the forehead while she continued to stare straight ahead. “I’m sorry this has happened to you, but whatever you wished for, no matter what it was, it was not worth this.” He stared at the mare and ran an armored hand through her flowing orange mist mane. Upon contact Honored’s eyes went pure white and he felt something wrap around him. Human, how nice to talk to you. Do not fret, for you are apart of something much greater than you could even fathom. Know two things human. I am what you know as the Devil. And two, know that I am in need of a new guardian of Tartarus. The time has come, change is good even for evil. ‘Wait!’ Honored screamed through the voidscape that he found his mind in as he spoke with the apparent Devil. ‘Oh fuck. I’m talking with the freaking devil.’ Honored thought as a deep evil, blood freezing laugh filled his mind. You best speak fast before I grow bored human. ‘If you would tell me,’ Honored spoke through his mind to the presence in his head that was communicating with him, ‘what did she wish for? What did she make the deal for?’ My this is better than watching your world slowly kill itself with war. She exchanged her soul for a thousand years for one simple thing. Honored waited as the true God of the Underworld took a perfectly placed dramatic pause. She asked that you always are able to win. Honored came out of the mind grip to find everyone looking at him and Anger still glaring daggers at the group while he held his bloody guts into his body. “I… I spoke to the devil.” He said while looking to the group. They all gasped, including Guide who looked beyond shocked. “The boss. You mean the big D. He really talked to you? What did he say?” Guide was gushing over the human as he floated around on his stolen Angel wings. “Well?” “He had plans for me. That all of this apart of some master plan because change is good even for evil.” Honored recited the phrase perfectly. “I don't know what he meant by that. But that was it.” Honored stayed silent as his friends though over his words with the devil. He left out Sky’s deal. Everything that had happened since her death. The defeating of Nightmare, Sombra, all the bad guys after her death had been because of her. The lucky shots, the impossibile skills, hell his development of Void magic and Mars could have been her wish at work. Honored looked at the frozen mare but found that she had vanished. Even in death she had saved his life over and over again. “Are you alright my love?” Luna asked kneeling down to the crouched human. She gave him a light nuzzle as he stroked her neck. “As good as I can be right now. Something I’ll tell you once this all over and I can mull it over a bit.” Honored said while flipping his helmet around and placing it back on his head were it clamped down and sealed tight. Honored rose to his feet and walked over to Anger. “How did you get her to fight me?” Honored barked at the dying demon. “She appeared from the Boss, it was supposed to really test your mind.” He grimaced as he spoke, blood appearing on his curled back lips. “And I’d say that she really messed with yo-” SLAM Blood, bone, brain, and bits of sunglasses rained everywhere as Honored stomped his foot down on Anger’s head. The magical explosive fire vents on the leg armor burned off the gore that had landed on Honored’s armor. The others around him were not so lucky as they stared at the blood splattered all over them in disgust. “Are you serious Honored?” Celestia groaned, staring at her gore covered mane. “It will take hours to get this out.” “I’m getting too old for this shit.” Night Rose said looking at the blood coated armor she wore. “Let's go.” Honored said looking at the bright doorway that appeared before the group and walked towards it, scooping up his rifle as he walked towards it. “We are almost done with this.” “Now y’all don't go and get cocky because you hav’ gotten this far.” Guide cautioned the group as the walked along a dark and gloomy cobblestone path through a forest that would make the Everfree look like a damn nature walk for children. Skeletons and bodies made of bloody flesh covered the trees and the smell of burning hair and skin filled the air constantly. “This is the level of Heresy. There isn't one big bad boss here.” “Thank the gods.” Luna said happily. “There are three.” Guide added quickly. “Damn the gods.” Luna said. Suddenly there was a massive explosion that rocked the entire area and Luna was yanked into the air over the trees. Honored activated his thrusters and rocketed after the princess as Discord and Celestia followed after him. Tune and Night Rose being led by Guide raced through the forest after them on the ground. “Luna!” Honored yelled while dumping more magic into the thrusters catching up to her. Honored noticed something shimmer in front of Luna. He reached down to his lower back and drew a weapon. He leveled the shortened Winchester 1892 lever action rifle towards Luna. Her eyes grew wide, but then she remembered who was holding the weapon and gave him a quick nod.  Within his mind, Mars was going to work in lining up the shot of the .44-40 caliber round. The shimmer was still in front of Luna and what was obviously carrying her through the air.  