The Seraphic System
Chapter: 109
(The Shadow Inheritance)
-{Medusa}-
Life was good.
The thought floated through Nyxera's mind as she watched the 'morning' light filter through the windows, the soft gold light from the massive Trees as refreshing as always.
Her golden eyes closed, a smile dominating her features at the thought of seeing the world without anything turning to stone. It would never cease to be a miracle, having spent hundreds of years cursed for a sin she didn't commit.
She felt her mind drift as it always did.
It had been a long while since her master showed up, transforming the purpose of her existence from isolation to something meaningful. Something had told her that Kai was a one-time opportunity, and she was glad she had taken it.
More than glad, she didn't think she could live as she had prior once more.
The holy order had given her more than just a blessing; they'd given her a family.
Frieren's arrival had been the newest blessing.
The ancient elf possessed a calming aura that Nyxera found comforting, and unlike many others, it was strange. As someone who didn't like many people, she had found herself loving the presence of everyone in Heaven, including the other members of the Holy Order.
Frieren was only the latest. They'd developed an easy companionship, spending hours in comfortable silence or engaged in discussions about magical theory.
It was interesting how their worlds contrasted in how Magic operated. Frieren had been both enchanted and disgusted when the War on Heaven took place.
Her mind darkened as those memories began swimming up again.
The image of those forces arrayed against her master still burned in her memory. Because she wouldn't have dared to breathe wrongly around in her previous existence, she had stood against him. The audacity of it made her eyes glow slightly.
Protecting her new home had been the easiest decision she'd ever made.
Thanks to her master's meticulous planning and Lord Michael's brilliant strategies, they'd achieved victory in a battle that should have cost hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions of lives under normal circumstances.
The aftermath had left her both proud and humbled.
Now, with the threat having disappeared, her days had returned to the peaceful rhythm she cherished.
She'd accompanied Frieren to the Vatican recently, watching the elf weave protective enchantments with an artistry that took her breath away.
The Pope himself had come down when she began planting magical trees everywhere with defences, amusedly telling her that most humans weren't used to seeing a tree that acted like a human.
The mortals' reactions had been... uncomfortable.
They'd looked at them with reverence bordering on worship, pressing close with reaching hands and tearful prayers. Nyxera had seen the discomfort in her friend's eyes, the way she'd subtly leaned away from the crowds.
It was something the entirety of the Holy Order was going through.
"I don't understand their need to touch," Frieren had murmured later, safe within the sub-dimension. "The wards will protect them regardless of physical proximity."
Nyxera had simply nodded with amusement, understanding her inability to understand humanity. Perhaps only those who have been human or are human can understand.
Anyway, most of her time was spent observing Tiamat's training sessions with the younger Angels. The dragon was a harsh taskmaster, her methods brutal but effective.
The angels grew stronger by the day under her tutelage, their movements becoming fluid and deadly. The recent scare, with all the deaths, had Hestia especially protective.
Hestia had appointed herself as their protector, hovering nearby during training with maternal concern.
Whenever Tiamat's strikes sent an angel crashing into the training ground's barriers, Hestia would shoot the dragon a glare that could have melted stone.
"They need to learn," Tiamat would say.
"They need to survive the learning," Hestia would counter, already moving to heal the minor injuries.
The dynamic had become a source of quiet amusement for Nyxera. She'd taken to positioning herself where she could observe both the training and the interplay between the two powerful beings.
Today, however, brought a different form of entertainment.
The two familiars were a curious duo…. A massive snake and a turtle with the face of a strange creature that her Lord insisted was a lion. The Lion Turtle would be like a crown on top of Galadriel's head as she slithered around.
"He's what?" Dulio's voice cut through her peaceful observations, pitched higher than his usual calm tone.
Nyxera turned her attention to the gathering near the central fountain. Hestia's expression had shifted from contentment to deep concern, her brow furrowed as she listened to Lord Remiel's report.
"It seems like our Lord has taken an interest in going down and getting involved in another conflict with minimal help from Heaven," Lord Remiel revealed, his usually serene face marked with resignation.
"I know I am not worthy of knowing," Dulio began, his hands clasped in a gesture of supplication, "but may I ask why?"
Nyxera had rarely seen the strongest exorcist so openly distressed.
"Apparently, the Khaos Brigade is involved in another large plot, albeit against a different faction." Lord Remiel's wings rustled with agitation. "The Lord has decided he wants to go undercover to gather as much information as possible."
"Can't we go in his stead?" Hope colored Dulio's words. "This seems like a task befitting the Holy Order. We were created for such missions."
"I doubt it," Lord Remiel said simply.
Dulio's internal conflict played across his features like an open book. "Isn't the Lord temporarily weakened? Surely keeping him in heaven would be for the best. I am more than happy to focus everything on this mission. I'll be super sneaky as well."
The earnestness in his promise might have been amusing under different circumstances.
Nyxera could imagine the jovial exorcist attempting stealth operations and found the mental image both endearing and concerning. But she found herself agreeing: if the Holy Order were deployed, she was sure they would be stealthy.
Remiel's lips quivered in what might have been amusement. "I believe the Lord seems quite set on his course."
Nyxera remained silent throughout the exchange, but inside, her thoughts churned with worry. She agreed completely with Dulio's assessment.
Their master hadn't been given enough time to grow back to his former glory. He had taken the burden of everything and deserved to be in Heaven merely. The thought of him placing himself in danger again made her chest tighten with anxiety.
Yet she also knew the futility of their concerns.
When had their master ever chosen the safe path? When had he ever delegated danger while remaining safe himself? It wasn't in his nature, and perhaps that was part of what made him worthy of their devotion.
"Perhaps," Hestia said carefully, "we can, however, present alternatives that would achieve the same goals while minimising the risks?"
"You're welcome to try," Remiel responded, though his tone suggested he'd already attempted such reasoning.
Hestia grimaced, and Tiamat scowled. She had good reasons to believe that the poor Angel might not survive the next few hours of training.
She would pray to her master for his life.
-{Kai}-
I suddenly felt someone praying to me, but a ringing in my mind drew my attention, making me perk up.
The familiar screen that was used for my most treasured skill popped up.
