Chapter 3

A/N: Surprise! Bet you didn't plan on seeing me again! FierceDeityMask is back under new management as TheMightyGyarapie, But no really, this fic is never dead, I just don't believe in schedules, take that as you will, but I'm still here, still kicking. Let's see how Magnus avoids becoming a heroic flapjack, hmmm?

Touched by an Angel: Chapter 3 Part 1

With a terror that shook her young frame, Serra watched as her hero was flung away from the monster, and then cringed as a detonation erupted around the prone figure. She prayed internally that the man would rise from the ashes, phoenix-like, unscathed and ready to finish the behemoth that was blocking her bid for freedom. Alas, he did not move, beyond a few pained twitches and wheezing.

The Armored Demon lazily rolled forwards on its treads, clearly intending to splatter the downed swordsman. It's slow pace belied the agility it had shown in turning around so quickly. Suddenly, at that thought, Serra was seized by a foolish idea. "Turned around?" Thinking back a few moments she recalled that the beast responded so violently because the swordsman had run around to its backside, which she could now see had a large reddish bump instead of the armored carapace of the rest of the beast. If it spun like that to defend its rear, maybe she could distract it from crushing the man who was willing to fight monsters. If she had been thinking rationally, Serra might have realized that only buying time wouldn't save the swordsman, not to mention that the young girl was still unarmed, so she couldn't hope to actually damage the beast. But Serra had passed the stage of rational thought when her house had been leveled and her family vaporized, so almost before she finished her mad thoughts she was breaking from the cover of the alley. She ran silently at the back of the beast, preparing for what would certainly be one of the least threatening offensives in Human history.

Whatever proximity alarm had caused the beast to face the swordsman on his initial charge clearly did not register Serra as a threat, as she managed to get right up behind the demon and, with a level of valor worthy of song, slammed her two little child fists of fury into the surprisingly squishy weakness on the beasts rear. The effect was instantaneous, for although the beast was of a class all its own, the price of having only one weak point was high indeed. The impact was so negligible that any other demon wouldn't even notice, but to the monstrosity it was an agony unrivaled. At this point, the felled swordsman was instantly forgotten, and Serra had the villains full attention. Vibrating violently, the awful beast prepared to bring its violence to bear on whatever threat had just appeared at its vulnerable back.

Serra was surprised to feel a violent shudder ripple through the demons back at the point she struck, as she had half thought the beast wouldn't even notice her. Then her hyper alert survival instincts reminded her of what happened the last time that this adversary had started shaking like this. Realizing that she had mere moments before the beast spun up another shockwave, Serra bolted back towards the alleyway from which she had emerged. Dimly, she realized that the monster could turn much faster than she could run, and that she would never escape if it started to pursue her. Luckily for Serra, and though she couldn't know it at the time, the Crawler Tank was even more mechanical its assault than the more brainless Demons, and it performed the same full quadruple spin it used on the swordsman before stopping to face the new threat, only to realize that the "new threat" was already ducking into shelter, in a very non-threatening way. Having temporarily lost its swiftly fleeing target, the Crawler Tank re-detected the credible threat that it had failed to finish off before. Unfortunately for the Crawler, Magnus may have been down, but he was certainly not out and although Serra's little foray into unarmed combat may not have seriously damaged the beast, it had bought a far more lethal adversary time for a much needed second wind.

Part 2:

The day was shaping up to be a pretty bad day for Magnus. (Understatement of the year, even the Alien Apocalypse managed to suck less.) Sure, it wasn't the first time one of the Underworld's goons had gotten in a lucky shot, but getting slapped by a tank and then blasted isn't something anyone can just shrug off. For a moment, Magnus was tempted to have his life flash before his eyes and brace himself for death. (Yeah, fine, maybe for a second there, but then I realized that my life was for the most part even more grim than this, so I gave it a pass.) This was the first time in a long while that Magnus had hoped for divine intervention, especially since Palutena had apparently decided that Humans weren't worth defending anymore, and Angel Face had gone right along. But there, facedown, in a pit, preparing to be crushed by a giant, stupid hunk of metal, Magnus said those stupidly hopeful words: "I could really use a miracle." (What? Might as well have, what did I have to lose?)