Honored squeezed the trigger while hurling towards her. BANG The round traveled straight and true, slamming into the shimmering apparition ahead of Luna. She let out a startled cry as she was suddenly plummeting towards the ground far below the two.  Honore scooped her up and then lightly tossed her back into the air where Luna extended her wings and began to glide down towards the ground. As Luna landed on the field of brown dried grass, the shimmering thing that had grabbed onto her slammed and skidded to a stop some distance away. Luna cautiously approached the smoke filled area, her machine gun slowly coming up beside her. “Hello?” She called out towards the settling dust. “RAHHHH!” A creature with a human like body but slimmer than Honored’s jumped towards her, clawed hands reaching out towards Luna neck. The creature had long hair that was made of thick black coils that resembled the tentacles of a squid almost and its mouth was split horrifically wide from nearly ear to ear with razor sharp teeth gnashing at Luna as she tried to leap backwards from the attacking monster. WHAM- WHOOSH- SSSSSSS Honored landed with deadly accuracy onto the back of the creature, the explosive vents on his armor roasting and ripping the creature apart into chunks of demon scattered around the field. “That’s two you owe me.” He said with a chuckle while stepping away from the great meaty chunks of demon. He holstered his Mare’s Leg rifle on his armor’s lower back and extended an arm to Luna who graciously accepted it and stood up. The rest of their companions appeared behind them. “What the Tartarus is that?” Celestia asked, pointing at what remained of the creature that had attempted to steal Luna away. “That is what is left of one of the three Furies.” Guide said from where he was standing on Tune’s robotic claw. “They rule this land and they work for the boss and the big guy above. Anyone that deems the afterlife false and blasphemy of the Gods is sentenced to this realm. And I guess your little squeeze’s  ‘damn the Gods’ remark got her an instant ban to the tombs.” Guide flew to Luna and ‘bopped’ her on the nose. “Don't do that.” “So we just kill the other two and we get on with the show.” Honored said while smacking a fist into his other hand. “Easy enough.” “Well for my helpful little hint, they learn from each other and they also have the ability to see into the future.” Guide added quietly. “What was the last part?” Celestia said while looking dumbly at the demon guide. “Future. They see it.” “Well did she see my size elevens going up her ass?” Honored laughed while jerking a thumb towards the crushed demon God. “Because I flattened her like a pancake.” “We saw her death. And we see yours.” The cold spine chilling voice said from behind Honored. He spun around to face to similar creatures that he had just defeated. Each one just as horrific as the last one. One had large black feathered wings and the other had eight long spider legs extending out from its back. They looked maliciously at the group while slowly winding their stances, ready for a fight. Honored reached down and ripped a tattered piece of brown cloth from the first dead Fury’s dress toga wrap before adding it slowly and calmly to the growing shoulder cape. “I'm going to need more boot.” Honored said taking a defensive position as his friends all assumed similar poses behind him. “Let ‘em eat lead!” Honored yelled while drawing his M16 form his side and opening fire on the creatures.  The two Furies dropped low to the ground and dived and dodged to either side as the withering wall of bullets ripped through the air. The spider legged Fury quickly appeared before Honored and drove several of her legs forward, attempting to pierce the joints  and weak spots in the armor. Honored grabbed two of the incoming legs, dropping his rifle to his side as the spider Fury stabbed at his chest with four other legs while her final two legs held her from being pushed back by Honored’s strength. “AHH!” Celestia jumped from the side and body slammed into the Fury, knocking her off of Honored. She leveled the shotgun at the retreating demon and blasted away, the slug rounds impacting the demon and the area around it. One lucky slug ripped into the demon’s back and blew one of its strange spider legs clean off in a spray of sickly green blood. Luna flew over Celestia’s head, standing in front of her as Celestia began reloading her shotgun. The spider Fury moved to strike back, but fell back under Luna’s fire from her machine gun. Honored quickly ran from the side, slamming full head on into the spider demon, the power armor plowing through the unprepared demon. Luna quickly took to the sky as the Fury with the large feathery black wings dove at her. Luna corkscrewed through the air as the winged demon raced after her. If Honored wasn't busy in a deadly hand to multi leg fight, he would have thought the above aerial show was insanely amazing. Luna pulled up and spun around, releasing a burst of her machine gun towards the pursuing demon ruler of the realm. It faltered back as the bullets lashed through the air, but they were all near misses. With a swipe of its