Diablo 3: Hell's Eclipse

Following the training session with Luna, which had been incredibly interesting, Leah focused on seeing what was inside the archives of Caldeum, as somewhere in there likely existed the key to figuring out where Azmodan was hiding or where he was planning on striking first. There were a lot of tomes in the archives, that much she could see as she entered the portion of the city that held all of the information, complete with candles to light the way, where she set down both her uncle's tome and the Black Soulstone while she worked. Kulle was in the middle of making a new army of constructs, so they hadn't see him since the training session, otherwise she was sure he'd be here with her, helping her track down the enemy that they wanted to kill so they could finally cripple the forces of Hell. Leah also knew that her mother was doing everything she could to track down their foe in her own way, especially since she had been at this for a long time, while Luna and the others were keeping an eye out for more demons or troubles to vanquish.

As it turned out there was an endless amount of material to go through, but at the same time she was struggling to find any useful information on the demon they were hunting, none of the tomes and scrolls had anything that would tell her where they could find Azmodan, nor what his intentions were, or how he'd react to the deaths of his kin.

"I could spend my entire life in here and not get any closer to understanding where Azmodan is hiding, and by that point I'm sure he would have sprung his hand." Leah remarked, taking a moment to sigh as she set her quill down on top of the ink well that was resting off to the side, where she accepted the cup that Luna offered her, since she had come to check up on her and make sure she was getting the proper amount of rest, allowing her to drink some water, "Luna, what do you think about this?"

"Well, from what I've learned each of the Evils, both Lesser and Greater, seem to desire hosts, since a Nephalem's body, even a 'normal humans', is the best thing to hold their power." Luna replied, where she sat nearby and stared at the black gem that Kulle had created, as if she was staring at the six Lords of Hell that were contained inside it, going over each body that the Evils had stolen when they wanted to wear a mortal guise for various reasons, "Realistically I can use Azmodan going with one of two options: first, he does what the others have gone and is hiding somewhere in Sanctuary, amassing an army under the pretense of defeating a rival clan, city, or nation. The second option is that he's in Hell, building his army, and that he'll likely open one of the 'Gates' that was mentioned in Deckard's tome, the doors between the seven realms of Hell and Sanctuary... like how the Gate to the Realm of Hatred is located in the depths of this palace."

"Wouldn't Belial have been nervous being so close to Mephisto's domain?" Leah asked, as she knew Luna had read the book while they traveled to this city, during their time off, because having multiple people who knew what was inside it meant there were more considering every angle to this series of events.

"Sure, if Mephisto was alive. Since the Lord of Hatred was dead I imagine Belial was perfectly fine since he wasn't in danger of Hatred's Gate opening on him." Luna answered, it made the most sense to her, even though she knew that Cain had a few theories as to where the other Gates could be located and where their keys, actual demonic keys that could unlock each one, might be located, like how Mephisto's Gate was below Caldeum and Hatred's Key was with Rathma, "Though he theorized that a Gate could be destroyed, but to do so one of the Evils had to do it, and the Gate would reform in time... so Azmodan could potentially destroy his own Gate and invade Sanctuary in a moment's notice."

"Hell is so confusing... seven Gates, seven Keys, each missing in some manner." Leah said, letting out a sigh as she leaned back in her chair for a moment, staring at the Black Soulstone while she did so, as there was something on her mind and was curious about the gem, but for now she liked to talk with Luna since the alicorn had all sorts of experience to use while her insight might aid them in some manner, "Did uncle Deckard say where the Gate of Sin was located?"

"He theorized that the Gate was near or inside Mount Arreat, and the Key of Sin was in Westmarch." Luna replied, causing Leah to sigh again while they sat there, thinking about the information they had in the Horadrim tome and the notes that Cain had made before his demise, while she joined Leah in staring at the Black Soulstone for a time, "I wonder... your power allowed you to seal the Lord of Lies inside the soulstone... do you think you can use my seal to tap into their knowledge and see if they know where Azmodan might strike from?"

Leah considered that option for a few moments, it was crazy and potentially dangerous, but tapping into the demonic power could be the only way they figured out where their foe was hiding, causing her to nod as Luna lifted the Black Soulstone and placed it on a stool that was about level with Leah. With that done she sat behind Leah as Leah closed her eyes and focused on the gem that rested in front of her, allowing her to draw on her powers once more, though this time she was trying to use a power her mother was said to have, the power to see things, a power Leah had used without meaning to when she was a little girl. Luna's presence was soothing, allowing her to focus more sharply than she intended, because in the next moment she felt her soul, or a piece of her, being drawn into an imaginary place, a vision of sorts that was coming from another place, that much she could tell as her eyes snapped open. It was like she was in two places now, her vision self standing in a large underground chamber that looked like an ancient tomb with seven tall thrones, the center one the highest of them all, and only the tallest was empty as she found six ghostly figures sitting on the other six, the slain Lords of Hell, as she felt bits of hatred, pain, anguish, lies, destruction, and terror from them.