So of course his tattoos nearly came off (Funny, but not true) when that little streak of movement which had been following him all the way through town came zipping across the plaza and suddenly what appeared to be a child was double-fist punching the Crawler Tank in its obviously vulnerable hiney. (Credit where it's due, the kid had a mean down-swing, and trust me, I'd know.) True to form, the Crawler responded by spinning to face the hit, but the kid was really fast on her feet, she was already booking it halfway across the plaza again. (The little squirt could really hustle!) Absently, Magnus wondered why the tank wasn't firing its machine guns at the retreating girl, but little did he know, those had been damaged beyond use by the collisions of the Skuttler corpses from when he knocked them at it. (Really, dang, lucky shot! Gotta remember that one.)

Magnus took the opportunity provided by the distraction to stagger to his feet, with his hands gripping his sword for support. Good news, he was back on his feet, bad news, still no way was he outmaneuvering the Crawler Tank in his condition. Additionally, he really wanted to clear out of town before the inevitable second wave hit and Palutena's Centurions started slaughtering Monsters and Humans both, if that happened he would be required by what was left of his conscience to stay and fight since he owed it to the Angel to carry on his work, even if that same Angel was opposing him. (Something still seems off about that, I wouldn't claim to know the guy, but genocide doesn't strike me as Angel Face's idea of a good time.)

It's a matter of questionable morals that Magnus would be okay with leaving the town to its fate so long as he left quickly, but that level of ruthless apathy was one of the main reasons Magnus had made it through two Underworld Invasions and that mess with the Forces of Nature. (To say nothing of whatever those polygon-looking doo-dads were, that was enough to get even those scumbag gods to cooperate for a little while.) He'd fight as hard as he could at any fight he got into, but he couldn't expect to be everywhere, and he wasn't often paid for charity battles. Having said that, even if he could run from this battle, (Which is more difficult with thrashed legs) he could hardly leave that girl to get crushed when she'd saved his behind with her little guerrilla strike. He'd at least make sure she got out of town, it would be safe enough for her in the fields outside. Now, how to do that when he was so messed up... as it happened the problem solved itself by becoming a bigger problem, (Story of my life, right there.) as the Crawler was struck by a large Charged Arrow from somewhere above the plaza. (Oh great, Palutena's little crusaders finally showed up.) Magnus braced himself behind his blade to block the stray arrows that came down around the newly-smoking Crawler and then he used a desperate surge of adrenaline to hurl himself away from the inevitable blast of the Tank's explosive, deathbed deconstruction. (Wish I could have stuck the landing on that dive, but hey, least I didn't fry.) As was prone to happen when a Underworld beastie of sufficient size blew up, a chunk of conveniently cooked meat popped from the carcass to land near Magnus. Normally, one would question the wisdom of scarfing down a slab of meat that spawned a demon tank, but Magnus knew from past experience that this was perfect way to get his feet back under him. (What can I say? Floor Meat gives you health!) Now re-energized and revitalized, Magnus turned to the Alleyway and called to the girl in his usual gruff tone.

"Hey, little girl! Come on out here, the Tank's dead and we need to talk!" (Hopefully, she stuck around, at her pace, the little speed demon could be halfway across town. Which would suck, since the Centurions are a lot more systematic than the Skuttlers when it comes to killing humans. I don't know how she dodged all the monsters on the way here, but I'd rather she get out of town.)

Unbeknownst to Magnus, not only would Serra manage to get both out of and back into town, but that wasn't even the last time she would manage to save his life before the day was through.

A/N: Hoo boy, so it goes without saying that I wasn't kidding when I said I update really super slow! The pace is glacial, and I'm not really sorry. That said, I am a man of my word so here we are still updating. If, for some reason, anyone is still here, seriously good on you that's some god-tier patience, also, please review and comment and maybe I'll slam out another one sometime before 2018! Settin' goals! Plus side the Demon Moon converges more frequently here in 2017 and the number of symbols of power has been hit by recession and gone from 3 to two, so hopefully I'll get something up before summertime ends! Or not, we'll see.