claws, the demon ripped a white silver line in the air before it, and dove through the light. “What the fuck was that?” Honored yelled out as he slammed a fist forward into the spider Fury’s stomach, sending the creature backwards. “Discord info!” “Well I’m not an expert on demon magic,” he said while lining up a shot and firing a grenade over Honored’s head and exploding in front of the spider Fury. It released a blood curling scream while diving into the ground, and burrowing out of sight. “That one has transdimensional transportation magic. Jump to and from this plane of the Underworld and the adjacent one.” “Not good.” Honored groaned while suddenly a white light exploded from behind him. The feathered demon dove through the rip in the dimensional plane and grabbed the back of the armored human. Continuing forward, it flipped Honored forward and slammed him into the ground just as the demon spider’s claws shot out of the ground and held him to the ground from below. The winged demon Fury stood atop Honored and held her claws above his neck ready to deliver the final blow to the armored human. BLOP The 40mm high chaos round rammed into the winged demon’s side, blasting a hole clear through her ribcage. Rather than blood leaking out, piles of gummy worries and gummy bears trickled out thanks to the chaos magic that Discord pumped into the grenade launcher. The Fury stared in disbelief at its bleeding sugary side. “I...  Ah... “ It stammered looking the sugary treats running through its claws as it desperately tried to hold the leaking food in. “Chaos magic. Even you can't see what it might do.” Discord said happily as Night Rose dove off his back and slashed quickly with her hoof claws across the Fury’s neck. The demon staggered and toppled backwards off of Honored’s chest, its head rolling to the side, an expression of startled shock still plastered on its face. Honored’s void blade came to life and quickly sliced to the side and whisked off three of the Fury’s spider legs. A loud screech could be heard under the soil and a rumble of the moving earth. Honored rose to his feet and stood over the decapitated body of the deom and ripped a piece of its dirty white toga dress clothing and attached it besides the other Fury cloth on his shoulder cape. Reaching down, Honored gripped one of the still intact legs of the Fury below the ground and yanked up with all his might. With a comical ‘pop’ the final Fury of the realm exploded from the ground and arched over the group’s heads before slamming into the earth with a mighty ‘thud’. Luna walked over to the shaking demon and quickly finished the beast off with a burst of her machine gun. She let off a deep sigh as most of the group did. Honored walked over to the dead beast and grimaced as he ripped off another section of its ugly black dress. He attached it to his shoulder cape that now hung freely off his armor’s right shoulder. It flapped in some unfelt breeze, lazily flapping against his armor. “Guide. What’s next?” Honored said while standing up to his full height. The two princesses flanked Honored as Tune and Discord came to a stop behind him. Night Rose gave the demon guide a nervous eye as he coughed and moved in front of the human. “Well that went alot faster than I thought it would. Hahaha. Good team work I guess. There’s the doorway, we should go.” He said nervously while glancing at the open door. “We got Violence to play with now!” Honored took a deep breath. “Violence?” “Violence.” Was the only response the human got. In his mind he thought about every violent thing that he had done, and they were innumerable. But none of them had been done in murder… he thought. Surely he would excel at this layer of the Underworld. He was a warrior the likes Equestria had never seen, He could handle anything this twisted world threw at him. Scorching rain fell upon the group, flakes of smoldering, burning ashes danced through the air as the group exited the doorway. Celestia, Discord, Luna, and Night Rose quickly discovered the never ending pain that this layer of the Underworld brought to them. Celestia and Luna created a dome shld that sheltered them from the harsh burning atmosphere. The other two creatures dipped under the dome and took up residence under the magical safety dome. Honored held out his hand and caught a burning scrap of ash, closing his fist around it and scattering the ashes to the ground. All around the group fiery rain fell to the ground from the black clouds filling the sky. In front of them loomed a giant river that was blood red, and the smell coming from it confirmed that it was what it looked like. It was a boiling river of blood that was filled with dying, struggling creatures of all races that Honored and the group had ever witnessed. Every so often, one creature would get dangerously close to escaping the boiling river and onto the bank made of smoldering ash. These unlucky individuals soon sprouted arrows all over their body from some unseen foe that dropped them back into the boiling blood filled river. Screams and gurgling of the damned filled the area with a never ending chorus that racked against one’s brain and soul. The group stared in horror at the sight before them while Guide floated before them.  “Yeah, Violence is pretty messed up, maybe even for you human.” He said with a slightly confident smirk. “The big bad demon here is one mean mother. He has been around the block a few times you could say.” Honored stared ahead silently, his mine a whirlwind of thoughts as he tries to process what the possibilities. One large demon God or multiple? Guide had failed to alert them to the fact that there were three demon rulers of the last realm. What else was he hiding, he was after all a demon. The group continued on along the river until off in the distance, over the boiling river, a large bridge was seen expanding over horizon. “There.” Honored commanded, pointing towards the bridge, “we can cross there and find Violence. And then be done with this.” Honored added the last part quietly to himself. The trials of this Underworld still weighed heavily on his mind. Fast Sky was by far crushing his soul. He had made that lucky shot, the one that had saved Luna from the first Fury, thanks to Fast Sky’s wish, to always win. He had to do this, he had to make it to then end, so he could assume his new role, free Sky, and save Equestria from the evil that slowly trickled out from the Underworld. “Guide who is Violence?” Honored asked looking towards the demon, “What are we going to face?” “He’s violence human, nothing more simpler than that. You have to beat a guy that has ruled this domain, unchallenged since the dawn of time. He is violence.” Guide said while looking around, he looked sadly to the group and then snapped his fingers and vanished in a cloud of red demon smoke. “Lot of help that was.” Celestia said grumbling to the group. “He has seemed to be acting a bit strange lately.” Luna commented as we approached the bridge. “Maybe he is just getting anxious, we are nearly there.” Honored held up a fist signaling for the group to stop. “Look.” He pointed forward at the end of the bridge closest to them. Guide was floating beside a massive minotaur. The minotaur looked like what Honored imagined the devil really looked like. Goat bottom and red skin with black fur on his waist and below. Two large horns atop his head and a powerful muscular chest covered in scars and satanic symbols. He smirked at the group while reaching up and pushing Guide aside with a massive hand. “These mortals dare challenge me to enter Violence’s realm? They look not worthy of even basking in my presence.” The minotaur chuckled deeply at the group. “Guide do we have to kill him to get across the bridge and to find Violence?” Honored asked calmly, the helmet dipping as he spoke towards the demon. “Yes. Well I mean he can just let you pass. But-” Guide started to say but was cut off as Honored spoke again. “Tune run niner whisky two sierra.” Honored grinned madly in his helmet as he locked his armor back and prepared for the barrage. He charged magic into his gauntlet, from both his mastery of the Void and the raw unlimited pure magic from the near infinite archaic stone charging the suit. The three weapon systems mounted on top of Tune’s chassis spun to face the minotaur and opened fire. The .50 cal and 240 machine gun released a torrent of fire at the minotaur who was completely unprepared for the insane amount firepower that began to bite into the demon guard’s thick hide. Suddenly the distinct ‘blops’ of the 40mm grenade launcher rang out across the landscape. The shells rained all around the demon and Honored released a shield spell similar to the same one the ponies and Discord were hiding under from the fiery rain. The demon minotaur was trapped in a swirling vortex of fire and shrapnel within the dome of agony as he was whipped to and fro by Honored’s magic. Honored stood up straight and dispelled the magic flowing from his outstretched arm. The minotaur that had intended to stop the party of warriors was lift in a groaning heap before them. It twitched every few seconds as the group moved past it, paying the crippled demon no mind as they crossed the bridge over the boiling river of the damned. Guide waited till the group was over most of the bridge before swooping down and hovered before the minotaur. “I told you. I said do not underestimate them. They have massacred their way this far. You were supposed to work on one at a time. If one of them dies then they will fall apart. Thanks to your monumental failure, I now have to bank on violence beating them. More than likely it's going to come down to me.” Guide said with a flash of an evil smile before standing up and running a small hand through his wings as the minotaur slowly sat up, blood oozing from his wounds. “Whatever you say Treachery.” The minotaur coughed as Treachery grinned and took of after the disappearing group. The smile adorned on his face was that of the ultimate evil, the one of gaining trust and then ripping it away when it was least expected. Treachery had done this song and dance before. And it never got boring. Only better and better. “Well if that isn't violence, then I don't know what is.” Honored said shifting his weight as the group looked at the field of blood before them. Sitting before them was a creature that could