Jewels.
Dolffie had decided all official members of his Court were to be referred to as Jewels.
Because what is a Crown without glamour or sparkle to be envied, but a bland husk?
The Jewels of Dolly B. Dolffie, they were to be true and genuine, and were going to make him shine, shine brighter than the sun itself.
***
Atom T. Bellium, infamously known as Thrago Clan's Warrior of Nothing and Hero of No One, was a powerful and ruthless self-proclaimed Seraph Slayer who travelled all across Goisha hunting down and murdering members of the Angels Denied Heaven Organisation.
He was an unrelenting force shrouded in mystery, a Kinsmen whose origins, despite being so famous, remain veiled in shadow.
How exactly a man whose very name is said to induce an utmost terror got captured by the Angels remains one the Kinsmen's greatest modern mysteries.
But for Dolly B. Dolffie, it was all perfect.
The moment Dolffie had so happened to overhear a conversation regarding the Warrior from some random pub attendees across the ocean, he had known. Every bone and cell in his body tingled at the Hero's name and in that moment, he was certain; Atom T. Bellium was his.
He was going to make him his... if it was the last thing he did.
***
Deep within the Stone Heaven, in his underground confinement, Atom T. Bellium barely flinched as his cell continuously shook and trembled. Neither did he flinch when he sensed the rot, shadow and death laced with malice that slowly crept into the Heaven from above. In fact, only one chain of thoughts rung- were chanted in his ears by it- by them:
Dolly B. Dolffie... the Prince of Mayhem.
Dolly B. Dolffie... the Father of Chaos.
Dolly B. Dolffie... the God to a Godless World.
At last, he has arrived!!!
And so, the Warrior waited for his Caller. Waited to see if this Man of Whispers deserved his answering... and loyalty.
***
The stench of rotting death filled the air alongside the sounds of blaring speakers and intercoms, screaming and weeping Angels, and gunshots and explosions: the Heaven was in utter chaos. Resisting the foul pong of decay was undoubtedly 'holy magic'- considerably powerful at that. But of course, it was no match for the Death Walkers and their Curse as they marched through.
The Dolly B. Dolffie Court's plan was fairly simple; before the Horde finished massacring every Angel in sight or got bored and turned their attention to them, Dolffie and Carrot had to have Atom T. Bellium as an official, rescued member of the newly established Monarch- which still needed a proper name.
From what the duo could make out of the state of the Stone Heaven's inside while waiting in the shadows of the shattered, rusting Gate, was that it looked to be a major contrast to the outside.
While the exterior of the prison had a more ancient and elegant feel, the interior was completely different, with towering walls of enchanted steel reenforced by enhanced stone, the place was simple yet classic and futuristic. Two hallways, one to the very left and the other on the very end to the right, with three large, now malfunctioning elevators in-between.
An estimated fifty stories up and matching fifty down, Dolffie guessed.
The Heaven housed over hundreds and thousands of 'criminals', mostly Kinsmen, in tight and compact cells. The first fifty stories above surface contained criminals in a specific order: petty criminals such as pickpockets and burglars at the very top, and spies, embezzlers, corrupt government personal and what not at the very bottom. Whilst the remaining fifty floors below ground contained those considered to be the worst of the worst: rapists, murders and even pirates.
The deeper one got into the prison, the fewer people there were in the cells along the floors.
The last and deepest floor had four cells, with only two of them occupied. The first belonged to the Angel Killer, a ruthless hunter and murderer of the Children of the True God, whilst the second housed the Dolly Clan's notorious Leech, Baby Lee, the Duke of Madness.
Each level had a set number of Angels divided between guarding, managing and supervising the prisoners.
The possibility of there being an Arch Angel or higher ranked Angel was also quite unlikely, though they had to take the weak security into question- was it overconfidence in their deal with Death Walkers or credible belief in their ranks?
There were many possible and unpleasant variables the duo had to consider, no matter if the odds were with or against them.
This rescue had to go perfectly- every agonising detail mattered.
Dolffie had taken what Carrot had mentioned earlier into deep consideration; with the severity of Bellium's crimes, his security was bound to be one of the Angels' best defences. As for his confinement...
Dolffie, with a hand resting below his chin, closed his eyes and contemplated...
'If I was a fancy, high ranking zealot who'd just caught one of my organisation's worst enemies and stupidly decided to hold him in a prison in the middle of a realm of death, which floor, on my fancier, high tech 100 story building, would I throw him in to make his suffering-'
Dolffie suddenly paused his thinking as his eyes jolted open and he turned to face Carrot. His associate stood beside him, leaning against the rumble, looking as though he were also lost in his own deep thoughts. It made Dolffie wonder what he was pondering... but it didn't matter; because as soon Dolffie had Bellium and they completed Carrot's unknown quest, they would go back to being strangers- not that they were ever anything more to begin with.
Partners in mind and strength, but strangers in heart and soul. Forever.
"Snow," Dolffie whispered.
Dolffie noted Carrot's flinch as he was abruptly snapped from his thoughts before he turned and merely arched a brow at in question.
Dolffie asked, "Tell me, do you know if the cliffs the Prison is built into are connected to a volcanic eruption?'
Carrot seemed a little taken aback by the question but nonetheless gave it some thought before answering, "I'm not sure. I'm not- I don't think anyone is well-versed in the geography of Dead Forest to honestly tell, but the odd colouring of the rocks could be considered a valid indication."
"Alright," Dolffie pondered for a moment then further questioned, "Is it possible for a structure to be built directly into the side of a dormant volcano?"
Carrot's eyes widened as his pupils shifted to the Prison, whose alarms continued blaring non-stop.
"I've wondered how they've been powering such a massive structure; the forest doesn't nearly receive enough light for them to be able use sunlight as a primary power source. So, through... some form of magic or technogoly, they are using heat to power the Heaven- heat and fire from-"
"The volcano." Dolffie finished as he looked up at the cliffs. They were so massive, so imposing.
"Merits" Dolffie suddenly said as he turned back to Carrot, "It's said to be the Angels' holy version of Virtues. That means if we have Virtue Gifts that give a Kinsman the ability to instantly turn an open flame into electricity, then there's a high possibility the Angels have their own man who can do the same- if not better."
Carrot's eyes shown in disbelief, "I thought Merits were just a rumour. How- how could they replicate the Virtues? A magical system that has existed for centuries."
"Don't forget; though it's been centuries, little is actually known about the Virtues and their exact origins, and why or how we are able to wield them. Merits could be an undiscovered or forgotten branch, even an unknown counterpart of Virtues," Dolffie calmly responded
"I get what you mean. So do you think a Merit user- or users- are guarding Sir Bellium," Carrot was now a little anxious. After all, Merits, out of all the possible variables, that was one he had least expected and considered. But the same couldn't be said for Dolffie, who coolly responded, "Highly likely. He's no ordinary Kinsmen after all."
"What shall we- you do now?" Carrot nervously asked.
It seemed Dolly B. Dolffie had agonised over every possibility and outcome of this mission, no matter how unlikely, and had devised a plan that was bound to succeed. He remained unperturbed as he answered, "Continue. This possible discovery changes nothing. I had already anticipated the unveiling of... unpleasant variables."
"Do you know where to continue toward?"
"Yes, I have an idea of where the Angels would keep a Demon awaiting judgement."
"Then as promised... I will follow you... into Heaven."
"Thank you... Chief Advisor."
Carrot chuckled and curtsied, "Of course, Mi Lord."
Dolffie smiled as he said, "The path should be clear enough now. Those walking dead won't be distracted for long."
"Hmm." Carrot nodded.