The Download has finished.
Already?
It was one thing to know the time for downloads would be cut down with an increase in power, but seeing just how much ascending into the God-class had cut it down was insane.
It meant I could finally start working on the long list I had created. With it, my attacking capacity would grow, and I could find more ways to defend. When downloading, I attempted to add things that would work with my current skill set.
I had been thinking of getting more perks to boost my progression and perhaps more skills that would make me immune to more elements. It was just the time they took that had stopped me before.
One thing that became apparent was that having so many skills meant that only a few would be mastered.
That left my next download…
{Template - Megumi Fushiguro - Age 15}
{Perks} -
[Zenin Bloodline]
[Ten Shadows Technique Inheritance]
[Enhanced Shadow Manipulation]
[Large Cursed Energy Reserves]
[Tactical Genius]
[Heavenly Restriction Bloodline]
{Skills} - [Cursed Energy Manipulation]
[Ten Shadows Technique Mastery]
[Domain Expansion: Chimera Shadow Garden]
[Expert Weapons Specialist]
[Hand-to-Hand Combat Proficiency]
[Shadow Storage Technique]
{Sub-Skills} - [Divine Dogs (White & Black)]
[Divine Dog: Totality]
[Nue]
[Toad]
[Great Serpent]
[Max Elephant]
[Rabbit Escape]
[The Well's Unknown Abyss]
[Mahoraga Summoning (Incomplete)]
[Shadow Movement]
[Shadow Decoy Creation]
My choice in downloads had been relatively straightforward. The technique itself was weak, but it came with one perk I wanted, the ability to summon Mahoraga. It was a slightly strange choice, I knew, and I could have gotten an angel summon in its place.
But Mahoraga's abilities were too valuable to pass up. I had suspected that, due to the ritual's nature, requiring me to defeat each shikigami personally, I would get some sort of discount on the download time.
Having a being I could summon as a guard appealed to me. More importantly, the connection I had with my angels was too precious for the role Mahoraga would fill. They were family. The Divine General would be another weapon, hopefully.
I had looked through other interesting download prospects, but ultimately landed on my desired goal.
[Ten Shadows Technique Inheritance]
[Grants the user the ability to summon the ten trials.]
The download was confirmed, and I braced myself, only for nothing to happen.
Huh.
Neat.
That left my next download. I began going through my list. My long list…
I had thought about increasing my chakra capabilities once more. Perhaps downloading Itachi or another skilled shinobi would be a good idea?
Then there was the potential of downloading someone I knew. Jeanne or Dulio? Would I be able to mimic their blessings? I wouldn't mind Blessed Fortitude.
Then again, I had to consider how much time a simple blessing would consume.
Thoughts on gaining more angels also entered my mind. I could try a simple priest of the Slane Theocracy, even if I had a theory that the angels I summoned wouldn't be conscious like those produced from the super-tier spell. Still, having the ability to create more angels was invaluable.
My Cherubim Gatekeepers had proved as such. That was probably the best download I'd made.
From my knowledge, Yggdrasil's magic was currently the top contender for summoning new angels. I still had many spells I wanted to use to bolster Heaven's forces for virtually no cost.
I was certain that even when I gained the ability to create angels from God's inheritance, there would be a cost. While that option would allow me more control, being able to expand Heaven's forces was too good to pass up.
Especially when my Cherubim Gatekeepers were technically the third strongest level of angel summon.
If I remember correctly, the list went: Seraph Empyrean, Seraph Aerosphere, Cherubim Gatekeeper for the top-tier ultimate class angels. Then Dominion Authority, a High-Class Angel summon. And lower tiers further below that.
There were other options to consider, though. Options for my personal power were equally important.
Perhaps another breathing style from Demon Slayer? A few of the sun breathing techniques had proven to meld well with my new sword and general skill set.
There was also the Jujutsu Kaisen universe, the source of my Ten Shadows Technique inheritance download. Getting a "Domain" can be interesting.
So many opportunities…
"Father?" Uriel's curious voice called out.
I was snapped out of my thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm here," I replied, blinking and looking back up from the mechanisms of the Sentinel.
Between us stood the Sentinel. Its large armour stood before us in all its glory.
Uriel's face brightened at my response, and he moved closer to examine the power stone fragment I'd been integrating into the surface armour of the Sentinel.
"How did you even get something like this?" he said, running his fingers along the energy conduits we'd installed.
"I created it after the battle," I responded.
Uriel laughed. "Just how many things did you end up creating?"
"Quite a few," I replied slyly. "This one is particularly useful and limited. Raphael mentioned it acts like a generator. The output maxes out just at the peak of the Ultimate-Class, but the interesting part is the recharge cycle. It takes only a few seconds to refill after discharge."
"Similar to Michael's power domain?" Uriel asked, and I couldn't help but smile at how quickly he made the connection.
"Exactly. Though obtained in a sort of crystallised form." I explained, as if that wasn't an absolutely insane statement.
The Sentinel's armour's original design allowed it to channel vast amounts of energy through its frame, but we were pushing beyond that. The power stone fragment added an entirely new dimension to its capabilities.
Each adjustment we made sent ripples of multicoloured energy through the armour's surface, like oil on water.
The Sentinel's abilities were already powerful, but since not many of these could be made without burning through vast amounts of resources, I decided I wanted to truly make this as strong as I could.
This would be the General of other similar constructions that can be mass-produced.
"Seriously, to have such things created from nothing will never not astonish me. The sheer uses such a thing could have…" Uriel trailed off. "Then again, you did somehow create angelic versions of Godly Domains."
"It's certainly a bonus," I replied idly.
"Is that how you found Jeanne and Frieren?" Uriel questioned.
I sent him a mildly surprised look.
"Did they say that?" I questioned curiously.
"No, but it seems obvious. Dangerous situations tend to make you produce highly powerful objects or even beings. I couldn't find any mention of such beings in history, and while they could have been hidden, it still led to that thought." Uriel shrugged.
"I'm guessing my others have found this little 'secret' out as well?" I asked with a hint of amusement.
I hadn't really been trying to hide it.
"Of course." Uriel smiled.
"And what did they think of it?" I questioned.