As she considered that the smoke took form as something massive landed in front of her, where Leah found a four eyed demon materializing in front of her, a sort of crab demon, due to the four legs it had that seemed crab-like, that was large, fat, had jagged teeth, and felt similar to Belial.

You thought you were so clever... that you had outwitted us all. Azmodan said, his voice commanding despite the fact that this was a vision, in fact Leah could tell that he wanted her to know something by the time they were done talking, and as he pulled himself to his full height she found that he seemed to be the same size as the Butcher, an imposing demon who served as the general of Hell's armies, One by one, our brethren fell into your trap... but not me. I defy you!

As Azmodan said that he struck the ground and the cavern shattered around Leah, where one wall broke and revealed what appeared to be Mount Arreat in the distance, a volcanic mountain that matched the descriptions she had read about it, but she showed no fear as she looked at the vision of the last Lord of Sin.

I know the Black Soulstone is the key, and I shall have it. Azmodan stated, confirming that he wanted Kulle's gemstone at all costs, while at the same time an army of demons started to pour out of the vision of Arreat, Hell's armies were on the move, though while this was designed to install fear into someone Leah just smiled, as this would be a field day for Luna when they got to the battlefield, Soon my armies shall pour forth from the shattered mountain, and they will ravage this world and destroy all hope of resistance as they seek the Black Soulstone... you won't be able to hide it, brother. Soon I, Azmodan, will be the Prime Evil!

"Brother? You really think that I'm Diablo reborn?" Leah remarked, because that was hilarious, that a Lord of Hell thought she was one of them, enough to confused the demonic side of her with the essence of a slain Evil, though at the same time Azmodan paused as he realized that this was a two way communication, which she likely had to thank Luna for since she training had allowed such a thing, "I defy you, Azmodan! You will die, just like the rest of your kin, and then the forces of Hell will be crippled at long last."

As Azmodan realized that he was being threatened Leah held her hand out and summoned a phantom version of her sword, where she swung it and sent a wave of energy that crashed into the vision, allowing her to sunder the vision as the Lord of Sin howled in pain, like she had wounded him, before she breathed a sigh of relief as she returned to the waking world.

"Leah? Are you all right?" Luna asked, as there had been a surge of magic for a moment before she felt the connection that was established between Leah and the seal being sundered, so she was worried that something had gone wrong, hence why she was happy to see that her girlfriend seemed to be just fine.

"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine. More importantly, your idea worked." Leah replied, where she got up and carefully returned the Black Soulstone to where she kept it, the bag that she carried with her since they recovered the item, before she collected her uncle's tome and beckoned for Luna to follow.

Luna followed as they made their way back to the hidden camp, where they eventually discovered that their friends were gathered and seemed to be getting bored of waiting around, plus Kulle had returned as well, no doubt to get an update so he knew where to deploy his army when the time finally came.

"Leah, you and Luna must have discovered something based on the smiles on your faces." Kulle commented, which meant they must have been successful, one or both of them must have uncovered where Azmodan was hiding, something that was followed by everyone else gathering around to hear what sort of information they had discovered, "Don't keep us waiting. Where is the Lord of Sin hiding?"

"Mount Arreat. Luna suggested that I use my power to tap into the lunar seal she placed on the Black Soulstone, and when I did I had a vision, and Azmodan was waiting for me." Leah stated, something that caused everyone to stop what they were doing and give her their full attention, because she was about to tell them where they were going, even if it meant going to war, and she knew that was what they would be doing, especially given Kulle's preparations, "He told me that his armies will be marching out of the shattered mountain soon, meaning he'll be heading for Bastion's Keep before coming to find me and the Black Soulstone so he can become the Prime Evil."

"He must have shattered his Gate... Belial's death must have forced his hand." Tyrael said, as he knew about the Gates, in fact all five of the Archangels knew and very few of the lower ranking angels, such as Inarius, had been told of their presence, causing him to realize that this was bad news for everyone if he was freely able to let his forces march out of Hell, "We had best hurry to Bastion's Keep. Luna, can you fly ahead and then open a portal or something for us to use to catch up with you?"

"No need. Part of the Loom's domain rests below that area, so I can bring your caravan out near the safe side of Bastion's Keep, then bring in my construct army later." Kulle replied, where he floated into the air and beckoned for them to move, as time was wasting now that they knew where Azmodan was striking from, something that caused Luna, Leah, and the others to start moving as many realized that he was being serious, "Come, the fate of Sanctuary hangs in the balance!"

Luna and Leah climbed onto their carriage, made sure it was ready to go, and then followed after Kulle once more, though both of them were eager to surprise Azmodan and bring an end to his plans at long last, and to finally save Sanctuary from the forces of the Burning Hells at long last, and Luna wouldn't stop until that was made a reality.