rival even the ugliest of any creature in any universe or world. Violence sat on a throne made of bones from what looked like thousands upon thousands of bodies. The massive creature looked like he was one muscle from head to toe. Along one of his arms he was layered in armor that looked like that of a samurai. The other arm was covered in dented and dulled armor that looked like a knight’s shoulder and arm bracer. On his body was a fashioned set of mismatched plate armor that looked like a collection of antique store goods. And each of his legs was covered in scratched and dented armor. The one thing that stopped Honored in his tracks was the roman centurion helmet resting on Violence’s head that was topped with a strip of green feathers. It was his helmet that had been with him for so long. His Equestrian Honor Guard helmet. Violence was about eight feet tall, a head taller than Honored in his power armor. He rolled his shoulder in his throne before standing. “I see that you have reached me. My turn I suppose.” Violence smiled at them through his crooked and lopsided smile from the sheer amount of scars and cuts along his face. “Let us do battle then. It is my speciality after all.” Honored grunted, “Funny. I thought that was my job.” Violence glared at the human as he reached to his side and drew a weapon that gave Honored pause. “I’ll make sure to save your skull for a cup human.” Violence chuckled while aiming the DShK heavy machine gun towards the human. Honored gasped within his helmet and quickly slammed his hand against the ground, raising a solid sheet of the earth up and in front of the group as the massive 12.7mm rounds struck the chunk of earth, biting of large bits of rock and dirt. “Honored what do we do?!” Celestia shouted over the roar of the machine gun. She and Luna both looked equally startled and scared. “I’m thinking!” Honored hollered aloud while trying to think of how to overcome a weapon of that magnitude. Violence was the first gun user Honored had fought that actually had a weapon that was on par with Honored’s trademark weapons. “Wait. I have magic. Fucking duh.” Honored said while reaching out with his magic and finding Violence with his pulsing void magic search spell. He snapped the linked belt of ammo, still allowing Violence to have fifty rounds feeding into the weapon. The bullets continued to chew away at their cover, it was just a matter of time until- CLACK “What?” Violence said looking down to the empty weapon. “Oh you’re good-” Was all the demon God was able to get out before a void blade slashed down his middle, slicing his machine gun in half. Honored countered with a savage backslash that Violence side stepped while drawing a handgun from his back. Honored immediately recognized it as a 10mm Smith and Wesson semi auto pistol. He labeled the 10mm rounds as not sufficient enough to punch through his armor. Violence fired one round and watched as it struck Honored’s chest and fell to the ground between them. He smirked and tossed the pistol aside instead opting for a long wicked looking katana. Honored rushed forward, driving his void blade horizontally across his chest towards Violence. Violence brought his sword up to block the slash but gasped in startled shock when his blade was easily cut away by the magical blade that Honored wielded. Honored was grinning like mad under the helmet, the demon of violence was proving to be no trouble at all. The sudden appearance of a flaming sword in Violence’s hands caused his smile to falter. Their blades clashed in a whirlwind of sparks and void smoke. Honored grimaced as the two blades locked together in a battle of pure might. Celestia and Luna quickly swooped down from the hill and joined in the fray. A long rip from Luna’s machine gun aimed directly at Violence was stopped by him raising his hand and absorbing the rounds directly to his palm. He kept his blade locked with Honored as Celestia dove around the demon with a mighty flap of her wings. He reared back and swiped a fist at her, missing her and offsetting his balance allowing Honored to perform a swipe with his leg, knocking Violence onto his back. Honored jumped forward, attempting to drive his blade through his chest, but Violence rolled to the side avoiding the blade. “Good try.” The God said with gusto while Discord and Tune appeared behind the demon. He leapt into the air and somersaulted over the robot and attempted to slam his blade into Tune’s body. But Tune countered easily but slamming his robotic claw up and driving Violence into the air while launching one of his limited number missiles into the air. The missile impacted Violence’s chest and sent him flying even higher into the air until it detonated, sending the demon hurtling towards the ground. WHAM Violence slammed into the earth with enough force to shake the area. Discord and Night Rose teleported together, gaining momentum as the blinked in and out of the space, closing in on the demon as he started to rise. Discord appeared a final time, his claws clasped onto Night Rose’s front hooves, spinning her like a father does with his child. He released her from his grip and Rose hurtled through the air faster than the