"Kyrie…"
Nero's voice was a soft, dreamlike murmur as she called out to her adoptive sister, whose face had gone pale with panic and disbelief.
Just like in the game, Agnus had picked the worst possible moment to drag Kyrie into the scene, forcing her to witness the gut-wrenching sight of her siblings tearing into each other as demons.
Nero had braced herself for a lot before coming here, but when things spiraled into the exact nightmare she'd feared, she couldn't help sinking into a pit of dark emotions.
There was fury at Agnus and the Pope's schemes, disappointment in Credo's stubborn blindness, and frustration at her own rotten luck. But above all, the sharpest sting was regret—regret for making Kyrie worry, for twisting her heart with this mess.
"You're saying Nero's like this because—"
"She's not possessed by a demon, Agnus."
Credo cut Kyrie off, his heavy breaths echoing as he slowly descended, reverting to his human form. He stormed toward Agnus, his voice low and seething. "Get away from her. Now."
"Misunderstanding something, are we?" Agnus smirked, his smug, condescending grin enough to make anyone's skin crawl. "This is His Holiness's will."
"What did you say?!"
Agnus's hand slid to Kyrie's shoulder, pulling her behind him. "I said, this is the Pope's will. All of it."
As Credo closed in, Agnus raised his voice.
"Don't forget your mission, Knight Captain."
Credo froze, like he'd slammed into an invisible wall.
Agnus was right—Credo was here on a mission, one handed down by the Pope himself.
The Pope's mission. A name heavy enough to crush a soul.
It meant he had to kill Nero—his sister in all but blood—with his own hands.
Yes, as Agnus said, Credo shouldn't waver.
But he lifted his head, voice sharp with defiance. "That's because you deceived His Holiness!"
"Deceived? I haven't spoken a single lie to His Holiness."
Agnus reached back, catching a winged blade that flew to his hand, and pointed it at Credo. "But you…"
His hand shifted, settling on Nero, who'd sheathed Yamato and returned to her blonde human form nearby. "You're the one who's been deceived. By a demon."
Nero didn't bother explaining. She knew any words now would just stir the chaos further, playing right into Agnus's hands. So she kept it simple, her voice steady. "What, so Credo's supposed to trust a guy holding a hostage?"
"Hostage?"
Agnus's lips curled into a faint smile. "If that's how you want to see it, I won't stop you."
"Agnus, you dare!"
But despite Credo's rage, Agnus raised the blade to Kyrie's front. "So, demon over there—ready to surrender?"
Kyrie let out a sharp, startled gasp.
Nero's answer was to whip out her sword-whip, snapping it open with a loud crack.
"Thought so." Agnus's gaze flicked to the fuming Credo. "Or maybe you, oh mighty Knight Captain, can actually finish your mission?"
Credo, back to Nero, gripped his sword so tightly his hand trembled.
Agnus let out a mocking chuckle. "Oh, forget it. His Holiness never really counted on you anyway."
In a flash, a blinding white light forced everyone to shield their eyes.
"What?!"
When the light faded, Agnus had transformed back into his demonic form, holding an unconscious Kyrie in his grip.
He looked down at the silent Nero and the enraged Credo, calm as ever. "Sorry, but this is also His Holiness's command."
"The Pope? No way!"
Agnus ignored Credo, who was reeling from the betrayal of his ideals, and continued. "Want her safe? Bring Nero to the Place of Descent, hands tied.
"Do it however you like."
With that, he soared into the sky and vanished behind the buildings.
Finally gone.
Nero let out a quiet sigh. Having someone so important held hostage the whole time left her feeling utterly powerless—a sensation she hated.
As Agnus disappeared, Credo spat out a raw "Damn it!" and took two steps forward, ready to transform and give chase.
But Nero grabbed his wrist. "Credo, cool it."
"Cool it? How?!"
Credo roared, yanking against her grip. "I need to confront the Pope face-to-face!"
"Let go, or I will make you!"
No way Nero was letting go. Everything so far had played out like her worst-case scenario. If this kept up, it'd end the same way as the game.
Credo would die.
Right now, the only silver lining for Nero was that she still had a shot to change the future. No matter how bad things looked, they were still within her plans. But if she let Credo storm off now, losing this one chance to talk him down, she'd have no way to steer his fate.
"I'm not letting you charge in like this," Nero said firmly. "Rushing in blind won't change a thing, Credo!"
"Let go!"
In a burst of golden light, Credo transformed into his demonic form, shaking Nero off and rising into the air toward headquarters.
But he didn't get two meters before a sharp pain stopped him cold. He glanced back to see Nero's whip-sword wrapped around his leg.
"…So that's how it is."
Finally, the last thread of Credo's restraint snapped, his fury finding a perfect target right in front of him.
Gripping his longsword tightly, he said coldly, "Nero, you brought this on yourself."
A flash of light, and Credo lunged, slashing down at her.
Nero released the whip, swapped Echidna for Gilgamesh, and met his strike head-on.
Yes, just like this.
Gritting her teeth, Nero was pushed back by the sheer force of Credo's rage-fueled assault.
She had to keep him here, hold him until his anger cooled enough to talk. If she could convince him to step back, even for a moment—
Credo could be saved.
So she didn't use Gilgamesh's impact steel to shove him away or give him space to regroup.
At the same time, Nero made up her mind.
Even if it meant beating Credo to a pulp right here, she wouldn't let him face the Pope.
But what she didn't realize was that this resolve was starting to stray, just a little, from her original plan.