Soul Merger

Alissa stared suspiciously at the spell circle the demon mage had drawn up. She was no mage, but this didn't look like anything that fit Fili's description of spell creation. "Are you sure this will work? We only have one set of incense."

Nostrame sniffed. "I admit for a non magical society you've developed some very interesting ways of harnessing power. But it's still the repurposed scribblings of a people who'd never seen magic in their lives desperately seeking to control the unknown. My circles are the product of millennia of research."

"It worked fine in testing," Fili replied. Which was far more reassuring to Alissa. Testing could be trusted. It was the same reason they'd burnt a tiny bit of incense yesterday to make sure that wouldn't affect her. Guiltroot felt weird to her touch, but the burning incense just smelled like candle smoke. Apparently it was supposed to be a fresh scent but it wasn't anything that would impact her in a fight.

"So we know where we're going after I smash down the wall and you start cheating?" Ibaraki said. "I wanna run out into the center arena and kick the shit out of everyone, but I'm guessing that plan is 'bad' or some nonsense."

Everyone glared at the oni. "We discussed this yesterday. We find the kids, then the armory," Alissa said. She looked over at Kotori. "Are you sure you want to do aerial surveillance though? They have to know you're out there somewhere."

The harpy puffed out her chest. "Everyone underestimates us harpies. I should be fine. But if they do chase me I'll run back here so Magniel can kill them!"

The angel shook her head. "Well it is for the greater good so I can't complain too much."

Alissa drew her blade. "Anyway, we've waited too long as it is. Let's get started."

Magniel lit the incense block on the brazier. "Ready."

"Finally!" Ibaraki wound up and swung her iron club into the wall. The masonry exploded into white powder as the oni tore a massive hole in it. It had to be some mystic technique. The oni's blows didn't hit living things that hard.

As the dust cleared Alissa saw the room they'd breached. An empty space with several spite demons sitting around where they'd been playing dice. The creatures screamed in rage and leaped to their feet.

Alissa rushed in to meet them, stabbing the quickest in the throat. The lesser demons scattered, some looking for a better angle to attack, others running to get allies.

And then Nostrame said a sharp command and a wave of light smoke blew in.

The spite demons first gagged, then started screaming as they collapsed to the floor. Alissa felt a little sick seeing the creatures scratching on the ground in agony as the magic poison hit them. But they had no choice. The bastards were holding all the cards, and so drastic measures needed to be taken.

There was a quick gust of wind, and the doors at the sides of the large room burst open carrying the incense with it. More screams started filling the air, as the demons filling the arena were crippled. Alissa waited watchfully as Ibaraki and Fili moved to her side. "Which way?" she asked the mage.

"Left and down most likely," Fili replied. "That's the best place for a prison."

"Okay." They ran in that direction, dodging around the fallen demons on the ground.

The next boxy room was lined with chicken and duck coops, the birds complaining at the sudden chaos. Alissa mostly just tried to avoid running into any of the bird pens as she continued on. The doors to the next area were open, and she jogged through.

A cackling screech from the side caused her to leap away and raise her sword. A skeleton smacked its bony arm into her raised guard, forcing her back while dealing good damage to the undead. "Of fucking course."

She dodged another swing and crushed its thigh with a kick. Looking over she saw the stairs down were filled with various animated corpses moving into the room. Fortunately they seemed just as interested in murdering downed demons as they were in getting to her.

"Flame wave," Fili said. A solid metal clang rang out before a heavy burst of heat washed over Alissa. The undead flung their arms up in futile defense, but the fires crested over them and physically slammed them back before immolating the creatures.

"We aren't getting down that way," Alissa pointed out as another wave of undead started up the stairs over the burnt bodies of their comrades.

Fili racked the odd device on her staff and replaced the cartridge she used. "There should be another one if we keep going."

Ibraki rushed forwards and used her club to push the armored warriors that had made it to the top back down. "Well get moving. I'll play rear guard."

"Don't get too involved," Alissa said as she ran to the next set of doors.

"Eh these tin cans aren't interesting," Ibaraki said, casually kicking the head off one.

Alissa followed the oni's advice, dashing ahead of Fili to protect the mage before slowing a little. She made it to the next room, which was filled with weapons. "Armory. Nice. Ibaraki, hurry up. We'll wanna bar this door!" Keeping the undead out of here would let them equip the older kids.

"Ooh~!" Alissa froze as a familiar voice echoed through the room. "Let me help!"

A horrible buzzing tone rang out before a thick grate slammed down over the doorway they just passed through. "It's magically reinforced, so they won't be able to get through! You can thank me later."

"Fuck! Fili, can you stop her from spying on us?" Alissa yelled before running to find the mechanism on the door. There wasn't a visible lock which was a bad sign.

"She's using ancient magic," Fili replied. "I'll try but I don't know the spell!"

Ibraki slammed her club on the top stair sending the undead tumbling down again before turning to run straight at the barrier. Alissa wisely moved to the side as the oni slammed into the grate with a clang.

And fell right on her ass. "Stupid magic bullshit tricks," the oni muttered.

"Right. Let me check for a control panel." Alissa considered whether it was more likely to be in the walls or in the floor.

"Don't bother," Ibaraki said. "You grab our friends stuff. I'll go to the arena center. Hell maybe there'll be some people to rescue or some shit. We'll meet up at the stairs."

The succubus' laugh rang through the room. "Oh the genius rogue out thought by an oni. Sad sad. Well I suppose you don't have my view of the fun."

"Where are you anyway?" Alissa shouted back. She'd be quite willing to take a detour to stab that bitch.

"Why in the control room! Which is fortunately up out of the range of that horrid gas. But enough about me. I'll be able to taunt you about those details later. You probably should be more worried about the fact your friends are running right into the dragon's lair."

Alissa swore. She decided to start on the wall, before Fili put a hand on her shoulder. "Not worth it."

"Yeah I'll go rescue those idiots," Ibaraki said. "You get the weapons and catch up." The oni grinned. "If you show up after I kill that dragon, you'll owe me drinks for a week!"

"Wait, I didn't agree to-" Alissa's reply died off as the oni woman ran towards the door leading further into the arena.

She shook her head then turned back to Fili. "Okay, what should we grab?"

"There's a locker with a fresh padlock there," the woman replied. "That might be where the other's gear is kept."

"Smart." Alissa hurried over. Checking the combination lock it was fairly complex on the outside, but the actual key was garbage. She settled for raking the thing open, because picks might not work on something so bad.

A couple of seconds later the box popped open revealing a familiar rod and a massive quiver filled with arrows. "You were right. But we're missing Clara's crossbow."

"Well it shouldn't be too hard to find," Fili replied.

Alissa spun to her feet as the door further down burst open. She was raising her blade when the massive figure's features became obvious. "Clara!"

"So it was you guys." The tall woman seemed relieved. "Was a little worried for a moment. Anyway most of the kids are gathered up and escaping. Roslaina and Raiel are after the stragglers. We gotta grab them and our gear, then we can bail."

"Here's your arrows. Still looking for your bow," Alissa said, tossing the quiver over.

"Oh oh!" the demoness spoke over the strange spell again. "It's in the yellow box! Third row. I'll let in some more undead for you to practice on."

Alisa swore as the barrier behind them opened up, while a grate slammed shut behind Clara. "I swear I'm going to gut that bitch."

She turned to face the armored warriors coming in. "Might as well check that box Clara. Fili and I will clean up this trash."