"It's a good sign, I'm not even sure if Father could just make God-class beings like that. Perhaps his death has served beneficially at the very least." Uriel said, but his tone clearly suggested he didn't think so in the slightest.
I smiled. "It's a bit more complicated than outright being created, since they have their own versions of lives, but you're around the mark."
Uriel nodded and surprisingly didn't question further.
He frowned lightly.
"I'm curious why you didn't tell us, though. Have we proven untrustworthy?" Uriel questioned with a frown.
"No," I replied immediately, slightly serious. "It's just a weird occurrence, and I didn't want to put you off."
Uriel smiled, relieved and accepted it easily.
"Does that mean you could create a being that would attack you?" He asked after a pause.
"I don't think so," I responded carefully.
I had learnt my Angels were all… akin to Yandere's in a more toned sense.
I found myself patting him on the head in a manner I only did with my angels. And it was because he was my Angel that it wasn't weird, the Angel practically preening at the touch.
I was going to have to catch that before I started patting everyone I liked on the head.
"So what do you think we should focus on when integrating the power stone?" I asked, moving the subject along. "I'm not sure if the being itself under the armour would be able to handle it."
"What if we reroute the energy flow through these secondary channels?" Uriel suggested, tracing potential pathways with his finger. "We could make this generator serve as a booster instead of an outright weapon, especially since we already have angelic energy and dragon fire cannons."
"A good idea and one that could prove more useful," I admitted, genuinely impressed by his intuition. "The power stone is proving difficult to contain, as is natural with a magical generator. Perhaps we need to focus on the circulation of its potency rather than outright containment. In a normal scenario, that would decrease efficiency, but with its recharge time, that's negligible."
We worked in comfortable silence for a while, making minute adjustments and monitoring the energy readings. The armour's ability to absorb and redirect energy was already formidable, but with the power stone enhancement, it would become something far more dangerous.
In truth, the first idea I had with the power stone fragment was to make batteries. Essentially, with an unlimited energy source, it could be used to empower Heaven.
If Heaven's general forces could all have defences beyond those created by the formerly Mr Two's Sacred Gear… able to block ultimate class attacks and unleash an ultimate class worthy amount of boost into their attack?
Heaven was already powerful, coming up and surpassing many Pantheons. But that would be a massive increase.
Unfortunately, reality often disappoints. The power stone's fragment couldn't be contained that way, or if it could, the resources required would mean only a few batteries could be created.
Raphael's testing had shown that when the empowering energy of the power stones' fragments left their confines, it became erratic, beyond any other energy. It rabidly looked for anything to empower and latch onto.
Meaning it was annoying to store, which was expected of a crystallised version that held a fragment of the literal concept of power. It was never going to be easy.
That's why we chose the Sentinel. While I could have tried to make some sort of ring of power, I was more focused on having more people in power.
I had other avenues like my chakra fruit that had yet to be planted, and considering the work of art the Sentinel was with the combined might of multiple Arch-Seraphs helping craft it, it was best to go all out.
It also helped that creating a ring of power with the power stone fragment would be a long project. One I'd rather wait on if it were going to happen.
Precautions had been made in case the Sentinel was killed.
The sound of massive footsteps echoed through the workshop. I turned to see Brias entering, his enormous form ducking through the reinforced doorway.
The large beings' multiple eyes blinked in sequence, each one observing different aspects of our work simultaneously.
"My Lord," Brias greeted, his voice deep and resonant. "Lord Uriel. I hope I'm not interrupting."
Uriel grinned. "Brias! Perfect timing. We're trying to figure out how to keep this thing from melting itself."
His massive frame moved closer, his many eyes focusing on the Sentinel. "An interesting challenge. May I examine the construct?"
"Go ahead," I gestured.
Brias worked with surprising delicacy for his size, his large hands tracing the energy pathways we'd installed. "I see what you mean, what a chaotic and bizarre item," he noted, pointing to a junction point. "If you reroute through this secondary channel and add a buffer here, the strain would be distributed more evenly. Then it can reconnect for the purpose of what I'm assuming is to enhance attacks?"
"Indeed," Uriel said, already making adjustments. "I was thinking about the same thing."
Uriel's new phoenix flickered as he used it to move some of the metal, the golden fire making the Sentinel's metal far more malleable without damaging its structural integrity.
While they worked on the Sentinel, I turned my attention to my own project. Vesper lay on the workbench before me, its dark blade gleaming even in the workshop's ambient light.
I've been meaning to improve it for a while now.
I activated my new skill. "Artefact Appraisal."
Text appeared in my vision, clean and precise.
Durability: 76%
Lightness: 180%
Magical Affinity: 195%
Cursed Affinity: 80%
Light Affinity: 80%
Holy Affinity: 80%
Amplification: 25%
Energy Direction: 50%
Hate Absorption: 100%
Sharpness: 210%
I studied the numbers, turning them over in my mind. It was impressive work already, but there was room for improvement.
Some stats couldn't be changed without specific items like Hate Absorption. But the affinities?
Those could definitely be enhanced.
The affinities represented the efficiency with which certain types of energy flowed through the blade. Using Vesper to generate cursed light, for example, depended on both the Cursed and Light Affinity ratings. The higher those numbers, the more energy would be amplified.
I was reaching for something like Michael's sword, which had possessed an insane stat distribution. Numbers far higher across the board, another work by my predecessor that left me in awe.
Even a 1% increase could help at his level. And I could say his weapon would probably take anyone below the super class into the pseudo of the next realm above them. An ultimate class could become a pseudo-god class with the weapon alone. A Longinus-level weapon in his hands.
While mine was already turning out to be a powerful weapon, it wasn't a weapon at that level. I assumed that if I checked again on Zeus' bolt, I would find a very different type of weapon than mere description could provide.
With Artefact Inscription and a clean surface to work with, I could improve many of these factors. But it would take time. A lot more than the simple life force controller I'd made before.
And then I had the soul skill orb from my rewards after the battle.
I went over to my aura forge, settling into the meditative state required for precise inscription work.
The blade's surface was smooth, perfect for detailed runic work. I started with the basics, tracing power-channelling runes along the fuller.
"What are you working on?" Uriel asked excitedly, glancing over.
