Shaphira's screams echoed for days without rest. Hades moved away from the woman, murmuring to himself that this was already enough for that day. When he turned to leave, he heard a tired voice. Looking at her, he saw Shaphira with one eye open, her chest red from so much energy and blood dripping from her mouth as if it had become part of her. She spoke, with a short smile between her teeth, that the Renkais Creatures under her domain would go after all the causes of her suffering and that those she trusted would show those Destroyers that they had not won the war the Devil started against humanity.
The sword under the darkness tightened, and he walked slowly in response, showing that he believed the human race was capable of unimaginable feats, even citing the Soul Bearer as someone who, even after losing countless times, seemed to always overcome in every way. But this war was not only against the demons. Indirectly, if humanity became a danger greater than one could imagine...
Even the Creators and Zyrionq would interfere.
She, with a brief breath escaping her mouth, lowered her head, observing her bound feet. She questioned whether the Destroyer of Wrath was really capable of such cruelty. He advanced a few more steps, his hand touching her chest, making her heart beat fast and forcing it to twist internally. Shaphira vomited the red liquid onto the ground and Hades repeated the question, in doubt whether the Pillar of Unification really had issues with that fact.
She denied having doubts, but added that she saw, in his empty eyes, something capable of... love. She said she was not the right person to show this, but, according to her, someone close. Someone who knew the despair of apathy.
He did not answer, moved away and swung the sword, only announcing that the whole process would repeat the next day. With slow steps loud enough, he left her alone, with the pain, with her vision blurring until everything became dark.
***
One morning, Rito walked through the corridors with his soldiers at his back. He pointed to Faller and Victoria's rooms and the soldiers nodded, walking quickly.
Upon opening a door, the white gate dissolved to reveal a dark room. He instinctively covered his nose, kneeling to cover his mouth as well. When he turned on the lights, the blood revealed traces of a short past: pieces of flesh from the exit of the robotic armor to the chair. And there, where machines should have been, only air remained.
He wondered what had happened, calling the scientist's name, but only got echoes of his own voice. Crossing the room, he saw only cybernetic pieces connected to flesh thrown on the floor and managed to find a few robots that still existed... but without light and with missing limbs on their bodies.
***
Among the sewers, the Pillar of Knowledge removed the arm that vibrated with a click. She held the wires with her mouth, her tongue rubbing against the conduits, causing smoke to escape while her dominant arm shaped the equipment's functions.
She spat several times, her hand touching the chest that no longer existed and the heart she now felt at the tips of her mechanical fingers. She breathed deeply, the organs protected by capsules wrapped by the exterior up to the "veins" that connected them.
Aurora leaned her back against the wall. Rats quickly passed over her legs and her eyes fixed on the dark alley that seemed endless. Her iron nails pierced the ground, sliding to the wall at shoulder height, and she walked slowly into the darkness, between deep breaths and short sighs.
And, behind her, the machines advanced in silence, illuminating everything with white light.