blink of an eye. She slammed into the mismatched armored chest with such velocity that her hoof claws punctured the metal, and sent a spray of blood out onto the ground. She flipped backwards and punched upwards, drawing fresh blood from Violence’s face and knocking the helmet from his head. Luna and Celestia flew together side by side as they grew closer to the demon. At once they halted their assault and charged their horns together, releasing a massive dual colored wave of magical energy towards the demon. THe swirling dark blue and gold magic twisted together into a long spiral of magic hurtling towards the demon’s chest. Honored leaped into the air and caught the magic perfectly on the center of his back. He angled his body so he was flying directly at the ruler of this realm of the Underworld. The barrier that showed all he was reaching the speed of sound formed around his front and with an extra burst of magic from his thrusters a massive explosion rocked the entire realm of violence. Demons and the damned alike looked up from their labors and toilings to see a streak of gold, blue, and purple fly through the air and drive something towards the ground. “To infiity and beyond mother fucker.” Honored yelled as he rammed his arm forward, void blade sizzling to life, as he impacted against Violence’s chest at the speed of sound. SHHH-WHAM-SPLAT-SHHHH Honored killed his thrusters and dropped to the earth like a rock, crashing into the ground. The repair talisman in the suit immediately went to work on repairing the damage as he stood up and cracked a few of his joints. Honored looked back to the demon God and smiled. There was clean hole blown directly through Violence’s chest. Blood and gore dripped out of his chest wound, the look of shocked surprise still plastered on his face, his arms raised above his head, flaming sword still burning slightly in his grasp. Violence dropped to his knees as a doorway formed behind his dying form. Honored walked around behind the demon and laughed once, while reaching up and grabbing the flaming sword and spinning it in his hand before driving it though the base of Violence’s skull, slicing easily through the demon flesh. “Don't mess with my friends.” He said while ripping off a section of thin chainmail form under the back armor Violence wore. Honored added the metal section to his shoulder cape, giving one section of it a dull shine. Honored stepped to the portal with his friends, the end of the Underworld was nearly in sight. Only two more layers to go and then they would be done with this place. For good. And not a second too soon for Honored. “Fraud is.. well how do I describe him. He’s a flying dragon, human, lion, thing. Um… how was that?” Guide said looking to the group as we traveled along the edge of step mountain. “He is a lot of different things smushed together that function correctly, but not the way they should.” “What do we need to do?” Discord asked, hovering slightly over the edge of the cliff the land bound party members had to wander on. Honored and Tune were not too happy s another rock dropped down far below out of sight. “Not much you can do. Just kill him, the quicker the better. He’s pretty straight forward, just really big. Kill him and be done with this whole thing.” Guide said while looking around searching for the flying demon of the realm. “Guide what happens once we make it to Tartarus?” Honored asked stepping around a rock outcropping blocking the path. “So sure you’ll make it?” Guide grumbled. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure we’re doing fine.” Honored said while adjusting the rifle on his side as Tune climbed over the rocky patch using his wheels. “Ah the weary travelers enter my realm. I knew I felt something just stirring deep down inside.” The deep voice said from behind the group. The flying members of the group flew further away from the mountain while Honored and Tune looked up. A massive warven with rainbow scales and three human heads looked down at the group. He was wrapped around the top of the mountain showing his mammoth size. All three heads glared down at the group while a lion paw rear leg scratched at his belly. “Fraud.” Honored said with slight nod of his head. “We wish to enter the realm beyond yours. We know we have to kill you to do so. Let us fight, and no tricks.” Honored said trying to sound as honest as possible. Take the bait. Take the bait. “Oh of course. A fair fight.” Fraud let of a deep chuckle that shook the whole mountain. “I am Fraud! What kind of fight did you think you would get!” The massive dragon creature shouted while diving down towards the human. Honored only smiled as the dragon clamped on of his mouths around him. “NOW!” The scream came from above Fraud. He looked down to the see that the human he had just bitten clean through was still there. A simple illusion magic trick. That he had fallen for. Above him he felt the impact of several creatures land along his back. Fraud screamed out in agony as a burning sensation trailed along his spine. Fraud took to the air and quickly began to roll and corkscrew while flapping his wings madly, trying to dislodge the creatures stuck on his back. “NOOOO!” He