"Vesper upgrades," I replied, not looking up. "Trying to boost the affinity ratings and its overall power. I got a new ability to see the actual effects of my sword in numerical value."
Uriel lit up. "A skill from your previous incarnation, then. A good sign and one I remember Father speaking about."
"Can I watch?" He moved closer, phoenix flames still dancing around his fingertips.
"I'm not that good yet," I admitted. "But I'm learning."
Brias rumbled with amusement. "My Lord, you're being modest. The life force controller you created was masterwork quality."
"That was simple compared to this," I said, carefully etching a stability rune into the blade's spine. "Weapons are more complex. More variables to account for."
Brias nodded.
"I don't think Brias agrees," Uriel replied slyly. "He's much better at crafting weapons than artefacts."
"I tried one time, Lord Uriel! And connecting energies in the way I was trying was bound to be-"
"Explosive?" Uriel laughed.
Brias' eyes blinked rapidly, and his large arms waved as his face grew darker.
I grinned, zoning out as I went into a sort of flow state with my weapon. I was deep in concentration, halfway through a particularly complex enhancement rune sequence on Vesper's crossguard, when the workshop doors opened.
The workshop door abruptly opened, although in a soft manner, and I felt someone's presence coming down to Uriel's workshop.
Brias perked up, and I looked up to see Kokabiel standing in the doorway. He smiled brightly at the sight of me and instantly made his way towards me, hands at his sides.
My eyes flickered over his form.
The transformation still caught me off guard sometimes. Gone was the harsh, angular face I'd known. His features had softened considerably, the cruel edge replaced by something almost gentle.
His once blood-red eyes now held flecks of gold, and his white wings gleamed with the light of an angel. The black robes remained, but even they seemed lighter somehow; the purple and gold accents were more vibrant than before.
"Father," he said, bowing deeply.
His wings rustled slightly as he straightened, and I couldn't help but notice how different he seemed. Even when he had been apologetic and calm, there had been a permanent sadness. Which had for all intents and purposes vanished.
The restoration from fallen to true angel had changed everything about him.
The memory of his restoration ceremony flickered through my mind. .
-Flash Back-
Gabriel had been the first to approach him, her usual serene expression breaking into genuine joy
"Welcome home, brother," Gabriel said, her voice thick with emotion and something shining in her emerald eyes.
Kokabiel looked at her with an expression that would probably have the many Gods who were just as old as the Angels baffled.
She pulled him into a comforting embrace, one that had lasted long enough to make several of the other angels shift with excitement. All of them had been briefly stunned.
But it was Kokabiel's reaction that had surprised me the most.
The angel who'd once desired nothing more than war and bloodshed had actually wept. Tears had streamed down his face as he'd clutched Gabriel like a lifeline, so many years of separation from Heaven finally ending.
"T-thank you. I never thought..." Kokabiel whispered. "I never thought I'd be allowed back."
The ripple effect through Heaven had been immediate.
Remiel laughed and brought him into a large hug, and Uriel's expression softened. His downright anger for the Fallen and Devils was nowhere to be seen as he enjoyed the hug.
What followed was a celebration, all of my Seraphim greeting him back in their own way, and I could sense something more was afoot. Not that I minded, considering it was more akin to a rite of passage.
I imagined this must be quite the morale boost, considering it had never been done before.
A new age of Heaven.
My age.
The Angel of Death had approached slowly, her gothic appearance making her seem like a shadow given form. Golden wings, dark clothing, and an aura that made most beings instinctively step back.
The cold stare was enough to make Kokabiel shrink back slightly.
"Kokabiel," she'd said, her voice typically cold and distant.
He tensed, clearly expecting rejection or worse.
A smile, small but genuine, had graced Azrael's lips.
"Welcome back." She greeted, her tone different and her eyes opening up.
The embrace they'd shared was brief but meaningful. And Kokabiel was like a child, his white wings twitching behind him and his power having soared back up.
He was in the God-class.
For Azrael to show such warmth was unusual, as I had come to know she normally showed her care through action. The other Seraphim had taken note immediately.
The celebration that followed was joyful, and I'm sure word had spread. All the Seraphim were gathered for it, and I felt it was appropriate, even if it meant pausing the many duties they carried for a few hours.
They looked positively ecstatic, and it was easy to see there was a change.
During that gathering, I'd caught Azrael looking at me with an expression I couldn't quite decipher. Something between gratitude and... something else.
A small smirk adorned my face.
I wonder how the morale of the Fallen would fare?
-Flash back-
The flashback faded as Kokabiel cleared his throat, bringing me back to the present.
"Father, I bring news," he said, his voice carrying none of the harsh edge it once held. "Heracles has returned. He carries two sets of... deformed corpses under some sort of stasis."
I smiled.
Michael had said Kokabiel would be getting his old duties back, something the newly reborn Seraph had practically begged for.
I nodded, unsurprised. "The deal we made. Come, let's meet him."
It was a brisk walk from there as Kokabiel practically vibrated with nervous energy. His eagerness to please was almost endearing, such a stark contrast to his former rebellious nature.
We found Michael already there, his stance rigid as he stared down Heracles. His sword in hand.
"You can relax, Michael," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "He's here under the agreement I told you about." My gestures and eyes conveyed more than words.
Michael could feel the Tree of Life's touch on him.
Michael's expression softened slightly when he looked at me, though his guard remained up. I turned my attention to Heracles, who stood protectively over two covered forms.
The former Greek god's massive frame was tense, his knuckles white from gripping the bodies so tightly.
His eyes came to settle on me.
"Heracles." I greeted, looking over the Olympian God.
"Lord Kai." He greeted back uncertainly.
I observed this god. He reminded me of the time before I arrived in Heaven when I had floated around and gotten myself involved with a massive plot. The fateful meeting with Gabriel…
"Are these the two you wanted revived?" I asked, moving on from our brief staring session
In truth, the Greeks were going to be pissed.
We had Ares prisoner, something that was a big secret since the political problems it would cause. Heracles is another major figure taken. A notable minor God. Then Aphrodite, a Major Goddess, had been poached along with Hestia joining the battle on the behalf of Heaven.
All in all, it didn't look good.
