Hopel sighed, "Well, I can sense where the nearest human is begging for a miracle. Happy to know there are any left." Hopel floated off the ground, her wings not even flapping.
Jamesel floated off the ground himself, in spite of the celestial dragon lacking any wings. "Well, you're my big sister now, so lead the way!"
"Right right, let's find some of the mortals we're here to protect, and draft them into protecting their fellow humans while also leaving them unable to enjoy any of the benefits of human existence we're fighting for."
"SEE?" Jamesel smiled. "We're a real army already!"
"Were you this chipper before?"
"Nope! In fact, even before the Fallen decided to harvest this Earth I was kinda a cynical kinda guy."
"You used 'kinda' twice in one sentence."
"Oh, sorry. But yeah, being cynical now feels kinda silly. So The Host only sent you to raise an army of us?"
"They told me the multiverse is big, and they couldn't spare more than me, and they said 'we have total confidence in your success.' Meh. Their way of saying not to expect any back up!" Hopel snorted.
"You don't live up to your name much... or a divine messenger of hope with that attitude."
"You'd be demon food right now I hadn't shown. Instead you're drafted into a divine army to liberate this world while denied the comfy cushy afterlife that humans get if they manage to not be selfish jackasses in their lives at the end of the road."
"Well, like you said, I wasn't gonna get to enjoy that anyway, so I might as well help some other humans. So we just build up an army of angels and liberate the world?"
"Pretty much... Uh-oh, I think we've found the humans who were begging for a miracle."
Jamesel saw... it was another succubus, this was one was newer, younger, weaker... and Jamesel knew who it was.
"Hey Nick-lith!"
The Succubus turned to see the waving celestial dragon floating nearby with the sullen cherub.
"Great. We've got pests to clean out. But how do ya know my name my future handbag?" She said casually.
"Oh! It's me! James! Well, actually, remade as Jamesel now... but that's still more old me than you... " Jamesel continued jovially, distracting the demon from the cornered humans (everyone else did their best to ignore the demon's victims, least the demon chose to eat/change/enslave them next).
"James?! Wait. So that means... dang, so my spawner went and let some harp plucker get lucky on her? What a twit."
"Ya know, I now know, and can sense, that you really aren't Nick, you have his memories, but you aren't him." The dragon's eyes turned white for a moment as violet flames burst from his mouth. "MY BEST FRIEND IS GONE FOREVER!"
"... Well that bites!" Nick-lith pouted. "Do you have ANY IDEA how fun the 'I know you're fighting in there somewhere' routine is?! Pretending that you're 'fighting the corruption' until the food thinks you might actually be on their side, and then-! Munch munch! You just ruined the fun part!"
The child sized dragon calmed down, somewhat. "And I'm going to ruin you next. So you can stop disgracing Nick's memory! I'm not even gonna tell you to run. Come at me so I can kick yer ass!"
"I'm gonna use your antlers as a butt scratcher!" Nick-Lith swore as she flew right at Jamesel.
Nick-Lith slashed wildly at Jamesel, Hopel found herself having to back off. She wasn't even supposed to be facing monsters yet! She was supposed to be recruiting humans, THEN facing Fallen!
Jamesel proved very agile, and avoided the bites, claws, and breaths of black fire that actually bent out of the way to continue to chase him. And Nick-Lith was relentless, her eyes focused on the prize.
Hopel swallowed her fear, and flew right at Nick-Lith, and let out a flash of light, blinding the monster. Jamesel didn't wait for her to recover. His breath struck the demon. Nick-Lith melted into a mass of pretty flowers.
"... Good-bye Nick," Jamesel sighed. Hopel hugged him.
They held that hug for a bit before realizing humans were watching them... some crossing themselves, others praying.
"Uh, hi, I'm Hopel, cherub, even I don't quite look it." After all, human perception of cherubs usually involved floating heads with lots of wings. "Anyone wanna kick demon butt and protect those you love in exchange for being part of the never ending battle against evil?"
A young woman raised her hand.
"Alright lady! Welcome to the team!"