yelled out while flapping his large wings, trying to cause a draft of air to shake the human lose. The demon was angry that he had been tricked in his own realm. Beaten at his own game. No he could easily dislodge these pesky ticks. Fraud realigned himself with the approaching mountain and dove towards it. He would flatten the human and his friends on the rocks. “Beat me? I think not human!” Fraud roared as he flipped his mammoth body mid air and slammed into the rocks as hard as he could muster. Sharp pain ripped into the demon’s body and he coughed, blood flowing from all of his mouths, pain reflected on each face. Distorted in pain, Fraud looked down to see three large jagged spears of rock sticking through his body coated in his own blood. He grasped the closes spear and attempted to raise his body from it, but the strength left his body as soon as he made any movement. “Yeah though this might work.” Fraud looked to the left and stared at the human sitting beside him on a rock sticking off the side of the mountain. “We tricked you three time. It's okay to feel bad. I would too.” Fraud extended his neck out and clamped his mouth around the human, relishing in the fact that he would kill the human at least. Fraud roared in anger that caused his insides to sink further down on the spears when he realized the human he had just bitten had been another illusion. “Nevermind. That's four. Man today is just not your day.” The voice said from his right. Fraud began to look up but suddenly his rightmost head went black. Pain then ripped through Fraud’s body as the human, the one that had tricked him four time, stood on his chest. A fiery blade was plunged in his stomach and Fraud felt the blackness of the Neverending creeping into his vision. It was over. He had been beaten at his own game by illusion magic used by mere mortals. “May the Devil take you human.” Fraud gasped out as tears streamed down his other checks. “Oh I’m sure he will, but not today.” Honored said grimly while strolling around the dying demon’s chest. “Now we are on to the final layer. Thank you Fraud, you will not be forgotten.” Honored reached down and ripped a small patch of rainbow scales from Fraud’s body and in a grim display of void magic attached his flesh onto a strip of cloth that was hanging off his armor’s right shoulder. Darkness crept over more of Fraud’s vision as the Human aimed his hand at the impaled demon and released a string of void magic that sliced around Fraud’s necks. Fraud gasped out, trying to breathe, but to no avail. Slowly he laid his heads back and failed to struggle anymore. “Good work Luna and Celestia. That magic was beyond amazing” Honored said as the group emerged from a small cave beside him. Luna and Celestia both looked ragged, but held smiles on their faces. “It was a challenge making the illusions form so far away, but I am glad to see that we still have it!” Celestia said happily, but her eyes told another story. “Okay well you too need to rest up for the final layer. Let’s get through the portal and just hold position for a bit. Gain your strength back.” Honored said calmly as the group stepped through the growing doorway and into the final layer of the Underworld. Inside the doorway the group found themselves on a massive vast field of nothingness. There was nothing as far as the eye could see. Honored’s spell matrix built into to suit scanned the area rapidly looking for any threats, but none appeared on his scanners. “Guide what’s the info here?” Honored asked looking around still scanning the area. Guide didn't respond. “Guide?” SPLT Honored spun around to see Night Rose on the back of Tune look straight ahead, a look of terror and pain covering her face. Guide slowly faded into view from behind her, a dagger clutched in his hand and a small smile of pure pleasure adorning his face. He ripped the dagger down and out of Night Rose, sending the bat pony toppling off of Tune’s body. “ROSE!” Everyone shouted at once, rifles and weapons leveling at the red demon who was still smiling madly at them. “Treachery.” Guide flipped off of Tune as the robot’s turrets quickly snapped on him. “Welcome to the ninth layer human, it’ll be your end.” Honored looked from the lying, back stabbing demon to the collapsed form of Night Rose. He could see her chest rising and falling slightly but with a lot of shaking. She didn't have much time. Honored looked to the side and made eye contact with Celestia. She slowly levitated a small red gem out of one of her dirty side pouches. Honored Service stared at her and gave one quick short nod. Celestia jumped forward towards Tune and the collapsed Night Rose. Honored quickly shoved Luna and Discord towards Celestia using his magic. Luna let out a scream of surprise as Celestia slammed the one way emergency teleportation crystal against the ground and the group vanished in a flash of blood red magic and a swirl of deep purple void magic. Honored stared at the small scored spot on the ground where his friends had just been. They were safe and that was all that mattered. He then glared at the still floating demon who wore a surprised expression on his face. To always win. No matter what.