Which was why I'd keep it a secret for now. The Greeks, while infamous for their flaws, had large families. They were, without a doubt, a powerful Faction.
I wouldn't hesitate to push back if they tried to keep Aphrodite from me, though. Currently, Heaven can afford to offend others.
"It is." He nodded wearily. "Does the deal still stand?"
"The deal stands," I said simply. "Your child and wife, restored for your loyalty to Heaven."
Heracles nodded, his jaw clenched. "I understand, I can't say my first encounter with you had me envisioning this outcome. To think you were the King Of Heaven…"
Michael was staring him down.
"I didn't exactly know it would turn out this way either, and you certainly helped get me adjusted to… well, fighting Gods." I chuckled.
He returned the sentiment, though the wariness in his eyes spoke volumes.
How many gods had made him similar promises only to break them?
"My Lord!" Gabriel's voice rang out as she materialised beside us, immediately positioning herself between Heracles and me.
Her protective stance would have been amusing if it weren't so earnest.
Michael regarded his sister warmly.
"Gabriel," I said, unable to suppress a small smile. "It's alright. He's not a threat."
Michael nodded, and I almost laughed at Heracles's sigh.
"But-" she started, her presence causing the air to hum slightly.
My kind and compassionate Angel found herself being rather overprotective.
I reached out, gently stroking her hair.
The simple gesture had an immediate effect. She practically melted, her defensive posture evaporating as she leaned into my touch. The fierce archangel became almost docile under my hand.
"I told you I released him. We have a deal, and Heracles isn't the type to betray." I said, calming her down.
If he did, I wouldn't be merciful in my approach.
Betrayal set something off deep within me, that wasn't exactly… Godly.
Gabriel's shoulders relaxed, and she leaned into me. I resisted the urge to take her away for another… healing session.
"Ok… I just don't wish for the gods to try to pull something underhanded. Most do when they are bested and on the back foot." Gabriel said.
"Actually," I continued, "it's good you're here. I need you to restore their bodies for the resurrection and I haven't quite mastered body restoration at this level yet."
Gabriel's eyes lit up with understanding and adoration. "Of course. I would be honoured. T-though we should have another healing session soon to fix that."
I stared flatly.
I mean… I agreed.
She blushed and moved toward the bodies with care, her hands beginning to glow with healing light.
Michael watched Heracles carefully.
All the while the Olympian God's breath caught in his throat as she worked, his massive frame trembling with barely contained emotion.
-{Heracles}-
I'd been through this before.
Too many times. The promises, the bargains, the desperate hope that maybe this time would be different.
Zeus had promised once. So had Hades. Even Athena had dangled the possibility before me like bait, only to snatch it away when I'd completed whatever impossible task they'd set by claiming impossibility, restrictions, will of Fates, errors I've made or loopholes.
My family. My beautiful Megara and our children.
Their deaths haunted me still, the memory of my own hands ending their lives while Hera's madness consumed me. No amount of labour could wash that blood away. No heroic deed could bring them back.
Or so I'd been told.
I watched the Biblical God with wary eyes, waiting for the inevitable.
It would be the apologetic look. The explanation of why it couldn't be done. Being killed by a God wasn't a simple death, it left wounds that even divine power struggled to heal.
I'd heard every excuse, every rationalisation.
Yet this young-looking deity had actually retrieved their bodies.
That alone was more than most had managed.
Still, I prepared myself for disappointment.
The Archangels were... unsettling.
Michael smiled warmly whenever his father looked his way, only to return to an expression of cold calculation when the God's attention shifted.
And Gabriel, by the Fates, I'd seen Goddesses of beauty and love, but she radiated something beyond mere physical perfection. She was truly Heaven's most beautiful Angel.
That statement was probably best left under-estimated lest Zeus did something… unsightly.
The way she gazed at her lord with such naked adoration, then turned protective and fierce when she thought I might be a threat.
It was definitely above just loyalty, and the way Kai returned her affection... It was beyond what the Lord of Heaven and his children should have… but perhaps it had something to do with the rebirth Kai had explained.
He can't exactly judge either way. After all, he was Greek.
But that was in the past, Kai had killed me and I had been happy to be finally free.
My father had made me into a god, so I knew that I would eventually end up in Tartarus.
I had been looking forward to it, in a way.
Not immediately, of course. I would not be someone to be ordered there for a while. I would simply reform slowly in the darkness like all the rest. I was used to pain and suffering. The hopelessness of the pit held no terror for me.
When I woke, I felt at peace.
That alone made me suspicious. I was still not entirely sure if this was all just a grand illusion designed to break me. The pit was known for such tricks. Offering hope only to snatch it away. Crafting elaborate fantasies to shatter against the rocks of reality.
But my revival was different.
Instead of the dark abyss I had expected, I awoke under a tree that embodied all life. Light filtered through leaves that shimmered with colors I had no names for.
The air itself tasted of vitality, of something so fundamentally opposed to the pit that I could not reconcile the two.
The very antithesis of Tartarus.
Something that could not be easily simulated.
I had asked Hermes once how monsters and gods reformed in the pit. He had explained the process in his usual flippant manner. The slow gathering of essence. The gradual coalescence of form. The painful reconstruction of self from scattered fragments of divine power.
None of that had happened to me.
I remembered closing my eyes after dying at the hand of an angel.
I simply opened them under the so-called 'Tree of Life' in the garden of Eden.
I was no longer bound to the pit.
I was not yet bound to anything else.
Something fundamental had changed within me. I could feel it in the core of my being, in the spaces where divine chains had once wrapped tight around my essence. Those chains were gone now. Severed or dissolved or simply absent, I could not tell.
For the first time in my existence, I felt free of the golden strings of the Fates.
I had free will.
Kai was different from the Biblical God. It was easy to tell something had happened. The original God had perished unknown to the rest of the world as they thought he had gone back to reclusivity.
Now, a new Angel showed up. With an explosive disposition in power and his very magic transforming from the Angelic energy the angels possessed.
It was turning into divine power.
God Reborn? Maybe that's why his Angels were acting so… zealously. Then again, they had always been foretold to have been this way.
It was disconcerting, watching beings of such power shift their entire demeanour based on whether their King was watching. The angels truly were as formidable as the myths claimed.
Perhaps the only beings that could match the Gods in raw power.
Despite all that, I braced myself for the familiar words.
'I am sorry, but it cannot be done.' They always came, dressed in different explanations but carrying the same crushing weight.
My grip on my family's bodies tightened. Even getting this far was more than others had given me. I should be grateful.
It was more than what most had done.
The King of Heaven raised his hands laxly.
"Resurrection," the God said simply.
I felt my heart lurch and my skin shiver, my own Divinity coming to the surface of my skin almost defensively. The feeling of pure death and something beyond what a Domain could achieve swirling in the air.
Green energy flowed from his hands and the air went cold, the gentle flow of mist curling down into the bodies clutched close to me. I had to force myself not to react.
The stasis shattered like glass and warmth flooded back into cold flesh.
The King of Heaven looked intimidating in that moment, his hair blowing wildly and his eyes staring down with glassy eyes. Death itself relinquishing its claim, following his command like a loyal servant.
Just how had he grown this powerful?
My attention couldn't stay on him further.
When I felt it, I was in disbelief. It was a moment of ridicule. I watched as life returned to forms that had been dead for so long. Life that Death had turned to ash.
My wife's eyes fluttered open, with a gasp. My child drew breath again.
The world tilted, or at least my perception did.
The dream of a long-lived God came true. The one desire that made being a God not worth it for me. My vision blurred as I pulled them into my arms, my entire body shaking with emotions I couldn't name.
Tears flooded his vision.
I had embraced them with all the weakness I could muster, going against the nature of my own Domain. They were warm. The smell I had missed from my wife, her body in his arms. While my child remained gently tucked in between us.
"Alcaeus?" Megara's voice called out my name, confused but real, so impossibly real.
"Papa?" My child's small hand touched my face.
I couldn't speak.
Couldn't even breathe.
Their voice, so sweet that it burned. I had longed to hear the vibration of the air their breaths caused for so long that this moment felt like a fleeting dream that I couldn't let go of.
My chest constricted as I held them, tears streaming down my face. The first being to keep his word. Where Olympians had failed, where Titans had proven false, this God had simply... done it.
No grand ceremony.
I looked up at him through blurred vision, at the one who appeared so young yet carried power beyond divine logic. He had grown so quickly and with so many mysterious abilities.
The King of Heaven merely smiled with a nod as if this hadn't been something extraordinary.
My throat worked, but no words came.
What could I say? How could I express what this meant?
Loyalty. He'd asked for loyalty in exchange. He would have it. Whatever he asked, wherever he led, whatever enemies he faced, I would stand with him.
I mentally chuckled.
No wonder his Angels held such loyalty.
A Deity who kept their word deserved nothing less than everything I could give.
-Scene Break-
I walked to a secluded area in my sub-dimension with a sense of satisfaction at my progress.
Heracles had kept his word. More than that, he'd exceeded every expectation I had. I'd honestly anticipated reluctant acceptance at best, someone who would fulfil his duties solely for his family's sake.
The very reason his family now resided within Heaven.
Instead, Heracles had thrown himself into service with startling intensity. Beyond loyal. Almost reverent. I'd underestimated how deeply being used as a pawn by the Gods had affected him.
My Divine Shard had also increased massively from the action. I was already on my way to another Divine skill.
At least I wouldn't have to worry about him. His wife and child were both sweet and had already found themselves being smothered with affection in the silver city.
Now, here I was, hopefully about to perform the ritual that would grant me the Ten Shadows.
I hoped it didn't need cursed energy or it would be a failure. Since it was a ritual of sorts, I was hoping all I would be subjected to was a fight to claim them for myself.
I didn't know how cursed energy would react to my angelic power, in all honesty. Either way, hopefully it would grant me some sort of power-up.
That's why I wanted to get this done before the quest, which was quickly approaching. We will be leaving tomorrow. I planned on meeting with Percy soon after this and telling him that I'd be going with him.
Once more I would be outside of Heaven and probably in an even more dangerous situation. However, with a Super-Angel in my company and my own Godly power, it was also a lot better than before.
Now if only I can get this Mahoraga as well.
I looked around the clearing I had found, deep inside the created woods that had begun forming with the Twin Trees and far away from anyone who could interfere.
First things first. I needed a barrier.
Something powerful enough to contain whatever was about to happen and keep my angels from interfering. While having backup was usually a good idea, I knew they wouldn't allow me to put myself in danger.
And that went against what I needed for a trial that needed me to beat my opponent.
I knew they were already on edge and Gabriel had been extra clingy. She was trying to get me to stay. I couldn't find myself to even be slightly put off.
I have come to understand my Angels. I could never imagine how I would feel if they all disappeared for so long, presumably dead. Only to come back in a different form after centuries.
So their clingy attitude was to be expected.
I formed the spell that Frieren had taught me, channelling my power outward.
It was a simple spell, but one that I had found incredibly useful in Heaven. A spell that connected to a tree and created a barrier. It wasn't exactly a great way to defend since most trees would just shatter against an assault.
Except magical trees that is. They were rarer nowadays, with humanity having spread far and wide, but they still existed.
Anyway, I had 'certain trees' in mind. It was mostly just for suppressing the battle.
I let my energy loose into the surroundings, and instantly, the light around brightened in intensity and the greenery became somehow even greener.
Out of that energy, thin tendrils started to take shape and started weaving a pattern and connecting with the surrounding trees.
The nexus of the network was the Twin Trees. I felt it. As the connection with the two trees in the distance was successfully established, causing a grin to take over my face.
Frieren had said that she hadn't been able to do that. When I had done it, she had been, dare I say, slightly jealous.
The barrier began to take shape, a shimmering dome of energy that seemed to form millions of crystals in the air. The trees accepted the barrier, their power flowing into my construct and reinforcing it exponentially.
Silver and gold symbols reinforced the barrier and I watched with fascination.
Spiritual energy rumbled and crackled along its surface. The barrier hummed with power now, strong enough to block out most beings and suppress any noise from escaping its confines.
Perfect.
That should keep my Angels from noticing and allow me to battle in silence.
I wasn't particularly concerned about the danger. Only Mahoraga posed any real threat, and even then I wasn't overly worried. Still, I was prepared to summon any of my angels at a moment's notice if that proved wrong. I definitely wouldn't underestimate it.
Taking a deep breath, I focused on the technique.
The knowledge downloaded from the system flooded through my mind. Shadow manipulation. Summoning rituals. The ten shikigami.
I'd have to go through them one by one.
I raised my hands, weaving the first shadow puppet. My angelic power flowed through the motion, replacing cursed energy with holy light infused with shadows.
I suspected it only worked as a replacement due to the summoning. It felt weird and my divine shard pulsed faintly from its position inside my chest as I used it.
The ground beneath me rippled, darkness spreading like spilt ink. And the area was descended upon. A strange, almost conceptual ritual is taking place.
I waited a moment, before calling out the name of the first challenge.
"Divine Dogs," I called out uncertainly,
Sure enough, the response was immediate.
The ground melted into shadow, the area becoming lit with an energy vaguely akin to the energy my cursed sword produced. Energy sensing showed a blue and black energy rampaging around.
It remained that way for a few seconds, then abruptly two massive wolves materialised from the shadows, one white as fresh snow, the other black as the void.
I dodged easily, the two wolves jumping over me and landing gracefully.
They began to circle me, eyes gleaming with feral intelligence.
I stared curiously.
{Divine Dog (White)}
{Title: Sacred Hound of Light, Shadow of the Ten}
{Race: Shikigami}
{Power level: 4,000}
{Divine Dog (Black)}
{Title: Sacred Hound of Darkness, Shadow of the Ten}
{Race: Shikigami}
{Power level: 4,000}
Surprisingly strong.
A good sign.
The white one lunged first.
I sidestepped easily, allowing a small amount of light to condense in my palm. A simple pulse of holy energy sent it tumbling back through the air with a small bellowing of wind.
The only reason I had not outright erased it was to see if it was considered a dark creature. Which meant my holy light would have burnt and probably killed it.
The black one came from behind, jaws snapping for my throat.
My Rinnegan tracked its movement perfectly. I caught it mid-leap by the scruff, gravity magic increasing its weight tenfold. It was crushed into the ground and died on the spot.
The white one recovered, charging again. This time I met it head-on, my hand glowing with concentrated light. One strike to its forehead, I expected it to collapse immediately, only for it to rapidly swirl, attempting to lash out at my face.
I caught it by its neck with a burst of pure speed and snapped, only for the dog to vanish and appear behind him, revealing it to be an illusion… something I had already known with my connection to the light.
A spear found itself vaporising it mid-charge.
Once more the area descended into silence and I called out the name of the next part of the Ten Trials.
"Nue."
An owl-like creature burst from the puddle of shadows, electricity crackling across its wings.
Stronger, but not awfully so.
It dove from above, talons extended. I raised a gravitational barrier, deflecting the attack.
The creature screeched, circling for another pass.
I exploded up into the sky and delivered a one devastating palm strike infused with holy power to its spine. The owl was killed instantly without any effort.
Not bad.
"Great Serpent."
A massive snake erupted from the ground, jaws wide enough to swallow a house. It moved fast for its size, coiling around me in an instant.
I nearly snorted, wondering how Galadriel would react if she realised I now had another snake to summon… she'd probably eat it.
A lazy wave of my hand had the large serpent impaled by dozens of powerful spears of light.
The battles continued like that in rapid succession. The summons were becoming increasingly stronger and their abilities admittedly interested me. I found myself patting myself on the back for the download.
Having a menagerie of disposal summons was never a bad thing.
"Piercing Ox."
The inky puddle shifted.
A massive, muscular quadrupedal shikigami resembling a bull exploded out. And began charging me with two large sharp horns. Red eyes regarded me without emotion.
{Piercing Ox}
{Title: Charging Beast of Momentum, Fifth Shadow of the Ten}
{Race: Shikigami}
{Power level: 5,100}
Further into the high class.
Not something to be overlooked as this skill would be quite the talent. While I was a bit of a freak, the high class was considered a huge talent amongst normal Factions.
I had been worried about how a different world's summon would translate to dxd, which was for all intents and purposes a death world. For all I could know the Divine General would be mid-class.
Luckily, it didn't seem to be the case.
The grass ground underneath him cracked open and that blackish blue energy surrounded the Shikigami.
A spear of light formed, bending the space around it slightly and dazzling with a light that would blind most creatures. With a touch of holy power, the presence it created would outright kill any mid-class beings in the area.
A flick had this spear tearing through the Shikigami's approaching head.
"Round deer," I called out the name, relying on the instinctual knowledge provided to me.
I didn't know much about the technique beyond the last summon.
The strange ritual that had surrounded the bounded area in the cursed energy pulsed.
The next two were taken down with the same ease.
Which left the last.
Nine shikigami claimed.
One of them seemed capable of healing which had gotten my interest. But ultimately this skill was downloaded for one purpose.
I stood in the centre of the area, the barrier still shimmering in the closed space steadily and the cursed energy within the air, almost thrumming as if sensing what I was about to do.
One left.
The strongest.
Hopefully, I hadn't wasted a download.
I had an hour until I planned to go down and meet up with Percy. Along with dealing with a few other tasks before I left Heaven properly for the first time in so long.
I formed the final shadow puppet, my voice calm and relying on the chant provided to me. "With this treasure, I summon Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Divine General Mahoraga."
The words were only known from instinct from gaining the skill.
The energy around me exploded and I felt a surprising amount of my angelic magic suddenly twist into the air, leaving my reserves and mixing with the cursed energy.
A massive wheel of light emerged first, spinning rapidly and gleaming as if it was glowing. That was to be expected, however, what happened next was less so. Light spun around and a Halo of light formed above that, the first detail that told me something was amiss.
The wheel began producing holy power of its own, brushing against my senses.
Then came the body.
Towering. Muscular but not outright bulky like I had expected. Two large arms with markings came out next. The aura around the being spiked and made the air tremble slightly.
That power had an angelic quality and the markings on his body glowed gold. A body less monstrous than I expected had formed, slim and powerful in its appearance. Its clothing only covered its lower torso, a white cloth acting as shorts.
Wasn't it meant to be black?
A face covered by a white mask with black markings. Horns formed, golden and radiated… holy energy?!
What?
Wings burst out from its back, glowing white and twitching slightly, they all possessed markings of their own. And in its hand, a blade that seemed sharp enough to cut through space itself.
Peak ultimate class.
Possibly beyond.
Confusion spilled through me at the explosive amount of holy power that swirled around us.
I grinned.
Perhaps it was for the best.
My power flared and the Divine General opened its eyes, revealing golden slits.
Mahoraga's wheel stopped spinning.
-{Azrael}-
An ice dome stood in the centre of Azrael's private chamber, its surface frozen white except for the single point where darkness pressed against it from within. She circled it slowly, studying what lay suspended inside.
The interior was pitch black, darker than any void she'd encountered in her millennia of existence. Only a red symbol glowing on the surface of a severed limb provided any variation, frozen before it could regenerate or escape.
The Mark of Cain.
She hadn't been idle during her time away from Heaven. While it was true that the nervousness about meeting Father again had paralysed her, it wasn't the only reason she couldn't return home.
No, there was another reason. One she deemed more important.
She'd been hunting.
Over hundreds of years of desperately searching for a way to return the Lord of All from the grave, Azrael had tracked whispers and rumours through every realm.
She had thought that perhaps the mark which supposedly helped in her Lord's death would aid in a revival method, but she hadn't counted on it. That uncertainty led her to mostly keep an ear out for where it could be found.
The Mark had vanished after Lucifer's fall. Most assumed it had been destroyed along with his sword in the final blow that killed God. That included the devils who had attempted to reclaim it desperately.
Parasites were survivors by nature and this one had been crafted by something far older than any of them understood. The Mark of Cain had first appeared on Cain after he murdered Abel, which led many to assume God had cursed him.
Azrael and the rest of the angels knew no such thing had taken place.
The Mark wasn't God's creation.
Its origin was unknown, a mixture of Corruption and demonic power that granted power at a terrible cost, feeding off its host while making them nearly indestructible. While the obvious finger pointed at Demons, they had been sealed away from Earth and thought to be extinct.
From there after, some even claimed the line of vampires had been created from Abel and the Mark's power before Lucifer found it.
It was an immensely powerful and unknown creation.
Unfortunately, instead of destroying the sinner and this mark, her Father had shown his infamous mercy and simply banished him from his lands. And in a cruel twist of fate, Lucifer had found a way to bind it to his sword, turning an already formidable weapon into something that could kill even God.
After his fall, both Devils and Angels had searched for the blade, but it had vanished completely. Everyone assumed it had been destroyed in that final, terrible battle.
Azrael knew better.
That's why before coming back she had decided to take the initiative. She'd mobilised every resource at her disposal these past weeks. The collection of souls had been delayed, her primary duty set aside for this hunt. Her network of information, built over millennia, had finally paid off.
The Mark had been found in the Underworld, attached to some mindless demonic beast, hiding in plain sight. Dangerous as ever.
She hadn't played around, not even letting the beast open its eyes before its limb was torn off and sealed with a massive amount of angelic power.
She'd retrieved it just days before Heaven's attack.
Azrael scowled at the thought.
The red symbol pulsed again, and she felt its hunger even through the never-melting ice.
It wanted a host. It wanted to feed. It wanted to grant its terrible gifts to someone foolish enough to accept them.
At the very least she had gotten rid of what she deemed a major threat, but learning her Lord wasn't at full power was worrying. Her thoughts trailed to the main problem.
Kai was planning to leave Heaven again, chasing after the intelligence he had received from that Goddess Ishtar.
Apparently, multiple plans had been revealed, most of which had already passed. But some of the information still held merit and the main plan that had been revealed involved a friend.
Azrael had learnt of what had taken place to her lord and the allies he had made. It had made her smirk knowing that even without power, her Father would overcome such challenges.
Many Gods couldn't boast the same.
But now it was coming to bite her and the rest of her siblings as while he hadn't said it aloud, he planned to venture down and deal with the problem himself.
Azrael sighed.
Seriously, did he not know he had the entirety of Heaven practically begging to be called?
In either case, she could only hope he could be convinced.
Her dark eyes stared at the symbol of Cain.
All threats should be erased if he was going to step on earth at the very least.
Azrael stroked a strand of midnight pitch black hair behind her cheek, silently watching the mark hover.
Stepping forward, her hand raised only to pause, a shiver went through the surface of her skin. Her cold eyes widened, red eyes shifting into silver and for the fourth time in under a hundred years. She had experienced such a shock once more.
Which only meant one thing.
Her Lord.
Her fourteen wings unfurled with a fury that surpassed urgency.
She found reality tearing away as her power exploded like a supernova. She phased through Heaven, going through layers and slipping past the intricately formed barriers, further entering into the open portal of the sub-dimension and travelling into the dense forest.
It wasn't until then that her body materialised again.
At the edges of the mighty twin trees' canopy lay a barrier, powerful… incredibly so and tied to the twin trees which meant a massive amount of spiritual energy was being circulated through.
She had quickly come to realise that the twin trees weren't just special trees, they were semi-conscious and had a tendency to fixate on her Lord whenever he was there.
Azrael found herself staring uncomprehendingly. Her Lord was being attacked? In the middle of his own sub-dimension? Why had he placed a barrier up, one that even she found would make her struggle?
Her mind twisted and worry filled her.
How had someone broken in?
It wasn't anyone she recognised, some sort of creature.
An explosion tore out and she watched her Lord dodge another cut that would have easily torn his head off.
She was stuck, her hands shook and she found her energy crackling, immediately she began trying to take down the barriers. A genuine fear and confusion pervaded her mind.
Which led her to begin slamming against the barrier, her power gradually rising with each hit even as the two trees fought against her.
Why weren't they letting her in?
Her Lord was clearly in danger.
Just what was happening?!
-END-
Note: Hope you guys enjoyed the longer chapter! Sorry for being a bit late.
if you wish to read up to sixteen chapters in advance among my stories and other things please visit pa/t reon * / Snipez818, I appreciate all the support!